Thai Security Forces Prepare For Emergencies Ahead Of Apec Summit
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2022
THE NATION
Thailand’s Special Forces Held An Emergency Drill At The Crystal Ekamai-Ramindra Shopping Mall On Monday As Part Of Security Preparations For The Upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit.
The drill was held to ensure the country’s security forces are prepared for any emergencies that may crop up during the summit.
The drill on Monday included the special forces handling situations like terrorists opening fire or taking hostages.
The Apec summit under the theme “Open Connect Balance” will be held on November 18-19 in Bangkok.
Easing Visa Restrictions May Bring Thailand Closer To Tourism Target
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2022
THE NATION
Thailand’s Tourism Industry May Not Achieve The 1.5-Trillion-Baht Revenue Target That The Tourism And Sports Ministry Had Set For This Year.
Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said on Monday that the ministry recently adjusted the tourism target to 1.08 trillion baht based on the current trend of tourists. This would be equivalent to 6 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
He expects Thailand to welcome 10 million foreign tourists this year, while local tourists are expected to make some 120 million trips.
Foreign arrivals will generate 670 billion baht in revenue, while 410 billion baht will come from Thai tourists, he said.
“As of September 17, Thailand has welcomed 5.43 million foreign tourists,” Phiphat said. “We estimate there will be some 1.5 million foreign arrivals each month in the last quarter of this year, which will help meet the target of 10 million tourists.”
The ministry initially set a target of 1.5 trillion baht in tourism revenue for this year but adjusted it down to 1.2 trillion baht mid-year after realising that there were far few bookings from far-flung countries.
In the last quarter, the following measures are expected to attract more foreigners: reduction of the Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa fee from 100,000 baht to 50,000 baht, extending visa on arrival from 15 days to 30 days and allowing visitors from visa-exempt countries to stay for 45 days instead of 30 days.
Shellfish Lottery: How To Tell If That Pearl On Your Plate Is Worth Millions?
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2022
THE NATION
Ever Started Munching On Your Dinner Only To Find A Precious Pearl Gleaming On The Plate? Thailand’s So-Called Shellfish Lottery Produces New Winners Every Day – But Only A Few Of The “Prizes” Are Worth Millions.
Social media reports of diners finding valuable Melo pearls among their meals have gone viral on social media recently.
A high-quality Melo pearl is typically worth over US$75,000 (over 2.7 million baht) at auction, according to the Pearlwise website.
Photos of Thai diners’ finds show pearls in all sizes and colours discovered in a variety of different shells.
However, experts have now poured cold water on many of the claims.
Rare and precious Melo pearls are not found in mussels, spotted Babylon snails or golden apple snails, the Gem and Jewellery Institute of Thailand (GIT) said on Monday.
GIT director Sumed Prasongpongchai said Melo pearls are only found in the bailer shells of Melo snails. Pearls discovered in mussels and other snails are far less valuable.
Demand for Melo pearls is high because, unlike mussels and oysters, Melo snails cannot be farmed for pearl production. However, natural Melo pearls are so rare that there is no valuation standard for these precious gemstones.
Last year, Thai truck driver Monthian Jansuk, 40, found a rare orange Melo pearl inside a 50-baht bag of snails he bought from his local market in Chonburi. After the GIT confirmed it was genuine, Monthian sold the pearl for 1.2 million baht. However, that price was thought to be only one-third of the pearl’s true value.
The most valuable Melo pearls are coloured orange with clear flame-like streaks, said Sumed.
“The more streaks, the more precious and expensive the Melo pearl will be,” he added.
He advised people to send any pearls they find in their meals to the GIT. The institute will verify whether the find is a precious Melo or another kind of pearl.
Exat To Seek Cabinet Green Light For Bangkok-Saraburi Expressway This Year
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2022
THE NATION
The Expressway Authority Of Thailand (Exat) Said It Will Seek Cabinet Approval For The First Phase Of An Expressway Linking Saraburi With Metropolitan Bangkok Late This Year.
The Chalong Rat-Nakhon Nayok expressway is expected to open in 2025.
Exat will hold the second hearing on its elevated section from Bangkok’s Chatu Chot Road in Sai Mai district to the third Bangkok ring road (MR10) before sending the project to Cabinet.
Exat said the project has been modified to link the MR10 with the Kanchanaburi-Sa Kaew motorway (MR 6) in line with the Transport Ministry’s Motorway-Rail (MR) development plan.
