Headlines summary as of 20 May 2021

News

Newly confirmed case(s)	Total Cases	Patients under severe conditions and those using ventilators	Discharged from hospital	From 1 April, totally confirmed cases (third wave)	1st dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)
2,636 (671 from prisons)	119,585	1,213 / 405	76,636	88,086	1,647,871 (+62,098) (= 2.489 % of the population)
Local transmission	From abroad	Being hospitalised/ in field-hospital/ quarantined	Confirmed cases in Bangkok	Death toll	Total vaccinations	2nd dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)
1,907 [1,385 (get tested in hospital) + 522 (active case finding)]	58 (in SQ)	42,246 (23,512 in field hospitals)	30,535 (+1,001)	609 (+25)	2,540,116 doses	892,245 (+32,373) (=1.348 % of the population)

• 54 out of 58 confirmed cases from aboard are from Cambodia. All of the people have the occupation of ‘online administration officer’ (of online casino websites).—CCSA
• The PM posted on his FB Page saying workers who have self-supported social security will be eligible to get the inoculation from June. The PM said the workers under the scheme are mainly in service sectors and should get the vaccination in order to revitalise the economy in the sectors.—Thai Rath

Politics

• The conflict reemerged between the PM and ruling Bhumjaithai Party over the public health handles of the PM as BJT spokesperson came out to grill the PM as being too self-centric and being the obstacles to the access to vaccines. The PM earlier slashed BJT leader and Public Health Minister’s plan to introduce ‘walk-in jab’ scheme.—Krungthep Turakij
  • The spokesperson gave an interview clarifying that he did not mean to grill the PM being the obstacle, rather the CCSA handles under the PM directions. BJT spokesperson said that he was warned by the senior people in the party on the outspoken comments.—Inside Thailand
  • This morning the government spokesperson announced that the PM would like to rejig the term of the scheme from ‘walk-in’ to ‘on-site registration’ for fear there is not sufficient vaccines. An Army reporter, viewed this as a compromise between the PM and Bhumjaithai Party.—Wassana Nanuam
• The Digital Economy Minister said he is confident that the police can bring Paris-based monarchy critic academia Somsak Jaemtirasakul to be prosecuted in the Kingdom on charges related to royal defamation and Computer Crime Act. The Minister said he is seeking to have the asylum-seeker in France back in Thailand via extradition on his social media posts on the health of the monarch in relation to the pandemic.—Thai Rath
• Ousted and self-exiled former PM Yingluck Shinawatra posted on her social media commemorating the bloody crack-down of Shinawatra-supporter Red Shirt protestors on 19 May. The former exiled PM communicated to her supporter and wished the crackdown is the last.—Thai Rath

Australia

• The Chief of Narcotics Suppression Bureau said that they found out the people who exported methamphetamine to Australia is of Thai nationals who got the narcotics from neighbouring country in the North and hid it in electrical appliances, before hiring a shipping company to ship them to Australia.—ThaiPBS

Economic:

• Employees insured under Section 33 of the Social Security Act will be given priority in the Covid-19 vaccination drive.  The target is some 8-10 million Section 33 workers, with special emphasis on those in the manufacturing and services sectors.  The Labour Ministry, Finance Ministry and other private partners will kick start the Covid-19 vaccination program for these workers from next month.  Next in line to receive the vaccine will be people living in the 9 economic provinces considered important economic areas.  Source:  Bangkok Post Krungthep Turakij
• The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) has reduced its 2021 GDP growth forecast to 0.5-2 percent as the prolonged impacts of the third COVID-19 outbreak is anticipated to subdue domestic consumption in Q2 and Q3.  The reopening of Phuket to international tourists in July this year and brighter export prospect are not enough to ramp up GDP growth.
• JSCCIB identified COVID-19 vaccine distribution and efficient public communication as the solutions to spurring economic growth later this year.  Specifically, the vaccines should be administered to tourist destinations to enable border reopening in Q4 of 2021.  To boost domestic consumption, JSCCIB suggests raising government subsidy under the co-payment scheme Khon La Kreung from 3,000 Baht to 6,000 Baht, as well as move up the implementation date of its latest phase to June instead of July.
• JSCCIB and Thai Bankers’ Association support the government’s plan to borrow an additional 700 billion Baht to combat COVID-19.  TBA noted that it may push up Thailand’s public debt level, but that the ceiling can be amended as is commonly practised by other countries.  Source:  Bangkok Post   Naew Na  Thai Post
• Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) affirmed that Phuket will reopen to inoculated tourists through the sandbox model on 1 July following its virtual meeting with 50-60 hotels represented by the Thai Hotels Association.  To build up tourists’ confidence, operators will launch the ‘City Marketing’ plan, which will highlight the high level of safety in Phuket and other sandbox areas as segregated from other parts of Thailand.  To this end, TAT has set sight on attracting 129,000 international tourists in Q3 of this year through the campaign ‘Countdown to Reopen Phuket’. 
• This is at odds with the Association of Thai travel Agents (ATTA)’s dismissal of Phuket’s July reopening, reasoning that the government does not appear to have control over COVID-19 outbreak yet.  ATTA added that in the 1 year since the pandemic outbreak, almost 100 percent of the operators in the tourism value chain have suspended their operations, with at least 10 percent permanently ceasing operations.  More businesses are anticipated to divest; the problem aggravated by their inaccessibility to the government’s soft loan.  ATTA suggested the government allocate parts of the 700 billion Baht loan as soft loans for tourism sector.  Source:  Bangkok Post  Matichon newspaper, 20 May 2021  Krungthep Turakij

