Cadbury

What a nasty thing to do, especially after inviting President Trump to visit!

When we get our submarines we will blockade the United States so they can't import/export anything. That will teach them to mess with us. And we will tell our Chinese friends how awful they are to us.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Thai Commerce Ministry will appeal to the US for a review of GSP decision

But why would they bother? In another story today some government poser says the decision by the US to suspend its Generalised System of Preferences on some imported goods. will have very little impact. To be exact she said it would only be 0.01 per cent.

Typical military style government confusion and poor administrative communication. 

15 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thailand is the world's third-largest seafood exporter but its supplier status has been badly tainted in recent years by reports of slave labour and trafficking among the mainly migrant workforce

Another chicken coming home to roost. The world's a wake up. The EU has been banging this drum for years and now Trump has revived the issue it might be doubtful if the EU will pursue to idea of an FTA with Thailand.

PM Prayut's word that he is fixing the fishing industry is just his usual appeasement tokenism. Human rights is not high on the priority list of military generals.

https://www.hrw.org/report/2018/01/23/hidden-chains/rights-abuses-and-forced-labor-thailands-fishing-industry

16 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thais are worried that the ongoing political conflict will hurt the economy

Thais need to understand this is what happens in democracies when various elected government members and parties disagree on issues.

But if they are worried perhaps they could have more peace of mind by returning to a one party junta rule? 

But that's what they effectively have now. I wish they would make up their minds what they want.

20 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thai competitiveness dropping due to stronger baht, ailing global economy

There seems to be a number of negative domestic and global factors coming together to make a perfect economic storm for Thailand.

The amateurish financial management of military economists hasn't helped. Their gimmicky cash splash “Eat, Shop, Spend" stimulus is an example. 

Both Rabobank and Fitch have downgraded global growth to an 8 year low of 2.5%. Thailand is helpless to do anything about that.

But the real killer is the high baht and experts seem to think virtually nothing can be done to stop it's growth in value. 

Good economic management is desperately needed. The usual junta style knee jerk reactionary responses to every little economic hiccup is not going to cut it. 

44 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

The department is also to serve as a hub while cars currently in use are retrofitted with the trackers.

Another day....another hub! And another classic example of Thai politician's lips moving without brain being engaged. 

This is the same politician who decided, in the interests of road safety, to lift highway speed limits from 80 KPH to 120 KPH. Which is effectively saying to drivers you can now drive 50% faster than you normally would.

It is sure to be a goer if some "well connected" person or family relation has the sole agency for the chosen device. Perhaps the same person who had the faulty electronic monitoring tracker tags will get a second bite at the cherry.

These idiots have openly declared their preference for Thai tourists rather than foreign tourists.

The free 1000 baht "eat, drink, get drunk, spend at the local supermarket campaign" will certainly rope in the locals. They can pick up the free money just by scamming the system and sitting at home sitting on the sofa watching TV. 

Stuff you foreigners, except Chinese and rich Indians. We love you; come and see our temples and we will release you from the evil spirits.......for a price. Somewhere between 10,000 to 100,000 baht. We Thais are reasonable people, you get the freedom and security you pay for. 

I am more inclined to think this is not so much about passengers and fares and getting people to and fro. I believe it is more about the Prayut Eastern Economic Corridor dream. Without the HS train and the image that goes with it there would be no EEC.

Potential investors would not be in the slightest bit interested unless there was such a train to support the infrastructure needed for the EEC. 

Any passenger revenue losses by the investing partners could be squared up financially via the back door of treasury using EEC funding. 

19 minutes ago, webfact said:

Tourist numbers well on track statistics show

That's a load off. The economy of Thailand has been saved again by the statistics of the Ministry of Tourism and TAT.

Nothing more than fools fooling themselves. 

37 minutes ago, webfact said:

Currently CP holds 70 per cent share in the consortium, but we are planning to reduce our shareholding to 51 per cent during the construction period to attract more funding while maintaining our decision-making power,”

Suphachai doesn't seem to understand. The CP Group will be the subservient ones, it will be the SRT which will be making the decisions. If he doesn't know that now he will find out soon enough as their incompetence emerges.

He needs to make vitally sure SRT don't screw the CP Group over like they did with Hopewell.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

It could appreciate to between Bt29.20 and Bt29.30 by the end of next year, a 5-year high, he added.

What about Bt28.5 by September next year as some are predicting. Should that happen it will make a huge dent in exports and put the country into an economic death dive.

What will Khun Prayut Chan-o-cha self appointed Chairman of the Economic Management Committee do then?