Krungsri launches Social Enterprise Market in Bangkok
Dec 16. 2020
By THE NATION
Bank of Ayudhya (Krungsri) and SE Thailand joined hands on Wednesday to launch the Social Enterprise Market @Krungsri. The fair is aimed at creating opportunities for social enterprises hit by the Covid-19 crisis. On show are quality products for a better environment and society offered by leading social enterprises, including DoiTung, Doi Kham, Green Net, and The SUPPORT Arts and Crafts International Centre of Thailand. The fair also features fun activities ahead of the festive season.The Social Enterprise Market @Krungsri is at the plaza in front of the Krungsri head office on Rama III Road until this Friday.Pictured opening the event are Pairote Cheunkrut, second left, Krungsri’s chief strategy officer, and Kesara Manchusree, third left, director of the Board of Association of SE Thailand.
Indorama Ventures pilots blockchain transaction with partner in Australia
Dec 16. 2020Krisda Phatcharoen, country head of commercial banking at HSBC Thailand
By The Nation
Indorama Ventures (IVL) has through its subsidiary Indorama Holding successfully executed a blockchain-enabled letter-of-credit (LC) transaction with Techwool Trading using the Contour blockchain platform.
The blockchain transaction, completed on a single shared application called Contour, involved a shipment of scoured wool shipped by Techwool in Australia to IVL in Thailand.
HSBC acted as the issuing and advising bank for both sides.
This transaction shows that blockchain technology will help digitise trade and is commercially and operationally viable. Trade transactions via blockchain technology allow all parties to review documents in real-time, which reduces cost, risk and lead times.
Krisda Phatcharoen, country head of commercial banking at HSBC Thailand, said the bank believes the use of advanced technology will serve businesses well, especially in the restrictive environment brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rajesh Banka, CEO of IVL’s wool business said: “Contour-enabled trade transactions have offered an insight into how the technology has the potential to revolutionise conventional trade finance and reduce time frames and risk involved in cross-border trade. IVL will continue to pursue this technology with HSBC as a fit with our digitalisation transformation project.”
BTS Group added to list of Sustainability Investment for second year running
Dec 16. 2020
By The Nation
The BTS Group has been added to the Thailand Sustainability Investment list for a second consecutive year. Daniel Ross, centre, BTS Group’s chief investment officer, receives a plate from Pakorn Peetathawatchai, left, Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) president, and Krisada Sektrakul, SET’s senior executive vice president.
BTS Group has also won an “excellent” score for corporate governance for the ninth consecutive year under the Corporate Governance Report of Thai Listed Companies 2020 Project by Thai Institute of Directors Association with support from SET.
CP Foods promises corn bought from responsible, eco-friendly sources
Dec 15. 2020
By The Nation
In a bid to cut down on its carbon footprint, Charoen Pokphand Foods (CP Foods) has announced that it only buys corn from responsible and traceable growers, who have legal documents for their farms and do not encroach into forests.
Also, farmers with legal land deeds can sell their produce at a price higher than the market price at 17 points, including 15 CP Foods’ feed mills and two new purchase stations in Uthai Thani and Nakhon Ratchasima.
Woraphot Suratwisit, vice president of Bangkok Produce Merchandising which supplies raw materials to CP Foods’ feed mills, said his company has joined CP Foods in launching a responsible raw material sourcing campaign called “Farmer Self Sufficiency Maize Sustainability” project.
“The project focuses on helping small farmers by providing harvest and delivery trucks for farmers participating in the project and the provision of partial financial support to reduce their production cost and address labour shortage,” Woraphot said.
Meanwhile, CP Foods only buys from farmers who can show proper land documents, are registered with the Corn Traceability system and do not burn off farming leftovers. Suppliers have also been asked to share the movement of their trucks on GPS to further enhance the transparency of the corn supply.
The farmers who have joined this project will get a better-than-market price that is in line with the Commerce Ministry’s moisture content standards (not less than Bt8.5 per kilogram).
CP Foods implemented the Corn Traceability system in early 2016 as part of its commitment to only purchase corn grown sustainably with the goals to mitigate direct and indirect environmental impact and lift farmers’ quality of life
“Dow” supports a community in Klong Toey District in building a waste management learning center and hopes to develop it into a zero-waste city.
Dec 14. 2020
“Dow” promotes “Koh Klang Community” in Klong Toey District as a model in comprehensive waste management with an emphasis on optimum utilization of resources according to the circular economy principle. A waste sorting system has been set up, areas have been improved, and channels for waste sale have been sought. The project aims to generate income and welfare for the community and will also serve as a learning center for other areas to build upon.
Today (27 November), Dow Thailand Group (Dow) held an opening ceremony of a model learning center for comprehensive waste management in Koh Klang Community in Klong Toey District, Bangkok. The community, located on a small island in the Phra Khanong Canal, is the only “island community” in Bangkok and is ready to welcome community members and interested parties who would like to learn more about waste management and further make use of the knowledge to help prevent waste from ending up in the environment.
