KBank launches Wealth Plus to help customers manage personalised investment portfolios
Jun 23. 2020
By THE NATION
Kasikorn Bank has launched a “Wealth Plus” feature on its KPlus mobile application to serve as a personal assistant in portfolio management for customers.
The feature is designed for customers who seek financial security but have no time to keep track of their investments, which causes them to miss out on good opportunities, the bank said in a press statement.
The new feature “personalises portfolio arrangement” to best suit each individual, monitoring and rebalancing a person’s portfolio regularly based on market circumstances.
According to KBank, Wealth Plus is suitable for the new generation wanting to get into investing. They can choose a portfolio with long-term security or one with a clear goal, such as saving to buy a car, or for travel or retirement.
To get started, customers simply make an initial investment of Bt10,000 without needing to go to any branch or submitting any documents, and no fee is charged. For subsequent investments, a minimum of Bt1,000 is needed.
Wealth PLUS allows customers to:
• Design an investment portfolio tailored to their personal financial goals. It selects mutual funds that diversify risks and offers appropriate returns according to each customer’s risk appetite and investment period, with market conditions also in mind.
• Enjoy automatic risk diversification without the need for exhaustive calculation. It focuses on portfolio investment – investing in myriad mutual funds at an appropriate ratio, helping customers to automatically diversify risks without the need to calculate by themselves.
• Monitor and maintain portfolios around-the-clock. It will auto-rebalance portfolios when they are affected by drastic changes in market conditions, letting customers remain “worry-free”. In normal circumstances, portfolios are auto-rebalanced every six months.
Dow Thailand Group, a global leader in material sciences, points out that sustainable plastic waste management demands all parties’ engagement, particularly the general public.
Chatchai Luanpolcharoenchai, President of Dow Thailand, said, “As one of the world’s largest materials science companies, Dow is aware of the loss of plastic waste to the environment and has explored sustainable management solutions given that plastic is too valuable to be discarded as such. Plastic plays significant roles, particularly in the light of the current coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19), when plastic is turned to medical protection equipment and packaging. Nevertheless, sustainable plastics cannot be achieved by just one organization. It requires the engagement of all involved parties.”
In Thailand, Dow helped found Public-Private Partnership for Sustainable Plastic and Waste Management (PPP Plastics) in 2018. Together with its partners, Dow supported the government’s drafting and implementation of the Roadmap on Plastic Waste Management (2018-2030). The roadmap provides an operational framework in tackling plastic waste under the circular economy concept and fully recycling plastic waste by 2027.
The latest effort, “MueWiset X Won” (the magic recycling hand), involves Dow and over 60 members of PPP Plastics. The project calls for the donation of used plastic items like shopping bags, diaper wraps, water bottle packaging films, and shockproof films used in-home delivery services. These products are destined for recycling, to prevent the loss to the environment and reduce plastic waste to landfill. The goal is to reduce ocean waste and maximize resource utilization accordingly to the circular economy concept.
“The MueWiset X Won Project showcases the engagement of all involved parties, from producers, recycling business operators, and regulators to consumers in tackling plastic in a sustainable manner. The project will promote awareness and inspire a behavioral change, as plastic waste will be appropriately tossed away and sorted at the start,” Chatchai said.
Under the project, in June, “bag recycling buckets” are located at 300 donation spots, including big department stores such as Central, The Mall and Tesco Lotus, including Bangchak gas stations in the Greater Bangkok and Rayong. The coverage areas will be later extended to neighboring provinces and other provinces. The donated bags and films are valued at Bt5 per kg, and the proceeds will go to the Marine Endangered Animals Rescue Center to fund rescue missions.
MEA invites applications from state agencies, private businesses to build EV charging stations
Jun 19. 2020
By THE NATION
The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) announced on Friday (June 19) that it is seeking applications from government/state enterprise agencies and private companies who are interested in joining the MEA EV Smart Charging System project.
