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THE NATION nationmultimedia.com MONDAY, April 27, 2009 / VOLUME 34, NO 52215 / Bt25

P U B L I C H E A LT H

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are also available offline, while favourite stories can be shared via e-mail, texting or Twitter.

Inside today Budget cut: The Internal Trade Department’s operations are expected to suffer next year as the government has abruptly cut its budget by more than half.

Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) should continue its upward trend this week following the government’s lifting of the state of emergency in and around Bangkok.

Best growth: Best Western International, the world’s largest hotel-chain operator, is expanding in Thailand despite political problems and the global economic crisis.

Strategic talk: The IMF says it is time to talk exit strategies since all members now endorse the stimulus measures taken to combat the global financial crisis and the need to clean up banks’ bad assets.

Bright outlook: The

Plastic exports to slump Thailand’s export of plastic products is expected to shrink by 15-20 per cent this year following a slump in global demand and the falling price of plastic resin.

Somsak Borrisutthanakul, managing director of Thai Plastic Bags Industries, one of the leading plastic-makers in the country, said that overall demand has been shrinking due to global economic crisis. The country’s exports of plastic items, excluding plastic resin, was worth Bt90 billion last year. Decline in plastic imports was also due to output cuts in automotive and electronic sectors.

Somsak said the upstream plastic industry is expected to be hit less as production of plastic resins will still be around 6 million tonnes this year.

He said that local plastic manufacturers must improve their production process to make bioplastic to create value-added products and avoid non-trade barriers from trading partners overseas. – CHALIDA EKVITTHAYAVECHNUKUL, THE NATION

hai public-health authorities yesterday took steps to impose an emergency watch on the swine-flu outbreak, which has been spreading in Mexico and threatening to become a global pandemic.

However, there is no order yet to quarantine arriving passengers suspected of having the flu at Thai airports.

People should stay calm, said Pubic Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai, adding the H1N1 virus strain found in the swine flu in Mexico, had never been found in Thailand.

While the swine flu originated in pigs, Dr Praj Bunyawongwiroj, the ministry’s permanent secretary, said he would not recommend people to stop eating pork.

He added that human-tohuman transmission of the virus is possible through direct contact of body fluids or mucus through sneezing and coughing.

In New Zealand, the

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Ministry says no reason to panic; no orders yet to quarantine passengers

A QUARANTINE OFFICER monitors travellers with a thermographic device at an arrival gate at Narita International Airport, east of Tokyo, yesterday.

Associated Press reported that 10 students “likely” have swine flu after a school trip to Mexico, as governments across Asia began quarantining those with symptoms of the deadly virus and some issued travel warnings for Mexico.

At least 81 people have died

from severe pneumonia caused by the flu-like illness in Mexico, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), which declared the virus a publichealth emergency of “pandemic potential”.

The virus is usually contracted through direct contact with

pigs, though some limited cases of human-to-human transmission have been reported.

Auckland Regional Public Health Services director Dr Julia Peters said: “Ten [New Zealand] students have tested positive for Influenza A, and these results will now be sent to

the WHO laboratory in Melbourne to ascertain whether it is the H1N1 swine influenza.”

H1N1 influenza is a subset of influenza A that is a combination of bird, pig and human viruses, according to the WHO. Symptoms include a fever of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius), body aches, coughing, a sore throat, respiratory congestion and, in some cases, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Governments across the Asia-Pacific region and in the Middle East were stepping up surveillance for the deadly virus after Mexico closed schools, museums, libraries and theatres in a bid to contain the outbreak.

About 1,000 people may have been sickened there. US authorities said 11 people were infected with swine flu, and all recovered or are recovering.

At Tokyo’s Narita airport – among the world’s busiest with more than 96,000 passengers each day – officials installed a device at the arrival gate for flights from Mexico to check the temperatures of passengers.

Hong Kong and Taiwan say visitors to infected areas who have fever will be quarantined – a precaution the Philippines is also considering.

In Bangkok, Dr Praj said medical personnel are now on standby, ready to help any sick foreign visitor.

BIG FIRMS RANK TRUST AS TOP ATTRIBUTE IN STAFF JIWAMOL KANOKSILP THE NATION

Trustworthiness and teamwork have emerged as the top qualities sought in prospective employees by large corporations during this challenging economic downturn.

So you’re expected to be honest, nice and cooperative when joining a team, say top recruitment executives of major employers, including PTT, Kasikornbank, Standard Chartered Bank, AIS, DTAC and Loxley.

A deep store of knowledge and highly-tuned skills are no less important, but many competent applicants have lost their chance to work for a big firm largely because they’re seen as likely candidates for a “one-man show” or possess the traits to be bossy or even deceitful.

“We can compromise in other areas, but if they can’t be trusted we don’t want them,” Pitipan Tepartimargorn, executive vice president for corporate human resources at PTT, said recently.

Dawarit Tansuphasiri, vice

president of human resources at Loxley, couldn’t agree more.

“What is totally unacceptable is dishonesty,” he said.

At DTAC, attitude is more important than talent.

“We need those who have the same attitude as our corporate culture. Attitude is hard to change but skills can be developed,” said Patraporn Sirodom, chief people officer at Total Access Communication.

This is also the case at Advanced Info Service.

“We focus on teamwork, those who love to bluff others or suppress others to make themselves look good are not wanted as they would break the team,” said Tippawan Sirikoon, assistant vice president for human resources management at AIS. Other preferable characteristics are passion and a positive attitude.

“What we’re looking at is whether they have passion. Do they say the word ‘pride’,” said Cara Ang, senior executive vice president and head of human resources at Standard Chartered Bank (Thai).

DOS AND DON’TS Sought-after qualities: Passionate Eager to learn new things Dynamic personality Team-work oriented Solution oriented Self-confident But avoid being aggressive, impatient, bossy or "too complicated" to handle etc.

Source: interviews with large companies' HR units

NATION GRAPHICS

Despite the “buyer’s market” for labour in the current economic crisis, job opportunities still abound in banking, retail, agriculture, trading and energy.

As GDP is expected to contract by 2-5 per cent this year, the first time since 1988, at least 1.5 million people could be thrown out of work.

Unemployment will likely worsen this and next quarter as

new graduates enter the shrinking labour market.

“Usually, we [Kasikornbank] receive around 20,000 job applications per year, but this year we expect to get up to 50,000 job applications. There are many more people looking for a job,” said Duenpen Pawakranond, senior vice president and head of human resources at the bank.

“More temporary jobs will replace permanent staff in all industries. Those who never wanted to work with us came to apply for a job this year,” he said.

Kasikornbank plans to fill 4,000 positions this year, bucking the trend of a dwindling labour market, which is expected to be stagnant for at least two more years.

Recruitment at Loxley depends heavily on the government of the month, as evidenced by the on-and-off policy towards the online lottery business for which the firm has won a concession.

“We’ve waited and shouldered the burden for two years

already [in terms of recruitment preparation],” Dawarit said.

Loxley’s staffing needs also reflect progress in other government projects such as mass transit rail lines and the Suvarnabhumi Airport express rail link.

The government’s policy on 3G mobile phone networks is also unclear.

“We’ve already prepared our existing staff for the new business, but we might need more people, but the additional staff will not be more than 5 per cent of the current total [if the 3G project goes ahead],” said Tippawan from AIS. While PTT has scaled back its target for new hires, openings remain at CPF (100-200 jobs), Siam Cement (300), Central Hotel unit (1,000), Central Retail Corp (10,000), Tesco Lotus (4,000) and JMT Network Service (200).

The Nation is running a series on job opportunities with indepth reports on individual firms every Monday, starting today, on the MONEY page.

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2A THE NATION Monday, April 27, 2009

BUSINESS

ORIENTAL CLOSE TO YUTHACHAI’S HEART AS STAGE SET FOR TRANSITION ACHARA DEBOONME THE NATION

Though sitting on the boards of nine companies including Thailand’s largest construction firm, ItalianThai Development, Yuthachai Charanachitta is making the transition at the Oriental Hotel his top priority.

The company owns the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, whose long-time general manager, Kurt Wachtveitl, will retire on May 31. He will be succeeded by Jan Goessing, general manager of the M a n d a r i n Oriental, Washington DC. “My dad loved this property dearly and took good care of the property. I will ensure a smooth transition,” said Yuthachai, the eldest son of Adisorn Charanachitta, the late former chairman of the Ital-Thai Group.

Adisorn’s long-term business part-

ner, Giorgio Berlingieri, was the one who persuaded the German hotelier to move from Pattaya to the riverfront hotel 41 years ago.

Yuthachai admitted that Wachtveitl’s retirement had been planned for three years. But the timing of the announcement comes when the hotel industry, and particularly its luxury sector, is expected to suffer a 30-per-cent fall in occupancy rates this year.

M o r e o v e r , Goessing will arrive in Thailand only two weeks before Wachtveitl waves goodbye.

A rough transition could affect the morale of employees, who, as Wachtveitl said, contributed greatly in positioning the Bangkok property as one of the world’s most luxurious hotels.

“My message to them is that my mum [Nijaporn] and I are still here,” Yuthachai said. “There will be no

Yuthachai is committed to continuing with the hotel businesses, as well as expanding into a small housing-estate business under the Baan Krating brand.

change whatsoever.” He was seen recently with department chiefs, apparently to relay the message.

“Hopefully, I can be the link between the new GM and employees.”

Aside from the luxury hotel, Yuthachai has also taken on the task of rebranding another family busi-

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW ness, Amari Hotels & Resorts. He admitted that the group’s brand awareness was not strong enough, as seen through the inability to be among the top choices among travellers.

The Amari group operates 17 hotels and resorts with 4,000 rooms nationwide. However, there is little differentiation of target groups, as all the properties are four- or five-star.

The group is therefore considering rebranding and repositioning hotels into four or five brands in order to

capture different markets. It will add budget hotels to its portfolio in order to meet the growing number of budget tourists visiting Thailand.

As at the Oriental, Yuthachai is giving support to the new business strategies being plotted by Peter Henley, the new president and CEO of the group, who took over the job in October.

For budget hotels, the group plans to conduct a trial management project at an existing hotel prior to adopting it at other properties. Within five years it hopes for a 60-per-cent return from hotel management, against 40 per cent at the moment.

“We will learn from the achievements of the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. Amari Hotels and Resorts is the next target,” said Yuthachai.

Political instability and economic problems are of course disturbing the group.

Though the 128-unit Amari Serviced Apartments on Rama IX Road in Bangkok is on track and set to open next year, the construction of the Bt3-billion Amari Hua Hin complex has been postponed from this

year to 2010. This follows the expected 30-per-cent drop in revenue this year.

Amari Hotels and Resorts had occupancy of 60-70 per cent in the most recent quarter, down from 8090 per cent in the same period last year.

Yuthachai said the number of international tourists had been falling, particularly those from Europe and the Americas. To deal with the situation, the group is revising new development plans by closing some hotel restaurants, reducing working hours, creating new promotions and campaigns and cutting room rates by 20 per cent from April to September.

The group is also exploring new markets, such as India, China and Singapore.

Yuthachai is committed to continuing with the hotel businesses, as well as expanding into a small housingestate business under the Baan Krating brand.

“I love working with people. People in the hospitality business are of a special breed. They pay attention to details.”

Despite the animation industry’s years of experience, Thai producers believe they are being pulled backward by poor positioning, high competition and lack of government support, and that the industry has a long way to go before it can establish an international presence.

But many continue to try to make the leap overseas. Major producers like The Monk Studio and Anya Animation believe foreign participation – as subcontractors and original animation creators – will be the main factor if Thai producers want to succeed overseas.

“Thai animation quality is high, but we can’t compete with China, which quotes lower prices,” said Monk Studio managing director Nitipat Somsaman.

The company is a major subcontractor for Asian and Western markets.

He said subcontracting demand from Hollywood and Europe is huge, as the foreign producers want to cut costs.

Boosting the subcontracting business is

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the fact that Thailand can offer highquality products at reasonable prices, compared to China’s cheaper prices and lower quality. Drawn by quality, The Monk has been approached by a maker of animlated films in Malaysia for a subcontracted production.

Nitipat said more producers would come to Thailand, if the government can provide support, to boost the outsourcing business. In Malaysia and Singapore, the governments offer studios, which reduces foreign producers’ costs for their investors.

The company also wants to create its own works. However, it realises that this requires huge investment and marketing support if it’s looking to compete with producers in Asian countries like China, Malaysia and Singapore.

“With our track record, we’re certain that our products are of high quality. What we need is marketing and financial support,” Nitipat said.

Heading The Monk’s team is “Juck Somsaman”, who helped in several Hollywood projects like “Garfield”, “Scoopy Doo” and “Narnia”.

Anya Animation managing director Sutape Tunnirut and TIGA managing director Sittichai Rujipasakul agreed that Thai producers have a lot to do to market their works. Sittichai said he realised the importance of marketing through participation in international fairs. He said he understood that Thais are not doing a good job of advertising their own products to potential buyers.

The Monk, Anya and TIGA were among a number of Thai companies recently participating in MIP TV 2009, a show attended by buyers of animated products. After the event, Anya is now negotiating to sell its products to buyers in Europe, the US and Canada, while Home Run

THAILAND animation booth in the recent MIP TV 2009 in Cannes, France Entertainment successfully sold its animation “Dogga Doop” to television stations in Europe, the Middle East, South America and South Korea. TIGA also sold its animated series “My Fairy Tales” to 10 firms in Europe.

While noting that it is difficult to market products overseas, Sutape of Anya said political uncertainties also

SPECIAL diminish Thailand’s attractiveness as an outsourcing destination.

“Many [foreign firms] want to outsource their production to Thailand, but they are concerned with the political turmoil. They want assurances that the Thai producers can deliver the completed works in time,” Sutape said.

With its own studio, Anya is now a subcontractor for overseas producers.

Meanwhile, it also plans to create its own work.

Anya is now negotiating with many overseas companies to establish

50:50 joint ventures to co-produce an animated film.

TIGA’s Sittichai said that the firm, without its own studio, has no plan to produce animated films due to the huge investment involved.

“If we invest a higher budget in one series and cannot sell it overseas, we lose.

“Therefore, we have to focus on the domestic market before expanding overseas,” he said.

Though its series “My Fairy Tales” found foreign buyers, TIGA focuses on producing animated series of medium quality under a limited budget to first serve the local market.

Sittichai noted that Thai TV stations are open to these products, and the company would be getting a bonus if the series could find foreign buyers.

The company is also in the process of selling “My Fairy Tales” to many buyers in Asia.

Yet, to Anya’s Sutape, venturing overseas is necessary if Thai producers want to lift their production standard and advertise Thai expertise in this field.

“The domestic market is rather small. We need to go overseas to boost revenue,” he said.

ROADSHOW TO WOO AUSTRALIAN INVESTORS THE NATION

The industry minister and the Board of Investment (BoI) will hold a roadshow in Australia this week focusing on food, biotechnology, mines and auto assembly to try to expand their investment in Thailand.

To promote investment, the BoI will also open its office in Sydney this week. Industry Minister Charnchai Chairungrueng said that trade and investment between Thailand and Australia had increased six times since the two countries had signed the

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Current positions CEO: Amari Estate Co Ltd Sakdi Sin Prasith Co Ltd Director: Ital-Thai Italian Plc Italthai Industrial Co Ltd Italthai Engineering Co Ltd Oriental Hotel (Thailand) Plc Amari Co Ltd Amari Hotels & Resorts Co Ltd Baan Krating Co Ltd

F U N D S A L L O C AT I O N

ANIMATION INDUSTRY DREAMS OF MAKING THE GLOBAL LEAP SUCHEERA PINIJPARAKARN

Yuthachai Charanachitta

free-trade agreement in 2006.

Also, after the FTA, Australian investors had raised their investment in Thailand from Bt514 million in 2006 to Bt3.2 billion last year. Among the investors are Bluescope Steel, Kingsgate and Ansell and a number of small and medium firms. As a result Australia is potential country for promoting investment and creating investor confidence to invest in Thailand, Charnchai said.

“We will meet with investors in the three largest cities – Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. We will show

the country’s confidence and potential to encourage Australian investors to expand their investment in Thailand,” he said.

BoI secretary-general Atchaka Sibunruang Brimble added that the potential areas for investment in Thailand from Australia are food, biotechnology, mines, and auto assembly.

“When we open our office in Sydney, Australian investors will get more information about tax incentives and business opportunities in Thailand,” she said.

BUDGET OF INTERNAL TRADE DEPT IS SLASHED Operations may be affected as only Bt700 million approved PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI THE NATION

T

he Internal Trade Department’s operations are expected to suffer next year as the government has abruptly cut its budget by more than half.

The Cabinet last Tuesday cut the budget allocated to the department from its requirement of Bt1.8 billion to only Bt700 million for next year’s operations.

The government has to shoulder a huge budget deficit, so it has cut a total of Bt200 billion for next year’s administration budget.

A senior source at the Commerce Ministry said they were very disappointed with the Cabinet’s decision as it would hamper the Internal Trade Department’s operation.

“The department is a major agency, taking care of consumers’ living costs. With a low budget next year, the department will face difficulties managing farm goods and setting up low-price consumer goods fairs to shoulder higher living costs,” said the source.

The department is responsible for monitoring consumer goods prices and protecting consumers from unfair practice by traders. It has also organised many low-price goods fairs to sell consumer goods to shoulder higher living costs during these tough economic times.

Due to the lower budget, the department must delay its plans to stimulate spending, increase incomes – particularly in the farm sector – and boost economic growth in the deep South, said the source.

Part of this budget would be used to establish hitech silos and warehouses for storing high-quality commodities to increase farmers’ incomes.

However, the department will try to help consumers cut back on living expenses by holding low-cost fairs in particular areas.

Moreover, inflation might increase rapidly next year on the back of higher consumer good prices.

Inflation dropped by 0.3 per cent in the first quarter this year, thanks to lower oil and consumer goods prices.

Due to the lower budget, the department must delay its plans to stimulate spending, increase incomes – particularly in the farm sector – and boost economic growth in the deep South, said the source.

THE NATION THE NATION

Sujiphan Boonmuang

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THE NATION Monday, April 27, 2009 3A

BUSINESS AIS PLANS TO CUT BT2 BN OF ITS COSTS

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

BEST WESTERN EXPANDING SUCHAT SRITAMA THE NATION

B

est Western International, the world’s largest hotelchain operator, is expanding in Thailand despite political problems and the global economic crisis.

The group plans to increase the number of its hotels in Asia from 140 to 200 by the end of 2010.

Twelve or thirteen of the additional hotels will be in Thailand – in all the major tourist destinations including Bangkok, Pattaya, Samui, Hua Hin and Pran Buri, near Hua Hin. Regional manager Niramon Makornpruttipong said the group now managed 12 hotels in the country with 1,256 rooms and expected to almost double that figure

to 2,350 rooms over the next few years.

“We are forging ahead despite the country’s political unrest and economic crisis,” said Niramon.

She added that tourists across the world were shifting to economy hotels, though the group’s hotels had not been badly hit by the recent political turmoil.

While 17-18 per cent of booked rooms were cancelled during the airport closures in November and December, there were no cancellations during Songkran.

“We took our greatest blow in the tsunami that hit the Andaman coast at the end of 2004. Our hotels in Phuket and Khao Lak had to lay off staff after that.” In fact the Khao Lak hotel closed.

The group manages hotels

around the world under the brands Best Western and Best Western Premier.

In Asia, Thailand has the most rooms, followed by South Korea, Japan, the Philippines and Malaysia.

However, China is likely to become a “huge” market for the group.

Niramon says all Best Western hotels in Thailand are required to maintain services and improve infrastructure, for example by offering easy Internet connections, in order to keep customers happy.

Best Western entered the Thai market in 2001 by establishing a regional head office in Bangkok and later opening its first property in the capital.

Over the past nine years, three contracts have been terminated: a hotel in Bangkok that failed to meet the company’s standards, another in Chiang Rai for lack of customers, and the hotel at Khao Lak.

NIRAMON: The group’s hotels were not badly affected by the recent political turmoil.

N AT I O N

Group sailed through political turmoil

USANEE MONGKOLPORN THE NATION

BANGKOK DEC-CON SET TO BE FIRST LISTED INTERIOR DESIGN COMPANY SIRIPORN CHANJINDAMANEE THE NATION

Bangkok Dec-Con is set to become the first listed Thai interior design company, with the planned filing of a listing application on the Market for Alternative Investment (MAI) in the third quarter and the launch of share trading by end-2009 if the market environment is favourable.

Nuchanart Ratanasuwanachart, managing director, said the company is in the process of appointing a financial adviser.

“The listing status will improve the company’s image and liquidity.

This will boost the company’s business potential," she said.

With registered capital of Bt190 million, Bangkok Dec-Con offers

interior design and construction services and is involved in furniture production. Owned mainly by the Ratanasuwanachart family, the company plans to raise about Bt200 million from the initial public offering, whereby 25 per cent of shares would be sold to the public. The proceeds will be used to improve production efficiency for higher-value products.

Nuchanart said the furniture plant is the company’s key business.

Improved efficiency will result in higher-quality products and higher production volume. This will help in reducing manufacturing costs and widening the profit margin of its interior-design business, which is currently about 20-30 per cent.

“We’ll be the first listed interior designer. Listing on the MAI will not

help us much financially, but we want to gain higher recognition in the industry. The listing status will enhance our credibility and create long-term business benefits,” she said.

Bangkok Dec-Con has secured interior-design contracts worth about Bt500 million, and all should be completed within this year. The company has also bid to do the interior design for the Energy Complex, with the results to be known in late May. It will also join the bidding for a Bank of Thailand project and the projects of provincial administrative bodies nationwide.

Nuchanart said government agencies have been the main focus of the company. Completed projects include services for Siriraj Hospital,

Rama Hospital, Ramkhamhaeng University, Novotel, Siam Paragon, the government centre and Krung Thai Bank’s head office. It has expanded to cover private projects to raise revenue, but the market has been shrinking due to the economic slowdown and some business owners’ delayed payments. At present, the value of contracts from public agencies accounts for 70 per cent of the total, and the ratio could increase.

Bangkok Dec-Con claims to be the largest player in the sector of interior design services for public agencies.

Bangkok Dec-Con expects revenue of about Bt700 million to Bt800 million this year, with about 70 per cent coming from interior design, 20 per cent from construction services and the rest from exports.

Export income ratio before the baht devaluation once topped 90 per cent, when products were destined to Europe, but it has shrunk as the company faces higher pricing competition, particularly from China. At present, Japan is the only export market.

The firm also plans to expand its construction service next year to diversify business risk, as the economic slowdown should put pressure on demand for interior designs.

“Such adjustments are the key to doing business today. The world has evolved so fast, and if we can’t catch up with the changes, we will lose competitiveness,” she said, noting that the company plans to maintain revenue growth of about 10 per cent per annum.

Advanced Info Service (AIS) plans to undertake cost-cutting measures of about Bt2 billion this year in response to the worsening economy, up from the previously planned Bt1.5 billion, its president Wichian Mektrakarn said.

He added that all the AIS departments would help contribute to the cost-saving but the expense reduction must not affect AIS business and its customers.

The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) recently estimated this month’s political turbulence will cost the economy more than Bt142 billion.

As a result, UTCC has cut its economic-growth forecast for the year further to minus 4.3 per cent, from a previous prediction of minus 2.8 per cent, expecting the business sector to experience an extended impact until the third quarter.

AIS’s competitor, Total Access Communication (DTAC), has also implemented a cost-efficiency programme, encompassing all parts of its business to deal with the declining economy and the saturating market. A DTAC source said the company is targeting cost savings of Bt5 billion during this year and next year.

“Now, when we have to attend an overseas meeting with Telenor [DTAC’s strategic partner], we’ll be sending only one staff in order to save cost, unlike earlier when we normally sent two staff,” the source added.

AIS, which currently has more than 27 million subscribers, is targeting a 50-per-cent share of new mobile-phone subscribers in the market this year.

Telecom industrialists estimate that there will be an additional 4 million to 5 million mobile-phone subscribers this year.

DTAC maintains its forecast that the market will have around 4 million net additional mobile-phone subscribers this year.

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4A THE NATION Monday, April 27, 2009

BUSINESS ACHARA DEBOONME ACHARA_D@NATIONGROUP.COM

A CHINESE EPIC AND THAI POLITICAL CHARACTERS On Friday, sent to my mailbox strong backup from military was a very interesting form letter. chiefs like Zhou Yu. As seen in After the release of the “Red “Red Cliff”, he was reluctant to Cliff” movie, based on part of the ally with Liu Bei against Cao Cao, Chinese epic called “Romance of knowing that helping Liu Bei now the Three Kingdoms”, Thais’ would only hurt his kingdom interest in the novel has been on later. But with Zhou Yu’s support, the rise. Thanks to the release of he entered into battle. other digital products, Thais now Who would be Zhou Yu then? know more about the characters Deputy Prime Minister Suthep in the story and know enough to Thaugsuban is the right choice. compare them with Thai politiHe was credited with creating the cians. alliance between the Democrats Who’s who in the letter? and the faction of Newin The most important character Chidchob, which led to the hiscan’t be anybody else but Cao toric embrace of (bad boy) Newin Cao, the talented warlord and and (good boy) Abhisit. ruler who’s overwhelmed by lust.

The letter is not complete, His motto is he can betray the though, without a counterpart for world, but no one is Zhuge Liang. allowed to betray The strategist him. Certainly, was considered by nobody is a good all his foes to be match for him their No 1 target, except our former due to his great prime minister wisdom. Even Zhou Thaksin Shinawatra.

Yu felt that Zhuge Former prime Liang would TAKESHI Kaneshiro in ‘Red Cliff’ minister Chuan become a threat in Leekpai is compared to Liu Bei, the future and tried several times who is considered to be a moder- to kill him. However, he failed. ate ruler. But thanks to his humFrustrated after being infuriated bleness, he has a loyal following

by Zhuge Liang, Zhou Yu eventuof supporters, including master ally coughed up blood and died. strategist Zhuge Liang. (The only It neither produced a result for difference is Chuan was briefly in the Thai political conflict. In the power, probably because of the novel, we know that the conflicts absence of a Zhuge Liang in the ended after a century.

Thai political scene.)

But then, these are open Prime Minister Abhisit questions. The situation is boilVejjajiva is paired up with Sun ing and nobody can tell when the Quan, the young ruler whose Kingdom of Thailand would kingdom is run smoothly with become one again.

CAT has reservations on DTAC request Total Access Communication (DTAC) has requested permission from its concession owner CAT Telecom to discontinue the analogue cellular service on 800 MHz spectrum as part of its plan to develop the 3G broadband cellular service.

CAT’s senior executive vice president, Kajornsak Singhaseni, said the second largest cellular operator DTAC wants to migrate around 200 existing customers in the analogue cellular service to the digital cellular service on the same 800 MHz spectrum, which it will utilise to provide the 3G service.

Kajornsak said CAT could not immediately grant DTAC’s request to discontinue the analogue service because it would amount to a concession amendment. The state agency has to bring the request to the consideration of the public-private joint-venture committee overseeing the concession in order to comply with Article 22 of the Public-Private Joint Venture Act. The consideration by such a committee will also take time, he added.

In the meantime, the same public-private joint venture committee is considering the recent request of DTAC to upgrade its network technology to provide the 3G service on the 800 MHz spectrum.

Once approved, DTAC will be able to commercially provide the service.

DTAC has intended to try the service in Bangkok on a non-commercial basis within this year.

Recently the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) told CAT and TOT to urge each of their private mobile-phone concessionaires to make progress in their development of the 3G service on their existing spectrums. If they fail to show any progress, the NTC might consider taking back the parts of their spectrum bands that they are utilising to develop the 3G service or plan to utilise to develop the 3G service. Advanced Info Service kicked off the 3G service on its existing 900 MHz spectrum last June on commercial basis, while True Move recently launched the 3G service on its 800 MHz spectrum on a non-commercial basis.

USANEE MONGKOLPORN, THE NATION

ERAWAN GROUP CONFIDENT OF BUDGET-HOTEL NICHE Kasama Punyagupta, president and CEO of The Erawan Group, shares his views on the company’s performance and business plan. Suchat Sritama reports.

How did Erawan Group enter the budgethotel business?

We wanted to diversify the hotel portfolio to offer international-standard hotels with room rates of between Bt800 and Bt1500. We worked with Accor for two and a half years to build Ibis in Thailand. We have already opened five Ibis outlets in Thailand.

So far, results have confirmed that we are moving in the right direction, particularly amid the current economic and political situations.

The investment requirement is low and the operating costs are kept low. With economy of scale, our average cost per room including land (freehold or leasehold) is only Bt1.6 million to Bt1.7 million per room, with very low monthly operating costs. We are well-positioned to compete in the Bt1,000 range market. This is thanks to Accor’s strength, global network and brand recognition.

What are your next projects?

The sixth property is in Kata. The Bt400-million 260-room hotel is scheduled to open at the end of this

How is Erawan coping with this crisis?

Do you expect higher competition?

A threat in the hotel industry is that there is no mechanism to control supply. It is called “Me Too” – a flood of new supply.

Anybody who has land and money can build hotels.

When there are a few good stories, many follow and get into the business. The pitfall is that they don’t know the real picture. Naturally, owners will always talk up good numbers for their hotels, but the numbers could be misleading. They could be for a period, rather than the whole year or even a month.

So, we have seen a lot of supply coming into the luxury segment over the past few years. Regrettably, some of these new hotels have lower yields than those in the lower tiers. Still, newcomers keep emerging. Over the last 12 months, many talked about the new supply from mid-scale properties by large-scale developers.

Again, I don’t know exactly how or when these plans will materialise.

Some have talked about the overBt2,000-a-night range, which is not

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

What are the key success factors?

Erawan, we are a long-term investor, with the right products and services. What we are doing now is to make sure that we survive through these difficult periods.

year. We are also planning to resume the development of Ibis Bangkok by the Chao Phya River in the third quarter with 270 rooms and a Bt350-million investment.

Three more are planned for Hua Hin, Sri Racha and Krabi. We have bought land and secured loans. We will decide later this year when to proceed with the projects.

KASAMA: Worried about lack of mechanism to control supply. directly competing with Ibis.

How is Ibis performing amid the political turbulence?

At the height of the conflict, our average occupancy was around 5060 per cent for a total of 1,200 rooms and we are satisfied with the result. The recent unrest was quite detrimental to visitors’ confidence.

The impact of the riots is similar to that of the airport closures, as it has led to a drastic drop in occupancy.

The magnitude is, however, much less. The occupancy of our hotels didn’t drop below 20 per cent, as it did last year. I think we will see light at the end of the tunnel before the high season arrives.

Over the past seven years, we have passed several major tests – Sars, bird flu, tsunami, the coup, the New-Year bombing, airport closures – and we’ll pass this test, too. For

P E T FO O D

THAI DISTRIBUTOR SEES HUGE POTENTIAL Vet Recommended expects sales of Bt1 bn in 6 years KWANCHAI RUNGFAPAISARN THE NATION

V

et Recommended, a local distributor of Hill’s premium pet foods, sees tremendous potential for its premium pet-food business and expects to notch up sales of Bt1 billion over the next six years, managing director Tienchai Paitoonvongvira said.

The company has been in operation for more than 16 years, distributing Hill’s premium food products, Science Diet and Prescription Diet, to local speciality channels, including pet clinics and shops.

Sales has gone up 20 times in terms of value and increased 15 times in volume.

“We have been distributing Hill’s products in Thailand since 1992. We began with Bt10 million sales in the first year of operation. Including me, we had only four staff,” said Tienchai.

“However, last year we achieved total sales of Bt238 million, up 18 per cent over 2007,” said Tienchai.

The company currently employs 61 people.

The company distributes Hill’s products at more than 800 speciality outlets, including pet clinics and shops, throughout the Kingdom.

Vet Recommended has been given the High Growth Award by Hill’s, reflecting its substantial growth among nine markets in Asia Pacific, excluding Japan.

Hill’s is the world leader in premium pet foods, distributed via speciality channels, with 21 per cent market share globally.

Tienchai said that Thailand is among the countries with lowest penetration of pet foods.

“We have seen the overall pet foods penetration in Thailand at about 10 per cent. In Malaysia, the pet foods penetration is as high as 90 per cent,” said Tienchai. He added that there is tremendous potential for the business in Thailand.

Pet food and entertainment are among businesses experiencing lower impact from the economic crisis. He said that in terms of sales for Hill’s, Thailand lags behind major markets such as Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong.

“I am quite confident that in the next three to five years, we will be much bigger than those markets,” said Tienchai.

Tienchai said that about 20 years ago, the petfood market in Thailand was in the hands of a few big local players. “I saw a business opportunity, particularly in the premium-food segment distributed through speciality channels such as pet clinics and shops,” said Tienchai.

VET RECOMMENDED has been given the High Growth Award by Hill’s.

As a veterinarian, Tienchai himself had worked on sales of animal medicines and products with Good Earth Agricultural for almost seven years after graduating from Kasetsart University in 1985.

He was instrumental in introducing Hill’s to its first distributor in Thailand.

But the business did not run smoothly, because the Thai distributor handled a range of animal products.

Hill’s wanted to find a new Thai partner, preferably a small company concentrating on pet food alone.

In 1992, Rick F Hawkins, Hill’s former president, persuaded Tienchai to set up a Thai company to do business with the US manufacturer.

At the outset, Vet Recommended had a registered capital of only Bt2 million and four staff.

Tienchai said that he decided to set up his own business because he foresaw its future potential. At the time, his wife had just opened a pet clinic, creating a synergy for Hill’s new distributor.

“My wife became my first customer,” he said.

In 1993, the company met Hill’s target of selling 113,636 kilograms of pet food, worth Bt10 million.

He said there are great opportunities in Thailand’s pet market, which is valued at Bt4.5 billion a year with average annual growth of 10-15 per cent.

Tienchai said that about 75 per cent of newly graduated veterinarians today have worked at pet clinics and they have greater concerns on consulting customers about the nutrition value of their pets.

