Jakarta (VNA) – The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) has called for the adoption of the ASEAN Quick Response (QR) Code by all ASEAN countries at the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (BAC) meeting. The transactions carried out via ASEAN QR Code will use local currencies, KADIN Chaiman Arsjad Rasjid said after chairing the ASEAN-BAC meeting in Magelang district, Central Java of Indonesia, on March 22. He said that if a transaction is conducted in Indonesia, it will use the rupiah. Likewise, if it is conducted in Thailand, it will use the Thai baht, and so on, he explained. The QR code adoption will also reduce the cost of transactions, thus it can be the key for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and bigger business players in ASEAN to collaborate, he said. The ASEAN QR Code is one of the comprehensive legacy programs promoted by KADIN as a solution to strengthen digital transformation in ASEAN, which is one of the five ASEAN-BAC priority … [Read more...] about Indonesia hastens ASEAN’s adoption of regional QR Code
Thai baht bracelet
Election campaigns may create 3.5 billion USD for Thai economy
A street in Bangkok capital of Thailand. (Photo: AP) Bangkok (VNA) - Election campaigns are forecast to generate up to 120 billion THB (3.5 billion USD) for the economy of Thailand, said the Centre for Economic and Business Forecasting at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce . The centre’s director Thanawat Polvichai said political parties are going into full gear with campaigning for votes after the election date was set for May 14 by the Election Commission. The 120 billion THB generated while campaigning will push Thailand ’s GDP up by 4% in the second quarter, he said, adding that the Thai economy is expected to grow by 3-4% this year. However, rising production costs and inflation can affect the business sector’s profits and liquidity though the economy is believed to pick up in the second half of this year, according to Thanawat./. VNA … [Read more...] about Election campaigns may create 3.5 billion USD for Thai economy
Thailand arrests phone scam gang targeting elderly Americans
Bangkok (VNA) – Thai police on March 22 announced that they had arrested 20 suspects, including five Indians and 15 Thais, for alleged involvement in a phone scam network preying on elderly Americans. According to local police, the scammers were arrested in Chon Buri, Rayong, Roi Et and Surat Thani on March 21, adding that all five of the Indian suspects were men and 11 of the 15 Thais detained were women. The police also seized 162 bank account books, 61 mobile phones, two cars, one pistol, land title deeds and other assets. The investigation dates back to last year, when US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Secret Service agents informed Thai police that Indian cyber criminals and Thai nationals had set up a phone scam network to trick elderly people in US into transferring money to them. The fraudsters, pretending to be US law-enforcement officials, preyed on the fear of their victims by telling them that they were being investigated for alleged money … [Read more...] about Thailand arrests phone scam gang targeting elderly Americans
Thailand’s automobile production up 6.39% in Feb
Car production plant in Chon Buri province of Thailand. (Photo: bangkokpost.com) Bangkok (VNA) - Automobile production in Thailand rose 6.39% in February from a year earlier to 165,612 units, as a shortage of microchips eased and export increased, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) reported. Spokesperson for FTI’s automotive industry division Surapong Paisitpattanapong said export climbed 11.42% in February from a year earlier, after January’s 24.28% rise. Domestic sales, however, dropped 3.94% in February from a year earlier, after January’s 5.58% fall, due to an unexpected sharp decrease in truck sales, he said. In January, automobile production rose 4.02% year-on-year. Thailand is a regional vehicle production and export base for some of the world’s top carmakers, including Toyota and Honda./. VNA … [Read more...] about Thailand’s automobile production up 6.39% in Feb
Vietnamese boxer outplays Spanish competitor to advance to world championship semifinals
Vietnamese boxer Nguyen Thi Tam trounced Spanish rival Laura Fuertes Fernandez 5-0 in the women’s 50kg quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals of the 2023 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in India on Wednesday. From the beginning of Wednesday’s match, Tam showed her dominance over Fernandez. Tam did not allow her opponent to approach while launching single and continuous attacks. With abundant physical strength and good stature, Tam confused the European No. 9 and took the lead in the showdown. In the first two rounds, Tam scored with straight punches and accurate hooks into Fernandez’s face, abdomen, and ribs to claim the absolute victory. In the third round, Fernandez tried to regain the balance but ended up being squeezed out by the Vietnamese boxer. At one point, Fernandez even failed to keep her composure and had an unsportsmanlike conduct against Tam, for which she was given a warning. In the end, Tam won 5-0 with the absolute points of 30 in all five … [Read more...] about Vietnamese boxer outplays Spanish competitor to advance to world championship semifinals