SCB Economic Intelligence Center forecasts 4% GDP growth this year
The Siam Commercial Bank Economic Intelligence Center (EIC) has forecast that continued economic growth in Thailand and global economic recovery will lead to 4% growth in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) this year, but cited risk factors including foreign monetary policies and geopolitical conflict.
— NNT
Thai startups pocket record $120m funding in 2017, to see competition this year
Thai startups received a record total of over $120 million in funding in 2017, helped by a pick-up in dealmaking towards the end of the year.
— DealStreetAsia
Somkid scolds science ministry as kids lose interest
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak blasted the Ministry of Science and Technology Monday for failing to promote the study of science among children.
— Bangkok Post
Rice exports reach record high in 2017
The Thai Rice Exporters Association revealed that rice exports reached a record high last year with most of the demand coming from Benin in West Africa.
— NNT
Developers banking on megaprojects
Medium-sized developers have pinned their hopes on the country’s economic growth and government spending in megaprojects to help boost the property market this year.
— Bangkok Post
Investment tipped to bolster economy
SLUGGISH consumer spending is likely to constrain economic growth this year, but increased investment will help keep up the momentum from a solid 2017, two economic research houses say.
— The Nation
Thailand’s Onyx Teams Up With Billionaire Wu Xu To Expand Serviced Apartments In China
Onyx Hospitality Group of Thailand, the operator of 18 Shama-brand serviced apartments around Asia, has hooked up with China billionaire Wu Xu’s Sincere Holdings Group to expand in the mainland, the two said in a statement today.
— Forbes
Committee agrees on measures to prevent public officials’ involvement in human trafficking
The committee to prevent public officials’ involvement in human trafficking has come up with measures to monitor government agents and encouraged the public to report officials believed to be involved in such activities.
— NNT
Thailand, China central banks renew swap deal
The Bank of Thailand and the central bank of China have agreed on a currency swap agreement to foster their trade and investment ties.
— Bangkok Post
DPM Wissanu: Draft amendments of provincial election laws likely to be in NLA’s hands by Feb
A deputy prime minister expects the National Legislative Assembly to have the opportunity to see the draft amendments of the laws governing provincial and local elections by February.
— NNT
Delivery of T-50TH trainer jets to Thailand begins
Korea Aerospace Industries Co. (KAI), the country’s sole aircraft manufacturer, on Monday began delivery of its advanced T-50 trainer jet to Thailand’s air force.
— Yonhap News Agency
AOT’s airport development plans now underway
Airports of Thailand (AOT) is set to implement expansion development plans for all of its 6 airports in the next 10 years with an investment budget of 220 billion baht.
— NNT
Developers eye strong growth
LEADING property companies have expressed confidence the market will grow by up to 7 per cent in 2018 from last year, reaping the benefits of the government’s proposed investments of more than Bt500 billion in massive infrastructure projects.
— The Nation
TCG plan to hike SME credit access
The state-owned Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation (TCG) plans to extend its credit guarantee service for leasing and factoring offered by non-bank companies from this quarter, in a move to give small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) better access to finance.
— Bangkok Post
AIS, TOT reach 2100-MHz sharing deal
Thai mobile incumbent AIS has finally reached a commercial agreement with state-owned operator TOT involving the commercial use of TOT’s 2100-MHz spectrum assets.
— Telecomasia.net
BAAC Trang branch calls on registered low-income earners to obtain welfare cards
The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives branch in Thailand’s Trang province is calling upon registered low-income earners to obtain their welfare cards in order to protect their rights and not miss any welfare campaigns.
— NNT
Transport’s the winning ticket
This will be an interesting year for Bangkok’s infrastructure scene, with the government’s unrelenting efforts to bolster development across the country becoming ever more apparent.
— Bangkok Post
Trang labor office provides translators to assist migrant workers
Trang Provincial Labor Protection and Welfare Office has introduced translators to assist migrant workers.
— NNT
E-commerce partnership with JD.com to spur sales growth, China expansion for Thailand’s Central
The company with the biggest grip on Thailand’s brick-and-mortar retail market is expecting a partnership with China’s JD.com Inc. to help it do the same in online sales.
— DealStreetAsia
BOT clarifies on Phillip Securities’ Bitcoin futures trading service
Phillip Securities (Thailand) has launched trading in Bitcoin futures in Thailand even as the Bank of Thailand (BOT) has questioned its advertisement, which it feels might mislead investors.
— The Nation
Over 7,000 drones legally registered
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) says more than 7,000 drones were registered after owners were told to register by Jan 3.
— Thai PBS
No preparations yet for HM the King’s coronation: Wissanu
THE GOVERNMENT has not yet been told to prepare for the coronation ceremony of HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday.
— The Nation
Ex-Buddhist chief among 9 charged with graft
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has brought charges against former National Office of Buddhism (NOB) chief Phanom Sornsilp and eight other ex-officials for graft in connection with a temple fund embezzlement scandal.
— Bangkok Post
Feature photo Mike Mike
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.
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.
Latest posts by John Le Fevre (see all)
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 26 — 16 mln case barrier breached, Vietnam records community transmission – July 26, 2020
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 25 — new high for daily infections, 16 mln infection barrier to break today – July 25, 2020
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 24 — Asean tops 230,000 cases, nudges 90,000 active – July 24, 2020
- Thailand morning news for July 24 – July 24, 2020