A measure allowing newly listed firms on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) to pay corporate income tax of 25 per cent and those on the Market for Alternative Investment (MAI) to pay 20 per cent, down from the normal rate of 30 per cent, expires next Sunday.

Meanwhile, a source said the Finance Ministry wanted to know how many firms might list in one of the two stock markets.

The ministry was unhappy that after five years of the tax break, there were only 170 newly listed firms. If the stock markets want the ministry to extend the tax break, it should present it with the names of firms that might list.

The source said that if the ministry was satisfied with explanations, it might extend the tax break for another three years.

Salee on a high

Salee Industry is hopeful its revenues will grow 30 per cent this year to Bt500 million, due to the healthy state of the electronics industry and its investment in SC Wado.

Consolidated revenues should reach Bt620 million this year, said managing director Sathit Tatawatorn, who attributed the additional Bt120 million to SC Wado. He expects next year's revenues to rise 30 per cent.

Auto boom time

Thailand's auto production next year is expected to total 1.284 million units, up 7.72 per cent, or 92,000 units, from this year, says the Federation of Thai Industries' Auto Club.

A total of 606,000 units, or 47.2 per cent, will be for export and the remaining 678,000, or 52.8 per cent, for Thailand.

With 20,000 units expected to be imported for domestic consumption, total domestic sales should reach 700,000 units, up about 3-4 per cent from this year's level.

Motorcycle production next year should reach 2.19 million units, up 4.78 per cent.