Category: The Bangkok Post

In Thailand, inclusive education for visually impaired students continues to face structural challenges, from limited access to learning resources to the societal barriers that restrict opportunities in higher education and employment. Many student-led initiatives designed to ‘help’ blind schools often remain surface-level, providing donations or short-term volunteer work without long-term impact. Seeking a deeper and more sustainable solution, I founded Focus First-a peer mentorship program uniting sighted and visually impaired students in a shared journey of learning and exchange.

The idea for Focus First grew from my earlier project, Apricity: A Tale of Color, a bilingual English-Thai braille storybook I wrote, illustrated, narrated and published with the Educational Technology for the Blind Center in Thailand. With more than 200 copies now distributed to blind schools across Thailand, the book revealed how imagination sustains visually impaired children-helping them assemble a picture of the world through fragments of sound, touch, taste and smell. Encouraged by veteran educator Kru Won, who has spent more than 40 years teaching visually impaired students, I expanded my vision into a program designed to bridge the divide between sighted and blind communities.

The limitations of visual impairment education in Thailand are complex. Many underfunded schools struggle to access adapted textbooks or braille materials, while subjects that rely on visual aids, such as sciences, often cannot be fully translated into accessible forms. Integration into society is another hurdle, with many visually impaired graduates finding opportunities only in vocational training and service work, rarely in professional industries.

Focus First was built to address these challenges directly. Structured around the disciplines of science, art and music, the program follows a ‘teach-share-hands-on’ model. Each session begins with sighted mentors teaching a subject through a tailored curriculum. This is followed by a discussion where ideas and life experiences are exchanged, allowing sighted students to share personal perspectives that visually impaired students might not otherwise encounter.

Finally, sessions conclude with hands-on activities, such as germinating seeds or sculpting clay, which provide practical, memorable engagement with the subject matter and bring theoretical concepts to life.

By situating itself within the frameworks of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education) and 10 (Reduced Inequalities), Focus First highlights how peer-to-peer engagement can create both educational and social impact. Rather than treating visually impaired individuals as passive recipients of aid, the program positions them as active partners in reciprocal learning.

Where many service initiatives stop at temporary support, Focus First aims to build lasting change. In doing so, it provides a model for inclusive education that enriches both sides of the mentorship relationship and offers a pathway toward a more equitable, compassionate society.

The 2nd Army has postponed indefinitely the planned Regional Border Committee (RBC) meeting with Cambodia, citing Phnom Penh’s failure to present a clear plan for the withdrawal of heavy weaponry and for landmine clearance.

The 2nd Army’s operations centre announced the decision late Tuesday and reissued the statement on Wednesday, in Thai and in English.

The statement said discussions with representatives of Cambodia’s 4th Military Region on the relocation of heavy weapons and mine clearance, timelines, locations and monitoring had yet to yield a concrete action plan.

There had been two rounds of meetings and four rounds of document exchanges in the past week. However, Cambodia had still not submitted a clear proposal regarding troop adjustments or designated demining zones, in accordance with the General Border Committee (GBC) agreement.

The earlier GBC agreement called for resolution of the border conflict at RBC level to achieve mutually agreed objectives.

As Cambodia failed to present a substantive plan, the 2nd Army’s RBC had decided to postpone the scheduled bilateral meeting, to maintain the credibility of the agreements and avoid potential distortion of facts, the statement said.

The meeting would be postponed indefinitely until Cambodia came up with a concrete proposal to reduce border tensions.

‘The 2nd Army Area will continue to act within the framework of international cooperation to maintain peace, security and protection of national sovereignty to the fullest extent,” the statement said.

The RBC meeting between Thailand’s 2nd Army Area and Cambodia’s 4th Military Region was originally scheduled for Oct 15-17 at Chong Chom permanent border checkpoint in Kap Choeng district of Surin, with Cambodia the host.

Deputy Prime Minister Borwornsak Uwanno has proposed a timeline that would result in Thailand’s general election being held on March 29, 2026, along with a constitutional referendum.

He said both votes could be held together to save costs and comply with the four-month political roadmap outlined in the agreement between the coalition-leading Bhumjaithai Party and the opposition People’s Party.

Mr Borwornsak made the comments during an address to parliament on Wednesday, when MPs and senators voted to approve in principle two of three proposed constitutional amendment bills.

