In the vibrant realms of finance and civic planning, the story of Thailand’s financial journey from October 2023 through to the fresh beginnings of this year is one that unfolds with the intrigue of a financial thriller. As articulated by the eloquent spokesman of the ministry, Pornchai Teerawet, this tale involves billions of baht, forward-thinking environmental policies, a dance of numbers, and the relentless pursuit of a fiscal equilibrium. Let us delve into the intricacies of this narrative. The ministry, a guardian of the nation’s coffers, encountered a mild tremor in its financial projections. The period in question saw it amassing a colossal sum of 981.90 billion baht, a figure that, while substantial, whispered tales of shortfall whispers in the hallowed halls of government finance. This amount and sang a somber tune of being 2.5% or approximately 25.14 billion baht shy of their golden target. Furthermore, when cast under the…
Posts published in “Thailand”
As swarms of tourists basked under the unyielding gaze of the sun near the grandeur of the Grand Palace last week, little did they know that they were about to dance with the fiery extremes of the Thai summer. Clad in their best summer wear, ready to explore the rich history and culture Thailand has to offer, they were inadvertently signing up for a rendezvous with temperatures that could soar to the heights of 43.0-44.5 degrees Celsius. Yes, you heard that right. According to the oracle of weather, the Meteorological Department, this month is set to turn the heat up, quite literally. The forecasters, acting as the modern-day seers, have unleashed a prediction that could make even the sun take a step back. From the scorching sands of the northeast to the balmy breezes of the east, the entire stretch is likely to be enveloped in a cloak of heat…
Imagine a world where the backbone of urban development, the construction industry, faces an unprecedented challenge. Among the bustling streets and rising skyscrapers of Thailand, one company stands at the forefront of this narrative – Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD), a titan in the construction sector, grappling with a liquidity crisis that has brought it to its knees. It’s a tale of resilience, economic twists, and the relentless pursuit of equilibrium. As the curtain rose on a Monday not long ago, a beacon of hope flickered on the horizon. The man of the hour, Suriya, elucidated a groundbreaking measure poised to revolutionize the landscape for contractors nationwide. The spotlight shone on the “K factor” or escalation factor compensation, a vital financial safeguard designed to shield contractors from the unforeseeable fluctuations in costs. This, Suriya confidently declared, would be the lifeline ITD and its comrades in arms needed to navigate their liquidity…
Imagine stepping into an airport, feeling the buzz of excitement in the air as you’re about to embark on a new adventure or return home after a memorable journey. Now, airports across Thailand are making headlines with a significant announcement that’s catching the attention of travelers worldwide. The familiar hustle and bustle of airports like Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Don Mueang, Hat Yai, Phuket, and Suvarnabhumi are about to experience a slight change in the wind. Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) has decided it’s time to tweak the passenger service charges (PSC) for those taking off on both domestic and international voyages. Kerati Kijmanawat, the president of AOT, divulged this Monday that the fees have undergone a minor facelift. For adventurers setting their sights beyond the borders, the charge has ascended from a modest 700 to a still-reasonable 730 baht. Domestic travelers aren’t left out of this update, with their…
In the hauntingly serene hours just after midnight in Kanchanaburi, a saga unfolded along the winding embrace of Road 323 in Sangkhla Buri district, offering a stark reminder of the relentless pursuit of hope amidst adversity. Here, under the silent watch of the night sky, a lorry, laden with dreams and desperate for a new dawn, met with fate in a chilling twist. This lorry wasn’t just any vehicle; it was a vessel of hope for Myanmar citizens, smuggling them into the promise of a better tomorrow in Thailand. The drama began when the lorry, hugging the curves of the road as it descended a hill, lost its battle with gravity. Pol Lt Decharit Pholkamol, the deputy superintendent of Sangkhla Buri police, recounted the harrowing moments when the vehicle, unable to negotiate a curve, surrendered to its momentum, rolling onto its side in a grim ballet of metal and dust.…
