Tag Archives: The Nation

Thailand to import 10,500 tonnes of shrimp as domestic yield sinks

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https://www.nationthailand.com/business/econ/40018647

Thailand will import over 10,500 tonnes of sea shrimps this year to ease a shortage at processing plants. The move was announced on Monday at the first meeting of the shrimp board, chaired by Fisheries Department chief Chalermchai Suwannarak.

Thailand to import 10,500 tonnes of shrimp as domestic yield sinks

The new board has 21 members representing the government as well as shrimp farmers and processors.

Chalermchai said the board’s main goal is to help farmers by stabilising the price of Pacific white shrimp. But since domestic production cannot meet demand from processors for export, the board decided to allow 10,501 tonnes of shrimp to be imported from Ecuador and India this year, he added.

About 42 tonnes of shrimp have been imported since the Fisheries Dept approved shipments on June 10.

Chalermchai said the imports would not affect the price of Pacific white shrimp raised by Thai farmers but would only fill the gap in demand.Thailand to import 10,500 tonnes of shrimp as domestic yield sinks

The board has targeted domestic production of 320,000 tonnes of white shrimp this year, rising to 400,000 tonnes next year.

The board would also help sea shrimp farmers in 35 provinces increase quality and quantity of their produce by offering mobile clinics and hotlines to counsel farmers about shrimp diseases. Outbreaks would be dealt with quickly by the mobile clinics, the fisheries chief added.

This year, Thailand has produced 138,733 tonnes of shrimp up to the end of July – 129,100 tonnes of Pacific white shrimp and 9,632 tonnes of black tiger prawns, Chalermchai said.

Thailand to import 10,500 tonnes of shrimp as domestic yield sinksPanisuan Chamnarnwej, president of the Thai Frozen Foods Association, said importing shrimp was necessary to save the frozen food industry because domestic production has almost halved from 500,000 tonnes per year to 270,000 tonnes per year.

He said his association members would focus on processing shrimps for export so their imports would not affect domestic shrimp prices.

The association was also working closely with the Fisheries Dept to prevent imported shrimps spreading diseases to local farms.

Thailand to import 10,500 tonnes of shrimp as domestic yield sinksThailand now has about 30,000 shrimp farms covering 600,000 rai of land, according to the Federation of Thai Aquaculture. However, it confirms that production has dropped to 250,000-350,000 tonnes per year due to persistent outbreaks of early mortality syndrome (EMS).

Published : August 08, 2022

By : THE NATION

Calls for house quorum checking just a political game: Wissanu

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/politics/40018676

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam on Tuesday dubbed the opposition’s tactic of calling for quorum checking to disrupt House meetings a political game, although the tactic does not violate political ethics.

Calls for house quorum checking just a political game: Wissanu

Wissanu added that the inability of MPs to continue with meetings without disruption deserved criticism, but not a penalty as a violation of parliamentary ethics.

The deputy prime minister, who is the legal expert of the government, was commenting on the latest call by the opposition for a quorum check on August 3 to disrupt a joint House-Senate meeting to deliberate on the MPs election bill.

On July 8, the opposition had used the tactic to disrupt a House meeting that was held to acknowledge the government’s report on the progress of national reforms as required by Section 270 of the Constitution.

By February this year, four House meetings had been disrupted by the quorum checking tactic of the opposition and on one occasion, the House abruptly postponed a meeting after the coalition whips considered the number of government MPs would not make a quorum.

From 2019 to 2021, House meetings were disrupted 12 times due to lack of quorum.

At present, there are 487 MPs so at least 244 MPs are required to be present to make the House quorum. The coalition commands 275 MPs while the opposition has 212 MPs.

In the tactic, the opposition would call for a quorum check and stage a walkout. If there are not enough coalition MPs present, the meeting would be forced to end.

“It’s not as serious as to be labelled an ethical violation, because this is a weapon parliamentarians use to oppose what they disagree with,” Wissanu said.

Calls for house quorum checking just a political game: WissanuRegarding the dispute over the tenure of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Wissanu said those who want to seek an interpretation from the Constitutional Court should submit their request to the Election Commission (EC).

Wissanu said if such a request was submitted to the Office of Ombudsman, the office would have to forward it to the EC anyway as the office does not have the authority to request a ruling on this issue.

