BANGKOK (AP) — Chinese automaker BYD inaugurated its first electric vehicle plant in Thailand on Thursday, part of the company’s push into Southeast Asia while it also tackles wealthier markets in the U.S. and Europe.
The factory’s opening comes on the same day that the European Union is expected to begin imposing higher tariffs on EVs made in China due to concerns over competition from the cheaper-priced imports.
In the U.S., the Biden administration also is raising tariffs on Chinese EVs to 100% from the current 25%. The U.S. currently imports very few Chinese cars, but like the European Commission, it worries that subsidies hurt domestic companies and cost jobs.
FILE – The BYD Qin L Dmi is unveiled during Auto China 2024 in Beijing, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)
The new factory in Rayong, south of Bangkok, was built in just 16 months and has an annual production capacity of 150,000 vehicles. It makes several BYD models and also batteries and transmissions. Its opening on Thursday was marked with great fanfare and included the presentation of a BYD Dolphin, a compact hatchback, to a charitable foundation under the patronage of the Thai royal family.
That vehicle was the 8 millionth vehicle manufactured by BYD, the company said.
Thailand aims to have 30% of all vehicles made in the country be electric by 2030. One in every three EVs sold in Thailand is made by BYD, though most cars on the roads now are still gas or diesel powered.
BYD
BYD, which stands for “Build Your Dreams,” sold 3 million vehicles last year and its exports more than tripled to 243,000. In the first half of this year, the company sold 1.6 million EVs.
It sold 30,650 EVs in Thailand last year and plans for its new factory to make the Dolphin, Atto 3, Seal and Sealion 6 EV models.
BYD says the new factory is expected to create 10,000 jobs. Apart from Thailand and China, BYD also has or is building factories in Brazil, Hungary and Uzbekistan.
According to BYD, the Dolphin can run 490 kilometers (about 300 miles) on a single charge. During a recent auto show in Bangkok, models on display were priced at 859,999 baht ($23,700), though reports said BYD would be offering steep discounts in Thailand on vehicles made in the new factory.
Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Malaysia's Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI)
KUALA LUMPUR — The 3rd meeting of the Thai-Malaysian Joint Trade Committee (JTC) ended on July 4, 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with a positive outcome. The two countries will connect the southern border in the form of Twin Cities.
Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai led a delegation to meet with the Malaysian delegation, headed by Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI). Following the meeting, Phumtham stated that both countries will advance their economic cooperation to achieve the trade target of 30 billion dollars or 1 trillion baht by 2027, as set by their respective prime ministers.
Both countries will speed up the opening of agricultural markets. Thailand has asked Malaysia to expedite approval for the import of beef, pork and Java chicken and to certify Thai producers of chilled and frozen chicken for export to Malaysia.
To strengthen economic ties at the border and increase border trade figures, the Joint Border Trade and Investment Working Group set up by the two prime ministers will work closely together. Malaysia will host the first meeting of the working group at the end of July to promote and clarify border trade and investment issues.
Thailand has proposed to link local economies between five southern border provinces of Thailand and five northern states of Malaysia in the form of twin trading cities: Narathiwat-Kelantan, Songkhla-Kedah, Satun-Perlis, Yala-Perak and Pattani-Terengganu.
Efforts are also being made to finalize the Memorandum of Understanding on Cross-Border Movement of Goods and Passengers between Thailand and Malaysia, which is expected to be signed this year.
Both parties welcomed the progress on the construction of the new road at Sadao checkpoint and Malaysia’s Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint, scheduled for completion in 2025, which will facilitate cross-border transportation of goods and tourism.
Both sides also agreed to promote new collaborations, particularly supporting halal entrepreneurs and franchise businesses in which Thailand excels, to expand into Malaysia.
Cooperation in digital technology and data centers, which was emphasized by both governments, will help create a conducive environment for trade, attract investment and make the transition to a digital economy.
The Prime Minister of Thailand, Srettha Thavisin and the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, have frequently met to discuss economic matters.
Phumtham invited the Malaysian side to participate in the Border Trade Expo in Songkhla province and other trade promotion activities in Thailand this year, including Thailand Week 2024 and international trade fairs in Thailand.
“On behalf of the Thai government, I would like to thank you for making today’s meeting a success. I will report back to the Prime Minister on the outcomes to drive further economic cooperation between the two countries, and we look forward to welcoming the Malaysian Cabinet and leaders to the 4th Malaysia-Pakistan Economic Cooperation Conference,” said Phumtham.
