“Thailand’s scores are 80.10 , up 1.65. This is our highest rank in the past six years, “ he said.

Thailand is close to catching up with Malaysia’s scores of 81.50 and Singapore’s 86.20. Singapore is ranked second and Malaysia 12th in Doing Business 2020, he said.

Thailand has done better in dealing with construction permits by cutting 19 procedures to 14 and waiting times for approval from 118 days to 113 days, up-ranking to 34th place from 67th place previously .

Uttama said the country had also improved in protecting minority investors, pushing up the rank in this category to third place from 15th last year.

However, he admitted that Thailand still has to improve in many areas in order to provide more convenience for running business in the country.

For this year’s index, the World Bank looked at regulations affecting 10 areas in the life of a business, namely: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and resolving insolvency.

Takorn Tantasith, NBTC secretary-general, said the bids will cover multiple bands at the same time, including the remaining 700MHz and 1800MHz bandwidths, as well as the 2,600MHz and 26GHz.

Though each bidder will have a choice of their desired bands and bandwidths, the NBTC will cap the 26GHz at no more than 1,200MHz bandwidth per bidder, while the 2,600MHz will be capped at a maximum of 100MHz bandwidth per bidder.

The regulator aims to grant the 5G licences within February, so bid winners can start the network rollout by March.

The NBTC will auction off a total of 15MHz bandwidth of the 700MHz spectrum, which will be divided into three licences of 5MHz bandwidth each. Also on tender will be 35MHz bandwidth of 1,800MHz split into seven licences of 5MHz each.

The starting price for the 700MHz licence will be Bt17.584 billion, based on the price NBTC put the band on sale in June this year.

The 1,800MHz licences will go for around Bt12.5 billion each based on the winning price of the previous bid.

NBTC will also auction the 190MHz bandwidth of the 2,600MHz, which will be split into 19 licences of 10MHz bandwidth each, while the 2,700MHz bandwidth of the 26GHz spectrum band will be divided into 27 licences of 100MHz each.

Takorn added that the NBTC will disclose the starting price of the 2,600MHz and the 26GHz spectrum bands on October 30.

The watchdog aims to submit the auction timeframes and details of all these bands to the telecom subcommittee on November 6, before they are forwarded to the NBTC board for consideration. It intends to invite bidders by December 20.

Related story: Lao Telecom seeks edge in meeting 5G demand Corporate

Related story: Vietnam to phase out 2G service soon

Related story: Thai telecom operators could see annual revenue boost of $1 billion from 5G

The conference will examine Thailand’s priorities post-2020 and what action is required from all stakeholders to ensure the country’s long-term success.

Planned and organised by the International Air Rail Organisation (IARO), Project Planning Service (PPS) and PPS OneWorks, the event is expected to attract 600 delegates from 30 countries.

Delegates will be able to learn from 30 high-level speakers from Thailand and beyond.

The morning will have discussions from local and overseas industry leaders and public authorities. In the afternoon there will be two focus sessions:

• Air Rail Development – Exploring global trends in technology, operations, development, marketing and branding of rail links to airports, as well as best-practice expertise in rail-to-airport services.

• InnoCon Bangkok – As digital technology powers a new era of infrastructure construction, experts discuss how best to leverage the increasingly large amounts of data and technology to increase benefits to all.

Dr Phongthon Tharachai, CEO of PPS, and Giulio De Carli, managing partner of OneWorks, will open the event with an insightful overview of the industry before introducing Italyian Ambassador Lorenzo Galanti, who will discuss “Why Thailand is a key destination for infrastructure investment in Asia”.

Voravuth Mala, governor of the State Railway of Thailand, will reveal “The vision for Thailand’s railway network” and Surachet Laophulsuk, assistant governor of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority, will talk about “The construction of urban electric train networks and the next challenging steps for Thailand”.

Another important session from the Engineering Institute of Thailand under the patronage of His Majesty the King, will examine why “Innovation and investment in talent is essential for Thailand’s future success”.

Other key speakers:

Simon Earles, president of The International Air Rail Organisation

Somprasong Suttayamully, director of the MRTA’s Office of Fare Media Business

James Cornelius, public transport strategy lead for Heathrow International Airport

Sonesak N Nhansana, former deputy director general of the Laos Ministry of Public Works and Transport’s Railway Department

Prinn Panitchpakdi, adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister and New Economy director

Chakrapan Pawangkarat of the Thai Green Building Institute

Ekarin Vasanasing, deputy manging director of Krungthep Thanakom

Suphin Mechuchep, managing director of Jones Lang LaSalle (Thailand) JLL

Han Chung Heng, senior vice president of Oracle for EMEA

Andy Saunders, surface access strategy manager for Manchester Airport Group

Bangkok is currently undergoing an urban transport infrastructure boom, with a series of upgrades being commissioned to connect the city’s 10 million inhabitants and 20 million annual foreign visitors with three airports.

At present, the 28.4-kilometre Airport Rail Link connects downtown Bangkok with Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The new High-Speed Rail Link 3 Airport Project will open up the Eastern Economic Corridor with two new connecting routes to Don Mueang and U-Tapao airport, totalling 220km of seamless railway routes with maximum speeds of 250kmph.

