The container ship Ever Frank arrives in San Francisco on Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
BANGKOK — A report by the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP) shows concern over the impact of a renewed trade war under a possible second term of President Donald Trump. The former president has announced new import tariffs affecting several countries, including Thailand, with rates of up to 36% set to take effect on April 9, 2025.
In 2024, Thai SMEs relied heavily on the US market, which accounted for 20% of their total exports worth 7.634 billion dollars, or 14% of Thailand’s total exports to the US. In contrast, SME imports from the US amounted to 2.563 billion dollars, resulting in a trade surplus of 5.070 billion dollars.
In the first two months of 2025, SME exports to the US totaled 1.44 billion dollars, an increase of 39.6% compared to the previous year. The top five export categories: electrical equipment, machinery, gems and jewelry, furniture and plastics, accounted for 75% of all SME exports to the US.
OSMEP estimates that the new tariff measures could reduce SME exports to the US by 1.128 billion dollars (approximately 38.3 billion baht) in 2025. As a result, SME GDP growth could fall by 0.2 percentage points from the original forecast of 3.5%. The extent of the impact will depend on the Thai government’s negotiations and possible retaliatory measures by other trading partners.
Gems and Jewelry
OSMEP’s initial analysis identifies 12 major product groups that are highly dependent on the US market (more than 10% of their exports are to the US and worth over 10 million dollars). Approximately 3,700 Thai SME exporters could be affected:
1. Electrical Equipment
Export value: 2.792 billion dollars
SME share: 34%
U.S. market dependency: 59%
SME exporters: 914 firms
2. Gems and Jewelry
Export value: 758 million dollars
SME share: 45%
U.S. market dependency: 19%
SME exporters: 885 firms
3. Machinery and Components (Including air conditioner parts, faucets, valves, aircraft engine components)
Export value: 466 million dollars
SME share: 25%
U.S. market dependency: 52%
SME exporters: 156 firms
4. Furniture (Including chairs, sofas, lamps, medical furniture)
Export value: 432.15 million dollars
SME share: 45%
U.S. market dependency: 68%
SME exporters: 400 firms
5. Iron and Steel Products (Such as joints, steel wires, nails, bridges, valves, sanitary ware, kitchen/tableware)
Export value: 181.07 million dollars
SME share: 24%
U.S. market dependency: 31%
SME exporters: 422 firms
6. Automobiles and Parts (Including trailers and semi-trailers)
Export value: 116 million dollars
SME share: 8%
U.S. market dependency: 21%
SME exporters: 138 firms
Cars line the BNSF Railway vehicle storage facility at the Port of Richmond on Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Richmond, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
7. Processed Fruit and Vegetable Products (Juices, pickled fruit/vegetables, preserves, jams)
Export value: 73.97 million dollars
SME share: 10%
U.S. market dependency: 14%
SME exporters: 293 firms
8. Aluminum Products (Construction materials, pressurized gas containers, various aluminum items)
11. Rubber and Rubber Products (Including shock-absorbing mats and industrial rubber tubing)
Export value: 24 million dollars
SME share: 16%
U.S. market dependency: 16%
SME exporters: 121 firms
12. Processed Meat and Seafood (Shrimp, shellfish, crabs)
Export value: 14 million dollars
SME share: 7%
U.S. market dependency: 49%
SME exporters: 30 firms
To mitigate these effects, Thai SMEs urgently need to adapt by seeking new markets and regional trading partners. They should also take advantage of trade agreements (FTAs) and consider relocating production facilities to countries that are not affected by US tariffs.
The government is urged to restore confidence in the economy by encouraging investment, increasing household income, boosting domestic consumption and promoting tourism to reduce dependence on exports.
Nevertheless, Thailand could also face an increase in products from other countries looking for alternatives to the US market. Therefore, quick policy responses and awareness campaigns to promote product quality and standards are crucial to avoid potential trade deficits in the future.
A footage shows the British man on a rampage at a local convenience store in Thalang District, Phuket Province, on April 4, 2025.
PHUKET — Immigration police have detained a 39-year-old British national following a series of violent incidents across multiple areas in Phuket on Thursday.
The suspect, identified only as Mr. George, allegedly broke into a local convenience store, attempted to pry open a motorcycle seat, and physically assaulted the shop owner. In a subsequent incident, he reportedly knocked a child off a motorcycle who was riding with their mother, causing injuries.
