Briefs
Play
Draft ICT Council law gets Cabinet nod
The Cabinet yesterday approved in principle the draft law setting up the ICT Council, which will comprise state and private sector representatives and is aimed at driving the industry forward, said Information and Communications Technology Minister Group Captain Anudith Nakornthap.
The ICT Ministry will oversee the council and the law.
In a related matter, the ministry’s plan to launch a free public Wi-Fi service nationwide in 20,000 spots within one year has been delayed because of the floods crisis. – The Nation
Bumrungrad to sell stake in RP hospital
MANILA – Infrastructure holding company Metro Pacific Investments Corp has inked a deal to acquire the controlling stake of Thai hospital group Bumrungrad in the upscale 219-bed Asian Hospital in Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, in the Philippines.
Based on a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, MPIC will pay about 1.46 billion pesos (Bt1 billion) to buy at least 57 per cent of Asian Hospital’s equity following an agreement with Bumrungrad and a subsequent tender offer for all the remaining shares held by the public.
This will be the sixth hospital in the growing network of premium hospitals controlled by the
local unit of Manuel V Pangilinan-led First Pacific group nationwide.
With this acquisition, the MPIC Hospital Group will have in excess of 1,800 beds throughout the Philippine archipelago.
– Asia News Network
IP deadlines eased during disaster
The Intellectual Property Department has allowed both Thai and foreign intellectual property (IP) right owners to delay submitting evidence for rights registration, as many innovators have been unable to do so in time due to the severe flooding.
Deputy Commerce Minister Siriwat Kachornprasart said yesterday that IP owners could delay submitting their evidence after informing the department within 15 days of being affected by the floods.
The agency also informed its overseas IP offices that foreign innovators such as those in Japan, South Korea, the United States and the European Union, that also want to register their IP rights in Thailand, could delay registration due to transportation difficulties.
In addition, the Japan Patent Office has relaxed its regulations for Thai IP owners by delaying registration and payment of annual fees for trademarks, patents and copyright in Japan during the floods crisis in the Kingdom. – The Nation
