But first seeks nod for 4 new Thai units. True Corp Plc president Supachai Chearavanont spoke on Tuesday about exploring telecom opportunities in China and why the 3G licence means so much for True’s wireless group.

Dhanin again makes ‘Fortune’ 25 in Asia

Dhanin Chearavanont, chairman of the Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group, beat out many other businessmen in Asia to keep his place as one of Fortune magazine’s 25 smartest, most successful and most influential business leaders in Asia. In the magazine’s second annual ranking, Dhanin - the only Thai in the list - is ranked 16, down from 11 last year.

TPI firms seek restructuring extensions

Thai Petrochemical Industry Plc, the country’s biggest corporate debtor, plans to extend its debt-restructuring process for three months while its cement unit, TPI Polene, wants an extra year.

PICNIC CORP: Trading suspended after foreign buy

SET demands details of B’desh purchase

Event organisers start club

Thirty-nine event organisers have banded together to form the Event Management Club (EMC), to help them expand globally.

STREET WISE: Debt plan mired in confusion

It has been more than 10 days now since Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra unveiled his plan to clear up people’s debts. He vowed at the time that no taxpayer money would be needed for the purpose.

CORPORATE CLEAN-UP: BOT calls for action against cheats

Targets overblown IPO claims, false applications by consumer-loan ‘brokers’

Ministry to retain FIDF rehab role

The Finance Ministry has decided to retain the Financial Institutions Development Fund (FIDF) and to maintain its role of financial rehabilitation in case of a future need to rescue a bank.

INTEREST RATE HIKES: Four major banks follow BBL’s lead

Four large banks, Kasikornbank, Siam Commercial Bank, Krung Thai Bank and TMB Bank, have followed in the footsteps of Bangkok Bank by raising both deposit and lending rates.

Growth to increase demand for credit

Exports, tourism and infrastructure mega-projects will help fuel economic expansion and demand for credit, according to Kasikornbank.

Coupon rate set at 6.4%

The Finance Ministry has set a coupon rate of 6.4 per cent for the third tranche of government savings bonds worth Bt2 billion.

BIZNEWS ROUND-UP

- In an attempt to beat inflation, Finance Minister Thanong Bidaya yesterday approved in principle allowing the Government Pension Fund (GPF) to expand its investments in equity and property markets, from 20 per cent to 25 per cent of its total assets worth Bt275 billion. The GPF is now 13-14 per cent invested in the equity market. It wants to increase its investments in foreign stock markets from 3 per cent to 5 per cent.

HOT STOCKS

Stock: Oishi Plc (OISHI)

TELEPHONE CALLS: AIS, CAT to merge their phone bills

Easier payment for post-paid customers

Licensee to open its accounts to the NTC

CAT Telecom Plc will open its books to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) soon as part of a plan to calculate its regulatory fee.

IN BRIEF

MALAYSIA: Construction company wins Thai contracts

BUSINESS DIARY

08.00 Service training

COMPANY REPORTS

BANGCHAK PETROLEUM’s board approved an increase in registered capital, from Bt867 million to Bt1.53 billion, through the issuance of 664.5 million new ordinary shares.

ACMECS COOPERATION: 50% rise in Mekong region trade expected

Achieving target depends on successful completion of trade, investment projects

Gaysorn looks to upgrade its retail image

Gaysorn will spend Bt100 million renovating its interior and its outside lighting system in a drive to transform itself into an exclusive shopping centre.

Insurance firm to encourage NGV conversions

Few businesses have better earnings prospects than fuel and related enterprises in the current climate of skyrocketing oil prices. Sampanh Insurance’s decision to jump into the natural-gas vehicle (NGV) business is therefore easy to understand.

Govt probes forged rice certifications

The Commerce Ministry is investigating the forgery of stickers certifying rice millers after receiving complaints that some official stickers are fakes.

LATE NEWS

GREEN TEA: Oishi caves in