These are among the most extensive and ambitious air rail infrastructure developments currently being undertaken anywhere in the world, and Air Rail 2019 will shine a light on the strategy, planning, partnerships and funding that are required to make these initiatives a success.

The report points to the many uncertainties the region is facing.

IMF says that the external downside risks to the outlook stem from a possible further deepening of US-China trade tensions, weaker-than-expected growth of key trading partners, higher oil prices, and a disorderly Brexit. Risks within the region include a faster-than-expected slowdown in China, a deepening of regional tensions such as Japan’s and South Korea’s bilateral relationship, rising geopolitical risks, and increased incidence of natural disasters.

The IMF says headwinds from prolonged global policy uncertainty, distortionary trade measures, and growth deceleration in the economies of important trading partners are influencing economic growth in Asia and the Pacific. Although the region is still the world’s fastest growing major region, contributing more than two-thirds to global growth, near-term prospects have deteriorated noticeably since the April 2019 World Economic Outlook, with risks skewed to the downside.

Growth in Asia is expected to slow to 5.0 per cent in 2019 and 5.1 per cent in 2020 (0.4 and 0.3 percentage points lower than projected last April, respectively).

A marked deceleration in merchandise trade and investment, driven by distortionary trade measures and an uncertain policy environment, is weighing on activity, particularly in the manufacturing sector. Loosening monetary policy in key advanced economies and, correspondingly, easing financial conditions, are mitigating the impact of slower growth on Asian economies, but could add to financial vulnerabilities in the region.

Considering the expected deceleration in growth, IMF says that macroeconomic policies should use existing fiscal and monetary policy space to smooth domestic demand where warranted. Financial sector policies should be adjusted proactively to ensure that loosening financial conditions do not fuel a further buildup of financial stability risks. Reducing firm and household leverage should be a priority in countries where exposures in these sectors are of concern. The cyclical slowdown also highlights the urgency to pursue structural reforms to lay the foundation for high, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable economic growth in the medium term, where the imperatives include further trade liberalization, including reducing non-tariff barriers to services trade, and relaxing investment restrictions; sustained investment in people, by upgrading human capital while empowering women and youth; policies to stimulate the labour supply, including higher female labour force participation; reducing infrastructure gaps and enhancing regulatory frameworks; and more ambitious measures to mitigate the drivers of climate change while building fiscal buffers to adapt to the increasing incidence of natural disasters.

That would make rice exports in 2019 lower than last year by 3.5 million tonnes.

Rice exports during the first nine months totalled 5.9 million tonnes, a reflection of the fierce competition from other countries.

He added that many local exporters have suffered losses due to the strong baht but have nonetheless continued to trade to safeguard their market share.

These 44 enterprises do not include listed enterprises.

The budget will cover key investment projects such as the Thailand-China high-speed train project’s Bangkok-Nong Khai section worth Bt28.1 billion and the BTS Purple Line from Tao Pun to Rat Burana (Kanchanaphisek Ring Road) worth Bt23.4 billion.

The 44 state enterprises are expected to post net profits of Bt79.8 billion in fiscal 2020.

Mobile games are the most-played platform, commanding 67 per cent of the Thai market, followed by PC games (24 per cent) and console games (9 per cent) as smartphones become more accessible, said Torboon Puangmaha, director of online station business at True Visions Group.

Video game players are usually aged between 13 to 34 years and the target group of companies in the field. The new strategy is to create a gaming event such as the ‘Thailand Game Show’ which provides a venue for the millennial game players and an opportunity for various brands to promote their products.

PTT recently held an event for clients to experience New Horizon, a learning game created by Thai developers while Oishi launched a campaign for gamers as Garnier hired celebrities to compete with professional E-Sports players.

The international game show in Thailand this year is supported by the Ministry of Education, aiming to steer the video game industry to creativity and encourage players to become developers.

55 brands, most video game service providers and 35 per cent of consumer product firms will join the event this year. 130,000 participants are expected with Bt200 million in estimated sales in three days.

The key factors to the show’s success include video games that are diverse, suitable for the lifestyle of the new generation, able to play as E-Sports and integrated with various entertainments.

Thailand Game Show 2019 will be held between October 25-27 on the fifth floor of Siam Paragon. Tickets are now available on Shopee. Details will be updated on website www.thailandgameshow.com

The Eat, Shop, Spend scheme Phase 2 will limit the number of registrants to 3 million.

Just as in the first phase, they will receive Bt1,000 in their G-Wallet 1 via their Krungthai Bank’s Paotang mobile application. But they will also have the right to receive cash back in G Wallet 2 of 15 per cent of their own money that they spend, but the amount should not exceed Bt30,000.

If registrants spend more than Bt30,000 and up to Bt50,000 of their own money, they will receive cash back of 20 per cent on this particular amount of spending.

The second phase will open for registration on October 24, with a quota of 1 million registrants per day. The registration is divided into two rounds, each allowing 500,000 people. The first round will open at 6am and the second at 6pm.

The second phase scheme will be valid until December 31 this year.

It is part of a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Expedia Group and TAT, following a successful collaboration that began in September 2018.

