Thailand morning news for November 1

Thailand blazes ahead with push to legalise medical marijuana use
Thailand is rolling out plans to legalise medical marijuana, an official told AFP Wednesday (Oct 31), as the country hopes to cash in on a multi-billion dollar industry with a product its supporters hail as some of the world’s best.
— Channel News Asia

Thailand’s Largest IPO of 2018 Climbs as Much as 3% in Debut
The Thailand future fund, an infrastructure fund put together by the military, jumped in its trading debut in Bangkok.
— Bloomberg (paywall)

Thailand: Current account surplus bounces back into billions
Despite a persistent large current account surplus, the Thai baht (THB) seems to have lost its lustre and has ended October among Asia’s worst performers.
—Think.ing

Thailand assumes Chairmanship of ASEAN Conference on Civil Service Matters
The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that General Secretary of Thailand’s Office of the Civil Service Commission Methini Thepmani will serve as the Chairperson of the 20th ASEAN Corporation on Civil Service Matters (ACCSM) for the 2019-2020 period.
— Vietnam Plus

Face of next PM will ‘be similar to Prayut’
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak has hinted the next prime minister will be a person whose face “looks similar” to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s.
— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

BoT pours cold water on export view
The Bank of Thailand has grown more pessimistic about the prospects of achieving its export growth forecast of 9% this year as the intensifying trade dispute between the world’s top economies dampens global demand
— Bangkok Post

Justice Minister Wants Medical Weed Legal Next Month
The military government said Wednesday it would put forward a stopgap measure to allow medical marijuana before December.
— Khaosod English

Regime vetoes recreational weed use
The government has rejected calls for marijuana to be decriminalised so that it can be used freely as a recreational drug, saying Thailand at this point has to focus on its use for medical purposes.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand’s Path to First Rate Hike Since 2011 Is Getting Rockier
The long wait for a Bank of Thailand interest-rate hike may continue through November’s policy meeting as inflatio moderates and the outlook for exports darkens.
— Bloomberg (paywall)

Court confirms Don’s right to remain as foreign minister
The Constitutional Court ruled by a majority on Wednesday that Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai can remain in office as his wife had reduced her private shareholdings to meet the legal limit within the set deadline.
— Bangkok Post (annoying pops)

Government on course to achieve education reform for children
A government-appointed committee in charge of education reform has been working on the implementation of initiatives aimed at benefiting young children.
— News Today (video)

Migrants in Mahachai live in fear of police extortion
MYANMAR MIGRANTS in Samut Sakhon’s Mahachai district are living in terror that they may become a target of police extortion.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Effective integration of digital technology and farming
In today’s dawning Internet of Things (IoT) era, with so much online and lifestyle aspirations only a click away, disruptive technologies are catalysts for business people to adopt in order to ride the wave of change.
— Bangkok Post

Anti-Coup Cabbie’s Suicide Remembered 12 Years On
Dozens of Redshirt supporters placed flowers Wednesday morning at the pedestrian overpass where a taxi driver killed himself 12 years ago today.
— Khaosod English

Disruptive technology could cost Thai jobs
Despite launching the Thailand 4.0 initiative two years ago, Thailand is on track to lose as many as three million jobs over the next 20 years if it fails to adapt to new disruptive technologies, according to the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI).
— The Asean Post

BTSC advised to cap train fares at B65
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is negotiating with the Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC), which operates the skytrain network, to cap train fares at 65 baht as a condition of being granted a 30-year contract to operate the entire system after its concession for the original route ends in 2029.
— Bangkok Post

Pakistan’s export potential too low to sign an FTA with Thailand
Pakistan proves to be inefficient when its export potential is compared with Thailand, which is why it may be unfavourable for the country to seek a free trade agreement (FTA) with Thailand.
— The Express Tribune

Pindad Exports Ammunition, Explosive Material Products to Thailand
State-run arm manufacturer PT Pindad (Persero) will again export 7,300 pieces of 7.62×51 mm ammunition and explosives materials in the form of 225 grams, 500 grams and 130 grams of TNT block amounting to 4,030 units to Thailand.
– Netral News

7-Eleven’s delivery push fails to rattle
With 7-Eleven offering free-of-charge delivery service from 3,000 stores in Bangkok and the suburbs, food delivery services have found that it’s not a big deal.
— Bangkok Post

Sudarat affirms Phue Thai’s stance against pro-regime camp
Key Pheu Thai Party figure, Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, has insisted the party would not be ready to work with Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha if he happens to stay in power after the election.
— Thai PBS

Thailand Future Fund climbs as much as 3% in SET debut
The Thailand Future Fund, an infrastructure fund put together by the government, jumped in its trading debut on the Stock Exchange of Thailand on Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post

PM planning to call a meeting of political parties
The Prime Minister has indicated he may call a meeting of political parties in November or early December to discuss the lifting of political bans.
— News Today (video)

Thailand struggling to get back on Chinese express
While the rest of Asia-Pacific countries, mainly Japan, Korea and Vietnam, expect strong growth in Chinese tourist arrivals in the third quarter of this year, Thailand has been struggling to bring back Chinese tourists since the boat tragedy in Phuket.
— Bangkok Post

