Thread: Thailand and the new coalition government

• Culture Ministry proposes game-changing bill for Thai film industry, giving control to producers

The Culture Ministry has completed the draft of a new Movies and Games Bill, aiming to revolutionise the film industry by eliminating state censorship and having producers establish their own ratings.

Culture Minister Sermsak Pongpanit said on Sunday that the bill’s intent is to create a self-governing council for movies and games to replace the existing government censorship board.

However, he said, the bill needs to be reviewed to ensure it does not overlap with the Thailand Creative Content Agency (THACCA) Bill.

THACCA will be put in charge of promoting Thai soft power.

The proposed bill seeks to empower producers in the film and gaming sectors, fostering a conducive environment for creative expression without hindering business operations, he said.

The envisioned legislation also prioritises the protection of children and youth audiences, ensuring responsible content is consumed. Under the new law, the state would relinquish the authority to dictate edits, cuts or bans on films and games.

Instead, the bill encourages the implementation of a self-regulated rating system by producers, holding them accountable to society, especially concerning younger demographics.

In addition to the establishment of the film and game council, the bill proposes the creation of a dedicated fund for the film and games industry. Through this fund, the government aims to support talented directors and game developers, Sermsak added. The proposed legislation signifies a bold step towards a more liberal and artist-friendly cinematic landscape in Thailand.

• PM meeting Anwar to push border connectivity project with Malaysia

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is meeting his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim at the Sadao checkpoint in Songkhla province on Monday (November 27) to oversee the border connectivity project between the two countries.

Srettha is scheduled to visit the Thai-Malaysian border at the Sadao checkpoint on Monday to inspect the progress of the Thai-Malaysian border area development. A meeting has also been scheduled with Malaysian PM Anwar to push forward the discussions between the two leaders, according to government spokesman Chai Watcharong.

The visit to the Thai-Malaysian border is a continuation of Srettha’s official trip to Malaysia on October 11 this year, Chai said. During that visit, the two leaders had agreed to promote border trade, address congestion issues at the Sadao checkpoint, construct new border links between the Sadao checkpoint and Malaysia's Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint, and collaborate on other areas for more substantial progress.

Both parties aim to strengthen cooperation in all aspects, particularly in trade, investment, and people-to-people relations, Chai said.

Malaysia is Thailand’s fourth largest trade partner and the largest trading partner within ASEAN.

The two leaders are targeting bilateral trade valued at US$30 billion by 2025. Border trade between Thailand and Malaysia accounted for 31.76% of Thailand's total border trade in 2022, with a value of 336.12 billion baht. Most of this trade passes through the customs checkpoints of Sadao, Padang Besar, Betong, and Sungai Kolok. Additionally, in 2022, Malaysia had the highest number of tourists visiting Thailand, totalling over 2.9 million visitors, the highest among foreign tourists, solidifying Malaysia's significant and multifaceted relationship with Thailand, Chai said.

The meeting of the Thai and Malaysian prime ministers at the Sadao border checkpoint reflects the mutual agreement of both governments to prioritise the development of the Thai-Malaysian border area, facilitating convenience, enhancing connectivity in travel, and making border trade between the two more efficient, Chai said.

This would directly benefit the people in terms of trade, investment, tourism, economy, and various socio-cultural exchanges, Chai added.

Thai and Malaysian PMs to meet at Sadao checkpoint on Monday to discuss trade

• FM Parnpree heads for Israel to bring 17 freed Thais back home

Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara will fly to Israel on Monday night to collect 17 Thai workers released by Hamas and return them home to Thailand.

Parnpree, who doubles as deputy prime minister, will be accompanied by armed forces chief General Songwit Noonpakdee.

The foreign minister said arrangements to transport the released Thais back to Thailand on a chartered flight may take two or three days.

Another 15 Thai workers are still being held by Hamas, but the militant group said it would release more hostages during its ongoing truce with the Israeli Defence Forces, he added.

The truce is due to end early on Tuesday morning.

On Friday, 10 Thai nationals were among the first batch of hostages released by Hamas.

Another four Thais were released on Saturday and three more on Sunday, making a total of 17.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin thanked his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim for playing a role in securing the release of the Thai workers.

Srettha was speaking to reporters at Don Mueang military airport before flying to Hat Yai for a meeting with the Malaysian PM at the Sadao border checkpoint.

Srettha said he would seek Anwar’s help in ongoing talks with Hamas for the release of all Thai hostages.

Border trade with Malaysia would also be on the agenda, he added.

Srettha said the pair would also discuss Malaysia’s latest proposal for ending violence in the insurgency-hit southern border provinces, as well as cooperation at border checkpoints.

• Thailand’s exports grow 8% in October, as govt plans ‘quick win’ measures

Thailand exported US$23.58 billion (828.22 billion baht) worth of goods in October, marking an 8% increase compared to the same month last year, a Commerce Ministry official said.

Kirati Ratchano, the ministry’s permanent secretary, said on Monday that after excluding the value of exported oil, gold and armaments, the growth stood at 5.4%.

Kirati noted that Thailand’s October exports outpaced those of several other ASEAN nations.

He attributed the growth to recovering global markets, rising demands and falling inflation rates in many countries.

The permanent secretary added that the Chinese stimulus measures were also starting to bear fruit, with rising consumption and investments from China.

He further noted that the Israel-Hamas war has not escalated enough to affect the global economy, and hence has no impact on Thai exports.

