Finance Ministry raises 2023 growth forecast to 3.8%
FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2023
The Finance Ministry on Friday raised the growth forecast for Thailand this year from 3% to 3.8%, citing a near 150% year-on-year rise in tourist arrivals as well as higher than expected domestic consumption as the main factors.
Declining fuel prices and weakening demand in key export markets, however, will help offset inflationary pressure, said Pornchai Thiraveja, the ministry’s spokesperson and director of its Fiscal Policy Committee.
He said the surge in tourists will primarily be from other Asian countries.
“This year, 27.5 million foreign tourists are expected to visit Thailand, up 147% year on year,” Pornchai said.
Exports, however, are expected to increase just 0.4% due to declining demand in key markets, he said.
He forecast that trade would see a surplus of US$3.1 billion this year, equivalent to about 0.5% of the country’s gross domestic product.
Private consumption and investment are forecast to expand by 3.5% and 3.6%, respectively, due to rising incomes and greater confidence in the domestic economy, he said.
Economic slowdowns and financial market volatility among trading partners, especially the United States and European Union, would negatively impact Thailand’s economy, he said.
“Geopolitical risks across the region will affect Thailand’s security and production,” Pornchai added.
Thailand’s economy will also be affected by China’s economic growth, following the relaxation of its zero-Covid policy, he said.
“Fiscal policy still has an important role for mitigating the impact of various crises and supporting economic expansion,” Pornchai said.
Thailand’s SCB expects two more policy rate hikes to 2%
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2023
Siam Commercial Bank (SCB)’s research arm predicts the Bank of Thailand will raise the policy rate twice by 0.25 points to 2% this year.
The SCB’s Economic Intelligence Centre (EIC) issued the forecast on Thursday, a day after the Monetary Policy Committee raised the rate by 0.25 points to 1.5%.
The EIC said it expected two more hikes, in March and May.
It also forecast Thai GDP growth of 3.4% this year driven by tourism, consumption and spending by the private sector. It cited the return of Chinese tourists after Beijing eased travel restrictions sooner than expected. The tourism revival would lead to increased consumption and spending, it added.
But the EIC warned that growth of the Thai export sector would be sluggish following contraction in three successive months up to December 2022 due to the global economic slowdown.
Thai exports would also come under pressure from new import taxes imposed by Europe and India, which are key trading partners, it added.
The headwinds would see Thai export growth of only 1.2% growth this year, the EIC said.
It predicts Thailand’s headline inflation will drop from 6.1% last year to 3.2% this year, still above the central bank’s 1-3% target. Inflation would exceed the target due to high energy and food prices.
It forecast core inflation would rise from 2.5% last year to 2.7% this year.
The EIC’s currency prediction has the baht rallying to between 31.5 and 32.5 against the US dollar by the end of this year. The Thai currency has risen 5.6% against the greenback since the start of the year.
“Singha Drinking Water” launches 15 new bottle labels in collaboration with “Toy Story”
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2023
Singha Drinking Water continues its strategy of collaboration with world-class cartoon characters “Toy Story” by Kicking off the campaign “Singha Drinking Water: Never Ending Friendship” through 15 labels to deliver happiness and harmony to people of all generations across the country.
Mr. Titiporn Thammapimookkul, Chief Marketing Officer, Boon Rawd Trading Co., Ltd. revealed that besides the development of the product’s quality, “Singha Drinking Water” also focuses on the strategy of collaboration, in terms of marketing through many world-famous cartoon characters to continuously build colorful marketing such as My Little Pony, Mickey Mouse, Frozen, and Doraemon.
This year, Singha Drinking Water launches the first campaign of the year by collaborating with “Toy Story”, the world-famous cartoon character under the concept of “Singha Drinking Water: Never Ending Friendship” on the label of Singha Drinking Water, size 330ml., in 15 designs, to spread happiness and harmony to people of all generations across the country.
