May 5, 2021
Thai Enquirer Summary
Covid-19 News
Today’s official numbers are out with Total infection at 2,112 vs 1,763 seen yesterday and 2.041 on Monday. Total deaths at 15 The new death figure is nearly 50% of what was reported yesterday (27) and on Monday (31) and also on Sunday when 21 deaths were reported.
The government is under pressure to set up more field hospitals as the number of cases continues to rise.
The biggest cluster has been Bangkok and in Bangkok it is the ‘Klong Toei’ cluster that has now spread to the area of Wireless/Soi Polo and Bon Kai area.
Bangkok Governor – Aswin Kwanmuang, came out to say that a field hospital in Thungkru district in suburban Bangkok would have 342 ICU beds
Mass vaccination is ongoing in the Klong Toei cluster and calls are being made to vaccinate the entire population in the so called ‘deep red’ or ‘red’ zones which includes Bangkok, Samut Prakarn, Nonthaburi and other peripheral provinces around the capital city.
The plan is to have about 60 per cent of Klong Toey residents vaccinated.
This the doctors say is the way United Kingdom has gone through by vaccinating the 1st shot to lower the transmission rates and then undertaking the 2nd shot later. The headline of mainstream media says it all when it comes to the situation in Bangkok Matichon says Bangkok’s Covid in bad shape
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)’s meeting chaired by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha resolved to set up a new committee called “the Covid- 19 Direction Centre to address the Covid-19 situation in Bangkok and adjacent provinces”. The new centre is headed by Gen Prayut himself to solve the spike of Covid- 19 infections and contain the spread of the virus in 50 districts of Bangkok.
Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said he had instructed the Department of Special Investigation to hunt down the source that posted news on social media that the “Indian strain” of the coronavirus has entered Thailand following reports that a Thai student who went to study in India has brought back the new variant with them.
The Justice Minister dubbed the report as “fake news” that caused confusion among the public. Somsak said he had learned that the person who shared this news on social media platforms is a local politician.
It seems as though that other variants have already entered Thailand.
Wayo Assawarungruang, a list MP of the Kao Klai (Move Forward) Party MP and medical doctor, voiced his grave concern via a talk show program with Progressive Movement executive Pannika Wanich about the Covid-19 situation in Thailand as he claimed that the South African and Brazilian variants had entered Thailand since April, citing data from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Dr Wayo then lashed out at the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) for its apparent failure to pay attention to WHO’s information despite medical report which confirmed that these 2 new variants are resistant to China’s Sinovac and Astrazeneca vaccines. He called on the government to procure the mRNA vaccines like the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines which are more effective against the South African and Brazilian variants than the viral vector vaccines like Sinovac and AstraZeneca.
Meanwhile Singapore has already accepted that it has seen the ‘South Asian’ variant entering its borders.
Singapore govt. has put in measures that are near the so called ‘Circuit Breaker’ measures of curtailing gatherings, opening of restaurants etc. as the ‘South Asian’ variant spreads faster.
As many as 17 countries have seen the B1617 variant which was 1st discovered in India.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/ttsh-covid-19-cluster- indian-variant-coronavirus-tan-tock-seng-14742808
The B1617 variant of Covid-19 is being called the ‘Indian’ variant and the Indian community is not very happy about this.
The Indian Thai Chamber of Commerce has issued a letter to a local English newspaper to not call it as ‘Indian’ variant.
The workplaces are now being infected as a steel plant in Samut Chedi in Samut Prakarn has now seen nearly 50% of its workers infected with the virus.
As of yesterday, as many as 151 of the employees have been infected with the virus. There are a total of 314 employees of this firm.
The hottest selling things in Thailand today are not anything to do with goods or services but tour to the United States to get vaccinated.
Social media is buzzing with programs to help people get vaccinated in the United States with the vaccine of choice be it Pfizer, Modena or Johnson & Johnson.
The tour US tour for J&J program starting at 175,000
The program is 100% full now, as people with money and visa are already booking their tickets and tour packages to USA.
