DTAC's customer base stood at 12.2 million at year's end. There were 763,000 net additions in the fourth quarter, bringing overall net additions in 2006 to a record high of 3.5 million.

Rice bidding to meet demand

The Foreign Trade Department will next Tuesday start taking bids for rice in government warehouses, in response to higher demand in both domestic and foreign markets.

The results of the bidding will be known the same day.

The first lot to be put up for bidding this year contains 283,000 tonnes of jasmine, paddy and white rice.

 Thai-Pakistani deal on cards Thailand and Pakistan will conclude a study this month on whether both countries should enter into a bilateral trade agreement, said Chutima Bunyaprapharara, director-general of the Trade Negotiations Department.

She said both sides recently set up a joint committee to study the possibility of a free-trade deal.

Pakistan wants to attract foreign investors, especially in the areas of banking, telecommunications and tourism.

The committee will conclude its recommendations by the end of this month. 

MCOT looks for  satellite partner

MCOT is seeking a partner for its television-satellite business to supply tourism, culture, sports and edutainment programes to Channels MCOT 1, 2 and 3, a source from the company told Krungthep Turakij.

The source said that the new business, to be unveiled in April, should generate Bt60 million in annual revenue.

He said that Channels MCOT 1, 2 and 3 could provide a higher variety of programmes than a conventional TV station.

'In Style' to get a Thai version

Amarin Printing has inked a deal to publish a Thai version of US magazine In Style, with a  total budget of Bt20 million in the first year of operations.

Half of the budget will go towards production costs and half to marketing and public relations.

In Style targets women readers with contents covering fashion, beauty, lifestyle and celebrity news.

Amarin registered an annual revenue growth rate of 8 per cent to 10 per cent from its magazine business.

Ideal deal over acne treatment

Ideal Approach, a subsidiary of DNMC (Thailand), has succeeded in becoming Guthy-Ranker's exclusive distributor of acne care brand Proactiv Solution in Thailand's market.

DNMC (Thailand) president Patrick Tang said the company had set a marketing budget of Bt30 million to promote Proactiv Solution products in Thailand this year and expects sales of Bt150 million.