PANDA CUB TO RESCUE THAILAND POST

"The panda cub will save our lives," Thailand Post president Ormsin Chivapruck said recently.

Ormsin has good reason to thank "panda fever", because it has already boosted the state agency's postcard sales after the Zoological Park Organisation (ZPO) last month invited the public to mail in postcards to name the cub.

The ZPO's board yesterday chose the four best names and will put them to a public vote.

Thailand Post will issue a special Bt5 postcard that people can use to send in their vote for the final best name. The state agency targets revenue of Bt90 million from the event.

In the past, its revenue was boosted by such special events as the European championship or the World Cup, when football fans mailed in postcards to guess the winner team and win a lucky draw.

Ormsin said Thailand Post recently lowered this year's net profit target to Bt870 million, from an original projection of Bt970 million, due to declining mail traffic.

The state agency posted a net profit of Bt940 million last year.

"People are sending fewer letters, parcels and EMS mail," he said.

Ormsin said revenue from delivering business mail had also dropped Bt20 million a month.

Moreover, the number of people paying utility bills at its counters has declined, due to competition in bill-payment services from other venues, such as modern trade outlets.

Ormsin added that Thailand Post had its operating costs under control.