Anything & Everything About Thailand

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 25 January 2006 :-

PM insists airport will open by early July despite hiccups

By Amornrat Mahitthirook

Despite a runway surface problem and a recent fire at its catering facility, Suvarnabhumi airport will be finished and open some time between June 28 and early July, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday.

Visiting the new airport, Mr Thaksin said it would be ready for opening during that period but the exact date of the official inauguration will be set when the government consults His Majesty the King.

He inspected the airport construction site east of Bangkok yesterday and chaired a meeting of the airport development panel where he was briefed on the progress.

Mr Thaksin said Thai Airways International could repair the catering building, which caught fire last week, in time for the opening, while fixing parts of the west runway which peeled off because they were not reinforced with polymer, would not be difficult.

The THAI management has told him the catering facility will be repaired and completed in four or six months. Mr Thaksin said that even if the schedule is delayed, THAI can provide catering services to Suvarnabhumi airport using its old facility at Don Muang airport.

Regarding the runway, he said it was not cracked as some in the media had reported. The peeling resulted from the grooving of the runway surface and its material and improving it would only require use of a simple technique.

Mr Thaksin said the overall construction work and preparation of the airport's operations have so far been satisfactory.

The baggage handling system had posed a major concern because it is a crucial factor for the new airport's success. Officials had assured him the system was now functioning well.

Authorities have set the transition time for Bangkok air traffic to switch from Don Muang airport to Suvarnabhumi at 3am on the inauguration day because of the low number of flights at that hour.

Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) submitted its plan for public transport services at the new airport for Mr Thaksin's committee to approve yesterday.

The panel agreed with the plan to introduce air-conditioned buses, taxis, limousines and rental cars.

Air-conditioned buses will be divided into the ''Airport Express'' and ''Airport Bus'' services.

Airport Express will shuttle between Suvarnabhumi and leading hotels in the Silom, Bang Lamphu, Hua Lamphong and Witthayu areas. Airport Bus will ply between the new airport and Min Buri, Happy Land, Victory Monument, Bang Na, Don Muang and Samut Prakan.

There will also be inter-provincial airport buses that will reach Pattaya city and Sa Kaeo and Nong Khai provinces.

The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority will provide airport buses for the short routes while state-run Transport Co will introduce buses for long routes.

AOT plans to select a contractor to manage all the public transport services. But Mr Thaksin suggested that AOT set up a subsidiary to manage them to prevent any possible vested interests of its contractor coming into play.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 25 January 2006 :-

Thai car production reached 1 million in 2005

Thailand's automobile production reached 1,125,316 units in 2005, of which 440,717 were exported, industry sources said on Wednesday.

Vehicle exports last year totaled 440,717 units, with a value of 203 billion baht (5.2 billion dollars), up 36 per cent on 2004 figures, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) disclosed.

Auto Industry Club spokesman Surpong Paisitpattanapong said altogether the automotive industry earned 294 billion baht (7.5 billion dollars) from combined exports of vehicles, engines and auto parts in 2005, an increase of 45 per cent.

Production of vehicles for the domestic market reached 684,599 units, up 21.3 per cent, said Surapong.

Thailand's vehicle production surpassed the one million mark for the first time in 2005, securing the kingdom's claim to being the "Detroit of Southeast Asia."

The vast majority of vehicles manufactured in Thailand are one-ton pickups, amounting to 822,867 units in 2005 made for both the domestic and export markets.

The FTI predicts Thailand will produce 1,245,000 vehicle in 2006, including 723,000 units for the domestic market and 522,000 for exports.

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Agence France Presse
Published on Jan 25 , 2006

London - A British diplomat accused of going "beserk" on a plane as he returned from dealing with the aftermath of the Asian tsunami disaster was cleared on Tuesday of the sole charge of being drunk on an aircraft.

Colonel Peter Roberts, the former British defence attache in Thailand, had been on trial for allegedly launching a series of foul-mouthed tirades and threatening to kill passengers and crew at 35,000 feet (10,668 metres).

