A conclusion of free trade negotiations is expected next year, she added.

“The negotiations will centre on market opening, reducing or canceling tariffs on goods from both countries,” she said. “We expect the agreement to comprise 11 articles”.

She said Turkey is a potential market with a population of over 80 million and a strategic location connecting with three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe.

“This agreement will help boost the combined trade value to US$2 billion next year from $1.42 billion last year,” she said.

“Major Thai products expected to benefit from an agreement include garments, vehicles and components, organic compounds, plastics and plastic products, rubbers and rubber products, boilers, machines, electronic devices, tropical fruits and vegetables, among others”.

Turkey is Thailand’s 36th largest trade partner, and the fourth largest market in the Middle East.

In 2018, total trade value between the two countries stood at $1,427 million with $1,082 million in exports and $345 million in imports.

Main Thai export products to Turkey include cars, equipment and components, air conditioners and components, synthetic fibres and rubbers while main import products from Turkey are chemicals, machine, clothes, accessories, gems, trains, equipment and components,among others.

A fisherman saw two crocodiles diving from the bank into the lake after they noticed the light from the boats. He warned the others so they could ready their equipment.

One crocodile was eventually caught with a rope and brought to the bank but the other managed to get away. The captured crocodile is 2.4 metres long and weighs 70-80 kilograms.

The lake is located 500 metres from a crocodile farm and about 20 crocodiles have escaped from that farm.

The villagers have to monitor crocodiles lurking around in the waters at night to snatch livestock.

Officials and the representative from the crocodile farm tried to discuss the problem with residents but no serious action had been taken yet.

The director of the Satun Office of Natural Resources and Environment, Pornchai Pechpimpun said on Monday (November 25) that the birds fled from cold weather in Siberia and northern China to find a warm place to live.

“The benefit we obtain from them is they will eat shrimps, clams, crabs, and fish, especially golden apple snails which are one of the main rice field pests,” he said.

“Groups of 70 to 300 openbill storks are living in many districts, namely Mueang, Tha Phae, La-ngu, and Manang. Satun province has plenty of food and the people are friendly to the birds,” he said.

He added that openbill storks are considered as reserved wildlife under the Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act, B.E. 2562 (2019) which took effect on November 25 this year.

“The staff will follow up these birds in order to monitor various diseases which may infect people. The birds will migrate back to the North in June,” he added.

The summit was also attended by Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana, Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Minister Suwit Mesinsee, and Industry Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit with discussions focusing on bilateral cooperation between two governments and the private sector in the following areas.

1. Trade and investment: Both parties agreed to push the trade value to exceed US$20 billion by 2020, and discussed the possibility of drawing up a Thailand-Hong Kong free trade agreement, as well as adjusting the terms of investment protection for the private sector to suit the current situation.

2. Production base migration: Both parties agreed to promote cooperation among private sectors to exchange technologies, facilities and activities that enhance the efficiency of both Thai and Hong Kong entrepreneurs.

3. Finance: Both parties will work together to establish a firm connection between each other’s stock and capital markets via innovative investment products, regulatory mapping and green investment.

4. Innovative economy: It was noted that Thais and Hong-Kongers have strong creative powers especially in cinema, advertising and design and that these need support from the government as well as adding value to create related products and services.

5. Digital and technological start-up: Both parties realise the importance of creating innovative and technological ecosystems and agreed to use Hong Kong Cyberport and Innospace Thailand as starting platforms to promote start-up enterprises through cooperative research and knowledge sharing.

Lam and Somkid also signed five memoranda of understanding on strengthening economic relations between Thai and Hong Kong agencies, namely, the Creative Economy Agency and Hong Kong Design Centre; the Creative Economy Agency and Hong Kong Trade Development Council; the Federation of Thai Industries and the Federation of Hong Kong Industries; the Board of Investment and the Federation of Hong Kong Industries; and the National Science and Technology Development Agency and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks.

“The event will be held in other regions of Thailand in the future, aiming to persuade new-gen people to drink a lot of milk and secure the customer base of the Thai-Denmark brand” she said. “The brand’s target is everyone between the ages of 13 and 53 who want quality health products that meet their needs.

The event is expected to help the Thai-Denmark state enterprise earn revenue by expanding the market as well as preventing an oversupply of milk in the future. It is also in line with the government’s policy to encourage people to take care of their health.

“Statistics show that Thais consume only18 litres of milk a year, which is much lower than the 25 litres per year recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO)” added Mananya. “On average, global consumption of milk is nearly 113 litres per person per year”.

DFPOT director, Narongrit Wongsuwan, said that his agency is also aiming to increase consumption up to the recommended level by 2026. “It will also play an important role in improving the Thai dairy industry,” he said. The upcoming festival is also aiming to change the mindset that drinking milk is old fashioned.

Manaya stressed the importance of helping dairy farmers adapt to the opening of a free trade area (FTA) in the future. “The FTA will affect the Thai dairy industry and also milk products” she said. “We need to prepare now.”

Bangkok Governor, Pol Gen Aswin Kwanmuang said on Thursday (November 28) that parking in the area is currently prohibited and that he has instructed local authorities to coordinate with building owners to clean up the awnings in order to improve the landscape.

