Thailand-Malaysia Rail Cooperation Expands: Bangkok-Penang Route Approved

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20 August 2024, 20:49

MySawasdee tourist train from Malaysia to Thailand

BANGKOK — The State Railway of Thailand announced that within two to three months from now, there will be a train from Bangkok’s Bang Sue Grand Terminal to Penang in Malaysia.

On August 20, Mr. Ekkarat Sri-arayangpong, Chief of the Office of the Governor of the State Railway of Thailand, revealed this project has been confirmed by Mr. Awirut Thongnet, Deputy Governor of the State Railway of Thailand, when he attended the 42nd KTMB – SRT Joint Conference in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia from August 13-16.

The purpose was to expand cooperation in connecting rail services between Thailand and Malaysia, facilitating travel for citizens, enabling seamless goods transportation between the two countries, and stimulating the economy and tourism as per the policy of Mr. Surapong Piyachot, Deputy Minister of Transport, and the government.

The meeting approved in principle the operation of a train from Bangkok Grand Station – Padang Besar – Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia, to connect Thai and Malaysian travelers seamlessly, which will also promote tourism and the economy of both countries.

thai malay train1 — Thailand and Malaysia agree to expand rail cooperation at the 42nd KTMB – SRT Joint Conference in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia from August 13-16, 2024.

Additionally, they agreed to extend the route of the MySawasdee tourist train from Malaysia to Thailand, from its current terminus at Hat Yai Junction Station to Surat Thani Station. This extension comes after the MySawasdee tourist train received an excellent response, with full passenger capacity on every trip.

This extension will further promote tourism and increase revenue for the country. Both agencies will discuss further details and appropriate timelines.

“After this, a joint working group will be established to consider the launch of the extended train service from Bangkok Central Station-Padang Besar to Butterworth Station. It’s expected to open within 2-3 months, with an initial 6-month trial period,” Mr. Ekkarat said.

He added that the meeting also discussed expanding cooperation in freight transport. The State Railway of Thailand is willing to support cross-border goods transport and routes in Thailand, such as Padang Besar – Hat Yai Junction, Hat Yai Junction – Bang Klam/Ban Thung Pho Junction/Kantang, and Padang Besar – Bangkok/Sapli/Na Pradu.

They also acknowledged the success of the ASEAN Express train service from Malaysia – Thailand – Laos – China and plan to increase its frequency from once a week to twice a week.

This meeting on rail transport cooperation between Thailand and Malaysia is considered a significant expansion that will help elevate rail travel between the two countries, enabling seamless connectivity. It will bring economic, trade, and tourism benefits to both countries and aligns with the government’s policy to drive Thailand to become a regional center for tourism and logistics in the future.

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1.7M Counterfeit Items Seized by Thai Government in Early 2024

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Khaosod English

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20 August 2024, 19:58

DSI officials seize counterfeit football jerseys infringing on trademarks of the German national team and other famous club teams in Bang Kruai District, Nonthaburi Province, on May 2, 2024.

BANGKOK — The Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) under the Ministry of Commerce has published statistics on the suppression of intellectual property infringements in the first half of 2024 (January to June). A total of 747 cases of intellectual property infringement under the Trademark, Copyright and Patent Act were prosecuted and a total of 1,723,914 counterfeit items were confiscated.

While the number of cases fell by 20.19 percent compared to the same period last year, the number of items seized rose by 33.73 percent .

The division is as follows:

Royal Thai Police seizures: 443 cases, a decrease of 3.28 percent compared to the same period last year, with 1,330,477 items seized, an increase of 25.8 percent. This included 266 cases under the Trademark Act with 799,642 items, 174 cases under the Copyright Act with 527,605 items and 3 cases under the Patent Act with 3,230 items.
Department of Special Investigation (DSI) seizures: 4 cases, a decrease of 42.86 percent, with 78,666 items seized, a decrease of 20.19 percent. All cases fell under the Trademark Act.
Customs seizures: 300 cases, with 314,771 items seized.

