Thailand Morning News For April 2

BoT revises GDP growth target to 4.1%
The central bank has revised this year’s GDP growth target to 4.1% and export growth target to 7%.
— NNT

Thailand protests China over registration of “Monthong” as trademark
The Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) has officially protested China over a Chinese business operator’s request to register trademarks in English and Chinese meaning “Monthong”, the popular durian species in Thailand.
— Thai PBS

Thai rice exports topple 30 billion baht in first 2 months of 2018
The value of Thai rice exports in the first two months of 2018 was recorded at 30 billion baht.
— NNT

Thai editor faces charges over picture of kings wearing masks
A Thai editor faces possible criminal charges for sharing a student’s “disrespectful” picture of historic kings wearing face masks to highlight air pollution in the northern city of Chiang Mai.
— Reuters

60,000 workers become illegal
Nearly 60,000 migrant workers have had their status rendered as illegal and are no longer allowed to stay in the country after they missed Saturday’s deadline for registration under the new labour law.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand wields the tax axe over crypto investors
Thailand is planning to tax investors in digital currencies such as Bitcoin at a heavy rate in one of its latest attempts to regulate the market and tap into profits made by crypto investors.
— Investvine

PM Prayut affirms rigorous anti corruption measures
The Prime Minister has affirmed the government’s rigorous implementation of anti-corruption measures.
— News Today (video)

Kasikorn maintains economic growth forecast at 4% this year
Kasikorn Research Center (KSC) has maintained its economic growth forecast for Thailand at 4% this year despite US trade barriers.
— NNT

Fisheries Department declares April June fishing ban in Andaman Sea
The Department of Fisheries has announced a ban on fishing in the Andaman Sea, starting from today onwards.
— News Today (video)

Airport rail links get B112bn
The government is committed to investing up to 111.9 billion baht in high-speed railways linking the three main airports — Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-tapao — to serve the government’s flagship Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) scheme.
— Bangkok Post

MDES & private sector adding 40,000 free Wi Fi hotspots
The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society has joined interests with the private sector in adding 40,000 more free Wi-Fi hotspots across the country.
— News Today

Childhood Bill set to outlaw exams for young children
IF THE Early Childhood Bill sails through the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) this year, young children will be able to say goodbye to exams.
— The Nation

Thai PM discusses regional development with GMS leaders
At the 6th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit, leaders of GMS countries including Thailand’s Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha adopted three documents: the 6th GMS Summit Joint Declaration, the Hanoi Action Plan 2018-2022, and the Regional Investment Framework 2022.
— News Today (video)

Digital revolution a Work in progress
Government will overhaul legal, tax and education laws to speed up tech shift, ministers tell MIT workshop .
–The Nation

New book on legal philosophy offers lessons for Thai ethics
WHILE THE junta demands that citizens respect, obey and comply with the country’s laws, many people in the world see Thai law as abused and misused.
— The Nation

Thai legislature voices support for IPU to protect refugees’ rights
Members of Thai Parliament have assured the 138 Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva of the Thai legislature’s adherence to pledges and treaties to facilitate safe, orderly, and regular migration.
— NNT

Thai airlines flying high
WITH CONTINUING high competition in the airline business, all Thai firms are adding or expanding routes both domestic and oversees to meet the strong demand growth.
— The Nation

Abhisit shuns Prayut supporters
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has shut the party’s door on former MPs thinking of remaining with the party but who wish to support Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to return as an outsider premier after the next general election.
— Bangkok Post

Nai Lert injecting B3bn into hospitality
Nai Lert Group plans to spend 3 billion baht to invest in hotels, residences and related tourism businesses over the next three years.
— Bangkok Post

Myanmar seeks closer Thai business ties
THOUGH MYANMAR received only US$123 million (Bt3.84 billion) from Thai investments in the previous fiscal year ending on March 31, the nation’s investment body foresees a significant inflow of Thai businesses over the next few years.
— The Nation

Innovation leads to economy 4.0, says Somkid
Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Somkid Jatusripitak believes technological innovations will turn Thailand into a 4.0 economy.
— NNT

Golf courses, zoos, airports in for tax breaks, ministry says
Golf courses, zoos and airports are among business operators which could enjoy tax alleviation measures under a proposed land and buildings tax bill planned for next year, the Finance Ministry says.
— Bangkok Post

Cambodia, Thailand agree to open international border checkpoint mid-May
Cambodia and Thailand plan to officially open a new international border checkpoint in mid-May, an official confirmed on Sunday.
— The Phnom Penh Post

PM Prayut satisfied with outcomes of GMS Summit
The Prime Minister has expressed his satisfaction with the outcomes of the latest GMS Summit, held in Vietnam.
— NNT

Fund to help push for cleaner fridges
The German, British and Thai governments have joined forces to make refrigerators and air-conditioners more environmentally friendly.
— Bangkok Post

Prawit says election timeline unaltered by hiccup in promulgation of MPs bill
Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan is confident the election roadmap won’t change because of the decision of 27 members of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) to seek a court interpretation of the controversial bill governing the election of Members of Parliament.
— NNT

TPG said to eye stake in $500m Thai fertility hospital
TPG is in talks to buy a stake in a Thai hospital specializing in fertility treatments, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
–DealStreetAsia

‘Smart hive’ to save bee colonies wins cup for King Mongkut U students
Three computer engineering students from King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, under the name “Team BeeConnex” brought their Smart Hive project to win the Microsoft Imagine Cup Thailand 2018.
— The Nation

