Thailand Morning News For November 7

Gulf of Thailand battered – heading towards the Andaman Sea, north of Phuket
A severe weather warning was issued for the South Eastern Region on Monday, as the Meteorological Department forecast heavy rain for the entire region, while banana farmers in Songkhla were already suffering gale-force winds caused by Typhoon Damrey.
— Phuket Gazette

Export rises 9.3 percent in nine months, 8% export growth expected throughout this year: TNSC
Thailand’s export has risen by 9.3 percent during the first nine months while a total export value throughout 2017 is expected to increase by no less than 8 percent.
— NNT

Prawit: It’s not yet necessary for NCPO to set up a political party
It is not yet necessary for the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to set up a political party, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said on Nov 6.
— Thai PBS

Academics warn of junta political party nominee
ANY ATTEMPT by the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to prolong its political power by setting up a nominee party would only repeat “the history of Thai politics” and be unhealthy for both politics and the junta itself, academics and politician have warned.
— The Nation

Singapore, Thailand to step up maritime cooperation and counter-terrorism efforts
Singapore and Thailand has vowed to work together in areas of mutual interest such as maritime security, counter-terrorism and cybersecurity, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said in a news release on Monday (Nov 6).
— Channel NewsAsia

Thailand to roll out biometric checks for SIM cards nationwide
Thailand will introduce biometric checks nationwide for mobile telephone users to register their SIM cards from Dec. 15, the telecoms regulator said on Monday, in a bid to stamp out fraudulent electronic transactions.
— Reuters

Prawit’s brother to review NACC law despite ongoing probe
THE JUNTA-appointed National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has given Pol General Patcharawat Wongsuwan the green light to sit on a committee vetting the organic law governing the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), despite the fact that he is being investigated by the agency for being “unusually rich”.
— The Nation

NLA president backs disputed panel choices
National Legislative Assembly (NLA) president Pornpetch Wichitcholchai has distanced himself from a controversy involving the appointments of two lawmakers, currently under investigation for their unusual wealth, to a panel vetting an organic bill on the government’s anti-graft agency.
— Bangkok Post

Govt downplays Bt30-billion claim as Australian firm seeks negotiations to avoid conflict
THE government will conduct further negotiations with Australia’s Kingsgate Consolidated following a dispute over the closure of the mine, downplaying speculation that it may have to pay significant compensation to the firm.
— The Nation

TrueMove aims for 33% market share
Thai operator TrueMove aims to increase its share of the mobile market to 33% next year, as the second-ranked operator takes aim at market leader AIS.
— Telecomasia.net

ZTE organising summit to promote 5G as part of Thailand 4.0
Responding to the government’s Thailand 4.0 call for development of digital technology, ICT solutions provider ZTE is organising a summit to attract 5G business allies.
— The Nation

ABB teams up with Saudi firm Arkad for turnkey oil and gas projects
Swiss engineering conglomerate ABB is putting its turnkey projects arm for the oil and gas industry into a joint venture majority owned by Saudi Arabia’s Arkad Engineering & Construction, as ABB seeks to “optimise” its business portfolio, the company said on Monday.
— Reuters

PM orders urgent survey of damage to help flood stricken people
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed all provinces to ensure the flood-affected people of assistance from the government and urgently help them after the floods subside.
— NBT World (video)

Energy reform means big changes for PTT, major power distributors
THE ENERGY REFORM will inevitably affect businesses of Thailand’s energy giant and other major electricity generating and distributing authorities, Pornchai Rujiprapa, chairman of the National Energy Reform Committee, said yesterday.
— The Nation

Foreign investors profit on asset gain
Foreign investors took profits by selling Thai bonds and equities after gaining around 20% of total return, but foreign purchases are expected early next year given supportive market conditions, says the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET).
— Bangkok Post

Govt hit by lawsuit over flood toll
South braces for more rain as severe storm warning issued with 4-metre waves feared.
— The Nation

Flood aid continues in many provinces
Members of various sectors continue to deliver relief aid to flood-torn provinces.
— NBT World (video)

State banks urged to support more SMEs
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak is urging state-owned banks to play a more aggressive role in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
— Bangkok Post

New Marketing Concept “Open to the New Shades of Thailand” launched at WTM London
The Tourism Authority of Thailand will use the World Travel Market 2017 (WTM), one of the world’s leading travel trade shows, as a platform to launch its new marketing concept, “Open to the New Shades of Thailand”.
— TAT News

Feature photo John Le Fevre
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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 November 7 added by John Le Fevre on November 7, 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.