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Eleven more companies have been certified by the private-sector Collective Action Coalition against Corruption (CAC) for their compliance to anti-graft guidelines.

The number of the certified companies has risen to 133.

The CAC also witnessed an increase in its member companies to 525, in line with its plan to boost the number to 600 by year’s end.

“The certification in this round was extended under a more stringent process,” said Bandid Nijathaworn, secretary-general of the CAC. “The increase in members also indicated the private sector’s growing awareness of corruption.

“To ensure a clean business environment, it requires cooperation and concrete actions by private companies.”

Since July 1, a company must fully comply with CAC guidelines for 18 months to be certified. They are subjected to a re-certification process after three years.

FAA inspection on

Thailand is ready for the US Federal Aviation Administration’s inspection of the country’s aviation standards and compliance with international standards, said Transport Minister Akom Termpitayapaisih.

The three-day inspection finishes tomorrow.

Akom said all 35 points raised by the FAA had been addressed, in line with the improvement plan submitted earlier to the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

The Royal Thai Air Force has help boost personnel efficiency, the minister said.

The FAA is the national aviation authority of the United States.

No airlines registered in Thailand operate flights to the US, after Thai Airways International’s termination of its Bangkok-Seoul-Los Angeles route.

Akom said THAI was ready for the European Aviation Safety Agency’s inspection of the country’s aviation industry next month.

GSB launches soft loans

The Government Savings Bank (GSB) has said it will increase its soft loans for houses set aside for low- and medium-income earners if there were strong demand for loans.

The scheme, which commenced yesterday with Bt10 billion set aside, is in support of a government economic stimulus policy and comes after the Government Housing Bank (GHB) launched its own campaign last week.

Chatchai Payuhanaveechai, president of GSB, said the measure could encourage commercial banks to hold more home-loan promotions this year.

GSB loans under the programme carry a 3.5-per-cent interest rate for the first year and 4.25 per cent for the second year.

From the third year to the end of the loan contracts, the bank will chart an interest rate at the minimum retail rate minus 1 percentage point.

Since October 19, GH Bank has received 6,900 mortgage applications worth Bt8.5 billion. The bank may expand the programme depending on demand, its president Angkana Chaimanat said.

‘Doing Business’ report

The World Bank will release its “Doing Business 2016” report tomorrow.

Covering 189 economies, the annual report provides an analysis of regulations that apply to an economy’s businesses during their lifecycle, including start-up and operations, trading across borders, paying taxes and resolving insolvency.

Thailand was ranked 26th in “Doing Business 2015”, up from 28th in the 2014 report mainly because of improvements in construction permits and tax payments.