Briefs

 

The value of Thailand’s border trade this year is expected to rise to Bt1.5 trillion at least, up from around Bt1.4 trillion last year, according to Duangporn Rodphaya, director-general of the Department of Foreign Trade of the Commerce Ministry.

She made the remark at a seminar on the special economic zones (SEZs ) yesterday hosted by the Commerce Ministry. Panellist Aat Pisanwanich, director of the Centre for International Trade Studies of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said some incentives in the SEZs in Thailand’s neighbours were higher than those in Thailand. However, Thailand’s SEZs have enjoyed a competitive edge in terms of infrastructure and skilled labour.

 

‘Little impact’ from DPA drop 

The decline in deposit protection scheduled for August will not have a serious impact on depositors and the country’s financial institutions will remain strong, said Krisda Chinavicharana, director-general of the Fiscal Policy Office and chairman of the Deposit Protection Agency.

Deposit protection will decline to Bt1 million per account per financial institution from Bt25 million from August 11 onwards.

At present, 98.24 per cent of the country’s 68.9 million deposit accounts have less than Bt1 million in them. 

 

Voice TV budgets Bt800m for content

Voice TV has earmarked about Bt800 million for content production while welcoming new content partners to help boost TV ratings. It also targets a revenue increase of 30 per cent from last year.

Chief executive officer Makin Petpai said yesterday that the Voice TV digital station had decided to revamp its prime-time slots with news-analysis programmes and more in-depth news shows effective this month. 

Apart from the programmes it produces itself, Voice TV has established partnerships with leading content providers including JSL Global Media, BrandAge, Travel Channel, Money Channel, Smart SME Channel and Matichon Group to produce and supply programmes for the station. 

Matichon Group’s TV business unit, for instance, is creating two programmes, “Matichon Weekend” and “Matichon Smart Biz”. 

 

CMO targets Bt1.4 bn revenue

Event organiser CMO targets Bt1.4 billion in revenue this year after posting 28-per-cent year-on-year growth in 2015 revenue to Bt1.369 billion, mainly driven by event and newly diversified businesses. 

Chief executive officer Sermkhun Kunawong said yesterday that his company was confident of achieving its target as it had already realised a backlog of Bt500 million for this year. 

In addition, CMO forecasts bringing in more than Bt2 billion over the next two years, of which 70 per cent will come from event-based business and the rest from new business. 

 

Business confidence takes a dip 

The Business Confidence Index in January edged down to 48.5 from 49.9 in December on concerns over a slowdown in domestic demand, according to the Bank of Thailand. Scores under 50 indicate negative confidence.

Most operators surveyed indicated that low domestic demand remained No 1 among constraints for business operations.

Most operators surveyed expected business improvements over the next three, with all sub-indices staying above the 50 baseline.