Knight Frank Thailand reports that the Thai industrial real estate market continues to grow steadily in the first half of 2026, with industrial land transactions up 17.5% and nationwide average land prices rising 16.2%. Prices in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) have surged over 31% amid strong demand for advanced technology manufacturing investments.

Marcus Bertenshaw, Partner and Head of Logistics and Industrial Consulting at Knight Frank Thailand, revealed the Thailand Industrial Market Overview H1 2026 report, noting that the industrial real estate market remains resilient despite global economic uncertainty. Key drivers include investment in high-value industries, particularly electronics, technology, and advanced manufacturing, sustaining strong demand for industrial space and ready-built factories.

Bertenshaw emphasized that Thailand's competitive edge depends not just on attracting investment, but on capacity to accommodate modern, larger projects using advanced technology. Investors seek locations with robust infrastructure and long-term business expansion potential—factors that will determine Thailand's future competitiveness.

Although promoted investment figures and new project counts have normalized from historically high levels, industrial real estate demand remains strong, particularly from businesses expanding production capacity in value-added sectors. Industrial land take-up in H1 2026 reached 5,503 rai, up 17.5% year-on-year.

Knight Frank notes this reflects a strategic shift: investment is moving from quantitative expansion toward larger, technology-intensive projects requiring efficient long-term operational infrastructure. As of mid-2026, Thailand's serviced industrial land plots totaled 191,292 rai, up 3.1% from late 2025, with EEC accounting for 64.6% of supply. Developers are increasingly adopting built-to-suit and pre-leased models to meet tenants' specific infrastructure and facility needs.

In many communities, retail shops serve not just as shopping destinations but as gathering places where people meet, exchange ideas, and create shared activities—becoming central to daily life. When these spaces are developed to create professional and income opportunities, they strengthen the local economy sustainably.

CJ MORE, a brand that has grown alongside communities, is advancing the concept of "CJ MORE Complete, Right, and Worth It" to elevate retail stores beyond mere neighborhood shops into "community hubs." The company is opening spaces in front of more than 2,000 branches nationwide for local residents to start businesses, generate income, and grow together through rental stalls and community markets, creating vibrancy and continuous economic stimulus at the local level.

Store Fronts: Opportunities for Small Businesses to Grow with Communities

A key role of CJ MORE store fronts is creating opportunities for small entrepreneurs to operate "rental shops"—whether restaurants, beverage stands, barbershops, variety stores, or diverse local businesses—with easy customer access from convenient community locations. Beyond serving as a commercial space, CJ MORE supports these businesses by promoting standout and popular shops through content creation and the government's "Thai Helps Thai Plus 60/40" program, helping them gain wider recognition, reach more customers, and boost sales during economic challenges.

As shops become better known, entrepreneurs earn more income while customers enjoy benefits and discounts, creating more spending circulation within the community and benefiting all in the local economic chain. Rather than being merely commercial areas, these store fronts help small businesses grow, build customer bases, and develop stable operations.

Community Markets: Adding Life and Income for Local People

Another reflection of community hub status is CJ MORE community markets, where locals sell goods—fresh cooked food, homemade snacks, vegetables, fruits, agricultural products, or local specialties—creating important channels for small traders to earn income and supplementary revenue.

These community markets transform store fronts into gathering points for locals, becoming spaces for meeting, conversation, and daily vibrancy while offering customers affordable local goods and sellers direct access to consumers, creating continuous money circulation within the community.

To increase activity and support small traders, CJ MORE links spending between the store and market through promotions for Sabai Card members: when customers spend 150 baht in CJ MORE, they receive a 10-baht discount coupon for market purchases, encouraging them to visit market vendors, increasing traders' earning opportunities, and creating continuous spending circulation within the area.

Thailand's women's volleyball team is frustrated with host Vietnam for placing three competing nations' delegations in hotels far from the competition venue—requiring nearly 90 minutes of travel—while Vietnam's own team stays near the arena. The Thai squad, coached by Kiatiphong Ratchatigerngkrai, arrived in Hanoi to compete in the SEA V Cup 2026 opening leg and has begun training. Coach Ratchatigerngkrai stated that international regulations stipulate hotels should be no more than 30 minutes from the competition venue, yet Thailand's team faced a nearly 90-minute commute on the first day, causing fatigue. He said Vietnam accommodates its own team near the arena while the other three competing nations are housed much farther away, and he intends to raise the matter with tournament officials. Thailand's opening match against Indonesia is scheduled for July 31, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.

PHUKET: Police have confirmed that a Thai man has been identified as the driver of a pickup truck involved in the fatal hit-and-run that killed a Russian woman in Koh Kaew, but no charges have yet been filed as the investigation remains ongoing, police confirmed today (July 30).

The article traces the origins and specifications of several celebrated amulets from respected Thai Buddhist monks. Phra Mettavihari's inaugural medal, created in 1959, featured a half-figure design and intricate carving details, becoming one of the most prized in collecting circles. Phra Kru Jan Sirithorn of Wat Dong Noi in Lopburi produced his first-edition amulets in multiple materials with numbered codes, accompanied by three consecration ceremonies with revered abbots. Luang Pu Gem Khemako of Lampang's Suwan Trai Lak Saan created the "Lampang Regiment Medal" in 1974, distributed to soldiers, comprising 2,513 pieces in gold, silver, bronze, and copper. Luang Pu Hiang Punnachchanto, an Eastern Thailand meditation master from Chachoengsao, cast lead amulets in 1962 marked on the back, now considered extremely rare and mostly held in Bangkok.

Luang Pho Sali Thammasaro, also known as Phra Khru Phrom Samajarn of Khao Wang Temple in Muang District, Ratchaburi, was a highly revered Buddhist teacher with many devoted followers. Born on Thursday, November 15, 1883, at Ban Koh Pom in Huai Khot District, Uthai Thani, to Nai Dam Suvanrangsi and Nang Wanna Suvanrangsi, he was the sixth of seven children. He learned to read and write Thai at home before studying further at a nearby monastic school.

In 1903, at age 20, he was ordained at Nong Khun Chat Temple, with Phra Khru Uthan Thammanithét as his preceptor. He remained there for eight years studying Pali language extensively. He later moved to Bangkok's Maha Thatuyuwarat Rungsrit Temple under the care of Somdet Phra Wan Rat.

After returning to Uthai Thani due to his parents' illness and later their deaths, he temporarily left the monastic life for 11 months to settle family affairs. In November 1903, he was re-ordained and received the name Thammasaro. He then devoted himself to meditation practice, wandering to various locations seeking peaceful retreat sites.

In 1924, during his eighth rainy season, he arrived at Khao Wang in Ratchaburi with fellow monks. The local people invited him to stay, and villagers requested permission to establish a temple there. In 1929, the King granted Khao Wang as monastic land, and he was appointed abbot. By 1934, the temple's main structures were complete. He continued his practice of retreating to different locations while returning to Khao Wang for rainy season retreats.

In 1965, suffering from illness, he returned to Ratchaburi Hospital, where he passed away on November 12, 1965, at age 82 with 61 Buddhist lent seasons completed. His amulet collection remains legendary in Ratchaburi, particularly the first-edition likeness medal created in 1966 as a commemoration of his 80th birthday celebration, donated by Somsakdi Naksuk.