Thailand Morning News For June 8

Govt unveils Bt600 bn EEC projects
In what is seen as a economic road show before Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s high-profile trip to Europe later this month, the government said yesterday it was accelerating six key investment projects worth Bt600 billion in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
— The Nation

Thai junta seeks US$10 billion in new security budget ahead of 2019 election
Military spending has risen since former army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha seized power from the civilian government in 2014, fitting a pattern of generals generously boosting budgets after their periodic coups
— South China Morning Post

Thailand Says It May Skirt Global Monetary Tightening Until 2019
Thailand is becoming an oasis of monetary policy stability as other emerging markets scramble to raise interest rates.
— Bloomberg

PM requests two hours to explain 2019 expenditure budget
The Prime Minister has requested time for his team to explain the over 3 trillion baht 2019 expenditure budget to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) today.
— NNT

E-commerce wars to leave few standing
Only a handful of dominant players will survive the intense Thai e-commerce competition, so local businesses must offer unique features, say operators.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand Launches Project ‘Inthanon’ to Trial Central Bank Digital Currency for Interbank Settlement
Governor of Thailand’s Central Bank has announced the ‘Inthanon’ project as part of Thailand’s ongoing research into new applications for blockchain technology.
— Coinspeaker

Thai cellcos sued over voice billing
Consumer advocacy groups in Thailand have filed lawsuits against the nation’s big three mobile operators AIS, Dtac and True Move, accusing them of failing to comply with a regulatory order to implement per-second billing.
— telecomasia.net

Elections ‘not set to derail’ EEC
The government has informed foreign companies through their respective embassies that the flagship Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) will carry on as planned, regardless of whether a general election takes place next February or results in a new direction.
— Bangkok Post

NESDB holds Future Thailand Event
The Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has held the “Future Thailand” event, unveiling long-term national reform plans.
— News Today (video)

PTTGC dusts off plan for Rayong plastics plant
PTT Global Chemical Plc (PTTGC), the country’s largest petrochemical producer, will revive its investment plan for a polylactic acid (PLA) production facility in Rayong later this year.
— Bangkok Post

Sibutramine found in another food supplement brand
Police have seized food supplement products worth 2 million baht in Nakhon Ratchasiman province after they were found to contain the appetite suppressant ‘sibutramine’.
— NNT

Media under fire over NLA napping pics
A junta-appointed legislator raged at the media for showing his fellow legislators sleeping in a session deliberating the Bt3-trillion national budget for the next fiscal year.
— The Nation

Min of Industry prepares roadshows abroad to promote EEC
Thailand’s Industry Minister has expressed his readiness to attract investment to the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). He made the remarks after co-chairing the EEC press conference for foreign dignitaries.
— NNT

UNHRC expresses concern over crackdown
THE United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) yesterday made public the letters it had sent to the Thai junta government about alleged rights violations even as the council holds its 38th session on June 18.
— The Nation

Understanding the terrorism threat in southern Thailand
Transnational terrorist groups like the so-called Islamic State (IS) tend to exploit conflicts involving Muslims.
— Today

NokScoot’s Q1 success sparks optimism
NokScoot, a medium- to long-haul low-cost carrier based in Thailand, performed well in the first quarter this year, with results in line with the airline’s strengthened flight operations, higher passenger tally, increased fares, enhanced yields and cost control measures.
— Bangkok Post

Top MLM companies choose Thailand
The growth of Thailand’s direct selling industry seen by top MLM companies as a key factor that makes the country a hub for their corporate’s events.
— Live Trading News

Thaitrade.com elevated to national e-commerce platform
THE Ministry of Commerce yesterday announced plans to scale up the government’s Thaitrade.com website to become the national e-commerce platform as part of plans to turn Thailand into an e-commerce hub for the region.
— The Nation

Migrant workers urged to complete their application for work permit by June 30
The Labor Minister, Pol. Gen. Adul Sangsingkeo, has instructed migrant workers to complete the national verification process before the end of this month, as the deadline will not be extended.
— NNT