Phuket Immigration officers took the man into custody on April 4. Authorities report that communication with the suspect has been difficult as he appears to be in an unstable mental state. Officials have placed him in a controlled environment to calm down before formal questioning and potential transfer to Thalang Police Station to face criminal charges.
The store where the British man went on a rampage
According to 51-year-old shop owner Warin Dokbua, the incident began around 7:05 AM when the suspect parked his motorcycle in front of the store. “I had never seen him before that day,” Warin told reporters. “From what I’ve heard from people in the area, he had already been involved in altercations with others before reaching my shop.”
Security camera footage shows the British man attempting to force open the seat of Warin’s three-wheeled motorcycle parked outside. When unsuccessful, the suspect ran into the shop’s kitchen, grabbed a knife, and tried to cut wires to remove the motorcycle seat.
“He appeared to be intoxicated or under the influence of some substance,” Warin explained. “He wouldn’t listen when I tried to stop him, and he physically attacked me, even throwing a bottle of oil at me from the front of the store.”
The shop owner further reported that the suspect fled into a nearby alley where he continued his aggressive behavior toward locals. In one particularly disturbing incident, he allegedly pushed a child who was riding on the back of a motorcycle with their mother, causing the child to fall and sustain injuries.
Following the incidents, Warin filed a report at Thalang Police Station. Officers have since seized the motorcycle the suspect was riding and discovered it had been stolen from the Saku Police Station jurisdiction, adding another potential charge to the case.
A worker loads rolls of steel plate at a steel market in Hangzhou in east China's Zhejiang province, Monday, March 31, 2025. (Chinatopix Via AP)
BANGKOK (AP) — China announced Friday that it will impose a 34% tariff on imports of all U.S. products beginning April 10, part of a flurry of retaliatory measures following U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” slate of double-digit tariffs.
The new tariff matches the rate of the U.S. “reciprocal” tariff of 34% on Chinese exports Trump ordered this week.
The Commerce Ministry in Beijing also said in a notice that it will impose more export controls on rare earths, which are materials used in high-tech products such as computer chips and electric vehicle batteries.
Included in the list of minerals subject to controls was samarium and its compounds, which are used in aerospace manufacturing and the defense sector. Another element called gadolinium is used in MRI scans.
China’s customs administration said it had suspended imports of chicken from two U.S. suppliers, Mountaire Farms of Delaware and Coastal Processing. It said Chinese customs had repeatedly detected furazolidone, a drug banned in China, in shipments from those companies.
Additionally, the Chinese government said it has added 27 firms to lists of companies subject to trade sanctions or export controls.
Among them, 16 are subject to a ban on the export of “dual-use” goods. High Point Aerotechnologies, a defense tech company, and Universal Logistics Holding, a publicly traded transportation and logistics company, were among those listed.
Beijing also announced it filed a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization over the tariffs issue.
Aerial view of a ro-ro terminal for vehicle shipment in Yantai in eastern China’s Shandong province, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Chinatopix Via AP) CHINA OUT
Countries were taking different approaches as they sought a way to deal with the potential disruption to trade and supply chains. Taiwan’s president promised to provide support to industries most vulnerable to the 32% tariffs Trump ordered in his “Liberation Day” reciprocal tariffs announcement.
Vietnam, where the US is a major trade partner, said its deputy prime minister would visit the U.S. for talks on trade.
Some, like the head of the EU’s European Commission, have vowed to fight back while promising to improve the rules book for free trade. Others like Britain said they were hoping to negotiate with the Trump administration for relief.
Fighting back
As with earlier countermoves to U.S. trade penalties, Beijing hit back with targeted action, as well as its universal 34% tariff on all products from the U.S.
The Commerce Ministry in Beijing said it will impose more export controls on rare earths, which are materials used in high-tech products such as computer chips and electric vehicle batteries. Included in the list was samarium and its compounds, which are used in aerospace manufacturing and the defense sector. Another element called gadolinium is used in MRI scans.
China’s customs administration said it had suspended imports of chicken from two U.S. suppliers, Mountaire Farms of Delaware and Coastal Processing. It said Chinese customs had repeatedly detected furazolidone, a drug banned in China, in shipments from those companies.
Additionally, the Chinese government said it has added 27 firms to lists of companies subject to trade sanctions or export controls.
For good measure, China also filed a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization, saying the U.S. tariffs were “a typical unilateral bullying practice that endangers the stability of the global economic and trade order.”