It also would drive premium pet foods in the market.

EXCISE REFORM PLAN TO BE READY THIS WEEK THE NATION

The Excise Department is expected to complete this week its reform plan for all taxable product categories including tea, coffee, energy drinks and entertainment venues.

“Once we have the study, it could be implemented quickly to shut the door on tax evasion and ensure fairness for all. It should

also raise at least Bt20 billion to Bt30 billion in additional government revenue,” Deputy Finance Minister Pruttichai Damrongrat said last week.

The study is being conducted by a committee chaired by Supha Piyachitti, deputy permanent secretary for the Finance Ministry. Yesterday, the committee led by deputy permanent secretary Sathit Limpongpun

resolved that no department officials needed to be punished for not taxing Santika Pub. He said though the department’s director-general had insisted that Santika was excluded from paying excise tax, that conclusion was the result of different opinions. From now on, a standard rule would be applied to all pubs and bars across the nation.

By delaying some projects, rescheduling loan repayments and cost-cutting. However, lay-offs are not the cure for short-term turbulence. This month, occupancy is 5060 per cent, 10-15 per cent off last year’s level. Before the incident during Songkran, our hotels were on their way to full recovery from the airport closure. The recent political unrest will no doubt put pressure on occupancy rates. The question is how long until we see a full recovery.

Many factors are still looming. If no other incident occurs, we expect things to normalise by the third quarter.

What do you expect from the government?

Restoring peace in the country is a must. Then, direct or indirect support on pricing would be very helpful. Directly, the government can cut tourist visa fees, airport landing fees, and even offer VAT refunds on expenses such as hotels and domestic flights. These will cut travelling expenses to Thailand by as much as 7 per cent. For hotel operators, the government should consider soft loans to help refinance existing loans. Lower funding costs will also enable us to offer packages that are even more attractive than they already are, compared to hotels in other regional destinations.

Asian youth big consumers of music

N AT I O N / WA N C H A I K R A I S O R N K H A J I T

STREET WISE

Asia’s youth spend an average of nineand-a-half hours each day consuming some form of media. Listening to music is very important to two-thirds of young Asians and 34 per cent said that they had spent more time listening to music in the last year.

The fourth annual Synovate Young Asians study looks at what is in the hearts and minds of the region’s youth, revealing their media consumption, purchase habits, attitudes, favourite singers and cartoons. It covers 12 markets across Asia, including Japan and Vietnam for the first time.

Synovate, the market research arm of Aegis Group, generates consumer insights that drive competitive marketing solutions.

The research director of Synovate in Thailand, Rattaya Kulpradith, said Synovate, in conjunction with the research sponsors – Microsoft Advertising, MTV and Yahoo! – had uncovered the driving forces of media influence on Asia’s youth.

“Media across different platforms have certainly taken hold of youth across Asia in a significant way and this influence continues to grow. In fact, 25 per cent admitted that they just couldn’t live without the Internet while 23 per cent said they planned to watch more TV,” she said.

The survey also explored the engagement levels of eight- to 24-yearolds on the different types of activities and time spent on media. Synovate found that 35 per cent had used the Internet more than a year ago, while close to a quarter (23 per cent) had spent more time watching TV. Newspaper and magazine reading remained unchanged, with 64 per cent of respondents spending roughly the same amount of time on both media.

More than a quarter (29 per cent) of young Asians set aside time and plan their schedules around their favourite TV programmes, hoping to catch every episode.

“This is great news as young people are continuing to use a wide variety of media and spending a good part of the day doing so,” she said.

The biggest media junkies can be found in South Korea (13.7 hours a day), Hong Kong (12.7 hours) and Singapore (12.6 hours). This covers time spent on the Internet, watching TV or DVD/VCD/videos, reading newspapers or magazines and listening to the radio.

“Asia’s young people have certainly embraced multi-tasking. Kids are watching the TV, but also talking on the phone. They are on the Internet with the radio on in the background. Or they may be sending e-mail, texting on their mobile phone and playing an online game all at the same time,” she added.

Respondents were asked if they had a say and influence when it came to the purchase decisions on a variety of household goods and services. Eightyfour per cent of Asia’s youth believe that they have the biggest say and are able to influence the purchase decisions as well as buy their own snack food, candy, chocolates and soft drinks. – The Nation

nationmultimedia.com

THE NATION Monday, April 27, 2009 5A

BUSINESS B AT T L I N G R E C E S S I O N

HEAD-TO-TOE LOVELINESS

PACKAGING FIRM COUNTS BLESSINGS Owner buoyed by support from employees, customers ANOMA SRISUKKASEM THE NATION

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OP Natural Products marketing manager Apaiporn Srisook shows the Avatar combination make-up and body-skincare series. It hopes for sales of Bt80 million.

dvance Packaging has received many awards in the area of corporate governance, but according to company owner Prapoth Pholpipattanapong, the greatest award of all has been the continued support of stakeholders in the firm.

Such support is especially important now, as Advance Packaging, a leading producer of polyethylene plastic for exporters in the electronics, electrical and semiconductor sectors, struggles with a 50-per-cent drop in orders.

“We are so tired. The company continues to grow, but we weren’t prepared for this kind of economic situation. We just built a new plant and bought new machinery,” Prapoth said.

But the company owner said he has received a psychological boost from the understanding demonstrated by employees and customers, who have shown they are willing to help him and the firm weather the economic downturn.

Prapoth has cut many operating costs, such as electricity bills, overtime hours and working days, in the hope that the moves will partly compensate for the firm’s falling income.

He has also shortened the production process and improved inventory management to ensure Advance Packaging is does not face an interest burden due to excess inventory.

Employees have shown understanding and cooperation about the cost-reduction policy because, thanks to good governance practices, they have been kept constantly informed

about the company’s situation, including the recent plunge in orders, Prapoth said. “We are in constant communication with employees so they understand the situation the company is facing,” he said.

Some workers have expressed a willingness to apply for a voluntary early-retirement programme – if one should be introduced – saying they have no debts and face only small expenses.

“Employees have expressed empathy and understanding to help us solve the problems. Without their cooperation, the company would be in even bigger trouble,” Prapoth said.

Customers, too, appreciate the situation the company is in and have not put additional pressure on it, he said.

Prapoth said the company is currently producing to order in a bid to

reduce inventory. Motivating these steps was Prapoth’s long-cherished belief in transparency and fairness for all. These same beliefs encouraged him to join his fellow university students in the protests of October 1976.

As a result of his stand, he was forced to flee Bangkok and hide in the jungle for five years. He eventually returned to the city, however, realising that the uncompromising politics he had pursued as a student would not solve all society’s problems.

Prapoth admitted that it was difficult to ensure justice for all. He decided instead to create his “dream society” by founding a company. He vowed to show empathy to employees, customers, society and the environment, treating all as if they were members of his own family. This philosophy has earned the company numerous awards, including the Puey Ungphakorn Institute’s Good Governance Award.

GUIDELINES FOR A GREAT CAMPAIGN, BUT THERE ARE NO RULES TO GUARANTEE SUCCESS This year has certainly been a time of consolidation so far, and this has tended to solidify my own opinions and attitudes. So this month I’d like to share my summary of the techniques that usually lie behind a great campaign. The first rule of course is that there are no rules that guarantee the success of any one campaign, so rather I offer these guidelines, which I hope act as useful pointers.

Which is more important for the starting point of the campaign, what to say or how to say it? Sometimes we cannot separate one from the other, as they are so interlinked, so we need to analyse very carefully what’s really going on step by step before we commit the serious resources required for a full campaign. But we strongly believe that the core content of advertising is what really decides consumers to buy or not to buy, and so we now increasingly spend a great

deal of time and money to find out and determine what is the outstanding and leading benefit that we can promise to consumers. Quite often we use an in-depth interview technique with focus groups to establish what would be most likely to make them buy the product. But you know, sometimes it’s difficult to get clearcut answers from the group, so another technique we now often also use is to prepare a series of advertisements, each one offering a different version of the promise, to find out which one wins hearts.

As we all know, this is a very competitive time for brands to share the consumers’ pocket, and we have to look in great detail into what the consumer is actually paying for. For instance there is an increasing trend for consumers to want to know much more about what is behind the brand, and even the science behind it’s prod-

ucts. When the brand has a unique position in the market, it is of course much easier to present a compelling argument using the magic of the brand’s depth and history, but it is less easy when we are faced with the inconvenient fact that the brand’s products are perceived as being about the same as several others.

In the second case, I think one successful approach is a more factual one, where the hard data are clearly presented, maybe with more technical information than usual, to portray solid, well-founded products that are ahead of or at least abreast of the times in terms of technological progress. We can then give this story a perverse twist of course, but I know from my experience that

MARKETING

TALK KANAPORN HUTCHESON MANAGING DIRECTOR OF NUDE COMMUNICATION CO

sometimes if I am presented with a well-distilled, well-researched presentation this influences my decision very considerably, and I think you are the same, especially in this crisis. In the end, though, I have no time to read something if it’s not interesting or not clearly put across.

By presenting a factual argument you cannot of course bore people into buying, and it’s no wonder that consumers have acquired a talent for skipping the advertisements in newspapers and magazines or going to

make a cup of tea during television commercials: they’re being bombarded by billions and billions worth of advertising each month. Fifty thousand brand names are competing for a place in their memory, so to be at the forefront, your voice needs to be unique. This is our mission, to try harder every day to make our clients’ voices heard above the crowd.

At the same time, we need to view each campaign as a radar sweep that can bring in intelligence about new prospects as they come into the market, as well as giving us as keen a sense as a radar antenna of what is beyond the horizon. We can thus learn the psychology of new virtually unidentified target groups and can score a hit where they identify and say: “Oh, yes: I am that person.”

Then finally we come back to the brand, which is always fundamental to everything we’re doing: every cam-

paign needs to make a contribution to the complex symbol which is the brand image rather than just forming a day-to-day solution in itself to increase sales. Creating or updating a brand identity is of course the most difficult of our roles as an agency, because this perception has been built up over a period of many years.

It is the result of many factors: advertising, pricing, the name of the product, its packaging, the kind of television shows it has sponsored, website, the time it has been on the market and so on. And it’s not easy to perform a facelift on an old brand: in many cases it would be easier to start again with a fresh new brand. But it is very clear that the advertising which builds the most sharply defined personality for the brand normally also wins the largest share of the market at higher levels of profitability.

>

6A THE NATION Monday, April 27, 2009

PROPERTY SCG SHOW

ARE WE READY TO FACE NEW WAVE?

ECO-VALUE PRODUCTS IN VOGUE Firms put their innovative skills on display

CPACDSIGN’S booth is part of the SCG display at Architect ’09 under the ‘SCG The Home Solution … Make it Eco for Better Living’ concept.

SOMLUCK SRIMALEE THE NATION

N AT I O N

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co-value and innovation seem to be the main themes as SCG products are being shown under “SCG the Home Solution … Make it Eco for Better Living” banner at Architect ’09 at Challenger Hall, Impact Muang Thong Thani, from tomorrow until May 3.

Even SCG Cement is getting innovative with its ‘Sparking with Cement’ theme.

Other eco-value products on display will be the agricultural-drying yard concrete that helps increase the capacity of drying agricultural products; acid-resistance tile grout glue and glass-fibre reinforced concrete. The innovative products include colour rendering and colour-skim coat by Siam Mortar, as well as white plaster and marble rendering from Siam White Cement.

SCG Cement’s marketing director Syamrath Suthanukul said the company tries to develop at least two or three valueadded products that are both innovative and environmentally friendly every year.

This should support new designs for exteriors and interiors, especially for people who need raw materials that create vastly different finishes.

Rewat Suriyapananont, managing director of Siam Mortar, said products like colour rendering help create different surfaces to pique the imagination of architects and interior designers who need different textures for their buildings.

“We spent about two or three years and more than Bt1 million to develop our colour rendering that will serve our policy of being an innovative cement producer,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chatchawan Sethaburth,

Tomorrow: Siam CPAC Block’s sales and marketing division manager Pittaya Jantawichayasuit talks about business strategy for this year.

managing director of the Siam White Cement, said their innovations like white plaster and marble-surface textures for walls and floors would be useful for both hotel and residential projects.

To offer more options for terrazzo floors, the firm has joined up with Innovative Design and Research of Architecture and Planning faculty at Thammasat University to develop a 3D virtual terrazzo experience. This should give both architects and interior designers unlimited ideas.

“We will show this innovation in Architect ’09 and expect 3D virtual terrazzo experience software to be ready and available for customers as soon as possible,” he said.

Siam CPAC Block, one of the SCG Group’s subsidiaries, will be displaying the Cool-Plus and roof garden blocks at this event, the company’s sales and marketing division manager Pittaya Jantawichayasuit said.

The Cool-Plus block, one of its new environmentally friendly products, has about 7 to 10 per cent more capacity to keep out the heat than other bricks. Plus Cool-Plus blocks absorb

more water, keeping houses cooler.

The firm’s other product, for which it has already won a copyright from the Intellectual Property Department, is a plastic block that helps customers create a garden on their roof or balcony.

Thai Ceramic, producer of the Cotto brand tiles, will be introducing its eco-collection, including the Cotto Trend Decoder’s newest innovation called Glazed Porcelain which absorbs 0.5 per cent less water, and the Glazed Porcelain Colour Body.

The company will also be introducing the Eco-Touch Series that looks like wood, and the Eco-Rockrete Series that offers new options for walls and floors. Cotto Hygienic Tiles, that offer a healthier option to normal tiles, will also be presented and should be further developed to serve consumer demands.

Siam Sanitaryware Industry will also show how bathrooms can be renovated in seven to ten days.

Siam Fibre-Cement, which produces smart boards and smart wood, jointly with Siam Fiberglass, will offer a system that reduces heat from both inside and outside.

The past year has shown us how badly and extensively the economic slump can affect every type of business, real estate included. Nonetheless, the number of registered real estate businesses rose in 2008, according to Real Estate Information Center (REIC). In particular, developers registered year-on-year growth of 18.15 per cent.

In fact, this growth rate reflects the 85.37-per-cent registration rate of condominium developments, which should not be included in the calculation of the growth rate. This is because sales of condominiums are made before construction is complete, and ownership takes one to two years to complete legally. Town houses and single houses, though, are ready to be sold and can change owners within a year. Thus, “horizontal” real estate, including town houses and single houses completed within 2008, had a negative growth rate. At the end of last year, growth of sales of single houses stood at minus 16.42 per cent, while town houses were at minus 23.35 per cent. Real estate has seen continuous negative growth since 2005, but there has not been any year where the numbers have been below zero.

2008 was bad enough; then we entered 2009, with its ongoing political unrest.

One interesting aspect is, as soon as the new government took control, the real estate overview appeared brighter, as many big players expanded their projects, notably from January till March. We learned that, in fact, our country’s economy is not at all a lost cause; there still is purchasing power. So in deciding whether to buy, the main short-term factor is the political situation, as seen from actual sales.

The political situation impacts greatly on consumer confidence and, consequently, purchases. In the long run, it’s the economic status that matters. This year, the government announced that the country’s growth rate could be as bad as minus 5 per cent.

The real estate overview now is dominated by the big players, and in this situation they will only get stronger. Given the political mess right now, I believe the real-estate business is shifting to a slower pace again, and will stay that way until the situation is more or less resolved.

Doubts will linger until the end of the year.

Some even forecast an overall contraction during the first and second quarters.

Personally, I fear for the third and fourth

PROPERTY

TALK ANUPHONG ASSAVABHOKHIN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF ASIAN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT

quarters. The government announced continued negative growth and that has prompted all players to look at their own capacity and potential, especially money-wise, which is the most important factor in any business.

I assume entrepreneurs are now in an awkward, frustrating situation and the sales may not be so bad. But when you look at the money spent on advertising you realise it’s not worth the return in terms of sales. This year, advertising cannot be cut, but the money must be spent wisely. Therefore, when the economy slowly picks up, all business players must firstly draw up financial plans and, secondly, focus on their organisations. They should start with planning long-term schemes.

Good plans, though, do not have to say exactly what will be done until the end of the year, but instead allow you some flexibility to adapt to the current situation and any possible difficulties. Weekly meetings are crucial to keep the plans up-to-date.

What CEOs should do is take closer care personally to actually keep up with accurate information, either positive or negative.

Though the country seems to be struggling with the economic crisis, there is still purchasing power. What is threatening right now is actually consumer confidence, which showed the ability to come back quickly during the first quarter when the unrest was solved. I do believe that the real estate market will improve once the political feud ends and the government encourages citizens to spend money.

In conclusion, the critical factor for the realestate business right now is politics, as it relates to consumer confidence. As for the long run, it depends on the outlook for Thailand’s economy as a whole. But rest assured, we won’t go through any more economic bubbles like the one seen in 1997.

> THE KOREA HERALD ASIA NEWS NETWORK

The Korean government will spend US$6.4 billion (Bt227 billion)) to assist the nation’s struggling shipping industry hit hard by a slump in global trade, officials said yesterday.

The government will establish a 4-trillion won (Bt105.6 billion) fund with financial institutions and pri?vate investors to purchase about 100 used vessels from cash-strapped companies that are expected to go through an intensive restructuring process.

The government will expand credit lines of up to 4.7 trillion won through the Export-Import Bank of Korea to boost sales of ships currently under construction.

It will also lift or ease regulations to help cash-strapped shipyards or shipping companies promote the sale of new vessels, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs said.

The government finalised these and other measures aimed at boosting the competitiveness of the local shipping industry in a meeting chaired by President Lee Myung-bak.

“The measures are aimed at supporting the nation’s shipping industry to escape a slump in the real economy triggered by the global financial crisis last year and to help the industry make this an opportunity to enhance its international competitiveness,” the Transport Ministry said in a statement.

The 4-trillion won fund is expected to buy used ships from struggling local shipping lines which have to liquidate their assets as part of restructuring efforts. The fund is likely to start the purchases in June.

ASIA NEWS

ECO N O M I C S LOW D OW N

MALAYSIA RELAXES RULES TO ATTRACT FOREIGN INVESTORS Liberalisation changes to come in gradually THE STRAITS TIMES ASIA NEWS NETWORK

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nvestors in parts of Malaysia’s services sector no longer have to find Malay partners to own 30 per cent of the business.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak announced that the longstanding requirement will be lifted immediately for 27 sub-sectors, including health and social services, tourism, transport, business and computer-related services.

At present, foreign investors in the services industry must take on Malay partners to own 30 per cent of any joint venture.

The government hopes that lifting the requirement will boost investment and make the services sector more competitive, Datuk Seri Najib said.

The decision comes amid official warnings that the economy could shrink by as much as 1 per cent this year. Malaysia has been hard hit by the global economic crisis, with exports down 15.9 per cent in February from a year ago.

The services sector is the largest, contributing 55 per cent to Malaysia’s gross domestic product last year.

Najib said the government aims to raise this to 60 per cent, a shift

BLOOMBERG

S KOREA TO INJECT $6.4 BN INTO SHIPPING INDUSTRY

THE NATION Monday, April 27, 2009 7A

Kim Young-hak, South Korea’s vice minister of knowledge economy, attends a news conference following the 3rd Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable Meeting in Tokyo. Opec and 13 Asian countries called for greater oversight on position limits, over-the-counter trading in oil and other commodity markets.

VARIOUS currencies on display outside a money-changer in Kuala Lumpur. The Malaysian ringgit has fallen to its lowest level since December 2006 as investors flee emerging-markets on concerns the global economic recession will deepen. that would lessen its dependence on electronics exports and commodities.

Within the services sector, financial services are the biggest, followed by tourism, one of the top foreignexchange earners.

The government plans to liberalise other sectors in stages, with details for the financial sector to be unveiled this week, Najib said.

The 30-per-cent ownership rule is part of the New Economic Policy

(NEP), a controversial policy aimed at closing the wealth gap between Malays and non-Malays, particularly the Chinese.

Critics say it has failed and that only a handful of well-connected Malays have benefited from it. It is also blamed for dampening foreign interest in areas such as finance and telecommunications.

While the Malay equity cap remains in service sub-sectors such as air travel, utilities and retail, yes-

terday’s announcement has been much anticipated after talk last year that the government was ready to progressively dismantle the NEP set up in 1971 by Najib’s late father, then-premier Tun Abdul Razak.

Bank Islam senior economist Azrul Azwar welcomed the news.

“Foreign investors have been harping on this issue for a while, that there is a cap on how much they can own in Malaysia,” he told The Straits Times. “This is a move in the right direction. In the long run it should boost confidence among investors.”

Last year, approved investments in services reached 50.1 billion ringgit (Bt494.4 billion), exceeding the official target of MYR45.8 billion, but foreign investments comprised only 11 per cent of the total figure.

Ivo Nekvapil, a committee member of the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and vice-president of the Malaysian Association of Hotels, hailed it as “an excellent initiative”.

Umno deputy division chief Markiman Kobiran said: “Malays will have to look at it as healthy competition. Due to today’s borderless world economy, we have to be fully prepared.”

BRIEFS

Kirin to raise San Miguel stake to 48.3% Japan’s second-largest brewery Kirin Holdings is set to raise its stake in San Miguel Brewery to 48.3 per cent, thereby becoming a strategic foreign partner in San Miguel’s flagship business.

The value of the stake is reported to be 65.8 billion pesos (Bt48 billion).

In a report to the Philippine Stock Exchange, SMB said Kirin had completed an offer to buy out shares of minority holders.

The shares to be acquired from the public would be paid for in cash, while payment for the shares to be bought from San Miguel will be settled by May 29.

While Kirin is buying into SMB, which is strategic to its beer business, it is also selling its 20-percent stake in parent San Miguel to a group led by former trade minister Roberto Ongpin.

– Philippine Daily Inquirer

Shinsei, Aozora banks in merger talks Shinsei Bank and Aozora Bank, the country’s seventh- and eighthlargest banks respectively, have entered into talks that could lead to the creation of the sixth-largest bank in terms of assets, it was learned on Saturday.

The banks are now under corporate rehabilitation through a public-funds injection. The government, a shareholder in the two banks, will likely support the negotiations, believing the move could underpin their operations.

The banks are currently in the process of evaluating each other’s assets. They are expected to first set up a joint holding company in 2010, with a view to an eventual merger.

– The Yomiuri Shimbun

nationmultimedia.com

8A THE NATION Monday, April 27, 2009

MANAGEMENT&INNOVATION

“

It’s alright to be Goliath, but always act like David.” PHIL KNIGHT

G E N D E R FAC TO R

PUTTING WOMEN POWER TO WORK women’s opportunities to advance their careers.

They are still the untapped workforce bosses often sidestep, but need

ATTRACTING AND RETAINING THE FAIRER SEX

JOSH GOH SPECIAL TO THE NATION

W

omen today are described as the main driving force behind decades of growth.

With technology and education within reach, women have infiltrated the gender barrier over the decades, and are now able to ascend the corporate ladder and start their own business ventures – previously male-only domains.

It is estimated that women account for more than half of the world’s output. In the US alone, women hold 49.1 per cent of the nation’s jobs, while in Asia, the female labour force participation has been growing steadily over the last five years. Nonetheless, more can be done to encourage women, particularly those who have been out of the workforce, to come back to work.

TAPPING INTO THE FEMALE WORKFORCE Diversity in the workplace is key to maintaining the competitive advantage of organisations. Research has shown that a diverse workforce not only promotes creativity, but different voices encourage critical analysis – helpful in improving company practices and services. The positive vibe will help to attract the best talents and develops the company’s brand as an employer of choice.

Talent comes in all shapes and sizes and from various backgrounds and lifestyles – mothers and older women included – and such diversity can bring positive change to the organisation. For example, in a traditionally male-dom-

RESEARCH has shown that a diverse workforce not only promotes creativity, but different voices encourage critical analysis. (photo from www.siamcement.com) inated industry, women can not only bring a refreshing change to the workplace but also present alternative perspectives.

With the current economic climate and widespread retrenchments, skill shortages are prevalent in some industries while those who have been spared the axe are faced with greatly increased workloads. Women rejoining or entering the workforce, especially trained professionals who have been upgrading themselves, can help to bridge skills gaps.

However, while many women are keen to enter or rejoin the workforce, they face unique challenges such as prejudice from employers or how their skills in raising children and managing the household can be translated to the corporate world.

THE GLASS CEILING According to a study by the University of Texas in the United

States, the top three reasons why women exit the workforce are familycentric – personal/family obligations, excessive work hours that prevented them from meeting familial obligations, and personal choice to be a stayhome wife or mother.

Recessions will compel many women to enter or rejoin the workforce to supplement the household income.

However, many of them will find themselves disadvantaged in the job market, primarily because they have been out of the workplace for some time and their skills are no longer relevant.

Furthermore, with employers’ more stringent hiring requirements, these women face fierce competition from the retrenched, fresh graduates and mid-career switchers.

Additionally, women’s obligations to family are also seen negatively by some employers who equate family priorities to lack of commitment. Such perceptions would also hamper

To attract and retain valuable women staff, there must be a paradigm shift where mindsets are concerned.

Working mothers and older women can still contribute to the organisation, given a supportive work environment to help them balance work and family commitments.

During tough economic times, flexibility can bring some of the best talent to the table to fill in the gaps, especially if hiring permanent employees is not an option. Studies have shown that organisations with high levels of flexibility reported strong job satisfaction.

For women who are keen on returning to the workforce full-time, part-time or flexi-work can also be implemented as a gradual transition to full-time work. For working mothers, flexible working arrangements can help them manage their familial obligations without compromising their responsibilities at work.

Additionally, career development or leadership programmes not only motivate working mothers, but also demonstrate how they are valued by their employers. Such practices will promote loyal staff while building up the employer brand.

With a supportive network and family-friendly environment, working women can more easily attend to their personal lives and individual career goals. Being more focused and committed at work would mean they are able to contribute to the organisation to their best abilities.

This article is contributed by Mr Josh Goh, Senior Corporate Services Manager, GSI Executive Search, www.gsiconsultants.com.

PROCESS OF CONVERTING CRISIS INTO OPPORTUNITY structive and not personal.

CRISIS AND OPPORTUNITY Process: If the broader team are two sides of the same coin. can outline two key alternatives Typically, a crisis is required to for consideration, it helps to break really drive change into an organinto subgroups, with each subisation. That change, if managed group exploring an alternative. properly, can turn into an opporAfter study, each subgroup should tunity. present their recommendations to The financial crisis over the the other subgroup. The other past several months has forced subgroup then needs to critique many companies to reconsider the recommendations. With this key elements of their business input considered, the overall team strategy. When demand is strong, can either present the two alterit hides inefficiencies. But as the natives to the senior executive for level of revenue drops, those inefficiencies begin to show and crises decision or make an overall team arise. But crises offer opportunity. recommendation for senior executive approval.

Rather than discuss specific Senior executive role: Very crises, I’m going to review a few importantly, the critical characsenior executive teristics of the (or decisiondecision-making maker) should be process. The absent from the focus is on larger meetings where decisions that the alternatives would impact the are being develbroader organisaoped. If the team tion. senses, or misinTeam selecterprets, a senior tion: The deciexecutive’s prefersion-making ence, the alternaprocess should, to tives will not be some level, be a fully explored by team activity. The the team. And, in senior executive many cases, disand facilitator senting opinions should select the will not be raised. team members EMAIL: TH_CORPCOMM@SEAGATE.COM In the end, the from a broad range of backgrounds. They need senior executive needs to make the decision, either by ratification to be empowered as “sceptical of a recommendation or by makgeneralists”. That means they ing the decision outright from should consider the alternatives alternatives presented. sceptically from a general perSmall decisions would not spective and not limit their input require all the characteristics refto the organisation they repreerenced. But, impactful decisions sent. that will affect the broader organiCulture: The team members sation or company should be must feel and the team must be managed systematically. Crisis managed such that there is an can lead to opportunity. And betabsence of hierarchy. Open dister decisions enable a higher likecussion of the alternatives must lihood of realising the opportunity. occur. And yes, that means there should be conflict in the meetJEFFREY D NYGAARD is vice ings. Not personal conflicts but president & country manager of conflicts that focus on the topic of discussion. A key role of the facili- Seagate Technology. Follow his article every fourth Monday of the tator is to solicit input, force month. debate but keep the conflict con-

Hi! MANAGERS

JEFFREY D. NYGAARD

THE NATION Monday, April 27, 2009 9A

FINANCE

VIGILANCE ON WORLD OIL PRICE TRENDS IMPORTANT Apparently, oil price has faded from news headlines after peaking around US$147 per barrel in July last year. Having said this, the oil price has gradually climbed from its low of $30/barrel to around $50/barrel in recent weeks. To many, this raises the question of where the oil price is heading next. To answer this, a lot can actually be learned from the shape of the crude-oil futures curve, which is a line graph of forward prices of different months of delivery.

Last year, spot prices of oil fell below their futures prices, causing the futures curve to form a shape known as “contango”. This means that forward prices for closer delivery dates are lower than those of further delivery dates (the opposite development is called “backwardation”). For example, during Q4 2008, the time spread – the difference between 12-month and onemonth forward prices – was as high as $30/bbl, which prompted the name “Super-contango”.

What caused this super-contango? Following the global econ-

omy meltdown, oil demand declined more rapidly than supply, pushing down spot prices and widened the time spread. Though this development opened an opportunity to arbitrage away the super contango, tightening world liquidity meant that any investment that requires high lumpsum upfront is difficult because the strategy needs cash ANAWAT to buy physical crude and store it until the delivery time.

Usually, there is a very close relationship between the shape of futures curve and the change in crude inventory. Contango typically indicates that crude stock is accumulating (and backwardation is vice-versa). Hence, the fact that the super-contango has subsided to a normal contango (ie, the decrease in the 12monthone-month time spread) in

recent weeks may imply that inventory accumulation is diminishing. Thus, a reassessment of global oil demandsupply condition is in order.

According to International Energy Agency (IEA), the rebalance of the oil market is in progress as global oil demand is improving, at least from the houseUENBANTERNG hold sector in OECD countries.

Although industrial demand has continued to shrink, recent signs of stabilising in Global Purchasing Manager Index (PMI) may indicate future improvement of industrial demand for oil.

On the supply side, non-Opec output continues to decline while Opec remains strict on its production target. Prospects of tightening world oil supply therefore raises concern on future avail-

GURU SPEAK

T

R

ability of energy as well as potential increased price volatility. The flatter contango, thus, could be signal from the markets that oil demand will soon outpace supply, especially if the economy recovers at the end of the year as many people have anticipated.

Of course, lots of uncertainties remain. But, what’s certain is that the world’s oil is limited and that tighter oil market makes its price more vulnerable to any shocks, be it rising demand or supply disruption.

Higher oil price, whatever its cause, could re-emerge as a threat to oil-dependent economies, like Thailand, that are in a fragile recovery stage from the present global crisis.

Sooner or later, we will need a serious energy master plan that truly strengthens our economic resilience against the next oil price shock.

TANAWAT RUENBANTERNG, Economist, Domestic Economy Department, Bank of Thailand.

Views expressed are the author’s own.

S TO C K O U T L O O K

SET INDEX LIKELY TO SUSTAIN CLIMB Removal of emergency, undervalued market to be tempting

T

he Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) should continue its upward trend this week following the government’s lifting of the state of emergency in and around Bangkok.

Risk premiums should fall, favouring market valuation.

Trading sentiment has improved a lot, according to AD Line, Chaiyaporn which measures broad-based stock movements.

The market usually rises by an average of 20 per cent before seeing a major correction.

The time span for this is about two months.

If the statistic bears out, I expect the SET index will rise to its previous high of 488 soon.

Over the last two weeks, a lot of money went into commodity-related stocks such as oil, coal, steel, petrochemicals and shipping.

SET50 SOARS 3 PER CENT IN POSITIVE WEEK The SET50 Index last week rose 12.36 points or 3.86 per cent from the previous week, while the SET50 Index Futures with the nearest contract maturity S50M09 expiring in the end of June surged 11 points or 3.49 per cent.

Thai shares mostly moved in positive territory throughout last week despite a spate of negative news, including the Bank of Thailand’s lowering of its 2009 GDP forecast from 02 per cent to a contraction of 1.5-3.5 per cent.

The Federation of Thai Industries estimates that the Thai labour situation will hit a crisis in the second quarter. Exports in March dropped 23.1 per cent.

T h e buying spree was seen obviously last Friday when the government announced the lifting of the state of emergency. The SET index closed at 474.04 points last week. The local political situation, which remains uncertain, will still pressure the stock market and the economy in the long run.

Among overseas stock markets, the Dow Jones Industrial Average last week was in high fluctuation. The index gained 127.83 points on April 21 when US Treasury Secretary Timothy

This reflects the fact that investors are starting to take more risks, and have more confidence in an economic recovery. This week investors should look to domestic plays.

Our stock picks are Preuksa Real Estate, Total Access Communication, Airports of Thailand and Thai Vegetable Oil.

TISCO SECURITIES Thai equities have continued to advance in recent days despite the Songkran political violence and heavy selling by foreign investors. One key driver has been the Abhisit government’s attempts to heal the country’s

deep political divide by proposing political reforms and a possible amnesty bill. Another factor is the SET’s sharp discount to the region. The Thai market is currently trading at a 2009 price-to-equity ratio (PER) of 8.5 times, a huge discount of 40 per cent over the average PER of 14.2 times for regional peers.

Lingering concerns over Thailand’s political stability are likely to limit the upside for the SET in the very near term, although we expect Thai equities to soon resume their bear market rally. Sentiment should be supported by further gains on global stock markets and better than expected 2009 first-quarter results by US banks amid growing perceptions that the worst of the global recession is behind us.

Tourism, banks and industrial estate developers could suffer the biggest fallout from Thailand’s latest bout of political strife. Our current GDP estimate of minus 3.9 per cent for this year is already below consensus estimates, but we may need to lower it to nearer minus 5 per cent.

Note that we have downgraded our ratings on major banks due to rising NPL risks and the sector’s disappointing results. Aggregate 2009 first-quarter earnings for the seven banks under our coverage fell by 22 per cent yearon-year, while gross NPLs rose to 7 per cent of loans from 6.5 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2008. However, we have upgraded our target prices for petrochemical stocks to reflect a recent recovery in demand.