The bills seek to revise Section 256 of the existing military-drafted constitution of 2017 to pave the way for the establishment of a Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) tasked with writing a new charter.

The Bhumjaithai bill won the most support, with 629 votes in favour, including 167 senators, comfortably exceeding the required threshold of one-third of the 200-member upper house, or 67 senators.

A bill drawn up by the People’s Party also passed first reading, receiving 568 votes in favour, including 108 senators voting in support.

However, the Pheu Thai Party’s version failed to clear the Senate hurdle, gaining 521 votes in total, with only 60 senators in support – seven votes short of the one-third requirement – causing the bill to be rejected.

Under parliamentary rules, at least 67 Senate votes must back any constitutional amendment for it to advance to the next stage.

Before the vote was called, the joint parliamentary session deliberated three consolidated charter amendment drafts put forth by the People’s Party, Bhumjaithai and Pheu Thai.

Mr Borwornsak, the government’s legal expert and a veteran constitution drafter, told the session that the new Section 15/1 amendment empowers parliament to draft a new constitution.

However, the referendum process must legally proceed through the prime minister and the Election Commission (EC), which will determine the polling date and wording of the referendum question.

Under the agreement struck between Bhumjaithai and the People’s Party in exchange for the latter’s support for Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul as prime minister, Mr Anutin must dissolve the House within four months of the government’s policy statement on Oct 1.

This means dissolution would occur by Jan 31, with the general election held 45-60 days later – making March 29 the most suitable date, according to Mr Borwornsak.

The Referendum Act requires at least 90 to 120 days between the announcement of the referendum and the vote. Therefore, if the government aims to hold both the referendum and election on March 29, the prime minister and the Election Commission must declare the referendum by Dec 30.

Mr Borwornsak noted that holding the referendum separately would cost about 6 billion baht, so combining it with the general election would be more efficient.

As Southeast Asia’s creative economy gains global momentum, new efforts are emerging to give the region’s artists, producers, and brands access to the financial tools needed for sustainable growth. One of the most ambitious is the THB 1.8-billion credit platform ‘Dynamics,’ launched by Friday Industries, a diversified holding company founded by Thai entrepreneur Kris Eiamsakulrat, to strengthen financial infrastructure and improve access to capital across the region’s fast-expanding creative sectors.

Friday Industries has emerged as one of the firms driving Thailand’s broader cultural rise a period that has seen local music, film, and fashion gain unprecedented international visibility.

Eiamsakulrat, an early backer of 88rising, helped bring the youth-culture company to Thailand, leading to the launch of FAM, a flagship festival with the Thai government to showcase emerging artists. The collaboration also paved the way for 88rising’s venture with Thai label YUPP, which produced rapper Milli’s historic 2022 Coachella performance, marking a breakthrough for Thailand in global pop culture.

The launch of Dynamics follows Netflix’s recent designation of Thailand as its new Asian content hub, underscoring the region’s growing role in global entertainment. Eiamsakulrat, who also produced A Useful Ghost which premiered and won the Ami Grand Prize at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival said the platform aims to provide more stable financing mechanisms for creative projects and companies that have often lacked institutional support.

‘Southeast Asia has the talent and the audience, but still faces a shortage of structured capital,’ Eiamsakulrat said. ‘Our goal is to help build the systems that allow creative businesses to scale sustainably, rather than rely on one-off success stories.’

Dynamics focuses on structured and data-driven credit, targeting sectors such as film, music, sports, consumer goods, and lifestyle industries often underserved by traditional lenders. The platform employs proprietary AI analytics to identify undervalued and emerging opportunities across intellectual property, distribution receivables, and consumer businesses analysing catalogue performance, engagement velocity, and market sentiment to uncover assets with asymmetric upside.

The platform has already closed 13 loans across Asia and North America. About one-third of the THB 1.8-billion facility is to be anchored by a sovereign-backed investor, earmarked for regional tax-credit programmes and production-financing facilities. The remaining capital will be deployed over the next 24 months, with plans to open to co-lenders and private-credit funds as the platform scales.

‘We see a long-term opportunity to connect creative output with disciplined financing,’ Eiamsakulrat said. ‘If Southeast Asia is to compete globally, it needs both artistic ambition and financial structure.’

Industry analysts say the move underscores a growing pivot towards private-credit strategies in Asia, as banks retreat from complex and non-core financing opportunities. Global investment groups have begun exploring similar models in film and music financing, viewing intellectual-property-backed credit as a promising growth market.

