GDP forecast to top out at 4-4.3% in 2019
Thai business operators expect the country’s GDP to grow 4-4.3% in 2019 while exports have been tipped to expand 5-7% next year.
— Bangkok Post
Drug haul of B4.5bn last month
Authorities are claiming success in their latest anti-drug operation, seizing 4.5-billion-baht worth of narcotics in just one month.
— Bangkok Post
Thai shippers lukewarm on 2019
Thailand’s largest shippers group expects export growth of a mere 5% next year amid the deepening trade war between the US and China, despite the 90-day ceasefire.
— Fresh Plaza
Prayut election billboard draws flak
A giant billboard next to the main highway in Ratchaburi province is the target of complaints that supporters of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha are breaking the laws on election campaigning.
— Bangkok Post
Democrats join other parties in shunning NCPO meeting
THE NUMBER OF parties boycotting tomorrow’s meeting with the junta grew yesterday with Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva announcing that his party also will not be attending.
— The Nation
Cabinet approves slew of measures for New Year
The Cabinet has approved a slew of measures in the hopes of spreading holiday season cheer.
— NNT
New tax law to see online, bank transfers to be monitored
The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has passed a bill meant to ensure more effective tax collection, especially from e-commerce businesses.
— The Phuket News
Airports of Thailand net profit up 22% in FY2018
Airports of Thailand reported (29-Nov-2018) the following financial highlights for the 12 months ended 30-Sep-2018.
— CAPA
NACC to ease assets declaration rule
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is looking at exempting some position holders from declaring assets and debts under a new anti-graft rule in a bid to defuse growing opposition, Deputy Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post
Thai Parliament to Close Forever New Year’s Eve
The House of Parliament will close its doors for good New Year’s Eve as part of a plan to relocate the legislative seat of power to a new riverside location, an official said Wednesday.
— Khaosod English
Thailand Considers Same-Sex, LGBT Couples Rights Bill .
Thailand’s government is considering a proposed Life Partnership Bill, which would guarantee same-sex couples rights similar to couples in traditional marriages, including the use of one’s spouse’s surname, property rights and the right to end the partnership.
— NewsGram
PM hands 401 million baht to winning athletes
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday gave financial rewards to successful athletes, as well as their coaches and associations, at the Asian Games, Asian Para Games and Youth Olympics.
— Bangkok Post
Govt prepares anti-human trafficking progress report
The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security is preparing to submit a progress report on Thailand’s anti-human trafficking efforts to the United States to demonstrate the country’s commitment towards the issue.
— NNT
Parsing digital asset classes
The allure of digital asset investment has returned to the attention of investors with legislation that would regulate digital asset trading and transactions in Thailand.
— Bangkok Post
Prawit orders clampdown as drugs worth Bt4.5 bn seized
A MONTH of huge drug hauls worth more than Bt4.5 billion in total has triggered alarm at the extent of narcotics-trafficking in Thailand and brought renewed efforts by authorities to curb the problem.
— The Nation
Thailand leads charge to protect soil
Thailand launched the Centre of Excellence for Soil Research in Asia (Cesra), the world’s first regional hub to promote sustainable soil management, to mark Wednesday’s World Soil Day.
— Bangkok Post
Bill on torture to go before NLA
A CRUCIAL bill to prevent torture and enforced disappearance will soon enter the legislative process.
— The Nation
Thai workforce ‘needs to be reskilled’
SMART Investment in human resources and infrastructure are necessary to advance the Thailand 4.0 policy and develop the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), experts suggest.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Min of Energy to use raw palm oil for natural gas production
The Ministry of Energy, together with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), is preparing to utilize raw palm oil for natural gas production at the Bangpakong Thermal Power Unit in Chachoengsao province, confirming that the increased cost will not be shouldered by the public.
— NNT
Supanburi signs MOU on action plans for waste management
Supanburi province signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on action plans to sustainably address its waste issue.
— NNT
Thailand hosts regional soil research centre
Thailand has launched the Centre of Excellence for Soil Research in Asia (CESRA), the world’s first regional research institution to promote sustainable soil management, to mark World Soil Day.
— The Nation
Belarus, Thailand able to reach momentum in bilateral cooperation
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has sent greetings to King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun of Thailand as the country celebrates National Day, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader.
— BelTA
Cabinet reviews draft statement on 3rd Thailand-Laos cabinet retreat
The Thai cabinet has endorsed a draft statement for the 3rd Joint Cabinet Retreat between Thailand and the Lao PDR to be held next week.
— NNT
Thai Crypto Exchange Satang Plans to Raise $10 Million in Security Token Offering
Thai cryptocurrency exchange Satang Corp. plans to raise nearly $10 million in a security token offering (STO), despite the recent market meltdown, Asia-focused business publication Nikkei Asian Review reported Dec. 4.
— Cointelegraph
10 Indian Men Arrested In Thailand For Falsifying Marriage Documents
Ten Indian men and 24 Thai women have been arrested in Thailand on charges of forging documents and filing falsified papers to authorities about their marriages, media reports said on Wednesday.
— NDTV
Govt approves financial assistance for rubber growers
The Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAT) is to begin registering farmers that qualify for the government’s rubber subsidy program.
— NNT
Thailand Needs More Skilled Foreign Workers
A Thai academic says the nation needs to attract skilled foreign workers to work in the country, especially in the industrial technology sector, to overcome a shortage of skilled-workers.
— Thailand Business News
Pakistani Christians eyeing Thailand as safe haven feel frustrated
Hundreds of Pakistani Christians stranded in Thailand feel frustrated as they likely face detentions and deportations.
— Christians In Pakistan
Election officers to be appointed early Jan 2019
The Election Commission (EC) is accepting registrations from candidates for the positions of Electorate Director and District Election Officer. They can register at district offices nationwide until 7th December 2018.
— NNT
Officers gear up for countrywide “Bike Un Ai Rak”
Officers and organizers across Thailand are gearing up for this Sunday’s “Bike Un Ai Rak” cycling activities in all provinces.
— NNT
World’s leading designers learn to weave Thai silk
Fashion designers from 48 countries observed a silk weaving demonstration at the Sibuathong Support Foundation Center in Ang Thong province this week.
— NBT World (video)
Feature photo Projects Abroad
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges International Volunteer Day, December 5.
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 December 6 added by John Le Fevre on
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John Le Fevre
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.
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- Thailand morning news for July 24 – July 24, 2020