These people are running away as they feel that the Thai government is not taking concrete steps to vaccinate and offer variety of vaccines to the people.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand came out to say that people should be aware that they may be taken for a ride as many of the states in USA does not offer vaccines for everybody.
The Ministry of Public Health of Thailand came out to say that it is unlikely that this is true that one can get themselves vaccinated because the Americans themselves have not 100% vaccinated yet.
Tom Kruesopon, an outspoken commentator on social media, came out to challenge the statement by Ministry of Pubic Health by saying that he too got vaccinated and got the option of getting Pfizer in the United States.
In a social media post he posted pictures of himself getting vaccinated in the Untied States.
Someone who is so called ‘Robinhood’ in east cost of USA, who is known to Thai Enquirer got himself vaccinated. This person has been in the USA for the past 5-years after his 6-month tourist visa expired 4/12 years ago
In a social media post this ‘Robinhood’ posted he got vaccinated with Pfizer.
For those looking at vaccination vacation
Here are the possible countries that offer the services
Maldives / UAE / Serbia / Mauritius / USA / Norway / Russia
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra or “Tony Woodsome” revealed during CARE Clubhouse Care Talk on the Covid-19 crisis topic that he was puzzled by the government’s decision to pick AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines while the rest of the world prefer Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
Thaksin even said Sinopharm vaccine is, in fact, the mainstay of China’s own immunization drive. He could not comprehend the government’s vaccine procurement choices.
Thaksin went on to claim that Pfizer vaccines have been imported to Thailand but in a small quantity and to be given to a certain group of people. He also questioned the government’s reluctance to allow private companies to import Covid-19 vaccines to Thailand.
Separately, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 3 more Covid-19 vaccines for use in Thailand, while 3 more companies are in the process of registration.
FDA secretary-general Dr Phaisan Dankhum revealed Moderna has submitted all required documents last week, and its Covid-19 vaccine should be registered this month.
The FDA has approved 3 Covid-19 vaccines, including AstraZeneca, Sinovac’s CoronaVac and Johnson & Johnson.
Following mounting criticism against the government’s choice of vaccine producers, Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin
Charnvirakul has come out to say that people cannot yet choose which Covid-19 vaccine they receive.
Anutin said Thailand is not ordering the same amounts of all types of Covid-19 vaccine. The types of vaccines to be used for certain groups depend on their circumstances. There are no laws requiring people to be vaccinated. It is their right if they want to be vaccinated, and the government has the vaccines for them.
Charoen Pokphand Group (CP) yesterday launched a mass vaccination scheme to support the government in tackling the spread of Klong Toei’s Covid-19 cluster.
CP has set up a mass vaccination facility at Lotus Rama IV, aimed at vaccinating at least 1,000 people per day.
The vaccination scheme is expected to last for 2-3 weeks to support the government in curbing the spread of Covid-19 in Klong Toei communities, home to around 90,000 people, said Suphachai Chearavanont, CEO and executive chairman of CP Group.
Over 300 people have been infected across Klong Toei’s communities alone.
Political News
The Government House saw 11 cases of Covid-19 among the cleaning staff.
To make matters worse as many as 11 cleaning staff of the Senate are also infected.
This could prompt a possible delay in the planned opening of the parliament later this month.
The Constitutional Court is scheduled to give a ruling today on whether Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thamanat Prompow, who is also the Phalang Pracharat Party (PPRP)’s deputy leader, is fit to hold a cabinet portfolio and keep his MP status given his criminal record in Australia. The ruling stems from a petition against Thamanat filed by 51 opposition MPs in May last year.
Thamanat was sentenced to 6 years in prison in 1993 by an Australian appeal court in a case related to heroin smuggling, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. When opposition MPs grilled him over his drugs-related conviction during a no-confidence debate last year, he strongly denied involvement in the case.