“Toy Story” is an animated cartoon that has long triumphed in the hearts and minds of people around the world. After all, Toy Story is one of the world’s highest-grossing film franchises or sequels and stands as one of the top 20 hits of all time for cartoon characters that have a fan base of all genders and ages and can connect people across generations, which is in line with the idea of Singha Drinking Water as a brand that connects families and children of all ages, moreover with product quality, that provides the highest level of cleanliness and safety, with a smart production technology, the Smart Micro Filter, which is unique to Singha Drinking Water, including a complete development with a focus on the environment, which has received the award for the most trusted drinking water in Thailand from the leading magazine Media.
However, the highlight of the “Singha Drinking Water: Never Ending Friendship” campaign is to bring popular Toy Story characters such as Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, Alien / Little Green Men, Rex, Mr. Potato Head, etc. to be on 15 product labels by divided into 12 designs to deliver the cuteness to consumers across the country. And the product will be sold via leading department stores across the country, and 3 exclusive designs at Lotus retail channels with activities to grab dolls by the doll claw machine to win prizes in 10 branches as well.
In addition, the company is opening up the opportunity for consumers who purchase Singha Drinking Water to enter the draw for exclusive premium products through 3 channels at Singha Online Store (https://www.singhaonline.com), e-commerce platform Shopee / Lazada and platform LINE @ Singha Rewards. Consumers can participate in the game by spinning the wheel and finding toys by collecting points, which they can exchange for a chance to win premium items such as Blanket with Toy Story design, Buzz Lightyear tumbler, Toy Story keychains, Stickers full of Toy Story motifs, and Toy Story Figure dolls, etc.
Chula’s Research to Ensure the Good Health of Gluten-Intolerant People
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2023
A faculty member of Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Science has researched and developed high-protein, gluten-free pasta noodles for gluten-intolerant health-lovers.
For noodle lovers, pasta is one popular item with its chewy yet soft texture and delicious taste. However, not everyone can fully enjoy pasta due to intolerance to gluten for – a type of protein commonly found in wheat products, including pasta.
“Studies show that some consumers are intolerant to gluten and are unable to consume any foods containing the protein. Ingestion could lead to the dysfunction of multiple systems in the body. In the digestive system, for example, it could cause severe damage to the small intestine, reducing the ability to digest and absorb foods. We wanted to develop a gluten-free pasta product to serve the needs of this group of consumers, as well as those who care about their health,” explained Associate Professor Kanitha Tananuwong, a lecturer at the Department of Food Technology, the Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, head of the research team, of the background of the research and development of high–protein, gluten–free pasta from mung beans.
Mung Beans, the Solution for Gluten-Free Pasta
Although gluten-free pasta is now available in the market, Kanitha said such products are made from rice flour, which causes the pasta to lose the chewiness that makes it unique. They also have lower protein content than wheat pasta.
Nowadays, many attempts have been made to heighten the quality of rice flour pasta by adding ingredients. To increase the protein, animal-based proteins like egg white and whey proteins or plant-based proteins like soybeans have been added. Different types of hydrocolloids have also been used to improve the texture and cooking quality, but such ingredients may need to be imported or are expensive.
“Mung beans are an alternative ingredient which has the appropriate qualities. The best part is they can increase protein to pasta and help with the texture and cooking quality, not to mention that they’re easy to find here in Thailand,” said Kanitha.
Recipe Testing for Concentrated Mung Bean Protein Pasta The research team came up with the perfect recipes for developing gluten-free pasta using scientific and statistical methods. With three main ingredients—rice flour, mung bean flour, and concentrated mung bean protein, they developed 4 basic pasta recipes with 17-24% of protein, which is higher than wheat pasta, which contains only 14% of protein.
“After mixing the pasta dough, we ran it through a pasta extruder to make spaghetti using the extrusion process under high temperatures, pressure, and mechanical shear. Then, the cut pasta is dehydrated until the moisture is no more than 12%,” Kanitha detailed the process.
The finished pasta must be inspected for significant characteristics, such as an evaluation of the cooking quality and of cooked pasta texture under a texture analyzer. More importantly, consumers’ acceptance was tested through a tasting of cooked pasta.