CPTPP

• The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) expressed full support for Thailand to join the negotiations for CPTPP accession following a meeting among its members.  The JSCCIB will compile its studies that address various concerns on Thailand’s accession and submit it to the International Economic Affairs Committee, headed by Foreign Affairs Ministry for their consideration.  Source:  Thansettakij

Others

• Some 90 percent of the creditors have approved of Thai Airways’ restructuring plan, which must be submitted to the Central Bankruptcy Court on 28 May.  Appointed as its administrators are 5 people including acting Thai Airway’s CEO Chansin Treenuchagron and its former CEO Piyasvasti Amranand.  Source:  Bangkok Post  Krungthep Turakij
• Commerce minister Jurin Laksanawisit has instructed its Intellectual Property Department to work with government and private agencies to suppress intellectual property violations and upgrade existing laws as the government aims to remove Thailand from the US Trade Representative’s (USTR) watch list (WL) as soon as possible.  Source: Bangkok Post

Headlines summary as of 19 May 2021

News

Newly confirmed case(s)	Total Cases	Patients under severe conditions and those using ventilators	Discharged from hospital	From 1 April, totally confirmed cases (third wave)	1st dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)
3,349 (1,879 + 1,498 from prisons)	116,949	1,210 / 402	74,368	88,086	1,585,773 (+64,739) (= 2.298 % of the population)
Local transmission	From abroad	Being hospitalised/ in field-hospital/ quarantined	Confirmed cases in Bangkok	Death toll	Total vaccinations	2nd dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)
1,879 [1,625 (get tested in hospital) + 254 (active case finding)]	17 (in SQ)	41,903 (23,512 in field hospitals)	29,534 (+876)	678 (+29)	2,445,645 doses	859,872 (+39,911) (=1.238 % of the population)

• In the last two days saw people in the entertainment industry start taking COVID jabs stating that the existing vaccines would help make their life return to normal.—Khao Sod

• A famous singer also posted on her social media on the inoculation. However, she said that he was contacted by the Public Health Ministry to be a presenter for the jab, making her having the vaccine one month before schedule.—Khao Sod
• CCSA announced that the cluster at Bon Kai community in the Pathumwan District is now under control.–CCSA

Politics

• In the cabinet meeting, the PM just scrapped the Public Health Ministry dreams of introducing ‘walking-in jab’ scheme for fear that the scheme would encourage people to densely gathered in one place which might cause chaotic situation. The PM who concurrently serve as the CCSA head said that he would like to give the prospective scheme a pause until there are sufficient vaccines.—Thai Rath
  • This has been seen by a media that this halt means the PM is the real deal in the vaccine allocation and the COVID situation, not the Public Health Minister. Moreover, the media suggested it might mean that there will not be enough vaccines ready for the walk-in’ scheme.–Matichon
• After an MP from Opposition Move Forward Party came out to unveil that the cabinet has clandestinely approve a Decree to make a loan of 700 billion on top of the 1 trillion THB loans in a bid to revitalise the economy amidst the pandemic, the Finance Ministry will hold a press conference to clarify on the matter.–Matichon
  • Deputy PM and ruling Democrat leader Jurin said that the loan will support the government bid in curbing the pandemic.—Krungthep Turakij
  • Former Transport Minister and prospective BMA governor candidate posted on his social media asking people to look into the 1 trillion loan approved projects and its effectiveness. He cited some projects about wild animals education centres which is irrelevant to the pressing COVID issue.—Krungthep Turakij
• Former PM and Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva is the only Thai politician picked by the Chinese Communist Party to give a special interview on the 100^th anniversary of the CCP.
  • Former advisor to the Deputy PM Prawit tried to read between the line by saying that the CCP which will mark its centenary this July has picked Abhisit who is a PM candidate under the Democrat as Thai representative in its online seminar. Paisal Puechmongkol hinted this with political implication.–Matichon
• Panusaya ‘Rung’ posted on her social media that her mother got a summon order from the Royal Thai Police office on charges of organising an event which might cause an infection. The core protest leader’s mother held a small gathering in front of the Supreme Court calling her daughter to get bails since late April.—Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul

Australia

• The Police Chief has ordered Illicit Drug Suppression division to scrutinise into the ‘ice’ smuggling from Thailand into Australia. The Police Chief has asked relevant division to coordinate information with Australian Federal Police and hold a press conference for any update as soon as possible.—Naew Na
  • Office Of The Narcotics Control Board said the office is looking to confiscate assets of the Thai exporters.—Thai Rath

Economic:

