While Hong Kong has been roiled by more than half a year of protests against perceived communist influence from the mainland, its neighboring city of Macau has progressed in the opposite direction—serving as a model of obedience to the regime. The former Portuguese colony, now the world’s largest gambling market, is currently hosting Chinese leader […]
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SURAT THANI(NNT) – Villagers in Tri Kung subdistrict, Surat Thani, have joined a merit making campaign run by the subdistrict administrative organization which is accepting the donation of recyclable waste to be sorted and later sold. The revenue will then be donated for charity.
At Ban Khon Por village in Tri Kung subdistrict, Surat Thani province, villagers joined a parade dressed up in fancy costumes made from recyclable waste around the village, holding campaign signs asking villagers to sort garbage and help reduce global warming.
The parade was held as part of the religious Tod Pa Pa rite where faithful Buddhists raise donations for temples. The rite in Tri Kung subdistrict is special as villagers are encouraged to donate recyclable waste, which is then sorted and sold. Revenue from the sale is donated to the Mae Khong Paen Din fund that oversees waste management and an anti-drugs campaign.
This donation campaign also promotes the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle among villagers, encouraging them to reduce waste, lower waste management costs, and promote the reuse of materials to generate revenue.
BANGKOK(NNT) – Various agencies have begun promoting One Tambon, One Product (OTOP) goods, as well as products made by university and school students as New Year gifts.
Chiang Rai Vocational College (CVC) organized a festival introducing cookies and cakes made by its aspiring hospitality workers for a 16th year. All the goods were made for the “Chompoo Pantip” brand, which was started to provide students with real life working opportunities along with revenue. The college’s 15 departments, which run 108 career courses, are all showcasing their work at the festival, running until December 28.
OTOP makers in Loei province are holding a similar event, promoting their goods as New Year gifts. Products being featured include macadamia nuts from Na Haeo and Phu Rua districts, candied coconut from Chiang Kan district, coffee from Phu Rua and Na Duang districts, handmade textiles from Wang Saphung district, rice cookies from Muang Loei district and herbal drinks from Dan Sai district.
The Governor of Loei, Chaiwat Chuenkosum, is inviting all residents to pick up gift baskets from the province’s community producers, pointing out the revenue will enrich the villages and enhance their economies.
In the southern border province of Yala, the provincial community development office is to hold an OTOP Gift Basket Sales Week between December 23 and 27, 2019, assembling products from eight districts of the province. A selection of major products, worth 800, 1,000, 1,200 and 1,500 baht, will be touted. Information can be found by calling 073-212075 or visiting the office’s Facebook page.
Visitors to Thailand will find lots of things to do during the country’s current cool or ‘winter’ season from December 2019 to January 2020. For the best experience during Thailand’s coolest season, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has highlighted emerging destinations and up-and-coming events to make this festive season special for all.
“From December to January truly is the best time of year to enjoy various attractions in Thailand where the temperature is nice and cool, flowers are in full bloom, and emerging destinations are a joy to visit,” TAT Governor Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn said. “It’s a great time to get on a push bike and leave the motorcycle rental behind. Although going by bike takes longer, you’ll get closer to nature.
“It also gives travellers the chance to get up close and personal with local communities while helping to distribute income to Thais living in the provinces.”
TAT is inviting local and international tourists to visit the following destinations and attractions to enjoy the pleasant weather and colourful festivals:
The 16th Chiang Rai Flower Festival runs from 27 December, 2019 to 19 January, 2020, at the Tung and Khom Park with a wide variety of cool climate flowers, cultural and modern performances by local youth groups and famous bands. The music in the park takes place every Saturday and will run until 15 February, 2020.
Chiang Rai ASEAN Flower Festival 2019 runs from 25 December, 2019 until 12 January, 2020, at the Mae Kok Riverside Flower Park featuring a wide variety of cool climate flowers, cultural performances, and a local fair.
The 6th Colours of Doi Tung – Includes a variety of features arts and handicrafts, local food, folk performances, and DIY activities that reflect the life of the hill tribe people living on the mountains. Takes place at Doi Tung, from 4-10 December, 14-15 December, 21 December, 2019 – 5 January, 2020, and 11 – 12 January, 2020. For full details go to Facebook page: DoiTungClub
Mae Salong Tea Tasting Festival – Takes place from 28 December, 2019 to 2 January, 2020, at Ban Santikhiri in Mae Fah Luang district. The event invites local and international travellers to taste Mae Salong’s signature tea, admire cherry blossoms in full bloom, and savour hill tribe food.
Phu Ruea Christmas tree – 30 November, 2019 to 31 January, 2020, at the Christmas Park near the entrance to Phu Ruea National Park. Enjoy music in the park, folk performances, a local fair, photo and selfie-taking opportunities.
Winter Flower Festival 2019 – from 28 December, 2019 to 1 January, 2020, at Loei District Office featuring a wide variety of cool climate flowers, contests, music performances, a fair and a New Year mass merit-making ceremony.
Thailand’s Cherry Blossom (Wild Himalayan Cherry) Festival – January to February 2020, at Phu Lom Lo in the Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park, Dan Sai. Check with the TAT Loei Office for the exact dates when the flowers are in bloom.
