Netpreeya Chumchaiyo, assistant government spokesman, said the centre would approve any filming proposal within 24 hours from one to two days at present. The centre is being established following declining revenue from foreign film production over the past four years.

In 2006, Thailand reaped only Bt1.04 billion, compared to Bt1.13 billion, Bt1.22 billion and Bt1.4 billion in the three preceding years.

Exporter suspended

The Agriculture Department has suspended issue export certificates for two Thai companies after finding other vegetables mixed into packaging that were not contained in the export document to EU.

The office has not named the two companies but their export certificates will be suspended for 30 days.

Vicha Thitiprasert, director of the Agricultural Regulatory Office, said yesterday that the two companies were discovered in such cheating practices several times before and the office had already warned them.

The practice will damage the country's agricultural exports.

 So far, Germany and the Netherlands have imposed stringent inspections on vegetables exported from Thailand.