Bt22m earmarked to boost 'Cotton USA' awareness

In a bid to boost consumer recognition of quality US cotton products in the Kingdom, the council also aims to add Cotton USA hang tags to a further 7.7 million products this year.
The Cotton USA Mark Tracking Survey conducted last year showed that Thai consumers were willing to pay for quality products that were comfortable, were environmentally friendly and showed good value for money. The survey also indicated that more than 57 per cent of consumers regarded cotton as the primary preferred natural fibre for their clothing and household items.

Egco invests in wind power
Electricity Generating (Egco) has allocated Bt10 million to invest in a wind-power project in Chaiyaphum province through the acquisition of a 90-per-cent stake in Theppana Wind Farm Co, a very small power producer.

New Tesco Lotus CEO
Tesco Lotus announced that its chief executive officer, Chris Bush, was leaving to take up the role of chief operating officer of the Tesco business in the United Kingdom.
Bush’s successor is John Christie, most recently CEO of Tesco in Slovakia and before that CEO of the company’s Japanese business. Christie will assume full responsibility on February 27.

Leather exports to grow
Exports of Thai leather and leather products are expected to grow by 15 per cent to US$2 billion (Bt65 billion) this year, despite a shortage of raw materials, according to the International Trade Promotion Department.
Anchalee Promnart, deputy director of the department, said yesterday that as awareness of the quality of Thai goods increased, the export of leather goods would also increase this year. Exports of leather and goods grew by 15.2 per cent to $1.8 billion last year.
Moreover, to increase sales of leather goods in the country, the department, in cooperation with the Thai Leather Goods Association, will hold the “Thai Leather Weeks: Bag and the City” fair from February 17-26 at Ratchadaphisek Exhibition Hall in Bangkok. More than 100 exhibitors will join the fair, which expects to generate at least Bt20 million in immediate sales.

Ascon assets seized
Assets of Ascon Construction were seized by its creditor Standard Metal to cover an Bt8.25-million debt payment. Standard Metal together with officials from the Legal Execution Department will liquidate Ascon’s assets in the near future. The assets were seized onJanuary 31 Tuesday.
Ascon owed Standard Metal Bt8.25 million for seven purchases of steel in 2008. Under the contracts, Ascon agreed to pay within 60 days of delivery, but defaulted. However, Standard Metal was unable to seize any of Ascon’s assets as other creditors had already done so. – The Nation