19 more projects can seek court permission

After yesterday's Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the four-party committee had reported on the status of each suspended project to the Cabinet. Of the 65 projects, 42 have been given the status of operating, completed construction or under construction, while the remaining 23 have either not sought permission or have yet to start construction.

"Of the 42 projects, 19 come under the same criteria as the 11 projects earlier allowed to resume operations," he said.

Tune Hotels.com has partnered Thailand's Evolution Capital

Tune Hotels.com has partnered Thailand's Evolution Capital pcl to set up 44 budget hotels across Asia under a franchise deal. Evolution Capital, which is listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, will invest US$200 million (RM688 million) and run the hotels using the Tune Hotels.com brand name. It plans to set up hotels in Thailand, China, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Indonesia.

Evolution Capital, a real estate investment advisory and management firm, is confident of recouping its investment in three to five years, its managing director and president Simon Gerovich said.

Gerovich sealed the franchising agreement together with Tune Hotels.com group chief executive officer Mark Lankester here yesterday.

Thai central bank keeps key interest rate unchanged

Thailand’s central bank on Wednesday kept its policy interest rate unchanged at 1.25 per cent, saying the current rate is “appropriate and supportive of the economic recovery”.

Bank of Thailand (BoT) Assistant Governor Paiboon Kittisrikangwan said the Thai economy continued to recover at a slightly slower pace in the third quarter and October boosted by improvements in domestic and foreign order books, business sentiment, farm income, employment conditions as well as the tourism sector.

As a result, the BoT Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) agreed that gradual economic recovery still “requires sustained policy support.”

The major industrialised and Asian economies expanded in the third quarter at higher rates than market expectations but overall recovery remains dependent on policy support.

Current global inflationary pressure continues to be subdued, but risks to global economic recovery remain and warrant continued close monitoring, Mr Paiboon said.

Vietnamese economy poses no threat to Thailand

Mr Pisanu said that medical advances in Vietnam lag far behind Thailand. For difficult cases, well-to-do patients still travel to Thailand for treatment because Vietnam's health care expertise is lacking.

Nor was Thailand's status as the world's top rice exporter under threat from Vietnam.

Mr Pisanu said Vietnam exported about 5 million tonnes of rice last year while Thailand exported 8-9 million tonnes.

Thai rice is more expensive because of its higher quality especially the world famous Hom Mali, while Vietnam exports cheaper varieties.