Permanent secretary Karun Kittisataporn yesterday said the ministry was processing the change of the export-import statistics accounting to e-customs.

"Once the programme is finalised the ministry's export-import statistics will be shown in a paperless form," he said.

The WCO has ordered all members to implement the system change early this year to standardise the world trading system.

BoI seminar

The Board of Investment is hosting a seminar with Bangkok Bank on opportunities in Indonesia to encourage Thai businessmen to invest there, particularly in the mining, coal and fishing industries.

The seminar on Monday will feature speeches by the chief of BKPM, Indonesia's investment coordination board, and Indonesian Ambassador Ibrahim Yusuf.

Joining them will be representatives from Banpu

and Siam Cement, which have been operating in Indonesia for more than a decade.

New HomePro

Home Product Centre, which operates the HomePro chain of decoration centres, invested Bt600 million on its branch at Petchakaserm, which opened yesterday.

Executive director Nat Jaritchana said the company expected sales of Bt60 million per month from its new branch.

This is in line with its target to boost sales growth to 10 per cent this year.

New Weber MD

Ken Hong has been appointed as managing director of Weber Shandwick's Thailand office.

An American national, Hong joins Weber Shandwick from Manning, Selvage & Lee where he served as director and regional account director for five years and worked in China (Shanghai) and most recently, as head of the agency's Hong Kong operations.

Hong's background is in corporate and marketing communications.

While at MS&L, he served as regional director for the General Motors account and worked with clients including Bombardier, WR Grace, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the University of Michigan, Richemont, Philips Consumer Electronics, and Sands Casino & Resorts.