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Five land routes to link Thailand with neighbors
The Ministry of Transport has planned to develop five
land routes linking Thailand with its neighboring countries to support the
government’s policy of turning the Thai kingdom into a regional transport
and communication hub in the future.
The five planned land routes are
Bangkok-Malaysia-Singapore in the South; Bangkok-Kanchnaburi-Tavoy in the
West; Bangkok-Aranya Prathet-Phnom Penh-Ho Chi Minh City in the East;
Bangkok-Mukdahan-Savannakhet-Dong Ha-Da Nang, Bangkok-Ubon
Ratchathani-Pakse-Da Nang, Bangkok-Nakorn Phanom-Tha Khaek- Vinh, and
Bangkok-Nong Khai-Vientiane in the Northeast; and Bangkok-Chiang Rai-Kunming
in the North, according to the Ministry of Transport.
The Ministry of Transport will also construct new roads
and mass transport systems, including a train network linking the Laem
Chabang Deep-sea Port in the eastern province of Chonburi with other
transport terminals, which will be connected with the regional routes. (TNA)
An End of an Era
Jock Watt, CUEL’s construction manager, who was
responsible for the establishment and development of the CUEL offshore
fabrication and construction yard at Laem Chabang in April 2000 and his
lovely wife Paddy, have completed their term in Thailand and will return to
Australia early April 2004.
 Jock
says his farewells to senior staff of CUEL Limited at a farewell function
for Jock and Paddy in the Red Baron Restaurant at the Amari Orchid Resort.
They will both be sadly missed by the friends that they have made in
Thailand and by Jock’s work colleagues here, who held him in very high
esteem.
Jock Watt was instrumental in the establishment of the
Laem Chabang fabrication yard; he set up the entity then known as
Clough-Unithai Engineering Ltd. in April 2000 after the formation of the UCU
Alliance, involving Clough Engineering Ltd., Unithai Shipyard and
Engineering Ltd., and Unocal Thailand Ltd., from a concept formulated by
Unocal Thailand Ltd. to set up a fabrication yard in Thailand, initially to
support their activities in the Gulf of Thailand and bring some much needed
competition to what had been a monopoly in this business here.
Since the inception of what we now know as CUEL Ltd.,
Jock developed a team of experienced and competent people around him, that
ultimately became known as the “Scottish Mafia”, who have been
responsible for fabricating better quality, cheaper and delivered on time
platforms and jackets for Unocal and other clients, more recently the Hazira
platform and Jacket for Niko Resources. It has been under the stability of
Jock’s leadership that the Laem Chabang yard has become a very efficient
and profitable operation. It is a credit to the man that there have been
very few staff changes during Jock’s tenure as his people management
skills have held together a dedicated team of professionals who have worked
extremely well with each other and complimented each other.
You’ve all heard the saying that behind every
successful man there is a good woman. In Jock’s case this is no exception.
We have all grown to love and respect Paddy and enjoy her sense of
friendship and fun. In fact, she once said to me that any woman would need a
good sense of humour to be married to Jock.
Jock has now handed over the reigns of the yard to John
Blyton, who has been appointed by CUEL from Australia and who is very
experienced in fabrication and construction.
Jock will take up a senior position with Clough Engineering Ltd., back in
Perth, Western Australia.
Healthy outlook for Thailand’s construction industry
Minister of Industry Pinit Charusombat said the
construction industry this year is expected to expand further on the back of
the recovery in the Thai economy. ‘As such, there will be strong
investment in the construction sector especially on large-scale projects,
not only in the new Suvarnabhumi international airport but also the planned
expansion to Bangkok’s existing sky-train networks and the Au Arthorn
low-cost housing project,” Pinit said, adding that the overall value could
rise as high as 700 billion baht this year.
Pinit said, “The government’s policy to boost
economic growth at the grassroots level will definitely aid the growth of
the construction industry after years of stagnation and stalled projects.
However, the expansion of the construction industry has led to a shortage in
supply of several building materials including cement and steel, forcing up
prices. The government must keep a close eye on the situation to make sure
consumers are not negatively affected by a shortage of materials on the
market.” (TNA)
Thailand to plough US$1 billion into Asia Bond 2
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has confirmed the
government’s commitment to the Asia Bond 2 scheme by pledging investment
of USD1 billion.
Investment in the second phase of the project would be
higher than investment in the first phase, as the first phase had more to do
with the spirit of cooperation than actual investment. Thaksin said the
money would come from Thailand’s international reserve fund.
Indonesia has also promised to put USD1 billion in the
second phase of the project. Further discussions on the scheme are scheduled
to take place in April. (TNA)
Teak deal with Myanmar
Myanmar has offered to sell 1,500 cubic meters of teak
logs to Thailand in a deal which this northern province of Mae Hong Son
hopes will not only help boost the national and local economy, but also
foster good bilateral relationship.
