Briefs

Loxley to host business delegation from Myanmar

Loxley will host 44 businesspeople from Myanmar at its headquarters in Bangkok's Klong Toei district next Monday.

The meeting will serve as a platform to explore potential business partnerships between Loxley Group and Myanmar companies, said Dr Jingjai Hanchanlash, Loxley's international affairs adviser.

The Myanmar delegation will comprise leaders from such fields as information and communications technology, trading, energy, logistics, banking, export-import, consumer goods, electromotive products, tourism, manufacturing, precious stones and chemicals.

Representatives from the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Myanmar Ministry of Industry will also be present. The purpose of the visit will centre on the concept of collective sharing in the Asean Economic Community and future friendship between Thailand and Myanmar.



TV rule change sought from NBTC

Major TV broadcasters have called for a revision on the proportion of airtime slots for outside co-production houses in draft regulations proposed by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC).

Representatives from the Royal Army's TV5 and MCOT, appearing yesterday at a public hearing on the draft regulations, said an appropriate proportion of airtime at each digital terrestrial TV broadcaster for its joint content producers should range from 20-50 per |cent. This would secure their long-term business and open more doors for local content producers.

The draft regulation determines that a digital terrestrial TV broadcaster must offer 10-40 per cent of its airtime for co-content producers in support of those companies that cannot afford a licence to hold a spectrum and another licence to operate their own TV channel.

After the public hearing, deputy secretary-general Prasert Apipunya said the NBTC would submit the draft to the broadcasting committee next week for approval before putting it into force within the next 30 days.



Three industrial estates sell 6,600 rai

Three listed industrial-estate firms sold a total of 6,600 rai (more than 1,050 hectares) last year, up 80 per cent from 2011.

According to research by Kiatnakin Securities Co, Amata Corporation sold 2,800 rai, Hemaraj Land and Development sold 2,300 rai, and Rojana Industrial Park sold 1,500 rai in 2012.

The research also predicts that demand for land in industrial estates will continue to grow this year. The demand will come from the automotive, food and consumer-products industries, as well as new industries related to information technology.

Last year, applications for tax privileges from the Board of Investment amounted to Bt1.12 trillion for 2,780 projects, and this will drive demand for land for production plants in the industrial estates, the securities house said.



Thaivivat eyes 10% premium growth

Thaivivat Insurance has targeted premium growth of 10 per cent from Bt2.65 billion last year, with the main focus on auto insurance.

The company's president and chief executive officer, Jiraphant Asvatanakul, said the auto market had grown significantly. Thaivivat will also increase the number of insurance-claim staff to 100 this year from the present 80. He expects total premiums in the insurance market this year to be Bt200 billion.

The company earned premiums of Bt2.65 billion last year, up 20 per cent from 2011 and higher than the original target of Bt2.5 billion, thanks to the first-car scheme that boosted car sales.

Toyo-Thai in Qatar desalination project

Toyo-Thai Corporation will participate in a Bt6.4-billion project to construct the Ras Abu Fontas A2 desalination plant in Qatar for Qatar Electricity & Water Co.

The company had joined a consortium led by Mitsubishi Corporation to bid on this project.

Construction commences this month and completion is scheduled for June 2015, Gobchai Tanasugarn, general manager for finance and investor relations, said yesterday.



TUF upgraded

TRIS Rating has upgraded the company and senior debenture ratings of Thai Union Frozen Products to "AA-" from "A+". The outlook remains "stable".

The upgrade reflects the company's improved financial profile and its successful business consolidation of MW Brands Holdings Group, a vertically integrated canned-seafood producer in Europe.

The ratings reflect TUF's strong market position as one of the world's leading tuna processors, as well as the diversity of its products and markets, and the group's well-recognised brands in Europe and the United States, TRIS said.