Cabinet’s Decisions, 18 May 2021

• Approved plans to implement 881 projects entitled ‘Big Rock’ worth 66.5 billion Baht to move forward the country’s national reform plan that came into effect in 2018.  The projects will be funded by FY2021 and FY2022 budgets as well as the central fund.  The first group of projects are labeled as the ‘top priority’ that are the bedrock of the reform program; followed by ‘urgent projects’ and projects that are considered essential for budget disbursement.  The projects mostly focus on value-added creations for the agricultural sector, such as smart farmers and bio-economy.  The NESDC is assigned to oversee these projects.   Source:  Bangkok Post  Thai Rath
• Reduce contribution of employers and employees to Section 33 of the Social Security Fund to 2.5 percent (ceiling is 375 Baht) from 5 percent of monthly salary.  Contributions of the self-insured under Section 39 is also slashed to 216 Baht monthly from 432 Baht.  Both are effective from 1 June – 31 August 2021.  Sources:  Bangkok Post Prachachart Turakij
• A source from Finance Ministry said the cabinet had approved its proposal to issue an executive degree authorising the government to borrow an additional 700 billion Baht to revitalise the economy.  This is because the 1 trillion Baht loan is being used up quickly to rehabilitate the economy from the third COVID-19 outbreak, in which only 166 billion Baht is left.  Finance Minister Akhom refused to comment on the matter, since the discussion was supposedly a secret and would not be disclosed publicly until it is published in the Royal Gazette. 
• Of the 700-billion-Baht loan, there is speculation that 30 Billion baht will be allocated to Ministry of Public Health for the procurement of medical supplies and vaccine shots and research; 400 billion Baht will go to MoF to help the afflicted and; 270 billion Baht for MoF to stimulate investment and domestic consumption.  Another source speculates that the government will not spend all of the 700 billion Baht, but will allocate a portion to cover the loan made to shore up budget deficit resulting from the fall in revenue collection for FY2021 and FY2022.
• This additional borrowing is not anticipated to affect FY2021 public debt level.  For FY2022, it might push public debt level to surpass the 60 percent ceiling, which will not be a problem as the government can expand the debt ceiling.  Source:  Prachachart Turakij  Thansettakij Krungthep Turakij Bangkok Post
• Approved 3 measures for the government to raise additional investment funds worth 154 billion Baht for FY2022 budget through various channels, such as public-private partnership projects (valued at 52.320 billion Baht), Thailand Future Fund projects (value: 9.98 billion Baht) and more borrowing to finance social and economic development projects (value: 91.7 billion Baht).  This is in compliance with the Fiscal Discipline Law, which stipulates that investment budget must account for at least 20 percent of the government’s expenditure and must be higher than the loan amount set aside to shore up budget deficit.  Of the total FY2022 budget of 3.1 trillion Baht, the budget deficit is set at 700 billion Baht, while the current investment budget set aside is only 624 billion Baht.  Sources:  Prachachat Turakij Bangkok Post

Others

• Thailand’s Ministry of Defence has trimmed its budget for 2022 for the third consecutive year to give the government more funds to contain the pandemic.  The Defence Ministry’s budget for FY 2020 by 18 billion Baht YoY and by another 17.2 billion Baht in FY2021.  The budget bill for FY2022 is due for its first reading in the parliament from 31 May – 2 June.  Source:  Thai PBS World
• Nok Air has submitted a business rehabilitation business plan to the official receiver after its 2 extensions expired, with further rehabilitation planned with creditors.  Source:  Bangkok Post
• The Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation (TCG) recorded a low number of requests for its soft loan guarantee, totalling only 6.5 billion baht out of its earmarked 100 billion.  TCG provides credit guarantees for the Bank of Thailand’s recently amended 250 billion baht to help alleviate the impact of the pandemic outbreak on business owners.  Source:  Bangkok Post

Headlines summary as of 18 May 2021

News

Newly confirmed case(s)	Total Cases	Patients under severe conditions and those using ventilators	Discharged from hospital	From 1 April, totally confirmed cases (third wave)	1st dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)
2,473 (1,793 + 680 from prisons)	113,555	n/a	69,918 (at 61.57%)	82,219	1,521,034 (+38,332) (= 2.298 % of the population)
Local transmission	From abroad	Being hospitalised/ in field-hospital/ quarantined	Confirmed cases in Bangkok	Death toll		2nd dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)
1,770 [1,423 (get tested in hospital) + 347 (active case finding)]	23 (in SQ)	42,988 [n/a]	28,658 (+873)	649 (+35)		819,961 (+38,355) (=1.238 % of the population)

• Bangkok Metropolitan Administration spokesperson outlined 28 clusters in 19 districts of Bangkok. In the emerging cluster of construction camps in Northern bangkok, the active case finding log 987 confirmed cases out of 1,413 tests conducted.—BMA spokesperson
• The infection in the prisons is yet under controlled:
  • The Justice Ministry is seeking to get vaccines from the Public Health Ministry to inoculate every convicts. The minister said that this is the only and most effective way to contain the pandemic.—Thai Rath
  • The Justice Minister said should the pandemic is yet under controlled, the ministry will consider in early June whether to halt the jail term for 50,000 convicts in a bid to curb the pandemic.—Krungthep Turakij

Politics

• The 2022 budget is out and see a cut in the overall spending on different sectors. It has drawn criticisms from the opposition.
  • The Defence Ministry spokesperson dismissed the criticism from the opposition parties which pointed out that the Defence budget was the least cut despite being in the pandemic. The spokesperson said that the Defence Ministry has different missions than the Public Health, thus more budget.—Thai Rath
  • It is addressed by a media that all ministries under ruling Bhumjaithai Party have seen a cut in the budget bill.—Krungthep Turakij
• The Digital Economy Minister is seeking to prosecute an online page which juxtaposed the government field hospital and field hospitals built by an online influencer. The minister warned online users not to stir misunderstandings.—Thai Rath
• Today, South Korea-based May 18 Memorial Foundation is going to virtually hand over Gwang Ju Prize for Human Rights to detained human rights lawyer Anon Nampa. Anon has been working for human rights issues in Thailand since 2008.–Matichon

Australia

• All Thai media outlets cited the 9News report on Australian authority intercepted a Thai national cargo ship at Port Botany in Sydney, Australia. The Australian authority found out that there are illicit drugs hid in electric BBQ and water heater. The case is under investigation.—9News
• Last night, security officials in the Southern province of Nakhon Sri Thammarat apprehended Mr Cook Samuel James Norton, a 47-year-old Australian, for his involcement with drugs and transnational mafias in Phuket. Mr Cook Samuel has overstayed his visa in the Kingdom.—Manager online

