The Department of Business Development under the Ministry of Commerce has escalated efforts to combat the use of Thai nominees to front for foreign investors. The department issued Order 2/2569 on July 31, 2025, requiring new standards and documentation for business registration and amendments when foreign investors are involved or have signing authority. Companies must now submit investment justification letters and three months of bank statements from both Thai investors paying in capital and the recipients of those funds, enabling officials to verify genuine investment capability.

Department Director Poonpong Naiyanakarun explained that nominee schemes undermine business confidence and fairness in Thailand's economy. Previous screening measures at initial registration helped reduce risk, but unscrupulous operators have evolved their tactics—setting up companies that appear to comply initially, then filing amendments later to introduce foreign investors or grant signing authority, thereby circumventing existing controls.

The new order broadens inspection scope across the entire business lifecycle, from founding registration through all subsequent amendments, preventing future structural changes. Currently, Thailand has 1,004,558 registered entities: 200,327 partnerships, 802,717 limited companies, and 1,514 public limited companies. Among these, 119,116 companies with foreign ownership stakes of 0.01–49.99 percent remain classified as Thai entities but fall into the nominee risk category. The measures take effect August 1, 2025.

On July 31, 2025, Srisuwarn Janyai, leader of the Love Nation Love Land organization, filed a formal request with the Election Commission (EC) to investigate allegations that approximately 300 orange-slate Senate candidates engaged in coordinated activity at a meeting held at Jupiter Room in Muang Thong Thani. He asked whether such planning and organization to deploy candidates as a unified faction would constitute illegal conduct that could undermine fair and honest elections.

Srisuwann noted that while media, influencers, academics, and politicians have debated allegations of vote-rigging by one candidate group already under EC and Special Cases Investigation Department (DSI) scrutiny, similar conduct by the orange-slate group has emerged but is being described differently. He questioned the double standard: if one faction's coordinated activity is called "organized teamwork" or "deploying our people," why is similar behavior by opposing candidates labeled "vote-rigging"?

Srisuwann argued that the Election Commission, as the authority under the Constitutional Act on the Election Commission Article 41, has a duty to investigate and determine facts whenever reasonable suspicion arises, regardless of whether a formal complaint is filed. He emphasized that standards must be applied equally to all factions, and that "vote-rigging" should not become merely a political insult selectively applied to disfavored groups. He submitted preliminary evidence along with his complaint to prompt formal investigation and adjudication according to law.

At Parliament on July 31, 2569, Phanthit Nuamjerm, a Bangkok MP from the People's Party and member of a subcommittee reviewing the 2570 budget appropriations bill, reported on the committee's progress and raised concerns about spending practices. He called on each government agency to justify why expenditures on seminars, conferences, public relations, consultant fees, overseas travel, and contracted services are necessary and truly beneficial to the public.

Phanthit specifically flagged seminars whose purpose is unclear, overseas academic conferences, public relations initiatives measured only by reach metrics, foreign travel with unclear outcomes, and excessive reliance on outsourced consultant work when permanent staff should be able to handle tasks themselves. He emphasized that the committee's role is not to obstruct government operations but to question whether non-core expenditures represent good value for taxpayer money.

"I propose we reduce seminars of unknown purpose, cut back on public relations measured by clicks alone, and question costly foreign travel when Thailand's budget situation is what it is," Phanthit said. He noted that his team bases decisions on detailed budget documents, not feelings, examining every project's funding, budget execution, redundancies, unit costs, performance indicators, and public outcomes. However, many agencies have failed to provide complete supporting documentation or adequate answers to the committee's questions, citing examples such as the Office for Promotion of National Reform, Strategy, and National Reconciliation, whose mandate overlaps significantly with other agencies.

On July 31, 2026, the Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIM Bank) will offer full financial services and special promotions at Franchise Expo Thailand 2026, running August 6–9, 2026 at Impact Muang Thong Thani (Halls 6–7, Booth I2). The initiative, branded "Export Co-pilot: Supporting Thai Business, Confident Export in All Situations," aims to strengthen Thai entrepreneurs and connect them with global opportunities.

Key loan and insurance products include:

• EXIM Expand Shield Loan: Starting at 2.59% interest with protection against non-payment by foreign buyers; maximum credit limit 100 million baht with coverage up to 10 million baht.

• EXIM Employment Promotion Loan Phase 3: Supports liquidity and sustained employment for registered businesses; fixed 3-year rate starting at 2.00% annually; maximum 50 million baht over 3 years.

• EXIM for Small Biz Export Insurance: Protects Thai entrepreneurs against non-payment risks with maximum coverage of 2 million baht per policy; 70% loss coverage; first customer receives free premium worth 1,800 baht with 300,000 baht coverage.

Event registrants receive additional benefits: 1. Interest rate discount of 0.25% annually for the first 6 months, or 2. Front-end fee discount of 0.25% of the loan amount for loans up to 2 million baht

Approval must occur within 3 months of event participation. Entrepreneurs can receive on-site financial consultation at the expo or register for online advice at https://forms.office.com/r/PyvMXdMR6m. For more information, contact EXIM Contact Center at 0-2169-9999.

The Department of Intellectual Property under the Commerce Ministry has registered Cha Rang Daeng Koh Kret as the fifth geographic indication (GI) product of Nonthaburi Province, highlighting Mon community heritage and local identity while transforming agricultural goods into high-value products that generate over 8 million baht annually and support cultural tourism and sustainable development.

Armorn Suaptaveedharm, Director-General of the Department of Intellectual Property, explained that Cha Rang Daeng Koh Kret is produced from leaves of the red mulberry tree, a local plant that thrives in Nonthaburi's Koh Kret area. The leaves undergo traditional Mon processing and roasting methods passed down through generations, with careful raw material selection resulting in a tea with distinctive color, aroma, and flavor that clearly reflects the relationship between local wisdom and geographic environment.

The tea's unique qualities stem from Nonthaburi's natural conditions along the Chao Phraya River floodplain, with fine clay soils and silty loam enriched with minerals from river sediment. Despite seasonal flooding, the hardy local red mulberry plant produces high-quality leaves and branches. After traditional processing—drying and roasting at appropriate temperatures—the tea brews to a golden yellow hue with pleasant aroma, smooth taste, and subtle sweetness with no bitterness, making it distinctive to the region.

The tea is also popular as a health beverage, with benefits including reduced fat, cholesterol, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure.

Cha Rang Daeng Koh Kret is Nonthaburi's fifth GI product, following Koh Kret pottery, krathoem wrapped in banana leaves, Nonthaburi durian, and Yai Klum mango. It demonstrates the province's ability to transform local resources, community wisdom, and cultural identity into high-value goods that generate income for farmers and entrepreneurs while creating tourism destinations linking lifestyle, culture, and local products.

Currently, 22 producers operate with annual capacity of approximately 8,000 kilograms, creating economic value of over 8 million baht yearly. Combined, Nonthaburi's five GI products generate over 64 million baht annually.

Armorn noted that the GI registration reflects the successful implementation of policy by the Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister, emphasizing agricultural value-added and community identity products. The department systematically promotes GI goods through producer development, quality control, packaging design, branding, market expansion both domestically and internationally, media promotion, storytelling, and linking production sites with community tourism so visitors can experience local lifestyle, wisdom, culture, and authentic products.

PHUKET: Phuket Governor Chotinrin Kerdsum has set Aug 20 as the latest deadline for completing long-delayed repairs to lighting and electrical systems in the island’s highway underpasses, while warning that the contractor will continue to face financial penalties for the delays.