Briefs

The State Enterprise Policy Commission or “superboard” yesterday agreed to improve rules and regulations on setting up joint ventures and supervising subsidiaries of the 56 state enterprises.
“The improved rules and regulations will be applied to affiliates established both locally and internationally that are more than 25 per cent owned by state enterprises,” Kulis Sombatsiri, general director of the State Enterprise Policy Office, said.
Currently, there are 26 state enterprises holding more than 25 per cent of affiliates established inside and outside Thailand, with a total of 120 subsidiaries. More than half of them have posted losses.
The superboard also instructed state enterprises that have subsidiaries to review their subsidiaries’ financial status, especially loss-ridden ones, and submit proposals on which way they will go to the Finance Ministry in the next three months, Kulis said.
The superboard also agreed in principle on a drafted bill on regulating and managing state enterprises, which was expected to be proposed to the Cabinet for consideration by the end of next month before being sent to the National Legislative Assembly for deliberation in September.
 
VIETNAM PM DUE
Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung is scheduled to pay an official visit Thailand next Thursday, aiming to strengthen ties under the Thailand-Vietnam Strategic Partnership and continuing cooperation for mutual benefits.
Deputy government spokesman Weerachon Sukhonthapatipak said talks would be held on labour cooperation, promotion of investment, expansion of bilateral trade, cooperation on agricultural products, cooperation in fishery, development of transport and connectivity, and cooperation on regional and international issues.
After that, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and Dung will co-chair the third Thailand-Vietnam Joint Cabinet Retreat (JCR), which will be attended by ministers from both sides.
The discussion will extend from ways to increase cooperation in their key areas of mutual interests, including defence, fighting against transnational crimes, particularly drug and human trafficking, facilitation of trade and investment, opening of scheduled bus services, development of coastal shipping for transport of goods and people, tourism cooperation and cooperation between provinces of the two countries.
Weerachon said the two prime ministers would also witness the signing of five documents.