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The government’s economic stimulus measures, which are scheduled to be rolled out in the final quarter of this year, are expected to help boost business confidence and increase the demand for loans among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Pichit Mitrawong, president of the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand (SME D Bank), said confidence among SME entrepreneurs in the fourth quarter is expected to rise, while loan demand is likely to double compared to the third quarter.

He cited a joint survey conducted by the bank’s Research and Data Center and Excellent Business Management Co on “SME Entrepreneurs’ Confidence Index toward the Economy and Business in the third quarter of 2025 and Future Outlook,” which covered 500 SME entrepreneurs nationwide, across all industries.

The SME confidence index forecast for the fourth quarter of 2025 indicates a more optimistic business outlook, with the index rising to 80.6 compared to 67.1 in this year’s third quarter. This was driven by expectations of higher sales, supported by anticipated government policies to stimulate economic recovery, encourage investment, and promote business expansion, especially among SMEs.

Tourism confidence is likely to continue to grow with the arrival of high season, which will help boost domestic and international tourist spending.

Additionally, the SME confidence index for the fourth quarter of 2025 improved across all regions. The western region recorded the highest level at 90.0, followed by Bangkok and the metropolitan area at 86.9, and the northeastern region at 81.8. The index also increased across all business sectors, particularly tourism services, manufacturing, and construction, reflecting optimism about economic recovery towards the end of 2025.

In the third quarter of 2025, the SME confidence index stood at 67.1, up from 57.3 in the second quarter, supported by the “Tiew Thai Khon La Khrueng” co-payment scheme, which boosted orders, services, and business performance. The micro-enterprise group saw the greatest increase in confidence, benefiting from stronger domestic purchasing power and more widespread income distribution, aligning with tourism services which stood out as the strongest sector.

However, many entrepreneurs still expressed concern about the influx of cheap products from China, Vietnam and India, which threatens their business by taking market share and forces them to cut prices to stay competitive.

For the fourth quarter of 2025, SME loan demand is expected to rise compared to the previous quarter, both for working capital and investment purposes. Together, these account for over 42.2% of loan demand, up from 21.2% in the previous quarter. Tourism businesses in particular showed the highest increase in loan demand, reflecting their readiness to capture the opportunities of the high season, with micro-enterprises also showing rising demand for credit.

Mr Pichit added that in response to this demand, SME D Bank is prepared to provide support by offering loan products in line with government policies for all SME groups, especially tourism.

These loans will support investment, expansion, and improvement projects to meet the needs of the high season, enabling businesses to deliver products and services effectively to both Thai and foreign tourists. The bank will offer these loans at a special fixed low annual interest rate of 3% for the first three years.

A court has backed prosecutors and denied bail for Nopparat Benjawatananun, the former National Office of Buddhism (NOB) chief who fled to the United States after he was accused of embezzling subsidies for the restoration of temples across the country, the Office of the Attorney-General announced on Monday.

Mr Nopparat, who was extradited to Thailand on Saturday, was taken into police custody as he had two active warrants against him.

The warrants, issued by the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases Region 7 and Region 9 in 2023, accused him of diverting funds meant to go towards the renovation and development of over 65 temples across the country.

The warrants also noted his alleged involvement in the embezzlement of funds allocated to a further 65 temples in the deep South.

Mr Nopparat fled to the US after the scandal broke out eight years ago. The US Marshals Service finally located and detained him in April.

OAG, in cooperation with the Foreign Affairs Division of the Royal Thai Police and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), secured the extradition of Mr Nopparat last weekend.

According to OAG spokesman, Sakkasem Nisaiyok, Mr Nopparat was brought to the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases Region 7 Monday morning to acknowledge the charges against him.

Mr Nopparat will remain in custody until Oct 10 as prosecutors opposed bail, calling him a flight risk.

Mr Nopparat is accused of misappropriating properties, corruption and malfeasance under sections 83, 147, 151 and 157 of the Criminal Code, after authorities detected irregularities in the renovation of Wat Phanan Choeng Worawihan in Ayutthaya.

Mr Sakkasem said the allegations against Mr Nopparat carry severe penalties as they involve large sums of money that he and his associates allegedly embezzled from the government.

Police have busted a large hub run by copyright pirates streaming Premier League football matches and movies through an illegal website, serving over 100,000 members and earning 200 million baht a year.

