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Local investors to take priority in TOT sell-off NEWLY appointed Telephone Organisation of Thailand (TOT) Chairman Suphachai Pisitvanich said yesterday he would revise the firm`s share offering to give priority to local investors, a scheme that analysts believe would mostly benefit the country`s biggest telecom company, Shin Corps, which is owned by the family of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Under the current privatisation plan, approved by the administration of former prime minister Chuan Leekpai, 25 per cent of the TOT`s shares would be sold to foreign strategic partners. However, Suphachai said yesterday the TOT was not bound to abide by this plan. "Local investors should be given priority in the sale of shares," he said. One telecom analyst said Shin Corps would undoubtedly be among the first to take advantage of this privilege due to its strong financial standing. The appointment of Suphachai was approved yesterday by the Cabinet. His remark was in line with the policies of Thaksin`s government, which is currently considering similar moves with the privatisation plans of several other state enterprises, including Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) and the Airport Authority of Thailand (AAT). On Monday, Transport and Communications Minister Wan Mohammad Noor Matha said he would propose that the Finance Ministry allow AAT to stop paying revenue to the state for four years and instead divert the sum, totalling about Bt12 billion, to the construction of the new international airport, named Suvarnnabhumi. Wan Noor said this would represent a viable alternative to previous plans to raise capital by selling shares in four major provincial airports to foreign investors. Deputy New Aspiration Party leader Veera Musigapong was also confirmed yesterday as chairman of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), which is also currently undergoing a privatisation programme. Veera succeeded Sompop Amatayakul, who was recently confirmed as chairman of the nationalised Bangkok Metropolitan Bank, an appointment that was seen as a reward for the veteran politician, who failed in his bid to be elected January 6. Transport industry sources said Veera had no previous experience in the management of SRT. TELECOM REPORTERS The Nation 14.3.01 |
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| aus der Diskussion: | Waste or make money in Thailand |
| Autor (Datum des Eintrages): | BodyG (13.03.01 20:48:16) |
| Beitrag: | 519 von 611 (ID:3092795) |
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