PROPERTY
Dhanarak Asset Development plans to invest 200 million baht in a pilot project to develop property for commercial use under expressways in Bangkok.
Negotiations involving overlapping claims to undersea oil and natural gas fields in the Gulf of Thailand are likely to drag on as both Thailand and Cambodia still need to seek agreement on the disputed border area, says Krairit Nilkuha, the director-general of the Department of Mineral Fuels.
ECONOMY
Political uncertainties and social infighting represented a direct opportunity loss for the Thai economy, according to Pannee Stawarodom, the director-general of the Fiscal Policy Office.
The government will move ahead with its plans to lease out one million rai of public lands, according to Pichai Naripthaphan, a deputy finance minister. Mr Pichai, speaking after a visit to the Treasury Department yesterday, said authorities would also move to implement a new crop price protection scheme to reduce income volatility for farmers.
MARKETS
Market prognostications of doom and gloom are overly pessimistic, considering the country's solid economic and corporate fundamentals, says Ekamol Kiriwat, the chairman of Seamico Securities.
BANKING
No progress has been made in establishing the Deposit Insurance Agency, despite the relevant legislation being passed, says an official of the Bank of Thailand. The Deposit Protection Act was endorsed by the National Legislative Assembly and took effect on Aug 11. But the appointment of its management executives and chairman, in accordance with the law, is pending cabinet consideration, said Sorasit Soontornkes, an assistant central bank governor.
INSURANCE
Dhipaya Insurance is banking more on personal lines as premium contributions from the construction industry and megaprojects are likely to be bearish this year because of political instability and unfavourable economic conditions. ''We hope to expand into personal lines as much as possible, as new construction and megaprojects planned by the government are unlikely to take place within this year, mainly because of political uncertainties,'' said the company's managing director Charuek Kungwanphanich.
INVESTING
PrimaVest Asset Management next month will launch the PrimaVest Allianz GI Choice Equity Fund, a new foreign investment fund aimed at offering stable returns regardless of the direction of the market.
AVIATION
The safety reputation of One-Two-Go Airlines has been called into question further by Spanair's fatal plane crash in Madrid on Aug 20 and the extended suspension of the Thai carrier's operating licence by another 30 days.
Charoen Pokphand Foods Plc, the country's largest food producer, stands to gain from a World Trade Organisation ruling against the United States in an anti-dumping case involving Thai shrimp exports.
TOT Plc is reluctant to allow Advanced Info Service to share part of TOT subsidiary Thai Mobile's 1900 Megahertz (MHz) bandwidth to provide third-generation (3G) mobile phone services because the bandwidth is limited.
COMMODITIES
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) wants the the Cane and Sugar Fund to subsidise sugar for food and drink manufacturers to help alleviate their troubles.
The Asia Fashion Federation, which represents organisations from five countries including Thailand, has announced that it will extend its activities beyond textiles to cover lifestyle products.
CORPORATE Counsellor
In a scene that unfolds every day, the marketing team of a consumer goods company engages an advertising agency to create a campaign to promote a product. The product manager briefs the agency, identifies media channels and provides general direction on the scope and look and feel of the campaign.
TRADING & DISTRIBUTION
The SET-listed trading conglomerate Berli Jucker Plc (BJC) is considering raising its market free-float and also investing in Vietnam and Malaysia to expand in foreign markets.
Raimon Land Plc will raise funds of one billion baht by issuing non-voting depository receipts (NVDRs) if it fails to draw funds under the Thai quota being raised from Thai partners, according to chief operating officer Kitti Tungsriwong.
PROPERTY
HUA HIN : Speed and adaptability help in any game of life, and the developers of Boathouse Hua Hin have applied this by introducing lower-priced townhouses in tune with the current cautious mood.
Betagro Group, one of the country's largest food processors and exporters, has set its sights on exporting farm equipment to emerging nations now that its manufacturing facility is ready for commercial production.
RETAILING
The Toys ''R'' Us chain is introducing a new store format as part of its plan to speed up growth in Asia to reach 150 outlets, a 65% increase, over the next three years. About 20% of the 150 outlets in Asia will be Toys ''R'' Us Express locations with sizes of 400 to 800 square metres each, said Pieter Schats, the chief executive officer of the distributor Toys LiFung (Asia) Limited.
IN Brief
PETROCHEMICALS :PTT Aromatics & Refining Plc (PTTAR) has not yet resumed production at one of its two crude oil refining units after a heat exchanger malfunctioned.
LOGISTICS
Government failure to implement policy and producers' inattention to logistics costs are hindering Thailand's development of logistics systems, according to industry executives.
