NBTC, JAPAN DISCUSS CUTTING ROAMING RATES
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The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications yesterday discussed possible ways to lower international mobile voice and data roaming rates between the two countries.
Thai mobile-phone operators will talk with their Japanese counterparts on the possibility of cutting the rates.
Last year, about 650,000 Thais visited Japan, while bout 1.5 million Japanese visited Thailand.
The NBTC and the Japanese ministry also discussed how to promote the use of ultra-high-definition TV (4K) technology and smart TV technology in Thailand.
RICE EXPORTS DOWN IN Q1
The Thai Rice Exporters Association reported that rice exports dropped by 3.6 per cent to 2.12 million tonnes in the first quarter of the year, while export value decreased 4.9 per cent to Bt37.6 billion.
Thailand was the world’s second-largest rice exporter in the first three months, after India’s export volume of 2.25 million tonnes.
PTTEP PROFIT SLUMPS
PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) yesterday announced unreviewed consolidated net profit of US$264 million (Bt8.6 billion) for the first three months, down 31 per cent from a year ago.
The decline was mainly attributed to a drop in petroleum-sales revenue due to the average selling price plunging from $64.92 per barrel of oil equivalent to $48.74, while average sales volume rose to 327,145 barrels of oil equivalent per day from 298,621boed recorded in the same quarter of last year.
“Our operating results in the first quarter of this year were better than our expectation. The good bottom line was partly due to the result of our SAVE … to Be SAFE programme”, said president and chief executive Tevin Vongvanich.
“This can prove that we can cut unnecessary expenses, reschedule some activities until the appropriate time for investment, and streamline our business. As a consequence, our company is more flexible and able to adjust itself to suit the global oil-price situation.
“Now, we can maintain our strong financial status, as proved by approximately $4 billion of cash on hand prepared for future investment opportunities,” he said.