The action followed complaints by Thailand’s leading pay-TV operator True Visions Group and the Motion Picture Association (MPA), an international industry advocate group, about an illegal signal conversion by the website ‘inmiptv’.

Pol Maj Yutthana Praedam, deputy director-general of the Department of Special Investigation, said according to the complainants the website was illegally rebroadcasting Premier League football matches and Warner Bros Entertainment group movies.

On Sept 21, about 40 police led by Pol Capt Khemachart Prakaihongmanee, director of the Bureau of Technology and Cyber Crime, raided a key target, a warehouse in Pak Kret district of Nonthaburi province.

It was a large warehouse on over five rai of land, about 8,000 square metres, and operated as a signal interception and conversion centre.

Police seized equipment used for live broadcasting, including rows of computer servers, signal decoding boxes, satellite dishes and mobile phones. Bank books for mule accounts used for laundering funds were also impounded.

The detected signal from other affected operators included MONO, Netflix and TV Channel 3.

Investigators said the website had at least 100,000 members, generated more than 200 million baht in annual revenue and was directly linked to a major online gambling network with annual revenues from various websites they run exceeding 1 billion baht.

As one of American trading partners, Thailand has been on the Watch List of the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) for eight consecutive years, since 2017. The government hopes Thailand will to be removed from the list this year.

The partnership between the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Etihad Airways marks a significant milestone in combining elite sport with global connectivity.

Under this collaboration, Etihad serves as the Official Global Airline Partner of the BWF, providing seamless travel and premium experiences for players, officials and fans, while amplifying badminton’s global reach. The alliance reflects both organisations’ shared mission to unite people across continents through sport, culture and shared values.

Since January 2025, the airline has connected badminton’s worldwide fan base of 744 million people, most of whom are in Asia, with its expanding network and services.

At the recent TotalEnergies BWF World Championships in Paris, BWF President Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul met with Arik De, Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, to celebrate the role the airline has played in elevating the sport this year.

‘To align ourselves with a global leader in air travel such as Etihad Airways signals the sport’s expanding footprint,’ Khunying Patama said. ‘Etihad’s dedication to fostering connections through sport mirrors our mission of uniting people through badminton’s universal appeal

‘We are proud to partner with a sponsor that shares our vision to elevate badminton to world-class status, and for Etihad to take an active role in developing the sport globally. Together, we aim to enhance the fan experience, elevate the sport’s visibility and deliver unforgettable experiences at our premier tournaments.’

De underlined the synergy between the two organisations. ‘Our partnership with the BWF reflects Etihad’s commitment to connecting people through sport, culture and travel,’ he said.

‘Badminton is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, uniting millions of fans across Asia and beyond. As we expand our network across Southeast Asia, we are proud to engage with badminton fans everywhere and support a sport that is so deeply loved in the region.’

Beyond celebrating the partnership, Khunying Patama herself embodies the global aspirations of the sport. A billionaire entrepreneur turned philanthropist, she has channelled her resources into sport, youth development, art, music and culture.

She became Thailand’s first female member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2017, the fourth Thai overall to hold the post. Earlier this year, she was elected by 206 national member associations as president of the BWF for the 2025-2029 term, making her not only the first Thai but also the second woman ever to lead the world body.

In Thailand, she serves as President of the Badminton Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage, where she has spearheaded grassroots development, talent-building initiatives and the hosting of world-class events.

Her influence extends well beyond sport. She is active in numerous charities supporting education, health and social development, while also serving as patron of cultural, art and music organisations.

With business interests ranging from steel and property to hospitality and logistics, Khunying Patama has long been recognised as a leading figure in both corporate and philanthropic circles. In 2024, she was honoured by the Thai Sports Journalists’ Association with the title ‘Olympic Queen’ for her contributions to Thai and international sport.

Through her leadership, generosity and vision, Khunying Patama has not only shaped the trajectory of badminton worldwide but has also inspired countless young people in Asia and beyond.

The Administrative Court has ruled that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and Krung Thep Thanakom Co Ltd must pay 11 billion baht to Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Co Ltd (BTS) for operating and maintaining the extended sections of the Green Line electric skytrain.

