Thailand
Bangladesh can sign FTA with Thailand to boost trade: Thai envoy
Newly appointed Thai ambassador to Bangladesh Makawadee Sumitmor has called for signing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Bangladesh and his country to create more trade and investment opportunities between the two countries.
She made the call when the Board of Directors of the Bangladesh Thai Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BTCCI) paid a courtesy call on her at the Thai Embassy on Sunday.
Read: Bangladesh can sign FTA with South Korea after LDC graduation: Envoy
The Bilateral chamber also placed some proposals for enhancing bilateral trade and investment relationship between Bangladesh and Thailand, according to a press release.
BTCCI placed some important issues including making easier business policy between the business community, working jointly for Thai Special Economic Zone in Bangladesh, including more duty free Bangladeshi products, relocating labor intensive industry in Bangladesh like woven and textile Industry and some potential industry like power & energy, light engineering, electric, food, handicrafts and other effective bilateral activities.
The Thai Envoy assured the business leaders of working on all proposals of BTCCI and augment business between the two countries.
Read: It's high time Bangladesh and China sign FTA with investment deal: Speakers
The Thai ambassador thanked the board of Directors to come forward for the discussion of bilateral issues of Bangladesh and Thailand and emphasized on the ways and means to promote bilateral trade and investment such as signing a free trade agreement, development of ports in Thailand’s Andaman coast to shorten sea transport route to Bangladesh, and the possibility to co-organize events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year.
BTCCI President Mohammad Shahjahan Khan said that both countries have lots of scope of cooperation to work jointly in some important sectors like pharmaceuticals, jute and jute goods, leather, tourism & hospitality, infrastructure, agro processing, RMG, etc.
“As we have huge trade gap between our countries so we should work jointly to minimize the trade gap,” he said.
Read: Thai Embassy to accept visa applications from Monday
FBCCI Vice President and BTCCI Former President M A Momen was present at the meeting.
Engr. Rashed Maksud Khan, Founder President of BTCCI and Former President of DCCI also attended the meeting and emphasized on strengthening the already established good relationship between Bangladesh and Thailand.
Idled Thai taxis go green with mini-gardens on car roofs
Taxi fleets in Thailand are giving new meaning to the term “rooftop garden,” as they utilize the roofs of cabs idled by the coronavirus crisis to serve as small vegetable plots.
Workers from two taxi cooperatives assembled the miniature gardens this week using black plastic garbage bags stretched across bamboo frames. On top, they added soil in which a variety of crops, including tomatoes, cucumbers and string beans, were planted.
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The result looks more like an eye-grabbing art installation than a car park, and that’s partly the point: to draw attention to the plight of taxi drivers and operators who have been badly hit by coronavirus lockdown measures.
The Ratchapruk and Bovorn Taxi cooperatives now have just 500 cars left plying Bangkok’s streets, with 2,500 sitting idle at a number of city sites, according to 54-year-old executive Thapakorn Assawalertkul.
With the capital’s streets deathly quiet until recently, there’s been too much competition for too few fares, resulting in a fall in drivers’ incomes. Many now can’t afford the daily payments on the vehicles, even after the charge was halved to 300 baht ($9.09), Thapakorn said. So they have walked away, leaving the cars in long, silent rows.
Some drivers surrendered their cars and returned to their homes in rural areas when the pandemic first hit last year because they were so scared, he said. More gave up and returned their cars during the second wave.
“Some left their cars at places like gas stations and called us to pick the cars up,” he recalled.
With new surges of the virus this year, the cooperatives were “completely knocked out,” as thousands of cars were given up by their drivers, he said.
Thailand’s new infections have ranged just under 15,000 in recent days after peaking above 23,400 in mid-August. The government hopes the country is easing out of this wave, which has been the deadliest so far, accounting for 97% of Thailand’s total cases and more than 99% of its deaths. In total, Thailand has confirmed 1.4 million cases and over 14,000 deaths.
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The situation has left the taxi companies in financial peril, struggling to repay loans on the purchase of their fleets. Ratchapruk and Bovorn cooperatives owe around 2 billion baht ($60.8 million), Thapakorn said. The government has so far not offered any direct financial support.
“If we don’t have help soon, we will be in real trouble,” he told The Associated Press on Thursday.
The taxi-top gardens don’t offer an alternative revenue stream. The cooperatives staff, who were asked to take salary cuts, are now taking turns tending the newly-made gardens.