Seize the day
India was hit by a 26% tariff rate, lower than the 34% for Chinese exports and 46% for Vietnam. Its Commerce Ministry that it was “studying the opportunities that may arise due to this new development in U.S. trade policy.” It said talks were underway on a trade agreement, including “deepening supply chain integration.”
The U.S was New Delhi’s biggest trading partner in 2024 with two-way trade estimated at $129 billion, according to U.S. data. They have set an ambitious target of more than doubling their bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. Most pharmaceuticals and other medicines, important Indian exports to the U.S., are exempt from the reciprocal tariffs.
However, diamonds and other gems, another major export industry, are subject to the higher duties.
Workers labor on the production line of towels at a textile manufacturer in Huai’an city in east China’s Jiangsu province, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Chinatopix Via AP)
Business groups said they viewed the challenge as a chance to improve India’s competitiveness. “At a time when global trade dynamics are shifting rapidly, Indian exporters must be equipped with the right policies, strategies, and support to compete effectively,” S.C. Ralkan, head of the Federation of Indian Export Organizations, said in a statement.
We need to talk
Most U.S. trading partners have emphasized they hope negotiations can help resolve trade friction with Washington. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he was prepared to fly to Washington, in a last-ditch effort to forestall the 24% tariffs Trump ordered for exports from the biggest Asian U.S. ally.
“The global trading system has serious deficiencies,” the president of the EU’s European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said Thursday while on a visit to Uzbekistan. But she chided Trump, saying that “reaching for tariffs as your first and last tool will not fix it. This is why from the onset we have always been ready to negotiate with the United States.”
In Italy, Premier Giorgia Meloni told state TV she believes the 20% U.S. tariffs on exports from Europe were wrong, but “it is not the catastrophe that some are making it out to be.’’ Her government planned to meet next week with representatives of affected sectors to formulate plans. “We need to open an honest discussion on the matter with the Americans, with the goal, at least from my point of view, of removing tariffs, not multiplying them,’’ Meloni said.
Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Pham Thu Hang, said Hanoi would keep talking with the U.S. to “find practical solutions” as 46% U.S. tariffs threatened to decimate exports of footwear, electronics, textiles and seafood.
“If enforced, would negatively impact bilateral economic and trade relations as well as the interests of businesses and people in both countries,” Hang said in comments cited by state-run media, which reported that the deputy prime minister and former finance minister Ho Duc Phoc was scheduled to visit the U.S. for trade talks next week.
A helping hand
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said he will offer the “greatest support” to industries most impacted by the new tariffs. Taiwan’s trade surplus with the U.S. is relatively high partly because the island is a major source of computer chips and other advanced technology. Lai said in a statement on his Facebook page that “We feel that this is unreasonable and are also worried about the subsequent impact these measures may have on the global economy.”
Lai said he instructed Premier Cho Jung-tai to work closely with industries that are impacted and to communicate with the public about their plans to stabilize the economy.
New Toyota vehicles are stored at the Toyota Logistics Service Inc., an imports processing facility at the Port of Long Beach in Long Beach, Calif., Wednesday, March 26, 2025. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he was placing 25% tariffs on auto imports. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Japan’s leader Ishiba and other governments also said they were preparing countermeasures to help industries cope.
Likewise, von der Leyen said the EU was consulting with steel and auto makers, pharmaceutical companies and other industries about how to give them more “breathing space.”
Looking elsewhere
Trump’s decision to sharply raise tariffs on countries spanning the globe is “self-defeating,” Wang Huiyao, president of the Chinese think tank Center for China and Globalization, said in an interview.
The latest tariffs impose heavy burdens on some countries in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
It’s a trade war with the world, Wang said, while China’s strategy is to trade more with Southeast Asia and Latin America, with Europe, the Middle East and other developing nations.
“The likely outcome is that China will become the largest trading nation and its economy will be trading more with other nations and the U.S. may … become more isolated,” Wang said.
Europe will work to build more bridges and as a regional economic bloc of 450 million people, larger than the United States, it also has its own huge market, said von der Leyen, the EC president.
The EU is its own “safe harbor in tumultuous times,” she said.
Dow drops another 1,000 points amid global selloff as China matches Trump’s tariffs
The S&P 500 dropped 2.7% early Friday, coming off its worst day since COVID wrecked the global economy in 2020. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1,000 points, and the Nasdaq composite tumbled 3%.
