80 Years of the Public Relations Department of Thailand

(26/04/2013)

The Public Relations Department of Thailand, known in short as PRD, is scheduled to celebrate its 80th anniversary on 2-3 May 2013.

Through the passage of time, PRD, as the major agency in public relations of the Thai government, has adjusted its roles, philosophy, and structure in accordance with the evolving situation of the country.

The vision today is that PRD is aiming to become a major organization in ASEAN, excelling in professional public relations and mass communication, to promote development, security, culture, and the favorable image of the country.

Established on 3 May 1933, following the change of Thailand’s administrative system from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy in 1932, PRD was formerly called the Publicity Division, which was later upgraded to the Publicity Office and then the Publicity Department. The name was changed to the Public Relations Department in 1952.

PRD is now under the supervision of the Office of the Prime Minister. Its organizational structure is divided into central administration and regional administration. The central administration consists of division-level agencies, office-level agencies, and Public Relations Offices, Regions 1-8. The regional administration comprises provincial public relations offices in 76 provinces. There are currently 3,329 PRD officials and permanent and temporary employees. The headquarters is located on Soi Areesamphan, Phahonyothin Road, in Bangkok.

PRD has a mission to formulate media production policies and plans and organize various activities in order to promote better understanding of the Thai government’s major policies and strategies in the world community.

As a media organization, PRD uses its radio and television networks and internet links, as well as interpersonal media in cooperation with other media channels to disseminate news and information, so that diverse target groups will have alternative sources of information with which to improve their lives and develop their communities. Moreover, it also promotes the process of life-long, constructive learning.

PRD now operates 150 radio frequencies, 88 of which are on FM, 57 on AM, and five on shortwave. As for television, it operates 53 frequencies, 32 of which are VHF band, 18 UHF band, and three MMDS band. Following the enforcement of the 2010 Frequency Allocation Act and Telecommunications Business Act and the establishment of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, PRD no longer serves as a broadcasting regulator but retains its status as a broadcasting operator. It is also in the process of switching from analog to digital television broadcasting services.

Through its Radio Thailand, NBT TV, and websites, PRD is striving to develop state public relations management and mass communications to ensure that they are of high quality and standards, with good governance, in response to the demands of the public sector and the people.

Prime Minister to Pay an Official Visit to Mongolia

(26/04/2013)

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will pay an official visit to Mongolia to strengthen bilateral relations and promote further cooperation between the two countries.

She will be the first Thai Prime Minister ever to visit Mongolia, scheduled for 27-30 April 2013.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister will deliver a keynote statement at the seventh Ministerial Meeting of the Community of Democracies in Ulaanbaatar on 29 April as the guest of honor of the President of Mongolia. She will focus on Thailand’s leading role in empowering people, particularly at the grassroots level, in order to strengthen sustainable democracy.

A report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Prime Minister will also touch on Thailand’s adherence to the rule of law and democracy, as well as their inter-linkage with sustainable development. Such inter-linkage should be acknowledged in the context of the United Nations and the post-2015 international development agenda. Thailand will continue to work with all partners to promote democratic development.

As an active member of the global community, Thailand is committed to promoting democracy and human rights, regardless of gender, age, physical ability or economic status. For Thailand, raising global awareness on the significance of empowering people, especially by eradicating inequality and promoting inclusiveness, is also vital in order to ensure sustainable democratic growth.

Thailand has placed importance on Education for Democracy as a key mechanism for inculcating lifelong awareness of citizenship and democratic values into the people. Apart from co-sponsoring the resolution on Education for Democracy at the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly and adhering to the core international human rights conventions regarding this issue, Thailand has domestically applied the student-centered approach to education in order to strengthen the development of students’ democratic awareness, behavior, attitudes and values in a way that is physically, intellectually, and morally balanced.

Concerning Thai-Mongolian relations, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visited Mongolia in 2009. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Mongolia, Mr. Gombojav Zandanshatar, visited Thailand in late 2010.

Mongolia has also sent officials to learn more about Thailand’s development experience. It also hopes to become a dialogue partner of ASEAN in the future.

Both countries have close cooperation in combating human trafficking, SME development, ICT cooperation, and climate change. In recent years, Thai investors have taken a keen interest in investment in Mongolia in the areas of mining, hospitality, housing development, agro-industry, and infrastructure.

Thailand has stressed the need for both countries to strengthen people-to-people contact and increase the frequency of charter flights between them.

