Category: Industry

Thailand and Vietnam have agreed to work closely to enhance linkages between Thai and Vietnamese economies and ensure that both economies would emerge stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, on 30 June 2021 co-chaired the 8th Thailand – Vietnam Political Consultation Group Meeting via videoconference with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Dzung.

In the videoconference, both sides discussed ways to further advance bilateral cooperation and the “Strengthened Strategic Partnership” between Thailand and Vietnam, especially as the two countries are celebrating the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Thailand and Vietnam agreed that it would be useful for the two countries to start discussing measures, such as mutual recognition of respective vaccine certificates and facilitation of travel between the two countries in the future.

They also agreed that it would be beneficial for bilateral trade and investment for both sides to work toward establishment of consultation mechanisms in respective countries to facilitate investment promotion between the two countries. Both sides will work closely to increase the value of bilateral trade and reduce impediments to trade in order to achieve the new trade target of USD 25 billion by 2025. They will also promote cooperation on digital economy.

The two countries will further promote technical cooperation through exchanges of experts and personnel in new areas, such as health security, energy and environmental security, and sustainable development.

Both countries will cooperate more closely in various areas, including maritime security, education, regional connectivity, water resources management particularly through strengthening of the Mekong River Commission (MRC), as well as non-traditional security issues such as cyber security and transnational organized crimes.

In addition, both sides concurred that Thailand and Vietnam should forge closer cooperation bilaterally and together with other countries in the Mekong Sub-region to promote sustainable economic and social development of the Sub-region. Both sides will work to synergize the respective countries’ efforts, and to fully utilize ACMECS and GMS as primary platforms for cooperation in the Sub-region.

On the Myanmar issue, which is a mutual concern of Thailand and Vietnam, they emphasized in particular the importance of moving forward with the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus of the ASEAN Leaders as soon as possible. On the South China Sea, both sides shared common interest in ensuring peace and stability in this important area, and in good progress of the consultations under the ASEAN framework on this matter. They reaffirmed the importance of ASEAN centrality. Vietnam also expressed support for Thailand’s upcoming APEC hosting in 2022.

Source: The Government Public Relations Department

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, today (Thursday) called on all sectors on the resort island of Phuket to help make the tourism “sandbox” pilot project a success.

249 tourists are scheduled to arrive in Phuket today, on flights from Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Israel. The visitors will stay in Phuket for at least 14 days, during which they will be tested for COVID-19 twice, before they can travel to other provinces.

The first flight, Etihad Airways from Abu Dhabi, touched down at the island’s airport at 11.10am, about 50 minutes late, with 25 passengers disembarking, fewer that the 46 originally expected.

Accompanied by Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paochinda and Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the prime minister was there this morning to welcome foreign tourists at Phuket International airport. He then visited security checkpoints.

Upon his arrival at the airport, he told those gathered to greet him that he was glad to see them and urged them to work together to make the project a success.

During his visit to the Tha Chatchai checkpoint, the prime minister said that the success of the “sandbox” concept will serve as a model for other tourist destinations in the country.

In his Facebook post today, he said the Phuket model is the first major step towards the ultimate goal of fully reopening Thailand to foreign arrivals in less than four months, as planned.

“This is all about paving the way for Thai people to be able to return to their normal livelihoods and to make a living,” said the prime minister.

While admitting that there are risks involved in reopening the country, the prime minister said that it is necessary to take the risks adding, however, that monitoring of the tourists and periodical assessments of the situation are needed.

More importantly, he said, the people of Phuket must comply strictly with health and safety measures and refrain from bringing illegal immigrants onto or off the island.

Source: Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS)

Business operators have started granting “rights” to members of Thailand’s LGBT+ community as they continue to wait to be granted legal rights

Thailand is one of the world’s friendliest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT+) countries and it can be proud of its gender diversity. The acceptance shown towards the LGBT+ community is relatively good in the region, but there are still no specific laws that really protect their rights.

Perhaps the closest path to achieving equality is the government’s civil partnership draft bill. If ratified by parliament, Thailand will be the first country in Southeast Asia, and the second in Asia after Taiwan, to legalize same-sex unions. However, despite being approved in July 2020, it is still unclear as to when the draft bill will become an Act.

The current draft bill covers the registration and termination of partnerships between same-sex couples and the rules for property sharing, adoption, and inheritance. However, it does not grant rights in some areas, such as changing sexual identity, tax allowance, and government-related benefits for couples under the law because these involve amendments to other laws.

Many rights activists are skeptical as to whether the bill will ever see the light of the day. “The bill is still pending a nod from the parliament and there are a lot of conservative people. It’s unlikely to pass,” says one gay rights activist.