Koh Klang Community in Klong Toey District goes back more than 100 years ago. It has a population of 270 living in 58 households. The small island, which is owned by the Crown Property Bureau, has an area of 3 rai in the middle ofthe Phra Khanong Canal. It is currently part of a pilot project for a self-managed community, where the residents lead a self-sufficient life, making their own household items to lower expenses, and are committed to conserving the environment. The comprehensive waste management project was, therefore, launched in the community to generate extra income and increase benefits for the community from selling waste. It is also expected to serve as a learning center where other communities can learn from their experience.
“Dow Thailand Group is committed to creating sustainability in combatting global warming, reducing plastic waste, and encouraging recycling to ensure optimum utilization of resources as per the circular economy framework. The company has joined forces with other organizations and communities with a similar outlook to build this pilot project. We found that Koh Klang is our headquarters’ neighboring community with the residents who want to improve their homes and neighborhood. They also have a strong community leader who places emphasis on waste management at the source and they are also prepared to pass on the knowledge to other communities. This has led to the project’s collaboration and success that we see today,” said Mr. SupojKatetohprakarn, Business Director of Dow Thailand Group.
The project is a collaboration between Dow, Klong Toey District Office, and Thailand Institute of Packaging and Recycling Management for Sustainable Environment (TIPMSE), an expert in packaging management as the project’s consultant. The community’s waste management is divided into four groups according to the types of waste found in the community, comprising 1. Organic waste management 2. Recycle material management 3. General waste management 4. Hazardous waste management. The different types of waste will either be made into sellable items or delivered to the Klong Toey District Office for proper disposal. Land improvement for the project has been carried out since January 2020.
“Dow has worked with TIPMSE to provide knowledge about comprehensive waste management to the community including organizing workshops on types of plastic, proper plastic waste sorting, and the recycling process as well as setting up a better waste sorting system, improving areas for proper waste sorting, and coordinating with organizations that could purchase the waste and make use of it. Dow is currently in talks to Klong Toey District Office to set up a system for a pick-up of clean stretchy plastic waste that has been sorted for further recycling,” added Mr. Supoj.
Dow has also worked with the community in setting up an accounting system that will ensure thorough distribution of income within the community. The income will be divided into two categories, which are income from waste sales and income from study visits by interested organizations and communities. Innovation in a form of an application called O.K. Recycle will also be used to facilitate the community’s buying prices updates and waste selling and buying data collection.
Mr. SinchaiTiansiri, Director of TIPMSE said “TIPMSE, which is an organization that has been promoting packaging for over 15 years, has seen the potential of Koh Klang Community in becoming an interesting learning center. Not only is it located on an island, but it is also an urban community, where promoting waste management is quite difficult with the limited space and urban people’s relaxed attitudes toward waste sorting. Therefore, anyone who would like to learn from a community with so many limitations but has concretely succeeded in carrying out the project can come to Koh Klang, where Dow and TIPMSE have joined forces with the local authorities in developing the area into another interesting learning center.”
Mr. PrateungwitJaidee, Deputy Director of Klong Toey District Office, said “Waste management has always been conducted in Koh Klang community including waste sorting and recycling though it might not be as comprehensive or systematic. Getting support from Dow Thailand Group is wonderful and helps build upon what the community has always been doing. The Kong Toey District Office is more than happy to support the community and the learning center’s future activities that will benefit other communities and organizations who can come for study visits. The knowledge gained from the visits will be useful in reducing waste at the source and building a zero-waste community.
According to the survey, the types of waste in Koh Klang Community comprises 31 percent organic waste, 41 percent recyclable materials, 27 percent general waste, and 1 percent hazardous waste. With all reusable and recyclable waste sorted out, the amount of waste going to the landfill could be reduced by over four tons from 18 tons in the first phase of the project or more than 20 percent. The organic waste can be used to make biogas, compost, and fermented bio-extracts. The recyclablewaste can be sold for added income. For the general waste, the 3 Rs concept will be applied through encouraging reducing and reusing as well as making crafts or other useful items.
Out of all the community’s wastes, 18 percent is plastic waste, which can be divided into 26 percent non-sellable plastic waste and up to 74 percent sellable recyclable plastic waste. The sellable waste can be a source of income and other welfare programs for the community such as a cremation fund or improvement of the community’s common areas.
For a study visit at Koh Klang Community’s Comprehensive Waste Management Learning Center, please contact KhunJurairat (Eiu) at 089-4269723
Meet the new Thai stars in Michelin’s latest restaurant guide
Dec 16. 2020The 2021 Michelin Guide Thailand winners
By The Nation
Michelin granted Thailand another four precious stars on Wednesday, as it unveiled its latest guide to the country’s restaurant scene.
