All the #Thailand #news you need to know for July 25

3 major dams are now over 80 percent full
According to the Irrigation Department, the Srinakarin dam in Kanchanaburi province is now 83 percent full with 14,790 million cubic metres of water; the Kaeng Krachan dam in Petchaburi province is 86 percent full with 612 million cubic metres of water; and the Pran Buri dam in Prachuab Khiri Khan is 85 percent full with 331 million cubic metres of water.
— Thai PBS

Cabinet mulls B59bn of megaprojects
The cabinet on Tuesday acknowledged a raft of proposed infrastructure development projects worth 59 billion baht for the lower Northeast as the government concluded its two-day cabinet trip to Ubon Ratchathani and Amnat Charoen provinces in the region.
— Bangkok Post

Prawit rushed to hospital from Cabinet meeting
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon was urgently taken to hospital after complaining of a serious stomach-ache while attending the mobile Cabinet meeting in Ubon Ratchathani province this afternoon.
— Thai PBS

Digital asset licences at hand
The Finance Ministry’s announcement on approving digital asset licensing took effect Tuesday, and interested parties can apply for licences from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
— Bangkok Post

Border trade in the first half of 2018 exceeds 670 bil baht
The Department of Foreign Trade has revealed that border and cross-border trade in the first half of the year topped 670 billion baht, an increase of 6.78% on the same period last year.
— NNT

Thailand wins six PATA Grand and Gold Awards 2018
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has announced the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and two Thai tourism operators among the 27 organisations and individuals to receive the prestigious 2018 PATA Grand and Gold Awards.
— ETN

Cabinet Oks 6th Thai-Lao friendship bridge
The Cabinet today approved the construction of the sixth Thai-Lao friendship bridge linking Nadan district of Ubon Ratchathani with Pheng township in Salavan province.
— The PBS

Thai giant holds off on one pig project, develops another
Thai agricultural conglomerate Charoen Pokphand (CP) appears to have delayed a project in central China even as it forges ahead with a new deal to breed 300,000 pigs a year in the southerly province of Hainan, in a tie-up with the huge state-owned Hai Ken Group (Hainan State Farm Group).
— GlobalMeat News

Report finds skewed SME loan uptake
Only 17% of 3 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have access to commercial bank loans, and as much as 84.2% of the total SME loan portfolio is concentrated in 50,000 operators, says a report by the Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research.
— Bangkok Post

“Unequal wealth distribution, graft among major challenges facing Thailand”
Unequal wealth distribution is one of the most pressing problems facing Thailand with the richest one percent owning more than half of the total household wealth while entrenched corruption is threatening the country’s long-term growth, Governor of the Bank of Thailand Veerathai Santiprabhob said today.
— Thai PBS

Leave No Thai Behind: Promoting equality of digital access in Thailand
Thailand, having had a large digital divide in the past, is now looking to promote equality when it comes to digital access. The Thai government has partnered up with Google in a bid to reduce the digital divide that exists in Thailand.
— OpenGovAsia

Incident of violence against women and girls by foreign anti-trafficking NGO
According to media reports on the 13 July 2018 there was incidence of “entrapment” and raid at a Karaoke Bar in Chachoengsao Province where six women from Myanmar were found working in prostitution and also one teenage girl under the age of 18 was found to be working there.
— Prachatai English

Border economies expected to retain high volumes
Thailand’s border trade remains on course for healthy growth after rising 6.8% year-on-year in the first half of the year amid higher demand for Thai goods.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand-Malaysia Total Trade To Hit US$30 Bln, Says Envoy
The Royal Thai Embassy says its total trade with Malaysia is on track to hit US$30 billion (RM121 billion) in the next few years, especially through various aggressive trade and business-matching activities.
— Malaysian Digest

BBGI sets bioproduct plan
BBGI Co, Asean’s largest fully integrated biofuels maker, has announced its finalised development plan for manufacturing bio-based products starting this year.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to develop a national digital community for startups and entrepreneurs
The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE) will be collaborating with the Hong Kong Cyberport for the development of a national digital community and one-stop facilitator for startups and entrepreneurs. Details pertaining to Thailand Cyberport will be finalised in the next two months, prior to getting the project off ground by the end of the year.
— OpenGovAsia

Rice relief gets cabinet go-ahead
The cabinet yesterday approved rice aid measures worth a combined 97.95 billion baht for the 2018-19 crop year.
— Bangkok Post

TAT proposes new agency for tourist safety
The Tourism Authority of Thailand wants to establish a new agency to oversee tourist safety that could give orders to other government bodies.
— The Nation

Customs to bar entry of 12,000 tonnes of imported e-waste
The Customs Department plans to redirect at least 12,000 tonnes of plastic scrap and electronic-waste (e-waste) after importers failed to process customs clearance procedures on time.
— Bangkok Post

THAI plane makes emergency landing at Dhaka Airport
A Thai Airways plane made emergency landing at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) today for what is believed to be burst wheel, according to the Daily Star online.
— The Nation

China to fatten Thai tuna glut on back of trade war
Thailand’s tuna imports for raw material are expected to increase by 5% to 750,000-800,000 tonnes in 2018 as the trade war between the US and China results in greater Chinese tuna dumping in Thailand, says the Thai Tuna Industry Association (TTIA).
— Bangkok Post