However, Thailand’s exports still showed a contraction of 2.7% even after adding October exports to those of the previous nine months. But the contraction falls to 0.6% when the values of oil, gold and military supplies are removed.

Thailand suffered a trade deficit of $832.3 million in October as imports came in at $24.411 billion.

Meanwhile, the Commerce Ministry announced that the export of agricultural and agro-industrial products grew by 9.3% year-on-year, while exports of industrial products expanded by 5.4%.

The ministry also said that exports to key markets expanded by 5.1% in October. Exports to the US, China, and ASEAN nations grew by 13.8%, 3.4%, and 16.5%, respectively, but exports to Japan, the European Union, and CLMV (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam) contracted by 1.1%, 1.4%, and 9.7%, respectively.

The Commerce Ministry expects export growth to continue in the first quarter of 2024 after Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai instructed his ministry to expedite the government's “quick win” measures to organise 73 trade promotions overseas.

• Thai FM to accompany released Hamas hostages back to Thailand

Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara has left for Israel to accompany 17 Thai nationals, recently freed by Hamas, back to Thailand, according to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Tuesday.

Parnpree left Bangkok at about 3am, Srettha said before chairing his Cabinet weekly meeting.

The Thai government believes that 35 Thais were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, during its raid on Israel. After weeks of negotiation, Hamas has agreed to free 17 of them in three groups.

Meanwhile, the Thai Foreign Ministry reports that the Thai nationals are due to arrive in Bangkok on Thursday at about noon.

• Srettha, Anwar boost trade, tourism, security ties during border talks

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim pledged to tighten cooperation between the two neighbours on issues ranging from food and trade to tourism during bilateral talks on Monday.

Anwar sat down with Srettha at the new Sadao border checkpoint building in Songkhla at 11am in a reciprocal visit following Srettha’s trip to Malaysia on October 11.

Srettha was accompanied by Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit while Anwar was accompanied by his Public Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi and his Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing.

The meeting followed up on the October 11 talks, especially on joint border developments to improve the lives of people on either side of the southern border.

Srettha’s visit to Malaysia saw the two sides agree to set up four task forces – on trade and border trade, tourism, agriculture, and security.

On Monday, the two leaders expressed determination to push for more border and bilateral trade and investment in line with their joint action plan.

Srettha proposed that Malaysia host a meeting of the Thai-Malaysian joint trade commission led by commerce ministers to overcome trade hurdles between the two neighbouring countries.

Srettha also asked Anwar to speed up the drafting of a memorandum of understanding on cross-border transport of goods.

The Malaysian leader vowed to speed up the opening of border trade checkpoints and promised to have his chamber of commerce follow up on the issue.

Srettha also proposed cooperation between local chambers of commerce of the two countries to boost trade value, tourism and border developments.

On tourism cooperation, the Thai PM noted that Thailand had made entry easier for Malaysian tourists at the Sadao checkpoint by waiving the need to fill in entry forms from November 1 to April 31 next year. The waiver was granted after Malaysian tourists topped foreign arrivals this year.

Srettha told Anwar he that hoped Malaysia would speed up an MoU on cross-border transport for Thai tourists.

He said Thais currently had no access to public transport on the Malaysian side.

On agricultural cooperation, Anwar vowed more cooperation to develop halal foods after Srettha told him that the Thai government is setting up a Halal Food Department under the Agriculture Ministry.

On border security, Srettha said the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry would work closely with its Malaysian counterpart to halt the smuggling of wildlife and meat through the border. The two sides pledged an MoU to combat smuggling, due to be signed in February next year.

They agreed to build a second bridge to link Narathiwat’s Sungai Kolok district to Malaysia, while Anwar also pledged to build a road to connect the new Sadao border checkpoint to Malaysia’s Bukit checkpoint.

After the meeting, they visited the site of the road’s construction, before Srettha hosted a lunch for the Malaysian delegation at the Vista Hotel.

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• Thailand and Malaysia to boost transportation network

Thailand and Malaysia have agreed to improve transportation networks to boost bilateral border trade, according to Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. He made the statement after a meeting with his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim, at the Sadao border checkpoint in Songkhla province on Monday.

“The Thai government has selected the Sadao border checkpoint to introduce a one-stop service for customs, immigration and quarantine (CIQ). When operational, it will reduce time and procedures at the checkpoint,” Srettha wrote on his Facebook page.

Both countries also agreed to expedite the construction of the second Thai-Malaysian bridge, connecting Narathiwat’s Sungai Kolok district in Thailand with Malaysia’s Rantau Panjang in Kelantan state.

Meanwhile, Anwar stated that Thailand’s plans to build seaports and a land bridge, which will shorten ship journeys, avoiding the busy Straits of Melaka, will benefit Malaysia, especially northern Peninsular Malaysia.

Speaking to Bernama, the Malaysian national news agency, after the meeting with the Thai premier, Anwar stated that his government will ensure Malaysia benefits and is involved in the project.

Anwar quoted Srettha as telling him that Phuket has done extremely well on an international level, so he has asked Thai Tourism Minister to share ideas which can be implemented in Langkawi to create synergy.

“It is rare to see someone wanting to offer their experience and expertise. There cannot be a bilateral relationship that only benefits one country. So, that’s why, when we have benefits, we share and, in tourism, he remembers us [sic],” Anwar told Bernama.