SUMMARY APRIL 20-24 Daily Average

Weekly Total

Open interest* (contracts)

Volume (Bt m)

SET 50 Index Futures

39,216

12,613.60

7,843

2,522.72

30,134

SET 50 Index Options

653

2.04

131

0.41

1,392

43,833

15,241.40

8,767

3,048.28

33,843

All Market

Volume (contracts)

Volume (Bt m)

Volume (contracts)

PRICE MOVEMENT Price (Index point) 340

Volume 10,000

SET50 330

TRADING VOLUME

BY INVESTOR TYPE Foreign investor

8,000

11.1%

S50 M09

320

6,000

310

4,000

300 2,000 290

Local investor

Local institution

27.7%

61.2%

0 r2 Ap 0 r Ap 21 r2 Ap 2 r2 Ap 3 r2 4

Head of Research, Bualuang Securities

Ap

CHAIYAPORN NOMPITAKCHAROEN

Source: Thailand Futures Exchange

Geithner was upbeat about the US financial institution sector. But it fell sharply after Morgan Stanley reported poor first-quarter earnings and the International Monetary Fund issued a warning that the world economy this year would contract 1.3 per cent.

The average trading volume last week on Thailand Futures Exchange surged from the previous week to 8,767

NATION GRAPHICS

contracts a day, an 18.31-per-cent increase, while open-interest contracts as of last Thursday were 33,843 or a 2.07 per cent rise.

Weekly trading volume numbered 43,833 contracts worth Bt15.24 billion. Of the total contracts, 39,216 were SET50 Index Futures, 553 were Single Stock Futures, 3,411 were Gold Futures and 653 were SET50 Index Options.

Given high market volatility in 2009, we continue to favour defensive consumer plays and utilities.

We also maintain our view that the SET is currently enjoying a bear market rally and advise short-term investors to use corrections to buy quality beta stocks in the energy, property and construction sectors.

VAJIRALUX SANGLERDSILLAPACHAI Executive Director, Trinity Securities The SET Index continued climbing last week to close at 474 with a significant rise in daily turnover of above Bt17 billion.

Overall market sentiment confirmed our view of a bear market rally with a shortterm target of 520 in the next few weeks. However, we expect some correction this week, due mainly to overbuying and other negative factors.

Vajiralux A stress test of the 19 largest US banks scheduled to be released on Friday will be the key risk to the global stock market, especially for the financial sector, this week. The results, expected to be announced on May 4, will answer questions about whether US banks need a further capital injection, and of how much.

The Bank of Thailand recently revised its 2009 GDP forecast from 0-2 per cent growth to a contraction of minus 3.5 to minus 1.5 per cent. However, Trinity expects a GDP contraction of minus 4 per cent this year. A slowdown in the global economy and poor domestic demand are key pressure factors for this year.

However, there are some positive signs. The revoking of the state of emergency in the capital and easing political violence should restore foreign investors’ confidence in the Thai stock market.

The first-quarter earnings of the banking sector, released last week, look quite satisfactory when compared to economic indicators and other sectors. Aggregate firstquarter net profit was Bt21.5 billion, up sharply from 71 per cent quarter-on-quarter, due to a low base effect, but down 19 per cent year-on-year. Banking stocks performed well over the past month, particularly deep-discount medium-sized and small banks. We expect some correction for outperforming stocks and recommend switching to large banks with stronger balance sheets and lower risk, including Siam Commercial Bank and Kasikornbank.

The first-quarter earnings for the energy sector look unimpressive for exploration and production, refineries and petrochem.

The best performer should be the coal industry. We select PTT and Banpu as top buys.

Managing NPLs in times of crisis The painful lessons learned from The political turmoil in Thailand and the global economic crisis will cause the crisis of 1997 indicate that there is problems of non-performing loans no quick-fix mechanism to solve the (NPL) to re-emerge in Thai financial problems. It took more than 10 years institutions, but on a lesser scale than to reduce the NPL ratio from 48 per during the ‘Tom-Yum Gung” crisis of cent to less than 6 per cent.

To solve such huge NPL problems, 1997. Nevertheless, if not properly managed, Thai banks’ NPL ratio could Thailand has established many instiescalate from single to double-digits. tutions and instruments to facilitate The central bank deputy governor debt-restructuring through court and said on March 25 that the ratio of NPLs out-of-court processes. Examples are to total credit at Thai banks had the Central Bankruptcy Court, assetincreased from 5.6 per cent in management companies, Corporate Restructuring Advisory December to 5.9 per cent in February. Debt This escalation was caused by the eco- Committee, Court Mediation Centre and SME and Financial Advisory nomic downturn.

The aftermath of political instabil- Centre.

The governity will likely put ment has also more pressure on revised the the downward trend Bankruptcy Law of the economy. and procedures, Thailand’s GDP in the tax regime 2009 is now foreand the landcast to contract by transfer fees. A 4.5 per cent to 5 per tax exemption cent compared to and reduction of earlier forecasts of land-transfer around minus 2 to fees were offered minus 2.4 per cent. TUMNONG DASRI to creditors and It may be even worse than this if the measures of various debtors who restructured their debts governments fail to counter the glob- according to the Bank of Thailand’s al economic recession. US Federal notifications. Frameworks and venues Reserve chairman Ben Bernake said were also established for creditors and last week that the fallout from the cri- debtors to facilitate out-of-court negotiations. sis will likely be felt for a long time.

It’s undeniable that these instituThe extent of the crisis was confirmed in The Economist magazine’s tions played major roles in the reducpoll of forecasters on March 7, which tion of NPLs, an achievement that subfound that the real GDPs of most sequently supported the economic industrialised countries in 2009 recovery. Some of the aforementioned would contract. The US GDP is institutions and instruments are still expected to contract by 2.2 per cent; active. The government and other relJapan (minus 5.3 per cent); Eurozone evant stakeholders should revise the (minus 2.4 per cent); Germany frameworks, debt-restructuring insti(minus 3.2 per cent); and Britain tutions and venues, to facilitate debtrestructuring negotiations to ascertain (minus 3.1 per cent).

Therefore, it is unavoidable that the whether NPL problems are a threat to political unrest of April, coupled with economic recovery.

We cannot afford to wait until the the world financial crisis, will prolong the economic recovery of Thailand, NPL ratio reaches double-digits and which in turn will accelerate the accu- becomes even harder to fix. mulation of bad assets in the banking system.

TUMNONG DASRI is former director How can the NPL problem be alle- of the Bank of Thailand’s Debt viated and the NPL debtors rescued? Restructuring Department

OUTSIDE VIEW

>

“The economy is going forward as the stimulus package has started working.”

Yi Gang, vice governor of the People’s Bank of China.

10A THE NATION Monday, April 27, 2009

OPINION

>

“

Americans know that the best ideas often come from workers, not just management. That’s why we’ll establish a process through which every government worker can submit their ideas for how their agency can save money and perform better.” US PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

E D I TO R I A L

TOUGH TIMES AHEAD FOR ABHISIT TO STAY IN POWER Simmering political turmoil and unreliable allies will continue to pose challenges to PM

I

n spite of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s removal of the State of Emergency last week, the political turmoil is far from over. We have witnessed only the first round of the unrest. Jakrapob Penkair, one of the leaders of the red-shirt protesters, vowed to continue the fight on the ground or underground until he could bring down the bureaucratic polity (elite class) in Thailand. Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has not stopped fighting either.

Abhisit would like to send a signal that he has been able to bring the crisis under control. First, he said he is willing to consider constitutional reform and political amnesty for politicians barred from politics for five years and who were not directly involved in alleged election frauds. But the road ahead for political compromise is not going to be easy as it is likely to face opposition from the Thai public, who stand opposed to the red shirts.

Second, Abhisit took part in the parliamentary debate on the red-shirt demonstrations and violent protests. He took time to explain the incident prior to and during the Songkran turmoil, while the Opposition Pheu Thai attacked him over his government’s handling of the protesters. It was a rather bizarre show because nobody was debating why the rallies took place or what objectives they were trying to achieve. Instead, they were debating the military’s use of force to quell the protesters, who should have been squashed any way because they were setting fire to buses and destroying public properties.

Third, before the parliamentary session ended, Abhisit rushed to announce his decision to end the State of Emergency. The PM had declared the emergency on April 12, one day ahead of the clashes between red-shirt protesters and the military forces. This allowed him to consolidate all power into his hands. It created an atmosphere of high political risks. Businesses and tourists had been hard hit by the State of Emergency.

Thai companies doing business abroad faced a premium on their transactions due to the risk associated with the State of Emergency.

Initially, many expected that Abhisit would move swiftly, backed by the emergency decree, to reshuffle the top police and military commanders who failed to secure peace during the turmoil and who might have stood idle intentionally while the rallies were going on. As it now happens, Abhisit has not announced any reshuffle. The premier is more concerned with the country’s image in the international community. He would like to hold the Asean Summit in June in Phuket after it was postponed in April due to the red-shirt protest. It is not certain whether regional leaders would give him another chance, given the ongoing turmoil.

Over the weekend, the red shirts held rallies again at Sanam Luang after Abhisit’s removal of the State of Emergency. It was soft music this time.

Without a clear signal from their leaders, the red shirts would only say that they won’t go away easily.

The red shirts suffered a big set back on Songkran Day when they thought that they would be able to triumph with a people’s revolution. In the people’s revolution, supporters of Thaksin were to topple the Abhisit government including the elite class. Thaksin was reported to be staying in one of the neighbouring countries, ready to get into the country to lead the charge. But when he realised that his red-shirt rallies could not make the advance in the capital because Abhisit had put up a big fight, he decided at the last minute not to enter Thailand.

It was one of the most dramatic episodes in modern Thailand’s history.

Thaksin’s top lieutenant, Jakrapob Penkair, escaped the authorities’ net when he managed to sneak out of the country during the ensuing turmoil. But he told BBC later that he would continue to fight, an armed struggle if necessary, on the ground or underground to fulfil his goal. Jakrapob is facing an arrest warrant for his role in instigating the turmoil during Songkran. Jakrapob is a key operative of Thaksin. He had been telling the foreign community in Bangkok for more than a year that he would one day lead a people’s revolution to topple the elite in Thailand. Many foreign media did not take his words lightly.

Several had written editorials to suggest afterwards that Thailand would risk plunging into a Nepal-like situation.

The people’s revolution did not take place as Jakrapob predicted. For whatever reason, it took place without him standing in the front. The people’s revolution was quelled by a military group, who supported Abhisit. Without a counterattack, the history of Thailand would have been completely changed by now.

The road ahead remains bumpy. The polarisation is still alive. There is little room for a political compromise. The red shirts will not stop until Thaksin can prevail or at least get his Bt76 billion in frozen money back. The stability of the Abhisit government is shaky. His allies are planning to backstab him. Abhisit has few allies around except that his approval rating has been soaring in the aftermath of the Songkran turmoil. Without a strong mandate and coalition support, Abhisit might find it difficult to last beyond this year.

In the people’s revolution, supporters of Thaksin were to topple the Abhisit government including the elite class. Thaksin was reported to be staying in one of the neighbouring countries, ready to get into the country to lead the charge. But when he realised that his red-shirt rallies could not make the advance in the capital because Abhisit had put up a big fight, he decided at the last minute not to enter Thailand. It was one of the most dramatic episodes in modern Thailand’s history.

THE NATION Editor: Thanong Khanthong Deputy Managing Editors: Kumar Krishnan, Jintana Panyaarvudh Front-page Editor: Nophakhun Limsamarnphun Business Editor: Achara Deboonmee Money Editor: Jiwamol Kanoksilp Political Editor: Somroutai Sapsomboon Editorial-Opinion pages Editor: Jeerawat Na Thalang Regional News Editor: Don Pathan Arts & Culture Editor: Manote Tripathi Web Co-Editors: Marisa Chimprabha, Paisal Chuenprasaeng Design Editor: Leroy A Sylk Assistant Editor: Patcharee Luenguthai Group Editor in Chief: Suthichai Yoon Assistant Group Editors: Nithinand Yorsaengrat, Vithoon Puengprasert Chief Operating Officer: Pana Janviroj e-mail: editor@nationgroup.com A member of the Asia News Network (www.asianewsnet.net) Partner with Phuket Gazette (www.phuketgazette.net)

L E T T E R S TO T H E E D I TO R WE WELCOME YOUR VIEWS ON ANYTHING NEWSWORTHY. Please include your name and address on your letters to the editor. We reserve the right to edit all letters. Send your views to: The Nation, Letters to the Editor, 1854 Bang Na-Trat Road, Bang Na, Bangkok 10260, or fax us at 02 338 3958.

Will govt find the time to encourage innovation?

encouraging/funding creative non-polluting alternatives.

A French developer, MDI, along with Zero Pollution Motors showed a car that runs on compressed air at this year’s New York International Auto Show.

MDI’s compressed-air car can travel 200 kilometres between refuelling, and it costs about Bt35 per 100km. The car gets refuelled with compressed air, taking about three minutes, at a cost of about Bt70.

Hybrid propulsion systems are also being developed using a combination of compressed air and other fuels. Air compressors could readily be rigged to recharge cars using solar or other clean power sources. There must be Thai innovators who could develop such concepts. If the Thai government were functional, it could set up programmes that could encourage and fund such innovations.

In reality, encouraging Thai innovators is not even on the government’s radar.

Politicians are far too busy with their Nixonian catfights, endlessly trying to gain advantage over rivals – so there’s no time left over for governing.

If Thailand ever does get innovative technology, it will likely be decades after Western countries get plugged in. Not only that, by the time such technology gets to Thailand, it will either have to be licensed (unlikely) or pirated (likely), because such innovations don’t get created here.

Perhaps private enterprise could take the bull by the horns, by actively

CHIANG RAI

KEN ALBERTSEN

Address the needs of the underprivileged A basic covenant of a “true democracy” is free speech and for the government to ensure the public has a legal right and reasonable platform to make its voice heard outside the voting booth. It seems that groups like the red shirts, yellow shirts, blue shirts, or shirts of whatever colour can “organise” mass rallies whenever and wherever they choose.

Only yesterday the red shirts decided to move “today’s” rally location from Samut Sakhon to Sanam Luang. How can the government expect to maintain order when large rallies can be moved around without consideration for public safety and welfare?

The government is in a position to deal with this situation in a much more effective manner and should do so now.

Why not control to the extent possible where, when, how and what various coloured but organised groups plan to do?

Simple. Use whatever city or provincial law structure is in place to impose controls.

Require an approval process designed to allow the city of Bangkok to consider public welfare and safety and ensure the normal discourse of daily life would not be obstructed by an organised rally.

Require rally organisers to obtain a permit not less than 30 days prior to the event.

The permit would be approved after due consideration of the date, time, location, attendance, logistical support plans, etc.

The government cannot let moderately large and organised events like political rallies to come and go as they please.

I personally don’t know, maybe the law already exists on the books to do the things I suggest. This leads us to the big problem – enforcement of the law in Thailand. People treated in a fair and equitable manner.

Maybe I am beginning to understand what underscores the red-shirt movement.

This government must go direct to the people with programmes designed to correct these conditions and show goodwill and empathy for the people. Should the government fail to address the legitimate needs of the underprivileged, I cannot see how we will create an orderly society.

JAMES SEYMOUR BANGKOK

>

SEND US YOUR VIEWS IN AN INSTANT! E-mail your opinion, with ‘Letters to the Editor’ in the subject box, to: letters@nationgroup.com

B A N G KO K I A N

REAL CHANGE IN BURMA ELUSIVE Thai-Burmese diplomatic relations came under the public spotlight recently when two retired diplomats – Poksak Nilubol, former Thai ambassador to Burma, and Surapong Jayanama, former director-general of the Foreign Ministry’s East Asia Department – came together at an event organised by the Thailand Research Fund.

The function was organised last week to launch Poksak’s book, “Understanding Burma”, an analysis of Thailand’s troubling diplomatic ties with the junta during his years there, as well as a dose of personal recollections of the people he met, including rebel leaders along the troubled common border.

The book is part of a larger study sponsored by the research fund.

Poksak admitted for the first time that he was against the idea of granting Burma Asean membership unless the regime demonstrated progress towards democratisation. He had rejected the argument that the junta would move that much closer to China if the regional grouping did not permit the military regime to join its family.

More than 10 years have passed and the junta isn’t as close to China as it was back then. Moreover, said Poksak, by losing its biggest leverage, Asean membership, Thailand has little left to influence the

course of Burma’s political direction.

So why should Thailand be so concerned about Burma’s democratisation and reconciliation? Poksak argued in his book that, essentially, Thailand is a stakeholder. A healthy Burma is good for Thailand. A trouble-wracked Burma, said Poksak, would continue to plague Thailand with illegal migrants, human smuggling, border insurgency and illicit drugs.

Like Surapong, Poksak was criticised for his stance towards Burma on grounds that it violated Asean’s long-standing tradition of non-interference. But the two are no longer wearing ambassadorial hats and deemed it necessary to make public their positions.

One of the mistakes, said Poksak, was that successive Thai governments relied too heavily on military-to-military contacts in their dealings with the Burmese, while more emphasis should have been placed on diplomacy.

Poksak said Burma’s military intelligence apparatus was one of the world’s best but all that came to an abrupt end when then spy chief for the junta, General Khin Nyunt, was sacked in a power play within the junta. But even with Khin Nyunt and his entire intelligence operation out of the picture, the Army’s grip on the coun-

try remained strong in spite of the fact that the much-feared intelligence-gathering mechanism was abruptly removed.

According to Surapong, real change will be hard to come by in Burma, given the climate of fear. Even in the face of great international pressure following the monk-led demonstrations that were bloodily crushed by the junta, and Cyclone Nargis that claimed the lives of tens of thousands, the junta continues to place the interest of the regime above the needs of its people, regardless of the level of disaster.

The regime knows what it wants and doesn’t want and has played its cards well, said Surapong. The junta, he said, has somewhat successfully used its natural resources and its strategic location as bargaining chips in its dealings with China, Asean, India and the United States.

Surapong said one of the biggest concerns for the time being is that the international community, fatigued with the fact that their tough policy against the regime has not produced the desired outcome, will decide to wash their hands of the Burma problem if and when the general election, scheduled for 2010, is pushed through.

Considering the fact that Burma’s Constitution was overwhelmingly approved (according to the Burmese government, more than 90 per cent of the voters approved it), don’t be surprised if all the parliamentarian seats in the general election next year go to the junta.

nationmultimedia.com

THE NATION Monday, April 27, 2009 11A

OPINION

THAN SHWE’S WINNING FORMULA TO RETAIN THE REINS OF POWER ONE DOES NOT have to be Nostradamus to predict that by next year the current Burmese junta leaders would be stronger and have a tighter grip over the country and its people, thanks to various efforts to break the current Burmese impasse. They all mean well, to rescue the Burmese people from the brutal and heartless regime, and in the past one year from the disastrous consequences brought by Cyclone Nargis. Somehow, their efforts have not produced the outcome they have in mind.

After the planned election next year, the perception of Burma and its regime will certainly shift even though it may not be transparent, free and fair and a genuine expression of the people’s will. We have heard repeatedly the appeal of the United Nations and other organisations for inclusive and credible polls, but the junta has not yet responded. If history is any indicator, the answer in months to come is clear: Rangoon will remain mute.

During the referendum on the constitution last May, despite all the criticism and global calls for transparency and accountability, the Burmese junta did nothing, not even the possible changes to the polling date following the cyclone. Now, this constitution serves as the framework for the junta’s exit strategy.

The world as it is today, with a fullblown economic crisis, will not pay much attention to the quality of the democracy or the form of governance inside Burma, especially when recovery efforts continue in the Irrawaddy Delta. Under these circumstances, policies and measures adopted by the US, European Community, Asean and other major countries will

inevitably benefit the junta since these players do not have unified positions and coordinated approaches. Each thinks its policy is better and result-oriented than others. Sad but true, that policy-makers on Burma have spent more time discussing their differences than trying to bridge perception gaps or consolidating tangible engagements that could immediately impact on the Burmese junta and changes on the ground.

Indeed, the situation today is very ideal to further augment the power of General Than Shwe and Tatmadaw. They just have to stay put, totally immune to international outcry, and never show signs of weakness. Than Shwe has demonstrated political prowess, knowing the so-called international community will succumb to his wishes and plans provided he is not the first one to crack. The generals in Naypyidaw have also provided policymakers on Burma and donors in state or non-state organisations abroad with nuances on their political future and prospects, which raise hopes of betterment the next day. Altogether it has been over two decades of such expectations.

Still, they have never failed to push forward their views that the Burmese people need help in a big way, especially in healthcare and education. Outside help is also much needed. Of course, the junta does welcome foreign humanitarian assistance especially from those ready to accept its terms and conditions. One year after Nargis, the voices calling for more assistance are louder. Dominant international humanitarian organisations, including UN agencies and other nongovern-

REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE

KAVI CHONGKITTAVORN mental organisations – both that were there before or after the cyclone – have already urged more assistance to help the Burmese people to rebuild their lives.

They still need US$691 million (Bt24.5 billion) for the next three years.

Since May 19 last year, the presence of Asean and UN relief agencies on the ground have coordinated with the junta in distributing aid and helping the Burmese cyclone victims. The tripartite cooperation has repeatedly received the thumbs up.

They reiterated the Burmese rural community leaders are now having unprecedented opportunities to learn and work together with foreign relief officials.

Currently they have developed the capacity to organise themselves into informal civic groups to help their own people affected by the cyclone and rebuild their

THE THAI DIVINE COMEDY THANONG KHANTHONG THE NATION

HAVE YOU EVER experienced Paradise, Hell and Purgatory in the City of Angels? Let me show you around Bangkok because I do at times venture beyond my home in the Sukhumvit area to visit Old Bangkok.

PARADISE You start at Phanfah Leelas Bridge, a distinct point that leads you to the gateway of Paradise. The King Rama III statue offers you the golden key to enter the realm of Paradise, where at night angels descend to dance and pick up flowers. You can smell Paradise, the fragrance that is not of this world, as you watch the stupas and the Loha Prasath in the back.

There, Paradise interacts with you in several dimensions, with the lure of aesthetics. If you can make your way up to Paradise, the background scene behind the Rama III statue would have been the physical structure where the angels take their residence.

That’s the outer layer of Paradise. But Paradise is also hidden in your consciousness.

As you experience the beauty of the stupas and the Loha Prasat and the temples, which moves your yearning for Paradise, that Paradise gradually permeates your own consciousness in a struggle for self-realisation. You finally come to terms with your self, your elusive self.

That which is Paradise is your process of understanding or the denial of all happiness, which characterises the self, so that you confront the self at the most critical moment.

Between the self and no self, which path do you choose?

Then you walk on along Rajdamnoen Road.

It’s about midnight. You pass the Democracy Monument. How many people have died futile deaths for this worthless landmark that signifies greed and crude power in this land? How many military strongmen come and go as the Democracy Monument is forever cursed with their arsenals buried around? How many politicians have promised us the loot before ending up in rampant corruption? How many times do the poor have to shed tears just to get a fair share of life on this earth?

HELL Along the pavements, you see Hell and all the suffering that goes with it. Homeless people lie on the benches or on the tiny spaces close to the shop windows. They do not have any other place to sleep.

Prostitutes, in their forties or fifties, gesture to you with their sign language. This is their turf. When darkness descends on Rajdamnoen, they come out to reclaim their territory. They practice the oldest trade of this world just to survive, with a heart that is beyond the suffering of any human description until it becomes normal.

You see people at a loss because they cannot afford even Bt200-Bt300 for a night, say, in one of the cockroach motels in the dark back streets, where rats scurry around looking for foul-smelling food.

The suffering you encounter manifests Hell in its physical form. But Hell is also your obsession with the self. The homeless and the prostitutes suffer from all kinds of physical abuse.

They struggle to keep their self moving.

They only have the will to live, to protect the self. The Hell in your consciousness is your denial of the suffering from the outside and the struggle for the maintenance of your happiness from the inside.

But as an observer of Hell, you at once set

yourself apart from the suffering before your eyes. You start to doubt whether your comfortable life in a four-cornered office room is better than theirs.

Your continued obsession with the self does not gain you any higher status than theirs. For we all are born and have to pass through the cycle of birth and death, in an eternal struggle for existence.

Those people living in rags and ruin have no more strength left to be obsessed with the self, as they only need a few breaths of strength to keep up their fragile existence. The Hell that is in your consciousness returns to haunt you as the self perpetuates the state of ignorance and comparison between good and bad, peace and suffering.

You have almost forgotten Paradise, the real Paradise that you walked past almost a kilometre behind you, the real Paradise that points to redemption.

PURGATORY The Trilogy would not come a full cycle without your final confrontation with Purgatory. Purgatory signifies your aimless travelling through time. You are now in the human world, lying perhaps on the edge of this world.

In Buddhist terminology, Purgatory is a region where you place three circles together.

You see vendors of fake Buddhas and secondhand or third-hand garments and electronics products. You can also buy a mobile phone there, with the service excellence of a mouthto-teeth technician. You can have your future read on your palm by the astrologers of the land. You can eat a plate of phad thai or khai dao with garlic pork for Bt15 or Bt20. You can buy a buay beverage to quench your thirst after a long, hot walk. This is the medieval market of Siam, cut off from the Finance Ministry’s tax arm. Prices are in the low range. You can buy an antique clock or watch for a couple of hundred baht.

You aren’t sure how these people can make a living with their medieval trade because in the afternoon of that day, you just had a nice meal at Siam Paragon. As you pass the court buildings opposite Sanam Luang, you feel tired with the weighing down of the sights on your mind.

After Paradise and Hell, you could have thought that you could find the answer to your true self. But no, you’re still wandering aimlessly.

If you’re not sure about Paradise and reject Hell altogether, you’ll be left in a state of flux, of not knowing where else to go to or what else to do.

Finally, you stop at the City Pillar on the corner opposite Wat Phra Kaew. You pay homage to the City Pillar, which provides strength and power for the longevity of this Kingdom.

You glance at Wat Phra Kaew, which stands as a testimony of the ultimate Paradise. You pay your utmost respect to the ultimate sacred site of Bangkok, while the nihilism that goes on around Wat Phra Kaew is intensifying on the bedrock of ignorance.

There, you at once come to terms with your self for the third critical moment of your brief travel in search of the lost meaning of life.

Among Paradise, or the redemption of your soul, Hell, your preoccupation with the ignorant self, or Purgatory, your travel through time without any meaning or purpose, what path would you choose?

The interplay among Hell, Purgatory and Paradise allows you to at once realise the suffering, the peripatetic travelling through time before you arrive at the crucial juncture of whether you will enter the gate of the no self.

community. This progress could lay the foundation for increasing civic participation and the democratisation process in Burma.

The argument that helping Burma and saving lives is urgent and should not be politicised have been used by all parties concerned both inside and outside Burma. Everybody knows, despite such a mantra, everything in Burma has been politicised, more than people would like to admit. In the post-Nargis recovery process, the calls for additional assistance will be more pronounced. Foreign relief organisations, which have made it inside Burma, have been quite satisfied with the current state of affairs. They want to stay there beyond the one-year time-frame.

When doubts were expressed about the possible abuse of distribution of aid, they labelled them as bias.

Now it has become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Some quarters in the international community have come round to accept that the Burmese generals are a bunch of lunatics and will not change any time soon. It is better to show flexibility and understanding of the Burmese quagmire and help the Burmese people even though the regime will benefit from such generosity.

During her Asian trip in February, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton threw a wrench in the works by saying the US was reviewing its Burmese policy as neither engagement nor sanction was working.

Immediately, it caused ripples in the debate on Burmese policies. The EU has made it clear that it would continue with the sanctions one more year unless there

is genuine progress inside Burma. In the US, lawmakers and lobbyists have already called for an end to the long-list of US economic sanctions. Under the new US leadership, Washington would like to work closely with Asean to find a lasting solution to the Burmese political crisis.

Nobody knows what would be the revised US policy on Burma. Asean does not support sanctions against Burma. Some Asean members such as Thailand and Singapore have suffered from the Tom Lantos-Jade Act. Thai gem traders and jewellers have complained to the Thai government of the damages caused to their billion-dollar business.

Under the chairmanship of Thailand, Asean supposes to have a more pragmatic approach on Burma with the Abhisitled government. As a frontline state, Thailand wants to restore respect for the conduct of its regional foreign policies.

That hope was prematurely dashed by the political chaos in Pattaya. At first, it was thought that Thailand, with a more broadbased approach, without the past vested interests on Burma personified by Thaksin, would garner Asean support and beyond. The Pattaya mayhem, followed by the Songkran riots, completely tarnished the chair’s reputation and leadership on the Burmese issue.

At the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand last week, British Ambassador to Burma Mark Canning was very candid, revealing that the largest aid donors to post-Nargis Burma were the US and Europe--they have imposed all sanctions.

For the Burmese generals, this formula is a win-win roadmap.

BID TO SELL HUGE RICE STOCK NOT ABOVE BOARD AT THE CABINET MEETING on April 21, the Prime Minister gave a warning that entering into the rice-sale contract with the Philippines must be done in such a way that complied with Clause 190 of the Constitution. It was observed that the PM also asked about the sale price and other conditions of the contract. This was a sign that the PM had started to pay attention to the rice matter, which was a good move for him to get to know what has been going on as it has been under a lot of negative criticism lately.

The recent introduction of the rice-pledging scheme for the second crop at a price much higher than the market price as well as the preparation for untimely sale of a large amount of stocks in a way that seems to be irregular have drawn such criticism.

In the proposed rice contract with the Philippines, it was not clear whether it would be a government-to-gov-

put out by the Minister of Commerce is that it is necessary to reduce stocks in order to welcome the incoming stock from rice pledging of the second crop recently announced for a total of 2.5 million tonnes. It was sad to hear that the minister planned to sell the existing stock at the market price in order to have room for taking in more stock from rice pledging at a price more than 20 per cent higher than the market price. If the rice-pledging was not introduced, the output from the second crop would be available for private exporters to serve their customary buyers while the government will not have to absorb unnecessary losses from the price difference.

To prevent undue pressure on the market price for the second crop, the sale of government stocks should start after the farmers have sold much of their output from the second crop to merchants and rice mills.

The next question is why was it so necessary for the Minister of Commerce to preannounce the high quantity of 3.8 million tonnes that were to be sold? Was it an advice from a private businessman? The preannouncement of the sale of such volume would definitely put pressure on the market price and thus benefit the potential buyer. During the whole year of 2008, when the Ministry of Commerce had to sell a few million tonnes of rice in their stock, they never announced the amount that needed to be sold. They quietly executed the sale transactions gradually and the market was not at all pressured down. Why were experienced bureaucrats not allowed to participate in the current scheme? Besides, among the potential members of the committee to be established by the minister for this purpose, one is known for his talent in pleasing the politicians while another is still new to the current position as the predecessor was, very recently, removed from that position.

GOOD.. I PRAISE DOUBTFUL.. I RAISE

MR PRIDIYATHORN DEVAKULA

What concerns me is not the Philippines rice deal, but rather the fact that the Minister of Commerce is prepared to sell out stock of milled rice totalling 3.8 million tonnes. This quantity of rice has been accumulated through various pledging programmes for rice paddy totalling more than 8 million tonnes, most of which have been milled and kept in stock as milled rice of 4.1 million tonnes.

The next question is why was it so necessary for the Minister of ernment transaction or an export transaction through private exporters to private buyers in the Philippines. If Commerce to preannounce the high it is the G-to-G transaction, the deal should be concludquantity of 3.8 million tonnes that were ed as soon as possible before the buying countries change their minds as happened last year when the then to be sold? Was it an advice from a Cabinet did not approve the deal in time and the Philippines finally turned to Vietnam. More interesting private businessman? is that exports to foreign governments would have the least pressure on the market price and we would need a lot of these G-to-G transactions in order to reduce our stockpile without much effect on the market price.

What concerns me is not the Philippines rice deal, but rather the fact that the Minister of Commerce is prepared to sell out stock of milled rice totalling 3.8 million tonnes. This quantity of rice has been accumulated through various pledging programmes for rice paddy totalling more than 8 million tonnes, most of which have been milled and kept in stock as milled rice of 4.1 million tonnes. This amount of milled rice needs to be sold.

However, the process to sell such a huge quantity of milled rice must be handled with care. The amount to be sold should not be pre-announced, especially when it is this high, as such information would put pressure on the market price. Furthermore, the sale should not be implemented during the harvest of the second crop as it would bring down the market price that the farmers deserve.

One reason for the immediate sale of existing stock as

More interesting is the fact that the person who is widely accepted to be the most capable and experienced in selling rice is not appointed to this committee.

The Prime Minister has successfully led the country through the tough political protest. I do not want to see the PM allowing irregular practice in the rice matter to go on unchecked.

The rice pledging for the second crop has been implemented only recently and has accumulated only part of the intended amount. The sale of stock is only in a preparation stage. It is still not too late to correct the situation.

I am compiling data on the financial losses incurred from the rice-pledging scheme implemented by various governments. I do not want to include the name of the Democrat Party-led government in my report.

Until next Monday.

12A THE NATION MONDAY, April 27, 2009

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We can see some signs of recent improvement in the global economy.”

BANK OF JAPAN GOVERNOR MASAAKI SHIRAKAWA

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

HUNTING FOR TALENT AMID A CRISIS The Nation recently conducted a survey of Human Resources departments in key business sectors regarding the employment situation amid the global recession and domestic downturn. The poll seeks to determine the latest information on job availability and requirements, particularly with regard to mid-ranking and lower-level positions.

In an interview conducted as part of the survey, The Nation’s Jiwamol Kanoksilp speaks to Duenpen Pawakranond, senior vice president and co-head of the Human Resources Management Department at Kasikornbank, which employs more than 13,000 people. This is the first in a series.

How many people does Kasikornbank plan to recruit this year and in what areas?

