Minnows to aid PPRP at poll: Small parties can help it bag list seats and counteract unfriendly seat calculation method. All eyes are on two small parties which are expected to help the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) secure party-list seats and counteract a new method of calculating the seats seen to favour small parties at the expense of big ones. Bangkok Post
Cabinet backs b3.22bn port deal: Joint venture pact between IEAT, TCT. The cabinet has approved a public-private partnership deal worth 3.22 billion baht to manage the Map Ta Phut Industrial Port in Rayong province. According to Rachada Dhnadirek, a deputy government spokeswoman, the joint venture deal to run the Map Ta Phut Industrial Port will be handled by the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) and Thai Connectivity Terminal (TCT). The concession with the current operator is scheduled to expire on Sept 16 this year. Bangkok Post
Transport Ministry orders State Railway (SRT) to suspend bid submission for Orange line MRT on Juyl 27, following unlawful verdict by admin court , permanent secretary to review agenda.
BOT senior Director Don Nakornthab said rate hike cycle will start in August. Business and households have sufficient debt-repayment abilities to cope with rate hikes. MPC to meet on Aug 10. The BOT’s study assumes policy rate will be raised to 2%-2.75% by end of 2023, from current 0.5%.
Govt welcomes TIP report boost: US removes Thailand from Tier 2 watch list. Thailand has been upgraded in the US 2022 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, thanks to the country’s overall better work in the past months, according to the US State Department. Bangkok Post
Investment companies face SET, MAI fundraising ban: The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) intend to ban investment management companies from raising funds on the SET and Market for Alternative Investment (MAI) to close regulatory loopholes and enhance investor protection. The SEC is conducting a public hearing to collect opinions on the new regulations. The hearing ends on Aug 18. Bangkok Post
A committee of representatives looking into the establishment of an entertainment complex that includes a casino is ready to submit the results of a study it conducted into the matter to the House speaker.
Thailand’s cannabis market is expected to grow by about 15% a year between 2023-2025, with the market value to reach up to Bt43b in 2025, a study by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).
Govt defends power plan: The government’s plan to ramp up electricity bills and boost power production capacity came under the spotlight during the censure debate as a leading MP from the Move Forward Party claimed such overcapacity only benefits power business tycoons while hurting consumers. Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow fired back in response to the criticism. Bangkok Post
Ministry anticipates B1.2tn revenue without stimulus: Tourism revenue this year may total 1.2 trillion baht, below the government’s target of 1.5 trillion, if there are no additional support or stimulus schemes as the fiscal budget for tourism in 2023 has been heavily cut, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakan. Bangkok Post
