Thailand in economic upheaval: Prime Minister changes course!

Thailand in economic upheaval: Prime Minister changes course!

At THE STANDARD ECONOMIC FORUM 2025, Anutin Charnvirakul, the Thai Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, recently presented his vision for the future of the Thai economy. Under the motto “Thailand’s Next Frontier: A National Economic Vision,” he made it clear that the kingdom faces significant challenges. Thailand has a bitter reputation as a center for illegal business, which is entrenched in the gray economy. But the Prime Minister emphasized: “Fraud is not a legal business” and pointed out that such activities thrive in countries with legal gaps.

With high credibility in the Indochina region, Thailand can face international challenges. The Thai baht has established itself as an accepted currency. Anutin also announced that the government will revoke the citizenship of a major fraudster within the next three weeks. “We are not afraid of criminal influences,” said Anutin. Combating fraud, drug trafficking and human trafficking is a top priority for his government.

Strict legislation and international cooperation

Mechanisms such as the anti-money laundering agency and the national police already exist to curb crime. Anutin also called for strict legislation and dedicated officials to take action against these criminal structures. He wants Thailand to benefit from rare earth value creation and promote excellence in joint ventures to boost the domestic economy. In this context, the signing of an MOU on rare earths is a step that he described as forward-looking, but he stressed that Thailand does not grant concessions.

However, politics also has its dark sides. A look back shows that the Investor Confidence Index fell to 58.5 points in June 2025. Political uncertainty and an ongoing government crisis are crippling economic growth in Thailand. Thailand's SET stock exchange has seen a dramatic decline of around 22 percent in the first half of 2025, while foreign investors have withdrawn over 78 billion baht from the market. Not only internal political turbulence but also international trade risks play a role here.

Report and protect fraud

In times of economic uncertainty, it is even more important to be aware of and report fraud incidents. Rosario Mendez, attorney at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), explains, “Scam reports are critical to alerting others and stopping scammers.” The FTC has made it easier to report scammers. Now, those affected can easily file a fraud report on the FTC's website, which is not only a step to keep your family safe, but also uncovers current fraud trends.

The steps are simple: visit the website, click on “Report Now” and provide information about the incident. For example, anyone who has been cheated via false technical support can report this directly. The ability to describe details in your own words and provide contact details ensures that each fraud case can be processed individually. Reporting scams is an important contribution to community prevention.

While Thailand's political and economic situation remains tense, the government's commitment to working with citizens to combat fraud is a bright spot. Anutin Charnvirakul has taken a clear stance against criminal elements and emphasized that the fight against economic crime must also go hand in hand with the pursuit of peace and stability for Thailand. This is the only way to regain investor confidence and allow the Thai economy to flourish again.

Further information can be found at Thairath, FTC.gov and der-kompass.info.