Not even a better-than-expected report on the U.S. job market was enough to stop the slide.
European stocks saw some of the day’s biggest losses, and the price of crude oil tumbled to its lowest level since 2021 on worries about how a trade war could cause a recession.
President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Trump defends tariff moves on social media
Although experts have harshly criticized the president’s economic policies, he’s finding support on TikTok.
He shared a video on Friday morning that said “Trump is crashing the stock market” and “he’s doing it on purpose” as part of “secret game he’s playing, and it could make you rich.”
Trump is at Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Florida, for the weekend. In another all-caps post, Trump said he would stay the course despite fears about a potential recession.
“TO THE MANY INVESTORS COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES AND INVESTING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF MONEY, MY POLICIES WILL NEVER CHANGE. THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO GET RICH, RICHER THAN EVER BEFORE!!!” he wrote.
Later Friday morning, Trump criticized China’s decision to match his tariffs with a 34% tariff on U.S. imports.
“CHINA PLAYED IT WRONG, THEY PANICKED – THE ONE THING THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO DO!” he wrote in a social media post
A tour bus carrying international tourists skids off the Southern Seaboard Highway 44 inbound to Surat Thani, resulting in multiple injuries, on April 4, 2025.
SURAT THANI — Thailand’s roads continue to maintain their dangerous reputation following the latest incident in Surat Thani province, where a tour bus carrying international tourists skidded off the road, resulting in multiple injuries.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Suriyan Petchuay, Chief Inspector of Bang Sawan Police Station, reported that the accident occurred at noon today. The bus was transporting 40 tourists of various nationalities and three staff members from Ao Nang in Krabi province to Koh Samui when it veered off the Southern Seaboard Highway 44 inbound to Surat Thani.
Rescue workers and officers from Phra Saeng Police Station provide first aid to the injured tourists at the accident scene in Surat Thani Province on April 4, 2025.
Rescue workers and officers from Phra Saeng Police Station provided first aid to the injured tourists. Six people sustained injuries, with British and Malaysian nationals requiring further treatment at Bangkok Hospital Surat in Surat Thani city for cervical spine fractures and broken noses. Four others — two Dutch nationals and tourists from France and Germany — have since been discharged from the hospital.
The remaining 34 tourists were transported to their destination on Koh Samui by Rittichai Tourism, the tour bus company.
Lieutenant Colonel Suriyan stated that the driver would face charges of reckless driving. Authorities are monitoring the condition of the injured tourists to determine if they will require more than 20 days of medical treatment, which could result in additional charges. “Fortunately, the bus didn’t hit any obstacles, or this could have been much worse,” he added.
The accident comes as Thailand approaches the Songkran festival, which not only attracts many tourists but is also notorious for high road accident rates. In 2024, during the “seven dangerous days” of Songkran (April 11-17), Thailand recorded 2,044 accidents resulting in 2,060 injuries and 287 deaths. The primary causes were speeding (41.49%), drunk driving (22.7%), and cutting off other vehicles (18.1%).
Dr. Chamaiphan Santikarn, head of the Thailand Safe Motorcycle project and former advisor on injury prevention at the WHO Southeast Asia Regional Office, noted last year that despite continuous efforts to implement various safety measures, motorcycle death and injury statistics in Thailand have not decreased in over 20 years.
“The national strategy aims to reduce fatalities to 12 per 100,000 population, or 8,478 deaths, by 2027,” Dr. Santikarn stated. “But if the current situation persists and relevant agencies don’t implement effective measures to protect citizens’ lives, achieving this goal is virtually impossible.”
BANGKOK (AP) — The Thai army has filed a criminal complaint against an American scholar working in Thailand, alleging that he insulted the country’s monarchy, an offense punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Paul Chambers, a political science lecturer, said police came to his workplace at Naresuan University in the northern province of Phitsanulok on Friday morning to serve him with an arrest warrant and summoning him to the local police station to formally hear the charges.
Chambers said he will report himself on Tuesday and hopes to get released on bail.
“I’m basically in limbo because I can’t go anywhere. I’m not supposed to,” he told The Associated Press. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m kind of nervous.”
A copy of the police summons, seen by the AP, says the regional army command filed charges against Chambers, including violating the law against defaming the monarchy and the Computer Crime Act.