The ruling, issued on Monday, relates to unpaid operations and maintenance (O and M) fees for two extensions of the Green Line project between June 2021 and October 2022, totalling 11 billion baht, plus interest. The court ordered the payment to be made within 180 days from the final ruling date.

The BMA and Krung Thep Thanakom representatives stated they would consult with BMA executives on whether to appeal because doing so may result in higher interest payments.

Deputy Bangkok governor, Wisanu Subsompon, said the BMA respects the court’s decision. To settle the debt, it is seeking approval for a supplementary budget for the 2026 fiscal year, using part of its 51.66 billion baht in reserve funds. The total payment owed to the BTS is expected to be 32.62 billion baht, including accrued interest through November next year.

The budget allocation process involves several steps before the Bangkok governor gives his final approval, and the payment is expected to be made on Nov 18.

The debt includes 12.2 billion baht from the second lawsuit period (June 2021-October 2022), and another 17.1 billion baht accrued from November 2022 to December 2024. An additional 8.3 billion baht is expected for 2025 operations.

Once the debt is paid, the BMA will have approximately 19 billion baht left in reserve funds.

Thailand’s economy remained sluggish in August as private consumption slowed, farm incomes declined, and exports softened due to the impact of US tariffs, according to the Fiscal Policy Office (FPO).

Pornchai Thiraveja, director-general of the FPO, reported on Monday that private consumption in August decelerated compared to the corresponding period last year, particularly in durable goods.

The number of newly registered motorcycles and passenger cars for the period decreased by 1.8% and 0.3% year-on-year, respectively, and also fell compared to the previous month after seasonal adjustments, by 3.0% and 4.8%.

According to Mr Pornchai, real farm income in August declined by 10.8% year-on-year, while the consumer confidence index dropped to 50.1, from 51.7 in the previous month. This reflected the slow pace of economic recovery, high costs of living, and concerns over geopolitical tensions.

Private investment remained stable compared to the same period last year. Private investment in machinery and equipment, as reflected by capital goods imports, rose by 23.6% year-on-year in August and edged up 0.1% month-on-month after seasonal adjustments.

Meanwhile, the number of newly registered commercial vehicles in August dropped by 10.5% year-on-year and fell by 8.5% month-on-month after seasonal adjustments.

Private investment in the construction category, as reflected by domestic cement sales, declined by 8.0% year-on-year and 1.0% month-on-month after seasonal adjustments.

Exports in August continued to expand compared to the same period last year, with the total export value in US dollar terms standing at US$27.7 billion, up 5.8% year-on-year, marking the 14th consecutive month of growth.

Exports excluding oil and related products, gold, and military goods rose by 5.4%.

Nevertheless, export growth was found to have decelerated following the US imposition of reciprocal tariffs, Mr Pornchai said.

In August, 2.58 million foreign tourists visited Thailand, down by 12.8% from the same period last year. However, domestic tourism increased, with 22.4 million Thai tourists travelling within the country, up 6.4% year-on-year.

For the industrial sector, the Thai Industries Sentiment Index in August declined slightly to 86.4, from 86.6 in the previous month, pressured by the border conflict, flooding problems, and uncertainty regarding the US tariffs. Meanwhile, Thailand’s Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 52.7, from 51.9 in the previous month, supported by an uptick in new orders.

Overall, Mr Pornchai said Thailand’s economic stability remained sound, as reflected by headline inflation in August which stood at -0.79%, and core inflation at 0.81%. Public debt at the end of July was 64.5% of GDP, still within the fiscal discipline framework under the State Financial and Fiscal Discipline Act.

External stability also remained strong, and capable of withstanding risks from global economic volatility, as reflected by international reserves, which stood at a high level of $267.4 billion at the end of August.

Thai League 1 champions Buriram United take on South Korea’s FC Seoul in an AFC Champions League Elite away game on Tuesday.

FC Seoul drew their opener 1-1 with Japan’s Machida Zelvia while Buriram United came from behind to defeat Malaysian Johor Darul Ta’zim 2-1.

The South Korean club will not only have the home ground advantage but will also be backed by an unbeaten record against the Thunder Castle.

Buriram coach Osmar Loss told a news conference on Monday: “In the AFC Champions League Elite, every game is tough, and we have to play as an away team. We confirm that our target is to pick up at least a point from this game.”

Rabbits tame Port

Surachat Sareepim had a double as BG Pathum United defeated Port 2-0 in a Thai League 1 encounter at home on Sunday night.

