Business News http://www.mcot.net/content/0 MCOT Online Thai food exports projected to decline this year http://www.mcot.net/content/365434 BANGKOK, May 16 – Thai food exports in the second and third quarters of 2012 are projected to decline owing to the slowing global economy and higher Thai production costs, according to the National Food Institute (NFI). Business News Wed, 16 May 2012 11:52:21 GMT Number of foreign investors seeking investment promotion surges in January-April: BoI http://www.mcot.net/content/365397 BANGKOK, May 16 - The number of foreign direct investment (FDI) projects applying for investment promotions for January-April reached 407 with a total investment value of Bt155.4 billion, according to Thailand's Board of Investment (BOI) adviser Hiranya Sujinai. Business News Wed, 16 May 2012 10:05:18 GMT Goods prices to be capped for 4 months to help consumers http://www.mcot.net/content/365072 BANGKOK, May 15 – Business operators agreed Tuesday to keep consumer goods prices unchanged for another four months as the Commerce Ministry asked for their cooperation to help consumers shoulder the burden of rising living cost, Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom said. Business News Tue, 15 May 2012 12:27:04 GMT Treasury Department inks agreement to sell/buy coins from UK's Royal Mint http://www.mcot.net/content/364650 BANGKOK, May 14 - Thailand's Treasury Department on Monday signed a selling/buying agreement with the United Kingdom's Royal Mint for 500 million nickel plated steel coins of Bt1 each in value. Business News Mon, 14 May 2012 11:17:59 GMT Cabinet agrees to not control prices of cooked meals http://www.mcot.net/content/364623 BANGKOK, May 14 - The Cabinet on Monday agreed to not control prices of cooked meals, for it would be difficult and consumers can choose where to buy their food depending on personal taste, quantity, and quality, Deputy Prime Minister/Finance Minister Kittirat Na-Ranong said. Business News Mon, 14 May 2012 10:21:06 GMT Nearby plants unaffected by last weekend's explosion and fire at Map Ta Phut http://www.mcot.net/content/364191 BANGKOK, May 13 - The main buildings' structure of plants nearby were not affected following last weekend's explosion and fire at the Bangkok Synthetics Co (BST) petrochemical factory in the eastern province of Rayong's Map Ta Phut industrial estate. Business News Sun, 13 May 2012 10:26:15 GMT Commerce Ministry to propose Cabinet add cooked meals into price control list http://www.mcot.net/content/364120 BANGKOK, May 13 – The Commerce Ministry will propose the Cabinet add cooked meals into the price control list on May 14, said Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom on Sunday. Business News Sun, 13 May 2012 09:52:15 GMT Chakrapan resigns as acting MCOT chief http://www.mcot.net/content/363795 BANGKOK, May 11--- Chakrapan Yomchinda, Second Vice Chairman and Acting President, submitted a letter to the MCOT Board of Directors stepping down from the position of acting president citing health problems, while Premkamon Tinnakorn Na Ayutthaya replaced Mr Chakrapan as acting president. Business News Fri, 11 May 2012 11:30:05 GMT Thai central bank ups 2012 GDP growth projection to 6% year-on-year http://www.mcot.net/content/363430 BANGKOK, May 11 -- The Bank of Thailand (BOT) revised its 2012 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast to six per cent year-on-year thanks to post-flood economic recovery, faster than previously anticipated, and the government’s monetary and financial measures. Business News Fri, 11 May 2012 09:55:37 GMT Thailand's economic growth projected at 5.5% this year: IMF http://www.mcot.net/content/363231 BANGKOK, May 11 -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that Thailand's economic growth in 2012 will be 5.5 per cent, but warned that significant downside risks still remain due to uncertainties from the global economy and the progress of flood-prevention measures, according to the Bank of Thailand (BoT). Business News Fri, 11 May 2012 03:20:06 GMT Flood-affected SME operators affected by floods resume production: Industry Ministry http://www.mcot.net/content/363056 BANGKOK, May 10 - All of Thailand registered Small and Medium-Size Enterprises (SMEs) forced to suspend production by last year’s flood have resumed operation, according to Industry Minister Pongsvas Svasti. Business News Thu, 10 May 2012 10:29:28 GMT ICT ministry contracts to buy Chinese tablets for Thai students http://www.mcot.net/content/362906 BANGKOK, May 10 – Thailand’s Ministry of Information and Communication Technology has contracted to purchase the first lot of 400,000 tablet computers to be delivered by a Chinese supplier in 60 days. Business News Thu, 10 May 2012 07:49:00 GMT PM orders review of safety measures at all industrial estates http://www.mcot.net/content/362338 BANGKOK, May 8 – Following two major industrial safety and workplace accidents in the past week, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ordered the Ministry of Industry to review safety measures at all industrial estates in the eastern province of Rayong. Business News Tue, 08 May 2012 11:20:49 GMT Shrimp farmers protest seeking higher shrimp prices http://www.mcot.net/content/362116 SONGKHLA, May 8 - Shrimp farmers from eight southern Thai provinces gathered today at the Tinsulanonda Bridge in this provincial seat awaiting the decision of a committee meeting considering responses to help farmers facing depressed shrimp prices. Business News Tue, 08 May 2012 05:48:42 GMT PM affirms help for rising consumer prices http://www.mcot.net/content/361972 NONTHABURI, May 7 - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra asserted that her government will help restrain rising consumer prices by pegging energy prices and holding public sales of cheap products to lower the cost of living. Business News Mon, 07 May 2012 10:36:20 GMT Aditya Birla Chemicals plant suspends operations after gas leak http://www.mcot.net/content/361784 BANGKOK, May 7 - The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) on Monday ordered the suspension of operations of a chemical plant in the Hemaraj Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate following an emergency shutdown which caused a chemical leakage and dizzied at least 42 people. Business News Mon, 07 May 2012 03:44:10 GMT Thai public affirms high prices of goods are fact, not just opinion: ABAC Poll http://www.mcot.net/content/361668 BANGKOK, May 6 - About 90 percent of poll respondents viewed that it is a fact that consumer goods prices are higher and not unfounded opinion, according to the latest Assumption University ABAC poll released on Sunday. Business News Sun, 06 May 2012 11:20:23 GMT At least 47 injured in Map Ta Phut factory fire http://www.mcot.net/content/361380 RAYONG, May 5 - At least 47 people were wounded, seven in critical condition, from an explosion and fire at a petrochemical plant in Thailand's Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, according to the public health ministry. Business News Sat, 05 May 2012 11:28:40 GMT PM vows to tackle high consumer prices http://www.mcot.net/content/361265 BANGKOK, May 5 - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday pledged to tackle high consumer prices, while insisting some consumer product prices have gradually dropped since the beginning of the year. Business News Sat, 05 May 2012 04:29:16 GMT FAO: World rice harvest forecast to rise in 2012 http://www.mcot.net/content/361067 BANGKOK, May 4 - The world rice harvest for 2012 is expected to surpass the strong showing of 2011 as the erratic climate conditions caused by the La Nina weather phenomenon dissipate and farmers increase their plantings, according to an initial forecast by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in its Rice Market Monitor released on Friday. Business News Fri, 04 May 2012 09:49:39 GMT