Thailand

• India has been placed in Group A for the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, where they will compete against host nation Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. • Pakistan was drawn into Group B, facing opponents Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines in the group stage. • The tournament is split into two tiers: Division 1 matches will be hosted entirely in Indonesia, while Division 2 matches will be hosted by Hong Kong.

• Foreign investment applications in Thailand surged 80% to $40.6 billion, fueled primarily by the global AI boom and increased technology cooperation with China. • Despite investment growth, industrial output hit a seven-month low, and the Bank of Thailand projects a modest 2.3% growth rate. • The government is maintaining a cautious fiscal stance by keeping the value-added tax steady at 7% for another year to navigate economic uncertainty.

• Asian markets are expected to open lower due to ongoing valuation pressures on technology stocks, coinciding with the start of the FOMC meeting. • Investors are closely monitoring SK Hynix's earnings report, CXMT's second day of trading, and news regarding China's new deep ultraviolet lithography kit. • South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean reported a second-quarter operating profit of 736.1 billion won ($500.6 million), marking a 98% increase from the previous year.

• Thailand secured a dominant 5-0 victory over 10-man Laos in their Asean Hyundai Cup Group B opening match. • Malaysia overcame an early deficit to defeat Myanmar 2-1, driven by two goals from Paulo Josué. • These results establish early momentum for Thailand and Malaysia as they compete for progression in the tournament group stage.

• Indonesia and Turkiye have formally adopted a 2026-2027 Joint Action Plan to strengthen bilateral cooperation on labor issues. • The agreement focuses on key areas including labor policy, digital services, workplace safety, and broader international cooperation. • Separately, Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Acting Minister David Neo launched a new national plan for youth development on Saturday.

• The U.S. Treasury Department announced on Thursday that 10 major trading partners, including China, Japan, and Thailand, will remain on its currency watchlist. • Other nations under monitoring include Germany, Ireland, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Vietnam, as Washington tracks potentially unfair foreign exchange practices. • The 2025 report specifically highlighted China for its significant lack of transparency regarding its exchange rate policies and practices compared to other partners.

• South Korean entities CJ ENM and KOCCA are shifting toward K-drama format licensing and localized remakes in Southeast Asia to reduce high production costs. • This strategic pivot coincides with Thailand's "Content Thailand" soft-power initiative, which focuses on expanding the nation's own trade infrastructure. • Thailand aims to leverage this drive to compete as a major regional production hub alongside established centers like Singapore, Hong Kong, and Busan.