Nate Naksuk explains why he decided not to indict Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya.

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7 December 2022, 11:39

Nate Naksuk explains why he decided not to indict Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya over a hit-and-run incident back in 2012 in which a policeman was killed.

Former deputy attorney-general Nate Naksuk said his decision was made based on the evidence and statements in the investigation report sent to him for consideration.

There is no clear evidence of wrongdoing to bring charges against Red Bull heir Vorayuth based upon the allegation of reckless driving causing death, he added.
“If I could go back in time, I would not change my decision,” Mr Nate said.

Last year, a committee was set up to carry out a serious disciplinary investigation into Mr Nate’s decision to drop a charge of reckless driving causing death against Red Bull scion Vorayuth.

In May, the Public Prosecutors Commission (PPC) chaired by Pachara Yuttidhammadamrong voted unanimously to discharge Mr Nate from the civil service over his controversial decision.

A meeting concluded that Mr Nate had handled the case with gross negligence, causing damage to the state under the 2010 Public Prosecutors Act. But the penalty was later reduced and that has allowed him to keep his pension as he had not committed any other wrongdoing during his 40 years of service.

Mr Nate said he made the decision based on the oral evidence, statements given by experts in the investigation report being passed to him for consideration and the prosecutors’ decisions.

Earlier, four prosecutors investigated the case but declined to charge Mr Vorayuth who is accused of reckless driving causing death.

There is not sufficient legal basis to press charges against Mr Vorayuth, he stressed.
Mr Nate noted that the testimony given by three eye-witnesses to investigators is the same. The witnesses, two air marshals and Jaruchart Madthong, told investigators who questioned them that the accused was driving at a normal speed when the accident occured.

According to the statement of Pol Lt Col Somyot Ab-Neam, who examined the condition of the vehicles, the accused was driving within the legal speed limit when the incident took place.

Pol Lt Col Surapol Dejrattanawichai said it was impossible that the accused has driven his Ferrari at 180 kilometers per hour (kph) when he was allegedly involved in an accident that killed a policeman.

Pol Lt Col Surapol is an accident investigations expert witness attached to the Traffic Police Division under the Justice Court.

Assoc Prof Saiprasit Kerdniyom, a lecturer at King Mongkut’ s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB), echoed the police officers’ statements over the speed of the car. He also heads the KMUTNB’s Research Center of Automotive Safety and Assessment Engineering.

But Pol Col Thanasit Tangjan, who calculated the speeds of the cars, said the accused had driven the car at the 179 kph in the initial report. He later recanted his testimony on the condition of the vehicles involved in the accident, saying the speed was estimated at below 80 kph.

Based on this lower speed, together with other evidence given to him for consideration, Mr Nate said he decided to drop a charge of reckless driving causing death against Red Bull scion Vorayuth.

“If I could go back in time, I would drop the case due to insufficient evidence of wrongdoing to press a charge against the accused. The trial against Mr Vorayuth was legal. I will talk no more about this,” Mr Nate said.

Mr Nate disagreed with the PPC’s ruling.

On July 11, 2022, he petitioned the Administrative Court, asking judges to withdraw the order of discharging him from the civil service over his controversial decision.
He has filed a lawsuit against Ms Pachara who chaired the PPC and former attorney general Singchai Thaninson for the PPC’s decision against him.

The first trial has not yet been scheduled.

Source : https://www.khaosod.co.th/politics/news_7396371

Thaksin’s Daughter Paetongtarn Outlines Pheu Thai’s Vision

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Associated Press

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7 December 2022, 11:30

The daughter of Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra cheers with supporters during a Pheu Thai party general assembly meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Photo: Sakchai Lalit / AP

BANGKOK (AP) — The daughter of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra promised a new era of social equality on Tuesday, saying if her party is elected to power in next year’s election it will bring an end to poverty in the Southeast Asian nation.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra told supporters that if Thailand’s largest opposition party, Pheu Thai, wins in May people would see a marked change from the administration of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who seized power in a military coup in 2014 and was then elected in 2019.

“The next four years will be the years that our country will bounce back and regain our dignity and pride,” she said. “To think big and act smart will help rebuild our country and improve the livelihood of Thai people – as if it’s a miracle. Only political stability will help us.”

