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Published on July 13, 2007

Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) yesterday signed a US$70-million (Bt2.34 billion) contract for 12 trains of four carriages each with Changchun Railway Vehicles, Mit-sui & Co (Thailand) and Citic International.

Anat Arbhabhirama, adviser to the board, said the first train was due to arrive in Bangkok in two years and the rest would follow six months later. The 48 rail cars will be built in Changchun's factory in China, in compliance with manufacturers in Europe and Japan. Train facilities will be developed to be more efficient and convenient than existing Skytrains, he said.

Porsche Design will configure the train body and interior ergonomics to be the same as the existing Skytrain.

Real Estate

Bt1-bn Prueksa bonds

Prueksa Real Estate will raise Bt1 billion through issuing unsubordinated debentures for working capital and a condominium project. President Thongma Vijitpongpun said the three-year bonds would pay interest every six months. The bonds will be sold to institutional investors late this month, with the coupon rate fixed through book-building. Capital Nomura Securities is the underwriter.

Shop & Call free

Big C, DTAC campaign

Big C and Total Access Communication (DTAC) will launch a "Shop Call Free, Happy Gives More" campaign offering Big C and Happy customers free calls when they shop for any of 6,000 participating items.

Happy has also produced 1.5 million Happy Shop Call Free top-up cards with bonus credits.

During the introductory period, Big C and Happy customers who subscribe to the programme at all Big C superstores will receive free credits worth a total of Bt2 million and Bt2 million in discount coupons.

"More than Bt20 million was set aside for marketing activities in support of this campaign," Jariya Chirathivat, vice president for marketing and communications at Big C Supercentre, said yesterday.