Thailand Morning News For March 24

Thailand morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Thailand news on matters of governance and policies.

Investments in Thailand up by 20 per cent
Thailand’s corporate and state enterprises plan to invest more than Bt1 trillion this year, including in projects eligible for tax incentives from the Board of Investment (BOI), according to a survey by The Nation.
— The Nation

Economic growth above 3% ‘achievable’
THE STRONG confidence shown by public and private enterprises with their investment budgets is good reason to believe that Thailand’s economy will grow by more than 3 per cent this year, economic experts said.
— The Nation

New setback looms for Thai-Sino rail project
The multi-billion-baht Thai-Chinese rail development scheme is poised to suffer another setback if China fails to submit the project’s design document needed to estimate the rail’s costs by the end of this month, according to a transport source.
— Bangkok Post

RID reduces water release as dam levels fall
The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) will next month reduce water volumes being released from four major dams in the Chao Phraya River basin to save water for next year’s dry season.
— Bangkok Post

Are Thailand’s Gambling Laws Too Far Behind The Times
The opening of a new casino in the sport hub province of Buri Ram has caused a researcher at the Centre of Gambling Studies to say that the state has not kept pace with developments in the gambling industry.
— Buriram Times

Thai Shares Called Lower On Monday
The Thai stock market has tracked higher in consecutive trading days, gathering almost 7 points or 0.4 percent along the way. The Stock Exchange of Thailand now rests just below the 1,575-point plateau, although the market may run out of steam on Monday.
— Nasdaq

Move to extend lease period expected to stir interest of foreigners
The move to revise the leasehold act and extend the lease period from 30 years to 50 years will be good for developers who offer residential homes to foreigners, both in Bangkok and at tourist destinations, property experts said.
— The Nation

Cleaning up world’s sex tourism capital: Thai authorities frustrated by city’s image
With mascots dressed as smiling fish and a police rock band, Thai authorities launched a “Happy Zone” at the weekend to improve the image of a city notorious for sex tourism.
— Stuff

Time for digital economy to grow at grass-roots
A major collaboration is reportedly taking place between the government and private sectors to educate and train Thailand’s grass-root sector on the digital economy. It’s a noble and promising agenda which must be sustained, expanded and persevered with, not least because the programme can be a game-changer socially, politically and economically.
— The Nation

Thailand’s Road to Election Keeps Getting Longer: QuickTake Q&A
Thailand has endured about a dozen military coups since putting an end to absolute monarchy in 1932. The current stretch of army rule has been the longest since the early 1970s, and there are few signs it will end anytime soon. Junta leader Prayuth Chan-Ocha seized power in 2014 and the timetable for elections has been repeatedly pushed back.
— Bloomberg

As Thailand ramps up its palm oil sector, peat forests feel the pressure
Thailand is aiming to increase its domestic palm oil production by up to 50 per cent over the next nine years while at the same time trying to reclaim encroached peat forest from smallholders.
— Eco-Business

Thailand, Philippines ink accord to strengthen science, technology cooperation
Scientific and technological (S&T) activities in the Philippines and Thailand recently got a big push as science and technology leaders in both countries signed a legally binding agreement to work together in promoting the development of S&T cooperation between said countries.
— Update Philippines

Top 10 Countries for Thailand tourism
The Expedia group has released 2016 full-year data revealing the trends in hotel demand from international visitors to Thailand last year. Expedia revealed top 10 international markets for Thailand and top 5 destinations in Thailand.
— FTN News

Cyberrisks ‘to aid’ IT spending
Thailand’s spending on information security is likely to drive the overall annual IT spending to growth in 2017 after five straight years of contraction, thanks to the increased awareness of cyberthreats.
— Bangkok Post

New Audi importer Meister Technik will launch the Audi Q5 at this year’s Bangkok International Motor Show
WITH sales showing strong growth during the first two months of this year, automakers are making sure the trend will continue with a large collection of new models to be launched at this year’s Bangkok International Motor Show.
— The Nation

Two Drug Couriers Shot Dead Near Thailand-Myanmar Border
Para-military rangers killed two drug couriers and seized about 100,000 methamphetamine tablets in a dense forest about 700 metres from the Thai-Myanmar border in Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai province on late Saturday afternoon.
— Buriram Times

Thai Prisons To Separate Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgender Inmates
In a statement made by the director-general of the Department of Corrections, it emerged that Min Buri and Klong Prem prisons in Bangkok and Pattaya Prison in Chon Buri have set up segregated zones for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) inmates .
— Buriram Times

Thaksin ordered to pay B16bn in tax
The Revenue Department has sent a letter to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra demanding 16 billion baht in taxes for the sale of the family’s stake in Shin Corp, a department source said.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand’s Grade 9 Students Failed all Five Subjects on National Test
The results of the nationwide O-Net tests for students in the 9th grade, or Mathayom 3, for the 2016 shows students failed all five subjects on average, according to the National Institute of Educational Testing Service.
— Chiang Rai Times

Marathon Gulf of Thailand Championship draws over 1,000 runners
The southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat has held the Marathon Gulf of Thailand Championship 2017 to promote exercise and tourism.
— Pattaya Mail

Bangkok saves 1,953 MW during Earth Hour 2017
Bangkok has succeeded in saving thousands of megawatts of electricity during its participation in this year’s Earth Hour.
— Pattaya Mail

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Thailand morning news is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

Thailand Morning News For March 27 added by Leakhena Khat on March 27, 2017
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Leakhena Khat

Leakhena is a junior journalist at AEC News Today who is also currently studying International Relations, which she finds adds perspective to her work reporting on the Asean Community.

“I love what I am doing so much as it gives me a lot of great experience and provides challenges to my mind.