He said the Board of Investment was preparing information for foreign investors and would today talk to foreign chambers of commerce about the position on the Kingdom's free-trade talks.

Chakramol said there should be a focus on developing local workers' skills as a means of attracting inward investment, as Thailand is increasingly unable to compete on labour costs alone with China and Vietnam. - The Nation.

Tariff on tubes

The Egyptian Trade and Industry Ministry has decided to impose an anti-dumping tariff on fluorescent tubes imported from Vietnam as well as Thailand, according to the Vietnamese Trade Ministry's Competition Administration Department.

Vienam's Rang Dong Light Fixture and Vacuum Tube Joint Stock Co and Dien Quang Lighting Co were found to have dumped tubes on the Egyptian market, the department said this week, although both have now ceased exporting to Egypt.

Imports of fluorescent tubes of 14-40 watts into Egypt will now be subject to an anti-dumping tariff of US$0.32 (Bt12) each. Similar products from China, Thailand, India, and Indonesia were also hit with anti-dumping duties of $0.17-$0.37 per tube.

The tariffs will be applied for five years, effective August 22, with the levels adjusted annually based on investigations by the Egyptian Trade and Industry Ministry. - Viet Nam News, Asia News Network.