Petroleum bid to be discussed by cabinet

Meanwhile, PM’s Office permanent secretary ML Panadda Diskul said the government was forming a committee to review the Energy Ministry’s plan to open the 21st round of bidding. The committee will include representatives from the citizens’ group and the government who took part in the debate on the issue at Government House last week, he said.

 

VW GETS GOVERNMENT NOD FOR THAI PLANT

Germany’s Volkswagen has won approval to build a manufacturing plant for fuel-efficient cars near Bangkok after months of delay.

A VW spokesman said on Saturday that it had received the go-ahead, but the carmaker was still assessing the situation and no decision had yet been made whether to build the factory.

According to previous media reports, the 1-billion-euro (Bt36-billion) plant is intended to build 1.4-litre petrol-engine cars and could turn out up to 300,000 vehicles per year at full capacity.

Sources familiar with the matter said last April that the company had applied to build its first plant in Thailand, seeking to take advantage of tax breaks that had already attracted investment from Ford and General Motors.

Volkswagen already produces its Passat, Polo and Jetta models in Malaysia in conjunction with a local partner, while a new plant in Indonesia will take advantage of growing demand there. – Reuters

 

TRADE ROADSHOW 

HEADING TO INDIA

To promote trade between Thailand and India, Commerce Minister Chatchai Sarikulya will lead 40 Thai companies and delegates on a roadshow to Delhi and Mumbai this week.

The trade mission will meet with 200 Indian enterprises. 

Chatchai said yesterday that Thailand would strengthen cooperation with India to facilitate trade and investment between the two nations.

Thailand’s exports to India are projected to grow by 4 per cent this year. More investment flows between the two countries will also be seen in the near future under the closer collaboration, it is hoped.

According to the ministry, Indian has invested US$1.03 billion (Bt33.6 billion) over the past five years in Thailand.

 

DENSO TO BUILD A NEW PLANT IN CAMBODIA

Denso Corporation says it will build a new plant in Cambodia to produce magnetos and oil coolers. 

The plant, which will be located in the Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone where Denso Cambodia already has a factory, will support the increasing vehicle production in the Asean region. 

The new facility is scheduled to begin production by March next year and will result in some 300 new jobs. Investment will be approximately US$19 million (Bt619 million).