Friday’s news-Sept 22 -

Today’s news: Baht depreciation expected to deepen/Rain continues/Global Gen Z and Millennial Survey/Weakening baht not all bad/All in on Green Economy/PM talks up US trade ties/Land bridge project/EV, battery demand/Use of cannabis must be regulated/Small cannabis businesses in limbo/Tourism applauds vow to tackle cannabis/Suvarnabhumi’s SAT-1 terminal/10 Things To Buy In Bangkok/Links: Calendar of events/Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/Air pollution index map/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers

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Baht depreciation expected to deepen amid global market volatility

Financial experts are predicting a further depreciation of the baht throughout this month and next, due to the increased volatility in the global money and capital markets. This follows the U.S. Federal Reserve’s recent suggestion of a potential increase in its benchmark interest rate.

Poon Panitchpibun, a strategist at Krungthai Global Market, a research center of Krungthai Bank, noted that the baht opened on Thursday at 36.25 against the U.S. dollar, a depreciation from the previous day’s close of 36.07. Continued …

Rain continues for most regions

Thunderstorms, strong winds and heavy rain in the northeastern, eastern, lower central and the southern regions will continue throughout today, with Bangkok and the surrounding area having an 80% chance of downpours.

For the next 24 hours, eastern and northeastern regions of Thailand will experience strong easterly winds, while the southwestern part of the Gulf of Thailand and the western side of the country will experience light westerly winds. Continued …

Deloitte Thailand releases Global Gen Z and Millennial Survey

The survey highlights the cost of living as the top concern among both generations in Thailand. Thai Gen Z and millennial workforce are, on average, more satisfied with their current work/life balance in their job and their organization’s DEI efforts compared to the global average.

Deloitte Thailand reveals the results of the Global 2023 Gen Z and Millennial Survey, which also reflects on country-specific perspectives of Gen Z and millennials, including Thailand, toward the economy, society, and environment, compared to the global average across the same generation. Continued …

Thailand’s weakening baht not all bad for economy, prime minister says

Thailand’s central bank is monitoring the weak baht, which is not entirely bad for the economy and could help the key export and tourism sectors, the prime minister said in remarks aired on Thursday, as the baht hit multi-month lows.

Srettha Thavisin, speaking during a visit to the United States, said the government was not interfering in the central bank’s duty. The Thai currency’s depreciation was driven by capital outflows due to interest rate differentials, Srettha told reporters. Continued …

PM Srettha Goes All in on Green Economy

Srettha Thavisin, Thai prime minister and minister of finance, gave an interview while attending the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York and speaking on the topic of sustainable development (SDGs).

Thailand proposed its sustainable development goals (SDGs) and stressed the importance of addressing global warming in a sustainable manner amid geopolitical tensions. Continued …

PM talks up US trade ties

Thailand will further strengthen trade ties with the United States, as the two countries mark 190 years of diplomatic relations, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said.

He was speaking after a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden at a gala dinner hosted by the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCC) on Wednesday. Continued …

Land bridge project looks to attract investors

The Transport Ministry plans to host roadshows in China, Europe and the United States to attract investors in a land bridge megaproject connecting Chumphon on the eastern coast along the Gulf of Thailand to Ranong along the Andaman Sea.

Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit on Thursday provided an update on the progress of the project after Wichai Sudsawat, United Thai Nation (UTN) Party MP for Chumphon, shared his concerns regarding the negative impact of the project on the livelihoods of people in his constituency during a House meeting on Wednesday. Continued …

EV, battery demand to spur Thai company’s revenue

Growing demand for commercial electric vehicles and batteries is expected to boost the total revenue of Energy Absolute (EA), a renewable energy and EV developer and operator, to reach a record high of more than 41 billion baht this year, up from 27.5 billion baht in 2022.

EA’s battery manufacturing facility in Chachoengsao.

EV and battery sales represented 25%, or 10.4 billion baht, of total revenue in the first half of this year. Continued …

Thai PM says use of cannabis must be regulated within six months

Speaking in New York, Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said that his government will amend the law on cannabis, to restrict its use to medical purposes and to control retail cannabis outlets, within six months. (There are a reported more than 12,000 cannabis-related businesses in Thailand.)

During his interview with Bloomberg, the prime minister said that, since cannabis was decriminalized in Thailand last year, by removing it from the Category 5 drugs list, it has become the first country in Asia where cannabis is available for medical, as well as recreational purposes, resulting in the rapid growth of retail outlets offering cannabis and its extracts over the counter. Continued …

Small businesses in limbo with new marijuana policy

Just over a year after Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalize marijuana, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has announced a dramatic policy shift.

In a recent interview with Bloomberg, the prime minister revealed that the government will now limit the use of marijuana to medical purposes only. This sudden turn has garnered the support of all parties in the Pheu Thai-led coalition government, leaving small dispensaries and entrepreneurs in a state of uncertainty. Continued …

Tourism sector applauds PM’s vow to tackle cannabis

Tourism operators have applauded the prime minister’s pledge to eliminate recreational cannabis usage within six months. as they believe unregulated cannabis shops have done more harm than good to tourism over the past year.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin insisted this week during an interview with Bloomberg that the government would rectify the cannabis policy within six months to ensure it would be used only for medical purposes. Continued …

Suvarnabhumi’s SAT-1 terminal completes final trial run

SAT-1, a new satellite terminal at Suvarnabhumi airport, successfully underwent the third and final full-scale trial operation on Thursday night prior to the soft opening scheduled for Sept. 28.

Kittipong Kittikachorn, Suvarnabhumi airport director, said today that the third full-scale trial operation focused on the outbound passenger process during the night, running from 8pm until midnight. It aimed to ensure that the night-time operations, which require different support systems from the day-time operations, including lighting at all service points, were functioning smoothly. Continued …

10 Things To Buy In Bangkok If You’re Visiting For The First Time

A far cry from the many lesser-known, uncrowded islands in Thailand, Bangkok overwhelms first-time visitors with its bounty of markets, malls, and shops selling everything imaginable.

hile the options may seem endless, focusing shopping on finding authentic Thai items is key to an optimal experience. By looking for goods that represent true local craftsmanship and culture, visitors can be sure to take home meaningful souvenirs. Continued …

Singapore’s worst money-laundering case now worth over $1.7 billion

The police have taken control of more than $1.7 billion worth of assets in Singapore’s worst money-laundering case. In an update on Wednesday, the police said they conducted more operations after 10 foreign nationals were arrested in August for their alleged involvement in laundering the proceeds of their overseas organized crime activities. Continued …

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch steps down

Rupert Murdoch has stepped down as the chairman of Fox Corp. and News Corp., ending a more than seven-decade career during which he created a media empire spanning from Australia to the United States. Continued …

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 11am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 5:10pm, and 6pm
Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm, 5pm, and 6:30pm

The one-way fare is 325 baht.

The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank.

Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day

Hua Hin now has once-daily bus service to Pattaya, leaving Hua Hin at 9am and departing from Pattaya at 8am. Tickets are 473 THB.

Tickets can be bought in person at the Hua Hin bus station or online. Buses depart from the Hua Hin bus station and in front of Government Savings Bank, Cha Am.. Tickets