Jurin denies ‘industrial’ monkey use : Minister will show envoys animals not mistreated. Thailand does not use monkeys to harvest coconuts on an industrial scale for its export industry, insisted Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit yesterday. Bangkok Post
Firms advised to shun lay-offs, think long-term : Companies should avoid lay-offs for the sake of short-term profit as they could be stuck with huge pension liabilities for their laid-off workers, while having to rehire more staff to deal with an expected economic rebound in the second half of the year, says human resources consultancy Mercer Thailand. Bloomberg
Ministry downgrades inflation forecast : The Commerce Ministry downgraded its annual headline inflation forecast yesterday to a range of -0.7% to -1.5%, with an average of -1.1%, from a range of – 0.2% to -1.0%, an average of -0.6%, after the rate dropped for the fourth month in a row in June. Bangkok Post
Coconut products pulled after monkey abuse claims : Major Western retailers have begun to pull Thai coconut products from their shelves amid allegations the coconuts were picked by inhumanely treated monkeys. The monkeys are snatched from the wild and trained to pick up to 1,000 coconuts a day, according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta). Bangkok Post
Tourism aid to spur domestic spending : The 22.4-billion-baht in aid promotions the government has pledged to revitalise the domestic tourism sector will generate between 30-50 billion baht for the economy in the second half of this year, according to Thanawat Phonwichai, president of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce. Bangkok Post
TAT predicts 80% plunge in arrivals : A new forecast by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) says the number of foreign tourists this year may plunge 80% to 8.2 million as revenue slides to 396 billion baht, with international air traffic regaining just 10% of the prepandemic schedule. Bangkok Post
TNSC sees 10% export drop : Thai shippers have downgraded the country’s export outlook to a 10% contraction, deeper than the previous forecast of an 8% drop, with the finger pointed at the coronavirus crisis and the strong baht. Bangkok Post
ASP: 15% Q2 contraction possible : Gradual rebound in second half. Thailand’s economy could contract by 15% year-on-year in the second quarter from lockdown measures, with rising contagion risk affecting economic activities on the external front, says Asia Plus Securities (ASP). Bangkok Post MCOT ‘not insolvent’ as cash shrinks : State-owned broadcaster MCOT is going through a liquidity crunch but is not insolvent, says a source at the Finance Ministry who requested anonymity. Bangkok Post
New protocol on fruit to China signed : The cabinet approved a proposal yesterday to sign a protocol on quarantine and inspection of exported and imported fruit via a third country between Thailand and China, aiming to increase bilateral fruit shipments. Bangkok Post
Cabinet reshuffle looms : Uttama has no plan to form new party. A cabinet reshuffle looms after the resignation from the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) of three cabinet ministers, including the finance minister. Bangkok Post
If the Govenor of the reserve bank, the finance minister, energy minister, education and science minister are resigning then I would be very worried about the economy. These guys are in the driving seat and possibly know things we dont and so if their bailing then hold on to your hats folks
Don
since i live in NST, and travel into the rural areas – my reaction is – stupid stupid irresponsible PETA. If i was a member, I’d resign.
Pon
And somehow climate change isn’t an issue anymore.
kelvin
If the Govenor of the reserve bank, the finance minister, energy minister, education and science minister are resigning then I would be very worried about the economy. These guys are in the driving seat and possibly know things we dont and so if their bailing then hold on to your hats folks
Pon
BOT gov – resigning b/c he doesn’t know what to do.
The rest – kicked out by the military.