Briefs

Kree joined the developer in 2007 when its revenue was still below Bt2 billion a year.

But this year, the company targets Bt10 billion, and Kree was a key man behind that growth.

The company’s investors have shown concern about the business after he is gone, as reflected in the drop of its stock by Bt0.04 to close at Bt3.74.

NESDB secretary-general joins central bank's MPC

Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Board, has replaced Ampon Kittiampon on the central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee.

Ampon decided to resign as member on Tuesday after he was appointed chairman of the Bank of Thailand.

Arkhom reportedly has similar ideas as Ampon, especially in policy-rate and currency issues. He has urged the central bank to cut the key interest rate to stimulate the economy. He also called on the BOT to allow the baht to depreciate to stimulate the export sector.

PTT to expand Asean stations

PTT has raised its five-year Asean capital expenditure budget from Bt2.4 billion to Bt2.8 billion to expand its petrol-station chains in the Philippines, Laos and Cambodia from 105 currently to 300.

“We want to increase our petrol stations in the Philippines from 70 to 150 over the five-year period with an investment of about Bt1.4 billion. We will also invest Bt1 billion to increase our petrol stations in Laos from 20 to 60 and Bt450 million in Cambodia to increase petrol stations from 15 to 50 over the period,” Attapol Rerkphiboon, executive vice president of corporate communication and social responsibility, said yesterday.

PTT expects to increase its sales in the region from about Bt60 billion or 2 billion litres of oil expected this year by 5-7 per cent a year to at least Bt75 billion in the period.

PTT will also speed up growth of its non-oil business with a plan to launch 500-square-metre supermarkets outside its petrol stations in Greater Bangkok next year, he said.

Jakkrit Jarujinda, managing director of PTT Retail Management, said up to 25 convenience stores would be opened next year.

SRT sites to be surveyed

The Treasury Department will conduct a cadastral survey (showing extent, value and ownership) on two major sites of the State Railway of Thailand in Makkasan and Chong Nonsi.

The appraisal of the two sites will be finalised within two weeks. For the 700-rai (112-hectare) Makkasan site, if developed, the market price is expected to go beyond Bt1.5 million per square wah (Bt375,000 per square metre).

Naris Chaiyasoot, director-general of the department, said yesterday that the survey was in line with the government’s policy to develop the two sites commercially to raise funds to pay debts owed by SRT. The Finance Ministry will lease the two sites for development.

CPF considers direct supply service

Charoen Pokphand Foods is eyeing direct supplies of food items to end-users with a plan to offer catering and delivery services to small and medium-sized restaurants.

Supat Sritanatorn, senior vice president, said yesterday that CPF also planned to distribute finished food products to Siam Makro’s branches nationwide.

Food demand remains high, despite unfavourable political conditions. CPF is on target to achieve sales growth of 15-20 per cent this year, he said.

Air China to fly Beijing-Chiang Mai

Air China will soon start flying on the Beijing-Chiang Mai route, as part of its plan to expand services in Southeast Asia.

It also plans to fly from Wuhan to Chiang Mai and to increase frequencies on its Beijing-Bangkok and Beijing-Phuket routes.

It will commence the Beijing-Siem Reap non-stop service on December 1 to spare travellers from a transfer in Phnom Penh or Bangkok. The flights will be operated twice a week in December and increase to four times next year.