LATE NEWS
Hitachi Data logs sales of $2.8 bn
Hitachi Data Systems Corp, a provider of applications for optimised storage solutions and a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd, announced yesterday its annual business performance for fiscal year 2005 (ending March 31, 2006) with recorded revenues of US$2.8 billion (Bt107 billion).
Hitachi's performance was driven by its successful launch of storage virtualisation 18 months ago which has since been implemented in more than 3,000 sites globally, said Taveesak Saengthong, the company's country manager for Thailand.
Asparagus plan The Agriculture Department has created an integrated asparagus-growing project under a contract-farming programme that forms part of its export promotion and development plan. Olarn Pitak, director of the crop promotion management office, said the project would allow farmers a fair price, while exporters could enjoy sufficient production for overseas sales. Under contract farming, the department will arrange meetings between growers and exporters to conclude a final deal and draw up a production plan. So far, 4,699 farmers with a combined plantation area of 11,448 rai have participated in the programme. The premium quality production of 80 per cent has been exported mainly to Japan, followed by Taiwan, Germany, the Netherlands and Australia, the latest market.
Muslim spa The first Muslim spa is tentatively set to open in Phuket next month to draw travellers from the Middle East, said a Phuket tourism official. Phromchote Traivet, director of the province's tourism centre, said health services would complement natural marine beauty. "The spa would be operated strictly under Islamic religious requirements," he said, adding that the spa would be designed in a home-stay style to impress tourists with the community lifestyle and to lengthen their stay in the province. The province is training students to be tour guides.
Best welder meet Ahead of the Metalex 2006 fair, the Labour Ministry is hosting the Thailand Welding Competition to award the best welder with a Bt200,000 cash prize. According to Veena Phakawong, deputy director-general of the Skill Development Department, 10 Thai welders will be selected for the competition along with welders from other Asian and European countries. The final round will be held as part of Metalex 2006, which will be staged on November 23-24. "We want to reinstate our focus in establishing welding standards throughout Asia," she said.
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