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Thai developer signs MoU for building two industrial estates in Vietnam

Dec 25. 2020David Nardone, group executive industrial and international as well as vice-chairman of WHA Corporation

By The Nation

WHA Industrial Development, a leading developer of industrial estates in Thailand and Vietnam, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Thanh Hoa provincial authorities to develop to industrial zones in the province.

The first project, called the WHA Smart Technology Industrial Zone – Thanh Hoa, will cover approximately 600 hectares and an additional 30 to 50 hectares devoted to homes.

The second project, WHA Northern Industrial Zone – Thanh Hoa, will cover a gross area of about 540 hectares and will target downstream industries such as plastics, rubber, chemical and bio-chemical products, metal fabrication and foundries to name a few.

Both parties will immediately commence the necessary process for obtaining licences and approvals, with construction expected to commence in 2023 and 2022, respectively.

With a population of 3.6 million people, including a labour force of 2.3 million, Thanh Hoa, located in the north central region, is Vietnam’s third largest province. Its proximity with the capital Hanoi and the city of Haiphong is beneficial in terms of connectivity, logistics, infrastructure and access to the Hanoi International Airport and Lach Huyen Deep Sea Port.

David Nardone, group executive industrial and international as well as vice-chairman of WHA Corporation, said: “This WHA Thanh Hoa PPC MoU will reinforce our presence and growth strategy in Vietnam. The two WHA projects present location advantages to target specific market opportunities.”

The first project, 12km from the province’s main city and with its educated workforce, will capture demand from high-value technology companies.

The second project, located near the well-established Nghi Son petrochemical complex, will further enable the integration of petrochemical and metal supply chains, he said.

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Huawei signs pact with Walailak University to develop ICT professionals in southern Thailand

Dec 24. 2020

By THE NATION

Huawei Technologies (Thailand) signed a memorandum of understanding with Walailak University (WU) in Nakhon Si Thammarat province to better equip students with next-generation technologies and prepare them for the job market, the companies said in a press statement on Wednesday.

As part of the Huawei ICT Academy programme, the partnership aims to introduce advanced IT knowledge through practical courses and on-the-job training.

The MoU was finalised at Walailak University by WU president Prof Dr Sombat Thamrongthanyawong and Huawei Technologies (Thailand) CEO Abel Deng.

Under the initial partnership, Huawei will provide the university with knowledge and training resources on advanced network technology.

“WU students will be accorded learning opportunities in authentic work situations that will give them real-world awareness, skills and flexibility, using tools and resources from the Huawei ICT Academy programme. To prepare them for the digital workforce, qualifying students will be given the chance to participate in the Huawei ICT Competition and Huawei ICT Job Fair, two of Huawei’s flagship ICT skills promotion initiatives. The company’s long-standing commitment to form a better-informed generation of talent will be the basis of this collaboration,” the statement said.

The MOU signing ceremony was followed by the endowment of Huawei Enterprise Routers, Ethernet Switches and Huawei IdeaHub, and a smart whiteboard for collaborative learning, to Prof Dr Sombat.

This ICT equipment will be instrumental in supporting the training and nurturing the most deserving ICT students, the statement said.

“Huawei gives tremendous importance to this collaboration with Walailak University, and it is our pleasure and honour to work with the academic community of Thailand’s southern region,” said Deng.

“We are determined to work more closely with universities across the country to better equip students with the next generation of technologies. We have created the Huawei Asean Academy (Thailand) as an educational platform to demonstrate to the youth that they are capable of becoming outstanding ICT talent in a world-class workforce,” he added.

“We are very excited about this MOU that combines theoretical and practical training, because of its potential to inspire more students who can help transform the country’s IT landscape,” said Prof Dr Sombat. “I would like to express my gratitude to Huawei for helping us provide our students with learning solutions to promote digital development. We are confident that this initiative will go a long way to build a stronger and more skilled ICT workforce for the country.”

Huawei, in cooperation with Huawei ICT Academy, looks forward to building more win-win partnerships with Thailand’s academic community, developing an environment of progress, innovation and value for the youth, and identifying and forming future leaders, as the country moves towards Thailand 4.0, the statement added.