“The vegetable garden is both an act of protest and a way to feed my staff during this tough time,” said Thapakorn. “Thailand went through political turmoil for many years, and a great flood in 2011, but business was never this terrible.”
Ambassadors from the Netherlands and Thailand present credentials to President Hamid
The newly appointed ambassadors of the Netherlands and Thailand on Tuesday separately presented their credentials to President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban.
The President welcomed the new ambassadors to Bangladesh Anne Gerad van Leeuwen from the Netherlands and Makawadee Sumitmor from Thailand.
President’s press secretary Joynal Abedin briefed the reporters after the presentations.
President Hamid called the Netherlands as one of the most important development partners of Bangladesh.
READ: Russian, German envoys present credentials to President Hamid
He thanked the Government of the Netherlands for its cooperation in the formulation and implementation of Integrated Water Management and Delta Plan 2100 in Bangladesh.
Noting that the trade and investment relations between the two countries are excellent, the President called upon the newly envoy to take the relationship to a new height.
Thanking the Dutch government for its support and co-operation on the Rohingya issue, the President expressed hope that the Netherlands would continue its cooperation in the process of repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland.
Separately, the President said Bangladesh attaches importance to the development of bilateral relations with Thailand.
Thanking Thai government for its co-operation during the Corona crisis, Hamid emphasized the importance of exchanging visits to boost trade and investment between the two countries.
The President said Bangladesh produces various products of international standard including readymade garments, ceramics and medicines. If Thailand imports these products from Bangladesh, trade between the two countries will be balanced.
The President also called upon Thai investors to invest in special economic zones in Bangladesh in various sectors including agricultural processing, infrastructure development and tourism.
The new ambassadors told the President that they would make every effort to increase trade and investment with Bangladesh.
They sought the full co-operation of the President in discharging their duties.
Secretary to the President's Office Sampad Barua, Military Secretary Major General SM Salah Uddin Islam, Press Secretary Joynal Abedin, Secretary (Attachmen) Wahidul Islam Khan and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen were present on the occasion.
READ: President Hamid offers Eid prayers at Bangabhaban
A smart contingent of the Presidential Guard Regiment presented them with the Guard of Honor on their arrival at Bangabhaban.
Thailand to start trials of homegrown Covid-19 vaccine in September
Thailand is set to start human trials of its homegrown and plant-based Covid-19 vaccine in September, and the shot is expected to be ready for Thais next year.
The subunit vaccine was developed by Chulalongkorn University's Vaccine Research Centre and Baiya Phytopharm Co Ltd.
A hundred volunteers would join for the first clinical trial of the vaccine, Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul said. "The volunteers would be given three different dosages – 10, 50 and 100 micrograms of the candidate vaccine to determine an appropriate effective dose for adults."
"A pre-clinical study in mice and monkeys found the vaccine candidate being highly effective in boosting the animals' immunity. If human trials are successful, the vaccine will be ready for Thais next year," he continued.
"The researchers are testing it against 10 variants. If the research is successful, we may have something similar to a flu vaccine that can protect against several strains," Anutin said.
The "Baiya Vaccine" is produced from plant leaves, by Baiya Phytofarm and uses heirloom tobacco leaves from Australia to function as the virus' non-pathogenic genetic materials, Chulalongkorn University said.
CEO and co-founder of Baiya Phytofarm Dr Sutheera Dejkhunnavuth said the Baiya Vaccine against Covid-19 is a subunit vaccine that has been produced for a long time in other countries using plants, insects while some countries like Canada and South Korea use plant leaves.
"This vaccine uses heirloom tobacco leaves from Australia to function as the virus' non-pathogenic genetic materials. When injected into the body, the vaccine will boost our immunity to fight the infection," Dr Sutheera said. "The vaccine is expected to be ready in the middle of next year at 300 to 500 baht per dose."
Also, Chulalongkorn University researchers have been developing Covid-19 vaccines, including ChulaCov19, an mRNA vaccine that conducted the first phase of its clinical trial in June.
A Philosophy that Empowers from Within
Thailand is a dedicated advocate for global sustainable development. The kingdom has been promoting its homegrown Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) as an alternative approach to achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
First introduced by King Bhumibol Adulyadej after the Asian financial crisis in 1997, SEP has become Thailand's development concept that is universally applicable.
The philosophy is a culmination of His Majesty's reflections from decades of extensive tours and conversations with villagers around the country. Even the grounds of Chitralada Villa, his royal palace, were used for experimenting agricultural projects that could be extended to other areas.