Paetongtarn outlined a raft of proposals that she said would benefit ordinary Thais, including doubling the daily minimum wage, expanding health care coverage, and reducing fares on Bangkok’s public transportation system.

She did not provide details on how the party would accomplish its goals.

“All we have to do is to work together to change the country’s leadership,” she said.

The Pheu Thai party hasn’t yet announced who its candidate for prime minister will be, but Paetongtarn’s presence has drawn attention since she took a post with it last year as chief of its Inclusion and Innovation Advisory Committee.

The 36-year-old has said she is very close to her father, who remains popular in Thailand, and meets with him frequently.

Thaksin’s government was toppled in an earlier military-led coup in 2006 and he eventually went into self-imposed exile to avoid serving prison time in Thailand on corruption charges he maintains were politically motivated.

He’s widely thought to be seeking some sort of a political comeback and has been increasing his profile, and his daughter’s role with Pheu Thai seems to be an indication that his influence with the party is still strong.

The 73-year-old billionaire businessman’s populist policies won him strong electoral support, and his ouster gave rise to years of political instability.

He is a contentious figure whose fall set off a sometimes-violent struggle for power between his supporters and his opponents, who accused him of abuse of power and corruption. His supporters say the traditional Thai establishment feared losing power because of his popularity.

Paetongtarn, his youngest daughter, is just the latest from the family to become involved in Thai politics.

Thaksin’s brother-in-law, Somchai Wongsawat, served briefly as prime minister in 2008 and his youngest sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, held the office from 2011 to 2014 before she was forced out of office, and then her government was ousted in the 2014 coup that brought then-army chief Prayuth to power.

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Story: Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul.

China’s Xi Visiting Saudi Arabia Amid Bid To Boost Economy

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Associated Press

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7 December 2022, 11:00

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during a memorial for the late former Chinese President Jiang Zemin, who passed away on Nov. 30 at the age of 96, held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Photo: Pang Xinglei / Xinhua via AP

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese leader Xi Jinping is attending a pair of regional summits in Saudi Arabia this week amid efforts to kick-start economic growth weighed down by strict anti-COVID-19 measures.

The Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that Xi will attend the inaugural China-Arab States Summit and a meeting with leaders of the six nations that make up the Gulf Cooperation Council in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. His state visit to Saudi Arabia will end on Saturday.

China is the world’s second largest economy and a major source of outward investment. To fuel massive demand, it imports half its oil, of which half of those imports come from Saudi Arabia, amounting to tens of billions of dollars annually.

China’s economic growth had been on a steady decline for years and was dealt a major blow by rolling lockdowns imposed across the country as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chinese economic growth rebounded to 3.9% over a year earlier in the three months ending in September, up from the first half of the year’s 2.2%, but still well short of the government target.

China’s COVID-19 infection numbers are lower than those of the United States and other major countries. But the ruling party is sticking to “zero-COVID,” which calls for isolating every case, while other governments are relaxing travel and other controls and trying to live with the virus.

China’s ruling Communist Party shares many of the authoritarian tendencies of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, shielding Beijing from criticism over its harsh policies toward Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities. More than a million have been sent to detention centers where they report being forced to denounce Islam and swear fealty to Xi and the party.

Beijing denies the charges, saying they have been providing job training and ridding Muslims of extremist, separatist and terroristic tendencies.

The trip to Saudi Arabia marks a further move by Xi to restore his global profile after spending most of the pandemic inside China. Xi was granted a third five-year term in October, but street protests against “zero-COVID” policies last month saw the most significant public challenge to his rule and may have prompted a relaxation of some measures.

MONRE opened an exchange platform on sound environmental city management joining with EU and ASEAN, hope to strengthen a power of the environmental citizen in ASEAN’s growing quality and sustainability

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Contributor

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6 December 2022, 16:09

On December 6, 2023, the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion (DEQP) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) held an exchange platform of the High level Policy Dialogues under the Project of Smart Green ASEAN Cities, presented by Mr. Thalerngsak Petchsuwan, Deputy Permanent Secretary of MONRE, Mr. Daniel HACHEZ Minister Counsellor, Head of Cooperation, Delegation of the European Union to Thailand., and Mr. David Jackson Director Local Transformative Finance UNCDF from UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) jointly opening event. Its objectives are to enhance a capacity of ASEAN cities with sharing their experiences, knowledge-base, and innovation of environmental city management, including to build up networking. It is a relevant force and mechanism for ASEAN region in growing quality and sustainability.

