CEO Jumrud Sawang-samud said the company was aiming for Bt2 billion in revenue this year, 80 per cent of which would come from the public sector, including the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand and the Department of Land.

"Though most of the company's revenue comes from the government and public sector, the military coup staged last month should not affect our business plan next year," he said.

Jumrud said the company now has a backlog of projects with a combined value of Bt1 billion that will add to its revenue next year.

He said IRCP also intended to bid for more IT projects, both public and private, worth an estimated Bt3 billion to Bt4 billion. One of these is the Ministry of Information and Technology's Smart Card Project (Phase 3), which requires the production of 13 million ID cards.

IRCP and its partner-in-charge HST Consortium won Phase 2 of the project worth Bt486.85 million last month. The company's partners for that project include Chinese-based Eastcompeace Smart Card Co Ltd and Korea's Samsung.

"Our partner is a leading card-manufacturer in China. That's why we can offer much cheaper prices than other companies," Jumrud said.

"IRCP also aims to expand its service into other sectors, including hospitals and banking."

Jumrud added that growth in the IT market was dependent on the Gross Domestic Product.

If the GDP grows 4 per cent, as the National Economic and Social Development Board has predicted, Jumrud expects the IT market to grow by 10 per cent.

Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul

The Nation