Search Results for: Thailand

BY MARK ROWE
THE THAI government has drawn up legislation to protect the traditional names in Thailand’s drinks market of goods such as French Champagne and Scotch whisky. The Geographical Indication Bill was drafted to meet Thailand’s obligations under the World Trade Organisation’s trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPS) agreement.…

BY MARK ROWE
RESEARCHERS in Thailand have discovered a fungus parasite on fragrant rice that could be further developed for cosmetic products such as soaps. The fungus can produce a pandanus leaf smell that contributes to the rice’s aromatic quality and the finding could lead to the developments in the cosmetic industry for applications that include face powders, scents and oils, according to scientists at the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Bangkok.…

BY SWINEETHA DIAS WICKRAMANAYAKA
A FORMER president of the Thai Leather Goods Association has said that the Thailand leather industry has to improve its designs to more effectively compete globally. Sunanta Wuthisakul said that this would build upon the standard product quality of local manufacturers, which in general “currently met international standards,” notably those of the big brands which use Thai leather.…

BY SWINEETHA DIAS WICKRAMANAYAKA
A TAIWANESE flower producer seeking permission to grow orchids on 112,000 hectares of land to the north of Bangkok has been told by the Thai government that it will have to find a majority Thailand business partner to proceed.…

BY MARK ROWE
THAILAND’S artificially low domestic retail sugar prices may rise for the first time in four years to cushion the impact of rising production costs, according to the country’s Cane and Sugar Board. The current price is Baht 14.25 (37US cents).…

BY MARK ROWE
RESEARCHERS in Thailand have discovered a fungus parasite on fragrant rice that could be further developed for cosmetic products such as soaps. The fungus can produce a pandanus leaf smell that contributes to the rice’s aromatic quality and the finding could lead to the developments in the cosmetic industry for applications that include face powders, scents and oils, according to scientists at the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Bangkok.…

BY MARK ROWE
ILLEGAL migrant workers working in slave-like conditions for just US1$ a month in a garmant factory in Thailand have won compensation worth a total of US$53,000. The 30 ethnic Karen women, many aged under 18, worked at the Bang Bon factory from 7am to 9pm without any holiday.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
EUROPEAN Union ministers have been asked to impose definitive anti-dumping duties on imports of certain welded tubes and pipes, or iron or non-alloy steel from Czech Republic, Poland, Thailand, Turkey and the Ukraine. The proposal follows the imposition of provisional duties in March.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE RICHES that can be made from the illegal ivory trade are well known, but what of illicit imports and exports of rare flowers. Shipping protected orchids to Europe, Japan and north America can make criminals a lot of money.…

BY MARK ROWE
MONEY launderers looking to process their criminal gains look favourably upon south-east Asia. Authorities in the region are under-funded and overworked, while cash-transactions are a cultural norm, making it easy to ensure that money you would prefer not to be traced can simply disappear, with little likelihood that anyone will have the time to investigate the transaction.…