Paul Chambers
The letter, signed by Phitsanulok City police chief Watcharapong Sitthirungroj, said the warrant was approved by the Phitsanulok Provincial Court on March 31. Watcharapong denied any knowledge of the charges against Chambers when first reached by the AP, but when asked about his signature on the document, said he couldn’t immediately comment and asked a reporter to call back.
The 3rd Army Area, covering Thailand’s northern region, was named as the plaintiff in the document, but could not be reached for comment. Army spokesperson Winthai Suvaree could not immediately be reached.
The summons did not explain the details of the offense that Chambers was accused of. Chambers said he believes it was related to a webinar last October in which he discussed the influence of the military in Thai politics.
Thailand’s lese majeste law calls for three to 15 years’ imprisonment for anyone who defames, insults or threatens the king, the queen, the heir apparent or the regent.
Critics say it is among the harshest such laws anywhere and has been used in Thailand to punish critics of the government and institutions such as the military. The army plays a major role in politics and has staged 13 successful coups since Thailand became a constitutional monarchy in 1932, most recently just 11 years ago.
It is rare for a foreigner to be charged under the law, which has been applied frequently in the past decade during a period of political polarization.
Public criticism of the monarchy, a linchpin of Thai identity, used to be rare, but student-led pro-democracy protests began to challenge that taboo in 2020, openly criticizing the institution. That led to vigorous prosecutions under what was previously a little-used law.
The advocacy group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights has said that since early 2020, more than 270 people — many of them student activists — have been charged with violating the lese majeste law, often referred to as Article 112.
The species name "flaviflora" refers to its yellow flowers.
BANGKOK — In a groundbreaking botanical discovery, researchers from Kasetsart University and officials from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation have jointly announced the discovery of a new plant genus and species named “Somnuekia flaviflora,” commonly known as “Por Sri Somnuek.”
The discovery was revealed on March 4 during a press conference attended by representatives from the Faculty of Forestry and Department of Botany at Kasetsart University, along with officials from the National Science Museum of Thailand.
The discovery of Por Sri Somnuek, a new plant genus and species found in the Tenasserim Mountain Range. The plant was named in honor of Somnuek Pong-umpai, a master professor of dendrology at the Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University.
The newly discovered plant genus has been named in honor of Somnuek Pong-umpai, a distinguished professor of dendrology at the Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University.
The scientific name, Somnuekia Duangjai, Chalermw., Sinbumr. & Suddee, was published as a new genus alongside the new species Somnuekia flaviflora in the scientific journal PhytoKeys (254: 221-243, 2025) under the title “Somnuekia flaviflora (Malvaceae, Brownlowioideae), a new genus and species from Thailand.”
The species name “flaviflora” refers to its yellow flowers. The type specimen, collected by Chalermwong, Sinbumroong & Issarapakdee, is preserved at the Forest Herbarium (BKF).
Botanically, Somnuekia flaviflora is a tree that can grow up to 35 meters tall. It features brownish-gray or whitish-gray bark, with inner bark of light brown color. Young branches are densely hairy, while mature branches are almost smooth. The plant has simple, alternate leaves that are ovate to heart-shaped or somewhat pentagonal, measuring 9-21 cm wide and 10-24 cm long.
A new plant genus and species named “Somnuekia flaviflora,” commonly known as “Por Sri Somnuek.”
The inflorescence is a terminal panicle that can reach up to 40 cm in length, with parts covered in whitish-gray star-shaped scales. The flowers are perfect, with five yellow petals and 25-50 yellow stamens. The fruit is a short cylindrical capsule, 5-6 cm long, with five longitudinal ridges and dense star-shaped scales. Seeds are nearly round, dark brown, with short star-shaped scales.
Tenasserim Range stretches approximately 1,700 kilometers across Southeast Asia as part of the broader Indo-Malayan mountain system. Despite their modest elevation, these mountains serve as a significant natural boundary between Thailand and Myanmar, particularly in the northern and central sections of the range.
This significant discovery from the Tenasserim mountain range adds an important new genus to the world’s botanical knowledge and highlights Thailand’s rich biodiversity.
Huawei Thailand Partner Summit 2025 has successfully received an enthusiastic response from over 800 partners from 300 companies.
