Thai baht to remain volatile pending US monetary policies
Volatility in the Thai baht is expected to continue, pending monetary policies of the United States.
— NBT World (video)
US to resume selling weapons to Thailand: Deputy junta head
The deputy junta head has announced that the US has agreed to resume selling weapons to the Thai government.
— Prachatai English
JSCCIB raises view for GDP growth to 3.7-4%
THE Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) has raised its forecast for economic expansion this year to 3.7-4 per cent from an earlier estimate at 3.5-4 per cent, citing higher-than-expected growth in exports and tourism.
— The Nation
Thai exporters: Export growth this year will be higher than 6%
Thai exporters have adjusted this year’s Thai export growth estimate to be higher than 6%. The exporters expressed confidence that the Thai prime minister’s visit to the U.S. will contribute to Thailand’s trade and exports.
— NBT World (video)
Thailand to move up on TIP status by next year
The government is taking steps to move Thailand’s status up from a current Tier 2 on the U.S. Trafficking In Persons (TIP) report by next year, said Defense Ministry spokesman Lt Gen Kongcheep Tantravanich.
— NNT
Thailand warned over firms fleeing abroad
Political uncertainty over planned reforms and public infrastructure projects are perceived as the top concerns for investors considering doing business in the country, according to the World Bank’s latest Thailand economic monitor.
— Bangkok Post
Government to temporarily allow foreign workers in fishing industry to address current shortage
The Office of the Prime Minister has issued an announcement allowing for foreign workers to temporarily remain in Thailand to work in the fishing industry, provided they have the appropriate documentation. The announcement was published in the Royal Government Gazette on September 28th to address the sector’s labor shortage.
— NBT World (video)
PM’s 2018 poll date vow ‘misunderstood’
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha did not say the general election would be held next year when he met US President Trump on Monday, but only promised to announce an election date next year, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon claimed Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post
Thailand to buy 155,000 tonnes coal from US
The Thai private sector has agreed to buy a total of 155,000 tonnes of coal from the United States after a meeting with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in Washington DC, deputy government spokesman Lt Gen Werachon Sukondhapatipak said.
— Thai PBS
Global monetary policy seen as risky
The rapid normalisation of monetary policy in advanced economies could create risks for highly leveraged developing countries, including Thailand, warns the World Bank.
— Bangkok Post
Prawit denies chopper deal ‘to please’ US
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon yesterday rejected claims the government was trying to curry favour with the US by expressing its interest in purchasing several attack helicopters from them.
— Bangkok Post
OIC launches project to provide insurance knowledge to public
he Office of Insurance Commission (OIC) has launched a pilot project to provide knowledge and create a better understanding about insurance with communities across the country.
— NNT
Senior officer was ‘mastermind’ in Yingluck escape, says deputy police chief
A SENIOR POLICE officer has been implicated for allegedly enabling the flight of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, deputy national police chief Pol General Srivara Ransibrahmanakul said yesterday.
— The Nation
Pattaya City discharges wastewater into the sea to save city from flooding
Pattaya City has admitted that it discharged untreated wastewater into the sea off South Pattaya after heavy rain Tuesday night and early this morning to prevent flooding in some low-lying areas.
— Thai PBS
Cabinet OKs measure to help SMEs cope with FX risks
The Cabinet has expanded a measure to subsidize hedging fees for SMEs in a bid to help protect them against foreign exchange risks.
— NBT World (video)
DOE to complete migrant workers’ biometrics record by 1 November
The Ministry of Labor has assured the Department of Employment is yet to complete a biometrics record of some 200,000 migrant workers in fishery sector by 1 November 2017.
—NNT
Ultimatum for illegal guesthouses on Koh Phangan
Owners of all illegally operating guesthouses on Koh Phangan have until Oct 15 to register before a crackdown begins, a district official said on Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post
Felicity hitches Bt3 bn ride on EEC
PROPERTY developer Felicity Asset Co Ltd yesterday announced plans to spend Bt3 billion expanding its retail and hospitality businesses in the Eastern region to cash in on the development of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
— The Nation
Thailand Launches New Online Service for Work Permits and Visas
Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) has launched a new online visa service for BOI-registered companies in order to ease the visa application process.
— Asean Briefing
Cabinet agrees to fill vacant civil servant posts with other employees
The Cabinet has resolved to reduce the number of civil servants by employing more of other types of employees as part of the civil service development plan.
— NBT World (video)
VAT rate to remain 7% until Sept 30, 2018
The value-added tax (VAT) will be kept at the rate of 7% for another year between Oct 1, 2017 – Sept 30, 2018, Revenue Department director-general Prasong Poontaneat said on Oct 3.
— Thai PBS
Over 260,000 Chinese tourists to visit Thailand during China’s 8-day Golden Week holiday from October 1-8
Thailand is now anticipating a large number of Chinese tourists visiting the country during the National Day Golden Week holiday in China which runs from October 1-8.
— Thai PBS
Strategic meeting for teachers’ skill development held in Chiang Mai
Deputy Education Minister M.L. Panadda Disakul opened a strategic meeting on skill development of teachers and assistant teachers in Chiang Mai province, urging attendees to set a good example for their peers, create a network of teachers and prepare themselves for the ASEAN Economic Community.
— NBT World (video)
A look at Thailand’s fervent gun culture
According to studies, Thailand has one of the highest per capita death ratio caused by firearms in Asia, even surpassing US.
— Channel NewsAsia (video)
SEC to educate companies, employees on savings for retirement
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will go out to meet companies and their employees to educate them about retirement savings.
— Thai PBS
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.
— NBT World (video)
Blue Flag stores warned not to pay cash to welfare card holders
Blue Flag stores are warned that they will be delisted if they are found giving out cash to welfare card holders whereas the card holders themselves will have their cards confiscated and will have to refund the state, said Deputy Commerce Minister Sonthirat Sonthichirawong on Wednesday.
— Thai PBS
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.
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