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The Cabinet yesterday gave the green light for a budget towards the Bt3.9-billion construction of a second bridge to cross the Moei River, linking Thailand and Myanmar.

Transport Minister Prajin Juntong said this was one of two of his ministry’s projects approved by the Cabinet.

Of the budget for the second Moei River bridge project, Bt2.9 billion will come from Thailand and Bt1 billion from Myanmar.

The project is expected to be completed by 2017.

The other approved project concerns pension payments to staff of the State Railway of Thailand.

This consists of two parts: one for 12,000 retired SRT staff, costing Bt1.9 billion; the other – costing Bt7 billion – for existing staff over a period of 25 years starting from 2015.

The Cabinet yesterday also approved a budget of Bt16.35 billion to subsidise sugar-cane farmers to the tune of Bt160 per tonne on average for the 2014-15 planting season, based on an estimated production of 102.2 million tonnes.

SFIs to provide soft loans for

SMEs, low income earners

The Finance Ministry will today propose new economic-stimulus measures to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, with plans for eight special financial institutions (SFIs) to provide soft loans for low-income earners and small and medium-sized enterprises.

The planned soft-loan extension will be run via an “SFIs Return Happiness to Thai people” event, to be held in five provinces from June 27-29.

The aim is to help those on low incomes and SMEs gain easier access to sources of financing.

RS open to more foreign

institutional stakeholders

RS welcomes more international institutional investors to hold shares in the company – up to a combined maximum of 25 per cent from its original plan of 15 per cent – with a view to maintaining the stability of its stock price, chief executive officer Pornpan Techarungchaikul said yesterday.

One factor that particularly appeals to foreign institutional investors is RS’s media business, especially its Channel 8 digital-TV operation, currently rated No 4 nationwide, she said.

Strong demand ups pace of

Magnolia condo launches

Magnolia Quality Development Corp is launching four condominium projects worth a combined Bt10.5 billion this year, thanks to strong demand, deputy chief operating officer Thanomsak Kaeokhiao said yesterday.

Two of them, together worth Bt5.2 billion, have already been launched, while the other two will be launched in the second half, he said.

‘Ching Roi Ching Lan’

channel switch confirmed

As expected, Workpoint Entertainment has confirmed the exit of its prime-time Sunday show “Ching Roi Ching Lan” from Channel 3, effective next month.

Chalakorn Panyashom, executive vice president for television business, said yesterday that the 25-year-old variety show would shift to Workpoint Creative TV – a digital channel run by Thai Broadcast, a subsidiary of Workpoint Entertainment – next month, airing at the same time and day of the week as currently.