The DIP worked with the Royal Thai Police, the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), the Customs Department and the DSI to crack down on intellectual property violations, particularly counterfeit goods hidden in large warehouses before being distributed to smaller retailers and online sales.

fake product1 — Economic Crime Suppression Division police raided a warehouse in a commercial building on Kanchanaphisek Road, Thawi Watthana District, Bangkok, uncovering smuggled counterfeit goods from China, including watches on August 15, 2024.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Trade Department has been actively addressing the problem of substandard and low-priced imported goods, following the policy of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Phumtham Wechayachai.

On August 16, the Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Trade, Ronnarong Phoolpipat, held a meeting with 30 business groups from the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Trade of Thailand, the Federation of Thai Industries and various associations. The discussion focused on the impact of imported goods on Thai companies and the competitive situation between Thai SMEs and foreign products.

The products discussed included plastics, clothing, gifts and souvenirs, stationery and office supplies, air conditioning, steel, machinery and metalwork, ceramics, granite and marble, cosmetics, food supplements and furniture.

The aim was to understand the import situation and competition between Thai and foreign goods, as well as to gather suggestions and solutions to improve the competitiveness of local products in terms of quality and price.

fake product2 — Economic Crime Suppression Division police raided a warehouse in a commercial building on Kanchanaphisek Road, Thawi Watthana District, Bangkok, uncovering smuggled counterfeit goods from China, including luxury watches, perfumes, and brand-name clothing, with a total value of 20 million baht, on August 15, 2024.

Business people expressed concern about the overall impact on consumer goods, services and investment. They cited problems such as substandard and cheap products, smuggling at borders, false product declarations and the establishment of foreign companies in Thailand, which do not benefit the country or Thai consumers.

Among the proposals were stricter quality controls on imported goods, the introduction of tax measures to protect domestic producers, strengthening Thai companies’ production and entrepreneurial skills to maintain market share, and revising laws and agreements that hinder Thai trade.

For corporations that need to import capital goods, they asked to consider the impact of measures against imports as importing components is necessary. The ministry will compile all feedback for integration at the policy level to address the issues in cooperation with all relevant authorities.

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Indian Man Found Dead in Pathum Thani Following Days of No Contact

By

Khaosod English

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20 August 2024, 19:12

PATHUM THANI — An Indian man staying in Pathum Thani Province last spoke to his wife in India in mid-August before going silent. He was later found deceased at his apartment.

On August 20, Khlong Luang Police Station received a report of an Indian man’s body found in a rented room, previously used as a restaurant, at the front of an apartment building on Chiang Rak Road, Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani.

The deceased was identified as Jain, a 38-year-old Indian national, who had been dead for 3-4 days. He usually stayed on the 3rd floor of this building, but his body was found in a first-floor rental room with a hole in the ceiling, suggesting he may have jumped from the 9th floor.

india pathum3 scaled — The Indian body is found in a first-floor rental room with a hole in the ceiling, on August 20, 2024.

Jain’s wife’s relatives informed through an interpreter that he had come to Thailand on August 12. His last phone call with his wife in India was on August 14 at around 10 p.m., where he loudly mentioned issues with his Thai business partner. After that, they couldn’t contact him.

The wife’s relatives traveled from India to Thailand to search for him at the apartment where he had been renting for over a year. On August 19, they couldn’t find him and reported to the Khlong Luang Police.

Recently, the apartment manager found the body in a rental room at the front of the building. CCTV footage showed Jain walking barefoot from the 3rd floor to the 9th floor via elevator on August 17 at around 10 PM, then disappearing.

india pathum2 — his body was found in a first-floor rental room with a hole in the ceiling on August 20, 2024.

According to relatives, Jain ran a building wiring business in India. They mentioned he had over 30,000 Thai Baht and 8,000 USD (totaling over 300,000 Thai Baht) with him when he traveled.

Police Lieutenant Anusorn Wiangsimat from Khlong Luang Police Station stated that officers have documented the scene and sent the body to Thammasat University Hospital for forensic examination. The deceased’s relatives have been invited for further questioning at the police station.

