The Department of Intellectual Property is hosting a training program titled 'GI Next Generation: Opening GI Markets and Creating Opportunities in China and Japan' to equip a new generation of GI entrepreneurs to penetrate the Chinese and Japanese markets.

Deputy Director-General Wiroj Jongklawanichsuk of the Department of Intellectual Property stated that he has been assigned by Director-General Ormun Sraptaweedham to chair the opening of the 'GI Next Generation' training program, which aims to open geographical indication (GI) product markets and create opportunities in China and Japan.

This represents another proactive initiative of the department aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of Thai GI entrepreneurs in global markets. The program focuses on enhancing knowledge in marketing, product standards, and exporting GI products to target markets.

Under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachai Sutheerathampun, the initiative emphasizes strengthening SMEs and communities by leveraging GI as a mechanism for community economic development. This is paired with aggressive marketing promotion both domestically and internationally to increase trade opportunities and improve the competitiveness of Thai products over the long term.

The effort also aims to increase the value of agricultural products through elevating GI products, which are predominantly agricultural goods and processed agricultural products with high quality, connection to their origin, and distinctive local identity that is difficult to imitate. These characteristics encourage consumers to pay premium prices for the added value and differentiation of these products.

Wiroj Jongklawanichsuk stated that China and Japan are promising target markets with high consumer purchasing power and strong emphasis on product quality and product storytelling, which aligns perfectly with the strengths of GI products. This presents an excellent opportunity to leverage these competitive advantages to add value and propel Thai GI products into global markets sustainably.

For this training session, the department has invited expert lecturers to share knowledge and experience covering product standard preparation, important trade requirements and regulations, international shipping, opportunities and trends in premium markets, marketing strategy planning, and online sales channels. The training will include over 50 GI entrepreneurs from across the country, enabling them to apply this knowledge effectively in business development and market expansion. This will help elevate Thai GI products to compete competitively in international markets.

The GI Next Generation training also plays an important role in building cooperation networks among GI entrepreneurs nationwide, strengthening their business operations, and driving Thai GI products toward sustainable global market competitiveness.

The department will continue promoting and developing GI products by emphasizing quality control and upstream production to maintain Thai GI products' standards and distinctive local identity as key competitive advantages. This will build confidence among both domestic and international consumers, serving as the foundation for elevating GI products to premium market levels.

Currently, Thailand has 256 GI products generating a market value exceeding 115,979 million baht. Of these, 212 products have established quality control systems, representing 82.8% of all Thai GI products.

There are 17,983 entrepreneurs operating through systems that meet quality standards and are authorized to use the Thai GI trademark, reflecting the strength of Thailand's GI product development and protection system and its potential for long-term expansion into international markets.

CHIANG MAI — Immigration police in Chiang Mai have arrested a British national for overstaying his visa, according to officials.

Pol. Col. Phitthakphong Charoenkul, superintendent of Chiang Mai Immigration, and Pol. Lt. Col. Nattaphon Chumbuatong, deputy superintendent, stated that an investigation team has been assigned to locate foreign nationals who are violating immigration laws or committing other offences.

On 28 April 2026, immigration investigators working with officers from Immigration Division 5 conducted an inspection in an area along Samlan Road in Phra Sing subdistrict, Mueang district, following a public tip-off about an illegal foreign resident.

Authorities arrested a British man and charged him with "being a foreign national staying in the Kingdom after permission had expired". He was informed of the charges and his legal rights before being transferred to Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station for further proceedings.

The suspect admitted he had entered Thailand under the visa exemption scheme, which permits nationals from 93 countries and territories to stay up to 60 days per visit to facilitate tourism and short-term business activities. He acknowledged failing to leave the country or apply for a visa extension before his permitted stay expired.

This week's episode of 'Hit Song Duel: Secondary Power' on Channel 7HD (1:30 PM) features a singing competition centered on Potato's feel-good pop-rock song 'Love You Every Day.' Hosted by Thone-Thanakorn Sribunbodee and On-Akkrawat Chumpulvivat, the show brings together accomplished judges Jingkhridkhao Wongtevanyai, Liu-Achariya, and Phumi-Kiatphumi who not only judge the competition but also provide intensive coaching and share their professional experience as singers and actors. Before the main competition, students from Satthasomud School will perform a puppet show to warm up the audience. Three competitors—Pipoo, Mongkhon, and Otoh—will then face off in an intense battle, each bringing their own unique style to the challenge. To win the championship and trophy, performers must showcase their singing ability, stage presence, and charm while captivating the judges and audience. Don't miss Wednesday, April 29 at 1:30 PM on Channel 7HD (digital channel 35). Follow the show on Facebook (Ch7HD and Ch7HD Entertainment), stream live on BUGABOO.TV, and stay connected through Ch7HD's social media channels and website at www.ch7.com.

