Category: The Bangkok Post

Nestlé has announced a 23-billion-baht investment to build a new Nescafé manufacturing facility in Samut Prakan.

The investment follows the company’s legal battles with the Mahagitsiri family over Nescafé operations in Thailand and related agreements.

According to a statement from Nestlé, the new facility will strengthen its coffee business in Thailand and support export opportunities.

The project was granted investment support by the Board of Investment, and operations at the facility are expected to commence in the second half of 2028.

Nestlé plans to produce a broad range of core Nescafé products, including pure soluble coffee, coffee mixes and ready-to-drink formats, at the new facility.

The project is expected to create more than 520 local jobs, including technology specialists as well as mid-level and highly skilled employees, noted the statement.

The new facility includes an advanced coffee manufacturing site and an on-site distribution centre, said Nikhil Chand, chairman and chief executive of Nestlé Indochina.

The factory will use a wide range of locally sourced ingredients and raw materials, such as coffee beans, sugar and fresh milk produced by Thai farmers, he noted.

The company estimates the annual value of local ingredients and materials used at the new factory at 4.3 billion baht.

Between 2018 and 2025, Nestlé invested more than 27.8 billion baht in Thailand to expand manufacturing capabilities across product categories, including ready-to-drink beverages and pet food.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has upgraded Thailand’s GDP growth forecast to 1.9% from 1.5%, supported by the government’s stimulus measures.

According to the IMF’s World Economic Outlook Update released on Wednesday, the uptick reflects the emergency fiscal measures and is supported by robust technology-related exports and investment.

The lender also raised its 2027 growth forecast for Thailand by 0.1 percentage points to 2.2%.

In its latest outlook, the IMF upgraded the growth forecast for Vietnam by 0.4 percentage points for 2026, rising to 7.5% thanks to robust technology exports and strong domestic demand.

The report maintained its growth forecasts for Malaysia and Indonesia at 4.7% and 5.0%, respectively.

However, the IMF cut its 2026 growth forecast for the Philippines by 0.2 percentage points to 3.9%.

Globally, the group projects economic growth of 3.0% in 2026 and 3.4% in 2027, down from the average of 3.5% recorded in 2024-2025 and broadly unchanged on a cumulative basis from its April projections.

The modest slowdown reflects the impact of the war in the Middle East, partly offset by stronger demand driven by the global technology cycle, particularly investment related to artificial intelligence (AI) and its wider adoption. The effects vary significantly depending on countries’ exposure to the conflict and their position in the technology value chain, noted the report.

Pipat Luengnaruemitchai, chief economist at Kiatnakin Phatra Financial Group, wrote on his personal Facebook page on Thursday the global economy continues to be driven by an AI capital expenditure cycle, benefiting exports and economic growth across several regional economies, particularly Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Although Thailand’s exports grew 17% year-on-year during the first five months of the year, the country has benefited relatively little from the AI boom because Thailand’s technology-related industries remain concentrated in computers, hard disk drives (HDDs) and electronics.

Computers and HDDs account for only 3.3% of the value-added weighting in Thailand’s Manufacturing Production Index. The electronics industry contributes only about 10% of the manufacturing sector’s added value, despite recording solid export growth.

“Under this scenario, the added value and employment generated for the Thai economy remain relatively limited. Even if these sectors continue to expand at an extraordinary pace, they are still too small to drive the country’s economy,” Mr Pipat wrote.

As a result, Thailand needs to accelerate the transformation of its traditional industries to increase the value addition of its exports. Greater automation combined with workforce training would help strengthen the country’s long-term competitiveness, he said.

Thai security authorities in Sa Kaeo province received 79 Thai nationals repatriated by Cambodia on Friday, with five of them reportedly linked to 20 criminal cases.

The 45 men and 34 women were handed over at the Ban Khlong Luek border crossing in Aranyaprathet district after completing legal proceedings in Cambodia.

Members of the Burapha Task Force took part in the operation, along with immigration and customs officers, Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) police officers and others.

