Thailand English-language News For March 20, 2017

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In the March 20, 2017 edition of Newsline, presenter Cholaphansa Narula  tells us about:

• Acknowledging a World Bank report, Thailand Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said that while Thailand has tremendous potential for economic growth, since 2005 Thailand GDP growth had only averaged 3.3 per cent per year. Attributing the low growth to diminishing competitiveness, social disparities, and some 40 per cent of the population being low income earners, General Chan-o-cha said Thailand needed to improve its basic infrastructure; improve the level of education and skills training provided to workers in low-income earning occupations such as farming and construction; focus more on environmentally-friendly industries and alternate sources of energy; and must be equipped with plans for national development and reform.

• Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said that up to 30 politicians from the previous administrations of Abhisit Vejjajiva and Yingluck Shinawatra may have committed tax fraud. He said that the same procedures will be employed against them as is being used against fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra the government’s attempt to claw back some Bt12 billion (US$346.220 million) in unpaid taxes it says it is owed from the 2006 sale of Shin Corp., to Singapore state-owned holding company Temasek Holdings.

•An increasing number of villages are having to rely on trucked-in water as reservoirs and water catchment areas across Thailand fall below operable levels. Rice farmers in the Chao Phraya basin have been told not to grow a third harvest of rice.

• NBT takes a look at the water storage storage situation on Koh Pha Ngan, which is struggling to cope with the increasing number of tourists visiting it. The island currently has a storage capacity of 60,000 cu.m, while average yearly demand is up to 3 million cubic metres.

• Professional firefighters, soldiers, and volunteers in northern Thaland have successfully extinguished a number of wildfires in Mae Hong Son.

• Ahead of the looming Songkran Holiday the Department of Land Transport (DLT) continues its inspection of public transport vehicles. Since February the DLT has inspected more than 15,000 taxis, motorcycles and passenger vans. More than 600 drivers have been fined and sent to driver education courses over safety breaches.

• Traders at Bangkok’s internationally known Chatuchak market can now access low-interest loans of up to Bt200,000 ($5,770) from five financial institutions under a scheme brokered by the Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation (TCG) in conjunction with the site owners, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).

• Thailand is preparing for the arrival of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte as part of a three nation visit to build trade and investment.

• and much 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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