Thailand English-language News For August 1

In Thailand English-language News for August 1, 2017, Newsline presenter Dhra Dhirakaosal tells us about:

0:40 | The Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall continues to welcome mourners from across the country who have journeyed to pay their respects to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

2:28 | The National Energy Policy Council (NEPC) has approved the opening up of the national gas business to competition in preparation for a completely open market in the future. From 2018 the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) will become a new supplier of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) with a licence to supply up to 1.5 million tons per year.

The meeting also agreed on measures to cushion the nations 14 million low-income earners from the impact of the arrangement with a Bt200 (about US$6.00) per month electricity allowance for registered individuals, as well as a Bt45 ($1.35) monthly allowance for three months to offset an increase in LNG retail prices.

3:56 | The National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) handed over 188 reform suggestions to Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha at Parliament House on Monday during a ceremony before some 900 members of the Five Rivers – the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA), the Constitutional Drafting Commission (CDC), the Cabinet, and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

5:28 | Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Somchai Harnhirun, said yesterday that an urgent assistance programme involving a number of universities and large companies is planned to assist businesses impacted by floods. Experts will check electrical systems, while others will assist with the cleaning and servicing of flood-affected machinery. He said the ministry will grant a waiver of the annual permit fee and quality inspection fee for eligible businesses.

6:50 | Royal Irrigation Department (RID) Deputy Director-General, Thongplew Kongjun, has reported that 26 water pumps have been installed in seven districts of Sakon Nakhon Province where flood water levels have reached as high as 50 centimeters (19.7 inches) in an attempt to speed up drainage into the Nam Kam and Mekong rivers.

8:38 | Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) deputy governor of Transmission Systems, Suthon Boonprasong, has instructed local EGAT offices to monitor and ensure that the power grid in flooded areas remains unaffected, as inundation has not affected power distribution.

9:33 | The Department of Fisheries (DoF) has released barramundi fish as a natural predator to counter the effect on the local ecosystem by a recent spread of an alien species of Gourami fish in Phraek Nam Daeng subdistrict of Samut Songkhram Province.

12:50 | The Department of Business Development (DBD) is organising the “Smart Enterprise 4.0” fair on August 25th to strengthen the Thailand startup industry by bringing together innovative enterprises.

13:42 | Bank of Thailand (BoT) senior director Don Nakhonthap has reported that exports in June this year recorded a 7.6 per cent year-on-year (YoY) growth compared with the same period in 2016 as a result of increased exports of electronic, and processed agricultural products, as well as products whose export value fluctuates due to changes in the crude oil price.

The tourism sector saw an 11.4 per cent YoY increase in tourist numbers compared to the same period last year resulting in higher expenditure in the sector. However, public spending dropped more than the same period last year while private investment slightly decreased compared to the previous month, resulting in a general inflation rate of -0.05 per cent due to cheaper retail oil prices.

15:54 | The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BACC) has forecast that the agricultural sector will grow 3.4 per cent this year due to increasing commodity prices and favorable weather conditions.

17:10 | The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have launched a project to promote sustainable tourism titled “Understanding Accessibility and Development” based on the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s philosophy.

19:11 | The Ministry of Energy together with the Thailand Green Building Institute (TGBI) have hosted an event to announce the winner of the Thai Smart City model. The seven winners have been awarded Bt10 million ($300,571) by the government to produce a design of the project.

22:10 | The Office of SME Promotion (OSEP) and Khon Kaen University have collaborated to organise a forum to promote and educate Thai SMEs with high potential in accordance with the Thailand 4.0 policy on how to utilise Thailand’s membership of the Asean+8 group to sell their products and services to Russia and Vietnam.

• and more.

Newsline is a daily Thailand English-language news and current affairs programme produced by the National News Bureau of Thailand (NNBT) under the Thailand Government Public Relations Department (PRD) for *NBT World, the NNBTs 24/7 English language television service delivering Thailand government news and information to the Thai, Asean, and wider Asian communities via cable and satellite. It is also available via android and iOS apps. AEC News Today publishes Thailand English-language News M-F.