The 51-year-old was said to have lost control in business class after drinking wine, port and whisky on an Etihad Airways flight from Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, to London Heathrow on February 17 last year.

Roberts, a father of three, had been involved in trying to identify British victims of the December 26, 2004 tsunami and was travelling to London to brief Ministry of Defence and Foreign Office colleagues on the disaster.

The former British army helicopter pilot told the jury he had been suffering from stress following the tsunami and had accidentally taken too much of the anti-depressant drug Seroxat, which he had been prescribed.

He also said he had no recollection of his behaviour on the flight.

Speaking outside court, Roberts' lawyer, Look Chih Wang, told reporters Roberts was found not guilty because he was not drunk.

Instead, his behaviour was due to "a temporary abnormality of function caused by long-term chronic stress, tsunami-related post-traumatic stress, sleep deprivation and a combination of the anti-depressant Seroxat and alcohol".

The diplomat's doctor had advised him he could drink in moderation while taking Seroxat, the lawyer said.

"Although Colonel Roberts has been acquitted he nevertheless wishes to apologise to all those who were affected by his behaviour and offended by his remarks," Look added.

"Colonel Roberts would like to state categorically that the alleged remarks in no way are representative of his views or beliefs."

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361 words
27 January 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: General News - Nakhon Pathom's provincial administration and the provincial chamber of commerce will hold an annual fair where many varieties of fruits and local goods are being sold. The fair will be held near Phra Pathom Chedi, Nakorn Pathom between January 29th and February 4th.

Nakorn Pathom, one of the provinces located near Bangkok, is famous for its delicious fruits, such as its sweet pomeloes. Apart from its fruits, the province comprises of the wax museum where there are many wax figurines of important persons. And in order to help support these attractive features of Nakorn Pathom, particularly it's agricultural and food products, the TAT will then organize an annual fair to promote the provincial fruits and other local products.

In response to the government policy of promoting tourism, the fair will also sell many OTOP goods. Further, the production standards of OTOP goods are being raised, to help bring in more revenues to the province.

At the festival, people can taste many clean and fresh fruits at only 29 baht. These fruits are being handpicked in high-quality farms. People can also travel to other provincial tourist destinations. Not to mention, tourists can also buy a number of 3-star to 5-star OTOP products which are being gathered from different districts of Nakorn Pathom.

Mr. Pramaysuan Amatayakul, the Director-General of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Central Region Office in District 1, said this type of fair is being held on a yearly basis. He said the selected fruits are being carefully chosen, and officers have ensured that the fruits do not have any chemical residue. The fair organizers would like to invite tourists to come over as it is not too far from the capital city of Bangkok.

This annual fair, which will be held for the 21st time, will take place in Phra Phathom Chedi, Nakhon Prathom Province from January 29th to February 4th.

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160 words
27 January 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: General News - Appeals have been filed for the two fishermen sentenced to death for raping and killing a British tourist on Samui Island.

Appeals were filed yesterday for Mr. Wichai Somkhaoyai and Bualoi Posit who were sentenced to execution by the Surat Thani court on January 18th, under charges of raping and murdering British backpacker Katherine Elizabeth Horton on Samui Island.

The lawyers of the two men said the appeal came as the punishment was too severe and the two men should receive reduced penalties due to the lack of human witnesses of the crime. They argued that the court had used only DNA evidence in making its judgment, while the convicted men had confessed to all charges and provided corporation in every step.

The two men have been sent to the Nakhon Si Thammarat special prison since January 19th.

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160 words
27 January 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: General News - Police have appointed 3 investigative teams to work on the case of a passenger van in Bangkok that was bombed, after officials found the cause to have sprouted from conflicts between the van owner and influential figures.

Police Lieutenant General Witthi Phuawet, the Commissioner -general of the Region 1 Provincial Police, said that the cause of the incident has now been concluded to have arisen from conflicts between the van owner and influential figures. 3 investigative teams have been created, comprising officials from 3 police jurisdictions. Officials are now gathering evidence and will soon call in related people for questioning. Meanwhile, officials are providing security for the owner of the bombed van.