Port wasted a big opportunity in the 33rd minute when Warit Choothong committed a foul on Brayan Perea in the penalty area but the Colombian forward’s strike from the spot was stopped by Pathum goalkeeper Saranon Anuin.

The Rabbits got their first goal in the 45+2 minute when Surachat Sareepim’s header sailed into the net. Surachat then beat an offside trap shortly after the break to make it 2-0 for the hosts.

In other games, hosts Ratchaburi lost 1-0 to Bangkok United and Nakhon Ratchasima were held 1-1 at home by Muang Thong United.

Fifty-eight percent of organisations across Thailand encountered cyberthreats powered by artificial intelligence (AI) in the past year, while 90% of organisations are already using AI in their security environment, according to a survey commissioned by Fortinet.

The 2025 IDC survey covered 550 IT and security leaders across 11 Asia-Pacific markets including Thailand between February and April 2025, with 88% of respondents from organisations with more than 250 employees who were directly involved in cybersecurity decision-making.

Supakorn Kungpisdan, country manager for Fortinet Thailand and Laos, said chief information security officers (CISOs) across Thailand are entering a more advanced phase of cybersecurity planning. They are finding that AI is not only augmenting defences, but also influencing how organisations structure teams, allocate budgets and prioritise threats.

According to Fortinet, AI is transforming cybersecurity on both sides of the battlefield.

Defenders are using it to automate threat detection, accelerate incident response and scale intelligence at unprecedented speed.

Attackers are harnessing AI to craft faster, stealthier and more adaptive threats, making the race between offence and defence more dynamic than ever, noted Fortinet.

According to the IDC study, 58% of organisations across Thailand report encountering AI-powered cyberthreats in the past year. Of those, 62% reported the increase doubled and 34% reported a threefold gain in threat volume.

These attacks are harder to detect and often exploit blind spots in visibility, governance and internal processes.

In contrast, more than 90% of organisations across Thailand are already using AI in their security environment.

Organisations are rapidly progressing from AI-powered detection to more advanced use cases such as automated response, predictive threat modelling, AI-driven incident response, AI-powered threat intelligence and behavioural analytics, according to Fortinet.

These top five use cases reflect how detection has become an essential requirement, while response, prediction and orchestration are now the next frontier.

Generative AI is also gaining traction, with adoption focused on light-touch tasks such as updating rules and policies.

However, trust in autonomous action remains limited. Use cases such as auto-remediation and guided remediation are not widely deployed, signalling we are still in the ‘co-pilot’ phase of adoption, noted the study.

Top 5 roles

Across Thailand, the top five cybersecurity roles in demand include security data scientists, threat intelligence analysts, AI security engineers, AI security researchers and AI-specific incident response professionals.

Cybersecurity budgets are rising, with 92% of Asia-Pacific organisations reporting an increase. However, the vast majority of these increases were modest, as 74% reported an uplift of less than 5% and only 18% saw increases between 5-10%. This suggests that while budgets are growing, spending remains focused on covering rising operational and talent costs, noted Fortinet.

The top five areas of investment over the next 12-18 months include identity security, network security, cyber-resilience and cloud-native application protection. This indicates a strategic shift from infrastructure-heavy spending towards more targeted, risk-centric priorities that reflect the evolving threat landscape.

Despite growing executive focus on cybersecurity, most teams remain under-resourced. Just 6% of staff are in internal IT, and only a fraction of those focus on security. Fewer than one in six organisations have a dedicated CISO, and only 6% have specialised security teams, according to Fortinet.

This lack of focus is hurting performance – over half of respondents report rising threats, tool overload and talent challenges, driving burnout and highlighting the need for smarter resourcing.

The Royal Thai Navy has confirmed progress in dismantling structures encroaching on Thai territory along the border in Trat province, as parallel operations to clear landmines and unexploded ordnance have secured more than 236,000 square metres of land.

Rear Adm Parach Rattanachiayaphan, deputy navy spokesman, said three illegally built houses had been demolished in Ban Nong Ri, tambon Chamrak in Muang district of the eastern province bordering Cambodia. He described their removal as a positive first step, though several encroaching structures remain.

