Thailand Morning News For May 10

Tax measures approved for smart city, logistics plans
THE BOARD of Investment yesterday approved a slew of tax measures to support investments for smart cities and smart logistics centres, according to its secretary-general Duangjai Asawachintachit.
— The Nation

Investment applications more than triple in Q1
Thailand’s private investment applications in January-March more than tripled from a year earlier to 205 billion baht, mainly for projects in the country’s industrial east, the investment promotion agency said on Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post

EU looking to return to FTA talks under elected Thai government
THE European Union delegation visiting Thailand is optimistic of making a breakthrough in free trade talks with Thailand within four years, under the elected future government.
— The Nation

B463m more assets frozen in massage parlour case
The Anti-Money Laundering Office intends to freeze 463 million baht in assets of 11 people linked to alleged human trafficking at high-end Victoria’s Secret massage parlour in Bangkok.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand seeks ASEAN-wide cooperation on illegal fishing policies
Thailand has hosted a meeting between representatives of ASEAN nations to crackdown on illegal fishing activities in the region.
— NNT

US exempts import tariff on Thailand’s steel pipes
The US has granted an exemption of 25 percent import tariff to Thailand’s steel pipes, according to the Thai Ministry of Commerce.
— VietnamPlus

KTC feels pinch of tighter BoT regulations
The Bank of Thailand’s tightened personal loan regulations for those earning less than 30,000 baht a month has dealt a blow to Krungthai Card’s (KTC) new customer growth.
— Bangkok Post

U.S. officials observe Thailand’s solutions to labor problems in fishing sector
Executives of Customs and Immigration offices of the U.S. have visited the Samut Sakhon Fish Marketing Organization to inspect the Thai government’s solutions to human trafficking in the fishing industry.
— News Today (video)

Thailand targets bigger gold hoard
A HUGE army of 913 Thai athletes has been tasked with plundering more than 12 gold medals when they take on the might of Asia this summer.
— The Nation

Bangkok luxury sector prices are stagnant
One day following the release of data showing Bangkok prime property prices are declining, another report has noted there was no change in Bangkok luxury sector prices between the first three months of the year and the previous quarter.
— Thailand Property News

Bang Sue station tipped as Bt150 bn investment magnet
COMPANIES are likely to pump at least Bt150 billion into investment projects on a massive site around Bang Sue Grand Station in Bangkok, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said yesterday.
— The Nation

Hutchison to build world’s most advanced container terminal in Thailand
Hutchison Port Holdings will spend $600m on building a state-of-the-art container terminal at Thailand’s largest port, Laem Chabang, enabling it to handle half of all the country’s sea trade.
— GCR

Most Thai varsities downgraded in new educational listings
THAILAND HAS MORE reasons to worry than to rejoice over the Times Higher Education’s just-released rankings for higher-education institutes in emerging economies.
— The Nation

Thai junta reaps bounty of ‘durian diplomacy’
The intriguing role of the strange-looking — and even stranger-smelling — durian fruit in contemporary Sino-Thai relations is little known.
— Nikkei Asian Review

Thai mangosteen production volume expected to shrink by 65%
Thailand has already signed free trade agreements with numerous countries. China is the third largest export market for Thailand, behind the ASEAN-countries and the USA.
— Fresh Plaza

Mubadala Petroleum to drill wells in Manora oil field off Thailand
Operator Mubadala Petroleum and its partners have approved a four-well drilling program in Manora oil field in the Gulf of Thailand to be drilled by the Ensco 115 jack up starting around May 16, said partner Tap Oil Ltd. of Perth.
— Oil&Gas Journal

Bangkok Airways eyes CLMV market
Bangkok Airways has partnered with Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) to kick-off its campaign to attract meeting and incentive groups from the Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV).
— The Nation

Bangkok Bank taps OurCrowd resources for equity crowdfunding
Israel-based equity crowdfunding firm OurCrowd on Wednesday announced its expansion in Asia in partnership with Bangkok Bank (BBL).
— The Nation

Thailand’s first crowdfunding platform for startups uses blockchain technology
Thailand’s first crowdfunding platform for startups and SMEs developed by The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) with support from the public and private sectors – has officially launched.
— Thailand Business News

Kerry adding 8,000 new trucks, motorbikes
Kerry Express (Thailand) has ordered more than 8,000 new four-wheel trucks and motorcycles to support its expansion plan for 2018 and 2019.
— The Nation

Feature photo Judith Scharnowski

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 May 10 added by John Le Fevre on May 10, 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.