Thailand Morning News For June 6

JSCCIB maintains year’s growth forecast, highest rise expected for Q1
THE JOINT Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) will review its economic forecast in the next meeting on July 3, while expecting this year’s economic expansion to be within its estimated range of 4.0-4.5 per cent.
— The Nation

Somkid urges investors to make Thailand regional automobile hub
The government is urging auto-makers to take advantage of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) facilities to set up production bases in its effort to make Thailand the regional hub for automobile production.
— Thai PBS

Confidence dips in May as fuel prices bite consumers
Consumer confidence in May dropped on negative factors such as rising oil prices and concerns over the slow economic recovery, low commodity prices and higher living costs.
— Bangkok Post

IMF backs Bank of Thailand’s policy stance
The IMF supports the Bank of Thailand’s stated stance, saying monetary easing could help bring inflation back within the targeted range this year as the country’s economic recovery gains momentum but struggles to become broad-based.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand tops MICE scene
THAILAND has been rated the top destination for the meetings, incentive travel, convention and exhibition (MICE) sector, according to a survey released by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB).
— The Nation

Firms hopeful about GDP
The business sector is more upbeat about the country’s economy, saying growth could hit the upper end of the forecast band at 4.5% this year, as they await the second-quarter economic reading before reviewing…
— Bangkok Post

Local elections likely later this year: Anupong
Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda said today local elections, including the one for Bangkok, are likely to be held before the end of this year as the Council of State, the agency which advises state agencies on legal issues, is in the process of wrapping up amendments of six related laws.
— Thai PBS

TNSC outlook unchanged amid global uncertainties
The Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSC) is maintaining its 8% export growth projection even as shipments in April grew by 12.3% year-on-year, marking growth for the 14th consecutive month.
— Bangkok Post

Thai industry declares war on plastic pollution with ‘unprecedented’ public-private effort
EVERY MINISTRY in Thailand has agreed to curb its use of plastic bags and foam packaging as part of the government’s pledge yesterday on World Environment Day.
— The Nation

30 state hospitals to stop giving plastic bags from Oct 1
The 30 state hospitals under the Department of Medical Services (DMS) will all stop providing patients with plastic bags to take home medication from Oct 1.
— Bangkok Post

Caterers gain access to more airports
THE CABINET has unlocked draft contracts on air catering between the Airports of Thailand (AOT) and Bangkok Air Catering Co Ltd (BAC) and LSG Sky Chefs Co Ltd of Germany in a move that allows the two caterers to expand their services beyond Suvarnabhumi International Airport to other airports in the country.
— The Nation

Amazing Thai Taste Festival ready to tantalise the pallet
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is proud to organise this year’s ‘Amazing Thai Taste Festival 2018’ that showcases the best Thai food from around the Kingdom highlighted by eight delicious zones under collaboration with 37 public and private organisations including Chulalongkorn University’s Property Management Office.
— TAT News

NHSO agrees to 2019 procurement plan for rabies vaccines
The National Health Security Office (NHSO) board has agreed to the 2019 procurement plan for rabies vaccine, as recent outbreaks have consumed about 4.5 million doses.
— NNT

PM affirms no cabinet reshuffling will take place
The Prime Minister has affirmed that a Cabinet reshuffling will not take place.
— News Today (video)

Regime under pressure to lift politics ban
Pressure is mounting on the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to lift the ban on political activities immediately in light of the Constitutional Court’s ruling in favour of an NCPO order amending the organic law on political parties.
— Bangkok Post

20 ministries kick off campaign to reduce use of plastic bags
Led by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, 20 ministries and the private sector today launched a campaign to reduce the use of plastic bags to mark the World Environment Day, which falls on June 5 of every year.
— Thai PBS

Airport ‘soft spots’ to get concrete fix
Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) is set to inject 2.5 billion baht to replace all 700,000 square metres of asphalt with concrete on all the runways at Suvarnabhumi airport to permanently solve the threat of “soft spots” that have been reported there.
— Bangkok Post