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Sydney Flights Resume, Thai AirAsia X Expands International Routes

By

Khaosod English

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20 August 2024, 16:47

BANGKOK — Thai AirAsia X is restarting direct flights from Don Mueang to Sydney and offering promotional fares starting at 5,990 Baht per trip.

On August 20, Thai AirAsia X announced the resumption of direct flights between Sydney and Bangkok (Don Mueang) with a frequency of 6 flights per week, starting from December 1, 2024. The airline is offering promotional fares for bookings made from August 19-25, for travel between December 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, available on AirAsia MOVE.

Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of Thai AirAsia X, stated that the year-end is a peak travel season, prompting the airline to reopen the direct route to Sydney, Australia. The flights will operate six times a week, every Monday, Tuesday (2 flights), Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, allowing passengers to fly further from Don Mueang Airport at value-for-money prices with assured quality service.

7339 14 — A whale-shaped kite flies over Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)

Additionally, the airline is increasing its fleet and flight frequencies on various routes to meet growing travel demand, especially to popular markets like Japan, South Korea, and China.

By the end of the year, Thai AirAsia X will increase flight frequencies to Tokyo (18 flights/week), Osaka (14 flights/week), Sapporo (7 flights/week), Nagoya (4 flights/week), Seoul (14 flights/week), Shanghai (7 flights/week), and Australia (starting December 1, 6 flights/week).

“Thai passengers from various regions such as Phuket, Krabi, Hat Yai, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai can conveniently use the Fly Thru service with Thai AirAsia X, connecting through Don Mueang to Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo, Nagoya, Seoul, Shanghai, and Sydney.

This service is very convenient, allowing passengers to clear immigration and collect their luggage only once at their final destination. Thai AirAsia has prepared special promotional fares to help plan year-end travel,” Tassapon added.

The promotional fares for flights from Don Mueang to Sydney start at 5,990 baht per trip. For Fly Thru services from Phuket, Krabi, Hat Yai, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai (connecting through Don Mueang) to Sydney, all-inclusive fares start at 10,027 baht per trip.

Currently, Thai AirAsia X operates a fleet of 8 Airbus A330 aircraft and plans to increase this to 11 by the end of the year, with plans to add 3-5 more annually in line with growth and increasing travel demand. The airline currently flies from Bangkok to 7 destinations: Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo, Nagoya (Japan), Seoul (South Korea), Shanghai (China), and Sydney (Australia).

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Siam Piwat Leads Luxury Retail with Innovative ‘Firstism’ Experiences

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Contributor

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20 August 2024, 16:06

When it comes to the finest luxury destinations in Asia, Siam Piwat Group is renowned as the developer of some of the world’s best-known landmarks, such as Siam Paragon and ICONSIAM. These developments are not only widely recognized as outstanding global destinations but have also become premier hubs for high-end brands, offering some of the most comprehensive luxury shopping experiences in the world.

No. 1 luxury destinations trusted by world-class high-end brands as the venues of choice for launching debut flagship stores, concept stores, new collections in Southeast Asia and Asia.

Siam Paragon and ICONSIAM have earned the trust and recognition of world-renowned brands as the venues of choice for launching their debut flagship stores, concept stores, or new collections in Southeast Asia and Asia. In the first six months of 2024, several brands have chosen to make their debut in Thailand at these locations, with some being exclusively available at Siam Paragon and ICONSIAM.

Siam Piwat

Rolls-Royce, the world’s ultimate luxury automotive brand, has unveiled its new signature boutique under the concept ‘Galleria’ — the first such boutique in a shopping mall across Asia-Pacific. This new boutique offers customers a private space where they can fully immerse themselves in the brand’s refinement and aesthetics and customize their bespoke vehicles, all in the ultimate hub of luxury.
BVLGARI, the iconic luxury brand, has created a sensation with its newly renovated space –

the first and largest duplex shop in Thailand.

