Supattanapong urges positive approach
Supattanapong urges positive approachPeople shop for decorative items and gifts for the festive season at Sampeng market in Samphanthawong district. Apichit JinakulDeputy Prime Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow has called on the public and private sectors to stay positive to help boost the country's economic recovery next year. Mr Supattanapong said he is confident that investment applications filed to the Board of Investment (BoI) will reach 600 billion baht this year, which is close to the value achieved in 2019. The applications stood at 756 billion baht in 2019 and 481 billion baht in 2020. "We've already submitted the measures to the cabinet, but it now rests upon the premier whether to bring it into the cabinet for approval at today [Dec 14]'s or next week's meeting," Mr Supattanapong said.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 14, 2021 03:24 UTC
Used rail carriages from Japan arrive
Used rail carriages from Japan arriveState Railway of Thailand staff take a selfie with train carriages donated by Japan which arrived at Laem Chabang port in Chon Buri on Monday. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)Seventeen second-hand passenger train carriages donated by Japan have arrived in Thailand, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) announced on Monday. The Kiha 183 carriages, which were previously in service on Japan Railways' Hokkaido Line, arrived at Laem Chabang port in Chon Buri on Monday. The process will take at least two years, he said, adding the carriages can be used for at least another 50 years. The first lot of 10 carriages, first used on the Hamanasu line in Japan, are now currently being refurbished.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 14, 2021 02:46 UTC
Omicron poses ‘very high global risk' but data on severity limited
Johnson said on Monday the first patient had died after contracting the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, Sky news reported. (AFP photo)GENEVA: The Omicron coronavirus variant, reported in more than 60 countries, poses a "very high" global risk, with some evidence that it evades vaccine protection but clinical data on its severity is limited, the World Health Organization says. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday the first patient had died after contracting the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, Sky news reported. "The overall risk related to the new variant of concern Omicron remains very high for a number of reasons," it said, reiterating its first assessment of Nov 29. The Oxford researchers said there was currently no evidence of Omicron causing more severe disease.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 13, 2021 22:44 UTC
Finding a place to discover and buy roast coffee in Thailand through Coffee Culture
Finding a place to discover and buy roast coffee in Thailand through Coffee CultureCould you believe that coffee in Thailand back three decades ago was barely even known? But since the first Coffee World opened in Thailand in 1997, the Thai coffee culture has been an ever changing trend. Through this, Susan Villota, Coffee Culture’s Founder & CEO, aims to improve the conditions for both the coffee roasters and coffee drinkers of Thailand. Coffee Culture was built to be a place where you can buy fresh roasted coffee beans and pre-ground coffee from different coffee roasters in Thailand. These cafés use coffee beans from Coffee Culture.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 13, 2021 11:44 UTC
Inflation to hit 3% in 2022
Thailand's average headline inflation was 1.15% year-on-year and core inflation 0.21% for the first 11 months this year. According to Ronnarong Phoolpipat, director-general of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO), Thailand's headline inflation is likely to top 3% next year from a range of 0.8% to 1.2% this year. "From such cost-push factors, Thailand's headline inflation in 2022 may possibly hit 3%, a rate last seen in 2012," he said. "Rising headline inflation may negatively affect salaried employees and farmers whose income does not come in line with rapidly rising expenses." For the first 11 months this year, Thailand's average headline inflation was 1.15% year-on-year and core inflation 0.21%.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 13, 2021 11:40 UTC
Academics weigh in on Premchai's case
Premchai Karnasuta (left) and three of his staff are arrested on Feb 4, 2018 for allegedly hunting wildlife in the World Heritage Thungyai Naresuan Sanctuary. The former president of Italian-Thai Development Plc and three of his staff were arrested on Feb 4, 2018, for allegedly hunting wildlife at the protected Thungyai Naresuan Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi. The group was permitted to enter the sanctuary after Premchai's request to study wildlife in the pristine forest was granted. "Moreover, the case was scrutinised to ensure wildlife offenders are punished, whether rich or poor." Panudet Kerdmali, secretary-general of the Sueb Nakhasathien Foundation, said the Premchai case has raised awareness about wildlife protection and conservation.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 13, 2021 10:09 UTC
On the right road
Nissan Thailand chief Isao Sekiguchi brings enthusiasm and adaptability to the challenge of keeping the carmaker in tune with changing times. Not surprisingly given his job, Mr Sekiguchi enjoys driving to test the performance, acceleration and speed of a car. The Thai government aims to have electric vehicles (EVs) make up 30% of total car production by 2030, Mr Sekiguchi notes. Covid-19, says Mr Sekiguchi, has been an unprecedented global event, with broad-ranging impacts that continue to change. PERSONAL FAVOURITESAsked about his most enjoyable travel experience, Mr Sekiguchi says the Maldives was one of them.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 13, 2021 07:10 UTC
Complex benefits OR's non-oil revenue