Our survey early this year put the total demand in the banking industry at around 9,000 jobs.

Kasikornbank plans to recruit 4,000 people. But this is a flexible target,

depending on the situation. The recruitment goal is in line with our business plan to open about 150 branches this year. Of the total, 4,000 would be hired in the sales and services areas. This year we’ve recruited around 500 new employees.

TECH STOCKS OUTPERFORM The Standard & Poor's 500 Information Technology Index of 75 software and computer makers has rallied 9.7 percent this year, the steepest gain since 1998 and the most among 10 industries represented in the S&P 500. The last time the gauge began a year faster, it went on to climb another 42 percent, spurring a 27 percent annual advance for the S&P 500.

S&P 500 Information Technology Index Performance for Jan 1 to April 20 of each year % 25 20 15 10 5 0 -5 -10

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Investors in Thailand will soon have more alternatives after the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) adds Single Stock Futures of 10 new underlying stocks.

The Single Stock Futures will be chosen based on trading liquidity and price volatility to allow investors to exploit them in a bid to manage risk, said Sopawadee Lertmanaschai, the SET’s chief marketing officer for markets and posttrade services.

Most of the 10 new Single Stock Futures are banks. The rest are energy and property developers, she said.

The precise debut date has not been set, as some Single Stock Futures with banking stocks as underlying assets are not listed on the SET50 Index. They will need to be approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), she said.

The SET has already submitted the filing to the secu-

caught investors’ interest, as seen in the thin trading volume.

As of April 23 this year, there were only 56 Single Stock Futures contracts: 16 AIS, 3 PTT and 37 PTTEP. “We hope that after the number of underlying assets of Single Stock Futures increases from three to 13, investors’ appetite and trading liquidity will increase. We expect Single Stock Futures’ trading volume to average 100 contracts per day,” she said.

Sopawadee said Derivative Warrants (DWs) would be unveiled in the third quarter of this year. Two or three brokers have already expressed interest in becoming DW brokers, she said.

The SET is also conducting a study on the introduction of Exchange Traded Funds, whose underlying assets are on foreign indexes.

The TFEX, which commenced in 2006, now has four products – SET50 Index Futures, SET50 Index Options, Single Stock Futures and Gold Futures.

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THE NATION

rities watchdog, she added.

According to the SET’s data, Thailand’s six largest commercial banks, Bangkok Bank, Krung Thai Bank, Siam Commercial Bank, Kasikornbank, TMB Bank and Bank of Ayudhya are listed on the SET50 Index.

In November, the Thailand Futures Exchange (TFEX) – a unit of the SET– introduced the first three Single Stock Futures: PTT, PTT Exploration and Production, and Advanced Info Service. The underlying assets of these, PTT, PTTEP and AIS, are the SET’s three largestmarket cap stocks at Bt498.45 billion, Bt324.95 billion and Bt229.58 billion, respectively as of April 23, according to the SET. The standard contract size is 1,000 shares. Contracts mature in March, June, September and December. The minimum tick size is Bt0.10, and a ceiling and floor of 30 per cent of the previous trading day is applied.

Sopawadee admitted that the first three Single Stock Futures had not

It’s quite tough to judge people at first. But we look at their background. Their family relations should be sound. We also seek information from their former employers. In addition, we have a system that doesn’t give them chance to commit fraud, and we conduct internal audits. Those whose parents have worked at our bank before are at an advantage.

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SIRIPORN CHANJINDAMANEE

In many fields, we need to train new staff ourselves, as universities don’t provide it. There’s a big gap between corporate needs and what the universities provide to us. For instance, in product management and marketing, universities teach only consumer products, not financial marketing. For risk management, they teach some of this in universities, but not enough. IT training is still lacking.

In addition, there’s a lack of

As a bank you deal with other people’s money. How do you assess a job-applicant’s honesty?

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SINGLE STOCK FUTURES TO ADD 10 NEW STOCKS

What is the main problem when it comes to training?

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In terms of demand in the banking sector, we need “solution

It hasn’t been affected much by the current crisis. But nor have we seen significant wage rises. Rates are quite stable. No one is increasing the salary base. The market hasn’t seen wages fall, either: it’s basically stable.

05

Education is very

What has changed in terms of the supply and demand of skilled workers?

What is the wage situation?

4

What other criteria does the bank focus on?

staff with five to 10 years’ experience. After the 1997 financial crisis, everyone cut costs and jobs.

Not many recruited staff at that time. So, now we don’t have many people with that amount of experience.

providers” that can advise people, while in the past you only tried to serve customers’ needs. On the supply side, kids nowadays have high self-confidence and less patience. They want challenging, modern and flexible jobs. They want to express views and participate in decision-making. They’re not shy and easy to govern anymore. But this new generation reflects customers’ needs. I still believe patience is the key, however, as we live like a family here.

You need to work with people of different ages.

20

We would try to find out whether the applicant has ever solved complicated problems. How does he or she analyse information and solve a problem? Why choose Solution A rather than B? We would ask them to tell us whether they have ever faced a challenging problem, and if so, how they solved it.

Through interviewing them, we try to determine their experience level.

important. In several positions, we prefer master’s degrees, as the applicant is already done with the education and is ready to grow into maturity. A high GPA is not necessary, but it helps us reduce risk. Good grades help us with screening to a certain level, and it just serves as good “packaging” for the applicant.

You need to stand out.

Preparation for answering questions is the key. In addition, applicants need to take some tests, starting with three-hour IQ and EQ tests, which tell us about their personality. Then, we test basic skills. They can choose from subjects they are good at, including English-language tests such as TOEFL and TOEIC, Thai language, mathematics, decisionmaking and computers. Finally, we test technical knowledge. For example, a relationship manager needs to know about credit analysis and risk management.

20 0

How would you assess a job applicant’s ability to solve problems?

KASIKORNBANK employs more than 13,000 people and plans to hire 4,000 more this year.

20 03

Duenpen

First, you need to demonstrate an ambition to succeed. Second, you need to be able to work as part of a team. The “one-man-show” type of person won’t work, as banks’ work requires coordination. Third, you need to be customer-focused, working to address customers’ needs, not your boss’ needs. Fourth, it is necessary that you can solve problems. In this new era of banking, we need people who are “solution providers”, not “service providers”. This is very important.

N AT I O N

What are the most desired qualifications?

20 02

ATM skimming is popular not only in Thailand: look at Baltimore, Maryland.

Privacy experts, banks and others are warning consumers about a threat to their personal financial information: electronic skimming devices that record credit-card and debitcard numbers at ATMs, petrol pumps or vending machines.

Using “tiny technology” disguised as part of the machine, thieves use the information to press new cards with customers’ numbers, to the dismay of cardholders like Kristin Kyriakos, 29, of South Baltimore, who returned from vacation on April 13 to numerous bank-overdraft notices in her mailbox.

Thieves had stolen her number while she used an ATM at a Wachovia branch. With that information, they withdrew cash from several ATMs in New York, taking US$2,500 (Bt88,500), she said.

“All of a sudden, I’m really apprehensive,” Kyriakos said.

“I wasn’t aware that people were even capable of doing this.”

There’s no central source of data to determine the extent of the problem, said American Bankers Association spokeswoman Margot Mohsberg, but anecdotal evidence suggests skimming is cyclical, like other types of fraud.

“As the economy gets worse and people get more desperate for money, the amount of fraud tends to go up,” she said.

Also, the technology is more accessible, with people able to purchase the necessary equipment over the Internet, Mohsberg said. Criminals use magnetic-strip readers to record information from the ATM card. With either a camera mounted on the ATM or modified keypads, they record customers’ keystrokes as they enter PINs. They then “clone” the cards and use them to withdraw cash.

It is not only ATMs that are vulnerable: thieves have tampered with stand-alone creditcard readers at petrol stations and supermarkets. Employees of Red Box, a video-rental vending-machine company with locations at McDonald’s restaurants and supermarkets all over the US, found creditcard skimmers installed last year on machines in three cities, including Baltimore.

The company sent customers e-mail messages warning about the threat.

“Since then, we’ve really not had any problems,” said Red Box spokesman Chris Goodrich.

Wachovia spokesman Jim Baum confirmed the bank “did have a situation happen in early March” at the branch Kyriakos visited.

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1B THE NATION MONDAY, April 27, 2009

NATIONAL

CHULALONGKORN HOSPITAL SAYS IT CAN TREAT PEOPLE IF SWINE FLU HITS THAILAND Page 2B

A F FA I R S

THIS WEEK Govt, opposition, Senate whips meet

Government, opposition and Senate whips are scheduled to meet TODAY to agree on guidelines for the appointment of a committee to gather information and review the violence during the redshirt’s anti-government rally on April 13 and 14.

And in an attempt to solve the country’s divisiveness, the whips would also discuss the framework for appointing a committee to study the Constitution and laws related to political reform.

The committee of the PM’s Office secretary-general that is also considering the same subject will hold its first meeting today.

On FRIDAY, the Senate will open a special session to debate the government’s administration without taking a vote. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva would be there to answer questions.

Last week’s joint parliamentary meeting on the same subject ended with some senators still wanting to talk.

That two-day session turned into a war of words between government and opposition MPs rather than a discussion by lawmakers to jointly find solutions for the country.

Outside Parliament, the red shirts did not stop their movement. On Saturday, one day after the prime minister lifted the state of emergency imposed in Bangkok, the red shirts rallied at Sanam Luang.

They also said they would stage a major rally again from MAY 17-20 to bring back the 1997 Constitution. Before then, they would organise mobile rallies in the provinces, starting from Ubon Ratchathani this Saturday, to mobilise supporters.

The red-shirt leaders also plan to take a look at the group’s D Station this week in the serious hope that it could resume broadcasting soon after being blocked by the government for provoking people.

Outside the country, redshirt leaders Thaksin Shinawatra and former PM’s Office minister Jakrapob Penkair vowed to continue their opposition to the Abhisit government. The government has been more active lately in trying to get cooperation from foreign countries to extradite Thaksin and Jakrapob.

TODAY, the Special Branch Police commander convenes a meeting to review the interviews by Thaksin and Jakrapob for possible lese majeste.

On WEDNESDAY, the Attorney-General’s Office is scheduled to decide whether to prosecute Jakrapob for lese majeste.

While Jakrapob must hear the indictment in person, the prosecutors might request the court to approve his arrest warrant if he fails to do so.

Also THIS WEEK, police are due to wrap up their investigation of the assassination attempt on Sondhi Limthongkul.

‘ABHISIT GOVT NOT IN ACTUAL CONTROL’ A core leader of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), Chamlong Srimuang, gives his views on a new PAD-led political party, the attempt on the life of fellow PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul, and current politics, after the end of the violent red-shirt protests.

He spoke to The Nation’s Chularat Saengpassa.

The PAD is to set up a new political party. What will “new politics” be like?

The new political party will not be a copycat of the now-defunct Palang Dharma Party (PDP) that I founded 21 years ago, but will be established on principles based on lessons learnt by the PDP. A grand PAD meeting on May 24 and 25 will discuss the new party’s set-up.

The new party, which has not been named, should command a majority of MP seats after the next general election, and will be a coalition member in the next government.

It will be useless if we cannot lead the coalition or form a government, because there will be nothing new to Thai politics.

PAD supporters nationwide are divided into two groups – those in favour of the new party and those who prefer that the PAD remains an independent advocacy group in politics. PAD representatives from each of the 76 provinces, and those living in the US, will decide at the grand meeting on the initial principles of the new party.

Palang Dharma actually practised the so-called “new politics” which has been heralded by the PAD, even back before 1988, when the party was established. In 1990, an American professor who did his doctoral thesis at London University, later wrote a book entitled: “Chamlong Srimuang and the New Politics”. I guess it was then that the new politics was

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW first recognised. The new party will be successful because of three factors that Palang Dharma did not have at that time: The Election Commission will watch out for and punish vote-buying, the support of PAD members across the country, and cable channel ASTV. It is important that the new party lead the coalition in the next government, otherwise it will be no different to all the “old politics”, with its vote-buying, mud-slinging and money politics.

Who attempted to assassinate Sondhi Limthongkul, a core PAD leader?

I don’t know, but there two motives behind the murder attempt: PAD has tremendous support from the masses across the country and ASTV’s success as a mouthpiece for the PAD, which is known as the core of the anti-Thaksin Shinawatra movement.

Why was Sonthi the first target, as a leader of yellow-shirted people, instead of those in red shirts?

The people who gave the order didn’t care who they killed, first or later. But the current political turmoil dictated the order of kills. More importanly, there are known leaders of yellow-shirted people, who are even classsified as prime and secondary leaders, while there are no known leaders of red-shirted people. Should Thaksin be killed first?

He stays abroad now.

Was there really an effort to lure yellow shirts and red shirts on to the street to fight one another?

Yes, but we did not walk into that trap.

Somebody may use the ensuing violence as an excuse to oppress both Chamlong yellow and red shirts, citing himself as a knight on a white horse. It’s the government’s duty to deal with lawless protesters, not the PAD’s.

As you have confirmed, there was an effort to stage a coup on April 12 and 13, a day before the red-shirted supporters’ busiest activities and street protests.

Why was it aborted?

A coup was seen as essential to bring peace – and secondly, it may have been used as bargaining power in exchange for a law to pardon [Thaksin], to promulgate a so-called Reconciliation Act, or even to amend the Constitution.

Yet, I don’t know why it was aborted.

What did the people behind the coup and the assassination attempt want?

They wanted power. They wanted to pardon some wrongdoers so they could escape serving prison terms and asset seizure. Or they wanted more and more power to become bigger in the country.

Does the ideology of some die-hard communists still exist? Was there any effort to revive it along with other

tactics [used by the red shirts]?

Some die-hard communists who became Thaksin’s allies will still pursue their ideology despite the collapse of Soviet-era communism and the capitalism now adopted by China. But it is very difficult for them to achieve their goal.

They came up this time with a clear stance against the monarchy – a policy they never stated clearly during their armed struggle then.

And they are complaining about the PAD using their anti-monarchy policy as the main goal in our campaign. It’s clear to everyone now that PAD always tells the truth.

Was Thaksin part of the communists’ anti-monarchy movement?

Some of them – but we don’t know clearly who is who – may view Thaksin as their ally.

It was the government’s duty to uphold and enforce the lese majeste law, as the anti-monarchy doctrine has been spread out and is now widely accepted by people who are highly-respected lecturers, who are admired by their likeminded students.

The anti-monarchy doctrine was a threat to national security and the government must take responsibility for its inaction in dealing with the widespread violation of the lese majeste laws. I can’t tell whether the PAD would “take action” to tackle the problem, if the government proved incompetent or was inactive in dealing with the issue.

What factors would prompt the PAD to launch a new round of rallies? Would the amendment of the Constitution and the pardon law be one of them?

I don’t know. We must wait and see.

The PAD staged rallies against two previous governments over plans to amend

the Constitution and the pardon law.

Why should it be different this time?

We cannot set up such preconditions. We need to analyse the situation because the time and circumstances have changed. The PAD doesn’t own the country and cannot tell the government what not to do.

Why do the same conditions not apply like they did during the two previous governments?

We do not know what articles in the Constitution are set to be amended. It’s wiser for us not to talk about it in advance.

Will the PAD rally to oust the government if it does nothing to deal with people who want to pursue an anti-monarchy stance?

It’s a threat the government has to deal with. It just cannot let these people get away.

How much time should the government be allowed [to act]?

Oh. We don’t own the government. We are not that big or powerful. We campaigned against the Samak and Somchai governments because they clearly acted as nominees or puppets of the Thaksin regime.

Even the Abhisit government is practising the old politics at a certain point – by kowtowing to certain groups of powerful people. For example, it has changed its stance on relocation of Thai Airways’ operations from Don Mueang to Suvarnabhumi Airport, and it eventually decided to draw back from a ban on alcohol sales during Songkran, under influence from liquor companies.

I don’t think the Abhisit government has the actual control, or the Asean Summit in Pattaya would have proceeded and there would have been no attack at the Interior Ministry.

ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED

PREMIER: GOVT MAY HOLD REFERENDUM ON AMNESTY THE NATION

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday that the government may hold a national referendum on the proposal to give amnesty to banned politicians.

Speaking during his weekly “Confidence in Thailand with Prime Minister Abhisit” on Channel 11, the prime minister said political parties have yet to discuss the proposal to grant amnesty for political offences.

“The process may require a public referendum to be carried out first,” Abhisit said.

He reiterated that criminal offences must not be covered under the plan to grant amnesty.

The prime minister said the idea of political amnesty was floated by many sides throughout the past week.

“All politicians will heed the proposal and find a common solution. I won’t attempt to influence the outcome,” the prime minister said.

He said a committee would be set up to compile proposals from all groups, including politicians, on the issue.

The issue of amnesty would be considered by a tripartite committee of the government, opposition and Senate.

Abhisit said he had requested Parliament President Chai Chidchob to invite all sides to discuss the

amnesty and other issues, including political reform, constitutional amendments and reconciliation among political opponents.

The prime minister said if all sides could not agree on a set of rules, any attempt to solve political problems would fail.

Abhisit said any agreement or change must be done without discrimination against anyone.

Speaking to reporters at Government House, the prime minister said it was not certain yet whether a referendum would cover only the amnesty issue or also cover charter amendments.

He said a working committee, representing the three sides, would consider the referendum issue later.

Meanwhile, an opinion survey found that most voters around the country support charter amendments and amnesty for banned politicians.

The survey was carried out by Rajabhat University Suan Dusit among 3,079 voters from Friday until yesterday.

The university said the survey found that 68.72 per cent of the respondents agreed with charter amendments while 31.28 per cent disagreed.

The survey found that 64.89 per cent of the respondents support the amnesty idea while 35.11 disagreed with it.

N AT I O N / S U PA K R I T K H U M K A N

WHAT’S EXPECTED

FORMER Chat Thai MP Janista “Bam” Liewchalermwong and Butrrat Charoonsmith get engaged at the Oriental Hotel yesterday. Planning to marry in three months, Butrrat said he would like his fiancée to quit politics.

DOUBTS OVER IMMUNITY FOR CHATUPORN BUDSARAKHAM SINLAPALAVAN THE NATION

Though MPs and senators who seek parliamentary immunity from arrest and prosecution while Parliament sits are normally granted it, doubts are surfacing about the case of Pheu Thai party-list MP Chatuporn Prompan.

No member has ever been charged with so grave a threat to democracy or national security.

Chatuporn, prominent in the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship, is wanted for inciting unrest by leading red-shirt rallies for the abolition of the 2007 Constitution. Chatuporn has yet to surrender to face charges and may ask for immunity.

This is generally granted on

request, but the enormity of Chatuporn’s alleged crime has sparked a move for a break with precedent.

Democrat spokesman Buranat Samutrak said the party would meet to decide whether to back Chatuporn once he made a request.

Chulalongkorn University political-science lecturer Chaiyan Chaiyaporn said immunity was just a tradition and the law clearly stated that members could vote for or against granting it.

He said that if Pheu Thai Party MPs voted in support of Chatuporn it would show that they did not put the public interest above their own.

Cases in point are: ● Then Senate speaker Chalerm Promlert was given immunity after

being sentenced to 36 years in jail on November 13, 2007 for raping an underage girl. ● Then senator Sukhum Cherchuen was given immunity from being prosecuted for masterminding the murder of Dr Nicharee Makornsarn of Chulalongkorn Hospital. ●Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva waived immunity when sued by Dr Prommin Lertsuridej for defamation in connection with a press conference at which Abhisit accused the Thai Rak Thai Party of hiring small parties to compete in the April 2, 2006 election and said he would abide by the court’s verdict. ● Democrat party-list MP Somkiat Pongpaiboon waived immunity on a charge of lese majeste.

SOLDIER’S BODY TO UNDERGO ANOTHER AUTOPSY, COMMANDER RULES OUT FOUL PLAY THE NATION

The body of a soldier who was found dead in the residence of Army Region Commander Lt-General Kanit Sapitak in Bangkok will undergo a second autopsy at Siriraj Hospital today.

The Forensic Science Institute, however, rejected his family’s request to have outsiders besides relatives and their lawyer witness the autopsy.

Forensic Science Institute director Khunying Pornthip Rojanasunand said the institute had rejected the

request from the family of Private Apinop Kruasuk to have outsiders who are not his relatives or lawyers witness the autopsy because it was against the regulations. Pornthip said she did not want to be accused of having double standards as the institute had never granted such permission to anybody.

Apinop, 22, was found dead in the residence of Kanit on April 15. The initial autopsy conducted at Ramathibodi Hospital found that he had subdural haemorrhage. His neckbone was broken. There were bruises on his arms.

Media reports had earlier said he had fallen in the bathroom and was later found dead. However, his family suspected irregularities in his death and filed a complaint with the Pheu Thai Party and the Department of Special Investigation to investigate the cause of his death. His body was sent to the Forensic Science Institute on Saturday.

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said Apinop’s family feared they would not receive justice because the Army had told them to finish his

cremation fast. The family had organise a false cremation and kept his body for a second autopsy to find out how he had died.

Siriraj Hosptial has agreed to conduct the autopsy by allowing a team of other doctors, including a Pheu Thai Party MP, to witness the autopsy today.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he was sorry about the death of Apinop, who had looked after him while he stayed at Kanit’s residence.

The PM said he was ready to provide any information if an investigation is

launched to look into the issue. He said he had nothing to do with his death because the private died on April 14 after he had left the place. Abhisit said he and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban took refuge there on April 12-13.

Reports had it that Apinop messaged to his mother and girlfriend in Loei telling them that he was at Kanit’s residence where Abhisit also took refuge during the Songkran riots.

Kanit said he had asked three soldiers, who had been stationed to guard

his house, about what had happened to Apinop. They told him the private had skidded and fallen down. They had asked Apinop if he wanted to see a doctor but he had refused, saying he only had a headache. They later found him dead on Wednesday morning.

“I assure that no one had assaulted Apinop till he died. I also lost my son in an accident three months ago. I understand losing a son is tough and I am sorry for his family. I am ready to do everything they wish me to do to clear any doubts,” he said.

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2B THE NATION Monday, April 27, 2009

NATIONAL AFFAIRS P U B L I C H E A LT H

STORM HAVOC

Ministry calls for calm; dangerous strain of virus ‘not found in Thailand’ THE NATION

C

hulalongkorn Hospital has said it is ready to cope with the possible spread of swine flu in Thailand and could treat people sickened by it.

Meanwhile, an emergency watch has been ordered following the deadly swine-flu outbreak which is now spreading in Mexico and threatening to turn into a pandemic, the Public Health Ministry said yesterday.

Pubic Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai urged people to stay calm, saying the H1N1 viral breed which had caused the disease in Mexico had never been reported here.

However, anyone travelling to the US or Mexico should monitor health advisories issued by both Thai and foreign authorities, he said.

Dr Praj Bunyawongviroj, the ministry’s permanent secretary, said he would not recommend that people stop eating pork, but noted that human-to-human transmission was possible through direct contact of body fluids or mucus through sneezing and coughing.

People down with the common flu should stay away from public and keep themselves in good health until the flu is gone, he said.

Chulalongkorn medical lecturer Yong Phooworrawan said swine flu could spread faster than bird flu, but it was much less fatal.

Citing a comparative study, the doctor said 80 out of 1,000 people

Citing a comparative study, the doctor said 80 out of 1,000 people infected with swine flu had died, but 250 out of 400 of those sickened with bird flu had succumbed. infected with swine flu had died, but 250 out of 400 of those sickened with bird flu had succumbed.

Swine flu can attack both wild hogs and farm pigs, or other types of swine, he said, adding that the H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2 strains possibly found in Thailand could not be transferred to humans.

In Chiang Mai, no order has been given at the international airport to quarantine Mexicans who might arrive, although there are no direct flights landing there, airport director Juturongkhaphol Sodmanee said.

Under regular procedures, medical assistance was on standby and would be provided to any sick foreign visitor, but those with apparent flu would be on the A-list for treatment upon their request, he said.

The outbreak in Mexico has claimed at least 81 lives, according to the World Health Organisation, which declared the virus a public health emergency of “pandemic potential”.

In New Zealand, 22 students and three teachers have been quarantined amid fears they may have been infected by swine influenza during a language trip to Mexico.

Teaching novice monks manners Phra Maha Wudhijaya Vajiramedhi, director of the Vimuttayalaya Institute, will launch the country’s first “good manners” curriculum for novice monks next month.

The curriculum, to be introduced at the Novice Demonstration School founded by the monk in Chiang Rai’s Chiang Khong district, was aimed at educating novices so that they would have more appropriate manners and solving the problem of homosexual novices and monks.

The good manner curriculum comprises 75 dharma principles focusing on the proper behaviour of monks and novices as taught by the Lord Buddha in Buddhism’s 227 precepts.

“When the Lord Buddha was a prince, he was educated by his royal household. As a result, he had really good manners and was admired

by Buddhists.

“The school has decided to introduce the curriculum to teach novices because he did not want people to lose their faith in novices and monks due to unbecoming conduct,” said Wudhijaya, also known as W Vajiramedhi.

“Every novice studying at the school will be taught the curriculum.

We’ll also evaluate how much the curriculum can help inculcate good manners in novices. If it succeeds in improving their manners, I’ll expand the curriculum to other novice schools nationwide.”

THE NATION

T H E N AT I O N / C H O M P I T P I N M UA N G

CHULA HOSPITAL PREPARED TO TACKLE CASES OF SWINE FLU PUBLIC-ASSEMBLY LAW MUST RESPECT RIGHTS: ACADEMIC THE NATION

Thailand should not rush into passing a public-assembly law like other countries as the people and civic groups here have a custom of protesting to publicise their demands, a human-rights defender said yesterday.

Most street protests are peaceful, but huge demonstrations and violence as in previous gatherings of the red and yellow groups are rare, Paijot Polpet told a seminar on the possibility for Thailand to have such a law to control street protests.

Various governments since the military coup of 2006 have tried to enact a public-assembly law as people and politicians staged demonstrations to make political demands.

Thammasat University academic Chanthachira Aiammayura supported the idea of having the law since

protests in recent years have tended to degenerate into violence and violated the basic rights of other people.

The law needs to protect the rights of protesters and the public at large, she said.

The Constitution, which guarantees the right of assembly, allows authorities to rein in protests when they go beyond legal restrictions, she added.

The law would need to balance three elements – effectiveness, necessity and proportional protection between the protesters and public interest, she said.

Administrative Court official Wasunee Wattanapraser said some democratic countries have laws on public assembly.

In France, any public assembly must have a permit from the authorities. The protesters must set up a committee to supervise the rally. The gov-

VILLAGERS PETITION OVER MEKONG EROSION SUPALAK GANJANAKHUNDEE THE NATION

A group of villagers yesterday signed a petition to lodge with the United Nations, the Thai and Chinese governments demanding that China take responsibility for the erosion of banks along the Mekong River because of its dams.

Some 200 villagers who live along the Mekong River, including residents of Chiang Rai’s Chiang Khong district and Ubon Ratchathani’s Pho Chai district, helped build sandbag walls to prevent further erosion in Chiang Khong yesterday. Villagers believe that China’s dams on the mainstream of the Mekong, including the Jinghong and Manwan dams in Yunnan province, were responsible for the rapid erosion of the river’s banks.

“After the completion of the Chinese dam in the Mekong, people downstream could not predict the water levels in the river,” said Bounkong Bounvas, village head of Ban Pak Ing Tai. The disappearance of reefs is another cause for concern. To make the Mekong more navigable, China had to blast all the reefs from Jinghong down to the Golden Triangle, causing the flows of the river to change considerably, said Mekong conservationist Niwat Roikaew. Heavy floods in August last year, after a huge amount of water was released from the dams, caused damage to agricultural areas in Thailand worth more than Bt85 million.

ernment has the authority to limit the assembly if it stirs up trouble or social disorder, she said.

However, French authorities have limited power to declare a state of emergency and can ban public assembly for only 12 days, she added.

The United States has no publicassembly law but uses normal criminal law to keep violence in check, she said.

Lt-General Chet Mongkolhatthi from the National Police Office said the law was needed to authorise police to issue permits to people for public meetings.

If police refused applications for a permit, the organisers should have the right to petition the Administration Court, he said.

The law should state clear rules of engagement so police know when they can employ force to subdue protests, he said.

FACT website blocked The Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (FACT) yesterday claimed that its blogsite has been blocked since Saturday noon, apparently on orders of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT)Ministry.

“This is typical of a censorship regime in that over-blocking always occurs,” FACT founder and coordinator CJ Hinke told The Nation. “There are always innocent websites that are swept up in the general censorship.”

The free-speech advocacy group will file a complaint with the ICT Ministry today, as ministry officials were not available to take a petition over the weekend.

Hinke, a Canadian citizen based in Bangkok, said his group is non-political and non-partisan and the website contained no illegal content.

Hinke urged FACT readers to use bypass software to access the site, which provides detailed information on censorship in Thailand including measures to avoid lese-majeste charges.

Hinke claims the ICT Ministry has admitted to restricting access to 6,218 websites deemed a threat to national security and the monarchy.

Last Friday, the ministry said it has allowed the anti-government Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship’s 71 websites to go back online.

PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK THE NATION

THE ROOF of a house in Tambon Huai Pho in Kalasin’s Muang district is destroyed by a storm on Saturday night. The house was among 73 destroyed homes.

The storm injured two people. The Meteorological Department yesterday issued a warning of summer thunderstorms caused by a moderate high-pressure system from China. Residents should be wary of “dangerous” weather until tomorrow by staying indoors, keeping buildings secured and avoid using communication tools during thunderstorms.

SONDHI CASE: ARRESTS NOT LIKELY SOON THE NATION

Police have made good progress in their investigation into the assassination attempt on Sondhi Limthongkul but would not likely make any arrests within a week.

A complete trajectory study would take seven days, Pol MajGeneral Suraphol Phinijchob, commander of the Science Records Division, said yesterday.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had earlier dismissed a bold estimate by Pol Lt-General Assawin Khwanmueng, the chief investigator, that police could arrest within seven days those who ordered the execution of the core leader of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and founder of the ASTV-Manager media group.

Abhisit said police should look further into recent discoveries of war weapons at various locations in Bangkok and Si Sa Ket. Measures to keep war weapons in control should be put on the national agenda, he said.

Metropolitan Police chief LtGeneral Worraphong Chewpreecha said police would release the names of suspects only when they had obtained sufficient evidence against them.

Chamlong Srimuang, a PAD leader, said Sondhi was marked for elimination because of the huge support given to him by PAD followers, as well as of the success of his ASTV station.

Chamlong said he and other core PAD leaders, including Suriyasai Katasila, were also targets.

“They have set a Bt3-million bounty for our heads, which makes us not too careless, while we don’t want be to be too anxious either,” he said.

The government had the duty to take action against people who constantly violated the lesemajeste law or those with an antimonarchy stance regardless of their roles in the red-shirt movement, he said.

The chances that the yellow and red shirts could one day become allies if they had mutual enemies could not be predicted, he added.

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THE NATION Monday, April 27, 2009 3B

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4B THE NATION Monday, April 27, 2009

WORLD AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Washington

In his high-velocity first 100 days, Barack Obama has sketched the outlines of a presidency of astounding ambition, which would remake the United States at home and transform its role abroad.

“It is clearly the most ambitious agenda at least since the 1960s,” said Princeton University historian and political scientist Julian Zelizer.

Abroad, Obama swapped George W Bush’s swagger for a cupped ear, giving Russia respect it craves, reaching out to Muslims and vowing to drain decades of enmity with foes Cuba and Iran.

Tom De Luca, professor of political science at Fordham University, said Obama’s foreign policy was “breathtaking in its scope”.

“I think it clearly illustrates the immense self confidence Obama has in himself and in his administration.”

Obama is enjoying the best presidential job approval rating at this point in 20 years, a new opinion survey showed.

The poll, by ABC News and The Washington Post, indicated 69 per cent of Americans approve of the job he is doing, which is the highest evaluation in about two decades.

Fifty-four per cent say Obama’s doing a better job than they expected, far above former presidents George W Bush and Bill Clinton at their 100-day mark.

They got a 39 per cent and 35 per cent better-than-expected rating, respectively.

But talking about change is easy, effecting it is not: Obama admits America is a “big ocean liner – it’s not a speedboat; it doesn’t turn around immediately”.

W O R L D H E A LT H S C A R E

BRIEFS

MEXICO ON EDGE AS SWINE-FLU CASES CONTINUE TO INCREASE

Cruise ship fights off Somali pirates An Italian cruise ship with 1,500 people on board fended off a pirate attack far off the coast of Somalia when its Israeli private security forces exchanged fire with the bandits and drove them away, the commander said yesterday.

Commander Ciro Pinto told Italian state radio that six men in a small white boat approached the Msc Melody and opened fire on Saturday night, but retreated after Israeli security officers aboard the cruise ship returned fire.

“It felt like we were in war,” Pinto told state radio.

None of the roughly 1,000 passengers and 500 crewmembers were hurt, Melody owner Msc Cruises said in a statement issued by its German branch. – Associated Press

Experts say it is too late to contain disease, raising fears of epidemic ASSOCIATED PRESS Mexico City

A

new strain of swine flu has this city of 20 million people increasingly fearful as suspected flu deaths grow, and world health officials warn that Mexico City could be at the epicentre of a global epidemic.

Everything from concerts to sports matches and church services were cancelled yesterday to keep people from congregating and spreading the virus in large crowds.

President Felipe Calderon assumed new powers to isolate people infected with a deadly swine-flu strain that Mexico’s health minister says has killed up to 81 people and likely sickened 1,324 since April 13.

Mexican soldiers and health workers patrolled airports and bus stations, looking for people showing symptoms, which include a fever of more than 100 degrees, body aches, coughing, a sore throat, respiratory congestion and, in some cases, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Markets and restaurants were nearly empty. And throngs of Mexicans – some with just a fever – rushed to hospitals.

Mexico appears to have lost valuable days or weeks in detecting the new flu strain, a combination of pig, bird and human viruses that humans may have no natural immunity to.

