Farmers and food industry to benefit. Thai manufacturers yesterday urged the government to end price controls on sugar products immediately, to stop market distortion and ease sugar hoarding by some retailers, said Thai Sugar Miller Corp (TSMC).

New Year Special: Top malls rise to Paragon’s challenge

This year has been one of major renovation and re-branding at leading shopping malls along Sukhumvit Road. The change is part of their “defensive” strategy to meet the challenge posed by the new Siam Paragon complex, which opened earlier this month and is expected to pressure the margins of the six big malls in the area:

New CEO intends to make Major change

The Major Cineplex Group is fulfilling its dream of becoming a total entertainment company by appointing as its new CEO former top Advanced Info Service (AIS) marketer Kittsanan Ngamphathipong, who is renowned for his marketing and telecommunications acumen.

Regulator wants Egat units barred from new bids

Subsidiaries of Egat Plc should not be allowed to join a new round of bidding for the right to produce new electricity, the power regulator determined in its second meeting.

BizBits:

Dad knows what you’re buying!

Interest Rate Outlook 2006: No real returns from deposits until midyear

Rates set to rise next year but inflation will continue to eat away at gains

Chaiyot calls for more credit guarantees

Deputy Finance Minister Chaiyot Sasomsub has instructed the Small Industry Credit Guarantee Corporation (SICGC) to provide more credit guarantees to agribusinesses.

Biznews round-up

- The Government Housing Bank is offering special mortgage loans to flood victims in the South. Customers can ask the bank to lower its interest rate to 1 per cent for six months. Those whose home was irreparably damaged are allowed to shoulder only part of the land cost as the bank will absorb part of the building cost. Existing and new customers can apply for a home repair loan up to 100 per cent of the appraisal price with the interest rate fixed at 3.75 per cent for five years.

Friday BUG: Kasikornbank proves itself a hero

“Heroes” – well, staff at Kasikornbank have a further reason to be proud, over and above the new bank’s publicity campaign.

BANDWIDTH SERVICES: TOT aiming for Bt17 bn in revenues from iPSTAR

ICT: Prices must be lowered before state uses can be approved

Sky-High aims for top radio-market position

Sky-High Network Co expects to be the leading radio producer next year, with targeted revenues of Bt800 million, which if achieved would represent growth of 108 per cent from this year’s Bt385 million.

IN BRIEF:

PROPERTY: Major plans 2 condo projects in Bangkok

Jewellery market ‘down 17 per cent this year’

A marketing firm for Thai jewellery companies says the Thai market has experienced a sharp drop, and is down 17 per cent from Bt85 billion in sales last year.

Diamond exchange at Thaniya Plaza

Graffiti, a marketing consultant for jewellery companies, has joined a group of suppliers and private bankers in setting up the Diamond Exchange and Resale Centre as a secondary market, in hopes that consumers will think of gems as an investment alternative.

CHANNEL 5: TV producers protest to PM

Say programme revamp has put 400 out of work

AirAsia moving into new areas

Thai AirAsia Co will diversify into cargo, advertising and catering services next year, says CEO Tassapon Bijleveld.

Cooking gas and electricity prices set to rise next year

Consumers could soon suffer from higher cooking-gas and electric bills but see only a slight increase in fuel prices.

Late News:

HITACHI: Units to merge in revamp