Gluten-Free Pasta from Chula Well Received by Consumers Kanitha said for the appearance, taste, and texture when mixed with a sauce and overall preference, the gluten-free pasta with 20% protein, which is the best recipe developed, received similar scores to wheat pasta, but with higher protein content, making this gluten-free pasta both delicious and good for health.
Not only does this gluten-free pasta meet health demands, but it also contributes to improving the quality of life and economy of our farmers. The ingredients used in developing the pasta are domestically grown, which can increase income for Thai farmers and reduce the country’s expenses from importing ingredients.
From Research to Department Stores, a Collaboration with the Business Sector Thai Wah (Public Company Limited), which has funded the research project, has successfully received the research on high-protein, gluten-free pasta.
“A benefit of collaborating with the private sector is our research has a chance to hit the shelves in the market. With a clear research problem, we can directly respond to the needs of the industrial sector. The funding company also contributed to a pasta extruder machine to create the pasta in our project,” said Kanitha.
She also mentioned future collaborations with the private sector to refine the production of concentrated plant-based proteins to be used in making alternative protein drinks for the good health of everyone.
Many Top K-pop idols now return back to their group after serving approximately 18 to 22 months of duty to embark on a fresh new journey.
All able-bodied South Korean men are obligated to serve in the military, with even the biggest K-pop superstars no exception.
Unlike in the past, this year greets a string of K-pop musicians from big groups returning to civilian society.
Victon’s Han Seung-woo, also the brother of singer-turned-actor Han Sun-hwa, is first ready for release. The eldest member of the six-piece act, Seung-woo enlisted in July 2021 and is currently serving in the military band. Seung-woo is set to be discharged on Jan. 27.
In February, Exo’s Baekhyun comes out next. Baekhyun began his service in May 2021 as the fifth of nine bandmates to enlist. Baekhyun was assigned to be a social service agent instead of an active-duty soldier due to hypothyroidism. With Baekhyun set to complete his service on Feb. 5, fans expect Exo to make its long-awaited full-group comeback, as Suho, the group’s leader, posted not-so-cryptically on social media on Jan. 1: “2023 Exo is coming back.”
Baekhyun’s labelmate of SM Entertainment, Taemin of Shinee is set to complete his service on April 4. Taemin initially began his service in the military band but was transferred to reservist duty about a year ago owing to mental health issues. In a statement released by SM, Taemin had reportedly been suffering from depression and anxiety from before his enlistment and the symptoms worsened after he began his service. Anticipations for Shinee’s complete comeback as a quartet are also climbing high with Taemin’s discharge.
Day6’s Young K (left) and Wonpil (JYP Entertainment)
Two members of Day6 are set to complete their duties this year, with Young K being discharged first on April 11. In October 2021, Young K began his service in the Korean Augmentation to the US Army, as the first idol musician to enlist in the very selective branch. In March, Wonpil followed suit by enlisting in the Navy, also as the first idol musician to serve in that branch. Wonpil is slated to be discharged on Nov. 27.
Monsta X leader Shownu is set to finish his service on April 21. He will be the first member of the six-piece act to fulfil his duty. Shownu enlisted in July 2021 as a public service worker due to health issues regarding his left eye.
In June, just as with their enlistment a year and a half ago, the group ONF is set to be discharged together. In December 2021, the whole group — barring its only non-Korean member U, who is from Japan — enlisted together in the Army, becoming the first group to do so. Unexpectedly, the group gained more fame inside the military. A video of the five performing during a military-organized event caught the public eye and went explosively viral on the internet. The boy band is set to make a comeback with its summer discharge.
ONF (WM Entertainment)
September will see several K-pop stars leave the military. SF9’s Inseong and Block B’s P.O are serving in the military band, Inseong in the Army until Sept. 20 and P.O in the Marine Corps until Sept. 27. Golden Child’s leader Lee and SF9’s leader Young-bin are to be discharged together on Sept. 28.
Along with Day6’s Wonpil, Astro’s MJ is to end his service in November.