Under this project, MEA will provide fifty 22KW smart chargers to selected candidates free of charge along with two-year maintenance servicing. The smart chargers will be equipped with data analysis software and can be connected to the MEA EV mobile application that displays the locations and status of EV chargers in coverage areas.
Eligible candidates must be government or state enterprise agencies or private business operators located in Bangkok, Nonthaburi or Samut Prakan. They must also have a suitable area to build an EV charging station for public use.
Hospitality giant slowly reopening hotels with safety measures under new normal
Jun 18. 2020
By THE NATION
Minor International, a leader in international hospitality, food and lifestyle, said it will reopen its 535 hotels worldwide in line with the “new normal” by improving sanitation and hygiene measures to curb the transmission of Covid-19.
Chaiyapat Paitoon, chief strategy officer for Minor International, said the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the global economy, though there are signs of recovery in countries that have controlled the outbreak and are lifting restrictions.
Meanwhile, Minor is reopening some hotels under the new normal:
• 28 hotels in Thailand that generated 14 per cent of Minor’s hotel revenues last year began reopening from the end of May, starting with Anantara Siam Bangkok, followed by the company’s hotels in Hua Hin in early June. Some hotels in Phuket, Koh Samui, Pattaya and Khon Kaen are also scheduled to reopen in June and July.
• 29 hotels in other Asian countries that generated 4 per cent of Minor’s hotel revenue. Its hotels in China and Vietnam reopened in April, showing a positive sign in Asia’s tourism sector.
• 343 hotels that are part of the NH Hotel Group, which generate 67 per cent of revenue, will reopen soon. Up to 60 per cent of these hotels are expected to reopen by the end of June. Also, many countries in Europe have started lifting lockdowns, while some have even announced the end of the pandemic.
In addition, many countries have also launched economic stimuli to support the tourism sector. For instance, Vietnam has launched a special campaign to improve domestic tourism. by cutting down the prices of hotel rooms and flights, while Taiwan has cut down on utility bills and subsidised labour in the tourism industry.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), meanwhile, has proposed several schemes for the government to implement to boost domestic tourism, such as “Thiao Pan Suk”, which allows Thai citizens to register and purchase digital vouchers for hotel discounts.
The second is “Rao Pai Thiao Kan”, which supports accommodation providers, while the third is “Kamlangchai”, which provides approximately 1.2 million medical personnel working in the Covid-19 frontline to go on study tours organised by travel agencies.
The government also recently exempted operation fees for hotel businesses, while Minor International has said it will organise marketing activities in line with the government’s support measures for businesses to jump-start the tourism sector.
Chaiyapat said the group believes the Covid-19 outbreak will be resolved gradually and many sectors will recover slowly. Tourists will also start travelling once the crisis ends.
Meanwhile, in line with its aim to reopen its 535 hotels, Minor has appointed a health and safety committee comprised of senior execs and experts to oversee the implementation of hygiene and safety measures.
Thepparat Theppitak has been appointed new president of the Electricity Generating Plc (EGCO) Group. Appointed by the board of directors on June 17, he will officially assume his post on July 1.
Thepparat will lead the company in pursuing its vision “to be a major sustainable Thai energy company with full commitment to environment protection and social development support”, said EGCO, “strengthening its leadership in the power generating business and expanding its wings in energy-related business, as well as exploring new investment opportunities in core-related business for sustainable growth”.
Since 2018, Thepparat, 54, has served as deputy governor of Power Plant Development and Renewable Energy at the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand.
Previously, he was assistant governor of Renewable and New Energy at EGAT (2017-2018). He has extensive experience in engineering techniques, including power plant development and management.
Ajinomoto holds the 2020 Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders
Jun 17. 2020
By THE NATION
Mr. Hiroharu Motohashi (Middle, 2nd row), President of Ajinomoto Co., (Thailand) Ltd., presided over the 2020 Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders in order to report the company’s business performance of fiscal year 2019 and to inform next growing step of business plan in fiscal year 2020.