Among them is a large casino building at Laem Klat, which one of 17 targeted demolition sites. He noted that while most tasks are near completion, all removals require Cambodian cooperation, and the casino building will need multi-party coordination due to its size.

Security sources confirmed that operations have been under way in recent days, though details remain restricted for national security reasons.

The encroachments date back decades, originally on land once occupied by Thai timber workers before being taken over by Cambodian settlers.

Adm Pairote Fuangchan, the incoming navy chief, stressed that Thailand continues to apply pressure over the disputed casino, which has not yet been used. He insisted the structure must eventually be destroyed and added that there were no new cases of encroachment in Chanthaburi or Trat.

The casino complex that straddles the border was built by Chinese investors, and before the hostilities broke out, about 2,000 Chinese were staying in the area, according to Thai security authorities.

Progress on mines

In a related development, the Second Army Region has reported major progress in clearing hazardous remnants of the border conflict in late July.

Clearance teams in August and September carried out extensive removal operations in Phu Makua in Si Sa Ket, and Chong An Ma and Chong Bok in Ubon Ratchathani, according to Col Siwa Whangakart, spokesman for the National Mine Action Centre,.

The teams removed 122 anti-personnel mines, four anti-vehicle mines, 80 unexploded ordnance items and more than 2,000 abandoned explosive weapons. In total, 2,879 explosive items were dismantled and destroyed, making 236,537 square metres of land safe for patrolling, community use and future development, he said.

Col Siwa emphasised that alongside clearance, soldiers and affected residents are being trained to recognise explosive hazards, helping prevent future accidents.

Meanwhile, activist Veera Somkwamkid visited the Thai-Cambodian border in Trat on Tuesday, criticising restrictions on accessing Boundary Marker No 73 without Cambodia’s consent as a ‘disgrace’.

He called for the demolition of casinos and buildings allegedly encroaching on Thai soil, as the structures were clearly illegal under Thai law because no construction permits had been sought from local Thai authorities.

He also demanded the revocation of the 2000 and 2001 Memoranda of Understanding with Cambodia, saying they were disadvantageous to Thailand.

As well, he warned against leaving sovereignty issues solely to the military, stressing that a civilian government must share responsibility in safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty.

Border trade with Cambodia plummeted by 99.9% year-on-year to just 10 million baht in August, while total border trade dropped by 3.1% to 150.1 billion baht, according to the Department of Foreign Trade (DFT).

The department expects total border trade for the year to reach 1.81-1.85 trillion baht, a 1-2% growth, driven by transit trade to China, Singapore and Vietnam.

Arada Fuangtong, director-general of the DFT, said that border exports dropped by 14.7% to 75.06 billion baht in August, while imports rose by 12.2% to 75.07 billion baht.

Among Thailand’s four neigh- bouring countries, border trade with Malaysia recorded the highest value at 26.9 billion baht, a 5.7% drop; followed by Laos at 23.1 billion baht, a 0.1% decline; and Myanmar at 13.8 billion baht, a 20.8% fall. Key export items were diesel, computers and peripherals, along with other refined petroleum products.

Mrs Arada added that border exports to Cambodia decreased for a second consecutive month in August due to checkpoint closures. Border trade shrank by 97.5% in July before plummeting 99.9% to 10 million baht in August, which included Thailand’s exports of 5 million baht in wine, 1 million baht in minerals and fuel, and 1 billion baht in whisky.

“The trade will be disrupted if the checkpoints remain closed until the end of this year,” she said.

To support exporters to Cambodia, the department has implemented several relief measures. An initial survey identified about 100 affected businesses in sectors such as food and beverages, consumer products and auto parts.

These businesses will be prioritised for participation in six border trade fairs in 2026.

The department has also organised business matching activities to connect these entrepreneurs with buyers and border importers from various markets, along with transport operators offering special transportation rates for exporters.

Mrs Arada said the department plans to reassess the border trade target for 2026, but no specific trade target has been set for trade via the Cambodian border.

“If border trade for next year maintains the same level as this year, it can be considered an achievement. The initial target for 2027 has been set at 2 trillion baht, but this may require adjustments or alternative strategies to ensure we meet the goal,” she said.

In the first eight months of this year, border trade totalled 1.34 trillion baht, up 9.2%, with exports growing by 7.6% to 763.5 billion baht, and imports rising by 11.4% to 574.8 billion baht.