Thanavorn Pholwithai, rector and chair of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce's Economic and Business Forecasting Center, announced that the Thai Chamber of Commerce business confidence index for July 2025 stands at 41.5 points, up 0.1 points from the previous month but marking the lowest reading in 35 months—or three years. The business sector attributes the decline to a stalled Thai economy, sluggish tourism growth, and fragile purchasing power stemming from flat incomes and high household debt levels. Businesses also face unfair competition from foreign goods and services, particularly in retail and food service sectors, driving down commercial sales. Rising production costs for electricity and fuel continue to erode profit margins and strain liquidity, while access to credit remains problematic.

Looking ahead six months, most business operators expect economic conditions to worsen across all sectors except services, with no significant recovery expected until year-end. Consumer confidence, however, showed its second consecutive monthly improvement in July, rising from 50.7 to 51.8 points, buoyed by government relief measures and easing oil prices. Agricultural commodity prices such as rice have also begun to stabilize, though the index remains below 100, reflecting lingering concerns about slow economic recovery and persistently high living costs. Uncertainty around ongoing Middle Eastern tensions poses a further risk to consumer sentiment.

Despite the uptick in consumer confidence, which is expected to accelerate in the third and fourth quarters through ongoing government stimulus and budget disbursements, Thai businesses remain vulnerable to production cost pressures, fuel volatility, liquidity shortages, and aggressive dumping of cheap foreign goods. Officials called on the government to quickly implement protective measures for local businesses against unfair foreign competition, manage fuel costs more effectively, improve access to low-interest credit, and support debt restructuring for small and medium enterprises.

Against the backdrop of major shifts in the global economy, ESG has moved beyond corporate social responsibility. Organizations must now drive structural transitions to strengthen competitiveness and achieve sustainable growth in what is called the Beyond ESG era.

Prachathai Thurakit is convening Beyond ESG: Thailand Transition Toward Sustainable Growth, a flagship annual conference that brings together policymakers, government and private-sector leaders, and top experts to exchange insights on critical issues shaping the future of Thai business and the nation. These include energy transition, technology, new industries, finance, and human capital development.

Beyond ESG represents a shift from theory to action and business transition, moving toward building Thailand's future together.

Building on years of continuous ESG Forum events, Prachathai Thurakit is now elevating the conference to focus on the "transition economy." The larger question driving the event is how Thailand can navigate this transition to maintain its competitive edge globally and drive economic growth toward high-income country status within 12 years—as energy, environment, artificial intelligence, and human talent become the new drivers of national competitiveness.

With capital increasingly flowing toward businesses that create value and demonstrate sustainability, Beyond ESG is not the endpoint of sustainability but rather the beginning of building Thailand's future.

For Prachathai Thurakit's 50th year, the Beyond ESG: Thailand Transition conference will gather all sectors to find answers on how Thailand must transform to elevate its long-term competitive capacity and potential. The event is scheduled for September 3, 2026, from 12:30 to 16:30 at the Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok.

Assoc. Prof. Pimol Srivikrom, chairman of the Thai Olympic Committee under Royal Patronage, presided over a formal cooperation agreement signing between Baoji Limited, a footwear brand manufacturer, and the committee. The agreement was signed on August 13, 2026, at Olympic Committee headquarters by Yuparut Niamhom, managing director of Baoji Limited. The ceremony was attended by Olympic Committee executives, company officials, and Thai national team athletes.

Under this sponsorship, Baoji Limited will provide footwear products to all Thai athletes and officials competing in five major international sporting competitions over four years, from 2026 to 2029. These events include the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan (September 19 to October 4, 2026), the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal (October 31 to November 13, 2026), the 34th Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia (September 18-29, 2027), the 5th European Youth Olympic Festival in Italy (July 24 to August 1, 2027), and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, United States (July 14-30, 2028). Baoji will also provide 6 million baht in cash to support all Olympic Committee activities, bringing the total sponsorship value to over 15 million baht.

The Olympic Committee chairman noted that Baoji, despite being new to the industry, has established itself as a leading sports footwear brand with strong quality and popularity among youth and the general public. He expressed appreciation for the company's commitment to supporting the entire Thai national team.

Chalee Lim, executive advisor at Baoji Limited, stated that the company, a Thai footwear manufacturer with 21 years of history, views this opportunity to officially support Thai national athletes as a key corporate goal. The sponsorship aims to help athletes prepare thoroughly and perform at their full potential on the international stage.

