Thailand’s economy is projected to moderate amid softer global demand, high household debt, and ongoing structural constraints.

State-owned enterprises (SOEs) play a relatively limited yet stable role in Indonesia’s economy, contributing 6–8% to nominal GDP between 2010 and 2022, with assets concentrated among a small number of large firms. In 2022, their contribution reached 6.1%, mainly driven by mining, financial services, and electricity, although their overall impact on growth remained modest.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s public apology over recent fuel management issues reflects an acknowledgment of the unintended effects of earlier price controls, including market distortions and supply disruptions.

Indonesia’s expanding partnerships with Japan and South Korea reflect a growing strategic engagement across defence, energy and technology sectors.

A critical opportunity emerges to strengthen the world’s largest trade agreement amid rising global uncertainty and fragmentation. Although regional integration has improved, utilisation remains uneven, particularly among ASEAN members.

Saving and dissaving behavior in Thailand is examined using nearly three decades of household survey data, with a focus on age groups and generational cohorts.

Recent U.S. trade policies under Donald Trump have intensified debate over whether global trade is experiencing temporary disruption or long-term transformation.

The 2018 trade war accelerated structural changes in Thailand’s electronics exports, with growth in midstream and upstream semiconductor components alongside traditional downstream products.

A prolonged Iran conflict could have widespread impacts across global corporate sectors through higher energy prices, supply-chain disruptions, and weaker demand driven by inflation and declining consumer confidence.

Artificial intelligence has moved beyond experimentation, yet most organizations capture only fragmented value from isolated use cases. Unlocking its full potential requires embedding AI into core workflows, operating models, and decision-making processes.

Buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) and other platform-based lending services are expanding rapidly across Southeast Asia, driven by high smartphone use, underbanked populations, and integration with e-commerce platforms. While these systems offer convenient access to credit, automated decision-making can allow risk exposure to accumulate before traditional metrics detect problems.

A Thai cargo vessel, Mayuree Naree, was attacked by Iran’s IRGC Navy near the Strait of Hormuz, leaving three Thai sailors missing. Iran claimed the ship ignored warnings, while the operator denied receiving any notice, raising questions about the incident.

Critical minerals have become central to global geopolitics due to their essential role in clean energy technologies and the growing competition to secure supply chains.

Vertical educational mismatch affects nearly half of workers in Indonesia’s wage sector, meaning their education level does not align with job requirements. Wage outcomes vary depending on gender, field of study, and location.

Rising tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran have pushed global oil prices higher, posing significant risks for Indonesia’s economy.

The Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) sought to rebrand itself by elevating technocrats alongside Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, signaling a shift from its traditional reliance on provincial patronage networks.

Middle East tensions involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran have intensified, raising concerns over global energy supply disruptions and higher transport costs, particularly affecting energy-importing economies in Asia. In Thailand, headline inflation remained negative at –0.88% YoY in February for the 11th consecutive month, while core inflation rose slightly and business sentiment improved. However, higher oil prices driven by geopolitical tensions could increase inflation and reduce GDP growth, given Thailand’s reliance on Middle Eastern crude imports.

Thailand’s digital trade regulatory environment shows lower complexity than regional averages, with regulatory complexity 9% below the Asia-Pacific average and 17% below the ASEAN average under the Regional Digital Trade Integration Index (RDTII) 2.1.

An open confrontation between Israel, backed by the United States, and Iran has reintroduced geopolitical risk as a central factor in the global economic outlook.

President Prabowo Subianto has introduced a development approach centered on three flagship programmes: the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) initiative, the Danantara state investment agency, and the Red and White village cooperatives.

A 2021 fiscal reform in Thailand introduced a one-year deadline for disbursing public investment budgets, replacing flexible timelines.

Indonesia’s capital market reform plan aims to address structural weaknesses exposed after MSCI froze Indonesia’s index weighting, triggering market volatility.

Concerns over the fairness of Thailand’s 8 February 2026 snap election have sparked demands for accountability, largely led by supporters of the People’s Party, or the “Orange camp.”

ASEAN enters 2026 at a pivotal moment as Philippines assumes the ASEAN Chair amid evolving geopolitical and regional dynamics. Strategic competition between the United States and China continues to shape the region’s economic and political landscape, while internal challenges, including Myanmar’s instability and regional tensions, persist. At the same time, ASEAN is advancing initiatives in digital integration and energy cooperation, while expanding partnerships with actors such as Japan and the European Union to support stability and regional development.

Indonesia illustrates both the opportunities and constraints facing the Global South in pursuing green industrialization. While shifting global supply chains create openings to attract low-carbon investment, inward-looking policies in major economies and China’s dominance in clean-tech value chains limit latecomer advancement.

Growth accelerated to 6.9 per cent year on year in the fourth quarter of 2025, supported by strong performances in manufacturing, wholesale trade and finance & insurance.

The landmark security treaty signed by Prabowo Subianto and Anthony Albanese marks a strategic shift in Indonesia’s diplomacy toward a more engaged Indo-Pacific posture.

Singapore’s economy grew by 5.0 per cent in 2025, easing slightly from 2024 but remaining resilient amid strong external demand. Growth was driven mainly by manufacturing, wholesale trade and finance & insurance, with manufacturing expanding robustly.

Thailand’s February 8 general election resulted in a decisive lead for Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party (BJT), which secured 194 seats, while the People’s Party and Pheu Thai recorded notable declines. The outcome reflects voter support for parties emphasizing stability, nationalism, and the monarchy, particularly outside Bangkok.

Despite a turbulent 2025 marked by stalled efforts on Myanmar and renewed border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, ASEAN demonstrated the resilience and global relevance of its partnership model through two major milestones: Timor-Leste’s accession as its 11th member and the substantive agreement of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA).