Thailand Morning News For May 2

Thailand openly airs hope to join TPP
Thailand has expressed its hope of joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Japan’s minister in charge of the free trade deal said Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post

BoT expects Thai economy to grow 4% in first quarter
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) has forecast that the economic growth in the first quarter of this year will be similar to the last quarter of 2017 at 4%.
— NNT

Director-general transferred over substandard rabies vaccine
The cabinet on Tuesday transferred the director-general of the Livestock Development Department to the post of inspector-general pending a probe into substandard rabies vaccine.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand manufacturing deteriorates at slower pace
Manufacturing activity in Thailand still suffers from lower sales and job losses, but business confidence improved, according to an industry gauge.
— Nikkei Asian Review

PM Prayut disagrees with planned rally to call for general election
The Prime Minister has expressed his disagreement with a planned street rally to demand a general election.
— NNT

Prices up 1.07% as demand improves
Headline inflation in April surged to the highest level in 14 months, driven by rising prices for fresh vegetables, tobacco, alcoholic drinks, fuel, housing and furnishings.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand sending high-powered business delegation to Bangladesh
The Bangladesh embassy said the biggest ever Thai business delegation, including Thailand Board of Investment Secretary General Duangjai Asawachintachit and high officials from Thai government, to Bangladesh would reach Dhaka around 1am on Wednesday.
— Bdnews24.com

PM calls for increased efficiency of public services
The Prime Minister has called on a government committee to accelerate its efforts to enhance public services and resolve the controversy over the housing project for judges at the foot of Doi Suthep.
— News Today (video)

Ubon Ratchathani airport closed by runway fire
A late-evening fire grounded all flights and stranded hundreds of passengers at Ubon Ratchathani International Airport on Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post

12% boost in March car sales: Toyota
AUTO SALES in Thailand grew by 12.1 per cent in March with 95,082 vehicles sold, according to figures from Toyota Motor Thailand Co Ltd (TMT).
— The Nation

Cabinet approves legislation on forced labor prevention
The cabinet approved legislation on forced labor prevention and suppression which categorizes forced labors and imposes legal punishments.
— NNT

Premchai denies charges of illegal possession of firearms
Construction tycoon and accused wildlife poacher Premchai Karnasuta acknowledged but denied charges of illegal possession of firearms seized from his residence in Bangkok, at the Criminal Court on Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post

Government to end need for photocopies of documents in push towards Thailand 4 0
The government is gearing up to end the need for photocopies of identification cards, home registrations and juristic entity documents in a move towards Thailand 4.0.
— News Today (video)

Tourism Department: Thailand earns Bt799 mn from foreign film productions
The Department of Tourism disclosed that revenue from foreign film productions shot in Thailand generated 799 million baht in the first quarter of 2018.
— NNT

SCB prepares for earnings decline
Infrastructure investment over the next few years to prepare for digital transformation is expected to continue to deal a blow to Siam Commercial Bank’s (SCB) earnings, its chief says.
— Bangkok Post

Labour leaders want better conditions, democratic progress
LABOUR LEADERS bombarded authorities with demands for improved benefits and welfare, better working conditions and employee protection on May Day yesterday.
— The Nation

Cabinet gives nod to sugar-cane hike
The cabinet has decided on the final sugar-cane price for the 2016-17 milling year of 1,083.86 baht a tonne, higher than the initial cane price.
— Bangkok Post

Death sentence to Pattani blast defendants
The Pattani provincial court sentenced six men to death and four others to imprisonment in relation to a noodle shop explosion in the southern border province two years ago.
— Bangkok Post

Tenants and landlords. Things change from today.
If you rent property in Thailand there are new guidelines for tenants and landlords that come into effect from today. Mostly good news but there are a few exceptions that you will need to be aware of. The days of the unscrupulous landlord may be partly over.
— The Thaiger

Germany grants Bt690m, will work with Thailand on climate-change projects
GERMANY has granted Bt690 million for a four-year climate change programme intended to help Thailand achieve its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change
— The Nation

RID begins releasing water into 12 retention fields
The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has started to draw water from the Chao Phraya River and direct into 12 empty fields for agricultural purpose in a bid to allow for an early start to the crop season.
— NNT

Egat aims for revamp to tackle disruption
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) plans to revamp its organisational structure and administration to prepare for disruptive technology in the country’s energy sector.
— Bangkok Post

PRD moving toward 4.0 era with use of big data system
The Public Relations Department (PRD) is seeking to establish connectivity within its organization through the adoption of big data in accordance with the Thailand 4.0 policy.
— News Today (video)

Student Loan Fund details new collection measures under new law
The Student Loan Fund, the Comptroller General’s Department and Thailand’s Revenue Department have held a seminar on new debt collection measures under the 2017 Student Loan Act, which is set to take effect in July this year.
— NNT

Pattaya tour boat operators continue to use beachfront
Many boats have continued to use the beachfront area to pick up and drop off tourists despite being ordered to resume using Chon Buri’s Southern Pattaya Pier (Laem Balihai) from today (Tuesday).
— The Thaiger/ The Nation

Destination Properties sees GDP growth as platform for expansion
DESTINATION Properties Group, a hotel and restaurant developer, has revealed an aggressive investment plan for its food and beverage (F&B) outlets in Thailand that draws on the country’s sustained economic growth and the company’s own deep roots in the market.
— The Nation

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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 2 added by John Le Fevre on May 2, 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.