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Published on October 30, 2007

Feintool will close its plastic-composite-components factory in Lamphun at the end of the year, because it has not been able to obtain anticipated orders from local and regional customers needed for using available capacity.

Most of the pending orders will be transferred back to Switzerland. Feintool has devised a welfare plan for the 20 or so staff affected.

Bright future for threads

The Trade Negotiations Department yesterday said Thailand's thread industry had a bright future, as it was included under free-trade agreements (FTAs) with trading partners.

Director-general Chutima Bunyapraphasara said high demand from importing countries had increased the market share of thread exports. In particular, synthetic fibre has high export competitiveness, because Thai manufacturers use all-local contents.

She added that Thailand had to import cotton to make thread. However, this will not affect the country's export competitiveness, because other export rivals must also import cotton.

Thailand has enjoyed exports to many countries under FTAs with Australia, New Zealand and India. In addition, the country will take export benefits under the Asean-China FTA in the near future and the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement, which takes effect on Thursday.

Finnair to step up BKK flights

Finnair flights from Helsinki to Bangkok will double later in the Northern Hemisphere's winter to meet high peak-season demand, with an extra daily flight added from December 3 to next March 29.

The increased flight numbers came after Europe's clocks were turned back an hour on Sunday, and the winter air-traffic schedules come into effect at the same time.

Traffic will be reduced temporarily in the lull between Christmas and Epiphany (January 6) as is usually the case, and the only long-haul flight on Christmas Eve will be to Bangkok.

The winter timetable is in effect until next March 30. 

 The Nation