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GH Bank lending just short of target
The Government Housing Bank provided new loans of Bt27.82 billion in the first quarter, lower than targeted.
The bank targets new loans this year of Bt120 billion, which means lending booked for the quarter should not be less than Bt30 billion.
GH Bank president Angkana Pilun-Owad Chaimanat said it planned to add 30 new branches this year to facilitate housing loans to low- and mid-income people.
At the end of the first quarter, GH Bank had outstanding loans of Bt713.37 billion, up by 4.12 per cent from the end of last year, and its non-performing loans decreased by Bt7.5 billion to 7.8 per cent. Non-performing assets improved by 35.36 per cent to Bt2.06 billion, and the bank plans to sell off as much of the remainder as it can, Angkana said.
The loan expansion and the improved NPL figures for the first quarter led to a 5.43-per-cent increase in net profit to Bt2.07 billion.
Goodyear appointee
Goodyear (Thailand) has appointed a new marketing director, Sutheera Ruaydee, for the next phase of its growth in Thailand.
Sutheera, right, will oversee marketing strategy and sales-channel development, especially Goodyear Autocare retail service centres, in line with the company’s Asean and global objectives.
Before joining Goodyear Thailand, Sutheera held management positions in leading multinational companies in the biotechnology, chemical and telecommunications industries. Her previous roles include strategic management, product development, and planning, as well as distribution and channel management.
Sonic boom in Thai market
Since its launch last July, the Chevrolet Sonic has been so successful in Thailand that its sales in the first quarter of this year were the fifth-highest worldwide, after the US, Russia, China and Mexico. In the first five months since its launch, Chevrolet Thailand sold 8,256 Sonics. As of last month, a total of 13,696 units had been sold.
“The Sonic is a successful model by any measure,” said Gustavo Colossi, vice president of sales, marketing and after-sales at Chevrolet Sales Thailand and GM Southeast Asia Operations.
“The Sonic shows the prowess of Chevrolet to design and develop globally successful vehicles, capable of addressing local requirements across a diverse cross-section of markets worldwide. It fits perfectly into several markets, all with differing needs.”
Chanvit Khieonavavongsa, marketing director of Chevrolet Sales Thailand, added: “Another key win for the Sonic is its potential for personalisation – an aspect that is important to the target market of the Sonic.”
Myanmar arrivals up
Foreign arrivals at Yangon International Airport during the first four months of the year jumped 44 per cent year on year, with Europeans accounting for about one-third.
Through April, 253,136 foreign visitors arrived at the airport, 67,460 of them Europeans, the Myanmar Times reported.
Among European arrivals, France was the main source market, followed by Britain and Germany, according to Ministry of Hotels and Tourism figures.
About 60 per cent of all arrivals in the main commercial city were from Asia, led by Thailand, Japan, South Korea and China.
Of the total arrivals, 64 per cent were tourists and the remainder were business travellers.
The increase in visitors was largely attributed to political and economic reforms undertaken by the government since 2011.
“Last year more than a million tourists visited the country” through all entry points, said Aung Myat Kyaw, chairman of Union of Myanmar Travel Association. “Since Myanmar is an increasingly popular destination; I believe arrival numbers will be 50 per cent more than last year.” – DPA
Power–Gen in Oct at Impact
POWER-GEN Asia and Renewable Energy World Asia, the region’s premier conference and exhibition for all aspects of the power generation industry, will be held in Bangkok from October 2 to 4 at the Impact Exhibition & Convention Centre.
The event will be a platform for the power industry to meet, share information on the challenges facing the power industry and discuss solutions for advancing Asia’s energy future.
Power-Gen Asia will also, for the first time, include an Industrial Water Day as part of its conference programme. Taking place on Thursday October 3rd, 2013, the Water Day will run in conjunction with the other 4 conference tracks taking place as part of this year’s Power-Gen Asia Conference.
Network for SME competitiveness
The Office of Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion and UK Trade & Investment would set up a network to boost the competitiveness of their SMEs in many areas such as raw material sourcing, technology transfer and business management.
Industry Minister Prasert Boonchaisuk said after the signing of the collaboration framework yesterday that it is expected to double trade between Thai and British SMEs in five years from the present Bt40 billion.
It will also help local SMEs penetrate deeper into the EU market, while British SMEs can use Thailand as a gateway to the Asean and Asean+6 markets.
Thai SMEs have the potential to expand processed food sales in the UK, while UK SMEs can join with counterparts here to invest in alternative energy, he added.
Rules for non-exclusive programmes
The Broadcasting Committee yesterday approved the draft regulations for the non-exclusive list of programmes including eight international sports events.
Thai companies are not allowed to acquire exclusive broadcasting rights for programmes on the list.
The eight programmes are the International University Games, FIFA Confederations Cup, the Thai team matches and final round of the Football Asian Cup, Fifa Futsal World Cup, Futsal Asia Cup, Volleyball World Grand Prix, Thai team matches of the Tennis Davis Cup and Sepak Takraw Wolrd Cup.
A source from the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) had said the list would include two Thailand soccer series – the Thailand Premier League and Thailand Football Division 1 – but they were removed from the list during the NBTC’s discussion.
The Broadcasting Committee will submit the draft for the NBTC’s consideration tomorrow.
20 complaints over air-time fee
There are 20 complaints about airtime fee of 2.1GHz broadband cellular service at the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) during May 1 to 20 regarding the 2.1GHz service, said NBTC secretary general Takorn Tantasit.
He added that the watchdog would use this information as part of its plan to regulate the service quality.
The NBTC telecom consumer protection subcommittee chairman Saree Ongsomwang said that out of 20 cases, most consumers complained that the three 2.1GHZ operators declined to reduce service fee by 15 per cent as determined by the NBTC.
As part of their licence obligations, their average service fee must be 15 per cent lower than the average 2G service fee as of last December.
Cebu Pacific pioneers direct flights
The Philippines’ largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific announced it will begin direct flights from Manila to Phuket, Thailand, starting August 16, 2013.
CEB is the first and only airline to provide direct air services from the Philippines to this popular island destination. Using its fleet of brand-new Airbus A320 aircraft, CEB will operate a thrice weekly Manila-Phuket service every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Gold bar falls to Bt19,150
The local price of gold was adjusted five times yesterday, resulting in a net cut of Bt200 per baht weight.
After the fifth adjustment, gold bar was sold at Bt19,150 per baht weight while ornamental gold was sold at Bt19,550.
Gold has tumbled 20 per cent this year, falling into a bear market last month as some investors lost faith in the metal as a store of value and equities rallied on confidence that the US economy is improving.
In Singapore, gold for immediate delivery yesterday lost as much as 1.5 per cent to US$1,338.87 (Bt39,930) an ounce, the lowest level since April 18.