Health officials have found cases in 16 Mexican states. Two dozen new suspected cases were reported in the capital on Saturday alone.

Eleven cases of swine flu were confirmed in California, Texas and Kansas, with more suspected in New York City.

The World Health Organisation on Saturday asked all countries to step up reporting and surveillance of the disease, as airports around the world were screening travellers from Mexico for flu symptoms.

WHO director-general Margaret Chan said the outbreak of the neverbefore-seen virus has “pandemic potential”. But she said it is still too early to tell if it would become a pandemic.

WHO guidance calls for isolating the sick and blanketing everyone around them with anti-viral drugs such as Tamiflu. Too many patients have been identified in Mexico’s teeming capital for such a solution now. But some pandemic flu experts say it is also too late to contain the disease to Mexico and the United States.

“Anything that would be about containing it right now would purely be a political move,” said Michael Osterholm at the University of Minnesota.

Mexican authorities ordered schools closed in the capital and the states of Mexico and San Luis Potosi until May 6, and the Roman Catholic

Tamil Tigers declare unilateral ceasefire

AFP

OBAMA SEEN AS DOMINANT IN FIRST 100 DAYS

NEWS& BUSINESS

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a morale-boosting visit to Lebanon yesterday ahead of elections that could see militant group Hizbollah and its allies emerge victorious.

A COUPLE try and kiss in Mexico City. The WHO has warned governments worldwide to be on alert for any unusual flu symptoms.

Church announced the cancellation of Sunday masses in the capital.

A team from the US Centres for Disease Control had arrived in Mexico to help set up detection testing for the swine flu strain, something Mexico previously lacked.

Health authorities started noticing a threefold spike in flu cases in late March and early April, but they thought it was a late rebound in the December-February flu season.

Testing at domestic labs did not alert doctors to the new strain. Health Secretary Jose Cordova acknowledged that Mexican labs lacked the necessary profiling data to detect the previously unknown strain.

The first death occurred in southern Oaxaca state on April 13, but Mexico didn’t send the first of 14 mucous samples to the CDC until April 18, around the same time it dispatched health teams to hospitals looking for patients with severe flu or pneumonia-like symptoms.

Those teams noticed something strange: The flu was killing people aged 20 to 40. Flu victims are usually either infants or the elderly.

Even though US labs detected the swine flu in California and Texas before last weekend, Mexican authorities as recently as Wednesday were still referring to it as a late-season flu.

Tamil Tiger rebels yesterday declared a unilateral ceasefire amid growing concern for thousands of civilians trapped amid the fighting.

A rebel statement e-mailed to The Associated Press yesterday said it would stop its military operations immediately.

The rebels are cornered in a tiny strip of land on Sri Lanka’s northeastern coast. The United Nations and others have called for a negotiated truce to allow civilians trapped in the sliver of territory to escape.

Aid groups estimate 50,000 civilians are stuck there.

However, the Sri Lanka government rejected the ceasefire, defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse said, instead demanding that the cornered guerrillas surrender. – Agencies

nationmultimedia.com

THE NATION Monday, April 27, 2009 5B

GREEN & CSR PROFILES AVAYA’S country director Wichai Subvitayanond says more local firms are turning to his company to upgrade their communications system to compete effectively in today’s digital world.

C O M M U N I C AT I O N S

AVAYA’S WICHAI WARNS OF LOST OPPORTUNITIES AMID UNREST As Vietnam roars ahead after years of war, Thailand stumbles backward ITTHI C TAN THE NATION

T

he business world of the coming decade may be as unrecognisable to us today as that of Bangkok 30 years ago, says Wichai Subvithayanond, country director of Avaya Asia Pacific.

“I remember going to technical college in Bang Mod across the river in Thon Buri. It was green, full of orchards, rice fields and forests,” Wichai reminisces. “The campus and farming community knew each other well, and we always helped each other.”

Wichai, a 10-year veteran with Siemens before joining the local unit of the US communications firm, misses the easy pace.

“My college days were full of happy moments. People were cheerful, friendly and supportive of each other.

There was none of the bitterness we have witnessed in the past few weeks.”

Clearly Wichai believes the past

may hold some of the solutions to today’s woes. “Today Bang Mod is all condominiums and housing estates and thick with cars and trucks.” The orchards and farms are gone, replaced by congested highways and exhaust fumes.

But to Wichai, a native of Sadao in the south who later migrated to Bangkok, the changes he experienced have taught the importance of learning to cope with challenges that come with an increasingly automated and efficient work environment.

It is important not to lose your way.

Thailand was the darling of global investors from 1987 to 1997, when the stock market index rocketed from 150 to more than 1,750. Today it is at 474.

“Vietnam is today the fastestgrowing economy in Southeast Asia and one of Avaya’s most dynamic markets,” says Wichai.

“It is important for our business community to appreciate the challenges and competition coming from next door.”

Vietnam is hungry for growth, investment and opportunities after suffering more than half a century of war, strife and communism.

In contrast, some quarters here may be so blinded by decades of prosperity that they are able to toy with the idea that civil strife is tolerable

even as the country sinks deeper into the red. But Wichai is optimistic. “In a way, we have to be balanced.

Consider a few years ago when all the media ran was the daily killings in the South.”

Today that’s largely forgotten, overshadowed by coloured shirts.

When competing, Thailand has many advantages still, he says. “Our banking and trade system is more developed, and our infrastructure is also in better shape.

“The key is now is to return to harmony.”

Avaya’s outlook here was improving before the state of emergency was announced.

That scuttled everything, and it takes time to rebuild, he says.

“Our annual revenues are about Bt400 million, and we believe the trend of the market remains positive next year.”

Once a subsidiary of AT&T under Lucent, Avaya is now a leader in voice technology.

With more companies and organisations seeking practical ways to reduce their impact on the environment, Avaya is enabling them to go green by investing in more efficient systems, he says.

“For instance most major banks, domestic and foreign, are our key customers,” he says.

“We provide them with call-centre systems and services that are key to their operations 24 hours a day.”

If you lose your credit card or ATM cards, it is likely you will be using its technology to obtain a new one.

“More medium-sized firms are looking to us to upgrade their systems.”

The recent global financial crisis is forcing companies to trim expenses while increasing output.

One way to achieve these goals is to employ technology and products that cut down on time and expenditure.

“Our conferencing and VOIP [voice-over Internet protocol] serv-

ices can reduce costs in many ways,” he says. “By allowing voice conferencing, executives can communicate with their provincial counterparts without having to fly there, book hotels and spend hours at airports.”

Less travelling, less driving and more tele-conferencing: this is probably what the future of business in Thailand will look like. It is already looking like that in many parts of the world.

To help businesses determine how much energy they can save, the company recently launched a new green website and an energysavings calculator.

The tool reckons savings in kilowatt energy, carbon emissions and petrol consumption.

One way is to decrease the amount of hardware needed for communications.

Vanke, one of the largest property-developers in China, consolidated its communications infra-

structure by eliminating standalone PBXs at each of its 20 branch offices.

Instead it centralised core communications operations at its headquarters and extended a system over an IP Telephony network to these branches.

“That reduced the requirements for administration, maintenance and power consumption while enabling faster, more consistent service, increasing collaboration and improving business continuity,” he says.

Meanwhile, Avaya’s “Communication Manager” telephony software makes it possible to build an efficient communications foundation that supports up to 36,000 endpoints across hundreds of locations with a single pair of centralised servers.

Also, its work-at-home programme is solving staffing and business issues in a fast-changing business environment.

SONY THAILAND recently organised ‘Young Creative by Sony Season 2’, where 80 junior high-school students with interest in entertainment technology and TV programming were taken on a one-day trip to RS Studio for direct experience and trials.

SAHAVIRIYA GROUP organised an environment training programme for over 50 health volunteers in Bang Saphan. They were taken to a green park in Cha-Am and expected to share the knowledge with other villagers in their home.

T H E N AT I O N

CSR SCENE

ONE OF Avaya’s communications products that generate about Bt400 million a year in the local market.

F O R E I G N E X C H A N G E R AT E BANGKOK BANK CURRENCY

JET AIRWAYS, led by Thailand manager Lackana Wantaywin, took 50 children from the Foundation For The Better Life of Children to watch the animated movie Bal Ganesh, inspiring them with Ganesh’s tale of never giving up.

CHAO PHYA Hospital recently organised a grooming session for would-be parents, where applied yoga was demonstrated for the happiness of the parents and their children.

PITAK PRUITTISARIKORN, 4th left, director of Honda Automobile (Thailand), presented the company’s financial assistance to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation to provide shelters and working equipment during disasters. The donation was a part of Honda’s support to help reduce road accidents during the Songkran festival in the ‘Bon Voyage – Be More Conscious…Be More Safe’ campaign.

ADIREK SRIPRATAK, president and CEO of Charoen Pokphand Foods, recently presented 375,000 eggs worth Bt900,000 to Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra in ‘Dried wastes to exchange for CP fresh egg’ at Khlong Toey community.

For the second consecutive year, the project aims to encourage people in 25 communities to be concerned about their living environment as well as provide them good nutrition by consuming quality eggs.

DESCRIPTION

USD1 USD : 1 USD5 USD : 5-20 USD50 USD : 50-100 GBP UNITED KINGDOM EUR EURO ZONE JPY JAPAN (:100) HKD HONG KONG MYR MALAYSIA: 10, 50, 100 SGD SINGAPORE BND BRUNEI CNY CHINA IDR INDONESIA (:1000) INR INDIA : 50-1000 KRW KOREA PHP PHILIPPINES TWD TAIWAN AUD AUSTRALIA NZD NEW ZEALAND CHF SWITZERLAND DKK DENMARK NOK NORWAY SEK SWEDEN CAD CANADA RUB RUSSIA VND VIETNAM (:1000) ZAR SOUTH AFRICA AED UNITED ARAB EMIRATE BHD BAHRAIN OMR OMAN QAR QATAR SAR SAUDI ARABIA

BANKNOTE

BUYING RATES

SELLING RATES

BUYING

SELLING

SIGHT BILL

TT

BILL & TT & DD

34.24 34.58 35.02 50.61 46.02 35.87 4.45 9.11 23.3 22.78 4.33 1.87 0.61375 0.0221 0.53 0.85 24.7 19.53 30.39 5.98 5.16 4.08 28.35 0.87 1.41 2.71 7.74 63.26 62.42 7.62 7.49

35.62 35.62 35.7 52.52 47.25 37.3 4.64 10.15 24.02 23.92 5.62 4.03 0.75375 0.0367 0.8 1.15 26.26 20.82 31.25 6.32 5.43 4.34 29.21 1.2 2.23 4.95 10.06 94.72 93.16 10.05 10

35.17 51.3225 46.28625 36.2 4.52625 UNQUOTE 23.44875 UNQUOTE 2.91095 24.93 19.6875 30.61 6.19 5.305 4.2475 28.725 -

35.27 51.4575 46.3975 36.285 4.54125 UNQUOTE 23.5125 UNQUOTE 2.94895 25.005 19.75 30.7075 6.2075 5.32125 4.25875 28.79 -

35.52 52.0925 46.995 36.8475 4.59625 UNQUOTE 23.89125 UNQUOTE 3.6581 0.7525 0.745 25.5225 20.1775 31.145 6.305 5.40625 4.32125 29.1525 AS OF APRIL 24, 2009

nationmultimedia.com

6B THE NATION Monday, April 27, 2009

WORLD BUSINESS FINANCIAL CRISIS

PRASONG UTHAISANGCHAI

IMF SAYS TIME HAS COME TO DISCUSS EXIT STRATEGIES

Senior Executive Vice President and Director of International Banking Group, Bangkok Bank

WWW.BANGKOKBANK.COM

Cherys, beer and other tasty business opportunities In the midst of a gloomy global economic environment, at least three rays of economic light are shining out of China which will be good for Thailand – these are Chery cars, beer manufacturing and the BOI's moves to expand Chinese investment in this country.

The proposed construction of a manufacturing plant in Thailand for China's new Chery car will make Thailand the main production base for right-hand drive Chery cars rather than Indonesia and Malaysia. The cars are intended to be sold in Thailand and export markets. The announcement comes at a time when the automotive industry in Thailand is experiencing a drop in local and international demand.

Over the last year, domestic demand has declined over 30 per cent, while exports have also fallen by over 30 per cent. With unemployment in many sectors increasing, China's proposed injection of investment in our automotive manufacturing industry will provide a welcome lift for the industry and a stable pool of jobs for Thai auto workers.

China's famed Tsingtao Beer has recently entered into a joint venture with a group of Thai business partners to establish a base in Thailand. Thailand's low logistic costs for exports to the European and Australian markets and an attractive Australian free

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Washington

T

he IMF says it is time to talk exit strategies since all members now endorse the stimulus measures taken to combat the global financial crisis and the need to clean up banks’ bad assets.

“Everybody is happy with what has been done on fiscal stimulus ... all agree on the absolute necessity of cleansing the financial system,” the head of the International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn said on Saturday.

He said there were substantial differences, however, over what steps should be taken to prepare for the economic upturn on the other side of the crisis, adding that countries needed to have a view three to four years ahead.

Some wanted to discuss the issue later but “our point of view is that the exit strategy view has to be taken into account as soon as possible,” the former French finance minister told a news conference.

As the worst global slump since the 1930s spread through 2008, there were substantial differences over how much money governments should spend – even at the risk of going heavily into debt – to get their economies going again.

The United States advocated

spending any amount necessary while Europe generally, and especially Germany, was reluctant to commit ever more funds, preferring to wait and see the effectiveness of initial steps.

Recent economic data has suggested that the worst global slump since the 1930s Great Depression may finally be touching bottom after months of relentless bad news.

The Group of Seven major economies on Friday said the situation appeared to be stabilising even if the outlook remained uncertain and major problems still had to be tackled. Strauss-Kahn, speaking after the spring meeting of the IMF board’s International Monetary and Financial Committee, said the 185nation IMF had been right to stress the need to clean up the toxic assets at the banks.

The ultimate recovery “is heavily reliant on this clean-up”, he said.

Strass-Kahn said the meeting in Washington, picking up from the Group of 20 London summit of developed and developing countries on April 2, confirmed that the IMF was now at the centre of policy coordination on the crisis.

He noted positively broad agreement on supplying the IMF with additional funds so that it can help poorer countries struggling in the crisis. “A key achievement of today’s

AP

Substantial differences remain on how to prepare for upturn: Strauss-Kahn

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn, right, and Egyptian Finance Minister Youssef Boutros-Ghali, chairman of the International Monetary and Financial Committee, hold a news conference in Washington.

[Saturday] meeting is ensuring the doubling of the Fund’s lending resources,” the IMF steering committee said in a statement.

In a first stage, $250 billion (Bt8.9 trillion) will be available through a special facility to help “member countries with external financing needs”. followed by another $250 billion, as agreed at the G-20 summit on April 2.

The possibility that the IMF would raise extra funds by selling bonds to member states was also raised, Strauss-Kahn added.

Marita Hutjes, senior adviser at Oxfam International, an anti-pover-

ty non-governmental organisation, condemned the meeting as “a wasted opportunity for poor countries”.

“More should have been done.

The poorest countries are still waiting for the bail-out they have been promised to survive this crisis.

“They moved heaven and earth for banks; the question is when will they put the money on the table for poor countries?” Hutjes said.

The IMF earlier this week sharply downgraded growth forecasts, saying it now sees the global economy contracting by 1.3 per cent this year before returning to growth of 1.9 per cent in 2010.

trade agreement are among the factors that have made this deal attractive to Tsingtao. If the deal goes ahead, the Bt2 billion brewery will be built in a province near Bangkok close to shipping ports and will export 80% of its production to the Australian and European markets.

The new BOI office in Beijing which opened earlier this month is the second BOI office to be opened in China. It already has an established office in Shanghai, and a third is due to be opened in Guangzhou later in the year. The growing presence of the BOI in China not only reflects interest by Chinese companies in Thailand but it presents an excellent opportunity for Thai businesses to form strategic alliances with Chinese companies that are looking to expand into Southeast Asia.

As we have seen from the actions of companies such as Tsingtao and Chery, Thailand is an important strategic gateway into the Southeast Asian, European and South Asian markets. Thailand's geographic location, combined with free trade agreements with other countries, makes Thailand a very attractive investment destination which bodes well for our future prosperity.

For more columns in this series, please see www.bangkokbank.com.

ACES ON BRIDGE

SOUTH ♠ K2 ♥ K Q J 10 8 5 ◆ AK ♣ 742

Pass All pass

29 Thought 30 Fabric fuzz 31 Not punctual 32 Light-skinned 33 __-bitsy 34 Easy gait 35 Use crib notes 38 Andre the Giant, e.g.

42 Kama __ 44 Regret 45 Considered 47 Rene of “Tin Cup” 48 Bracelet site 49 Advance slowly 50 Deck with a Death card 51 Ice cream drink 52 Great Salt Lake state 53 Somewhat, in music 54 Sauna sites 58 Rage 59 IV amounts

Dilbert 1 Coffee-chocolate mix 2 How some tuna is packed 3 Beach drier 4 Dada pioneer Jean 5 Governor Schwarzenegger 6 Cut into cubes 7 Bert of “The Wizard of Oz” 8 Suffix with Canaan 9 Voice between bass and tenor 10 Oater villain who attacks from hiding 11 Norway’s capital 12 Paper quantity 13 Art Deco designer 18 Horseshoe-shaped hardware 23 “Have we –?”

25 Girl idolizing a pop star, perhaps 26 Uses a hang glider 28 Run, as colors in the wash

By Scott Adams

DOWN

By Chris Browne

39 Penny 40 1960s Cosby/Culp espionage series 41 Roger of “Cheers” 42 Do axels and lutzes 43 Corned beef is usually ordered on it 45 Payable 46 Throw out of office 47 Take back, as a public statement 51 Fozzie Bear, e.g.

54 Litigant 55 Org. that sticks to its guns?

56 At the peak of 57 Noisy eater 60 Doily material 61 Clear the chalkboard 62 Queen played by Liz 63 Norse thunder god 64 Patch the lawn, in a way 65 Labor Day mo.

North 2♣

By Wiley

West Pass

Pass

South holds: ♠ KJ43 ♥ 10 5 ◆ 10 7 5 4 ♣ Q74 South

Vulnerable: Neither Dealer: South The bidding: South 1♥

5♥

LEAD WITH THE ACES

EAST ♠ J 10 7 6 4 ♥7 ◆ QJ8 ♣ J 10 9 6

Hagar the Horrible

1 Big name in copiers 5 Improvise on stage 10 Yawn-inducing speaker 14 “You want the light – off?”

15 Gaucho’s rope 16 Manipulative sort 17 One who’s at home on the range 19 Venetian blind part 20 Make haste 21 Transvaal settler 22 Words after “Hi, honey!”

24 Counting everything 26 Crock-Pot potful 27 Antiquity, once 28 Gunfighters’ graveyard 32 Boneless cut 35 Jean Auel’s “The – of the Cave Bear” 36 1998 Sarah McLachlan hit 37 Boatloads 38 In what place

Pass All pass

Opening lead: Heart three

WEST ♠ AQ53 ♥ 632 ◆ 9642 ♣ 53

CROSSWORD

ACROSS

3♥ 6♥

NORTH ♠ 98 ♥ A94 ◆ 10 7 5 3 ♣ AKQ8

Non Sequitur

PUT YOURSELF in South’s shoes in this deal from a team game.

Your partner’s intelligent call of five hearts suggested good hearts and clubs, but no controls in the unbid suits. Your excellent spade and diamond values allowed you to bid the heart slam. But how do you plan to make the contract after West leads a trump?

One declarer drew trumps, cashed the top clubs, and when they failed to break 3-3, led a spade back to his king and West’s ace. West now cashed the spade queen.

South felt he had done his best by combining his chances in the black suits. However, at the score-up, he discovered he had lost a slam swing. Can you see why?

The declarer at the other table spotted an extra chance – namely, that the Q-J-x of diamonds would fall in three rounds. After drawing trumps, he cashed the A-K of diamonds, then crossed to dummy with a club to ruff the diamond seven. As you can see, dummy’s diamond 10 was established for the 12th trick.

Of course, if the diamond play had failed, the second declarer would have tested the clubs, and only when they failed to break would he have led up to the spade king.

Plays of this sort are sometimes called echelon plays. If you can, you want to exploit all of your chances in order before falling back on the play that will commit you to success or failure.

East Pass

West 1♥ 2♠

North Pass Pass

East 1♠ 3 NT

ANSWER: In auctions of this sort,there is no clear-cut reason to despair; your spades appear to be lying well enough, and your partner’s heart honors are over dummy. So simply lead a diamond (your long suit). Even if partner is not stacked in the suit, you may still be able to establish your long card.

THE NATION Monday, April 27, 2009 7B

STOCK MARKETS W E E K LY S T O C K S U M M A R Y

as of April 20-24, 2009 Par

Closed Avg Daily Turnover Hight Apr 24 (Shares m) (Bt m) (Bt)

Low (Bt)

Weekly Change %

EPS (Bt)

1 1 10 1 1 1 10 1 10 10 10 1 1 5 1 10 10 10 5

1.7 1.27 108 3.3 3.26 3.8 19 2.2 19 33 35 0.47 2.96 8.7 1.56 1.2 8.5 59.5 69

4 706 4 111 9,836 28 213 0 3 0 201 3,180 204 91 0 20 0 9 2

6 901 376 362 32,213 108 3,993 0 60 0 7,046 1,508 603 781 0 24 0 561 153

1.74 1.27 108 3.3 3.28 3.86 19 2.36 20 40 35 0.48 2.96 8.7 1.56 1.22 8.5 59.5 69.5

1.7 1.19 106 3.18 3.16 3.74 18.4 2.2 19 0 34.5 0.45 2.9 8.35 1.5 1.2 0 58 67.5

-2.30% 6.72% 1.89% 3.77% 3.16% 1.60% 2.70% -0.90% 5.56% -17.50% 1.45% 2.17% 2.07% 4.19% 5.41% -0.83% 0.00% 2.59% -0.72%

0.85 0.12 15.69 0.41 0.44 1.06 8.58 0.18 8.14 1.83 3.8 -0.01 0.64 3.14 0.2 -9.36 -7.42 10.23 15.37

2.04 10.86 6.1 7.99 8.25 2.89 2.51 13.01 3.74 6.32 10 0 4.61 2.26 7.5 0 0 5.01 4.19

624.5 529.4 805.5 1,124.00 24,184.10 1,061.70 2,329.60 1,667.10 564 2,232.00 2,991.90 1,295.50 791.6 1,696.00 514.6 24.2 231.7 1,911.90 6,467.20

0.00% 19.69% 8.70% 9.09% 3.37% 9.47% 13.16% 2.73% 10.53% 4.55% 0.00% 0.00% 10.14% 11.49% 6.41% 0.00% 0.00% 6.72% 5.80%

APURE F&D HTC KSL LST MALEE MINT OISHI PB PM PR S&P SAICO SAUCE SFP SORKON SSC TC TF TIPCO TUF TVO TWFP UFM

0.7 10 1 1 1 10 1 2 10 1 10 5 1 10 10 10 1 10 10 1 1 1 10 10

0.88 3 1.96 6.9 2.92 1.9 6.75 34.5 84 1.13 101 26 2.28 137 51 10.5 9.9 13.4 476 4.22 20 11.8 79 15.1

40,558 0 0 2,952 10,451 22 38,433 3 2 5,650 1 3 25 1 0 14 111 0 0 117 2,457 2,942 1 0

37,080 0 0 20,453 30,495 42 254,874 95 187 6,408 71 69 56 192 0 145 1,094 0 0 485 49,243 33,861 95 0

0.95 3 1.96 7.15 2.92 2.74 6.75 34.5 84 1.13 102.5 26 2.28 137 51 10.5 9.9 13.4 476 4.24 20 11.8 79 15.1

0.86 0 0 6.75 2.74 1.9 6.3 33.5 83 1.08 101 25.5 1.45 135 0 10.2 9.3 0 0 4.14 19.5 10.8 78.5 0

-5.38% 0.00% 4.26% 2.22% 6.57% -30.66% 3.85% 2.99% 0.00% 4.63% -1.46% 1.96% 59.44% 0.74% 0.00% 2.94% 6.45% 0.00% 0.00% 0.48% 2.56% 4.42% 0.00% 0.67%

-0.16 -1.08 0.13 0.27 0.43 -4.21 0.57 3.16 8.88 0.73 16.14 2.15 0.41 10.42 14.15 1.57 0.53 3.26 40.64 0.12 2.51 1.2 15.21 2.72

0 2.79 14.38 13.01 5.58 0 12 10.25 11.75 1.68 7.61 11.25 5.53 12.36 3.62 7.43 18.18 0 12.05 34.96 7.56 9.58 5.77 4.47

259.3 37.5 317.4 10,710.50 2,299.30 164.4 23,331.00 6,365.60 3,771.00 722.8 1,215.60 2,680.00 356.8 4,896.00 1,071.00 83.4 2,560.60 436.3 8,568.00 2,032.60 17,451.50 7,044.50 749.1 601.6

0.00% 0.00% 3.57% 3.19% 6.85% 0.00% 3.41% 8.70% 3.42% 0.00% 5.62% 6.35% 0.00% 6.39% 9.80% 7.14% 7.58% 5.97% 1.63% 6.40% 3.50% 0.00% 6.96% 0.00%

CEI DTCI FANCY IFEC KYE MODERN OGC ROCK SIAM SITHAI SUN

1 10 1 1 10 10 10 10 1 10 10

2.46 5.35 1.18 0.57 41.25 27.75 33.5 11 1.51 5.15 5

6 0 0 1 165 233 0 0 8,424 84 0

15 0 0 0 6,890 6,474 3 0 12,973 433 0

2.5 5.45 1.18 0.59 42.25 28.5 33.5 11 1.59 5.15 5

2.46 0 1.14 0.57 41 27.75 32.25 0 1.49 5 0

-1.60% 0.00% 3.51% -3.39% -1.20% -2.63% 3.88% 0.00% -5.03% 3.00% 0.00%

-0.51 0.86 -0.01 0.14 17.71 4.6 4.5 2.38 0.22 0.36 -18.19

7.41 6.19 0 3.86 2.72 5.71 7.39 4.62 3.23 13.8 0

469.2 53.7 541.4 238.2 919.6 2,334.80 706 110 913.4 1,363.10 50.7

3.25% 0.00% 6.78% 7.02% 3.88% 6.31% 4.18% 2.27% 11.92% 6.80% 0.00%

DSGT JCT OCC S&J STHAI TOG

1 10 1 1 1 1

3.58 44 10 13 1.8 2.68

53 1 0 0 1 337

187 22 0 0 2 904

3.6 44 10 13 1.8 2.9

3.4 41.25 0 0 1.73 2.62

-0.56% 2.33% 0.00% 7.44% 4.05% -7.59%

0.76 6.56 1.03 1.86 -0.19 0.34

4.91 7.21 10.09 7.81 0 9.77

1,070.40 577.1 600 1,315.40 873.9 1,265.60

1.40% 5.68% 5.00% 7.69% 0.00% 5.60%

AFC BATA BNC BTNC CPH CPL ICC LTX NC PAF PG PRANDA SABINA SAWANG SUC TNL TPCORP TR TTI TTL TTTM UPF UT WACOAL

10 10 10 10 10 10 1 10 10 5 1 1 5 10 10 1 1 1 10 10 10 10 10 1

2.4 4.5 3.3 13 3.36 10.4 44.25 23.3 4.08 0.81 11 3.5 63.25 3.62 13.3 18.6 10 23.5 15.1 17.6 39.25 24 2.1 38

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 770 50 239 23 0 84 0 0 77 0 0 0 0 0 5

0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 617 550 838 1,428 0 1,104 0 0 1,810 0 0 0 0 0 190

2.4 4.5 3.3 13 4.12 10.4 44.25 23.3 4.08 0.81 11 3.5 63.75 3.62 13.3 18.6 10 23.6 15.1 17.6 42 24 2.1 39

0 4.3 0 0 3.3 0 0 23 0 0.77 10.8 3.28 63.25 0 13 0 0 23.2 0 0 0 0 0 38

-0.83% 5.14% 0.00% 0.00% -24.66% -3.70% 0.00% 1.30% 2.51% 2.53% 1.85% 6.71% -0.78% 0.00% 1.53% 3.33% 0.00% 1.29% 0.67% 0.00% -6.55% 0.00% 0.00% 6.29%

-0.06 0.86 0.31 0.26 -0.56 2.91 2.68 2.12 1.43 -0.12 1.22 0.46 2.74 -2.45 0.97 1.74 0.52 -3.94 0.49 0.75 0.79 2.46 -0.87 3.69

0 5 10.63 49.13 0 3.57 14.16 6.87 2.38 0 9.27 7.44 24.39 0 14.07 10.4 16.14 8.57 30.9 22.1 49.49 9.76 0 10.58

109.6 141.4 43.5 156 150.7 276.7 12,860.50 1,201.70 60.1 423.4 1,052.20 1,342.40 4,409.80 86.9 3,948.00 2,179.20 1,080.00 4,729.50 753 264 242.1 180 94.5 4,500.00

0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.85% 0.00% 14.42% 2.26% 5.36% 0.00% 0.00% 4.91% 11.43% 1.03% 0.00% 7.52% 2.90% 3.00% 5.53% 3.31% 0.00% 2.55% 10.42% 0.00% 3.95%

ACL BAY BBL BT KBANK KK KTB SCB SCIB TCAP TISCO TMB

10 10 10 0.5 10 10 5.15 10 10 10 10 10

3.36 0 10.2 60,584 78 4,417 0.82 4,380 49.5 10,295 14.2 3,886 5.35 32,151 56.75 15,037 9.85 4,448 11.1 3,451 14.9 5,198 0.52 252,837

0 607,677 344,093 3,639 508,559 55,651 173,721 852,591 44,059 38,364 76,396 132,204

3.36 10.2 79.75 0.82 49.5 14.2 5.75 56.75 10 11.1 14.9 0.52

0 9.6 76.25 0.75 48.25 13.1 5.3 55 9.65 10.7 13.2 0.47

55.56% 6.25% -2.19% 9.33% 1.02% 8.40% -6.14% 1.34% -1.50% 2.78% 12.03% 10.64%

0.34 0.83 10.6 -0.31 6.41 3.57 1.1 9.03 1.95 2.08 2.11 0.01

14.42 11.97 7.24 0 7.57 3.87 4.83 8.81 5.03 5.08 5.94 52.4

3,237.70 59,526.60 148,126.20 10,706.20 116,910.80 7,167.20 62,159.40 145,259.70 20,811.20 14,531.20 7,468.40 20,768.40

0.00% 1.47% 2.56% 0.00% 3.03% 5.28% 8.22% 3.52% 7.11% 5.41% 10.07% 0.00%

AEONTS ASK ASL ASP BFIT BLS BSEC CNS ECL FNS GBX GL KCAR KEST KGI KTC MFC ML NVL PE PHATRA PL SCAN SGF SICCO SSEC SYRUS THANI TK TNITY UOBKH US ZMICO

1 5 1 1 5 2 1 10 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 10 1 0.1 1 1 5 1 10 1 5 1 2 1 1 5 1 5 1

23.5 6 3.22 17 0.45 190,230 1.28 89,964 3.04 159 9.6 1,459 1.87 23,502 16.1 114 0.39 253 3.2 0 0.45 67,770 23 0 3.78 10 9.5 15,274 0.9 63,483 7.05 5,483 10.5 0 0.12 5,147 0.29 6,595 0.36 4,909 13.4 3,117 2.22 13 7 79 0.26 0 1.96 5,362 0.62 18,029 2.8 0 0.63 32 3.1 20 4 112 3.06 326 2.1 34 1.82 2,042

129 56 82,488 115,301 489 13,836 44,802 1,822 99 0 31,436 0 37 144,705 56,753 39,254 0 618 1,905 1,811 41,482 29 559 0 10,524 11,166 0 20 62 450 1,013 73 3,712

23.5 3.22 0.45 1.28 3.04 9.6 1.94 16.1 0.44 3.3 0.45 23 3.92 9.5 0.9 7.1 10.5 0.12 0.29 0.38 13.4 2.24 7.15 0.26 2.26 0.62 2.8 0.64 3.2 4.38 3.08 2.32 1.82

22.3 3.12 0.38 1.21 2.92 9.05 1.87 15.1 0.39 0 0.43 0 3.78 9 0.83 6.55 0 0.11 0.27 0.36 12.3 2.18 7 0 1.85 0.56 0 0.61 3.02 4 2.88 1.91 1.76

2.17% 3.21% 15.38% 4.07% 4.11% 4.35% -0.53% 5.23% -4.88% 14.29% 4.65% 0.00% -2.07% 4.97% 4.65% 7.63% 28.05% 9.09% 7.41% -2.70% 4.69% 1.83% 0.00% 0.00% 5.95% 10.71% 27.27% 3.28% -3.13% -6.98% 6.25% 3.96% 3.41%

3.6 0.78 -0.08 0.1 0.38 0.76 0.12 0.18 0.07 -4.98 -0.1 3.46 0.91 0.95 0.09 2.02 0.6 0.01 -0.16 -0.01 0.97 0.11 -0.82 0.38 0.03 -0.04 -0.47 0.11 0.65 -0.71 0.27 -0.45 -0.21

4.67 4.06 0 12.19 7.85 11.94 16.5 11.05 5.37 0 0 6.76 4.3 9.5 8.83 3.47 17.61 11.33 0 0 12.87 4.55 0 0.69 64.24 0 0 5.66 4.76 0 11.52 0 0

5,745.00 729.6 920 2,606.00 596.8 1,668.60 1,547.20 1,106.80 168.9 382.9 470.6 1,242.00 970 5,190.80 1,708.90 1,773.90 1,156.80 464 211.5 292.8 2,728.50 987.8 423 153.8 1,236.70 372.1 592.5 414.6 1,562.00 738 960.7 359.6 1,482.40

