Thailand to produce Cannabis oil from 2019

The Government Pharmaceutical Board allocated a budget of 120 million Baht for development of Cannabis varieties, plantation, and pilot-scale production facility of Cannabis oil starting 2019 (B.E. 2562). The plantation will be in Chonburi, with an area of 1,500 Rais. (1 Rai = 1,600 sq. meter) The processing plant would be in Pathum Thani.

Ref: Thai news from Manager Online

Thailand's 20 year strategic plan enacted

Today, October 13, 2018, the Royal Gazette published the announcement of Thailand's 20-year strategic plan for national development.

News source: Thai Post
Announcement in PDF

addendum: my translation of the related news.

On October 14, 2018, spokesman of the office of the Prime Minister said, the Prime Minister said as follows on the 20 years National Strategy (2018-2037, B.E. 2561-2580),  as it was announced in the Royal Gazette yesterday, is the first one of Thailand. Everyone must bring it into practice according to the vision of stability, wealth, sustainability, so that (Thailand) becomes a developed country on the basis of self-sufficient philosophy (of the late King Rama IX). 

The PM urged the media and every citizen to study and understand the plan, as well as the linked national reformation plan. The 5 year period from now is considered the most crucial. The present government has its duty to follow the framework, although (implementation details) be adjustable to suit (changing) situations. The present government has no intention to continue its power (via the plan.)

The (enacted) national strategy would serve as the master (development) plan for various ministries, in order to have clear directions, to have suitable budgets, with assessment report to come through the government to the national strategy commission, and to the country reformation commission. Any potential problems to be solved (for the country) must respond to (the issue on) sustainability of the country.

Benefits to the people are that every Thai citizen would be developed on every side, in every age group, (to ensure that they) have virtue, are skillful, are of high quality, have equality, and participate with the government sector. Meanwhile, the private sector could also use the plan as a guide to conduct their businesses.

PM emphasized that Thailand must escape from the so-called middle-income trap, and every facet of development must be balanced.  The 6 sides of development strategy are:- security, competitiveness, development, and promotion of human resources, the creation of more opportunities and social equality, the creation of growth on life quality which is environmentally friendly, and adjustment of balance and develop service management of the government sector.

News source in Thai: Manager

Plan for extension of high-speed train linking 3 Bangkok airports to eastern provinces

Bangkok (Feb 1, 2018): Acting governor of State Railways of Thailand revealed that SRT was given a 200 million Baht from the government's central budget  to study on extension of the high-speed train linking the 3 airports serving Bangkok, namely:- Don Meuang, Suwannabhumi, and Utapao, to the eastern provinces of Chanthaburi and Trad. The study will be conducted in parallel to the study of a track project extension. The study will take about 18 months.

Ref: Thai post

Thailand government's fiscal year 2018 budget enacted

October 2, 2017. Bangkok, Thailand.
The Royal Gazette (Ratchakitcha Nubeksa gazette) has published the Year B.E. 2561 (2018) Budget Act, after H.M. the King of Thailand has signed into law, after the recommendation of the National Legislative Council serving as the Parliament. The 2018 budget for the Royal government of Thailand will be 2.9 trillion Baht. The central fund’s budget would be 97.423 billion Baht.

Single-person company formation will be allowed in Thailand

Thailand Ministry of Commerce is about to submit a draft act on establishment of single-person company to the Thai cabinet for consideration.
After the cabinet approves, the draft act would go to the Council of State (Krisdika commission), and then to the parliament. It is expected to become law before the end of this year, 2016.
This is aimed to facilitate easier establishment of new SME and help them access to funds. Only
Thai nationals will be allowed to file for setting up single-person companies and measures will be set up to prevent against nominees of foreigners. The Ministry hope to double the number of registered companies to 1.2 million within 2 years after the law is passed.

There are 12 other countries which allow formations of single-person companies.

Ref: Manager (in Thai)

Secure chat system launched by Thailand government

Bangkok, April 22, 2016

Thailand's Prime Minister just said that a new system for LINE-like application, but with high security,  has been set up for government use. The so called G-Chat system would be useful for integrated collaborative works among government agencies. He said users can set up private conversations, or group conversations, vdo conference calls, as well as sharing of location. Thailand's Electronic Government Agency (EGA) has already launched the service.