Nakhon Sawan Lantern Festival 2019 is organised for the second consecutive year from 24 December, 2019 to 4 January, 2020. In addition to the elaborate light displays, there is also a giant light tunnel, Christmas tree and presents made of tiny lights. The 12-day, 12-night event also features music in the park, a singing contest, cover dance shows, black-light colouring activity, and fun fair.
Sunflower Blooming Festival at Khao Chin Lae – from 21 December, 2019 to 2 January, 2020. Covering over 1200 rai (475 acres), the field is covered with bright yellow blooming sunflowers. Visitors can also take a tram ride through the fields, ride a pony, take selfies with the giant sunflowers, and much more. In the same province, the Sunflower Blooming Festival at Ban Son Lek Fai, covering over 100 rai usually starts before New Year.
Though Thailand is not predominantly Christian, Sakon Nakhon gets into the holiday spirit every year and in a pretty extravagant manner. Ban Ta Rae in Sakon Nakhon is home to Thailand’s largest Roman Catholic community, which has celebrated the Christmas star procession annually since 1982. This year the Sakon Nakhon Christmas Star Parade 2019 takes place 21 – 24 December, 2019, at the Martino Pavilion, Ban Ta Rae, and 25 December at Saint Joseph Sakon Nakhon School. Sakon Nakhon’s famous traditional Christmas Star Parade itself takes place on 23 December, 2019, from 18.00 Hrs., following by an opening ceremony.
H.E Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary-General of ASEAN, met with H.E. Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway; H.E. Roberto Balzaretti, State Secretary for European Affairs of Switzerland; H.E. Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Minister of State attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France; and H.E. Ivan Scalfarotto, Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs of Italy, at the Sidelines of the 14th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (ASEM FMM14) on 15-16 December 2019 in Madrid.
*From left to right
BANGKOK(NNT) – Each year in Thailand, about 80,000 people get an antibiotic-resistant infection, which can be fatal. Now, educational institutions in Thailand and the United Kingdom have jointly launched a research project titled “One Health Drivers of Antibacterial Resistance in Thailand”, aimed at improving infection prevention and control.
The “One Health Drivers of Antibacterial Resistance in Thailand” research project is a collaboration between Thailand’s Mahidol University and the University of Bristol in the UK, with support from Chulabhorn Research Institute and its network partners. The Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities of Mahidol University, Dr. Luechai Sringanyuang, said today that antibacterial resistance has become a global health threat as bacteria have developed mechanisms to neutralize the action of antibacterial agents.
In Thailand, some 80,000 patients with an antibiotic-resistant infection, present for treatment each year. Drug resistant infections could reduce the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 0.6%, or at least 40 billion baht.
Main factors associated with antibiotic resistance include microbes, livestock, healthcare, agriculture and changing lifestyle. Cooperation by all sectors is needed to address the issue in a sustainable way. This research project will be used to create guidelines for the development of measures to improve infection prevention and control.
BANGKOK(NNT) – The Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) has approved measures to promote investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) by expanding the number of target industries and increasing corporate income tax benefits.
A meeting of the BOI, chaired by Prime Minister and Defense Minister, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, approved the measures to attract more investors to the EEC.
The first measure is to expand target industries and businesses in the EEC, such as industries in the advanced technological development and supporting industries.
The second measure is to increase corporate income tax benefits, which cover human resource development and location. Companies in the A1, A2 and A3 business categories will be entitled to a 50% reduction in corporate income tax for three more years, while technological industries and businesses will enjoy corporate income tax exemption for two additional years.
Companies located in the EEC’s Innovation Zone, Industrial Promotional Zone, Digital Innovation Zone, Eastern Aviation City and the EECmd in Thammasat University, Pattaya Campus, will receive a 50% reduction in corporate income tax for two more more years.
Targeted sectors in technological development located in the EEC will enjoy corporate income tax exemptions for another year.
The measures will be in effect from January 2, 2020, to December 2021. Applicants can sign up for the new privileges, with no deadline set for registration.
The BOI meeting also approved measures to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The meeting agreed that both the government and the private sector have to adjust their…
BANGKOK(NNT) – The move to the fifth generation (5G) of mobile technology is vital to Thailand in the digital era. With the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) having started 5G testing, the government is confident that a 5G spectrum licence auction will be held next year.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, presided over the opening of a seminar on the impact of 5G on the Thai economy. Gen. Prawit said the the debut auction of 5G spectrum will take place in February 2020, which is in line with the government’s road map and other countries. The 5G technology will play an important role in economic reform, strengthen the industrial sector, drive the country’s competitiveness and contribute to the economy in the long term. It will also bring positive changes in social development, such as reducing income disparity, giving people more access to information, education, medical and public health services and improving social welfare.
The government is aware of the various challenges to 5G adoption, and all sides have to adapt to the changes. Telecommunication companies must ensure that the people will benefit from this technology. The business sector should capitalize on 5G as means to add value to their products and services. At the same time, members of the public should learn and understand the benefits of 5G.
Gen. Prawit added that, if Thailand fails to launch 5G on time, new skills will not be developed and the Thai economy will be left behind other nations.
© Siam News Network Ltd.
