Elephant buffet over: Farmers usher wild herd back to Chachoengsao sanctuary
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2022
Farmers in Prachin Buri province joined officials and forest rangers to round up a herd of wild elephants that had wandered out of Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary.
Aerial footage shared on Saturday showed more than 40 wild elephants being guided across farms in Prachin Buri’s Wang Tha Chang district.
The herd had reportedly made its way out of the sanctuary in neighbouring Chachoengsao province to hunt for food in Prachin Buri, which is rich with farms of sugarcane, cassava, mango and oil palm.
Officials first used drones to survey the area and usher wandering elephants together before guiding them back to the sanctuary.
This effort has helped minimise damage to crops and ensured the safety of villagers.
A ranger explained that the herd was being ushered to Bo Krasob Forest in the heart of the sanctuary that spans 1,070 square kilometres and is home to several hundred wild elephants.
World Cup broadcast war escalates as AIS ordered to halt screenings
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2022
The battle over World Cup broadcasting rights in Thailand escalated on Friday when AIS Playbox was ordered to stop showing matches from Qatar.
The Intellectual Property and International Trade Court on Friday evening ordered Super Broadband Network Ltd (SBN), operator of AIS Playbox, to halt its broadcast of the quadrennial football tournament.
The court order came after True Corporation appealed to the court for an injunction to protect the company’s exclusive rights to broadcast half of the 64 World Cup matches.
On Thursday, the telecoms regulator had announced that under the “must-carry” rule, the tournament must also be made available on internet platforms including 3BB TV, NT-TOT IPTV, and AIS Playbox.
The “must-carry” rule dictates that major sports events like the World Cup must be broadcast for free across all platforms in Thailand.
However, True pointed out it had signed a contract with the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) for exclusive broadcast of 32 matches after contributing 300 million baht to SAT’s 1.4-billion-baht purchase of the broadcasting rights from Fifa.
True insists it owns exclusive rights to broadcast those matches, including the final, on internet and OTT (over the top) platforms. It said other operators in Thailand can broadcast the matches on terrestrial TV, pay cable and satellite TV platforms.
Thai karting champion, 13, joins Red Bull F1 incubator
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2022
Teenage karting ace Enzo Tarnvanichkul has taken a step towards F1 stardom after becoming the first Thai to join Red Bull’s Junior Team driver development programme.
The 13-year-old World Karting champion took to social media on Friday to announce his deal with the reigning Formula 1 racing champions.
Sharing the news on Instagram, Enzo wrote: “I am very proud to announce that I will be joining the Red Bull youth programme in 2023. I am looking forward to my new journey. Thank you for this opportunity, I will try to do my best on the track and in my career.”
Red Bull will hone Enzo’s driving skills in training and competition over the next year to prepare him for life as a professional racer.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha congratulated the young racer on being the first Thai to clinch a place in the prestigious incubator for Formula 1, government spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul said on Saturday.
“The prime minister admired Enzo’s ability to develop skills enabling him to join the world-class team. He also wished him well on his journey to becoming a Formula 1 racer to inspire other young Thais,” Traisuree said.
She added that Prayut had been following Enzo’s outstanding performances over the past year.
In September, the Italy-based Thai teenager beat 109 other young racers from 40 different countries to win the FIA World Karting Championship. He is Thailand’s first karting world champion. Enzo was competing in the OK Junior class (12-14 age group) at the 2022 FIA Karting World Championship at the Circuito Internazionale Napoli in Sarno, Italy.
Eppo upbeat on Thailand’s EV industry, expects more foreign investment
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2022
The Energy Ministry’s Energy Policy and Planning Office (Eppo) is confident that Thailand will achieve its goal of becoming an electric vehicle manufacturing hub in the Asean region.
Wattanapong Kurovat, Eppo’s director-general, said on Sunday that the National Electric Vehicle Policy Committee recently launched a clear-cut policy to make Thailand into a regional battery electric vehicle (BEV) manufacturing hub.
He added that this policy has been drawing both Thai and foreign manufacturers to the country.
Wattanapong went on to say that the operations of at least two firms indicate that Thailand is moving closer to this goal.
One of the companies is Absolute Assembly Co Ltd, which has the capacity to produce 9,000 electric buses a year, while the other is Amita Technology (Thailand), which makes lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles.
Wattanapong said the Amita Technology’s produces ultra-fast charging batteries and its factory is the largest in the region.
“The technology of the two companies plays a crucial part in manufacturing BEVs in the country,” Wattanapong said.
He added that Eppo has spoken to the two firms and gathered their opinions on the government’s policies to promote the manufacturing and use of BEVs in the country.
Meanwhile, Absolute Assembly’s acting general manager Saranyu Sonkamnerd said his company will soon open a second factory and increase its capacity to 50,000 electric buses a year in a bid to meet the rising demand.
He said his company will also boost the use of local raw materials to 80% and import only 20%.