DOLCE&GABBANA features an all-new look with a simple yet sophisticated design that showcases the distinctive Italian style.
GUCCI unveils a fresh concept that diverges from its previous iterations and expands its exclusive experience with a revamped look that fully showcases its women’s collection, including clothing, bags, shoes, accessories, and jewelry.
LOEWE introduces its first and largest LOEWE Store in Thailand, featuring the latest concept inspired and designed by creative director Jonathan Anderson. Featured are leather products, bags, wallets, home decor items, and scented candles from the home collection, along with clothing and leather goods for both men and women from the latest collection.
CASABLANCA, a luxury clothing brand from Paris, has launched its first shopping space in the world.
Coming soon: MONTBLANC with a new design concept, and PRADA with a newly redesigned women’s boutique.

ICONSIAM

VAN CLEEF & ARPELS, the French high-end jewelry and watch brand with a rich heritage spanning over 100 years, has opened a new boutique. The store showcases a striking design that seamlessly blends timeless elegance with modern flair and captures the brand’s unique commitment to meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail.
CHAUMET, the esteemed French luxury jeweler, has launched its debut boutique in Thailand. It showcases a new collection that artfully presents haute joaillerie and precious gemstones through various artistic disciplines.

Bringing a series of spectacular world-class events and new pop-up stores, consistently delivering first-ever experiences that exceed all expectations

Siam Paragon and ICONSIAM have consistently been chosen by prestigious global brands as the venues of choice for hosting grand world-class events, innovative pop-up stores, and exclusive exhibits, and for launching limited-edition collections. In 2024, a revolving roster of brands has launched their pop-up stores, each showcasing exclusive collections that generate a buzz of excitement among customers and deliver unexpected experiences that exceed their expectations.

Siam Paragon

The luxury brand CELINE has chosen to launch the CELINE SIAM PARAGON PLEIN SOLEIL POP UP STORE, one of only seven such stores worldwide.
PRADA has launched a new pop-up store featuring eye-catching red and white stripes throughout the space. It showcases specially curated men’s and women’s clothing, bags, shoes, and accessories from the new collection inspired by the vibrant hues of summer and travel.
LORO PIANA has opened a new pop-up store to showcase their Summer Resort 2024 collection.
GUCCI has launched the Gucci Ancora Pop Up and unveiled the SPRING SUMMER 2024 collection designed by Sabato De Sarno.
COACH has transformed Parc Paragon into the Coach Tabby Shop, a cute pop-up store in the shape of Coach’s iconic Tabby bag. The giant yellow structure stands out in the bright sunlight in the heart of Parc Paragon.
GENTLE MONSTER has launched the “Jentle Salon Pop-Up” for the first time in Thailand. This iconic and cute pop-up store in the style of “Jennie from BLACKPINK” is brought directly from Korea and available exclusively at Siam Paragon.
Leading global watch brands have debuted their latest collections in Thailand, including rare limited editions. For instance, HUBLOT celebrated its role as the Official Watch of UEFA EURO 2024™ with the spectacular “Hublot Loves Football UEFA EURO 2024” pop-up store. Jaeger-LeCoultre narrated its 90-year story with the Reverso Stories Travelling Collection – an exhibition that captures the unique history of the high-end watchmaker. A. Lange & Söhne launched an exclusive exhibition “Precision in Motion,” which offered a rare glimpse into their traditional engraving artistry, a cornerstone of their watchmaking heritage.

ICONSIAM

LOEWE has opened a LOEWE POP-UP STORE showcasing Paula’s Ibiza 2024 summer collection inspired by Paula’s Boutique, an iconic store on Ibiza that became a symbol of hippie culture in the 1970s.
MCM has celebrated its “New Era” with the launch of MCM Lauretos Pop-up Store. This space highlights their SS24 Collection, which introduces the Lauretos pattern – a new iconic monogram design for the season that adorns their signature items.

Siam Piwat is ready to forge ahead in pioneering a new definition of “New World Luxury” to create unprecedented phenomena and curate luxury experiences that exceed everyone’s expectations, with the ultimately goal of establishing Thailand as one of the world’s most significant luxury destinations.

