Tax revenue feels economic pinch

The government collected taxes totalling Bt114.42 billion, due to the sagging economy and a cut in oil taxes.

Tax revenue in the first two months of the 2009 fiscal year (October and November) fell short of target by 10.7 per cent, ending at Bt201.9 billion - 12.8 per cent lower than the same period last year

Thaicom renewal

Thaicom, Asia's leading com¬mercial satellite operator and operator of the iPSTAR satellite broadband system, has signed a 10year renewal contract with the Distance Learning Education via Satellite Foundation of Thailand to broadcast DLTV channels.

Established in 1996, DLTV broadcasts 15 educational channels from Kraikangwon Palace School in Hua Hin to more than 17,000 schools across the country, and also to other viewers.

F&N's 3in1 push

F&N Dairies (Thailand), maker of food and beverage products, will invest Bt250 million to build up its latest brand F&N Creations 3in1 coffee mix, with aims to penetrate the growing market segment. It projects Bt1 billion in sales and a 10percent market share.

Somsak Chayapong, country head of the company, said the decision to launch the product was based on the significant market size of more than Bt7 billion. The segment has con¬tinued to enjoy doubledigit growth this year.

S'Club lands award

S'Club - Passionistas' Society, Siam Centre's CRM (customer relationship management) pro¬gramme, was honoured at the Asia Shopping Centre Awards 2008 in the Grand Opening, Expansion & Renovation cate¬gory.

Chadatip Chutrakul, manag¬ing director of Siam Piwat, the operator of Siam Centre, said it was the only mall in Thailand to have won the award this year.

The International Council of Shopping Centres organises the annual awards.

S'Club has also been nominated for the ICSC MAXIs Awards, which will be held next year.

Chadatip said the company was considering taking a bigger step in the marketing strategies and CRM development of its shopping centre after winning this year's award. - The Nation