briefs

Honda City gets top safety rating

Honda Automobile (Thailand)'s Honda City received a 5-star rating in the ASEAN NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme), a crash worthiness rating programme conducted for vehicles sold in Southeast Asian markets.

The Honda received a 5-star safety rating in this programme - the highest possible - for the offset frontal crash test and also received the highest score of 81 per cent for child safety.

The ASEAN NCAP crash tests were conducted by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), an agency under the Malaysian Ministry of Transport and the headquarters for ASEAN NCAP. In 2011, MIROS signed a collaboration agreement with Global NCAP, a non-profit organisation which aims to reduce the number of injuries due to traffic accidents, encourage automobile manufacturers to develop safer vehicles, and make information about vehicle safety performance universally known among consumers.

MIROS handles independent NCAP testing for vehicles available in the ASEAN region. The ASEAN NCAP tested a Malaysian-made Honda City.

Vispack targets 15% rise in revenue amid construction boom

Vispack, a producer and distributor of construction materials such as flooring, roofing and chemical products, targets revenue of Bt500 million this year, up 15 per cent from 2012, managing director Charun Detpratum said.

The government's infrastructure projects and private-sector construction would both boost demand for construction materials, he said.

As well, the company began its expansion into ASEAN countries last year, establishing Vispack Cambodia Co. It is also studying expansion into Laos this year or next.

Vispack sells floor tiles under the Armstrong brand, carpeting under ABI, HTC concrete, the aluminium-alloy roof brand Kalzip, Danpalon polycarbonate products, and waterproofing systems.

PTT, Dhanarak eye solar project

PTT Group and Dhanarak Asset Development Co are jointly studying development of a solar-energy project to produce electricity for the Government Complex on Chaeng Wattana Road.

The project would install solar panels on the roof of the complex to generate more than 2.3 megawatts.

Investment roadshow heads for HK

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will take a roadshow of the country's economy and infrastructure projects to investors in Hong Kong tomorrow.

The roadshow will be conducted by the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organisations. Yingluck and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong will meet with 10 fund managers to showcase the investment opportunities from the Kingdom's infrastructure projects and outline their confidence in the country’s continuing economic growth.

Kittiratt will also meet with 100 investors and fund managers to present the government infrastructure programme worth Bt2.2 trillion and water-management project worth more than Bt350 billion.

Extra AirAsia flights to Hong Kong

AirAsia is increasing the frequency of flights between Don Mueang and Hong Kong to three daily.

Starting from April 30, the new Flight FD 2504 will depart from Don Mueang at 3.40pm and arrive in Hong Kong at 7.25pm, while Flight FD 2505 will depart Hong Kong at 7.55pm and arrive at Don Mueang at 9.45pm.

The additional flights come with a special promotional fare starting at Bt1,790 one-way. Flights under this promotion can be booked from tomorrow to March 3 for travel between April 30, 2013, and February 9, 2014.

AirAsiaGo, the carrier's one-stop travel website, takes the promotion further by offering round-trip tickets to Hong Kong with accommodation for three days and two nights at the special starting price of Bt5,155 per person (including airport tax and based on double room occupancy).

MK net profit jumps 11%

MK Real Estate Development has reported 2012 revenue of Bt1.7 billion, up 3.04 per cent from the previous year, and net profit of Bt253.93 million, up 11.07 per cent.

The company also has a sales backlog carried over to 2013 of Bt1.3 billion, more than Bt800 million of which is from Den Vibhavadi Condominium, which is now in the process of delivery and transfer of ownership, company president Chuan Tangmatitham said.