Bangkok, April 4, 2025 – Huawei has collaborated with partners to elevate the annual event “Huawei Thailand Partner Summit 2025” to new heights under the theme Growing Together for a Digital and Intelligent Future. This summit introduces a new vision for readiness in the industry, preparing for the next developments in artificial intelligence (AI) technology, which is transforming various sectors comprehensively.
During the conference, Huawei announced its commitment to strengthening the “Partners + Huawei” cooperation strategies, aiming to seize opportunities in the intelligent era. This initiative will help customers in the Thai industry accelerate their transition to intelligent era, evidenced by the participation of over 800 attendees from more than 300 companies, showcasing the increasing opportunities for collaboration in Thailand’s digital and intelligent industries.
Mr.William Zhang, President of Enterprise Business at Huawei Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Mr.William Zhang, President of Enterprise Business at Huawei Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd., stated that the era of All Intelligence is advancing rapidly and transforming industries on all levels, prompting organizations to establish ICT infrastructures that support intelligent technologies, especially in light of the rapidly growing AI trend. This is a crucial time for us to explore new opportunities together.
“We reaffirm our commitment to building a strong, transparent, and fair partner ecosystem. Our collaboration will help create value, enhance customer satisfaction, and accelerate the transition to a digital and intelligent era,” Mr. William Zhang emphasized.
He also highlighted the enterprise business strategy to strengthen through resource development and effective structure management, alongside expanding markets and commercial capabilities in organizational structuring, resource allocation, partner systems, products, and solutions to continuously add value for customers and achieve shared benefits in the long term with partners. In 2025, Huawei Thailand’s enterprise business has revised its partner policy to offer greater incentives, improved joint marketing support, and more competitive products and solutions.
Mr. Sheldon Wang, Senior Vice President of Enterprise Business at Huawei Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Mr. Sheldon Wang, Senior Vice President of Enterprise Business at Huawei Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd., stated that, the rapid development of AI technologies, particularly the emergence of DeepSeek, has empowered every enterprise to build their own dedicated lightweight AI solutions, enabling comprehensive intelligent transformation. However, enterprises must simultaneously address two major challenges: scenario adaptation and talent-capability alignment. Given this context, to seize the historic opportunities of the AI era, Huawei needs to collaborate with partners in building a bridge to digital & intelligent transformation. This requires: redefining workspace, redefining ICT architecture to facilitate end-to-end technological and application upgrades. Concurrently, we must redefine partner collaboration models. Through the combined strength of “Partners + Huawei”, we will concentrate expertise across value scenarios to ultimately drive customer success.
Mr. Eric Li, President of Partner Development Department, Huawei Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Mr. Eric Li President of Partner Development Department, Huawei Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd., introduced how Huawei collaborates with partners to achieve mutually beneficial cooperation in three markets: large enterprise business, commercial business, and distribution, under the concept of “a robust and mutually beneficial ‘Partner + Huawei’ system in the long term.” He outlined the partner policy and emphasized that they will focus on customer-centric collaboration, jointly investing, pooling resources, and strengthening the system.
At the 2025 Huawei Thailand Partner Conference, several partners shared their collaborative innovation achievements with Huawei. Mr. Siriwat Vongjarukorn, CEO of MFEC Public Company Limited, said “Under the dual challenges of technological iteration and business transformation, Huawei has demonstrated excellent technological strength and business agility. Its ‘customer-centric’ service philosophy has become our key support in addressing market challenges.” Mr.Pathom Indarodom, Managing Director of SVOA Public Company Limited, emphasized “Huawei’s continuous breakthroughs in AI and industry digitalization are helping more enterprises achieve operational efficiency leaps and business model innovation.”
Mr. Sathit Wannawut, Chief Network Engineer of CYN Communication Co., Ltd., a Huawei eKit distribution elite partner, said, “Huawei eKit precisely targets the SME market, bringing Huawei’s most advanced technological achievements to benefit SMEs across various industries, giving the Thai SME market better choices. The eKit provides professional and timely Thai team support on the basis of product simplicity, achieving rapid delivery. It also provides rich technical courses, giving people both fish and fishing skills, effectively improving engineers’ technical capabilities.”
2025 Partner Joint Solutions Launch Ceremony
To further promote the development of industry digitalization in Thailand, during the conference, more than 10 leading Chinese digital integration partners joined Huawei to release 8 major joint innovative scenario-based solutions covering government, finance, education, and other fields, using Chinese digital intelligent technology to help Thai industries become more intelligent and create a more open China-Thailand digital intelligent partner communication and cooperation platform.