Anti-paraquat protesters to rally at of Government House
About 500 rubber planters will join members of a network of anti-hazardous substances organizations to rally in front of the Government House on Tuesday to protest against the continued use of three hazardous agro-chemicals, namely paraquat, chlorpyrifos and glyphosate.
— Thai PBS

Cabinet scraps perk for IBF locations
The cabinet has approved a royal decree to terminate a 10% exemption from corporate tax for international banking facilities (IBF) based on the recommendation of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
— Bangkok Post

Saha grumbles as strong baht carries on
Saha Group, the country’s biggest consumer goods conglomerate, has warned that the continued strong baht could weaken consumer purchasing power in the second half of the year even as the economy heats up.
— Bangkok Post

Koh Larn sullied by tourist overload as waste mounts
Pattaya City is being encouraged to adopt a series of measures to curb waste and other environmental issues associated with the overwhelming number of tourists visiting the nearby island of Koh Larn on a daily basis.
— Bangkok Post

U.S. developer Simon Property, Siam Piwat to invest $313 mln in Thailand
U.S. mall operator Simon Property Group Inc and Thai retailer Siam Piwat Group will invest 10 billion baht ($313.28 million) in three retail projects to tap into the country’s booming tourism industry, the companies said on Tuesday.
— Reuters

MAI sees IPO surge in remainder of 2018
IPOs in the second half of 2018 are expected to accelerate as 12 companies are poised to launch IPOs later this year, says the Market for Alternative Investment (MAI).
— Bangkok Post

Thailand’s Minor plans to take over Spain’s NH Hotels
Thailand-based Minor International said on Tuesday it plans to launch a takeover of NH Hotels after buying a stake in the Spanish company from Chinese conglomerate HNA Group.
— Reuters

TAI notches deal with Pratt & Whitney
Thai Aerospace Industries Co Ltd (TAI), a leading provider of aircraft maintenance and repair services in Thailand and Southeast Asia, has announced a partnership with Pratt & Whitney Canada Inc, a global leader in aerospace, automotive and space services, to provide aviation support for military aircraft and aeroplanes of other government agencies.
— Bangkok Post

Government ponders plan to transform U Tapao into Eastern Aviation City
The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Committee has convened for the first time after the Eastern Economic Corridor Act was passed to acknowledge a 10-year plan on the development of the “Eastern Aviation City”.
— News Today (video)

NBTC confident of 3 bidders for auction
Korkit Danchaivichit, deputy secretary-general of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), reaffirmed Thailand’s three largest mobile operators Advanced Info Service (AIS), True Move, and Total Access Communication (DTAC) will join the bidding for 1800-megahertz spectrum licences.
— Bangkok Post

Bosch bullish on car sector as EEC rounds into form
The Thai unit of German car parts maker and industrial services firm Robert Bosch Ltd is optimistic that Thailand’s healthy economic growth will spur further development of the local automotive industry.
— Bangkok Post

Germany declines to hand fugitive monk over to Thai police
GERMAN authorities are expected to make a decision in three days on whether to hand over a senior Buddhist monk wanted by Thai police in connection with a massive embezzlement scandal, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said yesterday.
— The Nation

Siam Piwat enters Bt10 bn venture
SIAM Piwat Group, which owns high-end shopping centres in Bangkok, has entered into a joint venture with US-based mall giant Simon under which they will spend Bt10 billion to open three luxury retail properties by 2020.
— The Nation

After Maya Bay closure, Thailand approves new Phuket airport for 10 million additional tourists
Thailand’s Maya Bay, the beach made famous by Leonardo DiCaprio, officially closed to tourists for four months on June 1, becoming the latest addition to a growing list of destinations that have become victims of their own appeal.
— South China Morning Post

Songkhla Seafood Festival 2018
The Songkhla Seafood Festival 2018 is celebrating its 19th year and will take place at Sra Bua, Laem Samila, Songkhla from May 29 to June 9, 2018.
— The Nation

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Thailand Morning News For June 6 added by John Le Fevre on June 6, 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.