briefs
Transport close to finalising rules on infrastructure plan
The Transport Ministry is close to completing the construction and advisory fee formula, which will be applied to all projects, awarded under the Bt2-trillion infrastructure investment plan.
Chula Sukmanop, director-general of the Traffic and Transport Policy Office, said the formula would be finalised by June 21.
Initially, he said the advisory fee for the high-speed-rail project would be set at no more than 2 per cent of the project value, while new mass-transit routes will be no more than 4 per cent.
The ceiling for road projects is set at 3.5 per cent; for port construction 3 per cent; and dykes 1.7 per cent.
He said the fee for mass-transit routes was higher than for other projects because of relatively higher risks involved given that the routes pass through densely populated areas.
Meanwhile, the construction cost of similar projects undertaken by different government units will be compared. An explanation will be required for any discrepancies in cost, Chula said.
“The stage of readiness of each project differs. Some projects have been properly studied and planned, while the value of some have been estimated before proper planning has been implemented,” he said.
New Italthai branches
Italian-Thai Industrial Co has budgeted Bt200 million to expand its reach from 10 branches to 14, including its first branch in Laos next year.
Chief operating officer Atipong Pongwan said the move was in readiness for the Asean Economic Community, which comes into effect in 2015. The company’s new branches will be involved in distributing industrial machinery and will also provide after-sales service support to new customers. Branded machinery parts include those from Volvo, Tadano, FG Wilson and MWM.
Thai firm awarded Darwin project
AusGroup Ltd subsidiary AusGroup Corporation (AGC Thailand), a construction and fabrication company, has been awarded an insulation contract with CUEL Ltd for the INPEX Ichthys LNG project in Darwin, Australia. The cost of the project is valued at Bt304 million.
AGC Thailand is subcontracted to CUEL, a leading engineering, procurement, fabrication, construction and installation contractor in the Asia-Pacific region.
The contract is for the supply, fabrication and installation of all cryogenic, acoustic and hot insulation works. The works will be undertaken within CUEL’s module fabrication yard in Laem Chabang, Chon Buri. Once completed, the pre-assembled modules will be transported directly to Blaydin Point in Darwin.
Zinwave finds local partner
Zinwave, a global provider of active distributed antenna systems for in-building wireless coverage, has partnered with Yip In Tsoi & Jacks, a trading company in Thailand, to support its expanding customer base in Southeast Asia.
Zinwave is already seeing good demand for its technology as telecom operators roll out fourth-generation cellular services.
Gaming industry good bet
The Asia-Pacific gaming industry is betting on good times ahead. Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services expects the industry’s revenue and earnings growth to remain relatively robust for the rest of the year, according to “Are Asia-Pacific’s Casino Operators Gambling Too Much 0n Expansion?” published by the ratings agency yesterday.
Parking fees soon
Airports of Thailand will begin collecting parking fees for vehicles at Don Mueang Airport in August. AOT has invested about Bt67 million in a fully automated fee-collection system, which should deter fraud and boost revenue for the agency.
According to Don Mueang director Jaturongpol Sodmanee, AOT will try to keep the fees at a reasonable level, with the option of monthly parking fees for those who work at the airport.
Initially, AOT will lease the fee-collection system, as it would take about a year to establish its own system. It will not hire a private firm to operate and manage the fee-collection system, as is done at Suvarnabhumi Airport, to maximise revenue.
Honda sales No 1
Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co recorded sales in May of 21,709 units, up 7.4 per cent from April’s 20,202 units, and 40 per cent more than the 15,601 units sold in May 2012. Honda’s accumulated sales of 114,113 units for the first five months of the year were the highest in the passenger-car segment. Honda has held the No 1 position in the Thai passenger-car segment since the fourth quarter of 2012.
