Thailand morning news for October 19

Thailand morning news for October 19
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Thailand morning newsThai commerce ministry says exports expected to grow 8 pct in 2019
Thailand’s exports are expected to grow 8 percent next year, the commerce ministry said on Thursday.
— Reuters

CPs ‘Gratitude’ sadvertisement campaign masks deeper Thai issues (HD video)
It’s another typically tear-jerking tale from the world of Thai advertising — but this one has already garnered more than 5.3 million YouTube views, while touching on deeper issues that many in Thai society will face in the future.
— AEC News Today

KBank: Baht could shave B125bn off export revenue
More than 100 billion baht in possible export revenue could be lost this year if the baht’s year-end value remains unchanged from 32.57 against the dollar, the level at the end of last year, says Kasikornbank (KBank).
— Bangkok Post

Thai Military Officers Convicted, Sentenced for Smuggling Rohingya
A Thai court on Thursday convicted two military officers and sentenced each to 27 years in prison for being involved in a transnational crime syndicate that smuggled Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar, officials said.
— Radio Free Asia

Poor service quality dogs airport ranking
Inferior service quality and poor management means that Suvarnabhumi airport is unlikely to be placed among the world’s top airports, a seminar was told Thursday.
— Bangkok Post

Ministry backtracks on visa fee waiver plan
The government’s plans to exempt tourists from visa-on-arrival fees to attract foreign travellers is unlikely to happen this year, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat.
— Bangkok Post

Planned airport terminal could cause chaos: experts
CRITICS OF the controversial Suvarnabhumi Airport expansion project have warned that the country’s biggest international gateway could dip further in global rankings if its proposed second terminal building is improperly located.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Half of Korat hit by drought
Nearly half Nakhon Ratchasima’s 32 districts have been declared drought-hit areas, with the province as a whole and many other parts of the country facing the prospect of acute water shortages, authorities say
— Bangkok Post

Mental asylum best place for ‘cracked’ anti-monarchists, says new Army chief
THAILAND may soon see anti-royalists being thrown into mental asylums instead of being put behind bars thanks to the new Army chief’s belief that most people criticising the monarchy are either “cracked or bizarre”.
— The Nation

Thai Law: Foreigners Need Business Visas to Attend Meetings
A recent revamp of the work permit law has made life easier for foreign investors visiting the country to do business. Since it was enacted earlier this year, the Executive Decree on Administration and Management of Employment of Foreigners means they are no longer required to obtain a work permit to attend business meetings in Thailand.
— Khaosod English

PPP to set up public policy think tank
The Palang Pracharath Party plans to establish a think tank so people from all sectors can brainstorm the future trajectory of Thailand’s economic, social and political development.
— Bangkok Post

New Survey Shows Preventable Accidents Killed More than 2,500 Children in Thailand Last Year
Mahidol University’s National Institute Development of Children and Families has raised concerns in a recent study that shows accidents killed more than 2,500 children between the ages of one and 12 last year.
— Chiang Rai Times

Thaksin confident pro-democracy forces would win election
An alliance of pro-democracy parties would defeat pro-military parties in the upcoming general election if it is held freely and fairly, ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said Thursday.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand’s Richest Man Plans $1.5 Billion Property IPO
Thailand’s richest man Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi is planning an initial public offering of a domestic property business that could raise at least $1.5 billion, people with knowledge of the matter said.
— Bloomberg

Unusually rich ex-transport permanent secretary jailed
A former permanent secretary of the Transport Ministry found unusually rich after his house was burgled seven years ago has been sent to prison for 10 months for filing false asset declarations, after losing his appeal.
— Bangkok Post

Thai SMEs most tech-savvy in Asean: study
Thailand’s small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the most active in Southeast Asia when it comes to investing in technology to drive business performance, according to the results of the Asean SME Transformation Study by United Overseas Bank (UOB), EY and Dun & Bradstreet.
— The Nation

PATA Forum on marketing tourism
Tourism influencers are set to gather in Khon Kaen, Thailand for the PATA Destination Marketing Forum 2018 28 to 30 November.
— TTR Weekly