Chaloeng Riewyaeng, 71, charged in the shooting death of Thongchai Yenprasert, chairman of the Nonthaburi Provincial Administration Organization, was taken into custody on August 13, 2569, after Rattanathibej Police investigators apprehended him. The court denied bail, and he was transferred to Nonthaburi Provincial Prison.

A Justice Ministry report disclosed that Chaloeng has now spent two days in the prison's COVID-19 isolation ward. He experiences interrupted sleep throughout the night due to chronic insomnia; he normally takes sleeping medication while outside custody. A doctor will conduct another assessment on Monday, August 17.

Chaloeng has a pre-existing condition of high blood pressure and takes regular medication. A health check at midday on August 13 showed his blood pressure was slightly elevated, though he reported no dizziness, headache, or blurred vision.

Regarding his meals, Chaloeng ate curried pumpkin with chicken and morning glory with oyster sauce on the evening of August 12, and chicken and ginseng soup with rice the following morning—but consumed only small amounts in both cases. He has made no additional requests.

The Justice Ministry noted that because Chaloeng is elderly with existing health conditions, after the COVID-19 quarantine ends, a medical evaluation will determine whether he requires hospitalization, clinic care, or standard detention. The prison has standard monitoring and medical access protocols in place. No concerning irregularities have been reported.

On August 1, 2025, Wat Chula Mani in Bang Chang Subdistrict, Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram Province, held a merit-making ceremony marking the 70th birthday milestone of Phra Samut Vachirsobhan, known as Luang Pho Itt, the abbot of Wat Chula Mani. Somdet Phra Maharachmonkolmuni (Thongchai Thammadhamma), the senior Supreme Sangha Council member and vice abbot of Wat Trimit Withayaram, presided over the religious proceedings, with incense and candles offered to the Triple Gem. Chayachai Saengindra, Governor of Samut Songkhram Province, led the lay ceremony and presented flowers before a royal portrait. Nineteen senior monks chanted the Mahasamai Sutra to mark the 70th birthday celebration, after which alms were offered to 150 monks. Aquatic animals were also released into Amphawa Canal.

Educational scholarships and support totaling 1,090,000 baht were distributed, including 50,000 baht to Wat Molilokayanram in Bangkok for Pali studies, 20,000 baht each to Wat Phet Samut Worrawiharn and Wat Pradu in Samut Songkhram, 350,000 baht to students at Rajabhat University Kanchanaburi, 100,000 baht to primary school students in Samut Songkhram, 30,000 baht to Amphawan Witthayalai School students, and 20,000 baht to Thai Ratana Witthaya School 70. Additionally, 100,000 baht was donated to support a community development project in Mae Klong, Samut Songkhram.

Rice was also distributed to support school lunch and student welfare programs, totaling 2,600 bags weighing 13 tons (valued at approximately 390,000 baht). The rice was sent to six Border Patrol Police Schools in Thong Pha Phum District, Kanchanaburi Province—Luang Prakob Niti School, Ban Thilai Paa School, Suntarawet School, Mit Muanchon 2 School, Wichitra Witthayakarn School, and Ban Pilokki School—each receiving 200 bags. Additional distributions included 200 bags each to Border Patrol Police Schools in Ban Tham Hin (Sangkhla Buri District), 200 bags to Ban Tom Mamuang School (Thai Mueang District, Kanchanaburi), and allocations within Samut Songkhram to the primary education office (100 bags), Samut Songkhram Kindergarten (100 bags), and Muang Samut Songkhram School (100 bags), with 50 bags distributed to each of ten other local schools. Semi-finished instant noodles totaling 180 cases were also donated.

Infrastructure support included 100,000 baht toward building an ordination hall at Wat Bang Kaphom in Samut Songkhram, 200,000 baht for bathroom construction at Wat Don Phingdaet in Phetchaburi Province, and 100,000 baht for bathroom repairs at Wat Chang Thang Krajat School in Phetchaburi Province, with partial funding from the Davastatthit Foundation.

The Treasury Department is holding its first coin auction of 2026 through the Treasury Coin Market electronic system, featuring rare circulating 10-baht coins from 1990. Registration is open from August 14 at 8:30 a.m. through August 23 at 11:00 a.m. Bidders must deposit collateral between August 14 at 8:30 a.m. and August 20 at 6:00 p.m., or until August 23 at 11:00 a.m. for those using Krung Thai Bank or any bank credit card. Bidding begins on August 24 at 10:30 a.m. Participants must complete registration and pay collateral within the specified deadlines to participate. Interested collectors can find details and register at https://coinmarket.treasury.go.th or call 0 2281 0345–51, extensions 3102 or 3109.