This royal legacy remains the core of Thailand's national development efforts to this day.
READ: Hello yaba, hello liquor, hello Bangladesh
SEP provides us with a foundation, and acts as a compass towards sustainability, based on three interrelated principles and two pillars. The first principle is moderation, which means producing and consuming within one's capacity, and avoiding overindulgence. The second one is reasonableness, or the use of our mental faculties to assess the causes and consequences of actions on our well-being, our household and our community. Prudence is the third principle, which refers to risk management so as to be prepared for impacts from any disruptions.
Additionally, the two critical pillars needed to implement SEP principles successfully are knowledge, and ethics and virtues. The former enables us to effectively plan and execute developmental activities. The latter fosters human development by emphasizing honesty, altruism, and perseverance, with the ultimate goal to create active, engaged citizens, and to promote good governance.
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SEP is obviously not a how-to handbook for development.
Rather, it is a philosophy that guides our inner thinking to immunize ourselves from external shocks. Likewise, there is flexibility for the concept to be applied in any environment and level. However, sufficiency economy does not mean we have to be complacent in life. We can consider going beyond our basic needs as long as it does not exceed our existing means and capacity.
The essence of SEP is clear that it encourages us to be sensible and realistic.
SEP has inspired numerous projects both in Thailand and elsewhere. The Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) is Thailand's coordinator in forging development cooperation with international partners worldwide.
SEP-based development models implemented by T ICA are specifically designed to assist developing countries escape the cycle of excessive dependence on foreign aid. The objective is to create resilient communities starting from the individual level by enhancing productivity within the limitations of existing income and resources.
Since 2003, TICA has carried out 36 SEP projects in 21 counü•ies across Asia Pacific and Africa, from the Kyrgyz Republic to Timor-Leste and from Mozambique to Solomon Islands. At present, there are 29 projects in 19 countries, which testify that SEP can be translated into action anywhere.
There are two main types of overseas SEP projects to institutionalise the self-development process and to conserve local knowledge and wisdom: 1) the establishment of SEP Learning Centres, to serve as a comprehensive database, and community learning centre with a designated expert to provide guidance; and 2) the development of SEP Sustainable Communities to serve as role models on development.
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SEP Learning Centre projects are being implemented in Lao PDR, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Brunei Darussalam, Tonga, Fiji, and Lesotho. At the same time, SEP Sustainable Community projects are in progress in Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Benin, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, the Kyrgyz Republic, Nepal, and Senegal. Thai experts and TICA's Friends of Thailand Volunteers have been dispatched to work with local stakeholders in several of these countries.
For instance, in Lao PDR, Thai and Lao officials have established Learning Centres for Sustainable Development in Agriculture at Dongkhamxang Agricultural Technical School and Khammouane Technical - Vocational College.
These cenfres maximise the potential of human resources by providing capacity building courses that covers the whole supply chain, such as farm management, productivity management, and market analysis. As agriculture is a vital sector in landlocked Lao PDR, strengthening its agricultural capacity will safeguard domestic food security and enable farmers to sustain their livelihood.
In Bhutan, SEP practitioners assisted in developing community products by localising Thailand's One Tambon (Sub-district) One Product (OTOP) scheme as One Gewog One Product (OGOP) in Haa and Tsirang Districts. OGOP Model includes the establishment of a Community Learning Centre on community-based tourism in Haa District, and one on sustainable community development in Tsirang District, with a view to empowering local authorities and communities.
In Tonga, the Chai Pattana Foundation under royal pafronage and the Tonga Royal Palace have jointly overseen an agricultural model project, which applies "New Theory Agriculture." The idea is to divide the land for multiple purposes such as for crops cultivation, livestock farming, fisheries, and water resources.
This approach has helped to ensure sufficient resources for household consumption, and to reduce the reliance on food imports. It has increased agricultural productivity, generated income, and elevated living standards. The success of this demonstration model has since been replicated around the kingdom island.
Development is achievable through various paths. In many cases such as in Lao PDR, Bhutan and Tonga, the simple yet practical approach of SEP has been as beneficial as any other alternatives while being even more relatable to the respective local conditions.
The concept is, of course, not free from skepticism. But Thailand has fried and tested the applicability of SEP well enough before sharing it abroad. Based on its policy of prosper thy neighbour, SEP is one of Thailand's tools in helping neighbouring countries to attain economic security, food security, and self-sufficiency. The success of SEP projects in neighbouring countries would not only benefit the local communities there, but also confribute towards peace, prosperity, and closer people-to-people ties along the border areas with Thailand.
