Rough-terrain forklift maker Automoviles Utilitarios SA (AUSA) says the Asian economic crisis is receding, and it is ready to seize the opportunities rapidly becoming available there through an assault beginning in Thailand.

AUSA was poised to grow at a spectacular rate as the Asian economy improved, according to Thailand sales head Alvaro Noguera. He told Forkliftaction.com News that an AUSA sales delegation had signed several agreements with Thai companies, but would not reveal details.

Mr Noguera said there was "huge" potential in Thailand, where the gross domestic product and investment in construction were increasing rapidly. While AUSA's growth was likely to come through construction, the company planned to demonstrate its contribution to other industries. So far, AUSA's most popular machines in Thailand were dumpers in the construction sector, followed by forklifts.

"Our success in the past decade of building our market share outside the construction industry (means) we are prepared to do the same in (Thailand)," Mr Noguera said.