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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404264

Four of 10 PPP projects worth over Bt160bn approved for 2021

NationalMar 29. 2021

By THE NATION

The State Enterprise Policy Office (SEPO) has approved government investment this year in four public-private partnership (PPP) infrastructure projects worth a total Bt162.95 billion. The four are among 10 projects worth Bt200 billion that SEPO’s Public-Private Partnership Committee is screening for government investment in 2021.

The four projects are:

1. Bangkok’s Purple Line southern extension (Tao Poon-Rat Burana), valued at Bt124.7 billion.

2. Construction and management of rest areas on Bang Pa-In-Nakhon Ratchasima highway (Bt1.6 billion).

3. Construction and management of rest areas on Bang Yai-Kanchanaburi highway (Bt1.45 billion).

4. First phase of Phuket mass transit system from Phuket Airport to Chalong Intersection (Bt35.2 billion).

The committee also revised the draft plan for long-term PPP investment (2020-2027), reducing the number of projects from 92 worth Bt1.09 trillion to 77 projects worth Bt1 trillion, said SEPO director-general Panthip Sriphimol.

“Of these, 20 projects are considered urgent and require immediate investment of Bt503.15 billion,” she added.

Meanwhile, Pakapong Sirikantaramas, governor of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), said the MRTA expects to sell bidding envelopes for construction of the Purple Line Tao Poon-Rat Burana section by June, with bidding due to take no more than two months.

“Construction should start by December this year, and we estimate the section will open for public use in March 2027,” he said.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404263

Bangkok clears jungle of cables hanging over Charansanitwong Road

NationalMar 29. 2021

By The Nation

Bangkok authorities started reorganising the mess of power and communication cables from Charansanitwong Road to Saphan Mon Bridge on Monday.

The decision to clear the mess was made after Bangkok governor Pol General Aswin Kwanmuang received complaints from Bangkok Noi residents on February 25.

“They wanted the governor to solve problems related to safety, health and environment in their area, and sorting out the mess of cables on Charansanitwong Road was one of their demands,” deputy governor Pol Lt-General Sopon Pisuttiwong said.

Sopon said the project of clearing overhead cables across approximately 4 kilometres should be completed by the end of April.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404261

Commerce Ministry boosts Thai food exporters with Covid Prevention Best Practice Certificate

NationalMar 29. 2021

By THE NATION

The Commerce Ministry has launched the “Thailand Deliver with Safety” campaign to boost confidence in Thai food products during the Covid-19 pandemic, highlighting safe manufacturing practices.

In 2020, four government ministries – Commerce, Public Health, Agriculture and Cooperatives and Interior – jointly signed an MOU on Covid-19 Prevention Best Practice in production of food for export, aiming to grant Certification of Compliance with Covid-safe practices to Thai businesses whose manufacturing practices meet international standards.

Somdet Susomboon, director-general of the ministry’s Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), revealed, “During the Covid-19 pandemic, consumers take extra caution when purchasing food products, prioritising the ingredient sources as well as reliable manufacturing practices.

The DITP has kicked off the “Thailand Deliver with Safety” campaign to boost confidence and reassure global trading partners and buyers that Thailand is a major source and leading global exporter of safe food products, including raw materials, agricultural products, vegetables and fruits, ready to eat food, frozen food and halal food, he added.

“The campaign ensures that Thai food manufacturers utilise advanced technology and global standards through manufacturing and packing to shipping.”

The Department of Fisheries has so far issued 72 certificates for Covid-19 Prevention Best Practice to 72 factories producing chilled, frozen or canned seafood. The factories are in Samut Sakhon (32), Songkhla (8), Chachoengsao (5), Rayong (5), Samut Prakan (5), Phetchaburi (4), Ranong (3), Chumphon (2) Nakhon Pathom (2), Bangkok (1), Ayutthaya (1), Pathum Thani (1), Chonburi (1) Satun (1), Kanchanaburi (1), Phang Nga (1), Phuket (1) and Trang (1).

Despite overall economic contraction in 2020, exports of Thai agricultural and food products actually grew in the second half of the year, generating US$13.640.80 billion for 1.4 per cent year-on-year growth.

The top five Thai food exports were:

1. Fresh, chilled, frozen and dried vegetables and fruits

2. Fresh, chilled, canned and processed seafood (excluding fresh, chilled, frozen and processed shrimp)

3. Rice

4. Fresh, chilled, frozen and processed chicken

5. Cassava products.

More Thai food manufacturers are set to obtain the Certificate of Covid-19 Prevention Best Practice to meet growing demand and retain the trust of the global market.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404257

Man allegedly behind comment on PM’s twins cries innocence

NationalMar 29. 2021

By THE NATION

The man who faces charges for allegedly defaming PM Prayut Chan-o-cha’s twin daughters insists he is innocent as he does not own a Twitter account and could not have posted the comment.

On March 20, a Twitter user had allegedly posted a comment calling on people to “rape Prayut’s daughters” before removing it.

Investigators later traced the alleged comment to a man and summoned him to Bangkok’s Nang Lerng Police Station. The man, however, has been insisting he is innocent and is saying he does not own the Twitter account that carries his profile picture.

He claims the photograph was stolen from his Facebook page, which he insists is his only social media account.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404256

39 new Covid-19 cases reported, most in Bangkok

NationalMar 29. 2021

By The Nation

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Monday reported 39 new cases, 11 of whom are returnees in quarantine facilities.

Meanwhile, 16 of the patients had been exposed to the virus while visiting high-risk areas. Bangkok topped the list with nine cases, followed by five in Samut Sakhon and one each in Kalasin and Maha Sarakham.