Economic:

APEC

• Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said after a video conference with New Zealand’s Minister of Trade and Export Growth, Damien O’Connor, that Thailand supports New Zealand’s proposal to issue 3 key statements for the APEC meetings this year.  The first statement will be issued by the APEC Trade Ministers to promote trade under WTO’s multilateral trading system and will also provide support to Thailand’s BCG economy.  The second statement is a pledge to not restrict COVID-19 vaccine export among APEC members, while the third statement supports the movement of essential goods and cooperation in logistics.  Thailand will has confirmed its attendance of the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) meeting, to be held by New Zealand from 4- 5 June.  Thailand has also formally agreed to host APEC meetings next year, taking over from New Zealand’s chairmanship this year.  Sources:  Thansettakij  Bangkok Post

Tourism

• Compulsory Covid-19 testing for visitors travelling to Phuket is set to remain in place to ensure high level of safety in preparation of the island’s reopening under the sandbox model.  Currently Phuket requires visitors to present a COVID-19 test certificate of no older than 72 hours and a vaccine certificate or a letter stating their reason for visiting the province.  The Thai Hotels Association opined that the measures are too strict and are also restricting the transportation of goods into the island.  Source:  Bangkok Post
• A National Tourism Policy Committee meeting decided that major tourism provinces such as Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi, Buri Ram and Bangkok should pilot tourism reopening plans to inoculated overseas visitors from Oct 1.  A project, called Hua Hin Recharge project, will be proposed to CCSA in order achieve mass vaccination in Hua Hin, wherein vaccine allocation to the seaside resort town could begin as early as June 1.  Source:  Bangkok Post

Others

• The Revenue Department expects its collection of corporate income tax (CIT) in FY 2021 will not meet the target because profits of listed companies last year are poised to fall by 40 percent YoY.  The department had set a target of 2.085 trillion Baht for all tax revenue this year.  However, revenue collected for the first half of FY2021 (Oct 2020-March 2021) has already fallen 9.4 percent below target (valued at 735 billion Baht).  CIT from listed companies accounts for 30 percent of the total CIT revenue collected by the department.  Total revenue collection from Thailand’s 3 tax collection departments (Revenue, Customs and Excise), plus revenue from SOEs and state agencies in the first 6 months of FY 2021 10.7 percent below the target, valued at 1.018 trillion Baht. Sources:  Bangkok Post  Krungthep Turakij
• Thailand’s economy in Q1 of 2021 shrank by -2.6 percent as the pandemic takes its toll on tourism, despite it being an improvement from the -4.2 percent contraction in Q4 2020.  Overall, NESDC expects the Thai economy this year to grow by1.5-2.5 percent due to the effects of the third wave of COVID-19 outbreak.    Growth drivers for 2021 include goods export, private consumption expenditure, private investment and public investment, which are projected to increase by 10.3 percent, 1.6 percent, 4.3 percent, and 9.3 percent, respectively.  Source:  Bangkok Post
• The Bank of Thailand (BOT) is concerned about the prospect of rising NPLs among tourism-related businesses such as aviation, transportation and restaurants in Q2 of this year.  Although the commercial banking sector’s NPL ratio (stage 3 loans) for Q1 of 2021 has declined to 3.10 percent QoQ, this is mainly because of BOT’s debt restructuring measures.  The BOT anticipated that its debt relief measures for consumer loans introduced last week, its asset warehousing program for commercial loan restructuring; and its amended-soft loan scheme will further contain the debt level of the overall banking sector.  Source:  Bangkok Post

Headlines summary as of 14 May 2021

News

Newly confirmed case(s)	Total Cases	Patients under severe conditions and those using ventilators	Discharged from hospital	From 1 April, totally confirmed cases (third wave)	1st dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)
2,256 (2,078+183 from prisons)	93,794	1,203/ 408	62,316 (at 64.88%)	67,187	1,416,432 (+21,302) (= 2.107 % of the population)
Local transmission	From abroad	Being hospitalised/ in field-hospital/ quarantined	Confirmed cases in Bangkok	Death toll	Accumulated cases from active case finding	2nd dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)
2,068 [1,523 (get tested in hospital) + 545 (active case finding)]	5 (in SQ)	33,186 [12,517 in field hospi-tal]	23,561 (+1,087)	548 (+30)	25,629	708,300 (+63,067) (=0.975 % of the population)

The CCSA spokesperson announced two significant things in the daily press briefing today:

• The surge in Greater Bangkok area has not been subsided, since 1 April, there have been 35,885 confirmed cases in Greater Bangkok. The spokesperson said in some areas of Bangkok the infectious rate is as high as 5 percent.
• It has been 14 days since the last lockdown measure nationwide, the CCSA is considering an ease to the restriction. The full details on provinces under each categories will be announced in the press briefing tomorrow.