Children of the Mist: The Bride-Kidnapping Festival
TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2023
Sasawat Boonsri
Amid the sea of white mist on Vietnam’s northern plateau, film director Ha Le Diem spent three years assimilating with a local Hmong family, using only a camera and audio recorder to document their daily lives in an actual, unscripted setting.
For what is supposed to be a simple documentary film, Diem found herself praying that nothing bad should happen to Di, the family’s 12-year-old daughter, who she had befriended during her stay.
Growing up in Vietnamese-Hmong society and witnessing three of her female friends get married at a young age, Diem has always questioned how this tradition of girls marrying young had come to play an important role in the Hmong community.
The family that allowed Diem to stay with them to shoot the film comprised the father, who rarely worked but often drank, a talkative mother who shared her humour and worries with Diem, Di, and her younger sister. As the movie progresses, we learn that Di has an older sister who had earlier married and left the house in what could be described as bride kidnapping, in which young girl is coerced through the stigma of pregnancy and rape to marry her abductor.
In the first half hour of the film, viewers are introduced to the folk ways of the Hmong ethnic people in Sa Pa province in Northwestern Vietnam. Like most Southeast Asian rural communities, villagers here mainly engage in agriculture and animal farming, mostly chicken and swine, while the popular mode of transport is motorcycles due to the uneven hilly terrain.
The plot thickens when Di, the 12-year-old protagonist, starts playing with the fire of passion. On Chinese New Year day, she spends a night at the house of a boy her age, whom she had met at school and with whom she had exchanged chats and selfie photos via mobile phones.
After that night, Di was considered “kidnapped” by the boy’s family and therefore must marry him, according to Hmong tradition.
A problem arises when the boy’s family later asks for Di’s hand in marriage, but she refuses, saying she was not in love with him and had agreed to spend the night only because she was “curious”. Little did she know the repercussions of her decision.
To preserve the tradition, Di’s parents force her to accept the proposal against her will, prompting her to turn to her school teacher for help. The situation escalates as other teachers and city councillors join in to deliberate on the issue. Though Vietnam prohibits marriage of persons under 18 without their consent, Hmong tradition seems to supersede the law.
The day after the council meeting, relatives of the “groom’s” family charge into Di’s house and drag her away to the boy’s house to make her his bride. The sight of the commotion becomes too heartbreaking for Diem, who briefly forgets to keep her distance as a silent observer, and tries to help the young girl.
Questioning the tradition
The film urges viewers to question the morality behind the bride-kidnapping tradition of the Hmong people, while highlighting the pain of the girl’s family which is clearly at a disadvantage in this tradition.
Di’s mother was also once a “kidnapped” bride who has had to live with an abusive drunken husband throughout her marriage. Viewers can easily predict that if Di were to accept the boy’s proposal against her will, she would unavoidably suffer the same fate as her mother and that of many other Hmong women.
However, educated viewers should beware of the differences in culture and tradition when using their lens to judge other societies.
Many viewers questioned why Di’s family was forcing marriage on the young girl, when the couple clearly did not love each other. The inaction of Di’s mother, who cries when she learns that her daughter was “kidnapped” but later lets the groom’s family take her away, has baffled several viewers.
Prominent Thai historian Prof Nidhi Eoseewong once said that maintaining their “face” in society and following socially accepted practices are of the highest priority for families in several Southeast Asian cultures.
He said the ties among family members are woven together by traditions, and the folk ways are designed to keep the society running. Since ancient times, activities such as transplanting rice paddy and building a house cannot be done by a single person or family, but they rely on the help of community members. Marriage between villagers also serves as a way to expand the workforce and strengthen the community.
Since the community has been built around these traditions, those wandering off the accepted folkways are often meted out punishments, ranging from being gossiped about, shunned, or even excommunicated. This is the major difference between an ethnic community and a civilised society, where individuality is respected and often celebrated.