Malaysia is Thailand’s top trading partner in ASEAN and the fourth largest in the world, as well as the country’s top border trading partner.
In 2023, total trade between Thailand and Malaysia amounted to 25.1 billion dollars (-7.14 percent). In the first five months of 2024 (January-May), bilateral trade was valued at 10.78 billion (-0.54 percent), with exports at 5.04 billion imports at 5.74 billion.
BANGKOK — Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) confirms that the measure to recover the duty-free areas in the departure and arrival zones will have no impact on overall revenue and profit. New services will attract more passengers, leading to higher revenues. Even an increase in passenger numbers by 1 million can increase revenue by at least 700 million baht ($19 million).
On July 4, 2024, Dr. Keerati Kitmanawat, CEO of Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT), announced that AOT’s plan to reclaim the duty-free areas operated by King Power at Suvarnabhumi Airport (1,097.14 sqm) and Phuket International Airport (491.22 sqm), as well as additional arrival areas at six airports, will not have a material impact on overall revenue and profit.
Dr. Keerati explained that the reclaimed area is only a small portion compared to the total concession area, with the reclaimed area of Suvarnabhumi being about 8 percent. The loss of revenue from this reclamation amounts to about 50 million baht per month.
Keerati Kitmanawat, President of Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AoT), together with Pol. Maj. Gen. Cherngron Rimpadee, Commander of Immigration 2, inspect the services of Suvarnabhumi Airport on February 25, 2024.
Similarly, the reclaimed area in the arrival areas of six airports accounts for about 20 percent of the total concession area, with the loss of revenue proportional to the reclaimed area.
He emphasized that there is no change to the concession agreement as it allows for compensation to be adjusted based on area changes. Dr. Keerati believes that reclaiming space for passenger amenities, such as waiting areas, work areas, rest areas, playgrounds and nursing rooms, will increase passenger satisfaction worldwide.
Ultimately, increased airport utilization will increase passenger service charge (PSC) revenues. Effective space management to attract 1 million additional passengers could increase PSC revenue by over 700 million baht.
PATTAYA — Police Lieutenant Sanan Kotanon, Deputy Investigator at Pattaya City Police Station, Khong Dong Tan Sub-branch, received a report at 22:36 on July 3 about a person falling to their death from a high-rise condominium over 40 stories tall in the Sai Song area, Moo 12, Nong Prue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province.
Officers from the Pattaya Tourist Police and Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya Foundation rescue team investigated the scene. They found a deceased foreign woman and cordoned off the area, prohibiting unrelated individuals from approaching.
The deceased was later identified as Miss Oksana, a 44-year-old Russian national. She had fallen from the 6th floor, where her room was located. The investigation revealed that before the incident, she had an argument with her Russian husband because he forbade her from smoking cannabis. It’s believed that, feeling upset, she jumped from the 6th-floor balcony.
Police officers documented the scene and examined the room for evidence. They have requested the investigation team to review CCTV footage and thoroughly question the husband. They are also awaiting results from the Chonburi Region 2 Forensic Science Division’s autopsy to determine the exact cause of the incident.
This July 2, 2018 image provided by Claudia Marsicano shows an image of the nearly complete skeleton from fossils recovered in Namibia of a giant salamander-like creature at the Paleontology lab in Cape Town, South Africa. (Claudia Marsicano via AP)
The predator, which was larger than a person, likely used its wide, flat head and front teeth to suck in and chomp unsuspecting prey, researchers said. Its skull was about 2 feet (60 centimeters) long.
“It’s acting like an aggressive stapler,” said Michael Coates, a biologist at the University of Chicago who was not involved with the work.
This 2014 photo provided by Roger M. H. Smith shows Claudia Marsicano, professor at the University of Buenos Aires, examining the new basal tetrapod fossil at the discovery site of a salamander-like creature near the Ugab River in Namibia. Scientists have identified a giant salamanderlike predator with sharp fangs that likely ruled waters 280 million years ago. (Roger M. H. Smith via AP)
Fossil remnants of four creatures collected about a decade ago were analyzed, including a partial skull and backbone. The findings on Gaiasia jennyae were published Wednesday in the journal Nature. The creature existed some 40 million years before dinosaurs evolved.
Researchers have long examined such ancient predators to uncover the origins of tetrapods: four-legged animals that clambered onto land with fingers instead of fins and evolved to amphibians, birds and mammals including humans.