Areas/ activities	The use of face masks	Events	Dine-in	Convenience stores	Entertainment complexes	Shopping malls	Educational Institutions
Maximum and strict controlled	Compulsory	No more than 20 people	Allowed until 9.00pm with no more than 25% of capacity I Take-away until 11.00pm	04.00am – 11.00 pm	Closed	Until 11.00 pm	Closed
Maximum controlled	Compulsory	No more than 50 people	Allowed until 11.00pm	04.00am – 11.00 pm	Closed	Until 11.00 pm	Ask for permission from authority
Controlled	Compulsory	No more than 50 people	Business as usual	Business as usual	Closed	Until 11.00 pm	Ask for permission from authority

• This morning, the PM and the Public Health Minister Anutin preside over the opening of ‘Topaz’ covid care facility at Impact Arena outside Bangkok. The facility is, according to the minister, is not field hospital, but a specialised facility for ‘yellow level’ covid patient who shows some mild COVID symptoms. The facility can fit 1,000 to 5,000 patients.—Matichon
• Thai authority announced that the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the usage of American Moderna covid vaccine in the Kingdom for emergency usage.—Prachachat Turakij
• The Justice Minister announced that it is not clear who was patient zero for the Bangkok prisons cluster. Yesterday the CCSA added in almost 3,000 confirmed cases to the daily report, making 13 May the record high of COVID cases in the Kingdom.—Thai Rath

Politics

After the France-based monarchy critic Somsak Jaemteerasakul raised a question resolving the health of the monarch, there have been many developments:

• Yesterday, the Thai Stock Market plunged by 70 points (the greatest plunge in 5months) before rebounding a bit due to a ‘rumour’.—Inside Thailand, Bangkok Post
• The official page of the CCSA announced at 7.30 pm that the viral rumour about the health of the Queen in regards to the pandemic is a fake news and ask for cooperation for people to stop sharing it.—CCSA Information Centre
• A Thai-based Page reporting about monarchy around the world quoted official(s) in the Royal Office saying that “so far, the situation remains normal”. —Royal World Thailand Page
• Army reporter Wassana Nanuam posted on her FB citing sources in the royal court saying that they majesties are healthy and have been following the news of the pandemic closely with the aims to support government in curbing the pandemic. The source said that the people have already known that the rumour is a fake news, so there is no need for a statement by the Royal Office.—Wassana Nanuam
• HSH Prince Chulcherm Yugala, a senior member of the greater royal family, posted on his FB saying that the fake news distributor has a vicious intention aiming at manipulating the stock market to gain funds in their political struggles.—Nation TV
• The main opposition Pheu Thai Party is going to consult with other opposition parties to file a motion of censure debate without casting a vote when the House resume session.—Daily News
• Deputy PM and Public Health Minister Anutin said he does not concern with the Opposition grill, affirming that he has been working for the people’s interests.—Matichon
• Yesterday marked the 11th anniversary of the assassination of Major Khattiya Sawatdiphon, one of the Red-shirt leaders. A small group of red-shirt protestors gathered in Bangkok CBD where the Major was assassinated with sniper. Until now, there has been no clue of the perpetrator.—Matichon

Economic News Summary:

CPTPP

• The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) will hold a meeting on 19 May to establish a stance whether or not it will support Thailand to accede to CPTPP.  The Thai Chamber of Commerce reiterated that its stance has always been to support the Thai government to accede to the trade pact.  TCC reasoned that accession process could take up to 4 years and the government could make negotiations in the meantime.  The National Farmers Council, however, cautioned the government against making such a move.  In their views, FTAs have proven to benefit the rich while making the poor, such as farmers, even poorer.  Source:  Thansettakij, 12 May, 2021

APEC

• As the host of APEC meetings in 2022, Thailand will be hosting over 100 meetings starting from November this year until the end of 2022.  The theme will focus on rehabilitating the regional economies post COVID-19 through trade facilitation, specifically digital trade platform; promoting MSMEs’ access to financial sources; promoting connectivity, ie: health tourism, green tourism; promoting sustainable growth, ie: BCG economic model; and women’s empowerment.  Source:  National News Bureau of Thailand

Others

• Board of Investment (BOI) revealed that the value of FDI applications in Q1 of 2021 soared by 143 percent YoY to 62 billion Baht from 25.6 billion, although the number of applications dropped by 17 percent to 191 projects.  South Korean companies topped the FDI value (10.5 billion Baht), followed by those from China (10.4 billion Baht), Norway (10 billion Baht) and Hong Kong (6.27 billion Baht).  FDI applications were mainly for electronics, metal products and machinery and transport equipment sectors. Source:  Bangkok Post
• The new phase of the government’s domestic tourism subsidy scheme We Travel Together and co-payment scheme Tour Tiew Thai have yet to be approved by the cabinet, according to Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).  It is possible that the schemes will kick off when the third wave of outbreak is under control, likely to be the end of June or early July.  Their validity period might be extended from September to the end of October.  Earlier, TAT had set the target for its domestic tourism at 100-120 million trips with revenue of 550 billion Baht, down from its original forecast of 160 million trips and 870 billion Baht of revenue.  Source:  Bangkok Post
• The Airlines Association of Thailand submitted a letter to PM Prayut to request for a soft loan for airlines and vaccination for workers in the aviation industry.  The letter reiterates the airline’s request lodged since last year for the government to provide the struggling industry with a soft loan.  Source:  Bangkok Post
• Stock markets worldwide plunged yesterday, including Thailand’s SET, as investors panicked over the possibility of interest rates rising after US inflation surged by a whopping 4 percent in April.  Such a rise in inflation increases the likelihood of the FED hiking up interest rates and tapering quantitative easing faster than expected, which in turn may depress the SET.  Source:  Bangkok Post
• At the National New Generation Vehicle Committee meeting yesterday, chaired by DPM and Energy Minister Supattanapong, approval were given to investment privileges for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging and battery swapping businesses.  This is in line with the government’s goal of having 30 percent of vehicles made locally be EVs (1.43 million EVs annually) by 2030.  The packages comprise both tax and non-tax privileges and aim to roll out at least 12,000 EV chargers and 1,450 battery stations nationwide.  The DPM has also outlined a 3-phase plan to achieve this goal.  Source:  Khao Sod Naew Na Bangkok Post
• In response to the Federation of Thai Industries’ request, Ministry of Labour will seek the cabinet’s approval to reduce the social security fund (SSF) contributions of employers and employees to 2.5 percent from 5 percent for 3 months.  Once approved, the measure is likely to be enforced from June – August to help cut down the expenses for those affected by Covid-19.  SSF earlier cut contributions from Feb to March from 5 percent to 3 percent, but it is currently returned to 5 percent.  Source:  Bangkok Post

