Thailand to spend nearly 9 billion USD to upgrade railway system
Thai Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit has announced a plan to accelerate work on the second phase of the country’s railway system upgrade, which will cover six double-track railway projects with an investment of 300 billion THB (8.8 billion USD) next year.
Bangkok (VNA) – Thai Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit has announced a plan to accelerate work on the second phase of the country’s railway system upgrade, which will cover six double-trꦆack railway projects with an investment of 300 billion THB (8.8 billion USD) next year.
The six routes are Pak Nam Pho-Den Chai (281 km), Chira Junction-Ubon Ratchathani (308km), Hat Yai-Padang Besar (45km), Chumphon-Surat Thani (168km), Surat Thani-Hat Yai-Songkhla (321km) and Den Chai-Chiang Mai (189km).
Currently, the projects have received approval from the Budget Bureau and are awaiting review by the Finance Ministry and the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC).
Suriya said that feedback from both agencies is expected by the end of this month, with the cabinet's approval anticipated by January.
Additionally, the second phase of the high-speed railway project connecting Bangkok and Nong Khai, which stretches 357km and is worth 341 billion THB, is under review by the Finance Ministry and the NESDC. The review is expected to be completed within two months, with bidding anticipated within next year.
Meanwhile, the ministry also reported the latest development in the construction of a double-track railway connecting Khon Kaen and Nong Khai in the northeastern region, which is the signing of a 28.7-billion-THB contract between State Railway of Thailand (SRT) governor Veeris Ammarapala and CHO Thavee-AS Construction, a joint venture.
The project will build a new track parallel to the existing one, spanning 167km, expected to complete by 2028./.
The average employee salary in Thailand is set to increase by 5% in 2025, equivalent to 2024, Thai media reported, citing a report of Mercer - a global leader in human resource consulting, outsourcing and investment services.
Thailand and the Republic of Korea (RoK) on December 17 kicked off the third round of their talks for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) aimed at broadening trade and investment exchanges, according to RoK's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
Connectivity is expected to improve further with the completion of the fifth Laos–Thailand Friendship Bridge by the end of 2025, facilitating logistics and agricultural exports to Vietnam, Thailand, and China.
Two naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of the main island of Luzon just before dawn, in a joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
In the today context of socio-economic development and growth, the professionalism of Vietnam’s revolutionary journalists continues to rise, guided by exemplary mastery of new information technologies and the modernisation of their founding principles to preserve the enduring values of revolutionary journalism.
Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions, the event honors Her Majesty the Queen on her 47th birthday anniversary and promotes Thai craftsmanship on an international stage.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