It is said that Thamanat is currently the favourite for the PPRP’s secretary- general’s post. He has gained trust and full backing from Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, who is the PPRP leader given that he was assigned to lead government committees tasked with tackling important issues such as a land long-running dispute between the state and Karen villagers in Phetchaburi’s Kaeng Krachan National Park, as well as local opposition to the controversial Chana Industrial Estate project in Songkhla.
The Constitutional Court is set to deliver a verdict in Thamanat’s case at 15:00 hrs today via its YouTube channel.
Nipit Intarasombat, former deputy leader of the Democrat Party, hinted at the possibility of filing a petition with the Parliament Speaker or the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to probe into ethical standards of conduct of Deputy Agriculture Minister Thamanat Prompow.
Nipit said a guilty verdict may be given to Thamanat if the Constitutional Court followed a guilty verdict given by the Australian court. The Democrat politician pointed that the Thai court’s failure to follow a guilty verdict handed down to
Thai politicians by a foreign court may set a precedent that a crime committed overseas by a Thai politician has no impact on Thai soil, eroding the credibility of political-office holders.
However, he said it is possible for anyone to take the matter further to the Parliament Speaker or the NACC to probe into ethical code of conduct of a certain politician.
Detained pro-democracy activists Parit ‘Penguin’ Chiwarak, Panusaya ‘Rung’ Sithijirawattanakul and singer Chaiamorn Kawewiboonpan, better known as Ammy the Bottom Blues, vowed not to touch the monarchy if their application for temporary release on bail are approved by the Court of Appeal tomorrow.
The detained activists’ lawyer Krissadang Nutcharas said he plans to re-submit requests for the 3 activists’ bail application tomorrow with a condition for the release that the 3 activists promise to refrain from making references to the monarchy, the same condition accepted by Somyos Prueksakasemsuk and Jatupat “Pai Dao Din” Boonpatararaksa.
Krissadang said he also plans to submit a 200,000 baht surety each to secure their temporary releases.
Thais are gathering in full stream to sign up for leaving the country and moving out of the country.
The “Yai Pratet Kan Ter (Move Out of Country)” Facebook page urging people to leave Thailand.
The trend gathered as many as 749,114 followers this morning, with the Australian, Swedish and British embassies jumping on the “moving out of Thailand” trend by posting advice for those interested in their countries.
The Swedish Embassy, for instance, points out that Sweden is known for equality, a strong welfare system that covers everybody living there and innovation. The website also recommends “WORKING IN SWEDEN” websites and the process to “OBTAINING A WORK PERMIT” in Sweden with the average monthly salary of 13,000 krona (around 47,900 baht).
The Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry is gearing up to take legation action against the “Yai Pratet Kan Ter (Move Out of Country)” Facebook page urging people to leave Thailand amid people’s growing frustration over the government’s handling of the Covid-9 pandemic.
DES Minister Chaiwut Thanakhamanusorn said he had set up a working committee to follow up on the Yai Pratet Kan Ter Facebook group, threatening to slap it with some legal action for causing divisiveness among people in society. Chaiwut said political content and posts about highly sensitive issues such as defamation of the monarchy have also been detected.
The “Yai Pratet Kan Ter (Move Out of Country)” Facebook page attracted nearly 700,000 followers. However, after the DES Minister’s announcement to take legal action against the mastermind behind this Facebook group, the group has changed its name to “Yok Yai Ma Sai Sapoke Yok Yai” (meaning let’s get your hip moving).
An online petition calling for the removal of Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha was met with lacklustre response from social media users.
The campaign launched by a group of people calling itself Prachachon Khon Thai (Thai people) at Change.org gathered only 10,000 signatures in the past 3 days after the campaign was launched. The group called for Gen Prayut’s removal for his poor administration over the management of the Covid-19 outbreak, its impacts of the economy and his lack of leadership visions.
Previously, the campaign by a group called “Mor Mai Thon”, or Doctors Won’t Tolerate This to drive Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul out of office saw 224,000 people signing up for the campaign.
