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Published on March 27, 2008

 The loan is worth ¥62.4 billion (Bt20 billion) and carries a 1.4-per-cent interest rate. The 25-year contract includes a seven-year grace period. Negotiations with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation for the loan had taken several months.

Banks to close for only two days

Thai commercial banks will open for business on April 16, even though the day was recently made a public holiday for Songkran, the Bank of Thailand said yesterday. The Cabinet earlier announced the holiday period would run from April 12-16. By law, banks cannot close for more than four straight days.

Akebono Brake expands

Japan's Akebono Brake Industry plans overseas investments worth ¥50 billion (Bt16 billion) over the next three fiscal years, including ¥6 billion in China, Thailand and Indonesia, according to The Nikkei.

The news agency said the investment is part of a new plan aimed at boosting operating profits by 29 per cent to ¥20 billion in fiscal 2010.

The company aims to expand its core brake business, particularly in Asia, and to expand earnings in non-automotive segments such as industrial machinery and rolling stock. 

The best workers

Hewitt Associates, a global human resources services firm, is launching a "Best Employers in Thailand 2009" study. It has asked firms keen to participate to register before July. The study will form part of its Asia study, which has been expanded to include Malaysia and Thailand

South Korean trade benefits

Thailand has agreed to a free-trade agreement with South Korea under the Asean-Korea FTA framework.  Foreign Trade director-general Apiradee Tantraporn expects the trade deficit to narrow after the FTA, as 90 per cent of imports would be exempt from tariffs.

The Nation