4.47% 16.77% 0.00% 2.34% 6.58% 7.29% 4.28% 9.32% 10.26% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 6.61% 5.26% 8.89% 14.18% 6.67% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 7.46% 13.51% 0.00% 0.00% 10.20% 0.00% 0.00% 11.11% 10.97% 0.00% 1.96% 0.00% 27.47%

AYUD BKI BUI CHARAN INSURE MTI NKI NSI SCNYL SCSMG SMK THRE TIC TIP TSI TVI

1 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 5 10 1 10 1 10 1

11.1 193 10 62 52 45.5 62 9.1 179 23 57 4.6 8.1 12.4 10 1.9

341 347 0 0 0 2,210 0 0 0 0 0 417 0 249 0 0

11.1 193 10 62 52 45.5 62 9.25 180 23 57 4.6 8.1 12.5 10 2.1

11 192 0 0 0 45 0 0 0 0 0 4.58 0 12.4 0 0

0.91% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.11% 0.00% -7.14% -0.56% 0.00% -1.72% 0.00% 0.00% -0.80% 0.00% -9.52%

1.43 17.38 1.14 5.44 -1.72 -0.34 3.98 4.31 17.98 -3.42 6.59 0.4 0.09 1.82 -0.2 -0.22

7.71 11.05 8.77 11.4 0 0 15.58 2.11 9.96 0 8.65 11.49 115.78 6.87 0 0

2,755.00 9,764.80 200 372 520 2,660.90 1,860.00 130.8 11,930.10 2,090.50 1,144.00 5,457.10 153.5 3,744.00 310.4 306

3.15% 1.94% 7.00% 6.45% 0.00% 0.00% 5.65% 0.00% 2.01% 0.00% 5.00% 3.91% 0.00% 4.84% 2.50% 0.00%

CONSUMER PRODUCTS HOME & OFFICE PRODUCTS

PERSONAL PRODUCTS & PHARMACEUTICALS DSG INTERNATIONAL JACK CHIA INDUSTRIES (THAILAND) O.C.C. S & J INTERNATIONAL ENTERPRISES SHUN THAI RUBBER GLOVES INDUSTRY THAI OPTICAL GROUP

FASHION ASIA FIBER PUBLIC BATA SHOE OF THAILAND THE BANGKOK NYLON BOUTIQUE NEWCITY CASTLE PEAK HOLDINGS C.P.L. GROUP I.C.C. INTERNATIONAL LUCKYTEX (THAILAND) NEWCITY (BANGKOK) PAN ASIA FOOTWEAR PEOPLE'S GARMENT PRANDA JEWELRY SABINA SAWANG EXPORT SAHA-UNION THANULUX TEXTILE PRESTIGE THAI RAYON THAI TEXTILE INDUSTRY TTL INDUSTRIES THAI TORAY TEXTILE MILLS UNION PIONEER UNION TEXTILE INDUSTRIES THAI WACOAL

FINANCIALS BANKS ASIA CREDIT BANK OF AYUDHYA BANGKOK BANK BANKTHAI KASIKORNBANK KIATNAKIN FINANCE KRUNG THAI BANK THE SIAM COMMERCIAL BANK SIAM CITY BANK THANACHART CAPITAL TISCO FINANCIAL GROUP TMB BANK

FINANCE & SECURITIES AEON THANA SINSAP (THAILAND) ASIA SERMKIJ LEASING ADKINSON SECURITIES ASIA PLUS SECURITIES BANGKOK FIRST INVESTMENT & TRUST BUALUANG SECURITIES BFIT SECURITIES CAPITAL NOMURA SECURITIES EASTERN COMMERCIAL LEASING FINANSA GLOBLEX HOLDING MANAGEMENT GROUP LEASE KRUNGTHAI CAR RENT AND LEASE KIM ENG SECURITIES (THAILAND) KGI SECURITIES (THAILAND) KRUNGTHAI CARD MFC ASSET MANAGEMENT MIDA LEASING NAVA LEASING PREMIER ENTERPRISE PHATRA SECURITIES PHATRA LEASING SCANDINAVIAN LEASING SIAM GENERAL FACTORING THE SIAM INDUSTRIAL CREDIT SICCO SECURITIES SYRUS SECURITIES RATCHTHANI LEASING THITIKORN TRINITY WATTHANA UOB KAY HIAN SECURITIES UNITED SECURITIES SEAMICO SECURITIES

INSURANCE THE AYUDHYA INSURANCE BANGKOK INSURANCE BANGKOK UNION INSURANCE CHARAN INSURANCE INDARA INSURANCE MUANG THAI INSURANCE THE NAVAKIJ INSURANCE NAM SENG INSURANCE SIAM COMMERCIAL NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE THE SIAM COMMERCIAL SAMAGGI INSURANCE SYN MUN KONG INSURANCE THAI REINSURANCE THE THAI INSURANCE DHIPAYA INSURANCE THE THAI SETAKIJ INSURANCE THAIVIVAT INSURANCE

Low (Bt)

Change %

Weekly

EPS (Bt)

P/E Avg Market Cap Div (Bt m) (x) Yield

PETROCHEMICALS & CHEMICALS ASIAN CFRESH CHOTI CM CPF CPI GFPT LEE PPC PRG RANCH SH SSF STA TLUXE TRS TRUBB UPOIC UVAN

FOODS & BEVERAGES

COMPASS EAST INDUSTRY (THAILAND) D.T.C. INDUSTRIES FANCY WOOD INDUSTRIES INTER FAR EAST ENGINEERING KANG YONG ELECTRIC MODERNFORM GROUP OCEAN GLASS ROCKWORTH SIAM STEEL INTERNATIONAL SRITHAI SUPERWARE SUN WOOD INDUSTRIES

Closed Avg Daily Turnover Hight Apr 24 (Shares m) (Bt m) (Bt)

INDUSTRIALS

AGRIBUSINESS

AGRIPURE HOLDINGS FOOD AND DRINKS HAAD THIP KHON KAEN SUGAR INDUSTRY LAM SOON (THAILAND) MALEE SAMPRAN MINOR INTERNATIONAL OISHI GROUP PRESIDENT BAKERY PREMIER MARKETING PRESIDENT RICE PRODUCTS S & P SYNDICATE SIAM AGRO-INDUSTRY PINEAPPLE AND OTHERS THAI THEPAROS FOOD PRODUCTS SIAM FOOD PRODUCTS S.KHONKAEN FOOD INDUSTRY SERM SUK TROPICAL CANNING (THAILAND) THAI PRESIDENT FOODS TIPCO FOODS (THAILAND) THAI UNION FROZEN PRODUCTS THAI VEGETABLE OIL THAI WAH FOOD PRODUCTS UNITED FLOUR MILL

Par

P/E Avg Market Cap Div (Bt m) (x) Yield

AGRO & FOOD INDUSTRY ASIAN SEAFOODS COLDSTORAGE SEAFRESH INDUSTRY KIANG HUAT SEA GULL TRADING FROZEN FOOD CHIANGMAI FROZEN FOODS CHAROEN POKPHAND FOODS CHUMPORN PALM OIL INDUSTRY GFPT LEE FEED MILL PAKFOOD PATUM RICE MILL AND GRANARY BANGKOK RANCH SEA HORSE SURAPON FOODS SRI TRANG AGRO-INDUSTRY THAILUXE ENTERPRISES TRANG SEAFOOD PRODUCTS THAI RUBBER LATEX CORPORATION (THAILAND) UNITED PALM OIL INDUSTRY UNIVANICH PALM OIL

Source: KGI Securities (Thailand) Plc

31 2 0 0 0 49 0 0 0 0 0 91 0 20 0 0

GLOBAL CONNECTIONS INDORAMA POLYMERS PATO CHEMICAL INDUSTRY PTT CHEMICAL THAI CARBON BLACK THAI CENTRAL CHEMICAL THAI POLY ACRYLIC THAI PLASTIC AND CHEMICALS UNION PLASTIC VINYTHAI WHITE GROUP YONG THAI

GC IRP PATO PTTCH TCB TCCC TPA TPC UP VNT WG YCI

1 1 10 10 1 3 10 1 10 6 10 10

2.34 5.1 42.5 40.5 12 5.25 53.5 15.2 15.4 4.72 40 4.8

98 945 8 8,797 123 2 5 396 5 286 1 0

219 4,855 353 367,449 1,474 11 289 5,949 74 1,341 36 0

2.4 5.45 42.5 45 12 5.4 55 15.4 15.5 4.72 40 4.8

2.2 5 42 40 11.6 4.92 53.5 14.8 15.2 4.46 39.5 0

-2.50% -5.56% 1.19% -10.00% 3.45% 9.83% -2.73% -1.30% 1.32% 5.36% 0.63% 0.00%

0.38 1.12 8.06 7.84 1.5 0.21 3.96 2.53 2.67 0.87 7.86 -6.11

6.22 4.48 5.28 5.32 7.94 25.93 13.56 5.94 5.78 5.25 5.06 0

467.2 7,228.90 590.8 63,315.90 3,552.00 2,970.30 659.1 13,230.00 385 5,432.90 708.6 33.6

5.13% 4.71% 17.65% 2.47% 3.75% 7.62% 7.48% 4.93% 16.23% 7.42% 9.98% 0.00%

AJ ALUCON CSC NEP NIPPON PTL SPACK TCOAT TFI THIP TMD TOPP TPP

1 10 10 1 10 1 1 10 1 10 10 10 10

2.58 109 11 0.24 21 4.4 2.26 11.2 0.84 16.3 43.75 43 4.8

86 0 6 2,223 0 735 203 0 2,301 0 0 0 0

221 0 62 533 0 3,145 459 0 1,948 0 18 0 0

2.58 109 11.4 0.24 21 4.4 2.28 11.2 0.85 16.3 43.75 43 4.8

2.52 0 11 0.23 0 4.02 2.26 0 0.8 0 43.25 0 0

0.78% 1.87% -1.79% 4.35% 5.00% 9.45% -0.88% 0.00% 1.20% 2.52% 1.16% 7.50% 0.00%

0.45 17.84 3.12 -0.06 0.35 1.01 0.42 1.68 0.12 1.34 9.6 7.64 -1.69

5.65 6.11 3.58 0 60.53 3.28 5.4 6.66 7.16 12.21 4.51 5.63 0

914.6 3,104.60 578.2 315 251.3 3,312.00 681.6 117.6 881.8 128.5 650.3 247.2 180

1.16% 8.26% 7.00% 0.00% 9.52% 9.09% 8.85% 4.46% 0.00% 3.07% 9.14% 5.35% 0.00%

TCP UTP

10 5

10.1 2.88

5 0

51 0

10.2 2.88

10.1 0

-0.98% 0.00%

-0.28 -0.26

0 0

3,647.00 374.4

0.00% 0.00%

AH BAT-3K CWT DISTAR EASON GYT HFT IHL IRC SAT SECC SMC SPG SPSU STANLY TKT TNPC TRU TSC YNP

1 10 5 1 1 10 10 1 1 1 1 10 10 5 5 1 5 1 1 1

4.08 33 1.29 0.35 1.44 200 13.3 8.5 7.2 4.28 0.22 0.68 40.5 5.2 68 1.09 5 1.4 3.78 1.1

236 1 1 1,630 60 0 88 0 18 2,761 0 434 0 0 41 22 18 1,020 7 132,712

964 25 2 583 85 79 1,181 0 123 12,077 0 307 0 0 2,797 23 93 1,386 26 151,067

4.08 36 1.29 0.36 1.45 200 13.3 8.5 7.2 4.4 0.22 0.69 41 5.2 68.5 1.1 5.45 1.4 3.78 1.1

3.96 30.75 1.04 0.31 1.4 0 11.9 0 6.6 4.18 0 0.65 0 0 67.25 1.04 5 1.26 3.62 0.79

2.51% 7.32% 22.86% 12.90% 0.00% -5.66% 11.76% 0.00% 9.09% 2.39% 0.00% 4.62% 0.00% 0.00% -0.37% 3.81% -6.54% 11.11% 1.07% 39.24%

1.07 -23.59 -2.43 -0.13 0.22 4.06 1.16 0.44 0.34 2.12 0.08 -0.65 10.5 -0.14 13.65 0.19 6.08 -0.02 0.74 -0.11

4.55 0 0 0 6.33 52.21 11.48 19.52 5.31 2.08 3.25 0 3.86 0 3.8 5.38 0.9 0 4.9 0

962.9 646 50.8 204 313.2 1,551.00 845.4 2,550.00 1,370.00 1,285.20 135.9 156.4 1,400.70 821.6 5,210.50 227.7 263.9 646 955 1,449.60

0.00% 6.06% 0.00% 0.00% 9.72% 2.50% 15.04% 0.00% 6.25% 0.00% 18.18% 0.00% 10.37% 3.85% 7.79% 11.01% 0.00% 0.00% 13.23% 0.00%

AMAC AMC CITY CSP CTW FMT GJS GSTEEL INOX KKC LHK PATKL PERM SMIT SNC SSI SSSC TCJ TGPRO TMT TUCC TYCN VARO

1 1 1 1 5 10 0.69 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10 10 1 1 1 10 5

0.41 0.95 1.16 2.1 2.62 10.1 0.16 0.37 0.8 0.91 1.01 0.5 1.27 1.33 4.06 0.42 13.1 2.56 0.29 3.94 1.25 4.12 3.22

11 339 484 3 0 0 165,827 364,119 1,192 0 98 5 8,255 22 207 65,085 136 9 5,897 537 184 11 6

4 326 562 6 0 6 26,181 134,512 969 0 100 3 10,597 29 841 27,161 1,786 21 1,718 2,116 230 47 18

0.41 0.99 1.16 2.1 2.62 10.1 0.16 0.37 0.82 0.91 1.02 0.5 1.34 1.34 4.08 0.43 13.1 2.56 0.29 3.94 1.35 4.4 3.22

0.38 0.95 1.1 2.08 0 0 0.14 0.33 0.8 0.9 1 0.47 1.24 1.29 3.96 0.4 12.2 2.4 0.27 3.92 1.24 4.12 3

2.50% -4.04% 5.45% 0.00% 0.77% -17.89% 6.67% 0.00% -1.23% 0.00% -0.98% 6.38% -5.22% -0.75% 2.53% -2.33% 7.38% 0.79% 7.41% 0.00% -7.41% -6.36% 7.33%

0 0.26 0.16 0.13 -1.57 1.54 -0.1 -0.09 -0.15 -0.14 0.02 -2.32 -0.02 0.27 0.33 -0.39 9.55 -2.24 -0.46 1.73 -0.3 0.05 0.03

0 3.66 3.62 15.49 0 7.98 0 0 0 0 13.64 0 0 4.79 11.82 0 1.79 0 0 2.28 0 82.54 97.87

82.5 461.7 340.2 1,046.00 1,037.70 569.3 5,876.00 4,871.20 6,464.00 632.8 322.6 115.4 641 694.3 1,212.80 5,371.50 611.5 141.4 143 1,674.50 402.1 2,730.20 275.7

0.00% 10.53% 12.07% 0.00% 0.00% 4.95% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 3.96% 0.00% 0.00% 8.27% 3.69% 0.00% 11.98% 0.00% 0.00% 25.38% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

BSBM CCP DCC DCON DRT EWC GEN KWH MCS MILL PAP Q-CON RCI RICH SAM SCC SCCC SCP SINGHA STPI SUPER TASCO TCMC TGCI TIW TPIPL TSTH TWP TYM UMI VNG

1 1 1 1 1 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0.1 1 1 10 10 1 1 1 10 10 1 10 10 1 10 0.1 1 1

1.04 0.82 14.5 1.4 1.96 8 0.44 0.79 2.32 4.94 0.95 0.94 0.43 0.08 0.6 109.5 137 4.72 0.25 7.9 0.42 9.45 3.8 0.85 50 3.36 1.08 6.5 0.41 0.59 1.31

331 36 206 0 375 1,301 1,327 871 1,900 509 122 3 150 201,613 3,857 1,769 29 13 2,111 111 353 35 2 0 0 14,317 96,856 19 29,859 5 882

341 29 2,966 0 732 10,381 594 696 4,380 2,523 116 3 68 16,129 2,336 191,901 3,947 59 512 878 146 332 8 0 0 48,355 104,661 127 12,443 3 1,142

1.09 0.85 14.5 1.9 1.96 8.15 0.45 0.79 2.32 4.98 0.95 0.96 0.45 0.08 0.62 112 137 4.72 0.25 8 0.42 9.45 3.8 0.92 50 3.36 1.13 6.55 0.42 0.59 1.31

1 0.8 13.7 1.39 1.91 7.95 0.42 0.75 2.1 4.94 0.92 0.92 0.43 0.07 0.58 106 134 4.12 0.24 7.85 0.4 8.85 0 0 0 3.24 1.04 6.45 0.41 0.56 1.27

-4.59% 2.50% 5.84% -15.15% 2.62% -1.84% 4.76% 5.33% 10.48% -0.80% 1.06% -2.08% -2.27% 14.29% -3.23% -2.23% 2.24% 14.56% 4.17% -1.25% 0.00% 6.78% -11.63% -7.61% 0.00% 1.82% -4.42% -0.76% -2.38% 3.51% 3.15%

0.11 -0.37 1.63 0.12 0.29 2.17 -0.13 0.08 0.71 0.66 0.19 -0.08 -0.5 -0.02 -0.08 13.98 13.79 1.91 -2.23 3.97 -0.33 -7.14 0.65 -0.44 8.69 -2.72 0.01 1.77 0.01 -0.24 0.31

9.35 0 8.72 11.86 6.6 3.72 0 9.96 3.25 7.95 5.06 0 0 0 0 7.58 9.79 2.36 0 1.96 0 0 6.66 0 3.67 0 5.74 3.65 35.88 0 4.21

1,175.50 253 5,777.30 319.6 1,934.00 806 224.3 229.8 1,120.00 2,842.10 619.1 376.8 138.3 760 508.3 130,560.00 32,038.80 135.4 108.4 1,980.00 186.3 1,392.80 287.5 879.6 300 6,670.80 8,838.60 175.5 1,648.00 273.4 1,674.10

0.00% 0.00% 1.93% 5.00% 5.10% 0.00% 0.00% 5.06% 8.62% 0.00% 2.11% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.83% 3.28% 5.30% 0.00% 30.38% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 7.94% 0.00% 7.41% 0.00% 2.44% 0.00% 9.92%

A AMATA AP ASCON BLAND BROCK CI CK CNT CPN EMC ESTAR EVER GOLD HEMRAJ ITD KC KMC KTECH KTP LALIN LH LL LPN MBK METRO MJD MK NCH NNCL NOBLE N-PARK NWR PAE PF PLE POWER PREB PRECHA PRIN PS QH RAIMON RASA ROJNA SAMCO SC SEAFCO

1 1 1 1 1 1 5 1 1 1 0.1 1 1 10 0.4 1 1 2.3 1 10 1 1 1 1 10 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 6 1 10 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 1 1 10 1

3.28 181 3.76 20,134 3.04 74,319 4.12 36 0.23 54,238 0.52 619 1.99 36 3.74 19,250 1.8 0 13.5 5,591 0.13 136,171 0.34 2,060 0.65 494 1.66 5,500 0.51 6,046 2.28 78,784 0.61 106 0.25 4,957 1.16 0 0.63 2 1.32 300 3.76 63,864 0.32 7,207 2.86 20,753 50.75 8 1.1 2,593 1.62 16,443 1.26 2,112 1.93 36 0.7 1,555 2.54 2,216 0.02 84,064 0.26 43,339 0.29 6,433 2.7 15,858 1.24 7,261 2.14 0 0.75 57 0.49 51 0.81 2,071 4.76 5,891 1.01 361,429 0.21 6,800 3.6 2 3.6 1,855 1.49 0 7.65 4,171 2.92 4,798

592 74,884 220,566 148 12,480 322 72 72,640 0 74,796 17,698 713 328 9,301 3,084 181,720 64 1,238 0 1 403 239,643 2,307 59,484 406 2,872 26,521 2,645 69 1,093 5,627 1,347 11,111 1,898 42,628 8,974 0 43 25 1,645 27,889 358,535 1,436 6 6,553 0 31,360 13,953

3.28 3.76 3.04 4.2 0.23 0.52 1.99 3.74 1.8 13.5 0.13 0.34 0.68 1.76 0.51 2.32 0.62 0.25 1.16 0.63 1.32 3.76 0.32 2.86 51 1.13 1.63 1.26 1.93 0.7 2.58 0.02 0.26 0.3 2.7 1.24 2.14 0.82 0.49 0.81 4.76 1.01 0.21 3.94 3.6 1.49 7.65 2.92

3.26 3.5 2.68 4 0.22 0.48 1.93 3.58 0 12.9 0.11 0.32 0.65 1.56 0.49 2.24 0.59 0.23 0 0.57 1.12 3.42 0.3 2.7 50.5 1.07 1.59 1.22 1.93 0.68 2.5 0.01 0.24 0.28 2.62 1.2 0 0.75 0.48 0.73 4.5 0.93 0.2 2.78 3.28 0 7.2 2.72

0.00% 7.43% 6.29% -1.90% 4.55% 8.33% 6.99% 4.47% 0.00% 3.85% 8.33% 6.25% -4.41% 6.41% 2.00% 0.88% -1.61% 4.17% 0.00% 10.53% 17.86% 5.03% 6.67% 2.88% 0.00% 2.80% -0.61% 2.44% 0.00% 2.94% 0.00% 100.00% 8.33% -3.33% 3.05% 3.33% 0.00% -8.54% 2.08% 10.96% 2.15% 5.21% 5.00% -8.16% 9.76% 33.04% 6.25% 7.35%

0.04 1.12 0.7 -1.28 0.06 0.08 0.77 0.38 0.01 1 0.02 0.02 0 -0.73 0.14 -0.63 0.07 -0.42 -2.11 -0.25 0.22 0.36 0.05 0.82 4.37 0.75 0.64 0.47 -0.04 0.07 0.76 -0.16 0.09 -0.22 1.02 -0.81 -0.07 0.2 -0.08 0.31 1.08 0.2 0.05 0.07 0.73 0.16 2.03 0.05

76.3 3.26 4.1 0 4.1 6.07 2.53 9.93 185.48 12.86 7.51 14.04 187.4 0 3.57 0 8.5 0 0 0 5.95 10.53 6.69 3.38 6.83 1.52 2.5 2.63 0 10.17 3.35 0 2.93 0 2.6 0 0 3.7 0 2.42 4.2 5.28 4.46 47.52 5.16 9.55 3.63 53.31

2,486.20 3,888.10 6,649.00 1,246.90 3,949.70 496 232.1 5,338.70 721.3 28,498.90 703.6 1,470.50 205 1,057.30 4,700.10 9,544.80 530.3 212.7 537.9 132.4 1,014.80 35,812.60 241.8 4,102.40 9,572.90 514.5 1,125.60 1,069.50 2,289.00 782 1,166.70 748.6 611.2 197.1 2,082.70 665.2 449.4 156 162.6 757.8 10,121.80 8,172.20 663.1 280.3 3,089.80 594 2,365.80 607.2

0.00% 2.66% 8.22% 0.00% 0.00% 9.62% 2.01% 2.67% 4.44% 2.44% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 7.84% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 3.79% 3.19% 0.00% 9.44% 3.94% 0.00% 9.26% 11.90% 0.00% 5.71% 9.84% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 13.33% 0.00% 0.00% 6.67% 0.00% 0.00% 6.93% 7.92% 0.00% 0.00% 6.94% 4.70% 9.15% 0.00%

PACKAGING A.J. PLAST ALUCON CROWN SEAL NEP REALTY AND INDUSTRY NIPPON PACK (THAILAND) POLYPLEX S. PACK & PRINT THAI COATING INDUSTRIAL THAI FILM INDUSTRIES THANTAWAN INDUSTRY THAI METAL DRUM MANUFACTURING THAI O.P.P. THAI PACKAGING & PRINTING

PAPER & PRINTING MATERIALS THAI CANE PAPER UNITED PAPER

AUTOMOTIVE AAPICO HITECH PUBLIC THAI STORAGE BATTERY CHAI WATANA TANNERY GROUP DISTAR ELECTRIC CORPORATION EASON PAINT GOODYEAR (THAILAND) HWA FONG RUBBER (THAILAND) INTERHIDES INOUE RUBBER (THAILAND) SOMBOON ADVANCE TECHNOLOGY S.E.C. AUTO SALES AND SERVICE SWEDISH MOTORS CORPORATION THE SIAM PAN GROUP S.P. SUZUKI THAI STANLEY ELECTRIC T.KRUNGTHAI INDUSTRIES THAI NAM PLASTIC THAI RUNG UNION CAR THAI STEEL CABLE YARNAPUND

INDUSTRIAL MATERIALS & MACHINERY AGRO INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY ASIA METAL CITY STEEL CSP STEEL CENTER CHAROONG THAI WIRE & CABLE FURUKAWA METAL (THAILAND) G J STEEL G STEEL THAINOX STAINLESS KULTHORN KIRBY CHIANG MAI MEDICAL SERVICES PATKOL PERMSIN STEEL WORKS SAHAMIT MACHINERY SNC FORMER SAHAVIRIYA STEEL INDUSTRIES SIAM STEEL SERVICE CENTER T.C.J. ASIA THAI-GERMAN PRODUCTS THAI METAL TRADE THAI UNIQUE COIL CENTER TYCOONS WORLDWIDE GROUP (THAILAND) VAROPAKORN

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS BANGSAPHAN BARMILL CHONBURI CONCRETE PRODUCT DYNASTY CERAMIC DCON PRODUCTS DIAMOND ROOFING TILES EASTERN WIRE GENERAL ENGINEERING WIIK & HOEGLUND M.C.S. STEEL MILL CON STEEL INDUSTRIES PACIFIC PIPE QUALITY CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS THE ROYAL CERAMIC INDUSTRY RICH ASIA STEEL SAMCHAI STEEL INDUSTRIES THE SIAM CEMENT SIAM CITY CEMENT SOUTHERN CONCRETE PILE SINGHA PARATECH STP&I SUPERBLOCK TIPCO ASPHALT THAILAND CARPET MANUFACTURING THAI-GERMAN CERAMIC INDUSTRY THAILAND IRON WORKS TPI POLENE TATA STEEL THAI WIRE PRODUCTS THAI YUAN METAL THE UNION MOSAIC INDUSTRY VANACHAI GROUP

PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT AREEYA PROPERTY AMATA CORPORATION ASIAN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT ASCON CONSTRUCTION BANGKOK LAND BAAN ROCK GARDEN CHARN ISSARA DEVELOPMENT CH.KARNCHANG CHRISTIANI & NIELSEN (THAI) CENTRAL PATTANA EMC EASTERN STAR REAL ESTATE EVERLAND GOLDEN LAND PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT HEMARAJ LAND AND DEVELOPMENT ITALIAN-THAI DEVELOPMENT K.C. PROPERTY KRISDA MAHANAKORN K-TECH CONSTRUCTION KEPPEL THAI PROPERTIES LALIN PROPERTY LAND AND HOUSES LIVING LAND CAPITAL L.P.N. DEVELOPMENT MBK METROSTAR PROPERTY MAJOR DEVELOPMENT M.K. REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT N. C. HOUSING NAVANAKORN NOBLE DEVELOPMENT NATURAL PARK NAWARAT PATANAKARN PAE (THAILAND) PROPERTY PERFECT POWER LINE ENGINEERING POWER-P PRE-BUILT PREECHA GROUP PRINSIRI PREUKSA REAL ESTATE QUALITY HOUSES RAIMON LAND RASA PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT ROJANA INDUSTRIAL PARK SAMMAKORN SC ASSET CORPORATION SEAFCO

8B THE NATION Monday, April 27, 2009

STOCK MARKETS W E E K LY S T O C K S U M M A R Y

as of April 20-24, 2009 Par

SIAM FUTURE DEVELOPMENT SANSIRI SUPALAI SINO-THAI ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION SIAM SYNTECH CONSTRUCTION THAI FACTORY DEVELOPMENT TICON INDUSTRIAL CONNECTION TANAYONG UNIQUE ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION UNIVENTURES

Closed Avg Daily Turnover Hight Apr 24 (Shares m) (Bt m) (Bt)

Low (Bt)

Change %

Weekly

EPS (Bt)

1 4.28 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

2.94 1.85 2.12 3.74 0.43 0.57 6.75 0.43 2.04 1.36

115 6,375 6,322 13,863 98,777 2,768 5,342 26,869 64 6,086

338 11,833 13,371 51,979 42,313 1,595 35,655 11,791 129 8,491

2.98 1.85 2.22 3.74 0.43 0.57 6.75 0.45 2.04 1.36

2.82 1.72 2.08 3.6 0.39 0.53 6.1 0.4 1.98 1.3

2.80% 7.56% -4.50% 2.75% 10.26% 7.55% 10.66% -4.44% 2.00% 4.62%

0.44 0.62 0.65 0.15 0.17 0.09 1.11 0.02 0.18 0.08

6.75 2.97 3.11 24.91 2.39 6.23 5.86 31.41 11.23 16.08

1,486.10 2,658.40 3,721.50 4,374.70 643.2 345.6 4,218.20 2,511.40 1,253.80 1,004.90

0.00% 16.22% 7.08% 0.00% 0.00% 3.51% 11.85% 0.00% 3.92% 3.68%

BANGKOK COMMERCIAL PROPERTY FUND BKKCP CPN RETAIL GROWTH PROPERTY FUND CPNRF CENTARA HOTELS & RESORTS LEASEHOLD PROPERTY CTARAF FUTURE PARK PROPERTY FUND FUTUREPF MUTUAL FUND PROJECT OF GOLD PROPERTY FUND GOLDPF JCP PROPERTY FUND JCP LUXURY REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT FUND LUXF MILLIONAIRE PROPERTY FUND MIPF MAJOR CINEPLEX LIFESTYLE PROPERTY FUND MJLF MUTUAL FUND PROJECT OF MFC-NICHADA THANI MNIT NICHADA THANI PROPERTY FUND 2 MNIT2 MUTUAL FUND PROJECT OF MULTI-NATIONAL RESIDENCE MNRF PROPERTY PERFECT FUND PFFUND QUALITY HOSPITALITY LEASEHOLD PROPERTY FUND QHOP QUALITY HOUSES PROPERTY FUND QHPF BAAN SANSIRI PROPERTY FUND SIRIPF SAMUI AIRPORT PROPERTY FUND SPF TICON PROPERTY FUND TFUND THAI INDUSTRIAL FUND 1 TIF1 T.U. DOME RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX PROPERTY FUND TU-PF UOB APARTMENT PROPERTY FUND 1 UOBAPF URBANA PROPERTY FUND URBNPF

10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

7.65 7.8 7.9 8.9 7.75 0 8.7 12.3 8.4 10.1 10.1 9.8 9.85 6.95 6.4 9.75 6.25 8.3 8.9 9.85 4.22 10.1

0 500 35 21 1 0 31 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 89 16 1,127 569 0 0 0 0

0 3,900 275 178 5 0 270 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 560 152 6,989 4,637 0 0 0 0

7.65 7.8 8.1 8.9 7.75 0 8.8 12.3 8.4 10.1 10.1 9.8 9.85 6.95 6.4 9.75 6.25 8.6 9.35 9.85 4.22 10.1

0 7.7 7.75 8.65 6.8 0 8.6 0 0 9.55 0 0 0 0 6.2 9.7 6.15 8 0 0 0 0

-2.55% 1.30% -2.47% 2.30% 10.71% 0.00% -1.14% 0.00% 5.00% 5.76% 0.00% -2.00% 0.00% 0.00% 3.23% 0.52% 1.63% -3.49% -4.81% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

769 8,459.10 2,544.00 4,151.00 1,472.90 496 1,717.40 2,337.00 1,858.40 1,341.40 1,014.70 1,057.80 512.2 1,329.50 5,021.10 842.5 5,861.50 6,302.10 825.3 1,026.70 358.7 727.2

2.35% 2.82% 2.91% 2.70% 4.77% 0.00% 4.14% 4.07% 2.62% 2.97% 1.68% 3.98% 4.26% 2.45% 3.28% 1.85% 2.88% 0.72% 1.80% 0.00% 5.69% 2.18%

PROPERTY FUNDS

ENERGY AI 1 AKR 1 BAFS 1 BANPU 10 BCP 1 EASTW 1 EGCO 10 ESSO 4.9338 GLOW 10 IRPC 1 LANNA 1 MDX 10 PICNI 1 PTT 10 PTTAR 10 PTTEP 1 RATCH 10 RPC 1 SCG 1 SGP 1 SOLAR 1 STRD 10 SUSCO 1 TCC 1 TOP 10 TTW 1

3.18 218 692 1 8,723 8,766 5.85 146 856 273 2,873 791,920 10.8 12,354 133,411 2.8 1,114 3,116 65.75 777 51,275 4.22 15,059 63,189 23.2 3,752 87,032 2.98 301,530 888,638 7.4 11,540 85,392 1.29 9,522 12,390 0.21 0 0 180 14,188 -1,740,965 14.9 100,606 1,471,063 99 9,046 898,409 37.5 721 27,163 2.04 167 340 4.26 14 60 4.36 1,293 5,668 0.95 2,314 2,191 2.28 0 0 0.36 3,602 1,273 1.89 2,390 4,585 32 31,532 1,020,880 3.98 13,139 52,722

3.18 1 5.85 273 10.8 2.82 66.25 4.22 23.2 2.98 7.4 1.32 0.21 180 14.9 102 38.25 2.08 4.42 4.38 0.95 2.28 0.36 1.89 32 4.02

3.14 0.99 5.8 251 10 2.78 65.25 4.06 20.6 2.66 7.05 1.22 0 173.5 13.1 96.75 37.25 1.99 4.22 4.34 0.87 0 0.33 1.8 30.5 3.82

0.63% 0.00% 0.86% 8.76% 8.00% -0.71% 0.77% 1.93% 12.62% 9.56% 4.96% 5.74% 0.00% 1.12% 12.03% -2.94% -1.96% 0.00% -3.62% -0.46% 9.20% 14.00% 9.09% 3.28% 0.79% 4.19%

