MARA has already provided skills to over 6,000 workers in the province, said Director-General Suchart Pornchaiwiseskul. The courses range from the robot control skills and coding for automation systems.

The department will in future set up an additional MARA in each of Rayong, Chachoengsao and Samut Prakan.

After a meeting with his permanent secretary Kulit Sombatsiri and high-ranked executives, the new minister revealed that the Energy Ministry will focus primarily on what he sees as two pressing issues.

The first is to task PTT Plc with pegging the price of LPG for peddlers and vending stands, as well as the NGV price for public buses, for another two months until September, in order to help low income earners. It will also coordinate with the Finance Ministry to provide similar aid via the welfare card scheme.

The second pressing issue is tackling drought problems, with each Provincial Energy Office being urged to survey affected areas and consider installation of solar-powered water pumps to provide aid to drought victims.

Next week the Energy Ministry will send their staff to the sites to follow up on the progress and monitor the drought situation closely at a local level.

As for the long-term plan, the Energy Ministry will continue promoting the use of B10 and B20 biodiesel among local agriculturists by coordinating with PTT and related agencies to roll out promotional measures.

“As the existing measure that keeps B20’s price lower than B7’s will expire on July 31, new measures will be considered and unveiled next week,” Sontirat said.

Sontirat also promised to unveil the ministry’s mega-plan next week after the government announces its policy direction to Parliament on July 25.

The new mega-plan will cover both short- and long-term projects with a focus on saving energy and helping low-income earners. It will also involve the Energy Conservation Promotion Fund, which was previously ordered to formulate action plans for large-scale projects.

The office of National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) will meet with digital TV broadcasters, the digital TV association, a TV ratings agency, large-scale ad buyers, large media agencies, and content producers to discuss the means to construct and survey the ratings for TV programmes, as well as to share pros and cons in the development of TV rating regulations.

Takorn Tantasith, the NBTC secretary general, said on Tuesday that the Thursday meeting will help the agency develop an approach to regulate TV ratings. The regulator is hoping for a buy-in by key sector players for a central TV rating organisation to support the domestic digital TV industry.

Invited to the meeting are all digital TV broadcasters, the Digital TV Association of Thailand, as well as TV rating houses Media Research Development Association (Thailand) or MRDA, the Nielsen company (Thailand) Ltd and PSI Broadcasting Ltd. Also invited are large-scale ad buyers such as Unilever Thai Holding Ltd, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing (Thailand) Ltd, Nestle (Thai) Ltd, L’Oreal Thailand Ltd, Coca-Cola (Thailand) Ltd, Toyota Motor Thailand Ltd and Pepsi Cola (Thai) Trading Ltd.

Among the urgent policies, the sixth calls for a “future-proof” economic system by promoting target industries and developing he bio-economy, circular economy and green economy. This policy will essentially promote private-sector investment in the EEC project, especially in “smart-city” infrastructure such as 5G wireless communication and artificial intelligent technology, along with improvement of SME and community skills.

Meanwhile, the fifth long-term policy dictates the development of Thailand’s economy and competitive ability by using technological advancement and innovations, along with creating added value to industrial, agricultural and cultural products and services of communities using local resources and biodiversity. Under this policy the government is planning to establish an intelligent power grid within the EEC to serve as a pilot programme for a more efficient nationwide electricity and energy management system.

The EEC project will also be tapped as a channel to distribute development opportunities to the regional level, to help reduce economic disparity and he rural-urban gap. The government is aiming to build urban communities that are modern, high-tech oriented, self-reliant and capable of becoming an economic hub in Asia through the EEC initiative.

Suphan Mongkholsuthee, president of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), said the private sector wants to see the government actually carry out the policies they will announce to Parliament, especially those related to promoting target industries and the EEC.

“The government should focus on pushing the investment in mega projects’ infrastructure in EEC areas and deliver tangible results as soon as possible,” he said. “Only then we can create confidence among domestic and foreign corporations to invest in high-technology industries, enhancing Thailand’s manufacturing capability in the long run.”

After the Commerce Ministry reported a 2.1 per cent fall in June, the SCB Economic Intelligence Centre projected the country’s exports will drop this year by between 1.6 per cent and 3.1 per cent.

The research centre said exports in the second half would be hit further if the baht remained strong and the US-China trade war deepened.

“Although the US-China trade meeting between after the G20 summit [in Japan last month] was a positive sign, we have to wait for the outcome because both countries are still negotiating for a deal. This ongoing process is still impacting the global economy and Thailand’s export value,” the EIC said.

The ongoing uncertainty comes after Thailand’s exports dropped 4.4 per cent in the first half of the year, leading to the EIC forecast of a 1.6-3.1 per cent drop this year.

The EIC maintained its forecast of Thailand’s  economy growth at 3.1 per cent in this year, driven by domestic consumption and government infrastructure and stimulus spending.

Meanwhile, Kasikorn Research Centre forecast Thai exports to recover in the second half, to remain at the same level as last year, amid positive outcomes in the trade war.

However, if the baht remains strong, Thailand would be further impacted by export competition in the global market, the centre said.

Chantana Taweeratsin, director of securities analysis department of Kasikorn securities, said the banking group’s second quarter earnings were 5 per cent above estimates, mainly due to lower provision. While TMB’s loans grew a mere 1 per cent rate in the quarter, interest and fee incomes were better than expected. According to asset appraisal, NPLs at the bank will increase this quarter.

