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https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40012594

The government panel tasked with developing the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) has approved plans for Thailand’s first international air show.

The Thailand International Air Show will be held at U-Tapao International Airport in Rayong in 2027 to promote the country as an Asean aviation hub and provide the Eastern Economic Corridor with a fillip.

The event, which is being organised by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), has now received a green light from the Eastern Economic Corridor development administration subcommittee.

The air show aims to showcase Thailand’s aerospace industry and advanced tech sectors to the world market. It will also promote the country as a world-class manufacturer and exporter of aircraft parts. In 2018, Thailand exported 3,180 aircraft parts and equipment, worth nearly 100 billion baht, according to the Board of Investment.

A series of EEC events will be held in the run up to the air show from next year as part of the Aviation & LOG-IN Week project. The TCEB expects the events and show to boost Thailand’s economy by 8.2 billion baht.

Published : February 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40012593

The average per capita income of Thai people is starting to recover to pre-Covid levels after a marginal slide during the pandemic, according to data from the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC).

The NESDC announced on Monday that Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 1.9 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2021, while GDP for the year grew 1.6 per cent.

The NESDC estimates that the Thai economy will expand within the range of 3.5 – 4.5 per cent, or about 4 per cent this year.

The agency said a study of the per capita income of Thai people was particularly interesting, especially during the pandemic.

In 2019, the income per capita was 243,705 baht per person per year, while in 2020, it fell to 224,962 baht, and in 2021, it was 232,176 baht, an improvement over the previous year but down 11,529 from the pre-Covid year.

In 2022, the income per capita is estimated at 244,838 baht per person per year, marginally ahead of the pre-Covid figure.

When the data for 2020 and 2021 are compared, the difference is only about 7,214 baht per person per year, the NESDC said.

The estimate for 2022 exceeds the previous year’s actual figure by 12,662 baht per person per year.

Factors that will help support the Thai economy in 2022 are recovery of domestic demand, recovery of the tourism sector, state investment, continued expansion of merchandise exports in line with economic recovery and world trade volumes, the NESDC said.

Published : February 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40012592

The government is predicting infection levels to remain high for 1-2 weeks as a result of social gatherings, Dr. Thongchai Keeratihatthayakon, deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Public Health, said, as a level 4 Covid-19 alert was sounded nationwide.

During a level 4 threat, virus prevention measures are tightened. As per government diktat, people are expected to:

– Refrain from entering risky places

– Refrain from eating together and drinking alcohol in the shop

– Avoid shopping in places with a large number of people, such as markets, malls

– Avoid being close to others outside the home.

– Refrain from participating in activities according to health ministry criteria

– Arrange 50 – 80 per cent of total workers to work from home

– Delay inter-provincial travel. If necessary, using a private car is highly recommended.

– Avoid going abroad

– If entering the country, you must stay in a quarantine facility.​

Covid-19 in Thailand is on the rise in all age groups, especially in the working group and students, said Dr. Chakrarat Pittayawong-anon, director of the division of epidemiology, Department of Disease Control.

More than 800 cases of severe Covid-19 incubation or pneumonia have been detected in the past two weeks, Dr Chakrarat stressed with concern.

In 53 per cent of patients found with the Omicron strain, no symptoms were found, while 47 per cent had symptoms, mainly sore throat, cough, and low fever.

Meanwhile, the global Covid-19 epidemic strain is the Omicron BA.2 strain, spreads more than 1.4 times faster than the BA.1 strain.​

More than 50 per cent of the cases in Thailand are BA.2 Omicron.

Prime Minister and Minister of Defence General Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the military to prepare field hospitals to deal with the situation and provide support at the local level, coordinating with the Ministry of Public Health.

Defence Ministry spokesman General Kongcheep Tantravanich said Army field hospitals have been set up across the country, providing 7,000 beds, and some field hospitals in the Army section are still in operation.

Published : February 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40012591

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Monday refuted rumours of the “Test & Go” scheme allowing foreigners into the country being paused, with spokesperson Apisamai Srirangsan saying the scheme was going on as usual.

Under the Test & Go scheme, 137,090 people had entered the country from February 1-20, and 3,495 people had tested positive for Covid-19, or 2.55 per cent of the total.

The public health system and measures used are still supportive and available, Dr Apisamai said.

“Even if it is a tourist coming from a European country that has relaxed virus preventive measures, they still have to follow the measures of the Thai public health system when they come to Thailand,​” she said.