Prime Mnister Thaksin Shinnawat has insisted that he will handle influential figures with strictness, saying that he has appointed a central committee to investigate the matter.

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811 words
27 January 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: Business News - Exports rise 11.6% in December

EXPORTS :Customs-cleared exports rose 11.6% to $9.45 billion in December from the same month in 2004, following a 14.5% increase to $9.84 billion in November, according to the Commerce Ministry.

Imports rose 27.9% from December 2004 to $9.59 billion, after a 14.7% rise to $9.79 billion in November. The December trade account showed a $142-million deficit against a $55-million surplus in November.Exports were worth $110.9 billion in 2005 while imports were $118.2 billion, leaving a $7.34-billion trade deficit for the year, the ministry said.

Robinson renovating

RETAILING :Robinson Department Store Plc will spend 560 million baht on store renovations and marketing this year.

Of the total budget, about 300 million baht would be used for store improvements, according to president Preecha Ekkunagul.

He said Robinson's sales in the last nine months of 2005 grew by 9%, higher than the industry growth of 6%, because the company had adjusted its merchandise mix by adding more fashion house-brands and a home decoration zone.

The company on January 23 launched a Robinson Visa card, offering holders discounts of 5-30% when shopping at 19 outlets nationwide. It expects to have 100,000 cardholders by the end of this year.

Shares of Robinson closed on January 23 on the SET at 7.80 baht, down 0.05 satang, trade worth 940,000 baht.

G Steel ready to trade

STOCKS :Shares of G Steel will begin trading on the Stock Exchange of Thailand on January 25 under the symbol GSTEEL.

The company will list 9.7 billion shares at one baht par value. A total of 1.5 billion new shares were issued in its initial public offering last week at 1.60 baht per share. Asia Plus Securities was the adviser for the listing.

'Unlimited' talk time

MOBILE PHONES :Advanced Info Service (AIS) has introduced an "unlimited" talk time package for prepaid and postpaid customers during selected hours.

The tariff is 399 baht per month for prepaid customers, who can make unlimited calls from 6 am to 4 pm, and 10 pm to 8 am.

For postpaid users, the monthly fee is 799 baht for unlimited calls between 10 pm and 4 pm on workdays, and for 24 hours on Saturdays and Sundays.

Calls are calculated at five baht for the first minute and two baht a minute thereafter for the packages, which are valid until Feb 28.

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374 words
26 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

Pongpet Mekloy

There are still a few more routes in the North that I need to tell you about while the weather over there is still nice and cool. This one starts from Mae Malai, the point where Highway 1095 from Pai meets with Highway 107 from Chiang Mai.

From Mae Malai, follow the 107 up north for four kilometres and you'll find the minor road to Mae Ngat Dam on the right-hand side. The dam is 11.5 kilometres down that road and the headquarters of Si Lanna National Park is about three kilometres from the dam.

To get to Mae Taman, today's Point B, drive back to the 107 and go on for another 1.5 kilometres. Mae Taman is about nine kilometres off the highway.

Now continue along the 107 northward to Chiang Dao. This section of the highway is full of curves so you'd better be extra careful. The minor road to Chiang Dao Cave is 800 metres further from the district office.

After you're done with the cave, get back on the 107 but this time go on for only three kilometres then veer left onto Highway 1178. The King Naresuan Memorial is 4.5 kilometres up the 1178.

Almost 21 kilometres from the memorial, you'll reach the headquarters of Chiang Dao National Park. Seven kilometres from the park is the Rin Luang intersection. There, turn right and you'll soon reach the Chinese community at Ban Arunothai. Oh, by the way, for those interested in hilltribe culture, between Rin Luang intersection and Ban Arunothai, there's a Kachin cultural centre worth dropping by.

And for those who wish to know more about the Kuomintang (KMT) in Thailand, don't miss the next two routes!

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530 words
26 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

ANJIRA ASSAVANONDA

Businesses and service providers are increasingly filing counter lawsuits against consumers who complain about their conduct or services, a consumer group said yesterday.