The meeting was attended by Ajinomoto’s directors and other shareholders. The meeting was recently held at Ajinomoto Co., (Thailand) Ltd., Head Office, Bangkok.
MEA urges customers to use its e-bill services to cut Covid-19 risk and paper waste
Jun 17. 2020
By THE NATION
The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) is urging customers to use its e-bill service to receive electronic documents via either mobile phone or e-mail.
“The e-bill enables fast notification with no paper documents, reducing the need to come down to the MEA branch offices as well as the risk of contracting Covid-19 virus via touching papers,” the MEA posted on Tuesday (June 16) on its Facebook page @Metropolitan.Electricity.Authority.
The MEA e-bill will cover the following services: e-invoice for monthly power bill; e-receipt/e-tax invoice; e-notification (reminder to pay power bill)
“Furthermore, using e-paper will help save the environment by reducing the use of paper,” said the post. “For every customer that registers for e-bill services, the MEA will donate for the planting of one tree in mangrove forests in Samut Prakarn province under the Pluk Pa Chalerm Phra Kiat [forest planting in honour of King Rama X] campaign.”
For more information on MEA services, contact call centre 1130, twitter: @MEA_news, Line: @meathailand, facebook: @Metropolitan.Electricity.Authority or download the mobile application “MEA Smart Life”, available for both Android and iOS users.
Index Living Mall refreshes Ekamai branch to cater to new urban lifestyle
Jun 16. 2020
By THE NATION
Introduces new zones and new items in ‘Fresh-up Ekamai, Lift-up Your Life’ concept to attract Thai and expat customers living in city center.
Index Living Mall Public Company Limited has renovated its Ekamai branch in recognition of the potential of its location and to fulfill the lifestyle demand of the urbanites. The Company added new zones and new items under the “Fresh-up Ekamai, Lift-up Your Life” concept with the aim to create a new experience to fulfill the desire of both Thai and foreign customers who were shopping for furniture and decorations for homes and condominium units both for own domicile and for rent – with sets of items such as the ‘Condo Complete Set’ in Hi-end or Urban styles.
Miss Kridchanok Patamasatayasonthi, Managing Director of Index Living Mall Public Company Limited (ILM), Thailand’s leading integrated retailer of home furnishings, revealed that the Company has renovated and redecorated the Index Living Mall Ekamai branch to better cater to the demand of the consumers living in the area. This is because the Ekamai neighborhood is considered to be a business district as well as a mid-city residential area where many real estate developers have jumped in to develop a large variety of real estate projects such as condominiums, hotels, and office buildings for rent. Also, this zone is surrounded by international schools, hospitals, shopping malls as well as convenient transportation routes linking Sukhumvit Road and Soi Thong Lo, and adjacent to the BTS commuter train line. Therefore, Ekamai has become a popular residential neighborhood especially in regard to condominium units for rent to Thais and foreigners. And that in turn has spurred the growth of needs to shop for furniture, household items, home decoration, as well as electrical appliances.
A survey carried out on the behavior and interests of Index Living Mall customers in Ekamai area showed 80 percent of Joy Card members are Thai and 20 percent foreigners. While walk-in customers who are not members are also interested to purchase home decorations and decorative sets for condominium that included furniture, home decoration and electrical appliances. The clientele can be divided into two groups – one is the high-end group who would choose luxurious, stylish, and high quality items to decorate their own homes or condominium units. The other group is the economy shoppers who would look for items to decorate the condominium units to be rented out. So, they would look for complete sets of merchandise that will satisfy their tenants who can start their lives in these condominium units with just a suitcase-full of clothes. This group of customers would need items that are well within their specific budget to decorate studio and 1-bedroom units that can earn them rent of about 20,000-50,000 baht per month.
Index Living Mall Ekamai branch has been freshened under the “Fresh-up Ekamai, Lift-up Your Life” concept with new zones and new items, particularly furniture and decorative items designed specifically for condominium living, including furniture sets for bedroom, living room and dining room that are compact in size suitable for limited spaces but with complete functionality. Index Living Mall also have an in-house team of designer-specialists who can provide consultation in choosing the right furniture that suits the customers’ needs while offering free interior design service. Furniture items are available both as built-in and stand-alone.
