ThailandMCOT.BK2
SEPO Confirms MCOT-Thai PBS Merger Impossible, Prepares to Ask Cabinet to Review Eight State Enterprises
Thibodi Wattanakul, Director of the State Enterprise Policy Office, or SEPO, disclosed that reports of a merger between MCOT Public Company Limited, or MCOT, and the Thai Public Broadcasting Service, or Thai PBS television station, are impossible, because the two organizations operate under different legal provisions. However, the Ministry of Finance is preparing to propose that the Cabinet consider guidelines for resolving MCOT's problems, as well as review the operational plans and roles of eight other state enterprises, in order to assess their future direction, covering approaches such as dissolution, merger, or organizational restructuring, so that these agencies can operate efficiently and keep pace with changing economic conditions. Thibodi said he will wait to submit the matter to the Cabinet, which includes the MCOT issue and is likely to include the eight state enterprises as well, and will then hold another press conference. Earlier, the State Enterprise Policy Committee, or SEPO Board, approved a study to review the roles of eight state enterprises: the Marketing Organization for Farmers, the Public Warehouse Organization, the Market Organization, the Police Printing Office under the Royal Thai Police, the Playing Card Factory, the Liquor Organization, Bangkok Dock Company Limited, and MCOT Public Company Limited.