After yesterday's "Big Cleaning" operation, some of the 90 manufacturing plants at Bangpa-in Industrial Estate are expected to resume production next month, along with businesses at other inundated estates.

The country's restaurant business is expected to lose about 15 billion baht because of the heavy floods, according to the Thai Restaurant Association (TRA).

Thai Industries Sentiment Index fell continuously from 90.7 points in September to 89 points last month, the lowest in more than two years.

Starting with trips to London and Tokyo next week to deal with business grievances, Virabongsa Ramangkura vows to complete the long-term rehabilitation strategy within months as the government's last-ditch effort to restore investor confidence.

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Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the automotive industry express concerns over the impacts on their products, as large-sized firms are importing parts.

The widespread flooding in the North and Central Plains of Thailand has, thus far, inundated seven industrial estates in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani Provinces. This deluge is likely to be considered as "flooding" in the context of insurance policies.

Exporters and importers want the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT), the Customs Department and banks to ease regulations and waive fees collected on containers stranded in port by the months-long flooding.

The Board of Investment (BoI)'s board of directors on Monday approved some remedial measures for flood-hit manufacturers, excluding the proposed 8-year waiver on corporate income tax which is pending for the Finance Ministry's approval.

Damage claims from Thailand's flood crisis will exceed Bt600 billion, including actual damages and losses due to suspended business, greater than the impact of the tsunami in Japan, according to an initial assessment by the Office of the Insurance Commission (IOC).