On August 5, activist Srisuwan Janya filed a complaint with the ombudsman, asking its office to seek a Constitutional Court ruling on whether Prayut’s tenure should be regarded as expiring this month.

Wissanu said one-tenth of MPs or one-tenth of senators can also directly petition the Constitutional Court for such a ruling, but if the complaint is filed with the EC the election watchdog would screen it first so the complaint would have weight when it is forwarded to the court.

The opposition Pheu Thai Party has said it would petition the Constitutional Court by August 17 to seek a ruling on whether Prayut would reach his eight-year limit under the Constitution on August 24.

Section 158 of the 2017 Constitution stipulates that a politician can be the prime minister for no longer than eight years with or without intervals.

But a House of Representatives legal team argued that Prayut’s tenure technically started on June 9, 2019 when he was appointed the prime minister with a royal command under the 2017 charter. The House panel says Prayut’s term would expire in 2027.

According to another school of thought, which counts Prayut’s tenure since the enactment of the 2017 Constitution, his term is seen as expiring in 2025.

Wissanu said on Tuesday that if the Constitutional Court does not issue an order to tell Prayut to stop working as prime minister, he would be able to continue to attend to all tasks, including signing documents and reshuffling senior government officials and Cabinet members.

The opposition has threatened to file a complaint with police if Prayut continues to work as prime minister after August 24. Wissanu said such a complaint would have no effect as long as the court does not issue an order to bar Prayut from working.

Published : August 09, 2022

By : THE NATION

Several countries confirm Bangkok Apec summit trip, no word on Russia

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/politics/40018642

Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said on Monday that several nations had confirmed their participation in November’s Apec summit in Bangkok – but would not say if Russia was among them.

Several countries confirm Bangkok Apec summit trip, no word on Russia

Thailand is walking a diplomatic tightrope as this year’s chair of Apec, after May’s summit in Bangkok saw a walkout by the United States and six other countries to protest Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The summit also ended without a joint statement.

Don said an increasing number of leaders from Apec (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation)’s 21 member economies had confirmed they would join November’s summit.

“But I won’t disclose the number for now. I’ll announce the final number when it is time,” he said.

The foreign minister was speaking to reporters at Government House after attending a meeting of the committee tasked with organising the Apec summit, chaired by the prime minister.

Don said preparations were on track and Thailand was now ready to host the summit.

Asked whether current global tensions would deter foreign leaders from attending the summit, Don said the international issues were discussed at the Asean foreign ministers’ meeting in Cambodia last week without any problem.

However, he expressed hope that international problems would ease before November’s Apec meet.

The foreign minister also urged cooperation from all sides in Thailand, warning that domestic political turmoil would discourage foreign leaders from participating in the summit.

Published : August 08, 2022

By : THE NATION

PM leaves it to Constitutional Court to decide his fate as PM

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/politics/40018637

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha reiterated on Monday that the Constitutional Court will decide when he will reach the eight-year limit of his premiership.

PM leaves it to Constitutional Court to decide his fate as PM

“I’ve said that this is a matter for the [Constitutional] Court,” Prayut said tersely when reporters asked him to comment on the opposition Pheu Thai Party deciding to seek a constitutional interpretation on Prayut’s tenure.

Pheu Thai said it would petition the Constitutional Court by August 17 to seek a ruling on whether Prayut would reach his eight-year limit under the Constitution on August 24.

Section 158 of the 2017 Constitution stipulates that a politician can be the prime minister for no longer than eight years with or without intervals.

Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew had said last week that Prayut’s tenure should expire on August 24 because his premiership should be regarded as having started from the day he was installed as head of the now-defunct National Council for Peace and Order following the 2014 coup.

But a House of Representatives legal team argued that Prayut’s tenure technically started on June 9, 2019 when he was appointed the prime minister with a royal command under the 2017 charter. The House panel said Prayut’s term would expire in 2027 instead.

According to another school of thought, Prayut’s term is seen as expiring in 2025 as this theory takes into account Prayut’s tenure from April 2017 when the constitution was enacted.

Prayut was approached for the comment after he chaired a meeting on preparations for the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum Summit in Bangkok in November. He said people from all sectors should behave as good hosts when delegates from 21 nations attend the summit.

