Unresolved Map Ta Phut situation will affect investor confidence

BANGKOK, Dec 17 (TNA) – The suspension of 65 investment projects in the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, if not solved tangibly and quickly, will affect investor confidence and may lead to a shift of investment into other countries, according to Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) president Patareeya Benjapolchai.

She said the unresolved status would make Thailand lose an opportunity to expand business, and advised that all parties concerned should jointly discuss and find an appropriate way to address the problems.

Major companies are ready to cooperate to solve the woes if there are clear regulations or guidelines.

Mrs Patareeya predicted that profits earned by listed companies next year will improve because their earnings would grow in the same direction of the economy, which is expected to expand 3-3.5 per cent.

However, there are risk factors to the earnings estimate that need to be closely monitored. Normally, profits earned by listed companies as a whole will grow more than the gross domestic product (GDP).

“We believe everything will improve next year because the global economy has already bottomed out. Still, we must be well-prepared for undesirable events, which can occur from time to time.

“We also want the Map Ta Phut problems to be solved urgently in order to restore investor confidence,” she said. (TNA)