Thailand’s deficits spark wariness but outlook remains upbeat: analysts

The announcement of Thailand’s largest current account deficit since before the Asian financial crisis has sparked unease among analysts but they are still largely upbeat about economic prospects this year. Central bank figures released last Monday showed a 942-million-dollar current account deficit in January, the highest in nearly eight years. The figure dominated headlines as…

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Sri Lanka’s property market to withstand tsunami onslaught: analysts

The tsunamis that ravaged Sri Lanka are unlikely to dampen the island nation’s booming property market in the months ahead as foreigners hopefully sniff out bargains and aid floods in, analysts said. Property prices on the palm-fringed island nation have risen dramatically in the past three years, due partly to a February 2002 truce in…

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Cambodia’s crucial garment industry braces for end to quota system

Cambodia’s crucial garment sector is bracing for the end of a 30-year-old global textile quota system in December, hoping to position itself as a labour-friendly alternative to China. The highly mobile garment manufacturing industry contributes more than 90 percent of Cambodia’s export earnings and employs an estimated 240,000 mostly female workers, making it the linchpin…

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Thai economy to move ahead at cracking pace in 2004

Thailand’s economy steamed ahead in 2003 to become Southeast Asia’s top economic performer and is poised to continue its dizzying comeback from the 1997 financial crisis in the year ahead, analysts said. Although some signs of overheating emerged towards the end of the year, the kingdom’s economic fundamentals remain solid and foreign investors are eyeing…

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Five years on, Thailand crawls out of crisis as it struggles to reform

Five years after Thailand floated the baht and triggered a disastrous regional economic crisis, analysts say plenty has been achieved, but to make the most of the current recovery reforms must go on. As a recovery fuelled by consumer spending and an ambitious government stimulus package kicks in, economic growth predictions for 2002 have been…

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Lotus positioning

The 42-storey Thai Farmers Bank headquarters lies on the “wrong” side of Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River, giving staff an unusual view of the city. This is not the bank’s only unique outlook: it’s considered to have one of the more visionary IT and overall re-engineering strategies in Thailand’s post-crisis environment. Thai Farmers Bank (TFB), the…

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Carbon dated transactions

When customers at a downtown branch of Thailand’s fifth-largest bank take a deposit or withdrawal slip, they take a sheet of carbon paper too – it means they can write their own receipt. It’s no surprise then, that Bank of Ayudhaya (BAY) customers were taken aback by the August launch of the bank’s first foray…

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Holiday home market looks appealing

The top end holiday homes market is seeing movement after the overall market effectively closed down during the crash period, say experts. A real return to action in the middle market is not expected for another three to five years, but prices have bottomed-out, meaning now could be a good time to buy. Executive director…

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Buy art for art’s sake and it just might pay off

Investing in the Thai art market is not for those wanting to make a quick buck. For most collectors, buying art is driven by a love of particular pieces. Financial gain is secondary, and in most instances collectors will rarely sell pieces they like, even if their market value increases. Nevertheless, there can be good…

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Recruiters make searching easier

Looking for a change of career, but not sure where to start looking? Need to fill a position quickly, but don’t have time to advertise and screen applicants yourself? Recruitment companies, steadily becoming more widely known and utilised in Thailand, could be your answer. And if you’re a candidate, the only cost involved is your…

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