Ajinomoto signs bio-fertiliser deal to boost crop yield, cut chemicals
Nov 09. 2020
By THE NATION
Takaaki Arashida, vice president of Ajinomoto (Thailand), recently signed a five-year contract for technology transfer of PGPR bio-fertiliser with Phichet Wiriyapaha, a representative of the Agriculture Department.
Under the contract, Ajinomoto will use PGPR technology and know-how to develop, produce and distribute this bio-fertiliser at a reasonable price to Thai farmers for five years.
Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) bio fertiliser is a beneficial group of soil bacteria that colonises plant roots and promotes plant growth by nitrogen fixation to boost agricultural productivity and crop strength.
“Each year, Ajinomoto Thailand consumes a lot of agricultural products. We would like to contribute to sustainability of Thai agriculture by using our bio-technology and bio-cycle value chain to create more productivity and value for Thai agricultural product,” said Arashida. “With PGPR bio-fertiliser we are targeting a 10 per cent increase in crop yield and a 25 per cent reduction of chemical fertiliser usage. This move will help improve Thai farmers’ quality of life in accordance with the company’s ASV policy (Ajinomoto Group Creating Shared Value).”
Central, Tops launch New Year ‘baskets of happiness’
Nov 06. 2020
By The Nation
Central Food Retail has launched its 2021 New Year gift basket campaign under the theme “Infinite Happiness”. The baskets are available at every branch of Tops Market, Tops Superstore, Central Food Hall, Tops Daily and Tops online until January 5.
Highlights include gift baskets for pet cats and dogs, for health and beauty, and for DIY.
Stephane Coum, CEO of Food at Central Food Retail, said the long-awaited season of happiness was rolling around even as Thailand and the rest of the world fought the Covid-19 pandemic..
TikTok launches new contest to hunt for Southeast Asian marketing trendsetters
Nov 06. 2020
By The Nation
TikTok, the leading social-media app for short video clips, is calling on Southeast Asian marketing and creative professionals as well as agencies to participate in the TikTok Trendsetter competition.
Launching on Monday, the contest aims to inspire people and agencies in the region to harness the potential of TikTok to solve real-world marketing challenges.
Contestants will be divided into three categories, namely:
• Individual: Contestants will submit one TikTok video creative idea that addresses marketing-related challenges for small and medium enterprises, and sectors such as fast-moving consumer goods and government.
• Agency: Contestants will submit a storyboard for at least four TikTok creative ideas, a media plan using TikTok and a sample TikTok video that address marketing-related challenges for industries such as fintech, luxury, automobiles and telecom.
• Existing Campaigns: Campaigns that have already run on TikTok this year can also participate in the competition.
The deadline for submission is December 24, with votes running from January 4 to 22.
The panel of judges will include in-house and agency creative executives as well as TikTok creators. The winners will be announced on February 1, 2021.
Agency teams will have a chance to win up to US$40,000 in prizes, while individual contestants can win a mentorship session with TikTok Global Business Marketing executives.
TikTok will hold a creative workshop on November 24 and 26 in partnership with BBDO Singapore to provide a deeper understanding on how TikTok can be used for marketing purposes. The workshop will be held virtually at https://www.tiktok-trendsetter.com/ and is accessible to all.
CP Foods first in Thailand to receive ISO management innovation certification
Nov 06. 2020
By The Nation
Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF)’s Bang Na feed mill is the first Thai operation to be granted international ISO 56002 certification for management innovation.
Siripong Aroonratana, COO of the company, received the certification from Punnee Angsusingha, president of Management System Certification Institute (Thailand) at CP Tower in Bangkok recently.
Punnee explained that the new ISO standard was initiated to provide a framework for a systematic innovation management, helping the organisation to get the most benefit out of their own innovations.
She praised CP Foods for continuously driving organisational development through innovation. She noted that the company was the first in Thailand to receive the new certificate, reflecting its status as world leader in the agro-industrial and food business that is constantly boosting its competitiveness and driving the food industry towards Thailand 4.0.
Siripong thanked the company’s management as well as all employees for their contributions to boosting innovation in the organisation.
Global Power Synergy Plc (GPSC)’s board of directors on Friday appointed Worawat Pitayasiri as new president and chief executive officer of the company, effective from December 1.
The board also acknowledged the resignation of Chawalit Tippawanich as president and CEO, effective from December.
Chawalit is leaving to take up the posts of IRPC’s president and CEO. The IRPC board of directors appointed him on November 5, effective from December 1.
GPSC said Worawat, 54, has many years of experience and expertise in technology and innovation management, which is in line with the firm’s vision and growth strategy as a global sustainable power leader and flagship of the PTT Group.