Online TopThai shops give Thai SMEs access to international markets
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2022
Thai SMEs are being urged to list their products on TopThai online shops that are now available on seven platforms in nine countries.
Deputy government spokesperson Thipanun Sirichana said on Sunday that the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) aims to promote Thai goods via its TopThai shops that are available on Amazon in the US, Tmall in China, India’s bigbasket, Indonesia’s Blibli, Cambodia’s Klangthai as well as PChome in Taiwan and Shopee in Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.
Small businesses interested in gaining exposure to these markets can contact DITP, the spokesperson said.
She added that Thai products on Taiwan’s PChome platform are the second most popular after Japanese products.
DITP also plans to open a TopThai shop on the PChome 24h website, which is far larger.
She said the TopThai shop on the Taiwanese platform has proved to be very effective as customers want to purchase products directly from manufacturers.
High-speed railway, MRT Purple Line top govt spending for 2023: NESDC
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2022
The Thai-Chinese high-speed railway and the MRT Purple Line are among the top 10 construction projects with the highest investment budget allocated for fiscal 2023, the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) said.
The high-speed railway project, which links up Bangkok and Nong Khai on the border with Laos and requires a total investment of 209 billion baht, has been allocated 18.1 billion baht for next year. The southern extension of Bangkok’s MRT Purple Line from Tao Poon to Rat Burana, which requires a total budget of 91.9 billion baht, has been allocated 10.6 billion baht. These two are the top development projects that require the highest budget in fiscal 2023. The others are the 20.7-billion-baht Rama III-Dao Khanong-Western Ring Road project, for which 8.6 billion baht will be spent next year, and the 17.3-billion-baht project to expand the Government Complex in Nonthaburi, for which 6.1 billion has been allocated. There is also the 42.5-billion-baht Mae Moh Power Plant’s Units 8-9, for which 5.2 billion has been allocated for next year.
Among the top 10 projects, five are related to transportation, three to utilities, and one each related to commercial service. According to the NESDC, the top 10 projects require a total budget of 83.9 billion baht in the fiscal year 2023, accounting for 59.5% of all 65 important infrastructure development projects. The total state budget for fiscal 2023 is 3.18 trillion baht, a 27% increase from the previous year. Of that, 2.52 trillion baht is for regular expenditures, a 0.6% drop from the previous year, and 664.6 billion baht is for investment, a 17.8% increase, according to the NESDC.
Trade group sees 4% economic growth in Thailand next year
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2022
Thailand should show strong economic growth next year, the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) said after the recently completed Apec Summit.
Sanan Angubolkul, chair of TCC and Board of Trade, said on Saturday that Thailand should attract some 600 billion baht in foreign investment, in addition to the more than 10 billion baht already spent in the country when leaders from 21 nations under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation convened from November 14-19.
Sanan said a GDP growth of between 3.5% and 4% can be expected next year, as per estimates from the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).
For instance, he said more than 200 billion baht will be invested in the high-speed railway link between Thailand, Laos and China, as well as the Saudi Arabian project to build crude oil warehouses in the country.
Sanan was delivering an opening speech at the 40th TCC national meeting in Ubon Ratchathani province.
He also said that Thailand can expect to attract some 20 million tourists next year, double the number recorded so far this year. In addition, he said, another 5 million tourists can be expected if China relaxes its restrictive Covid-19 measures in mid-2023 as expected. He added that the Thai Chamber of Commerce has also been working closely with the Commerce Ministry to boost Thai exports. He said this year’s export growth can be as high as 8%, double the original target of 4%.
However, Sanan said, more needs to be done to improve Thailand’s competitiveness, which has dropped to 33rd place in the world from 28.
He also advised Thai authorities to be serious about promoting ease of business and investment so more foreigners will want to invest in the country.
The state-run Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), in collaboration with private business partner Travizco Technology, a leading Thai travel tech, has introduced ThailandCONNEX as a national tourism platform to help Thai tourism businesses make easier contacts with the world online travel agencies.
This new connection venture focuses on the principle of “win-win sharing income” partly through digital technology to revive the Thai tourism industry after the Covid-19 pandemic. It is expected to boost Thailand’s economy by 12 billion baht.
Asst.Prof.Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, President and CEO of Digital Economy Promotion Agency or depa announced at the press conference with Nadhaseth Wongwattanakarn, CEO of Travizco Technology, about cooperation in support and developing platforms ‘ThailandCONNEX’
Nuttapon said that the tourism industry has always been an important engine in driving the Thai economy but behaviour of tourists around the world today prefer to search for and book accommodation, travel and various activities online (OTAs), but Thai tourism operators, especially SMEs, still lack the potential to develop their own online channels and lose a high-profit share when selling services through foreign OTAs. For entrepreneurs who want to increase sales channels and reduce dependence on foreign OTAs, it is difficult to contact OTAs of Thai startups. At the same time, OTAs of Thai startups are growing slowly because of obstacles in terms of funding and credibility. It takes time to access and acquire the tour operators in the system.