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• Thai PM appoints new head of southern peace talks team

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has appointed Chatchai Bangchuad, deputy secretary-general of the National Security Council, to head the government’s team in peace talks with the main insurgent group in Thailand’s restive south, Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN).

The negotiation team also includes the secretary-general of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre, as well as representatives of the Foreign Affairs and Justice ministriesand the Internal Security Operations Command.

With Malaysia acting as the facilitator, negotiations between Bangkok and the BRN have been on hold since February,after both sides reached a consensus on a roadmap towards a peace agreement.

The BRN suspended talks, pending the formation of a new Thai government after the May 14th general election.

Shortly after the Thai parliament elected Srettha as the new prime minister in August, however, southern insurgents launched coordinated attacks in Yarang district of Pattani province. Two police officers and two members of a provincial security detail were killed and four other police officers were injured.

According to the Crisis Group, the suspension of peace talks by the BRN reflects internal discord over the dialogue, with the group’s military wing sceptical of the roadmap’s design and objectives, raising the prospect of the group splintering,which would undermine prospects for peace.

• Farmers registered for handout scheme set to receive funds by Friday

All farmers who have registered for the 1,000-baht-per-rai scheme should have their funds by the end of this week, Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said.

Phumtham, who also doubles as deputy PM, said funds are being distributed in five rounds, starting with farmers in 21 provinces on Monday. Funds are scheduled to be delivered to farmers in eight provinces on Tuesday, five each on Wednesday and Thursday, and 38 provinces on Friday.

Under this scheme, each registered farming household will be eligible to receive aid for a maximum of 20 rai (3.2 hectares) or no more than 20,000 baht. A budget of 54.33 billion baht has been earmarked for the scheme.

The money is being distributed via the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives.

Phumtham said this initiative is part of the government’s efforts to improve the quality of life for farmers, citing as an example the administration’s decision to forgive farmers’ debts as soon as it came into power. He said he was also planning to utilise technology to boost rice production in order to boost farmers’ income.

• Civil service starting salaries to rise by 10%

The cabinet approved a 10% salary increase over the next two years today, for newly-recruited government officials, to begin in the middle of next year, tentatively.

Danucha Pichayanan, secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Council, said today that the salaries of newly-recruited civil servants will be adjusted to 18,000 baht minimum within the next two years.

For serving officials, whose salaries are under 18,000 baht, he said they will be adjusted accordingly.

Meanwhile, Prommin Lertsuridej, secretary-general to the prime minister, explained that the salary adjustment, as proposed by the Office of Civil Service Commission, is intended to make civil service salaries more attractive and as competitive as those offered by the private sector, especially for new recruits.

He said that the most important element of the salary adjustment is that it must be commensurate with the position, “not too little or too much”.

He also said that the Office of Civil Service Commission will be able to give the full details of the salary increases in due course.

• Defence Ministry gets first civilian spokesperson

Jirayu Houngsub, a former Pheu Thai MP, has been appointed a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence, said Defence Minister Surin Klungsang on Wednesday.

Sutin told reporters that Jirayu join a team of spokespeople at the ministry and will be handling political issues. “Ministry spokespeople who are serving officers may not be familiar with these political issues,” Sutin added

Jirayu is the first civilian spokesman at the ministry. He is a veteran politician and has been elected multiple times, but he lost to a Move Forward candidate in the this year’s general election.

Before joining the party, he worked as a journalist for various media outlets.

• Education Ministry assigned to improve Thais' English proficiency

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has ordered the Education Ministry to come up with measures rapidly, to improve English proficiency among Thai people, students in particular, after Thailand’s very poor ranking on the global Education First (EF) English Proficiency Index 2023.

Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke said the order was made during a weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

EF ranks 113 countries, where English is not the first language, based on scores in 2.2 million Education First Standardised English Tests taken in 2022. At the top of the list is the Netherlands, with an average score of 647 out of 800, followed by Singapore (631), while Denmark, scoring 615, and Norway, with 614, swapped places at fourth and fifth place.

Thailand is ranked 101st, which places the country below seven other ASEAN countries, namely Singapore, the Philippines (578 – 20th), Malaysia (568 – 25th), Vietnam (505 – 58th), Indonesia (473 – 79th), Myanmar (450 – 90th) and Cambodia in 98th place with 421. Laos and Brunei were excluded from the listing. The average score is 502.

Thailand’s score puts it in the category of “very low English proficiency” countries. It was also noted that Thailand’s average score has not improved since the index was introduced in 2011, except in 2017, when the score increased slightly.

Of the 77 provinces in Thailand, only three stand out, with Chiang Mai having a score of 464, followed by Bangkok (457) and Phuket (456). They are still, however, below the global average.

Move Forward party-list MP Parit Wacharasindhu, meanwhile, has proposed measures to improve English proficiency among Thais, which include a redesign of the English curriculum, new English teaching methods, which emphasise English communication rather than grammar, upgrading the standard of English among teachers, redistribution of funding to schools in the provinces, promoting English language learning after school hours and more exchange programs for teachers to learn English in English-speaking countries.

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• Thai FM thanks Israel for ‘taking good care’ of freed hostages

Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara met with Israel’s president in Jerusalem on Tuesday and expressed gratitude to the Jewish state for looking after Thai hostages released by Hamas.

Parnpree, who doubles as deputy PM, is in Israel to retrieve 19 Thais so far freed by the militant group.

Seventeen Thai nationals were released during a five-day ceasefire and two more were freed on Wednesday after the truce was extended for two days.

