briefs

Oil-palm crisis addressed

In a bid to solve the dramatic fall in the price of oil palm, the Internal Trade Department will on Tuesday discuss with the price-consideration committee how to help farmers amid higher production costs but lower selling prices.

The price of oil palm has dropped from between Bt5 and Bt6 a kilogram to below Bt4. The committee is expected to set a guaranteed price for oil palm to ensure an appropriate selling price for farmers and palm-oil producers. - The Nation

CPF promotes chicken

CPF Food Products is spending Bt100 million on a special promotion for its Five Stars Chicken brand, hoping to help the company achieve this year's targeted sales of Bt3.5 billion.

The campaign, which runs until the end of the month, features a special price of Bt99 for its original-flavour grilled chicken, against the usual Bt109. Television, radio and newspapers will be the main channels for building awareness. - The Nation

Index drops Thai Beverage

Thai Beverage and Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Holdings will be dropped from the benchmark Straits Times Index from September 22, the Singapore Exchange said yesterday.

Extremely low trading volumes were cited for Thai Beverage and plunging market capitalisation for Yangzijiang. They are to be replaced by plantation firm Golden Agri-Resources and Jardine Matheson Holdings, which owns properties across Asia.

The changes follow a six-month review of the index.

"Half-yearly index reviews ensure that the indexes remain an accurate reflection of the market they represent," said the exchange.

The Straits Times Index comprises the 30 largest companies according to market capitalisation. - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Emporium hosts wealth show

The Emporium Shopping complex, in collaboration with several financial institutions and The Nation, is holding the "Emporium Asset and Wealth Management Expo 2008" today and tomorrow.

Some of The Nation's columnists will talk at the event.

Today, Voravan Tarapoom, managing director of BBL Asset Management, will talk on "Target Investment with Bualuang Target Return", and Chatrapee Tantisalerm, CEO of Ayudhya Fund Management, will talk on "Deposit Protection Agency Act".

Umaphan Charoenying, head of the Financial Planning Department at Kasikornbank, will talk on "Enjoy Spending … Free of Worry with K-WePlan" and a financial expert from Bangkok Bank will talk on "How to Generate Return to Beat Inflation".

Saisamorn Phongbunjert, head of the Organisation Development Office at Kasikorn Asset Management, will talk on "Available Options as the Deposit Guaranteed is Gradually Reduced", and Usara Wilaipich, senior global-research economist at Standard Chartered Bank (Thai), will talk on "Investment Opportunity Amid Changing Global Financial Condition".

Food exports on the rise

National Food Institute (NFI) director Yuttasak Supatsorn yesterday said Thai food exports were on the rise, and he forecast that export value should increase more than 20 per cent this year to Bt750 billion.

Twenty per cent by value will be contributed by the food-ingredients industry, he said.

Yuttasak suggested entrepreneurs obtain an in-depth understanding of changes in consumer demand, especially the current rising health-food trend. The NFI is trying to help about 70 per cent of Thai entrepreneurs in the industry to develop their manufacturing processes to international standards.

The institute, in cooperation with the Food Science and Technology Association of Thailand, recently announced it was linking with CMP Media (Thailand) and CMP Information (Netherlands) to host "Food Ingredients Asia 2008" from September 24 to 26 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. - The Nation

Hospitality exhibition

Bangkok Exhibition Services has organised "Food and Hotel Thailand 2008", an event for the hospitality industry's premium supply of international food, beverages, equipment and technology.

The event targets the high-end hospitality industry, comprising hotels, restaurants, spas, catering businesses and retail businesses. About 750 exhibitors from 40 countries will attend.

The exhibition covers 12,000 square metres of space at the Royal Paragon Halls, Siam Paragon, Bangkok, from next Wednesday to Saturday. - The Nation