Somkid talks up economic growth
Favourable geopolitics and drastic reform are the key factors driving Thailand’s prosperity as it aims for well-balanced and sustainable growth over the long term, says Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak.
— Bangkok Post
The Bangkok Declaration and the birth of Asean (video)
As Thailand prepares to take over the Asean Chair for its 52nd year state-owned broadcaster NBT World is digging through the archives to highlight Thailand’s not inconsiderable role in the establishment and direction of Asean.
— AEC News Today (video)
Governor: External buffers render interest rate hike unnecessary
The central bank is under no immediate pressure to raise interest rates in line with emerging-market peers, given the nation’s solid buffers and relatively strong currency, says governor Veerathai Santiprabhob.
— Bangkok Post
“Faith” plays a part in determining if GT200 bomb detectors are worth the money
When trying to determine the worthiness of the controversial GT200 hand-held bomb detectors, another factor should be taken into consideration: faith. At least that’s what a member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission believes.
— Thai PBS
Thailand’s election could get delayed, again
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha seems to have dropped another hint that the country’s long-awaited election will be delayed yet again. Despite previously promising that one will be held in February 2019, Prayut recently said that a further delay is possible.
— The Asean Post
Thailand ranks 10th most popular for global visitors
Thailand continued to position itself as a destination for travellers to visit by staying in the top 10 in the latest report by the UN travel agency.
— Bangkok Post
Dept plans marine parks e-ticketing to curb visitors
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) says it is to introduce an e-ticketing system at marine locations to regulate visitors and prevent corruption.
— Bangkok Post
China’s Belt and Road Initiative will boost tourism, transport and trade with Thailand
The Thai tourism industry will be a major beneficiary of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as the Royal Thai Government moves rapidly to take advantage of the increased investment and trade opportunities it will create, not just within Thailand but across the ASEAN and ACMECS regions.
— TAT News
Chinese plow into Thai property as opportunities dry up at home
During a recent interview with the Nikkei Asian Review, Wei’s phone did not stop buzzing with calls from clients.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
2 types of investment proposed for Digital Park Thailand project
CAT Telecom on Tuesday has organized a session to brainstorm investment in the Digital Park Thailand project in Si Racha district, Chon Buri province. The project is one of the important projects in the Eastern Economic Corridor.
— News Today (video)
Limited primary vote draws flak
A limited version of the primary vote, where a handful of political party members are represented in nominating MP candidates, has drawn criticism from academics and parties.
— Bangkok Post
Constitutional Court rules FM Don can stay on his job pending verdict
The Constitutional Court has ruled that Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai can continue to perform his duty pending the court’s verdict on his qualification.
— Thai PBS
Bitcoin duo insist they’re innocent
A 27-year-old actor Jiratpisit “Boom” Jaravijit and his elder brother, Thanasit Jaravijit turned themselves in to the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) on Wednesday to acknowledge fraud charges in an alleged…
— Bangkok Post
Bank of Thailand Governor on Rate Hikes, Monetary policy
Veerathai Santiprabhob, governor of the Bank of Thailand, discusses the possibility of a rate increase in September, the biggest concerns for the central bank, the baht, monetary policy and the impact of the election on monetary policy.
— Bloomberg
BOT: Aging workforce to decrease GDP by 1.5%
The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has forecast that Thailand will become an aged society in 2025, when 14 percent of the country’s population are over 65 years old.
— News Today (video)
Kids app launched to keep children safe while chatting online
FACEBOOK yesterday launched Messenger Kids in Thailand – an application that helps parents keep an eye on their children, while still allowing them to enjoy chatting with their friends online.
— The Nation
Charoen Pokphand Foods to expand overseas business
Food conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) has revealed plans to generate more business growth from overseas operations, focusing on increasing capacity in Thailand and foreign bases to serve the export market.
— GlobalMeat News
Army chief concerned about disinformation in social media
Army commander-in-chief Gen Chalermchai Sitthisart today expressed concern about fake news and disinformation that will be disseminated in the social media after the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) lifts the ban on political activities.
— Thai PBS
Push for Thai climate fund
CIVIC GROUPS will push next week for the creation of a climate fund for victims of climate change, bottom-up climate policies and the empowerment of local people to boost climate resilience, when they meet at a United Nations sponsored conference in Bangkok.
— The Nation
Thai c.bank gov wants more policy room, sets stage for rare rate rise
Thailand’s central bank governor said on Wednesday that building some monetary policy space for the future should be a “prudent” consideration, signalling that long-unchanged Thai interest rates will rise.
— Reuters
July’s MPI grows by 4.64%
The Manufacturing Production Index (MPI) grew by 4.64% year-on-year last month, making it the 15th consecutive month of growth.
— News Today (video)
Providers consider Thailand’s e-commerce market crucial
Thailand is the most important e-commerce market for key overseas players as the retail market keeps evolving, say logistics providers.