Clash of traditional vs modern thinking
In a crucial scene when Di turns to her school teacher for asylum, her mother intervenes and orders the girl to come home, shrugging off the teacher’s protest that Di should at least finish her schooling before getting married, for better career opportunities. This scene reflects the inner conflict of Di’s mother, who deep down does not agree with the marriage of her young girl but chooses not to break the tradition to save the family’s face in the community.
The movie compares two concepts of the old and new eras. On the one hand we have traditions that have been observed maintaining order in society for generations, and on the other hand modern parents realise that education could be the foundation of a better future for their children.
It might come to a surprise to many viewers that in the eyes of the Hmong people, marriage is more important than completing compulsory education. Some Hmong parents view education as an uncertain path as finishing school does not always guarantee a good career or good future, unlike marrying into a family that is wealthy, or is at least doing better than their own. Many families, despite giving basic education to their children, end up shipping them off to work in China to support the family.
Since people in these remote communities rarely experience the tangible benefits of education, they tend to stick to existing traditions which at least have proven to serve their lives well in the past. This is a tricky issue that humanitarian organisations must consider before providing help.
Conclusion
The film ends with Di eventually being spared the traditional marriage to a man she does not love — a relief for me and other viewers. I believe that she will not be the last victim of this marriage-by-abduction tradition, which is still present in the Hmong community, in sharp contrast with the modern world that values a person’s consent. This film has truly inspired viewers to question the clash of values of the old and the new worlds.
“Children of the Mist” is being screened at the Bangkok Asean Film Festival 2022 from January 20-25 at Paragon Cineplex and SF World Cinema in Bangkok. Don’t fret if you miss the festival, as the publisher, Documentary Club, will be bringing the film to theatres soon.
Bangkok, Chonburi, Songkhla chosen as venues for SEA Games 2025
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2023
The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) on Wednesday selected Bangkok, Chonburi and Songkhla provinces as the venues for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) to be hosted in 2025.
The board of directors made the selection during a teleconference meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan. Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn and SAT governor Kongsak Yodmanee attended the meeting.
The 33rd SEA Games will be held from December 9 to 20,2025. The biennial multi-sport event brings together participants from the 10 Asean members and Timor-Leste.
The meeting also selected Nakhon Ratchasima as host for the 13th Asean Para Games, which will be held from January 20 to 26, 2026.
During the meeting, Prawit thanked the SAT and sports associations for bringing fame to the country by helping Thai athletes win many sports events recently.
Prego expands its flavourful Italian fine dining to Pattaya
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2023
Stephanie Adair
Amari Pattaya celebrated a new dining experience on January 20th with the official opening of Prego Pattaya. This is the chain’s third location, after Samui and Bangkok.
The Italian restaurant has been serving its dishes for 19 years, but what makes Prego stand out is its aromatic wood-fired pizza.
Prego chef Marco Boscaini brings his renowned classic Italian flavors to the shores of Pattaya. The rustic, trattoria-inspired design echoes Prego’s very first location on Koh Samui.
In 2018, chef Boscaini’s signature “Risotto Alla Montanara” was listed as one of the “100 Best Risottos” in the world in a book showcasing the famous dish.
At Prego Pattaya, guests can enjoy more of his signature dishes, including Prego Fettuccine alla Bolognese, homemade pizzas made fresh to order in a pizza oven located at the heart of the restaurant, the dessert tiramisu, and numerous other creations.
Prego Pattaya is located on the beachfront with a dining space seating up to 144 guests.
Its outdoor space is ideal for al-fresco dining while catching the beautiful sunset with a drink in hand. Prego’s wine, cocktail and mocktail lists are extensive.
Suphot Prakitjanuruk, area general manager, told The Nation that Prego’s ambition was to bring the ultimate Italian dining experience to one of Thailand’s most popular beach resorts.
Suphot said ONYX Hospitality Group CEO Yuthachai Charanachitta was so inspired by Prego that he encouraged its expansion.
The restaurant’s debut in Bangkok was at the Amari Watergate, which makes its Pattaya location the second collaboration with Amari hotels.
Suphot is confident in its success, as the soft launch in November last year was more popular than expected.
