Thailand aims to halve the cost of rice production and boost yield by almost a quarter under an ambitious five-year national rice strategy unveiled today.
The strategy aims to secure Thailand’s status as a global leader in rice production, marketing and innovation, said Commerce Minister and Deputy PM Jurin Laksanawisit after his meeting today with the Thai Rice Strategy Subcommittee.
The strategy covers four areas: the domestic market, international market, production, and process innovation.
The core of the strategy is to reduce production costs for farmers from the current Bt6,000 per rai to less than Bt3,000 per rai within five years. Meanwhile, it aims to boost yield per rai from 460 kilograms to 600kg.
Marketing will focus on giving consumers information on which kind of rice each product is made from.
Moreover, a strategy to balance domestic needs with international demand will concentrate on developing soft rice varieties to raise Thailand’s competitiveness as a rice exporter.
The guidelines from today’s meeting will be presented to the Rice Policy and Management Committee before being sent to the Cabinet for consideration.
“We believe the plans will enable Thailand to compete in both the domestic and international market and will strengthen long-term rice cultivation,” said Jurin.
Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) has been told to speed up its plan to add 108 bus routes in the capital for submission to the Cabinet in September.
Transport Ministry permanent secretary Chaiwat Thongkamkoon gave the order after meeting with the public bus operator on Thursday.
“I want the rehabilitation plan to be able to answer all questions when presented to the Cabinet without any need for follow-ups,” said Chaiwat, who is keen to present the plan to ministers before he retires later this year.
The BMTA must “do their homework” to resolve sensitive issues surrounding the plan, he added.
A BMTA source said the sensitive issues concerned the number of buses allocated for each of the 108 new routes planned by the Department of Land Transport.
BMTA director Surachai Iamwachirasakul said the plan also includes renting about 1,500 buses to run on about 54 routes, where the
BMTA will pay Bt34.27 per kilometre for an average 240km per vehicle per day. The private buses must be low-platform EV, NGV or energy-friendly vehicles less than two years old and equipped with e-ticketing, GPS and WiFi. The BMTA plans to rent a total of 2,511 buses to service the new routes.
An alliance between the Thai fishery industry and the government has reported progress in its efforts to clean up Thailand’s fishing sector.
The Thai Sustainable Fisheries Roundtable (TSFR) said this week it is working on projects to develop sustainable fisheries in both the Andaman sea and the Gulf of Thailand.
The European Union has slapped a yellow flag on Thai seafood exports, threatening penalties unless Thailand tackles its illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing problems.
“The TSFR is cooperating with the Department of Fisheries to promote fishery development, such as using eco-friendly shrimp feed and Thai shrimp farming development to reduce waste,” its latest report said.
“This will enable the country to gain acceptance from foreign organisations, such as the European Union and US Monterey Bay Aquarium.”
Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch project has set up three recommendations for consumption of prawns, of which Thailand is the world’s leading exporter.
“Green” is the best choice for consumption as the product comes from eco-friendly farms or businesses.
“Yellow” is a good alternative as the product comes from farms or businesses which prioritise fishery management.
“Red” indicates consumers should avoid the product as it comes from businesses that cause environmental damage.
“The project evaluated Thai shrimp farm as ‘yellow’ after the TSFR developed various aspects of fisheries, especially in procuring fishmeal for shrimp feed to reduce environmental impacts on communities,” the report said. The aim now was to secure a “green” rating for Thai shrimp farms to appeal to consumers worldwide, it added.
TSFR is an eight-member alliance of the National Fisheries Association of Thailand, Thai Overseas Fisheries Association, Thai Fishmeal Producers Association, Thai Feed Mill Association, Thai Frozen Foods Association, Thai Shrimp Association, Thai Tuna Industry Association and Thai Food Processors’ Association.
Meanwhile, Sujint Thammasart, Aquaculture Business chief operating officer at Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF), said the company’s fishmeal procurement policy was to avoid environmental damage.
“Currently, the company uses fishmeal [made only from] fish caught under the MarinTrust Standard Version 2.0, in line with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries,” he said.
He added that the company was one of the initiators of the Fishery Improvement Project to develop fisheries in Andaman sea and the Gulf of Thailand.
