Thailand Morning News For September 7

Thailand signs deals with Chinese state firms for high-speed railway
Thailand have signed two contracts, worth 5.2 billion baht ($157 million), with Chinese state enterprises for a high-speed rail project with China, Anon Luengboriboon, acting governor of the State Railway of Thailand, told Reuters on Wednesday.
— Reuters

2018 election not guaranteed: Deputy Prime Minister
The next general election might be again postponed after a Deputy Prime Minister said that he is uncertain if the organic laws can be finalised within 2018.
— Prachatai English

Provinces prepare for more flooding
Central region provinces have begun preparations against flood conditions caused by high tides and heavy rains.
— NNT

Households to sell solar power
The government will end the decade-long restriction on households and commercial buildings selling power generated by their solar rooftops to state utilities in the fourth quarter of the year.
— Bangkok Post

Nissan confirms Leaf electric car for sale in Thailand
NISSAN has confirmed it will sell the Leaf electric car in Thailand next year, first as an import from Japan, but later as a locally made model if it gets the right deal with the Thai government.
— The Nation

PM witnesses signing of 4 agreements with China on sidelines of BRICS Summit
The Prime Minister has signed four agreements with China as part of his attendance of the 9th BRICS Summit.
— NBT World (video)

Min of Agriculture launches program to purchase farmers’ debt
The committee on specialized farmer development and rehabilitation fund has revised its debt-buying guidelines to better facilitate debt management for farmers. In the first round, the fund expects to purchase 166 million baht in debt from 871 farmers.
— NNT

Chiang Mai, Thailand to Host ASEAN Tourism Forum 2018 in January
The theme of the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2018 will be “ASEAN – Sustainable Connectivity, Boundless Prosperity”.
— TravelNewsAsia

National Start-Up Promotion Act being drafted
The National Start-Up Promotion Committee is determined to complete the National Start-Up Promotion Act by this year to boast domestic investments.
— NNT

Digital economy master plan among tech projects approved
THE DIGITAL Economy and Society Committee has approved the National Digital Economy Master Plan, the National e-Commerce Master Plan and a plan to develop seven smart cities around the country. Digital Economy and Society Minister Pichet Durongkaveroj said both master plans cover the five years from 2017-21.
— The Nation

Governor Aswin opens 6.3-km water tunnel under Klong Bang Sue
Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang on Wednesday (Sept 6) formally pressed the button to start the engine to pump excess water through a 6.3 kilometre long water tunnel under Klong Bang Sue into the Chao Phraya river.
— Thai PBS

Results of study on Thai debt behavior revealed
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) and Puey Ungpakorn Institute for Economic Research (PIER) have revealed the findings of a study titled “X-Raying Thai Loan Behavior using Big Data from Credit Bureaux”, providing insights into debt-amassing habits for the design of more accommodating policies.
— NNT

Commerce to meet 500 Japanese businessmen to promote bilateral trade
The Commerce Ministry will host a 3-day meeting between Thai and Japanese businessmen next week to promote bilateral trade.
— Thai PBS

High-end Sukhumvit and Phuket hotels up for sale
Two high-end hotels, Four Points by Sheraton Bangkok Sukhumvit and Novotel Phuket Karon Beach Resort & Spa, are being offered for sale through an international tender process conducted by JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group.
— Bangkok Post

Tourism Authority of Thailand Launches WeChat App for Chinese Visitors
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched a WeChat ‘Visit Thailand’ application for Chinese visitors.
— TravelNewsAsia

Industry Ministry partners with UNIDO to develop EEC to 4.0 standards
The Ministry of Industry has invited UN organizations to help modernize the country’s industrial sector to satisfy its Industry 4.0 agenda and accommodate investment in 10 target industries in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
— NBT World (video)

Deal hatched for world’s top fintech hub
THAI logistics operator Best Group has entered into a joint venture with Hong Kong-listed property firm Hydoo International Holding Ltd to set up an exhibition centre in Bangkok that will also host the what the partners say will be the world’s largest financial technology (fintech) hub.
— The Nation

Chiang Mai University can grow the world’s most expensive white truffle in the country
Chiang Mai University yesterday revealed that it could grow the world’s most expensive white truffle for the first time in the country.
— Thai PBS

Private sector foresees healthy economy for remainder of 2017
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) has forecast continued growth in the Thai economy for the rest of this year following better-than-expected economic indicators in the second quarter.
— NBT World (video)

Cabinet gives green light to Thai-Cambodian tax exemption
The recent Cabinet meeting approved a double tax exemption between Thailand and Cambodia to promote trade and investment between the two countries.
— NBT World (video)

“Thailand is a growing market for fruit, vegetables and plants”
As of 1 September, shipping agent Milestone Fresh has started a branch in Thailand, called Milestone Logistics Thai.
— Fresh Plaza

Feature photo John Le Fevre
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 September 7 added by John Le Fevre on September 7, 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.