At the awards ceremony held that evening, Huawei presented three categories of awards to partners: ” Growth, Collaboration and Hero Award,” encouraging partners who have achieved outstanding results in digital transformation. These included partners with outstanding performance with Huawei, as well as partners deeply cultivating vertical industry solutions and service partners, while also recognizing outstanding individuals among partners, highlighting the diverse vitality of Huawei’s partner ecosystem.
About Huawei
Founded in 1987, Huawei is a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. We have more than 207,000 employees, and we operate in more than 170 countries and regions, serving more than three billion people around the world.
Our mission is to bring digital to every person, home and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world. To this end, we will drive ubiquitous connectivity and promote equal access to networks; bring Cloud and artificial intelligence to all four corners of the earth to provide superior computing power where you need it, when you need it; build digital platforms to help all industries and organizations become more agile, efficient, and dynamic; redefine user experience with AI, making it more personalized for people in all aspects of their life, whether they’re at home, in the office, or on the go.
Acme-Worawat has once again made history, propelling Thai cryptocurrency ACT(ACET) onto the global stage by bringing in ‘Floyd Mayweather,’ the legendary undefeated boxer who has earned over $1 billion and has become an ACT holder.
Floyd Mayweather Jr., the legendary undefeated boxer (50-0 record) and one of the world’s highest-earning athletes, with career earnings exceeding $1 billion, has announced his status as an ACT(ACET) holder and expressed his full endorsement of the project. He disclosed this development through a post on his personal social media accounts, which collectively gather over 50 million followers. He stated:
“I had the pleasure of spending time with Acme, its founder, in NYC last week. I believe in Acme and ACET(ACT). ACET(ACT) is a DeFi project that has been around for several years.” “Under Acme’s leadership, the potential of ACT(ACET) has become increasingly evident, with its trajectory of growth and strong collaboration within the community.”
Mayweather posted a step-by-step guide on purchasing ACT(ACET), inviting his global fanbase to explore further information and become part of the ACT(ACET) ecosystem. He emphasised, “Even a small investment can add up.”
Acme-Worawat Narknawdee, one of Asia’s largest Bitcoin holders and the founder of globally recognised blockchain-powered digital asset ACT(ACET), expressed his pleasure at Floyd Mayweather becoming an official holder of ACT(ACET). He highlighted that his recent visit to New York, at Mayweather’s invitation, provided an opportunity for an exchange of energy, ideas, and vision with the legendary undefeated boxer. Today, ACT(ACET) has pledged to move forward with the same mindset as Mayweather— “to remain undefeated in the ring of digital businesses.” Currently, ACT(ACET) has over 158,000 holders, a total trading volume exceeding $456 million (15,504 million baht), and sustained growth within the cryptocurrency sector. ACT(ACET) is no longer merely a cryptocurrency token; it has evolved into a “global business opportunity.”
“I presented Mayweather with a one-of-a-kind #iHoldACT hoodie featuring his portrait, symbolising the friendship between us. Although we come from entirely different industries—cryptocurrency and boxing—we have converged through a shared ambition: to elevate ACT(ACET) into a leading global digital asset. In return, Floyd gifted me an Avi & Co. luxury watch worth over $150,000 (approximately 5.4 million baht), signifying time, determination, and the driving force behind ACT(ACET)’s imminent achievement of its objectives,” Acme Worawat concluded.
Additionally, TMZ, the leading U.S. celebrity news outlet, reported that Floyd Mayweather is expanding his investments beyond New York real estate into digital assets. This exclusive meeting with Acme Worawat, the founder of ACT(ACET) and a key figure in the global blockchain sector, is increasingly being viewed as a pivotal development that the cryptocurrency world should stay tuned for.
Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, talks to reporters during a press conference at the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (6 th BIMSTEC) summit in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
BANGKOK (AP) — Leaders of nations in the Bay of Bengal region pledged to improve trade and transport cooperation as they concluded a summit in Bangkok on Friday.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said the seven nations also agreed to increase natural disaster relief efforts after an earthquake last week killed more than 3,000 people in Myanmar and Thailand.
The leaders also expressed their “condolences, solidarity, and commitment to supporting the affected countries” in a joint statement on the earthquake, the Thai leader and meeting chair said.
The meetings faced controversy by the attendance of the head of Myanmar’s military government, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who has been shunned by many countries over his 2021 takeover and the brutal oppression that followed.
