KBank credit-card holders get a chance at free insurance for Covid-19
Jan 14. 2021
By The Nation
KBank is offering its 100,000 of its credit cardholders a chance to get free Covid-19 insurance for 90 days from January 21 to April 20.
The coverage will provide a maximum benefit of Bt100,000 in case of death and an income compensation of Bt1,000 per day for up to 15 days if the insured has to be hospitalised.
The credit card holders can sign up for the free Covid-19 insurance policy by activating the notification service in Line KBank Live via the “Free COVID-19 Insurance” menu option. Registration is open from until January 18.
KBank will announce who is eligible for the policy by its Line KBank Live account on January 21.
Experts to explore global economic landscape at 14th Asian Financial Forum
Jan 14. 2021
By The Nation
The 14th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) will be held online event on January 18 and 19, under the theme “Reshaping the World Economic Landscape”, and will cover more than 50 sessions from 8.30am to 10pm Hong Kong time.
The aim is to examine the current economic landscape and explore global business opportunities with more than 160 influential policymakers, financial experts, investors, business leaders and economists.
Guests at various sessions will share insights on a wide range of topics including the global economic outlook, socially responsible and impact investment, the asset and wealth management industry in post-Covid era, climate-change risks and opportunities for the insurance industry.
Mary Huen, chairperson of the AFF 2021 steering committee and CEO of Standard Chartered bank in Hong Kong, said: “Covid has brought unprecedented changes to the world economy, though the development of vaccines will help address some of the uncertainties. The global economy is being reshaped even as economic and trade activities begin to get back to normal. Corporates need to aggressively embrace the new normal and turbocharge the implementation of transformation, including technology upgrades, to create new opportunities for the financial industry.”
Dr Patrick Lau, HKTDC deputy executive director, said: “We endured a challenging year in 2020, which makes it all the more important for AFF participants to come together to examine the latest market developments and explore innovative solutions and investment opportunities from around the world. This year’s forum focuses on topics such as sustainable development, impact investment, fintech, 5G, philanthropy, family offices, entrepreneurship and venture capital, and will examine how businesses can turn crisis into opportunity under the new normal.”
First plenary session
The pandemic has hit the global economy hard, and even as the vaccination programme gathers speed the economy is still expected to recover at a slow pace. Whether the global economy will continue on its regular cycle or whether there will be a fundamental change brought about by the pandemic is a topic of interest to many, along with the impact of issues such as trade disputes, climate change and technology development.
The plenary session will explore the topic “Reshaping the World Economic Landscape”, with senior officials examining how the financial services sector can contribute to the recovery of the global economy and what opportunities await in the new economic landscape.
In the face of the global pandemic, many governments employed unconventional financial policies to roll out large-scale fiscal stimulus packages. The discussion will focus on the effectiveness of fiscal and monetary policies in supporting growth, and implications of the increasing use of financial technology from the perspective of regulators.
Broad spectrum of financial issues
As in previous years, the four panel discussions will be a key focus of the AFF. In the session titled “Global Economic Outlook”, business leaders from the banking and financial sectors will assess the transformation brought about by the current environment of low interest rates, increased compliance requirements and digital innovation, together with a raft of challenges resulting from the pandemic. The panellists will share their thoughts on the outlook for the global banking industry, while considering how banks should respond to regulatory changes and advances in technology.
As socially responsible investment and impact investment gain stronger ground, the pandemic has highlighted the importance of incorporating environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into investment decisions, creating long-term value for corporations and generating higher returns for investors. The discussion on “Responsible and Impact Investment” will review the long-term prospects for sustainable investing.
The asset and wealth management industry has inevitably been impacted by Covid-19, but while there are challenges to business operations, the pandemic has also given rise to new solutions and practices and the emergence of new perspectives and investment opportunities. The session titled the “Asset and Wealth Management Industry in the Post-COVID Era” will explore the implications of Covid-19 on the asset and wealth management industry, key industry trends in Asia and globally, and how market players can best position themselves in this fast-changing environment.
Climate change is one of the major emerging risks in the decades ahead and is expected to reshape the structure of the economy in the future, bringing both risks and opportunities to the real economy and the financial sector. The insurance industry is expected to play a key role in facilitating people and businesses to address climate change risks and move towards a sustainable future. In a discussion titled “Climate Change Risks and Opportunities for Insurance”, insurance leaders and experts will look at how the industry is responding to climate change and how to capture opportunities for insurance in the transition to a sustainable economy.
Assessing economic prospects
The impact of the pandemic and evolving international geopolitical issues have combined to create uncertainty in the global economy. Over the two days of AFF, influential global financial policymakers and business leaders will take part in more than 50 panel sessions to explore strategies that can help address the current financial situation.
Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are gaining traction in global markets. As a premier international financial centre and the world’s largest offshore renminbi hub, Hong Kong is well positioned to facilitate the exploration and expansion of CBDCs at the cross-boundary level. In a discussion themed “The Evolving Central Bank Digital Currency Landscape”, panellists will share insights on potential use cases for CBDCs and how Hong Kong’s burgeoning fintech ecosystem can get better equipped for the opportunities that lie ahead.
