Provincial Governors in Thailand Could Rule on Zoning Retail Businesses.

Byline: Phusadee Arunmas

Dec. 12--Provincial governors will be given the power to zone retail businesses under the draft retail business law, according to Commerce Minister Adisai Bodharamik.

Each governor would likely be appointed to chair a provincial committee to fairly administer the retailing businesses, regardless of company sizes and nationality, he said.

The committee would consider applications for new retail investments based on the appropriateness of size, location and the implications for traffic and transport.

"We need to delegate authority to each province because the issue will directly affect domestic management of the province," Mr Adisai said.

He said 25 articles had been drafted in the bill, and that the Internal Trade Department planned a simulation of cases that might result from the implementation of each article. This would ensure that there would be no loopholes in the law, unlike the Trade Competition Act which has been heavily criticised by both businesses and consumers.

Although the ministry had finished drafting the law, passing it would take some time, said Suvarn Valaisathien, the deputy minister.