Parnpree thanked Israeli President Isaac Herzog for “taking good care of Thai people, particularly for providing medical care for those who had just been set free”, said a Thai government press release.

He also asked Herzog to address welfare and labour rights issues facing Thai workers so that they can return to work in Israel when the dispute ends.

Herzog expressed Israel’s condolences over the 39 Thais killed in the October 7 attack by Hamas, as well as those injured or taken captive.

He also assured Parnpree that Israel would take good care of Thai labourers who return to the Middle East country, calling them an asset to its agricultural sector.

Israel hosts the second-largest number of Thai migrant workers after Taiwan, according to the Thai Labour Ministry.

About 26,000 Thai nationals worked in Israel before the war with Hamas, accounting for 19% of Thai labourers working abroad. Some 83% – or roughly 21,600 of them – worked in the agricultural sector.

Thailand’s ambassador in Tel Aviv, Pannabha Chandraramya, accompanied Parnpree on his Tuesday visit.

• PM thanks all for release of four more Thai hostages

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin posted an X message today, expressing his thanks to all parties concerned for their help in securing the release on Wednesday night of four more Thai hostages held by Hamas.

He wrote that the four arrived at Hatzerim Airbase at about 2am local time today. They have been identified as Paibul Ratnil, Kong Sae Lao, Chakkraphan Seekaena and Chalermchai Saengkaew.

Kong’s wife, Suntree Sae Lee, said she was notified that her husband was one among the most recent group of hostages released by Hamas on Wednesday night, the anticipated last day of the ceasefire between Hamas and Israeli defence forces. There are, however, reports that the ceasefire may be extended for four additional days.

26-year-old Kong, a member of a hill tribe in the northern province of Chiang Rai, was last seen in a picture showing him being held by his Hamas captor. He went to Israel on November 8 last year to work on an avocado farm.

Meanwhile, Chiang Rai Governor Puttipong Sirimat has instructed local administration, labour and Thai Red Cross officials in Pan district to make preparations to receive former hostages who are residents of the province.

2,174 people from Chiang Rai were working in Israel at the time of the Hamas attack. Three are reported to have been killed and one injured. 1,101 have already returned to Thailand.

• PM to celebrate UNESCO’s listing of Songkran

Thailand is poised to celebrate the inclusion of the Songkran Festival on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)’s list of the world’s intangible cultural heritage, which will be formally announced at a meeting in Botswana on December 6.

The Cultural Promotion Department on Thursday confirmed that Thailand’s traditional new year, known as the Songkran Festival, which has been on UNESCO’s shortlist since January, will be officially named a world intangible cultural heritage during the meeting.

Four items that made it to the tentative list are the traditional Thai dance Khon, traditional Thai massage, folk dance drama Nora, and the Songkran festival, which had been submitted for consideration in 2020.

The department added that on December 7 it will host a celebration event at Lan Khon Mueang town square in Bangkok, to be presided over by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.

The celebration will include traditional Songkran activities such as sprinkling water on Phra Phuttha Sihing Buddha figure, and will be attended by members of the cabinet, the Bangkok governor, and executives of provincial cultural offices.

Also joining the Songkran parade will be Thai-Danish beauty queen Anntonia Porsild, first runner-up in the Miss Universe 2023 pageant, attired in the costume of Songkran goddess Mahothorn Dhevi, who represents Saturday, the day of Songkran Festival 2024 (April 13, 2024).

The Songkran parade will also feature traditional dances and music performances from 4 regions of Thailand, in a bid to promote Thai traditions and invite tourists to take part in the actual celebration in April next year across the kingdom.

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• More than 5 bn baht proposed as budget for soft power promotion

The National Soft Power Strategy Committee has proposed a budget of 5.164 billion baht to promote Thailand’s soft power across 11 dimensions and drive the country’s creative economy, which will in return generate revenues for tourism and related industries.

Deputy chairman of the committee Dr Surapong Suebwonglee on Thursday announced the result of the committee’s second meeting, adding that the proposed budget is expected to be approved by the cabinet next month.

Surapong said the 5.164 billion baht will be divided across key aspects as follows:

1. Festival industry, covering marketing and promotion of festivals in Thailand, with 1.009 billion baht
2. Tourism industry, 711 million baht
3. Food industry, 1 billion baht
4. Thai art promotion, 380 million baht
5. Design and promotion of Thailand Brand, 310 million baht
6. Thai sports, 500 million baht
7. Music industry, 144 million baht
8. Publishing industry, 69 million baht
9. Films, theatres, and TV series, 545 million baht
10. Fashion design and exhibition, 268 million baht
11. Entrepreneur training and e-sport promotion, 374 million baht

Chadatip Chutrakul, chairperson of the festival industry promotion subcommittee, added that Thailand is preparing to hold the “Maha Songkran World Water Festival” next year to celebrate the Thai new year being listed as UNESCO’s world cultural heritage.

“The central location for the Songkran celebrations next year will be Ratchadamnoen Avenue in Bangkok for three days and three nights,” she said. “Representatives from each of the 77 provinces will send in a parade to highlight their culture and tourist attractions.”

She added that stage performances and exhibitions will be held across key locations in Bangkok during the Songkran Festival, including Sanam Luang, Lan Khon Mueang town square, and Royal Pavilion Mahajetsadabadin. All 11 aspects of soft power will be promoted during these events, she added.

