Government
Taxation
Thailand expects tourism revenue of nearly $50 billion in 2017
Thailand expects revenue from foreign tourists to rise 8.5 percent to 1.78 trillion baht ($49.8 billion) this year, a deputy prime minister said on January 9. The expected rise results from an improved outlook for global tourism as well as Thailand’s investment in infrastructure, Deputy ...
Import ban on petrol aims at plugging leaks
Cambodia will prohibit land-based imports of refined petroleum products from January 1 to eliminate smuggling along the country’s borders and improve the efficiency of customs revenue collection, officials said on December 29. According to the General Department of Customs and Excise, which announced the ban ...
Revenue chief upbeat on target
The Revenue Department is comfortable with its revenue target for this fiscal year as it is optimistic the improving economy and accelerating public investment will generate higher tax revenue, its chief says. Economic growth in 2017 could expand at a faster pace than the past ...
New cranes to raise Sihanoukville port’s capacity
State-owned Sihanoukville Autonomous Port received its first shipment of four new rubber-tyred gantry cranes from Japan this week under a $22 million investment plan that aims to expand the seaport’s container throughput capacity by 80 percent, a port official said on December 20. “We received ...
Bus importer floats duty deal with government
Bestlin Group, the firm contracted to procure 489 natural gas for vehicle air-conditioned buses to the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority, on December 8 proposed a deal with the Finance Ministry amid fears it might be ineligible for a 40% import duty exemption for the buses. The firm ...
Customs impounds 100 NGV buses amid duty doubts
The Customs Department has impounded 100 natural gas vehicle air-conditioned buses which were supposed to hit Bangkok streets late this month amid doubts over whether the import order is legitimate or was falsely declared to avoid more than 100 million baht in tax. The first ...
Government to air concerns on Lao VAT
The government is set to raise the issue of Laos’s value-added tax in a joint discussion with Lao counterparts, fearing the new tax measure may cripple growing border trade. Adul Chotinisakorn, deputy director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, said that while the issue is an ...
Customs urged to move online
Customs authorities should work quickly to adopt an envisioned online registration system for cross-border cargo shipments that would expedite delivery and cut out pesky middlemen who tack on unofficial fees, Transport Minister Sun Chanthol said on December 5. “Online registration is important because right now ...
Gov’t aims for stable power tariff
The electricity sector in 2017 would strive to prevent the power tariff issue from stirring controversies among people, said Hoàng Quốc Vượng, deputy minister of Industry and Trade. Vượng said the sector has not seen complaints about power tariffs this year, as the prices have ...
Amended investment law offers tax incentives, shortens concession period
Amendments to the Investment Promotion Law offer more tax incentives and shorter investment concession periods in a bid to attract more investors while ensuring closer scrutiny of their operations. A draft amendment to the law, which was passed by the National Assembly last week, shortens ...