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Economic News
Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha promised additional fiscal and monetary measures to alleviate economic impacts from the 3rd wave of the Covid-19 outbreak at a cabinet meeting today.
The meeting is scheduled to discuss a slew of relief measures for all groups of people including employees who are now jobless due to the government’s order to close businesses and low-income earners.
The cabinet will also mull decision for state-owned Specialised Financial Institutions (SFIs) to offer more than 10 billion baht loans to members of the public, an extension of the debt moratorium scheme and subsidies for utility bills. Such these welfare subsidies will be funded by a 230-billion-baht leftover sum of the 1-trillion-baht emergency loan decree.
Earlier, the Energy Ministry has proposed at the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC)’s meeting a reduction in electricity charges for Thai households for 2 months from May to June. It would cost the state 8 billion baht to fund this cut.
It looks as though the plans to have the ‘sandbox’ plans for Phuket is out the window.
This is because the number of people vaccinated is still low and the island’s governor is seeking as many as 1 million doses of vaccine to kick-start the ‘sandbox’ plans.
The cabinet is scheduled to discuss Thai Airways International Plc (THAI)’s business rehabiliation plan forwarded by the Finance Ministry at today’s cabinet meeting.
However, confusion looms over calls for THAI to return to a state enterprise status. Chansin Treenuchagron, THAI’s acting president, said the rehab plan did not mention anything that THAI should return to its previous state enterprise status. Under the plan, THAI asked creditors in both the state and private sectors to help inject an additional 50 billion baht to boost the airline’s liquidity within July-August 2021.
As for the Transport Ministry’s objection for THAI to return as a state enterprise and the proposal for the Finance Ministry’s plan to boost liquidity for the airline,
Chansin questioned the Transport Ministry’s move as he questioned the ministry’s stance on the matter because it is neither the airline’s creditor nor an organisation that oversees THAI. Chansin believes that the proposal for a new national airline involves a conflict of interest.
Around 5-6 cooperatives have been assigned by members of 89 cooperatives which invested in the airline are set to hold a meeting tomorrow to acknowledge the cabinet’s decision.
Thailand’s Retail Sentiment Index plunged more than 43 per cent in April amid the resurgence of the Covid-19 outbreak that caused economic activities to falter in 6 provinces in the dark red zones of maximum and strict Covid-19 control, Chatchai Tuongratanaphan, executive director of the Thai Retailers Association, revealed, citing the result of the Association’s online survey during April 16-24, 2021.
The plunge reflects retailers’ lack of confidence in an economic rebound from the Covid-19 outbreak and the lack of clarify in the government’s vaccine plan.
Chatchai said the especially the retail, restaurant and tourism sectors in 6 provinces of dark red zones are bearing the brunt of the new wave of the outbreak, affecting 22 per cent of GDP in the provinces and more than 3.12 million people, the scope of the damage is close to lockdowns in 2020, Chaichai said, adding that most businesses have enough liquidity to survive the next 3-6 months.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) agreed to delay tourism stimulus measures, the Rao Tiew Duay Kan (We Travel Together) and a packaged tour stimulus programme Tour Tiew Thai amid escalation of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has come out to announce the postponement of the registration for the extension of the tourism stimulus measures set for the middle of this month.
The ministry expects to seek an extension for the package until the end of this year, from August 31.
It is said that the ministry is still pushing for the country’s reopening plan to vaccinated international tourists without quarantine starting with Phuket on July 1.
Analysts expects the Bank of Thailand (BoT)’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to hold its key interest rate steady at its next meeting to review its policy interest rate tomorrow.
Jitipol Puksamatanan, senior director at UOB Securities, expects the MPC to keep its key interest rate unchanged at 0.50 per cent, citing that a rate cut is not the right solution to economic problems and to preserve the limited policy space.
Jitipol, however, said there is a 50-50 chance that the MPC may cut rate further depending on Covid-19 vaccine situation which is the key factor to help resuscitate the ailing economy. He stressed that there is the need for the Central Bank to bring in additional monetary measures.
