Thailand Morning News For March 22

Thai February exports rise 10.3 pct y/y, beat forecast
Thailand’s customs-cleared annual exports rose at a slower pace in February compared with the previous month, pulled down by lower demand during Lunar New Year holidays, but growth was slightly above expectations.
— Reuters

Thailand Economic Outlook
Economic growth should remain robust this year on the back of a pickup in government consumption and fixed investment, while private consumption growth is expected to remain solid and export growth will likely moderate due to a large base effect.
— Focus Economics

Industrial confidence dips ahead of April wage hike
The Industrial Confidence Index (ICI) has declined despite continued export growth, as businesses and SMEs expressed concern over the upcoming minimum wage hike in April.
— NNT

Construction of Bangkok-Chiang Mai high speed rail project to get started in 2020: Transport minister
The construction of Bangkok-Chiang Mai high speed rail project will get started in 2020 according to plan, said Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith.
— NNT

US scandal shows big data manipulation likely in next Thai election: analysts
IT IS highly likely that Thailand will see the use of voter profiling through social media in the next general election, experts have predicted.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Thailand’s rude awakening into a broken digital advertising industry
Brands in Thailand are increasingly asking for more transparency from their agencies and partners. But as maturity reaches a tipping point, some serious problems with mark-ups, misplacements and an all-out mess of an ecosystem need to be addressed, writes Dominic Powers.
— Mumbrella Asia

Number of Chinese visitors grows exponentially in February
The number of Chinese visitors to Thailand grew significantly in February, said Tourism and Sports Ministry Permanent-Secretary Pongpanu Svetarundra.
— NNT

Tourist cap set to hit marine parks
The number of foreign visitors to the country’s national marine parks will be limited to 6 million a year under a plan to protect marine resources from swift deterioration brought on by heavy tourism, according to a national strategy drafting committee handling environmental issues.
— Bangkok Post

RID confirms adequate water reserves for dry season
The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has asserted that there are still enough water supplies for public demand in the Chao Phraya River Basin while asking residents to be economical with their water use.
— News Today (video)

PM calls political parties in for discussion in June
Thailand’s Prime Minister has called an informal meeting with political parties in June.
— NNT

Public agencies required to install EDC machines and QR code readers
The Comptroller General’s Department has sought cooperation from banks to have electronic data capture (EDC) machines and QR code readers installed at public organizations, as the country moves toward a cashless society.
— News Today (video)

NACC can’t confirm if civil servants involved in state fund embezzlement
Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) says it is still too early to conclude if any civil servants are involved in the embezzlement of state money intended for the destitute.
— NNT

Ministry probes claim of conflict of interest in rabies vaccines
THE AGRICULTURE and Cooperatives Ministry will set up a committee to investigate reports that conflicts of interest have plagued its procurement of anti-rabies vaccines.
— The Nation (annoying pop up video ads)

Graft buster says Prawit had submitted fourth clarification of pricey wristwatches
The National Anti-Corruption Commission says Gen Prawit Wongsuwan has submitted his fourth 38-page letter clarifying his pricey wristwatches.
— Thai PBS

China allows import of Thai chicken meat, by-products from seven factories
China has allowed the import of chicken meat and by-products from Thailand which is expected to generate seven billion baht in annual revenue, said Department of Livestock Development Director-General Apai Suttisunk.
— NNT

Thai-Cambodian GBC agrees to upgrade 4 temporary border crossings
The Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) has agreed to upgrade four temporary border crossings between the two countries into permanent ones, starting with the one at Khao Din in Sa Kaeo province oppoisite Cambodia’s Battambang province.
— Thai PBS

Activist demands answers to watch saga
Human rights activist Thicha Nanakorn has led a fresh call for the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to lift the lid on its long-delayed investigation into the luxury watch scandal involving first Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand’s PTTEP seeks to boost reserves, output in SE Asia
Thailand’s PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) is looking closer to home for upstream oil and gas assets in a drive to boost its reserves and production as oil prices have recovered, a senior company executive said on Wednesday.
— Reuters

Pet cafe warned to have the animals vaccinated against rabies
Operators of “pet cafe” which provide dogs or cats to allow their customers to play with them while they are dining in the premises are warned to have their pet animals vaccinated against rabies for their customers’ safety.
— Thai PBS

Rabies situation improving across the nation
The number of provinces facing rabies outbreaks has been reduced from 38 to 24 with the Livestock Development Department to continue to keep a close eye on the situation until it is completely resolved.
— News Today (video)

Thai February car sales rise 10.3 pct y/y – federation
Thailand’s domestic car sales rose 10.3 percent in February from a year earlier to 75,466 cars, aided by an economic recovery, improving private investment and launches of new models, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) said on Wednesday.
— Reuters

Police to ban water splashing on all main and secondary roads during Songkran
The Royal Thai Police will impose a total ban on water splashing on main and secondary roads throughout the country during the seven-day Songkran festival from April 11-17 to ensure road safety for revelers and other motorists.
— Thai PBS

Grin Party pours scorn on regime
Anti-coup campaigner Sombat Boonngamanong registered a political party called “Grin” on Wednesday, one of scores of newly formed parties eyeing the election tentatively set for February.
— Bangkok Post

‘Authorities have misled people’ about health peril of air pollution
A MEDICAL specialist has brought home the human cost of the air-pollution problem plaguing Thailand, stating yesterday that the mortality rate increased by 0.3 per cent for every 10 micrograms of small dust particles measuring 10 microns (PM10) in the air.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Academics call for ban on use of paraquat herbicide
ACADEMICS yesterday urged the government to ban the chemical paraquat in Thailand as it has been scientifically linked to sickness, food contamination and problems with child development.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Public prosecutor wants more evidence from police to prosecute Premchai
The director-general of the Public Prosecution Region 7 has asked the police to come up with more information after going through the 857-page case file of Thung Yai Naresuan wildlife hunting.
— Thai PBS

Thailand to sign MoU with Malaysia to resolve dual citizenship issue
Thailand and Malaysia will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at resolving issue of people holding dual citizenship.
— Thai PBS

Vaping could get you ten years in a Thai prison
Vaping, the popular alternative to smoking cigarettes, might be OK where you come from, but in Thailand sucking on your favourite ‘vape’, or even bringing them into the country, could put put you in a Thai prison for ten years.
— Phuket Gazette

Voice TV to challenge NBTC ban on talk show
Voice TV is preparing to file a complaint with the Administrative Court to challenge a 15-day suspension order on one of its news talk shows after it was accused of inciting divisions by the telecommunications regulator.
— Bangkok Post

Avoid sex assault: Don’t dress sexy, says government
Local authorities are telling women to avoid dressing in sexy outfits as they try to prevent sexual harassment or sex assault cases during next month’s Songkran festival.
— Bangkok Post

Feature photo Bernard Spragg

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 March 22 added by John Le Fevre on March 22, 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.