Dep. to push the Thailand International Logistics Fair 2008. Logistics of Asian and Thai to show the products and service over 150 companies. Deday september 11-13 2008, at Bitec Thailand.

Mr.Rachain Pojanasuntorn General Director of Dep. said Dep. to join hand in hand with the alliance to show the big fair, Thailand International Logistics Fair 2008 V, ASEAN Logistics Networks, This fair to be the biggest and perfect in the Asian, between september 11-13, 2008 the time 10.00-18.00 P.M.. at Bitec Bangna.

This fair have a logistics service over 150 companies, 350 booth,Bulk, Container Terminal/Ports, Warehouse Automation, Material Handling, Storage System, Packaging System, Transportation Services, Truck and Trailer, Commercial Vehicle / Automatic Identification System, Communication Technology & Equipment, Security Solution & Equipment, Software/Program, Tracking System & Equipment/Fleet Management, others service, Bank and Education business.

Mr.Rachain said again the special activities to be expand the connection in Asian, Model Logistics Competition, the development of Logistics , the seminar of Logistics.

SOFTWAR/INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OTHERS Automatic Identification System & Equipment - Others, Communication Technology & Equipment, Security Solution & Equipment,Software/Program, Tracking System & Equipment/ Fleet Management.

The Visitors and Guests, Local - SMEs, Exporters and Logistics Service Providers. International , ASEAN, China, Japan, EU, Chinese Taipei, India, more information www.thaitradefair.com” Mr.Rachain said.

Go To Lead

Thai Union Frozen Products Plc (TUF) is increasingly confident it can break $2 billion in sales this year now that the US government has reduced the anti-dumping (AD) tariff on its shrimp imports to 2.85%. The rate is much lower than the preliminary penalty rates the US Department of Commerce (USDC) announced to TUF in February, which were as high as 15.3% depending on the company. Currently, TUF is paying the 5.95% rate imposed on most Thai shrimp exporters. According to TUF president Thiraphong Chansiri, the final ruling would make the company eligible to receive a tax refund worth a total of US$2.6 million against excessive duties on shrimp products collected between February 2006 and January 2007. As well, the rate will serve as a new reference rate for TUF's shrimp exports to the United States until the announcement of another AD rate in the next annual review (likely due in September 2009), he said. Shrimp constitute 18-20% of TUF's sales. For the first six months of this year, the company reported shrimp sales growth of 31% to $183 million.

The US assessed penalties against shrimp from Thailand following complaints by American shrimpers that foreign imported shrimp were being sold in the United States below cost. Thailand and other countries have argued that most imported shrimp are farmed and cost less to produce than ocean-caught shrimp, mainly from the Gulf of Mexico, sold by US processors. Over the past six months since the preliminary AD tariff was announced, TUF has been working with its US legal adviser, Akin Gump, an anti-dumping specialist, the Thai Department of Foreign Trade and the Thai embassy in Washington to get the rate corrected, said Mr Thiraphong.

''The outcome is favourable to TUF, but also to the Thai shrimp industry as a whole because the applicable rate for most Thai packers is now reduced to 3.18% (from the preliminary rate of 6.09% in late February 2008).'' The industry rate is calculated by averaging the individual rates applicable to the four Thai companies involved. According to Mr Thiraphong, the new final rate would also help reduce the burden of the so-called continuous bond on shrimp exports to the US. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) recently ruled against the US appeal on its anti-dumping duty practices, outlawing ''zeroing'' calculation and the continuous bond requirement. Washington required exporters facing AD tariffs to place a bond equal to the expected amount of penalties to be collected, and the money is not refundable until the penalties expire. Overall Thai shrimp exports are also expected to benefit from the ruling, raising shipments to 400,000 tonnes this year from 350,000 tonnes last year.

Go To Lead

Mr.Nandor G. von der Luehe, Chairman of Joint Foreign Chamber of Commerce in Thailand said to www.iclicknews.com, Investments can only be planned in a stable and predictable environment. A declaration of the State of Emergency is just the contrary of stability and predictability and a lot of uncertainties are going around. Business people living in Thailand might look at situation less grave than business peple abroad.

For new investors who have to make a decision whether to invest in Thailand or one of the competing economics a State of Emergency declaration is for sure a negative development and for sure it represents a big hurdle to convince them that Thailand is stable and worth while to invest.

For business that have already established operations here and are evaluating expansion investments the State of Emergency will not deter them from going ahead with the investment. They will look at the market conditions whether they are strong enoungh and base their decision accordingly. I also do of existing investments to other countries.

Nevertheless Thailand will pay opportunity loss due to the political situation. Political Platform should help businesses to expand and to benefit the country and its people. Unfortunately the present political situation does not support business and development but to the contrary is obstructing business. We very much hope that the government will find a peaceful solution. We also would like to encourage the government to lift the State of Emergency as soon as possible that a positive sign can ve shown again to the international community

Go To Lead