Thailand's economy shrank 2.2 percent in the three months to March from the previous quarter — the first contraction in more than a year — as manufacturing output fell, official data showed Monday.

Thailand will forge closer ties with Mongolia for trade, investment and service businesses during the visit to that country by Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra this weekend.

Thailand's Commerce Ministry aims to release another 6 million to 7 million tons of rice this year to reduce its stockpiles under its continuing price-pledging policy.

Thailand's central bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.75 percent on Wednesday, with policymakers citing the ongoing strength of the kingdom's economy.

Taiwan's Asustek Computer Inc. and the Taipei City Government unveiled a project Tuesday that will make cloud services accessible to citizens and businesses in Taipei.

Thailand's central bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.75 percent on Wednesday in the wake of data showing record economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Thailand's economy enjoyed record growth in the fourth quarter of 2012 as industry recovered from the impact of the kingdom's worst floods in decades, official data showed Monday.

Less than half of Thai CEOs are bullish on the economic outlook for the first quarter of this year, due chiefly to the contraction of the U.S. economy in the last quarter of 2012, the baht appreciation and the nationwide wage hike, according to a survey.

Thai companies are not alone in complaining about a shortage of skilled labor, as their counterparts across the globe are experiencing the same problem and the epidemic is weighing on business growth prospects.

Competition in the private-banking sector is likely to heat up as banks launch strategies to retain wealthy customers and attract the newly rich.