Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) expects the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to cut the policy rate to 1% by the first half of next year to support inflation and mitigate debt deflation risks. Last Wednesday, the MPC voted unanimously to reduce the policy rate by 25 basis points to 1.25%, effective immediately, to support economic momentum. The MPC has cut the policy rate four times during six meetings this year, lowering the rate by a total of 1 percentage point. According to Mr Yunyong, household debt remains high despite a gradual decline. Private consumption growth has slowed in recent periods and is expected to continue decelerating in 2026, as average household income has declined.

Central: The Original Store on Charoen Krung Road invites everyone to celebrate the festive season with music, food, art and heartwarming moments during "Central: The Original Store On Holiday 2026", until Jan 4. The event opens up a welcoming space for all to relax, recharge with positive energy and create memories together. Standing on the first floor is a large authentic Christmas tree with refreshing scent and twinkling lights, offering the charm of Christmas in the heart of Charoen Krung, the birthplace of Central's history. Enjoy enchanting jazz music under the theme "A Very Warm Christmas" at Siwilai Sound Club, also on the 1st floor. Set to make the Christmas Eve warmer than ever will be Alma Vocal Ensemble, while Tuey Tasha & Her Trio will perform on Christmas Day.

The year began with a bang when the Marriage Equality Act came into effect, allowing same-sex couples to register their union for the first time in Southeast Asia. Photo: Varuth HirunyathebMarriage equalityThailand is the first country in the region to endorse marriage equality. The Marriage Equality Act is an amendment of the Civil and Commercial Code's Article 1448, replacing "husband and wife" and "man and woman" with gender-neutral terms, such as "spouse" and "person", to allow anyone to marry. The Marriage Equality Act takes effect from Jan 23. Early this month, civil society groups, including ThaiTGA, called for LGBTI volunteers to help those affected in the area.

KeawKeaw Green Catering offers menus featuring organic agricultural products, healthy choices and eco-friendly packaging. She found that events using organic agricultural products had to rely on outsourced catering services, prompting her to establish her own catering service. He said organic agricultural products can be influenced by seasonal conditions and can sometimes carry higher prices. In addition to food catering, the company also creates conversations about protecting the Earth, he said. REDUCING FOOD WASTEMr Teeraphod said a focus of the business is to minimise food waste generated from catering services.

The Big Data Institute (BDI) under the Digital Economy and Society Ministry has laid out its strategic direction for advancing Thailand through data and artificial intelligence (AI). BDI developed D2 as a unified platform for data sharing and analysis across government bodies, private sector organisations and allied networks. "The platform promotes standardised and systematic data collaboration, enhances public sector decision-making capabilities, and will be rolled out in phases," she said. She said the system adheres to stringent principles of data governance, security and personal data protection. The institute also joined with Tourism Council of Thailand and Digital Economy Promotion Agency to use big data and AI to propel the tourism sector.

Omoda & Jaecoo ramps up Thai EV productionListen to this articleMr Cui expects Omoda & Jaecoo's factory in Rayong to help the company benefit from the popularity of BEVs in Thailand. "Thailand's manufacturing plant in Rayong is preparing to produce the Jaecoo 5 EV, Omoda 4, and Chery Q4 EV models next year," Mr Cui said. Omoda & Jaecoo earmarked 5 billion baht to build the plant, which is scheduled to begin operations in the final quarter of 2025. Between January and October 2025, Omoda & Jaecoo sold 12,000 vehicles, surpassing its earlier target of 7,000-8,000 units. The committee now allows companies to meet reduced production quotas if their BEVs are destined for export, offering greater flexibility to manufacturers such as Omoda & Jaecoo.

Deloitte forecasts 3% growth under stable governmentListen to this articleThailand can accelerate the economic growth to nearly 3% if the stable post-election government implements well-targeted investment policies, says Deloitte Thailand. Thailand can accelerate economic growth to nearly 3% if it secures a stable post-election government and implements targeted investment policies, says Deloitte Thailand, while reaffirming the nation's strong potential to emerge as a regional data centre hub. Metinee Jongsaliswang, country managing director at Deloitte Thailand, said the firm projects economic growth in 2026 at around 2% under its base-case scenario, factoring in multiple uncertainties beyond the country's control. However, if Thailand succeeds in forming a stable government and adopts investment policies that effectively stimulate economic activity and channel capital into the right sectors, growth could approach 3%, she said. Healthcare growth may moderate amid a sluggish economy, according to Deloitte.

