At a glance, tomorrow’s meeting between the Transport Ministry and ambassadors from countries interested in snapping up the mass-transit investment project shows it is ready to take off. However, frequent changes and complications, particularly reported rifts between key Cabinet members, could mean further delays for the long-stranded project.

Tough talks ahead for WTO in HK

Thailand’s main agricultural exports – rice, sugar, tapioca and chicken – are poised to enter new and promising markets, if World Trade Organisation negotiations in Hong Kong this week are successful. Ministers from around the world are attempting, against huge odds, to put an end to tariffs and subsidies that distort global trade. Achara Pongvutitham reports.

Personality: Youngest retail head ‘a veteran’

At the age of 30, Jirapat Sirijit, managing director of Siam Jatujak, is the youngest top executive in the shopping-mall business in Thailand.

Barbie dolled up for licensing rush

Many girls recognise “Barbie” as a leading brand for dolls and girl’s fashion but their perception is about to change as brand-owner Mattel Inc has launched an aggressive marketing strategy to build Barbie licensing in Thailand.

Street WISE: Russia’s boom drives car craze

Like many post-communist countries where huge investment has flooded in to take advantage of unspoiled natural resources, Russia has witnessed an economic boom.

Big savings on Hondas

Car dealer Honda Srinakarin is this month offering to pay the full 10-per-cent down payment on all four-wheel-drive CRV models and recently outdated Civic sedans.

EXCISE DEPT: Taxman eyes a piece of lottery wins

Top rate could be 20% for online games; nightspots also targeted

Thai Life heads upmarket

Thai Life Insurance is setting its sights on the premium market and expects sales in the sector to increase by 50 per cent a year, its executive vice-president Preedee Khwan-ngam said recently.

GPF in talks to buy stake in mutual fund operator

The Government Pension Fund is negotiating with two or three mutual fund operators to buy a significant stake in one of them as part of its plan to broaden its investment base.

Foreign investment needed

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is expected to increase next year and will help stabilise the country’s economy amid the widening current-account deficit, said Bank of Thailand (BOT) Governor MR Pridiyathorn Devakula.

Bangkok Bank still laden with bad debt

Bangkok Bank will likely fail to achieve its goal to lower its bad loans to below 10 per cent of its outstanding credit by the end of the year after the debt-restructuring plan of Thai Petrochemical Industry Plc (TPI) was not completed.

BUSINESS TOURISM: Govt taps meetings, expo circuit

Plans to spend Bt300m on MICE plan

Bacardi’s high hopes for premium vodka

Bermuda-based distiller Bacardi sees Thailand as a big market for its super-premium vodka Grey Goose.

Capital Rice to focus on product quality

Instead of focusing on increasing its export volume, Capital Rice Co Ltd will concentrate on packaging, quality and developing its delivery services to sharpen its competitiveness at home and abroad.

Promotion for all DTAC staff

Total Access Communication (DTAC) has encouraged staff from different units to help promote its products and services in the provinces to create unity in its organisation.

LATE NEWS:

HOTELS: Bangkok Hilton to open in Feb

More talks on biodiesel project

The Energy Ministry will meet representatives from the Commerce, Agriculture and Industry ministries next Monday to discuss the next steps in developing the biodiesel project.

OVERSEAS INVESTMENT: UK can provide gateway to the EU

Envoy says Britain offers huge opportunities for Thai firms

Pimex fails to draw the big crowds

The number of visitors attending the Phuket International Marine Expo (PIMEX) 2005 was lower than expected the organisers said. However, Grenville Fordham, managing director of Image Asia Events, the company that arranged the show, did not say how many people he had expected.

Toyota to show off new Camry, hybrid

Toyota Motor Corporation has announced that it will stage the world premier of the all-new 2007 Camry mid-size sedan and the much-anticipated Camry Hybrid at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, which will be held from January 8 to 22.