Friday Industries operates three integrated divisions: Studios, which produces and distributes film and television; Atlas, which invests in next-generation cultural brands and intellectual property; and Dynamics, which provides liquidity and financing solutions across the ecosystem. Together, the divisions are designed to link creation, capital, and distribution within a single platform.

The Chinese embassy on Wednesday warned intending Chinese travellers not to buy ‘cheap tours’ to Thailand, advising them to use only well-known, licensed outbound tour operators to avoid problems.

The advisory was issued as Thai tourist police investigate a report of a Chinese man seen on video telling a tour group they must buy goods from a recommended store or they would not be allowed back on the bus.

The embassy addressed the issued on its Facebook page. ‘The Chinese embassy placed importance on the incident and had contacted tourist police for fact checking,’ it said.

‘Details said the man in the video clip holds a Chinese passport and was not permitted to be a tour guide in Thailand,’ it said. ‘He pressured tourists to buy goods and asked for commission.’

The incident was recorded and the video shared on Monday. The Chinese man was seen and heard telling members of a Chinese tour group they must buy goods at a shop he recommended. If not, they would not be allowed back on the bus and might not be able to return home.

‘Buy here, or don’t get back on the bus,’ tour group told

On Tuesday, Pol Col Man Rotthong, chief of investigation of the Tourist Police Bureau, said the Thai tour company involved had a valid permit for the business. It arranged the tour in cooperation with a company in China. It was from Oct 8-13 and included Bangkok, Pattaya and Chon Buri.

The programme was priced legally and was not classified as a zero-dollar tour, authorities said.

Pol Col Man said the Chinese man in the video was not a tour guide but a member of the Chinese company serving as the head of the tour. He was accompanied on the trip by a registered Thai guide who had confirmed there was no coercion.

According to the Thai guide, the incident occurred while the Chinese man was arguing with a member of the group, Pol Col Man said.

The police investigation was continuing into the Chinese company. The group in question had all returned to China. None had reported the incident, Pol Col Man said.

The Chinese embassy emphasised that tourists should not choose tour programmes only because they come with cheap prices. Outbound tours from China must be licensed and with a well-recognised quality service with official contracts for the trip.

Foreigners are not allowed to work as tour guides in Thailand. Complaints about guides should be made to the police tourist hotline 1155.

The cabinet has approved an investment budget of 1.6 trillion baht for state enterprises in fiscal 2026, which is expected to lift GDP growth by 0.3 percentage points.

According to Siripong Angkasakulkiat, spokesman for the Prime Minister’s Office, the cabinet passed the investment framework for state enterprises for fiscal 2026, with a total budget of 1.6 trillion baht.

A report by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) predicted this investment spending should help stimulate Thailand’s economic growth by 0.3 percentage points.

In August, the government planning unit raised its median estimate for Thai GDP growth this year to 2%, up from an earlier estimate of 1.8%, citing greater clarity on US President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariff policy.

The NESDC attributed the clearer outlook on tariffs — with Thailand receiving a rate of 19%, close to the average in this region — as benefiting the country’s export sector. The export value in US dollars for the full year is expected to expand by 5.5%, higher than the 1.8% growth projected on May 19.

This export recovery is expected to spur manufacturing and private investment. Private investment this year is forecast to grow by 1%, up from a projected contraction of 0.7% and an improvement on last year’s 1.6% contraction.

In addition, Mr Siripong said the cabinet assigned the State Enterprise Policy Committee to direct all state enterprises to improve regulations that still hinder public services, shifting towards a customer-centric model that places individuals at the centre of service delivery.

“State enterprises that have burdensome or inconvenient public services must revise their regulations accordingly. Any issues that cause difficulties or inefficiencies in providing public services should be promptly improved,” he said.

The cabinet also approved the policy framework for fiscal 2027, with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul scheduled to announce the policy direction on Dec 1.

“The prime minister said the timeline for the fiscal 2027 framework must be adjusted following the establishment of the new government, to ensure the process is completed in time for the 2027 fiscal year without delay,” said Mr Siripong.

“The Budget Bureau will take this directive into consideration.”

World leaders, ministers and technology executives are gathering at GITEX Global 2025 to share a unified vision of a future powered by cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI), the twin pillars of digital resilience and sustainable growth.