Complex benefits OR's non-oil revenueA newly renovated Cafe Amazon outlet on Phahon Yothin Road in Ayutthaya, where OR's food production and goods distribution complex is located. PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc (OR), Thailand's largest oil trader by volume, aims to increase its non-oil business revenue through a 6-billon-baht food production and goods distribution complex in Ayutthaya. The coffee roasting plant has a capacity of 4,500 tonnes a year, while the non-coffee unit focuses on tea, juice and dairy products. Construction of the complex required part of OR's investment in non-oil and overseas businesses, which comprises 65% of the company's 74.6-billion-baht capital expenditure allocated for 2021 to 2025. Building new Amazon coffee shops led to the company's plan to expand capacity for its coffee roasting facility, increasing it to 10,000 tonnes a year with a budget of 850 million baht.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 13, 2021 02:21 UTC
How leaders have reimagined developing people
More than ever, leaders need to be nurturing bosses who show team members how and where to develop their capabilities. We also need to give them a better answer to when this learning needs to take place. Leaders need to accept that their people know what they need to learn for today, and then emphasise sharing what they will need to learn for the future. Learning needs to take place on and around the job. Leaders need to advocate reflection, sharing, and developing the wisdom of the crowd over completing classes.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 13, 2021 00:21 UTC
The Challenging Road Ahead for Rivian's Billionaire CEO
Last month its initial public offering raised more money than any IPO on a U.S. listing since 2014, making Mr. Scaringe an instant billionaire. Mr. Scaringe declined to comment for this article, citing the so-called quiet period companies typically observe after an IPO. "The electrification of the auto industry,'' Mr. Scaringe said, "is a planet-wide imperative requiring more than 1 billion new vehicles.'' In all, Mr. Scaringe stands to own about 49 million shares if all his options were to vest. Building Rivian, Mr. Scaringe has said in past interviews, was a highly complex and emotional journey.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 12, 2021 23:55 UTC
Tens of thousands protest Austria compulsory Covid jabs
Tens of thousands protest Austria compulsory Covid jabsAustria last month became the first EU country to say it would make vaccination against the novel coronavirus mandatory. VIENNA - Tens of thousands gathered in Austria's capital Vienna on Saturday to protest mandatory Covid vaccines and home confinement orders for those who have not yet received the jabs. Police said an estimated 44,000 people attended the demonstration, the latest in a string of huge weekend protests since Austria last month became the first EU country to say it would make Covid vaccinations mandatory. Manuela, 47, said she had travelled in from out of town for the protest. A flurry of groups called for rallies on Saturday, including the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe), led by leader Herbert Kickl.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 11, 2021 23:40 UTC
Ministry pushes full cannabis legalisation
(Photo by Somchai Poomlard)The Ministry of Public Health will next year push for legalisation of all cannabis parts, lifting the last remaining hurdle preventing full use and commercialisation of the plant. Thailand earlier removed stems, roots, leaves and sprigs of cannabis from its Category 5 narcotics list, but kept flowers and buds on it. The next step is for the ministry to announce a revised narcotics list of all five categories based on the new law. (continued below)Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visits an exhibition of cannabis products at the ministry in January this year. “What we have achieved so far is to declare that cannabis stems, roots, leaves and sprigs are not drugs.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 11, 2021 23:18 UTC
Challenges stymie tour operators' recovery
Challenges stymie tour operators' recoveryA traveller wearing a protective mask is seen at Suvarnabhumi airport on Tuesday. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)Half of the outbound tour operators remaining in the market are facing tremendous challenges during the recovery period as they have insufficient staff and funds to cater to growing demand next year. Suthiphong Pheunphiphop, president of the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA), said only 400 of the 800 total outbound tour companies have survived the past two years, of which 150-200 operators are maintaining sales activities as they pivot towards domestic tour packages. They are unable to handle inquiries from customers such as big corporate groups who are looking for outbound trips next year," said Mr Suthiphong. In the first quarter next year, the TTAA has prepared at least five trips for tour operators that want to resume outbound services to Dubai, Switzerland, Germany, France, Scandinavian countries and the US.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 11, 2021 06:34 UTC
Cannabis clinics set to mushroom
Cannabis clinics set to mushroomSince Thailand launched its first cannabis clinic in August 2019, the Public Health Ministry has opened over 500 more nationwide. These clinics offer patients two types of medical cannabis: oil extracted from the seeds, and traditional cannabis remedies that use various parts of the plant including the leaves, roots or flowers. "Our plan is to open more cannabis clinics to cover most of the tambons across the nation," Dr Kwanchai said. He reportedly used cannabis oil to help treat his Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease when he was in the early stages of both almost a decade ago). "Our plan is to open more cannabis clinics to cover most tambons."
Source:Bangkok Post
December 11, 2021 03:34 UTC
More flights seen at Thai airports in December
More flights seen at Thai airports in DecemberNew arrivals at Suvarnabhumi airport, the country’s gateway, are instructed to go to a health-screening area on Tuesday. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)Reservation for international flights to main airports in Thailand has jumped more than 20% this month as the country is entering the high season for tourism. The airport-operating agency also said a total of 17,132 flights would land at its airports in the last two months of this year, most of them in December. The increasing number of flights reflected more air travel to Thailand during the peak season of the tourism sector, AoT said. Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai and Phuket are its facilities serving international travellers since the government reopened the country on Nov 1.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 11, 2021 00:51 UTC