After arriving at the immigration checkpoint, all returnees were required to undergo document verification, identity confirmation and detailed data registration. They were then referred to CIB officers for intensive background screening to determine whether they had any links to criminal offences or crime networks.

Preliminary checks revealed that five of the returnees had records linking them to a total of 20 criminal cases. Officials separated them for further investigation.

The Sa Kaeo Provincial Employment Office was also checking travel and employment documents. Those unable to prove they were legally authorised to work abroad could face a 5,000-baht fine under employment laws.

Officials said the repatriation operation formed part of tightened border security measures aimed at preventing illegal overseas employment, combating human trafficking, and monitoring transnational criminal networks that exploit border areas to facilitate illicit activities.

A prime suspect in a heroin trafficking network linked to the case of a Thai flight attendant detained in Australia was arrested in Phayao province on Thursday night, authorities said on Friday.

Police investigators apprehended Ekkawit Yongnichakul, known as ‘Rin Rin’, 41, who is accused of supplying heroin concealed in elephant-patterned tote bags before they were passed on to another suspect, Uthai Kunaphiwat, in the northern province.

The development is linked to the case of the 26-year-old flight attendant, known only as Meena, who was detained in Melbourne after authorities found 1.8 kilogrammes of heroin hidden inside the tote bags she was carrying.

Police said Mr Ekkawit was not the person behind the chat account ‘RoseRose’, who recruited Ms Meena to carry the bags to Australia. However, he is a close relative of ‘RoseRose’ and photographs show the pair travelling together.

During questioning, Mr Ekkawit said he worked as a seasonal agricultural labourer and lived in Chiang Kham district of Phayao. He admitted being hired to transport heroin concealed in elephant-patterned bags and said he was paid about 100,000 baht per delivery.

According to police, ‘RoseRose’ instructed Mr Ekkawit to buy the tote bags in Chiang Mai and leave them at designated roadside collection points.

Associates later collected the bags, concealed heroin inside and returned them to the agreed locations with 100,000 baht in cash. Mr Ekkawit then arranged for Mr Uthai to collect the bags and reportedly paid him 60,000 baht via a cash deposit machine.

Mr Ekkawit claimed the heroin was packed in Laos, but investigators said they have not confirmed where it was concealed.

According to investigators, Mr Uthai travelled by bus from northern Thailand to Ayutthaya province, then hired a black sedan to deliver the tote bags to the condominium where Ms Meena lived in Bang Na district of Bangkok, and to another location in Soi Suea Yai Uthit.

Investigators said Mr Uthai admitted involvement in five or six deliveries. But after discovering he had rented accommodation in Ayutthaya for more than five months, they think he played a larger role in the operation.

In another development, the Department of Special Investigation has obtained arrest warrants for four more suspects – three Lao nationals and one Thai – accused of smuggling heroin from Laos into Thailand.

The Thai suspect, identified only as Khlaeo, has already been detained, according to the Office of the Narcotics Control Board.

Authorities believe the smuggling case and the one involving the flight attendant employed the same trafficking methods, with Mr Uthai acting as the key link between the two operations.

The police Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB), meanwhile, has obtained an arrest warrant for ‘RoseRose’.

Investigators have been making substantial progress, Pol Lt Gen Achayon Kraithong, the NSB commissioner, said upon returning to Bangkok from Phayao on Friday evening.

He described ‘RoseRose’ as playing a role closely resembling that of a principal organiser within the trafficking operation. However, police believe there are still more senior figures at large.

A new Sadao checkpoint compound and road linking southern Thailand and northern Malaysia has been slated to open for users on Saturday after the prime ministers of both nations officiated its launch on Friday.

Thai government spokewoman Rachada Dhnadirek and the Malaysian Home Ministry said the new Thai customs house and the roadway have been scheduled to open for use from 5am Thailand time on Saturday, replacing the existing office at Dan Nok upon its closure.

