Briefs

Thailand will have welcomed 24.94 million international visitors between January and September, the Tourism Authority of Thailand forecasts.
The agency also expects tourism receipts to amount to Bt1.25 trillion in the first nine months of this year.
TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said that in the final quarter of 2016, 9.01 million more would visit Thailand, generating another Bt468 billion in tourism income.
Throughout this year, domestic and international travellers are expected to spend Bt2.58 trillion, slightly exceeding TAT’s Bt2.4-trillion target.
International tourism receipts are expected to reach Bt1.72 trillion.

POSCO COMPLETES
STEEL PRODUCTION LINE

POSCO has completed a CGL (continuous galvanising line) operation in Thailand capable of producing 45,000 tonnes of steel. This completes a marketing system covering production, manufacturing, sales and technical support.
POSCO is a multinational steel-making company headquartered in Pohang, South Korea. It had an output of 39.1 million tonnes of crude steel in 2011, making it the world’s fourth-largest steelmaker by this measure. In the same year, it was the world’s largest steel manufacturing company by market value.

BDMS CUTS REVENUE GROWTH TARGET

Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS) has cut its 2016 revenue growth target to 8-10 per cent from 11-12 per cent after lower-than-expected growth in the first half, chief financial officer Narumol Noi-am said.
The company said revenue grew by 9 per cent in the first half, higher than the overall hospital industry. – Reuters

DEBT SERVICING
RULES TWEAKED

Singaporean homeowners looking to refinance their mortgages will enjoy more flexibility with relation to the total debt-servicing ratio (TDSR), the Monetary Authority of Singapore said yesterday.
The move will allow property owners to take advantage of current low interest rates even if refinancing would mean busting the TDSR limit of 60 per cent.
About 2 per cent of all existing home loans are currently above the TDSR limit. – The Straits Times

CORRECTION

A press conference by a visiting Turkish delegation will take place today, not on Sunday as reported on Wednesday by The Nation. We apologise for the error.

VAT LEVIED AT LAOS
BORDER CROSSINGS

 All people who enter Laos bringing with them goods valued at more than US$50 will have to pay 10-per-cent value-added tax (VAT) at the border, effective immediately.
This is in line with an order by Finance Minister Somdy Duangdy dated August 30, and it came into force from the date of its issuance.
 – Vientiane Times