US tariffs on China judged to support Thai export growth
The latest round of US tariff hikes on an additional US$200 billion (6.49 trillion baht) worth of Chinese goods is expected to help Thai exports, offering opportunities to replace the Chinese products in the US market, according to a Commerce Ministry study.
— Bangkok Post
Business confidence expected to rise in next three months
“WE ARE positive that the Business Confidence Index (BCI) for manufacturers will rise in the next three months”, Supant Mongkolsuthree, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), said yesterday during a press conference.
— The Nation
FTI sees flat motorcycle sales as glut nears
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) predicts that the motorcycle market will remain flat this year at 1.8 million units sold and that the market will soon become saturated.
— Bangkok Post
Central bank holds rates but growing vote split hints at hike soon
Thailand’s central bank held its benchmark interest rate steady on Wednesday as widely expected, but a growing split among board members reinforced views that it may soon start tightening policy for the first time in years.
— Bangkok Post
Exclusive: Thailand’s plan to fight inequality in education
Siam Square, a famous shopping area in central Bangkok, is always bustling with activity—not as much from tourists and shoppers as from students attending the various cram schools designed to help get them into the nation’s best schools and universities.
— Government Insider
ITC to be opened with Japan
The governor of Mie prefecture in Japan will meet with the Thai government next month in a bid to establish a Thai-Japan innovative mobilisation centre, a 2019 Industry Ministry goal.
— Bangkok Post
Minister orders probe into annual loss of Bt1.5-bn from fund
LABOUR MINISTER Pol General Adul Sangsingkaew has assigned a fact-finding panel to launch and complete in 15 days a probe into allegations that associations advocating the cause of those with disability had misappropriated funds.
— The Nation
PM Prayut confirms full election campaign to be allowed in mid-December
In the strongest sign yet that he is committed to pushing ahead with a general election early next year, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said today that election campaigning by political parties will be permitted starting in the middle of December.
— Thai PBS World
Airport scare sparks security overhaul
Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) will install fingerprint and face-recognition equipment at Suvarnabhumi airport by the end of next year, following recent criticism of its security measures.
— Bangkok Post
Lack of papers leaves many Rohingya jobless
MANY MUSLIM migrants living in Nakhon Si Thammarat province cannot work legally because they do not have nationality verification documents.
— The Nation
Probe into pilfered fund for disabled
Labour Minister Adul Sangsingkeo is looking into alleged irregularities in the spending of state funds granted to an employment promotion programme for people with disabilities that caused losses of up to 1.5 billion baht a year.
— Bangkok Post
Parties brace for cut in MP numbers
KEY POLITICAL parties are set to see a significant reduction in MPs after new regulations were issued reducing the number of constituency candidates.
— The Nation
Thai Beverage raises B77bn in bonds amid jumbo buying spree
Thai Beverage Plc, controlled by billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, raised 77 billion baht in the country’s biggest-ever corporate bond sale, according to people familiar with the matter.
— Bangkok Post
EC announces 350 election constituencies with one MP for each
The Election Commission has announced that there will be 350 members of Parliament representing 350 constituencies in 77 provinces in the next election.
— Thai PBS World
LHMH sets aside B16bn for developments
LH Mall & Hotel Co (LHMH), owner of Grand Centre Point hotels and Terminal 21 malls, is set to spend 16 billion baht to develop hotels and shopping complexes over the next four years.
— Bangkok Post
Osotspa IPO launch to lead 2018 in size
Century-old consumer goods conglomerate Osotspa Plc expects to launch an IPO early next month in a deal expected to be the largest corporate fundraiser this year.
— Bangkok Post
Phuket launches plastic-busting initiative
The Phuket Hotels Association and the US Embassy, through a Science Fellowship Programme, have partnered to tackle waste management challenges in Phuket with a goal to significantly reduce single-use plastics at Phuket’s hotels.
— The Nation
PM prioritises digital upgrade
Thailand aims to play a key role in driving digital development in Southeast Asia to help reduce inequality, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post
Cabinet gives nod to over 60 mega projects to facilitate EEC
The Cabinet on Tuesday approved more than 60 large-scale investment projects in the lower North and upper Northeast designed to facilitate and to connect with the government’s flagship Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) scheme.
— Thai PBS World
IVL closing 3 acquisitions in 3 countries this year
SET-listed Indorama Ventures Plc (IVL), a leading manufacturer of polyester and plastic packaging material, expects three acquisition deals to be completed this quarter with a combined value not exceeding UScopy billion (32.5 billion baht).
— Bangkok Post
Bombardier eyes Bt100 bn from Thai rail
BOMBARDIER, the Canada-based leading manufacturer of planes and trains, expects business value in Thailand to reach Bt100 billion by 2022 thanks to the Kingdom’s increased investment in infrastructure projects, including rail systems.
— The Nation
Homework leaves Miss red-faced
The aunt of a Prathom 1 (grade 1) student has agreed to delete a Facebook post showing how a maths teacher incorrectly marked her niece’s homework after the school came clean and admitted the teacher’s mistake
— Bangkok Post
Traffic safety raises concerns in Phuket light-rail plans
With just 12 days to go until the end of his tenure as Governor of Phuket, Norraphat Plodthong yesterday (Sept 18) said that construction of the Phuket light-rail project was expected to commence in 2020.
— The Phuket News
IconSiam due to open November 9
IconSiam, the Bt54-billion development on the Chao Phraya River, today, has confirmed that it will open November 9.
— The Nation
State grants purchase of 3,000 POS terminals
The Finance Ministry will subsidise point-of-sale (POS) terminals at 3,000 Thong Fah Pracha Rat shops that have already registered under the value-added tax (VAT) system as part of efforts to encourage more small shops to enter the tax system.
— Bangkok Post
Smart projects to drive up IoT adoption
THE ADOPTION of the Internet of Things (IoT) service and devices in Thailand is expected to be ramped up in next few years, mainly driven by projects such as smart cities and smart home, Advanced Info Service (AIS)’s head of Nationwide Operations & Support Department Wasit Wattanasap has said.
— The Nation
Thaksin, his men poke fun at junta leaders
JUNTA LEADERS became the objects of derision yesterday, when former PM Thaksin Shinawatra and his men began posting sarcastic messages about the premier and his No 2 man.
— The Nation
Canadian emergency consular services now offered at Aussie Consulate-General in Phuket
Canadians living or travelling in Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga can now contact the Australian Consulate-General in Phuket for emergency assistance services following the addition of the three provinces to the Canada-Australia Shared Consular Services Agreement.
— The Phuket News
Sweeteners on the table for weening farmers off rice
New measures to encourage rice farmers to grow cash crops other than rice are scheduled to go before the cabinet for approval next Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post
North Pattaya mall and hotel set to open
LH Mall and Hotel Group is ready to open a North Pattaya mixed-use Bt6 billion mall and hotel project this year on a 52,800 square metre site
— The Nation
New draft rules for auction of 900MHz approved
THE BOARD of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) yesterday approved new draft rules for the 900MHz auction, NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasith said.
— The Nation
Big Data at Big Bang event
DIGITAL THAILAND Big Bang 2018 has arrived and it comes with the concept “Thailand Big Data” as it aims to encourage Thais to learn about digital transformation and innovative technology.
— The Nation
Raising rice farmers on zinc
The way out of long-standing volatile crop prices for Thai farmers lies in elevating the quality of Thai rice to premium-grade grains. The innovative “rice plus zinc” could hold the key.
— Bangkok Post
Feature photo The Road Less Travelled
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 September 20 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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