Imagine standing on the edge of the breathtakingly serene Doi Suthep mountain in Chiang Mai province, only to find your view obscured by a menacing haze. This was the reality on a Sunday not too long ago, as a valiant firefighter battled a ferocious blaze, an act courageously captured in a photograph by Panumate Tanraksa. But this was only the beginning of a much larger story unfurling across the northern reaches of Thailand. Nestled amid the stunning landscapes of Northern Thailand, several provinces awoke on a fateful Monday morning to an unwelcome blanket of air so polluted, it was virtually screaming “danger” in vivid shades of red. The culprit? PM2.5, particulate matter so fine it dances on air, infiltrating lungs and diminishing the very essence of health. According to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda), no fewer than 14 northern Thai provinces were gripped by this invisible, yet…
In a moving testament to humanity’s capacity for generosity and forward-thinking, the Mirror Foundation recently lit up social media with a startling image—a cheque fashioned in favor of a benevolent soul, Srettha Thavisin. The snapshot captured not merely a transaction, but a story of hope, dedication, and innovative technology coming together in a harmonious symphony against forest fires in Thailand. Like a plot twist in an inspiring novel, earlier this month, a phone rang at the Mirror Foundation’s office, carrying a voice weighted with intention. The caller, an anonymous donor with a grand vision, expressed the desire to pledge 50,000 baht. The purpose? To empower the Mirror Foundation’s relentless pursuit of social betterment in ways only they deemed fit. The Foundation, with a twinkle in their eye and a plan in their heart, shared a vision of deploying heat-sensing drones into the dense, smoke-filled forests of Thailand. These aren’t just…
Imagine stepping into a world where the industrial landscape is not just growing, but booming at a pace that’s hard to fathom. This is the picture painted by Julapong Thaweesri, the director-general of the department, who’s bringing some eye-opening statistics to the table. In the period of 2022-2023, there has been a notable surge in the number of licenses issued for the birthing and bulking up of large-scale factories. Brace yourself – we’re talking about an astonishing 800 factories per year. Yes, you read that right. That’s a threefold increase compared to the 2020-2021 era. But wait, there’s more. The year 2023 alone witnessed the inception of 2,598 industrial heartbeats across the nation (and we’re not talking about within industrial estates). These new factories are not just buildings of steel and smoke; they’re monumental investments worth 356.14 billion baht. That’s a 23% leap over the previous year, employing over 106,631…
Imagine sitting in your favorite local eatery, enjoying a leisurely Sunday bite, when suddenly, the mundane tranquility is shattered by the spine-tingling rumble of a collapsing building next door! This isn’t a scene from the latest action-packed blockbuster but rather a spine-chilling event that unfolded in the peaceful streets of Sakon Nakhon, Thailand. On Charoen Muang Road, a demolition saga took an unexpected turn, resulting in a cloud of dust and a rush of adrenaline that one wouldn’t typically associate with a quiet Sunday afternoon in Muang district. The protagonist of our story is a two-story edifice that had once proudly stood as a four-floor structure. Its first act of deconstruction had seen the removal of its two upper stories, leaving behind its final pair of floors, poised on the brink of oblivion. The curtain rose on its final act around 2pm on that fateful Sunday, under the watchful eye…
In the tranquil pre-dawn hours of Bangkok, when the city was still whispering its night-time tales, an Airbus A330-300 twin-jet aircraft, proudly adorned with the markings of Hong Kong Airlines, embarked on what was supposed to be a routine journey to the bustling Asian financial hub of Hong Kong. Little did the passengers know, their adventure had just begun. Imagine boarding the flight at 2am, nestling into your seat with the excitement of arriving in Hong Kong, possibly visualizing the vibrant streets, the neon lights, or perhaps the important business meeting awaiting. However, the universe had a slight detour in mind. Shortly after the A330-300 soared into the night sky, gracefully slicing through the clouds, an unexpected “technical issue” decided to narrate its own chapter in the journey’s story. What does a pilot do when confronted with such unforeseen challenges? Safety protocols are not just guidelines; they are the sacred…