He said the summit is a national matter and it would affect the country’s image so all groups should refrain from causing damage to the country’s reputation.

Prayut walked away from the press conference podium after giving a terse reply on the question about his term in office.

When reporters asked as he left whether he had assigned the Council of State, the government’s legal advisory body, to interpret the issue, Prayut simply shook his head without turning back and walked upstairs to his office on Thai Ku Fah Building.

Published : August 08, 2022

By : THE NATION

PM orders action to halt Bangkok floods, monkeypox outbreak

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40018680

Agencies have received orders from the prime minister to tackle two urgent issues, Bangkok floods and the monkeypox outbreak.

PM orders action to halt Bangkok floods, monkeypox outbreak

Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department is sending 18 water pumps to Bangkok districts flooded by heavy rain since Sunday. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt says the city needs replacements for 300 ageing water pumps to tackle the ongoing rainy-season flooding.

Prayut also ordered the military to prepare personnel and supplies for relief missions to help flood victims across the country, while provincial governors and local government agencies have been placed on alert.

PM orders action to halt Bangkok floods, monkeypox outbreak

The PM also ordered authorities to issue rapid compensation so flood victims can get back to normal life as soon as possible, the spokesman said.

Prayut urged people in flood-risk areas to follow updates from authorities closely.

PM orders action to halt Bangkok floods, monkeypox outbreak

On the monkeypox outbreak, Prayut ordered agencies to monitor the situation closely.

As of Tuesday, Thailand had recorded four cases of the disease.

The first batch of around 1,000 monkeypox vaccine doses is due to arrive in the country in the second half of this month.

The Public Health Ministry says two groups will be prioritised for vaccination – medical personnel and people who have been in close contact with known cases.

Monkeypox is far less infectious than Covid-19 and therefore not difficult to contain, according to medics at Ramathibodi Hospital’s Centre for Medical Genomics. They said one monkeypox patient can spread the disease to only one or two people.

The four monkeypox cases in Thailand have suffered no severe symptoms.

Thanakorn said that people who suspect they may have come into contact with the disease can visit their nearest hospital for a test or call the 1422 hotline for information.

Published : August 09, 2022

By : THE NATION

After Seoul video, MRTA assures Bangkok subway flood-proof

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40018679

The Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) of Thailand has allayed fears about flooding of its subway, saying the system has been designed to be flood-proof even when rainfall is at the highest level in 200 years.

After Seoul video, MRTA assures Bangkok subway flood-proof

The MRTA issued a statement after clips were circulated on social media from South Korea of floodwaters gushing down a subway in the Gwanak district in Seoul.

The MRTA operates the Blue Line, which is a subway with a total length of 48 kilometres and 38 stations.

The statement said the the entrance to the stations have been designed to be some 1.2 to 1.5 metres above ground level, which would already make it flood-proof. The height is based on calculation of high rainfall and subsequent floodwater level from records of rainfall in 200 years, the MRTA affirmed.

Each entrance is also equipped with a foldable “Stop Log” flood-prevention barrier, which is a metre high. The Stop Log” barrier will be used if the floodwaters rise above the height of the entrance.

The MRTA added that each entrance has water-trapping holes to trap rainwater, which would be pumped out.

Published : August 09, 2022

By : THE NATION

Energy Ministry told to consider power subsidies for low-income group

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40018675

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has told the Energy Ministry to consider subsidising electricity for vulnerable groups after he put the brakes on a planned increase in power fees for this month.

Energy Ministry told to consider power subsidies for low-income group

Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said Prayut met with the Energy Ministry and the Energy Regulatory Commission on Monday to discuss the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat)’s plan to raise the FT rate.

The FT or Float Time is based on “uncontrollable costs” of power generating, such as fuel prices, inflation, exchange rate and electricity purchasing from private power plants.

Thanakorn said the meeting resolved that the FT rate for August will not be increased, and when the new rate for September to December is enforced, the government will partially subsidise charges for vulnerable groups.

The spokesman said Prayut asked the Energy Ministry to work out details of the subsidy with other concerned agencies and send the proposal to the Cabinet for deliberation.

Prayut also urged the Energy Ministry to coordinate with Egat and look for ways to lower the cost of generating power for the remaining five months of this year, Thanakorn added.