Chadatip estimates that the Songkran Festival will generate at least 35 billion baht in revenue for the tourism industry and local communities.

• Interior Ministry kicks off effort to tackle informal debt crisis

The Ministry of Interior has today kicked off the government’s ambitious plan to tackle the chronic informal debt problem affecting countless Thai people, especially low income-earners, by accepting applications for help from debtors.

Provincial halls and district offices througout the country are now open from 6am until 11pm to enable informal debtors to register in person and will remain so until February 29t. Debtors can also register online, by logging into ลงทะเบียนแก้ไขปัญหาหนี้นอกระบบ to download the ThaID application to their smartphones, to enable them to scan the QR code to confirm their identity, and then providing the required information.

In case debtors are unable to register through the online channel or in person, they can contact the hotline number 1567.

Sub-district and village heads, as well as defence volunteers, are stationed at their respective district offices to look out for suspicious people, such as informal creditors or their underlings, who may pose a threat to the debtors or attempt to discourage them from registering for help.

After registration comes the mediation process, involving local officials and the police, who will invite the debtors and their creditors for talks about settle the debts in a manner which is fair to both parties.

In case refinancing is needed, the Ministry of Finance will step in to help, via the services of the Government Savings Bank and the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives.

Addressing informal debt has been added to the national agenda.

• Songkran to be celebrated for entire April next year under soft power plan

The government’s National Soft Power Strategy Committee plans to hold month-long Songkran Festival celebrations next year in April, instead of the traditional three days, in a bid to entrench Thailand's standing among the top 10 global destinations for festivals.

Songkran, the Thai traditional new year, falls on April 13, which is also National Elderly Day. Two more holidays were later added on April 14 and 15 as National Family Day and Thai New Year Day, respectively, to allow Thais more time to celebrate reunion with their families.

Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who chairs the committee, announced the plan on Friday on her Facebook page.

She said that the (soft power) plan for next year has started, with 12 subcommittees across 11 industries proposing budgets to boost the creative economy.

“Another exciting topic discussed today was the plan for Songkran Festival next year,” said Paetongtarn. “Next Songkran will not be the same as previous years, as we are preparing a grand event ‘World Water Festival – The Songkran Phenomenon’,” she said.

Paetongtarn said next year’s Songkran would be a world-class event, celebrated not just for three days but the whole month of April, in all 77 provinces across the kingdom.

On Thursday the National Soft Power Strategy Committee met and finalised a budget of 5.164 billion baht to promote Thailand’s soft power across 11 dimensions and drive the country’s creative economy, which will in return generate revenue for tourism and related industries.

Industries that were allocated the most budgets include festival (1.009 billion baht), food (1 billion baht), and tourism (711 million baht).

The committee expects to submit its proposal for approval to the Cabinet next month.

Panipak’s triumph at World Taekwondo GP a year-end gift for Thailand: PM

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has congratulated Panipak "Tennis" Wongpattanakit after the Thai athlete added another gold medal to her trophy cabinet at the World Taekwondo Grand Prix 2023 on Friday.

Panipak defeated Spain’s Adelina Serrano Iglesias 2-0 (5-2, 5-2) in the final to clinch the gold medal in the 49kg category at the three-day World Grand Prix in Manchester, England.

The win took her tally of gold medals at World Taekwondo Grand Prix events to 12, the highest of any female athlete.

The 26-year-old Thai added to a medal collection that also includes golds from the 2020 Olympics and 2022 Asian Games.

The prime minister congratulated the Thai and world No 1 and thanked her for handing the country a seasonal gift.

"Panipak's win is a year-end gift for us all," Srettha said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

• Informal debtors owing THB1.5bn flood govt mediation service in first 2 days

Over 37,000 people owing a combined 1.5 billion baht applied for the government’s informal-debt resolution programme in its first two days, the Interior Ministry said on Sunday.

Permanent Secretary Suttipong Juljarern revealed that 37,579 people had registered for debt mediation as of Saturday at 4pm.

Of these, 36,338 registered online while 1,241 visited Debt Relief Assistance Centres set up around the country. The registrants logged combined debt of 1.53 billion baht owed to 19,061 informal lenders.

The debt-mediation service was ordered by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and involves officials and police devising strategies to resolve disputes between lenders and borrowers.

The five provinces with the highest registrations were:

- Bangkok: 2,496 registrants owing a total of 131.89 million baht to 1,493 creditors
- Songkhla: 1,610 registrants owing 72.36 million baht to 794 creditors
- Nakhon Si Thammarat: 1,489 registrants owing 49.76 million baht to 826 creditors
- Nakhon Ratchasima: 1,441 registrants owing 61.88 million baht to 638 creditors
- Samut Prakan: 965 registrants owing 38.53 million baht to 485 creditors

Suttipong underscored the government's commitment to resolving informal-debt burdens, emphasising their impact on people's livelihoods. He urged citizens to provide accurate information while assuring their debts would remain confidential.

Citizens facing financial distress from informal debt can register for government mediation at https://debt.dopa.go.th, by visiting Debt Relief Assistance Centres located in provincial halls, district offices, and district offices nationwide. They can also call the Dhamrongtham Centre hotline on 1567 for advice.

• Over 37,000 informal debtors register for help in just 2 days

• Commerce Minister cracks down on online sale of fake branded goods

Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said on Monday that he has instructed the Intellectual Property Department to crack down on the sale of fake branded products via online trading platforms.

