CEO Tan Ang Meng said the group had in February fully integrated the Thai canned liquid-milk and chilled-dairy businesses of Nestle into its operations. He expects the businesses, which the group bought for 310 million ringgit last year, to generate some 600 million ringgit in annual revenues. "Our annual revenues from the liquid milk business will increase to 1.5 billion ringgit annually, from 900 million ringgit," he said yesterday.

The group's Dairy Product Division is slated to overtake its mainstay business of soft drinks, which bring in revenues of some 1 billion ringgit. F&N, which is also involved in glass packaging, is Malaysia's largest maker of soft drinks. Tan said the Thai operations were expected to help boost revenue from foreign markets to 35 per cent of total revenues, from 15 per cent now.

F&N, which has 10 factories - five in Malaysia, three in Thailand and one each in China and Vietnam - is earmarking a bigger site to set up another milk-products facility to increase exports, especially to the Middle East.

Palm oil :KL offers hand to Thai plantations

Malaysia, through its Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry, is keen to offer its expertise in the field of palm-oil plantations to Thailand, reports Bernama News Agency.

Minister Peter Chin Fah Kui said agencies under his ministry were willing to provide assistance to the parties involved in expanding their palm-oil plantations in southern Thailand.

"I know a few Malaysian companies have gone there [to carry out feasibility studies], especially in the Pattani and Songkhla areas. This may be a result of the meeting between [Malaysian Prime Minister] Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his counterpart in Phuket recently," he said. "But we are currently not directed to assist them. However, if we are requested, then certainly we will assist them."

Last month, it was reported that Malaysia planned to expand palm-oil plantations in southern Thailand under a government-to-government initiative.

Mail  :Thai Post sets Songkran deadline

With Songkran fast approaching, Thai Post has advised that parcels and registered letters should be dropped off by noon tomorrow, to ensure they are sent to their destination in time.

Communications manager Parisa Pananond said parcels and letters dropped off for express-mail service by noon tomorrow would be sent before the holiday break.

Thai Post will close for a five-day holiday from Friday. It provides a parcel-monitoring service at www.thailandpost.co.th.