Headlines summary as of 13 May 2021

News

Newly confirmed case(s)	Total Cases	Patients under severe conditions and those using ventilators	Discharged from hospital	From 1 April, totally confirmed cases (third wave)	1st dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)
4,887 (2,036+2,835 from prisons)	93,794	1,209/ 406	60,615 (at 64.63%)	64,931	1,395,130(+22,753) (= 2.107 %  of the population)
Local transmission	From abroad	Being hospitalised/ in field-hospital/ quarantined	Confirmed cases in Bangkok	Death toll	Accumulated cases from active case finding	2nd dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)
2,020 [1,439 (get tested in hospital) + 597 (active case finding)]	16 (in SQ)	29,435 [9,219  in field hospital]	22,474 (+1,069)	518 (+32) *new record	25,629	645,233 (+81,529) (=0.975 % of the population)

•  

• Today sees the highest record of the newly confirmed cases in the Kingdom as yesterday, the Correction Department announced yesterday that there have been almost 3,000 confirmed cases in the Central Women Correctional Institution and Bangkok Remand Prison from active case findings. The Justice Minister is set to hold a press conference from 2.00pm.—all media outlet
• CCSA is flagging 12 major covid-19 clusters in Bangkok:
  • Khlong Toey Community; Bon Kai (Rama IV) Community, Morawan worker camp (On-nut), Samphaeng market, Baan Yuan community, Din Daeng flat, Saphan Khao market, Pratunam, Rama IX, Bobae market, Silom/ bang rad and Flower market.—Thai PR Department
• A media reports on a vaccine distribution citing a senior administrator at the private-owned Camillian Hospital that private hospitals in Thailand are targeting July as the earliest date in which the Moderna vaccines might be made available in Thailand.—Thai Enquirer

Politics

• The PM has assigned his attorney to press charge against an 80s famous singer Suthipongse ‘Heart’ Thatphithakkul on Royal Defamation and Computer Crime Act charges. The singer posted on social media about vaccine monopolisation for ‘the boss’. The attorney said the term could be understood by some as a criticism against the King.—Thai Rath
• A senior MP from the ruling Democrat Party voiced his concerns on anonymity condition against the government border control measures. The MP gave an exclusive with a media that “I understand that we have to have a humanitarian heart but as the government of Thailand our people must come first”. The MP reportedly understands that coalition Bhumjaithai Party is with the Democrat on this.—Thai Enquirer
• Yesterday, Panusaya ‘Rung’, a student-led protest main figure announced that she has been tested positive for COVID. This morning, the correction department came out to confirm that Panupong ‘Mike’ also got the virus. His lawyer is going to file the other bail requests for fear of the pandemic.—Krungthep Turakij
  • The lawyer to many of the student-led protest leaders just announced that he got covid.—Matichon
• Opposition Move Forward Party is planning to propose a bill to allow citizen to press charges against legal officers, including judge, attorney-general and police on distorting the legal systems. The party is planning to propose the bill when the Parliament session resumes.—Prachachat Turakij
• The Opposition is going to file a case against the PM to the Thai National Anti-Corruption Commission for the PM failure to curb the pandemic.—Prachachat Turakij
• The head of the judiciary branch said in a seminar this morning that her direction on the judicial systems will be changed to that of ‘new tradition’ of service-minded and without discrimination.—Matichon
• A major figure in the ruling Chatthai Pattana Party said that there has not been a consensus within the Constitutional Rejig proposal by three coalition parties, including the Bhumjaithai and Democrat. The party-listed MP said that the main disagreement lies within the electoral system.—Krungthep Turakij

Economic:

AANZFTA

• The 12th AANZFTA Joint Commission Meeting took place virtually in April, with participating countries agreeing to upgrade the trade pact 10 years after it came into effect.  The Thai Ministry of Commerce aims to complete these negotiations in 2022.  The meeting also discussed the renewal of the 45-million AUD (1.96 billion Baht) financial support by Australia and New Zealand through an economic cooperation program slated to end late this year, as well as acknowledged Chile’s interest in joining AANZFTA   Sources:  Bangkok Post   Naew Na   Prachachat Turakij

Tourism

• Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects 129,000 international tourists to visit Phuket in the first 3 months of its reopening through the Phuket Sandbox program.  With no quarantine required for inoculated tourists, a 7-day tour package will cost 150,000 – 200,000 Baht per person; 3 times higher than the pre-COVID-19 tourist spending.  TAT will submit to the CESA the Standard Operating Procedures of entry process for international arrivals and guidelines for the sealed routes within this month. 
• TAT is also discussing with Thai Airways and Thai Smiles Airways to launch a 1,000-2,000 Baht domestic airfare subsidy scheme for tourists who are unable to fly direct to Phuket and have to transit via Suvarnabhumi Airport.  Source:  Bangkok Post
• The reopening of Phuket on 1 July is highly anticipated as it is the first destination in Thailand to pioneer the sandbox reopening model.  One major risk is if the vaccines are diverted to other high-risk areas, leaving Phuket with insufficient doses to inoculate 70 percent of the population and achieve herd immunity on time.  Of late, Phuket has been revamping its image as a clean and safe destination, given that a number of European nations have expressed interest in the island.  For example, Germany is ready to fly in tourists through 2 chartered flights per week starting from 10 October.  Source:  Prachachat Turakij

