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The Cabinet yesterday approved measures worth Bt13 billion to help rubber farmers and support falling prices, the director of a state rubber agency said.

Growing unhappiness among farmers hit by weak commodity prices and higher living costs, combined with an economy in the doldrums, has led the military-imposed government to rethink a pledge to wean farmers off the costly schemes of earlier civilian administrations.

The government said it would pay a direct subsidy of Bt1,500 per rai for up to 15 rai (2.4 hectares) per household, said Weerasak Kwanmuang, director of the Rubber Authority of Thailand. – Reuters

Border investment meet

Indonesia’s minister for villages, disadvantaged regions and transmigration, Marwan Jafar, was to open the “Border Investment Summit” in Jakarta yesterday. The event is hosted by Marwan’s ministry and aims to explore investment potential and opportunities in border areas across Indonesia.

The ministry said the need for a Border Investment Summit was based on a view that developing border areas was an integral part of national development.

Marwan said his ministry was committed to accelerating the development of border areas through its Indonesia Veranda Area Development (PKBI) programme, through which it aimed to develop and empower border areas to become the “veranda” of Indonesia, and to be independent, competitive and secure.

During the summit, the ministry was to launch its profile book, “Investment Potential in Indonesia’s Border Areas”, compiled in collaboration with the University of Gadjah Mada. – The Jakarta Post/ANN

Siamraj launches IPO

Pump company Siamraj will raise Bt525 million through the issuance of 150 IPO (initial public offering) shares at Bt3.50, with the subscription period from today until Friday. SR will make a debut on the Market for Alternative Investment on November 11.

RHB Securities (Thailand) is the financial adviser and lead underwriter.

Kiat Vimolchalao, chief executive officer and managing director of SR, said the proceeds would be used to finance its projects and working capital for business expansion, given higher demand for natural gas in the future and the expansion plans for Thailand’s main gas pipelines and gas-fired power capacity.

After the IPO, SR’s registered and paid-up capital will be Bt300 million or 600 million common shares. Its par value is Bt0.50 apiece. For the first six months of 2015, the company recorded total income of Bt943.61 million with net profit of Bt79.12 million.