Published : February 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012590

Tony Fernandes, the CEO of Capital A, formerly known as AirAsia Group, met Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn last week and urged the government to deal with three obstacles to boost the country’s aviation and tourism.

Fernandes suggested that Thailand:

– Suspend Thailand Pass, as tourists already have vaccine passport or vaccine certificate.

– Suspend the second RT-PCR test on the fifth day in Thailand, as tourists have to take a Covid-19 test before departure from their country of origin and on arrival in the Kingdom. This suspension will help reduce tourists’ expenses and complexity of entry procedures.

– Reduce Covid-19 insurance limit from US$50,000 (1.6 million baht) to $10,000.

Tony said Capital A is considering increasing new aviation routes from Jakarta to Hua Hin and other secondary cities in Thailand.

He added that if Capital A can operate this plan, it would help Thailand draw 10 million foreign tourists to the country and generate 625.80 billion baht in revenue.

“To make the plan a success, Thailand must open borders to four countries, namely Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Malaysia,” he said.

Meanwhile, Phiphat said the suggestion to reduce Covid-19 insurance limit would help boost the country’s tourism, but emphasised that Thailand Pass cannot be suspended because it acts as a data centre to enable officials to track tourists while travelling in Thailand.

He added that entry procedures are not complicated compared to when the country was reopened on November 1.

“If the government is still conducting two RT-PCR tests on tourists, it will increase tourists’ expenses and it would be hard for Thailand to recover its aviation and tourism industries,” Phiphat said, citing Fernandes’s remarks.

Published : February 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012588

As many as 567 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations with 13,251 fast chargers would be set up across the nation by 2030, Energy Policy and Planning Office (Eppo) director Wattanapong Kurowat said on Monday.

Speaking at a seminar organised by Eppo and King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, he said the office will ensure that the EV charging station development plan will be in line with the National Electric Vehicle Policy Committee’s 30@30 policy to produce and use zero-emission vehicles.

Eppo will also promote EV charging stations with 12,000 chargers and 1,450 EV battery-swapping stations by 2030.

He explained that a study on the locations of EV charging stations and number of chargers have been conducted based on accessibility, demand for electricity and appropriate operation costs.

“According to the study results, 567 EV charging stations with 13,251 fast chargers should be set up in Thailand, of which 505 charging stations with 8,227 chargers should be located in large cities and 62 charging stations with 5,024 chargers should be located in highway areas,” he said.

He explained that the EV-charging business would come with high operation costs and many factors would affect payback period, such as land renovation, charger installation and electricity costs.

“To ensure that the EV-charging business has appropriate operation costs and attracts investment, Eppo has proposed to support charger costs during the first two years,” he said.

He added that Eppo would extend the period of electricity price adjustment under low priority terms, allocate land for electric system preparation, create cooperation between the government and private sectors, and specify size of parking area to support EV charging.

“Eppo will utilise suggestions made in this seminar in the EV charging station development plan to support the government’s objective of promoting EV use in the country and ensure that the plan will meet every sector’s demand,” he said.

Published : February 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012584

The Cobra Gold annual wargames led by Thailand and the US kicked off on a reduced scale on Sunday, with the Thai Defence Ministry insisting Myanmar’s exclusion was unrelated to its crisis following last year’s military coup.

This year’s exercises are focused on humanitarian training drills.

“Cobra Gold”, which was launched in 1982, is the world’s longest-running multinational military exercise and serves as a platform for the US to forge alliances in Asia at a time of increasing competition with China.

Military personnel from China, India, Indonesia, South Korea and Australia are also taking part in this year’s exercise.

They will joined by 2,000 Thai and 1,200 American troops in field and humanitarian assistance drills until March 5 this year.

This year, the exercises will not feature the usual live-fire drills, amphibious landings and evacuation operations. Also absent, according to officials, will be the iconic cobra-blood drinking ritual that gives the wargames their name.

The last Cobra Gold before the Covid-19 crisis saw about 4,500 American soldiers participate in the exercise. That number fell to 106 in 2020 and 600 last year as the pandemic took its toll.

Despite the reduced scale again this year, the exercise will be an essential mechanism for strengthening military cooperation, said Defence Ministry spokesman Gen Kongcheep Tantravanich.

He said the exclusion of Myanmar, previously a Cobra Gold observer, for a second consecutive year was not related to the crisis in the country since last year’s February 1 military coup.