“Also, we cooperated with MarinTrust to develop mixed trawl fishery evaluation criteria to make a fishery standard for Asean countries, covering engagement from supply chain stakeholders, such as government and private sector.”
The UK launched formal economic ties with Asean on Wednesday as economic ministers from all 10 members of the regional bloc met with the UK’s top trade official.
The UK-Asean Economic Dialogue 2020 was co-chaired by Asean Economic Community Minister Tran Tuan Anh of Vietnam and UK International Trade Secretary Liz Truss.
The dialogue aims to further trade and bolster economic recovery efforts amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Truss said the meeting had discussed building a framework for economic collaboration between the UK and Asean.
“We want our relationship with the Asean region to strengthen and grow, continuing the partnership we have had for more than 40 years.
“The current crisis proves now more than ever the importance of international engagement and finding global solutions to global challenges,” she said.
Free trade and resilient supply chains were crucial to the global economic recovery, Truss added, citing the Hanoi Plan of Action on Strengthening Asean Economic Cooperation and Supply Chain Connectivity in Response to Covid-19.
The UK said it will work with Asean on research to help strengthen UK-Asean supply chains.
Meanwhile officials on both sides of the dialogue agreed that the current economic climate was an opportunity to build a greener and more sustainable global economy, in line with the Paris Agreement in advance of COP26, next year.
Truss outlined the critical opportunities that could enable countries to take an early adopter advantage in low-carbon as a response to Covid-19. She encouraged sustainable infrastructure investment and approaches to stimulate green growth as part of wider economic recovery plans.
The UK offered to further collaborate with the region on its plans to tap into low carbon growth opportunities, and to deliver sustainable and enduring infrastructure projects that boost connectivity in the region, in alignment with the Masterplan on Asean Connectivity 2025.
The UK already provides technical assistance to develop green financial systems and energy efficiency across the Asean region, including through its £15-million (Bt619 million) Prosperity Fund Low Carbon Energy Programme and £12-million global Green Recovery Challenge Fund.
The UK also outlined future areas of economic collaboration, including nurturing digital innovation to help businesses in the region find a place in the burgeoning digital economy.
“The post Covid-19 world will be one that is characterised by rapid digital adoption, and Asean is at the heart of this sea change in lifestyle and business transformation,” noted Natalie Black, UK Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific.
“The dialogue marks an important step in strengthening UK-ASEAN collaboration on innovation and trade, and we hope to further mutual exchanges and nurture new ideas that can better lives in the region and around the world.”
The UK said it will deepen its digital partnership with Asean through its Asia Pacific Digital Trade Network launched in June and by kick-starting a new UK-Asean Digital Business Challenge, exploring how tech micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) can deliver solutions to tough business challenges.
Moreover, the UK would continue to work closely with the Asean Business Advisory Council (ABAC) to develop a private sector regional digital trade connectivity road map, complementing the Asean Single Window programme which can lead to more facilitative trade within Asean and beyond.
Revenue Dept simplifies tax payment via 9 digital gateways
NationalAug 27. 2020Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Director-General of the Revenue Department
By The Nation
Nine digital gateways have been opened to help taxpayers file their returns before the looming deadline on August 31. The Revenue Department said the nine gateways were designed to make tax-filing quick and hassle-free for businesses and individuals.
Last week the department acknowledged that pandemic-hit Thailand will fall short of its targeted Bt2 trillion in tax revenue this year, based on an earlier GDP projection of 3.5 per cent growth, since adjusted to 8 per cent contraction.
The department was doing its best to meet revenue targets by applying the right approach to the right segments via the nine digital initiatives, director-general Ekniti Nitithanprapas told the “Easy Tax Transforms Your Life” forum at Impact, Muang Thong Thani this week.
The nine digital gateways are:
1. Tax from Home
* E-registration. Internet-based tax return filing registration and submitting relevant documents through e-mail without the need to visit revenue branch offices.
* E-Filing. Internet-based tax return filing, with extended filing and payment period, helps the private sector to manage their cash flows to the best effects.
* E-payment. Electronic tax payment benefits from most commercial banks’ waiver of service fees for e-filing and e-payment until December 31.
* E-refund. The Revenue Department will refund overpaid tax to individuals and corporations through the convenient, fast and secure PromptPay system.
