BGRIM CEO Preeyanart named among Asia’s top businesswoman
Sep 18. 2020
By THE NATION
Preeyanart Soontornwata, CEO of BGrimm Power Plc (BGRIM), has been named among 25 outstanding female business leaders on Forbes Asia’s Power Businesswomen List 2020. Preeyanart is credited with turning BGRIM into one of the top private power producers in Thailand, achieving strong recognition from local and foreign investors.
Under her leadership, BGRIM has become one of the prime businesses generating highest revenue for the B Grimm Group.
Preeyanart graduated from Chulalongkorn University with a Bachelor’s in banking and finance and a Master’s in Business Administration, before studying Advanced Management at Harvard School of Business in the US.
Since 2016, she has chaired the Association of Private Power Producers while also helming the Federation of Thai Industries Energy Group.
BGRIM supplies electricity to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and a host of factories located in various industrial estates.
MEA posts advice on what to do if powerline falls on your car
Sep 17. 2020
By THE NATION
The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) posted on Facebook a series of steps motorists should take in case a powerline snaps and falls on their car.
“You need to remain calm and not immediately get out of the car. First check the surrounding area and see if the powerline is touching the car or the ground and see if the ground is wet or dry,” it said.
MEA advises the following steps if the car can move:
• Do not leave the car until you are sure the powerline is not touching the vehicle and the ground is not wet;
• Notify passersby and tell them not to approach the car;
• If possible, move the car at least 10 metres from the powerline before getting out of the vehicle. Take care not to drive over the powerline as it can entangle with the car’s lower body or suspension.
If the car cannot move or has caught fire, the motorist is advised to:
• Avoid stepping out of the car and instead jump out with both feet and ensure no part of your body is touching the car;
• When you have made your way out, hop away as far as possible with both feet. Avoid walking or running as you may step on live wire;
• Do not return to the car for valuables or try to put out the fire until the authorities cut off the power in that area.
Call MEA hotline 1130 for accidents in Bangkok, Nonthaburi or Samut Prakan, and the Provincial Electricity Authority hotline 1129 for other provinces.
Zyxel Networks unveils all-new USG FLEX firewalls series
Sep 16. 2020
By THE NATION
Zyxel Networks showcased their all-new USG FLEX firewalls series at an AI Solution & Cyber Security press conference organised by the Bureau of Foreign Trade in Taiwan recently.
Caroline Kuan, Product Line Manager, presented USG FLEX 100/200/500 firewalls featuring hardware and software upgrades that increase SMB Firewall security performance by up to 125 per cent and Unified Threat Management (UTM) performance by up to 500 per cent.
The AI-driven algorithm classifies and calculates the severity level of each threat, then helps businesses identify the most active threats and take appropriate countermeasures.
Integrated with the McAfee anti-malware solution, the USG Flex series firewall box fits today’s business security landscape by securing crucial business data against threats.
Impact promotes hybrid meeting services after sales plunge 58% due to Covid-19
Sep 15. 2020
By The Nation
In the fight against Covid-19, Impact has shifted its focus to hybrid meeting services for meetings and seminars as part of the plan to increase revenue in the third and fourth quarters.
The Covid-19 crisis has caused a 58 per cent plunge in sales since the beginning of the year. Impact said the sales and IT teams are working together to promote a new normal for meetings by introducing attractive packages for public, private, and international clients. “The new system can definitely bring in more customers, as it can accommodate up to 3,000 participants, with an experienced IT team and well-equipped facility,” Acharawan Suparngkarat, director of sales of Impact Exhibition Management Co Ltd, said.
The overall number of reservations for meetings at Impact in the first half of 2020 was 113, down 58 per cent compared to the same period in the previous year which was as high as 270, or 352 for the whole year.
The cancellations were mainly a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to a temporary closure starting from the end of March to June 2020. Consequently, all the reservations for both national and international conferences had to be postponed or cancelled, Impact said.
“During the three-month closure, Impact has prepared the area to ensure the safety of visiting customers by following Covid-19 preventive measures and guidelines issued by the CCSA [Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration] and Nonthaburi province,” Acharawan said. “We have invested in acquiring UVC sterilisers to sanitise the area and thermometers for temperature checks. We also provide a proper facility in response to the new normal by using a hybrid meeting or virtual system for any meetings or seminars. This makes it possible to meet the conditions required by the government to limit the density to one person per 4 square metres.”
The hybrid meeting system can accommodate participants in the meeting room and those who are interested in joining it online. Both groups can communicate with each other and participate in the meeting as if they were physically in the same room. This system can register 100-3,000 participants at one time. Apart from the hybrid system, cameras, and other meeting equipment, Impact technical staff will also be present to provide any necessary assistance from start to finish to save the customers the hassle of acquiring the system and equipment from outside sources.
The most recent hybrid meeting held at Impact was the “BCG Assembly: The New Sustainable Growth Engine”, hosted by the National Science and Technology Development Agency.
Besides organising meetings and seminars with the hybrid system, Impact can still offer regular meetings as its Muang Thong Thani facility covers an area of over 140,000 square metres, with 55 meeting rooms, and three large ballrooms as well as standard hotels, the company said.