Ref: Matichon (Thai language)

Thailand to put 3.755 Billion Bahts for digital economy drive

Thai cabinet authorized 3.755 Billion Baht budgets for digital economy drive projects as proposed by ICT Ministry.

6 facet of the objectives are
    ⁃    promote use of digital technology in SMEs, in e-tourism cluster and new start-ups
    ⁃    support quality society for the people to use digital technology wisely and responsibility, toward digital society, and access to media and knowledge and government's e-services
    ⁃    develop e-services for digital government, transforming work flow into digital one, facilitate government service by reducing steps, making the process quickly, transparent, availability for auditing.
    ⁃    develop  computer and network infrastructure to be updated, stable, can respond to crisis situations, and support integrated-service in the future, expanding broad-band links to serve needs in suitable (affordable) price.
    ⁃    develop cities / areas to bring digital technology to apply in improving quality of life for the people, and socioeconomic aspects (smart city)
    ⁃    develop human resource for digital world (digital age workforce).

Examples of projects are
    Project to develop community digital network
    Project to develop basic computer and network infrastructure
    Project to build quality society with digital technology
    Project to promote use of digital technology in SMEs
    Project to develop digital service in government
    Project to develop human resources for digital work
    Project to develop smart city
    Project to support management of projects to drive digital socioeconomy.

Translated from Blognone

Grand Challenges for research and development

The Grand Challenges Thailand initiative for researches will be funded by the Royal Thai Government under the framework of Thailand Research Organization Network (TRON) whose members include สวทช. National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), สกว. Thailand Research Fund (TRF), National Science Technology and Innovation Policy Office (STI), Health Systems Research Institute (HSRI), Agriculture Research Development Agency (ARDA), Office of the Higher Education Commission (OHEC), and National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT).

Ref: Impatient Optimists

Chief Justice of Thailand's Administrative Court suspened duty

Bangkok, March 30, 2015. A meeting of the justice commissioners of the administrative court voted 8:3 to suspend duty of the Chief Justice of the Administrative Court, pending further investigation, based on the case when a former Secretary Genereral of the Administrative Court was accused of sending a private request note to a former Police Department's (Director General) Commander recommonding a promotion of a junior police officer.

Ref: Matichon newspaper

PM: current Thai government worked a lot to solve human trafficking problem

Current Thai Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-o-cha gave an interview today arguing critics who criticized that the current Thai government had not done enough to solve problem of human trafficking and exploitation. He said his government has done a lot. A bill against human trafficking has been passed through the parliament.  Almost 70,000 fishing boats have been registered. Alien workers have been registered to prevent illegal exploitations. He also ordered that workers jailed in foreign countries be assisted. He said we are trying hard, as if picking up each pebble. He does not want to blame who caused our lowered ranking of Thailand into the US list of tier 3 countries.

Ref: Matichon

Thai cabinet approved 8 year 1.9 trillion Baht infrastructure plans

Deputy Spokesman of the Office of the Prime Minister announced that the Thai cabinet has approved 8 year plan for development of transportation infrastructures, 2015-2022.
The total investment would be 1.9 trillion Bahts, in following areas:

1) highway constructions for 620 billion Baht
2) dual train tracks for 490 billion Baht
3) city electric trains for 570 billion Baht
4) ports and travel destinations for  100 billion Baht
5) expansion of airports for 50 billion Baht
6) road networks in Bangkok's proximity areas for 65 billion Baht

Ref: Prachachat newspaper

Thai Taxi driver returned forgotten bag of 1 million Baht

March 19, 2015. Bangkok.
A Thai Taxi driver kindly drove to return a bag of over a 1 million Baht cash left on his taxi to his passenger at her residence after he was alerted by the next passenger and informed a traffic radio channel.

Thai news from voicetv

Note: There is a high frequency of this kind of news in Thailand that I started to think that it might be a good idea to try to keep track of them as evidence that our society still has lot of good people.

