EC sets four tentative election dates next year
The Election Commission has set four tentative election dates during February and May next year while the ban on political activities will be lifted within 90 days after the announcement of the MPs election law in the Royal Gazette, said Deputy Prime Minister Wisanu Krea-ngam after a meeting between the government and 74 political parties at the Army Club on Monday.
— Thai PBS
About 1,100 Thai industrial products may be affected by China-US trade war
About 1,100 items of industrial products are likely to be affected by impacts from trade war between China and the United States, said Mr Kriangkrai Thiennukul, vice president of the Federation of Thai Industries (FDI), on Monday.
— Thai PBS
Industry Min and FTI to attract French investors to EEC this year
The Ministry of Industry has joined with the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) to attract French investors to the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) this year.
— NNT
Thailand eyes private investors’ help for $40 billion rail upgrade
Thailand is seeking private investors’ help for a $40 billion upgrade of its rail network aimed at reducing logistics costs and boosting trade, Minster of Transport Arkhom Termpittayapaisith told Reuters on Monday.
— Reuters
Border commerce continues to boom
Thailand’s border trade is expected to flourish this year, thanks to the government’s continuous promotion activities and growing demand for Thai products among neighbouring countries.
— Bangkok Post
Businesses step up pace of overseas investments
THAI businesses have been ploughing investments into Asean countries as part of a broader overseas push to reduce production costs, the Board of Investment said.
— The Nation
Rising water obstructs search of trapped students, coach
Rising water levels on Monday afternoon have complicated the search of 12 young footballers and their coach who have gone missing for three days as divers are trying to move further.
— Bangkok Post
Prices of agriculture products are on the rise
Prices of agricultural products are on the rise as a result of measures to help farmers already launched by the government.
— News Today (video)
KBank rolls out Facebook Messenger payment service
Kasikornbank (KBank) has entered the social commerce platform by becoming the first Thai bank to offer payment service via Facebook Messenger, targeting transaction value of 30 billion baht for the first year of operations.
— Bangkok Post
Tourism growth expected during Q3-Q4: MOTS
The improvement in global political climate and the European Union’s relaxation in trade restrictions to Thailand will help with a sustained growth of the country’s tourism sector during the latter half of this year.
— NNT
Top Generals From Cambodia, Thailand Meet to Discuss Border Security
Enhancing cross-border security topped the agenda at a meeting between high ranking military officials from Cambodia and Thailand last week.
— VOA
GET set to launch in Bangkok this year as part of GO-JEK’s international expansion
GET on Monday announced its plan to launch in Bangkok in the upcoming months.
— The Nation
Thailand Introduces Elbit’s Hermes 450 UAS
The Royal Thai Army (RTA) has introduced the Elbit Hermes 450 unmanned aerial system (UAS), becoming the second Southeast Asian country after Singapore to operate this drone. Elbit Systems says that the H450 has now performed “40,000 successful combat missions,” but like other Israeli companies, it does not specify customers
— AINonline
Thailand demands compensation over US solar tariffs – WTO
Thailand has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) requesting consultations with the US over its 30% solar import tariffs and discussions over trade compensation, according to a WTO filing dated 21 June.
— PVTech
DIT keeps tight rein on garlic imports
The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) has introduced strict measures against garlic imports following the confiscation of more than 15,000 kilograms of smuggled garlic.
— News Today (video)
Thai Union reels in 25% stake of TSR
SET-listed Thai Union Group Plc (TU), the world’s biggest canned and frozen tuna exporter, has acquired a 25% stake in Thammachart Seafood Retail Co Ltd (TSR) in a bid to penetrate the retail seafood segment.
— Bangkok Post
EEC project to provide new graduates with job opportunities
The Eastern Economic Corridor project will provide greater job opportunities for new graduates related to programs tailored for specific industries.
— NNT
AIRPORT RAIL LINK CH KARNCHANG, CHINESE FIRM JOIN THE FRAY
Ch Karnchang Plc and China Railway Construction and Corporation have bought the bidding documents for the high-speed train project to link three international airports -Don Muang, Suvarnbhumi, and U-Tapao from the State Railway of Thailand yesterday.
— The Nation
Thai telecoms regulator revises auction terms, seeks to raise $4.5 billion
Thailand’s telecoms regulator said on Monday it plans to conduct spectrum auctions in August, seeking to raise $4.56 billion, after revising terms that were initially shrugged off by the Southeast Asian nation’s mobile operators.
— Reuters
PM: EU trip benefits Thailand
The Thai Prime Minister has reiterated that his ongoing EU trip benefits Thailand. He points out that several European nations are looking into the investment potential of the Kingdom.
— NNT
B200bn gets pledged for rice farmers
The government pledges to allocate at least 200 billion baht to finance aid measures for rice farmers for the 2018/2019 crop year, starting in November.
— Bangkok Post
Five mobile phone operators expand their network coverage to assist rescue operations
All five mobile phone operators have joined rescue workers in their attempt to ensure the safe return of 13 footballers and coach trapped inside a cave in Chiang Rai by expanding their network to cover the entire cave and its surroundings to facilitate communications among all the rescue and support teams.
— Thai PBS
MOPH destroys six tons of 13-billion-baht narcotics
The Ministry of Public Health destroyed six tons of narcotics worth about 13 billion baht ahead of tomorrow’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
— NNT
Somkid looks to lure Chinese investment
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak is scheduled to travel to Hong Kong and Shenzhen in southeastern China from June 27-29 to lure investors there to invest in infrastructure projects and 10 targeted targeted industries in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
— Bangkok Post
Motorway 9 tolls to start on Sunday
Toll fees ranging from 15 baht to 35 baht for use of the Phra Pradaeng-Bang Khunthian southern section of the Outer Ring Road motorway, which up until now has been free for motorists, will become effective July 1, transport authorities said Monday.
— Bangkok Post
Thai governor helps sell vast quantity of fruit
Chaiyaphum pineapple farmers, who saw the price of their fruit plunge to just Bt1 (€0.03) per kilogram at canning factories, were overjoyed on Sunday as the 17 tonnes of produce they had planned to sell at Nakhon Ratchasima’s Thao Suranaree Monument Plaza, sold out within an hour.
— Fresh Plaza
Thailand and Myanmar to collaborate on cultural promotion worldwide
The government of Myanmar has agreed to cooperate with Thailand on five cultural matters so that both countries can promote their related cultures to the world.
— NNT
Airbnb pushes for Hotel Act rethink
Airbnb is continuing to push the Thai government to reconsider its Hotel Act, paving the way for the company to expand its business in Thailand.
— Bangkok Post
BTS Skytrain executive officials summoned in face of frequent operational disruptions
Executive officials of BTS Skytrain system have been summoned for discussions in the face of frequent operational disruptions which have adversely affected its passengers.
— NNT
FTI looks to block import of used buses, trucks
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) is calling for the government to prohibit importing used buses and trucks to be registered here to support local assembly sites and to expand the parts supply chain.
— Bangkok Post
Feature photo Michel Coutty
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