The US and other Western powers have condemned Myanmar’s military, also known as the Tatmadaw, for ousting Aung Sang Suu Kyi’s elected government and perpetrating atrocities against civilians. However, the Thai and Myanmar militaries have historically enjoyed strong ties.

Published : February 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012583

The Marine Department has approved Star Petroleum Refining (SPRC)’s plan to seal leaks in its undersea pipeline off Rayong, which still contains about 12,000 litres of oil.

Thousands of litres of oil gushed from an undersea pipeline at SPRC’s single point mooring (SPM) some 20 kilometres southeast of Rayong’s Map Ta Phut port on January 25. The company was also behind another oil spill on February 10 as it moved the pipeline to investigate the leak. The second spill caused about 5,000 litres of oil that was still in the pipe to gush into the sea.

The company said on Sunday that it will remove as much of the remaining oil in the pipeline as possible before using specialised triple-ply adhesive tape to seal both leaks. If that operation is successful, the leaking inner pipe will be removed and sent for inspection. SPRC said the pipe sealing operation will be carried out from Wednesday to Friday this week. It said it had notified the Marine and Pollution Control departments to deploy boats and safety equipment around the areas in case of accident.

In a separate incident, SPRC representatives filed a police report on Sunday after they found a bag of unknown chemicals dumped on Mae Ramphueng Beach in front of the Royal Rayong Hotel in Muang district. The bag was found following the clean-up operation to clear the beach of oil that washed ashore following the January 25 spill.

SPRC representatives said the bag was found on Saturday night (February 19). The unknown contents had an extremely strong chemical smell, so they marked it with a sign prohibiting anyone from moving the bag, before filing the police report the next day. SPRC staff reportedly speculated that the bag may have been left by someone trying to dump dangerous chemicals under the cover of the company’s beach cleaning operation.

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New oil slick washes up at Mae Ramphueng Beach despite SPRC’s blotting efforts

Star Petroleum faces lawsuit over latest oil spill off Rayong

Published : February 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012581

Border patrol police on the hunt for human traffickers in Tak province stumbled across two rare fishing-cat kittens on Sunday. The kittens were found in Phop Phra district after apparently being left by their mother who may have fallen prey to hunters.

Deciding that the tiny wild creatures were at risk from hunters or death by forest fire, the patrol placed them in a cage and sent them to the Phop Phra forest protection unit.

Chansawat Imnoey, chief of the forest protection unit, explained that fishing cats are mammals that usually live near water resources.

“Forest rangers will take care of these fishing kittens before sending them to Conservation Area Administration Office 14 to release them back to nature,” he said.

He also asked anyone who found fishing cats to send them to forest rangers as the species will become extinct if hunting continues for another 10 years.

Fishing cats, which grow to about twice the size of their domesticated cousins, are listed as “vulnerable” on the international Red List of Threatened Species.

Published : February 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012579

Thailand expects its new, Bt3.65-billion border point with Laos to be completed ahead of schedule next year before opening to boost Mekong region trade in early 2024.

The Beung Kan-Bolikhamsai Bridge will become the country’s fifth major border bridge across the Mekong River, connecting Thailand with Bolikhamsai province in Laos.

The bridge is now 32 per cent complete, said Bueng Kan authorities on Sunday, with construction progressing faster than expected and the opening date set for January 2024. Building work on the bridge began in June 2020.

The Bt3.65-billion project covers construction of roads, a customs checkpoint, a concrete bridge, and a multi-purpose area under the bridge.

The project is part of the Ayeyarwady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) to create a comprehensive transportation network connecting the Greater Mekong subregion.

The budget was provided by the Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA), except for 476 million baht provided by Laos for construction on its side of the river.

There are currently four Mekong River bridges – also known as the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridges – connecting Thailand with Laos: Nong Khai-Vientiane, Mukdahan-Savannakhet, Nakhon Phanom-Kham Muan, and Chiang Rai-Bo Kaeo.

Once complete, the fifth Friendship Bridge will transport people and goods between Beung Kan and Bolikhamsai, a town rich with rock mines, Jet Ketjamnong, adviser to the Beung Kan Chamber of Commerce, said on Sunday.

“Rocks imported from Laos will greatly aid the construction industry in the Northeast as the transport route will be shorter than the closest rock mines in Loei,” he said. “Furthermore, the bridge will cut the distance to Vietnam’s Vung Ang deep-water port down to only 300 kilometres, which will open new market opportunities for Thai exporters.”

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Naga Cave only open to 500 visitors per day, reservations required, says park chief

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Published : February 21, 2022

By : THE NATION