Cabinet makes tourism campaign a priority
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Tourism Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said yesterday that the Cabinet had approved the new tourism campaign, with the "Discover Thainess" theme as a national priority.
The campaign was introduced to international markets last week at the World Travel Market in London and reportedly received a warm response from foreigners.
The campaign will focus on Thai ways of living and unique communities that can cater to tourists.
“Discover Thainess” is aimed at extending the average length of stay from eight or nine days per trip to as many as 11 days. Spending per head should also rise.
Phuket is ready to host the Asean Beach Games. Some 4,300 players and visitors are already on the island.
JUICE RATIO MAY RISE
The Excise Department will propose to the Finance Ministry raising the requirement for the content ratio of fruit or vegetable juices to at least 30-50 per cent if producers want to be eligible for a tax exemption. Currently they can enjoy the exemption if the ratio is 10 per cent.
NEW HOSPITAL
Bangkok Dusit Medical Services yesterday opened Bangkok Hospital China Town to serve local and foreign patients.
Chatree Duangnet, executive vice president of BDMS, said the group invested Bt800 million to build the hospital as part of its plan to become a leading health and medical provider in the region.
The new hospital is set to serve Chinese communities in Chinatown and foreign tourists staying nearby. About 5.5 million Chinese are expected to visit Thailand next year.
SET TRADING UP 28.9%
The Stock Exchange of Thailand’s securities trading value last month rose 28.9 per cent to Bt50.36 billion from a year earlier, according to an SET report yesterday. The market mood in October was weighed down by profit-taking and concerns over global economic volatility.
The SET’s main index ended October at 1,584.16 points, up 22 per cent from end-2013, but down 0.10 per cent from the previous month.
Foreign investors sold Thai shares worth a net Bt16 billion in October.
TRC sets up JV with China firm to bid for SRT contracts
TRC Construction’s board of directors has given its approval for TRC subsidiary Sahakarn Wisavakorn Co to set up a joint venture with China Railway No 3 Engineering Group to bid for construction work related to the State Railway of Thailand.
The board also gave approval for TRC International, its subsidiary in Hong Kong, to increase its stake in Asean Potash Mining by buying shares from APMC’s shareholders for Bt50 million.
In 2012, TRC International acquired 500,000 of APMC’s common shares for Bt50 million. The latest purchase brings TRC International’s shareholding in APMC to 4.48 per cent.
Oishi opens indirect
subsidiary in Vietnam
Oishi Group’s board of directors has approved the establishment of an indirect subsidiary in Vietnam to support future international expansion.
Oishi F&B (Singapore), a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of the company, will hold 100 per cent of the shares of the Vietnamese company.
MAI welcomes Fire Victor
The Market for Alternative Investment under the Stock Exchange of Thailand is listing Fire Victor today under the ticker symbol FIRE.
Fire Victor is an importer and distributor of valves and equipment for fire-protection systems and valves and equipment for sanitary and air-conditioning systems.
The company had a market capitalisation at its initial public offering of Bt1.05 billion.
It has paid-up registered capital of Bt175 million, consisting of 260 million existing common shares and 90 million newly issued shares, with a par value of Bt0.50.
The new shares were offered to the general public from November 5-7 at Bt3 each for a total of Bt270 million.
Advisory Plus is its financial adviser, while Thanachart Securities and KT Zmico Securities are its lead underwriters.
Virat Sukchai, managing director of Fire Victor, said yesterday that the IPO proceeds would be used to launch branch offices in key provinces to accommodate expansion in diversified areas, and to invest in equipment to boost operating efficiency, as well as for debt repayment and working capital.
The company’s three major shareholders after the IPO are Channarong group (30.0 per cent), Sukchai group (29.1 per cent) and Pracha Prompornchai (3.7 per cent).
