Thailand's construction industry: Overseas projects in the pipeline
By Jon Fernquest
Thai
companies are involved in construction projects in countries as far afield as Bahrain, India, Sri Lanka and
Vietnam.
Construction projects range from housing and high-rise apartment buildings to bridges, road networks and massive infrastructure projects such as water supply systems, airports and mass transit systems.
Italian-Thai Development is the large Thai multinational corporation involved in much of this work.
Today's article provides the details and begins after the vocabulary below.
construction
- the work of building or making something, especially buildings,
bridges, etc. การก่อสร้าง (See Wikipedia)
in the pipeline - being planned and prepared and will be available soon
far afield - far away (from where you are living)
Bahrain - a small island country next to Saudi Arabia (See Wikipedia)
road networks - a system of roads that are connected to each other
massive - very large
infrastructure - The basic facilities, services, and installations needed for the functioning of the community, such as transportation and communications systems, water and power lines, and public institutions including schools, post offices, and prisons (See Google Definitions)
mass transit - public transportation such as subway, bus, elevated train, train, light rail, etc.
Italian-Thai Development - Thailand's largest construction company founded in 1954 (See website)
Multinational Corporation (MNC) - a corporation with factories or operations in many countries, very large multinationals spend more money than many countries, also have a powerful influence in international relations and local economies (See Wikipedia)
in the pipeline - being planned and prepared and will be available soon
far afield - far away (from where you are living)
Bahrain - a small island country next to Saudi Arabia (See Wikipedia)
road networks - a system of roads that are connected to each other
massive - very large
infrastructure - The basic facilities, services, and installations needed for the functioning of the community, such as transportation and communications systems, water and power lines, and public institutions including schools, post offices, and prisons (See Google Definitions)
mass transit - public transportation such as subway, bus, elevated train, train, light rail, etc.
Italian-Thai Development - Thailand's largest construction company founded in 1954 (See website)
Multinational Corporation (MNC) - a corporation with factories or operations in many countries, very large multinationals spend more money than many countries, also have a powerful influence in international relations and local economies (See Wikipedia)
Economics
Thai construction firms likely winners of B20bn in Bahrain contracts
23/08/2010Chatrudee Theparat
Thai construction companies led by Italian-Thai Development look poised to win a 20-billion-baht contract to build the first phase of 4,500 housing units in Bahrain.
They are also highly likely to win the bidding for other projects in the Persian Gulf state, including a new parliament building and high-rises, said Kiat Sittheeamorn, president of the Thailand Trade Representative Office (TTR).
contract
- a written (or oral) agreement that is legally binding สัญญา
poised - about to do or achieve something ได้มาซึ่ง
phase - a period of time or stage during the growth and development of something
bidding - making an offer that is better than other people's offers, so they choose you
win the bidding - making the best offer, so they choose you
Persian Gulf - "an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula" (See Wikipedia)
state - government รัฐ
Thailand Trade Representative Office (TTR) - Thai government agency responsible for international trade and investment policy (See website)
poised - about to do or achieve something ได้มาซึ่ง
phase - a period of time or stage during the growth and development of something
bidding - making an offer that is better than other people's offers, so they choose you
win the bidding - making the best offer, so they choose you
Persian Gulf - "an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula" (See Wikipedia)
state - government รัฐ
Thailand Trade Representative Office (TTR) - Thai government agency responsible for international trade and investment policy (See website)
He said the TTR and five Thai construction firms had worked closely together for more than a year to tap the Bahraini construction market.
The companies have a relatively high competitive edge in the international market, given their long experience constructing high-rises, public infrastructure and housing projects, as well as in design and decoration work.
tap
- use and get something of value from (example: tap every resource
available to get the project done on time, harness the untapped
potential in your organization)
competitive - involving competition มีการแข่งขัน
competitive edge - being better than competitors, just enough to win and succeed
international - ระหว่างประเทศ between countries
high-rises - very tall buildings
public - involving the government
infrastructure - The basic facilities, services, and installations needed for the functioning of the community, such as transportation and communications systems, water and power lines, and public institutions including schools, post offices, and prisons (See Google Definitions)
decoration - preparing to make look more beautiful, attractive and nice to look at
competitive - involving competition มีการแข่งขัน
competitive edge - being better than competitors, just enough to win and succeed
international - ระหว่างประเทศ between countries
high-rises - very tall buildings
public - involving the government
infrastructure - The basic facilities, services, and installations needed for the functioning of the community, such as transportation and communications systems, water and power lines, and public institutions including schools, post offices, and prisons (See Google Definitions)
decoration - preparing to make look more beautiful, attractive and nice to look at
Mr Kiat said the government was also focusing on other Middle East markets plus India, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
Thai construction firms have to date signed on for more than 100 billion baht worth of construction projects in India, including the Kolkata airport, mass transit systems, bridges and road networks.
