Dept pursues GI status for Hom Mali rice

The move follows the refusal of five EU members to grant PGI rights to the fragrant rice strain early last year, asserting that Thailand could not use the name Hom Mali rice, as it is a generic name.
However, Pajchima Tanasanti, director-general of the Intellectual Property Department, said the country will try again to file for PGI registration of Hom Mali Thung Kula Ronghai, as it is a unique rice grain and can grow in a limited area only. Thailand will also the name Hom Mali rice as it is in the Thai language, Pajchima said.
 Winning PGI rights from the EU would benefit poor Thai farmers in the Northeast by contributing value-added to the crop, she said. – The Nation

US tax-rebate warning for exporters
The Foreign Trade Department has reminded Thai exporters that they must apply for US tax refunds under the country’s latest extension of the generalised system of preferences (GSP) before April 18.
Surasak Riangkrul, deputy director-general of the department, said exporters of 21 products could ask for tax refunds worth a combined Bt370 million.
 Thai exporters enjoy tax privileges from the US until July 31. The move comes after the US extended its GSP privileges for Thai exporters until November 4 last year, after the their initial expiration in December 2010. – The Nation

Vietnam posts record rice exports in 2011
Hanoi - Vietnam shipped a record 7.1 million tonnes of rice last year, up 5 per cent from 2010, authorities said on Wednesday.
Rice export revenues reached $US3.7 billion (Bt117.25 billion) for the period, up 14 per cent, a Vietnam Food Association report said.
Exporters were likely to benefit from the Thai government’s policy of guaranteed prices to farmers, increasing the price of its exports. Thailand is the world’s top rice shipper, but Vietnam ranks a close second.
Floods in Southeast Asia have also led to higher rice prices, officials said.
Indonesia was Vietnam’s main customer for rice, followed by the Philippines and Malaysia. – DPA

Marriott stops |managing 4 hotels
Marriott International and Destination Properties Thailand have parted ways over the management of four hotels in Thailand, three of which are in Phuket.
The properties in Phuket are the Courtyard by Marriott hotels in Patong, Kamala and at Surin Beach. The fourth hotel to no longer operate as a Marriott brand is the Courtyard by Marriott in Hua Hin.
Another international management company is expected to take over the running of the hotels before April 1, the first day of the tax year in Thailand.
Local staff have reported they have been informed of the change of operator and that employees will be retained through the hand-over.
“We are happy to conclude these discussions with our partners at Destination Properties and we wish them well with the on-going success of these four hotels. We are excited to continue working with them on other existing projects here in Thailand,” Philip Bryson, area vice president for Marriott in Southeast Asia, said in a statement.
Destination Properties, under principal Gary Murray, also own the Hilton Hua Hin and the Talay Karon Beach resort (formerly the Ramada), which is currently closed for expansion, as well as a suspended hotel project in Kamala that was slated for management by Marriott under their flagship brand. – Phuket Gazette