Thailand morning news for November 29

Manufacturing expansion on the cards for next year
The Office of Industrial Economics (OIE) forecasts the Manufacturing Production Index (MPI) next year to rise 2.5%, in line with the GDP contribution from the manufacturing sector.
— Bangkok Post

Arrivals up 20% – visa fee waiver
The Tourism and Sports Ministry is sprouting anecdotal evidence that tourist arrivals are up a massive 20% for the second half of November. This follows the hastily prepared visa-on-arrival fee waivers for 21 countries, introduced on November 15 and intended to run through to January 13 next year.
— The Thaiger

Doing Business Outside China: It’s Thailand’s Time
With all that has been happening with China lately on trade, Thailand is emerging as a highly attractive investment destination. Thailand has consistent and well-defined investment policies, increasing regional connections, and a government committed to improving its transportation infrastructure.
— China Law Blog

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau Beats Its 2018 MICE Target
Thailand overshot its ambitious targets in the events sector with earning surging beyond the THB200 billion benchmark, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) reported in its summary of 2018 fiscal year (October 2017-September 2018) performance.
— AEC News Today/ PRNewswire (media release)

Suits filed against Doi Suthep protesters
The Office of the Judiciary has filed two defamation suits against leaders of a civil network fighting to reclaim the Doi Suthep forest area where the controversial housing project for judges and judicial staff is located in Chiang Mai.
— Bangkok Post

Good news for farmers as rice export deals clinched
Thai rice traders are enjoying robust sales at a better price driven by higher demand in the world market, after the the country struck deals to export 324,000 tonnes of rice grain to China and the Philippines.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand and the World Bank Group Renew their Partnership to Transform Thailand Together
The World Bank Board of Directors endorsed today a new Country Partnership Framework for Thailand, defining the strategic focus of the World Bank Group’s engagement with the country from 2019 to 2022.
— The World Bank (media release)

Merkel urges Prayut to bring back democracy
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday encouraged Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to lead Thailand towards democracy.
— Bangkok Post

Illegal seafood processing factory raided in Rassada, manager arrested
Officials today have inspected a seafood processing factory in Rassada. A factory manager has been arrested over illegally operating a seafood factory.
— The Thaiger

Campaign urges food containers in marine national parks
The government and the private sector have launched an environmental campaign to use food containers instead of plastic materials in marine national parks.
— News Today (video)

IEAT requests LNG demand for Map Ta Phut decision
The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) is calling for the Energy Ministry to provide a demand projection for liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipped to the Map Ta Phut port to increase the confidence of business operators considering joining the bid for the seaport’s third phase.
— Bangkok Post

BMW localises battery production in Thailand
BMW will produce high-voltage batteries for plug-in hybrids in Thailand together with the Dräxlmaier Group. The batteries, made in a new production facility near BMW’s Rayong plant, will help power the PHEV versions of the 5 and 7 series and the X5.
— electrive.com

Super Rich introduces Visit Thailand card
Currency Exchange Super Rich has unveiled the Visit Thailand card, designed to allow tourists to travel in Thailand without the need for cash.
— News Today (video)

‘Economy unlikely to benefit’ from shopping tax break for middle class
THE SHOPPING tax allowance to be announced next week by the government will satisfy the middle class, but will do little to boost the overall economy, a prominent economist said Wednesday.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Populism threatens Thailand again
As the Group of 20 leaders meets this weekend to assess the global economy, no topic is more pressing than the populist currents battering the world.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Prayut’s popularity takes a hit
Whether or not critics have their suspicions about the National Institute of Development Administration’s (NIDA) independence, that does not change the fact that the institute recently came up with surprising results for its latest poll.
— The Asean Post

Thailand wins deals to export 324,000 tons of rice to Philippines
Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) Director-General Adul Chotinisakorn said Thailand has won the auction to export 80,000 tons of 25% white rice to the Philippines’ National Food Authority, with shipment scheduled for December 2018.
— NNT

Education Ministry to form DSI-style unit to fight graft
The Education Ministry will set up its own version of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) tasked with investigating corruption allegations against education officials.
— Thai PBS

Private school SET-listing raises eyebrows
Education Minister Teerakiat Jaroensettasin is questioning tax exemption privileges for schools after an international school operator went public in the stock market.
— Bangkok Post

IP department’s inefficiency puts lives at risk, HIV activists fume
HIV/AIDS activists have attacked the Intellectual Property Department (IPD) for perceived inefficiency, which they blame for hurting patients’ access to useful medicines.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

The big data of real estate
Irrespective of industry, location or client base, technological advancement is indiscriminate in the wave of the disruption it brings.
— Bangkok Post

Thai firms most ready to embrace tech solutions: study
According to a survey conducted by Asia IoT (internet of things) Business Platform in 2017, companies in Thailand were most likely (89 per cent) to explore and implement IoT solutions.
— The Nation

Thai activist sued for defamation as poultry firm vows more cases
A defamation case by a Thai poultry farm against an activist who tweeted allegations of labour abuse should be dropped, a rights group urged Wednesday (Nov 28), as the complainant vowed further action against “so-called human rights defenders”.
— Channel NewsAsia

Min of Commerce holds franchising workshop for young entrepreneurs
The Ministry of Commerce has launched a training program on starting franchises to support young business owners. The program is now training its 22nd batch of students.
— NNT

PM to focus on 4.0 developments and economic ties while in Germany
The Prime Minister has been warmly welcomed on an official visit to Germany and is today (November 28) scheduled to meet with the country’s Chancellor to discuss partnerships in all areas, as well as to study the country’s 4.0 industries.
— News Today (video)

Ex-commerce minister sent to Police Hospital for examination
Former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyaphirom has been sent to the Police General Hospital for examination to determine whether he needs a surgery of cervical spine dislocation or not, said Corrections Department director-general Pol Col Narat Sawetanan on Wednesday.
— Thai PBS World

Govt helps informal debtors retrieve their land title deeds
The government has given 931 land title deeds back to informal debtors after it retrieved the documents from loan sharks.
— NNT

Thailand, Australia sign anti-human trafficking agreement
The Thai Government and Australian states have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on anti-human trafficking, in a bid to curb the international scourge.
— NNT

Wild elephants kill official in Chachoengsao
A wildlife official in Chachoengsao, east of Bangkok, has been found dead after being kicked and dragged by wild elephants.
— The Thaiger

EGAT to buy crude palm oil in mid December
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) is ramping up Bang Pakong Power Plant Unit 3 and planning to purchase crude palm oil in mid-December following its price slump.
— News Today (video)

Dolphin rescued near Nai Yang Beach
The Sirinat National Park Chief Witoon Detpramuanphon says, “At about 7am this morning, local fishermen at Nai Yang Beach informed us that they have found a dolphin near the beach.”
— The Thaiger

Feature photo John Le Fevre

This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, December 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 29 added by John Le Fevre on November 29, 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.