This strategic tripartite agreement comes at an opportune time. In 2020, TAT will focus on building confidence for Thailand’s tourism brands by encouraging and promoting responsible tourism to maintain the strong growth momentum of the Thai tourism sector.

TAT will also prioritise environmental sustainability and cultural vibrancy to position Thailand as a sustainable and preferred destination in accordance with its vision.

The agreement also supports the Thai government’s leadership and commitment towards conserving the marine environment and addressing marine debris issues, in particular plastic waste across the Asean region.

Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Asia and South Pacific), said sustainability is top of mind for TAT as it gears up to mark its 60th anniversary in 2020.

“Collaborating with Expedia Group and Unesco will enable TAT to better incentivise business stakeholders and industry players to accelerate sustainable tourism development across the nation while supporting new travel experiences in emerging Thai destinations,” he said.

“TAT is committed to protecting the environment through its “Thailand Reduce Waste” initiative, which invites visitors and the tourism operators to reduce and eliminate single-use plastic that has significantly created waste in tourist destinations. It also promotes the use of organic materials that help save the earth and add value to local resources”.

Under the Pledge, all parties are committed to supporting the reduction and elimination of single-use plastic while also promoting local culture and activities in Thailand.

“The reality is that everyone needs to play their part in protecting the planet and in protecting culture, and with 1.4 billion tourists on the road last year alone, tourism has a key impact,” said Ernesto Ottone R, Unesco assistant director-general for culture. “The Sustainable Tourism Pledge aims to turn words into action. This partnership with Expedia Group and the pilot initiative with Thai tourism is about taking those steps to minimise waste in the tourism sector and to promote the role of culture for sustainable development. This is good for the planet, for communities and could be the start of something global”.

Since the launch of the previous MoU, Expedia Group has worked closely with TAT to drive international demand to emerging destinations such as Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son.

These efforts have come to fruition as demand for accommodation in Chiang Rai through Expedia Group grew by 25 per cent year on year.

In particular, international travellers to Chiang Rai proved to be high-value customers as they spent 10 per cent more on daily accommodation, and about one third of inbound travellers booked four-or five-star hotels, which is 1.5 times more likely than domestic travellers.

In this renewed MOU, Expedia Group will support TAT’s strategic goals in attracting high-value travellers (Go High), promoting emerging destinations to first-time visitors (Go New Customers) and generating more demand during low season (Go Low). These will include:

· Driving inbound and domestic tourism through sustained digital marketing campaigns.

· Identifying and promoting new tourism opportunities in Thailand.

· Leveraging industry experience, digital technology and big data to provide strategic advice on Thailand’s tourism vision and plans, including shaping a sustainable national framework for Thailand’s short-term accommodation industry, that Expedia Group is committed to leveraging its vacation rental brand -VRBO to advocate sustainable tourism in this sector.

· Promoting sustainable and responsible tourism in Thailand and creating environmental consciousness and encouraging sustainable practices in the tourism sector.

· Supporting the development of digital innovation and capabilities across Thailand’s tourism industry in both primary and emerging destinations, especially in the accommodation and local activities sector.

· Promoting traveller safety and security in Thailand.

Ang Choo Pin, senior director for government and corporate affairs/Asia at Expedia Group, said the Pledge demonstrates Expedia Group’s growing commitment to promoting sustainable tourism and enhancing environmental consciousness among our travel partners across the industry. He also said that Expedia Group is honoured to be collaborating with TAT and Unesco, both of whom are leaders in destination sustainability.

“Everyone has a responsibility to promote sustainable tourism to help preserve beautiful travel destinations around the world. We will work with the TAT and UNESCO to inspire and promote local tourism businesses. In particular, we will collaborate closely with the hospitality sector to enhance environmental and sustainable tourism consciousness and practices across Thailand,” Ang added.

Under the package, Government Housing Bank will provide soft loans to buyers while the transaction and mortgage fees will be cut for those purchasing a property worth no more than Bt 3 million.

The GHB will offer Bt50 billion in soft loans at an annual rate of 2.5 per cent for the first three years of the contract.

Homebuyers borrowing Bt1 million in mortgage loan would save up to Bt80,400 in the first three years, the bank said, adding that they only have to pay a monthly installment of Bt3,300.

Potential homebuyers can apply for the loans between October 24 to December 24, 2020.

GHB President Chatchai Sirilai said borrowers would pay an interest rate of 4.625 per cent in the fourth and fifth years. From sixth year onwards, the rate will increase to minimum retail rate (MRR) minus 1 per cent for members of the social security system and MRR minus 0.75 per cent for other groups. The current MRR rate is set at 6.625 per cent annually.

Transaction fee equivalent to 2 per cent of a house’s value will be cut to 0.01 per cent while mortgage fee of 1 per cent will be slashed to 0.01 per cent.

As such, a borrower would pay only Bt200 in fees on the purchase of a Bt1-million property, against Bt30,000 under current terms.

The housing package is part of government measures to boost domestic consumption amid a global slowdown, aiming at boosting the country’s economic growth by at least 3 per cent this year.

It is expected to benefit middle-income homebuyers as well as developers with large inventories.