The rerouted project needs a redesign and a new environmental impact assessment (EIA) study, Exat said.
It added that the new EIA study covering a two-kilometre section is 40-per-cent complete and should be finalised by early next year, ahead of the May 25 deadline.
“We aim to present the project for Cabinet for approval late this year,” said an Exat source, citing faster-than-expected progress.
Exat expects construction of the first phase to start next year and be completed in 2025.
The budget for the 17km section from Chatu Chote to Lam Lukka has been set at 19 billion baht.
The new road will run from the Chatu Chote gateway via the Kanchanapisek ring road (M9) and Hathai Rat road before ending at Lam Luakka between Klong 9 and Klong 10 in Nakhon Nayok.
The six-lane road – three lanes in each direction – will be equipped with five gates and five exits.
No Severe Threat Of Flooding As Dams Still Not Full, Says Irrigation Dept
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2022
THE NATION
Thailand Can Handle Heavy Rains Brought By The Monsoon Trough This Week Because Its Dams Can Accommodate An Additional 23.5 Billion Cubic Metres Of Water.
The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) also said it has implemented several measures to minimise the risk of flooding.
Deputy director-general Thaweesak Thanadechophol said on Monday that the 35 large dams and 412 medium-sized dams across the country are still within the safe level of 52.5 billion cubic metres. This means they can hold another 23.5 billion cubic metres.
For instance, he said, dams and reservoirs in the North are at 63 per cent of capacity and can receive another 9.4 billion cubic metres.
“The department has implemented measures like increasing the water discharge rate during low tide and unblocking waterways to maximise drainage capacity to minimise the risk of floods,” he said.
Thaweesak was referring to the Thai Meteorological Department’s forecast that a monsoon trough will bring isolated heavy to very heavy rain to the North, Northeast, Central region including Greater Bangkok, the East and the South from Wednesday to Sunday.
Thaweesak said RID will continue monitoring the water and weather patterns closely and will alert downstream communities in advance if the discharge rate will be increased. Farmers suffering from floods due to the release of water can call the 1460 hotline or their local irrigation office.
Arkhom Tells SEC To Work On Fixing Legal Loopholes, Prevent Forex Scams
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2022
THE NATION
Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith Said On Monday That He Had Instructed The Securities And Exchange Commission (SEC) To Work With The Bank Of Thailand (BOT) To Tackle Legal Loopholes So That Investors Will Not Fall Prey To Forex Scams.
Arkhom assured that he was not ignoring the plight of the victims of the Forex-3D online Ponzi fraud. He said he has instructed the SEC to coordinate with the BOT on the issue.
He said the two agencies were taking action in line with their respective jurisdictions.
Arkhom added that the central bank had also made moves to warn the public against being lured by forex scams.
Some 9,000 complaints have been registered so far with the Department of Special Investigation, regarding losses of about 2 billion baht after investing in the Forex-3D scheme.
On Monday, the SEC explained that it has no authority to supervise foreign currency exchange as the power belongs to the central bank.
“The law has some loopholes. It’s wrong to trade foreign currencies without a licence. Foreign currency traders must receive a licence signed by the finance minister,” Arkhom said.
“The central bank must nominate the names of licensees for the finance minister to approve.”
He said Forex-3D had not received any licence to trade in foreign currencies, however some legal loopholes are preventing the SEC from taking action.
“So, I have instructed the SEC to consult with the BOT to find out which points are not covered by the law so that the law can be amended accordingly and give the SEC supervisory powers.”
He said the legal amendments might allow the SEC to supervise foreign currency trading by non-banks.
“We’re now making preparations to amend the concerned law,” Arkhom added.
4 Bangkok Cabbies Land Themselves In Trouble As Tourist Police Launches Crackdown
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2022
THE NATION
Tourist Police Launched A Crackdown Against Bad Bangkok Cabbies On Monday And Immediately Arrested Four For Violating The Law.
The clampdown on taxi drivers has been launched to protect both passengers and Thailand’s reputation, Tourist Police spokesman Pol Maj-General Apichat Suriboonya said.
He added that the 1155 Tourist Police hotline has recently received a spate of complaints, with many Bangkokians saying they were left stranded in the rain because cabbies refused them.
Apichat said this “lack of professionalism” is damaging Thailand’s reputation and undermining its competitiveness in the global tourism market.