He said Prego will add a restaurant in Phuket and a second branch in Samui. “We aim that in 2023 we will have five branches,” he said.
Prego Pattaya is open daily for lunch and dinner from noon till 11am.
During the Bangkok Film Festival, held last weekend at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, film buffs were given a chance to learn about the art of post-production in the seminar “Decode the Post Production: Art and Heart of Film”.
In the world of film and television soaps, the most overlooked yet most important part is the post-production process. It may take just 30 days to shoot a film, but it can take twice the time to edit the picture and sounds.
During the Bangkok Film Festival, held last weekend at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, film buffs were given a chance to learn about the art of post-production in the seminar “Decode the Post Production: Art and Heart of Film”. Sharing their experiences were film directorand editorLee Chatametikool, sound designer Nopawat Likitwong, film director Supharat Boonmayam and film and TV script writer Arm Issara.
Bangkok Film Festival, Bangkok, Thailand
“I think the most difficult thing people don’t understand about post production is because post production is invisible, it’s something that you’re not aware of that happens so with good editing, you shouldn’t be aware that there’s good editing and sound and all that stuff. So there’s all this work that goes in and people don’t actually know it’s there, so that’s the hardest thing, but it’s the fun part.”
Lee Chatametikool, Film director and editor, Bangkok Film Festival
During the Covid-19 pandemic, when we could not leave our homes due to lockdowns, streaming platforms began taking over as the prime source of entertainment. Has this affected or changed the quality of post-production work?
“Yes and no, so I think we used to have movies for the cinema and now there are streaming on smaller screens. The gaps in terms of technical, has kind of narrowed between the 2. So actually now your cell phone and TV screens have quality that’s almost the same as the cinema, it’s just different size and the sound quality you get at home is high as well. So there’s the same opportunity to tell good stories, whether it’s on a big screen or at home. And for streaming platforms they are always streaming at a high quality, the quality that’s doing surround sound like in the cinema or high definition or high dynamic ranges. So in the end, the technical side of both is pretty much the same now.”
Lee Chatametikool, Film director and editor, Bangkok Film Festival, Thailand
Sound designer Nopawat Likitwong has pointed out that streaming platforms give a longer timeline for post-production crew to complete their work and also offer more opportunities for those interested in working in the film industry.
“For my job, I think that I have more advantages for having more channels because the big screen is still there but I have more channels to service. It is not that much different to me and I think it’s a great opportunity for people who want to jump into this business as well.”
Viewers may not notice the magic and the hard work that goes into post-production, but both Lee and Nopawat say that watching viewers get completely immersed in a film is what truly makes their job a success.
Nopawat Likitwong, Sound designer, Bangkok Film Festival, Thailand
Asset World spending 1 billion baht to rebrand flagship
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2023
Nongluck Ajanapanya
Asset World Corp (AWC) is investing 1 billion baht to turn its flagship office tower, The Empire, into what it calls a “revolutionary lifestyle space that embraces the future of work-life integration”, the company announced on Wednesday.
AWC CEO and President Wallapa Traisorat told a press conference that 1,500 square metres of The Empire will be turned into a co-living space, bringing a home-like experience and large facilities to the workplace. These will include a living room, a communal kitchen and dining area, a kids’ room, and a pet hotel, she said.
The company is also rebranding the building’s rooftop, saying it will offer a wider range of international food and beverages.
AWC will continue to offer tenants hotel-like services through an app connecting them to all AWC-affiliated hotels.
Wallapa said The Empire was “currently valued at 20 billion baht”.
Its renovation and rebranding will be completed in November, with its co-working space opening in the first quarter of this year, she said.
Day6’s Young K (left) and Wonpil (JYP Entertainment)
ONF (WM Entertainment)
Lee Chatametikool, Film director and editor, Bangkok Film Festival 
Lee Chatametikool, Film director and editor, Bangkok Film Festival, Thailand 
Nopawat Likitwong, Sound designer, Bangkok Film Festival, Thailand
Wallapa Traisorat
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