AOT

AOT to press govt. for Don Muang upgrade — The AOT board is to ask the cabinet to make Don Muang a fully functional airport. Don Muang airport currently serves low-cost carriers with point-to-point international and domestic services. AOT board chairman Sita Divari said yesterday the board had approved a proposal to upgrade Don Muang airport to serve all airlines, not only budget ones, because of a sharp increase in air traffic at Suvarnabhumi airport. Oneworld, one of the world’s global airline alliances, has expressed an interest in relocating services to Don Muang he said. (Bangkok Post, 28/03/13)

Comment: AOT, the wonderfully efficient organisation that it is, has to increase capacity asap

SCC

SCG merges 3 cement, materials units — Siam Cement Group yesterday announced the integration of its three subsidiaries as part of a restructuring to enhance operational efficiency in the ASEAN region. SCG will next month integrate the subsidiaries in the cement, building materials and distribution businesses into one subsidiary called SCG Cement-Building Materials, SCB said in a filing to the SET yesterday. (Bangkok Post, 28/03/13)

TOP

Thaioil to double R&D investment — TOP plans to more than double its research and development budget to at least Bt300mn in the next few years. CEO Veerasak Kositpaisal said the company is spending Bt150mn on R&D this year, up from less than Bt100mn last year. He said the company plans to improve cost controls, production efficiency and the value of its products and assets through R&D. (Bangkok Post, 28/03/13)