6 business groups to be targeted by Business Development Department

10 Sept 18:33 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Business Development Department (DBD) is investigating six specific business sectors, including tourism, real estate, and e-commerce, due to suspicions of foreign investors using Thai nominee shareholders to bypass ownership regulations.
The DBD, in collaboration with the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), is amending anti-money laundering laws to strengthen controls, proposing measures like state confiscation of businesses proven to use nominees and legal action against both foreign executives and their Thai accomplices.
This initiative addresses a growing concern, highlighted by the establishment of over 300 Chinese-shareholding companies last year, many suspected of employing nominee structures to circumvent the Alien Business Act's 51% Thai equity requirement.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Today 14:22 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Education Ministry is implementing a four-pronged strategy to address its students' below-average performance in PISA 2025 and tackle significant educational inequality.
The plan prioritizes closing performance gaps by increasing funding for small and low-income schools, overhauling the curriculum to foster critical thinking, and adopting a data-driven management system to reduce teacher workload.
Key initiatives include enhancing school safety, combating cyberbullying, and expanding mental health support through peer-to-peer networks, recognizing the severe impact of distress on academic performance.
An education expert advises verifying if PISA improvements stem from structural changes, advocating for a revived STEM curriculum with practical 'learn by doing' methods, and urging bureaucratic reform to link teacher evaluations to student development.