‘Big Joke’ takes down Russian credit card fraudster
Tourist police deputy commissioner Maj Gen Surachet Hakpal has led a team of police in taking down a Russian credit card fraudster in the north east.
— The Thaiger

Govt seeks to push Thai SMEs into e-commerce through thaitrade.com
The Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs has announced the government’s goal of encouraging Thai SMEs to use the website thaitrade.com as their main portal to the e-commerce market.
— NNT

Six maritime routes up for bids
The Marine Department next Friday plans to open a bid for six maritime routes under the “Andaman Ring” project linking three popular coastal provinces in the South to promote tourism.
— Bangkok Post

DPM Wissanu: Local election laws 90% complete
A deputy prime minister in charge of legal affairs has confirmed significant progress in the drafting of laws governing local and provincial elections.
— NNT

UN tourism agency keen on ‘Thai Riviera’ plan, minister says
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation has acknowledged the potential in Thailand promoting its own “Riviera” and will support it, Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat said on Thursday.
— The Nation

Energy Ministry organizes ASEAN Sustainable Energy Week 2018
The Ministry of Energy has organized ASEAN Sustainable Energy Week 2018 to adopt alternative energy sources in response to rising energy prices, with the target to increase the proportion of renewable energy to 30 percent.
— News Today (video)

Bangkok teen arrested with 8 million pills and a whole lot more!
A 17 year old boy has been arrested in Bangkok with an astonishing amount of illicit drugs.
— The Thaiger/ The Nation

Chonburi’s oil industry practices spill response
Chonburi’s petroleum refiners, Laem Chabang Port and the Royal Thai Navy practiced their response to a marine oil spill at an annual drill in Sriracha recently.
— Pattaya Mail

Kalasin raids informal lenders
Kalasin provincial authorities have coordinated with the Department of Special Investigations (DSI) to eradicate the operations of the province’s informal lenders, making several arrests after carrying out raids in nine areas of six districts.
— NNT

Bribes forgotten as THAI becomes Rolls-Royce maintenance hub
Thai Airways International Pcl (THAI) will undertake maintenance and repair of Rolls-Royce Trent engines and expects additional revenue of up to 5 billion baht in 2020 from the business, the carrier said on Thursday.
— Bangkok Post

Customs officials destroy B2mn of pirate copyright goods
Pirate copyright goods valued at more than B2 million were destroyed by Customs officials today (June 7) as the campaign to crack down on fake goods continues throughout the country.
— The Phuket News

Premchai ‘ruse’ hopes public forgets
A request by the so-called “dream team” of lawyers representing construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta that his case, which involves the alleged poaching and slaying of an endangered black leopard at a legal ruse, the Sueb Nakhasathien Foundation said on Thursday.
— Bangkok Post

TTM+ 2018 in Pattaya perfectly positioned to support Government’s Eastern Fruit Corridor Project
The Thailand Travel Mart Plus Amazing Gateway to the Greater Mekong Subregion’ (TTM+), opening this year at the Ocean Marina Yacht Club in Pattaya from 13 to 15 June, is perfectly timed to support the Thai government’s ambitious Eastern Fruit Corridor (EFC) Project.
— TAT News

Fight against graft ‘making headway’
More people seem to be aware of corruption and they are less afraid to file complaints about it, the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT) said Thursday, suggesting the battle against graft in officialdom could be making headway.
— Bangkok Post

Phuket fishing exclusion-zone maps get overhaul
Maps showing coastal fishing-exclusion zones are being updated to accurately show areas where it is illegally to fish commercially to prevent trawlers from Phuket’s fishing fleet from plying waters in protected areas.
— The Phuket News

Energy Min develops fossil-fuel free energy sources
The Ministry of Energy is developing a framework to establish Thailand’s energy supply free of fossil fuel resources.
— NNT

Help on the way for Lampang woman who cares for 400 stray dogs
There’s been a lot of interest in the story from yesterday about the woman in Lampang, Pongrueduee Rasi, who had been caring for 400 stray dogs but was in despair because she’d run out of money.
— The Thaiger

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 June 8 added by John Le Fevre on June 8, 2018
View all posts by John Le Fevre →

Bio
Latest Posts

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.