“The new road will open to all road users at 6am (Malaysia time) tomorrow [Saturday]. At the same time, the existing border crossing linking Bukit Kayu Hitam and Dan Nok will be permanently closed from midnight (Malaysia time) tomorrow,” Bernama quoted the Malaysia ministry’s statement as saying.

The Sadao checkpoint is to be operational between 5am and 11pm.

The new, larger checkpoint is located about six kilometres east of the present office in Sadao district of Songkhla. Construction began in 2016 with a budget of 1.5 billion baht and an aim to ease congestion for trucks, cars and buses at the border. The checkpoint connects Songkha with Kedah state through the Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint.

The crossing is to become the main lifeline of trade and tourism between the two countries, with more than 80% of Thai-Malaysian border trade estimated to pass through it.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul believes the new Sadao checkpoint will do more than improve infrastructure as it will serve as “an economic gateway” bringing people, trade and investment in the two countries closer, according to Ms Rachada.

Mr Anutin wrapped up his two-day visit to Malaysia on Friday.

A prime suspect in a heroin trafficking network linked to the case of a Thai flight attendant detained in Australia was arrested in Phayao province on Thursday night, authorities said on Friday.

Police investigators apprehended Ekkawit Yongnichakul, known as ‘Rin Rin’, 41, who is accused of supplying heroin concealed in elephant-patterned tote bags before they were passed on to another suspect, Uthai Kunaphiwat, in the northern province.

The development is linked to the case of the 26-year-old flight attendant, known only as Meena, who was detained in Melbourne after authorities found 1.8 kilogrammes of heroin hidden inside the tote bags she was carrying.

Police said Mr Ekkawit was not the person behind the chat account ‘RoseRose’, who recruited Ms Meena to carry the bags to Australia. However, he is a close relative of ‘RoseRose’ and photographs show the pair travelling together.

During questioning, Mr Ekkawit said he worked as a seasonal agricultural labourer and lived in Chiang Kham district of Phayao. He admitted being hired to transport heroin concealed in elephant-patterned bags and said he was paid about 100,000 baht per delivery.

According to police, ‘RoseRose’ instructed Mr Ekkawit to buy the tote bags in Chiang Mai and leave them at designated roadside collection points.

Associates later collected the bags, concealed heroin inside and returned them to the agreed locations with 100,000 baht in cash. Mr Ekkawit then arranged for Mr Uthai to collect the bags and reportedly paid him 60,000 baht via a cash deposit machine.

Mr Ekkawit claimed the heroin was packed in Laos, but investigators said they have not confirmed where it was concealed.

According to investigators, Mr Uthai travelled by bus from northern Thailand to Ayutthaya province, then hired a black sedan to deliver the tote bags to the condominium where Ms Meena lived in Bang Na district of Bangkok, and to another location in Soi Suea Yai Uthit.

Investigators said Mr Uthai admitted involvement in five or six deliveries. But after discovering he had rented accommodation in Ayutthaya for more than five months, they think he played a larger role in the operation.

In another development, the Department of Special Investigation has obtained arrest warrants for four more suspects – three Lao nationals and one Thai – accused of smuggling heroin from Laos into Thailand.

The Thai suspect, identified only as Khlaeo, has already been detained, according to the Office of the Narcotics Control Board.

Authorities believe the smuggling case and the one involving the flight attendant employed the same trafficking methods, with Mr Uthai acting as the key link between the two operations.

The police Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB), meanwhile, has obtained an arrest warrant for ‘RoseRose’.

Investigators have been making substantial progress, Pol Lt Gen Achayon Kraithong, the NSB commissioner, said upon returning to Bangkok from Phayao on Friday evening.

He described ‘RoseRose’ as playing a role closely resembling that of a principal organiser within the trafficking operation. However, police believe there are still more senior figures at large.

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra this week led his sister and daughter to meet with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta for discussions reportedly ranging from global to wealth issues.

Former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Mr Thaksin’s daughter, posted a Facebook message on Friday.

She revealed the meeting took place for talks on several issues, from economics to asset management and investment.

