At present, there are daily protests in Bangkok against the plans to set up a 25 km² industrial complex in Chana (จะนะ, tjà-ná), located in the southern province of Songkhla. How do the inhabitants experience this struggle? Greenpeace last year interviewed 18-year-old activist Khairiyah about her struggle.
To further develop Thailand's economy, the country must transform from an industrial nation into a trading nation. The national think tank TDRI says that this is possible, although a lot still needs to change. For example, hundreds of laws must be changed in the areas of taxation, investment policy and international trade promotion.
News from Thailand – July 24, 2013
News from Thailand brings today:
• Pests crawling over rice sacks in government warehouse
• Rector secretly changes his son's grades
• Green buffer around industrial estate is doing well
Thailand's economy is growing at double digits
Thailand's economy grew by double digits in the first quarter of 2012, despite last year's devastating floods, official data shows. Gross domestic product (GDP) grew 11 percent from the previous quarter, when the economy was already up 10,8 percent, according to the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB). GDP rose 0,3 percent compared to the same period in 2011.
News from Thailand – February 27
Forty percent of the 838 businesses that were flooded last year at industrial sites in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani have now resumed production. Half will be up and running again within this quarter and eighty percent in the third quarter, expects Minister Pongsvas Svasti (Industry).
Thailand loses investments in Asia
Years of political conflict and last year's floods are starting to take their toll. Thailand only accounts for 6 percent of foreign investment in the region and has since been overtaken by Indonesia (21), Malaysia (12) and Vietnam (10). In the period 2004-2009, 17 percent of regional investments took place in Thailand. According to a study by the Economic Intelligence Unit.
Tough battle to preserve Bang Chan industrial estate
Will Bang Chan become the eighth industrial estate to be flooded? A first-level emergency warning was issued on Wednesday because the water in two canals near the site has risen.
Flood damage: 0,7-1 trillion baht
The damage to property and assets amounts to between 700 billion and 1 trillion baht, including opportunity losses of 350 to 450 million baht for companies, the university of the Thai Chamber of Commerce estimates.
Floods threaten factories in Bangkok (video)
Floodwaters in the Thai capital have encircled two major industrial areas. Workers try with all their might to keep the water out.
Will Bang Chan fall? And after that Lat Krabang?
It's about tension: will Bang Chan and Lat Krabang become the eighth and ninth industrial estates to be flooded?
BoT no longer underestimates the consequences of flooding
The Bank of Thailand has cut its forecast for economic growth this year from 4,1 percent in June to 2,6 percent. Unemployment is a particular concern, says Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul.
Integrated water management plan essential for investors
Thailand should make an integrated water management plan to send a positive signal to future investors.
25 billion baht for 45-day recovery plan
To get the seven flooded industrial estates operational within 45 days, the government is allocating 25 billion baht for restoration work.
Automotive industry hardest hit by floods
The floods forced 14.000 companies to stop production. The automotive industry is one of the hardest hit industries. Japanese automakers Toyota, Honda and Nissan have been missing production of 6000 vehicles every day since the beginning of this month. That costs the three companies $500 million a month. Apple and Western Digital Corporation, the world's largest manufacturer of hard disk drives, are also at a loss. Apple won't get components, WDC expects it to…
Minor flood damage
Invariably every morning, before I go to work, I call my Thai correspondent in Thailand. She lives in Isaan in SiSaKet province, about half an hour from the town of Kanthalak. She follows the Thai news closely for me and daily we discuss issues such as economy, politics, crime, inflation, weather and other news.
Navanakorn completely submerged
Ten factories in Navanakorn industrial estate in Pathum Thani province were flooded after a tidal wall on the north side collapsed and part of the site was flooded. The water reached a height of 1,5 to 2 meters. Workers and residents living in the area were ordered to evacuate by the government. Because they all fled at the same time, traffic chaos ensued on Phahon Yothin road. Five hundred workers are trying to fill the hole…
HDD manufacturers are considering (temporary) relocation
Hard disk drive (HDD) manufacturers are considering temporarily moving their production abroad. They fear that the interruption of production due to the floods will lead to a shortage of HDDs in the global market. The world's four top manufacturers are based in Thailand, accounting for 60 percent of world trade. Western Digital has suspended production at its two factories at Bang Pa-in (Ayutthaya) and Navanakorn (Pathum Thani); Seagate Technology (Samut Prakan…