Leading property developer The Central Co has invested more than Bt320 million to create a luxury boutique condominium in Prachuap Khiri Khan province's Hua Hin district, targeting Thai people and retired foreigners.

Tira Tiraa is an eight-storey building on about half a hectare of land. It comprises 162 units as well as a swimming pool, sauna, fitness centre and high-speed Internet access. For Thais wishing to purchase units as an investment, the company is offering rental management with a guaranteed return of 7 per cent.

Managing director Pramote Thanyakulsaj said the price of units started at about Bt80,000 per square metre, with a special opening price of about Bt53,000 per square metre. The project is expected to be completed by December 2008.

The company is planning another project in Hua Hin's Khao Takiab area, for which feasibility studies are being conducted. - The Nation. 

Rrice exports: Vietnam's monthly volume falls 86%

Vietnam's monthly exports of rice dropped by 86 per cent to 40,000 tonnes last month - the lowest monthly volume in seven years. According to the Vietnam News Agency, the value also plunged by 81 per cent to US$15 million (Bt537 million).

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said the low volume was due to the Vietnamese government's policy of limiting rice exports and a lean harvest from the summer-autumn crop.

In an official statement last month, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said the country's rice exports should not exceed 4.5 million tonnes in 2007 in order to ensure national food security.

The volume of exported rice will be adjusted quarter by quarter and the total export quota for this year will be fixed in the third quarter, based on the year's estimated output.

The Vietnam Food Association has forecast that prices for exported rice will remain high. Vietnam is the world's second-largest rice exporter after Thailand. It exported about 4.75 million tonnes last year, earning $1.38 billion. - The Nation.

Competition: Students test their debating skills

Almost 200 students representing universities from all regions will meet again this year in Thailand's largest English-language debating competition, the third European Union-Thailand National Intervarsity Debate Championsip.

The grand final will be held next Monday at Sriburapa Conference Hall at Thammasat University's Phra Chan campus. It is open to the public free of charge. The head of the European Commission Ambassadors' delegation, Friedrich Hamburger, said the championship had been very successful in bringing together the best university debaters from around Thailand and in past years the final round had been an exciting intellectual duel. - The Nation.