01/07/2009 Tourism operators say business worsens this year
The global economic slowdown coupled with domestic political problems and the spread of the Influenza A (H1N1) have further depressed Thailand’s tourism business this year, according to a survey.

01/07/2009 Inflation contracts for 6th consecutive month: Commerce Ministry
Thailand's inflation rate in June contracted by four per cent, compared with the same period last year, according to the Commerce Ministry.

01/07/2009 Exports projected to recover in 3rd and 4th quarters
Thailand’s exports in the third and fourth quarters of this year are expected to recover because purchase orders have begun to gradually increase, according to the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC).

01/07/2009 Industrial production index continues to shrink in May
Thailand’s industrial production index in May continued to shrink, declining by 12.39 per cent from the same month last year, but shows some signs of recovery, according to the Industrial Economics Office (IEO).

01/07/2009 Thai PM to carry his programmes to the Northeast, North
Despite threats by protesters to rally against the government wherever ministers visit, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva reaffirmed his plans to visit northeasterners in mid-July, according to Satit Wongnongtaey, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office.

01/07/2009 Police wrap up airport seizure case; Filing charges mid-July
Police are wrapping up their cases relating to the seizure of Bangkok’s two commercial airports to file charges against those responsible later this month.

30/06/2009 BoT: Economic trends to improve; Business confidence index to rise
Thailand’s economy is expected to have hit bottom and the business confidence index is projected to increase to 50.2 in the next three months, its first rise in 15 months, a senior Bank of Thailand (BoT) official said on Tuesday.

30/06/2009 Industry minister leaves for Seoul on investment promotion mission
Thailand’s Industry Minister Charnchai Chairungrueng left Tuesday on a five-day visit to South Korea to persuade business interests there to invest more in Thailand and to officially open a Board of Investment (BoI) office in Seoul.

30/06/2009 Industry minister upbeat about investment promotion applications
Industry Minister Chanchai  Chairungruang on Monday voiced confidence that applications for Board of Investment (BoI) investment promotions this year would reach Bt650 billion if the political situation would stablise.

30/06/2009 Thai economic recovery depends on stimulus measures
Thailand’s sagging economy requires state economic stimulus measures to recover during the next one and a half years, according to a top Thai banker.

30/06/2009 IGI opens India’s first satellite lab in Kerela
The International Gemological Institute (IGI) has established its first satellite gemmological laboratory in Thrissur, Kerala, India to tap the South India market and provide gemmological services to jewellery manufacturers in the region.

29/06/2009 CAC opens gem testing laboratory in HK
Chinese Arts & Crafts (CAC), a department store offering a full spectrum of Chinese-made products in Hong Kong, has established a gem testing laboratory to boost consumer confidence, particularly on natural jadeite jewellery.

29/06/2009 IDE re-elects Avi Paz, votes in a new board
At its biennial elections for the president, board and committee, which took place on June 24, 2009, the members of the Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE) unanimously re-elected the current president Avi Paz, to serve a third and final term at the Exchange. The membership voted in a new board too.

25/06/2009 India sees signs of recovery in gold, diamond imports
While many of the key players in the gem and jewllery industry remain cautious in purchasing given the global economic slowdown, there are some signs of improvement in the imports of gold bars and rough diamonds in India, reported The Financial Express.

25/06/2009 Brides, grooms trim wedding budget in recession
Almost half of the respondents in the Jewelry Consumer Opinion Council’s June Bridal Study conducted from June 10 to 15 said that the overall wedding budget would be about the same as scheduled, while 28 percent revealed that it would be lowered due to the economic recession.