“The Indonesia president warmly welcomed three former prime ministers of Thailand,” she wrote to her Facebook. The third ex-premier present was Mr Thaksin’s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra.

The meeting was carried out at the private residence of Mr Prabowo on Wednesday, according the Indonesian presidential palace.

“The meeting took place in a warm and familiar atmosphere, while serving as a momentum to strengthen the long-estalished friendship between the two figures,” it added, citing a statement from cabinet secretary Teddy Wijaya.

Mr Thaksin is a member of the Danantara Advisory Council, which helps shepard the Danantara state investment management agency.

Previously incarcerated, Mr Thaksin was granted a royal pardon in celebration of Her Majesty the Queen’s 4th cycle birthday anniversary last month.

Oussama Thiangkham is relishing the opportunity to prove himself with the Thai national team after receiving his first senior call-up from head coach Anthony Hudson for the upcoming Asean Championship or Hyundai Cup.

After regularly performing with the U23 team, especially at the AFC U23 Championship finals in Saudi Arabia, Oussama, who was born to a Moroccan mother and a Thai father, said he aims to work hard to prove his worth after being given the chance to represent Thailand at senior level at the Asean tournament, which starts later this month.

“I am very happy and proud, as is my family. Being called up for the senior national team is every footballer’s dream. It filled me with pride and joy. My family is also happy and proud. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me throughout my career and also everyone at PT Prachuap, including the club president, officials, coaching staff, and all my teammates, who all congratulated me on this opportunity,” said the Thai-Moroccan left wing-back.

“Of course, when an opportunity comes, I have to work hard, improve myself every day, and try my best every time. Just being named in the squad isn’t enough. My focus is on helping the team as much as possible if I get the chance to play, proving myself, and creating opportunities for myself in the future,” he added.

Born in Casablanca, the 22-year-old player moved to Thailand last year and signed with Thai League 1 club PT Prachuap.

“I only moved to Thailand last year. Being selected for the national team is one of my goals, but as a footballer, there are many more. Today, I’ve ticked one box, but there are many more dreams I want to achieve, such as playing in a top league and developing myself to the highest level.

“I can’t say whether this opportunity has come too soon or not. In the past, I just told myself to work hard all the time, and I believe that when the time comes, I will be rewarded. Now that I have this opportunity, I have to continue working hard to show that I deserve it.”

Oussama also knows he will face competition to secure a starting spot in the national team but insists he’s ready to seize his opportunity.

“There are three left-backs in this squad, so getting that opportunity isn’t easy, but I believe that competition leads to development. Of course, I’m always ready for any opportunity. Actually, besides left-back, I can play as a defender and winger, but it depends on the coach and where he wants me to play to help the team as much as possible. I’m always ready, no matter the position.”

FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts – France captain Kylian Mbappe missed a penalty but curled in a superb goal on the hour as France struck twice in six minutes to brush aside Morocco 2-0 on Thursday and book their spot in the World Cup semi-finals.

Mbappe, who at 27 became the youngest player to rack up 20 World Cup appearances, also bagged ?his 20th World Cup goal with a ?curling shot from just inside the box before Ousmane Dembele added another six minutes later with a low drive to set up a last-four meeting with Belgium or Spain.

Mbappe is the tournament’s joint top scorer with eight goals, level with Lionel Messi, and he trails the Argentine by one in the World Cup all-time scoring list.

“That’s three (semi-finals) in a row – it’s good,” France coach Didier Deschamps said. “It seems logical and natural, but you still have to get the job done. It was tricky, the penalty… when it’s Kylian. He never has any doubts.

“But we’re exactly where we wanted to be,” said Deschamps, who substituted ?Mbappe late in the game after a knock to his ankle. “We’re taking another step forward today, finding ourselves in the final four once again. It shows we’re right there in the mix.”

In a repeat of the 2022 World Cup semi-final, France, who have now kept clean sheets in all three knockout matches, looked the hungrier throughout with Morocco, aiming for a second straight last-four spot, badly missing injured forward Ismael Saibari, and failing to get a shot on target until the 84th minute.