He said online platforms have become popular among small businesses, but many use them to sell goods that violate property rights and thus damage Thailand’s image.

Phumtham, who doubles as deputy premier, said he has also told the department to educate small and medium-sized enterprises to patent their products to protect them from being copied.

The minister added that the ministry will promote the registration of more GI (geographical indication) products that can be promoted as Thailand’s soft power.

Vuttikrai Leewiraphan, director-general of the Intellectual Property Department, said the department will have a memorandum of understanding signed between 30 copyright owners and three key online trading platforms to prevent piracy. The three platforms are Lazada, Shoppee and TikTok Shop.

Vuttikrai said the 30 businesses can inform the three platforms directly if they see their products copied and sold on the platforms. He added that the department is also seeking cooperation from Facebook to crack down on the violation of copyright. He said Facebook responded by saying it was developing tools to weed out products that violate copyright.

The department said the three platforms have been informed of 960 items that violate copyright and have removed the items after being informed. The items include imitation ink cartridges, sneakers, clothes, cosmetics and auto parts.

• Thai ministers show off shirts, scarves in Nong Bua Lamphu fabric after mobile meet

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and members of his Cabinet wrapped up their meeting on Monday by posing for photographs in shirts made from traditional Nong Bua Lamphu fabric.

The Cabinet was in the northeastern province for its first mobile meeting, and the provincial administration had shirts and scarves made for the ministers with the province’s “kid salub mee” fabric. Woven in the fabric was Nong Bua Lamphu’s official “Lai Bua Lum Phu” or lotus pattern.

Creating the kid salub mee fabric is a complicated affair, involving tie-dye and the adding of extra patterns while the textile is being hand woven. The weaving requires two people at the loom.

The scarves presented to the Cabinet members, meanwhile, were woven by a famous group of weavers from Bad Khud Khu village. The fabric used for the scarves was dyed with colour extracted from coconut shells and mud.

Before posing for group photographs, Srettha decided to go shopping for souvenirs at an expo showcasing local products at the Nattapon Grand Hotel. The Cabinet meeting was also held at this hotel.

Accompanying Srettha were Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Interior Minister Chada Thaiset and PM’s secretary-general Prommin Lertsuridej.

The premier chose some fabric and before he could pay, Anutin stepped in and paid the 1,200 baht bill. Similarly, when Srettha bought some black sticky rice, Chada handed over 2,000 baht to cover the bill before the premier could reach into his pocket.

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PM Srettha scores two as Cabinet team show off soccer skills

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin scored two goals as his government team defeated a local student team in a friendly football match in Nong Bua Lamphu on Sunday.

The PM and his ministers are visiting the Northeast province for their first mobile Cabinet meeting since the coalition government was formed in August.

The friendly match saw Srettha lead a squad of Cabinet members and Government House staff against a local youth team from Suwan Khuha district.

The prime minister demonstrated impressive soccer skills by scoring both goals in the 2-1 win. The friendly was held at the Suwan Khuha primary school.

Srettha put his team 1-0 up after 10 minutes, slotting the ball into the net with his left foot.

The PM kept his players on the offensive and had several more chances to score in the first half, but he was foiled by the student team’s goalkeeper.

However, Srettha broke through five minutes into the second half to make it 2-0.

The student team managed to grab a consolation goal in the last 10 seconds before the referee blew the whistle to end the match.

Srettha’s delegation had earlier inspected the progress of drug suppression and medical services in the Northeast province.

The narcotics crackdown was ordered last year after a drug-addicted ex-policemen committed the deadliest massacre in Thailand’s history, killing 37 people, mainly preschoolers, in Nong Bua Lamphu’s Na Klang district.

• Council of State to rule on legality of loan bill for digital wallet

The Finance Ministry will consult the Council of State this week regarding the legality of issuing a borrowing bill to fund the 500-billion-baht digital wallet scheme, Prime Minister and Finance Minister Srettha Thavisin told the press after a Cabinet meeting on Monday.

Srettha said he has tasked Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat to write to the Office of the Council of State to clarify the legality of drafting the 500-billion-baht loan act to fund the digital wallet scheme, which aims to provide every Thai aged 16 and above with 10,000 baht through a digital wallet to boost the economy.

The scheme, however, excludes people with a monthly income of 70,000 baht or with savings in their bank accounts exceeding 500,000 baht.

Julapun said that the bill has yet to be drafted, adding that when this is done, the ministry will take into account the latest statistics on the Thai economy submitted by the National Economic and Social Development Council.

Julapun believes that once the Council of State gives the green light, it will not take long to pass the bill as there are not many financial laws related to the borrowing bill.

The Cabinet meeting on Monday also approved the Easy E-Receipt programme, formerly known as E-Refund, which offers tax rebates of up to 50,000 baht to Thais not eligible for the digital handout.

The Easy E-Receipt programme will run from January 1 to February 15, or 45 days, allowing a tax rebate for spending at eligible businesses that issue e-tax invoices and e-receipts, said a news source.

The ministry estimated that 1.4 million people will join the programme, spending some 70 billion baht and helping stimulate the GDP by about 0.18%. The programme, however, will cost the government 10.85 billion baht in lost revenue from tax.

The ministry also hoped that the programme will encourage businesses to sign up to the digital tax system, moving towards future e-government.

Under the Easy E-Receipt programme, participants will need to submit their tax returns with corresponding receipts for spending between January 1 and February 15, and the government will reimburse the taxed amount.

