Thailand morning news for October 17

CENTRE REVISES UP YEAR’S GDP GROWTH TO 4.5%
Siam Commercial Bank’s Economic Intelligence Centre (EIC) has revised up the growth rate of Thailand’s gross domestic products (GDP) this year from 4.3 per cent to 4.5 per cent, thanks to strong performance in the export and tourism sectors.
— The Nation

Japanese angle for fish processing hub
The Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro) aims to persuade Japanese seafood investors to set up a seafood processing hub in Thailand in a bid to expand into new markets in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
— Bangkok Post

British woman’s ‘rape’ never happened, Thai police conclude
A BRITISH teen who claimed to have been drugged and raped on Koh Tao in June has failed to confirm the site of the attack, identity of the attacker or how the attack happened while being questioned in the UK, Thai police officers said.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Latest tax break covers B60k of prenatal care, childbirth costs
The Revenue Department is letting individual taxpayers claim an income tax deduction for prenatal care and childbirth expenses of up to 60,000 baht per tax year, with retroactive effect from Jan 1 this year, according to a department announcement.
— Bangkok Post

Unfriend: Thai PM receives social media pummelling
An onslaught of negative feedback flooded the official Facebook page of Thailand’s premier Prayut Chan-o-cha a day after it was launched over the weekend, backfiring on his attempts to get “suggestions” on the social media platform.
— Channel NewsAsia

Premier dismisses cyber bill criticism
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has defended the proposed cybersecurity law despite a public outcry that it would allow the state to search, penetrate, and seize computer systems without a court warrant.
— Bangkok Post

Arturius and DTI sign MOA to build Counter Threat COE in Thailand
UK security and defence company Arturius is set to build new Counter Threat Centre of Excellence (COE) in Thailand to analyse the threat faced by the country.
— Army Technology

Parks officials refuse to budge over Similan quota
Mr Songtham was responding Moinday to criticism from tour operators including cruise operators and van services gathered at a pier at tambon Thublamu in Thai Muang district.
— Bangkok Post

Terminal designer set to sue
Renowned architect Duangrit Bunnag, who won the bid to design Suvarnabhumi airport’s new passenger terminal, will file defamation suits against the Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT) and two media companies, he has said.
— Bangkok Post

Universal welfare ‘at risk’
Ideal of national coverage hangs in balance as junta and political allies accused of plotting to undermine schemes
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Thailand sees tourist arrival growth of 8.71% from Jan-Sep 2018
Thailand has seen continued growth in the number of tourist arrivals during the first nine months of this year.
— NNT

Overwhelming support for decriminalizing marijuana for medical purpose
An overwhelming number of people have voiced support for decriminalizing the use of kanja (marijuana) for research and development for medical purpose, said Somchai Sawaengkarn, a member of the National Legislative Assembly, on Tuesday, citing result of an opinion survey conducted during October 1-15.
— Thai PBS World

TFA: Fintech law to be enacted this year
The Fintech Act is expected to be announced and become effective by the end of this year, making it easier for the public to process information and create a fintech platform, says the Thai Fintech Association (TFA).
— Bangkok Post

Over 1,000 arrested in Phuket ‘Operation X-Ray Outlaw Foreigner’ clampdown
In just two weeks over 1,000 foreigners have been arrested in Phuket for visa violations and other immigration offences according to the chief of the Phuket Immigration Office.
— The Phuket News

Future Forward scoffs at litigation threat
The Future Forward Party is unfazed by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon’s threat of legal action against it over remarks the party made overseas allegedly attacking the regime, according to a party spokeswoman.
— Bangkok Post

Thai drug traffickers dump 12 million ‘speed’ pills in escape bid
More than 12 million tablets of methamphetamine have been dumped by drug traffickers and found by police in northern Thailand on Monday, according to Xinhua news agency.
— New Straits Times

Mortgage queries line up
Commercial mortgage lenders plan to propose that the Bank of Thailand focus on curbing mortgage lending for third and subsequent home purchases, delaying stricter measures intended for a wider market that were to be implemented in early January.
— Bangkok Post

University discusses success in building road with para rubber
King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok has touted its success in utilizing rubber in road construction, in the hopes of supporting widespread adoption.
— NNT

Price and subsidies cast a shadow over rice policy
PRICE STABILITY and government subsidies are two key challenges facing international rice trade, experts say.
— The Nation

Thailand, Southern Rebels Make Changes to Peace-Talk Teams
Thailand has named a new chief negotiator in stalled talks aimed at resolving a decades-long separatist conflict in its southern border region, while a panel representing insurgent groups has expanded, officials said Tuesday.
— Benar News