“We ?are very disappointed, we wanted to advance,” said Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi. “We have to recognise that France is a great team with excellent players. France had the better scoring opportunities. We lacked ideas and freshness, and we have to accept this defeat. “Today France ?were stronger but we are able to compete and progress and maybe eliminate them in four years’ time,” Ouahbi said.

Morocco are co-hosting the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal.

Mbappe equals Lloris record

The French, bidding to become only the third nation ?to reach ?three consecutive World Cup finals, started strongly with a couple of early chances.

Mbappe, who also equalled the all-time French record held by Hugo Lloris for World Cup matches, had an early opportunity with a low drive that Morocco ?keeper Yassine Bounou managed to tip wide.

France earned a 28th-minute penalty through Mbappe but Bounou calmly stood his ground, picked the correct side and smothered the France forward’s low effort. It was Mbappe’s first penalty miss for the national team since Euro 2020.

The title favourites also hit the crossbar in first-half stoppage time through Lucas Digne’s powerful long-distance drive, as defensive-minded ?Morocco struggled to reach their opponents’ box and did not have an effort on or off target in the entire ?first half, with Brahim Diaz as the lone striker.

Mbappe made amends for his miss on the hour mark with a quick look up and superb finish, and before Morocco had time to recover the twice world champions struck again through Dembele.

The forward, who forms a formidable frontline with Mbappe and Michael Olise, made use of the space opened up by Mbappe’s to rifle in the second goal and ?his fifth of the tournament.

“A mission? I don’t know but we ?can’t afford to let up,” Mbappe said. “There’s still a long way to go, and what lies ahead is even tougher, but we’ll recover well.”

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has upgraded Thailand’s GDP growth forecast to 1.9% from 1.5%, supported by the government’s stimulus measures.

According to the IMF’s World Economic Outlook Update released on Wednesday, the uptick reflects the emergency fiscal measures and is supported by robust technology-related exports and investment.

The lender also raised its 2027 growth forecast for Thailand by 0.1 percentage points to 2.2%.

In its latest outlook, the IMF upgraded the growth forecast for Vietnam by 0.4 percentage points for 2026, rising to 7.5% thanks to robust technology exports and strong domestic demand.

The report maintained its growth forecasts for Malaysia and Indonesia at 4.7% and 5.0%, respectively.

However, the IMF cut its 2026 growth forecast for the Philippines by 0.2 percentage points to 3.9%.

Globally, the group projects economic growth of 3.0% in 2026 and 3.4% in 2027, down from the average of 3.5% recorded in 2024-2025 and broadly unchanged on a cumulative basis from its April projections.

The modest slowdown reflects the impact of the war in the Middle East, partly offset by stronger demand driven by the global technology cycle, particularly investment related to artificial intelligence (AI) and its wider adoption. The effects vary significantly depending on countries’ exposure to the conflict and their position in the technology value chain, noted the report.

Pipat Luengnaruemitchai, chief economist at Kiatnakin Phatra Financial Group, wrote on his personal Facebook page on Thursday the global economy continues to be driven by an AI capital expenditure cycle, benefiting exports and economic growth across several regional economies, particularly Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Although Thailand’s exports grew 17% year-on-year during the first five months of the year, the country has benefited relatively little from the AI boom because Thailand’s technology-related industries remain concentrated in computers, hard disk drives (HDDs) and electronics.

Computers and HDDs account for only 3.3% of the value-added weighting in Thailand’s Manufacturing Production Index. The electronics industry contributes only about 10% of the manufacturing sector’s added value, despite recording solid export growth.

“Under this scenario, the added value and employment generated for the Thai economy remain relatively limited. Even if these sectors continue to expand at an extraordinary pace, they are still too small to drive the country’s economy,” Mr Pipat wrote.

As a result, Thailand needs to accelerate the transformation of its traditional industries to increase the value addition of its exports. Greater automation combined with workforce training would help strengthen the country’s long-term competitiveness, he said.