The programme will not include purchases of the following: Alcoholic beverages, tobacco, automobiles, motorcycles, boats, vehicle fuels, utility bills including telephone and internet, premium for loss insurance, and any long-term services that start before January 1 or end after February 15.

Purchases from businesses not registered under the VAT system but still eligible under the programme, provided that an e-tax invoice and e-receipt are issued, include booksellers, book services, newspapers and magazines (both physical and digital), and OTOP products registered with the Community Development Department.

Businesses can register for the e-tax invoice and e-receipt at https://etax.rd.go.th Those who have less than 30 million baht of income per year can also sign up to issue an e-tax invoice and e-receipt by e-mail.

• Indonesia becomes largest importer of Thai rice

Exports of Thai rice to Indonesia have soared over the past few months as the country struggles with severe drought triggered by the El Niño phenomenon and the delayed onset of the rainy season.

Deputy Commerce Minister Naphinthorn Srisanpang said on Tuesday that drought has impacted Indonesia’s rice-growing areas, especially in Java and parts of South Sumatra.

Farmers in highland areas have been forced to cultivate plants that consume less water such as corn, he added.

Naphinthorn said Indonesia ranked 20th on Thailand’s list of rice importers last year, ordering 91,714 tons of rice worth US$42.24 million (1.48 billion baht).

In the first 10 months of this year, that volume increased dramatically to 1.05 million tons of rice worth US$523.45 million (18.42 billion baht).

"Indonesia is now Thailand’s No 1 rice market," he said, adding that most of the rice imported to Indonesia is white rice.

Thailand’s rice exports from January to October totalled 6.92 million tons worth $3.96 billion (139.80 billion baht), up 11.4% and 24.7 % year on year respectively. The top five importers were Indonesia, the US, South Africa, Iraq and China.

“The demand for rice is likely to increase due to drought and El Niño's impact on rice production,” Naphinthorn said. “Concerns about food security have pushed many countries to import rice to meet domestic demand.”

To increase exports and promote Thai rice among new consumers, he said Thailand needs to accelerate its development of rice species, focusing on boosting competitiveness and meeting consumers’ demands.

Farmers should seek guidelines to deal with climate change and follow government agencies’ water management measures to mitigate the impact of drought, he added.

• PM presides over ceremony on the anniversary of the late King's birth

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and his wife presided over a religious ceremony to offer alms to 189 monks at Sanam Luang this morning, on the anniversary of the birth of late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, which coincides with National Father’s Day.

The ceremony was also attended by other cabinet ministers and their spouses, members of the Privy Council, presidents of the Supreme Court, the House and the Senate, the Constitutional Court, commanders of the three armed forces, the national police chief, permanent secretaries of all ministries and representatives of the private sector.

The prime minister and the others later went to the King Rama IX Memorial Park, to pay homage in front of the statue of the late king.

Rajadamnern Avenue in Bangkok is decorated with lights and colourful flowers in honour of the late monarch.

• EEC Phase 2 aims to attract 500 billion baht in new investment

The Thai government is accelerating the development of the 2nd phase of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) and will propose it to the Cabinet for approval this month.

The proposal aims to attract 500 billion baht in new investments over the next 5 years, advancing the development of an additional 77 infrastructure projects worth a total of 337 billion baht.

The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project, which has been the flagship of Thailand’s plans for economic development, was reinforced during the administration of former prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

During the 3rd meeting of the Eastern Economic Corridor Office of Thailand (EECO) on November 24, the chairman, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayacha, approved the draft master plan for the development of the Eastern Economic Corridor (2023-2027). This plan serves as the main operational framework for the EEC, aiming to integrate various units for territorial development in all dimensions: economic, social, and environmental.

This marks the continuation of the EEC development from Phase 1 (2017–2022), which had already approved investments of around 2 trillion baht. Following discussions in the meeting, various agencies will now draft operational plans and activities, along with requesting budget allocations for reconsideration in January 2024.

The actual investment target is set at 500 billion baht. EEC Secretary-General Chula Sukmanop revealed that in the recent EEC board meeting, the draft master plan for the development of the Eastern Economic Corridor (2023-2027) was approved to inform relevant agencies and initiate the drafting of operational plans and activities.

According to the Public Relations Department, the draft master plan for the development of the Eastern Economic Corridor (2023-2027) aims to create an operational plan to drive actual investments in the EEC Phase 2. The target is to achieve approximately 5 trillion baht over a 5-year period or an average of 1 trillion baht per year.

This initiative aims to contribute to the expansion of gross provincial cluster product (GPCP) by an average of 6.3% and improve the human achievement index in areas such as livelihoods and the economy by an average of 2%.

In 2021, the EEC’s GPCP figure amounted to 2.36 trillion baht, representing 14.6% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the EEC economy had continuously grown at an average rate of 2.1% annually, mainly driven by the industrial and service sectors.

