Thailand Morning News For October 31

Thai finance ministry raises 2017 GDP growth outlook to 3.8 pct
Thailand’s finance ministry on Monday raised its economic growth forecast for this year to 3.8 percent from 3.6 percent, and upgraded its estimate for export gains, a senior official said.
— Reuters

HM the King enshrines royal ashes at 2 royal temples
His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn yesterday conducted the transfer of the royal ashes of His Majesty the late King from the Temple of the Emerald Buddha to two royal monasteries for enshrinement.
— NBT World (video)

Fiscal Policy Office wants to utilize dormant bank accounts for public benefits
The Fiscal Policy Office is to propose a draft bill which will empower the state to make use of the dormant bank accounts for public interests, but the depositors have the right to reclaim their money.
— Thai PBS

King urges govt to help flood victims
His Majesty the King is concerned about the floods which have affected 23 provinces, and which threaten more, including Bangkok, and has requested the government to prepare both rescue and rehabilitation plans for victims, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said Monday.
— Bangkok Post

Technicolor Thailand is back after a black-clad mourning year for late king
Thailand officially ended a year of mourning for its late King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Monday, marking a return to colors for some after a monotone year during which many wore black from head-to-toe out of respect for their revered monarch.
— Reuters (video)

DPM calls on armed forces to aid flood victims
The Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs and Defense Minister has ordered military commanders to help citizens affected by flooding as well as the rehabilitation effort once waters subside.
— NBT World (video)

PM thanks flood victims
Water discharges to begin tomorrow affecting designated areas as volumes near 2011 levels.
— The Nation

SET sets IPO, secondary offering target at B550bn
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) has set a target for annual market capitalisation for IPOs and secondary offerings at a combined 550 billion baht per year to maintain market leadership in Asean.
— Bangkok Post

JD.com plans Thai hub for SE Asia
Richard Liu (Liu Qiangdong), 43, founder and CEO of JD.com, sat down with Suthichai Yoon, The Nation’s |co-founder, recently in his headquarters in Beijing, to |discuss his plan to make Thailand the e-commerce hub for Southeast Asia.
— The Nation

Rise in poultry consumption in Japan benefits Thai exports
Thailand’s export sector is receiving benefits from the increased poultry consumption in Japan, as Japanese consumers have confidence in the quality and safety of Thai chicken products.
— NBT World (video)

Thai Oil earmarks Bt8.9bn for capacity expansion over next two years
Refinery company Thai Oil has set aside an investment budget of Bt8.9 billion through 2019 with a view to expanding its production capacity to 400,000 barrels a day.
— The Nation

Army eyes detainees on illegal gun-making charges for help in defence industry
The army’s Ordnance Department has been assigned to look for convicts detained in prisons on charges of illegally making guns from imitations to be trained to assist work in the Defence Ministry’s defence industry, defence spokesman Lt Gen Kongcheeop Tantrawanich said on Monday (Oct 30).
— Thai PBS

Thailand increases air access to key destinations across country
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is in discussion with Thai airlines nationwide to boost air access to key destination across the country in time for the upcoming peak season arrivals.
— TAT News

Thailand’s TTCL to build $2.8 bln coal-fired power plant in Myanmar
Thai construction company TTCL Pcl said on Monday it plans to build a $2.8 billion coal-fired power plant in southeastern Myanmar.
— Nasdaq

Converse production to be slashed
Rich Sport Plc, the maker and distributor of Converse shoes in Thailand, is planning to cut production capacity at its factory in Thailand by half next year in line with Converse global policy.
— Bangkok Post

Monday review: What happened while Thais were mourning the late King?
While Thailand last week was overwhelmed by mourning for the late King Bhumibol, other significant issues seem to have been overlooked, such as serious flooding, the arrest of a former lèse majesté convict and use of the junta’s absolute power.
— Prachatai English

Police and City Hall say no fireworks, firecrackers or sky lanterns on Loy Krathong Day
Loy Krathong revelers have been requested by the police to refrain from playing fireworks on the night of Loy Krathong Day this coming Friday to prevent possible fires.
— Thai PBS

Ms Yingluck’s four passports revoked by FM
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has revoked four passports, including two diplomatic passports, of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra on October 25, said Pol Gen Srivara RangsipramanaSkul, the deputy national police chief, on Monday.
— Thai PBS

Don Mueang airport flyover to be closed Nov 6 for demolition
The Highways Department will close the flyover linking Vibhavadi Rangsit road and the Don Mueang airport from the night of Nov 6 for demolition to make way for the construction of a new airport access bridge.
— Thai PBS

Feature photo Royal Thai Army
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.

Thailand Morning News For October 31 added by John Le Fevre on October 31, 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.