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Published on September 4, 2007

Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen yesterday said the joint venture had shown improved performance. It has earned more revenue, and its fleet services have increased dramatically.

A Finance Ministry source said the ministry favoured a dissolution. Seafood venture

Refrigeration and food-processing machinery manufacturer Patkol will open a representative office in Indonesia on Thursday, following that country's decision to open its doors to foreign participation in its fishery industry.

Managing director Piya Chongvatana said Indonesia could be used as a production base to supply processed seafood to EU countries and the US. The representative office will help clients who are investing in the country and pave the way for future expansion.

Indonesia recently allowed up to 80-per-cent foreign ownership of seafood-processing businesses.

Claim of graft

Bannawit Kengrien, chairman of the National Legislative Assembly's Transport Committee, yesterday said the committee had received documents from an appraisal company indicating collusion between State Railway of Thailand (SRT) officials and SRT concessionaire the Central Group.

Bannawit said the documents showed that SRT officials invited Central Group representatives to a meeting with a committee tasked with selecting an SRT land tenant. The invitation was made in writing.

He said this was an unusual practice, because Central was an SRT tenant, and its assets must also be appraised. If tenants were invited to the meeting, others should also have been invited and not just the Central Group, he said.

"This practice is mentioned clearly in the Public-Private Joint Venture Act of 1992, but this shows secret meetings with Central and an attempt to benefit the Central Group. The committee on Thursday will interrogate the SRT officials whose names appear on the invitation letter. Then we'll consider whether to prosecute them," Bannawit said.

Teachers' pay

The Finance Ministry used Bt785 million of treasury reserves last month to pay teachers around the country who had been promised extra benefits for special knowledge.

Comptroller-General's Office deputy director-general Manas Jamveha said more than Bt12.7 billion would have be paid to the teachers this month. The number of teachers entitled to the extra pay is 364,806, for an estimated Bt1.2 billion a month.

Car auctions

Nava Leasing has announced plans for a series of car auctions as a precursor to focusing more on its car-leasing business. The first auction takes place tomorrow at the company's Bangkok headquarters.

Managing director Rattanachai Nantapramote said the company was managing bidding for the cars for the first time. It closed down its car-bidding business five years ago, but in those days it used an auction operator. Between 70 and 80 cars and pickups will go under the auctioneer's hammer tomorrow.

"Handling the auction ourselves will ensure maximum benefits for customers," he said.

The Nation