0.33 -0.06 0.86 33.96 -0.67 0.09 13.16 -2.16 2.42 -0.93 1.35 0.26 -0.81 18.33 -2.86 12.62 4.48 -1.01 0.27 1.3 0.01 0.02 0 -0.17 0.11 0.37

9.57 0 6.76 8.01 0 7.91 5.04 0 9.22 0 5.39 4.85 0 9.64 0 7.8 8.32 0 16.16 3.76 128.24 101.56 0 0 287.43 11.81

1,584.00 788.6 2,968.20 71,524.00 11,706.10 4,658.40 34,615.10 14,328.00 31,861.20 55,254.40 2,527.00 603.1 620.7 499,575.60 40,720.30 328,087.50 54,810.00 1,079.90 4,190.50 4,134.40 275.4 44.5 392.7 1,346.90 64,158.90 15,768.50

15.72% 10.00% 4.27% 1.83% 4.63% 0.00% 3.80% 0.00% 4.91% 2.68% 5.41% 0.00% 0.00% 1.11% 3.36% 2.59% 2.93% 0.00% 3.52% 5.73% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 3.13% 5.03%

13.4 1.41

13 1.34

0.75% 5.22%

1.17 0.15

11.26 9.41

2,992.20 1,040.00

6.12% 0.00%

MINING PDI THL

10 1

13.4 1.41

166 35,951

2,218 50,806

SERVICES BIGC BJC CPALL HMPRO IT LOXLEY MAKRO MIDA MINOR ROBINS SINGER SPC SPI SSE

10 1 1 1 1 1 10 1 1 3.55 1 1 1 0.1

41 4.56 11.9 4.48 3.9 2.04 67 0.43 7.4 7.9 1.06 18 16.8 0.12

76 34 7,041 1,260 78 45,812 121 2,441 286 338 236 0 0 412

3,123 152 84,444 5,656 304 92,051 8,073 1,043 2,028 2,700 252 0 7 49

42 4.56 11.9 4.54 3.98 2.04 67 0.43 7.4 7.9 1.08 18 16.9 0.13

40.75 4.44 11.7 4.46 3.76 1.91 65 0.41 6.9 6.95 1.02 0 16.8 0.11

-2.38% 2.70% 1.71% -1.32% 3.72% 6.81% 3.08% 4.88% 4.23% 13.67% 2.91% 0.00% -0.59% -7.69%

3.56 0.68 0.74 0.5 0.5 -0.99 6.98 0.04 0.77 0.92 -0.3 1.95 1.87 -0.01

11.52 6.64 16.2 9.03 7.93 0 9.46 9.56 9.2 8.33 0 10 8.99 0

33,217.50 7,178.30 53,198.90 8,678.30 1,288.90 3,924.00 15,768.00 436.7 3,447.10 8,252.20 282.4 5,731.60 8,329.40 746.3

3.98% 3.29% 5.04% 7.81% 6.15% 0.00% 3.73% 0.00% 0.00% 5.06% 0.00% 3.33% 1.19% 0.00%

APRINT AS BEC CVD EPCO FE GRAMMY ITV LIVE MAJOR MATCH MATI MCOT MEDIAS MPIC NMG P-FCB POST PSAAP RS SE-ED SMM SPORT TBSP TONHUA WORK

1 1 1 10 1 10 1 5 0.1 1 1 1 5 4 1 10 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10 5 1

12.4 6.55 18.9 14.2 1.51 78 12.1 1.05 0.12 6.35 1.5 7.5 13.9 4.52 1.37 3.04 6.35 5.55 0.13 1 6.7 0.58 1.63 73 4.1 5

57 20 6,251 0 40 0 25 0 112,957 5,158 25 3 2,838 50 6,802 0 0 0 4,187 692 159 2,218 282 0 1 1,390

705 131 117,887 0 61 0 305 0 13,202 32,752 38 22 40,345 226 9,077 0 0 0 555 691 1,060 1,306 461 7 5 7,129

12.4 6.75 18.9 14.2 1.51 78 12.1 1.05 0.12 6.4 1.54 7.5 14.2 4.6 1.37 3.04 6.35 5.55 0.13 1 6.7 0.58 1.63 73 4.5 5

12.3 6.4 18.6 0 1.49 0 11.9 0 0.1 6.25 1.5 6.8 12.8 4.5 1.2 0 0 0 0.11 0.98 6.55 0.55 1.59 70 4.1 4.6

0.81% -2.96% 1.61% -3.40% 1.34% 0.00% 0.83% 0.00% 20.00% -0.78% 0.00% 7.14% 8.59% -1.74% 12.30% 4.83% 0.79% 0.00% 18.18% 0.00% 1.52% 5.45% 0.00% 3.55% 17.14% 8.70%

1.38 0.69 1.44 -0.69 0.26 8.03 1.44 -0.37 -0.06 0.71 0.15 0.78 1.79 0.32 -0.66 -0.33 0.84 0.03 -0.76 -0.57 0.6 -0.43 0.08 6.2 0.02 0.81

8.99 10.65 13.08 0 5.57 9.74 9.02 0 0 8.68 10.62 8.75 7.89 14.16 0 0 7.57 209.56 0 0 11.05 0 19.19 11.29 198.9 5.95

2,472.00 2,010.00 37,560.00 509.8 775.2 585 6,352.60 1,267.00 506 5,564.80 317.4 1,301.20 9,330.80 1,486.80 450 487.1 370 2,775.00 50.5 695.8 2,141.10 136.3 437.6 778.8 96.5 952.8

6.45% 4.89% 3.97% 0.00% 5.30% 6.41% 5.37% 0.00% 0.00% 3.94% 6.67% 5.33% 6.12% 6.64% 0.00% 0.00% 9.45% 1.08% 0.00% 0.00% 4.33% 0.00% 3.07% 5.82% 0.49% 4.80%

AHC BGH BH KDH KH LNH M-CHAI NEW NTV RAM SKR SVH VIBHA

10 1 1 10 1 10 10 10 10 10 6.5 10 1

47.5 20.4 24.1 18.8 7.55 21 20.9 13.1 96 536 10 57 2.64

20 3,150 488 2 837 2 0 0 1 0 136 0 188

932 62,300 11,367 34 6,291 42 0 0 48 0 1,347 0 493

49 20.4 24.1 18.8 7.55 21 22.5 13.1 96 536 10 57 2.64

47.5 17.8 22 18.6 7.35 20.9 0 0 95 0 9.9 0 2.5

-3.06% 14.61% 9.55% 1.08% 2.72% 0.48% -7.11% 0.00% 1.05% 1.52% 1.01% 0.00% 5.60%

5.25 1.37 1.64 -0.25 0.64 -0.22 3.52 0.13 10.88 36.94 1 4.74 0.2

9.33 13.66 13.79 0 11.86 0 5.98 103.56 8.82 14.64 9.91 5.28 13.02

608.8 22,686.80 16,415.20 279.6 7,087.00 841.6 339.2 131 1,529.60 6,384.00 992 5,700.00 1,659.30

2.63% 2.94% 1.66% 2.66% 3.31% 4.76% 7.18% 0.38% 6.80% 1.12% 1.00% 1.75% 6.06%

ASIA CAWOW CENTEL CSR DTC ERAWAN GRAND LRH MANRIN MME OHTL PA ROH SAFARI SHANG

10 1 1 10 10 1 1 10 10 1 10 10 10 5 10

38 1.24 3.1 38 19.3 1.29 1.51 27 5 0.79 502 2.7 32 2.4 28.5

1 2,679 286 0 0 637 0 2 0 1,588 0 0 0 0 0

49 3,342 884 0 2 802 0 58 0 1,244 0 0 0 0 0

38.75 1.28 3.1 38 20 1.29 1.51 27 5 0.79 502 2.7 32 2.4 28.5

37.75 1.22 3.02 0 19.3 1.23 0 26 0 0.75 0 0 0 0 0

-1.94% -1.59% 1.97% 0.00% -3.50% 4.88% 0.00% 3.85% 0.00% 3.95% 0.00% 23.85% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

37.14 -0.41 0.24 2.77 2.56 0.04 -0.2 6.62 -2.14 0.03 20.53 -0.46 2.28 -0.86 2.36

1.18 0 12.67 13.7 7.85 35.25 0 3.93 0 29.28 24.46 0 14.06 0 12.1

1,235.20 374.4 4,114.80 779 1,688.10 2,788.00 1,889.30 4,367.10 110 191.5 8,032.00 864.4 3,000.00 480 3,705.00

2.63% 0.00% 3.23% 4.74% 2.59% 0.78% 0.00% 8.15% 0.00% 0.00% 3.19% 0.00% 2.50% 0.00% 3.51%

BWG GENCO PRO

1 1 1

1.52 0.43 0.25

1,593 57 2,963

2,416 25 716

1.61 0.43 0.25

1.51 0.42 0.22

-5.59% 2.38% 8.70%

0.22 0.01 -0.13

6.95 29.82 0

506.9 381.6 232

7.24% 2.33% 0.00%

AOT ASIMAR BECL BMCL BTC JUTHA KWC PSL RCL SST THAI TSTE TTA UST

10 1 10 1 1 3 10 1 1 1 10 1 1 10

19 0.85 15.6 0.72 0.28 3.46 35 12.8 6.95 4.74 13 6 16.6 10

6,459 2,563 2,926 53,756 793 17 0 6,243 2,279 597 15,430 0 29,305 0

123,522 2,206 45,422 39,148 222 58 0 80,084 16,020 2,870 196,521 1 488,859 0

19 0.86 15.6 0.74 0.28 3.46 35 12.8 6.95 5.3 13 6 16.6 10

18.5 0.85 15.3 0.63 0.26 3.34 0 12.5 6.5 4.74 10.5 5.5 16 0

2.15% 0.00% 1.96% 9.09% 3.70% 1.17% -12.50% 0.79% 4.51% -10.57% 23.81% 9.09% 0.00% 0.00%

-1.18 0.25 1.88 -0.12 -0.69 1.48 3.87 4.75 -1.26 0.37 -12.58 1.51 1.39 2.03

5.01 3.43 8.21 0 0 2.37 9.05 2.69 0 13.01 0 3.99 1.65 4.92

26,657.10 200.1 11,842.60 8,126.00 178.3 284.4 222 13,201.90 4,428.80 612 19,877.10 672 11,639.60 387.7

13.58% 15.29% 3.85% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 5.43% 6.25% 0.00% 6.33% 0.00% 0.17% 4.52% 7.50%

MEDIA & PUBLISHING AMARIN PRINTING AND PUBLISHING ASIASOFT CORPORATION BEC WORLD CVD ENTERTAINMENT EASTERN PRINTING FAR EAST DDB GMM GRAMMY ITV LIVE INCORPORATION MAJOR CINEPLEX GROUP MATCHING STUDIO MATICHON MCOT MEDIA OF MEDIAS M PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT NATION MULTIMEDIA GROUP PRAKIT HOLDINGS THE POST PUBLISHING PONGSAAP R.S.PROMOTION SE-EDUCATION SIAM INTER MULTIMEDIA SIAM SPORT SYNDICATE THAI BRITISH SECURITY PRINTING TON HUA COMMUNICATIONS WORKPOINT ENTERINMENT

HEALTH CARE SERVICES AIKCHOL HOSPITAL BANGKOK DUSIT MEDICAL SERVICES BUMRUNGRAD HOSPITAL KRUNGDHON HOSPITAL BANGKOK CHAIN HOSPITAL CHIANG MAI MEDICAL SERVICES MAHACHAI HOSPITAL WATTANA KARNPAET NONTHAVEJ HOSPITAL RAMKHAMHAENG HOSPITAL SIKARIN SAMITIVEJ VIBHAVADI MEDICAL CENTER

TOURISM & LEISURE ASIA HOTEL CALIFORNIA WOW XPERIENCE CENTRAL PLAZA HOTEL CITY SPORTS AND RECREATION DUSIT THANI THE ERAWAN GROUP GRANDE ASSET DEVELOPMENT LAGUNA RESORTS & HOTELS THE MANDARIN HOTEL MIDA-MEDALIST ENTERTAINMENT THE ORIENTAL HOTEL (THAILAND) PACIFIC ASSETS ROYAL ORCHID HOTEL (THAILAND) SAFARI WORLD SHANGRI-LA HOTEL

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BETTER WORLD GREEN GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION PROFESSIONAL WASTE TECHNOLOGY (1999)

TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS AIRPORTS OF THAILAND ASIAN MARINE SERVICES BANGKOK EXPRESSWAY BANGKOK METRO BANGPAKONG TERMINAL JUTHA MARITIME KRUNGDHEP SOPHON PRECIOUS SHIPPING REGIONAL CONTAINER LINES SUB SRI THAI WAREHOUSE THAI AIRWAYS INTERNATIONAL THAI SUGAR TERMINAL THORESEN THAI AGENCIES UNITED STANDARD TERMINAL

Low (Bt)

Weekly Change %

EPS (Bt)

P/E Avg Market Cap Div (Bt m) (x) Yield

WIN

1

0.32

621

195

0.32

0.3

3.23%

-0.19

0

152

0.00%

ADVANC AIT BLISS CSL DTAC FORTH IEC INET JAS JTS MFEC MLINK MSC PT SAMART SAMTEL SHIN SIM SIS SVOA SYNEX THCOM TKS TRUE TT&T TWZ UTC

1 5 0.1 0.25 2 0.5 1 1 0.5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0.1 1 1 1 5 0.1 10 10 0.1 10

78 16.5 0.05 2.44 28.25 2.8 0.65 0.72 0.37 0.89 4.16 1.06 2.3 1.34 5.55 7.2 19.3 1.69 4.5 0.62 1.19 3.78 0.18 1.54 0.61 1.21 9.85

5,977 186 12,519 933 8,084 0 89,124 311 16,298 12,757 186 10,743 0 2,887 6,174 55 98 134 8 12,072 73 69,164 1,368 29,217 89,126 9,240 35

465,638 3,078 632 2,278 226,508 0 59,441 223 6,031 11,564 770 11,445 0 3,886 33,374 401 1,826 226 31 7,485 86 258,654 246 45,922 54,241 11,095 341

78 16.5 0.05 2.46 28.25 2.8 0.67 0.72 0.38 0.9 4.16 1.06 2.3 1.34 5.55 7.25 19.3 1.7 4.5 0.67 1.19 3.78 0.18 1.6 0.61 1.21 9.85

76 16.4 0.05 2.44 27 0 0.54 0.66 0.36 0.83 4.08 1.03 0 1.28 5.3 7.2 18.1 1.68 3.72 0.51 1.16 3.26 0.17 1.52 0.56 1.19 9.85

2.63% 0.61% 0.00% 0.00% 4.63% 4.48% 20.37% 9.09% -2.63% 7.23% 1.96% 0.95% 15.00% 4.69% 3.74% 0.00% 6.63% -0.59% 13.64% 21.57% 0.00% 15.95% 0.00% -0.65% 7.02% 0.83% 0.00%

5.54 3.52 -0.3 0.28 3.94 -0.08 -0.66 -0.12 -0.19 0.01 0.65 0.23 0.38 0.21 0.27 0.18 1.76 0.03 1.02 0.12 0.21 -0.65 0.01 -0.66 -0.9 0.01 0.9

13.99 4.68 0 8.73 6.98 0 0 0 0 88.94 6.67 4.55 6 6.29 19 39.21 10.43 63.71 3.66 5.74 6.49 0 17.82 0 0 191.77 10.98

229,132.90 988.8 157.5 1,540.70 64,996.40 2,645.80 1,066.80 171.5 3,113.50 613 995.8 565.9 806.4 187.7 5,243.80 4,326.00 59,091.70 7,267.00 804.6 352.1 803.8 3,765.60 436.6 10,954.30 1,887.10 2,880.00 591

4.23% 9.09% 0.00% 9.02% 5.31% 0.00% 0.00% 6.94% 0.00% 0.00% 10.82% 0.00% 8.70% 7.46% 1.80% 1.39% 6.48% 0.59% 7.78% 0.00% 10.08% 0.00% 5.56% 0.00% 0.00% 0.83% 0.00%

CCET DELTA DRACO EIC HANA KCE METCO SPPT SVI TEAM

1 1 1 1 1 1 10 1 1 1

1.81 12 1.52 4 11.9 0.89 96 2.58 1.26 1.9

9,673 994 156 3 155 1,790 5 1 5,265 21

17,540 11,866 234 12 1,846 1,603 485 2 6,638 40

1.81 12 1.52 4.1 12.2 0.96 96 2.58 1.27 1.9

1.54 10.6 1.43 4 11.7 0.89 91 2.28 1.18 1.86

13.84% 13.21% 6.29% -1.96% 1.71% -7.29% 5.49% 10.26% 6.78% 0.00%

0.54 2.32 0.59 0.13 2.3 -0.86 8.49 0.25 0.44 0.13

3.31 5.12 2.44 31.05 4.94 0 3.14 9.37 2.9 14.67

6,652.20 14,070.50 232.3 1,620.80 9,882.70 419 2,043.80 594.8 1,845.20 1,071.40

0.00% 9.17% 9.87% 1.50% 10.08% 0.00% 8.33% 2.71% 4.76% 5.26%

ABICO APC APX BRC CIRKIT CPICO DAIDO D-MARK DTM IPI MGR NFC NPK POMPUI PYT SMPC TDT TPROP USC

1 1 1 10 10 10 5 10 2.5 1 1 1 10 10 1 10 1 10 10

1 0.6 2.8 2.48 1.84 2 4 2.1 1.06 1.92 0.4 1.36 1.2 2.16 1.5 1.85 0.5 0.7 1.72

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1 0.6 2.8 2.48 1.84 2 4 2.1 1.06 1.92 0.4 1.36 1.2 2.16 1.5 1.85 0.5 0.7 1.72

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

0.3 -0.16 -0.14 1.31 -2.34 -5.72 -2.17 -11.05 -0.3 1.63 -0.14 -0.08 0.43 -0.09 0.16 19.92 1.77 0.02 1.11

2.01 0 0 1.86 0 0 0 0 0 0.16 0 0 2.77 0 0.48 0.09 0.21 11.57 1.54

159 133.5 969.8 357.4 92 96 208 32.2 1,150.60 743.6 17.5 2,105.90 12 81.3 810.4 45.4 212.7 78.3 135.1

0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

ACL-P1 BH-P CSC-P JUTHA-P KTB-P SCB-P SGF-P1 TCAP-P TIC-P TISCO-P TMB-P1

10 1 10 3 5.15 10 1 10 10 10 10

2.58 44.5 70 0 55 55.75 0 860 0 16.2 10

0 0 0 0 0 11 0 0 0 524 0

0 0 0 0 0 578 0 0 0 8,396 0

2.58 44.5 70 0 55 55.75 0 860 0 16.2 10

0 0 0 0 0 54 0 0 0 14.7 0

29.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% -4.70% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 8.72% 0.00%

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1,238.50 81.7 56 20.4 302.5 49,551.40 0 20.5 36 2,788.00 19,920.00

0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

AYFGCB ENGY GBFF INGFIF MGE M-GSB RKGB SCBSET TDEX VAYU1

10 4.11 10 10 10 10 10 10 5.68 10

13 2.97 10.5 12 11.2 0 10.7 5.8 3.49 9.37

0 1,033 0 0 0 0 0 0 6,167 115

0 3,070 0 0 0 0 0 0 21,534 1,073

13 2.97 10.5 12 11.2 0 10.7 5.8 3.49 9.4

0 2.86 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.4 9.34

0.00% 1.02% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.16% 0.11%

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1,196.00 2,132.80 945 1,315.20 2,016.00 1,500.00 984.4 2,900.00 6,070.40 65,618.00

0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 3.84% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 4.01% 1.60%

AIT-W1 AMC-W1 APC-W2 ASCON-W1 BCP-W1 BLAND-W1 BLAND-W2 BLISS-W1 CCET-W2 CPICO-W1 CSP-W1 CWT-W1 DELTA-W2 EASON-W1 EMC-W2 ESTAR-W1 ESTAR-W2 EWC-W1 GBX-W1 GEN-W1 GJS-W1 GL-W1 HEMRAJ-W JAS-W KK-W4 KMC-W1 LIVE-W1 MFEC-W1 MILL-W1 MME-W1 NEP-W1 NNCL-W1 PF-W2 PICNI-W1 RS-W1 SAM-W1 SECC-W1 SGF-W2 SINGHA-W SMM-W1 SPORT-W2 SPORT-W3 SPPT-W1 SSE-W1 SST-W1 STHAI-W1 STPI-W1 SVI-W2 TCC-W1 TFD-W1 THANI-W4 TICON-W2 TICON-W3 TKS-W1 TLUXE-W1 TSTH-W1 TSTH-W2 TUCC-W1 UNIQ-W1 UV-W1 VIBHA-W1 ZMICO-W3

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2.88 0.41 0.32 0.26 3.3 0.01 0.04 0.03 1.27 0.3 0.19 0.6 28 0.4 0.06 0.06 0.04 2.02 0.22 0.09 0.06 1.22 0.2 0.04 1.99 0.02 0.05 0.58 0.59 0.24 0.07 0.19 4.5 0.29 0.19 0.35 0.08 0.08 0.09 0.28 0.34 0.82 0.23 0.02 1.34 0.01 4.92 0.45 1.03 0.24 0.02 0.3 0.33 0.03 0.14 0.3 0.09 0.31 0.99 0.3 1.29 0.01

105 558 0 3 9,995 12,586 82,147 220 18,813 0 486 0 0 5 17,966 2,900 9,652 61 36,557 2,430 38,158 4 100 17,609 37,539 0 24,693 121 13,658 807 187 7,924 0 0 4,064 420 0 0 504 12,830 0 0 26 100 4,538 0 7 33,670 75 396 0 596 10,682 5,936 143 16,426 753 231 221 22,151 145 0

306 235 0 1 33,355 126 3,286 7 24,418 0 96 0 0 2 1,077 181 290 125 8,255 242 2,289 5 20 878 76,795 0 1,248 72 8,339 186 13 1,536 0 0 735 149 0 0 45 3,660 0 0 4 2 6,298 0 33 15,904 76 95 0 176 3,470 178 20 4,896 61 68 219 7,046 183 0

3 0.45 0.32 0.3 3.3 0.01 0.04 0.03 1.28 0.3 0.21 0.6 28 0.46 0.06 0.06 0.04 2.08 0.22 0.1 0.06 1.49 0.21 0.05 1.99 0.02 0.05 0.68 0.76 0.24 0.07 0.2 4.5 0.29 0.19 0.36 0.08 0.08 0.09 0.28 0.34 0.92 0.23 0.02 2.02 0.01 5 0.45 1.03 0.24 0.02 0.3 0.33 0.03 0.14 0.31 0.09 0.32 0.99 0.3 1.29 0.01

2.88 0.41 0 0.26 3.02 0.01 0.03 0.03 0.94 0 0.18 0 0 0.35 0.05 0.05 0.02 2.02 0.2 0.09 0.05 1.14 0.2 0.04 1.87 0 0.04 0.57 0.57 0.2 0.06 0.18 0 0 0.17 0.34 0 0 0.09 0.25 0 0 0.17 0.01 1.3 0 4.92 0.31 0.75 0.23 0 0.28 0.3 0.03 0.12 0.28 0.08 0.29 0.96 0.28 1.13 0

-3.36% -8.89% 0.00% -7.14% 9.27% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 35.11% 0.00% -9.52% 0.00% 0.00% -13.04% 20.00% 20.00% 100.00% -1.94% 4.76% 0.00% 0.00% -18.12% -4.76% 0.00% 4.19% 100.00% 0.00% -14.71% -21.33% 20.00% 16.67% 5.56% 0.00% 0.00% 11.76% -2.78% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 12.00% 6.25% -10.87% 9.52% 0.00% -33.66% 0.00% -1.20% 45.16% 3.00% 4.35% 100.00% 7.14% 10.00% 0.00% 16.67% -3.23% 12.50% -3.13% 3.13% 7.14% 14.16% 0.00%

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

17.6 16.9 42.7 28 219.8 20 247.9 20.7 165 36 24.5 13.5 0.1 37.3 77.2 40.6 35.1 51.1 75.3 21.9 181.1 31 63.7 48.4 214.9 13.3 105.8 19.5 79.5 27.5 94.9 61.2 39.9 2 30.4 73.5 8 19.8 10.1 32.4 27.2 37.5 13.9 38 48.3 1.8 413.3 136.3 307.5 28.4 3.4 3.7 68.4 18.6 5 320.6 130.8 26.8 153.4 49.2 66.4 2

0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

BCP-DR1

0

11.1

2,785

30,806

11.1

10.8

2.78%

0

1,154.20

4.50%

TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ADVANCED INFO SERVICE ADVANCED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY BLISS-TEL CS LOXINFO TOTAL ACCESS COMMUNICATION FORTH CORPORATION THE INTERNATIONAL ENGINEERING INTERNET THAILAND JASMINE INTERNATIONAL JASMINE TELECOM SYSTEMS MFEC M-LINK ASIA CORPORATION METRO SYSTEMS CORPORATION PREMIER TECHNOLOGY SAMART CORPORATION SAMART TELCOMS SHIN CORPORATION SAMART I-MOBILE SIS DISTRIBUTION (THAILAND) SVOA SYNNEX THAICOM T.K.S. TECHNOLOGIES TRUE CORPORATION TT&T TWZ CORPORATION UNION TECHNOLOGY

CAL-COMP ELECTRONICS (THAILAND) DELTA ELECTRONICS (THAILAND) DRACO PCB ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY HANA MICROELECTRONICS KCE ELECTRONICS MURAMOTO ELECTRON (THAILAND) SINGLE POINT PARTS (THAILAND) SVI TEAM PRECISION

NON-PERFORMING GROUP ABICO HOLDINGS ADVANCE PAINT & CHEMICAL (THAILAND) APEX DEVELOPMENT BANGKOK RUBBER CIRCUIT ELECTRONIC INDUSTRIES CENTRAL PAPER INDUSTRY DAIDOMON GROUP THAI-DENMARK SWINE BREEDER DATAMAT INDORAMA POLYESTER INDUSTRIES MANAGER MEDIA GROUP NATIONAL FERTILIZER NEW PLUS KNITTING KUANG PEI SAN FOOD PRODUCTS PRASIT PATANA SAHAMITR PRESSURE CONTAINER THAI DURABLE GROUP THAI PROPERTY UNIVERSAL STARCH

PREFERRED SHARES

COMMERCE BIG C SUPERCENTER BERLI JUCKER CP ALL HOME PRODUCT CENTER IT CITY LOXLEY SIAM MAKRO MIDA ASSETS MINOR CORPORATION ROBINSON DEPARTMENT STORE SINGER THAILAND SAHA PATHANAPIBUL SAHA PATHANA INTER-HOLDING SUNSHINE CORPORATION

WYNCOAST INDUSTRIAL PARK

Closed Avg Daily Turnover Hight Apr 24 (Shares m) (Bt m) (Bt)

ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS

RESOURCES

PADAENG INDUSTRY TONGKAH HARBOUR

Par

P/E Avg Market Cap Div (Bt m) (x) Yield

SF SIRI SPALI STEC SYNTEC TFD TICON TYONG UNIQ UV

ASIAN INSULATORS EKARAT ENGINEERING BANGKOK AVIATION FUEL SERVICES PCL. BANPU THE BANGCHAK PETROLEUM EASTERN WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ELECTRICITY GENERATING ESSO GLOW ENERGY IRPC THE LANNA RESOURCES M.D.X. PICNIC GAS & ENGINEERING PTT PTT AROMATICS AND REFININ PTT EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION RATCHABURI ELECTRICITY GENERATING HOLDING RAYONG PURIFIER SAHACOGEN (CHONBURI) SIAMGAS AND PETROCHEMICALS SOLARTRON SINO-THAI RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT SIAM UNITED SERVICES THAI CAPITAL CORPORATION PCL THAI OIL THAI TAP WATER SUPPLY

Source: KGI Securities (Thailand) Plc

ASIA CREDIT BUMRUNGRAD HOSPITAL CROWN SEAL JUTHA MARITIME KRUNG THAI BANK THE SIAM COMMERCIAL BANK SIAM GENERAL FACTORING THANACHART CAPITAL THE THAI INSURANCE TISCO FINANCIAL GROUP TMB BANK

UNIT TRUST AJF GLOBAL CONVERTIBLE BOND FUND MTRACK ENERGY ETF FUND GLOBAL BALANCED FUND OF FUNDS ING THAI ASIAN USD BOND FUND MFC GLOBAL EQUITY FUND GOVERNMENT SAVINGS BANK FUND CLASS A THE RUANG KHAO GLOBAL BALANCED FUND SCB SET INDEX FUND THAIDEX SET50 EXCHANGE VAYUPAK FUND 1 TYPE A

WARRANTS ADVANCED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ASIA METAL ADVANCE PAINT & CHEMICAL (THAILAND) ASCON CONSTRUCTION THE BANGCHAK PETROLEUM BANGKOK LAND BANGKOK LAND BLISS-TEL CAL-COMP ELECTRONICS (THAILAND) CENTRAL PAPER INDUSTRY CSP STEEL CENTER CHAI WATANA TANNERY GROUP DELTA ELECTRONICS (THAILAND) EASON PAINT EMC EASTERN STAR REAL ESTATE EASTERN STAR REAL ESTATE EASTERN WIRE GLOBLEX HOLDING MANAGEMENT GENERAL ENGINEERING G J STEEL GROUP LEASE HEMARAJ LAND AND DEVELOPMENT JASMINE INTERNATIONAL KIATNAKIN FINANCE KRISDA MAHANAKORN LIVE INCORPORATION MFEC MILL CON STEEL INDUSTRIES MIDA-MEDALIST ENTERTAINMENT NEP REALTY AND INDUSTRY NAVANAKORN PROPERTY PERFECT PICNIC GAS & ENGINEERING R.S.PROMOTION SAMCHAI STEEL INDUSTRIES S.E.C. AUTO SALES AND SERVICE SIAM GENERAL FACTORING SINGHA PARATECH SIAM INTER MULTIMEDIA SIAM SPORT SYNDICATE SIAM SPORT SYNDICATE SINGLE POINT PARTS (THAILAND) SUNSHINE CORPORATION SUB SRI THAI WAREHOUSE SHUN THAI RUBBER GLOVES INDUSTRY STP&I SVI THAI CAPITAL CORPORATION PCL THAI FACTORY DEVELOPMENT RATCHTHANI LEASING TICON INDUSTRIAL CONNECTION TICON INDUSTRIAL CONNECTION T.K.S. TECHNOLOGIES THAILUXE ENTERPRISES TATA STEEL TATA STEEL THAI UNIQUE COIL CENTER UNIQUE ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION UNIVENTURES VIBHAVADI MEDICAL CENTER SEAMICO SECURITIES

DEPOSITORY RECEIPTS THE BANGCHAK PETROLEUM

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Established since 1961, is currently one of the leading importers, distributors and marketers of healthcare and related products in Thailand. Based in Bangkok, Pacific Healthcare has over 300 full-time employees and an annual turnover of approximately USD35 million. The company is solid and reliable, with a well-established reputation and a quality of service that is second to none. To cope with our rapid expansion and diversification, we need talented candidates who are creative, energetic, and hardworking to join out team in the following positions:-

Medical Representative (Bangkok and Up-country)

Product Manager: Pharma

Key Responsibilities Responsible for opening the new product entry, regular visit customers in responsible area, maintain and demonstrate scientific knowledge potential or existing customers. Handle sales target and promote the company’s sales growth.

Qualifications:• Bachelor’s Degree in Science or related field • At least 3 years experience in sales: hospital, clinic, modern trade or any other related business • Positive attitude, energetic and able to work independently • Results oriented and keen to learn a new things • Good personality, communication and negotiation skills • Fair command of written and spoken English • Computer literacy • Have own transportation and driving license

Key Responsibilities:Responsible for products, which requires more tactful marketing skills. Develop marketing plans and programs for the specific products, review, evaluate and adjust plans to cater for changes marketing strategy. Continuously assess and develop new channels to broaden the company’s market share and profit in the specific products. Product training and coaching Med. Rep. to deliver correct messages. Collaborate with SM to drive business and broaden client base.

Qualifications:• Male or Female, age 25-35 years old (Only Thai Nationality) • Bachelor’s Degree in Science or Nurse would be preferable • Minimum 3 years experience in marketing of Pharmaceutical Products • Positive attitude, energetic, team player, service minded • Able to work independently with result-oriented • Strong leadership with interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills • Good command of English • Computer literacy • Have own transportation and driver license

We know opportunity is out there, PHC is looking for a great confident candidate who has a passion to join a winning team. We offer a competitive remuneration package for the right candidate. If you believe you are qualified for the above positions, please send a detailed resume in English stating the position you are interested in and your current and expected salary, together with your transcript and a recent photograph to

Pacific Healthcare (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Human Resources Department 1011 Supalai Grand Tower, Room No. 01, 29th Fl., Rama 3 Rd., Chongnonsee, Yannawa, Bangkok 10120 E-mail: recruit@phc.co.th Website: www.phc.co.th Only successful applications will be contacted! We accept resume in MS Word only.

The Norwegian Mission Society (NMS) Mekong Office NMS was founded in 1842, as an independent society within the Church of Norway. NMS works today together wit churches on 4 continents and approximately 100 missionaries are working on the field at all times. Our Mekong office is in Bangkok.

Project Monitor (100%) REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POSITION: ● Thai residence, fluent (verbal and written) in Thai and English ● Master's degree or equivalent ● Knowledge of ethical and legal parameters governing project management ● Computer literacy ● Experience from international development projects ● Good communication and reporting skills (verbal and written) ● Basic knowledge of budgeting and accounting ● Loyalty to the Christian faith and Lutheran doctrine The project monitor will work closely with the NMS representative to ensure that planning, implementations and reporting supported

by NMS meets the requirements set for these projects and affiliate evaluations when needed. This position will also be working with project information to donors.