Mr. Thalerngsak Petchsuwan, Deputy Permanent Secretary of MONRE said that the MONRE has given importance to mission integration and collaboration networking with stakeholders to manage the sustainable natural resources and environment both in domestically and internationally, along with development of tools, mechanisms, and digital technology to increase administration efficiency. Moreover, Thailand has undertaken both bilateral and multilateral cooperation, implementing at sub-reginal, ASEAN reginal and global level about environmental cities, climate change, waste and chemical management, biodiversity, forest, water resources, coastal resources, environmental education, sustainable consumption and production, and driven to achieve in Sustainable Development Goal.

The DEQP was designated by ASEAN to serve as the National Focal Point of ASEAN Working Group on Environmentally Sustainable City. Thailand aims to shift up the standard of environmental city management and carbon neutrality by 2050. By formulating potential management on environmentally sustainable city in local municipality with the concept of 1 province and 1 city, we will apply a principle of Bio–Circular Green Economy (BCG) to enhance the academic, digital technology, and to promote collaboration with relevant network agencies related to green lifestyle both domestically and internationally.

Mr. Somsak Sappakosonkul, the Director General of DEQP added that the project of Smart Green ASEAN Cities (SGAC) supports the implementation and achieving city on environmentally friendly sustainability in Southeast Asia by supporting ASEAN Member State at the city, national, and reginal. In addition to address issue of city environment and good governance related to climate change, focusing on smart working with amendment approach that are digitally and technologically enabled, we collaborate among cities in ASEAN region between cities in ASEAN and Europe, and sharing experience in Europe.

Finally, Mr. Somsak Sappakosonkul, the Director General of DEQP expected that this platform would encourage the capacity for ASEAN cities sharing experiences, knowledge, innovation in sustainable city management, building networking, a guide links to support from the financial and private sectors. This is a power and relevant mechanism to support ASEAN’s growth with quality and sustainability, to achieve goal for more quality life of people, as well as, a best practice for Smart Green ASEAN Cities in development, to reduce the impact of environment, and city has ability to adapt on climate change for result expansion in the future. He added that a sharing platform of the High Level Policy Dialogues under the Project of Smart Green ASEAN Cities held by the DEQP, hybrid Video Conference at the Athenee Hotel in Bangkok with 50 participants approximately, that consisted of representatives of National Focal Point under ASEAN Working Grope of Environmental Sustainable City from 8 ASEAN Member States, ASEAN Secretariat, partners, educational and research institution.

Appreciation for Good Wine in Thailand is Steadily Growing

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Contributor

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6 December 2022, 13:14

Appreciation for Good Wine in Thailand is Growing

Thailand is slowly undergoing an awareness and appreciation of fine foods of every variety. Bangkok is home to a wide variety of restaurants serving a range of delicious foods. In developing a taste for fine foods, the residents of Thailand are also becoming interested in exploring the world of quality wines.

These days, upscale Thai restaurants serve quality wines that are paired with certain dishes. The wines expand the appreciation of both the creative dishes they serve, and they sometimes surprise their guests with how well wine goes with a variety of foods.

The diners are becoming enchanted by the new flavours the wines impart to familiar dishes, and they immerse themselves in learning more about wine.

Creating a Homegrown Thai Wine Industry

A few intrepid entrepreneurs are taking their appreciation for wine a step further. There are five notable Thai wineries operating in Thailand, with the Khao Yai region hosting three of the vineyards and beginning to be known as the wine region of Thailand. But there are also vineyards on both sides of the Gulf near Hua Hin and in Chonburi. They are creating some reds, whites, and rosés that are creating a favourable buzz in the wine world.

