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Russia makes good 20-year-old
US$36 million Soviet rice
export debt to Thailand
Russia has paid its rice debt of US$36 million, over
Bt1.1 billion, inherited from the former Soviet Union, according to Commerce
Ministry spokesman Chatchai Chookaew.
The funds transfer was made on June 15 by the Russian
government to the Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIM Bank). The debt
payment was later transferred to the Ministry of Commerce, which will
transfer the sum to the Ministry of Finance.
Thai Commerce Minister Pornthiva Nakasai travelled to the
Russian capital on behalf of the Thai government to sign the agreement May
31 with Russian Deputy Finance Minister Sergey Storchak that Russia would
repay its rice debt’s principal sum of about US$36 million to Thailand by
July 12.
At that time, the minister said the accord was to
maintain good relations between both countries and that some of the interest
had previously been paid to the Thai government by Russia, and that the
latter is an interesting market for Thailand, as the country is dependent on
rice imports of 400,000 tonnes annually.
The US$36 million debt was in arrears for over 20 years
as Thailand sold 200,000 tonnes of rice to the former Soviet Union in 1990
under a government-to-government contract. It was understood at that time to
be repaid in two years, but the Soviet Union collapsed the following year
and the Russian Federation government could not meet the obligation.
Several negotiations followed. The latest agreement
relieves Russia of the accrued interest of US$9 million. (MCOT)
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Mayor expects Pattaya Grand Sale to draw more tourists than 2010
Organizers, led by Mayor Itthiphol
Kunplome kick
off this year’s Pattaya Grand Sale.
Pratchaya Kerdthong
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome expects this year’s Pattaya Grand
Sale to attract more tourists and offer larger discounts than last year’s
inaugural promotion.
At an informational meeting for businesses interested in
participating in the city-wide discount program, Itthiphol said more than more
than 130 hotels, restaurants, spas and attractions have registered to
participate.
The June 23 meeting allowed Grand Sale sponsors, which
include the Chonburi Pattaya Restaurant Club, Eastern Golf Club, Eastern Thai
Hotels Association and Pattaya Business & Tourism Association, to discuss
promotion of discounts, setup and other organization questions.
The sale, which runs through Sept. 30, offers discounts on
food, lodging and activities of up to 70 percent.
65 million passengers expected to be using Thailand’s airports by November
Some 65 million passengers, a 13 percent rise, are
expected to use Thailand’ airports in the 2011 fiscal year, from October
2010 to through November this year, according to the Airports Authority of
Thailand (AoT). AoT’s senior executive vice president and
acting president Nirandra Theeranartsin said that 418,000 flights, or an 8
percent increase, are forecast accordingly. The two figures will be AoT’s
highest statistics as a result.
Nirandra said the statistics of passengers using AoT’s
six airports who are mainly from China, South Korea and Russia, during the
past eight months reached 44.77 million with 295,000 flights operating
overall.
AoT’s operation during the past six months of this fiscal
year reached a net profit of Bt2.3 billion.
Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi Airport can currently support
about 45 million passengers. AoT’s committee consequently agreed to increase
its capacity to welcome more travelers, as suggested by the International
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Domestic terminals are to be built there to support
another 20 million passengers with an initial construction budget of Bt9.1
billion and a 44-month construction period.
Meanwhile, Don Mueang Airport’s domestic flight services
and operations at its domestic terminal will be moved to its international
terminal 1, able to support 16 million passengers per year, in order that
the domestic terminal can in the future be used as an aviation maintenance
centre.
Around 2.5 million travelers currently use Don Muang
Airport, a 43.8-percent rise year-on-year. The figure is expected to
increase to 3.9 million by November.
The Airports Authority of Thailand from November 1, 2011
through October 31, 2013 will reduce landing and take-off fees for airlines
operating regular flights. It will also offer such fee reduction and cut
down aircraft fees for carriers participating in Don Mueang Airport’s
Marketing Incentive Program, expected to help increase the number of
passengers, flights and new routes. (MCOT)
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Flag carrier THAI
not raising airfare
Thailand’s national flag carrier Thai Airways
International (THAI) will not raise its ticket prices or fuel surcharge
included in the airfare although the Airports Authority of Thailand (AoT)
indicates that it will raise its airport use fees, according AoT President
Piyasvasti Amaranand. The national carrier is holding the
line on fare costs, he said, because oil prices have dropped. But he
cautioned that THAI will adjust its fares if fuel costs rise, the airline
president said. Fuel costs are considered the main factor and count for 40
percent of airline operating costs, he said.
Piyasvasti said that the number of passengers using the
airline is satisfactory.
The figure increased 9 percent year-on-year during June
1-27, while advance flight bookings have risen. The passenger load per
flight is some 80 percent daily. The president said he considered it a good
sign for THAI’s revenues. (MCOT)
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