Thailand Company News

Business owners should adjust themselves and support the new government's plan to increase the daily minimum wage, say economists from the Panyapiwat Institute of Technology and the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI).

Coal traders Asia Green Energy and Unique Mining Services will likely escape hardships from the court order to stop coal transportation in Samut Sakhon due to their spare storage space but sentiment towards their stock prices could soften, according to brokerages.

As new low-rise supply in the mid- to high-priced market is very limited, the listed developer Sansiri Plc (SIRI) will launch three-storey single houses priced over 10 million baht and four-storey townhouses priced 19 million baht this quarter.

Everything in Terminal 1 at the old Don Mueang Airport remains intact and in good working condition after five years of inactivity during which it has faded from the memories of many travellers.

Lombard Investments says it has fully exited its investment in Somboon Advance Technology, one of Thailand's leading auto-parts manufacturers, earning a return of 3.5 times its investment.

Advanced Info Service, the country's largest mobile operator, has started commercial 3G wireless broadband services as part of its 10-billion-baht network expansion this year.

Singha Corporation, the country's largest brewer, is interested in expanding into soft drinks to strengthen its non-alcoholic product lineup.

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.