Pay scales are negotiable and according to qualifications.

For moreinformation please contact the NMS Representative Dag Johanessen on mobile phone 081 812 1779 Applications and CVs are to be sent by e-mail to: job@nmsthai.com before 30th April.

µâÕß°“√√—∫ ¡—§√ºŸâ√à«¡ß“π¥à«π „πµ”·Àπàß 1. Assistant Manager (‡™’¬ß„À¡à) 2. Sales/Marketing Professionals

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Experienced Audit Professionals Required Mazars is an international, integrated and independent organisation, specialised in audit, accounting, tax and advisory services. As the market challenger, Mazars is fully able to provide large corporate multinational firms, smaller companies and owner-managed businesses as well as high net worth individuals with seamless tailored solutions.

All Mazars staff are bonded by strong quality guidelines, determined to exceed technical and ethical standards and convinced that passion for accountancy, rigour in the way they perform their job on a daily basis and open-mindedness are the keys to success.

Due to our fast growth in Thailand we are seeking to employ the following professionals:

Audit Director 1 Position A CPA with a minimum of 8 years audit experience with a major auditing firm and enjoy delivering a personalized service to customers.

Audit Manager 2 Positions CPA with a minimum of 5 years audit experience with a major auditing firm.

Sarbanes Oxley and other internal audit experience would also be an advantage.

All our internal and external communication is in English.

Please send your brief curriculum vitae to HR Manager of Mazars Group by email to info@mazars.co.th or call our HR Manager on 02 670 1100

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Foster Wheeler

is one of the largest International Contractors working in the Oil and Gas, Chemial, Pharmaceutical, and Power sectors. We are very active in both onshore and offshore projects in the Asia-Pacific region and beyong. beyong Foster Wheeler is continuing to expand its operations in Thailand and the region. region To assist us in this growth, we wish to recruit enthusiastic, self-motivated individuals. Who are interested in a long-term career with Foster Wheeler, to work in our Sriracha offices, for the following;

1. Contracts Engineers ●

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PC-1006

Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Civil, Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical Engineering or related field.

Minimum 5 years experience of contracting activities for both pre and post contract award in oil & gas or petrochemical Construction Management positions.

Candidates must be commercially aware, with effective negotiating and coordinating skills.

Candidates should be familiar with the standard conditions of contract prevalent in the industry.

Candidates should possess risk management skills and strong technical skills.

2. Quantity Surveyors ●

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C-1014

Bachelor's Degree or higher in field of Civil, Mechanical or Industrial Engineering.

3-5 years experience for Civil, Mechanical work in Oil & Gas plant / Petrochemical plant.

Experience of working for PMC or EPC project is preferable.

Experience in quality surveying (QS) against MTO and BOQ. Experience in preparation of payment and re-measurement.

Familiar with pricing mechanism and instruction to price schedule.

Ability to review and analysis of estimate quality and accuracy.

Team work attitude and problem solving skills.

3. Senior Cost Engineers / Cost Engineers PD-1022 ●

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Bachelor's Degree or higher in field of Engineering, Accounting or related discipline.

5-7 years experience in project cost control or commercial man agement of Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Works.

Should be able to interpret contracts and manage client budgets.

Must have the ability to understand and manage financial risks.

General: -

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For all positions, candidates should possess excellent com munication skills in written and spoken English.

For all positions candidates should be computer literate in the software relevant to the position.

Foster Wheeler is prepared to consider candidates with experience outside the petrochemical and related industries who are willing to be trained to work in that sector.

Please refer No. of position in your application.

Foster Wheeler offer an attractive remuneration package with generous training internally and externally as well as overseas travel opportunities; life insurance coverage and medical scheme benefits including yearly bonus, 5-day working week and the opportunity to join an expanding International affiliated that provides a challenging and rewarding career. (Only short listed candidate will be notified)

Interested candidates should submit a recent photograph, resume qualifications reference, and expected salary to

Human Resource Manager : Foster Wheeler International Corporation 217 Moo 12 Sukhapibal 8 Road, Tungsukhla, Sriracha, Chonburi 20230

Fax : 66(0) 3835 4604 E-mail: Tops_recruit@fwuk.fwc.com

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02-266-2660

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Sales Assistance • Dip. or B.A., Enthusiasm, Experience, Hard Working • Clients Oriented, Skills in Eng. & Thai, Car • Interpersonal, Planning & Problem Solving Skills

0 25517589 E-mail : kelly@csplastmach.com

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¡—§√¥â«¬µπ‡Õß À√◊Õ email ∑’Ë leatherplus08@gmail.com À√◊Õ ·ø°´å 02-389-3255 ‚∑√. 02-389-3252-4 µ‘¥µàÕ§ÿ≥Õ’¥Í

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M.J. Bangkok Valve & Fitting Co., Ltd. We are an importer of valve and fitting from U.S.A. for oil & gas, petrochemical, refinery and power generating industries and etc. We are now looking for the following personnel.

SALES ENGINEER ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Male/Female, Bachelor's degree in any field, age below 30 years Take care of existing customers and expand customer base Salary, gasoline & medical allowances plus commission provided A challenging job that offers more than 50,000 Baht/month depending on candidate's potential Have own car, mobile phone and notebook computer Good command of reading, speaking and writing in English We provide intensive training on company's products

CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICER ● ● ●

●

● ● ●

3 POS.

Female, age below 25 years Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance, computer literate

PRODUCTION ENGINEER ●

3 POS.

Female, age below 25 years, Bachelor's degree in any field High responsibility and good human relation, computer literate Good command of reading, speaking and writing in English

ACCOUNTANT ●

4 Pos.

2 Pos.

Male Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Instrument Age below 30 years, Good command of English 3 years experience in panel assembly,tube bending, instrument assembly Take out parts from drawing and labor cost estimate for assembly Apply in person or send documents via E-mail to:

M.J. Bangkok Valve & Fitting Co., Ltd., Vanich Building 1, 16th Fl.,1126/1 New Phetchburi Rd., Makkasan, Ratchathevi, BKK 10400 TEL: 0-2254-7624 (auto) FAX: 0-2254-7626, 0-2254-7630 E-mail: swagelok@mjbangkok.com

Thailand Burma Border Consortium,

a non-profit organization providing relief to Burmese refugees, invites sealed bids for the supply of:

➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢

393 MT of Mung Beans 391,500 litres of Soya Bean Cooking Oil 3,244 MT of Charcoal 139,200 kg of Iodized Salt 16,920 kg of Dried Chillies, and 314,490 kg of Fishpaste

for delivery between July 2009 and January 2010 to 3 refugee camps in Tak province. Invitations to Tender and Bidding Forms are obtainable from:

TBBC, 12/5 Convent Rd., Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 Tel: 02-238-5027-8, Fax: 02-266-5376 E-mail: procurement@tbbc.org Website: www.tbbc.org Interested supplier must contact TBBC BKK Procurement Before 16.00 hrs on Wed. 6 May 2009.

GHL (THAILAND) CO., LTD. is subsidiary of GHL SYSTEM, main office is Malaysia, has undoubtedly carved its niche in the payment space as the leading end-to-end payment solution provider in the Asia Pacific region.

General Manager

System Analysis / Programmer

Responsibilities:The successful candidate is expected to deliver economic value to the company’s business via his/her leadership and management abilities. He/she is expected to help his/her team members contemplate and adopt news ideas and approaches in promoting the Company’s business. He/she will inspire his/her team members to make day-to-day decisions that enhance the company’s long-term viability, while instituting systems to ensure that his/her team members comply with top-down policies and directives.

The successful candidate shall provide leadership by continually adapting to dynamic and highly competitive environments by inspiring his/her team members to innovate in order to achieve the company’s objectives. At the same time, the successful candidate is also expected to manage by orchestrating a complex system of interactions that deliver organizational synergies, allocate resources effectively, and ensure that valid reporting and control systems are in place.

Requirements:Besides being able to fulfill the above job expectations, the successful candidate is expected to possess the following requirements: • A Bachelor's Degree in any discipline. Preference will, however, be given to those with postgraduate qualifications; • Prior posting overseas will be an added advantage; • At least 10 years of managerial experience in sales and marketing within the ICT, consumer and financial sector, especially business-to-business related; • Excellent interpersonal, communication and public relations skills.

Responsibilities:• Attend and conduct requirement, design and test plan reviews.

• Provide estimates on development projects.

• Coordination with KL Programmers.

• Perform coding and unit testing as required.

• Develop Web Application project.

• Participation to software development projects run by Head Office, or Regional IT team.

• Procedure setup and control for launching new projects.

Qualifications:• Male and Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Computer Engineering, Computer science or related fields; • Working Experience - Min. 1 year of experience in software engineering field. Fresh Graduates are encouraged to apply; • Teamwork, integrity; • Objected-oriented programming skills in C++ or C#; • Good communication skills - Proficiency in written English is required; spoken English will be an added advantage.

Head-Merchant Acquiring Qualifications:• Bachelor's Degree or higher in Marketing, Business Administration or related fields; • Proven leadership ability to influence, develop, and empower employees to achieve objectives with a team approach; • Analyze, monitor competitor sales, marketing initiatives and overall business trends; • We require the potential candidate who is a creative, highly responsibly and pro-active person.

• Good English communication skill.

Administrative Officer Responsibilities :• Handle all purchasing duties and administrative.

• Handle Invoice and Petty Cash.

• Coordinate among the team in order to successfully communicate.

• Arrange all kind of meeting and scheduling, both internal and external.

Qualifications:• Male or Female; • Bachelor's Degree in any related field; • A minimum of 2 years experience in the field of administration; • Basic Accounting knowledge will be an advantage; • Proficient in computer skills especially MS Office applications; • Good command of English; • Problem solving skills, ability to work in a team and communicate with people on all levels ; • Mature, reliable and able to work under pressure and work well with deadline.

Interested candidates, please send your application together with a detailed resume and recent photograph to Human Resources and Administration Division as following address

GHL (THAILAND) CO., LTD. 77//20 2nd Floor, Sinn Sathorn Tower, Krungthonburi Rd., Klongsan, Bangkok 10600 Tel. 02-440-0111 Fax. 02-440-0577 E-mail: recruitmentth@ghl.com

√—∫ ¡—§√¥à«π

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Forensic Technology is a Canadian company (www.forensictechnologyinc.com), leading in ballistics identification systems being used around the world.

We partner with hundreds of public safety agencies in over 35 countries to help agencies fight crime.

We are seeking applicants for a position of Office Administrator reporting to Asia Pacific Sales Director and providing accounting and administrative works in Bangkok office.

Position requirements: • Thai national with very good command of spoken and written English.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Business Administration • 2-3 years experience in accounting and office works including travel arrangements • Proficient in MS Office, Internet and E-mail • Able to work with minimal supervision

¥”‡π‘π∏ÿ√°‘®„πÕÿµ “À°√√¡™‘Èπ à«πÕ‘‡≈Á°∑√Õπ‘° å ¬“π¬πµå ·≈–‡§√◊ÕË ß¡◊Õ·æ∑¬å

QMR (ISO13485)

ë ‡æ» ™“¬/À≠‘ß Õ“¬ÿ 30 ªï¢πÈ÷ ‰ª ë «ÿ≤ª‘ √‘≠≠“µ√’ - ª√‘≠≠“‚∑ ë ¡’ª√– ∫°“√≥奓â π ISO13485 ‰¡àπâÕ¬°«à“ 1 ªï ¥â“π°“√∫√‘À“√°“√º≈‘µ °“√ª√–°—π§ÿ≥¿“æ ë ‡§¬ºà“π°“√‡ªìπ QMR À√◊Õ Internal Audit √–∫∫ ∫√‘À“√§ÿ≥¿“æ ISO13485 ®–æ‘®“√≥“‡ªìπ摇»… “¡“√∂ àß„∫ ¡—§√ ·≈–ª√–«—µ‘ à«πµ—«¡“∑’Ë

∫√‘…—∑ ´‘߇°‘È≈ æÕ¬∑å æ“√å∑ (ª√–‡∑»‰∑¬) ®”°—¥ (¡À“™π)

Please submit your resume and letter of interest stating your expected salary by email to: saipin.pinpirom@contactft.com or by postal mail to

‡≈¢∑’Ë 41-42 À¡Ÿà 9 «πÕÿµ “À°√√¡‚√®π– µ.∏πŸ Õ.Õÿ∑—¬ ®.æ√–π§√»√’Õ¬ÿ∏¬“ ‚∑√.035-226700-1 µàÕ§ÿ≥«—≤π“ À√◊Õ E-mail : watthanaw@spp.co.th

Forensic Technology Wai Inc., 3/F Zuellig House,1-7 Silom Road, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500

ª√–°“»√—∫ ¡—§√ß“π :

W.R. Grace & Co., is a leading global supplier of catalyst and other

products and services to petroleum refiners; catalysts for the manufacture of plastics; silica-based engineered and specialty materials for a wide-range of industrial applications; specialty chemicals, additives and materials for commercial and residential construction; and sealants and coatings for food packaging. To support our growth plans in the Asia Pacific region, we are seeking a dynamic and committed professional to join our team.

Sourcing Manager-AP The Opportunities Reporting to Purchasing Manager-MPT AP, the successful candidate will be responsible for leading sourcing strategy development, deployment and supplier management for Asia Packaging materials business to deliver maximized total cost. He/She will also establish raw materials sourcing processes, support global and regional category managers in the direct materials organization to identify 2nd source in AP. To work closely with Category Manager, Marketing, R&D, Operation, EHS and Product Stewardship in the development of new sources and build up effective channels to get update market information on supply demand dynamics, pricing and capacity.

Monitor competitor move as well as government regulation impact.

The Person B.S. in Chemical-related field or materials related field, or MBA. Minimum 7 years global sourcing experiences in an industrial environment with extensive knowledge/industry insight in chemical raw materials. Food Law compliance knowledge preferred. ● Ability to work independently on multiple tasks with clear priority. ● Strong project management skills and communication skills to effectively work with cross function team to move new source qualification forward. ● Resourceful, understand how to get market and supplier information through different channels with strong negotiation skills. ● Extensive chemical background, and materials knowledge. ● Proficiency with entire MS Office Suite required. Familiarity with the extraction and analysis of SAP data. ● Good English skills.

Interest candidates, please apply by sending a detailed resume, stating employment history, personal details, present and expected salaries to: ● ●

The Human Resources Department

W.R. GRACE (THAILAND) LIMITED 253/2 Bangpoo Industrial Estate, Sukhumvit Road Km. 34 Muang, Samutprakarn 10280 Email: naiyana.kulratanarak@grace.com

°≈ÿà¡∫√‘…—∑ ‡™’¬√å ·≈–∫√‘…—∑ ‰∑¬Œ“ ®”°—¥ (¡À“™π) ‡ªìπ°≈ÿà¡∫√‘…—∑ºŸâº≈‘µ ·≈–ºŸâ®—¥®”Àπà“‘π§â“Õÿª‚¿§-∫√‘‚¿§ ¿“¬„µâ ‘π§â“µ√“ 燰…µ√é ç©≈“¥™‘¡é ·≈– çÕßÿàπé œ≈œ ¡’§«“¡ ª√– ߧ宖√—∫ ¡—§√ºŸâ√à«¡ß“π ‡æ◊ËÕ√Õß√—∫°“√‡µ‘∫‚µ¢Õß∫√‘…—∑„πµ”·Àπàßß“π ¥—ßµàÕ‰ªπ’È 1. ºŸÕâ ”π«¬°“√ / ºŸ®â ¥— °“√ΩÉ“¬∑√—欓°√∫ÿ§§≈ 5. ºŸâ®—¥°“√ΩÉ“¬®—¥´◊ÈÕ (√ß. “¬5) ● ● ●

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2. ºŸâÕ”π«¬°“√ / ºŸâ®—¥°“√ΩÉ“¬∫—≠™’·≈–°“√‡ß‘π

●

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●

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™“¬/À≠‘ß Õ“¬ÿ 30-35 ªï¢π÷È ‰ª ª√‘≠≠“‚∑-µ√’ “¢“∫—≠™’ ¡’ª√– ∫°“√≥å∑“ߥâ“π∫√‘À“√∫—≠™’°“√‡ß‘π‰¡àπâÕ¬°«à“ 10 ªï ·≈– “¡“√∂«‘‡§√“–Àå√“¬ß“π∑“ß∫—≠™’·≈–°“√‡ß‘π‰¥â

3. Overseas Sales / ‡®â“Àπâ“∑’˪√– “πß“π¢“µà“ߪ√–‡∑» ● ●

●

™“¬/À≠‘ß Õ“¬ÿ 28-32 ªï ª√‘≠≠“‚∑ MBA, Marketing ¡’ª√– ∫°“√≥奓â π¢“¬ ‘π§â“Õÿª‚¿§ ∫√‘‚¿§ ·≈–µ‘¥µàÕ µà“ߪ√–‡∑» À“°¡’ª√– ∫°“√≥åß“π¢“¬ Modern Trade ®–æ‘®“√≥“‡ªìπ摇»… “¡“√∂„™â¿“…“Õ—ß°ƒ…‰¥â‡ªìπÕ¬à“ߥ’ ·≈–„™â¿“…“ ®’π°≈“ß, ¿“…“Õ“À√—∫ (Õ“√∫‘°) ‰¥â®–æ‘®“√≥“‡ªìπ摇»…

4. Product Manager ● ●

À≠‘ß/™“¬ Õ“¬ÿ 26-30 ªï ª√‘≠≠“‚∑ MBA, Marketing ¡’ª√– ∫°“√≥å∑“ߥâ“π°“√µ≈“¥ °“√∫√‘À“√º≈‘µ¿—≥±å ‘π§â“Õÿª‚¿§ ∫√‘‚¿§ 3 ªï¢÷Èπ‰ª

¡’ª√– ∫°“√≥å∑“ߥâ“π°“√∫√‘À“√°“√®—¥´◊ÈÕ®—¥®â“ß Õ¬à“ßπâÕ¬ 5 ªï ¢÷Èπ‰ª

™“¬/À≠‘ß Õ“¬ÿ 30 ªï¢÷Èπ‰ª ª√‘≠≠“‚∑-µ√’ “¢“«‘»«Õÿµ “À°“√ À√◊Õ “¢“∑’ˇ°’ˬ«¢âÕß ¡’ª√– ∫°“√≥å∑“ߥâ“π°“√∫√‘À“√§≈—ß ‘π§â“ ·≈– ‚≈®‘ µ‘° å Õ¬à“ßπâÕ¬ 5 ªï À“°¡’ª√– ∫°“√≥å¥â“π°“√®—¥ àßµà“ߪ√–‡∑»®–æ‘®“√≥“‡ªìπ摇»…

7. ºŸ®â —¥°“√ΩÉ“¬ R&D (√ß. “¬5) ● ●

™“¬/À≠‘ß Õ“¬ÿ 30 ªï¢π÷È ‰ª ª√‘≠≠“‚∑-µ√’ “¢“ ‡∑§‚π‚≈¬’Õ“À“√ À√◊Õ “¢“∑’ˇ°’ˬ«¢âÕß ¡’ª√– ∫°“√≥å∑“ߥâ“πß“πæ—≤π“·≈–«‘®—¬Õ¬à“ßπâÕ¬ 5 ªï

π„® ¡—§√‰¥â¥â«¬µπ‡Õß À√◊Õ àß®¥À¡“¬¡“∑’Ë — ‰∑¬Œ“ ®”°—¥ (¡À“™π) ·ºπ°∫ÿ§§≈ ∫√‘…∑ ‡≈¢∑’Ë 305 ∂ππ√—™¥“¿‘‡…° (∑à“æ√–-µ“° ‘π) ·¢«ß∫ÿ§§‚≈ ‡¢µ∏π∫ÿ√’ °√ÿ߇∑æœ 10600 TEL. 02-4770021 À√◊Õ E-mail : hr_cheer@yahoo.com,

manee@kasetbrand.com, bualuang@kasetbrand.com, wijitra@kasetbrand.com

∫√‘…—∑ª√–°Õ∫∏ÿ√°‘®ª√–‡¿∑‚√ßß“πÕÿµ “À°√√¡™—Èππ” µ—ÈßÕ¬Ÿà „π‡¢µπ‘§¡ Õÿµ “À°√√¡®—ßÀ«—¥√–¬Õß ∑’Ë¡’§«“¡¡—Ëπ§ß¥â«¬∑ÿπ®¥∑–‡∫’¬π¡“°°«à“ 6,500 ≈â“π∫“∑ Õ¬Ÿ√à –À«à“ß°“√ ¢¬“¬‚√ßß“π ¡’§«“¡ª√– ߧå√—∫ ¡—§√æπ—°ß“π ®”π«π 2 Õ—µ√“

1. ºŸ®â ¥— °“√ à«π´àÕ¡∫”√ÿß ®”π«π 1 Õ—µ√“ ë ë ë ë

«ÿ≤°‘ “√»÷°…“‰¡àµË”°«à“ ª√‘≠≠“µ√’ ( “¢“ «‘»«°√√¡»“ µ√å) ¡’ª√– ∫°“√≥å∑”ß“π¥â“π´àÕ¡∫”√ÿß „π‚√߉øøÑ“ ‰¡àµË”°«à“ 10 ªï ¡’§«“¡™”π“≠„π°“√查/‡¢’¬π ¿“…“Õ—ß°ƒ…‡ªìπÕ¬à“ߥ’ “¡“√∂ªØ‘∫µ— ß‘ “πª√–®”®—ßÀ«—¥√–¬ÕßÀ√◊Õæ◊Èπ∑’Ë „°≈⇧’¬ß‰¥â

ë ë ë ë

«ÿ≤°‘ “√»÷°…“ª√‘≠≠“µ√’ «‘»«°√√¡»“ µ√å ª√‘≠≠“‚∑ ∫√‘À“√∏ÿ√°‘® ¡’ª√– ∫°“√≥å∑”ß“π¥â“π°“√µ≈“¥·≈–æ“≥‘™¬å ‰¡àµË”°«à“ 7 ªï ¡’§«“¡™”π“≠„π°“√查/‡¢’¬π ¿“…“Õ—ß°ƒ…‡ªìπÕ¬à“ߥ’ “¡“√∂ªØ‘∫µ— ß‘ “πª√–®”µà“ß®—ßÀ«—¥‰¥â

2. æπ—°ß“π≈Ÿ°§â“ —¡æ—π∏å ®”π«π 1 Õ—µ√“ π„® àß : √“¬≈–‡Õ’¬¥«ÿ≤‘°“√»÷°…“/ª√– ∫°“√≥å (Resume) ‰ª¬—ß

”π—°∫√‘À“√Õߧå°√ ‡≈¢∑’Ë 24 ∂ππª°√≥å ߇§√“–Àå√“…Æ√å µ.À⫬‚ªÉß Õ.‡¡◊Õß ®.√–¬Õß 21150 We are a multinational company engaged in the exploration, development and production of onshore oil and natural gas in Thailand. We urgently require outstanding individuals to assist in our finance and accounting team.

Upcountry Accountant ∫√‘…∑— ‚√߇∫’¬√凬Õ√¡—πµ–«—π·¥ß °”≈—ߢ¬“¬°‘®°“√„πµà“ߪ√–‡∑» ·≈–µâÕß°“√ºŸâ√à«¡ß“π„πµ”·Àπàßµà“ßÊ ¥—ßπ’È

1. °—ªµ—π 2. ∫√‘°√ 3. æπ—°ß“πµâÕπ√—∫

®”π«π 5 µ”·Àπàß ®”π«π 25 µ”·Àπàß ®”π«π 5 µ”·Àπàß

§ÿ≥ ¡∫—µ‘ :

ë ‡æ»™“¬/À≠‘ß Õ“¬ÿ‰¡àπâÕ¬°«à“ 25 ªï ë ®∫°“√»÷°…“√–¥—∫ª√‘≠≠“µ√’¢÷Èπ‰ª (À“°®∫°“√»÷°…“¥â“π°“√®—¥°“√¿—µµ“§“√ ·≈–‚√ß·√¡ ®–‰¥â√—∫°“√æ‘®“√≥“‡ªìπ摇»…) ë ¡’ª√– ∫°“√≥å 5 ªï ”À√—∫µ”·Àπàß°—ªµ—π ·≈– 3 ªï ”À√—∫µ”·Àπàß∫√‘°√ ·≈–æπ—°ß“πµâÕπ√—∫ ·≈–¡’§«“¡ “¡“√∂„π°“√ ◊ËÕ “√¿“…“Õ—ß°ƒ…‰¥â¥’¡“° ë À“°¡’§«“¡√Ÿ¿â “…“®’π®–‰¥â√—∫°“√æ‘®“√≥“‡ªìπ摇»… ºŸ â π„® àß„∫ ¡—§√æ√âÕ¡√“¬≈–‡Õ’¬¥¡“∑’Ë

saijai@tawandang.co.th ∫√‘…∑— ‚√߇∫’¬√åµ–«—π·¥ß ®”°—¥

462/61 ∂ππæ√–√“¡ 3 ·¢«ß™àÕßππ∑√’ ‡¢µ¬“ππ“«“ °√ÿ߇∑æœ 10120

The Upcountry Accountant will report to the Foreign Field Manager, Upcountry and the Financial Controller in Bangkok. The position will be based at the Company’s Wichian Buri Office.

Key Responsibilities: • Responsible for establishing and implementing new accounting policies and procedures at the upcountry office.

• Control petty cash at the upcountry office.

• Liaise with all upcountry personnel, expatriate management, and all other upcountry based expatriates on all accounting aspects.

• Coordinate with other finance, purchasing, store and operations personnel in Bangkok to ensure integrity of upcountry financial data and sufficient control over upcountry payments.

• Act as the focal point for all production, support operations and other upcountry cost information.

Qualifications required: 1. Degree in accounting, a CPA is a plus.

2. At least 2 years experience in similar positions/responsibilities.

3. Background in petroleum industry is an advantage.

4. Familiar with computerized accounting systems and MS Office.

5. Good interpersonal skill and good command of spoken & written English.

6. Ability to work independently with minimum supervision and against tight deadlines.

We invite qualified Thai nationals only to submit your resume in confidence, stating your present and expected salary to: hr@panorientthailand.com

>

THE NATION Monday, April 27, 2009

ARTS&CULTURE

>

GREAT THINGS TO SEE AND DO

Tomorrow: At just 28, the daughter of Blue Elephant’s founders has been handed a heavy load – herding its latest restaurant into Phuket.

‘ M E KO N G … T H E U N TA M E D ’

THE TRANCE OF THE SNOW MOUNTAIN

Gourmets tuck into Golden Week The Japanese begin their Golden Week – a collection of four national holidays within seven days – on Wednesday. To celebrate, the Peninsula Bangkok’s Mei Jiang restaurant led by chef Jackie Ho is offering a selection of à la carte dishes and sumptuous six-course Chinese set menus available for lunch and dinner.

Tastes of ecstasy and madness are among the surprises en route to Chentu

The special Bt3,200 menu being served up through May 5 includes Cantonese-style scrambled egg-white with scallop and crispy mantou, double-boiled superior shark’s fin soup with black chicken and wolfberry, sautéed prawns with Brussels sprouts in home-made XO sauce, sliced garoupa cutlet served with hawthorn sauce, fried egg noodles with roast duck and mixed peppers, and chilled sago pomelo in mango cream.

For a delicate accompaniment, diners can choose from Mei Jiang’s list of 12 fine Chinese teas.

There’s also the Golden Week delicacy menu costing Bt4,800 per person.

For a table, call (02) 861 2888 extension 6402, or e-mail diningpbk@peninsula.com.

An expedition to Bhutan

Siam Society is organising a cultural tour of Bhutan from this Friday to May 12.

Bhutan has long been regarded as a mystical and mysterious place by the western world. With a population of 600,000 and roughly the size of Switzerland, it is a small and under-populated country, especially when compared with its giant neighbours China and India. However, this does not do justice to the ethnic mosaic and variety of populations that make up the country.

From the yak herders of the north to the orange growers of the south, Bhutan boasts a fascinating kaleidoscope of people.

Most are of Mongoloid stock and speak languages of the TibetoBurman family, but in the south there are also people of IndoAryan stock who speak languages of the Indo-European family.

Led by Bilaibhan Sampatisiri, vice president and chairperson of the society’s travel committee, the trip costs Bt160,000 per person.

E-mail info@siam-society.org.

E-mail information on your interesting upcoming events to artsandculture@ nationgroup.com.

VITHOON PUNGPRASERT THE NATION

e trekked up the Hongla Snow Mountain in the Tibetan Plateau today, hoping to cover 200 kilometres on our way to Ch’ang Tu in southeastern Tibet. The road was covered with snow and ice.

Despite the strong sunshine, an icy wind kept blowing.

At 4,200 metres above sea level the mountain seemed the most inhospitable place, with its harsh, freezing conditions.

To our surprise, we came across various kinds of expensive herbal plants growing in the hills.

The views were stunning too, and that’s why our hearts were beating quickly in an ecstatic thump.

Later, on some parts of the mountain, there were immense expanses of greenery, with herds of yak grazing the grasslands dotted with pockets of snow.

We found many evergreen perennials growing in the pine forest. We later found out that Tibetans collected pine branches to use in rituals worshipping the guardian spirit of the forest.

Seeing the prayer flags, you realise the strength of the people’s faith in nature and their respect for it.

At this altitude it was hard to believe that the mountain was home to a breed of rats that could weigh up to 20 kilograms.

Soon we began to feel the enervating effects of the altitude and high pressure.

The Tibetans are more acclimated to the thin air because they’re raised at high altitude.

The thin oxygen over time has a progressively debilitating effect, and in critical

W

cases can cause illness and death. Some of us had bloodshot eyes and started displaying strange behaviour.

Our cameraman, Pipop Panichpak, suddenly seemed terribly busy, flitting about mumbling or pacing up and down a dirt track. Later he admitted that he’d no idea what had happened to him.

At times it felt like we were in a trance in such a conducive climate. The locals pointed out that, up here, we were close to God, and that’s why we were all in a good mood.

But the people who had been monitoring our progress were extremely concerned about our safety.

I was thinking that, if we could make it a bit farther, we’d probably get to meet God ourselves somewhere on the plateau.

Then the journey took us to a mountain rising 5,000 metres, near a town called Pang Da. The trail led westward to Lhasa and north to Ch’an Tu. The melting snow of this mountain flowed into three great rivers of Asia: the Yangtze, the Lancang and the Salween.

Standing up there, I felt the strong sunshine and the freezing wind. What interested me was how the snow was melting away and forming the headwaters of the rivers.

These were the rivers of humanity flowing in parallel. One drop of water turned into the Yangtze, another the Lancang, and yet another the Salween, creating different civilisations, cultures and ways of life.

Right here, we knew we were close to the headwaters of the Lancang. We kept going north to find its source.

At last we reached Ch’ang Tu, where two

Our cameraman, Pipop Panichpak, suddenly seemed terribly busy, flitting about mumbling or pacing up and down a dirt track.

Later he admitted that he’d no idea what had happened to him.

rivers converge to form the Lancang.

Seeing the Lancang here, I couldn’t help thinking of Paknam Po in Nakhon Sawan, where two rivers come together just like this to form the Chao Phya.

But here you could see that one river was clear, the other quite muddy. So the locals called the Lancang the two-coloured river.

Before I got here, I’d thought Ch’ang Tu was just a lifeless, desolate outpost covered with snow, but we discovered that it’s quite a modern city with high-rise buildings and brand-name products.

It’s just like any other city where you can get whatever you want. Surrounded by mountains, with the Lancang cutting through its heart, Ch’an Tu is Tibet’s second commercial hub. In the fields are greenhouses, herds of yak and farms. On the city streets you see local girls dressed fashionably.

The TV series “Mekong … the Untamed” is on Channel 9 every Monday at 10.15pm.

WORLD TREASURES GO ON-LINE IN DIGITAL LIBRARY CAROLE LANDRY AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Paris

A global digital library allowing scholars and cyber-surfers to scroll through such unique works as the 13th-century “Devil’s Bible” and rare photos from the Ottoman empire was launched on Tuesday.

Four years in the making, the World Digital Library went on line (www.WDL.org), offering free access to hundreds of books, manuscripts, maps, photographs and sound and film record-

THE WORLD DIGITAL LIBRARY offers free access to rare books, maps, manuscripts, films and photographs from across the globe.

ings, all considered world treasures.

The state-of-the-art educational tool promotes cultural understanding by showcasing “primary materials that are both interesting and important”, said James Billington, from the US Library of Congress, creators of the project.

The website operates in seven languages, with content in 40 languages, from mathematical texts in Arabic to the world’s first novel, “The Tale of Genji” written in Japan in the 11th century.

“All of these materials have been vetted by curators and scholars so that they are dependable,” Billington told a news conference at the Paris headquarters of UNESCO, the UN cultural agency that shepherded the project.

The site was developed by a team from the Library of Congress in Washington with assistance from Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt.

Some 1,200 documents have been chosen for the initial phase, but the plan is to open up the library’s doors and databases beyond the current 32 institutions from 19 countries.

“Part of the purpose is to bring together materials that have been widely scattered, into a single focus,” Billington said.

The website is open to everyone – scholars, teachers, historians – but much focus is placed on reaching young minds who are exposed to Internet material of questionable quality, he added.

The content has been compiled from contributions from national libraries, many of which have put forward founding documents including oracle bone script from China, the “Devil’s Bible” from Sweden and the Hyakumanto Darani sutras from

A PAGE of the World Digital Library showing an old Islamic text in Arabic. the year 764 in Japan.

Photographs of lost empires – the Ottomans, Tsarist Russia and Imperial China – are offered for perusal while searches through timelines allows users to compare cultural works from a given period across the globe.

France contributed the world’s first film footage from the pioneering Lumiere brothers in the late 19th century, and there is also the first recording of La Marseillaise, the national anthem.

Major contributors to the World Digital Library are Brazil, Britain, China, France, Japan, Russia and the United States, with South Africa, Uganda and Mali putting up materials from Africa.