Worawat is currently senior executive vice president for Innovation and Digital at PTT. He has been with PTT Group for over 20 years, holding senior positions including executive vice president, Downstream Business Group Planning, executive vice president, Downstream Business Group Collaboration, and president of PTT MCC Biochem.
International Coaching Federation shares ideas on human resources amid virus crisis
Nov 06. 2020
By The Nation
The International Coaching Federation (ICF)’s Bangkok branch has proposed an agenda for national leaders, teachers and parents, to develop human resources that would boost Thailand’s push to become a top “S-Curve industry” country.
Ramida Russell Maneesatiean
The agenda was delivered last week at “Coaching DNA of Leaders”, an event organised by Bangkok’s ICF president Wittawat Kasemwut and presided over by Ramida Russell Maneesatiean, ICC International president and ICF committee member.
Jean-Francois Cousin
Jean-Francois Cousin, a world-renowned coach from ICF Professional Coach Global Board, described changing global trends in coaching as the world focuses on development from the youth level.
Cousin shared interesting coaching developments, such as giving children the opportunity to experiment freely to draw out their potential while adults keep watch from afar. He cited the example of Ray Charles, a blind musician-songwriter whose mother did not reach out to help while her sightless son wept for help, training him instead to learn how to survive by himself.
Chatchai Norasetthaporn, senior executive vice president of Sustainable Development at Central Group, said building leaders within companies by adopting coaching methods will play an important role in driving Thai education. He pointed out that the new national education strategy calls for teachers to be coaches. Teachers must change their methods to help students get involved in learning, he added.
Prasarn Trairatworakul, adviser of Central Group, said that old methods of education were no longer suited to the demands of the current era. The National Strategic Planning Committee had asked the Education Ministry to adjust the role of teachers towards coaching, and organised coaching training for teachers in schools. He said most teachers don’t know what a coach is, but after training they at least understand the culture and value of coaching. In today’s fast-changing world, teachers had to act as directors by engaging students in thinking, he added.
Lukkana WorasilchaiiLukkana Worasilchai, vice-rector of Bangkok University, said the Thai government still needs to improve education if Thailand wants to step up to become an S-Curve industry country. It should discuss learning based on the competencies and skills of the learner. What learners need is an ecosystem of education, a goal-oriented study plan, and a career-planning expert. Education should be characterised by lifelong learning, not requiring children to complete their studies within a time limit. Studying has to be a real experiment with a compact lesson for specific interests (“micro-learning”).
Pimonrat Reephattanavijitkul, executive vice president, Head of Human Resources at Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF), said that CPF is a company with huge human resources – 120,000 people worldwide, 75,000 people alone in Thailand. Everything must proceed systematically. Adopting coaching methods helps a lot. Seniors must relearn and be open to new generations, drawing the power of these two groups for further development, she said, adding that coaching is very important. “We have a system of change by giving new graduates a chance to become a ‘boss’ to do real business with real funds and P&L to work with.” New graduates are given freedom to make decisions. A coaching process is guided by supporters [seniors], but they do not direct nor instruct since this would mean reverting to old paradigms.
Banpu NEXT, Tribeca Enterprise sign solar-energy deal for LK-Rich in Rayong
Nov 06. 2020
By The NationBanpu NEXT, a Banpu subsidiary and leading clean energy solution provider in Asia-Pacific, signed a pact with Tribeca Enterprise on Friday to set up a floating solar panel with a total capacity of 16 megawatts.
Tribeca is the developer of the LK Rubber Industrial City Hub (LK-Rich) in Rayong.
The solar energy set-up, the largest privately-owned development of its kind in Thailand, will power up LK-Rich and support its endeavour to become an eco-industrial town. The installation of the panel is scheduled to begin in February.
Somruedee Chaimongkol, chief executive officer of Banpu Pcl and Banpu NEXT, said the floating panel will be set up in a reservoir covering more than 4 million square metres.
Dr Luckchai Kittipol, chief executive officer of Tribeca, said: “Tribeca Enterprise has a vision to develop LK-Rich as the hub of the rubber industry where processed rubber is turned into value-added products, such as tyres and auto parts, as well as an eco-industrial estate where tenants, their employees and surrounding communities can lead a good quality of life.
“We aspire to be a hi-tech industrial estate that adopts advanced technology to assure high quality products using minimal time.”
He said this will require high energy, which is why Tribeca has been exploring opportunities to bring clean energy to LK-Rich.
“The installation work will begin in February, with completion planned within the same year,” he added. “Once operational, this solar floating panel will play a key role in boosting our energy efficiency. With the 20-year contract, we will be able to save more than Bt200 million in electricity cost, reduce pollution and bring added value to LK-Rich and its tenants,” Luckchai said.
