Korakot Chatasingha of THAI said the deal is tied in with Valentine’s Day and covers international flights in Economy and Royal Silk Class that payable with a Citi credit card at thaiairways.com.

Tickets can be booked and will be issued until March 13 for flights any time before July 31.

The roundtrip routes on offer:

• Bangkok-Fukuoka/Sendai – Economy Class starting at Bt15,425, Royal Silk Class starting at Bt52,005

• Bangkok-Tokyo/Osaka/Nagoya – Economy starting at Bt16,325, Royal Silk starting at Bt53,945

• Bangkok-Sapporo – Economy starting at Bt18,440, Royal Silk starting at Bt55,450

• Bangkok-Taipei/Kaohsiung – Economy starting at Bt10,320, Royal Silk starting at Bt23,640

• Bangkok-Denpasar – Economy starting at Bt10,875, Royal Silk starting at Bt29,865

• Bangkok-Singapore – Economy starting at Bt6,930, Royal Silk starting at Bt20,020

• Bangkok-New Delhi – Economy starting at Bt10,095, Royal Silk starting at Bt31,365

• Bangkok-Jaipur – Economy starting at Bt12,210

• Bangkok-Vienna – Economy starting at Bt23,185, Royal Silk starting at Bt95,835

• Bangkok-Rome – Economy starting at Bt23,040, Royal Silk starting at Bt94,830

• Bangkok-Moscow – Economy starting at Bt21,990, Royal Silk starting at Bt89,190

The prices include all taxes. Limited seats are available on each flight and conditions apply. Mileage accrual is based on Royal Orchid Plus conditions.

Kitima Luengsitong of Citibank Thailand listed the additional privileges for Citi cardholders:

Up to Bt20,000 cash rebate for Bt40,000 sales slip

Spending Bt500,000 earns a chance to win THAI tickets from Bangkok to Vienna, Hokkaido and Osaka until March 15

Citi PayLite instalment plan 0 per cent for three months for a Bt3,000 sales slip

Citi Royal Orchid Plus Preferred and Select cardholders receive Bt1,000 cash rebate for every 4,000 Citi Reward points redeemed

“People in metropolitan areas should limit their outdoor activities at the moment to avoid risks of health problems,” Phasuk Sampunnachote, MEA’s director of organisation communication, said on Wednesday (February 5) .

“We suggest using MEA’s online services which can accommodate most of your electricity-related needs in the comfort of your house, including MEA Smart Life mobile application to conveniently pay your power bills using Visa or Master Card credit cards. Furthermore, you can report electrical malfunction in just two simple steps, or view bill history up to six months.” The app is available on both App Store and Google Play Store, or via the website https://eservice.mea.or.th/meaeservice/

She also suggested “M Easy service” to apply for electricity usage and meter installation at anytime. Simply log on to https://eservice.mea.or.th/measy/, fill out the information and choose your preferred payment channel. You can also track the progress of the application process in real time.

The e-payment option offers a variety of online payment methods either by mobile application, bank account transfer and credit cards, she added.

Customers who have questions or require assistance can contact MEA staff via several channels without having to leave their houses, such as Facebook: Metropolitan Electricity Authority; Line application: @meathailand; Twitter: @mea_news; or contact MEA Call Center at 1130, which is available 24/7.

PTT director Chansin Treenuchagron noted in a press release on Thursday (February 6) that the Pollution Control Department has attributed the hazardous levels of particulate matter in the air mainly to people burning waste and cropland debris (25-38 per cent) – but also to incomplete combustion in vehicle engines (21-29 per cent), as well as construction (15-21 per cent).

Chansin said PTT, which makes and sells unleaded fuels, has long supported clean energy, developing alternatives such as natural gas, gasohol and biodiesel.

It encourages the use of B10 biodiesel in Euro 4-standard trucks rather than B7, a switch that it says reduces PM2.5 by 3.5 per cent.

PTT is now urging operators of public transport services to use B20 biodiesel.

It also plans to expand its network of charging station for electric vehicles to 77 petrol stations this year and 300 stations by 2024, Chanson said.

And it will have a waste-to-energy plant operating by 2021, equipped with anti-pollution technology capable of eliminating 95 per cent of the particulate dust created.

