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CAMBODIATHAI RELATIONS
NAREERAT WIRIYAPONG
The government's planned massive investment in infrastructure should not be affected even if the People Power Party (PPP) is dissolved, a senior Transport Ministry official said yesterday. Chaisawat Kittipornpaibul, the ministry's permanent secretary, said the construction of mass transit rail lines would proceed as planned. As global oil prices continue to rise, Thailand needs to speed up the development of transport infrastructure to reduce oil consumption and lower travel expenses for consumers.
''Everybody understands this fact. Therefore, I don't think the megaprojects would be affected (if the PPP or Parliament are dissolved). Whoever becomes the new government would proceed with the scheme,'' he said.
The Samak Sundaravej-led government plans to develop nine elevated and subway rail lines stretching over 400 kilometres in Greater Bangkok over the next four years at the total cost of 770 billion baht.
Among those, the 23-kilometre elevated Purple Line linking Bang Sue with Bang Yai is due to take shape soon, with the bidding process due next month and construction beginning next year.
Transport Minister Santi Promphat is among the ministers from the PPP expected to be removed after last month's parliamentary non-confidence debate.
So far, the megaprojects have proceeded as planned. ''Everything has been put on the agenda of the government agencies involved. All they have to do is implement it,'' Mr Chaisawat said yesterday while presiding over the inauguration of Dutch-based TNT's new express hub in Bangkok.
Erik Boer, deputy head of mission with the Embassy of the Netherlands in Bangkok, said Dutch companies last year ranked second among foreign investors in Thailand after Japan, with total investment of nearly $1 billion, mainly driven by Netherlands-based ING's acquisition of TMB Bank in 2007.
Exports from the Netherlands to Thailand grew by 8% to 650 million last year, with Thailand enjoying trade surplus from exporting 2.7 billion worth of goods to the key trading partner partly as the gateway to other European markets, said Mr Boer.
Onno Boots, regional managing director of TNT Southeast Asia, said the investment climate was improving, brushing aside the political situation and tension between Thailand and Cambodia over the Preah Vihear Temple.
''So far, we have no reason to believe that our cross-border business between Thailand and Cambodia would be affected (by the temple conflict),'' he said.
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