SET-listed contractor Ch.Karnchang Plc (CK), Thailand's second-biggest construction company, is keen to win at least 20% of the government's infrastructure projects worth a combined 400 billion baht set to open for bidding in 2018.
Chief executive Supamas Trivisvavet said the company, based on its track record, has the capacity to take construction jobs worth a combined 80 billion baht.
CK plans to focus on projects in its areas of expertise, such as transport and infrastructure.
"The government should accelerate the launch of new projects because it can build confidence among local and foreign investors," Ms Supamas said. "We are ready to bid on megaprojects worth a total of 1.77 trillion baht over the next five years."
Projects open for bidding next year include mass transit lines in Greater Bangkok worth a combined 300 billion baht and double-track railways worth 100 billion baht.
Ms Supamas predicts a golden year in 2018 for the construction sector because of the government's megaprojects.
She said the much-touted Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) should be another key driver for the economy over the next decade.
"The EEC is the government's strategic initiative," she said. "We have prepared our finance and engineers for it. Our interests include transport, infrastructure, water systems and airports."
In 2017, CK handled construction of seven new projects worth a combined 48.4 billion baht. The largest was a mechanical and electrical contract for the MRT Blue Line extension worth 19.64 billion baht.
CK has a backlog of about 78 billion baht, which is comfortable for two years. The company aims to have 35 billion baht in revenue from construction business for the whole of 2017, compared with 45.7 billion last year.
Ms Supamas said CK expects gross profit margin of 8% at year-end 2017, up from 7.3% last year, and plans to maintain 8-10% margins throughout the next few years.
"The domestic market remains strong and will continue to be in the next few years," she said. "We don't need to take risks in overseas markets."
CK also has a presence in Laos and Myanmar. In Laos, CK Power Co, a subsidiary in which CK holds 28%, is building the Xayaburi Hydroelectric Power Project on the Lower Mekong River. The project is 82.5% complete.
The 1,285-megawatt power plant project, in which CK Power holds a 30% stake, will start generating revenue by 2019, with 15 billion baht a year expected once the plant is operating at full capacity.
CK shares closed yesterday on the Stock Exchange of Thailand at 26.25 baht, up 25 satang, in trade worth 190 million baht.