Speaking at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) for the opening ceremony of the 45th edition of the forum on Oct 13, Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Minister of Economy, described AI as a matter of national sovereignty.

“Just as nations invest in defence, we must also invest in AI,” he said.

Non-oil sectors now contribute 77.3% of Emirati GDP, up from 69% five years ago, with a goal of 80% by 2030.

“Digital infrastructure and AI are the backbone of productivity,” said Mr Al Marri.

The UAE has embedded AI across government, including a new AI-powered trademark registration system that reduces approval time from days to milliseconds.

He said talent is “the oil of the new economy,” highlighting initiatives such as the Mohamed bin Zayed University of AI, and long-term visas for digital professionals.

“We are not great at building walls; we are great at building bridges. Use the UAE as your bridge — we connect the world,” said Mr Al Marri.

The UN Conference on Trade and Development projects the global AI market to reach US$4.8 trillion by 2033, and the forum urged deployment of AI across future-critical sectors, including biotech, quantum computing, semiconductors, and green data centres.

Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, president and chief executive of Dubai Chambers, said digitalisation is reshaping trade by making it “faster, smarter and more efficient”, opening equal opportunities for startups and small businesses.

In 2024, the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy supported more than 1,200 digital startups, up 120% year-on-year.

“Dubai’s digital infrastructure and pro-business policies have built a thriving innovation ecosystem,” Mr Lootah said.

“Through collaboration and technology, we empower entrepreneurs to drive sustainable global growth.”

PARALLEL FORUM

At the launch event of the parallel forum Expand North Star 2025 on Oct 12 at Dubai Harbour, Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, the UAE’s head of cybersecurity, declared “future resilience will belong to nations that make cybersecurity their DNA”.

His call to “Invest, Inspire, Innovate” reiterated the UAE’s digital transformation agenda: invest in cybersecurity, AI and quantum R and D; inspire young people to become digital leaders; and innovate by shaping global norms.

“Cybersecurity is not just a shield,” Mr Al Kuwaiti said. “It is an enabler of innovation and sustainable development.”

Meanwhile, Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for AI, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, said the UAE’s AI strategy extends beyond economics.

“Technology and AI are not about competition — they’re about improving quality of life,” he said.

GITEX Global runs from Oct 13-17 at DWTC, featuring tech giants such as Microsoft, Google, IBM, Huawei, Oracle, Dell, AWS and Siemens, alongside innovators Cerebras, Qualcomm and Tata Electronics.

The world’s largest tech and AI showcase brought together 6,800 tech enterprises, 2,000 startups, and leaders from 180 countries.

Expand North Star runs from Oct 12-15 at Dubai Harbour, celebrating its 10th edition as it hosts 2,000 startups and 1,200 investors managing more than $1.1 trillion in assets.

The Department of International Trade Promotion brought Thai startups to both forums in a bid to generate at least 180 million baht through trade negotiations.

The promoted companies comprise: Ample Work Llp, a producer of biodegradable plastic pellets and packaging products; PraIn FinTech, an online payment service system; Megenius, a provider of Beacon and AI technology for content, proactive marketing and strategic sales promotion; Student Care, a platform and application provider that supports students; Digital Era Group, a platform provider for monitoring and managing crop cultivation; and Sable, a specialist in customer data platforms with automated marketing systems.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced on Wednesday that pop singer Lalisa ‘Lisa’ Manobal has agreed to serve as ‘Amazing Thailand Ambassador’ for the next 12 months.

The Buri Ram-born member of the K-pop supergroup Blackpink would be Thai tourism’s face to the world, TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool said.

The agency hopes the star power of its new presenter will translate into more visits to Thailand and lift total tourism revenue back above 3 trillion baht in 2026.

‘Collaborating with Lisa as Amazing Thailand Ambassador marks another significant milestone in presenting the charm, diversity and wonders of Thailand from a fresh perspective – one that will inspire both Thais and international visitors to discover the magic of Amazing Thailand, together,’ Ms Thapanee said.

‘Lisa is one of Thailand’s greatest sources of pride. With her globally recognised achievements and success, she serves as an influential force in telling the story of Thailand’s beauty and unique identity, making it known to a wider international audience.’

Ms Thapanee said Lisa’s role as Amazing Thailand Ambassador would help stimulate global interest in visiting Thailand.