In order to boost sales in the third and fourth quarters, Impact is marketing special packages for public, private, and international clients.
One of them is the “Simply Within Budget” package, starting at Bt470 per person, including two coffee breaks, lunch and standard meeting equipment. Another is the “Complete Meeting” package, which includes hotel accommodation at Novotel Bangkok Impact at Bt2,900 or at ibis Bangkok Impact for Bt2,100. Impact is also offering the “Government Premium Plus” package for government agencies or public sectors. This package includes a full-service meeting starting at Bt750 per person with a chance to get a maximum cashback of Bt45,000 to be spent for additional services such as virtual meeting system, hotel rooms, coffee breaks, lunch boxes, etc.
Those who are interested, can get further information at 0-2833-5252.
Rittee Chookhiatti, director of information Technology and Communication, added that before the Covid-19 situation, Impact had been the venue of choice for hosting a lot of international meetings such as ITU Telecom World 2016 and Asean Summit 2019. “With effective communication technology, we are well-equipped with the hybrid meeting system, which is accurate and precise when registering participants, taking notes, downloading information, and making questionnaires or assessment,” Rittee said.
Bangkok Airways reopens lounges at Chiang Mai, Phuket airports
Sep 14. 2020
By The Nation
Bangkok Airways has reopened its Boutique Lounge and Blue Ribbon Club Lounge at Chiang Mai Airport and its Courtesy Corner and Blue Ribbon Club Lounge at Phuket Airport. The lounges are operating daily with social distancing, temperature checks and regular disinfection of all touch points, said the airline.
Bangkok Airways passenger lounges and courtesy corners at other airports will be reopened soon, it added.
Meanwhile, Bangkok Airways will resume serving in-flight meals for its domestic routes on Tuesday (September 15), marking another step back towards normality for air travellers.
The airline is required to serve food and beverages in a snack box, though tea and coffee are still off the menu. Passengers are still required to wear a mask during flights, except while eating and drinking.
The move is in line with a recent announcement from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) on guidelines for airlines during the Covid-19 outbreak. Bangkok Airways will also resume in-flight sale of souvenirs from October 1.
Habitat Hospitality has appointed Peter Lucas as its new managing director.
Experienced in leading some of the top hospitality brands and businesses in Thailand and around the world, Lucas will oversee rapidly expanding Habitat Hospitality, a subsidiary of award-winning premium property-for-investment developer, Habitat Group, the company said.
Having previously held positions at BHMA, Boutique Corporation and Destination Properties, and asset-managed properties for Accor, Starwood, Hilton and more, Lucas comes to Habitat Hospitality from Cross Hotels and Resorts where as CEO he led the company through a period of exponential growth, the company said.
Lucas will oversee current operations, new resort openings and future additions to the company’s pipeline, as well as ensure a healthy return on investment for investors, the company added.
With a strong presence on Thailand’s east coast, current Habitat Hospitality resorts include X2 Pattaya Oceanphere, X2 Vibe Pattaya Seaphere and The Ville Jomtien Pool Villa. Resorts in the pipeline include Best Western Premier Bayphere Pattaya, BluPhere Pattaya Managed By BW Premier Collection, Wyndham Atlas Wongamat Pattaya, and Ramada By Wyndham Mira North Pattaya.
Pizza Hut Thailand, operated by PH Capital, is planning to open another 20 branches in different parts of the country this year.
Ausana Mahagitsiri, director of PH Capital, said: “Pizza Hut Thailand has been improving its performance, as proved by double-digit sales growth and profit since 2019. This was the result of new brand positioning and customer-centric marketing strategy.
“Pizza Hut had to strengthen its delivery system after online orders began pouring because people had to work from home due to the Covid-19 outbreak.”
She added that Pizza Hut aims to open another 20 branches this year. Earlier this year, Pizza Hut had opened 10 branches, including in Mae Sot, Nakhon Pathom, Surin, Prachinburi, Chachoengsao, Chonburi, Nonthaburi as well as on Bang Na-Trat in Bangkok, at Tesco Lotus on Phetchakasem 81 and the Jas Ramintra.
There are currently 158 Pizza Hut outlets in Thailand.
MEA seminar discusses data governance and Personal Data Protection Act
Sep 12. 2020
By THE NATION
The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA), in cooperation with State Owned Enterprise Digital Club of Thailand (SOE-D), organised a seminar on “Guidance on management towards data governance and PDPA [Personal Data Protection Act],” on Friday (September 11).
The seminar was held at the MEA head office in Bangkok’s Khlong Toey district.
MEA deputy governor Wanchai Jiarawattanawi, who is also the 13th president of SOE-D, opened the seminar and gave a lecture on data governance and the PDPA, after which he signed a memorandum of understanding between MEA, SOE-D and Asean Chief Information Officer Association (ACIOA) to promote future cooperation between the three organisations.
The seminar also featured a lecture on the PPDA by Chaijaroen Atiphaet, ACIOA’s president, and a lecture on government’s data protection by Sak Sekkhunthod, ACIOA digital transformation adviser and former director of the Digital Government Development Agency.