This year’s forum will also feature a number of “Fireside Chat” sessions featuring experts from various fields, who will share insights on topics such as technology development trends, venture capital, investing in the “she economy”, financing the circular economy, and the state of blockchain, providing practical advice on how to start a successful business.
This year’s AFF will also kick off the “Dialogues for Tomorrow” series to assess the impact of Covid-19 on sectors such as banking, insurance, fintech, energy, healthcare, food and agriculture and big tech, allowing industry players to get a better understanding of the current situation and ways in which they can enhance their competitiveness.
Showcase for innovations and investment opportunities
The Fintech Showcase, FintechHK Startup Salon, InnoVenture Salon and Global Investment Zone will return in a virtual format for the 2021 AFF. The AFF Deal Flow Matchmaking Session will arrange one-on-one meetings between more than 670 investors, project owners and start-ups to bring together capital and investment projects from around the world on a virtual platform. More than 700 meetings will be arranged, covering investment projects including the Internet of Things, digital technology, healthtech, fintech, education, environment and energy, food and agriculture, infrastructure and real estate.
The InnoVenture Salon will continue to empower start-up enterprises by building connections with international investors and potential business partners, joining hands with Hong Kong financial regulators to solve start-up problems.
It will also present the inaugural “AFF Accelerate”, an open innovation challenge jointly organised by the HKTDC, 500 Startups and FWD Group, inviting start-up entrepreneurs to devise insurance technology solutions for the insurance industry, bringing innovative ideas into the commercial world.
Four TFG factories become completely solar powered
Jan 13. 2021
By The Nation
Floating solar farm distributor TF Tech has kicked off the commercial operation of its floating solar systems in four factories owned by Thaifoods Group (TFG), providing a total of 13.78 megawatts, Energy Absolute (EA) deputy chief executive officer Amorn Sapthaweekul said.
EA’s subsidiary, EA Renewable, owns a 40 per cent stake in TF Tech, an associate of TFG.
The four TFG factories in the project include two feed plants, one each in Suphanburi and Prachinburi, and one chicken slaughterhouse in Prachinburi. The solar systems began operating in these three sites in November last year.
The fourth site is a chicken slaughterhouse in Kanchanaburi, where the solar system began operating in December.
JLL, a global real-estate consultancy, has appointed Michael Glancy as country head for Thailand, replacing Suphin Mechuchep, who will become chairperson for operations in Thailand.
The company has also appointed Chris Archibold as country head for Singapore.
These changes, effective from January, come as part of the company’s plan to strengthen its capabilities and align with its growth ambitions in the region. All three executives will report to Chris Fossick, who is CEO of Southeast Asia operations.
In Thailand, Glancy will oversee the company’s business growth. Having worked at JLL Hong Kong since 2019, he relocated to Bangkok in February 2020 and has been leading the transaction business since. He will partner closely with regional and local business lines to generate new leads and opportunities.
Meanwhile, as chair of operations in Thailand, Suphin has successfully managed and expanded the company over the past 17 years. An experienced real-estate veteran, she will continue driving key business priorities and nurture the strong client networks she has built over her career spanning more than three decades.
Archibold has worked with JLL in Singapore for 17 years and spearheaded the office-leasing business before taking over as head of leasing for Singapore in 2018.
In his new role, he will drive Singapore’s sales strategy and business development by connecting local and regional business functions as well as leading markets advisory.
Thais come out tops in the region in health and wellness study
Jan 12. 2021
By THE NATION
A survey across six Asia-Pacific markets revealed that Thais are amongst the best in the region for adopting eight key ingredients to live healthier, longer and better lives.
AIA Group Limited has released the findings from a ground-breaking research initiative, “Healthier Together”, revealing the eight key ingredients that go into living “Healthier, Longer, Better Lives”.
The study was conducted by global data insights company Kantar Group and involved in-depth interviews with more than 80 experts from a broad spectrum of professional disciplines in Thailand and across Asia-Pacific.
The study findings were then validated through a survey of 6,000 consumers in the region, including 1,500 people in Thailand.
When comparing the markets in terms of how well they are performing in living “Healthier, Longer, Better Lives”, Thailand topped the rankings with 35 per cent rating themselves as adopting almost all of the eight identified ingredients and 61 per cent saying they were achieving four or more, the highest of all six countries in the survey.
In terms of relative importance of each of the eight ingredients, Thailand was the only market to indicate that ‘”being self-motivated” was the most critical ingredient, although “having an optimistic outlook”, which rated the most powerful driver in all other markets, came a close second.
“Make time to recharge” is the easiest first step for people to take, while “be active and engaged” was also seen as important and yet this was the behaviour which Thais most need to improve on.
Stuart A Spencer, AIA Group chief marketing officer, said: “The AIA purpose is to help people live healthier, longer, better lives. It’s therefore critical to gain a deep understanding of what people can actually do to achieve this, and how we can help them, beyond the obvious steps of exercising, eating healthily and getting sufficient sleep, particularly in the context of Covid-19.”
Spencer added: “This is really exciting because the findings of this unique piece of research now deliver to us a clear pathway. …It identifies real actions people can take to improve their physical and mental well-being, and real clarity, which has never been more important to us all than it is right now.”
