High lime prices give
shoppers sour aftertaste
Warunya Thongrod
Thailand’s countrywide flooding may be over, but its
impact on prices has yet to subside, with electricity, cooking gas, gasoline
and even limes still higher than before the water came.
The price of a lime has gone up as much as 6 baht in the
past half year. Green grocer Veera Khayanthum said the market price for a
three pack of limes has gone from 10 baht to 18 baht in just the past month.
“The vendor from Petchaburi, whom I buy limes from, said
that it is due to the increased gas prices and the buying in bulk from the
lime garden, having to separate the limes in sizes leading to high expenses
from labor, electricity including the increasing gas prices, therefore, lime
prices have increased,” Veera said.
Jumbo limes are even higher, hitting 10 baht each, Veera
said.
The grocer suggested consumers can save money by
squeezing lime juice then packing it tightly and freezing it, thawing out
the juice only as needed.
Politicians lecture
on need for ‘green’ industry
(L to R) Faruk Wongborisuthi,
member of Pattaya council, Dr. Ekarin Vasanasong, advisory to Pattaya’s
mayor on policies and strategies of the environment and energy, Poramet
Ngampichet, assistant spokesman for the Industrial Commission and Chonburi
MP and Sansak Ngampichet, Chairman of Religion, Art and Culture Chonburi MP
prepare to address the seminar.
Warunya Thongrod
Local politicians are encouraging area business owners to
invest in “green” technology to stimulate growth in environmentally
conscious industries.
At a Feb. 17 “Green Industry Development” seminar at
Pattaya City Hall, Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome and Chonburi MPs Sansak and
Poramet Ngampichet spoke about the need to develop environmentally
sustainable industries and recited their contributions toward that goal.
“To develop a sustainable industry, more attention should
be given to the quality of the population, natural resources and
environment,” Poramet said. “Therefore, the determination to develop green
industry is one approach in sustainable and balanced development by holding
onto environmental friendly operations. Citizens should have knowledge and
understanding in the necessity of establishing businesses in this industry,
for all sectors to participate and able to coordinate in the same direction,
eventually, building a stable industry.”
Itthiphol said that while serving as mayor, he has helped
boost Pattaya’s environment, citing garden-filled lane dividers on Sukhumvit
Road, maintenance of two area parks, tree planting on Koh Larn and
installation of power-generating windmills on the island.
Ekarin Vasanasong, an environmental policy advisor to the
mayor, told the 300 entrepreneurs in attendance that many countries have
made renewable energy a priority and said Thailand’s small foray into
bio-gas generation was a positive step.
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Deputy PM Kittiratt: Bt30 billion to construct riverside flood walls
Following the Constitution Court ruling on Wednesday in
favour of the legality of two executive financial decrees, one urgent task
is to construct riverside flood prevention walls with a budget of at least
Bt30 billion, said Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Kittiratt Na
Ranong.
Deputy Prime Minister and
Commerce Minister Kittiratt Na Ranong
Construction of flood prevention walls along the rivers
are aimed at replacing sandbag embankments used during the flood crisis last
year.
The decrees will allow the government to borrow Bt350
billion in loans and transfer debt from the Financial Institutions
Development Fund (FIDF) to the central bank.
It is the duty of the House Speaker to present the motion
to Parliament for consideration and the government is ready to clarify that
administrative work on water management will be done in parallel, Kittiratt
said.
Another Bt60 billion will be allocated to implement a
floodway project with two million rai (800,000 acres) of land to be used as
water retention areas, he said. The government has conducted a survey and
found an appropriate 1.5-million rai (600,000 acres) plots of land.
The budget has already included compensation to be paid
for residents in those areas.
The deputy prime minister said the government does not
have to shoulder the burden of the FIDF of Bt60 billion a year, so the
government will have more budget left for developing the country.
In the 2013 fiscal year, the government does not need to
allocate a budget of Bt20 billion for water management.