In this photo released by Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, from left to right Nepal Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Bhutan Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Myanmar’s military leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, Sri Lanka Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, pose for a photograph during the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (6 th BIMSTEC) summit in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, April 4, 2025. (Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Ministry via AP)
He has not been allowed to participate in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, another regional grouping to which Myanmar belongs, and his opponents have called on BIMSTEC to refrain from engaging with him.
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, or BIMSTEC, members are Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
It was Min Aung Hlaing’s first visit to a country other than his government’s main supporters and backers — China, Russia and Russian ally Belarus — since he attended a regional meeting in Indonesia in 2021.
This photo shared by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his X handle shows him sitting on the right, speaking with Myanmar’s Senior General Min Aung Hlaing at BIMSTEC Summit, in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, April 04, 2025. (Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X via AP)
Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura said Paetongtarn had a bilateral meeting with Min Aung Hlaing, and that they discussed relief efforts for the earthquake and cooperation on border security, especially on issues of illegal trade, drugs smuggling and online scams.
Other leaders attending the summit are Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser to the Bangladesh government, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Thailand postponed the meetings last year, after then-Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was removed from office by a court order. Thailand has now handed the group’s chairmanship to Bangladesh.
In this photo released by Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, and other leaders stand for a minute’s silence for victims of earthquake during the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (6 th BIMSTEC) summit in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, April 4, 2025. (Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Ministry via AP)
The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has partnered with AIS, the country’s leading digital network provider, to drive a mission aimed at building immunity against online scams and cyber threats among the Thai public. This initiative focuses on promoting digital literacy and financial threat awareness to enhance safety in both online usage and financial transactions. The collaboration takes a proactive approach through various initiatives, including working closely with the younger generation—particularly student groups like Color Guard of Chulalongkorn University and Thammasat University. These youth-led efforts are mobilized to equip communities with cybersecurity knowledge and promote digital wellness across multiple regions.
The initiative is supported by several key organizations, including the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau and the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA). Together, all parties reaffirm their shared goal of fostering a safe and sustainable digital society for the people of Thailand.
Under this partnership, BOT and AIS will actively communicate and engage the public to promote both self-awareness and self-protection against cyber threats.
Producing Cybersecurity Content for Public Awareness Educational content on cybersecurity will be developed and disseminated through social media platforms and online learning platforms, enabling the public to gain accessible knowledge on safe digital practices and secure use of financial services.
Empowering the New Generation through the “CU TU Cyberguard” Project. The project, titled “CU TU Cyberguard”, aims to harness the potential of youth to help build a safer digital society. It supports student groups from Chulalongkorn University’s Color Guard and Thammasat University in developing digital and financial threat awareness skills. These students will then serve as ambassadors, passing on this knowledge to communities across the country. The initiative begins with a pilot program at Klongyaiwittayakom in Khlong Yai District, Trat Province.
Chayawadee Chai-anant, Assistant Governor of the Corporate Relations Group at the Bank of Thailand stated “This collaboration marks another important step in expanding the Bank of Thailand’s external network of partnerships to build stronger immunity against financial fraud among the wider public. It reinforces our commitment to tackling financial crime in a comprehensive manner. Beyond implementing our own measures and working closely with financial institutions and relevant organizations, this initiative reflects our dedication to raising awareness and enhancing financial fraud literacy. We hope that this joint effort between the two organizations will play a key role in helping the public stay alert to the ever-evolving threats of financial fraud—ultimately creating long-term protection and resilience against becoming victims.”
Saichon Submakudom, Head of Public Relations and Business Relations AIS, stated, “AIS has continuously positioned itself as a key driver in mobilizing efforts to combat cyber threats, building a strong network of collaboration within society. Our approach includes supporting government agencies in tracking, monitoring, and taking decisive legal action against cybercriminals; developing technological tools that empower customers and the public to protect themselves; and promoting digital literacy through initiatives such as the ‘Aunjai Cyber’ project, which helps raise awareness of online threats and scams.”
“This collaboration with the Bank of Thailand marks another important step forward in strengthening Digital Wellness and Financial Literacy across the nation, while reinforcing our cybersecurity defense. We believe that the joint commitment between our two organizations will effectively align our efforts, achieve our shared goals, and ultimately help Thai people use digital technology safely—without falling victim to online fraud.”
Mr.William Zhang, President of Enterprise Business at Huawei Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