This image provided by Gabriel Lio shows an artistic reconstruction of what the prehistoric salamander-like creature may have looked like. Researchers discovered a giant salamander-like predator that lived about 280 million years ago, using fossils recovered from Namibia. (Gabriel Lio via AP)
Most early tetrapod fossils hail from hot, prehistoric coal swamps along the equator in what’s now North America and Europe. But these latest remnants, dating back to about 280 million years ago, were found in modern-day Namibia, an area in Africa that was once encrusted with glaciers and ice.
That means tetrapods may have thrived in colder climates earlier than scientists expected, prompting more questions about how and when they took over the Earth.
“The early story of the first tetrapods is much more complex than we thought,” said co-author Claudia Marsicano at the University of Buenos Aires, who was part of the research.
The creature’s name comes from the Gai-As rock formation in Namibia where the fossils were found and for the late paleontologist Jennifer Clack, who studied how tetrapods evolved.
Immigration officers in Phuket arrest three foreigners: two Egyptians and one Pakistani, for overstaying on July 2, 2024.
PHUKET — Police Lieutenant General Itthiphon Itthisanranchai, Commander of the Immigration Bureau, ordered a crackdown on foreigners violating the Immigration Act of 1979 and other laws. He instructed officers to inspect high-risk areas under their jurisdiction where foreign groups are suspected of breaking the law or residing in the kingdom without permission.
Following an area scan on July 2, authorities arrested four foreigners: two Egyptians, one Pakistani, and one Russian. The details are as follows:
Mr. Mohamed, Egyptian national (overstayed by 1,898 days)
Mr. Zubair, Pakistani national (overstayed by 1,734 days)
Mr. Haitham, Egyptian national (overstayed by 234 days)
Mr. Dmitri, Russian national (overstayed by 413 days)
All four were charged with “being foreigners entering and staying in the kingdom after their permission has expired.” They were informed of their rights, and their cases were handed over to investigators for further legal proceedings.
In cases where property owners allowed foreigners to stay without notifying authorities, fines were imposed for the offense of “being a house owner or occupant who fails to report a foreign guest’s stay to officials within 24 hours,” which violates Section 38 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979).
Immigration officers in Phuket arrest a Russian man for overstaying on July 2, 2024.
Given the high number of tourists in Phuket province, the Phuket Immigration Office emphasizes the importance of reporting accommodations as per Sections 37 and 38 of the Immigration Act 1979. This facilitates the monitoring of foreigners in the area in case of any offenses and helps ensure the safety of tourists and locals’ lives and property. It also aims to build confidence among tourists visiting Phuket province.
The Immigration Bureau has published the notification of the residence of an alien according to the Immigration Act, B.E. 2522, Section 38 on its website.
It states that the owner of the house, or the occupant of the residence Or the manager of a hotel that accepts foreigners who are permitted to stay temporarily in the Kingdom to stay must notify the official at the immigration office located in the locality, residence or hotel within twenty-four hours
From the time the foreigner enters to stay If any locality does not have an immigration office located Notify the police officer at the local police station in the case of a house, residence, or hotel where foreigners stay.
According to paragraph one, it is located in the Bangkok area. Notify the official at the Immigration Division. Notification under paragraph one and paragraph two shall be in accordance with the regulations prescribed by the Director-General.
In notifying the accommodations of foreigners staying in residences, which are: Hotels that are licensed according to Hotels and Guesthouses, Mansions, Apartments, Business Establishments or General Rental Houses Act to the owner of the said dwelling Owner of rental house or the business operator notifies according to the form TM. 30.
BANGKOK — The exhibition “Immersive Disney Animation” has been held at EM Tower, 1st floor, EM Sphere shopping center since April 25, 2024, and has received enthusiastic responses from Disney fans of all ages. It has now extended the show with more special offers.
Immersive Disney Animation by Base Entertainment Asia, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Starvox officially announced an extension of the show until July 29, 2024. They have adjusted prices to accommodate more interested Disney fans who have yet to have the chance to attend the exhibition.
“It will also add Disney songs in Thai versions in response to fan requests for those who enjoy Thai vocal performances. Audiences will have immersive experiences to fully enjoy the exhibition in a 360-degree immersive atmosphere with memorable scenes and beloved Disney characters from the Renaissance era to the latest blockbuster films popular globally.