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Bank gives small businesses lessons on surviving crises (nationthailand.com)

Bank gives small businesses lessons on surviving crises

Dec 23. 2020

By The Nation

The Thai Credit Retail Bank (TCRB), which serves the micro business segment, is teaching small business owners how they can turn the Covid-19 crisis into an opportunity through its fourth “Smart Micro Customers: Hardworking, Saving with Discipline” programme.

Some 30,000 vendors have taken part in this intensive training scheme, in which they learned essential skills like financial planning, powerful sales techniques and cashless payments.

Roy Agustinus Gunara

Roy Agustinus Gunara, TCRB’s managing director, said that by providing knowledge and boosting business opportunities, this programme can be effective in helping vendors boost their income during this crisis.

A survey of 45,075 vendors nationwide revealed that 70.3 per cent were suffering from a slump in sales, while 83.6 per cent had no access to online channels.

The spread of Covid-19 has made household debts soar by 83.8 per cent, the highest in 18 years, while only 48.6 per cent of Thais have been found to have financial knowledge. The survey also found that 33.33 per cent of Thais have few savings.

Considering that small businesses form the foundation of the Thai economy and are TCRB’s major customers, the 4th Smart Micro Customers scheme is designed to help them survive the crisis.

In it, participants are given lessons on financial planning, techniques to reach and attract customers via online channels and social media, payment methods via QR Code as well as the use of e-Wallet application, among others.

The latest programme has won a strong response, attracting some 30,000 vendors from all regions. As a result, 95 per cent of the participants have been able to pay off their debts and boost their financial credibility, while 53 per cent have realised that they need to change their behaviour to boost financial discipline in debt repayment to achieve good credibility.

Narumol Chan-aum, a coffee vendor in Rayong province, said: “I learned that payment via QR Code helps prevent infections and reduces mistakes. This form of payment has played a greater role during the Covid-19 outbreak as customers wanted to avoid touching bank notes or coins, so we had to change. QR Code payments have helped boost sales because of greater convenience and cuts the problem of giving the wrong change or handling counterfeit money.”

Phutniphan Rampoeypol, the owner of a car-care service in Bueng Kan province, said she learned that meeting customers’ needs was key to service, so she has introduced free pick-up and delivery, which has boosted her revenue by 30 to 40 per cent.

Chalanthorn Khamdaeng, the owner of a grocery and coffee shop in Chiang Mai, said the training has helped her learn how Line groups can be used to generate more revenue and profits. She created a Line group and added the accounts of her clients. In the group she began promoting consumer products and got a good response, especially at the height of the outbreak. She also provided free delivery service, encouraging customers to come back for more.

Narumol Kosolset, a shoe vendor in Bangkok, said the programme focused on income-and-expense accounts to promote savings, in that vendors can save money if they enter items in the account sheet carefully. This way, she said, vendors can see cash flow every day without waiting for the end of the month.

“The bank has placed greater importance on providing financial and sales knowledge to help small and micro business owners prepare for crises. The next programme will be available both online and offline, and will come packed with insightful information that responds to the current situation and meets international standards. This revised programme will be certified by leading educational institutes, making the participants proud of what they have learned,” Gunara concluded.

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GSB commits to socially responsible banking (nationthailand.com)

GSB commits to socially responsible banking

Dec 22. 2020

By The Nation

The Government Savings Bank (GSB) has joined the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative and signed Principles for Responsible Banking as part of its commitment to become a social bank.

GSB is the first Thai state financial institution to recognise the principles for responsible banking.

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CP Foods guarantees ‘Covid-free prawns’ despite virus surge (nationthailand.com)

CP Foods guarantees ‘Covid-free prawns’ despite virus surge

Dec 21. 2020

By The Nation

Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL (CP Foods) has reassured consumers that its prawn are contaminant-free from farm to table, while its production remains undisrupted by an outbreak of Covid-19 at a prawn market in Samut Sakhon.

The company said it imposed stringent biosecurity measures throughout its operation to keep both its employees and consumers safe from the outbreak.

