Thailand Live Monday 25 Jun 2012

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Thai AirAsia to move operation base from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Don Mueang Airport from October 1: AoT president /MCOT

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Special Report: Central Food Hall launches Taste of USA 2012

BANGKOK: -- Central Food Retail Co. Ltd., the operator of Central Food Hall and Tops supermarkets, in partnership with the U.S. embassy, is launching an annual special event entitled ‘Taste of the USA 2012’ for its customers. The event is held from June 13- July 10 at 30 Central Food Retail outlets and Tops Supermarkets nationwide.

The event is the fifteenth of its kind for the Thai grocery chain. The Taste of USA 2012’s opening ceremony at Central World’s Food Hall was presided over by US ambassador to Thailand, Kristie A Kenney. In addition to strengthening commercial ties between Thailand and the United States, the exhibition of American food products is aimed at increasing Thai consumers’ awareness of the variety of these products as well as introducing to the Thai market a range of new premium quality products imported from the United States.

The food fair gives Thai shoppers the opportunity to sample and purchase the most well-known imports from the US, which include fresh cherries, Maine lobsters, and a variety of baked goods and sweets.

Mr Alistair Taylor, President of Central Food Retail Co.,Ltd., said American food products are globally renowned for its taste and quality. Due to a recent shift in culinary trends in Thailand, resulting from the increasing number of Thais travelling aboard and experiencing new food cultures, a surge in demand for overseas food imports is prominent.

He elaborated that the giant grocery chain has already imported 10,000 overseas products into its stores, and Taste of USA 2012 is expected add up to 20-30 percent of the products to its shelves.

Central Food Retail Group is currently the largest supermarket chain in Thailand, operating since 1996, and is one of the business units under Central Retail Cooperation Limited (CRC). The company currently operates 215 branches nationwide, with 131 stores in Bangkok and 84 stores located in other regions of the country.

According to Mr Alistair, Central Food Retail, the largest supermarket chain in Thailand, has predicted a 12-percent growth year-on-year and a 20-25 percent increase in the next fiscal year.

-- NNT 2012-06-25

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RT @BreakingNews: Spain has announced a formal request for banking aid from the Eurogroup - @skynewsbiz

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AVIATION

AirAsia will move to Don Mueang on Oct 1

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- AirAsia will move its flight operations from Suvarnabhumi to Don Mueang Airport by Oct 1, hoping that the old Bangkok airport will well serve its plan to expand fleet to 48.

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Thai exports in May rise 7.68%, valued at US$20.9 billion, as industries resume production after 2011 flood: Commerce Ministry /MCOT

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DEMOCRAT PARTY

Abhisit to deliver speech on good governance in Penang Wednesday

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Former prime minister and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajvia has been invited to deliver a speech on good governance and anticorruption at an international congress in Penang on Wednesday.

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RT @RichardBarrow: An explosion during a Rocket Festival in Khon Kaen killed 1 & injured 10 - TR @Rawangpai

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Purchasing power back to nomal; more tourists in Ratchaprasong

BANGKOK, June 25 - The purchasing power of Thai and foreign buyers in Ratchaprasong area, the capital's prime shopping and business area, has returned to a normal level, while the number of tourists there for the past six months has increased 20-30 per cent year-on-year, said Chai Srivikorn, president of the Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association (RSTA).

Despite new hotels springing up in the area, with many more rooms, the rising number of tourists wanting to stay and shop there, he noted, are being accommodated, with about 90 per cent of available rooms being occupied.

Retailers and hospitality sectors are pleased. The higher purchasing power has also come from higher incomes of Thais from the government's policy of a minimum wage raise and minimum salaries of Bt15,000/month for university students upon graduation.

Mr Chai said that Thailand's largest wholesale centre, Platinum Fashion Mall, and Hotel Novotel Bangkok Platinum as RSTA members is helping raise the number of tourists in Ratchaprasong to some 260,000-270,000/day, projected to about 350,000/day by next year, or a 35 per cent rise in tourist numbers.

The association plans to improve facilities and security measures.

More closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras as well as more lighting installed on flyovers, skywalks and buildings with a Bt70 million budget are expected to be finished in October.

Construction of more sky walks is also planned to link Platinum Mall to Ratchaprasong to develop the area as an Asian fashion and lifestyle centre in the region, comparable to Hong Kong and Singapore.

However, Mr Chai said political protests are a risk factor worrying entrepreneurs, and said he wished to see politics be expressed only at Parliament.

The eurozone debt crisis has affected the purchasing power of European tourists, while travellers from Asian countries such as China, India, Russia and from the Arab world still have a high purchasing power. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-06-25

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Dengue fever on the rise in Trat

TRAT, 25 June 2012 (NNT) - According to Trat’s provincial public health office, over 140 confirmed cases of the potentially deadly dengue fever virus have so far been reported in the eastern province.

Since the beginning of this year, 146 cases of dengue fever have been recorded in Trat province, with the toll ranked as second highest in the eastern region and seventh highest in Thailand. A record number of 6 patients have been found in Koh Kood, the farthest island in the Trat Sea.

Dr. Chumpol Suwan, Chief Medical Officer at the Trat Provincial Public Health Office, today held an emergency meeting with district health offices, hospitals and relevant provincial agencies in response to the growing threat of dengue fever.

As preventative measures, the Trat Provincial Public Health Office is setting up a war room to concentrate on pro-active dengue fever campaigns on the provincial and district levels.

-- NNT 2012-06-25

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SET index closed at 1147.43, down 5.48; Bt/USD31.73; GBP49.34; AUD31.69; EUR39.66; CAD30.75; HKD4.08; SGD24.64; JPY39.29

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Democrats seek criminal action against ex-PM Thaksin's son,Panthongtae for alleged fraudulent transfer of Bt9.9 bn Krung Thai Bank loan to his account. /The Nation

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Ten Thai students in Ratchaburi were caught on camera having sex in a movie theatre - TR @SpringNews_TV

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UPDATE:

Phuket Police reveal identities of the Michelle Smith stab murder suspects

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RT@RichardBarrow: Pond, the “Breast Painter”, confirms in an interview that she was paid to appear on Thailand’s Got Talent /via @veen_NT

RT@RichardBarrow: Pond says she is really a coyote dancer. She was never an artist. She closed her eyes when she did that painting - TR @wannasiri_

RT@RichardBarrow: Pond says she is sorry she took their money. She only did it b/c her husband is unemployed & there was no food for her kid - TR @wannasiri_

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to continue:

Thailand Live Tuesday 26 Jun 2012