Thailand Morning News For January 25

JSCCIB wants minimum wage hike reconsidered
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) has urged the government to reconsider its minimum wage hike.
— NewsToday (video)

EU urges return to democracy
The European Union (EU) has urged the regime to ensure a quick return to democracy and stick to its pledge to hold elections in November.
— Bangkok Post

Auto production ‘set to skyrocket’ in 2018
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) is confident the country’s automotive output will hit the 2-million-unit mark this year — a level last reached five years ago.
— Bangkok Post

Spending surge in Dec 2017 drives up industrial sentiment
The Thai Industrial Sentiment Index (TISI) edged up in December last year, thanks to increased sales of gifts and automobiles during the year-end season.
— NNT

BOT yet to intervene in baht movement amid appreciation
Although the current appreciation of the baht is causing concerns among exporters, the central bank chief has affirmed it is not yet the time to intervene in the currency’s movement.
— NNT

Thailand charges nine in anti-government protests dating to 2013
Thailand on Wednesday charged nine leaders of anti-government protests in 2013 and 2014 with inciting insurrection and sedition in an attempt to oust Yingluck Shinawatra, who was prime minister at the time.
— Reuters

Two more coin offerings in the works
Two more non-listed companies will seek to raise funds through an initial coin offering soon, following in the footsteps of J Ventures’ plan to issue an ICO in March, says former Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij.
— Bangkok Post

Thai Dec car sales jump 20.1 pct y/y – federation
Thailand’s domestic car sales jumped 20.1 percent in December from a year earlier to 104,302 units, their highest level in four years, helped by motor shows, improving consumer confidence and the country’s economic recovery, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) said on Wednesday.
— Reuters

Commerce to meet producers of sugar-based food and drinks to lower prices
The Ministry of Commerce will have a meeting with manufacturers of sugar and sugar-based products within this month to have them lower their prices after the government announced price float for sugar.
— Thai PBS

Science Ministry announces successful creation of a monocoque electric city bus
The Ministry of Science and Technology has joined the Thai Machinery Association in announcing success in developing a Monocoque Electric Bus design that can be manufactured domestically.
— News Today (video)

KBank plans buffer for SME loans
Kasikornbank (KBank) is required to set aside larger loan impairment charges for its small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) loans in compliance with the International Financial Reporting Standard 9 (IFRS9), which requires lenders to have larger reserves and earlier recognition of credit losses.
— Bangkok Post

Muang Thai Life banks on regional growth
MUANG Thai Life Assurance Plc plans to deepen its presence in regional markets with a focus on Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
— The Nation

Bangkok’s air pollution exceeds standard level: PCD
The uncirculated air mass in Bangkok has caused airborne particulate matter to exceed the standard level, mostly due to air pollution in the roads.
— NNT

BMA under fire for ‘inaction over dust pollution’
A city councillor has accused the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) of being weak in its efforts to curb potentially harmful ultra-fine dust levels in the city.
— Bangkok Post

Agency instructed to conduct study on integration of master motorway plans
THE MINISTRY of Transport has instructed the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) to conduct a study on how to integrate the motorway development master plan of the Department of Highways (DOH) and the expressway master plan of the Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) to prevent possible redundant route development and ensure their route connection.
— The Nation

Private sector discusses digital age survival
The Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations has organized a seminar on the Thai economy and technological changes to provide suggestions for business survival in the digital era.
— News Today (video)

ETDA to splash out Bt535m in digital drive
THE Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) will spend Bt535 million on initiatives this year that will promote the development of the e-commerce sector and digital content and bolster cybersecurity in the country.
— The Nation

Thai beverages firm Malee acquires 65% stake in Vietnam’s Long Quan Safe Food
SET-listed food and beverages firm Malee Group has agreed to acquire a 65 per cent stake in Long Quan Safe Food Joint Stock Company (LQSF), a major beverage producer in Vietnam, for 332 million baht ($10.5 million).
— DealStreetAsia

MFA voices discontent over Annual World Report of Human Rights Watch
The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a statement expressing its disappointment with the latest World Report of the Human Rights Watch, deeming it ignorant of human rights efforts undertaken by the Thai government.
— News Today (video)

SCG readies Bt60 bn capex outlays
SIAM CEMENT Group (SCG), Thailand’s biggest maker of cement, construction materials and petrochemical products, yesterday said it would allocate Bt60 billion for capital expenditure (capex) this year.
— The Nation

MEA & EA to establish 1,000 charging stations for EVs
The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) and Energy Absolute Plc have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish 1,000 ‘EA Anywhere’ charging stations nationwide for electric vehicles (EVs).
— News Today (video)

Go Eco Phuket petitions to form official marine protection task force
Fed up with the lack of positive action by officials in following up on environmental protection laws, local conservation group Go Eco Phuket has formally filed a request to the Phuket Governor to form a team of officials to deal with marine environmental protection.
— The Phuket News

TAT highlights Thailand’s “Unbeatable Geographic Advantage”
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has highlighted Thailand’s “unbeatable geographic location” at the heart of ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific region” as a major reason why visitor arrivals will continue to grow strongly in the years ahead.
— TAT News

Suspected call center scammer nabbed with 26 ATM cards and 18 bank books
Tourist police has arrested an 18-year old Taiwanese suspected to be a member of a call centre scamming gang while he was withdrawing cash from an ATM at a hotel in Huay Kwang district Tuesday night.
— Thai PBS

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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 January 25 added by John Le Fevre on January 25, 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.