“The small-particle dust problem needs attention from all sectors,” Chansin said. “Everyone can be part of the solution, from the root of the problem if they stop burning in open areas to using high-quality fuel and ensuring engines are well maintained.

“PTT is offering free 30-item car check-ups until the end of February and is at the same time planting trees as part of its ‘Plants for Change’ campaign.”

Noting that a single tree can absorb 1.5 kilogram of airborne pollutants in a year, he said PTT has thus far planted a million rai of saplings and has established the Green Education Centre, Wangchan Forest Learning Centre and Sirinart Rajini Ecosystem Learning Centre.

The event, organized by Global business and finance magazine International Finance, was recently held at the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok Hotel.

The Best CEO in Energy Sector award is the top award given to the CEO of an energy business organisation who displays outstanding leadership skills  for international success.

From February 14: The Bangkok – Udon Thani service will be increased to two round-trips daily from 10 flights a week. There will also be daily flights on the Udon Thani – Chiang route, rising from 3 flights a week.

Vietjet Thailand commenced the first and only direct route connecting Chiang Rai and Udon Thani in November last year. Flights are scheduled for Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

In response to high demand, the airline will increase the frequency to a daily service. This 65-minute flight helps shorten significantly the travel time between the two cities in north and north-eastern, from over 14 hours by land transport.

The airline’s Ground Equipment Services Department said passenger hygiene is its top priority. It has increased cleaning and providing its staff preventive equipment to handle the outbreak of the coronavirus and to gain passengers’ confidence.

Measures for passenger buses, microbuses and high-lift trucks are as follows:

➤ Educate drivers about coronavirus and preventative measures.

➤ Prepare hand gel, surgical masks, cleaning liquid and gloves for drivers.

➤ Require drivers to wear gloves while cleaning handrails and other contact points in the bus with cleaning liquid before the next service trip,

➤ Require drivers to wear surgical masks.

The Integrated Oxide segment comprises integrated ethylene oxides and specialty chemical segment including sought after value-added ethylene oxide derivatives and proplylene oxide derivatives.

IVL has appointed Alastair Port as president of Integrated Oxide, effective from January 3. He will report to Dilip Kumar Agarwal, CEO of the feedstock and PET businesses.

Alastair joined Huntsman in 1988 and was previously global vice president of manufacturing and upstream business at Huntsman.

Alastair’s leadership team will be composed of executives from all integrated businesses:

Joel Saltzman has been appointed senior executive vice president. Joel is currently with Indorama Ventures Oxide and Glycols (IVOG).

The other appointees are: John O Smith, vice president, procurement and upstream. John is currently with IVOG; John Q Smyth, vice president, global downstream derivatives; Carol Ottaway, vice president, supply chain, logistics and IVL transition; Chad Anderson, vice president manufacturing; Kim Knotts, director EHSQ; Steve Thallemer, chief finance officer — Steve was previously with IVOG; Leo Guglielmi, vice president and legal counsel; Paul Fusco, director of HR.

Dilip Kumar Agarwal, CEO of Feedstock and PET, said, “We are taking an important step to set IVL on a successful path forward. With the creation of a more focused segment and great leaders in place, we will be able to more effectively build upon our competitive advantages to create greater value for our customers and stakeholders.”

The initiative is aimed at entrepreneurs of traditional and digital businesses in Thailand who wish to transform their operations and stay competitive in the digital era.

It is jointly organised by Alibaba Business School, the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa), National Innovation Agency (NIA) and multinational venture capital firm Gobi Partners. Applications are open from now until March 8, 2020.

The ANT Thailand Programme made a successful debut in October last year, with 43 Thai entrepreneurs and business owners from a wide range of industries graduating from the course.

Many members of the first cohort have since demonstrated a strong passion for applying their newly acquired insights to drive positive change in their businesses and at the same time sharing this knowledge with communities at large – from leveraging live-streaming to build branding and customer base, inspiring other Thai SMEs to digitise their operations, enter the Chinese market via e-commerce and to organise regular e-commerce training for rural sellers.

The second Alibaba Netpreneur Training Thailand Programme will be held from May 10-20, 2020 at Alibaba’s headquarters in Hangzhou, China.