6 movies on Tham Luang cave rescue in the works
As many as six movies are in the works on the dramatic Tham Luang cave rescue, cited Thailand’s Ministry of Culture on variety.com.
— Channel NewsAsia

Expanding Bangkok Airways to fly new planes, set up duty free unit
BANGKOK Airways plans to spend about Bt2 billion to buy two ATR 72-600 aircraft to boost its flight network this year.
— The Nation

Thai giant holds off on one pig project, develops another
Thai agricultural conglomerate Charoen Pokphand (CP) appears to have delayed a project in central China even as it forges ahead with a new deal to breed 300,000 pigs a year in the southerly province of Hainan, in a tie-up with the huge state-owned Hai Ken Group (Hainan State Farm Group).
— GlobalMeat News

Silencing a Witness to Thailand’s Deadly 2010 Crackdown
After she resisted intimidation by the Thai military to stay silent, the life of Natthida “Waen” Meewangpa – a volunteer nurse who witnessed the shooting of civilians and unarmed supporters of protesting “Red Shirts” by soldiers during the 2010 political confrontations in Bangkok – has turned to hell.
— HRW

Mine owner rejects report findings
Akara Resources Plc has disputed the findings of a report which indicated possible toxic leaks from a tailings storage facility at its gold mine in Phichit.
— Bangkok Post

Thai cave rescue: Australian divers and officers who helped free stranded soccer team receive bravery awards
Nine Australians who worked with an international team to rescue 12 young boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave system in Thailand earlier this month have been honoured with prestigious bravery awards.
— ABC

UK PM May hosts reception for divers who rescued Thai children
Prime Minister Theresa May hosted a reception on Tuesday for the British divers who were involved in the rescue of 12 schoolboys from a flooded cave in Thailand earlier this month.
— Reuters

Thai ambitions target Myanmar
Myanmar’s new foreign direct investment act is expected to attract more Thai investment in the neighbouring country, says the head of the Thai Business Association of Myanmar.
— Bangkok Post

E-commerce group aims to spur sector
THE Thai E-Commerce Association plans to empower local e-commerce players and help them to go global as it vows to more actively build up the country’s e-commerce capabilities.
— The Nation

Public hearings on CPTPP to run nationwide from August
Public hearings will be held in all regions throughout the country from August to September to gather feedback from all stakeholders on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership…
— Bangkok Post

The need to look good in Thailand: PepsiCo says healthier snacks growing at a faster rate
PepsiCo’s “Better-for-you” snacks category is growing at a faster rate than the “Fun-for-you” category in Thailand, according to Nitin Bhandari, marketing director for foods at Pepsi-Cola Thai Trading.
— FoodNavigator-Asia

Thailand Reported to Have the Third Largest Ham Radio Population
The small Southeast Asia nation of Thailand is reported to be the country with the world’s third largest population of radio amateurs — a total of 101,763 as of last February, or slightly fewer than California’s 106,000 Amateur Radio licensees.
— ARRL

Water situation worrisome after Mekong River gains close to 2 meters overnight
The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has continued with preparations against flooding due to a tropical depression spurring rainfall across most of the country with the Mekong River level in Nong Khai province rising rapidly and impeding boat travel.
— News Today (video)

Trade association pushes for equitable tax collection
The Thai E-commerce Association is urging the government to ensure fair competition between local online sellers and cross-border products through tax collection to safeguard the 150-billion-baht online…
— Bangkok Post

5.6 million passengers passed through Changi Airport in June; on-year increase of 6.9%
Changi Airport handled 5.57 million passenger movements in June 2018, a 6.9 per cent year-on-year increase, Changi Airport Group (CAG) said on Tuesday (Jul 24).
— Channel NewsAsia

Phuket, Thailand, Asia’s Island Wonderland, Sees Unique Family Vacation Development by New Nordic Group “WATER WORLD”
New Nordic Group, an ASEAN-based construction and hospitality management company is accepting investments in a new condo development complex on one of the most popular vacation destinations in Asia; Phuket, Thailand. New Nordic Water World is a family oriented facility that also features activities suited for the sophisticated adult. It stands 500-yards from the famous white sand beaches of Phuket Island.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

Thailand Golf Travel Mart 2018 tees up at Phuket
Thailand is poised to strengthen its reputation as the world’s golfing destination during the upcoming Thailand Golf Travel Mart (TGTM) 2018 at Duangjitt Resort and Spa in Patong, Phuket during 23-26 July, 2018.
— TAT News

BBGI plans Bt1.55 bn boost to biofuel capacity on expected increased demand
TOP biofuel producer BBGI Plc will invest Bt1.55 billion to increase its production capacity for ethanol and biodiesel, while gearing up for high-value bio-product business on expectations of finalising an investment plan by the end of this year.
— The Nation

‘Phoenix’ salvage ordered while investigation continues
The director-general of the national marine department has ordered the salvage of ‘Phoenix’ – the tour boat that sank on July 6 resulting in the drowning of 47 Chinese passengers. The investigation into official negligence is also being conducted.
— The Thaiger

Seacon Home boss forgoes price war
Seacon Home Co, one of the country’s oldest and largest homebuilders, will shy away from price competition and focus instead on improving housing designs.
— Bangkok Post

Feature photo Dickson Phua

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 July 25 added by John Le Fevre on July 25, 2018
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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.