BoI says Vietnam is becoming Asean’s main draw for labour-intensive industries. Although Vietnam has recently become a fierce competitor, Thailand should remain the most attractive Asean nation for investors, Board of Investment secretary-general Satit Sirirang-kamanont said last week.

Failure on farm subsidy issue will be costly: Oxfam

Oxfam International, a UK-based non-governmental organisation, warns that if this week’s World Trade Organisation ministerial conference fails, the European Union and the United States are likely to continue subsidising their farm sector to the combined tune of US$76 billion (Bt3.1 trillion) a year.

Toys ’R’ Us opens doors

Coloured balloons, action-hero characters and shelves lined with teddy bears greeted children at the opening of the new Toys ’R’ Us outlet in Central City Bang Na on Thursday.

Bangkok’s hotel rooms to rise

The Thai Hotels Association expects the number of hotel rooms in Bangkok to increase by 12,000 over the next three years, with the opening of some 30 new establishments.

Phuket resort recovering from tsunami aftermath

Laguna Phuket Resorts & Hotels expects its occupancy rate to swing back to the average of 70 per cent it recorded before the tsunami slammed into the South last December, managing director James Batt predicted recently.

Street WISE: Driving school of tiny fish

Last Friday, Siam Paragon, the new shopping centre that has stirred up lots of excitement from other retailers at home and abroad with its gigantic size, made its public debut. But warming up the crowds before its grand opening was a revelation about Siam Ocean World, one of the highlights of the mega-complex.

PROPERTY INVESTMENT: Foreign funds line up for local deals

More than Bt10 bn available, returns of 10% likely: agency

ON THE MARKET:

End-to-end hygiene

Thaksin to visit UAE early next year

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will visit Abu Dhabi early next year to boost bilateral trade.

Securities analysts to act on job-hopping

The Securities Analysts’ Association is to adjust its rules and request local brokerage firms to double their minimum number of in-house securities analysts in order to ease the problem of analysts shifting from one company to another.

Outlook for Thai Airways brightens on rising traffic

An increase in passenger traffic recorded by Thai Airways International (THAI) in October, which reversed a long-standing decline, suggests continued recovery by the national carrier, according to research by Phatra Securities.

MANUFACTURING DESTINATIONS: Japanese investors turning their eyes to India, Vietnam

Keidanren cites progress in technological know-how in the former, and dynamic workforce and low wages in the latter

Deal dials up Disney

MovieSeer Ltd, a major local provider of mobile-phone content and information services, has signed an agreement with the Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) to develop and distribute Disney-branded mobile content for the Thai market.

Managing the Cultures ... Inspiring the Team: SPEAKING UP AND SHARING YOUR IDEAS

Just a few days ago I was at the office of a well-known multinational company and took part in a very interesting conversation. This one was about what might happen if the expatriate manager decided to leave and tried to appoint a Thai to take over the department. I was talking to the expat department manager and the Thai director of human resources.

BORROWING: Loan terms worsen further down the rung

Banks have stringent criteria, while loan sharks can gouge you till it hurts

Trading wisely: Setting an investment strategy increases odds of success

Trading plans are not for everyone. Some investors trade intuitively and make enough money to show that their intuition is amazingly keen. People who trade in this manner, however, are often unable to pinpoint what factors cause them to make a profit or lose money.

DHEVATARA RESIDENCES: Samui villas lure the rich

Bophut enclave offers 8 exclusive units

Realty shake-out looms

Oil shock, higher bank rates spark downtrend