The deal, proposed by Myanmar Prime Minister Khin Nyunt,
will see Thailand’s Forest Industry Organization (FIO) drag the logs
across the border from opposite Mae Hong Son province.
Commenting on the deal, Mae Hong Son Provincial Governor
Suphot Laowansiri said yesterday that the good relations at local and
national level between the two countries meant that the deal was likely to
proceed smoothly. Offering his province’s full support, he said that the
deal would serve to boost the local economy.
A Mae Hong Son-based security official, who declined to
be named, said that Gen. Khin Nyunt had proposed the deal in recognition of
Thailand’s sincerity in helping solve Myanmar’s problems, in particular
problems relating to the narcotics trade. (TNA)
ICT Ministry launches online knowledge center
The Ministry of Information and Communications Technology
(ICT) has launched an online knowledge center which will bring together
experts in 13 fields of knowledge to provide information to the public.
Announcing the launch of the Thailand Knowledge Center website, ICT Minister
Surapong Suebwonglee said that visitors to the website, www.tkc.go.th would
be able to search the national knowledge website for data on a range of
issues.
“The ICT Ministry is now approaching experts in various
fields to provide information in 13 subjects,” Surapong said. Although he
did not provide a full list of names, he hinted that Dr. Chai-anand
Samutwanich might be able to provide information on legal issues, while Dr.
Praves Vasi, would be able to give health information.
The ICT Ministry hopes to be able to draw at least 100
national experts into the scheme. Information currently on the website
concerns information on investment from the Stock Exchange of Thailand
(SET), information on the arts and culture from the Bangkok Metropolitan
Administration (BMA)’s Arts and Culture Foundation, as well as links to
over 12,000 other sites.
The website, which has received financial support from
Sun Microsystems, is expected to be completed by April. (TNA)
Laos and Thailand open border gates for transit trucks
Laos and Thailand have officially opened their border
gates for free voyage of transit trucks from the other country, which is
expected to help boost bilateral trade and investment between the two
sisters’ countries.
The move, effective since 1 March, was under an agreement
reached by transport ministries of the two countries in Luang Prabang, Laos.
The agreement also allows the trucks to stay in the other country for 15
days or more.
“Transport ties between the two ‘sister’ countries
dates back long ago, as trucks carrying imports and exports from Laos made
their transit through Thailand,” said Lattanalum Khunnivon, Head of the
Lao Transport Department under the Ministry of Transport, Communication,
Post and Construction.
“The two countries’ decision to open border gates,
which falls in line with a regional project on transnational transport
linkage scheduled to kick off by 2005, will also help Laos boost transport
development and other relevant services.” Khunnivon said. He added that
Laos and Thailand have also signed a treaty on transport cooperation. (TNA)
Thailand eyes UAE to expand
Middle East trade, aviation
Thailand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have launched
bilateral discussions aimed at generating aviation and trade ties, with each
country acting as a gateway to its respective region.
Speaking in Dubai to a meeting between the Ministry of
Transport and new UAE airlines, Deputy Prime Minister Bhokin Bhalakula noted
that the UAE wanted to use Thailand as a gateway to expand aviation links with
other countries in Asia.
At the same time, Thailand perceived the UAE to be in an
economically strategic position, with its organizational system and facilities
making it suitable as a gateway for the distribution of Thai goods to the
Middle East and Africa.
In January Thailand’s exports to new markets increased by
14.7 percent, with exports to the Middle East up 21.6 percent. (TNA)
500 billion baht budget to be
used to address traffic woes
The government is working on comprehensive strategies to
address traffic problems in Bangkok, and a 500 billion baht budget will be
earmarked to support the plans.
The strategies, also aimed at upgrading the capital city’s
traffic and mass transport systems, were discussed at a meeting organized by the
Office of the Commission for the Management of Land Traffic (OCMLT).
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra chaired the meeting, at
which ministers concerned also attended, including Deputy Prime Minister
Chaturon Chaisang, Deputy Prime Minister Suwit Khunkitti, Deputy Prime Minister
Wissanu Krea-Ngam, Finance Minister Suchart Jaovisidha, Transport Minister
Suriya Jungrungreangkit, and Information and Communications Technology Minister
Surapong Suebwonglee.
The strategies being tailored intend to integrate the
national mass transport systems in urban areas including rail systems—trains,
sky trains, and underground trains, roads, and express ways to facilitate
business transport and public communication.
“For the rail transport systems, the government will
earmark a budget of around 500 billion baht to develop the systems”, Premier
Thaksin told the meeting, held at an underground train station located near the
Office of the National Culture Commission. (TNA)
Local green tea product market
has potential for growth
The local green tea product market still has much room to
grow since more Thai people have become health conscious, according to the
Kasikorn Research Center (KRC). The leading think tank said green tea
products have enjoyed an impressive growth rate as many kinds of products
turn to use green tea as their ingredient to attract health-conscious
customers.