Through lectures, discussions and site visits, the 10-day programme will allow participants to gain exposure to Alibaba’s transformational journey from a small start-up to a digital ecosystem serving a global network of SMEs and consumers, as well as the mission, vision, value, strategy and culture that drive the company’s growth.

Mission-driven, open-minded entrepreneurs and business owners with a digital aspiration are encouraged to apply. For more information on the program details including enrollment criteria, please visit Activity.Alibaba.com

The new division will initially be embedded in ADK’s Singapore, Bangkok, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Taipei and Vietnam offices, before expanding to the entire network within 12 months.

As part of the initiative, ADK has acquired shares of Vietnamese independent digital agency, VietBuzzAd in Ho Chi Minh City. VietBuzzAd, is one of the leading digital agencies in Vietnam, having won a top 10 YouTube Ads Leaderboard at Cannes Lions Festival 2019 for the LG World Cup campaign `Set Fire to the Dreams`.

ADK CONNECT provides fully integrated end-to-end digital solutions, using data analytics to empower creative planning and performance campaigns.

Following the share acquisition by ADK, VietBuzzAd’s brand name has changed to “VBA”. The acquisition will enhance ADK’s capabilities in Vietnam, further strengthen its digital-related services and expand business scale.

Yasu Katagi, CEO of ADK Global Operations said: “ADK CONNECT takes us into the next stage of our growth in Asia, focused on bringing future-facing solutions to our client partners. ADK CONNECT helps us deploy the best trends, tech and practices to develop new tactics and strategies to optimise results. I’m also very happy to be able to work with VietBuzzAd in Vietnam, one of our fastest growing markets that’s 100 per cent focused on digital innovation. ADK CONNECT lets us further accelerate this growth and provides solutions that will drive our clients’ businesses”.

Nguyen Huu Hanh, CEO and founder of VietBuzzAd, said: “I am excited to be joining the ADK Global family and especially ADK CONNECT. It will provide strong integrated digital solutions for ADK clients and a base for us to further grow the businesses of our existing clients as well as opening up opportunities in other markets”.

The event is set for the second floor of the Ratthaprasasanabhakti Building (Building B) of the Government Complex on Chaeng Wattana Road.

Banyat Kamnoonwatana of CP All said the first “Opportunity Market” in 2019 received “very good feedback” from SMEs, students and job-seekers.

The spotlights this year will be on opportunities for jobs, education, business partnerships including with 7-Eleven, “good quality of life”, knowledge and shopping.

There will be a Knowledge Zone, Pavilion Zone, Educational Zone, Job Fair Zone, Agro-products Zone, Selected SME Products Zone, SME Clinic Zone, Business Matching Zone and Partnering with 7-Eleven Zone, all free to visit at no cost.

“We have allies from all sectors setting up more than 300 booths across 10,000 square metres,” Banyat said. “These are SMEs bringing community products and agro-products to sell at discount prices.

“There will be more than 35,000 jobs ready to apply for, and financial institutions offering consultations in business.”

The main stage will have seminars on “Education Transform” and “Success Tips of Successful SMEs” and the “7-Eleven Thai SMEs Sustainability Awards”. SMEs keen to place their products in 7-Elevens or become business partners with 7-Eleven will be able to get information directly from the people in charge.

“CP All wants to make sure that all Thai people have secure employment, a good education and a pleasant quality of life,” Banyat said. “It also wants to enable SMEs to scale up their businesses and gain knowledge from this event.”

Sutthikan Masamran of the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion said the agency would this year focus on supporting early-stage, micro- and small-scale entrepreneurs.

“These three groups cover more than three million people and we aim to help them ride the waves of change to stay competitive by adding value and reducing costs,” she said.

The agency’s booth will have officials to consult and allow SMEs to register via the SME Connext application and SMEONE website to access news and information.

Dr Ariyaporn Amnucksoradej of the Department of Industry Promotion’s Division of Industrial Business Capability Development said this is the decade when the world will go fully digital, and Thailand meanwhile will auction off 5G bandwidth, bringing numerous benefits to the country.

“My department is determined to enhance knowledge and creativity among SMEs and enable them to use smart technology to increase productivity through seminars and booths,” she said.