Despite a delay in promulgating the Civil Partnership bill, Thailand has witnessed a few positive signs along the road to equality. While these do not have legal standing, the new developments significantly increase recognition of LGBT+ individuals and couples. Telecom giant Dtac is one of the private companies to have taken steps. In line with the Scandinavian parent company’s responsible business policy, the company promotes gender diversity and offers a non-discriminatory working environment. “We’ve worked on the same-sex marriage welfare to provide LGBT+ staff with common marriage rights,” says Dtac CEO Sharad Mehrotra

The Scandinavian telecom giant has just announced a rights package that’s generous even compared to the average welfare benefits for heterosexual employees. It includes leave for a period of up to six days per annum for a marriage, annual leave of up to 7 days a year to take care of (same-sex) partner and child, and paid leave for a month for a sex-change operation.

The announcement has won praise from left and right. Support has been widespread, with many saying that other companies should adopt the same standard. The acceptance of LGBT+ people and providing them equal employee rights is a positive step towards gender equality.

In bygone days, the private sector would be more or less forced to adapt and change in accordance with legal requirements, but in the present world there is no need for government to take the lead: the private sector can put in place its own pioneering strategies without waiting for the law to be passed, which could be too little and too late.

In terms of property rights, LGBT+ individuals can’t co-own a property as a couple until the proposed bill becomes an Act. However, a number of commercial banks are now offering mortgages to LGBTQ customers, allowing them to be co-signatories just as they would a heterosexual couple.

Specifically, UOB further confirmed that LGBTQ customers will not only receive equal service from the bank but also be eligible for promotional offers such as interest rates or exemption of various fees despite not being a registered couple in the eyes of the law.

In addition, Siam Commercial Bank, Kasikornbank, Krungsri, and Standard Chartered Bank now allow LGBTQ couples to co-sign for a house loan. However, details of credit conditions differ from place to place. For example, Krungsri limits LGBT+ loans to real estate projects developed by its customers.

Thailand also made some progress last year when the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security signed an MoU with 39 government agencies and private sector firms including education institutions to prevent gender discrimination. Under the agreement, the parties will strictly follow the guidelines of the Gender Equality Act B.E. 2558 to create workplaces or educational institutes that are accessible to all genders. Thanks to the MoU, the LGBT community can now enjoy a range of rights such as allowing students or employees to dress according to their sexual orientation, job applications, and candidate selections focused on ability and qualifications rather than gender and preventing harassment or sexual harassment in the workplace.

The MoU’s signatories include major Thai conglomerates Charoen Pokphand (CP), SCG, PTT Plc, Saha Pattana Piboon Plc, Krungsri Consumer Plc, Central Group, and the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) and leading institutions Thammasat and Naresuan universities.

Are these merely baby steps? Maybe. Yet these moves by the business sector are interesting and promising as the LGBT+ community can see some rights are coming their way, even if these are not legal rights. Something is better than nothing. More importantly, the intention behind the developments shows that there is a growing recognition of the LGBT+ in all sectors. That matters. It helps the fight for greater rights enjoyment in the years to come.

Source: Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS)

The public, private, and people’s sectors are joining hands to promote cattle raising on a full-cycle basis, as a way to develop the halal economic corridor in the southern border provinces.

Representatives of the three sectors joined a meeting on 24 June 2021, chaired by Secretary-General of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC) Rear Admiral Somkiat Pholprayoon, to discuss halal livestock development, with an emphasis on the raising of beef and dairy cattle, as well as chickens, for health.

SBPAC and relevant organizations agreed to upgrade cattle raising to generate employment and income for local farmers in the deep South, where state agricultural areas will be used to plant Napier grass and other crops for animal feed.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives serves as a leading agency to carry out this project with local farmers and will provide them with knowledge and skills in cattle raising. About 70 local farmer groups are preparing to register as cattle-raising enterprises and urge more people to join the project.

At the meeting, a proposal was made to encourage each district in the deep South to carry out a cattle-raising project as a model for local residents. SBPAC has set a target to develop it into a stable career for people in the southern border provinces.

The project also aims to help ease the poverty problem, create more job opportunities for local people, increase economic value, and upgrade the people’s quality of life.

Source: The Government Public Relations Department

The Board of Trade of Thailand and the Federation of Thai Industries on 24 June 2021 responded positively to the Government’s policy of reopening the country within the next 120 days, or in October. They will use “Phuket Sandbox” as a model to reopen economic, trade, and tourism activities in target areas.

The Cabinet earlier acknowledged the Phuket Sandbox plan to reopen Phuket province to international tourists from 1 July 2021 onwards. This pilot project also involves Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao in Surat Thani, which are set to reopen on 15 July 2021.

According to measures under the Phuket Sandbox plan, before entering Thailand, foreign travelers must have a Certificate of Entry (COE) and a medical certificate with an RT-PCR laboratory result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected, issued not more than 72 hours before arrival.

They must come from low- and moderate-risk countries, have a COVID-19 health insurance policy with a minimum coverage of US$100,000, and show a vaccine certificate indicating that they had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no less than 14 days before arrival. They must also register through the website www.entrythailand.go.th.