Several attempts by consumers to exercise their rights had been blocked and they had even been threatened by irresponsible operators, Saree Ongsomwang, manager of the Foundation for Consumers, said. Existing state mechanisms were not strong enough to protect them.

Speaking at a seminar at the National Health Foundation, Ms Saree offered as an example the case of David Haines who has been fighting against alleged fraud by a developer.

A British retiree, Mr Haines, 62, said he and about 30 Thais and foreigners purchased condominium units at the Yacht Haven Phuket condominium project in 1996 at prices of four to 13 million baht each. They were promised that construction would be completed and the units ready for hand-over by 1998.

"The project appealed to a lot of people as a dream retirement home. Besides, it was run by the Phataraprasit Group whose name used to mean financial credibility and respectability," said Mr Haines.

Most buyers had already paid 30% of the price, totalling more than 50 million baht. However, they later found that the project was unlikely to be finished. After years of waiting, the buyers collectively filed a criminal fraud case against the company and its executives.

However, the court found no sufficient grounds and rejected the suit.

While the buyers were preparing an appeal, the company launched a countersuit, charging the group with filing a false claim. The court is in the process of deliberating whether to accept it.

"It's a very sad state of affairs that a foreigner bringing money to Thailand to buy property and retire should now be charged by the developer who has stolen his money," said Mr Haines.

Ms Saree said many people facing similar suits had gone to the foundation for help.

About a dozen people, for example, were sued by hospitals under the Social Security programme after they filed complaints about substandard treatment. About 20 were sued by estate developers after they demanded the hand-over of management rights to their purchased condominiums.

Another person was facing a 300-million-baht defamation suit from a hospital after saying in an interview that the medical outlet caused disability or death to a member of his family.

Chairat Saeng-arun, of the Law Society, said Thailand needs a special consumer court as the current legal system was not efficient enough to protect consumers.

"The existing system leaves the burden of proof on consumers," said Mr Chairat.

Operators' counter lawsuits were a tactic to intimidate consumers. He advised consumers not to panic, stand united and continue to deliver their messages in the hope the courts would better understand.

Ms Saree said some other mechanisms could be set up to ease the problem, such as a consumer court and an independent body for consumer protection as stipulated in the constitution.

However, the best protection for the consumers was to be aware of their rights, form strong networks and be determined to fight injustice, she said.

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1604 words
26 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

Shaken by rumours he may be replaced, the police chief has been trying to strengthen his support base * The air force chief has reversed his earlier objections and now supports the proposal to acquire Russian jets * During the trip to Roi Et, Newin Chidchob stayed close to the prime minister, much to the ire of other ministers

The road that led Pol Gen Kowit Wattana to the top post at the Royal Thai Police Office was not strewn with roses.

And many people, even Pol Gen Kowit himself, are aware that he may not be able to hold on to the position until his retirement in September next year.

The fact is that none of the former national police chiefs has been able to withstand the political storms that forced them to leave the post before their last day in the police service.

Even Pol Gen Sant Sarutanont, Pol Gen Kowit's predecessor, fell under this category.

Pol Gen Kowit started his police career in the border patrol police force. At the age of only 32, he became a police captain. He was made police major-general at 48 and a full police general at 53.

He was one of the most fast-advancing officers in the history of the police force.

No doubt, he was one of those tipped to become national police chief.

In October 2004, when he had three years left in the police service, Pol Gen Kowit, being the most senior officer at the time, was by tradition seen as being most suitable for the top police post.

And he was appointed national police chief, but not without obstacles.

By that time, it was widely known that Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra wanted Pol Gen Chidchai Wannasathit - an officer with higher seniority who looked after him while studying in the United States - in the post. Mr Thaksin moved Pol Gen Chidchai, then secretary-general of the Office of the Narcotics Suppression Board, to be deputy national police chief in preparation for the push-up to the top police post.

Before a final decision was made, Pol Gen Kowit and Pol Gen Chidchai went through fierce competition, with a lot of lobbying and politicking.

