Briefs

Two beverage companies controlled by Thai business magnate Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi have registered to buy 38.2 million shares each of dairy firm Vinamilk.
Vinamilk is the largest stock by market capitalisation in Vietnam.
Singapore-based F&N Dairy Investment and F&N Beverages Manufacturing are subsidiaries of Fraser & Neave, whose chief executive Lee Meng Tat is a member of Vinamilk’s management board.
The two companies are picking up 5.4 per cent of Vinamilk’s shares, according to the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange.
Trading will be conducted from Monday to January 10.
F&N Dairy Investment is currently Vinamilk’s largest foreign shareholder, with ownership of 10.95 per cent. The group has been investing in Vinamilk since 2005 and its holding of 11 per cent of Vinamilk shares is now worth around US$1 billion (Bt37 billion).
The State Capital Investment Corporation holds the Vietnamese government’s 45-per-cent stake in Vinamilk and foreign investors have for long been interested in it thanks to its strong prospects and expansion plans.
Last year, billionaire Charoen bought Vietnam’s supermarket chain Metro Cash & Carry. – Viet Nam News

INTOUCH REBUFFS RUMOURS 
OF JAS SHARE PURCHASE

Intouch Holdings yesterday denied reports in local newspapers that it is planning to purchase all the shares of Jasmine International from Jas’s major shareholder.
“We would like to state that this is an unfounded rumour. There is currently no consideration of acquiring Jas by Intouch,” it said in a statement filed with the Stock Exchange of Thailand yesterday. The statement was signed by the Intouch chief executive officer Philip Chen Chong Tan.
Jasmine CEO Pete Bodharamik currently owns 60.18 per cent of the company.

IP DEPT SHOWS CHINESE 
DELEGATION THAI PRODUCTS

 The Department of Intellectual Property led a Chinese delegation to inspect the production of three Thai products that will be registered in China under the Geographical Indication (GI) scheme.
They are the Hom Mali rice of Tung Kula Rong Hai, the Siam ruby pomelo of Pak Phanang, and the sweet tamarind of Phetchabun.
Thosapone Dansuputra, deputy director-general and caretaker director-general at the department, said these three products had gained popularity in China and GI registration could help Thai products receive market protection in the economic powerhouse. 
For the past three years, China has been Thailand’s main pomelo export market, and the Kingdom’s No 2 tamarind market. 

COMMERCE MINISTRY TO HOLD 
RICE ROADSHOWS

The Commerce Ministry plans to hold a roadshow to events in Asia, Europe and the US with the aim of boasting rice exports.
Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said in a recent event, “Thai Hom Mali Rice – the Best Rice in the World”, that the move came after Thai Hom Mali rice won an award from The Rice Trader, an organisation providing in-depth information involving the global rice industry.
In 2017, the ministry will conduct a range of activities aimed at boosting the sector at home and abroad.
They include the major international event “Thailand Rice Convention 2017” from May 28-30. The event aims to promote a wide variety of Thai rice and rice products including innovative products.