Others

• Creditors yesterday decided to postpone a vote on Thai Airways’ debt restructuring plan until next week, on 19 May.  The postponement came after 14 creditors called for the airline’s rehabilitation plan to be amended, such as its debt financing plan.  Another request was for Finance Ministry to guarantee loans for the airline, for which MoF must re-boost its shareholding back to above 50 percent.  This treaded on the controversial topic of whether or not the airline should reinstate its status as a state-own-enterprise.  Sources:  Bangkok Post   Krungthep Turakij
• Krungthai Bank said Thailand’s main challenge is to develop a new growth engine that also complies with the Sustainable Development Goal, such as moving towards low-carbon society by reducing greenhouse gas emission.  This could be achieved through the Bio-Circular-Green economy (BCG) model, which Krungthai Bank forecasts can contribute 1 trillion Baht to Thailand’s GDP and create employment for 3.5 million people in the next 5 years.  The BCG economic model focuses on 4 local industries, ie: agriculture & food, healthcare & medical sector, energy & biomaterials and tourism & creative economy.  Source:  Bangkok Post Thansettakij
• The cabinet on Tuesday approved a measure to allow SMEs to use their software or computer program-related expenses as a deductible on corporate income tax at the rate of 2 times the expense. The move aims to encourage SMEs to deploy digital technology to upgrade their operations.  Source:  Bangkok Post
• The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) suggested earlier that the government may need to borrow an additional 1 trillion baht to mitigate the economic impacts of COVID-19.  The FTI continues to advocate for the government and commercial banks to help SMEs in the tourism, restaurant and manufacturing factors to better access loans.  It pointed out that the Bank of Thailand’s recently amended 250 billion Baht soft loan scheme remain inaccessible to SMEs.  Source:  Bangkok Post
• State agencies were told to halt development proposals that were to be funded by the 1-trillion-Baht emergency loan decree as the government is reserving funds to fight Covid-19 infections.  Source:  Bangkok Post

Headlines summary as of 12 May 2021

News

Newly confirmed case(s)	Total Cases	Patients under severe conditions and those using ventilators	Discharged from hospital	From 1 April, totally confirmed cases (third wave)	1st dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)
1,983	88,907	1,226/ 401	59,043 (at 66.41%)	60,044	1,372,013 (+6,021) (= 2.073 %  of the population)
Local transmission	From abroad	Being hospitalised/ in field-hospital/ quarantined	Confirmed cases in Bangkok	Death toll	Accumulated cases from active case finding	2nd dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)
1,974 [1,328 (get tested in hospital) + 646 (active case finding)]	9 (in SQ)	29,435 [9,219  in field hospital]	21,405 (+976)	452 (+34) *new record	25,629	563,552 (+31,090) (=0.851 % of the population)

•            

• The PM recorded a video asking people cooperation in taking the jab of government-supplied vaccines. The PM said the more people got the vaccine, the faster Thai people could return to live a normal life.—Thai Rath
• The PM posted on his FB Page that he will personally overlook the vaccine procurement process and will seek to procure 150 million doses, not earlier planned 100 million doses. The PM said that Thailand should be proud as the only country in Southeast Asia to produce AstraZeneca which will be supplied by Siam BioScience—Thai Rath
• The government is taking misinformation on vaccine highly seriously as the Digital Economy Minister this morning pressed charges against an independent ThaiPBS anchor who misreported the side effects of the Chinese SinoVac vaccines. The minister said that despite public apology, the channel has been falsely reporting information on vaccines for three times in a month. He said this legal measure is a prevention of further wrongdoings.—Prachachat Turakij

Politics

• When asked for comment about the Constitutional Court verdict steering clear off all past legal convictions of Deputy Agriculture Minister Thammanat, the PM said he will not answer political inquiries. The PM said he would like to focus on solving the pandemic problems.—Thai Rath
• A big name legal pundit Vicha Mahakhun who headed probe committees for the PM in the past came out to criticise the Constitutional Court verdict. Vicha said that the verdict is against the preamble of the anti-corruption Constitution and against all international standards.—Thai Rath
• The court granted bail requests of two prominent protest figures Parit ‘Penguin’ and Ammy with conditions, including not to touch upon the monarchy ever again. The two have been detained without trail on royal defamation charges. Panupong ‘Mike’, the other main figure, had his request decision deferred due to quarantine reasons.—Reuters, Prachachat Turakij
• Parit posted this morning saying that despite the conditions of the bail, he will keep on pushing the three demands of the protestors, including the monarchical reforms. He stressed that accepting the conditions does not mean he will succumb or be a different person. After months of hunger strike, he will take this time to recover the body.—Prachachat Turakij
• It is getting more obvious that Bangkok prisons are the new great pandemic clusters as activists who got detained without trail started to be tested positive.
• Panusaya ‘Rung’ who just got bailed days ago was tested positive this morning. She posted on her social media stating her timeline. She also took the opportunity asking relevant authorities to take the issue of pandemic behind bars more seriously.—Prachachat Turakij, Reuters
• The battle for Bangkok gubernatorial seat is on fire as the Facebook Page of former Police Chief Chakthip who has announced his intention to run for the Bangkok governor shared PR banners of the current Bangkok governor in action with the caption “If I am the governor, I will not do something like this”. The banners were the photos of the current governors in actions and his mottos to save Bangkokians.—Chakthip Campaign Page
• It is reported that despite the earlier lack of interest of the current governor to run for the seat, he has made a new decision with a mild support from the PM during the third surge of the pandemic. Former Police Chief Chakthip, on the other hand, has been openly supported by Deputy PM Prawit. It was reported also that Chakthip made a phone call to the current governor asking him not to join the election and will, in turn, appoint the governor son as deputy governor.—Nation TV
• The Defense Ministry spokesperson came out to dismiss the claim by former Red Shirt leader Jatuporn who is leading a protest to oust the PM that the Thai government has allowed a major power to set up a nuclear warhead on the Kingdom soils. The spokesperson said the current government sticks to the neutrality policy disallowing any foreign power to set up military presence in the Kingdom.—Krungthep Turakij
• Democrat Leader said the surge of pandemic should not prevent the coalition to push for the Constitutional Amendment. These things can be done at the same time, said Jurin.—Matichon

