‘Progress and persistent abuses’ in Thailand’s fishing industry, says U.N.
Fishermen in Thailand remain at risk of forced labor, and the identity documents and wages of some continue to be withheld, despite pressure from major retailers to clean up the industry, the International Labor Organization (ILO) said on Wednesday.
— Reuters
PM Prayut : Thai economy certainly on path to recovery
The Prime Minister has expressed satisfaction over the continuous recovery of the Thai economy.
— News Today (video)
Thailand blasts Nigerian government over false claims on rice mills
Thailand’s ambassador to Nigeria, Wattana Kunwongse, has denied remarks made by the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, that rice mills are collapsing in the Asian country.
— Daily Post
Cabinet approves emergency decree on management of foreign workers
The Cabinet has approved the emergency decree on the management of foreign workers.
— News Today (video)
Foreign websites to come under VAT net
THE Finance Ministry will soon impose a 7 per cent value-added tax (VAT) on foreign e-commerce transactions in an effort to ensure fair competition between international and local businesses, said the director general of the Revenue Department, Prasong Poonthanet.
— The Nation
RFD to claim back forest land at Khao Kho from resort developer
The Royal Forest Department (RFD) is determined to reclaim a land plot at Khao Kho district, Phetchabun province, which was originally allocated for a defence volunteer who fought against communist insurgents three decades ago but is now being developed into a huge mountainous resort.
— Thai PBS
Thailand’s scandal-hit fishing industry gets mixed UN report card
Thailand is the world’s fourth largest seafood exporter but its supplier status has been badly tainted by reports of slave labour and trafficking among the mainly migrant work force staffing the kingdom’s fleets.
— Channel NewsAsia
Artificial rain making to be conducted in eastern region
The Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation has established an operations base to conduct artificial rain-making in the East to help farmers. Chanthaburi is the first province that has requested the making of artificial rain.
— NNT
ICO and token rules take shape
The new law to regulate cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings (ICOs) will be enacted and virtual coins will be classified as digital assets, not currency, says Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong.
— Bangkok Post
Sepo says numerous PPP projects on the fast track
Nearly half of the 966 billion baht worth of projects under the fast-track public-private partnership (PPP) scheme are expected to win approval from the PPP committee this year, says the head of the State Enterprise Policy Office (Sepo).
— Bangkok Post
Escort Offering Info on Russian Meddling in US Election Will Stay in Thai Jail: Officials
A self-styled Belarusian sex coach who alleged she could provide damning evidence to support claims of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election in exchange for political asylum will remain under detention in Thailand as authorities compile evidence against her, immigration officials said Wednesday.
— Benar News
SET to add warning symbol to companies exhibiting troubling developments
The Stock Exchange of Thailand is preparing to add a warning symbol to companies undergoing troubling developments.
— NNT
Jewellery industry faces ‘disruptive’ digital technology
NEARLY 350 exhibitors from Thailand showcased their products at the recent Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show 2018.
— The Nation
UTCC hands out Thailand Top Company Awards 2018
The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Business+ Magazine have honored 25 of Thailand’s top business organizations at the Thailand Top Company Awards 2018, seeking to propel Thai businesses even further.
— News Today (video)
Economic tailwinds buoy sector
The residential, office, retail and logistics sectors will continue to be robust this year thanks to the country’s economic growth and the upbeat global outlook, says property consultant CBRE Thailand.
— Bangkok Post
Government Cryptocurrency, e-commerce will be taxed
Director-General of the Customs Department Prasong Phunthanet has confirmed that cryptocurrency will be definitely taxed, saying relevant organizations are working together to decide on tax rates.
— News Today (video)
Making trains locally ‘could save B100bn’
Thailand could save up to 100 billion baht by manufacturing and assembling trains to serve its new railway projects, according to Ditsapon Padungkul, president of the Thailand Railway Engineering Association
— Bangkok Post
Forbes names ThaiBev founder 65th richest man of 2018
Forbes magazine has released its 2018 list of billionaires, in which the founder of Thai Beverage Plc was ranked at number 65.
— NNT
Total net profit of listed companies make record high in 2017
The continuously expanding Thai economy has contributed to the 990-billion-baht total net profit of listed companies–the highest level in history.
— NNT
New law criminalises criticism of Constitutional Court
The Constitutional Court has been granted legal immunity from criticism, and the power to settle conflicts between state agencies. Although the new law allows ordinary people to petition the court directly, the process is still problematic, said a human rights advocacy group.
— Prachatai English
Hat Yai farmers use I.O.G. system for remote farm management
Farmers in Hat Yai district are implementing technology, online and automated watering systems controllable from a cellphone.
— NNT
KMUT and CU jointly open master’s course on rail engineering
King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi and Chulalongkorn University have jointly opened a master’s degree course on rail engineering and infrastructure in support of Thailand’s transport and logistics sector.
— News Today (video)
Robinson plans Bt15 bn store boost
ROBINSON Plc plans to invest Bt15 billion over the next five years to open 11 more retail outlets, both in department store and lifestyle centre formats.
— The Nation
Cabinet approves tourism development plan for western coastal provinces
The cabinet meeting in Phetchaburi has approved a tourism development policy for the western coastal provinces. The move is in line with the national tourism development plan and the wealth distribution policy, involving the promotion of tourism activity in secondary cities.
— NNT
Audi releases flagship model in Thailand
Audi has again expanded its portfolio in the Thai market with the launch of its A8 L flagship model in Pattaya on Monday night.
— The Nation
Feature photo Patrik M. Loeff
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 8 added by John Le Fevre on
View all posts by John Le Fevre →
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