Muji Thailand is continuing to revise its prices so the brand becomes more affordable for Thai consumers, said Akihiro Kamogari, managing director of Muji Retail (Thailand).
He said the company has been able to reduce prices by eliminating unnecessary processes and improving its operating efficiency.
This year, the brand adjusted its retail price of more than 604 items sold in Thailand, 127 of which are in garment category and 477 in the household category. The brand plans to revise the price of 55 furniture items this month.
Last month, Muji opened its 20th store in Thailand at the Mall Ngamwongwan in Nonthaburi. This new store is the second biggest branch after the one at Samyan Mitrtown in downtown Bangkok.
eBay pitches its Global 24/7 programme to boost Thai product sales across the world
Sep 10. 2020
By The Nation
eBay, a leader in international e-commerce, today (September 10) launched its Global 24/7 programme, designed specifically to help SMEs in Thailand and other markets across Southeast Asia to leverage its platform for global exports as the economy gradually enters a recovery phase from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The programme is available to any business entity that is new to eBay and wants to start a global online business by joining eBay’s marketplace of more than 182 million active buyers, the platform said.
“Global e-commerce is experiencing exponential growth due to a shift in consumer behaviour resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Tam Yong Sheng, head of Business Development, eBay Southeast Asia. “Thai SME exporters on our platform have seen a corresponding increase in sales, especially in categories such as vitamins and dietary supplements, guitars and bass parts and accessories, fine jewellery, motorcycle parts, and garden & outdoor living, where volumes have shown strong growth compared to the same period last year,” he added.
“This shows e-commerce is a key driver for SMEs, helping them to recover from the economic downturn. Our aspiration with the eBay Global 24/7 programme is to empower businesses by helping them move online more quickly and giving them the opportunity to participate in an international marketplace with approximately 1.5 billion live listings at any given time across 190 markets,” Sheng said.
According to eBay, the programme, which runs from now until December 31, 2020, offers new sellers a range of benefits, including:
• New business seller incentives: eBay will waive 100 per cent of eBay Store fees at the basic subscription tier and 50 per cent of fees for businesses to use the platform’s Promoted Listings to advertise their products. Total rebates for each seller can be as high as US$1,000 (Bt31,290 baht). These benefits will significantly reduce the costs for SMEs, allowing them to grow their businesses online.
• Educational webinars: eBay offers webinars for business owners to gain insights on cross-market selling opportunities on eBay, best practices to optimise listing rankings and visibility, and tips on developing a traffic generation plan for their virtual storefront.
• Free Access to Product Listing Tools worth up to $700: Sellers will have full access to Viewider, enabling easy store set-up on eBay and building on the strengths of their existing online selling channels. Those in the Automotive category will be entitled to additional listing assistance to map their items to eBay’s Master Vehicle List, enhancing visibility through eBay’s fitment finder. These tools will reduce the amount of manual work SMEs need to complete and accelerate their go-global journey.
• Special Offers from DHL Express: eBay sellers who register a new account with DHL Express will get a Bt500 discount voucher, an additional Bt300 when using the service at least once a month for three consecutive months, special shipping rates, 30-day credit (juristic persons), and the chance to collect more discounts every quarter with accumulated shipping with DHL First Promotion.
• Special offers from Fastship: eBay sellers can enjoy a 5 per cent discount when registering a new Fastship account at https://app.fastship.co/joinus/ebay2020 and completing a transaction via Fastship’s API called “eBay Feed”. Sellers can also enjoy a Bt300 discount by using the ebay300 discount code at checkout.
• Dedicated business development manager: Each business owner with more than 100 products listed on eBay will also be assigned a dedicated adviser, who offers personalised guidance and consultation to ensure the owners make the most of their online stores.
• Market intelligence: To help business owners make better-informed decisions and strategies, eBay offers local market intelligence reports for their specific product categories and industries.
SMEs operating an existing business that does not have an eBay account are eligible to apply for this programme.
To get started, they need to apply at eBaySEAforbusiness.com/th and follow the instructions that are provided in subsequent emails. The application period for the eBay Global 24/7 programme is from now until September 30.
Thai products sold on eBay
The United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and Canada were the top five export destination markets for Thai sellers on eBay in the first quarter of 2020.
Guitar and bass parts and accessories, vitamins and mineral supplements, fine earrings and rings, motorcycle parts, and plants, seeds & bulbs were among the leading items sold globally.
According to eBay, retail exports by Thai sellers on the platform for the first quarter show a strong growth trajectory year-on-year for the following “hot-selling” categories:
> Parts and accessories for guitars and basses saw a growth of roughly 38 per cent in the US market.
> Thai sellers recorded growth of 53 per cent in vitamin and mineral supplements to the UK.
> Thais also recorded massive growth of 98 per cent in vitamin and mineral supplement sales to Australia.
> Thailand’s trade with Germany for fine rings and fine earrings recorded more than 50 and 110 per cent growth, respectively.
> Sales to France, Italy and Spain of motorcycle parts and plants, seeds & bulbs grew 44 and 32 per cent, respectively.
Peter Lucas 
SootinClaimon.Com 