Search Resumes for 6 From Sunken Superyacht off Sicily, Including Mike Lynch

By

Associated Press

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20 August 2024, 15:47

Italy Boaters Missing — Emergency services at the scene of the search for a missing boat, in Porticello Santa Flavia, Italy, Monday, Aug. 19, 2024. (Alberto Lo Bianco /LaPresse via AP)

PORTICELLO, Sicily (AP) — Police divers resumed searching Tuesday for six people believed trapped in the hull of a superyacht that sank in a storm off Sicily, including a British tech magnate recently acquitted of fraud charges, his lawyer and a key defense witness at trial.

The resting place of the luxury sailboat, off Porticello, is some 50 meters (164 feet) underwater — a depth that requires special precautions: Rescue crews said they were working in 12-minute shifts, a measure that slowed down their work to reach the cramped inside of the wreck.

The Bayesian, a 56-meter (184-foot) British-flagged luxury yacht, was moored about a kilometer (a half-mile) off Ponticello when a storm rolled in before 4 a.m. Monday. Civil protection officials said they believed the ship was struck by a tornado over the water, known as a waterspout.

Fifteen of the 22 people aboard survived, including a mother who reported holding her 1-year-old baby over the waves to save her. One body has been recovered, identified by officials as the on-board chef. Fire rescue officials have said the other six on board will be considered missing until they are located in the wreckage.

AP24233272648147 — Italian firefighters scuba divers are docked at the harbor of Porticello, southern Italy, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, as rescue teams returned to the site of a storm-sunken superyacht to search for six people, including British tech magnate Mike Lynch, who are believed to be still trapped in the hull 50 meters (164-feet) underwater. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli)

Karsten Borner, the captain of the Sir Robert Baden Powell, which rescued the survivors who managed to get into a lifeboat, said he was close enough to be able to see the Bayesian as the weather came in but found it had disappeared after the storm cleared.

“They said they went flat on the water and were sunk in two minutes,” Borner said, quoting the survivors.

The rotating search teams, each made up of two specialized cave divers, worked Tuesday to open up access points to get inside the wreck, which lies at a depth far beyond what most recreational divers are certified to reach.

The divers have not yet been able to access the below-deck cabins because they were blocked by furniture that had shifted during the violent storm. Rescue crews said they assume the missing six are in those cabins because the storm struck when most would be sleeping, but the teams haven’t verified their presence there through portholes.

AP24233259336797 — Emergency services at the scene of the search for a missing boat, in Porticello, southern Italy, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli)

Luca Cari, a spokesman for the rescue teams, said the search was proceding much more slowly than another big shipwreck in Italy, the 2012 Costa Concordia cruise ship that flipped on its side off Tuscany’s coast, because of the depth of the wreck and the space divers have to maneuver.

“That was much simpler. Here everything is more tight,” he said.

Among those missing was Mike Lynch, who was once hailed as Britain’s king of technology. He was cleared in June of fraud and conspiracy charges in a U.S. federal trial related to Hewlett Packard’s $11 billion takeover of his company, Autonomy Corp. His wife, Angela Bacares, survived.

The sailing vacation appeared to be something of a celebration after Lynch’s acquittal. Some of the people who stood by Lynch throughout the ordeal were on board, including one of Lynch’s U.S. lawyers, Christopher Morvillo, and Morvillo’s wife. Both are also unaccounted for, according to the civil protection agency.

Also missing was Jonathan Bloomer, a chairman at Morgan Stanley International and the former head of the Autonomy audit committee who testified in Lynch’s defense, and his wife.

Aki Hussain, CEO of international insurer Hiscox Group, where Bloomer was chairman, said the company was “deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic event.”

“Our thoughts are with all those affected, in particular our Chair, Jonathan Bloomer, and his wife Judy, who are among the missing, and with their family as they await further news from this terrible situation,” he added.

AP24233271885603 — Emergency services at the scene of the search for a missing boat, in Porticello, southern Italy, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024.(AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli)

Charlotte Golunski, who survived the disaster, said she momentarily lost hold of her 1-year-old daughter Sofia in the water, but then managed to hold her up over the waves until a lifeboat inflated and they were both pulled to safety, Italian news agency ANSA reported. The father, identified by ANSA as James Emslie, also survived.

