The Revolutionary Transformation: Srettha Thavisin’s Cabinet With the political pendulum having swung in his favor, the newly minted Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has confidently declared that his upcoming executive team is all geared up and ready for action. This bold pronouncement comes despite growing curiosity in political circles about whether the highly coveted defence portfolio could be handed to a non-military member of his Pheu Thai Party. Speaking from the party’s nerve centre, Mr. Srettha made it unmistakably clear that as far as he’s concerned, the roster for his cabinet is set in stone. It is now up to the cabinet secretary-general to vet the credentials of the appointed ministers before seeking the coveted royal seal of approval. Aware of the buzzing whispers that some Pheu Thai members and red-shirt affiliates are uncomfortable with the idea of Gen. Natthapol Nakpanich as the defense minister, Mr. Srettha chose to remain tight-lipped.…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Tonight, Saturn, the sixth planet from the Sun in our solar system, will be the closest it gets to our home planet this year. However, the Moon is not staying behind and will make its nearest approach to the Earth on the following Wednesday. This celestial ballroom dance will present a breathtaking spectacle for observers on our blue planet. According to Suparerk Khaehanon, the director of communications for the institute, this cosmic alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Saturn, will bring the gas giant a mere 1.31 billion kilometres close to our world. This might sound like an astronomical number, but in the grand scheme of cosmic distances, it’s like having your neighbour over for tea. If conditions are favourable, and the sky presents a clear canvas, Saturn should be discernible to the unaided eye from the eastern regions of Thailand. This mesmerizing view will be available from sunset on…
In a statement attributed to Pornchai Thiravej, the director of the Office of Fiscal Economy, the National Economic and Social Development Council has offered a proposition that the Thai government could augment the requisite funds for supporting the elderly population. This can be accomplished by escalating the Value Added Tax (VAT) from a current 7% to a proposed 10%. The amplification of 3 percentage points in VAT presents a realistic prospect of increased financial backing for the retired community. This upgraded revenue can be responsibly directed towards enhancing the lives of the elderly. At this current juncture, however, the proposal is solely advisory and the Finance Ministry has yet to progress towards formulating a policy to enact this VAT modification, disclosed Thiravej. Recent data from the Council unveils a sobering statistic: There are about 13.5 million older adults in Thailand, accounting for roughly 20% of the overall populace. This demographic…
Celebrating two auspicious occasions; His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua’s Birthday Anniversary on 28th July 2023, and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother’s Birthday Anniversary on 12th August 2023, the Ministry organised a special Study Visit. The organised trip aimed to pay tribute as well as showcase the royal projects suggested by their Highnesses that are a continuation of the work started by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother. The celebratory event was graced by 26 Heads of Diplomatic Missions and Consular Representatives along with their spouses, from across 21 different nations. The 904 Royal Volunteers Training Center, established under the esteemed guidance of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana, is a hub for learning royal works and varied projects that take place all over Thailand. It heavily focuses on the application of the…
Nestled snugly in the elegant landscape of neighbouring Saraburi province, is an enigmatic old town named Lopburi. This idyllic locale is well-known on the international circuit for its captivating annual ritual, the Monkey Buffet. On this special day, the diligent townsfolk generously dole out a smorgasbord of delectable treats to the town’s resident Whiskered Macaques. A charismatic local, Suttipong Kamtaptim, who bears the mantle of Director of the Wildlife Conservation Division in Saraburi province, went into some detail about a recent venture of his department. The macaques, though a charming novelty, were processed to strike a balance between their burgeoning population numbers and their increasingly audacious behaviour- a regular source of entertainment and occasional concern to both locals and tourists alike. “Sterilisation of these macaques transpired at a place that embraces animal care wholeheartedly – The Monkey Hospital at Lopburi Zoo,” Suttipong added revealingly. The process adopted was thorough and…