Currently, a green tea drink, particularly an instant
one, promises leapfrogging growth, as other green tea products are expected
to enjoy the high growth as well.
Global tea outputs now stand at 2,600 kilograms totally.
Of this, 23% is green tea categorized into Japanese and Chinese products.
Japan is regarded as the world’s key green tea production source where the
product is of excellent quality.
However, the Victoria State of Australia has emerged as a
new challenging green tea production source, as there is an investment in
Japanese green tea production. Still, it focuses on cosmetics partially made
by green tea, and instant foods made from green tea.
As for the green tea product market in Thailand, an
instant drink has been very popular. The market value is projected to
increase up to 1.5 billion baht this year, and continues to grow further, as
many entrepreneurs have gradually invested in the business, and have adopted
marketing strategies to expand consumer base.
The KRC said that the popularity of green tea had led to
a continued increase in the import of the product into Thailand over the
past five years. The import value has annually risen 12.2% with China,
Japan, Taiwan and Sri Lanka becoming key import destinations. At the same
time, Thailand has annually exported green tea with an average growth rate
of 6.5% over the past five years.
However, green tea exported from Thailand is mostly used
as a raw material for consumer products. Key export destinations for Thai
green tea include Singapore and Malaysia. (TNA)
Cambodia-Thailand to sign
trade cooperation pact
Thailand and Cambodia concluded an agreement last week on
trade cooperation, which will lead to the reduction of trade barriers and
increase in bilateral trade between the two neighboring countries, according
to Commerce Minister Watana Muangsook.
Watana said, “At the First JTC Meeting, hosted by the
Department of Trade Negotiations, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to jointly
address trade problems and to reduce trade obstacles between the two
countries. The two neighboring countries will sign a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) on the bilateral trade cooperation soon, with a
statement on details of the MOU to be also issued.”
Watana explained that the MOU would cover six agreed
frameworks, including trade and investment facilitations, border trade,
cross-border transport, a joint panel to work out on a joint Thai-Cambodian
economic cooperation, a research project on the establishment of a central
market on wholesale and exports in Cambodia, and the establishment of a
special economic zone.
“The new agreement with Cambodia is hoped to not only
reduce trade barriers and address other trade problems between Thailand and
Cambodia, but also help boost the country’s trade and investment with all
four new ASEAN members as a whole”, Watana projected.
ASEAN now groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam, the
latter four of which are new member states.
Thailand has targeted to double its trade with the four
countries within the next five years. Last year, Thai exports to Cambodia
accounted for US$685.4 million, an increase of 32.8% from the previous year,
with fuel, motorcycles and parts, beverages, cement, and chemical products
being on top of the export list; while imports from Cambodia stood at
US$12.3 million, an increase of 10.8% from the previous year, according to
the commerce minister. (TNA)
Thai economy enjoys second
highest growth after China
The country’s economy grew 7.8% in the fourth quarter
of 2003 and 6.7% for the whole year, the second highest after China,
according to the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB).
Chakramon Phasukavanich, NESDB’s Secretary-General,
reported that China enjoyed the economic growth of 9.1% last year, as the
global economy grew 3.2%, with the United States expanding 3.1%, the
European Union (EU) 0.7%, and Japan 2.7%. The Thai economic growth of 7.8%
in the final quarter of last year was much higher than targeted, he said.
The NESDB chief said that the non-agricultural sector
grew 8% as a result of the improvement in the construction, financial
service, local consumption, and exports.
The farm sector expanded 6.3%, as the industrial sector
grew 10.7%, boosted by the significant improvement in the construction,
automobile, machinery and electrical appliance industries. The financial
sector grew 18.2%, he noted.
With the continued increase in trade, investment, and
exports, NESDB projected that the country’s economy would expand 7-8% this
year. In particular, direct investment by foreign investors, which would
play a key role in boosting the economic growth, had begun to gain momentum,
he disclosed.
Chakramon said he believed the outbreak of bird flu in
the country would reduce the annual economic growth by only 0.4%. But he
conceded the avian influenza outbreak, which continued until early this
year, would have an effect on some sections of the economy in the first
half, but the impact would ease in the second quarter.
The southern violence and protests against the
privatization of state enterprises were unlikely to have a severe effect on
the economy, he said, adding that NESDB had not included the two events in
its economic estimate for this year.
He said the national think tank targeted to see the
export grow 17%, with a total value of around US$ 7.65 billion a month, and
the import expand 19% this year on the assumption that the economy would
enjoy an 8% growth. (TNA)
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