Trade talks between Thailand and the US remain on track even as Thailand operates under a caretaker government. According to Chotima Iemsawasdikul, director-general of the Department of Trade Negotiations, Thailand is continuing technical negotiations with the US regarding the tariffs, which she reaffirmed remain at 19%. "Technical negotiations between Thailand and the US Trade Representative are ongoing," she said. "The issues in the technical negotiations are similar to those in trade liberalisation talks, covering market access for goods and services as well as investment. The US raised issues cited in its 'National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers', particularly non-tariff measures, which the US views as affecting trade and its economic security."

If government formation is delayed by three months, an analyst predicts subdued economic growth in the first quarter of 2026. However, the business sector remains concerned about governance continuity, particularly the potential economic impact if government formation is delayed, as was the case in 2023. According to data from 2023 when a government was formed three months after the election, GDP declined by 1.8 percentage points. If the election occurs on Feb 8 next year, a new government should be in place by March 8." In the upcoming election, no single party is expected to secure a majority, resulting in a fragmented coalition government, said Mr Aat.

Thailand turn their focus to Asian Games in NagoyaListen to this articleSports Authority of Thailand governor Gongsak Yodmani. Varuth HirunyathebThailand, who closed the curtain on the 33rd Southeast Asian Games with a commanding performance on home soil, have quickly shifted focus to next year's Asian Games in Japan. The SEA Games, staged between Dec 9 and 20, were hailed as a success both in terms of organisation and results. "The SEA Games have given us confidence, but the Asian Games demand a different approach," Gongsak said. The 20th Asian Games will take place from Sept 19 to Oct 4 next year in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.

Michael Setter's relentless stream of vaccine fearmongering is equally frustrating as it is wrong. Vaccines are safe, they save lives and reduce the burden on public health by lowering the incidence of disease. Diane ArcherQuick solutionRe: "BoT cracks down on surging baht", (Business, Dec 17). The BoT could next announce that all these government bonds bought back will be declared "paid off" (let's call it "quantitative redemption"). That announcement would be a bazooka blow to the markets and weaken the baht in 15 nanoseconds.

Hun Sen's war is his last gaspsListen to this articleDamage to a casino caused by Thai strikes in Pursat province, amid clashes along the Cambodia-Thailand border. Hun Sen, the patriarch of Cambodian politics and Senate President, has seemingly dusted off an old playbook: the "externalisation of internal problems." The immunity once enjoyed by Hun Sen's inner circle is evaporating. In this context, the border war is simply reduced to a cynical survival tactic. Hun Sen is not saving his legacy; he is mortgaging his country's future.

US, Ukraine hail 'productive' Miami talks but no breakthroughListen to this articleWashington last month stunned Ukraine and its European allies by presenting a 28-point plan to end the warMIAMI - US and Ukrainian envoys issued a joint statement on Sunday that hailed "productive and constructive" talks in Miami, but did not announce any apparent breakthrough in efforts to end the war with Russia. It has since been redrafted following Ukraine and Europe's involvement, though its contents have not been publicly disclosed. A video on Russian state media showed Dmitriev arriving in a motorcade to Witkoff's Shell Bay luxury golf club. Moscow, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022, sees Europe as pro-war and argues its participation in the talks only hinders them. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier described the talks as "constructive" and said they were "moving at a fairly rapid pace."

Nigerian government frees 130 kidnapped Catholic schoolchildrenListen to this articleIt is unclear who kidnapped the hundreds of children and staff from St Mary's school in Niger state, NigeriaABUJA - Nigerian authorities have secured the release of 130 kidnapped schoolchildren taken by gunmen from a Catholic school in November, a presidential spokesman said Sunday, after 100 were freed earlier this month. "Another 130 abducted Niger state pupils released, none left in captivity," Sunday Dare said in a post on X. In late November, hundreds of students and staff were kidnapped from St Mary's co-educational boarding school in north-central Niger state -- though the exact number, and whether all are free, has been in dispute. A UN source told AFP that "the remaining set of girls/secondary school students will be taken to Minna", the capital of Niger state, on Tuesday. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said 315 students and staff were kidnapped.

Ex-minister launches New Opportunity PartyListen to this articleJatuporn: Words into actionFormer commerce minister Jatuporn Buruspat launched a new political outfit called the New Opportunity Party on Sunday, which he said will focus on tackling the nation's debt problem and economic inequality. The party will also work towards creating a welfare state and protecting the nation's royal institutions, he said. Mr Jatuporn said the party does not seek to gain power or secure important positions, but genuinely solve the nation's problems. Responding to critics who called the party "a graveyard where former civil servants come to gather", he said the party features many knowledgeable people who can help Thais. He said Thailand must focus on its tourism sector and reform the education sector to boost growth.