This current interest in wine will only continue to grow with the variety and quality of fine dining restaurants in the country continuing to expand. Within the last two years, the Michelin Guide has published a guide to the restaurants of Thailand. This has put the country’s restaurants on notice that fine dining in Thailand is here to stay.

Supporting the Fine Dining Market

With the emphasis on creating fine dining establishments, the one part of the equation that was lacking was a solid supplier of fine wines and spirits. There were always beer, wine, and spirit suppliers in Thailand, but they simply would stock the easily available brands. What was needed as the dining choices became more sophisticated was a supplier that took the time to learn about the products that were available in the world and made educated choices based on a knowledge of wine varieties and brands.

Discover Ambrose Wine and Spirits

Ambrose Wine and Spirits has been filling that void in wine and spirit distributors in Thailand since 1996. From our locations in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Samui, and Phuket, we serve restaurants, cafes, and bistros with our extensive selection of fine wines and spirits. Some of our brands include:

Montes
Dourthe
Robert Mondavi
Yellow Tail
Hardys
Gosset Champagne
Piccini
Kaiken
Gato Negro
Peter Lehmann
Kim Crawford
Babich
Edinburgh Gin
Glengoyne
Fireball
Southern Comfort

Our wines include vintages from:

Argentina
Australia
Chile
France
Germany
Italy
New Zealand
South Africa
Spain
Thailand
USA

We are making a difference in the quality of the wine and spirits that residents of Thailand are now able to enjoy.

If you want to learn more about the services and wide range of products carried by Ambrose Wines and Spirits, feel free to contact us at any of the four locations nearest you.

Opinion: Growing Anxiety About the Rise of China in Thailand

By

Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

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4 December 2022, 12:00

Police inspect cash and luxury items during a raid of a house in Samut Prakan province belonging to the grey business ring on Nov. 29, 2022.

The prosecution of naturalized Thai businessman Tu Hao, aka Chainat Kornchananand, who is charged with drugs dealing, and multiple raids of his glitzy real estate and other assets estimated at 5 billion baht at various parts of Thailand over the past ten days have made many Thai anxious again that Chinese businessmen, particularly the grey business type (and China) are swallowing up Thailand, reducing the kingdom into a mere economic vassal state of China.

Many wonder how Tu Hao could have managed to stay off the radar for so long and amass such wealth which includes a private jet and 50 luxury houses in the Samut Prakan province, just south of Bangkok.

Confirmations that he married to a niece of a former police chief, Pol. Gen. Pracha Promnok, who also a former deputy PM, and the luxury housing estate where Tu Hao bought 50 houses was developed by SC Asset, which Shinawatra family members hold majority shares and a major shareholder includes opposition Pheu Thai Party’s likely PM candidate Paethongtarn Shinawatra, only added to the anxiety that people like Tu Hao have a very deep network of connections in high places.

While he must be presumed innocent until proven guilty and people should wait for the justice process to take its course, many Thais have already passed their own judgement due to their inadequate level of trust in the Thai justice system.

Tu Hao’s case is just one example of a growing anxiety about China and Mainland Chinese taking over Thailand. No amount of Xanax will help reduce this collective anxiety that Thailand is gradually turning into a vassal state of China.

What Thais need to do is to stay calm and not aid criminals, Thai or foreign, to own lands through a proxy or to engage in criminal activities. Okay, I must admit that this is much easier said than done because there will always be rotten apples who will have total disregard to Thai national interest. It is precisely because some Thais are in cahoots with criminals that the country is at risk of being overrun by foreigners through Thai proxies.

Increasingly, some super-wealthy Thai-Chinese tycoons are being branded as agents of Chinese economic conquest. Without naming names of some of these richest Thai Chinese, it must be noted that they are now being routinely attacked and demonized by some Thais and even fellow Thai-Chinese on social media.

“[Thais] are becoming cheap labor with long working hours. I only have one word [to the Thai-Chinese tycoon]: “fuck”,” wrote one Facebook user, a lawyer and activist on Thursday as the Tu Hai saga unravels. People start attacking and demonizing some very rich Thai-Chinese tycoons seen as “collaborators” and too subservient to China or openly support foreign ownership of Thai land.

