SE ASIA’S E-COMMERCE TO SURPASS $25 BILLION

Its new research showed that total revenues from business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce in the six largest Southeast Asian countries would increase at an annual rate of 17.7 per cent. 

Malaysia and Thailand were the largest e-commerce markets in Southeast Asia last year, generating revenues of $2.3 billion and $2.1 billion. 

Nevertheless, by 2020, both of these markets are expected to be eclipsed by the emerging economies in Southeast Asia including Vietnam and Indonesia.

These economies will face challenges, however, including low credit-card ownership that stands at less than 7 per cent in all markets except for Singapore and Malaysia. 

 

 THAI -JAPAN INVESTMENTS 

 

Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ and its Thai subsidiary Bank of Ayudhya concluded an agreement with Jetro Bangkok in promoting investment between Thai and Japanese companies in both countries. 

The agreement aims to create a platform to provide high-added-value financial services in both countries, the bank said in a statement from Tokyo on Tuesday. 

The parties plan to identify Thai companies interested in investing in Japan, host seminars and business-matching fairs for Thai companies, and introduce locations to conduct test marketing in Thailand.

 

TECHNO MEDICAL DEBUTS 

 

Techno Medical, an importer and distributor of medical products, made its debut on the Market for Alternative Investment yesterday under the ticker symbol TM. 

Its stock closed at Bt4.68, 56 per cent higher than the initial public offering price of Bt3.

 

AIS 4G INTERNATIONAL 

 

Advanced Info Service has expanded its 4G international roaming service to cover as many as the 74 most-visited countries supported by 121 mobile networks spanning every continent. 

AIS has also introduced non-stop data roaming packages, starting at Bt199 per day, to let customers enjoy using data |with 4G speed while roaming overseas. 

 

 

Residential developer Chewathai expects 20 per cent in revenue growth this year 

 Chewathai Plc, a developer of residential units, expects at least 20-per-cent growth in revenue this year.

It recorded a surge in consolidated net profit to Bt67.53 million in the first six months of this year compared to Bt3.45 million in last year’s first half. 

Boon Choon Kiat, managing director, said yesterday that revenue doubled to Bt835.24 million in the first half after realising Bt645 million from two condominium projects – Hallmark Chaengwattana and Chiwathai Interchange. 

Its gross profit margin improved to 27 per cent from 24 per cent in the same half a year ago.

In the second quarter, the company turned around its results to report a net profit of Bt9.70 million from a Bt2.90-million net loss year on year. 

Its quarterly gross profit margin was 29 per cent, up from 22 per cent.

Launches of projects for various customer groups drove the company’s robust net profit and income growth rates, he added.

 

 Power Solution Technologies to hike output capacity to 100MW in 3 years 

 Power Solution Technologies Plc, a power-supply solution and renewable-energy company, will proceed with its investment in expanding its output to 100 megawatts over three years. 

The company’s shareholders have given the green light for the company to issue debentures or bills of exchange (B/Es) worth at least Bt2 billion for investments in solar-driven electricity generation plants at cooperative farms as well as biomass/biogas power plants. 

Power Solution expects to generate more than Bt1.20 billion in revenue from contracts to sell electricity. 

Pranai Kungwalrut, chief executive officer, said yesterday that the debentures or B/Es would be offered via private placement and/or to both general and institutional investors. 

Power Solution plans to invest Bt425 million in two projects involving state agencies and |cooperative farms. 

A Bt212.50-million, 5MW plant will be set up at a cooperative farm in Sa Kaew and a Bt212.50-million, 5MW plant at a fishing cooperative farm in Samut Songkhram. 

The scheduled commercial operations date of both projects is set for this year-end. 

Power Solution has also invested Bt110 million to fully acquire a biogas power company that has a contract to supply 4.6MW to the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) in Suphan Buri. 

The company will also invest Bt277 million in the construction |of a biomass power plant in order to supply the PEA as per the contract. 

The total investment for biogas and biomass power plant projects will be about Bt387 million with commercial operations beginning in June next year. 

Power Solution has invested Bt85 million in acquiring a 45-per-cent stake from shareholders in Well Korat Energy Co, which has the capacity to produce 8MW in Buri Ram. 

Power Solution, which held a 55-per-cent stake earlier, will now own 100 per cent of Well Korat Energy Co.