The Thailand-EU PCA - Better late than never

13 Sept 14:19 Key points summarised by AI

The Thailand-EU Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) was finally signed after an 18-year delay, primarily due to the EU's inconsistent and erratic responses to Thailand's domestic political situation.
Despite the long delay, Thailand consistently pursued international standards, particularly in eradicating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and addressing human rights, while actively supporting the EU's strategic ambitions within ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific.
This PCA marks a significant leap in 44 years of diplomatic relations, designed to bolster cooperation across political, economic, social, and environmental domains, including capacity-building and expert exchange.
The agreement is anticipated to accelerate negotiations for a Thai-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), aiming to prevent further lost opportunities in bilateral trade.

Nationwide crackdown launched on illegal nominee shareholders and land holdings

Today 15:20 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul initiated a nationwide crackdown on illegal Thai nominee shareholders in foreign-run businesses and land holdings to safeguard national interests.
The government will integrate efforts across all relevant agencies to target illicit foreign operations, forced sales of illegally acquired property, and high-risk land ownership schemes.
Key strategies include auditing suspect land and building holdings, establishing a long-term monitoring system, and cross-referencing data from various authorities to trace ultimate beneficial owners.
Prime Minister Anutin emphasized that no influential figures or corrupt officials are above the law, promising straightforward prosecution, asset seizures, and protection for enforcing officers.
Beyond land ownership, the integrated crackdown will also extend to tackle transnational crimes, including drug and human trafficking.