With a "special power" behind him, plus traditional observation of seniority in the police force, Pol Gen Kowit was named national police chief after Mr Thaksin agreed to a resolution made by the Police Commission.

Mr Thaksin later made Pol Gen Chidchai deputy prime minister in charge of security affairs instead. Pol Gen Chidchai now oversees police affairs.

Although Pol Gen Kowit is due to retire in September next year, there have been rumours during the New Year that he would be replaced because he had failed to satisfy the government leader as well as Pol Gen Chidchai.

Pol Gen Sereepisut Temeeyaves, the police inspector-general, would be his replacement, according to these rumours.

A reputed crime buster, Pol Gen Sereepisut was in the past close to Maj-Gen Sanan Kachornprasart, former secretary-general of the Democrat party.

Despite this, the government under Mr Thaksin has assigned Pol Gen Sereepisut, who has won high social acceptance, to launch suppression activities against vice and influential persons, including street mafia figures preying on pavement vendors in the capital.

Shaken by rumours about Pol Gen Sereepisut taking his place, Pol Gen Kowit recently paid a visit to various metropolitan police stations to expand his support base.

When he led a number of high-level police officers to pay respects to Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda on the occasion of the New Year, Gen Prem said, "With Pol Gen Kowit as national police chief, the image of the police has looked much better."

This has greatly boosted Pol Gen Kowit's morale. But observers say he cannot be complacent and must be careful not to commit any mistake or he could be easily removed - as many former police chiefs have found.

Air force chief has a change of heart

Things are getting better for air force chief ACM Chalit Pukpasuk after several weeks of worrying, as the Russian SU-30 fighter jets now seem to be the right choice of aircraft for procurement.

His earlier comments on the SU-30 model - that they were too big and too fast - reflected his reluctance to throw support behind the Russian jets.

And this appeared to rock his prospects as the air force commander, according to media firebrand Sondhi Limthongkul, who claimed in his Thailand Weekly talk show that ACM Chalit would get the boot from Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for being so lukewarm with his support.

It was only recently that ACM Chalit came out in favour of buying the SU-30s, saying the present demand for the jets in China, Malaysia, Vietnam, India and the Philippines would ensure the availability of spare parts in the future.

"I don't think I have to follow the government or buy the jets so that CP may export its chicken to Russia" under a barter trade, ACM Chalit said, referring to the giant agro-business conglomerate and a key financier of the ruling Thai Rak Thai party.

"We have other industries, steel, and rice, which would gain benefits from the barter trade. We have to think of their advantages. And the air force considers the Russian jets appropriate and in line with our requirements and missions."

He insisted the air force was given a free hand to choose the right fighter jet from alternative manufacturers in Russia, Sweden, and the United States.

The government, meanwhile, has not made a final decision, but the air force's choice will be forwarded to the PM for consideration in March.

Barter trade is an attractive proposition for Mr Thaksin, who sees it as a way to open a new market in Russia, whose demand for chicken meat is high.

Mr Thaksin also had a talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the government's interest in the SU-30s, but no further details were drafted.

ACM Chalit's expression of support for the deal with Russia is a relief.

ACM Chalit said he was not worried about reports to the effect that he would be removed.

"There would not be any problem if we give our hearts to the job and don't go against the [government's] policy," he said.

His swing in support of the fighter jet choice became clear when he himself compared the specifications of various fighter jets to reporters and eventually concluded that the SU-30 jet was the best choice.

"ACM Chalit has to follow the government in buying the SU-30s for sure, because they are good jets. Why should he have to take a risk by opposing the PM?" said a close aide to ACM Chalit.

Newin stays close to the PM

With the dust settling down in Roi Et's At Samat, some cabinet ministers may seek chances to settle scores with PM's Office Minister Newin Chidchob, who throughout the five-day anti-poverty workshop, rose to political stardom at the expense of his colleagues.

The spotlight was definitely on Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra during the Jan 16-20 reality show in the impoverished district of At Samat.

But the show also was a stage for the accompanying cabinet ministers to translate their understanding of poverty eradication into action.