The yacht’s registered owner is listed as Revtom Ltd., according to online maritime database Equasis. Its name Bayesian may be a reference to “Bayesian Inference,” one of the two main approaches to statistical machine learning and the one that was used by Lynch’s company.

The yacht, built in 2008 by the Italian firm Perini Navi, was carrying 12 passengers and 10 crew. According to online charter companies, it has been available for charter for 195,000 euros (about $215,000) a week and is notable for its massive 75-meter-tall (246-foot-tall) aluminum mast, one of the tallest in the world.

In an unrelated event, Lynch’s co-defendant in the Autonomy trial who was also cleared, Stephen Chamberlain, was killed Sunday when he was hit by a car while running in Cambridgeshire, England, said Chamberlain’s lawyer, Gary Lincenberg.

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Suzuki Expands After-Sales Service: 40 Repair Centers and 1-Year Warranty

By

Khaosod English

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20 August 2024, 14:40

BANGKOK — Suzuki has advanced its after-sales service, partnering with dealers to expand body and paint repair centers to 40 nationwide, and offering a 1-year unlimited mileage repair warranty.

On August 19, Tadaomi Suzuki, CEO of Suzuki Motor (Thailand) Co., Ltd., revealed that the company remains committed to doing business in Thailand. To prepare for future competition, Suzuki plans to introduce new products to the market from 2025 onwards.

Suzuki also announced the “SUZUKI WORRY FREE” campaign, which will elevate all aspects of service, emphasizing sincere customer care to repay the trust customers have always placed in them.

One key plan is collaborating with dealers to build consumer confidence by expanding standardized body and paint repair centers to provide comprehensive services, focusing on delivering the best service.

suzuki newfac1 — Suzuki Motor (Thailand) Co., Ltd.s

Mr. Wallop Treererkngam, Executive Vice President, disclosed that Suzuki will enhance quality in all areas through five key strengths that all service centers meeting standards must have:

Genuine Suzuki Parts: Confidence in the quality of certified Suzuki genuine parts.
Professional Service: Confidence in professional, friendly service and consultation, with attention to every repair detail by skilled technicians certified in Suzuki vehicle repair.
Suzuki Standard Tools: Use of specialized tools certified by Suzuki for precise and efficient repairs.
Suzuki Certified Auto Paint: Use of Suzuki-certified auto paint for beautiful and durable results, like new from the factory.
Repair Warranty: Guaranteed quality and standard repairs, offering customers peace of mind with a 1-year unlimited mileage repair warranty and 1-year or 20,000 km parts warranty (whichever comes first).

In the future, Suzuki plans to expand its standardized body and paint repair centers from 32 nationwide to 40 by adding 8 more this year. This expansion aims to support Suzuki’s business growth and provide timely, convenient service to customers, delivering the best service experience.

“We continuously strive to improve Suzuki’s after-sales service. We’ve developed a fully functional Dealer Management System (DMS) to access customer data in real-time, helping us understand customer service history and accurately assess needs and service costs. We also cooperate with all dealers to focus on professional practical training for employees to ensure excellent customer service,” said Mr. Wallop.

Previously, Suzuki Motor (Thailand) issued a statement on June 7 to announce that it will close its automobile plant in Thailand by the end of 2025 as a part of reviewing Suzuki’s global production structure.

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Expat and Thai Neighbour Reconcile After Dog-Barking Dispute in Udon Thani

By

Khaosod English

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20 August 2024, 01:13

UDON THANI — A foreigner in Udon Thani, annoyed by a neighbour’s barking dog, nearly crashed his motorcycle into the neighbour’s fence and gave them the middle finger. Today, tourist police helped resolve the situation amicably.

On August 19, at a well-known housing estate in Nong Bua Subdistrict, Mueang District, Udon Thani Province, Ms. Nuamnuan, 45, filed a complaint with the Mueang Udon Thani Police Station. She reported that on August 18 at 9:36 PM, a foreign man named Mr. Franz rode a motorcycle, honked his horn, and hit her house gate, then gave an offensive hand gesture. She provided video evidence to the police.

The local police contacted Udon Thani Tourist Police for assistance. In the evening, they visited the scene and called Mr. Franz for mediation at the Thai woman’s house.