Political parties start update membership database
Existing political parties have stepped up their publicity campaign urging their party members to reconfirm their memberships at their respective head offices or branch offices starting tomorrow (April 1).
— Thai PBS

Over 40 percent Thais are totally unaware of Thai Niyom Yangyuen programme
About 41 percent of the Thai people are totally unaware of the Thai Niyom Yangyuen (sustainable development) programme recently launched across the country by the government, according to Nida Poll survey.
— Thai PBS

BMA poised to lower HIV infection by 90% in 2020
Health officials in Bangkok have met to discuss the situation in regard to HIV/AIDS in the capital city.
— NNT

All OSS centers for migrant workers registration to close after 31 March 2018
The Ministry of Labor has confirmed that all One Stop Service (OSS) centers for the registration of migrant workers from neighboring countries will close after 31st March 2018, while many such employees have opted to enroll online.
— News Today (video)

Technology transforms coverage
Digital transformation is shaping the way insurance companies do business and changing consumer behaviour in buying insurance products, enabling insurers to compile information about driving habits to calculate risks and offer usage-based policies, which helps some car owners pay lower premiums if they can prove to be safe drivers or they drive less.
— Bangkok Post

PM: Sustainable Thai Idealism ‘not’ election campaign
Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said today the “Sustainable Thai Idealism” initiative, aka Thai Niyom Yang Yuen, is not a political campaign, nor is it meant to gain public support for his administration or the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
— NNT

PM thanks all for successful migrant workers registration
The Prime Minister, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, has thanked employers and migrant workers who have complied with the registration process, expressing the government’s care towards workers as the new minimum wages take in effect from today (April 1st).
— NNT

NLA monitoring rabies situation
The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) is keeping a close watch on the spread of rabies virus in Thailand while confirming that the lawmakers disagree with the idea of a pet tax proposed by Public Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Jedsada Chokdamrongsuk.
— NNT

Officials woo foreign airlines to open up more Thai routes
AVIATION officials are confident of attracting more foreign airlines to the Thai market.
— The Nation

Thailand continues debate on electronic cigarettes
The debate on electronic cigarettes continues in Thailand, amid a legal ban on their import and possession.
— NNT

Thailand expected to earn 20 billion baht during the 5-day Songkran festival
Thailand will earn up to 20 billion baht tourism revenues in the 5-day Songkran water festival that begins from April 12-16, according the projection by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s Tourism Marketing Research Centre.
— Thai PBS

Retail’s future lies in Big Data about customers
THE EXPANSION of distribution channels to physically cater to shoppers in front of their homes, along with enhancing Big Data analysis to capture purchasing behaviour of individual shoppers, have recently emerged as two major new strategies by major retailers.
— The Nation

Junta files complaint to police against 57 core leaders and members of pro-election group
A complaint has been lodged with Chanasongkram police by the National Council for Peace and Order against 57 core leaders and followers of the pro-election political group, accusing them of inciting rebellion among the people to defy the law, illegal political assembly and violation of the NCPO order regarding the maintenance of peace and order.
— Thai PBS

Thais help storm-hit boat with 56 presumed Rohingya refugees put back out to sea
A boat with 56 people claiming to be Muslim Rohingya refugees from Myanmar was helped back to sea by Thai fishermen and navy craft after being damaged in a storm and stopping temporarily Sunday in southern Thailand.
— Japan Times

Commerce Min: US tariffs against China will impact Thai economy
The Ministry of Commerce expects the US’s retaliatory tariffs against China to affect the world economy including Thailand.
— NNT

4th army region to sue a Phuket hotel’s management of defamation
The Fourth Army Region has threatened to sue the management of a hotel on Phuket’s Patong beach and a person who posted a video clip in the social media purportedly implying that a group of army officers went to the hotel to extort money from the management.
— Thai PBS

Migrant workers in Thailand will not need re-entry visas over Khmer New Year
The Labour Ministry said on Friday that the Cambodian and Thai governments have agreed to allow Cambodian workers in Thailand to return home during Khmer New Year without the need of visa reapplication.
— Khmer Times

Thai Media’s Survival in the Digital Era
Media Executive Club and Press Development Institute of Thailand held a seminar on a topic of “ Thai Media’s Survival in the Digital Era” in order to share the results from media crisis case studies and to brainstorm to find a sustainable solution.
— NNT

TAT Newsroom announces winners of blogger Thailand 2018
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is delighted to announce the names of the six lucky winners of the 3rd annual TAT Newsroom Blogger Thailand 2018 competition.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

Nok Air to cut and reschedule flights to solve flight delay
Nok Air airliner has decided to reduce the number of its flights to avoid the problem of flight delay and, at the same time, has put on standby two planes to be brought in from U-tapao airport in case there is a problem of plane malfunctioning, said Nok Air CEO Piya Yodmanee.
— Thai PBS

A southern train was shot by suspected militant but no one was hurt
Gunman opened fire at a train in Narathiwat’s Cho Airong district Saturday evening (March 31), but no passengers were hurt.
— Thai PBS

Australia’s leading 24/7 gym to launch in Asia
One of Australia’s most successful gym chains, Jetts, has launched into Asia this month, with the opening of four brand new clubs in Bangkok, creating an unrivalled chain of fitness clubs throughout Thailand.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

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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 April 2 added by John Le Fevre on April 2, 2018
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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.