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Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and about 30 private businessmen will visit South Korea next Monday and Tuesday as part of a CEO forum aimed at wooing investors, especially those in the automotive and electronic sectors.

A government source said representatives from the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Thai Bankers' Association and the Federation of Thai Industries would be among those joining the trip.

Krung Thai Bank putting Bt8 billion of its NPAs on the block in grand sale

Krung Thai Bank will hold its "KTB NPA Grand Sale" of 8,000 non-performing assets worth a combined Bt8 billion between tomorrow and June 15, featuring loans with zero interest for the first year.

NPAs for sale include undeveloped land in Bangkok's Min Buri and Thon Buri districts and Pathum Thani and Nakhon Pathom provinces, detached houses, furniture factories in Thon Buri and hotels in Chiang Mai province.

The bank is offering discounts of up to 35 per cent on the NPAs. After the first year, loans will carry interest of 0.25 per cent below the minimum rate for mortgages.

High hopes for sales during and after ProPak Asia packaging technology show

ProPak Asia 2009, the biggest international exhibition of packaging technology, is expected to generate revenue in excess of Bt3 billion during the show and more than Bt10 billion in continuing sales afterward.

David Aitken, managing director of Bangkok Exhibition Services, organiser of the event, said despite the global economic downturn, roughly 760 exhibitors from more than 40 countries had already signed on. More than 30,000 trade professionals are expected to visit.

ProPak Asia 2009 will be held from June 17-20 at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre on Bang Na-Trat Road.

Newspaper Direct enjoys Q1 growth despite Kingdom's tourism slowdown

Newspaper Direct's distribution partners enjoyed 20-per-cent growth for print-on-demand sales in the first quarter despite the slowdown in the Kingdom's tourism industry.

Patrick Menhorm, director of Newspaper Direct Thailand, an affiliate of the world leader in multichannel newspaper and magazine distribution, recently said this was an excellent result, because fewer foreign tourists visited the country during that period. The increased circulation of its partners in Thailand means readers prefer to consume news through printed newspapers.

Newspaper Direct Thailand operates with eight distribution partners, in Bangkok, Koh Samui, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Krabi, Koh Chang and Khao Lak.

A celebration of all things Italian at Bangkok festival from today

Italy will hold the Italian Festival 2009 in Bangkok to celebrate 140 years of Thai-Italian relations.

The fair, which is aimed at enhancing cooperation in terms of trade and investment between the two countries, will start today across the city and run into next month.

The festival will feature Italian foods and beverages, culture, films and film scores.

Last year, trade between Italy and Thailand was valued at US$3.58 billion (Bt122 billion), up 11.36 per cent from 2007.

Most imports from Italy were machinery and parts, steel-industry and electrical equipment and jewellery and ornaments. - The Nation