This included strict hygiene measures for staff inside and outside their workplaces, said Pairoj Apiruknusit, executive vice president at CP Foods.

“Since Samut Sakhon province announced its lockdown, all CP Foods workers have been asked to stay inside to reduce the risk of infection. Our measures aim to ensure that consumers receive safe food from a traceable source,” he said.

All CP Food migrant workers are employed in Thailand under an MoU between the Thai government and the government on their country of origin, he added. Under the MoU, all are legally recruited by agencies authorised by their government and in line with Thai labour standards.

Pairoj said CP Foods also educates its prawn farmers on Covid-19 prevention. Meanwhile, prawns are transported directly from farm to consumers in an effort to minimise human contact.

“We guarantee fresh, hygienic and contaminant-free foods to all our consumers,” he said.

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New transport app Bolt promises cheaper rides in Chiang Mai (nationthailand.com)

New transport app Bolt promises cheaper rides in Chiang Mai

Dec 21. 2020

By The Nation

Bolt, an on-demand transportation platform in Europe and Africa, on Monday announced its pilot service in Chiang Mai, with more than 500 drivers ready to start accepting rides.

Bolt enters Chiang Mai on the heels of its debut in Bangkok earlier this year.

“At Bolt, we’re on a mission to make urban transport more affordable and convenient,” said the firm’s regional manager, Ireoluwa Obatoki. “We’ve seen an amazing success of Bolt app in Bangkok, where people have completed thousands of rides on our platform since our launch in July. We are now excited to bring equally affordable rides and great driver earnings to Chiang Mai”.

The firm describes Bolt as a free mobile app that allows passengers to request a driver, collect them wherever they are and take them where they want to go in a quick, reliable and affordable way. Drivers registered to the platform can earn money by accepting rides through the application.

Bolt in Chiang Mai said it will charge drivers no commission for using the platform for the first six months, and offers fares 20 per cent lower than other competitors on the market.

The free Bolt app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Drivers with their own car can join Bolt platform by registering at partners.bolt.eu/driver-signup or through the Bolt Driver app.

Bolt has more than 50 million users in over 40 countries across Europe and Africa. Its services range from ride-hailing to micromobility with e-scooters and electric bikes to food and package delivery.

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GSB wins three top honours at Money & Banking Awards 2020 (nationthailand.com)

GSB wins three top honours at Money & Banking Awards 2020

Dec 18. 2020

By The Nation

The Government Savings Bank (GSB) won Best Retail Bank of the Year for the fifth consecutive year at the Money & Banking Awards 2020.

GSB also won Money & Banking Awards for Best Service Provider – Deposit 2020, and Best Booth.

GSB president Vitai Ratanakorn and vice president Isara Wongrung received the three honours from Santiviriya Rangsarit, editor-in-chief of the Money and Banking Journal, at the Money & Banking Awards ceremony attended by GSB executives and employees at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Bitec).

This year, the GSB booth’s layout reflects its status as the “social bank” that plays an important social role by giving Thai people access to funding sources to raise their income levels, improve quality of life and strengthen the economy’s foundations.

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AmCham Thailand, Aetna Health Insurance donate computers to Nonthaburi schools (nationthailand.com)

AmCham Thailand, Aetna Health Insurance donate computers to Nonthaburi schools

Dec 18. 2020

By The Nation

The American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand Foundation (ATF) along with member company Aetna Health Insurance donated 109 sets of computers to 30 schools in Nonthaburi on December 14.

“AmCham member companies continue to invest in sustainable development of Thailand, and education is a top priority for these companies,” said Sarawan Dever, deputy director of AmCham Thailand.

AmCham members provide funding to improve the quality of education, skills training for students and teachers, and access to infrastructure to give these students an opportunity to fulfil their potential and better their lives, said the foundation. Many of ATF’s students have been employed by AmCham’s member companies. Since 1982 AmCham has supported almost 900 state primary schools throughout Thailand. In addition, ATF has provided more than 3,000 university scholarships since 1976, according to the foundation.