Cabinet gives green light to draft on small businesses
In a meeting yesterday, the Cabinet approved drafts that will add legal conditions to support small- and medium-enterprises (SMEs), allow the setting up of trade associations and raise registration fees to help cope with the country’s economic situation.
— The Nation

Cabinet approves Thailand’s accession to WIPO Copyright Treaty
The Cabinet has approved the proposal for Thailand to accede to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty.
— NNT

Tourism analysts urge new marketing tactics
Tourism analysts predicted the latest trends and product developments set to affect the Thai tourism industry in the years ahead at a recent seminar organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
— Bangkok Post

Organizations’ recommendations for Senators now being accepted
The Election Commission (EC) has begun accepting Senator recommendations from registered organizations, reminding participants that applications must be accompanied with all required documentation and that they will be accepted until October 24.
— NNT

IEAT targets new Sadao SEZ investment of B20bn
The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) is confident a new special economic zone (SEZ) in Sadao, Songkhla will be able to attract investment worth 20 billion baht and create roughly 6,000 jobs.
— Bangkok Post

Parisian footwear with Thai flag colours triggers netizen outrage
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the Foreign Ministry and concerned agencies to look into fashion footwear from Paris incorporating the colours of the Thai flags into its design, after it caused outrage among some social media users.
— The Nation

Exporters improve FTA and GSP use
Thai exporters have done a better job of using free trade agreement (FTA) privileges and the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), with the Commerce Ministry expecting utilisation of the two schemes to top US$70.8 billion (2.31 trillion baht) at year-end, up 10% from last year.
— Bangkok Post

Chinese tourist volume continues dip, but FITs rise
The number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand during this quarter is expected to continue dropping, say research houses.
— The Phuket News

Magazine, newspaper ad revenues take a beating
TOTAL ADVERTISING expenditure in local media in September dropped 2.39 per cent year on year to Bt8.67 billion, with magazines and newspapers showing the biggest decline in ad spending, according to a survey by Nielsen (Thailand).
— The Nation

Two million stray cats and dogs by 2027 if no action taken to register and sterilise, forum told
Stray dogs and cats must be registered and sterilised, otherwise their population will reach 2 million in 10 years, the Livestock Development Department has warned.
— The Nation

New agricultural extension chief appointed in seven-official reshuffle
The Cabinet has approved the promotion of the deputy director-general of the Agricultural Extension Department, Samrarn Saraban, to the position of director-general, Agriculture Minister Krissada Boonraj said on Tuesday.
— The Nation

Phuket pharmacists up in arms over Drugs Act
Local pharmacists gathered at Phuket Provincial Hall today (Oct 16) to submit a formal request for the government to revise the provisions in a bill being drafted to update and amend the Drugs Act 1967.
— The Phuket News

New herbicide set for entry to Thai farms
CORTEVA Agriscience is planning to introduce its new herbicide “Rinskor” to Thai farmers, Farra Siregar, Asean managing director for the company said yesterday at the 5th International Rice Congress in Singapore.
— The Nation

B10m contraband cigarettes seized in Songkhla
Customs officials have seized untaxed imported cigarettes worth about 10 million baht from a van and a pickup truck at a petrol station in Chana district on Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post

FTA talks being accelerated
Negotiators are revving up free trade talks with dialogue partners for the remaining months this year and look set to resume talks with the EU and join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a newly formed bloc of 11 Pacific Rim nations excluding the US, next year.
— Bangkok Post

Undisclosed online prices targeted
The Commerce Ministry has threatened to take legal action against online traders who do not disclose their price tags and opt to relay prices through online messages.
— Bangkok Post

State to pay unpaid SSO contributions
Unlike other countries, the Thai government is required to make matching contributions to the SSF, said Mr Dechapiwat.
— Bangkok Post

Road upgrade in Kaeng Krachan Park has nature lovers howling
THE SUPPOSEDLY protected environment and biodiversity of Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi are being endangered by a concrete road soon to be built through the park’s jungle, environmentalists say.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Delay in turtle’s status upgrade threatens marine species with extinction
IT MAY BE too late to save leatherback turtles from extinction in Thailand’s seas, as a legal deadlock prevents a conservation status upgrade to protect this critically endangered turtle species and three other rare marine animals.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Coffee Club heads to Vietnam
SET-listed Minor International Plc announced yesterday it has entered into a joint venture agreement with Vietnam Investments Group (VI Group) to operate as the master franchisee of The Coffee Club brand in Vietnam.
— Bangkok Post

Feature photo John Le Fevre

This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, October 17.

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 October 17 added by John Le Fevre on October 17, 2018
View all posts by John Le Fevre →

Bio
Latest Posts

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.