Thailand English-language News for April 24

In Thailand English-language News for April 24, 2018, Newsline presenter Surapan Laotharanarit tells us about:

00:46 | Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Francis Gurry, yesterday met with Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and discussed developing intellectual property systems in line with the Thailand 4.0 agenda.

Acknowledging the work of the government and its determination to adhere to international standards, Mr Gurry said WIPO is planning to work with the Thai government to promote knowledge and understanding among the Thai public on intellectual property protection.

02:24 | Thai Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong yesterday hosted an executive lunch themed ‘Global Intellectual Property Trends Towards Sustainable Development’, after which World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Director-General, Francis Gurry, discussed the development of IP in Thailand.

04:41 | Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday urged Thai businesses to raise their level of competitiveness and confirmed the government’s support for the Thailand 4.0 development agenda.

Instructing his economics team to strike a balance between their support for foreign and domestic investors, General Chan-o-cha said that the government must protect the interests of Thai investors and SMEs, while creating an investment environment that encourages competition and economic balance.

05:58 | Deputy prime minister Dr Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Monday that the government is planning to invite representatives of all political parties to a meeting in June to discuss the upcoming election.

07:41 | The Chief of the Australian Army (AA) Lieutenant General Angus Campbell has paid a courtesy call on his Thai counterpart, General Chalermchai Sittisart, at the Royal Thai Army (RTA) Headquarters in Bangkok to reinforce the long-standing friendship and strengthen cooperation between the two armies.

09:22 | Newsline takes a look at the Chinese community in Thailand and their contribution to Thailand’s heritage with a visit to the Chinatown-Heritage Center in the Yaowarat District of Bangkok.

14:14 | Sawatdee Group (Thailand) Co, Ltd has declared itself the official partner of the Alibaba Group in Thailand. Thai exporters who sign up with Alibaba are expected to witness higher sales and orders from customers worldwide.

15:45 | Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong has moved to allay the fears of Thailand online traders following the announcement of the Alibaba Group establishing its TMall online shopping site in Thailand.

Mr Sontijirawong said the matter will not put a strain on their business, and presents an opportunity for farmers to sell their produce directly online to a wider audience. Alibaba is not charging Thai merchants selling fees for one year, after which transaction fees will be charged.

17:43 | Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha will attend the 32nd Asean Summit and related meetings in Singapore on April 27 and 28, to be held under the theme of “Resilience and Innovation”.

General Chan-o-cha intends to use the meeting to reinforce Thailand’s willingness to assist all member nations move forward together without leaving any one behind, and the promotion of a network to connect with countries outside the bloc.

19:12 | The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has confirmed that Vietnamese tra fish can still be exported to the US, despite the high anti-dumping duties recently imposed. Vietnamese exporters have appealed the high duty rate to the US Commerce Court.

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Newsline is a daily Thailand English-language news and current affairs programme produced by the National News Bureau of Thailand (NNBT) under the Thailand Government Public Relations Department (PRD) for *NBT World, the NNBTs 24/7 English language television service delivering Thailand government news and information to the Thai, Asean, and wider Asian communities. AEC News Today publishes Thailand English-language News M-F.