In the heart of Thailand, a notorious couple was apprehended for illicitly residing within the country’s borders. The dynamic duo who fell afoul of the law were identified as Boy “Bui” Yangha, a 31-year-old male, and his accomplice in crime, a 27-year-old woman named Som “Mary” Jean. This milestone development was made public during a press conference convened on a sunny Sunday. Held under the careful supervision of the Bureau Chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Pol Lt-General Thiti Saengsawang, the arrest announcement struck a significant blow to the rampant pickpocketing menace plaguing the region. The arrest scene unfolded in Samut Prakan, a bustling locale in front of the couple’s rental accommodation at the Sup Asia Apartment on Soi Sukhumvit 111. It wasn’t good old-fashioned luck that led to their arrest; instead, the sharp and agile eyes of an undercover cop played instrumental roles in undermining the organized criminal operation.…
Thanawat Phonwichai, the esteemed president of the organization, has divulged an ambitious plan that is predicted to have profound implications for the country’s GDP growth in the coming year. In a bold maneuver that demonstrates the country’s commitment to technological modernization and fiscal growth, a staggering 560 billion baht will be transferred into digital currency. The digitization of this substantial sum implies unparalleled opportunities for financial expansion and business development on a national scale. Thanawat Phonwichai’s vision for the future brims with optimism, speculating that the digitization scheme could potentially add a substantial three to four percentage points to the GDP growth of the next year. This innovative step towards digitization of funds, embracing new-age technology, is a testament to the progressive financial philosophy that Thanawat and his team are keen to espouse. Their confident pursuit of growth and financial advancement is deftly reflected in this modern approach. These assertions…
With a grand unveiling in the late summer of 2018, the Thai Rice NAMA (Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action) project stepped out onto the global stage. This is a joint venture, coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture in Thailand and GIZ, the German agency dedicated to international cooperation. A massive investment of 14.9 million euros, translating roughly to an astounding 565 million baht, was committed to this landmark initiative. This ambitious scheme unfolded across six provinces selected as pilot areas including Chai Nat, Pathum Thani, Singburi, Suphanburi, Ayutthaya, and Ang Thong. These provinces provide vital farmland covering more than 2.8 million rai (equivalent to 448,000 riveting hectares) and host approximately 100,000 households. Wichai Paksa, who astutely serves as the assistant director of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives'(BAAC)’s personal loans division, revealed on a charming Saturday that the project’s funds have been boosted by an additional 8 million euros for…
In an eye-opening report delivered by a reputable agency, there’s rising concern about recent university graduates possibly joining the workforce on a diminished salary scale, or even witnessing jobs being awarded to their lesser-qualified peers. The report drew attention to a worrisome discrepancy plaguing the Thai labour market. Despite demonstrating a noticeable employment uptick post the havoc unleashed by the pandemic, the current job scenario does not mirror the qualification requirements of its job seekers. To substantiate the presented argument, the report brought forward relevant data from the Board of Investment (BOI). This evidence showed a constriction in the demand curve for individuals with a university degree in 2022, a stark contrast to the scene unfolding in 2018. The BOI stats presented an interesting comparison. In 2018, the business sector absorbed 95,566 employees. This number climbed to a whopping 168,992 in 2022. A deeper examination reveals an intriguing paradox. Despite…
According to Kirati Ratchano, the esteemed permanent secretary for the Commerce Ministry, as of July, the overall value of border trade was reported to be a staggering 131.23 million baht. This figure, however, paints a complex and dynamic picture of the situation of trade in the country. A deeper dive into the data reveals something a little more intricate. As it turns out, of the total border trade for July, exports made up 75.43 million baht. This however, marks a decrease of 12.96% when compared with the same period in the previous year. Meanwhile, taking a look at the import side of things, imports recorded a value of 55.80 million baht, which also slipped by 18.74%. Such a decrease in numbers reflects the current challenges that face Thailand’s trade scenario. That said, Kirati also pointed out that despite this drop, Thailand’s trade balance is still in the positive, with a…