After arrival in Thailand, the foreign travelers must install the application Thailand Plus and other required applications set by respective provinces, such as Mor Chana. They are also required to take a COVID-19 test. In Phuket, they must check in at the pre-booked SHA Plus-certified accommodation establishment. As for Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao, they must stay at Alternative Local Quarantine (ALQ) accommodation.

If their COVID-19 tests produce negative results, they may travel around Phuket and must remain on the island for at least 14 days before traveling to other provinces. If they want to stay less than 14 days in Phuket, they must depart for an overseas destination after that period, not another destination in Thailand.

Source: The Government Public Relations Department

The Bank of Thailand on 23 June 2021 predicted that the Thai economy would expand by 1.8 percent in 2021 and 3.9 percent in 2022 This would be lower than the previous projection owing to lower foreign tourist figures and domestic demand held down by the third wave of the outbreak.

The labor market would be more fragile and recover slowly, particularly the service sectors and the self-employed. However, the economy would be supported by higher public expenditure, thanks to the Emergency Decree Authorizing the Ministry of Finance to Raise Additional Loans to Solve Economic and Social Problems as Affected by the Coronavirus Disease Pandemic, B.E. 2564 (2021) as well as by the improving merchandise exports in line with the global economic recovery.

Headline inflation would temporarily increase in the second quarter of 2021 due to the low level of crude oil prices in the same quarter of last year. Meanwhile, higher inflation in advanced economies and global supply shortages would have limited impact on domestic inflation. Medium-term inflation expectations remained anchored within the target. Downside risks to the economic outlook also remained significant from the possibility of the outbreak situation in Thailand and abroad becoming more severe owing to virus mutations.

Despite ample overall liquidity, the distribution of liquidity remained uneven due to increased credit risks, particularly among SMEs and households that were additionally impacted by the third wave of the COVID-19 outbreak. Long-term government bond yields remained stable. On exchange rates, the Thai baht relative to the US dollar depreciated more than regional currencies.

The Bank of Thailand’s Monetary Policy Committee on 23 June 2021 voted unanimously to maintain the policy rate at 0.50 percent. Downside risks to the economic outlook also remained significant from the new wave of the outbreak.

The Committee viewed that financial measures, particularly special loan facility for businesses as well as debt restructuring, should be expedited. These measures would reduce financial burden for the businesses and households affected by the outbreak in a more targeted manner than cutting the policy rate, which was already at a low level. The Committee thus voted to maintain the policy rate and stand ready to use the limited policy space at the most effective timing.

Source: The Government Public Relations Department

President of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Police General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit on 18 June 2021 held a discussion with Mr. Fu Kui, Vice Chairman of the National Supervision Commission (NSC) of China.

The discussion, which took place through a teleconference at the NACC Headquarters in Nonthaburi, touched on the issue of international anti-corruption cooperation. NSC is China’s top anti-graft watchdog and NACC is the main agency in Thailand responsible for the task of fighting corruption.

During the discussion, both sides shared their views on and experiences of anti-corruption activities. Thailand and China are members of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). They stressed the importance of promoting international cooperation in anti-corruption efforts.

Thailand is an active player in the South East Asia Parties Against Corruption (SEA-PAC), a network comprising 10 anti-corruption agencies that, among other cooperative efforts, plays a leading role in facilitating the exchanges of best practices and experiences on implementing the UNCAC.

Both Thailand and China also discussed bilateral cooperation in handling international corruption cases, seeking the restitution of property, exchanging information, and organizing anti-corruption training. China expressed its support for Thailand to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in 2022.

Source: The Government Public Relations Department

The Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is launching proactive measures to prevent corruption and malfeasance in the public sector.

NACC Secretary General Warawit Sukboon joined the event “NACC Executives Meet the Press” through the Zoom system on 14 June 2021.

In this event, he explained that if NACC suspected that any project was likely to be involved in corruption, it would be able to order officials to conduct investigations to prevent possible damage. NACC would also be able to give advice to the responsible agency, so that it would be able to rectify the situation. The preventive measures against corruption must be carried out on a continual basis.

Mr. Warawit stated that, after the Organic Act on Counter Corruption B.E. 2561 (2018) had been enacted, NACC issued 78 subordinate laws and improved its work concerning the prevention and suppression of corruption, as well as asset and liability examination.

Regarding the suppression of corruption, it has established special offices to deal with certain cases, such as conflicts of interest and corruption issues in natural resource sectors.

In order to enhance the efficiency of asset and liability examination, the NACC Asset Inspection Group has been assigned to directly handle cases of unusual wealth, with an additional investigation process.

From October 2020 to May 2021, there were 4,920 corruption complaints handled by NACC, a decline by 1,403 cases, when compared with the same period of the previous year.

Source: The Government Public Relations Department