NOW26 TV : TDRI : THAILAND HAS CHANCE OF ECON RECOVERY
NOW26TV Topic “TDRI : THAILAND HAS CHANCE OF ECON RECOVERY” with Somchai Jitsuchon on 2nd June, 2014
Author: pat
TDRI Quarterly Review, September 2013
Contents Kittipong Rueanthip, Jirawat Panpiemras, and Nonarit Bisonyabut Thailand’s Economic Growth after 1992: Was that Growth Pro-poor? Somkiat Tangkitvanich, Saowaruj Rattanakhamfu, Sunthorn Tunmuntong, and Ploy Thammapiranon Thailand in the AEC: Myths, Realities, Opportunities, and Challenges
Government in a hurry for infrastructure
The government hopes immediately to kick-start its infrastructure investment spree in dual-track rail lines, four-lane roads and customs checkpoints after the 2-trillion-baht borrowing bill is passed into law. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong said under the plan, the government would spend 186 billion baht on four-lane roads. Building new four-lane roads and […]
Floods may prove a blessing for rice scheme
The Straits Times of Singapore reported on Saturday that India has overtaken Thailand as the biggest rice supplier to Singapore _ the first time this is believed to have happened. The paper said Thailand had been the top source of the staple in Singapore since at least 1998, accounting for over half of overall supply […]
Washington soap opera keeps investors on edge
Recap: Signs of an end to the US fiscal standoff and a deal on the debt ceiling lifted global stocks last week. However, any increase in the debt ceiling is likely to be for a few weeks only, so uncertainty will prevail. The SET Index traded in the range of 1,411.11 and 1,469.59 points and […]
THE BIG ISSUE: THE NEW NORMAL?
The main rice crop season was several hours old before farmers had taken more rice to the buying stations than the government had money budgeted to pay them. But there were signs, as the third year of massive subsidies began, that the rice-pledging scheme of the Pheu Thai government was both becoming the new normal […]
Experts urge changes in rice scheme
Petchanet Pratruangkrai Billions going to people who aren’t farmers, Pridiyathorn tells seminar; says direct payment is the way to go Three leading rice experts have got together to try to convince the government to scrap the rice-pledging scheme – or replace it with a direct-pay scheme. Former deputy prime minister and central bank chief MR […]
Corruption ‘stalls progress’
Corruption is among the biggest barriers to Thailand’s economic progress, says expert Prof Robert Klitgaard, who urged businesses and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to work with the government to monitor key projects. Among obstacles to investment and fighting poverty, bad government and corruption are Thailand’s major problems. The World Economic Forum’s 2013-14 global competitiveness report said […]
Extra B9bn of paddy rice appears
More grains pledged than state expected The government’s rice pledging budget for the 2012-13 season may increase as a great amount of paddy poured into the scheme, spurring the national rice policy committee to request an extra 9 billion baht in funding from the cabinet. Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan, who led […]
NBTC to drop Nattha libel suit
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission’s (NBTC) telecom committee says it will drop a defamation suit against Thai PBS anchor Nattha Komolvadhin. It has not considered whether it will do the same for Duenden Nikomborirak, a researcher at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) who also faces a libel suit. Both women were sued after […]
It’s high time to overhaul social security
Just over two weeks ago, four amendments to the Social Security Bill were considered by parliament. The four bills were proposed by four different groups: the cabinet; Democrat Party MPs Rawat Areerob and Nakorn Machim; unionist Wilaiwan Sae-Tia; and 14,264 public petitioners. Unfortunately, parliament rejected the latter two, both of which called for a significant […]
4 key weaknesses to be tackled: TDRI
The Thailand Development Research Institute plans to focus on four key weaknesses holding the country back. “Over three years, TDRI will churn out research studies to shed light on the solutions to these problems,” its new president Somkiat Tangkitvanich said yesterday. The four chronic issues are the lack of home-grown innovation, poor and lopsided education […]