— Bangkok Post
Japanese investors keen to join with Chinese on EEC projects, minister says
JAPAN PLANS to team up with China to invest in Thailand’s infrastructure projects, targeting the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), said Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith.
— The Nation
The high-speed rail projects giving Thailand’s whole economy a boost
In March the Thai cabinet approved a $7.2bn high-speed rail project that will link two airports in the Bangkok area and another in the eastern province of Rayong.
— Railway Technology
Offshore funds irk BoT
Bank of Thailand governor Veerathai Santiprabhob has voiced concerns about offshore funds that are flowing into Thailand at a faster pace relative to regional peers, pouring mostly into short-dated bonds and driving the baht higher.
— Bangkok Post
Five districts in Nong Khai heavily flooded
Five districts of the northeastern border province of Nong Khai have been heavily flooded by overflows from tributaries of the Mekong River, local authorities reported this morning.
— Thai PBS
Thailand again delays launch of infrastructure fund, until October
A multi-billion dollar infrastructure fund planned by the Thai government, first announced in 2015, will be launched in October, delayed again from September, a senior finance ministry official said on Wednesday.
— Reuters
Thaksin acquitted of malfeasance in TPI rehabilitation case
The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions today acquitted fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on malfeasance charges related to the controversial rehabilitation package for the Thai Petrochemical Industry (TPI) in 2003.
— Thai PBS
Investing in Thailand: Tax and Non-Tax Incentives
Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) offers a range of tax and non-tax incentives to foreign companies making investments that are deemed highly beneficial to the Thai economy.
— Asean Briefing
Thailand and Malaysia join 35th high-level committee meeting
Thailand and Malaysia have joined the 35th high-level committee meeting to exchange information about transnational crimes and border security
— News Today (video)
Thailand Post teams up with bank to grab rural e-commerce customers
Customers of Thai lender Kasikornbank will be able to deposit cash into their accounts at the nation’s 1,300 post offices, after the company named Thailand Post as an agent for its banking services.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Stock Exchange of Thailand President on Markets, EM Selloff, IPO
Pakorn Peetathawatchai, president of the Stock Exchange of Thailand, discusses the Thai stock market, Thailand’s political landscape, the emerging market selloff, what’s next for the stock market and their IPO.
— Bloomberg
Thailand visitor arrivals up 11% in Jan-Jul
Thailand welcomed visitor arrivals of 22,657,730 over the period January-July 2018, up by 11 percent over the same period of 2017, according to preliminary figures tabulated by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Estimated visitor expenditure also rose significantly, up 14.44 percent to Bt1.18 trillion.
— The Nation
Plastic bottle mosquito trap among winners at Innovations to Manage Waste Sources Awards
Over 60 creations from recycled materials have won Innovations to Manage Waste Sources Awards, a competition created to encourage waste awareness among the young in line with the Thailand 4.0 policy.
— News Today (video)
Prachinburi and Nakhon Nayok put on alert for flooding
Provinces including Prachinburi and Nakhon Nayok have been put on alert as discharges from major dams to accommodate more rain this week could result in their rivers overflowing.
— ReliefWeb
Fatal shooting at e-sports contest a worry for Thailand
A deadly shooting at an e-sports tourney in the United States highlights the need to nurture the right attitudes in e-sports competitors and online gamers in Thailand.
— Bangkok Post
Aging Thais, Medical Tourism Create $13 Billion Hospital Empire
A Thai hospital operator’s shares have surged so much this year that it’s now the most-valuable such business in any emerging market.
— Bloomberg
Police bust Thailand’s largest online drug network
Thailand has smashed a local drug network, Mun Took Med or ‘Fun Every Pill’, which conducted its business like a pyramid scheme and used the power of social media to sell drugs to thousands of its members and other people in the country.
— Borneo Bulletin
Thailand abandons visa fee hikes for Taiwanese visitors
Following threats of a boycott by Taiwanese travel agencies, Thailand’s representative office has abandoned plans to impose a NT$470 (US$15) handling fee for tour group visa applications, reports said Wednesday.
— TaiwanNews
Tata Steel Thailand lowers sales estimate on reduced state project spending
Bangkok Post reported that Tata Steel Thailand Pic is conservative about sales volumes for its 2019 fiscal year, which began in April, projecting slight growth to 1.24-1.25 million tonnes after witnessing overall rebar volume in the country shrinking during January to June, down from the 1.32-1.35 million tonnes projected earlier after Thailand’s rebar sales volume, which represent roughly 55% of all steel products sold by Tata Steel Thailand, dropped by 5.4% to 2.6 million tonnes in the first six months of 2018.
— SteelGuru
M’sia-Thailand high level committee has done well — ATM chief
The Malaysia-Thailand High Level Committee (HLC) which was established 35 years ago has move forward to become a mature cooperation between two neighbouring countries especially in resolving border issues.
— The Borneo Post
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 August 30 added by John Le Fevre on
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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