Thai firms waiting for Qatari govt to pay them
The public may have been impressed with the 15th Asian Games in Doha, but Thai constructors are waiting for payment of Bt564 million from Qatar's government for additional design and construction at its athletic stadium.
The Federation of Design and Construction Services of Thailand (Fedcon) yesterday urged the Commerce Ministry to request payment. Total cost of design and construction was Bt1.4 billion under the first contract. However, Fedcon and the Qatari government reached another agreement in 2003 for additional construction. The project was completed, but the money has not been reimbursed. Representatives from the federation have been calling for the government's support in solving this problem since early this year. Panpilai Baiyoke, vice president, said companies under Fedcon were facing problems from the delayed payment. She asked for the government's support. Under the contract, the additional claims would also increase by 7.5 per cent a year from Bt564 million. Five construction and design companies have been facing problems, including Seven Associate, Axis Landscape and Consultant of Technology. Fedcon also asked the government to waive the 10-per-cent corporate tax, since the federation itself was not directly involved in the contract, but rather had distributed all work to private Thai companies. Fedcon has paid more than Bt100 million in corporate tax despite not receiving any benefit from the contract's distribution, said Panpilai.
Petchanet Pratruangkrai The Nation
|
