Ekachai Sirijirapatana, president of IT City Plc, the giant IT superstore operator, said yesterday that ICT industry associations were sticking to the forecast made earlier in the year that the market would grow by only 10 per cent. This is a revision of the previous forecast at the end of last year of growth of 13 per cent to 15 per cent for 2006.

He said the total market value this year is predicted to be between Bt100 billion and Bt120 billion.

Ekachai said IT spending by the state sector on ongoing projects had helped drive IT product demand.

Another contribution to the sector's growth is the fact IT products are now ranked the fifth most necessary items in people's lives as they can help them improve their productivity, he said.

IT City vice president Boonjerd Harnvichitchai said product prices in the second half of the year would fall further due to the rising costs of manufacturers, prompted by rising oil prices.

"The price will be stable but the manufacturers will add more features to the products to attract buyers," he said.

IT City's sales revenue in the first quarter grew by 21 per cent from the same period last year.

Despite the slowing economy, the company is setting up seven new branches in Bangkok and the provinces. It currently has 23 branches nationwide.

IT City and its 80 IT product supplier partners are jointly organising the IT City Expo 2006 fair at branches nationwide. It runs until August 14.

Sirivish Toomgum

The Nation