Thailand Morning News For June 23

Thai-Chinese high-speed train project is a big flop: Dr Nualnoi Trirat
Scholars participating in a panel discussion on the Thai-Chinese high-speed train project between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima at Chulalongkorn University on Thursday were skeptical with the project with one of them predicting that the project is bound to be a big flop.
— Thai PBS

PM assures investors of govt’s efforts to push infrastructure projects
The Prime Minister led his economic team to assure investors of Thailand’s commitment to move forward with its infrastructure projects and ensure a smooth transition of power after the next year election.
— NNT

PM invites foreign investors to EEC with pledges of tax incentives, and law amendments
Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha today pledged foreign investors with the amendment of existing and promulgation of laws to facilitate their investments in the country, in particular the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
— Thai PBS

Improving economy lifts local tourism
The Thai tourism industry is expected to continue growing in the second and third quarters of 2017, thanks to an improving domestic economy and an influx of tourists seeking to avoid high-risk countries.
— Bangkok Post

Scepticism over national strategy
THE NATIONAL Legislative Assembly (NLA)’s passage of the 20-year national strategy and reform draft bills yesterday drew mixed reactions from a politician and a scholar, while the bills’ drafters insisted the inclusion of security officials was necessary.
— The Nation

Academics warn that China rail project could lead to bankruptcy
ACADEMICS HAVE cautioned that the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima high-speed train project could end in bankruptcy and fail to develop sought-after technology in Thailand.
— The Nation

B15bn light rail tipped for Korat city
A 15-billion-baht light rail network is likely to be developed to accommodate commuters in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Muang district. Construction is due to start in 2020, with operations potentially commencing by 2023.
— Bangkok Post

Thai parliament approves bill which critics say will prolong military role
Thailand’s parliament on Thursday approved national strategy legislation which critics say will ensure the military has a say in the country’s politics for at least 20 years, long after a general election tentatively set for next year.
— Channel NewsAsia

Bid to seize Yingluck’s assets runs into snag
Legal execution department says yet to receive a list from finance ministry; Wissanu says task can be started before court rules on her plea.
— The Nation

Card usage dips as nation mourns King
Visa expects to see spending growth curtailed this fiscal year as consumers have been reluctant to open their wallets during the mourning period that followed the late King’s passing in October.
— Bangkok Post

Positive outlook for domestic car sales this year
The outlook for domestic car sales remains bright this year with sales rising although car exports will drop for the 11th consecutive month in May.
— Thai PBS

Dept of Public Works to compile central database for infrastructure development
The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) has signed a partnership with the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning (DPT) to provide geographic information services for the development of the country’s infrastructure.
— NNT

Love Missions: junta’s new soapie reflects military fantasy
This month, Thai television station Channel Seven — with ample members of the military in attendance — held a press conference announcing a new military-themed series named ‘Love Missions’. The show marks the military’s most explicit intervention in the country’s soap opera or lakorn industry yet.
— Prachatai English

OTT players given deadline
THE BROADCASTING committee of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has given the likes of Google and YouTube 30 days to declare themselves over-the-top (OTT) operators – or face the risk of hindered business operations in the country.
— The Nation

Thailand’s elections fall from view
While Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha insists his road map to democracy is still on track, the prospects for promised polls in 2018 are fast fading away
— Asia Times

Facebook, Netflix get OTT ultimatum
Facebook, YouTube and Netflix must register their over-the-top (OTT) services with the national telecom regulator within the next 30 days or face legal barriers that will stymie their revenue streams, officials said this week.
— Bangkok Post

Foreign Affairs Ministry launches Thailandpresents.com
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is collaborating with members of both the public and private sectors to launch a new web portal, ThailandPresents.com, as well as Touch-Screen Kiosks to promote Thai products and services across the world… Kwankamol Prurapark has the details.
— NBT World (video)

30 Thai SMEs seek partners in Myanmar
WITH THE Asean Economic Community opening up the region, representatives of 30 Thai small and medium-sized enterprises visited Myanmar from Monday to Wednesday to seek out local partners.
– Eleven Myanmar

SEPO denies use of Thailand Future Fund to sponsor high speed rail project
The State Enterprise Policy Office (SEPO) has confirmed that the Thailand Future Fund will not be used for the high-speed train project as rumored.
— NBT World (video)

Exim bank: Earth loan not overdue
State-owned Export-Import Bank of Thailand (Exim Thailand) says its loan to cash-strapped Energy Earth Plc is not overdue and the bank’s capital buffer is high enough to set aside loan-loss reserves if necessary.
— Bangkok Post

Media members agree with state reform plan but ask for support more than control
Members of the press have met with the Deputy Prime Minister for legal affairs to share their views on the media reform plan.
— NBT World (video)

Thai govt-backed $147m Digital Economy Fund to be set up in September
Thailand’s Digital Economy and Society (DE) Ministry is looking at setting up a 5-billion-baht ($147 million) Digital Economy Fund in September in line with the government’s policy to promote startups to create and expand their businesses domestically and internationally.
— Deal Street Asia

Windfall tax inches closer to action
A draft bill on the land windfall tax will go before the cabinet for approval in the next few weeks, moving a levy on inflated property prices from big-ticket infrastructure a bit closer to reality.
— Bangkok Post

Industry Ministry holds technology and machinery fairs at BITEC
The Ministry of Industry, together with the Thailand Automotive Institute, has organized technology and machinery fairs at BITEC Bang Na to support target industries and the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
— NBT World (video)

Cash no longer king in payments shift
THREE-QUARTERS of Thais polled say they use electronic payments – including cards, mobile devices and wearables – more often than cash.
— The Nation

Quality trumps price for time-poor urban Thai consumers
The quality of a product is more important to Thai consumers than its price, according to Mintel research.
— FoodNavigator-Asia

NLA committee launches campaign against violence among youths
A special committee of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has organized the “New Gen Say No” campaign to encourage youths to swear off violence.
— NNT

Sewer tunnel under the Bang Sue Canal 87% complete
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has reported that the construction of the sewer tunnel under the Bang Sue Canal is now 87% complete and will begin testing in August this year.
— NBT World (video)

China: Durian transport successful for the first time
On 15 June at 07:52 am, flight SC4076 from Bangkok to Ji’nan slowly landed at Ji’nan airport. Ten boxes of durian fruit were unloaded from its cargo onto pallets.
— Fresh Plaza

Feature photo Anders Lejczak
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 June 23 added by John Le Fevre on June 23, 2017
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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.