Ulrich Zachau, World Bank Director for Regional Partnerships, Malaysia, and Thailand (Source: //www.thestar.com.my)
Bangkok (NNT/VNA) - The World Bankhas praised the Thai government for its work to improve the ease of doingbusiness in Thailand.
Ulrich Zachau, World Bank Director forRegional Partnerships, Malaysia, and Thailand, and the World Bank’s ease ofdoing business team on May 16 met with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
The two parties discussed close cooperation between Thailand and the World Bankfor more than 70 years in terms of investment, education, bureaucraticdevelopment, labour and economic reform. They agreed to continue to worktogether with a focus on equal income distribution and improvements to thebusiness environment in Thailand to make it more convenient.
The World Bank director commended the Thaigovernment for making significant changes to government services to become moreconducive to investment and business, resulting in the country’s better rankingin the World Bank’s ease of doing business index, at 26th place in 2018compared to 46th in 2017
Zachau also met with Deputy Prime MinisterWissanu Kreangam to exchange views on the Business Security Act as well as thedigital publication of verdicts. Wissanu informed the World Bank director ofthe progress of the law and expressed the country’s willingness to welcome theWorld Bank’s suggestions.-VNA
Thailand, the world's second biggest sugar exporter after Brazil, has decided to cut its exports of raw sugar by at least 500,000 tonnes this year, as a swelling global surplus has led to sharp falling prices.
Transactions involving cryptocurrencies and digital assets in general are subject to a 15 percent tax under a cryptocurrency law which took effect in Thailand on May 14.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Ulrich Zachau, World Bank Director for Regional Partnerships, Malaysia, and Thailand (Source: //www.thestar.com.my) 