Nuamnuan criticized the foreigner for his aggressive behavior that damaged her gate. Mr. Franz offered to pay 1,000 baht for damages, but Nuamnuan disagreed, asking for 3,000 baht instead.

Franz negotiated down to 1,500 baht, with tourist police mediating. Both parties eventually agreed. Mr. Franz admitted his actions were due to frustration with the loud, uncontrolled barking dog but promised it wouldn’t happen again. Nuamnuan forgave him and accepted his promise.

udon farang dog2 — The two parties shake hands in front of the police, agreeing to drop the matter and pledging to be good neighbours.

The two parties shook hands in front of the police, agreeing to drop the matter and pledging to be good neighbours.

Nuamnuan told reporters that her dog never bites anyone and doesn’t leave the house without her. The dog barked loudly that night because the foreigner was trying to enter her property and shaking the gate while using foul language. She said the dog doesn’t usually bark unless provoked, but today’s conversation ended well.

Thailand Discusses Measures Against Foreign Online Goods Influx

By

Khaosod English

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19 August 2024, 23:37

e-cigarette — E-cigarettes widely sold online, imported from abroad, were seized by police at a house in Pa Phai Subdistrict, San Sai District, Chiang Mai Province on August 19, 2024.

BANGKOK — The Ministry of Commerce has reported progress in combating the flooding of the Thai market with cheap foreign products through various online platforms and investments in local warehousing systems, which have significantly affected local businesses.

The Department of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Commerce will convene a meeting on August 23 with service and logistics companies and 12 relevant government and private sector agencies to discuss the current situation, challenges and proposed short, medium and long-term solutions.

Among the urgent measures being discussed is the proposal that the Ministry of Digital Economy (DE) and Society should use its statutory power to establish guidelines for foreign business platforms. This would involve working with the authorities responsible for product quality and safety and setting price regulations before moving on to the details of import duties and non-tariff measures.

“The problem of cheap goods and dumping of foreign products in Thailand is likely to worsen in the future. This may not be limited to China; other Asian countries also see opportunities to penetrate the Thai market. We will begin to enforce existing laws across government agencies,” said an official.

He stated that online platforms fall under the purview of the DE Ministry, tax issues are handled by the Ministry of Finance, product standards are overseen by the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Health, and non-tariff measures are administered by the Ministry of Commerce.

In the short term, we need to consider the extent to which safeguard measures can be taken against increased imports. Anti-dumping and countervailing measures will take more time to consider, study and implement, which could take a year or more.

The 12 agencies involved in the meeting include the Department of Foreign Trade (DFT), Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Department of Business Development (DBD), representatives from the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Thai Industries, Transport and Logistics Association of Thailand, Shippers’ Council of Thailand, Wholesale and Retail Trade Association, Tourism Association and other relevant industries including education, engineering and architecture.

Previously, the Ministry of Commerce had held talks with government agencies and trade associations and invited representatives from Thai business associations to discuss the situation, focusing on sectors such as ceramics, clothing, footwear, building materials and personal care products.

Wanchai Phanomchai, secretary-general of the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI), explained that the TISI inspects substandard products that could pose a risk to consumers on the instructions of the Minister of Industry and is actively working on these tasks. The “Quick Win” initiative has focused on removing substandard products from the market, including online sales.

From September 2023 to July 2024, TISI confiscated non-compliant products worth 322.4 million baht. Of these, 92.7 million baht worth of non-compliant goods were imported from neighboring countries, accounting for 29 percent of the total.

The TISI has also increased the number of product standards this year by over 1,400, in addition to the existing 2,722 standards, and is in the process of declaring 52 more products as controlled goods, in addition to the existing 144 standards.

These standards cover products that are important for public safety, such as stainless steel containers and tableware, pans/spatulas/pots/spoons/forks/cans/trays, plastic bags for food packaging, microwave-safe food bags, household stoves that run on LPG, rubber and plastic hoses for use with LPG, car window films, plastic containers for drinking water, electric seat covers for flush toilets, child seats and solar panels.