This is the first case in Kalasin after several months, CCSA spokesperson Apisamai Srirangsan said. The infection had been brought to Kalasin by a woman who visited a friend in the Bangkok hotspot in Bang Khae district on March 22.

Proactive testing led to the discovery of 12 cases, six of which were in Bangkok, five in Samut Sakhon and one in Ratchaburi.

Of the overseas travellers found positive, six are Thai returnees, three Indians, one Russian and one German national.

Meanwhile, 74 patients have recovered and been discharged.

As of Monday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 28,773. Of these, 25,715 infections had been contracted locally, including 16,052 who were found via proactive testing, while 3,058 were returnees. So far, 27,313 have recovered and been discharged, 1,366 are still being treated, while the death toll remains unchanged at 94.

According to Worldometer, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 127.78 million (up by 486,724) as of 10am on Monday. Of these, 102.97 million have recovered, 22.01 million are active cases (93,634 in severe condition) and 2.8 million have died (up by 6,799).

Thailand ranks 116th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 30.96 million, followed by Brazil 12.53 million, India 12 million, Russia 4.54 million and France 4.52 million.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404255

Thousands flee into Thailand as Myanmar launches airstrikes on Karen villages

NationalMar 29. 2021

By The Nation

Nearly 3,000 villagers from Myanmar’s Karen state escaped to Thailand on Sunday and have been given shelter in refugee camps in Mae Hong Son.

Myanmar military launched airstrikes on Sunday evening in several areas, including a displacement camp on the Thai border, killing at least two soldiers from the Karen National Union (KNU) and wounding several others.

This is the first air attack since KNU signed a ceasefire agreement in 2015. Tensions in Myanmar have surged after the military overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi’s government on February 1.

Sithichai Jindaluang, Mae Hong Son governor, said more people will seek refuge as the conflict in Myanmar worsens. He said he is waiting for the government to issue clear instructions on how they can be helped.

He said a temporary camp has been set up in Mae Hong Son’s Khun Yuam district to accommodate the refugees.

Local administration sources in Mae Sariang district, meanwhile, have said that there are no exact details on how many refugees have shown up because the area is overseen by the military and other agencies are prohibited access.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404254

Phuket aims to vaccinate 100,000 people in April in preparation for July 1 reopening

NationalMar 29. 2021

By The Nation

The governor of Phuket held an urgent meeting on Sunday with agencies and community leaders to discuss the allocation of the Covid-19 vaccine, urging all Phuket residents to prepare for the inoculation and sign up on the health officer website.

The meeting set the goal of vaccinating 100,000 people in April before the opening of the province on July 1, according to plans for accepting vaccinated foreign tourists without quarantine.

Governor Narong Woonclew said that 300,000 doses of vaccine would arrive in May according to the government’s promise, 200,000 in June, and 260,000 in July, totalling 920,000 doses. He urged local people to quickly register for vaccination within five days, before March 31. If the number of vaccinated people did not reach at least 50,000, it might affect vaccine procurement plan in the future, he said.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404250

Baht weakens, trend likely to continue until May

NationalMar 29. 2021

By THE NATION

The baht opened at 31.12 to the US dollar on Monday, weakening from its close of 31.10 on Friday.

The Thai currency is likely to move between 30.85 and 31.30 this week and between 31.10 and 31.20 during the day, Krungthai Bank market strategist Poon Panichpibool said.

The baht in the short term will move in line with the dollar. The US economic recovery has strengthened the dollar, while Europe is battling a new wave of Covid-19.

Poon advised investors to monitor funds flowing into the stock market.

He predicted that the baht would tend to weaken from April to the middle of May, adding that the Thai currency would strengthen at the end of this year.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404245

Krungthai Bank closes Pathumwan branch for a day after staff contracts Covid-19

NationalMar 29. 2021

By THE NATION

Krungthai Bank announced on Sunday via its Facebook “Krungthai Care” page that its Pathumwan branch in Bangkok will be closed on Monday for disinfection, as a staffer who works there had tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday.

“The staffer is a price estimation supervisor working on the fourth floor of the building,” said the bank. “He had displayed symptoms since March 25 and was tested on Sunday. The result came back positive for Covid-19.”

The bank added that four other staffers who had close contact with him, had also been tested and were told to stay in self-quarantine at home for 14 days.

“During the closure, the bank will perform deep cleaning and disinfection throughout the branch following the guidelines from Ministry of Public Health. We have already reported the situation to the ministry and the Bank of Thailand,” it added.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404243

Hot and hazy day forecast for upper Thailand, isolated heavy rains in the South

NationalMar 29. 2021

By THE NATION

The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Monday that a heat low covers upper Thailand leading to a hot to very hot day with haze in the North and the Central regions.

Meanwhile, the southerly and southeasterly winds bring humidity from the Gulf and the South China Sea to cover the lower North, the Northeast, the Central and the East regions, resulting in thundershowers and gusty winds in the areas.

People in upper Thailand should beware of the severe conditions, it warned.

The department also said that the easterly winds prevailing over the Gulf and the South would bring isolated heavy rains to the lower South.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Hot to very hot day with haze,; thundershowers and gusty winds in 20 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 20-29 degrees Celsius, highs of 37-41°C.

Northeast: Hot day with haze; thundershowers and gusty winds in 30 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 23-27°C, highs of 37-39°C.

Central: Hot to very hot day with haze; thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 24-27°C, highs of 38-40°C.

East: Hot day with haze, thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 26-29°C, highs of 32-39°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (east coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas and heavy rains in some areas; temperature lows of 24-25°C, highs of 32-35°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 23-28°C, highs of 33-37°C; waves less than a metre high and a metre during thundershowers.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Hot day with haze; temperature lows of 27-28°C, highs of 34-39°C.

Source: Thailand Meteorological Department