Pattaya Mail Web

 

BUSINESS 
HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

Raimon Land launches new user-friendly website

Thailand’s state-owned banks seek capital increase support

Thai household debts nearly double in seven years

Finance minister sets sights on raising foreign investment


Raimon Land launches new user-friendly website

Raimon Land, a leading developer of luxury condominiums in Bangkok and Thailand’s holiday resorts, has launched a new corporate website at www.raimon land.com. The company says the new site is easier for all users to navigate and get the information they are looking for.

This photo shows a screenshot of property developer Raimon Land’s new interactive website.

The new website is structured in five parts: 1/ Corporate profile: strategy, management and background; 2/ The properties: with details and interactive map of all past, current and future Bangkok and resort properties – including The River in Bangkok and Northpoint in Pattaya; 3/ Investor relations: share price ticker, latest investor news, easy access to the latest quarterly analyst presentations, fact sheets and a five year financial summary; 4/ Market research: including Raimon Land’s Condominium Focus publication and ‘Why Invest…Pattaya’; 5/ Media centre: press releases, clippings and interviews.
Nigel J Cornick, Raimon Land’s Chief Executive Officer, commented on the new site: “Raimon Land is improving and streamlining its corporate communication and investor relations programmes in line with international best practice. The objective is to achieve more effective and more transparent communication with customers, investors and other stakeholders. The new website is consistent in style and content to our forthcoming annual report and corporate profile, both of which will come out at the end of April.”
 


Thailand’s state-owned banks seek capital increase support

The Kingdom’s state-owned banks are set to seek support for a capital increase of more than Bt20 billion (US$636.4 million) to accommodate implementation of the government’s economic stimulus package.
Areepong Bhucha-oom, director-general of the State Enterprise Policy Office, revealed last Sunday that state-owned financial institutions (SFI) set a target to lend Bt1.05 trillion ($33.5 billion) for this year.
Of this, Bt495.2 billion is targeted by the Government Savings Bank, Bt 200 billion by Krung Thai Bank, Bt120 billion by the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, Bt95 billion by the Government Housings Bank, Bt61.3 billion by the SME Development Bank, Bt58.5 billion by the Export and Import Bank of Thailand, and Bt15.56 billion by the Islamic Bank of Thailand.
In addition, SFI has demonstrated a need to raise its combined capital by Bt20.9 billion in preparation for the implementation of the government’s economic stimulus measures.
Of this amount, Bt10 billion is needed by the GHB to extend housing loans for low-income people, Bt1.8 billion baht by BAAC to increase its capital fund to meet business expansion, Bt5 billion baht by the EXIM Bank to expand loans for exporters and local investors, and Bt3 billion baht by the SME Bank to accommodate its plan to solve non-performing loans.
Additionally, the Secondary Mortgage Corporation had sought a capital increase of Bt600 million to support the capital market development and accommodate business expansion and the Small Industry Credit Guarantee Corporation Bt500 million to accommodate its implementation of projects initiated under the government’s policy. (TNA)


Thai household debts nearly double in seven years

Thailand’s average household debt rose to Bt116,681 (US$3,700) per family last year from Bt68,405 (US$2,166) in 2000, almost double the amount, according to Thailand’s National Statistical Office (NSO).
The increase was attributed to several factors, ranging from low interest rates and an increase in personal loans offered by financial institutions. However, debts for consumption comprised about 60 per cent of total household debts.
According to the NSO, debts against average income per household increased to 5.6 times in 2004 and slipped to 6.6 and 6.3 times in 2006 and 2007 respectively.
Household debts during the period totaled 16 per cent of total assets, still lower than a number of countries. In the US, Columbia and the Czech Republic for example, household debts stood at 30, 18 and 27 per cent respectively.
At the end of 2007, non-performing loans (NPLs) for private consumption taken at financial institutions stood at 4.1 per cent, down from 4.8 per cent from one year ago, and this was considered still low when compared to 7.3 per cent of total NPLs for all business sectors.
Despite the sharp increase in household debts in 2007, the Bank of Thailand said the majority of the debts resulted from the purchase of movable property or fluid capital and they were still “within manageable” limits and that the problem was not serious.
Most of such debts were seen in low-income families with low education who depended on loan sharks, the central bank said. (TNA)


Finance minister sets sights on raising foreign investment

London (TNA) – Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee has set a target to increase investment by British, European, and American investors in Thailand to one trillion baht (US$317 billion) within two years.
The deputy premier set the target during his road show in London last week in which he and a team of top executives of listed companies met for discussions with over 50 British and European investors and fund managers.
Provided that investors receive accurate information on doing business in Thailand, they would increase the investment weight in the country to one trillion baht in the next 1-2 years, said Surapong.
He said the investors had responded positively to the road show in which government representatives and executives of listed firms participated to give information openly and freely, which in turn allowed investors the chance to analyse the data before venturing into the Thai stock market.
“Foreign investors are happy if they are given an opportunity to get information from experts directly and enquire about issues on which they are unclear. We give them information directly and frankly,” he said.
Surapong reiterated that the government would accelerate investing up to 1.5 trillion baht in mega-projects, particularly the construction of electric mass transit rail routes, which is key to stimulating the private investment sector and driving the overall economy.
He cautioned however that the government would implement the projects with the strict monetary and fiscal discipline.
Pichai Chunhavajira, senior executive vice president of PTT Plc, said most investors had enquired about the political situation in Thailand and the government’s policy to stimulate consumption and investment. They paid much attention to the planned construction of mega-projects which they viewed would help boost confidence.
Wasan Paileeklee, president of Thailand’s state-owned broadcast company MCOT Plc, said foreign investors were interested in enquiring about his company’s future plans and strategy as they viewed MCOT to be in a strong financial position, and one that offered high dividend yields. He said investors were buoyed by the company’s better performance in the first quarter of this year and its projection of 15 per cent growth for the year overall.
 



News | Business | Features | Columns | Mail Bag | Sports | Auto Mania
Our Children | Travel | Our Community | Dining Out & Entertainment
Social Scene | Classifieds | Community Happenings | Books Music Movies
Clubs in Pattaya | Sports Round-Up


E-mail: [email protected]
Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
62/284-286 Thepprasit Road, (Between Soi 6 & 8) Moo 12, Pattaya City
T. Nongprue, A. Banglamung,
Chonburi 20150 Thailand
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596

Copyright © 2004 Pattaya Mail. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

.