41.   A delegation of executives from major Thai companies visited Rangoon to prospect for business opportunities.

42.   A recent survey of private Thai companies with foreign partners showed increased optimism about the economy, the state Board of Investment announced Wednesday.

43.   A slowdown in the economy exposed solvency problems in many Thai companies earlier this year, particularly in the financial and property sectors.

44.   According to Mizukami, some Thai companies were too complacent with the fixed-dollar regime and neglected to protect themselves from the risk of currency volatility.

45.   According to Rodrigo Rodriguez, head of the furniture industry delegation, Italian companies also want to create, if possible, joint ventures with Thai companies.

46.   All of this will help to attract investment -- foreign and local -- into undercapitalised Thai companies so they can become less reliant on borrowing.

47.   Also, our brokerage group, Indosuez WI Carr Securities, has been active in encouraging private funds to invest in Thai companies.

48.   An increasing number of Thai companies are doing business in the United States.

49.   Another Thai company, Ital-Thai, is conducting a feasibility study for a hydroelectric dam on the Mae Kok River, also in a Karen area.

50.   Apparently many Thai companies are prepared to follow the new law without clearly understanding it.