Some are now insinuating that some of these Thai-Chinese tycoons are not really Thai because they cannot even speak Thai without an accent or that deep down they are still Chinese and alien. This is a very dangerous road to take if enough people subscribe to such thinking.

Recently, PM Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha was also accused of appearing too servile to Chinese President Xi Jinping during last month’s APEC Summit in Bangkok. Prayut’s mannerism, fair or not, was described by some as akin to a security guard greeting his employer.

The collective anxiety will likely not diminish but exacerbate in the months and years ahead as more Chinese are investing in Thailand. Already, Chinese businesspeople have carved out an area around Bangkok’s Sutthisan MRT Station, which is near the Chinese Embassy, into New Chinatown with little or no Thai-language signs – a stark reminder that Thais will have to adapt to the new reality.

While COVID-19 has slowed down the rising tide of Chinese influence somewhat as Chinese tourists were kept at home, the latest information by the Board of Investment (BOI) shows that China continues to be the largest foreign direct investor in Thailand in the third quarter of 2022.

Both Thais and Thai-Chinese must be careful and empathetic to the concerns, real or imagined, that China is taking over Thailand. Thailand must boost its trade and relations with other countries so as not to end up dependent, or too dependent, on China.

Thais must handle the rise of China in a calm and tactful manner, without overgeneralizing and demonizing that all Chinese are corrupt, criminals, or engage in racial profiling to the point where we even doubt the allegiance of our own brothers and sisters who are Thai-Chinese, born and bred in Thailand, who have been integrated as part of this society for generations.

Permanent Secretary for Interior Kick Start ‘World Soil Day 2022’ event.

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Contributor

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4 December 2022, 01:33

Permanent Secretary for Interior Kick Start “The Ministry of Interior (MOI)’s world soil day event” for this year at Watpasisaengtham, Ubon Ratchathani Province, and invited Thai people to participate in “World Soil Day 2022” event on Dec 5th in all districts and provinces across the nation.

On December 3nd, 2022, Mr.Suttipong Juljarern, Permanent Secretary for Interior, was subject to the kick start of this year’s MOI’s World Soil Day event at Watpasisaengtham, Ubon Ratchathani.

The main objective is to raise public awareness of the importance of natural resources in soil for sustainable conservation and to honor His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, on his work regarding “Soil” which the UN has declared that every year of his birthday (December, 5th) is the World Soil Day. For steering pilot zones during this period (December, 2nd – 8th) “awareness week” in 7 Districts is to extend the campaign to all 878 districts in Thailand.

Ubon Ratchatani Province is a prosperous foods area such as rice, fruits, vegetables, etc., and fulfills with Khok Nong Na about 4,044 fields, therefore Mr. Suttipong has chosen Ubonratchatani province for declaring to preserve soils for fellow FAO purposes. For this year’s World Soil Day, the event will be held under the slogan “Soils, where food begins” which reflects the importance of maintaining healthy soil, leading to Food Security, Safety, and Sustainability under the concept of One Healthy and 4 Better : Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment, and Better Life. This year’s key message is about the significant loss of vitamins and nutrients in vegetables and fruits due to the loss of soil fertility, which directly affects the health and quality of life of all human beings.

The Permanent Secretary added that the Ministry of Interior has introduced the sufficiency economy philosophy (SEP), the royal initiative of His late Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej to convey to people by “People Development Concept”, allowing them to develop their land. It is the continuation of His Majesty’s aspirations, wishing to perceive “National Stability” and “National Happiness” under the philosophy of a sufficient economy.

Applying the SEP to the Khok Nong Na, The model that imitates nature It consists of mounds, swamps, and farmland has been empirically successful in improving soil quality, covering soil, increasing the number of microorganisms as a result of The National Food Waste Management Campaign, promoting food security by the encouragement of the cultivation of vegetables, creating Campaigns for instance 3 forest, 4 Benefits, Vetiver grass planting project, Kanna Thong project, which helps reduce the number of chemical leakages in the production of woven fabrics, cotton fabrics, and pineapple fibers.

The Ministry of Interior has disseminated the knowledge to people in Thai society, which causes prosperity and a path towards a ‘Civilized Society’ as known as Change for Good.

