CCSA mulls ‘reopening doors’ : Investors and businessmen based in Thailand, along with medical tourists, would probably be the first foreigners allowed in when the kingdom gradually reopens its doors to outsiders, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) confirmed yesterday. Bangkok Post
BoT orders stress tests from banks : Fresh results expected next month. The Bank of Thailand is requiring commercial banks to run a new round of stress tests that takes the pandemic’s impact into account and report the results next month, while strengthening capital buffers will be discussed in case the outcome shows capital adequacy ratios (CAR) are below 11.5%. Bangkok Post
BoI, EEC to hurry new S-curve perks : The Board of Investment (BoI) and Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Office have been ordered to speed up rejigging promotional privileges for five new S-curve industries to make them more enticing for foreign investment. Bangkok Post
Prawit ‘strengthens PPRP unity’: Appointment as party boss tipped to end rivalry over cabinet posts. Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon taking the helm of the ruling Palang Prachrath Party (PPRP) is being seen as a way of strengthening unity within the main coalition party plagued by factional conflicts, and to guarantee the government will stay in power longer. Bangkok Post
Central bank tweaks B500bn soft loan scheme for SMEs : The Bank of Thailand is fine-tuning the process of offering 500 billion baht in soft loans with an aim to provide virushit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with better access. Bangkok Post
Green light for foreigners : ‘Ordinary tourists’ pushed to back of queue. The first group of foreigners to be allowed to enter Thailand will comprise business representatives, skilled workers, experts, people with Thai families, teachers, students and patients who agree to quarantine, according to the government. Bangkok Post
BoT forecasts record contraction : Panel keeps policy rate on hold at 0.50%. The Bank of Thailand has reduced its economic outlook to a contraction of 8.1% this year, deeper than the 1997 financial crisis, but kept the policy rate on hold at 0.50%. Bangkok Post
State agrees export dip exceeds 5% : The Commerce Ministry has admitted for the first time the country’s exports may shrink by more than 5% for the year after performance plunged 22.5% year-onyear in May, leading figures for the first five months to drop by 3.71% from the same period last year. Bangkok Post
Decree could be extended by a month : The National Security Council (NSC) has recommended extending enforcement of the emergency decree imposed to curb the Covid-19 pandemic for another month until July 31. Bangkok Post
Panel extends application deadline for BoT chief to July 10 : The committee searching for the next Bank of Thailand governor has decided to extend the application deadline to July 10 after determining that the number of external applicants was too low. Bangkok Post
Don
Ha! my entry for best new word of 2020: virushit.