ThaiVest Editorial Team

Thailand could witness its economic growth slow to 4-4.5 per cent this year, given its automotive sector hit by the supply chain disruptions from Japan's disasters and the tightened monetary stance to curb inflation, according to the Asian Development Bank.

After being perceived as an entertainment district for decades, the Ratchadaphisek area is being transformed into a major new business district with at least seven new commercial properties totalling 800,000 square metres scheduled to be completed in 2013.

Key elements of the incoming government's populist policies, particularly the planned increase in the minimum wage and heavy subsidies, are a major concern for companies, as they fear the measures will slow the business sector down over the remainder of the year and during 2012.

Nokia Thailand is undergoing a major restructuring by setting up a specific wireless "ecosystem" division to drive its device and application service bundling strategy.

Expressing strong confidence in Thailand's economic growth and the booming Pattaya property market, two Israeli investors will commit 2 billion baht to develop a waterfront project after spending 300 million baht to buy out its owner, the Israeli company Erland Land Co.

Nissan has marked Thailand and Indonesia as its strategic growth drivers in Asean under its six-year business plan announced yesterday.

Charoen Pokphand Group, the country's largest agro-business conglomerate, said yesterday that it stood ready to increase minimum wages to Bt300 and new graduates' salaries to Bt15,000 in line with the incoming government's policy pledges, in order to drive the country's growth and domestic consumption.

The real estate market in Thailand is looking up, with markets in Bangkok and resort areas expected to see the biggest boom, according to recent research from real estate developer Knight Frank.

The new 3G service provider, Real Move, has targeted about 1 million subscribers this year, said Supachai Chearavanont, chief executive officer of parent company True Corp.