Thailand English-language News for February 15, 2017

In the February 15, 2017 edition of Newsline, 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 NBTWorld*, presenter Cholaphansa Narula tells us about:

• The Thailand Cabinet has approved the first phase of the provincial electricity authority’s (PEAs) plan to develop urban electricity systems in four densely urbanised provincial locations at a cost of Bt11.6 billion.

• The Thailand Cabinet has approved the construction of electrified rail link to connect the city’s purple and blue line.

• The Thailand Cabinet has approved limitations on the use of ozone depleting hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) HCFC 141B and HCFC 22 in accordance with the Montreal Protocol as part of attempts to counter climate change.

• The National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) yesterday met with the first two of Thailand’s many political parties as part of its national reconciliation efforts on Thailand’s ‘path to democracy.’

• Thailand National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has commenced talks with the Federation of Thai industry (FTI) herbal industry group on the lack of formal regulation and legislation currently in place to oversee the Thai herbal and supplement sector.

• Thailand government units including patrol police, and the private sector have ramped up efforts to assist people in Thailand’s southern province affected by recent flooding (See: Corporations to The Fore As Southern Thailand Floods Continue), delivering more than Bt1 million worth of seeds to farmers, surveying houses for damage, and re-supplying damaged schools with books. Surapong Chamchod, secretary-general of the Office of Non-Formal and Informal Education (ONFEC) urged people wishing to help restore the education system in the southern provinces to leave books at ONFEC offices nationwide.

• Thailand Minister of Commerce, Apiradi Tantraporn, has forecast Thailand’s economy to grow at 3-4 per cent this year and exports to grow 2-3 per cent.

• Sales at Bangkok’s largest flower market ahead of Valentine’s day are down on last year according to market vendors.

• The Thailand Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) and related agencies are organising the second annual Asean conference on school safety with the aim of training educators on how to cope with disaster and the setting up of a network of safe schools throughout the Kingdom.

• and much more.

*NBT World is the NNBTs 24/7 English language television service delivering Thailand government news and information to the Thai, Asean and wider Asian communities broadcast Internationally via cable and satellite. It is also available via android and iOS apps.