Briefs
'Q1 SATISFACTORY, MORE HELP FOR FARMERS DUE'
Finance Minister Sommai Phasee yesterday described the year-on-year economic expansion of 3 per cent achieved in the first quarter as satisfactory, as the rate of growth was better than in many other countries at the moment.
“Whether economic expansion in the second quarter will be better than in the first is interesting and remains to be seen. I do not know whether the recovery will be V-shaped or N-shaped, but other countries are suffering the same fate, such as South Korea, which recently lowered their interest rate,” he said. “There will be another measure to help farmers, similar to the Bt40-billion cash handout last year, but I do not know how much the budget will be as the measure will be spearheaded by Deputy Prime Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula,” he added.
GEMS SHOW IN SEOUL
The International Trade Promotion Department is cooperating with the Thai gems and jewellery sector in arranging a B2B (business-to-business) mini-exhibition at the Coex Exhibition Hall in Seoul from July 15-19, director-general Nuntawan Sakuntanaga said yesterday.
“The exhibition will provide greater opportunities to broaden business channels for Thai entrepreneurs and also enable them to learn more about South Korean customers’ needs,” she said. Thai gems and jewellery exports to South Korea last year reached US$39.52 million (Bt1.33 billion), a 107-per-cent increase on the previous year. This year’s global export value is expected to rise by 5 per cent.
PORT EXPANSION
Contracts for the Bt1.86-billion expansion of Laem Chabang Port, for which the Cabinet recently gave the go-ahead to the Port Authority of Thailand, are set to be signed by the end of this year, Lieutenant Sutthinan Hattawong, managing director of the Eastern Seaboard port, said yesterday
Construction of coastal terminal A and the installation of quayside, mobile and gantry cranes are expected to be completed in 2018.
Terminal A will be capable of accommodating up to 300,000 containers a year, and will also serve waterway shipments from the South and linkage to Bangkok Port.