Political News Headlines in Thai Media
“Innocent until proven guilty.” It is a maxim that appears in textbooks and TV series. Indeed, the presumption of innocence is an important aspect of modern jurisprudence.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/27103/opinion-guilty-until-proven-innocent-for- thailands-student-dissidents/
The hashtag #ย้ายประเทศกันเถอะ (Let’s move countries) trended on Twitter and other social media on Monday morning after a restless night that saw security forces clash with unarmed protesters.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/27081/lets-move-countries-trends-on-twitter-as- netizens-criticize-government-mismanagement/
The men were covered head to toe in bright yellow protective gear. Wrapped around their feet and their torsos were white plastic bags to offer an added degree of protection. The body was also wrapped in a white bag and the men struggled in their attire to carry it to the waiting car.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/27101/opinion-the-rich-sin-and-the-poor-die/
Some time after the 2010 Red Shirt protests, a commentator wrote that there was no security force more demoralized than the Thai police.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/27085/opinion-under-suwat-jangyodsuk-thai- police-have-adopted-violence-as-the-norm/
Leading up to the Second World War, the Japanese government was at odds with itself over a potential war with the United States.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/27092/opinion-pre-war-japan-and-present-day- thailand-share-the-same-scourge-of-military-rule/
Thailand’s Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Ministry of Public Health are racing against time to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus in the Klong Toey slums, officials in both organizations said Monday.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/27079/authorities-warn-that-khlong-toey-could- become-a-disaster-zone/
Thailand’s military-backed government blamed, this week, the general public for not doing enough to stem the spread of the third wave of the pandemic and for being one of the causes for its wide reach.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/27071/government-blames-the-public-for- pandemic-third-wave-in-official-announcement/
Three embassies have joined the new social-media trend started by the “Yai Pratet Kan Ter” (Let’s move out of this country) group by providing advice on their Facebook pages.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000527
More than half a million Thais have joined a social media group urging people to move out of the country, reflecting dissatisfaction with the government.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000519
The Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi has asked Thai people in India to return to their homeland In view of the Covid-19 situation there. Flights are available for Thais to travel to Thailand on May 8 and 15, the embassy posted on its Facebook page on Monday.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000516
The Thai Journalists Association on Monday revealed the winning photos in its contest to mark World Press Freedom Day.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000497
One Redem protester was arrested on Sunday night, following a clash between crowd control police and some hard-core protesters who refused to disperse after the protest in front of the Ratchadapisek Criminal Court in Bangkok.
o Link- https://www.thaipbsworld.com/one-protester-arrested-after-a-clash-in-front-of- bangkok-criminal-court/
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has set up a centre to investigate "fake news", which it says could hamper the government's efforts in containing the Covid-19 pandemic.
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2109311/dsi-to-probe-fake- news
Economic News Headlines in Thai Media
The month of April is usually one of the busiest for investors and for listed companies as it is the month when most of the ‘Annual General Shareholder Meeting’ (AGM) are held.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/27076/opinion-shareholders-sidelined-by-lax- regulations-on-shareholder-meetings/
Shares of Maybank Kim Eng Securities Thailand (MBKET) soared by 29.53 per cent to the ceiling price of 12.50 baht on Friday, after reporting robust first-quarter earnings of 276.73 million baht, jumping 105.5 percent from a year earlier.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/27061/maybank-soars-30-per-cent-after- reporting-doubled-earnings/
Government measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 infections across Bangkok and other five red-zoned provinces will likely have a negative impact on the tourism sector, analysts said Friday, adding that the downside risk was limited.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/27048/tourism-could-be-hit-by-re-tightening-of- travel-restrictions-experts-warn/
Thais seeking to get free Covid-19 vaccines as part of tour packages to the United States should contact the Foreign Ministry first before paying since not all states offer the service, according to the Foreign Ministry.
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2110171/thai-warned-about- vaccine-tourism-to-us
The Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) warned outbound tour companies to be fully prepared before offering vaccination tours after seeing demand surge dramatically.
