BANGKOK, Nov 26 (Reuters) – Thai Airways International Plc
THAI.BK is forming a plan to end state control and pave the way
for an aggressive regional expansion that includes a new mid-tier
airline and a revamped fleet, its president said on Friday.

The flag carrier, facing increased regional competition, is
negotiating with local and foreign creditors to remove debt
covenants to allow the Ministry of Finance to cut its stake to
49.9 percent from 51 percent, he said.

BANGKOK, Nov 24 (Reuters) – Thailand’s central bank is
prepared to use more capital control measures including a
Tobin-style tax on international transactions but sees no need
to impose them now, the central bank chief said on Wednesday.
He added that inflation was not a concern at the moment,
reinforcing expectations the central bank would keep its
trend-setting one-day repurchase rate unchanged at 1.75 percent
at next Wednesday’s policy-setting meeting.

In his first interview with foreign news organisations
since taking the helm of the bank on Oct. 1, Prasarn
Trairatvorakul said the Thai economy faces “lots of
uncertainties”.

BANGKOK (Reuters) – Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said on Friday she was willing to work with Myanmar’s military junta who locked her up for 15 years and she would support its new political system if it helped the people.

The comments by the 65-year-old Nobel peace laureate, in an interview with Reuters six days after her release from house arrest, were the strongest yet illustrating her intention and desire to engage the junta to bring about democratic reforms.

BANGKOK (Reuters) – Just days after releasing Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, Myanmar’s military rulers have a message for investors with a steely appetite for risk: their isolated country is open for business.

After entering a new era of military-managed democracy following a Nov. 7 election, the secretive junta is courting investment and touting the potential of a country rich in natural gas, timber and minerals with urgent infrastructure needs.

BANGKOK (Reuters) – Just days after releasing Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, Myanmar’s military rulers have a message for investors with a steely appetite for risk: their isolated country is open for business.

After entering a new era of military-managed democracy following a November 7 election, the secretive junta is courting investment and touting the potential of a country rich in natural gas, timber and minerals with urgent infrastructure needs.

BANGKOK (Reuters) – Asset manager Douglas Clayton calls it the ultimate frontier market: a country rich in natural gas, timber and gemstones strategically located between China and India with enormous potential for infrastructure.

But as army-ruled Myanmar heads into its first election in two decades on Sunday, mainland Southeast Asia’s biggest country remains one of the world’s most difficult for foreign investors, restricted by Western sanctions, blighted by 48 years of oppressive military rule and starved of capital.

BANGKOK, Oct 15 (Reuters) – Thailand could take “prudential
measures” and further liberalise capital outflows if inflows
are sustained and threaten to create asset bubbles, the
International Monetary Fund said on Friday.

Surging inflows into Thailand’s markets could complicate
policymaking in Southeast Asia’s second-biggest economy, the
IMF said, projecting GDP growth of 7.5 percent this year and
about 4 percent next year as aggressive fiscal stimulus is
rolled back.

By Jason Szep

BANGKOK (Reuters Life!) – With its gilded temples, tuk-tuk taxis, spicy cuisine and racy nightlife, Bangkok is full of contradictions, congestion and centuries-old exotic allure.

Here are some suggestions from Reuters correspondents with local knowledge to help you make the most of a 48-hour visit:

BANGKOK, Oct 12 (Reuters) – Thailand’s cabinet met on
Tuesday to consider a 15 percent withholding tax on interest
payments and capital gains earned by foreign investors on Thai
bonds, the latest bid by an emerging economy to tame its
surging currency.

From export-dependent Thailand to fast-growing China and
Brazil, governments are moving to rein in their currencies as
investors, turning their backs on low interest rates in the
developed world, pour money into higher-yielding markets.

BANGKOK, Sept 20 (Reuters) – The Bank of Thailand said on
Monday it will unveil measures this week to spur capital
outflows but analysts doubt they can tame one of Asia’s
fastest-rising currencies as emerging markets worldwide see
huge inflows.

With speculation of further easing in the United States and
Japan, and with the European Union delaying its exit from
crisis measures, emerging markets are the destination of choice
for investors searching for yield.