Thailand English-language News for March 30

In Thailand English-language News for Mach 30, 2018, Newsline presenter Surapan Laotharanarit tells us about:

00:45 | Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has urged the rice policy and management committee to adhere to the government’s rice stockpile management policy and to ensure that the sale of its stockpiled rice is in line with true market demand. Thailand currently holds two million tons of stockpiled rice, of which 40,000 tons is suitable for human consumption, 1.5 million tons suitable for animal feed, and 500,000 tons suitable for industrial and commercial use only.

The Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) plans to release its stockpile into the industrial sector toreduce storage costs of Bt120-130 million (US$3.8-$4 million) per month.

01:44 | Thailand Minister of Commerce, Sontirat Sontijirawong, yesterday reported that management of the state’s rice stockpiles has been satisfactory, with demand for rice and the rice price in Thailand increasing.

Of this year’s rice production she said 14 million tons will be for export, while 12 million tons will be for domestic consumption, with two million tons used in the industrial sector, and one million tons kept for propagation.

The Ministry proposes to release some 44,0000 tons of edible rice into the market in April and May, with the release of an additional two million tons of food grade and animal feed grade rice subject to market appraisal.

03:00 | The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has approved the principles of the Petroleum Income Tax Act, which the government says is in line with international standards.

04:10 | The government has developed a mobile called ‘Thai Niyom hotline’ and a Facebook page of the same name to allow the public submit complaints directly to Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha for . The additional complaint channels will operate in tandem with the existing 1111 telephone hotline. The new complaint channels will commence operation on April 3.

05:30 | Authorities across the country are urgently implementing anti-rabies measures after the seventh confirmed death from the virus. In addition to free rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats, free birth control injections, sterilisation services and information on how to prevent contracting the virus are also being offered.

06:53 | The Department of Airports (DOA) has instructed all 28 airports under its supervision to prepare facilities and security systems to accommodate travellers during the upcoming Songkran holidays.

Some 336,000 domestic passengers are expected to pass through Thailand’s airports between April 11 and 17, compared with 325,000 last year. Additionally some 45,000 international passengers are expected this year, 5,000 more than last year, with 256 international flights and some 2,000 domestic flights expected over the period.

08:39 | The Thai Beverage Industry Association (TBIA) is to lead a public-private ‘no cap seal’ campaign to pressure Thailand’s smaller beverage manufacturers to stop using cap seals. Thailand produces some 2.6 billion pieces, or around 520 tons of non-recyclable, environmentally damaging cap seal waste each year. Last month five major beverage vendors agreed to stop using cap seals commencing April 1.

12:16 | The Office of Vocational Education Commission (Ovec) has collaborated with the Thai Railway Engineering Association (TREA) to develop a rail engineering curriculum aimed at producing more skilled labour to meet the demand in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).

The curriculum will focus on work-integrate learning, project-base learning, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Stem) starting this academic year at Chonburi Technical College (CTC).

13:27 | Newsline takes a look at a government campaign aimed at promoting Thailand as a regional medical hub. According to Thongchai Keerathihuttayakorn, deputy director general of the Department of Health Service Support (DHSS) Thailand is already regarded as one of the best medical hubs in the world, comprising a medical service hub, a medical products hub, specifically Thai traditional medicine, a spa and treatment services hub, and academic and research hub that utilises the latest technology for the benefit of patients.

16:30 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) spokesperson and Information Department director-genera, Bussadee Santipitak, has outlined the agenda for the upcoming sustainable development summit between Asean and the United Nations.

To be held at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Bangkok commencing tomorrow, the summit will focus on areas such as infrastructure and connectivity, poverty eradication, sustainable production, and natural resources management.

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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. AEC News Today publishes Thailand English-language News M-F.