Thailand Morning News For September 4

Thailand remains world’s No 1 rice exporter
According to the president of the Rice Exporters Association of Thailand (REAT), Thailand exported 6.4 million tons of rice during this year’s first seven months, keeping the country as the world’s Number One rice exporter.
— NBT World (video)

Design adjustment will cause 10-month delay in the dual-track train project in Korat
Adjustment of the design of the 4.8-km section of the dual-track train project between Klong Khananchit and Jira road junction covering a distance of 69 km in Nakhon Ratchasima will cause a 10-month delay in the project implementation.
— Thai PBS

Rapid rail link to Rayong set for 2023
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) aims to open services for the 193-kilometre long Bangkok-Rayong high-speed Thai-Japanese railway by 2023, with ticket prices starting at 20 baht and adding 1.80 baht per kilometre.
— Bangkok Post

Govt ‘close to agreement’ to reopen gold mine
NEGOTIATIONS to end the conflict between the Thai government and Australian gold mining conglomerate Akara Resources are progressing well, with the possibility that the company’s closed mine in Phichit will reopen.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

State firms invest Bt170.8 bn in fiscal year’s first 10 months
INVESTMENTS by state enterprises reached Bt170.84 billion in the first 10 months of this fiscal year.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

B Grimm goes big with power projects in Laos
B GRIMM POWER has taken an aggressive move in building and operating hydropower plants in Laos. The company officially opened on Friday the Xanamnoy 2 and Xekatam 1 hydropower plants in Champasak province that shares a border with Thailand’s Northeastern Ubon Ratchathani province.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Passenger traffic at Don Mueang expected to hit 38m by year-end
The number of passengers travelling through Don Mueang airport is expected to hit 38 million by the end of this year, exceeding the target of 32 million, Don Mueang airport director Suthirawat Suwanwat said on Saturday (Sept 2).
— Thai PBS

Royally-bestowed relief bags and consumer goods delivered to flood victims in Mae Hong Son
His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun has graciously granted relief aid to help the affected public from 2,000 households in Mae Hong Son, Mae Sariang, and Sop Moei.
— NNT

Activist to sue police over ‘Boss’
Political activist Srisuwan Janya will petition the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) today to take legal action against police handling the case involving Red Bull scion Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya.
— Bangkok Post

PM promotes e payments for being safer than cash
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha promoted PromptPay which, he said, will provide a more convenient and safer payment for the general public.
— NBT World (video)

Higher taxes on sweetened beverages to be effective this month
Sugary drinks will face higher taxes from 10 satang to one baht per liter under the new excise law which will become effective on Sept 16.
— Thai PBS

Another charge looks set to be dropped against Red Bull heir
Another charge against Red Bull heir Vorayudh “Boss” Yoovidhya looks set to be dropped as the statute of limitations of the charge is due to expire after midnight Sunday night.
— Thai PBS

OIE pushes forward measures to develop robotics and automation industries
The Office of Industrial Economics (OIE) has pushed forward measures to develop robotics and automation industries in Thailand after receiving cabinet approval.
— NNT

New immigration form in use from 1 October
The Minister of Tourism and Sports indicated that the revised immigration form will be effective from the 1st of October and a law amendment is underway to exempt Thai passport holders from filling out the form.
— NBT World (video)

Transport Ministry to facilitate public travels during royal cremation ceremonies
The Ministry of Transport has made facilitation plans to accommodate the public’s travels during the royal cremation ceremonies of His late Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej during 23-29 October 2017, says an official.
— NNT

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

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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 September 4 added by John Le Fevre on September 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.