Featured in the “Michelin Guide Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket & Phang-Nga 2021” are 299 dining establishments – with a total of 6 two-star, 22 one-star, 106 Bib Gourmand, and 165 Michelin Plate eateries.
Chef’s Table, a French contemporary restaurant in Bangkok, is the only eatery promoted from one-star to two-star status.
Three more Bangkok restaurants have been granted one-star status.
Blue by Alain Ducasse is a French contemporary restaurant that “offers diners a chance to savour world-class dishes using top quality ingredients, well executed with classic French cooking techniques”.
Cadence by Dan Bark is an “innovative restaurant that brings together Western and Asian cuisine, plus features Korean arts through modern and innovative dishes”.
Another addition to the one-star list is promoted from the Michelin Plate: “Sushi Masato, a sushi bar serving omakase menu in an intimate chef’s table setting, where a team of inspired chefs use the finest ingredients sourced from Japan.”
Nineteen other establishments retain their one-star rating, bringing the total one-star count to 22.
The Michelin Plate rating (“good cooking”) sees 32 new entrants – 12 in Bangkok surrounding provinces, nine in Chiang Mai, and 11 in Phuket & Phang-Nga – bringing the total to 165 establishments.
Among the newbies are Banrimbung (Nakhon Pathom), serving family-style Thai cuisine with fresh seafood; Kiti Panit (Chiang Mai), serving authentic Lanna food in a traditional setting; and Beach Grill and Bar (Phang-Nga), where Mediterranean fusion cuisine and fresh local seafood are served from the charcoal grill.
PRU, the one-Michelin-star restaurant in Phuket, is also awarded the Michelin Green Star in recognition of its pioneering sustainable gastronomy practices.
The restaurant uses only seasonal ingredients from Thailand, including line-caught seafood and free-range animals. Its research team have even created a seedbank to preserve local agricultural biodiversity.
Meanwhile the Thailand’s first Michelin Guide Young Chef Award goes to Sujira “Aom” Pongmorn at Saawaan (Bangkok).
Sujira was born into a family of cooks before training under Michelin-starred chefs such as Juan Amador and Thomas Keller.
The Michelin Guide Service Award goes to Guillaume Barray, general manager at Chef’s Table (Bangkok) and hailed for his “efficiency, sincerity and passion for good products and traditions to deliver the best experience possible to all guests”.
From left: A representative receives the Michelin Green Star for the one-star PRU restaurant (Phuket); Sujira “Aom” Pongmorn from Saawaan (Bangkok) is awarded the 2021 Michelin Guide Young Chef Award; and Guillaume Barray, general manager at Chef’s Table (Bangkok), holds his Michelin Guide Service Award.
“The Michelin Guide Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Phang-Nga 2021 is available in a Thai/English digital edition at guide.michelin.com/th/en or in print at large bookshops for Bt650 from December 23.
Sizzler marks festive season with minimalist memorabilia, special menu
Dec 16. 2020
By The Nation
Sizzler is collaborating with popular minimalist artist Suntur to launch collectibles in line with its “Festive Season, Joyful Entry to 2021” promotion.
Included in this promotion is a special menu offering delights like grilled grouper steak with salmon salad, prawn cake and salmon sauce, surf and turf with mashed truffle and black pepper sauce, crispy pancetta with mashed truffle etc.
Also on offer is a new festive cookie set, which can make for a perfect gift. The festive goodies will be served until January 24.
Sizzler said that sales in the third quarter had risen by 100 per cent compared to the first half of the year, and expects overall sales in 2021 to grow by 5 to 10 per cent once the economy starts picking up.
By The NationPhitsanulok’s Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park has turned into a vision of red, offering visitors a perfect backdrop for photographs.
Park chief Suriya Kalasuk said on Thursday that the foliage on more than 100 maple trees, known in Thai as “kuam daeng”, has turned red now that the temperatures have dropped.
Thanks to the cool temperatures, the one-kilometre hike to Man Daeng Waterfall will be a deep shade of ruby until early next year, he said.
Tourists camping at the Khao Phaeng Ma Reforestation Project in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Wang Nam Kheow district woke up on Wednesday to find a friendly wild bull grazing nearby.
The eight-year-old Thong Dee is occasionally seen at the camping site looking for food and doesn’t appear to be afraid of humans.
Pongtep Malachasing, president of the district’s tourism promotion organisation, said the reforestation project area is a perfect spot to observe wild animals.
He said thanks to the lush greenery, more than 300 wild bulls come out to graze on the hill’s peak and are easily visible from the camping site.
Krisda Phatcharoen, country head of commercial banking at HSBC Thailand 
The 2021 Michelin Guide Thailand winners 
From left: A representative receives the Michelin Green Star for the one-star PRU restaurant (Phuket); Sujira “Aom” Pongmorn from Saawaan (Bangkok) is awarded the 2021 Michelin Guide Young Chef Award; and Guillaume Barray, general manager at Chef’s Table (Bangkok), holds his Michelin Guide Service Award.
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