Transport Company aims to make more profits

BANGKOK, March 11 (TNA) -- The government-run Transport Co, Ltd is considering to increase its services to Thailand’s neighbouring countries including Myanmar, China, Vietnam and Malaysia in the future with an aim to enlarge profits, said Deputy Transport Minister Pichit Akrathit. Presently, its buses are running to Laos and Cambodia besides operating from Bangkok to upcountry, said Mr Pichit. He said the plan to provide services to those four countries also calls for transporting goods. If the plan materialised, revenue from goods transportation alone would increase to 10 per cent from between 120-140 million baht annually at the moment, accounting 2 per cent of the company’s total revenue. Also, Transport Co, Ltd would enlarge bus services to potential tourist destinations in Thailand as the company could make only low profit at present while competition in the business from the private sector has become very fierce now, said Mr Pichit. On private-run passenger van services to Bangkok outskirts and neighbouring provinces, Mr Pichit said he had ordered small operators to accelerate on setting up a joint cooperative with the Transport Co, Ltd in order to provide a better service to passengers. A total of 55 passenger vans operate by small players will convert to mini-bus from this July 1, he added. (TNA)