Moreover, in collaboration with The Voice Foundation, led by Chollada (Mekratri) Sirisant, Immersive Disney Animation will hold a special charity event where pets such as dogs and cats can attend the exhibition.
The special sessions will be on July 28, 2024, at 2:00-5:00 p.m. The earnings after expenses will be donated to ‘The Voice Foundation’ to help sick or abandoned animals. These preferably small pets can be cared for and carried. Each pet should weigh no more than 8 kilograms, and strollers will not be allowed due to the sensory exhibition format.
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About Immersive Disney Animation
Immersive Disney Animation is a 360-degree multi-sensory experience that takes any visitors inside fans favourite Walt Disney Animation Studios movies.
From timeless classics to the modern blockbusters, these movies will be brought to life with state-of-the-art responsive projectors in millions of pixels, where visitors can experience iconic songs and scenes from over 40 of Disney’s beloved animated films.
Imagine traveling through Zootopia with Judy Hopps, diving to the ocean floor with Ariel, taking a magic carpet ride with Aladdin, witnessing Rafiki introduce Simba at Pride Rock and being surrounded by the animal kingdom, or singing with Elsa in the world of Frozen and so much more.
Take a peek behind-the-scenes at how Walt Disney Animation Studios brings movies to life through exclusive, custom-designed interactive exhibits. Visitors will even learn tips and tricks to draw beloved Disney characters.
About The Voice Foundation
The Voice Foundation, also known as The Voice (From Us), is a non-profit organization. It was established in the aftermath of the 2011 flood disaster and is led by Chollada (Mekrati) Sirisant.
The foundation focuses on problem-solving and aiding stray dogs and cats that have been abused, involved in accidents, or abandoned and creates a sustainable community free from stray dogs and cats. Through their efforts, they have spayed or neutered more than 27,000 animals and saved more than 14,000 lives.
In the U.S. News & World Report’s list of 2024-25 Best Global Universities, released on 24 June 2024, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB) was ranked No. 6 among 12 top Thai universities and placed at No. 1,196 among 2,250 universities from over 100 countries across the world. In addition, KMUTNB also secured positions in four academic disciplines: Material Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Chemistry.
KMUTNB’s programs in the Top 10 nationally include:
– Material Science – Ranked No. 607 globally and No. 2 nationally among the top 7 Thai universities in the rankings.
– Engineering – Ranked No. 732 globally and No. 3 nationally among the top 6 Thai universities in the rankings.
– Mathematics – Ranked No. 145 globally and No. 3 nationally among the top 3 Thai universities in the rankings.
– Chemistry – Ranked No. 1,039 globally and No. 9 nationally among the top 12 Thai universities in the rankings.
The rankings focused on academic and research reputations, determined by evaluating 13 indicators such as citations, publications, and conferences. The steady progress in KMUTNB’s global ranking reflects the university’s consistent advancement in its global and regional reputation in research and education.
A foreign couple, Chinese and Kazakh nationals, arrested at a condominium in Sukhumvit Soi 32, Klongton Subdistrict, Klongtoey District, Bangkok.
BANGKOK — A foreign couple, consisting of Chinese and Kazakh nationals, jointly deceived a middleman by selling counterfeit luxury watches of the brand Patek Philippe to a watch store for up to 12 million baht. Their scheme was initially successful, but they were later caught.
On July 3, 2024, Police Major General Phantana Nuchnarot, Deputy Commissioner of Immigration, and the Immigration Team at the Muang Thong Thani Immigration Office announced the arrest of a foreign couple: Mr. Alkas, 32, a Kazakh national, and Ms. Billy (alias), 38, a Chinese national. They were arrested on a warrant issued by the South Bangkok District Court on 21 May 2023 for ‘joint fraud’.”
They were arrested at a condominium in Sukhumvit Soi 32, Klongton Subdistrict, Klongtoey District, Bangkok.
The two suspects jointly brought counterfeit Patek Philippe watches to deceive a middleman who acted as an intermediary in the buying and selling of watches. They claimed they would pay a reward of USD 800 per watch for the sale of the watches.
When the middleman agreed, the suspects presented Patek Philippe watches along with documents from a well-known watch testing business, claiming that these documents would confirm the authenticity of the watches. The middleman then sold the watches to a reputable watch store, which transferred 12 million baht ($327,000) to the suspects.
Police display a chart illustrating how the two suspects jointly used counterfeit Patek Philippe watches to deceive a middleman, then sold the watches to a reputable watch store.
