BANGKOK (XFN-ASIA) - Supermarket giant Tesco PLC said it will go ahead with its expansion plans in Thailand, while nine large retail chains, including Carrefour SA, agreed to freeze their outlet expansion this month.

'You cannot stop the world moving for 30 days, and it is the same for our business,' said Darmp Sukontasap, director of corporate and legal affairs of Tesco's Thai unit. 'Everything will go ahead as planned.'

Major foreign stores have been locked in a row for weeks -- since before the Sept 19 coup -- with the government and small retailers, who complain the giant supermarket chains are driving them out of business.

Commerce ministry figures show that some 400 superstores control 60 pct of the country's 26-bln-usd retail sector, up from 40 pct in 2001.

The ministry issued guidelines yesterday banning big retailers from 'unfair practices,' including 'unfairly low prices', and warned operators that fail to comply face large fines and even jail terms.

Today's agreement of an expansion freeze until Oct 28 came after commerce ministry officials met representatives of nine retail chains, including Carrefour and the Seven Eleven chain of convenience stores.

afp

Tesco have marched rough shod over British Town Planning laws, often building without permission or building stores far larger than agreed.

The British Town Planners, Government and Legal System has been unable to do anything about it.

What chance has Thailand got?

Prepare to meet fat Thais, stuffed full of the crap Tescos sells and the complete wrecking of the local shops and markets.