Amata Corp, the country's top industrial estate developer, said it hoped to earn higher revenues in 2007 revenues as investor confidence had improved since September's military coup.
''After a long-running political issue, which made us cut our land sales targets, I think we could now hope for better revenues next year,'' said director Viboon Kromadit.
The company aimed to sell 1,500 rai of land for 4.5 billion to five billion baht next year, up from this year's target of 700 rai for 3.2 billion baht, he said.
The firm cut its 2006 land sales forecast three times in September after the coup worried foreign investors.
Ten analysts polled by Reuters Estimates expected the company to have revenues of 3.5 billion baht in 2006 and 4.2 billion next year. Its 2005 revenues were 4.4 billion baht.
Amata, which has between 40% and 50% of the local industrial land and development market, planned to invest about two billion baht in developing land in 2007 and would not purchase any more land during the year, Mr Viboon said.
Land sales account for more than 90% of Amata's annual revenue. The company has 6,000 to 8,000 rai of undeveloped land in two industrial estates _ Amata Nakorn in Chon Buri and Amata City in Rayong.
Both are close to key ports, including the new Suvarnabhumi Airport, making them attractive to foreign manufacturers.
Its rivals include number-two Hemaraj Land and Development, Rojana Industrial Park and the factory developer Ticon Industrial Connection.
Amata shares closed yesterday on the Stock Exchange of Thailand at 14.40 baht, up 40 satang, in trade worth 44.28 million baht.REUTERS
Source: Bangkok Post Friday December 08, 2006