Thailand outlines support measures for rice farmers, boosts organic rice exports
The Thai National Rice Policy and Management Committee (NRPC) reviewed and approved a framework for assistance to off-season rice farmers in 2025 to mitigate the impact of low global rice prices.
Bangkok (VNA)🌌 – The Thai National Rice Policy and Management Committee (NRPC) has convened a meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, to assess the global and domestic rice situation for the 2025–2026 season and outline measures to support farmers and rice exports.
The committee reviewed and approved a framework for assistance to off-season rice farmers in 2025 to mitigate the impact of low global rice prices. Under the plan, farmers will receive 1,000 THB per rai (about 31 USD per 1,600 sq.m) for a maximum of 10 rai (16,000 sq.m) per household, with payments made directly to farmers’ bank accounts. This support will apply only to the 2025 off-season rice crop. A similar scheme will be applied to rice farmers in the 2025–2026 main crop.
On rice exports, the meeting approved the allocation of an organic rice export quota to the European Union (EU) under the Rice Department’s integrated organic and GAP rice market project for 2026–2028 period. The initiative aims to provide incentives and assistance to organic rice exporters to the EU. The Ministry of Commerce, through the Department of Foreign Trade, will allocate a quota of 1,700 tonnes of rice exports to the EU for the 2026–2028 period.
Participants also discussed the development of high-yield rice varieties suited to specific regions to enhance production capacity and meet international market demand, as well as the need to ensure sufficient seed supply for farmers. A working group comprising agencies responsible for both production and marketing has been set up to identify suitable varieties and address the issue of substandard rice quality affecting selling prices. The committee will report its findings to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) for further discussion./.
ASEAN needs about 422 million USD, of which 290 million USD is for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and more than 100 million USD for adaptation efforts
The central bank has said the Thai economy might have grown about 3% annually in the second quarter of 2025 but would feel the impact of US tariffs and weakening consumption later this year.
The one-stop centre is part of the government’s efforts to alleviate the impact of US tariffs, and more proactive measures will be rolled out to safeguard Thai exporters’ competitiveness and strengthen their position in the global market.
The initiative supports the government’s Soft Power policy to position Thailand as a leading global destination while presenting the country’s charm through fresh perspectives and unforgettable experiences.
UNFPA is proud to stand with local health workers, volunteers and community responders. In 2024, it supported 46 emergencies in 16 countries in Asia and the Pacific, reaching millions of women and girls. UNFPA partners with national and women-led organisations to strengthen locally led, inclusive responses and shift the power to those who understand its realities best.
Airports of Thailand (AOT), the company managing Thailand’s chain of international airports, has reported robust growth in the first nine months of the fiscal year, with flights up 9.79% and passenger volume up 7.87%, generating a net profit of 14.26 billion THB (440 million USD).
Mohd Azamanizam Baharon, President of the Malay Entrepreneurs and Industrialists Association of Malaysia (PERDASAMA), said digital tools such as point-of-sale systems, automated accounting, cloud-based inventory management, and customer relationship management (CRM) applications have streamlined MSME operations and improved accuracy.
Chiang Rai province in northern Thailand is recognised as the second safest city in the world for female digital nomads, just after Taipei, Taiwan (China).
Growth will continue to be led by Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei due to their large Muslim populations, enabling regulations, access to sukuk, and potentially improving ties with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries
President of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Lee Jae Myung and his Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Marcos Jr. discussed expanding trade and investment based on the bilateral free trade agreement, broadening the mutually beneficial cooperation, including Korean companies' involvement in the Philippines' infrastructure projects, such as maritime bridges, railways, and shipbuilding.
Police apprehended one suspect and seized a 22-wheel truck registered in Vientiane, which had been specially modified to hide and transport the illicit substances.
As the implementation of the regional ASCC Blueprint 2025 and national Project 161 draws to a close, ministries, sectors, and localities have been actively sharing information, exchanging lessons learned, and discussing challenges faced during the implementation process.
Vietnam's modern political image, both domestically and internationally, is becoming clearer and more prominent than ever. Vietnam is pursuing a well-defined reform strategy that is being actively promoted and implemented, reflecting the nation’s commitment to real and meaningful change.
Tokyo will also support Japanese firms in conducting trials in Indonesia to test the speed and security of their equipment. Securing telecom infrastructure contracts there will mark the first entry of Japanese players into this market.
This was the outcome of the 3rd meeting of the Laos - Philippines Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) on August 13, within the official visit to the Philippines by Lao Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane.
The meeting welcomed ADB’s readiness to invest up to 10 billion USD of its own resources over the next decade in support of the APG, including crossborder interconnections, and other APG-related investments (domestic grid strengthening and renewable energy for power export). It also also welcomed investment from the WB through its 2.5 billion USD "Accelerating Sustainable Energy Transition Multi-Phase Programmatic Approach (ASET-MPA)" programme, approved in 2024 to ramp up renewable energy and promote power trade across the region.
Archaeologists from Australia and Indonesia found the small, chipped tools, used to cut little animals and carve rocks, under the soil in the region of Soppeng in South Sulawesi. Radioactive tracing of these tools and the teeth of animals found around the site were dated at up to 1.48 million years ago.
In an article published on its website on August 12, the institute underlined that tobacco use remains a leading cause of preventable death in Southeast Asia.
The news agency quoted Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo as saying that the NCCP directly supports the objectives of MyDIGITAL and the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint by unlocking real economic potential, apart from providing a clear direction for the country’s digital transformation journey.
Army battalions comprising thousands of soldiers have been deployed, focusing on agriculture and health tasks throughout Indonesia, particularly in remote areas.
The exemption applies to those who had previously been granted work permits under Section 64 of the Alien Working Management Act 2017, but are unable to return to Cambodia due to the ongoing border control measures between the two countries.
Speaking at the ASEAN Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Conference hosted by Malaysia on August 13, the Malaysian Deputy PM, who is also Chairman of the National TVET Council, called on ASEAN member states to promptly address the growing demand for a workforce skilled in digital technology and green transition.
The projects will be managed by the Merah Putih Village Cooperative (KDMP). Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, said the government is targeting the construction of 100 GW of solar power plants, creating a large market for the domestic battery industry.