Analysis/ opinion

• It may seem as a triumph for the student-led protestors as there are more main figures being released on bails. But, a media is looking at this with a different lens saying that the bails will push much pressure on the protestors. The court and judicial system has been heavily criticised for detaining the protest leaders, mostly teenagers without any trial. The release on bails with condition not to stare unrest and not to touch upon the monarchy is read as a compromising signal. The conditions the court given is playing in the authority hands as the protest leaders have garnered more popularity due to their fierce comment on the monarchical reforms. Stripping their strengths, the protest leaders will face pressure from protestors; meanwhile, pushing forward the monarchical reforms will see their bails revoke almost immediately. The media said it is interesting to see what the protest leaders next move will be under this pressing dilemma.—Krungthep Turakij

Economic:

Cabinet’s Decisions, 11 May 2021

• Extend 2 relief schemes worth 78 billion Baht for COVID-19, which is allocated from the 85 billion Baht budget earmarked for economic and social rehabilitation programs under the 1 trillion Baht loan.  State agencies are to suspend economic and social rehabilitation proposals in order to divert the fund to finance the 2 relief schemes.

·         67 billion Baht is allocated to extending the ‘Rao Chana’ cash-handout scheme.  The scheme will give 2,000 Baht to the afflicted state welfare card holders, vulnerable groups and users of e-wallet app within a period of 2 weeks (1,000 Baht weekly), from 20 – 28 May.

·         11.7 billion Baht is allocated to extending the social security compensation scheme ‘Section 33 Rao Rak Kan’ for 2 weeks.  Those insured under Section 33 of the Social Security Act would receive 2,000 Baht (1,000 Baht weekly) from May 24 – May 31. 

• The handout from both schemes could be spent until the end of June and both schemes are poised to benefit 41.5 million people.
• The government’s co-payment subsidy scheme Khon La Khrueng and the newly-conceived rebate scheme, Ying Chai Ying Dai, will be submitted for the cabinet’s consideration later.  Sources:  Thai Government News Prachachat Turakij Thai PBS  Thai Rath

Others

• Of the 1 trillion Baht loan allocated for combating COVID-19, some 240 billion Baht will be spent on rolling out a new set stimulus packages that were approved by the cabinet last week.  The Ministry of Finance intends to finance some of the 240 billion Baht by borrowing from domestic sources, since it is mandated to fully disburse the 1 trillion Baht loan by the end of FY21 (Sept 2021).  Last week, the cabinet had also approved for Finance Ministry to borrow 703.84 billion Baht (allocated from the 1 trillion Baht loan), for which loans were already made for 660 billion Baht (92 percent).  Source:  Siam Rath Prachachart Turakij, 12 May 2021
• The 12^th AANZFTA Joint Committee Meeting took place virtually in April, with participating countries agreeing to upgrade the trade pact 10 years after it came into effect.  The Thai Ministry of Commerce aims to complete these negotiations in 2022 in a move that will strengthen post-COVID-19 trade and investment ties across the regions.  Source:  Poojadkarn Online
• The Thai Chamber of Commerce Confidence Index plummeted to a 39 month low in April to 27.6 due to the third outbreak of COVID-19 and the subsequent restrictions imposed on business operations.  The University of Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) expects business sentiment to drop further in May, particularly in the tourism sector in which the index has hit the lowest, at 17.4 points.  Most business owners surveyed are especially concerned about rising unemployment and mass layoffs.  Sources:  Matichon Weekly Bangkok Post
• The Labour Ministry confirms that the law allows employees of event-organizing firms forced to suspend their operations due to COVID-19 to claim unemployment compensation worth 50-62 percent of their salaries from the social security fund.  The Labour Ministry’s response came after the Event Management Association disclosed that their employees are not entitled to social security’s unemployment benefits, despite the business having been severely impacted by COVID-19 restrictions.  Source:  Bangkok Post
• Today, some 13,000 creditors are voting on whether to accept or reject the debt rehabilitation plan prepared by Thai Airways.  If they vote for Thai Airways to go under, the airline will be declared bankrupted and creditors will get 12.9 percent of what the airlines owe them.  If the rehabilitation plan is adopted, the airline will be given time to implement its plan to restructure 410 billion Baht worth of debts. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Arkhom is thought to support Thai Airway’s reinstatement as a state enterprise, but the State Enterprise Policy Office has indicated the airline will not be recapitalised by the ministry.  Source:  Bangkok Post The Nation