“We plan to expand this industrial estate with an additional 3,000-rai development for S-curve industries. This clean energy project and our positioning as a high-tech industrial estate will help bring Thai and foreign investors to LK-Rich.”
Aspen Technology Delivers New Industrial AI Solutions to Accelerate the Journey to the Self-Optimizing Plant
Nov 05. 2020
Aspen Hybrid Models™ and Embedded AI Capabilities Will Change How Process Industries Achieve Goals for Improved Safety, Environmental Impact, Reliability and Profitability
Bangkok – October 27, 2020 – Aspen Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:AZPN), a global leader in asset optimization software, today announced the general availability of the aspenONE® V12 software release, which embeds artificial intelligence (AI) across the portfolio, and uses the cloud for delivery of enterprise-wide analytics and insights for increased safety, sustainability, and improved margins. AspenTech’s Industrial AI solutions democratize the application of AI where it can deliver most value and is a vital step towards the Self-Optimizing Plant.
“Aspen Hybrid Models™ are a major advance in the field of chemical engineering. Hybrid models are a major step forward in bringing together AspenTech’s process models and machine learning and are a game changer in process engineering and plant improvement,” said Dr. Karuna Potdar, Vice President, Technology Centre of Excellence, Reliance Industries Limited.
aspenONE® V12 solutions have the first Industrial AI hybrid model capability that is purpose-built for the process industries and other capital-intensive industries. Aspen Hybrid Models™ capture data from assets across the enterprise, and then apply AI, engineering first principles and AspenTech’s domain expertise to deliver comprehensive, more accurate models at enterprise speed and scale. With AspenTech’s four decades of knowledge about the unique challenges of building solutions for process industries and other capital-intensive industries, aspenONE® V12 enables customers to apply AI to critical processes without additional data science expertise and offers better support for new users without deep process knowledge or experience.
The process industries have embraced digital transformation to drive operational excellence and innovation as they respond to meet the needs of growing populations and expectations for sustainability. The new solutions in aspenONE® V12 address these unique challenges with better modeling accuracy, greater insights and improved total cost of ownership that can support evolving business needs and take advantage of the new digital native workforce.
“The process industries and other capital-intensive industries are experiencing new levels of volatility in supply and demand, and the need to be agile in response to all market conditions requires a new approach to asset optimization,” said Antonio Pietri, President and CEO, Aspen Technology. “In addition, they face higher expectations for efficiency and profitability, and increasing pressure to meet sustainability targets. This next generation of Industrial AI solutions will change how process industries work. The Self-Optimizing Plant represents the future of operational excellence, and we continue our commitment to innovate and deliver solutions that can accelerate our customers’ journey toward it.”
According to Peter Reynolds, Senior Analyst, ARC Advisory Group, “AI has the potential to enhance many industrial work processes; however, most companies are not well-equipped to bolt on AI themselves. AspenTech’s industry-specific applications with embedded AI will help companies accelerate transformation. While other technology strategies require asset owners to invest in complex platforms and data scientists, with embedded AI, users can get started right away improving margins and profitability.”
Francesco Mura, Digital Platform Manager, Process and Technology for Saras, sees the advantage for updating planning models. “Aspen Hybrid Models™ provide very efficient nonlinear planning model generation, taking information from Aspen HYSYS rigorous refining reactor models and offering a great deal of promise as a new approach for updating planning models.”
New Features of aspenONE® V12 software include:
Aspen Maestro™ – new capability for Aspen DMC3TM and Aspen Mtell®which automates the development of better models faster by guiding a less experienced user on how to build aparticular model or agent.
Aspen Deep-Learning IQ™ – enables the building of more accurate models and predictions.
Aspen Verify™ for Planning – uses AI to capture knowledge and check against plan to prevent costly mistakes.
Aspen Multi-Case™ – easily runs thousands of simulations cases concurrently, on-premise or in the cloud, allowing a more complete analysis so results can be used to navigate operational complexity and make more accurate decisions faster.
Aspen Event Analytics™ – provides rapid insight into production events. Fast, easy investigation of unexpected production events accelerates corrective action decision-making. Monitors and detects real-time events to enable rapid early intervention.
Aspen MES Collaborative™– delivers the connected enterprise. Aggregates data with an enterprise-level historian and connects small sites to eliminate stranded data.
Aspen Cloud Connect™– provides flexible connectivity with high performance and security to transfer data from edge to cloud.
Aspen Capital Cost Estimator Insights™(ACCE) – streamlines the user experience with out-of-the-box integration with ACCE and Aspen Enterprise Insights to provide visualization and collaborative workflow within a hybrid cloud environment.