At the same time, the TAT would promote Thailand as a high-quality and safe destination.

From January to mid-August his year, arrivals in Thailand were down about 7.5% year-on-year to around 25 million. The country has been struggling to restore arrivals and receipts to pre-pandemic levels, due to several negative factors, including safety concerns, the earthquake in March and Thai-Cambodian border skirmishes.

In the current high season through March, the TAT hopes that big events will help draw up to 12 million arrivals.

Those events include three Blackpink concerts next week, with hotels near the Rajamangala National Stadium venue reporting high bookings from ‘Blinks’, as Blackpink fans are known.

White Lotus factor

Lisa made her acting debut in Season 3 of the hit TV show The White Lotus, which Thai tourism operators viewed as an opportunity to promote travel across southern provinces this year.

The 28-year-old singer’s every move is followed by tens of millions of fans on social media, adding to her drawing power.

‘Her activities, such as eating meatballs or wearing traditional Thai clothing, have often gained attention on social media,’ Ms Thapanee said.

Lisa is also highly sought after by some of the world’s top brands. Her collaboration with the fashion house Celine reportedly generated $29 million in earned-media value.

Ms Thapanee said the ambassador campaign will feature stories about Lisa’s return to Thailand, portraying a journey of rest and renewal.

As the TAT plans to roll out a new international marketing theme called ‘Unforgettable Experience: Healing is the New Luxury’, Lisa is expected to represent the theme via marketing materials and activities launched from January, said Ms Thapanee.

With more than 107 million followers on Lisa’s Instagram account, the collaboration is expected to reach around 1 billion online views, of which 5-10 million could translate into actual trips in 2026, she said.

Ms Thapanee said Lisa’s fans were a high-potential market, with average spending estimated at 50,000 baht per trip. This campaign was expected to generate anywhere from 250 billion to 500 billion baht in tourism revenue, helping drive total revenue to more than 3 trillion baht next year.

The TAT signed a one-year contract with the artist management company Lloud, which is owned by Lisa, starting from Sept 29, 2025. The contract conditions stipulated that the value could not be disclosed, she said.

Lisa will appear in a 60-second TV commercial, and the TAT plans to produce additional 30-second and 15-second clips from it, along with a separate 30-second trailer. Twelve photoshoots and special merchandise are planned for this campaign.

An exclusive event featuring Lisa is set for January, after the launch of the TV commercial. Ms Thapanee said a Thai production company approved by Lloud has been hired for the project.

Re: “PM defends border tactics”, (BP, Oct 14) and “Border tactics need review”, (Editorial, Oct 14).

There is something deeply hypocritical about the Cambodian government lodging a complaint with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights about an activist playing ghostly sounds near the Thai-Cambodian border.

Landmines laid by Cambodia during the current border dispute have wounded several soldiers and have the potential to kill or maim more, including civilians, until they are all located and removed.

Despite the deeply held belief by many Cambodians (and Thais) in ghosts and witches, I have yet to read any report of deaths or maiming due to “spooky” noises.

David Brown

Border semantics

Re: “PM defends border tactics”, (BP, Oct 14).

I would like to see both the Post and the Thai government be more precise when using the terms “Thai soil” or “Thai sovereignty”. Over and over again, we hear things like “We won’t give up an inch of Thai soil/sovereignty!”

There could be two meanings for this: (1) we won’t give up an inch of areas in Thailand which are not the subject of dispute, or (2) we won’t give up an inch of areas which are disputed between Thailand and Cambodia.

If the meaning is #1, then it’s a nonsensical non-issue. No one is asking Thailand to give up areas that are not in dispute. If the meaning is #2, as I fear it is, it shows Thailand as unwilling to negotiate and unwilling to acknowledge that there may be legitimacy to Cambodia’s claims. I suspect the reality is that every time the term “Thai soil” is used in the Post, it means “the disputed area that is claimed by Thailand (and also by Cambodia)”. I think the Post would do the world a big favour by clarifying this every time the terms are used, so readers can fairly judge the situation.

Randy Hurlburt

War of words

Re: “Whose story holds?”, (PostBag, Oct 11).

Keith Barlow asks who is telling the truth, official Israeli sources or numerous so-called human rights organisations. Why is it that following the recent ceasefire agreement, claims of famine in Gaza are suddenly abating? We see many videos of thousands of Gazans, and none of them look particularly hungry. And after two years of “genocide”, the population of Gaza has only increased.

