Thailand

A massive programme of investment in Thailand’s infrastructure, designed to enhance international connectivity and competitiveness, is set to be implemented this year amid a renewed commitment to investment and regional development.

Strong domestic demand kept the wheels of the Thai economy turning in 2012 while also helping to cushion the impact of global uncertainty on exports.

A new memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China could help Thailand tackle its rice oversupply problem and may also serve to pad government coffers. However, many onlookers are sceptical about the true potential for change.

The sale of nine 3G licences in an auction in mid-October raised Bt41.6bn ($1.35bn) for Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), heralding the long-awaited introduction of more advanced data services in the telecoms industry. There are concerns, however, that the bandwidth prices were set too late and will not encourage competition among providers.

Thailand’s green building and energy efficiency construction sector, which may need BT400bn ($13bn) in spending over the next two decades, is looking toward better certification standards and government incentives to drive growth. Figures released by the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE) show that BT216bn ($7bn) was spent on energy efficiency between 2003 and 2011, highlighting the growing awareness of sustainability and conservation within Thailand in recent years.

The beer industry in Thailand is set for a shake up as Ajethai, the producer of Big Cola, moves into the market, providing a new challenge for existing local brewing giants Singha and Chang.