Since the contract signing last year - Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Academy of World Cuisines, is close to its final phase of construction and is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2007. The agreement was signed between Dusit Thani Plc and Le Cordon Bleu.

The Academy is located in the Dusit Thani Building on Silom Road, next to The Dusit Thani, Bangkok hotel, and will concurrently also offer an international Bachelor's degree in Business Administration in Kitchen and Restaurant Management program at the Dusit Thani College on Srinakarin Road.

This new alliance among Dusit, Le Cordon Bleu, and Dusit Thani College is destined to become Bangkok's most modern and complete culinary training of a scale and scope never achieved before in locally.

This remarkable new partnership between Dusit and Le Cordon Bleu was developed in response to the rapidly increasing demand in Thailand for the finest quality culinary arts education and hospitality training, which will be taught at Dusit Thani College. At the same time, it is also open to non-professionals in the culinary industry who would like to learn how to cook well or to know about food, which will be taught at the Academy.

The Academy will feature courses intended for all who are interested in culinary arts, ranging from Short Courses Program (such as Wine Studies and Appreciation), to the Gourmet Courses Program (such as the 1-day A Taste of Health Eating), to the Classic Cycle Program (such as the 3-month Le Cordon Bleu Classic French Course-Superior Cuisine). In addition, though the culinary arts education and hospitality training will be conducted in English and in Thai, the Academy also offers English Language Course for Tourism and Hospitality (basic, intermediate and advanced at 10 weeks each).

The Dusit Thani College will cater to those seeking an international Bachelor's degree in Business Administration in Professional Chef and Restaurant Management. The College aims to produce future employees with a wholesome and educated knowledge of the hospitality and thus create a competent workforce in Thailand that can compete internationally.

Andre J Cointreau, Chairman & CEO, Le Cordon Bleu (Paris), was in town recently for a meeting among Le Cordon Bleu-Dusit Board of Directors Meeting to confirm shareholders and management structure, to finalize schedule of programs and tuition fees, to finalize designs of Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Academy of World Cuisines, to appoint the Academic Board, to propose marketing plan and to report project construction update.