The department's director general, Sirawat Chandharat, said yesterday the sale of non-performing assets this year would be lower than last year's Bt200 billion as most of the higher-value assets had been sold off.

The department will open bids for its non-performing assets in Pattaya and Chonburi worth Bt130 million today as it drives towards its target of Bt180 billion, Sirawat said at a press conference to open the bidding in Chonburi. - The Nation.

Fundamentals lure investors

The Board of Investment (BoI) said yesterday political uncertainty was not affecting foreign businesses from investing in Thailand as they were giving more importance to fundamental economic factors.

It said the number of applications it had received in the past seven months was 766, totalling Bt227 billion. That figure was up by 10 per cent over the same period last year. - The Nation.

iTV assets set to be examined

The Office of the Permanent Secretary will examine the assets of its free TV concessionaire, iTV Plc, on September 11 to see if any have expired and need to be returned.

The agency denied the asset examination was purely an attempt to seize iTV's assets but rather normal procedure is in line with concession conditions between the agency and iTV. - The Nation.

Ethanolamine contract signed

Thai Ethanolamines Co Ltd, a subsidiary of PTT Chemical Plc, has signed a contract to use the production technology of the US-based Huntsman Petrochemical Corporation for its personal hygiene product manufacturing plant.

Thai Ethanolamines Co Ltd is Thailand's first producer of ethanolamines, a mildly corrosive liquid with a broad range of uses.

Under the contract, Huntsman Petrochemical Corporation, an experienced global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated and commodity chemicals, will provide optimised technologies for the construction of Thai Ethanolamines Co Ltd's manufacturing plant. Its services will include onsite start-up assistance from plant inception and design to operations. - The Nation.

American eats on offer at Bitec

The best of American food and beverages are being showcased in Bangkok this week.

The Buy & Visit USA 2006 Fair at Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Bitec) offers visitors the chance to enjoy many delicacies at its A Taste of America section.

Stephen Green, president of the American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham) in Thailand, said it will be an interactive experience to discover a bit of America. The entire family will enjoy tasting American dishes.

From fine Cajun cuisine to barbecued ribs, some 50,000 expected visitors will be treated to different flavours of America served up by companies such as Heritage Foods, Tony Roma's, Bourbon Street, Great American Rib Company, Dole and Kellogg's.

The fair is open from 10am until 8pm from Friday to Sunday and admission is free. For more information, visit www.buyUSAfair.com - The Nation.