Briefs

PTT Asahi Chemical, a joint venture of PTT, Asahi Kasei and Marubeni, borrowed US$400 million (Bt13.97 billion) to help pay for a new petrochemical plant in Rayong province.

The Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi-UFJ, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Norinchukin Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking, Sumitomo Trust and Banking, HSBC Holdings and ING Bank provided the loan. - Bloomberg

Internet fair

CAT Telecom and the Thailand Internet Service Provider Association will co-host "Thailand Internet Expo 2009" from January 30 to February 1 at Siam Paragon, aimed at promoting Internet technology in life and business.

More than 100 Internet service providers, hardware and software manufacturers and application developers will be showcased at the event. About 100,000 visitors are expected to spend more than Bt100 million. The event will also feature seminars on new trends in Internet technology, such as broadband.

Thailand has 13 million Internet subscribers, more than a million of them using broadband. The market for Internet access services will be worth an estimated Bt15 billion this year, up 20 per cent from last year.

Biotechnology deal

The National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (Biotec) yesterday announced it had reached a collaborative research, licensing and commercialisation agreement with Asia Star Animal Health.

The agreement establishes the framework for Biotec and Asia Star to develop and market products commercially using Biotec's proprietary targets and technology in areas related to the production of locally made feed enzymes for use as an additive for land-based livestock. Biotec will receive technology-access fees, regulatory-milestone payments and royalties from sales. For the past decade, imports of enzymes into Thailand amounted to more than Bt1 billion a year. - The Nation