Thailand Morning News For October 13

Foreign visitors up 5.6%, led by Chinese
Thailand welcomed 26.9 million foreign tourists from Jan 1 to Oct 11 and generated tourism revenue of 1.37 trillion baht, up 5.6% and 7.6% respectively compared with the same period last year.
— Bangkok Post

Thai growth revised upwards to 3.9 per cent
THAILAND’S 2017 economic growth forecast has been revised up to 3.9 per cent from the earlier estimate of 3.6 per cent on the back of higher-than-expected recoveries in exports and tourism and acceleration in public spending, according to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC)’s Centre for Economic and Business Forecasting.
— The Nation

No US pork deal with Thailand
Thailand and the US did not strike a deal to drop what one industry insider called a “de facto ban” on American pork imports when the two countries met in Washington recently.
— GlobalMeatNews

Lopburi area flood gate bursts as deluges continue across country
The Chai Nat-Pa Sak Flood Gate has succumbed to high pressure and authorities have had to set up Big Bag barriers to protect some 9,000 rai of rice farms from inundation, with concerns also growing over water levels downstream from the Chao Phraya Dam.
— NNT

Thailand cuts 2017 tourist arrivals forecast to 33-34 million: minister
Thailand’s tourism minister on Thursday said the country expects 33 to 34 million visitors this year, down from an earlier forecast of 35 million.
— Reuters

Thailand’s informal debt hits 10-year low
A study has found that Thailand’s informal debt has hit the lowest level in 10 years, thanks to the government’s efforts to solve the problem.
— NNT

RID denies flood threat akin to 2011
The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) and the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) have brushed aside growing concerns of possible flooding in Bangkok similar to the disaster of 2011.
— Bangkok Post

Gun possession, use by foreigners to be banned
The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Thursday passed amendments to the firearms law which ban foreigners living in Thailand from having and using guns and also place controls on fireworks and Bang Fai rockets.
— Bangkok Post

Bangkok not seriously affected by flooding: DDPM
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) held a meeting with other agencies to closely monitor weather conditions and set guidelines toward assistance for flood victims and assured Bangkok will not be seriously affected by flooding.
— NNT

Welfare card plan tipped ‘to generate B100bn’
The Office of Agricultural Economics forecasts the government’s welfare cards for the poor scheme will generate more than 100 billion baht in value to the country’s economy.
— Bangkok Post

EEC receives numerous applications by investors
The Department of Industrial Works has reported a rise in business permit applications and requests for expansion, amid greater investment activity by foreign and domestic firms in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
— NBT World (video)

Armed with $1.5b, Singha Estate plans deals to help brewer parent diversify
With a $1.5 billion warchest, the real estate arm of Thailand’s Boon Rawd Brewery is looking to strike deals to help its parent diversify, with its chairman highlighting Europe as an “interesting” market.
— DealStreetAsia

Bangkok Bank and AIA Group reach 15-year agreement on bancassurance
Bangkok Bank PCL has reached a new 15-year distribution agreement for a strategic bancassurance partnership with Hong Kong’s AIA Group LTD , the companies said on Thursday.
— Reuters

Labor Ministry unveils operating plan for 2018 fiscal year
The Labor Ministry has unveiled its operating plan for the 2018 fiscal year.
— NBT World (video)

Attorney General urged to revive charges against PDRC key leaders
A well known lawyer has pressed the public prosecutor about the rebellion case against key members of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), an anti-election movement, after three years of no progress.
— Prachatai English

Phuket Tourist Police vague on tourism raid details, silent on graft claims
Acting Deputy Chief of the Thai Tourist Police Maj Gen Surachet Hakpan landed in Phuket yesterday (Oct 11) to personally lead a press conference announcing arrests made in raids on tourism businesses on the island – but declined to name which businesses were raided or name any of the suspects arrested and charged.
tourism, crime, corruption, police,
— Phuket Gazette

Abhisit: Politics after royal cremation
As parties clamour to have the ban on political activities lifted, Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said Thursday it would not be appropriate ahead of this month’s royal cremation ceremony for the the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
— Bangkok Post

State Enterprise Policy Committee monitors progress of state enterprises
A meeting of the State Enterprise Policy Committee has acknowledged the progress of solutions to solve problems in seven state enterprises in Thailand. A subcommittee was set up to promote correct understanding of the state enterprise development draft act.
— NBT World (video)

Centre set up to monitor drones during Cremation period
AIR FORCE CHIEF ACM Chom Rungsawang yesterday said his office had set up a centre to monitor the use of drones during the Royal Cremation ceremonies at the request of a joint command for the Royal Cremation of the late King.
— The Nation

Thai private sector starts using biometric authentication system
A member of the Thai private sector has integrated a biometric authentication system into its transactions, as part of the Thailand 4.0 approach.
— NBT World (video)

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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.

Thailand Morning News For October 13 added by John Le Fevre on October 13, 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.