Thailand Morning News For April 18

BMA bans all street food across Bangkok this year
STREET FOOD vendors will disappear from Bangkok by the end of the year in the interests of cleanliness, safety and order, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) says.
– The Nation

NESDB optimistic about Thai economy after 2017
The Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has guaranteed that the Thai economy will recover after 2017, with money flowing into the pockets of its people along with vibrant tourism, exports, and agricultural activity.
– NNT

GDP to grow by 3.7% in second quarter
An economist from Rangsit University has forecast that Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter of this year will increase by 3.4% due to tourism and government spending.
– NNT

India, Thailand help Huawei to register 32% growth in 2016
Huawei India along with Thailand played a major role in the global annual revenue growth of 32% at $75.1 billion in 2016, said Huawei India CEO Jay Chen.
– Deccan Herald

Alibaba, WHA in estate talks
SET-listed WHA Corporation Plc, Thailand’s largest developer of built-to-suit logistics facilities, is in talks with Alibaba over the giant Chinese e-commerce company’s plans to buy land to develop its…
– Bangkok Post

Amata Corporation optimistic about impact of Eastern Special Economic Zone Act
Amata Corporation has expressed its confidence that the Eastern Special Economic Zone Act will jump-start investment in the Thai economy.
– NNT

mTouche says Thai project can hit RM2.6bil revenue
The contract to build, install and operate the SMART4 public phone and WiFi hub terminals for Thailand’s state-owned TOT Public Co Ltd is estimated to be worth RM175.5mil, said mTouche Technology Bhd.
–The Star Online

MRTA gears up to sign monorail deals
The Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) aims to sign construction contracts early next month for the two key electric rail lines that will carry people from surrounding provinces to the capital.
– Bangkok Post

INET commits further Bt1.2 bn to data centre
NTERNET Thailand (INET) plans to spend a further Bt1.2 billion on a data centre in Saraburi province this year and set up an online marketplace for what it calls hybrid cloud services.
– The Nation

Council of State challenges two-year payback mandate
The Council of State has proposed loosening the requirement of a two-year payback for government when it borrows to finance any populist policy, aiming to keep subsequent administrations from running out…
– Bangkok Post

CIMBT sets sights on guiding Bt30 bn debentures
CIMB Thai Bank (CIMBT) is stepping up its push into financial advisory services and expects its corporate clients to issue debentures of up to Bt30 billion this year.
– The Nation

Businesses urged to install EDC machines in exchange for incentives
The Department of Business Development (DBD) has reminded entrepreneurs to install an electronic data capture (EDC) machine in order to be entitled to tax privileges.
– NNT

Reconsidering nuclear
The devastating accident at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant in 2011 sparked worldwide fears and forced many countries, including Thailand, to scrap their nuclear power development plans.
– Bangkok Post

NFA denies making backdoor negotiations with Thailand
The National Food Authority (NFA) denied reports that the agency has initiated backdoor negotiations with Thailand for the importation of 1.3 million metric tons of rice.
– ABS-CBN

NewGen starts up at U-tapao
NewGen Airways launched its maiden service yesterday out of U-tapao airport, which the airline has adopted as its new local base
– Bangkok Post

Realty in Thon Buri set to grow
THE PROPERTY market in Bangkok’s Thon Buri area is poised for growth due to its population density and the near-completion of the extension of the mass-transit system into the area, according to research by Plus Property Co, a property-agency arm of Sansiri.
– The Nation

Rama IV to level up
TCC Group will lead the charge in the massive transformation of the already bustling thoroughfare, though critical transport infrastructure remains a pressing concern.
– Bangkok Post

Thailand’s first LEED Platinum “vertical village” to rise in Bangkok
Thailand’s wealthiest man, Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, has teamed up with architecture firm SOM to plan One Bangkok, a $3.5 billion project that will be first in Thailand to target LEED Platinum certification for Neighborhood Development.
– Inhabitat

City seeks waste awareness
City Hall has been sprung into action after an image of the Klong Toey canal covered in garbage drew strong public criticism.
– Bangkok Post

Free bus service arranged to take returning bus passengers to BTS station
State-run Transport Company on Monday arranged for several buses to send returning passngers at Morchit bus terminal to the BTS elevated train station at Chatuchak park without any charges.
– Thai PBS

Seeking status
Thailand has long seen a great influx of foreign migrants and workers from its surrounding neighbours, such as Myanmar or Laos. It is also home to many smaller ethnic minority groups such as the Karen, Hmong or Lahu. However, Thailand has never had the best track record when it comes to dealing with these foreign or ethnic minorities, especially when it comes to documentation. This poses a problem to these minorities, many of whom have lived in Thailand for decades, as they don’t have the legal documents and identification often required in various situations, from medical or school applications to basic protection of law.
— Bangkok Post

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Thailand Morning News For April 18 added by John Le Fevre on April 18, 2017
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John Le Fevre

Thailand editor at AEC News Today

John is an Australian national with more than 40 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and copy editor.

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.