Thailand Morning News For March 9

Consumer confidence takes a turn for the worse
Consumer confidence dropped for the first time in seven months in February, as people were worried about low commodity prices, the baht’s strength, the political situation and wage rises.
— Bangkok Post

Investors show confidence in Thailand’s EEC policy initiative
Investors appear to be gaining confidence in the government’s investment promotion policy, particularly the much-anticipated Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) policy initiative.
— NNT

Thai monetary policy needs to remain accommodative – c.bank chief
Thailand’s monetary policy needs to remain accommodative to aid the country’s economic recovery as inflationary pressure remains soft, the central bank governor said on Thursday.
— Reuters

OSMEP expects Thailand’s SMEs to grow 5.0%-5.5% in 2018
The Office of SMEs Promotion (OSMEP) is optimistic that the country’s small and medium-sized businesses will all register a considerable growth rate this year.
— NNT

Policy rate likely to stay unchanged
The Bank of Thailand (BOT) said it is not necessary to raise the policy rate amid the upward trend in global interest rates as fragility remains in the local system despite recovery of the economy without inflationary pressure.
— The Nation

Experts throw weight behind SEC to handle digital assets
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has received endorsement from financial experts to regulate all aspects of digital assets and virtual fund-raising when a royal decree is enacted to that effect.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand lauded for better treatment of migrant workers
The International Labor Organization (ILO) has claimed that the Thai fishing industry has improved in almost every aspect.
— NNT

Pace picks up on fast train project
THE Ministry of Transport (MOT) expects to have 13 contracts under the first phase of the Thailand-China high-speed train project put out for bidding this year.
— The Nation

NLA passes final readings of MP election bill and Senate selection bill
The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Thursday (March 8) passed the House of Representatives election bill and the Senate selection bill.
— Thai PBS

Foreign Affairs Min reports on combating IUU fishing
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has revealed that a government committee has proposed establishing a network for fishing operators across 22 coastal provinces. Its infrastructure would support local fishers, foster a labor network, and play a role in conflict resolution.
— NNT

Ministry eyes more iris scanners to beat deadline
The Labour Ministry and the government committee set up to direct migrant worker nationality verification will discuss a proposal today to bring in more iris scanners to speed up the process as the deadline draws near.
— Bangkok Post

Over 1 billion baht approved to support SMEs and Startups this year
The Small and Medium Enterprise Board (SME Board) has held its first meeting for 2018, chaired by the Prime Minister.
— NNT

Condos, low-rise homes still hot
Thailand’s overall residential market in 2018 is expected to stay positive and continue improving from last year with growth of 7.9% on the demand side and 10.9% on the supply side, largely due to stronger confidence and a robust economy.
— Bangkok Post

Singha puts investment arm on hunt for startups
SINGHA Corporation has set up a new investment arm, Singha Ventures, to back startups identified with potential in Thailand and around the world.
— The Nation

OAG officials to help in probing plunder of fund for the destitute
Officials of the Office of the Auditor-General will be asked to help the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission in the investigation of widespread corruption in the centres for the protection of the destitute.
— Thai PBS

Northern provinces start drought relief schemes
The military and the administrative sectors have initiated drought relief measures in the provinces of Nan and Phetchabun, where the dry season has begun to take its toll.
— NNT

Gas block auction gets back on track
After five years of uncertainty, the auction of the Bongkot and Erawan gas fields in the Gulf of Thailand is finally scheduled to take place next month as originally planned, says the National Energy Policy Council (NEPC).
— Bangkok Post

Premchai allegedly vows to “give anything” if forestry officials let him go
Counter Corruption Police Division investigators today (March 8) questioned five forest rangers regarding the allegation that Italian-Thai boss Premchai Karnasutra tried to bribe the arresting rangers to let him off the hook.
— Thai PBS

Deputy PM highlights Thailand’s success in fighting corruption
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-Ngam has pointed out that the OECD has recognized Thailand’s anti-corruption efforts by inviting the country to co- author a report on public sector integrity.
— News Today (video)

Low levels in the Mekong River impacting cargo ships near Chiang Rai
A reduction in water releases from Chinese dams and local drought conditions have resulted in the water level of the Mekong River in Chiang Rai dropping, and impeding ship transport.
— NNT

PM chairs SMEs 4 0 meeting
The government is determined to steer forward its efforts to support and strengthen the new generation of small- and medium-sized enterprises.
— News Today (video)

Citi Thailand goes for double-digit growth in number of clients
Citibank Thailand expects a double digit growth in the total number of customers this year, said the bank’s head of credit cards and loans Sandeep Batra.
— The Nation

Deputy PM proposes more airports in South
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak has instructed the Airports of Thailand (AoT) to urgently reduce the over crowded state of all of its airports. For a start, he suggested that it construct airports in tourist cities in the South.
— NNT

LPN : Protector of rights of migrant workers
In parallel with the government’s mission to legalize all migrant workers in the Kingdom, the Labor Rights Promotion Network Foundation plays an important role in creating awareness among this group of workers about their rights and ensuring their access to welfare. Find out more about this matter from our today’s special report.
— News Today (video)

Bank accounts for fishermen in Thailand can help end abuses, officials say
A new order requiring bank accounts for migrant workers in Thailand’s fishing and seafood industries can help end forced labor, officials said, as pressure grows from foreign buyers to tackle abuses in the multi-billion-dollar sector.
— Reuters

Mekong countries meet on provision of assistance for human trade victims
The Thai Ministry of Social Development and Human Security is playing host to a workshop of countries in the Mekong Sub-region, focusing on assisting victims of human trafficking.
— News Today (video)

Swiss Julius Baer, Thai Siam Commercial Bank form wealth management JV
Swiss private banking group Julius Baer and Thailand’s Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) Thursday signed agreement to establish a wealth management joint venture (JV) focused on bringing relevant and impactful advice and solutions to the growing Thai private banking market.
— DealStreetAsia

Seminar held in preparation for trade liberalization for coffee farmers
The Department of Trade Negotiation and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives are holding a seminar in Chumphon province in preparation for trade liberalization for coffee farmers in southern Thailand.
— NNT

New banknotes with portrait of King Maha Vajiralongkorn in circulation on April 6
The Bank of Thailand announced today (Thursday) that it will put into circulation new banknotes that bear the portraits of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun on April 6.
— Thai PBS

DSI officials seize 1.5 million fake food supplement pills
Officials of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) raided three houses in Chiang Mai province on Thursday (March 8) and seized about 1.5 million fake food supplement pills and about 100,000 tablets of fake weight loss medication.
— Thai PBS

Thai Elephant Day raises awareness of importance of elephant conservation
The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment is organizing activities for Thai Elephant Day in order to raise awareness of the importance of elephant conservation.
— NNT

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 9 added by John Le Fevre on March 9, 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.