IN BRIEF
Bt16m project for rice granaries, book about HM the King's inventions
To celebrate His Majesty the King's accession to the throne, the Commerce Ministry will spend Bt16 million to set up six granaries in key rice production areas and produce 60,000 book and VCD sets detailing the King's inventions.
The ministry said it would spend Bt5 million on building granaries in both the Northeast and the North. The storehouses will delay the entry of rice into the market in the early harvest season. This would solve the problem of falling prices when rice harvests enter into the market at the same time. Each granary costs Bt550,000. Farmers will also learn more about developing rice quality and marketing strategies. The ministry's Intellectual Property Department will also compile information about the King's innovations including patents, trademarks and copyrights as well as traditional wisdom. All of the His Majesty's intellectual property works will be compiled in the form of a book and a VCD to allow people to learn more about the King's inventions. - The Nation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- IPPs may get exemption from renewable energy The Energy Ministry is considering a new option to promote renewable energy, with the possibility that independent power producers (IPPs) will not need to include renewable energy projects in their bids for power plants. Caretaker Energy Minister Viset Choopiban said an alternative is to let the IPPs contribute funds which would be used to subsidise renewable energy projects. Under this option, power rates proposed by the IPPs would be lower while the government could promote renewable energy, he said. The government wants renewable energy consumption to be at least 5 per cent of total electricity output in the future. At present, the portion is 2.5 per cent. - The Nation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Italy's Miss Sixty fashion eyewear enters Thailand Thai Optical Eyewear Distribution Co Ltd (TOED) has been appointed the exclusive distributor for Italy's Miss Sixty fashion glasses in Thailand. The firm will offer 53 designs from the brand's latest collection and is estimating sales of 3,000 pairs, with a retail value of Bt15 million by the end of the year, it said in a statement yesterday. TOED is already the exclusive distributor for Porsche Design, Reebok, Cartier, Dolce & Gabbana, MontBlanc, Harley Davidson, Tommy Hilfiger and Guess. Managing director Jamorn Rummani said the total fashion eyewear market this year is estimated to grow to Bt300 million, while TOED is targeting growth of 15-20 per cent. - The Nation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- BioMag engages local consultant for trials BioMag Corp said this week it has entered into a consulting agreement with Rear Admiral Udomporn Sompongse to coordinate clinical trials and sales in Thailand. Udomporn, currently an adviser to the company, held the position of Royal Aide-De-Camp to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince prior to retiring. He has an extensive background in governmental internal affairs and is an adviser to the Department of Homeland Security of Thailand. Udomporn will be responsible for the management of the clinical trials that will be conducted in Thailand, including working with BRIA Laboratories, the company that will make the formal application to the Public Health Ministry in Thailand to perform these trials, develop the necessary protocols, select the initial testing sites and acquire the necessary documentation for commercialisation. - The Nation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hemaraj to up duty-free zones at industrial estates Hemaraj Land and Development Plc, an industrial estate and infrastructure developer, is expanding duty-free zones in its industrial parks, in line with growing export demand from customers. The total extent of Hemaraj's free zones will increase from 231 rai last year to 1,681 rai this year. This covers both developed land and SME factories for rent and sale in the Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate and Hemaraj Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate, both in Rayong, and SIL Industrial Land in Saraburi, according to the company's press release yesterday. "Free Zone" is an area designated for export-oriented activities that are exempt from taxes and duties. - The Nation.
|