The same principle applies to cooperation with countries beyond the region, which is to assist them to transition from being recipient countries towards becoming Thailand's partner in a wider array of dimensions.
Sustainable development is a global agenda that requires collective action, and SEP is Thailand's contribution to such end. Through decades of accumulated experience, Thailand
has discovered its answer on how to pass on a sustainable world to our younger generations through local empowerment. Thousands of development projects based on SEP in Thailand have aheady improved the livelihood ofcommunities nationwide.
As such, SEP could perhaps be another practical and worthy development track that Other countries can adapt to their specific contexts.
Mr. Dusit Manapan is a career diplomat and currently serves as the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, [n his current capacity. he also oversees the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Thailand's international aid agency.
68 more return to Dhaka from Thailand by special flight
Bangladesh Embassy in Bangkok has facilitated repatriation of a group of 68 Bangladeshi, Indian and Thai nationals from Thailand to Bangladesh by a special Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight.
The flight was arranged on a self-payment basis in line with Bangladesh Government’s commitment to extend all possible assistance and support to stranded Bangladeshis abroad.
Read: More people return to Dhaka from Thailand by special flight
The Biman Bangladesh flight arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.
Ambassador of Bangladesh to Thailand Mohammed Abdul Hye thanked the Thai Government for extending their cooperation in this regard.
Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic last year, the Embassy of Bangladesh in Bangkok has so far facilitated 16 special flights from Bangkok to Dhaka in coordination with the authorities concerned in Bangladesh and Thailand.
Read:78 Bangladeshis, foreign nationals arrive from Thailand
Officials of the Embassy saw the passengers off at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport and extended necessary consular and other assistance for their departure formalities.
Pandemic tourism: Thailand launches Phuket ‘sandbox’ plan
Thailand embarked on an ambitious but risky plan Thursday that it hopes will breathe new life into a tourism industry devastated by the pandemic, opening the popular resort island of Phuket to fully vaccinated foreigners from lower-risk countries.
As the first flight arrived, airport fire trucks blasted their water canons to form an arch over the Etihad jet from Abu Dhabi as it taxied to its gate.
Leaving the airport, Frenchman Bruno Souillard said he had been dreaming for a year of returning to Thailand and jumped at the opportunity.
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“I am very, very happy,” the 60-year-old tourist said.
The so-called “Phuket sandbox” program comes as coronavirus infections are surging in Thailand, including a significant number of cases of the Delta variant, and many have questioned if it’s too early to woo tourists back, and whether they’ll come in significant numbers in any case due to the restrictions they’ll still face.
But the number of new cases on the island itself is extremely low, in the single digits daily, and more than 70% of its residents are fully vaccinated. The government is gambling that travelers will be willing to put up with coronavirus-related regulations for the opportunity for a beach holiday after being cooped up in their home countries for months.
Before the pandemic, the tourism sector made up some 20% of Thailand’s economy, and 95% of Phuket’s income.
The resort island off the southern coast saw fewer than a half million visitors in the first five months, and almost no foreigners, compared to more than 3 million during the same period last year including some 2 million foreigners.
Read:India’s covid curve could raise the world’s
In a nod to the importance of the “sandbox” plan, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha flew to Phuket to be on hand in person for the launch.
Last-minute hitches in some of the program details and cautions from authorities that if cases start to rise on the island more restrictions may be needed — or it may have to be shut down entirely — meant some cancelations before it even began. Fewer than 250 international travelers were expected on the first day compared to the initial target of 1,500.
But as the kinks are worked out and people report their first-hand experiences, authorities are hopeful for a steady increase in the numbers. From July 1-15, there are currently 1,101 hotel bookings for a total of 13,116 room overnights.
Travelers to other parts of Thailand are subject to a strict 14-day hotel room quarantine, but under the sandbox plan, visitors to Phuket will be allowed to roam the entire island — the country’s largest — where they can lounge on the white beaches, jet ski and enjoy evenings eating out in restaurants, although clubs and bars remain closed.
Only visitors from countries considered no higher than “low” or “medium” risk — a list currently including most of Europe and the Mideast, the U.S., Canada, Britain, Australia and New Zealand — are permitted, and they must fly in directly to Phuket, though plans are in the works to allow carefully controlled transfers through Bangkok’s airport.