Later, the owner of the watch store discovered that the watches and the certification documents were fake and filed a complaint with the Thonglor police station to prosecute the middleman. After negotiations, the middleman agreed to compensate the store owner and filed a complaint with the Thonglor Police Station to prosecute Mr. Alkas and Ms. Billy.
Immigration police coordinated with Thonglor Police Station to track down the two suspects and eventually located them in a room of a condominium on Sukhumvit Soi 32. They were arrested and handed over to Thonglor Police Station for prosecution.
Roads and houses in Phuket were flooded after heavy rain and mountain runoff on June 30, 2024.
PHUKET — The latest flash floods in Phuket on June 30 have sparked debates about the rapid growth of the city and the resulting clogging of sewage systems, along with the question: Is it time for prosperous Phuket to become a Special Administrative Region?
Currently in Thailand, there are two administrative zones that are special forms of local government organizations: Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and Pattaya City.
Mr. Rewat Areerob, the President of Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO), stated that Phuket is a major tourist city. He believes that it is time to decentralize power and let Phuket elect its own governor so that the locals can manage their own affairs like in Bangkok. He pointed out that the enormous tax revenue from tourism, which amounts to over 400 billion baht ($10.9 billion) annually, is not being adequately reinvested in the province.
At present, the rapid growth of Phuket city has outpaced existing laws and infrastructure management, including government agencies’ water management plans.
Existing plans from various government agencies need to be revised to adapt to the changing cityscape and take account of global climate changes, such as increasing rainfall.
“In the past, when it rained, we had areas that absorbed the water, so heavy rainfall was not a problem. But now these areas have been converted into housing projects and condominiums, so the absorption areas have become smaller. The government can not keep up. Earlier this year, Phuket faced drought problems, so we were forced to buy water for consumption, but now we are experiencing flooding,” Mr. Rewat said.
City needs revised Master Plan
Mr. Rewat added that government agencies need to plan and install more drainage pipes or pathways to accommodate housing estates and condominiums. At the same time, more water retention areas should be established to store water for dry spells by utilizing existing public lands. New roads, drainage channels, etc. also need to be built.
Flood and drought problems require the attention and intervention of the national government as they involve multiple agencies. Immediate action is needed and local authorities should be empowered to deal with the situation.
Two Move Forward Party MPs from Phuket, Mr. Chalermpong Saengdee and Mr. Thitikan Thitipruettikul, similarly stated that they have observed various problems in urban management and water management that are not aligned. This has led to the construction of buildings, houses, and roads without proper study of waterways or planning for effective drainage systems, despite Phuket being a government target for economic development.
This aerial photo taken on October 1, 2020 shows a row of hotels on Patong beach in Phuket. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)
They believe that if the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation were directly under local administration, with its own budget and full management authority, it would be able to handle immediate situations better than the current setup.”
Phongrat Phiromrat, Director General of the Department of Public Works and Physical Planning, said that to address the problems in Phuket, it is necessary to revise the master plan that the ministry prepared in 2016-2018. This master plan was aimed at flood control in urban areas and needs to be revised to ensure it takes into account new flood-prone areas created by the city’s rapid expansion, which has led to bottlenecks and obstructions in watercourses.
“The bottleneck problems in many areas of Phuket are due to the past, when there were fewer surrounding structures and the existing channels could handle the water flow well. Overflowing water could spread to adjacent areas that were uninhabited and did not cause problems. But now that there are houses, buildings and communities, the canals can no longer handle the overflow and the communities are affected,” he said.
Roads and houses in Phuket were flooded after heavy rain and mountain runoff on June 30, 2024.
Growth and Rain
According to AREA Company’s real estate market survey in Phuket in Q1/2024, 54 billion baht was invested in new projects, including both low-rise houses and condominiums. There are currently 500 active projects on the island with a total value of 470 billion baht ($14.8 billion).
This is a higher value for project development than in the pre-COVID-19 period. Of these, a total of 72,000 units are for sale, of which 62,000 units have been sold and 10,000 units are still pending.
On July 3, Mr. Surasee Kitti Kittimonthon, Secretary-General of the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR), issued a warning that on July 7, the lower southern region, especially Phuket province, is likely to experience heavy rainfall.
He has coordinated with the Department of Mineral Resources to be cautious about water-saturated soil in the area following the heavy rain and flooding from the past week. If rain continues, there is a risk of landslides.