According to that, during the kickstart of the soil campaign, Mr. Permanent Secretary highlighted that “Soil” is a natural resource that is essential to all life on Earth. Soil provides an environment for plants to grow in, helps produce food, filters and cleans water, and also plays a crucial role in driving carbon and nitrogen cycles. The Ministry’s main goal is to restore good soil to the land to create the balance of nature and ecosystem”.

Moreover, He was also the leader of the campaign to declare the intention of soil protection, preservation, and develop the quality of the soil. The challenge is how to implement the working mechanism of the Ministry of Interior to create people’s awareness about the importance of soil. Thailand together with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has established World Soil Day Award to commemorate His late Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej to carry on the royal aspirations of conservation of the environment and soil, which are fundamentals of generating Food Security and Zero Hunger (SDGs)

He also reminded me that on December, 5th of this year, The Ministry of Interior (MOI) will organize various activities including, for example, an intention declaration, a walking campaign, an exhibition, and public relations campaigns. All campaigns will display the logo of World Soil Day under the slogan of “Soils, where food begins”, to raise awareness of the importance of Soil in all districts and provinces across the nation. “The Ministry of Interior is taking this event very seriously this year and would continue the driving campaign under the theme of Soils, where food begins until the next one is arrived (September 2023) so please join us for the betterment of all lives,” he said.

In the summary of declaring speech we will continue the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s Study and Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) to develop and maintain the abundance of soils for creating quality food. Then we will expand the network to create multiple results driving only one planet beyond toward ultimately sustainable development goals.

Finally, The Permanent Secretary said that he will continue the inspiration of King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun His Highness which is concerned and takes into account the well-being of the people. His Majesty has a firm determination to make a stable nation, to make great happiness to the people, and to fix the wrong thing.

In addition, Inheriting the royal aspirations under the philosophy of sufficiency economy…” His Majesty King Rama 10 continued the royal aspirations of “Rama IX to continue preserving and extending the royal project e.g. Addressing flood and drought problems, Thai silk with no chemical process, etc., and royal initiatives of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej Maha Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great Borommanatbophit in the nurturing of suffering and maintaining the happiness of the people and developing the country to progress. he also hopes everyone would come and join this event to raise public awareness of soil resource conservation, making the concept of “Thailand, the golden land”.
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#WorldSoilDay #soilswherefoodbegins #Soils4Nutrition #FAO #MOI #MinistryofInterior #SDGsforAll #ChangeforGood
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News Source : Information Division, Office of the Permanent Secretary for Thailand.

Polish-Thai Trade Growing Rapidly.

By

Contributor

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3 December 2022, 20:17

Trade between Poland and Thailand is fast growing and Poland is an attractive investment destination within the EU for Thai corporations due to its strategic location, reasonable wage and costs of living plus friendly workforce, said speakers at Poland-Thailand Business Forum in Bangkok on Tuesday.

“Keep close eyes on Poland, a country worth monitoring from a business perspective,” said Polish Ambassador to Thailand Waldermar Dubaniowski.

Top Polish exports to Thailand such as copper increased by 165 percent in 2021 while dairy products’ export to the kingdom rose by 17 percent in the same year.

At present, the embassy is also promoting Polish apples in Thailand as Poland is the world’s second largest producers of apple and boasts some of the best apples at competitive prices.

Large Thai corporations such as CP Foods and Thai Union Group as well as Indorama Ventures are already established in Poland. As for Polish investment in Thailand, Comarch, an Polish IT firm has its regional office in Bangkok with 20 staff. Royalty points calculated by Home Pro and True rely on Comarch’s programme while Krungsri Bank turns to the Polish firm for its online wealth management system.

Less-known exports include the supply of Polish mozzarella cheese to many restaurants in Bangkok, Pawel Mokrzycki told Khaosod English.

Other speakers believe an EU-Thai FTA once realized, would significantly boost trade between the two nations.

(Photo and text by Pravit Rojanaphruk.)

CP Foods wins four MAT Award 2022 trophies MEAT ZERO receives Grand Prize for Campaign of the Year

By

Contributor

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2 December 2022, 16:13

Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP Foods) received 4 awards from Marketing Award of Thailand 2022 (MAT Award 2022), Thailand’s largest marketing campaign competition, which is organized annually by the marketing Association of Thailand (MAT), to recognize Thai organizations’ marketing campaign success.

