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Mobile LTE is the eighth company to declare its intention to join the bidding for the 900MHz licence auction.

It picked up a bidding document on October 1 and it has until October 22 to submit it. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission is allowing companies to pick up bidding documents from September 21 to October 21.

Mobile LTE, which is capitalised up to Bt100 million, is one of five companies proposing to be TOT’s business partner.

New power station in Tak

The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) kick started its second power station project in Tak on Tuesday to accommodate the planned establishment of the special economic zone (SEZ) encompassing the western province.

The temporary power station is located in Mae Sot district, which links Thailand with Myanmar’s Myawaddy and is planned to house the SEZ. The district has 76,980 power users and demand has increased by about 11 per cent per annum. Over 88 per cent of the users are households.

Sermsakul Klaikaew, governor of the PEA, said the SEZ would boost electricity demand in the area. Aside from investing Bt1 billion in the temporary station, the agency has also invested an additional Bt55 million in the transmission line.

SET drafting new Forex rules

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is seeking public comment on draft rules governing business operators of investment services to customers in foreign currency denominated products that are offered overseas as well as in Thailand.

The revised rules cover guidelines for advertisement and publications, areas of permissible marketing activities in Thailand and instructions of benefits received from overseas product sellers and issuers, said Pariya Techamuanvivit, director of the Corporate Affairs Department.

He said the revised rules would support business capabilities for local players as well as enable them to gain further experiences in providing services to customers. To be ready for competition from international players as a result of the Bank of Thailand’s policy to allow investors to invest overseas directly without servicing of Thai business operators in 2016. 

SEC files Criminal complaints against pair

The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a criminal complaint against Penkae Katekaew and Tan Lethi with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) for allegedly colluding to seek unlawful gain, causing damage to Bliss-Tel (BLISS).

The SEC found that Penkae and Tan, then holding positions as BLISS investment board members and having the power to make securities investment decisions and approvals on behalf of the company, collusively sought unlawful gain causing damage to BLISS. They allegedly decided that BLISS assets should be invested in share warrants of CI Group (CIG-W1) in 2010 for other persons’ benefits. This caused a Bt17.4-million loss for BLISS due to purchase at high cost and being sold during a low-price period.

The alleged actions were in violation of Section 311 of the Securities and Exchange Act BE 2535 (1992) in conjunction with Section 83 of the Penal Code. The SEC therefore filed the criminal complaint against both persons with the DSI for further legal proceedings. Consequently, they are automatically barred from serving as capital-market personnel or as directors of any issuing and listed company.

Emirates adding to

Phuket-Dubai flights

Emirates has announced additional flights between Phuket and Dubai, increasing the options for travellers from the South of Thailand by introducing a twice-daily service from December 1.

Responding to high customer demand, particularly during the peak winter travel season, the new flights will double current capacity and ensure better connections for travellers to cities in Europe, the Americas and the Middle East via the airline’s Dubai hub. Jabr al-Azeeby, area manager for Thailand and Indochina, said that by introducing a double daily service to Phuket, Emirates had increased convenience and flexibility for residents of Phuket and the Southern region of Thailand, making it easier to connect to Dubai and the rest of the world.

“This newly added service will complement our recent code-share agreement with Bangkok Airways, offering ease of connection from different cities across Southeast Asia to and from Dubai and providing a smoother, more convenient travel experience.”

Myanmar VIPs visit Ratchaprasong

A group of 50 “premium” customers, businesspeople and journalists from Myanmar was in Thailand last weekend to experience some of the Kingdom’s best travel products, shopping and dining in the Ratchaprasong area. The trip was organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in cooperation with Thai Airways International, Thai Smile and the Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association. It was named “TAT, TG and WE VIP Exclusive Trip to Amazing Thailand”.

Myanmar is a major emerging economy in the Asean region and shares air, land and marine borders with Thailand. Thus it has significant future potential.

In 2014, visitor arrivals from Myanmar to Thailand totalled 207,749, up 19.90 per cent over 2013, and generating Bt8.089 billion in revenue (up 28.43 per cent). In the first eight months of 2015, Myanmar visitor arrivals to Thailand totalled 156,623, up 24.29 per cent over the same period of 2014, generating an estimated Bt6.12 billion in tourism revenue (up 30.02 per cent).