The department has adjusted downward the banking group’s 2019 earnings growth estimate to 5 per cent (Bt8.5 billion), from the previous estimate of 6 per cent (Bt9.4 billion) due to the drop in BBL’s earnings forecast.

Investors are advised to invest in SCB because of its high asset growth, supporting the progress of NIM. SCB Life saw increased profits, thanks to its reasonable price at Bt152 per share.

BAY is another option due to higher profit from having the most outstanding loans, lowest NPLs in the industry and the ideal price of Bt44.5 per share.

Trinity Securities’ analysts said the company had slashed its net profit estimate of the banking group in 2019 to Bt172 billion, or a 2.2 per cent growth year on year. The company had expected a combined profit of Bt174 billion. The company recommends SCB due to its reasonable price of Bt160 per cent per share and the likely benefits from the government’s short-term economy plan. With the highest credit approval, TCAP stands out in the small bank grouping as its stock price is below book value.

Adisorn Mungpanchol , assistant of director of analysis department at Phillip Securities, said the company expected banking group’s profit to grow 6 per cent to Bt222 billions. It revised up BAY earnings forecast but downgraded TMB’s.

TMB Bank reported a net profit in the second quarter of Bt1.9 billion, decreasing 5.4 per cent from the same period last year.

Taweelap Rittapirom, executive vice president of Bangkok bank, said banking will fare better in the second half due to the government’s economic stimulus policies, such as the grassroots support measures, drought remedy plans and price fixing of agricultural produce.

“We expect banking performance will continue to improve in the second half of the year. However, there are factors to be monitored closely, especially impact from the trade war, foreign conflicts, and government policy implementations. The business sector has to prepare and follow the situation closely.” Taweelap said.

The protesters, mostly residents living in the three southeastern provinces affected by the huge project, will also be joined by Bangkok-based activists opposed to some parts of it.

They planned to march from the capital’s central railway station to Government House to submit a petition to the Cabinet and from there to the Easter Economic Corridor office in western Bangkok.

The following day the group will make a similar march to the TOT hall in northwest Bangkok, which is serving as a temporary Parliament House, to submit a petition to parliamentarians.

They say they are opposed to three key aspects of urban planning under the EEC: it is not suitable for some parts of the region; no public hearings have been held for local residents to have their say on it; and it is only for the benefit of certain groups of people, while being detrimental to the region’s food security, economy and way of life.

Suriya said he would encourage Chinese companies affected by the US-China trade war to invest more in Thailand, and conduct a roadshow soon in China and Japan as part of that effort.

The Board of Investment, meanwhile, would be asked to readjust its investment conditions on a case-by-case basis to make them more attractive to individual investors.

All megaprojects including the planned extension of Suvarnabhumi Airport would be encouraged to use domestic raw materials for construction where possible.

Under the fourth aspect of policy, those launching SME businesses would be funded by low-interest loans guaranteed by the ministry.

Foreign, individual, and proprietary investors net bought Bt2.18 billion, Bt657.97 million and Bt708.23 million respectively.

The Singapore Striate Times index dropped 20.74 points  to 3,357.22 yesterday from Friday’s close, while the  Hong Kong Hang Seng Index closed down at 28,371.26,  falling 394.14 points from Friday.

The Bursa Malaysia (KLSE) Stock Market dipped 2.79 points to 1,655.40 from Friday’s close as the Indonesia Stock market (IDX) dropped 22.99 points to 6,433.55 on Monday.

The Asia stock market is weighed down by the expectation that the  Federal Reserve of Fed, in its  meeting on July 30-31, will cut interest rate by a mere 0.25 per cent,  lower than the earlier forecast of  0.50 per cent.  Meanwhile, the flare-up of violence in Hong Kong on Sunday,  impacted  investment confidence in the city.

Thai export dropped in June for the fourth consecutive month amid fear of an negative impact on the economy among stock brokers.

Lalida Jivanantapravat, deputy director-general/ Department of Business Development under the Commerce Ministry, said the online initiative was launched after the department’s visit to Pei Neu Village of Lin’an district in Zhejiang, a prototype for the “Taobao Village Model”, using e-commerce as the main tool to promote occupation and generate income.

The Commerce Ministry has applied the Taobao Village Model with local entrepreneurs and manufacturers of Otop and community products, aimed at gathering local communities and create a prototype of ‘local e-commerce communities’ in Thailand.

“The department conducted a field survey to potential communities, based on their foundation including a strong leadership and outstanding identity, and has selected five as pioneers for the online community project,” Lalida said.

They are Ban Na Kha Community in Udon Thani; Ban Dan Kwian Community in Nakhon Ratchasima; Ban Wang Som Sa Community in Phitsanulok; Bai Cha (tea leaf) Community in Chiang Rai; and Kuan Kanun Community in Phatthalung.

The department, together with provincial commerce offices, educational institutions, community members, and Lazada, will joinly provide integrated supports and suggestions to individual entrepreneurs of the communities selected for the project. Their products will enter into an e-commerce platform between July and September this year, starting from the Ban Na Kha community. The project will create a prototype ‘e-commerce community’ under the title ‘Smart Village Online’.

” Lazada Group will open its website for online selling of products from these communities. The move is to promote identities and awareness of their products. Lazada will also provide technical know-how to the communities in terms of increasing sales and consumer accessibility, ” said Lalida, adding that it will also offer shopping privileges.

She said the department will expand sales and marketing channels for the communities to other e-commerce platforms, as well as to provide marketing support in the form of ‘Omni-Channel Marketing’ to other offline stores with the cooperation with King Power and Central Group.