Bangkok: The State Enterprise Policy Office (SEPO) is considering merging 8-9 state enterprises, using the Thai Airways model, to accelerate the rehabilitation plans of BMTA, SRT, and MCOT.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Thippee Wattanakul, Director of SEPO, revealed that the agency is currently evaluating the rehabilitation plans and roles of approximately 8-9 state enterprises. The strategies under consideration include mergers and acquisitions, and reducing the government's shareholding to below 50%. This approach follows the successful rehabilitation of Thai Airways, which led to enhanced management flexibility and substantial financial recovery. SEPO is in discussions with relevant ministries to determine the detailed plan and will present updates to the State Enterprise Policy Committee (SEPC) by the end of September.
Key enterprises undergoing revisions include the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), which has finalized the procurement process for leasing 1,520 electric buses. The first batch is expected in March 2027, aiming to cut fuel and maintenance costs. BMTA plans to adjust bus routes to complement the electric train system and separate social and commercial operations in its accounts.
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is revising its rehabilitation plan after the SEPC returned it for lacking clear financial targets. The SEPC has emphasized the need for SRT to speed up land development for commercial purposes and to allow private companies to lease railway tracks. Meanwhile, MCOT is facing challenges due to the competitive media landscape. The SEPC reported that 37 out of 52 state enterprises were profitable, surpassing the revenue target of 180 billion baht by achieving over 200 billion baht, marking an 11% increase.