Finance Ministry keeps GDP growth outlook at 3.6%
The Thai economy is expected to grow 3.6% this year, as earlier forecast, with exports likely to increase more than expected, the Finance Ministry said on Thursday.
— Bangkok Post
BOI approves 128 billion baht in investment aid
The Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) has approved some 128 billion baht in aid for five investment projects.
— NNT
Prayut says gov’t right to take Yingluck assets before verdict
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said Thursday his government was right to confiscate the bank accounts of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra as it was a separate matter than her malfeasance trial, which has yet to render a verdict.
— Prachatai English
Thailand introduce new sugar tax over six years
Thailand will phase in a sugar tax over six years in a bid to help drinks manufacturers to lower their sugar content and take advantage of a simultaneous lowering of tax on sugar-free beverages.
— FoodNavigator.com
BoI: Investment applications to reach B600bn target
The Board of Investment is confident overall applications for investment privileges will reach the target of 600 billion baht in 2017, according to BoI secretary-general Hiranya Suchinai.
— Bangkok Post
PM orders preparations on concerns over flooding
The Prime Minister has expressed concern over widespread rains in the north and northeast and ordered integration of all relevant agencies in providing relief.
— NNT
Lenders fear new credit card rules
The Bank of Thailand’s imminent measure to put a three-lender restriction on personal loans to new applicants earnings less than 30,000 baht a month will take a heavy toll on lenders, says the head of…
— Bangkok Post
Yingluck faces 11 power-abuse cases
As ex-prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra awaits the Supreme Court’s verdict on the rice-pledging scheme, 11 other cases linked to her that may involve abuses of power are being probed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).
— Bangkok Post
Defense Ministry starts preparations for possible floods
The Defense Ministry has begun preparations to handle any floods and related disasters to ensure timely assistance.
— NBT World (video)
Surge in imported capital goods buoys FPO forecast
An upsurge in imported capital goods in the second quarter bodes well for future private investment — the main engine that will drive and sustain economic growth — says the Fiscal Policy Office’s chief.
— Bangkok Post
Sonca leaves ruinous signature
From a rail track buried under mudflow to several thousand rai of farmland swallowed by floods, tropical depression Sonca left its mark on the Northeast and Central Plains as it whipped through the regions…
— Bangkok Post
iLaw criticises NRSA ‘failure’
HUMAN RIGHTS group iLaw yesterday slammed the junta-appointed National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) for not bringing about meaningful reform despite spending more than Bt1 billion of the state budget in the past 22 months.
— The Nation
Prayut-Yingluck in war of words over assets seizure
The freezing of assets of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra had nothing to do with the rice-pledging scheme case in which the Supreme Court’s criminal division for holder of political positions set to hand down the verdict on August 25, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said today (July 27).
— Thai PBS
Govt offers prizes to debit card users
The Ministry of Finance has given prizes totaling more than six million baht to lucky debit card users and shops with Electronic Data Capture (EDC) facilities. Debit card payments in the second quarter increased by more than 30% compared with the same quarter in 2016.
— NBT World (video)
NSTDA joins hands with Summit R&D Center for Research and Development of Technology for Designing and Producing Automotive Parts
The National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) signed an MOU on the Research and Development of Technology for Designing and Producing Automotive Parts with Summit R&D Center, enabling joint research and development of auto-parts.
— NNT
Industry Ministry organizes Thailand Industry Expo 2017
The Ministry of Industry has organized the annual exhibition “Thailand Industry Expo 2017” to showcase new Thai technologies and innovations in accordance with the government’s Thailand 4.0 development agenda.
— NBT World (video)
Pheu Thai’s Kasem faces yet another graft charge
The National Anti-Corruption Commission has sought the indictment of Kasem Nimmonrat, the former Pheu Thai Party MP and former vice-president of the Chiang Mai Provincial Administration Organisation (PAO), on a charge of having amassed unusual wealth.
