Thailand English-language News For April 5, 2017

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In the April 5, 2017 edition of Newsline, presenter Cholaphansa Narula tells us about:

• The Cabinet has approved the road safety plan proposed by the Ministry of Transport aimed at preventing the period between April 5 and 18 being one of record death and injury on the nation’s roads. Some 718 checkpoints will be erected on roads and marine routes across the country, with each providing toilets, drinking water, rest areas, and travel information, and free vehicle maintenance services. The number of Thais travelling on the nations roads over the period, which includes the Chakri Day holiday on April 6 and the Songkran holiday between April 13 and 15, is expected to increase some 75.4 per cent over last year.

• Thailand Minister of Interior, General Anupong Paochinda, has reminded all provincial governors to strictly enforce the law during the coming holiday period. Appearing via video link at a meeting of the Road Safety Directing Centre (RSDC), General Paochinda asked all provinces to provide designated safe, alcohol-free areas for traditional water splashing areas. Riding in the back of pickup trucks was illegal and prohibited, told the meeting.

• Thailand deputy government spokesperson, Major General Weerachon Sukondhapatipak, said the government has approved a draft act for the renewal of social security benefits for those who had been removed in the past due to not having been able to meet compulsory fees.

• The subcommittee responsible for gathering suggestions for national reconciliation has begun meeting with private sector groups. Among the nine organisations appearing before it to discuss national reconciliation yesterday was: the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC), the Federation of Thai Capital Markets Organisations (FTCMO), Thai Airways, and the BTS Group Holdings. The subcommittee will conclude its public hearings today and forward all of the suggestions it has received to a subcommittee established to review the suggestions, which will then forward those it thinks valid to another committee for review.

• Under a public-private collaborative scheme being led by the the office of the Prime Minister, responsibility for the management and maintenance of local waterways is to be transferred to local administrative organisations. Under the scheme private sector participants will receive the gravel, rocks, sand, and soil from their dredging operations.

• NBT takes an in depth look at the ‘Food Innopolis’ project at the Food Innovation centre at Thailand Science Park in Pathum Thani Province north of Bangkok, and the various services it can provide to food producers in accordance with the government’s ‘super cluster policy’ under the Thailand 4.0 strategy aimed at adding value to agriculture products.

STI deputy secretary and ceo of ‘Food Innopolis’, Akkharawit Kanjana-Opas, said a budget of Bt3 billion (about US$87.083 million) had been set aside to fund the first five years of ‘Food Innopolis”, with some 100 foreign countries expected to participate. The incentives and benefits offered to investors from participation was receiving increasing interest from the private sector, he said.

Thailand Minister of Science and Technology, Atchaka Sibunruang, said the ‘Food Innopolis’ MOU between the National Science Technology and Innovation Policy Office (STI) and the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) aimed at boosting R&D expenditure by one per cent of GDP offered attractive incentives for foreign and local researchers to work in the Thailand food industry.

• A seminar in Bangkok has been told that one of the biggest risks of digital disruption is humans being replaced by technology and artificial intelligence (AI). To remain relevant humans needed to create knowledge as machines will eventually replace humans for repetitive tasks, visiting Japanese Professor Kazuo Ichijo, dean, International Corporate Stratey of Hitotsubashai University told attendees.

• The Government Savings Bank (GSB) has introduced a number of products specifically structured for Thailand’s rabidly ageing society. Among the new products is a deposit account paying a flat one per cent per month interest, and low-interest loans, and reverse mortgage loans to assist the elderly in covering their living costs.

• Kwaithong Motor Company has unveiled a range of electric powered vehicles assembled in Thailand from parts originating in China. At the top of the range is a 12-metre- (about 40ft) long electric bus capable of carrying more than 80 passengers, capable of being recharged in less than 15 minutes and delivering up to 50km (31 miles) range. A local suburban transport operator has ordered 200 of the 194kw (260hp) buses at Bt15 million ($434,530) each. The company also displayed an electric powered motor car and several configurations of three-wheeled ‘tuk-tuks’.

• NBT provides a report on the 23rd Asean Economic Ministers’ Meeting (AEM) in Manila between March 8-10.

• and more.

 

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Newsline is a daily Thailand English-language news and current affairs programme produced by the National News Bureau of Thailand (NNBT) under the Thailand Government Public Relations Department (PRD) for *NBT World, the NNBTs 24/7 English language television service delivering Thailand government news and information to the Thai, Asean, and wider Asian communities via cable and satellite. It is also available via android and iOS apps.

 

 

 

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