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2109791/travel-agents-jittery-over-jab- tours
A survey of the hotel industry found that 47 per cent of hotels have liquidity to keep their business afloat for less than three months.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000488
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is looking at postponing the registration for the third phase of the “Rao Tiew Duay Kan” (We Travel Together) travel subsidy campaign, TAT Governor Yutthasak Supasorn said. o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000480
A Bangkok Poll revealed that the income of 40.2 per cent of labourers in Bangkok and its vicinity was lower than their expenses amid the Covid-19 crisis. Bangkok Universitys research centre said that the poll had 625 respondents.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000444
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) announced that though the electricity tariff structure in Thailand will remain the same for the next five years, it will also offer benefits to consumers who produce their own power.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40000522
One of the most important global conferences in Asia 26th International conference on “THE FUTURE OF ASIA” will be held on Thursday, May 20 and Friday, May 21, 2021 organized by Nikkei Inc. The conference will be streamed live from Tokyo. Video archives will also be available.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40000410
The land price index in greater Bangkok recorded a quarterly drop in the first quarter this year for the first time since the index began in 2012 due to the impact of the pandemic, according to the Real Estate Information Center (REIC).
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2109787/bangkok-land-price- index-drops-2-2-in-first-quarter
The Export-Import Bank of Thailand (Exim Thailand) vows to offer loans with a special low interest rate and longer grace period to promote Thailand's future industries.
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2109859/exim-bank-assists-capital- heavy-firms
Kla Party leader Korn Chatikavanij has warned the government to keep politics out of Thai Airways International Plc's (THAI) debt-rehabilitation and not to seek to revert the airline to its former state enterprise status.
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2110283/keep-politics-out-of-thai- rehab-korn
Asean, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the IMF have agreed economic prospects in this region and the world are expected to see a rapid recovery following global inoculations.
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2109779/regional-leaders-see- recovery-momentum
Thailand's border and transit trade value increased by 19.3% year-on-year to 384 billion baht in the first quarter this year, driven mainly by trade with Malaysia and rising demand for Thai rubber.
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2109783/border-transit-trade-jumps-to- b384bn
The delivery arm of Yum Restaurant Thailand recorded a new high in the first four months of this year, driven by the third wave of the pandemic.
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2109803/yum-optimistic-on-prospects
Total Access Communication (DTAC), the country's third-largest mobile carrier, posted 14.1 billion baht in first-quarter revenue -- excluding interconnection charges (IC) -- representing quarterly growth of 0.5%.
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2109875/dtac-posts-growth-in-q1- revenue
The government is considering new relief packages for both individuals and businesses as a part of a new economic stimulus package, against the backdrop of Thailand's third wave of Covid-19 outbreak.
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2109259/more-covid-relief-in-the- works
Lower Profit Contribution from AIS Pressures INTUCH’s NP to Remain Flat in 1Q
o Link- https://www.kaohoon.com/content/441636
Issues to be watched out for
March 31-June 30, 2021 – The deadline extension to file personal income taxes for the 2020 tax year.
May, 2021 – The 66th Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair (BGJF) Virtual Trade Fair is set to be held. May, 2021 – The new parliament house will be officially inaugurated.
May 5, 2021 – The Constitutional Court is set to decide on the qualifications of Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thamanat Prompow over his eligibility to hold office due to his past criminal record in Australia.
May 12, 2021 – Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) is expected to hold a creditors meeting to inspect and vote for the rehab plan.
May 13, 2021 – The public prosecutor set a new hearing of 13 people involved in the protest in front of the German Embassy in Bangkok on 26 October 2020. The hearing has been postponed as the prosecutor said it had yet to finish the paperwork needed to file the case against the protesters.
May 15, 2021 – Nok Airlines Plc was granted the extension of the submission period of the rehabilitation plan, from original schedule on April 15, which is the last extension of time as permitted by law.