2. My Tax Account provides a list of allowances and tax privileges for individual taxpayers to examine. Information includes health insurance premiums, e-donations, contribution to the Government Pension Fund and to the Social Security Fund. This will reduce the burden of keeping documents and speed up personal income tax return filing and tax refund.
3. e-donation developed to store donation information of organisations and allow donors to use their tax deduction right without having to keep donation receipts. Taxpayers can check their donation information at My Tax Account section on the Revenue Department’s website.
4. Open API allows start-ups to connect their systems with the Revenue Department’s system to facilitate taxpayers’ online tax return filing and tax payment, now available through iTAX and noon platforms.
5. RD Smart Tax Application is an app that makes taxation easier. It provides news, tax knowledge, online tax return filing service, and maps for Revenue Department agencies nationwide. It can be downloaded from App Sore and Google Play.
6. VRT on Blockchain is the world’s first mobile app-based tax refund for tourists system equipped with the Blockchain technology to connect information from public and private organisations, making VAT refund for tourists fast and easy.
7. e-Tax Invoice & e-Receipt include electronic tax invoice, debit note, credit note and receipt with digital signature. It helps cut costs and time for business operators preparing and submitting these documents.
8. e-Withholding Tax applies when payment is made to a domestic or foreign recipient. The system automatically submits information and tax at the same time as the payment is made through commercial banks providing this service. This helps shorten the process and reduce costs and tax required, with supporting documents inspected on the Revenue Department’s website.
9. e-Stamp Duty is an internet-based stamp duty payment system for electronic instruments, providing enhanced convenience while reducing hassle and saving time. It also supports the government’s National e-Payment policy and makes e-Business practice more agile and
“The period for personal and corporate income tax return filing and payment for tax year 2019 will end this month, so income earners are encouraged to file tax returns through electronic system on the Revenue Department’s website www.rd.go.th,” said Ekniti.
For more information taxpayers can contact the RD Intelligence Centre on 1161 or any Revenue Department office nationwide.
TAT launches ornamental fish light and sound show in bid to boost tourism in Ratchaburi
NationalAug 27. 2020Sareeya Boonmak, director of TAT Ratchaburi
By The NationThe Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s office in Ratchaburi has joined up with Ban Pong Municipality and the private sector to launch “Aqua Illumination”, an exhibition of ornamental fish with a light and sound show to boost tourism in the province.
Sareeya Boonmak, director of TAT Ratchaburi, said the exhibition will be held on the second storey of the Ban Pong Municipality’s community hall from Friday (August 28) to September 6.
“At the exhibition, ornamental fish will be displayed inside different types of fish tanks set against light and sound,” she said. “The display was designed by Sakul Intakul, a leading Asian floral designer, while the multimedia show as made by a team of Thai digital artists.”
The exhibition is divided into three zones, namely:
Heaven and Earth: This zone comprises a 2.4-metre high fish tank decorated art inspired by murals at Wat Kongkaram.
Bamboo Grove: This zone comprises cylindrical fish tanks inspired by Japan’s Arashiyama bamboo grove.
Fish tanks: This zone displays tanks in different shapes, such one with a background featuring traditional Ratchaburi loincloth patterns, an aquarium tunnel made to look like a cave with stalactites and a 3m-high fishbowl for Siamese fighting fish.
“Government and private sectors in Ban Pong district have also set up stalls to sell souvenirs,” Sareeya said.
Ratchaburi has at least 350 ornamental fish farms with at least 1,500 rai devoted to the sector, which generates up to Bt600 million yearly.
“Ornamental fish from this province are exported to countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, China, Germany, the US and Australia,” she said.
“Ban Pong district has been trading in ornamental fish for a long time because it is abundant in water and is near the provincial airport. It specialises in goldfish, fancy carp, rainbow shark, black shark minnow, red tail shark and bala shark.”
For more information, call (092) 283 1792, (032) 919 176-8, or visit the TAT Ratchaburi Office Facebook page.
An Italian satellite orbiting high over Thailand has captured dramatic images of floods spreading over Sukhothai and Phitsanulok provinces.
Photos snapped by the COSMO Skymed-1 satellite show more than 125,000 rai of the two provinces is underwater after recent storms lashed the lower North.
In Sukhothai, the flood covers around 1,000 rai and has hit residents of six districts and 42 subdistricts. In Phitsanulok, water has submerged approximately 25,000 rai, inundating villages in three districts.
