|
Thai consumer confidence
index plunges to 7 year low
Anxieties over the decline in the economy and the
spiraling cost of living caused the Thai consumer confidence index in
February to fall for the first time since the coalition government of Prime
Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva took office last December, retreating to an 85
month low, according to a survey.
Vice-Rector Saowanee Thairungroj of the University of the Thai Chamber of
Commerce (UTCC) said the consumer confidence index (CCI) in February dropped
to 74, down from 75.2 in January, its lowest level since February 2002.
UTCC’s Economic and Business Forecast Centre director Thanawat Palavichai
said the decline in February was considered high with the global and Thai
economies in a worse-than-expected state after Thailand’s gross domestic
product in the fourth quarter of 2008 contracted 4.3 percent, its lowest
level in the past decade.
The fall in Thailand’s exports along with rising unemployment, retail oil
prices and the cost of living are expected to continue lowering the consumer
confidence index until the third quarter of 2009, Thanawat explained.
He said the public still wants the government to issue more economic
stimulus measures to increase jobs and help bolster consumer confidence and
private investment during the rest of this year.
The government must accelerate its spending and build confidence among the
people otherwise the Thai economy could deteriorate further, Thanawat said.
(TNA)
Chinese business keen to boost investment in Thailand
Chinese businesspersons are interested in investing more
in various industries in Thailand, Industry Minister Chanchai Chairungruang
said on Thursday.
Speaking after meeting with executives of the Sino-Thai Chamber of Commerce,
Charnchai said he learned that the Chinese business operators showed
interest to invest more in Thailand.
From some 200 companies, each with a business size of at least Bt10 billion
in value, will meet in Bangkok May 25-27 to discuss ways to increase
investment in Thailand.
Initially, he said, the Chinese entrepreneurs had paid attention to
investing in farm product processing, foods, electronic parts, computer, and
auto parts industries.
More importantly, some of the Chinese business visitors expressed interest
to co-invest with their Thai counterparts in building an industrial estate
to accommodate their investment.
Chanchai said the Ministry of Industry and the Sino-Thai Chamber of Commerce
will discuss a way to put their investment plans into practice as soon as
possible.
The minister added the chamber had informed him of a campaign to bring
10,000 Chinese couples to wed in Thailand. It is believed the campaign would
help boost revenue significantly in the tourist business sector. (TNA)
Ex-Bangkok Bank of Commerce exec gets 20 years, Bt3 billion added fine
Thailand’s Criminal Court on Wednesday sentenced former
president of the defunct Bangkok Bank of Commerce (BBC) Krirkkiat
Jalichandra in an eighth case in a series of embezzlement charges to 20
years prison and a fine of Bt3.134 billion.
In Wednesday’s action the court sought Bt8.704 billion to be returned from
three defendants.
Krikkiat was previously sentenced to a combined 110-year imprisonment plus
fines of Bt7.49 billion and US$472 million.
The former banker is charged with embezzling about Bt1.5 billion by
collaborating with Rakesh Saxena, then advising Krirkkiat and the BBC’s
treasury, between 1994-1995, in approving loans with inflated collateral,
causing significant damage to the bank.
Saxena is living in Canada and has thwarted Thailand’s attempts to extradite
him to serve his prison sentence.
American Standard Appraisal Co. was fined Bt2 billion and its managing
director Phairoj Soongsil was sentenced to 10 years jail time and a fine of
Bt2 billion, and were ordered to return Bt1.57 billion to BBC creditors.
Other defendants in the marathon criminal case are former BBC vice-president
Ekachai Athikhomnantha and former BBC financial management and investment
banking director Wanchai Thamthitiwat, who were both found not guilty.
In Wednesday’s trial, the Criminal Court originally sentenced Krirkkiat to
130 years imprisonment but Thailand’s maximum legal imprisonment is 20
years. Subsequently the court reduced the sentence to 20 years plus the fine
of Bt3.134 billion.
Krirkkiat and his accomplices had been charged with 26 cases in the BBC saga
with the present case being number eight. (TNA)
Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand to cooperate in developing furniture
Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand have agreed to
cooperate in developing products, particularly household furnishings and
furniture, with the goal of positioning the product in markets around the
world, according to Department of Export Promotion (DEP) Director-General
Rachane Potjanasuntorn.
Leaders of the three countries discussed their concerns in the matter during
the ASEAN Summit recently held at the Cha-am resort.
Rachane said state agencies concerned with intra-ASEAN trade affairs will
meet soon to lay a tangible framework for their expanding cooperation.
He said that Thai furnishings and furniture had been recognized in quality
terms by large- and medium-size markets as well as new markets.
Although many countries have been affected by the global economic meltdown,
he believes opportunities and demands for Thai furniture would remain sound
this year.
It is expected the export of industrial products would grow 3-5 percent with
a total value of Bt45 billion this year.
“The commerce ministry is still confident that furniture exports will expand
satisfactorily,” he said, “but we are more concerned about a labor shortage
in furniture production.
“As far as I have seen, the number of employees in the furniture industry
has not been cut back. In contrast, the demand for labor in the sector has
increased,” he said. (TNA)
|
|
Automania |
News |
Business News |
Book-Movies-Music |
Columns |
Community |
Happenings
|
Dining Out & Entertainment |
Social Scene |
Sports |
Chiangmai Mail Publishing Co. Ltd.
209/5 Moo 6, T.Faham,
A.Muang, Chiang Mai 50000
Tel. 0 5385 2557 Fax. 0 5326 0738
e-mail: cnxmail@chiangmai-mail.com
www.chiangmai-mail.com
Administration: md@chiangmai-mail.com
Advertising: advertising@chiangmai-mail.com
sales@chiangmai-mail.com
Subscription: subscription@chiangmai-mail.com
Copyright © 2004 Chiangmai Mail. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
|