Govt vows to limit illegal ivory trade
As Thailand prepares for the Asean chairmanship starting next year, the nation is pushing for stronger commitments in terms of clamping down on the illegal wildlife trade and marine waste management, according to an environment minister.
— Bangkok Post

“New window of opportunity” for peace process in southern Thailand: Panitan
Political changes in Malaysia and eagerness demonstrated by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who will visit Thailand next week, to help solve the long-running conflicts in southern Thailand coupled with the upcoming general elections in Thailand provide a “new window of opportunity” for peace in the trouble-plagued region, Panitan Wattanayagorn, an advisor to Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan for security affairs, said Thursday night.
— Thai PBS World

Eastspring Expands in One of Asia’s Fastest Growing Markets
Eastspring Investments, the Asian asset management business of British financial services firm Prudential, has finalised the acquisition of 65 percent of TMB Asset Management from Thailand’s TMB Bank.
— Finews.Asia

TMB comes clean on M&A chatter
After months of merger and acquisition (M&A) rumours, the Finance Ministry has acknowledged that it is exploring potential partners, both local and foreign, for TMB Bank.
— Bangkok Post

Immigration Joins Weibo to Regain Chinese Tourists
Immigration police took another step Wednesday to reach out to the country’s largest tourist group.
— Khaosod English

Airports to test facial recognition technology
Deputy Transport Minister Pairin Chuchotethavorn has instructed the Airports Department to test facial recognition technology at the department’s airports.
— The Nation

‘Vaccine denial’ behind measles deaths in South
Though vaccines are proven to prevent diseases, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) is worried that a measles epidemic is quickly spreading in the three southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat -due to a large proportion of the residents rejecting immunisation for religious reasons.
— The Nation

New immigration chief to reform Chiang Mai office
The new immigration head has only been in the job for a month but said he was going to target the immigration offices as a priority. He has already visited some of the southern offices and is said to have made sweeping changes.
— The Nation

Madams, ex-cop handed another 183-309 years in Mae Hong Son child-prostitution case
The Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court on Thursday increased the jail tariff for two “madams” and a former senior cop by 183 years and 309 years respectively, over charges linked to the “owl tattoo” prostitution racket in Mae Hong Son.
— The Nation

Mekong Moments shines light on Thailand
Nine travel routes identified by the Tourism Authority of Thailand will be promoted by Mekong Moments a social media platform run by the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office.
— TTR Weekly

Wet season, not so wet – some dams are less than 60% full
Emerging from the back end of the annual wet season, Thailand should be well poised for adequate water supplies for the forthcoming dry season.
— The Thaiger

Thai lenders brace for stricter mortgage rules
Commercial banks in Thailand are bracing for the central bank’s plan to impose tighter standards for mortgage lending, a move that will hit a major part of their business.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Thailand will improve care of migrant and stateless children: Prayut
THAILAND AND Unicef are planning to cooperate more closely for the better care of migrant and stateless children.
— The Nation

IFC Invests in Roojai to Expand Access to Digital Insurance in Thailand
With almost two thirds of Thailand’s population having access to the internet, more Thai consumers are participating in e-commerce and are active on social media platforms.
— The Financial

Unicef presents Princess Sirindhorn with life-time award
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has been honoured with a life-time achievement award by the UN agency for children in recognition of her relentless efforts to improve the quality of children in Thailand.
— Bangkok Post

OPINION: Vaping – the double-edged sword for tobacco companies
Some Asian countries such as Japan and Thailand have banned the sale and use of liquids containing nicotine, which has led to the increased adoption of Heat not Burn (HnB) tobacco devices, particularly in Japan.
— Business Report

Thailand most difficult market to crack, says Go-Jek’s head of international expansion
Thailand is proving to be the most challenging market to crack in Southeast Asia for Go-Jek.
—Deal Street Asia

Hitachi elevates Thailand to hub role
HITACHI is promoting the concept of collaborative creation to achieve what it calls mass customisation in the global market.
— The Nation

SE Asia stocks drop in line with broader Asia
The Stock Exchange of Thailand index fell 12.13 points or 0.72% to end the day at 1,682.91, in turnover worth 46 billion baht. Marine freight operator Precious Shipping Plc shed 1.6%, while construction supplies provider Dynasty Ceramic Plc slipped 0.9%.
— Bangkok Post

