ThaiVest » Government & Politics

Court unlocks another nine Map Ta Phut projects

peterkop — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:17:30 +0000

The Siam Cement Group and its two foreign partners, Dow Chemical and Mitsui, as well as the PTT Group and BRP Steel, have won the consent of the Central Administrative Court to proceed with projects in Map Ta Phut. (The Nation)

BOT will hike interest rate: Tarisa

peterkop — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:38:48 +0000

Bank of Thailand will gradually increase interest rate this year, said yesterday Tarisa Watanagase, central bank governor. She, however, said that the central bank has to move very carefully due to risk factors, such as stage of global economy.

Alcohol tax studied

peterkop — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 02:32:51 +0000

The Excise Department will aim to balance public health policies and the need to protect domestic alcoholic beverage producers in its ongoing tax review, says Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij. The Finance Ministry wants to revise excise taxes under the principle that spirits with higher alcoholic content pay higher tax rates. At the same time, it also is aware of the need to protect domestic producers from overseas competitors. The Excise Department has a collection target of Bt360b for fiscal 2010 ending in September, an increase of 2% from last year.

Commission approves new Skytrain routes, Airport Rail Link

peterkop — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:07:45 +0000

The Commission for the Management of Land Traffic has approved two additional Skytrain routes – Pink and Orange – and an Airport Rail Link extension to Don Mueang Airport.

Greater focus on Three key sectors: PM

peterkop — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 03:22:43 +0000

The government will place greater emphasis on the agricultural, food and alternative-energy sectors in driving future economic growth, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.

Thailand confidence record high in Q4

peterkop — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 03:07:51 +0000

Thailand investor confidence soars to a record high in the fourth quarter of 2009 with the biggest quarter-on-quarter increase among Pan-Asian Countries, according to the ING Investor Dashboard Survey. The Sentiment Index for Thailand moves from “neutral” to “optimistic” as investors reveal greater diversification and appetite for risk. Thailand index jumps 154% to 150 for the fourth quarter from 59 in the same period a year earlier, and 33% up from the third quarter of 2009.

HIA requirement could delay highway projects

peterkop — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 03:42:14 +0000

The construction of a Bt53-billion motorway from Bang Pa-In to Nakhon Ratchasima may be delayed. Highways Department director-general Veera Ruangsooksriwong yesterday said a health-impact assessment (HIA) might be needed for the project, in order to comply with Article 67 (2) of the Constitution. (The Nation)

Band of Thailand expects strong Bath

peterkop — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 03:26:08 +0000

Businesses must steel themselves for greater exchange-rate volatility, says Bank of Thailand governor Tarisa Watanagase. Local businesses need to prepare for further appreciation of the baht and volatility in exchange rates, she said. But the central bank will ease regulations to facilitate capital outflows and support the development of instruments to help companies hedge currency risks.

Government comes up with 5-year export plan

peterkop — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 03:10:58 +0000

The Department of Export Promotion has come up with a five-year plan to drive exports and maintain sustainable growth for Thailand after it was hit badly by last year’s global economic crisis. The plan, to be put up for Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai’s approval soon, should be implemented this year and run until 2014. The scheme will not only focus on strengthening Thailand’s competitiveness now that the Asean Free-Trade Agreement has been implemented, but also work to raise its bargaining power in the global market. (The Nation)

PM: 2010 GDP to rise 3.5%

peterkop — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:42:22 +0000

The country’s gross domestic product should rise 3.5% while the government revenue is expected to be more than Bt200b for this fiscal year, according to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.