Tax collection up

Thailand's tax collection in the first 11 months of fiscal 2008 exceeded the target by Bt22.76 billion, due largely to higher profits by private firms.

The Finance Ministry collected Bt1.4 trillion in the period. Spokesman Somchai Sujjapongse expects the annualised collection to rise 2-2.5 per cent above the target of Bt1.495 trillion. - The Nation

Damri set for job

The Industry Ministry today will propose that the Cabinet appoint deputy permanent secretary Damri Sukhotanang as the new permanent secretary, says a senior official.

"As everyone expected, permanent secretary Chakramon Phasukavanich proposed Damri to Industry Minister Mingkwan Sangsuwan, saying he was qualified to succeed him," the official said.

Damri has been responsible for major policies of the ministry, including the action plan for pollution reduction in Rayong's Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate.

Four other 10th-level Industry Ministry officials will retire this month: deputy permanent secretary Direk Rathanavich, deputy permanent secretary Issara Chotiburakarn, inspector-general Wim Roongkrut and Board of Investment secretary-general Satit Chanjavanakul. - The Nation

E20-vehicle plea

Volvo Car (Thailand) is ready to kick off the marketing of E20-compatible vehicles if the Excise Department lowers the excise tax for the vehicles to 20 per cent. The department now levies 25 per cent on E20 vehicles and 17 per cent on compressed-natural-gas vehicles.

President Paul Stokes said the present 25-per-cent rate was not attractive and that a lower rate would not hurt the eco-car project. Eco-cars are small and cheaply priced at Bt400,000 to Bt600,000, while E85-capable vehicles cost Bt800,000 to Bt2 million. - The Nation

Legal charges

The Revenue Department is preparing to file legal charges against its tax-appeal panel, which ruled tax should not be collected from Bhanapot Damapong, says a source.

The panel ruled the department could not collect tax deriving from the transfer of shares from his stepsister Pojaman Shinawatra, because the statute of limitations had expired. However, the Criminal Court convicted Bhanapot of tax evasion. - The Nation

SRT seeks cost cut

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is negotiating with the Unique-Chun Wo joint venture to cut construction costs for the Red Line commuter-train project after the venture offered a bidding price that was Bt1,000 lower than its median price of Bt8.75 billion.

SRT deputy governor Nakorn Chantasorn, as chairman of the bidding committee for the 15-kilometre Red Line project connecting Bang Sue to Taling Chan, expects to receive the best negotiation price this month, which he will then submit to the SRT board.

The joint venture is between Unique Engineering and Construction and Chun Wo Construction and Engineering. - The Nation

BAAC job loans

The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives has targeted lending to 6,000 Thai workers seeking jobs abroad.

Labour Minister Uraiwan Thienthong said this would promote job mobility, because while each year tens of thousands of Thais labourers worked abroad, a large number saw their plans blocked, due to a lack of funds. Under the programme, each borrower is entitled to a maximum loan of Bt150 at annual interest of 10.5 per cent. - The Nation