— Bangkok Post
Ombudsman clears junta’s submarine deal
The Office of the Ombudsman of Thailand (OOT) has dismissed allegations of irregularities in the junta’s multi-billion baht submarine deal with China.
— Prachatai English
CSD seeks Watana’s arrest for ‘rebellion’
Arrest warrants are being sought for Watana Muangsook, a Pheu Thai Party key figure and former commerce minister, and two other suspects on suspicion of provoking rebellion, a source said Thursday.
— Bangkok Post
Deputy PM Wissanu lectures on state administration and lawmaking
The Deputy Prime Minister for legal affairs has given a special lecture on state administration held by the Councilor of State.
— NBT World (video)
Thailand’s PTT venture takes $500 million stake in Malaysia LNG project
PTTEP, the exploration and production arm of Thailand’s oil and gas giant PTT Group, said on Thursday their liquefied natural gas (LNG) venture had taken a $500 million stake in a project with Malaysia’s Petronas.
— Reuters
Thailand Golf Travel Mart 2017 to promote kingdom as golfing hub
he Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is hosting the Thailand Golf Travel Mart (TGTM) 2017 from 25-28 July in the stunning environs of Khao Yai in Nakhon Ratchasima.
— TAT News
Khon Kaen University showcases OTOP concept products
OTOP concept products created by Khon Kaen University have been promoted and delivered to a group of northeastern entrepreneurs for further development.
— NNT
New national strategic committee & new national reform committees to be set up in August
A deputy prime minister in charge of legal affairs expects new committees to be in charge of national strategies and national reform will be established before the deadline set in the new Constitution.
— NBT World (video)
3 years under the junta: rural perspectives
Three years after its coup, Thailand’s junta is subjecting rural people to harassment and prosecution, but pleasing investors, according to local NGOs.
— Prachatai English
Min of Commerce speaks of benefits of China’s One Belt One Road
The Ministry of Commerce has held a seminar to equip businesses for the expansion of the transportation sector and to take advantage of new opportunities in China’s One Belt One Road initiative.
— NNT
BMW Group gives Thai electric vehicle technology a boost
Taking the wheel in electric vehicle (EV) technology, BMW Group Thailand this week delivered a BMW i3 (94Ah) battery to the Thailand Automotive Institute to assist with the technology’s national development.
— The Nation
Myanmar agrees to reopen Three Pagoda Pass border crossing
Myanmar has agreed to reopen Three Pagoda Pass border crossing today (July 27) after Thai authorities agreed that they suspended a border road construction temporarily during the rainy season.
— Thai PBS
Major Development forms JV with Singapore, HK investors for new realty projects
Major Development Pcl has formed a joint venture firm with Singapore and Hong Kong-incorporated companies to develop property projects in Thailand to serve the increasing demand from overseas buyers.
— Deal Street Asia
Industrial collaboration pact signed with Taiwan in EEC boost
THAILAND yesterday signed an industrial collaboration agreement with Taiwan at the 2017 Taiwan-Thailand Industrial Collaboration Summit in Bangkok.
— The Nation
First postage stamp marking King Rama X’s 65th birthday unveiled
Thailand Post Company has released the first commemorative postage stamp of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun on the occasion of his 65th birthday on July 28, 2017.
— Thai PBS
Bodies of five diving students found stuck inside sunken boat
Rescuers have recovered the bodies of five scuba diving students stuck in sunken boat in Chumphon Bay on Wednesday (July 26).
— Thai PBS
Feature photo John Le Fevre
Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).
Thailand morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Thailand news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.
John Le Fevre
He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.
He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.
In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.
Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.
In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.
Latest posts by John Le Fevre (see all)
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 26 — 16 mln case barrier breached, Vietnam records community transmission – July 26, 2020
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 25 — new high for daily infections, 16 mln infection barrier to break today – July 25, 2020
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 24 — Asean tops 230,000 cases, nudges 90,000 active – July 24, 2020
- Thailand morning news for July 24 – July 24, 2020