HSBC says ASEAN is stepping up as the world's new economic and investment hub, powered by AI, data centers, and clean energy, driving continuous FDI inflows. The bank has launched a major offensive, introducing the "China META Team" of Chinese-language specialists and opening a $4 billion sustainable credit line to support clean energy, EV, data center, and AI businesses from China expanding across ASEAN, with Thailand positioned as a key strategic market in the region.

Georgio Gamba, Chief Executive Officer and head of business customer group at HSBC Thailand, revealed that the ASEAN region is rising as the world's new economic and investment center, driven by AI technology growth, data center investments, and energy transition, which are accelerating the relocation of investment bases and supply chains to Southeast Asia continuously. ASEAN is currently benefiting directly from these trade and investment flows, increasing its share of global exports from 7.4% in 2023 to 9.4% in 2025. Since 2020, ASEAN has also surpassed the European Union to become China's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade valued at $1.05 trillion in 2025, up from $984 billion in 2024.

Despite global economic uncertainty in trade, foreign direct investment (FDI) continues flowing into ASEAN, with the region accounting for 14.5% of global FDI, reflecting foreign investors' confidence in the region.

Regarding Thailand, HSBC views it as a "Strategic Gateway" for Chinese companies seeking to expand into Southeast Asia, particularly in future industries such as digital, electronics, AI, electric vehicles (EVs), EV batteries, and data center infrastructure.

Based on HSBC research surveying over 2,700 organizations globally, Thai companies rank second worldwide in desire to expand business abroad, with Malaysia as the top destination for Thai entrepreneurs. Similarly, Malaysian investors view Thailand as a primary target for business expansion.

Gamba also noted that Thailand's economy in Q1 2025 grew better than expected, with GDP expanding 2.8% year-over-year, supported by strong private sector demand and exports, particularly in electronics benefiting from the global data center investment cycle.

Data from Thailand's Board of Investment (BOI) clearly reflects accelerating investment momentum. In Q1 2025, promoted investment projects exceeded 1 trillion baht, a 2.4-fold increase compared to the previous year, with most investment driven by digital and electronics projects related to AI. Data center and cloud service projects accounted for 86% of total investment value, reflecting rapid digital economy expansion and growing global demand for AI processing power.

Top sources of FDI into Thailand currently include Singapore, China, and Hong Kong. However, China-linked investment may be higher than reported figures, as investments come through registered overseas companies.

The Commerce Ministry is intensifying promotional activities to boost fresh fruit exports to 180 billion baht with a 5% increase. Deputy Commerce Ministry spokesperson Prakul Kodamrong revealed that Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachee Sutharaphant has ordered accelerated fruit consumption campaigns both domestically and internationally, particularly during March-May 2025 when domestic fruit supply peaks.

The ministry previously conducted a fruit business matching event in March that generated 3.12 billion baht in purchase orders and has been negotiating with border authorities in Laos, Vietnam, and China to facilitate logistics. Commercial attachés in China have arranged durian purchases of 1-1.1 million tons this year, while the ministry is pushing mangosteen exports of 150,000 tons through Thai trade missions in Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, India, UAE, and Australia.

In China, the primary export market for fresh durian, the ministry has organized promotional sales in multiple cities including Guangzhou and is promoting Thai fruit in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province in partnership with local agriculture authorities, Pagoda Company, CP Company, and Miniso, generating 218 million baht in value. In Kunming, collaboration with Thai SELECT restaurants and Tongde Department Store resulted in approximately 200,000 yuan (nearly 1 million baht) in durian sales during the event. The ministry is also preparing to expand into western Chinese markets like Chengdu.

Meanwhile, the ministry is accelerating expansion into South Korea, Thailand's third-largest fruit import market, through 13 Hyundai department store branches nationwide along with online sales channels, projecting 30 million baht in purchase orders. A Mumbai event showcasing Thai vegetables and fruit with demonstrations and sampling is expected to generate 359 million baht in orders within one year.

Kodamrong stated that the ministry will boost awareness in unfamiliar markets including the Middle East, Southeast Asia, the European Union, and Central Asia through participation in five trade shows in China and FOODEX JAPAN.

"In the first three months of this year (January-March), Thailand exported 305,673 tons of fresh fruit worth 22.285 billion baht, an increase of 56.24%," he noted. "We are targeting a 5% expansion in fresh fruit exports this year, bringing total export value to 179 billion baht."

On May 21, Deputy Agriculture Minister Piyarat Tiyapairat instructed the National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards (ACFS) to pursue strict legal action against a durian farm that continued producing and exporting durian while operating under a suspended license. ACFS officials seized three containers of fresh durian worth over 10 million baht from Khao Wua subdistrict in Tha Mai district, Chanthaburi, after discovering the facility was being used without proper authorization.

ACFS had received reports of illegal durian production at the farm without a license. Upon investigation, officials found that a major durian producer in the area, which had its producer and exporter license suspended since May 6, was still operating. The facility contained over 35,000 empty packaging boxes and approximately 50,000 kilograms of packaged durian. Company employees claimed the products belonged to another firm sharing the facility, but inspectors found that firm also lacked authorization to produce durian at the location. Officials therefore sealed both the original farm and the shared-use facility, and seized the three containers of fresh durian valued at over 10 million baht for legal proceedings.