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Following the inaugural flight from Abu Dhabi, passengers were expected to arrive later Thursday from Qatar, Israel and Singapore.
Adult foreign visitors must provide proof of two vaccinations, a negative COVID-19 test no more than 72 hours before departure, and proof of an insurance policy that covers treatment for the virus of at least $100,000, among other things. Once on the island, they have to follow mask and distancing regulations and take three COVID-19 tests at their own expense — about $300 total — and show negative results.
After 14 days, visitors can travel elsewhere in Thailand.
More people return to Dhaka from Thailand by special flight
Bangladesh Embassy in Bangkok has facilitated repatriation of a group of 61 Bangladeshi, Thai and other foreign nationals from Thailand to Bangladesh by a special Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight.
Since outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic last year, the Embassy of Bangladesh, Bangkok has so far facilitated 14 special flights from Bangkok to Dhaka in coordination with the authorities concerned in Bangladesh and Thailand.
Read: 78 Bangladeshis, foreign nationals arrive from Thailand
Officers of the Embassy saw the passengers off at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport and extended necessary consularand other assistance for their departure formalities.
The latest flight was arranged on self-payment basis in line with the Bangladesh Government’s commitment to extend all possible assistance and support for repatriation of stranded Bangladeshis abroad.
The Biman Bangladesh flight arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday, said a media release on Sunday.
Ambassador of Bangladesh to Thailand Mohammed Abdul Hye thanked the Thai Government for extending their cooperation in repatriation of the stranded Bangladeshi nationals.
Read: Thailand axes travel corridors with Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan
Thailand axes travel corridors with Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan
Thailand has shut its door to travellers from Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan after confirming cases of the Indian variant of Covid-19 in the country.
"The Thai embassies in these countries have also stopped issuing certificates of entry for non-Thai nationals from May 10 until further notice," Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tanee Sangrat said.
The ban was slapped as health authorities Monday confirmed the country's first cases of the Indian variant of Covid-19 in a Thai woman and her 4-year-old son who have been in quarantine after arriving from Pakistan.
The finding comes as Thailand fights against a new wave of the Covid-19 that began in April. Many of the recent cases involve the British variant of the virus – more infectious than the original form found last year.
Thailand banned travellers from India, other than its citizens, starting May 1 in response to the rising tide of Covid-19 cases in the South Asian nation that began in early April. India has reported more than 22.6 million infections, second only to the US, and more than 246,000 deaths. However, the experts believe both figures are undercounts.
Also read: 78 Bangladeshis, foreign nationals arrive from Thailand
Apisamai Srirangsan, a deputy spokesperson for Thailand's Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration said: "The Indian variant was found in a pregnant 42-year-old woman who arrived on April 24 with three sons. She and her 4-year-old were staying in the same room under state quarantine. The two other sons, ages 6 and 8, stayed in another room and tested negative."
"The authorities are also worried about people who cross into Thailand illegally, mostly from neighbouring Cambodia and Myanmar," Apisamai added.
Thailand on Monday announced 1,630 new cases, bringing its confirmed cases to 85,005 since the pandemic began. There were 22 new deaths, for a total of 421.
New clusters continue to be discovered in Bangkok, not only in crowded communities but also at markets and department stores. Other clusters have been found among migrant workers at factories in two provinces near Bangkok, reports AP.
78 Bangladeshis, foreign nationals arrive from Thailand
A group of 78 Bangladeshis, Thai and other foreign nationals arrived here from Thailand on Saturday.
Bangladesh Embassy in Bangkok facilitated repatriation of the passengers by a special Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight (BG 4089).
The flight was arranged on self-payment basis in line with the Bangladesh government’s commitment to extend all possible assistance and support for repatriation of stranded Bangladeshis abroad, said a media release on Sunday.
Also read: Indian Army chief arrives in Bangladesh
The Biman Bangladesh flight arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka at 5am on Sunday.
Ambassador of Bangladesh to Thailand Mohammed Abdul Hye thanked the Thai government for extending their cooperation in repatriation of the stranded Bangladeshi nationals.
Since outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic last year, the Embassy of Bangladesh, Bangkok has so far facilitated 13 special flights from Bangkok to Dhaka in coordination with the authorities concerned in Bangladesh and Thailand.
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Officers of the Embassy saw the passengers off at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport and extended necessary consular and other assistance for their departure formalities.