As a result, the government can use Bt80 billion to cut
the budget deficit target to Bt300 billion from the projected 2012 deficit
budget of Bt400 billion. (MCOT)
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Thailand, China agree to work together
on high speed rail development
Thailand and China have agreed to establish a joint
working committee to implement a high speed rail project after the two
countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate transport
development in the region.
China’s Deputy Commerce Minister Chen Jian last Friday
met with Thailand’s Transport Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan to discuss the
framework of cooperation and progress of the high speed rail project,
according to Deputy Transport Minister Chatt Kuldilok, who oversees the
State Railways of Thailand (SRT) and who also attended the meeting.
China wants to develop a railway route connecting Kunming
in southern China with the Lao PDR and Thailand, as regional economies are
growing constantly and a large number of Chinese visit Thailand, the Thai
minister said.
During the talks, the two sides agreed to set up a
working committee to implement the project.
China announced its readiness to support surveying and
design and provide technical assistance after the Thai government stated its
clear policy to develop the first Bangkok-Chiang Mai high speed rail route.
There is no obligation that only China can invest in the
Thai high speed rail project, and no commitment that Thailand must use
technology from China, Chatt said.
Thailand will begin a feasibility study, expected to take
3 to 4 months as the SRT already has some initial information. The design
process will take another six months. The ministry of transport planned to
start construction within this year.
The Transport Ministry is discussing with the Finance
Ministry about investment needed for the project. Finance Ministry officials
will determine whether the ministry will seek loans by issuing bonds or
overseas loans with low or zero interest rates. (MCOT)
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Sales surge ahead for luxurious Pattaya project
Pattaya’s newest condominium and hotel project, the
Centara Grand Residence at Na Jomtien has had a dramatic start to its sales
launch.
Thai and foreign buyers have been quick to move on what’s
been described as the most exclusive project ever undertaken in the resort
city.
At the project’s recent gala launch party, buyers signed
up for 110 million baht in units.
A further 200 million in sales were recorded at a sales
event in Bangkok within the past week. Altogether the 6 billion baht project
has recorded over 900 million baht in sales.
The project is being undertaken by the Tulip Group, the
name behind several luxury developments in Pattaya.
Tulip Group CEO, Kobi Elbaz says the Centara Grand
Residence is meeting the increased demand for higher quality in Pattaya.
“Pattaya is ready for this type of high-end project,” he
said. “Our sales demonstrate that people are now looking for luxury in
Pattaya. The association with a well known name in Thailand, Centara, also
adds to people’s confidence in the project.”
The 3 tower mixed-use project will feature 283
residential units and a 200 room hotel managed by Centara Hotels & Resorts.
Centara Grand Residence, to be completed within three
years, will cover 20 rai and will have 150 meters beach frontage along with
20,000 square meters of landscaping and public areas.
The gala launch party, held at the project’s Na Jomtien
showrooms earlier this month, was attended by over 1000 agents, buyers,
VIP’s, celebrities and national media.
HE Itzhak Shoham, Israeli Ambassador to Thailand, and
Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome presided over the ribbon-cutting ceremony
with Tulip Group CEO Kobi Elbaz.
Guests took the opportunity to also visit the project’s
stunning showrooms on site.
The units will range from a seven bedroom 500 square
meter penthouse to duplexes with private pools, along with studios, one, two
and three bedroom units. These will be spread through two towers, one of 46
floors the other of 39, each with a 20th floor sky garden, swimming pool and
chill out area.
All residential units and hotel rooms face both the ocean
and the sunset.
The Tulip Group is the name behind some of Pattaya’s
leading projects such as the majestic Waterfront on the edge of the resort
city, Centara Grand Pattaya, the Centara Avenue Residence & Suites, The
Cliff, Amari Residences and several other projects, all in prime locations.
CB Richard Ellis has sole agency for the Centara Grand
Residence project.
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