Briefs

The governor of Si Sa Ket province this week brought entrepreneurs and Chamber of Commerce officers from 20 provinces in the Northeastern region to meet with the governor of Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province on possible business matching. About 17 deals were made with initial value of about Bt100 million during the two-day event.
Trade and investment between Thailand and Cambodia have been increasing gradually over the past few years, their value reaching Bt2.5 billion in 2011. Thailand imports raw materials such as steel, minerals and wood from Cambodia, while the neighbouring country requires oil, construction materials and foods from Thailand.

IRPC hopes for turnaround
IRPC is optimistic that its second-half results will turn to profit after witnessing a big loss in the first half of the year.
Because of stock losses, IRPC's second quarter showed a net loss of Bt4.06 billion compared with a net profit of Bt2.33 billion in the previous quarter.
President Atikom Terbsiri said the company had reduced stocks in the third quarter by more than 30 per cent from 10 million barrels in the second quarter to diversify risk from the oil-price volatility.

Export promotion
“Made in Thailand 2012: In Honour of Her Majesty the Queen’s Glory” will be held from August 15-19 at Impact Muang Thong Thani to promote the export of quality goods to the world market including Asean.
The event, hosted by the International Trade Promotion Department, will generate more than Bt1.2 billion in trading volume, said Nuntawan Sakuntanage, the department’s director-general.
More than 10,000 traders and visitors are expected at the fair.

True Fitness reopens
True Group has announced the reopening of True Fitness, True Spa and True Est Centres at Zen@CentralWorld.
Located on the 10th and 11th floors of Zen@CentralWorld, the new one-stop premium fitness and wellness centre now occupies more than 5,500 square metres of floor space.

Photo contest
Major imported Scotch whisky brand 100Pipers, distributed locally by Pernod Ricard Thailand, is inviting the public to participate in a photo contest called “Open Lens, Open Opportunity” organised as part of 100Pipers’ “Give 100% to Live 100%” concept.
Participants need only take a photo together with friend in front of special 100Pipers in-store displays placed at designated stores nationwide, with the store code clearly visible in the photos, and enter their photo in the contest between August 1 and October 31.
Every month, in August, September and October, one entrant will be selected by a panel of judges to receive a free Mini Cooper. -

More Office Depots
Office Depot, celebrating its 15th year in Thailand, has budgeted more than Bt350 million for 10 new stores in major provinces across the country.
The latest store, its 39th branch, has been opened at Gateway Ekamai Shopping Mall. Somchai Tavornrungroj, managing director for Office Club (Thai) Co, said that in 2011, Office Depot generated total income of more than Bt3.1 billion. – The Nation