GH BANK SETS BT32 BN FOR LOW-INTEREST MORTGAGES

 

“The three packages will help the bank achieve its new-housing-loan target of Bt157 billion this year,” acting president Laiwan Pongsangium said yesterday.

The first package will carry interest rates of 3.25 per cent for the first year, 4.75 per cent for the second year and minimum retail rate (MRR) minus 1 percentage point per year for the remaining years. 

This package targets state employees and social-welfare recipients without deposit accounts .

The second package is designed for retail customers. It charges 3.50-per-cent interest in the first year, 4.75 per cent in the second year and MRR minus 0.50 percentage point per year throughout the remaining term.

The third package is aimed at retail  customers with interest rates of 3.40 per cent in the first year, 4.75 per cent in the second year. 

Starting in the third year, retail customers will be charged MRR minus 0.50 percentage point per year and welfare recipients MRR minus 1 percentage point per year.

Applications for the packages will be taken until March 31 and borrowing must be completed by April 29.

 

Govt aid to cassava farmers

Since cassava prices weaken during the harvest season, the government has come up with measures to help farmers delay production by releasing soft loans for them.

Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said yesterday that the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives had provided Bt5 billion for the programme. From now until April, farmers can get a Bt50,000 loan with a 4-per-cent interest rate. 

The government will also crack down on cassava smuggling. 

The ministry will ask for cooperation from the Interior Ministry, border checkpoints and governors of border provinces to monitor cassava imports strictly and limit the cassava carried by each truck coming in through border passes.

 

IHH forays into Myanmar 

IHH Healthcare, the world’s second-largest healthcare provider by market value, has made its first step into the Myanmar private-hospital market. Through its indirect wholly owned subsidiary Parkway Healthcare Indo-China, the company has held a groundbreaking ceremony for the US$70-million (Bt2.5 billion), 250-bed hospital in Yangon. 

Parkway Yangon is Parkway Pantai’s first hospital in Myanmar, the company said in a statement yesterday. It was encouraged by Myanmar’s steps to improve healthcare infrastructure and expand basic health coverage. Demand for private health services in the country is expected to rise. 

Myanmar’s long-term income-growth potential and the gradual emergence of its middle class, coupled with the rapid influx of foreign tourists and expatriates, are expected to bode well for private healthcare providers like IHH.

 

CPN to ring in New Year

Central Pattana, the country’s largest retail developer, is going all out to capitalise on the expected mass arrival of Chinese holidaymakers by launching the Bt40-million “Great Chinese New Year” campaign.

CPN manages shopping complexes under the CentralWorld, CentralPlaza and CentralFestival brands. 

Using a new and modern concept of the traditional Chinese celebrations to attract a new generation of customers, it is showcasing traditional art pieces, performances and an array of auspicious activities in every CPN shopping centre nationwide from February 5-29.