“The PM is concerned that the FT rate increase will affect all sectors and the government will try its best to minimise the impact,” the spokesman said.

“If the FT increase is unavoidable, the Energy Ministry will look for new measures to help ease the burden on people. The government will, in particular, consider measures to help low-income people.”

Published : August 09, 2022

By : THE NATION

Labour Ministry eyes 5-8% increase in minimum wages, TCC airs concern

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40018672

The Labour Ministry plans to propose a 5-8 per cent increase in the minimum wage to the Cabinet in September.

Labour Ministry eyes 5-8% increase in minimum wages, TCC airs concern

Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin said on Tuesday that the increase will vary in provinces due to a difference in the cost of living. He added that it is time to boost minimum wages, especially after the hardship inflicted by the Covid-19 fallout.

“The government has helped prevent layoffs,” he said. “Now it is time for us and employers to boost workers’ morale.”

Suchart explained that the increase is based on Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP), inflation and cost of living.

The average daily minimum wage currently stands at 336 baht.

Labour Minister Suchart ChomklinLabour Minister Suchart Chomklin

He said steps should immediately be taken to help workers in Phuket, Bangkok and provinces in the Eastern Economic Corridor, adding that he hopes the new wage will go into effect from October 1 as many consumer goods are getting expensive.

He also said that this push for a wage increase was not a move to win votes, but was being sought to secure the country’s economy and security.

Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) chairman Sanan Angubolkul said the agency agreed with moves to boost the minimum wage because rising inflation has triggered a surge in the cost of living.

However, he said, the plan should be studied thoroughly from all dimensions.

“TCC agrees that wages should be increased based on the cost of living in different provinces,” he said.

However, TCC vice chairman Visit Limlurcha said the impact of rising production costs in each business sector is different.

For instance, he said, industries that consume a lot of electricity will see their costs rise higher than others. Also, he said, the increase in the minimum wage may subsequently increase the price of goods and services, thus resulting in an impact on consumers.

“Hence, it is necessary to thoroughly study the issue to ensure that workers can survive, businesses can continue operating and there is less of an impact on the economy,” he said.

Visit said the minimum wage increase will boost production costs by 5 to 20 per cent, depending on the number of workers a business has.

For instance, he said, industries that are automated may only face a 5 per cent increase in production costs.

To mitigate the impact of rising wages on the business sector, he said, the government should offer mitigating measures like supporting manufacturing technology, promoting alternative energy and giving entrepreneurs easier access to funding. He also said a National Single Window system should be developed to make it easier for businesses to apply for licences.

Published : August 09, 2022

By : THE NATION

Roads near new Rama III-Dao Khanong-Western Bangkok expressway closed to traffic

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Motorists have been advised to avoid using roads around the construction site of the 18.7-kilometre expressway linking Rama III, Dao Khanong and Bangkok’s Western Outer Ring Road for several months.

Roads near new Rama III-Dao Khanong-Western Bangkok expressway closed to traffic

Surachet Laophulsuk, Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) governor, said on Monday that work on the expressway has been accelerated and is already 33.46 per cent complete.

He added that though motorists have been advised to avoid the area, EXAT has also implemented measures to ensure everyone’s safety.

“According to data, no fatal accidents have taken place in the area so far,” he said, adding that that fact alone makes it a “zero-accident zone”.

The areas that have been closed are as follows:

• Rama II Road traffic island from KM600+000 to KM12+000 closed until October 2024.

• Rama II Road traffic island from KM600+000 to KM1+000 closed until April 2024.

• Road behind Suksawat toll plaza (inbound) closed until June 30, 2023.

• Left lane at the Rama IX Bridge exit (Thonburi side) from September to June 2023.

• Left lane at the Rama IX Bridge exit (Bangkok side) closed until March 30, 2023.

• Front of the Dao Khanong toll plaza closed from September 2022 to December 2023.

Published : August 09, 2022

By : THE NATION

Newly-born panda twins meet media in SW China | The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40018667

Cute alert! A pair of male giant panda twins, born on July 22, met media Monday at Chongqing Zoo in southwest China.

Cute alert! A pair of male giant panda twins, born on July 22, met media Monday at Chongqing Zoo in southwest China.

Published : August 09, 2022