Allianz predicts 6% growth
Thailand’s insurance market could expand at 6% annually over the next 10 years, supported by the existing low gross written premium of 5% of GDP, especially for long-term savings and pension insurance products, says Allianz Global.
— Bangkok Post

Coconuts join state price list to end slump
Wichai Phochanakij, the Internal Trade Department’s director-general, said the department is set to propose putting coconut and coconut products on the state price control list for approval by the vegetable oil and crop committee, which meets today.
— Bangkok Post

BIG to freeze fruit with nitrogen
Bangkok Industrial Gas Co (BIG), Thailand’s largest industrial gas producer, has teamed up with national oil and gas conglomerate PTT Plc to develop a frozen fruit centre in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) that will use liquefied nitrogen.
— Bangkok Post

Tourism chiefs tap Big Data to boost arrivals
THE Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is moving forward with the development of a Big Data system to cater to the growth in the number of tourist arrivals.
— The Nation

State project spend up 60%
The sharp increase in disbursement could be due to accelerating investment in big-ticket infrastructure projects, including the State Railway of Thailand’s double-track rail, stretching from Jira to Khon Kaen province; the Orange Line electric train linking Thailand Cultural Centre to Min Buri; and the Green Line electric train connecting Mo Chit-Saphan Mai to Khu Khot.
— Bangkok Post

Krungsri teams up with MUFG to offer cutting edge cross-border banking services
Krungsri (Bank of Ayudhya Pcl.) is banking on the vast network of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) to help its customers in Thailand expand regionally and globally.
— Bangkok Post

MFA: PM attending ASEM in Belgium
According to the Spokesperson of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the Prime Minister is preparing to deliver a speech on Thailand’s approach to promoting sustainable growth, at the 12th ASEM Summit (ASEM) being held on 18th and 19th October 2018 in Brussels, Belgium.
— NNT

Hitachi brings robotics to hospitality and healthcare
HITACHI will introduce a humanoid robot and robotics IT platform for the hospitality and reservation services market early next year.
— The Nation (annoying pops)

GS Group Chairman urges CEOs to tap into Southeast Asia
The Head of South Korean energy-to-retail giant GS Group urged CEOs of affiliates to seek ways to make inroad into the Southeast Asian market by taking Thailand as a strategic base, the company said yesterday.
— Borneo Bulletin

Govt gives awards to agencies participating in mobile phone for books program
Thailand’s Interior Minister, Gen Anupong Paochinda, has awarded agencies that have successfully participated in the mobile phone donation program to fund books for students.
— NNT

BMA to give Khao San vendors footpath access from 6pm to midnight
BANGKOK CITY Hall on Wednesday relaxed its former plan to completely ban vendors from the footpaths of Khao San Road, by now allowing them to sell their wares from 6pm until midnight.
— The Nation

ISOC carries out repeat inspection of rice mill blamed for water pollution in Phichit
The Phichit Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) has had to carry out a repeat inspection of a rice milling facility in the province’s Yan Yao sub-district, following complaints of water pollution, and apparent violations of Department of Industrial Works (DIW) regulations.
— NNT

Government involved private companies supporting marketing channels for corn
The Cooperative Promotion Department, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, has pressed on with its campaign to encourage farmers in 33 provinces of Thailand to grow corn instead of rice during the off-season.
— NNT

Surin community backs sugar factory, power plant expansion
The people fo Khok Sa-at subdistrict in Surin province have expressed interest in the plan to expand a sugar factory and a power plant in their area, as more jobs would be created for about 300 households.
— NNT

Energy drink producer Osotspa gains 9% on SET debut
SHARES in Osotspa Plc, which makes the popular energy drink M-150, rose 9 per cent at the close of trade in their debut on the Thai stock exchange yesterday.
— The Nation

Vegetarian festival ends in Phuket
The final night of the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket Town is one of the most exciting, out-of-control, intense and noisy public events in the world. It is also very dangerous.
— The Nation

 

Feature photo John Le Fevre

This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, October 17.

 

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.

 

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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.

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