Thailand’s Ministry of Energy (MOE) has announced the launch of the 25th bidding round for petroleum exploration and production. This round offers nine greenfield onshore blocks—seven in northeastern Thailand and two in central Thailand—encompassing over 33,000 km². The bids can be submitted from July 1 to July 16, 2025. The sizes and locations of these blocks are: Northeast Thailand Block L1/66: 3,223.51 km² (Khon Kaen, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Udon Thani) Block L2/66: 3,917.03 km² (Kalasin, Sakon Nakhon, Udon Thani) Block L3/66: 3,918.22 km² (Kalasin, Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, Udon Thani) Block L4/66: 3,656.65 km² (Amnat Charoen, Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom, Yasothon) Block L5/66: 3,436.01 km² (Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima) Block L7/66: 3,438.51 km² (Buri Ram, Maha Sarakham, Nakhon Ratchasima, Roi Et, Surin, Khon Kaen) Block L9/66: 3,885.44 km² (Nakhon Ratchasima) Central Thailand Block L6/66: 3,966.86 km² (Chaiyaphum, Lop Buri, Phetchabun) Block L8/66: 3,957.41 km² (Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi, Suphan Buri) Bidding Process Interested companies must submit their bids to the Department of Mineral Fuels (DMF) between July 1 and July 16, 2025. Bids should include: Application form (ChorThor/Por1) Proof of eligibility: Corporate documentation, audited financial statements, and proof of resources Technical and commercial proposals: Exploration plans, geological surveys, financial and work commitments, and special benefits such as signing bonuses of at least USD 100,000. There is a nonrefundable THB 50,000 application fee per block, and applicants must provide a bid bond of THB 3 million per block via an unconditional bank guarantee from a commercial bank with branches in Thailand, valid for at least one year from the bidding submission date. The guarantee will be returned to unsuccessful bidders upon request and to successful bidders upon the signing of the concession agreement. Eligibility Bidders must meet the following main eligibility criteria: Bidders must be limited companies with the following qualifications: The company must have the objective of

Following Vietnam’s adoption of the new Law on Data (“Data Law”) on November 30, 2024, there remained uncertainty as to what impact the new framework would have on businesses in Vietnam and abroad. The government has now released a package of four draft legal documents aimed at guiding the implementation of the Data Law: (1) a decree on the National Data Development Fund (“NDDF Decree”), (2) a decree related to regulations on scientific, technological, and innovation activities and data products and services (“Decree on Specific Activities”), (3) a decree detailing a number of articles and measures to implement the Data Law (“Implementation Decree”), and (4) a decision on the lists of important data and core data. This article will provide an overview of the draft legislation. 1. NDDF Decree The draft NDDF Decree relates to the establishment, management and use of a National Data Development Fund (“NDDF”), which is a non-profit and non-budgetary state financial fund established and managed by the Minister of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS). The NDDF has legal personality and is fully state owned, operating similarly to a single-member limited liability company. Its main objectives are to support, promote, and invest in artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and other new technologies and innovation. The NDDF may lend to, invest in, or otherwise support eligible organizations. The draft NDDF Decree also proposes a series of regulations on donations to the NDDF and from the NDDF (through expense support), the lending activities of the NDDF to commercial banks, which will in turn lend to eligible organizations, the investment activities in data products and services innovative start-ups, and other kinds of support. The government commits to provide VND 1 trillion (approx. USD 40 million) to the NDDF, evidencing the importance the government places on

Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, through the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), recently held a focus group hearing on the draft Gaming Industry Promotion Act. This legislation seeks to strike a balance by promoting the growth of the online game industry while safeguarding society, with a particular focus on protecting youth from potential negative impacts and enhancing a positive gaming environment. From the public releases, the draft act is expected to address several key aspects, including: Registration requirements for key industry players, such as developers and platform providers. It is also worth monitoring whether these requirements will also apply to offshore entities offering services to users in Thailand. Governance measures, such as game rating systems and measures to address online gambling and violence in games. Incentives, such as the establishment of a fund to support the gaming industry, and tax incentives to promote Thai gaming businesses. DEPA plans to incorporate feedback from the focus group hearing to refine the Draft Act. The legislation is expected to be submitted to the cabinet for approval by April 2025, with enactment expected by the end of 2025. As this draft law is still at an early stage, amendments may be introduced during the legislative process. Businesses and stakeholders in the gaming industry are encouraged to monitor the matter closely and assess how the developing legislation may impact their operations.

In 2023, compliance inspections by Vietnam’s Government Inspectorate identified several violations of policies and laws in the management and implementation of planning and investment in renewable energy projects. Since then, many renewable energy enterprises and projects have encountered significant operational challenges. In December 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) issued two reports, Report 321/BC-BCT and Report 345/BC-BCT, to implement the 2023 Inspection Conclusion of the Government Inspectorate and address obstacles faced by renewable energy enterprises, Investors in renewable energy projects in Vietnam should carefully consider the potential impacts of proposed solutions in these reports. The reports re-emphasize the types of violations related to renewable energy projects identified in the Inspection Conclusion, with a significant expansion in the number of affected projects. Key violations include: (i) misapplication of FIT (feed-in tariff) incentives; (ii) recognition of COD (commercial operation date) and receipt of FIT prices without written approval of construction acceptance; (iii) overlap with mineral planning, irrigation planning, national defense land use, or other restricted land uses; (iv) incomplete land procedures and documentation; and (v) installation of rooftop solar on agricultural and forestry land used for farming and aquaculture models. Further, these reports mention the government’s solutions to resolve difficulties for renewable energy projects, which include: Allowing additional planning where projects do not violate national security. Allowing rectification of projects’ violations in land and construction process as per law. For projects violating planning on minerals, irrigation, or defense, socio-economic efficiency will be assessed for adjustments or integration. Adjusting electricity prices and recovering incorrect FIT prices for projects not meeting conditions. Requiring rooftop solar projects on non-farming land to comply with regulations or, if land violations occur, FIT prices will be revoked, and electricity prices must be redetermined and recovered. For items (iv) and (v), the authority will issue regulations