May 22, 2021 – the parliament convenes for an extraordinary parliamentary meeting.
May 27-28, 2021 – the parliament is to deliberate a budget bill for the 2022 fiscal year.
June, 2021 – Siam Bioscience to start mass production plan of Covid-19 vaccines.
June, 2021 – Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC)’s debt holiday is due to expire.
June, 2021 – Thai Airways expects the bankruptcy court to hold hearings to consider and approve the plan and also appoint an administrator.
July, 2021 – TMB-Thanachart Bank (TMB-TBank) expects to complete the integration of the 2 financial entities.
July 1, 2021 – Vaccinated tourists can visit Phuket without undergoing mandatory quarantine.
September 1, 2021 – The government will collect value-added tax from Netflix, Youtube, Google, Facebook as well as other e-commerce services.
October, 2021 – Bangkok governor election is set to be held.
October 1, 2021 – The quarantine measure will be lifted in Krabi, Phang Nga, Pattaya and Chiang Mai. Key Data
SET Index 1,583.13 -7.33
Link - https://www.set.or.th/en/company/ipo/upcoming_ipo_set.html
Global Commodities
Metal -Link http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/commodities/futures/metals/
Energy -Link - http://www.bloomberg.com/energy/
Baltic Dry Index (BDI)-Link - http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/BDIY:IND
Global Equity Market’s Movements
Link - http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/stocks/world-indexes/asia-pacific/
Asian Equity Markets Movement
Link - http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/stocks/world-indexes/
Information on May 3, 2021
Buying, Selling or Transfer of shares by Owners/Management
Stock Code Volume Value Action
META 10,000,000 0.6 Sale PRIME 20,000 0.65 Sale PROS 1,000 3.2 Purchase SKN 75,000 4.16 Purchase SCGP 1,000 56.5 Sale SMART 200,000 1.05 Sale SMART 300,000 1.07 Sale TMILL 300,000 3.7 Sale
XD, XE or XM or other notifications
For list of Companies that have dividend payment and AGM meeting schedules click on http://www.set.or.th/set/calendarofevents.do
Trading Breakdown on the Stock Exchange of Thailand
Daily as of 30 Apr 2021
Unit: M.Baht Investor Type Buy Sell Net Value % Value % Value % Local Institutions 5,579.52 6.53 5,549.74 6.49 29.78 - Proprietary 7,413.34 8.67 7,384.73 8.64 28.61 - Trading Foreign Investors 28,542.95 33.39 29,823.23 34.89 -1,280.28 - Local Individuals 43,944.29 51.41 42,722.41 49.98 1,221.88 - Monthly Cumulative between 1 - 30 Apr 2021 Unit: M.Baht Investor Type Buy Sell Net Value % Value % Value % Local Institutions 106,491.70 6.75 120,724.34 7.65 -14,232.63 - Proprietary 157,538.72 9.98 157,934.80 10.01 -396.08 - Trading Foreign Investors 532,501.17 33.74 535,860.32 33.96 -3,359.14 - Local Individuals 781,486.83 49.52 763,498.97 48.38 17,987.86 - Yearly Cumulative since 1 Jan - 30 Apr 2021 Unit: M.Baht Investor Type Buy Sell Net Value % Value % Value % Local Institutions 546,196.84 7.49 583,195.43 8 -36,998.59 - Proprietary 768,201.45 10.54 764,722.39 10.49 3,479.07 - Trading Foreign Investors 2,558,411.35 35.09 2,591,439.88 35.55 -33,028.53 - Local Individuals 3,417,214.22 46.88 3,350,666.17 45.96 66,548.05 -
Total Trading Value 85,480.11 Million Baht
Background Information –
The strength of each party in the Thai Parliament as of May 8, 2019 as per the report by the Election Commission of Thailand. Elections took place on March 24, 2019
https://www.ect.go.th/ect_th/news_all.php?cid=24
List of MPs - https://www.ect.go.th/ect_th/download/article/article_20190508184334.pdf
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