To achieve these goals, 5 pathways have been identified, comprising:

1. Promoting targeted industrial and future service investments, targeting an annual value of benefits of 250 billion baht, increasing the number of targeted industrial factories by 3.5% annually. The proportion of small and medium-sized (SME) enterprises’ revenue in the targeted industries to the GDP in the EEC will not be less than 7% per year. Additionally, the number of SME entrepreneurs in targeted industries will increase by 3.5% annually.
2. Enhancing the efficiency and utilisation of infrastructure and public utility systems, aiming for major infrastructure development success, such as completing the high-speed rail projects connecting 3 airports and the development of U-Tapao Airport, reaching over 90% completion by 2027. The construction of Laem Chabang Port's Phase 3 F1 Terminal will also be completed by 2027.
Meanwhile, the construction of the Mab Ta Phut Industrial Port’s Phase 3, Section 1, will be completed by 2026, increasing rail cargo transportation by 5% annually, generating at least 5% of electricity from clean energy by 2027, and meeting the water demand of 2.89 million cubic meters by 2027.
3. Elevating workforce skills for technological changes and innovations, targeting a 2.5% increase in labour productivity annually, maintaining an average unemployment rate of not more than 0.83% per year, and developing skilled labour according to industry needs by at least 20,000 people annually.
4. Developing modern, livable, and occupationally suitable cities, aiming to develop new and existing cities according to plans, reducing the average rate of transferring patients out of the area by 10% per year, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2027 compared to the baseline, and ensuring at least 15% of recycled waste utilisation per year.
5. Linking investment benefits to sustainable community development, targeting an average household income increase of not less than 5% per year.

Advancing infrastructure development

Reports indicate that the development plan for infrastructure supporting EEC development between 2023-2027 has already gained the Cabinet’s approval on 3 strategies:

1. Improving railway and water transportation systems and connecting other cargo transportation modes
2. Elevating secondary transportation networks to support seamless public travel.
3. Enhancing transportation networks with proactive measures and modern technology.

This involves executing 77 infrastructure projects in transportation, totaling 337.80 billion baht. It comprises 29 projects initiated in 2023 with a budget of 125.60 billion baht and 48 projects to be conducted between 2023-2027, costing 212.20 billion baht.

For the projects outlined in the Operational Plan 2023-2027, the allocation includes public investment from state budgets, loans, and state enterprise budgets for 61 projects, totalling 178.58 billion baht (52.87%) and private sector investments and joint public-private ventures for 16 projects, totalling 159.22 billion baht (47.13%).

This investment in infrastructure consists of 295.71 billion baht (87.5%) for infrastructure and 38.38 billion baht (11.4%) for public utility systems, with promotion measures at 3.70 billion baht (1.1%).

No plan to expand the provincial area in Phase 2 has been drawn up as yet. Such expansion would require additional legislation or royal decrees, as the current law dictates that the EEC operates within the original 3-province area, comprising Chonburi, Rayong, and Chachoengsao.

• Health Ministry campaigns to encourage Thai couples to have children

The Ministry of Public Health has begun a program to increase the birth rate in Thailand, by encouraging Thai couples to have children, with possible financial incentives.

Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew has warned that, if Thailand’s birth rate is not increased, the Thai population in the next 60 years will be reduced to only 33 million, from circa 66 million reported in the Interior Ministry’s census at the end of last year.

Noting that Thailand was a country with a lower birth rate than its death rate in 2022, he said that, if this situation is not rectified, Thailand will experience tremendous problems in the future, ranging from a shortage of working people and a loss of revenue opportunities to only 14 million working-age people out of a population of 33 million in the next 60 years.

Dr. Cholnan and senior health officials met this morning at Hua Lamphong railway station, to discuss the birth rate problem and ways to increase the birth rate, which will be added to the national agenda under the slogan “Give Birth Great World” [sic].

The participants also travelled by train to Ayutthaya province, to meet with the public health volunteers who will be mobilised to convey the ministry’s message, encouraging Thai couples in the provinces to have children.

Dr. Cholnan said that public health volunteers are an important tool in approaching people, especially couples, to help them understand the importance and positive aspects of having children, while admitting that it is not easy to convince couples these days due to economic challenges.

He disclosed that the government will take steps to take care of couples who want to have children, pre-marriage and post-marriage, and child delivery, to ensure that new-born babies are healthy.

• China plugs Thailand into its EV empire with launch of auto development hub

China has launched an automotive research centre in Thailand, boosting its ambition to become an electric vehicle (EV) development hub in the ASEAN region.

The China Automotive Technology and Research Centre (CATARC), China’s fourth global EV research centre, is launching in the wake of a flood of investment in Thailand by Chinese EV and battery makers.

CATARC will focus on EV policy development, standard-setting and certification, Nattapol Rangsitpol, permanent secretary of the Industry Ministry, said on Wednesday.

The collaboration will also connect China's sophisticated EV industry – the biggest in the world – with Thailand’s domestic industry and infrastructure to support its mission of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub, Nattapol said in a statement.

Thailand’s EV3.0 (2022-2023) promotion measures have attracted 10 automaking brands on the production side and over 50,000 EV bookings on the retail side. New EV3.5 measures will ramp up Thai ambitions to forge a global electric vehicle hub through 2027.

On the infrastructure front, the country has established more than 150 standards for EVs and provides testing and certification services through the Automotive Testing, Research, and Innovation Centre (ATTRIC). The infrastructure push is also focusing on workforce development and preparations for the transition to electric vehicles.

Thailand accounted for about 78% of all EV use in ASEAN in the first quarter of this year, the ministry said.

Thailand also led ASEAN production of EVs last year with around 72,000 vehicles.

Leading Chinese EV and battery manufacturers that have invested in Thailand as a manufacturing base include BYD, Changan Automobile, GSC Aion New Energy Automobile and Svolt Energy Technology.

Thailand is aiming to increase production of zero-emission vehicles to 30% of all autos produced by 2030, or 725,000 units.