Briefs

THAILAND is moving to support Laos in developing inspection systems and certifying peanut kernel for export after Thai authorities issued new agricultural standards recently.
The new standard for peanut kernel – maximum level of aflatoxin (TAS 4702-2014) – will be enforced for implementation on January 7, according to the National Bureau of Agricultural Commodities and Food Standards (NBACFS) of Thailand.
Thai and Lao agricultural officials meet in Champassak province last week.
The Thai Agriculture Department and a team led by NBACFS adviser Wichar Thitiprasert and NBACFS secretary general Doojduan Sasanavin met with Lao agricultural officials last week in Champassak province to help Laos to prepare the implementation of the standard.
The Thai technical committee has assisted to install the equipment for peanut kernel (aflatoxin level) inspection and trained Lao agricultural technicians to understand the materials and the method of analysis and control of aflatoxin, the Department of Agriculture’s deputy director general in Laos, Khamtanh Thadavong told Vientiane Times.
Thai authorities also revealed the rules and other documents required when Lao peanut producers prepare to export to Thailand, he said.
It is expected the assistance will help improve the quality of peanut kernel in Laos to international standards and develop peanut entrepreneurs in Laos for trade facilitation. - Vientiane Times.

UOL-UIC joint venture buys
Potong Pasir estate
A joint venture between UOL Group and United Industrial Corporation (UIC) has bought a privatised former HUDC estate in Potong Pasir Avenue 1 in Singapore for S$334.2 million (Bt8.5 billion).
The 175-unit estate, known as Raintree Gardens, was launched for collective sale in September. The purchase price roughly works out to about $1.89 million per unit.
Property experts had said the owners could get over $315 million, or about $1.8 million per unit.
UOL said the purchase by UVD (Projects) will be funded by bank borrowings and internal resources. UVD (Projects) is the joint venture between UOL unit, UOL Venture Investments, and Singland Homes, a subsidiary of developer UIC.
The 18,600 square metres plot, next to Kallang River and near Potong Pasir MRT station, has just over 70 years of lease left. It is zoned for residential use with a 2.8 plot ratio.
The collective sale attempt is a first for the estate, which was privatised in July 2014. - The Straits TimesMercedes Malaysia sees itself driving to another record year
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia is confident of achieving another record year of sales in 2016, bucking the trend in a difficult car market at present where the total industry volume (TIV) has stunted.
Declining to reveal any figures, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia sales and marketing passenger cars vice-president Mark Raine said year-to-date sales for 2016 were 10 per cent higher compared with 2015.
“We’re confident of exceeding last year’s figures. Despite a tough market, we feel that we have the right measures in place,” he told reporters on the sidelines following the launch of the company’s Mercedes-Benz C350e on Wednesday.
Raine said the company was investing in upgrading its showrooms and introducing new models into the market to “excite customers.”
“We’ve launched 10 cars so far this year - 22 since the start of 2015. We plan to launch another two models by year-end,” he said.
In 2015, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia enjoyed record sales of 10,845 vehicles which marked a 56 per cent year-on-year increase - making it the leader within the local premium car segment.—The Star