Kongkiat Wangweeramit, MD of Compaq Computer Thailand, said that Compaq has introduced a new application server under the name Task Smart. The server is in Compaq’s series and has been specially developed by combining highly reliable Compaq’s hardware and software in order to serve specific uses.

The first product under Compaq Task Smart is Compaq Task Smart C-series for Internet cache server purposes. The product has been designed to provide the highest efficiency in Internet data loading to the highest speed.

The target customers of C-series are business owners and ISPs. Task Smart C-series server can be quickly installed within 15 minutes and set to serve e-business purposes and various Internet solutions.

To serve Hollywood market

The CEO of Animation Max, producers of animated movies, said that the company has invested 20 million baht to set up the Bangkok Computer Arts Center to fulfill an inadequacy in animation experts worldwide.

The company sees that computer art and design are huge-sized markets with values of many hundreds of millions of baht each year. The markets still have high potential for growth, especially in movie and entertainment businesses. The company plans to make Thailand an education center of computer art and design in this region.

The study consists of 5 main courses in basic computer art, animation, computer graphics, interactive multimedia and web design, and computer aid design. The company estimates it will produce 200-300 personnel in computer art and design this year.

TAT revealed that statistics collected by TAT and the Immigration Office during January-February 2000 show that the number of foreign tourists entering Thailand via Bangkok International Airport was 1,211,693, an increase of 8.76% over the same period last year.

Classified by continents, tourists from Eastern Asia, Europe and America had highest numbers, respectively. Japanese tourists are the largest group of tourists with 117,260, followed by tourists from China, Korea, Germany, and the U.S.A.

Meanwhile, TAT has set up a campaign for domestic tours under the slogan "Special Tour ? Thais travel Thais 2000". The campaign will be promoting trips relating to health and agriculture, to serve an increasing number of tourists who are interested in these new types of traveling.

The TAT and the Tourism Authority of China arranged an official meeting in China on the 26th of March. Details coming out of the meeting revealed that both Thailand and China are satisfied with the increasing number of tourists traveling to and from both countries. However, China expressed a concern that there have been some travel agencies in Thailand who are misbehaving and causing many problems for tourists from China.

In responding to the concerns, TAT suggested 3 solution frameworks ? 1. Solve tourism-related problems between Thailand and China, 2. Inform Chinese tourists of quality and standard-meeting tours, and 3. Cooperate with qualified travel agencies for the benefit of tourists.

Finally, TAT discussed with China the setting up of a TAT office in Beijing. TAT pointed out that having an office in Beijing would have benefits, as it would not only run marketing activities but also solve tourism problems between the two countries.

A management level source from CAT said that a foreign company, Network Thailand, which is posting ads to provide lifetime free Internet services and only requires a 2,995 baht admission fee, is considered to be breaking the Internet Service Law.

Network Thailand is providing services similar to an ISP but has not registered with CAT. The company invested 300 million baht in developing Internet software to provide free service. The source from CAT continued, saying that it is impossible for a business that invested that big amount of money to survive by providing free services.

There are now 18 registered ISPs in Thailand. The idea of free Internet service can happen in Thailand, but is estimated to be in the next 3 years. Presently, most of the registered ISPs are still showing losses in their operational reports. To be able to provide free Internet service, the ISP must have other sources of income to support their operations.

Somjit Tangapinad, Secretary of the Costume Jewelry Traders Association, announced that the U.S.A. is considering the employment of the country of origin law on costume jewelry products imported from foreign countries.

The issue was brought up and influenced by local producers who are losing revenue due to higher labor costs in the U.S.A.

Somjit said the country of origin law results in higher production costs, resulting in higher product prices. The association sees the law as a trade barrier, which goes against the WTO agreement, and has requested the Ministry of Commerce act as an intermediary in bringing the case to the WTO.

U.S.A. is an important export market for costume jewelry from Thailand. In 1999, the value of costume jewelry exported to all markets was 2,100 million baht. 30% of the overall export went to the US market, while 37% went to the EU market.