The complete findings of the AIA Healthier Together study and survey can be viewed at: www.aia.com/healthiertogether.
CP Foods delivers ready-to-eat meals to 15 hospitals in six ‘red-zone’ provinces
Jan 11. 2021
By The Nation
Charoen Pokphand Foods (CP Foods) has delivered more than 61,000 packs of ready-to-eat meals to medical staff working on the frontline in 15 hospitals in six “red” provinces.
The “red” provinces, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi, Suphanburi and Kanchanaburi, have been put under maximum control based on the number of Covid-19 cases.
The meals have been delivered to Samut Sakhon Hospital, Krathum Baen Hospital, Nakhon Pathom Hospital, Banglane Hospital, Ratchaburi Hospital, Damnoen Saduak Hospital, Ban Pong Hospital, Ban Phaeo Hospital, Somdej Phra Phutthaloetla Hospital, Napalai Hospital, King Mongkut’s Hospital, Makarak Hospital, Pahonpol Payuha Sena Hospital, Chaophraya Yommaraj Hospital and Somdejprasangkharach XVII Hospital.
The project was initiated in March last year by CP Foods CEO Prasit Boondoungprasert and has so far delivered meals to 200 public hospitals and 20,000 families of doctors and nurses nationwide.
CP Foods is also supporting five hospitals in remote areas of Tak province to tackle cases coming across the Thai-Myanmar border.
In addition to frontline medical workers, CP Foods is collaborating with government agencies and other partners to provide food supplies to migrant workers and underprivileged people.
The company recently partnered with the Labour Protection Network to provide more than 30,000 packs of ready-to-eat meals and 10,000 fresh eggs to help migrant workers affected by the closure of the Mahachai shrimp market in Samut Sakhon.
Krungsri Foundation donates blankets as cold weather settles in
Jan 08. 2021
By The Nation
Krungsri Foundation, led by its assistant secretary Poonsit Wongthawatchai (pictured 2nd left), recently donated 500 blankets to help people in remote areas during this period of cold weather.
The blankets were donated to the “Thai PBS and Networks Spread Warmth to Needy People in Chaloemprakiat District, Nan, 2020” project, represented by Thaipbs Foundation manager Khaisaeng Sakda, (3rd left).
CP Foods raises guard against Covid-19, assuring Thais of food safety
Jan 07. 2021
By The Nation
Charoen Pokphand Foods (CP Foods) has pledged to deliver safe food during the fresh Covid-19 outbreak by maintaining maximum disease controls throughout its supply chain of feed mills, farms, processing plants, transportation, suppliers, distribution channels and Thai and migrant workers.
CP Food CEO Prasit Boondoungprasert said the company’s Covid-19 management centre, set up in early 2020, has implemented stringent safety measures in line with government and CP Group guidelines. These measures were safeguarding the company’s operations amid the new wave of Covid-19 infections, he said. Additional measures have been imposed, particularly regarding employees’ health and safety, as this is the heart of the production and delivery of quality and safe food to consumers, Prasit added.
CP Foods had also raised cleaning and disinfectant standards at farms, processing plants and offices – from raw materials, production lines and packing rooms to equipment and tools. Face masks, temperature checks, and hand washing with alcohol gel before starting work were compulsory for all staff. All trucks must be cleaned and all wheels must be sprayed with disinfectant, said Prasit.
Pimonrat Reephattanavijitkul, CP Foods executive vice president for human resources, said
migrant workers were being housed in dormitories and transported to work by company buses. Meanwhile CP Freshmart shops were maintaining strict hygienic standards at all outlets, with nine disease-prevention measures under “CP Freshmart’s cleanliness and safety against COVID-19” project. Staff must wear face masks and gloves while cleaning frequently touched areas such as money trays and door knobs. Customers are asked to wear face masks, wash hands with alcohol gel and have their temperature checked prior to entering. Customers are also encouraged to use the delivery service rather than visiting outlets.
Tops, Central Food Hall deploy an army of robots to kill viruses
Jan 06. 2021
By The Nation
In a move to ensure shoppers’ safety and curb the spread of Covid-19, Tops and Central Food Hall have deployed UV-C Disinfection Robots to clean surfaces. These robots have been put to work at 10 Tops and Central Food Halls, namely:
• Tops Market Pinklao, Rama II, Rama III, Salaya, Samut Prakan and Westgate.
• Central Food Hall Bangna, Chidlom and Lad Phrao.
• Tops Superstore Mahachai.
Tops and Central Food Hall plan to introduce the robots at other branches as well as distribution centres of fresh and dry food and online fulfilment centres.
The UV-C Disinfection Robots have been certified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Centre for Disease Control (CDC) for their effectiveness as UV-C can kill Covid-19 and other viruses and bacteria.
Disinfection takes seconds as robots emit high-intensity UV-C from all angles to kill 99.9 per cent of germs. UV-C is safe and does not leave residue, thus not affecting the quality of food and products. This technology has also been approved by the UK Food Standards Agency, the US Food and Drug Administration and the organic lobby Soil Association.
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