Seeking Measures to Help Exporters Affected by the Stronger Baht

(24/04/2013)

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has instructed appropriate agencies to seek measures to help exporters affected by the ongoing appreciation of the baht.

The Prime Minister said that the impact of the stronger baht was an important issue and that officials involved must take action to assist those suffering from the impact.

In order to cope with the situation, the Prime Minister will call meetings with responsible agencies periodically to discuss ways to deal with the problem. The stronger baht will make Thai products more expensive for overseas buyers.

She believed that if all parties joined hands in handling the issue, the crisis from the strong baht would ease. Asked whether the Government would intervene or not, she said, it is the duty of the Bank of Thailand to take care of the baht value.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong said that the Government had set the export growth target at 9 percent in 2013. It needs to keep a close watch on the movements of the foreign exchange market to ensure that the set target will be achieved and Thai products remain competitive in the international market.

He believed that if the baht did not strengthen rapidly, the export sector would be able to continue to grow. In this regard, the Ministry of Finance and other relevant agencies would closely monitor exchange rates.

The Director of the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting, University of Thai Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Thanavath Phonvichai, said that a survey conducted by the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce shows that the appreciation of the baht has led to a decline in Thai exports. According to the survey, 42.1 percent of business operators said that the stronger baht has affected their operations at a high level, resulting in a drop in orders and profits, while 31.6 percent consider the impact moderate. Most of them agreed that the baht should be traded at 30.48 per US dollar. The rate of 29.18 baht per dollar is still acceptable.

The survey also indicates that if the baht strengthens further, some businesses might have to lay off workers. Business operators want the Government to look into this issue by reducing the money exchange fee, bringing down the interest rate, and controlling capital inflow to ensure financial stability. If the baht strengthens to 27 per dollar, the export growth target is likely to drop to only 3 percent.

Mr. Paiboon Kittisrikangwan, Assistant Governor of the Bank of Thailand, stated that the private sector needs to adjust to the new situation. An assessment would be made on the necessity of measures to deal with the situation, since certain measures would produce long-term impacts. He reaffirmed that the current monetary policy rate at 2.75 percent per annum remains favorable to the expansion of credit and the growth of the Thai economy.

Ensuring Justice Emphasized for Peace-Building in the Southern Border Provinces

(23/04/2013)

The Government has emphasized the principle of ensuring justice, as part of the peace-building process in the southern border provinces.

Deputy Prime Minister Police Captain Chalerm Ubumrung on 22 April 2013 chaired a meeting to listen to public opinions and suggestions on peace-building in the deep South. The meeting was organized by the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center.

At the meeting, Police Captain Chalerm instructed officials responsible for the resolving of southern problems to review various cases in order to eradicate unfair treatment and discrimination. He asked the Commander of the Southern Border Police Operations Center, Police Lieutenant General Paitoon Chuchaiya, to reconsider arrest warrants issued in accordance with the Executive Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations. The executive decree was announced in 2005 as an instrument that would enable state officials to deal with the southern situation more effectively.

He said that the arrest warrants would be revoked, if evidence was insufficient to charge the persons suspected of creating unrest in the South.

Police Captain Chalerm stressed that the authorities must ensure justice for local residents, saying that arrest warrants should be issued only when there was clear evidence.

Concerning the possibility of replacing the emergency decree with the Internal Security Act in more areas where the situation has improved, he said, the respective areas should send reports to the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center. The report will be further submitted to the Cabinet for consideration.

A group of Muslim Thais proposed that the Government appoint a Director-General of the Islamic Religious Affairs Department to supervise Islamic affairs in Thailand and adopt religious principles as guidelines for easing conflicts. It stated that each faith needs to provide proper religious teachings and principles to the people.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm urged all relevant agencies to propose projects, such as those concerning education, security, and social development, in order to seek budget allocations for the development of the five southern border provinces, name Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, Satun, and Songkhla.

He said that the Government has good intentions toward all groups of Thais, regardless of their faiths. It focuses on peaceful means in dealing with the southern situation and on enhancing better understanding between local people and between officials and local residents. The roles of religion and culture will also be emphasized in the peace-building process in the southern border provinces.

Arrival of ASEAN Leaders and Representatives

(25-04-2013)

Meanwhile earlier on, leaders and representatives of the Southeast Asian nations arrived in the sultanate to attend the 22nd ASEAN Summit. The agenda of the two-day meeting is to discuss ASEAN's Central Role and Regional Architectures, the bloc's future direction, as well as to exchange views on regional and international issues.

