Speaking at the INTANIA Forum held at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Engineering on July 31, major private-sector executives outlined Thailand's economic path forward. Kattiya Intravisai, chief executive of Kasikornbank, noted that foreign investors, previously concerned about Thai political stability, now see positive signals from equity markets, capital flows, and direct foreign investment—particularly in electric vehicles and data centers. Investment promotion applications to the Board of Investment have surged, confirming Thailand's ability to attract capital in new industries.

However, executives warned that having EV factories and data centers is only the beginning. True economic progress requires job creation, workforce skills development, software businesses, clean energy, and innovation driven by data. Thammashakdi Sethakudi, CEO of Siam Cement Group (SCG), expressed concern about SMEs in the supply chain, which face higher financing costs and fewer opportunities to experiment than large companies. If SMEs fail, large corporations suffer because they depend on uncertain foreign suppliers. Government and big business must jointly upgrade Thai SMEs by reducing energy costs, adopting solar power, transitioning to green business, and creating carbon credits.

SCG also advocated building a strong domestic market and expanding across ASEAN to compete with excess production capacity from China, positioning Thailand as a premium manufacturing hub. On energy, Prime Minister's Adviser Atthapol Rikpibul stressed that power is critical to investor confidence and competitiveness, requiring Thailand to balance security, environmental sustainability, and affordability. Thailand has improved energy risk management by diversifying oil import sources and advancing solar, smart grids, and clean technology to meet Net Zero targets and support new industries like data centers.

On August 1, 2569, Minister Supamas Israphakdi, overseeing the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB), assigned Praderm Bunsuay, Prime Minister's Advisor, to drive policy on managing online platforms for consumer protection. The move follows a July 31 national workshop at Thai Chamber of Commerce University to develop an integrated consumer protection action plan for online merchandise issues.

Supamas revealed that current online trading problems include substandard products, unsafe goods, and items not matching advertisements, with consumers often receiving no compensation when harmed. Rather than targeting sellers alone, the strategy must examine the entire online commerce chain, particularly digital platforms that profit by connecting buyers and sellers.

Although the OCPB currently lacks legal authority to directly shut down or suspend online platforms, the government is pushing a "shared responsibility" approach, requiring platforms to share liability with sellers for preventing, blocking, and remedying damage from illegal goods. The policy aims to improve laws and enforcement mechanisms to hold platforms accountable.

This continues Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's mandate to grow the digital economy while protecting public rights. The OCPB will coordinate with digital regulation, e-commerce, and direct-sales agencies to establish joint working mechanisms and clear performance indicators. Additionally, Supamas directed the OCPB to study class-action lawsuit procedures for cases where many consumers suffer identical harm, easing access to justice and reducing burdens on individual victims. A national action plan with roles, responsibilities, and key performance indicators was developed during the July 31 workshop.

Lottery players are celebrating after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's morning visit to Wat Derm Bang (Kongkaram) temple in Suphan Buri province brought luck on August 1. The government lottery draw that day announced first prize as 932479 and the two-digit prize as 69. After Anutin visited the temple to pay respects to Tao Wessuwannagod and seek blessings for his official duties, he led a prayer ceremony with large incense sticks numbered 996—which matched the winning two-digit number 69. Players who purchased that number were overjoyed to find themselves among the winners.

The Phuket Express -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

CHONBURI, Thailand — Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has traveled to the Pattaya area on Saturday afternoon to personally follow the investigation into the deaths of two Russian siblings and three members of a Thai family, a case that has drawn widespread international attention and raised concerns about public safety and the country’s international image. Anutin […] Prime Minister Anutin Rushes to Pattaya Area Over Shocking Murders of Russian Siblings and Thai Family -=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=- The Phuket Express - Real. Unbiased. Impactful. In the moment.

PHUKET — 1 August 2026, A 36-year-old woman was arrested after allegedly killing and decapitating her 74-year-old mother-in-law during a dispute at a home in Phuket on Saturday morning.

Chalong Police Station was alerted to the killing at a house in Chalong subdistrict, Mueang Phuket district, at about 09:15.

Police and other officials found the body of the victim inside the house. She had suffered severe wounds from a bladed weapon, and a large amount of blood was found on the floor.

According to the preliminary police investigation, the victim had been inside the house with her 36-year-old daughter-in-law before the pair became involved in a heated argument.

Police allege that the younger woman assaulted the victim, causing her to fall, before attacking her with a knife and striking her repeatedly on the body and face. She then allegedly used the knife to decapitate her.

A neighbour who witnessed the incident alerted police.

Officers arriving at the house found the suspect hiding inside a bathroom and took her into custody. She was later brought to the police station for legal proceedings.

Investigators, forensic officers and a duty doctor examined the scene and conducted an initial examination of the body.

Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the killing and the suspect's possible motive. Charges had not yet been formally announced.

The Bank of Thailand has revealed that Thailand's informal economy ranks 14th worldwide, causing the state to lose tax revenue and budget funds. On July 31, 2025, Sethaput Ratanapor, Governor of the Bank of Thailand, delivered a special address at The INTANIA Forum on surviving under the new world order at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Engineering, with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin in attendance. Ratanapor explained that the traditional economic world driven by globalization, free trade, and maximum efficiency has changed, and the global economy has entered a multipolar era where no single power determines direction. He highlighted how tariffs and trade measures are now used as tools of power competition, while global shocks from COVID-19, the Ukraine war, trade conflicts, and Middle Eastern tensions occur frequently.

Ratanapor stated that Thai economy must not only be flexible but also absorb shocks, adapt, and move forward. The key is structural economic reform, particularly addressing resource misallocation, which hampers productivity and the nation's GDP potential. He noted that Thailand does not lack capital—the Bank of Thailand currently absorbs liquidity through various channels worth approximately 5-6 trillion baht daily—but much of this money does not flow to efficient business units, resulting in below-potential economic growth.

Data reveals clear anomalies: over 75% of capital is allocated to large businesses, while SME credit has remained negative for 15 consecutive quarters. Even the top 30% of high-performing SMEs access only 21% of credit compared to large businesses accessing 63%. Ratanapor highlighted that financing cost disparities worsen SME competition, with efficient small businesses paying average interest of 7.8% while large enterprises pay around 3.9%. The solution involves creating a large-scale database to improve credit disbursement accuracy, reduce credit risk costs, and lower operational expenses. This database would integrate credit information, utility consumption data, and alternative data to more comprehensively assess borrower potential.

Ratanapor said this aligns with government policy, with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitivattananon leading the initiative and using the government's Connect mechanism as the driving force. Success would help small-scale individuals and disciplined SMEs without sufficient collateral to access credit at reasonable costs. He emphasized that reallocating resources to more efficient business units would improve the Thai economy, increase productivity, and expand GDP potential.

Another major problem, he noted, is underground capital and the informal economy, which drain resources from the real economy. Thailand has the world's 14th-largest informal economy, representing 9-13% of economic activity as gray economy, preventing the state from collecting taxes and keeping money out of the budget system. The Bank of Thailand is closing multiple loopholes, including requiring explanations for cash withdrawals exceeding 5 million baht monthly. This followed the discovery that old 1,000-baht banknotes worth 140,000 million baht had disappeared from the system. Authorities are also monitoring gold transactions through apps that affect the baht's value. Ratanapor stated that gold regulatory measures are being implemented.