Most of the flooded areas are low-lying valleys and farmers’ fields.
Local officials have launched a water diversion operation, redirecting the floods into the water retention basins known as “monkey cheeks” initiated by His Majesty King Rama IX.
Farmers have been hit hard by the flooding, which has ravaged 14,000 rai of rice fields in Sukhothai and 2,000 rai in Phitsanulok.
GISTDA continues to monitor the country’s water situation as part of flood control measures. The public can check the water situation in their local area at the websites http://flood.gistda.or.th or http://gmos.gistda.or.th/.
Government Savings Bank (GSB) is offering emergency loans for people who have been affected by floods caused by tropical storm Higos that has hit Northern Region earlier this month, GSP president Withai Ratanakorn said.
“Two loans are now being granted. One is the ‘Home Repair Loan for Victims of Natural Disaster’. New and existing customers can apply for this loan not exceeding Bt500,000 of estimated damage to their homes under a maximum 40-year repayment plan,” he said. “GSB grants free interest in the first year and a 3 per cent fixed rate until year three. From the fourth year, interest will be at MRR -0.75 [the current MRR is 6.245 per cent],” Withai added.
“The other loan is the ‘Loan for Rehabilitation after Natural Disaster’ at Bt50,000 per person under a 3-5-year repayment plan. This loan offers three-month grace peirod and free interest in the first year, after which the interest will be at a flat rate of 0.85 per cent per month,” he said.
“Applicants for either loan will be exempted from a loan application fee and must present at least one personal guarantor with a monthly salary of Bt9,000 or more,” Withai said.
“Alternately, applicants can use their savings account, GSB lottery or property as collateral, or use the Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation [TCG] as a guarantor if they joined its micro entrepreneur program, in which case GSB will help pay 2 per cent of the guarantor fee to TCG from the second year until the contract ends.”
For more information, contact the GSB call centre at 1115 or visit www.gsb.or.th, Facebook: GSB Society, Official Line: GSB.
The Criminal Court on Thursday (August 27) issued a death sentence for the man behind the fatal gold heist in Lopburi province earlier this year.
Prasittichai Khaokaew, a former school principal in Singburi province, was taken to the court on Ratchadaphisek Road to hear the verdict for the gold-shop robbery in which he shot dead three people, including a two-year-old child, and seriously injured one other.
The defendant was also fined Bt1,000 and ordered to pay compensation to all victims, including a 7.5 per cent per annum interest rate, until the payment is completed.
According to evidence presented to court, the attacker was holding a 9mm automatic firearm with a silencer when he entered Robinson department store, where he shot and killed security guard, a toddler and a woman at the Aurora Gold Shop. He also shot and seriously injured a fourth person.
Prasittichai then helped himself to 22 one-baht gold chains and 11 one-saleung gold chains worth Bt664,470 before fleeing on a motorbike. He was arrested on January 22 over nine charges, including using firearms without permission, murder and attempted murder.
The Rayong Administrative Court has made history by helping conflicting parties reconcile their differences over a wastewater dispute instead of going in for a final verdict, Stop Global Warming Association president Srisuwan Janya said.
He said the court asked the association, the Rayong Province Industrial Office and Boontaweesin fertiliser factory to meet over the wastewater problem with locals.
The case dates back to last year. Amid the wastewater problem with local people, Boontaweesin submitted the matter to the court in July 2019, asking it to resolve the dispute with a final verdict.
The court, however, ordered the factory in August 2019 to investigate the wastewater problem, locate the leak, check water quality every two months and report to the court. If the operators did not act accordingly, the court said, the Rayong Industrial Office would be made the operator instead and Boontaweesin would be handed a fine not exceeding Bt50,000 per day while having to bear all operating expenses.
The fertiliser factory finally agreed yesterday (August 26) to hire a private wastewater treatment company to carry out the pumping and dredging of all contaminated sludge in Bang Phai canal for treatment from September 8, with expenses of more than Bt13 million.
Srisuwan said the Administrative Court has made history, as it did not have to make a final verdict and the case would be a model to stop disputes between state, private and civil sectors in future.
Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Director-General of the Revenue Department 
Sareeya Boonmak, director of TAT Ratchaburi 