Hamas’s “genocide”, “intentional starvation”, and “they kill babies” narratives have been relayed by an overly-biased press for two years. This media manipulation has emboldened Hamas and unnecessarily prolonged the war.

The mainstream media must be investigated by an impartial international tribunal and held accountable.

Frank Scimone

Booze blindspot

Re: “Made of stronger stuff”, (PostBag, Oct 12).

When Jason A Jellison writes that “I don’t feel you can make direct comparisons between booze and weed because alcohol is not a narcotic”, he again demonstrates a failure of critical thinking in an effort to exempt his personally preferred recreational substance from being treated equally by the law to other popularly used drugs of addiction.

Alcohol is addictive, similar to cocaine, heroin, tobacco, yaa baa, and arguably cannabis. No one, including Mr Jellison, can in good faith doubt that the popular recreational drug alcohol causes serious harm to many of its users and to society. To be fair and socially beneficial, the law must have clear guidelines that are applied to the sale and use of all addictive drugs, whether narcotics or alcoholic beverages.

Continuing its mission to empower Thailand’s food industry and strengthen the local economy, GO WHOLESALE – the food wholesale centre under Central Retail – has officially opened its 14th branch in Rayong. The grand opening ceremony, held on 15 October 2025, was presided over by Phasakorn Boonyalak, Governor of Rayong Province, and warmly attended by local entrepreneurs and customers eager to explore the province’s newest wholesale destination.

Mr Ricardo Boarotto, CEO Thailand, Central Food Wholesales Limited, commented, ‘Rayong is a key strategic location within the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), with strong potential across industries such as manufacturing, energy, tourism, and agriculture. The province is home to numerous restaurant operators, HORECA businesses, and small retailers. This drives continuous demand for consumer and food products. GO WHOLESALE Rayong aims to meet these needs by offering high-quality ingredients at competitive prices, helping entrepreneurs reduce costs, increase profit margins, and enhance competitiveness.’

‘The branch launch also aligns with the Thai government’s economic stimulus measures-particularly the ‘Khon La Khrueng’ co-payment programme, which boosts consumer spending toward the year-end and offers much-needed support for local businesses looking to benefit from increased customer demand.’

GO WHOLESALE Rayong is strategically located in the city centre on Sukhumvit Road, with a sales area of over 5,000 square metres, featuring more than 15,000 product items across well-organised zones in a clean, bright and modern setting. Customers can look forward to new experiences, including:

A live seafood zone featuring aquarium displays with fresh catches such as rainbow lobsters, sea bass and grouper sourced from Rayong’s local aquaculture.

A premium meat zone, including a dry-aged meat service and expert butcher cuts.

Frozen food, fruit and vegetables, and ready-to-cook items – ideal for stock management.

An international seasoning zone and household essentials.

A GOfe’ café corner offering signature menu items such as juicy rotisserie chicken and rich, creamy soft-serve ice cream.

‘Our core commitment at GO WHOLESALE is to strengthen the local supply chain by sourcing directly from local farmers and promising SME producers,’ Mr Boarotto added. ‘At the Rayong branch, for instance, we purchase live grouper from local aquaculture and safe vegetables from the Pa Yup Nai community enterprise in Wang Chan District. This gives farmers access to modern retail channels and helps build a stable income – ultimately supporting the grassroots economy.’

Moreover, over 90% of the staff at this branch have been hired from Rayong and neighbouring provinces, directly contributing to local employment and income circulation. The launch is expected to stimulate purchasing activity in the region.

To celebrate the grand opening, GO WHOLESALE is offering special promotions for new members, including discount coupons worth up to THB 1,000 (valid from 15 October – 31 December 2025). Additional exciting promotions include deep discounts, special bundle deals and a The1 member-exclusive offer: redeem 800 points for a THB 150 discount with a minimum purchase of THB 2,000 (valid from 15 October – 15 November 2025).

‘We truly hope that GO WHOLESALE Rayong becomes the go-to destination for restaurant owners, HORECA businesses, café operators, small retailers and food lovers,’ concluded Mr Boarotto. ‘We are committed to delivering an inspiring and practical wholesale shopping experience that helps every entrepreneur grow – especially as they prepare to take advantage of the government’s economic stimulus efforts.’