Thailand Morning News For October 4

Thailand expects 35 pct more Chinese tourists in Golden Week, spending $329 mln
Thailand expects 260,000 Chinese tourists during the Golden Week holidays this week, up 35 percent from the same period last year, the Tourism and Sports Ministry said on Tuesday.
— Reuters

Panel hikes export growth view
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) has raised its 2017 forecast for export growth to 6.5-7.5% after witnessing strong gains the first eight months of the year.
— Bangkok Post

Top Thai business groups raise growth, export outlook
Thailand’s leading business groups raised economic forecasts on Tuesday, citing stronger-than-expected exports and signs of recovery in private consumption and investment.
— Reuters

Police to seek red warrant for Ms Yingluck’s arrest
The Royal Thai Police has sought a red warrant from the foreign affairs division for the arrest of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra by Interpol.
— Thai PBS

Measures approved in drive to spur EV production
THE GOVERNMENT is steering towards a set of measures to promote electric vehicle (EV) production in Thailand, while the Customs Department, the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Industry are in discussions to amend commitments under the Asean-China free trade agreement (ACFTA) to pave way for imports of EV parts to Thailand.
— The Nation

Two foreign universities ask to set up campuses
Two foreign universities placed in the top 200 of the world rankings have applied to create satellite campuses in Thailand, according to the Education Ministry.
— Bangkok Post

PM strikes deals on US trip
PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday visited US President Donald Trump at the White House, marking revitalised relations between Thailand and the US and the announcement of several new deals.
— The Nation

New agriculture to generate more income
Many farmers are turning to new agricultural practices by bringing in technologies which can help them develop their business and generate much more income. Melons from Ozone Farm are one of the successful farming products which have resulted from new agricultural technology.
— NBT World (video)

Thai PM talks to US President, focusing on security, trade & investment cooperation
The Thai Prime Minister has met with the U.S. President and talked about security, trade and investments, and bilateral cooperation between the two nations.
— NBT World (video)

Welfare card use remains vibrant despite hiccup involving card readers
While use of welfare cards, which are issued to low income earners by the government, was widespread on the second day of their validity, some locations reported long lines caused by a shortage of card scanners.
— NNT

Local economies set for ‘hybrid retailers’
The Commerce Ministry is launching a “hybrid retailer” project to modernise small shops by adding new technology to help them reach a wider base, expecting to create market value of up to 40 billion baht a year.
— Bangkok Post

Academics object to ‘expensive’ US coal purchase
ACADEMICS AND activists have cast doubt over the coal purchasing contract between Thailand and the United States, claiming it is too expensive, domestic coal demand is low and the deal breaches the country’s pledge to contain greenhouse gas emissions.
— The Nation

Documented Cambodian workers return to Thailand
Hundreds of Cambodian workers have returned to Thailand via Sa Kaeo province to resume working in Thailand after obtaining the correct type of passports and official papers.
— NBT World (video)

Full year inflation estimate adjusted down following slight hike in September
Rising food costs and adjustments to the prices of alcohol and tobacco in September sent the inflation rate up slightly compared to the average of the last 9 months, prompting the Ministry of Commerce to adjust its inflation estimate for the year down from 0.7-1.7 to 0.4-1 percent./////
— NBT World (video)

Thaksin’s son calls for an end to Thai money-laundering probe
The only son of fugitive former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday asked for a money-laundering investigation against him to be dropped, saying it was politically motivated.
— Reuters

TB-Cert set up to cope with cybersecurity threats
In the wake of growing cybersecurity threats on the Internet, the Bank of Thailand (BoT) and 15 financial institutions under the Thai Bankers’ Association have jointly set up the Thailand Banking Computer Emergency Response Team, or TB-Cert, to share information on the threats among the banks.
— Thai PBS

KTC keys on high-end loans
Krungthai Card (KTC) is focusing on the high-income market for personal loan products, in line with the Bank of Thailand’s tighter regulations on unsecured loans that took effect on Sept 1.
— Bangkok Post

Discussion held on overcrowding in prisons due to drug offender numbers
The Ministry of Justice has engaged in a meeting on overcrowding in prisons due to the high rate of drug related offenses.
— NNT

Government to resort to outsourcing to do jobs left vacant by retirements
Vacancies left vacant by retired officials will not be filled up by officials, but outsiders will be employed to do their jobs, according to a resolution of the cabinet on Tuesday.
— Thai PBS

Drafting of organic law against corruption completed: CDC chairman
The drafting of an organic law against corruption has been completed, said Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) Chairman Meechai Ruchuphan.
—NNT

Robbers make off with ¥197m from gems sale
Armed men assaulted and robbed two employees of a jewellery firm of ¥197-million cash (about 60 million baht) on the fifth floor of the car park at a high-rise condominium in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district late on Monday night.
— Bangkok Post

Online traders to face stringent customs checks
A working team has been established to specially detect imported merchandise which may have evaded tax and follow up the movements of online traders in the wake of the growth of pre-order businesses on websites and the social media, Customs Department director-general Kulit Sombatsiri said on Monday (Oct 2).
— Thai PBS

7,500 invited to late King’s ceremonies amid tight security
About 7,500 pre-screened people will be permitted to attend the royal cremation ground at Sanam Luang and drones will be banned from the area during the royal funeral ceremonies for the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the end of this month.
— Bangkok Post

Jet auction. Starting bid only 30 million Baht
The plane was seized by Legal Execution Department as instructed by the Civil Court from Asia Connect Airlines in January, 2016 after it flew back to Thailand from Incheon airport in South Korea.
— Phuket Gazette

Health officials to check cancer herbal medicines distributed in Prachin Buri
The Ministry of Public Health has stepped in to investigate whether cancer medicines given free of charge by a man in Prachin Buri are effective or not and whether they are safe.
— Thai PBS

Tourism Authority of Thailand kicks off Upcycling the Oceans project on Ko Samet
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has kicked off the “Upcycling the Oceans, Thailand” project on 1 September, 2017. This is as part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives in the development of sustainable tourism in the country.
— TAT News

Feature photo Sasin Tipchai
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 4 added by John Le Fevre on October 4, 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.