Aspen Technology (AspenTech) is a global leader in asset optimization software. Its solutions address complex, industrial environments where it is critical to optimize the asset design, operation and maintenance lifecycle. AspenTech uniquely combines decades of process modelling expertise with artificial intelligence. Its purpose-built software platform automates knowledge work and builds sustainable competitive advantage by delivering high returns over the entire asset lifecycle. As a result, companies in capital-intensive industries can maximize uptime and push the limits of performance, running their assets safer, greener, longer and faster. Visit AspenTech.com to find out more.
Krungsri-MUFG virtual business-matching event breaks record with more than 300 matches
Nov 05. 2020Pornsanong Tuchinda, left, Krungsri head of Commercial Banking, and Yoshiyuki Horio, Krungsri head of Japanese Corporate and Multinational Banking.
By The Nation
Krungsri (Bank of Ayudhya) recently joined forces with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Japan’s largest financial group, and one of the world’s largest financial groups, to organise the Krungsri-MUFG Virtual Business Matching Fair 2020. Krungsri’s eighth international business match-making event went online for the first time, attracting over 200 entrepreneurs and companies from Thailand, Asean and Japan, as well as regional organisations and MUFG partner banks.
The result was a record success rate of more than 300 matches.
In addition, Krungsri and MUFG provided online advice to support commercial customers and enhance their foreign business opportunities.
The business matching fair leveraged Krungsri’s local strength and MUFG’s extensive network to offer international solutions for commercial customers at a time of Covid-19 travel restrictions, said Pornsanong Tuchinda, Krungsri head of Commercial Banking.
Said Yoshiyuki Horio, Krungsri head of Japanese Corporate and Multinational Banking: “[The fair] had more than 200 participants consisting of entrepreneurs, buyers and sellers from Thailand, Japan and Asean countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, and new joiner Indonesia. Meanwhile, Hong Kong also participated for the first time this year. Offering investment advice were four major international investment agencies – the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO-Bangkok), Yokohama Industrial Development Corp, Tokyo SME Support Center, and Aichi Prefecture ¬– along with five partner banks of MUFG – Krungsri Laos, Myanmar’s Co-operative Bank, Vietnam’s VietinBank, the Philippines’ Security Bank, and Bank Danamon Indonesia.”
The Krungsri-MUFG Virtual Business Matching Fair 2020 covered various sectors, ranging from consumer products, home furnishing materials and medical devices, to digital and innovation businesses.
VGI, Pomelo join hands in ‘Trash to Treasure’ project
Nov 04. 2020
By THE NATION
VGI Plc, an offline-to-online solutions provider across advertising, payment and logistic platforms, has teamed up with Southeast Asia’s omnichannel fashion platform Pomelo Fashion to promote environmental sustainability through its “Trash to Treasure” project.
Aiming to tackle the growing problem of plastic pollution, VGI said it was striving to minimise waste generation with its new initiative.
Recognising the environmental challenge posed by the use of vinyl in its advertising billboards, VGI has implemented an efficient and environmentally friendly solution, collaborating with Pomelo to create value out of the waste produced by businesses, the platform said in a press statement.
The e-commerce market in Thailand is projected to grow 35 per cent by the end of 2020 to Bt220 billion, with the Covid-19 situation driving a surge in online shopping, it said.
This has inevitably increased the consumption of single-use packaging and hence demonstrates the importance of reducing such packaging.
“VGI and Pomelo are partnering to create a circular economy for vinyl and single-use packaging waste by upcycling vinyl from VGI’s used billboards and repurposing them for Pomelo’s packaging. The philosophy follows the circular way of designing and production, which minimises waste at all stages of the extraction-production-consumption cycle, unlike traditional recycling processes,” the statement said.
“As a major omnichannel fashion retailer with a commitment to social and environmental responsibilities, Pomelo is determined to use its platforms to raise awareness, especially among the new generation of eco-conscious consumers, about the impact of single-use plastic consumption and promote packaging waste reduction.”
The jointly produced packaging, which can be reused up to 1,000 times per piece, will be used for customers who shop across all of Pomelo’s physical stores or online under its “Tap.Try.Buy” strategy.
“Offering a viable path to reducing carbon emissions on our planet, this collaboration helps VGI slash its vinyl waste by 3,500 square metres or 3.5 tonnes, while Pomelo is able to cut back on more than 200,000 pieces of single-use packaging,” the statement added.
Worawat Pitayasiri 
Pornsanong Tuchinda, left, Krungsri head of Commercial Banking, and Yoshiyuki Horio, Krungsri head of Japanese Corporate and Multinational Banking. 
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