The first delegate to arrive in the country was the President of Senate, Parliament of Malaysia, His Excellency Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang, as the special representative of the Prime Minister of Malaysia. On arrival at the Brunei International Airport, His Excellency was greeted by the Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, Awg Hj Mohd Abdoh bin Dato Seri Setia Hj Abdul Salam.

The Prime Minister of Cambodia, His Excellency Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, arrived in the morning. His Excellency was welcomed by the Permanent Secretaries at the Prime Minister's Office, Awg Haji Mohd Abdoh and Awg Haji Azhar bin Haji Yahya.

The rest of the leaders and representatives arrived in the afternoon. The President of the Republic of Indonesia, His Excellency Dato Laila Utama Doctor Haji Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and his wife, Datin Ibu Hajah Ani Yudhoyono, were welcomed by the Permanent Secretaries at the  Prime Minister's Office, Awg Haji Azhar and Awg Haji Yahya bin Haji Idris. This year's summit will include the deliberations of the 9th Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines, BIMP-EAGA, East ASEAN Growth Area. The meeting is expected to put an emphasis on the ASEAN Connectivity Master Plan.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, His Excellency Lee Hsien Loong, and his wife, Mrs Lee Hsien Loong, were welcomed by the Permanent Secretaries at the Prime Minister's Office, Awg Haji Mohd Abdoh and Awang Haji Jamain bin Julaihi. Brunei Darussalam assumes the Chairmanship of ASEAN from January to December 2013.

This was followed by the arrival of the Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, His Excellency Thongsing Thammavong, who was greeted at the Airport by the Permanent Secretaries at the Prime Minister's Office, Awg Haji Azhar and Awg Haji Yahya bin Haji Idris.

The Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, His Excellency Nguyen Tan Dung, arrived soon after. His Excellency was welcomed by the Permanent Secretaries at the Prime Minister's Office, Awg Haji Mohd Abdoh and Awang Haji Jamain. The two-day summit and other related meetings are expected to set the agenda for subsequent ASEAN Meetings scheduled for the year, leading to the 23rd ASEAN Summit in October.

A few minutes later, the President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, His Excellency U Thein Sein, arrived at the airport, and was welcomed by the Permanent Secretaries at the Prime Minister's Office, Awg Haji Yahya and Awg Haji Jamain. As Chair of ASEAN, it is also one of Brunei Darussalam's prerogatives to continue strengthening ASEAN's external relations with Dialogue Partners, including through the commencement of negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, RCEP.

Arriving at the same time was the Prime Minister of Thailand, Her Excellency Yingluck Shinawatra. Her Excellency was welcomed the Permanent Secretaries at the Prime Minister's Office, Awg Haji Abdoh and Awg Haji Azhar. Among the priorities of Brunei's Chairmanship is to carry on with the work of past Chairs, especially in implementing previous decisions of the ASEAN Summit agreements and work programmes.

The last to arrive at the Brunei International Airport was the President of the Republic of the Philippines, His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino the Third. His Excellency was welcomed the Permanent Secretaries at the Prime Minister's Office, Awg Haji Azhar and Awg Haji Jamain. During the 9th BIMP-EAGA Summit, leaders of East-ASEAN Growth Area are expected to hold discussions on expediting the implementation of the prioritised infrastructure projects in the region, especially in transportation, energy, trade and Information Communication Technology, ICT.

ASEAN Summit Working Dinner

(25-04-2013)

The 22nd ASEAN Summit begins tonight in Bandar Seri Begawan. His Majesty  Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, consented to host a Working Dinner for the Heads of State and Government of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretary General. The dinner took place at the new Prime Minister's Office Complex in Jalan Berakas.

Upon arrival at the Prime Minister's Office Complex, His Majesty was greeted by the Second Minister of Finance at the Prime Minister's Office, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman; the Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng, and the Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister's Office, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Singamanteri Retired Colonel Dato Seri Setia Doktor Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin.

His Majesty welcomed the arrival of the Prime Minister of Cambodia, His Excellency Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen. Cambodia became the 10th member of ASEAN on 30th April, 1999.

This was followed by the arrival of the Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, His Excellency Thongsing Thammavong. Laos joined ASEAN on 23 July 1997.

Followed by the arrival of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, His Excellency Dato Laila Utama Doctor Haji Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Indonesia is one of the founding members of ASEAN on 8th August 1967. The first ASEAN Summit was held in Bali, Indonesia, in 1976. ASEAN is headquartered in Jakarta.