The TTR is also preparing to lead a trade mission to Sri Lanka and Vietnam next month to tap their construction industries. Sri Lanka wants to develop its water supply system, housing and infrastructure, while Vietnam plans an active expansion of its basic infrastructure and housing, said Mr Kiat.
to date - before
and including this time, not after
mass - large numbers จำนวนมหาศาล (here: large numbers of people)
transit - the act of moving from one place to another การเดินทางผ่าน
mass transit - public transportation such as subway, bus, elevated train, train, light rail, etc.
networks - "a system of lines or similar things such as roads or wires that are connected to each other" (Source: Macmillan Dictionary)
road networks - a system of roads that are connected to each other
trade - the buying and selling of goods การค้าขาย
mission - an important job, especially a military one, that someone is sent somewhere to do งาน
trade mission - a group of people sent by a government to another country to discuss business and trade issues, to promote trade
active - working, operating, doing its job
expansion - when something increases in size, number or importance การขยายออก
mass - large numbers จำนวนมหาศาล (here: large numbers of people)
transit - the act of moving from one place to another การเดินทางผ่าน
mass transit - public transportation such as subway, bus, elevated train, train, light rail, etc.
networks - "a system of lines or similar things such as roads or wires that are connected to each other" (Source: Macmillan Dictionary)
road networks - a system of roads that are connected to each other
trade - the buying and selling of goods การค้าขาย
mission - an important job, especially a military one, that someone is sent somewhere to do งาน
trade mission - a group of people sent by a government to another country to discuss business and trade issues, to promote trade
active - working, operating, doing its job
expansion - when something increases in size, number or importance การขยายออก
In a related development, he said the design for Thailand's first food warehouse and trade distribution centre in Bahrain was almost complete, with construction to start soon.
The centre could open as early as next year to supply Thai products throughout the Persian Gulf region, initially construction materials, rice, tapioca and halal foods.
It will be privately funded and managed, with state authorities acting only as a facilitator.
It is part of an ambitious government plan to expand Thai exports into new markets, particularly the Middle East.
a
development - an event that changes the existing situation
warehouse - a large building for storing things โกดังสินค้า, คลังสินค้า, โรงพัสดุ
distribution - giving or delivering things to many people การจำหน่ายออกไป
initially - at first ในเบื้องต้น ในระยะต้น
tapioca - cassava, an important food source of carbohydrates, also source of ethanol car fuel (See Wikipedia) มันสำปะหลัง
halal - Muslim halal food, food that it is "permissible" (=halal) for a Muslim to eat, the food must follow Muslim dietary laws in its preparation which means that any producer must be certified by experts to ensure its adherence (See Wikipedia on Halal food and Muslim dietary laws)
funded - money provided for operation of a business or organisation ให้ความช่วยเหลือทางการเงิน ให้เงินลงทุน
privately funded - money for business or project given by private businesses not the government
authorities - the government, the people who control and govern some activity ผู้มีอำนาจ เจ้าหน้าที่
facilitate (verb) - help
facilitator (noun) - someone who helps
ambitious - goals are very high and difficult to achieve (perhaps even too high to be achieved) ทะเยอทยาน
expand - to become larger ขายตัวออกไป
warehouse - a large building for storing things โกดังสินค้า, คลังสินค้า, โรงพัสดุ
distribution - giving or delivering things to many people การจำหน่ายออกไป
initially - at first ในเบื้องต้น ในระยะต้น
tapioca - cassava, an important food source of carbohydrates, also source of ethanol car fuel (See Wikipedia) มันสำปะหลัง
halal - Muslim halal food, food that it is "permissible" (=halal) for a Muslim to eat, the food must follow Muslim dietary laws in its preparation which means that any producer must be certified by experts to ensure its adherence (See Wikipedia on Halal food and Muslim dietary laws)
funded - money provided for operation of a business or organisation ให้ความช่วยเหลือทางการเงิน ให้เงินลงทุน
privately funded - money for business or project given by private businesses not the government
authorities - the government, the people who control and govern some activity ผู้มีอำนาจ เจ้าหน้าที่
facilitate (verb) - help
facilitator (noun) - someone who helps
ambitious - goals are very high and difficult to achieve (perhaps even too high to be achieved) ทะเยอทยาน
expand - to become larger ขายตัวออกไป
(Source: Bangkok Post, Economics, Thai construction firms likely winners of B20bn in Bahrain contracts, 23/08/2010, Chatrudee Theparat. link)
