SET-listed Ch. Karnchang Plc (CK) is optimistic the government will be able to open bidding for 400-billion-baht worth of infrastructure projects this year.
The company aims to win 20-25% of the contracts, chairman Plew Trivisvavet said yesterday.
"These projects include various MRT subway lines, the second phase of Suvarnabhumi airport, motorways and dual-track railways. We plan to bid on every project that is available," said Mr Plew, adding he expected other major construction firms to follow suit.
He said the Orange Line electric train project had recently been approved by the cabinet and the 76.6 billion baht contract would be open to bidding in the next two to three months.
Mr Plew said some of the double-track rail line projects will also be up for grabs soon, with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha previously issuing an order under Section 44 of the interim charter to fast-track the projects.
Gen Prayut said earlier he was ready to use Section 44 to remove any barriers that are keeping a raft of megaprojects from moving forward.
Out of the government's plans for infrastructure projects worth a combined 1.7 trillion baht, Mr Plew said the cabinet will further approve hundreds of billions of baht worth of contracts for bidding in 2017.
Ch. Karnchang, Thailand's second largest construction firm, has set its total revenue target this year at 38-40 billion baht, with around 35-38 billion coming from its construction business.
President Supamas Trivisvavet said last year the company had maintained strong revenue of 38 billion baht, with 34 billion stemming from its construction business -- up by 5.62% over the previous year.
She said Ch. Karnchang had also generated strong profits of 2.2 billion baht and a high gross profit ratio of 8.22%. The company aims to keep the ratio at its normal rate of 8-10% this year.
Ch. Karnchang has a backlog account worth 83 billion baht, Ms Supamas said, adding the sum is sufficient for the company to achieve its revenue target.
In March this year, Ch. Karnchang signed a construction contract for the Pattaya-Map Ta Phut motorway worth 727 million baht and is set to sign a construction contract for the Na Bong power substation project in Laos, which is worth 2.2 billion baht, she said.
Ch. Karnchang has also been commissioned to do additional work on the Xayaburi hydroelectric power plant project in Laos, worth 19 billion baht.
Ms Supamas said that yesterday's shareholders' meeting had approved an expansion of the loan limit for the company from 25 to 35 billion baht in anticipation of the imminent government projects.
She said Ch. Karnchang was also prepared to participate in the government's public-private partnership infrastructure projects, which will include the participation of its subsidiary, Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc, which operates Bangkok's Metropolitan Rapid Transit subway system.