Thailand English-language News For June 20, 2017

In Thailand English-language News for May 20, 2017, Newsline presenter Dhra Dhirakaosal tells us about:

00:38 | Forty per cent of the ropes for pulling the royal chariots during the cremation ceremony of the late king Bhumibol Adulyadej’s have been completed, with the remainder expected to be finished within a few months.

02:09 | Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister, General Prawit Wongsuwan, has chaired a meeting with the National Reconciliation Committee (NRC) to summarise the results they have gathered. A subcommittee responsible for compiling the reconciliation proposals presented their final report at the meeting, which will be released to the public at the end of the month. Included in the report are ten major topics, including the juntas 20 year national strategy.

03:11 | Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) chairman Meechai Ruchupan has denied reports that he requested a larger budget from the Secretariat of the House of Representatives.

04:17 | Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn has voiced concern for potential flaws in the execution and enforcement of the new political party law.

05:24 | The National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) has endorsed a report proposing that the National Labour Information Center (NLIC) manage a central database of labour information. The report also recommended that a committee be established to govern this database.

08:28 | The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Institute (Fesi) and the Thai Labour Museum have held a seminar discussing the challenges of working in the 4.0 era, as well as solutions to these problems.

09:32 | The Department of Business Development (DBD) has reported that new business registrations hit a four-year high in May of 5,832 new limited companies, a year-on-year increase of 34 per cent, with registered capital totalling Bt30 billion (about US$883.652 million). The largest number of registrations was in the general contracting, followed by real estate, and retail jewellery. Total Thailand business registrations at the end of May, 2017 stood at 29,000. During the month 1,074 businesses ceased trading, a 11 per cent year on year (YoY) increase, though total closures for the first five months were 5,442, a 9 per cent YoY reduction.

11:04 | Chulalongkorn University analysts believe that Thai businesses will continue to recover throughout the second half of 2017, but competition in the market will increase significantly. Businesses linked to government investment, and those investment in neighbouring Asean countries are expected to fare the best. New technology is expected to present new challenges to existing businesses.

12:32 | Heavy rainfall is expected in most regions of the country this week, along with waves as high as two metres (6.56ft) forecast in the Andaman Sea.

14:09 | A survey taken on June 12 has revealed that the Thailand fisheries industry is facing a labour shortage of 74,000 people, resulting in up to 4,000 ships docked. To alleviate this shortage, the Ministry of Labor’s (MoLs) Department of Employment has scheduled talks with the government of Myanmar to attract immigrant labourers. If the labour shortage continues Thailand seafood prices could rise by up to 50 per cent over the next coming months.

15:40 | The Technology Promotion Association (Thailand-Japan) has hosted four robotics competitions this year. The winning teams received trophies from Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, with some going on to represent Thailand at international robotics competitions.

17:16 | The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has announced a plan to build reservoirs in the country’s eastern region as well as expand existing ones. Among other benefits, the plans will ensure water for the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).

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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.