Cash/barter for Chinese tablets

Thailand will buy up to 900,000 tablet computers from China via a government-to-government contract with payment made in cash and produce.

Information and Comm-unications Technology (ICT) Minister Gp Captain Anudith Nakornthap yesterday said the two countries had signed a memorandum of understanding on the planned procurement.

"We are negotiating the price and payment options with China," he said. He expected the negotiations to conclude this month.

Anudith said the negotiations would be based on mutual benefit. He denied reports that the government would trade rice at a low price for the tablets.

"The negotiations will be fair to both sides. China is a big manufacturer. It can offer tablets at a competitive price," he said.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra wants to see the handout of tablets under the One Tablet PC Per Child project - a brainchild of her Pheu Thai Party - take place next month, according to her deputy secretary-general, Thitima Chaisang.

Anudith said the government had already approved a Bt1.9-billion budget for the procurement of 560,000 tablets. However, he said more funds would be needed because the Education Ministry plans to distribute the devices to all 860,000 Prathom 1 students before the start of the upcoming semester. With some tablets to be given to children in other grades, the ministry will need up to 900,000 of them. "The Cabinet will be asked to approve the additional budget and purchase of tablets at its meeting next Tuesday," he said.

Huawei Thailand’s chief technology officer, Michael MacDonald, said yesterday that the firm is interested in taking part in the tablet project. However, meeting some project requirements, such as the number of tablets and delivery times, might be difficult, he said.

MacDonald said the company’s tablet PC production capacity is between 5,000 and 10,000 units per 50 days.