On Monday, four cabbies were arrested – two on Khao San Road and two near Siam Square shopping complex in the centre of Bangkok.
Of the cabbies caught in Khao San, one refused to take passengers, while the other demanded a higher fare and refused to use the metre. The two taxi drivers near Siam Square were arrested for refusing passengers.
All four reported admitted to the allegations and paid fines.
“All Tourist Police units have been tasked with closely monitoring taxi drivers to ensure they follow the law and do not take advantage of passengers,” Apichat said. “Offences such as refusing passengers, refusing to use the metre, overcharging and leaving passengers stranded will result in the highest punishment by law.”
KNLONGTNA? Bangkok Commuters Puzzle Over Bus Destination Typos
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2022
THE NATION
Bangkok Commuters And Tourists Have Been Left Confused – And Amused – By Destination Names Appearing On The Signboard Of The No 60 Bus.
Photos of typos in the English spellings on the No 60 signboard have gone viral after they were posted by the Rotmaethai Facebook page.
The No 60 typos include “Bangpi” for Bang Kapi, “BAMKHAMHACNG” for Ramkhamhaeng University and “KNLONGTNA” for Klong Tan. Passengers waiting at bus stops are also puzzling over signs for “PRATUNA” (Pratunam) and “PAKKNLONG” Pakklongtalad.
The Rotmaethai page urged the bus operator, Bangkok Mass Transit Authority, to correct the signs immediately to ensure that passengers can understand where the bus is going.
Sino-Thai Digital Cooperation ‘To Play Key Role In Sustainable Development’
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2022
THE NATION
Digital Cooperation With China Would Lead To Sustainable Development Of The Two Countries, Thailand’s Digital Economy And Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn Said On Friday.
He was speaking in a pre-recorded video message that was played during the opening ceremony of the 5th China-Asean Information Harbour Forum in Nanning, the capital of China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China on Friday.
In the video message, Chaiwut congratulated the organisers for holding the event, which he said would be a venue for exchanging information on digital technologies as well as a venue for cooperation between China and Asean nations on technologies and digital economy developments.
Chaiwut said Thailand was steering towards a digital economy with its policies and the 20-year national development plan for creating digital infrastructure and digital safety for the public.
He added the the development plans would transform Thailand into a digital economy with sustainability.
“I would like to hereby stress that digital economy cooperation between Thailand and China would be a new driving force for sustainable development of the two countries,” Chaiwut said.
On Saturday, Chaiwut also sent a video message to participate in the opening ceremony of the China-Asean Silk Road e-Commerce Forum 2022, which was the 19th China-Asean Trade Fair, also in Nanning.
In his video message, Chaiwut said the application of digital technologies had helped Thailand survive the Covid-19 pandemic.
He also pledged cooperation with other Asean nations and China to develop a good digital ecosystem that would help Asean and China benefit from sustainable e-commerce trade in the future.
Steel Bar-Makers To Seek Government Nod For Price Hike
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2022
THE NATION
Manufacturers Of Steel Bars Are Planning To Approach The Thai Government And Seek Its Permission To Raise Prices As Production Costs Have Been Rising.
Prawit Horrungruang, an adviser to the steel bar manufacturers’ association, said that the steel used to make the bars has seen a 42-per-cent price hike from last year, while the manufacturers are also facing rising costs of electricity, transportation and wages.
Prawit said the steel raw material required for making bars now sells at about US$658 (24,300 baht) per tonne, compared to $464 last year.
The rising power bill also added another 700 to 800 baht to the cost of making one tonne of steel bars, Prawit added.
He said the manufacturers would not survive without raising the prices but they need to first receive approval from the Internal Trade Department as steel bars and other steel products’ prices are under the control of the department.
He added that the rising cost of energy has affected steel prices worldwide. For example, manufacturers in Turkey have announced price hikes of $20 to $40 per tonne.
Prawit said the prices of steel bars in Thailand were lower than those in other countries. For example, steel bars in Singapore are priced at $738 per tonne, at $740 in Turkey and at $852 in China while it sells at $699 in Thailand.
Prawit also advised construction firms to use higher-grade steel bars to save cost. He said although the higher-grade bars were more expensive, construction firms would save money as they would need to use lesser quantities of the bars.
“I would like to hereby stress that digital economy cooperation between Thailand and China would be a new driving force for sustainable development of the two countries,” Chaiwut said.
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