Health Min eyes making marijuana Category 2 drug to allow for medical use
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health is planning to change the status of marijuana from a Category 5 narcotic drug to Category 2 in a bid to unlock medical use of the plant.
— NNT

Coconuts added to price control list as slump rolls on
The mobile cabinet has approved adding mature coconuts and coconut products to the state price control list as part of efforts to deal with the domestic coconut price slump.
— Bangkok Post

Lamphun asks ministry for more land to expand industrial zone
Lamphun province has requested the Interior Ministry expand the purple zone, designated for industrial activities, to pave the way for investment expansion by Japanese companies.
— Bangkok Post

Rong Klua Market winter clothing merchants say prices higher this year
Merchants at Rong Klua Market in Sakaeo province have admitted the price of winter clothing this year may be higher than last.
— News Today (video)

NLA panel gives nod to land tax bill
A bill on a land and buildings tax, that was stuck in a National Legislative Assembly (NLA) standing committee for more than a year, has finally won the panel’s approval and is expected to go before lawmakers for a second reading next month.
— Bangkok Post

Police say no action yet taken against critical video
Police have clarified that no action has yet been taken against those behind a rap video critical of the nation and its government but assured the public that investigations are ongoing, with the Prime Minister saying he is paying the matter no attention.
— News Today (video)

CPN opens SME zones at two mall branches
Central Pattana Plc, the SET-listed property and retail developer under Central Group of Companies, plans to open permanent zones for local entrepreneurs at CentralPlaza Chiang Mai Airport and Khon Kaen branches in December to help promote small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
— Bangkok Post

Video game addiction up by 400%
The number of children suffering from video-game addiction surged by 400% last year, according to the Department of Mental Health, which is calling for stricter controls on playing video games, or so-called e-sports.
— Bangkok Post

Chiang Khong Border Checkpoint to become e Commerce warehouse
The Thai Commerce Minister has traveled with a group of people from the public and private sectors to Chiang Khong Border Checkpoint of Chiang Rai province, to survey opinions regarding the development of a mutual economic zone between Mekhong-Lan Xang nations.
— News Today (video)

OIE downplays dip in factory output
The Office of Industrial Economics (OIE) has brushed aside any concern over the decline in the Manufacturing Production Index (MPI) in September, saying growth in the first nine months remained healthy.
— Bangkok Post

The Payne barrier: Thai smashes SEA record at Frankfurt Marathon
Thai national Tony Payne, who spent time in preparation in Phuket, has broken the Southeast Asia in Men’s Marathon record.
— The Phuket News

Manchester condos to lure Thai buyers
Investment and business consultant PNN Capital Co will introduce a condominium in Manchester to Thai investment buyers as an alternative to London apartments because the northwestern English city is drawing relocations of large firms.
— Bangkok Post

Thai Airways Int’l introduces new business recovery plan
Thai Airways International is introducing a new business recovery plan in November and expecting itself to become one of the world’s top five airlines in three years.
— NNT

Standard Chartered sees narrower current account
Despite projecting an upbeat economic growth outlook next year, Thailand’s current account surplus is anticipated to narrow because of risks to the tourism industry and an expected rise in imports, says Standard Chartered Bank Thai.
— Bangkok Post

Bank of Ayudhya frets over slowing trade loan demand
Bank of Ayudhya (BAY) is uncertain whether it can maintain double-digit growth for small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) trade finance this year, as global trade spats are dampening loan demand.
— Bangkok Post

Experts back bill’s ban on exams, extra protections for young kids
THE EARLY Childhood Development Bill is expected to significantly impact the lives of young children if and when it is passed.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Study pushes rubber for national agenda
The government is being urged to add rubber prices to the national agenda, requiring immediate attention, as the country has lost several billions of baht from the rubber price slump.
— Bangkok Post

WP to acquire 80% of Thai Gas, increase LPG reach
WP Energy Plc, the SET-listed liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) trader, will invest in Thai Gas Corporation (TGC) to increase its assets, margin and long-run return for shareholders.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand hopefully to get back over 60 looted Thai artworks from overseas
THAILAND IS hoping to recover 60 looted Thai artifacts from overseas, the Culture Ministry announced yesterday.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Gulf closes Oman plant deal
On Monday, Gulf submitted a letter to the Stock Exchange of Thailand disclosing that subsidiary Gulf International Holding Co (GIH) had received approval from Oman to enter a joint venture with Oman Oil Co (OOC) to invest in a power project of Duqm Power Co (DPC).
— Bangkok Post

Thailand’s Culture Minister Announces Tham Luang Cave to Become Major Tourist Attraction in Chiang Rai Province
Thailand’s Ministry of Culture has made preparations to upgrade Tham Luang-Khun Nam Nang Non National Park into a high functioning tourist attraction.
— Chiang Rai Times

Feature photo Robert Amsterdam

This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges International Day to end Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, November 2.

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 November 1 added by John Le Fevre on November 1, 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.