Lady Praang Praang Kanyaniran recently had a bittersweet birthday. Although her boyfriend Ob Obniti couldn't join her celebration in Japan this year, he made up for it immediately upon her return to Thailand with a surprise visit.

On April 28, Lady Praang attended the premiere of "The Devil Wears Prada 2" at Siam Paragon and shared details about her birthday experience. She spent the day in Japan wearing red, which was the first birthday without Ob by her side. "He wanted to come, but flight tickets were incredibly expensive," she laughed. "It's actually related to fuel costs. The high prices affected so many things, including our relationship." She joked that she had no boyfriend on her birthday, though Ob was devastated he couldn't make the trip.

When Ob couldn't come, he kept in touch through video calls. But Lady Praang playfully pretended she missed him greatly to gauge his reaction. "I was watching his behavior every day, but he seemed fine," she said. "I wanted him to be miserable too since I was suffering."

Ultimately, Ob revealed his plan: he'd been baking a cake from scratch and even made a handmade rabbit figurine with his parents' help. When Lady Praang arrived home and opened the door, she immediately saw him waiting with the cake. "When I saw him, I was so happy. He told me to understand why this special effort was necessary. He made the cake until he was exhausted, so I forgave him for not being there," she laughed.

On keeping the romance alive, Lady Praang shared that what matters most to her is Ob's compliments. "When he tells me I'm beautiful, that's real beauty to me. I only believe him. No one else's words matter as much," she said. She admitted she doesn't compliment him much, worried it might make him suspicious of her motives.

A tragic incident occurred at 09:30 on April 29, 2025, when police from Samkok Station received a report of a pickup truck impaled by roadside metal at Highway 9 (heading toward Bang Bua Thong) in Bang Kra Bue Subdistrict, Samkok District, Pathum Thani Province. Officers and rescue volunteers quickly arrived at the scene on a bridge in the rightmost lane, where they found a gray Nissan Navara with Bangkok license plates. The driver, identified as Subbun, 28, was unconscious in the driver's seat with a two-inch angle-iron beam, approximately one meter long, embedded in his abdomen.

Rescuers attempted CPR but were unsuccessful, and the driver was pronounced dead. Officers contacted forensic pathologists from the Justice Ministry's Institute of Forensic Medicine. Two Myanmar workers, one man and one woman, were also found at the scene. The male worker, identified as Chuem, 42, explained that the group was traveling from Lad Krabang to a construction site in Lad Lum Kaew when suddenly the vehicle swerved to the right, lost control, and fell into the drainage ditch along the roadside before landing on the bridge.

Once the vehicle stopped, a metal bracket that had been lodged beneath the truck suddenly shot upward and pierced through the cabin, striking the driver fatally in the abdomen. Police initially suspect the driver fell asleep while driving, causing the vehicle to veer right before the front wheel dropped into the drainage ditch where the metal bracket was positioned. The bracket became dislodged and shot upward through the vehicle's undercarriage before piercing the driver's abdomen. Further detailed investigation is ongoing, and the body has been transferred to the Institute of Forensic Medicine for autopsy and official cause-of-death determination.

The Department of Agricultural Extension is leveraging artificial intelligence to strengthen grassroots economic development by training approximately 1,000 agricultural promotion officials at all levels to serve as 'AI Coaches' and transfer knowledge to local communities. Deputy Director Suriya Kampuang revealed that these officials will be trained online to develop AI skills and guide the application of AI technology in various areas including targeted marketing, product and packaging development, demand forecasting, and precise business planning.

The department has also compiled practical support tools for community enterprises and farmer entrepreneurs, including over 400 AI prompts and ROI (Return on Investment) calculation guides to help community enterprises analyze business viability, make informed decisions, and reduce investment risks.

The initiative aims to enable community enterprises to apply AI responsibly while adhering to ethical principles and relevant laws. The program targets over 64,513 community enterprises nationwide with more than 1.17 million members, aiming to enhance their competitiveness, add value to products and services, and transition effectively to the digital economy era.

"Using AI will help community enterprises reduce operational costs, increase production efficiency, and expand marketing channels, particularly in online marketing and brand creation, which will add value to community products and services and create economic multiplier effects at the regional and national levels," Suriya stated.

The project emphasizes responsible technology use, considering ethics, intellectual property, and relevant laws. The department aims for at least 70% of trained officials to apply their knowledge concretely in their local areas and scale up community enterprise development broadly.

The initiative represents a shift for Thai community enterprises from manufacturers to modern entrepreneurs capable of creating added value and competing in the digital economy with integrity. The department expects the program to serve as a key mechanism for elevating the nation's grassroots economic structure from product manufacturing to brand creation and value addition, moving from traditional market dependence to data-driven business analysis and planning, while strengthening Thai community enterprises' self-reliance and ensuring sustainable long-term growth.