Thailand's new PM holds talks with Tesla chief Musk

12 Sept 08:07 Key points summarised by AI

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin held talks with Tesla CEO Elon Musk in New York, discussing the electric vehicle industry and potential investments.
Thailand, a major automobile assembly hub, is actively offering incentives to attract EV and battery makers, alongside tax cuts for local EV buyers, to sustain its regional auto center status.
Tesla reportedly praised Thailand's human capital, indicating a favorable environment for investment, as the country leads Southeast Asia's rapidly growing EV market.

Government to start building Chainat-Pasak-Gulf water diversion canal next year

Today 14:58 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's government will launch the "Chainat-Pasak-Gulf" water diversion canal project in fiscal year 2027, a seven-year mega-infrastructure initiative.
This permanent structural solution aims to mitigate recurrent central plains flooding by diverting water from the Chao Phraya River directly into the Gulf of Thailand, significantly reducing flow to major cities like Ayutthaya and Bangkok.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul justifies the long-term investment as a means to reduce future damages and fiscal burdens, contrasting it with the 40-50 billion baht spent annually on short-term flood relief.
Concurrently, the Prime Minister instructed officials to expand drainage capacity into the Tha Chin River and swiftly remove water hyacinths to improve immediate flood management.