Mr Newin was the only cabinet minister who drove around with Mr Thaksin Shinawatra throughout the visit. He was there, along with PM's personal secretary Phadung Limcharoenrat, to shed light on the prime minister's queries, including the schedule and arrangements.

If Mr Thaksin received a tip, usually from Mr Newin, that his next stop had been "dressed up" ahead of time to please him, he would avoid dropping by and go somewhere else. No wonder other ministers who had arranged the visit felt sore.

In a workshop, if the prime minister was seated too far from the villagers and Mr Thaksin complained about the distance and the red-carpet welcome, Mr Newin would have the venue changed to a more natural and down-to-earth setting.

The PM's Office minister would choose a spot under a shady tree and have the prime minister seated on the ground covered with an ordinary mat, if the villagers were to sit on the floor.

His intervention was bad for the television crew, who had to move cameras and props around.

When Agriculture Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan showed Mr Thaksin a successful shrimp-farming business, Mr Newin showed him the opposite for comparison purposes.

Apparently, many cabinet ministers did not understand the concept of the workshop.

While Mr Thaksin wanted to show how to solve the problem in case there was only 1,000 rai of land but a large number of people, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Yongyuth Tiyapairat was prepared to hand out land ownership papers to forest encroachers.

"If this is what cabinet ministers understand, they totally spoil my mood," Mr Thaksin reportedly said to Mr Newin, Mr Phadung and his secretary-general Prommin Lertsuridej.

What irritated the ministers was the seating arrangement during the workshop designed to train district chiefs how to tackle problems.

Aware he was not the most popular figure, Mr Newin "grabbed his shield" by having Mr Thaksin explain the rationale: it was the prime minister whom the district chiefs were to meet.

Khunying Sudarat reportedly told one of her close aides, "Newin stabs me in the back all the time."

Off the air now, the reality show has left the ministers a bone to pick.

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296 words
26 January 2006
English

Bangkok Post:

-- Singapore's Temasek Holdings has received assurances that mobile operator Advanced Info Service (AIS) will be awarded a third-generation (3G) licence as a condition for its investment in Shin Corp, according to local sources.

3G licences will give local operators the right to unroll new network technology with considerably faster transmission speeds than existing cellular technology.

The Nation:

-- The focus of the scrutiny of the Shin Corp takeover deal has now shifted to Bhanapot Damapong, who is not paying any tax on the big sell-off, nor has he ever paid any related tax, all the way from his obtaining the Shin stocks from his sister Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra in 2000 to his sale of 404.43 million shares to Temasek of Singapore on Monday for 19.92 billion baht (498 million US dollars).

Bangkok Democrat MP Korn Chatikavanij said that within the next few days the Democrats would form a working committee to closely trace the Shinawatra and Damapong families' transfer of Shin Corp stocks and examine the tax questions that might arise.

Sing Sian Yit Pao:

-- Cuban President Fidel Castro spoke to the closing rally of a demonstration of 1.4 million people protesting United States policy outside the U.S. interest office, the country's de facto embassy, on Tuesday.

The demonstration was held to protest U.S. plans to free Luis Posada Carriles, described as a terrorist by Cuba. Havana said that Posada, who was arrested last year in the United States, took part in the bombing of a Venezuelan airliner which killed 73 people, including many Cuban citizens, in October 1976 in Barbados.

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419 words
26 January 2006
10:14
English

TOP STORIES

- Singapore's Temasek Holdings has received assurances that mobile phone operator Advanced Info Service will be awarded a third generation (3G) licence as a condition for its investment in Shin Corp , local industry sources say. (BANGKOK POST)

- Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra slammed critics of the 73.3 billion baht ($1.86 billion) Shin Corp share sale, saying they were motivated by envy of his wealth. (THE NATION)

- The focus of the scrutiny of the Shin Corp takeover deal has now shifted to Bhanapot Damapong, who is not paying any tax on the big sell-off, nor has he ever paid any related tax since his acquisition of Shin shares from his sister Pojaman Shinawatra several years ago (THE NATION)

