Briefs

DEPUTY PRIME Minister Somkid Jatusripitak yesterday summoned key figures to a meeting, apparently to speed up the establishment of a holding company for 12 state enterprises.
 Joining the meeting were Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong, State Enterprise Policy Office director-general Kulit Sombatsiri, Banyong Pongpanich – a member of the superboard – and Bank of Thailand Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul.
 After the meeting, Apisak affirmed that they had discussed the establishment of the superholding company.
 “Several procedures are under way,” he said.
 Kulit said in July that opinions from experts should be submitted to the Cabinet in August or early September.
 The ‘superholding’ company, likened to Singapore’s Temasek Holdings, is aimed at limiting political interference in corporatised state enterprises.
 
Japanese fair and business matching set for October 8
More than 300 quality products from 43 outstanding Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be featured at a fair next month, which will also serve as a business-matching venue.
 The “Good Goods Japan, Jetro Business Matching in Bangkok” event will be held on October 8 by the Japan External Trade Organisation.
 Masayasu Hosumi, president of Jetro Bangkok, said the event would provide these operators and local Thai entrepreneurs with opportunities to create business alliances, open new markets and introduce new unique products with function-orientation to the local Thai market.
 Pre-registration is required.