MEAT ZERO products won Grand Prize for Campaign of the Year, which recognizes excellence in its marketing strategy, execution, creativity, and good results by receiving the highest score of all award categories and the highest votes from the judges, the MAT judges, and the honorary consultant team.

Moreover, MEAT Zero was also granted Gold Award for Strategic Marketing Category to recognize its success in becoming the market leader within 18 months of product launch. Meanwhile, MEAT ZERO and CP Bologna won Bronze Award in Innovations& Martech which recognizes it marketing campaigns that best utilize innovation and technology to propel businesses to a new height.

Anarkawee Choorath, Senior Vice Presidents for Marketing of CP Foods, said we are honored that the plant-based product MEAT ZERO’s marketing campaign was also named Strategic Marketing in the MAT Award 2022. According to the results of a consumer behavior survey conducted for a year, up to 28% of Thai population are flexitarian, which is consistent with the global trend. As a result, the campaign focuses on MEAT ZERO’s health benefits due to it is made with Plant-TEC innovation, a technique for creating a meat-like flavor. The company raises public awareness through appropriate channels and diversifies distribution channels to increase access to the target group.

In addition, two products received the Bronze award in the category of Innovations & Martech. 1.) MEAT ZERO, which uses technology to gain precise insight into target groups behavior, and 2.) CP Bologna from its “CP Bologna MEWTaVerse” virtual event, which had the most participants in the world since this format was introduced. It also enables those interested in Metaverse trends to visit and learn about them. This award recognizes a marketing campaign for two products that uses modern marketing ideas to make a positive impact and achieve a business goal.

Arabs Unite in Celebration as Morocco Advances in World Cup

By

Associated Press

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2 December 2022, 12:30

Morocco fans cheer prior of the World Cup group F soccer match between Canada and Morocco at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha , Qatar, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022. Photo: Manu Fernandez / AP

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — First Qatar was out, exiting the World Cup with the worst record of a host country. Then the Saudi national team’s run ended, despite a historic upset against Argentina last week. Finally Tunisia was eliminated, after a dramatic victory against already-qualified France.

Now, at the first World Cup ever to be held in the Middle East, Morocco is the Arab world’s last hope. The fractured region is rallying around the North African nation after its 2-1 win Thursday against Canada that advanced Morocco to the knockout stage of the tournament for the first time since 1986.

Morocco’s success sparked angry street riots in Belgium after a match earlier this week, but on Thursday triggered an outpouring of joy in the Arab world, where local teams are often underdogs. There were celebrations in Gaza City and Cairo. A similar rush of regional goodwill followed Saudi Arabia’s shock win against two-time World Cup winner Argentina last week. Arabs have also backed Qatar’s hosting of the World Cup in the face of harsh Western criticism.

Jubilant Moroccans, Qataris, Saudis, Palestinians and others poured through historic alleys of Souq Waqif in central Doha after Morocco’s win, clad in red and green and waving the Moroccan flag wildly in celebration. The flag illuminated skyscrapers along Doha’s glittering corniche.

Streaming crowds chanted, “Congratulations to us on this beginning! It will go on and on!” The metro near Al Thumama Stadium became a pulsing dance party of Moroccans drumming on the windows and ululating in celebration.

“All the Arabs left the tournament, but we made it up for them and we got our revenge,” said Najwa Boumahraz, a Moroccan living in London. “We are very proud.”

Malika Jellal, a businesswoman from Casablanca, Morocco, said she felt like a celebrity on Thursday.

“Arabs keep coming up to me and saying ‘thank you, you honored us, you saved us all,’” she said.

A pair of Saudi brothers who had flown to Doha to see the match from the eastern province of Dammam said they were so proud of Morocco that they practically forgot their sorrow that their own team was headed home.

“Over this week we feel that as Arabs, we are all one people,” said 23-year-old Saudi Turki al-Qahtani, draped in a Moroccan flag. “We forget about borders in this World Cup.”

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Story: Isabel Debre.

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