Briefs

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) office will hold a meeting on July 4 with concerned parties on its planned average tariff for mobile packages 

The NBTC will hold focus group sessions with all mobile phone operators and submit the results of the July 4 meeting to the Telecom Committee before it announces the new tariff.

 

179 firms get nod

The Business Development Department approved the operations of 179 foreign companies under the Foreign Business Act during the first half of the year, bringing Bt3.71 billion in investment to the country.

The number of foreign investors has dropped by 14 per cent and initial capital by 54 per cent, as more businesses had invested in finance-related businesses last year.

Pongpun Gearaviriyapun, director-general of the department, said yesterday that many foreign investors are interested in establishing businesses in Thailand as part of their regional integration policies amid continued growth in the region.

“More investment will be seen in the second half of the year, as well as throughout next year. 

“The government will try to facilitate more investment under the economic stimulus policies,” she said.

This month alone, 22 companies were approved, down 31 per cent year on year, while initial capital plunged 69 per cent to Bt3.71 billion. 

The approvals this month would create more than 273 jobs for Thais, she said. Most of these new companies are subsidiaries, agencies of overseas corporations, companies contracted to state-owned enterprises, and consulting companies. 

 

ALT Telecom readies massive share offering

 ALT Telecom, a provider of fully integrated telecommunication systems and infrastructure, will offer 250 million capital-raising common shares to institutional and general investors at an initial offering price (IPO) of Bt4.70 a share, with Bt0.50 par value. 

The shares will be opened for subscription tomorrow and on Monday and Tuesday next week before registration to trade on the Stock Exchange of Thailand as “ALT” in the information technology and telecommunication sector category on July 4. 

According to Somphob Keerasuntonpong, president of Finansia Syrus Securities, ALT’s financial adviser and shares underwriter, the IPO should be well received by investors considering the company’s good operational results, promising business outlook and solid fundamentals. 

ALT posted average net-profit growth of 109.54 per cent in 2014 and 2015 and a continuing rise in return on equity, from 14 per cent in 2013 to 42.62 per cent in 2015 and 47.26 per cent in the first quarter 2016. 

ALT generated Bt1.92 billion in revenue and Bt50.14 in net profit in 2013; Bt1.81 billion in revenue and Bt100.94 million in net profit in 2014; Bt2.60 billion in revenue and Bt 220.16 million in net profit last year.

ALT will use the Bt1.17 billion in proceeds from the IPO to expand its fibre-optic-cable telecommunications network for leasing along the railway routes, worth Bt250 million, to repay Bt600 million in loans, and to fund working-capital needs. 

The company is confident the IPO will support sustainable business growth and good returns for investors, according to Finansia Syrus Securities.

 

 Packaging certification provided

 The Commerce Ministry’s Internal Trade Department is providing certification for products that have met internationally recognised packaging standards, said Wiboonlasana Ruamraksa, director-general of the department.

The department will also sign a memorandum of understanding with other Asean countries on standardising the rules for packaged goods.

So far, three Thai enterprises have received the packaging certification. They are Siam Makro, Chumporn Palm Oil Industry, and White House Cleaning Products. 

More enterprises are being checked and could get certification in the near future.

 

 Exclusive agent for Jaguar Land Rover 

 Inchcape has been appointed as the exclusive importer and distributor of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) vehicles and parts in Thailand. |The appointment comes into effect next month, the UK-based company announced.

One of the top 20 automotive markets in the world, Thailand has a small but developing market for premium and luxury cars, which Inchcape sees as providing a good long-term opportunity for growth. Inchcape will initially operate |from a single sales and after-sales facility in Bangkok that has recently been upgraded to meet JLR specifications.

Inchcape says it has a long-standing and successful partnership with JLR spanning 46 years. With this new appointment, it now manages a portfolio of distribution and retail operations for JLR in 11 markets.

 

 Vietjet launches direct flight to Tainan

 Vietjet has officially launched the first direct route connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Tainan, Taiwan. This is the airline’s second route linking Vietnam and Taiwan. 

Speaking at a ceremony launching the route, Tainan Mayor William Lai said: “We are very pleased that Vietjet selected Tainan as the first destination in the south of Taiwan. The new route is expected to benefit businessmen, tourists and people in both Taiwan and Vietnam. The convenient flight network will bring Tainan and Vietnam more closely [together].”

On Saturday, Vietjet also increased the flight frequency for its Taipei-Ho Chi Minh City route to two round trips per day. 

“I believe that the number and frequency of bilateral passengers will climb at an even faster pace [thanks to] these direct flights,” said Vietjet vice president Nguyen Thi Thuy Binh.

According to Vietnamese government statistics, 146,380 of its nationals visited Taiwan last year, 23.5 per cent more than in 2013. In addition, a recent report by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism indicated that the number of Taiwanese visitors to Vietnam in 2015 reached 202,000, up by 15.2 per cent year on year.