“We are considering guidelines for turning this area into a pedestrian street,” he said. “It will feature various activities including musical performances and small retailers. Details will be discussed later but the main objective is to keep it clean and tidy to attract local and foreign tourists. For the landscape improvements along the path from Khlong Ong Ang to Pom Maha Kan fort, we need to obtain permission from the Board of Rattanakosin Island before proceeding.”

The governor added that BMA has also scheduled to open two roads as walking streets, namely Yaowarat Road in Samphanthawong district and Silom Road in Bang Rak district, December 15 this year while on December 16, it will launch another at Khao San Road in Phra Nakhon district.

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Yaowarat could soon have Sunday walking streets

It closed yesterday under 1600 with sentiment taking a negative turn following US President Donald Trump’s signing of a law supporting the Hong Kong protests, which annoyed China and could disrupt ongoing trade talks between the two countries,

Total foreign sales yesterday brought the three-day total to Bt1.7 billion and marked the second day of Short S50 Futures, increasing to 17,213 contacts. Global stock trading slowed as Wall Street shut down for the Thanksgiving celebrations while the European stock market decreased slightly by 0.2 to 0.3 per cent due to Trump’s signing of the law,

Investors today are predicted to delay investments, instead waiting to see the trade and direction of US stock market when it reopens today

DJ futures dropped 0.2 per cent and the Bank of Thailand (BOT) will reveal economic numbers for October.

Trading this morning was down though consumption in Thailand expanded slightly and tourism showed a satisfying increase. Outstanding stocks today were AOT, BDMS, BEM, BJC, CPALL, JWD, and SCB.

The message, which drew attention from both supporters and the opposition, was initiated on the Twitter account @tanawatoffical along with the caricature of a character whose face is similar to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

After being criticised for only conducting political movements on social media, the pro-democracy and anti-military group is taking its message to the streets.

The first run hosted by student activists will take place in Bangkok on January 12 and the second in Chiang Mai on January 19.

According to data from Deloitte Singapore, capital raising activity in the first10.5 months of 2019 produced 138 initial public offerings (IPOs), generating US$6.8 billion in total funds raised. The IPO momentum was largely driven by Thailand and Singapore, which respectively accounted for 39 per cent and 33 per cent of total funds raised. This compares to 152 IPOs for the full year 2018, which raised $9.5 billion.

Thailand’s Asset World Corp took top spot on the Southeast Asia leaderboard with the largest listing of US$1.38 billion funds raised. Prime US REIT was the largest listing in Singapore, ranking second in Southeast Asia with $612 million raised.

This year, Thailand overtook Vietnam as the biggest market for IPOs in Southeast Asia. A stable economic growth, strong currency, low interest rates and consistently strong domestic liquidity have allowed the Stock Exchange of Thailand to net $2.63 billion in IPO proceeds as of November 15. This marks the third consecutive year that Thailand has raised more than $2 billion from IPO listings.

“The performance of Thailand’s IPO market in 2019 is largely driven by home grown companies and both foreign and domestic investor liquidity is high, which continues to generate strong appeal for investors and fund managers. We are seeing a strong deal pipeline for Thailand and we expect capital market activity to continue to increase the total market capitalisation of the Stock Exchange of Thailand,” said Wilasinee Krishnamra, Disruptive Events Assurance leader at Deloitte Thailand.

Singapore’s IPO market saw a four-time increase in funds raised this year. As at November 15, the Singapore Exchange (SGX) raised a total of $2.26 billion in IPO proceeds from 11 IPO deals as compared to $551 million funds raised from 2018’s 15 IPO deals. This includes four trusts IPOs on SGX Mainboard with $2.22 billion funds raised and seven deals on the Catalist board that raised $43 million.

The real estate sector continues to have a strong IPO track record on the Singapore bourse. Of the four trusts, three comprised assets from the United States in a variety of property types including hospitality, retail and offices. Although the range of capital raising options has increased significantly in recent years, SGX still has the most REITs listed (excluding Japan), according to data as of November 15, and continues to have a strong diversified portfolio of mixed assets. This is largely due to tax transparency, the regulators’ progressive framework and strong secondary fundraising activity.

The rise of private exchanges and the growth of private equity investors – where from the issuers’ perspective, may allow for faster and greater access to funds with less costs – as well as the option of an overseas listing, has changed the landscape of fund raising in Singapore as mid-market enterprises look beyond a Catalist listing. Stock exchanges will need to adapt to this changing landscape if they are to stay relevant as well as continue to innovate to attract issuers.

Commenting on the outlook for 2020, Tay Hwee Ling, Disruptive Events Assurance leader, Deloitte Southeast Asia and Singapore, voiced guarded optimism for the region. “For most companies, the public equity markets will remain the natural listing destination and the performance of capital markets is vital to the health of the economy. Based on the region’s growth potential, we expect the markets in Southeast Asia to remain dynamic and attractive to investors.

“For Singapore, we are expecting a strong pipeline of listings from the REITs and service-based companies in 2020. While there is no lack of liquidity in Singapore’s capital market, as evident from the strong secondary fundraising market of S$5.8 billion (US$4.25 billion) and the sizeable funds raised of S$3.1 billion (US$2.26 billion) from IPOs in 2019, we foresee that companies will be more discerning in weighing the pros and cons of an IPO vis-à-vis a private capital raising option,” Tay added.