Next to arrive was the President of Senate, Parliament of Malaysia, His Excellency Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang, as the special representative of the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Malaysia, too, is one of the founding members of ASEAN.

His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam then welcomed the President  of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, His Excellency Thein Sein. Myanmar joined ASEAN on 23 July, 1997, together with Laos.

This was followed by the arrival of the President of the Republic of the Philippines, His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino the Third. Like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, the Philippines is also a founding member of ASEAN.

The next ASEAN leader to arrive was the Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, His Excellency Lee Hsien Loong. Singapore is one of the founding members of ASEAN.

It was then followed by the arrival of the Prime Minister of Thailand, Her Excellency Yingluck Shinawatra. Thailand joined Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore in founding the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 1967.

And finally, the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, His Excellency Nguyen Tan Dung. Viet Nam joined ASEAN on 28th July, 1995, as the 7th member of the Association. The shirts worn by the ASEAN Heads of States and Governments were specially designed by the Office of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, and were specially weaved by the Brunei Arts and Handicraft Centre. The colours were chosen by the ASEAN Heads of States and Governments.

OVEC Organizes Curriculum Seminar

(25-04-2013)

The Secretary General of the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC), Dr. Chaipruek Serirak, chaired the opening of a seminar and workshop on the development of a bachelor degree curriculum in technology or operation of Thai vocational colleges. On this occasion, Dr. Chaipruek delivered a special lecture on the relevant issues.

This event took place between 18 and 20 April 2013 at the Golden Tulip Essential Hotel in Bangkok.

MOE Officiates Tuition Fee Rate for Vocational EP

(24-04-2013)

The Secretary General of the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC), Dr. Chaipruek Serirak, recently reported that the Minister of Education, Mr. Phongthep Thepkanjana, had approved the tuition fee rate for the English Program of vocational education's lower level. The EP aims to promote and develop educational quality that exceeds that offered by public institutions. However, students and parents are allowed to choose whether to study in the EP or not. The tuition fee for the EP at lower vocational education level is a maximum of 25,000 baht per student per semester while the Mini EP is a maximum of 17,500 baht per student per semester. Other expenses incurred, such as theory teaching classes and professional training, can be paid according to the actual amount and local economic context, except expenses for special English classes which can cost no more than 50% of the tuition fee for MEP.

Dr. Chaipruek said that opening the EP at all vocational colleges had to be approved by OVEC and tuition fees should follow the official announcement of the MOE. Moreover, students and parents have to know about the tuition fees in advance and, at the same time, all colleges must help disadvantaged students by not depriving them of learning with foreign teachers. All vocational students should study with foreign teachers for at least two hours a week and have 40 hours per semester to access computers and the internet. The EP tuition fees can be collected in the upcoming academic year of 2013 while vocational colleges that offer normal courses are not allowed to collect more money from students because the government has already given them financial support.

"In the previous academic year, OVEC’s vocational colleges have launched EPs, MEPs and special classes without charging their students. However, conducting additional courses requires more expense, so  OVEC has to formulate rules and regulations on this matter to protect students' parents from any unfair additional expenses they might have to pay," concluded Dr. Chaipruek.

9 RUTs Ready for New Bachelor Degrees Offered by 19 VEIs

(24-04-2013)

The Rector of Thanyaburi Rajamangala University of Technology (RUT), Mr. Namyuth Songthanapitak, as the chairman of the 9 RUTs meeting, reported that 19 Vocational Education Institutions (VEI) under the supervision of the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC) would offer courses from lower vocational education to bachelor degree levels. This situation may not affect the RUTs because they have already prepared curriculums that suit the needs of the present labor market. However, the RUTs are reporting this news to one another to deal with any competition that may occur in the future, particularly adjustment of the 4-year curriculum for bachelor degree education to welcome secondary students from Grade 12 and vocational students of the lower vocational level. At the same time, the RUTs are not ignoring the two-year courses for students of higher vocational level who would like to graduate with bachelor degrees although the number of students who pursue the higher vocational level at public or private vocational colleges has decreased.

"After OVEC introduces bachelor degree courses at the VEIs, private vocational colleges will be affected because their courses may not correspond well with those of higher vocational levels or the bachelor degrees. So, students may want to study at a college that offers courses from lower to higher vocational levels or even the bachelor degree to save time. The RUTs have to consider this situation as well," concluded Mr. Namyuth.