The ‘new zone, new items’ feature the newest innovative “ITAL Smart” wardrobes that are much more just wardrobes, with fully adaptable functions either with racks for clothes or cabinets and equipped with LED lights, sensors and soft-touch drawers. Also available is premium “Italiving”furniture imported from Italy. “The Condo Collection” zone features furniture designed specifically for condominiums with perfect combination of design and function for storage in which every nook and cranny is fully utilized. Feel free to peruse show units with sizes starting from 20 square meters. In “Younique” zone, you may order customized furniture exactly the way you like it. In the “Sofa & Recliner Exhibition” zone, sofas in a large variety of designs are on view. The “Outdoor Life” zone offers decorative trees and plants in varying designs to add green to your house. Last but not least, the “Storage Solutions & Home Organization”zone houses a collection of storage solutions that will help to keep your houses tidy and orderly.
In addition, there are the popular mainstay brands such as Index Furniture, Winner Furniture, Logica office furniture, Power One modern home electrical appliances and many other household items and home decorations. Fulfill your lives to perfection with “Lift-up Your Life” in the modern atmosphere in the branch that provides pleasant shade, warmth and friendliness to enhance the inspiration for home decoration with a display of merchandise such as tableware, cutlery and kitchenware to match up with the dining room furniture, etc. Also new is the co-working space corner designed to cater for the lifestyle the new generation of urbanites who can work anywhere.
Visit the new-look Index Living Mall Ekamai branch to choose items that you have always dreamt of (2nd floor BigC Ekamai).
A leading auto-parts manufacturer is installing solar panels to drive production at its second Thai factory, marking another step by industry towards renewable power sources
Asno Horie (Thailand) Co Ltd has contracted WHA Utilities & Power Plc (WHAUP) to install a 2,012KW solar rooftop at its new plant in Rayong, following a similar project at its other plant in March. The second project is expected to begin generating revenue in October this year.
WHAUP says the new contract will drive its electricity-generating capacity, in terms of shareholding equity, to more than 597MW, exceeding the full-year target of 591MW.
Asno Horie will use its two solar rooftops, with total capacity of 3,629KW, to power its auto-parts production lines.
The company said the switch to solar power was in line with its policies on energy saving, environmental protection and reducing the impact of greenhouse-gas emissions. The solar rooftops will reduce electricity costs by up to Bt230 million during the 25-year contract and offset CO2 emissions, it added.
CAT laying submarine telecoms cable to link China with SE Asia
Jun 12. 2020
By THE NATION
State telecom agency CAT Telecom has joined forces with members of the Asia Direct Cable Consortium (ADC) to build a 9,400-kilometre submarine cable to serve international content providers at Digital Park Thailand and also provide enhanced technologies and 5G in Southeast Asia.
The ADC cable is expected to be completed in 2022.
CAT president Colonel Sanpachai Huvanandana said that the ADC, of which CAT is a member, is building a high-performance submarine cable connecting China (Hong Kong and Guangdong province), Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The consortium has selected NEC Corporation to construct the 9,400-km cable system, which is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2022.
The ADC cable system will be the main project to enhance CAT’s international telecommunication networks, supporting growing internet usage demand in Thailand.
The cable will also increase the diversity and stability of international telecoms networks, to serve the growing trends of international communication and connectivity in Thailand and the rest of the Asean region.
“The ADC cable system will contribute to the international content providers’ businesses in the Digital Park Thailand area and also enhance advanced technologies such as 5G, AI [Artificial Intelligence], cloud services, Internet of Things ( IoT), Smart City and Big Data,” said Sanpachai.
The cable will feature multiple pairs of high capacity optical fibers and is designed to carry more than 140 terabits per second (Tbps) of traffic, enabling high capacity transmission of data across East and Southeast Asia.
Thepparat Theppita
Photo credit: Senivpetro
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