The ACFS Secretary-General noted that producing agricultural products while under a suspended license violates the Agricultural Commodity Standard Act B.E. 2551, which carries penalties including fines, license suspension, and revocation. Packaging fresh durian according to mandatory standard ACFS 9070-2566 outside authorized areas also constitutes a legal violation.

Deputy Minister Piyarat emphasized that producers must strictly comply with the ACFS 9070 standard for fresh durian. She stated the Agriculture Ministry will enforce laws strictly, transparently, and fairly with zero tolerance for manipulation or interference to aid law violators, in order to protect legitimate producers, consumers, and maintain confidence in Thai agricultural products both domestically and internationally.

Thai rescuer allegedly threatens to kill wife and steals her valuablesLegacyA woman in Nonthaburi accused her husband, a volunteer rescuer, of physically assaulting and threatening to kill her in jealousy before stealing valuables worth more than 600,000 baht. The victim, 44 year old Promphit, sought help from the Nonthaburi Member of Parliament (MP) assistants to  Kraithawat Thammatada and Saichon Nitkham who accompanied her to file a complaint at Bang Bua Thong Police Station against her 45 year old husband, Sophon. According to Promphit, the assault took place at about 1am on Tuesday, May 19, after Sophon discovered her speaking online with an ex-boyfriend from her childhood. Promphit told police that the man was only a friend and insisted their conversation was not romantic. Photo via Channel 7 Promphit alleged Sophon physically attacked her and attempted to stab her, forcing her to flee their bedroom and seek help from neighbours. However, the property gate was locked and Sophon caught up with her outside the house. Promphit said they argued outside the residence, during which Sophon threatened to kill her and sue her for adultery. Then, the man struck her on the head with a pruning saw, causing serious injuries. She eventually escaped out of the residence but Sophon continued chasing her while carrying a gun. She alleged he hit her on the face with the weapon until witnesses intervened. Photo via Channel 8 According to Promphit, Sophon fled the scene in a van and took several valuables, including cash, a gold necklace, mobile phones, debit cards, vehicle keys and important documents. She estimated the total value exceeded 600,000 baht. When filing the complaint, Promphit still had visible injuries, including swollen eyes, wounds to her nose and cuts on her head and right leg. She said she had been in a relationship with Sophon for four years. The man was extremely jealous and even prevented her from financially supporting her child from her previous marriage. Promphit claimed he had physically abused her three times before, although this was the most serious incident. Photo via Channel 8 Sophon later spoke to Channel 8 and admitted assaulting his wife. However, he claimed he acted because she had been unfaithful and said he possessed evidence supporting his allegations. He also claimed the gun used during the incident was fake and argued that he partly owned the property and valuables taken from the house. Channel 8 reported that police later obtained an arrest warrant for Sophon on charges related to assault and theft. Sophon told media he was prepared to face legal proceedings and would not flee.

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On May 21, Prademsai Bunchuayloet, an adviser to the Prime Minister's Office, chaired a discussion at the Consumer Protection Board (CPBBB) office regarding battery issues affecting 1,668 Volvo EX30 vehicles. Representatives from Volvo Cars and affected consumers attended the meeting.

The identified problem is that vehicles cannot charge beyond 70% of battery capacity until a new battery module is installed. Charging beyond 70% poses a fire hazard risk. Thanomsakdi Santhanapredsit, Director of Technical and After-Sales Service at Volvo Cars (Thailand), confirmed the company has halted all sales of the model.

For the 1,668 already-sold units, Volvo has implemented a comprehensive replacement program. Customers can begin scheduling battery replacements from May 21, with the first vehicle replacement scheduled for May 25. The company expects to complete all replacements by August.

Compensation measures include: 1. Battery replacement at no cost within three months 2. Complimentary loaner vehicles during the replacement period to offset usage inconvenience 3. Regarding buyback requests, the company currently has no buyback policy in place, though customers seeking vehicle replacement options are encouraged to contact Volvo to discuss alternatives.

Thailand has attracted record foreign investment in the first four months of 2025, with the Department of Business Development approving 438 foreign business permits worth 129.3 billion baht—a 124% increase from the same period last year, according to Director-General Poonpong Naiyanaphakorn. In April 2025 alone, 91 foreign business permits were issued worth 31.6 billion baht, predominantly from investors in the United States, Singapore, and China.

For the January-April 2025 period, foreign investment grew by 75 additional permits (21% increase) compared to the previous year, with investment valued at 129.3 billion baht—up 71.5 billion baht from 57.9 billion baht in the same period of 2024.

The top five source countries for the first four months of 2025 are: 1) United States - 77 businesses (18%), 5.95 billion baht; 2) China - 65 businesses (15%), 25.09 billion baht; 3) Japan - 65 businesses (15%), 24.72 billion baht; 4) Singapore - 57 businesses (13%), 23.58 billion baht; and 5) Hong Kong - 42 businesses (10%), 8.07 billion baht. Other countries accounted for 132 businesses (29%) worth 41.92 billion baht.

Investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) reached 134 projects (31% of total foreign investment) worth 49.96 billion baht (39% of total investment), representing a 24% increase in projects and significant growth. Major EEC investors include China with 43 projects (21.1 billion baht), Japan with 22 projects (7.04 billion baht), Singapore with 19 projects (7.94 billion baht), and other countries with 50 projects (13.88 billion baht).