In addition, TISI has developed other strategies to prevent access to non-compliant products via online platforms, including:

Accelerating the understanding and clarification of laws for companies providing shipping and customs clearance services to prevent the importation of non-compliant products.
Raising public awareness of the choice of products with standard seals on online platforms.
Integrate work with Customs to ensure that imported products on online platforms comply with standards.
Coordinate with the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) to monitor online platforms.
Working with the Consumer Council to protect consumers.

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Taiwanese Visitors to Thailand 2024: Over 1M Expected, Spending $1,150 Each

By

Khaosod English

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19 August 2024, 20:36

jerry bangkok — Jerry Yan, a beloved Taiwanese star among Thai fans, visits Bangkok and poses for a photo with a boat in Saen Saep Canal in May 2024.

BANGKOK — The Taiwanese tourism market for Thailand is a quality segment with continuous growth potential. A TAT executive said it is expected that the number of Taiwanese visitors to Thailand this year could be between 1.1 and 1.2 million.

Nithee Seeprae, deputy governor for marketing communications at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said that from January to 8 August, 2024, 655,392 Taiwanese tourists have already traveled to Thailand, an increase of 64 percent compared to the same period in 2023. This figure is approaching the target set by the TAT of 720,000 visitors. In 2023, the total number of Taiwanese tourists visiting Thailand was 780,000, generating revenue of 470 billion baht ($13.6 billion).

Last week, the TAT organized a promotional event in Taipei, the Amazing Thailand Travel Fair 2024, which was a collaboration between the TAT, Taipei Trade and Economic Bureau, Team Thailand, Taiwanese tourism companies and airlines. The event offered special travel packages and discounted airfares to aggressively target the Taiwanese market and attracted 10,000 visitors during the event.

Amazing Thailand Travel Fair 2024 in Taipei — The Amazing Thailand Travel Fair 2024 takes place in Taipei on August 10-12, 2024.

Sarima Jindamat, director of the Taiwan office at TAT, explained that Taiwanese tourists are quality travelers who appreciate convenience, enjoy traditional Thai massages, spas and Thai cuisine for its diversity. The majority of Taiwanese tourists are millennials, families and office workers.

When breaking down the travel segments, it was found that 70 percent of Taiwanese tourists are independent travelers (FIT), while 30 percent travel in tour groups. The average spend of Taiwanese tourists is around 40,000 baht ($1,150) per person per trip (5-6 days).

According to the International Tourist Behavior Survey 2024, the most popular destinations for Taiwanese tourists are Bangkok, Chonburi (Pattaya), Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima (Khao Yai) and Krabi. The main travel season for Taiwanese tourists is July-August, which coincides with the school vacations and is dominated by family travelers. In September, the focus shifts to office workers.

The main purposes for visiting Thailand are leisure/vacation (86.67 percent), business combined with leisure (5.33 percent), ecotourism (1.33 percent), culinary tourism (0.67 percent) and sports competitions (0.67 percent).

huahin airport4 — Hua Hin attracts a lot of foreign tourists.

Key audiences to keep an eye on include golf enthusiasts (high-spending quality tourists) traveling to Hua Hin, Bangkok, Pattaya and Prachinburi, as well as the younger generation interested in BL (Boys’ Love) and GL (Girls’ Love) content, who are likely to be repeat visitors.

The top five favorite activities of Taiwanese tourists are enjoying Thai cuisine, visiting historical sites, spa treatments, beach activities and experiencing the local lifestyle.

Sarima added that the TAT office in Taipei wants to promote various regions of Thailand, including major cities and lesser-known destinations such as Bangkok, Khao Yai, Pattaya, Kanchanaburi, Chanthaburi, Hua Hin, Prachinburi, Chiang Mai and others.

As the main flight routes are still Bangkok and Chiang Mai, there are plans to expand the flight routes to Southern Thailand in cooperation with airlines and travel agencies. Currently, some flights are operated as charter flights.

TAT also plans to increase direct flights to Thailand’s southern tourist cities and U-Tapao Airport. This plan is being developed in cooperation with airlines, travel companies and the government to bring Taiwanese tourists to Thailand’s eastern region.

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