Therefore, depa has joined forces with a private sector partner, Travisco Technology Co., Ltd., the country’s leading travel tech, to develop ThailandCONNEX, the national tourism platform to act as an intermediary to connect various types of tourism operators across Thailand with OTAs of Thai startups and OTAs operating around the world. The platform makes it easier for Thai and foreign OTAs to access Thai tourism resources.
Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin , President and CEO of Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa).
“ThailandCONNEX is a platform to create business opportunities, reduce dependency on foreign platforms and create added value for the Thai tourism industry. It is expected that there will be more than 100,000 tour operators participating in the platform, with at least 200,000 items of goods and services from tourism operators and expected to create an economic value of more than 12 billion baht, which will help revitalize the economy and be a part in pushing Thailand forward into the digital economy and society era,” Nuttapon said.
Nadhaseth Wongwattanakarn, President and CEO of Travizco Technology.
Nadhaseth Wongwattanakarn, CEO of Travizco Technology, said that Thailand has a very high tourism potential. But Covid has caused the once bustling Thai tourism to become stagnant. Foreign tourists have dropped from 40 million people to less than a million people, and income of more than 3 trillion baht per year to less than 900 billion baht. Operators of accommodations, travel, places and tourism activities including travel agents are all affected.
” Travizco Technology, a travel tech entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience, is therefore very pleased to cooperate with depa in developing ThailandCONNEX which will help Thai tourism entrepreneurs, especially SMEs to have access to technology. and growing steadily in the midst of the transformation of service models in the digital age,” he said.
ThailandCONNEX is designed to collect Big Data under Personal Data Standards (PDPA) and use AI technology to find characteristics, trends, preferences and needs of tourists. This will be beneficial to entrepreneurs in designing and improving products and services, and to government agencies in formulating promotion policies that will lead to quality tourism along with upgrading Thai tourism operators to be able to compete in the modern era where digital technology plays an important role in daily life.
ThailandCONNEX also has a Token system that will facilitate tour operators with tools to stimulate tourism. Incentives, Repeat Purchases and Alliance with other entrepreneurs as well.
Tourism operators who are interested in joining the national Thailand CONNEX platform can follow up on the advancement at www.ThailandCONNEX.com
Wasteful United States held to goalless draw by England
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2022
Reuters
A youthful United States side outplayed England in their World Cup Group B battle but were left to rue a flurry of missed chances and poor finishing in both halves after having to settle for a 0-0 draw at the Al Bayt Stadium on Friday (November 25).
England, unchanged from Monday’s 6-2 win over Iran, could have sealed their place in the knockout phase with a win but were careless in possession and struggled to dominate the Americans, who steadily grew in confidence.
Tim Weah set up Weston McKennie with a measured cross but the midfielder blazed his effort over before Christian Pulisic’s powerful strike beat goalkeeper Jordan Pickford but crashed off the crossbar in a lively first-half display from the Americans.
The closest England came to breaking the deadlock was on the stroke of halftime when U.S. goalkeeper, Matt Turner, denied Mason Mount, while captain, Harry Kane, endured a frustrating evening up front as Gareth Southgate’s side laboured to earn a share of the spoils.
Wasteful United States held to goalless draw by England
Baritone Patrizio Buanne brings ‘La Dolce Vita’ to Benjakitti Park on Sunday
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2022
Stephanie Adair
MedPark Hospital is marking its second birthday on Sunday with “Med Music in the Park” featuring famous Italian baritone Patrizio Buanne.
The free-for-all concert will be held in Benjakitti Park’s amphitheatre on Sunday from 4pm to 8pm. Thai musicians and the RSU Symphony Orchestra will be sharing the stage with Buanne.
The baritone, known for his renditions of the famous aria La Dolce Vita, said he was excited to bring his music to Thai fans.
“My contribution here is music, which is tonic for the soul. I’m very, very excited to perform tomorrow … Tomorrow I want to make sure that I will make people feel simply good,” Buanne said.
The tall, dark Italian-Austrian singer has sold more than 10 million albums and has been delighting audiences for more than 15 years at venues like London’s Royal Albert Hall, the Sydney Opera House, Singapore’s Esplanade and New York’s Lincoln Centre.
Joining him on stage will be Thai divas like Gob Saovanit, Lookwa Pijika and Pure Ekkapan along with Dolchai Boonyatavej, duo act Sunny Trio and Natt Buntita, with the RSU Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Denny Euprasert.
He added that Eppo has spoken to the two firms and gathered their opinions on the government’s policies to promote the manufacturing and use of BEVs in the country.
Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin , President and CEO of Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa).
Nadhaseth Wongwattanakarn, President and CEO of Travizco Technology.
Wasteful United States held to goalless draw by England
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