Meanwhile Aetna Health Insurance invests in CSR activities that focus on health and safety of local communities across Thailand and globally. By providing access to better education, health and safety, Aetna aims to support community well-being and development.

At the Nonthaburi Education Area District Office 2 to hand over the computers with Sarawan were Aetna Health Insurance managing director Damian J Delaney and director of marketing and product development, Kunthaphatt Nutapotipan. Receiving the donation was Nonthaburi Primary Educational Service Area Office 2 director, Orawan Saengsuwan, and deputy director Dujdao Tobangpa.

“The schools were grateful for the donation since they do not have the budget to purchase the required computers,” Orawan said.

The event was also attended by teachers and students from recipient schools.

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Great Wall Motors showcases new business model to transform Thai automotive industry (nationthailand.com)

Great Wall Motors showcases new business model to transform Thai automotive industry

Dec 18. 2020

By The Nation

China’s Great Wall Motors (GWM) hosted the GWM Partner Forum last week, inviting investors and businesspeople from the automotive and other industries to learn more about the new strategies and policies of GWM’s New Business Model. The event was held on December 9-11 and received strong feedback from participants. The forum reinforced GWM’s commitment to supporting Thai businesses and driving the Thai automotive industry forward.

Great Wall Motors said it has continued to grow its business in Thailand under its globalisation strategy. The company had shared its new business model, attracting leading investors and business leaders in Thailand. This had also offered opportunities for GWM to listen to Thai businesses’ feedback and exchanges ideas and opinions on designing the most effective business plans and models to better serve the needs of firms and consumers. Steven Wang, MGW Thailand’s vice president for Sales and Marketing in Thailand and Asean, launched the three-day forum, which was joined by more than 324 potential investors, dealers, and entrepreneurs from at least 195 companies across Thailand.

Said Narong Sritalayon, managing director of GMW Thailand: “Selecting partners that have the same visions and commitment as GWM is one of the vital strategies to drive GWM’s business successfully in the future. We are delighted and grateful to all investors and businesspeople who joined this event and we hope to have the opportunities to work with these leading talents in the future. Together, we aim to drive this new business model to deliver the best-in-class experiences to Thai consumers. Great Wall Motors is ready to provide full support in upskilling workforces as well as setting up work systems to ensure the most effective business operations. We hope GWM’s New Business Model will help transform the automotive industry. The model offers new consumer experiences through innovative technologies. Though it is different from current business practices, we are confident that with GWM’s determination to offer the best to consumers and relieve their difficulties, along with the company’s consumer and partner-centric strategies, automotive expertise, and the experience in Thai business of our potential partners, that we can deliver impressive services to best meet the needs of consumers in this digital era at every touchpoint – including car selection, test drives, sales and after sales services.”

Great Wall Motors has now expanded to 60 countries globally. Thailand is a strategic hub for GWM vehicle production, exports and business expansion in the Asean region. As a “Global Mobility Technology Company”, GWM said it is not only committed to delivering the best autos and technologies to consumers, but also focused on upskilling workforces and businesses as well as driving the overall economy of each country to grow the business sustainably together.

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DBS Denla School extends generosity in the Christmas spirit (nationthailand.com)

DBS Denla School extends generosity in the Christmas spirit

Dec 18. 2020

By THE NATION

The Nonthaburi-based DBS Denla British School has brought British traditions to Thailand by holding a special tree-lighting ceremony and Christmas fair, as well as donating all funds raised in the raffle to charities.

The DBS community, comprising students, teachers, parents and staff, got together on December 11 to light the school’s Christmas tree. The event also featured a Christmas play and a performances by the DBS orchestra and choir. Principal Mark McVeigh could also be heard singing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”.

Festivities returned to the campus on December 15 with the DBS Christmas Fair, which has been expanded this year to include rides and food trucks, in addition to musical performances by students and raffles. The raffle is a traditional way of raising money for charity in Britain, where numbered tickets are sold and then numbers drawn at random for prizes.

DBS has said it will donate all earnings to charities in Nonthaburi, namely Rainbow House for children with disabilities in Pak Kret, Wat Singthong School and the Aomgred Community Hospital.