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PM reassures investors
Despite a decline in exports due to a sluggish global
economy, the country’s economy is projected to grow 4 to 4.5 per cent this
year, while government spending and investment by state enterprises are
expected to continue rising, Prime Minister Gen. Surayud Chulanont said to a
group of local and foreign investors attending the Third Thailand Focus in
Bangkok.
He added that his interim government continued to support tourism and
projected that about 14.8 million tourists would visit Thailand in 2007.
The government is also exploring trade and investment opportunities with
other countries through bilateral and multilateral systems, he said.
The forum, organized by the Stock Exchange of Thailand, was designed to
serve as a venue for investors to be kept informed of Thailand’s political
direction and policies of the new government in the future.
Thailand will embark on sustainable development, in both politics and
economy, and efforts by the government this year will make the country an
attractive place for investment and doing business, the prime minister
reaffirmed.
Touching on local politics, Gen. Surayud emphasized to investors that his
interim government and the Council for National Security had agreed to hold
a free and fair general election before the year end and the newly-elected
government should be formed in January.
The coming three months will be considered as vital for the future political
development of Thailand, he added. TNA
THAI considers aircraft
replacement options
Thai Airways International (THAI) is mulling over three
options for the second-phase of its 10-year fleet expansion plan, set to roll
out from next year to 2017.
President, Mr. Apinan Sumanaseni, said the first phase, from next year to 2011,
had already been approved and would see THAI adding 15 new Airbuses - eight
A330-300s, six A380s and one A340-600. The airline is expected to take delivery
of two A330-300s and one A340-600 next year.
Mr. Apinan said the second phase would be finalised by end-September or early
next month at the latest.
The three options, which involve replacing all 20-year-old aircraft, are: buying
65 new aircraft at a budget of 390 billion baht (US$12 billion); buying 53 new
aircraft for 320 billion baht; and buying 61 new aircraft for 340 billion baht.
The last two options will see the airline releasing all its Boeing 747-400s at
25 years of utilisation instead of 20 years.
Mr. Apinan said the first two options were expected to yield growth of 4.9 per
cent per year, which was lower than the average market growth. He added option
three would generate 5.6 per cent growth annually and would allow THAI to
maintain a market share of 40 per cent in Asia.
By 2017, the airline will have a fleet of 117 aircraft if it opts for option one
or two and 126 aircraft for option three. (TTG)
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