Director-general of the Ministry's Energy Business Department Metta Banterngsook yesterday said the regulation would first apply to premises in the provinces of Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan. Coverage will later be extended to the whole country.

"This will control gasoline vaporisation at all points," he said. - The Nation.

B'desh openings

The Board of Investment (BoI) is urging Thai businessmen to invest in Bangladesh, where it says they will find cheap labour and a market of 140 million people.

The investment promotion agency said natural gas had been discovered in Bangladesh, encouraging investments in manufacturing, particularly in labour-intensive industries. Investors will also qualify for the generalised system of preferences on exports, offered by the United States and the European Union.

The BoI will join the Embassy of Bangladesh to host an investment seminar on February 21, to be chaired by Ambassador Shahed Akhtar and BoI secretary-general Satit Chanjavanakul. - The Nation.

US school ties

A leading US business school, UCLA's Anderson School of Management, is seeking closer ties with Thailand.

On a recent visit to Bangkok, the school's dean, Judy D Olian, said the school was exploring partnerships with universities around the world and raising awareness and interest in the its MBA programmes.

After meeting representatives of leading Thai universities and UCLA Anderson alumni, she said an ultimate goal was to provide students, faculty members and the business community with an opportunity for deeper immersion in the business practices, government policies, emerging technologies and cultural norms of US trading partners.

Olian also said Thailand had a growing reputation as a centre of excellence in international secondary education and the potential for developing international linkages at tertiary level were outstanding. - The Nation.

Law delay rued

The Bank of Thailand has expressed concern over delays in drafting the new financial institutions business law, which it says may not be ready in time for approval by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) in the term of the government.

The senior director of the bank's Legal and Litigation Department, Chanchai Boonritchaisri, yesterday said the legal processes for completing the draft, which is in the hands of the Council of State, were only one-third complete.

The council is taking time to consider it in detail before sending it back to the Cabinet and the NLA for final approval.

"It is full of details, but it should be proposed to the NLA by May, otherwise it will not be enacted by this government," he said. - The Nation.