Defense Industry Park to be set up in Thailand

Governor of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand said that there would be signing of agreement between his agency and the Ministry of Defense for an possibility study for establishment of a defense industry park. A land plot of some 1000 acres would be needed and private corporations would be invited to set up firms to produce weapons or military equipments. The primary purpose is to reduce imports into Thailand. This project might materialize in the next 2 years.

Re: Than News

MOPH promotes medicinal plant for detoxification for hospital use

The Department of Thai Traditional Medicine and Alternative Medicine Development is now promoting the use of known local medicinal plant, known in Thai as รางจืด ('Rang Jeud', Thunbergia laurifolia) in government hospitals for detoxifications.

Number of suicides in Thailand for year 2013 was 3,939 cases, equivalent to a rate of 6.08 per 100,000 people. The common methods used were hanging, consuming either herbicides or insecticides.

Ref: ASTV Manager

Thailand drafted MOU with China on high-speed train routes

Thai cabinet approved a MOU draft for development of trains between Thailand and China, using the 1.435 meter standard gauge track.  This will be submitted to the National Legislature to approve it before signing. The content deals with G-to-G cooperations in the construction of parallel tracks in the 731 km route (from Nong Khai - Nakhon Ratchasima - Kang Khoi - Mab Ta Phut port) and a 133 km route (Bangkok - Kang Khoi).

Ref Thai Publica

Thailand to attract multinationals to set up headquarters

Thai Cabinet approved measures to attract international companies to set up their headquarters in Thailand. There will be reduced tax and exemptions, and other non-tax incentives, equivalent to those of Singapore, effective January 2015. Many government agencies will improve regulations on visa, and work-permits. BOI would also set up a one-stop service on this matter.

Ref : Thai Publica

Villagers protect their last forest plot with cement fence

Villagers in Sisaket province, northeastern Thailand, donated their labors and money around 6 million Bahts to built 2 meter tall cement fence surrounding the last forest land they have, 600 Rai or around 1 sq km, from illegal logging activities.

Ref: Nation TV

Thailand clears bad credit records older than 8 year of 600,000 people.

Thailand's Credit Information Protection Commission annouced in the Royal Gazette clearing bad credit records older than 8 year for 600,000 persons from database so that they would be eligible for financial credit applications to commercial bankings.

In addition, another annoucement stated that, from now, savings cooperatives would be classified as legal financial institutions, thus allow credit information from the coops to be included in the credit rating database so that more people would have access to financial sources.

Ref : Post Today.

Yingluck's First Car tax refund project proved disaster

TDRI concluded that the tax refund for 'first personal car' policy of previous Yingluck government was a complete financial disater for government as well as private sectors alike.

• Taxpayers lost tax revenue of around 82 billion Bahts.
• Car dealers suffered from false high demands, later had to give heavy discounts for their over stocks of cancelled reservations.
• Vehicle Manufacturers / Assemblers suffered because of a drastic purchase slow down in following year.
• Second-hand car dealters lost a lot of money since most people went to purchase brand new cars instead.
• Car rental services suffered because people bought their own cars instead.
• Financial firms suffered because of bad car loans, and extended payments.
• The state lost excision tax as well as value added tax (VAT) in part.

Ref: from facebook source

NCPO approved 8-year transportation improvement strategies

NCPO approved a 8-year transportation improvement strategies (BE 2558-2565 or CE 2015-2022).

NCPO also approved next year 108 billion Baht budgets for transportation improvements (BE 2558 or CE 2015).

First priorities are dual track projects for 6 routes, for 1 Meter Gauge for 887 km, to be complted in 2563 (2020).

NCPO also approved the future development of dual tracks with Standard Gauge, for electrical trains for a speed of 160 km/hr. Two routes, northeastern-eastern (Nongkhai - Korat - Saraburi - Laem Chabang, Mabtaphut,737 km for 392.57 billion Baht) and northern-central (Chiang Khong - Denchai - Ban Phachi, 655 km, 348.89 billion Baht) will be quickly implemented, to service passengers and freight trains.

Ref: Manager