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'Airport rail link to be extended to U-tapao'
Transport Minister Prajin Juntong said yesterday that the government planned to extend the Airport Rail Link from Suvarnabhumi Airport to U-tapao Airport as part of the development of the latter as the Central region’s third commercial airport.
The feasibility study of the project was expected to be completed in the third quarter of next year, he said during a visit to the Airport Rail Link’s maintenance yard.
In regard to the proposed extension from Phaya Thai Station to Don Mueang International Airport, Prajin said the ministry was likely to seek Cabinet approval next year for the construction of the 190-kilometre route to U-tapao at a cost of about Bt29 billion.
Amata sets 2015 Capex
Amata Corporation has set a capital-expenditure budget of Bt3 billion to Bt4 billion for next year to develop industrial estates in Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam.
Up to Bt1.5 billion would be used to buy 500 rai (80 hectares) of land in Thailand and Bt1.5 billion to Bt2.5 billion to invest in Myanmar and Vietnam, Steven Siew, senior vice president and chief financial officer, said yesterday.
Earning reports
Companies listed on the Market for Alternative Investment have reported nine-month sales increasing 8.76 per cent to Bt91 billion, while net profit fell slightly on rising operating costs.
Three industries posted rising net profit. In descending order, they were financials, resources and consumer products, said Prapan Charoenprawatt, president of the small company board under the Stock Exchange of Thailand.
From the third-quarter financial statements submitted by 108 of the 109 listed companies – one did not file a financial statement – there were 77 firms, or 71 per cent of all listed companies reporting, showing net profits in the third quarter.
Aggregate sales were up 8.3 per cent to Bt30.42 billion, while the average gross profit margin improved to 20.9 per cent from 20.4 per cent a year ago, as costs of goods sold rose 7.7 per cent. Combined net profit spewed up 160.5 per cent to Bt1.37 billion.
Ratch ‘to hit target’
Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding said it aimed to accomplish this year’s target of Bt121 billion in enterprise value, up by about 10 per cent from last year.
Ratch is also considering additional investments in eight projects abroad, CEO Pongdith Potchana said.
He added that the company’s operations were based on its 10-year strategic plan (2013-2023), targeting enterprise value in 2023 of Bt282 billion.
In the first nine months of this year, enterprise value surged from Bt110 billion to Bt119 billion, and Ratch expects to achieve the target of Bt121 billion by the end of the year because it has six projects in hand for consideration.
Ratch’s equity investment will reach Bt34 billion if it decides to go ahead with the above-mentioned projects. The company is in the process of studying the projects and negotiating with business partners.