- The Scorpion Queen and Centipede King will tie the knot on Valentine's Day and then consummate their nuptial in a coffin, organizers of the wedding said on Wednesday. (BANGKOK POST)

BUSINESS

- The laissez-faire approach of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Stock Exchange of Thailand in the run-up to the takeover of Shin Corp have benefited shareholders of Shin and battered the reputations of the 2 agencies. (THE NATION)

- U.S. ambassador to Thailand Ralph Boyce has sought assurances from the Thai government that American businesses would not be affected by the expiration of trade and investment provisions under the Treaty of Amity between the U.S. and Thailand, a source said. (THE NATION)

- Thai Airways International Pcl plans to revamp its domestic routes by shifting unprofitable flights to its sister airline Nok Air. (THE NATION)

- The urgency for Thai telecom reforms has become greater than ever following this week's Shin Corp share deal, according to local phone service providers. (BANGKOK POST)

- M Link Asia Corp Pcl, co-founded by Prime Minister Thaksin's younger sisters, will switch its focus from bidding for state projects to its main retail phone handset business. (THE NATION)

- Thai Charoen Commercial Group is set to take a significant stake in the country's largest green-tea producer, Oishi Group Pcl , according to industry sources. (BANGKOK POST)

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153 words
26 January 2006
09:52
English

BANGKOK (Dow Jones)--Thailand's True Corp. PCL (TRUE.TH), a telecom group, is in talks with Korea Telecom of South Korea on a partnership deal, Krungthep Turakij reports.

The paper cited an industry source as saying the foreign operator is interested in buying a stake in True, while True feels greater pressure after holding companies, controlled by Singapore's Temasek Holdings Pte. Ltd., bought a controlling stake in Shin Corp. PCL earlier this week.

Supachai Chearavanont, True's president, said the company will wait for a 3G operating license from regulator National Telecommunications Commission before entering any partnership deal, the paper said.

The NTC is expected to award 3G licenses to operators this year.

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BANGKOK, Jan 26 (TNA) - Last Update : 2006-01-26 / 10:09:33 (GMT+7:00)

A jarring voice of caution amid a symphony of upbeat expectations, Thai Chamber of Commerce president Pramon Sutheewong said the government should prioritise infrastructure development projects to avoid saddling the public sector with debt burden.

Mr. Pramon said the Chamber believes that all the projects are good, in particular those relating to infrastructure improvement. Yet to avoid the pitfall of "investing beyond one's means," he advises, the government should prioritise the projects.

At the same time, Mr. Pramon praised the government's decision to lift the requirement that bidders must enter into barter trade deals -- accepting commodities in lieu of monetary payments. Relenting on the barter trade demand will open up opportunities for more investors to take part in developing these projects.

What the Thai private sector wants to see the most, he said, is transparency in the process of implementing the projects, he said.

Having the infrastructure projects up and running will not boost Thai economic growth overnight, he emphasised, as it could take a few years for the economy to feel a tangible impact from newly functioning infrastructure. (TNA)-E007

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BANGKOK, Jan 26 (TNA) - Last Update : 2006-01-26 / 09:33:42 (GMT+7:00)

A senior executive of Thailand's largest bank predicts that Chinese companies will snap up a significant share of the mega-infrastructure development projects planned by the Thai government.

Speaking on the eve of a high-profile event at Government House on Thursday at which Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will entice foreign companies to bid on varied large-scale infrastructure development projects in Thailand, Prasong Uthaisangchai of Bangkok Bank Ltd., the kingdom's largest bank, said he believed several Chinese companies are keen contenders in the bidding.

According to Mr. Prasong, Chinese contenders are likely to win at least a 20 per cent share of the pie.

Chinese companies are technologically advanced and they can usually offer lower prices for their services comparable to European and American companies -- which are typically more expensive, according to Mr. Prasong, pointing to the state-of-the-art infrastructure in cities like Shanghai.

Bangkok Bank, one of Thailand's largest commercial banks, has four branches in China and it would still like to open additional branches -- as many as the Chinese authorities will allow, Mr. Prasong said.