The expansion project, for which began construction began in early 2018, is part of a major investment scheme at the Thailand Production Centre (PC). With a total investment of 67 million euros (Bt929 million), the PC has increased its production capacity by up to 50 per cent. The facility provides a construction area of 9,000 square metres, advanced machinery and production methodologies focusing on the production of personal care products.

Project Pailin will continue with the modernisation of the existing building used for skin and derma care production by 2021. Enhanced shipping capabilities will make the PC in Bangplee become an important export hub for the Beiersdorf network. It has already been the main supplier for Beiersdorf products within the region since 1982.

Stefan De Loecker, Beiersdorf CEO, said: “The inauguration of the new state-of-the-art building for Deo Roll-on production and the expansion of the warehousing and logistics at our PC Thailand mark an important milestone for Beiersdorf. With growing demands across the APAC region, Beiersdorf remains committed to delivering best in class skincare products. At the same time, we are committed to a competitive and sustainable growth. This is the overall goal of our new company strategy C.A.R.E.+ ‒ to outperform the market, create consumer value and ensure sustainable profitability.”

He said Project Pailin demonstrates the company’s commitment to sustainability. The new facility has a solar-panelled roof for electricity production of up to 500kW. In addition, it utilises low-emitting construction materials and high efficiency machines to minimize C02-emission, alongside with environmentally friendly CFC-free refrigerant units and the use of recycled water for irrigation. The building is further equipped with modern office spaces, optimized work ergonomics and CE-standard machines. Safety and sustainability are part of the PC’s DNA for everyday operations.

“From the beginning of construction to completion, all the criteria for LEED Gold certification were accounted for. We expect to receive the certificate in the next few months, which will make us one of the front-runners in the Thai manufacturing landscape”, Markus Daburger, operations director of Beiersdorf Thailand, said.

Home for production of the Nivea and Eucerin product lines, the Bangplee PC and offices currently employ more than 800 people. Main products produced at the PC include Nivea Deo Roll-On, Nivea Body, Nivea Men, Nivea Face, Nivea Sun, and Nivea Cream; along with Eucerin Face, Eucerin Sun, Eucerin Anti-Aging, Eucerin Body, and Eucerin Body Wash. Some 40 per cent of the volume produced is sold domestically, while the rest of the products are exported to more than 40 countries around the world. Some of the key markets are the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, India, Malaysia, and Vietnam, which reflects the importance of the region for future growth.

Nominees were assessed by institutional investors, professionals and the director committee from the institute, along with members of the independent director committee association.

MINT was recognised as the winner among SET-listed companies with market capitalisation of over Bt100 billion. The award acknowledged its excellence in good corporate governance and outstanding board and director professionalism.

The criteria for the award included board effectiveness, board leadership, people and culture and stakeholder engagement. MINT’s award reaffirmed its standing as a sustainable global company that strives to serve the interests of its shareholders, customers, employees and business partners.

William E Heinecke, the founder and chairman of MINT said, “We are honoured to be recognised by the Thai Institute of Directors for our commitment and efforts in directing the company’s business operations with good management leadership, social responsibility and ethics. It is very rewarding to see the extraordinary dedication and collective efforts of our people in helping to shape the MINT of today. We will continue to stay at the forefront of our market with good faith and high standards of business conduct and sustainable development.”

Citibank has entered into a partnership with Mercedes-Benz Thailand, a manufacturer of luxury vehicles with a long history and operations in Thailand spanning more than half a century. It’s the first time in Thailand that the partners have joined forces, with the launch of the Citi Mercedes Credit Card. The credit card offers a range of benefits that meet the lifestyle needs of specifically Mercedes car owners.

Roland Folger, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz (Thailand), said: “In Thailand, Mercedes-Benz is a reigning name in the premium passenger car category with 15,785 units delivered last year. To ensure the satisfaction of customers, we additionally complement the brand with a core strategy named Best Customer Experience, which is a flawless combination of sales, marketing, and after-sales to ensure a perfect and consistent brand experience in every communication channel we are using.

“Today’s partnership between Mercedes-Benz and Citibank is a profound initiation of two global brands to mutually please Citi Mercedes Credit Card members with precious and astonishing experiences. Cardholders of Citi Mercedes Credit Card will be welcomed with privileged financial services by Citibank and they will simultaneously be able to savour themselves with participation in the finest, year-long activities including test drive sessions at Thailand’s top motorsport circuit and other lifestyle workshops that are created to thank both customers and Citi Mercedes Credit card members who give their trust to the three-pointed star brand.”

Promotional tickets can be purchased during the three “golden days” ending on July 25, 2019 at website http://www.vietjetair.com, through the Vietjet Air application or by Google Flights.

With the aim to be a “consumer airline”, Vietjet has connected with major partners to create a diversified ecosystem based on modern a technology platform to bring more attractive and higher quality service products that meet customer demand.

Together with Google Flights, Vietjet will introduce Vietnamese images, people and tourism to the world, while offering convenient travel opportunities for Vietnamese people and international travellers.

To mark this partnership with Google, Vietjet is offering 1,500,000 tickets for flying around Asia with fares from only Bt0 (excluding taxes and fees) and other gifts. Promotional tickets are up for grabs from through July 25, 2019 during the “golden hours” between 12.00-14.00 (GMT+7) and applied to all Vietjet’s flight network.

As well, promotion will last the whole day from now until the end of July 25 for all routes connecting Vietnam and Japan.

The promotional tickets’ travel time is from September 5, 2019 to June 25, 2020 for domestic routes and all international routes (excluding public holidays). The promotion is a perfect chance for customers to hunt for promotional tickets to for a get-away trip around Asia, as well as providing more opportunities for international travellers to explore Vietnam, said a release on Wednesday from the airline.

Get-away jaunts to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Haiphong (Ha Long Bay), Dalat, Da Nang and Taichung in Taiwan are available, as well as direct flights from Chiang Mai and Phuket to Ho Chi Minh City, all domestic routes from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Krabi and Phuket–Chiang Rai.

The partnership with Google Flights not only introduces destinations that Vietjet has direct flights to, but also promises to offer exclusive, comfortable and best flying experience to passengers.

President of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand Saving and Credit Cooperative Limited, signed an agreement appointing KBank as the custodian for the debt instruments of Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand Saving and Credit Cooperative Limited worth approximately Bt61 billion  for three years.

In his recently-published interview with Yahoo Finance, Ren said that the company’s two smartphone brands, Huawei and Honor, will in 2019 record an increase of 30 per cent from its total shipments of 206 million last year.

His prediction is based on figures from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech’s survey conducted in China. In addition, the survey showed that Huawei’s two phone brands now account for 46.1 per cent of the Chinese market share in the second quarter, confirming its leading position in the domestic market.

“We expect the total shipment of smartphones to reach 270 million units,” Ren said.

“If US companies were to stop supplying us altogether, our production would not stop for a single day in the future. Rather, we would ramp up production. There’s no lethal risk that threatens Huawei’s survival at all,” he insisted.

“Feel the Warmth” is a two-year partnership that encourages travellers to turning their holidays into life-enriching memories.

Southeast Asia has the distinction of being home to six of the top ten travel destinations in the world. From world famous landmarks, to local gastronomic fare, nature adventures, and shopping, Mastercard holders can enjoy insider access to stunning landscapes and diverse traditions.

The campaign also aims to boost inbound travel from China, India and Australia, as well as promote travel across key intra-Asean corridors. As one of the fastest growing tourism regions in the world, Southeast Asia also attracts some of the highest spending visitors who visit major tourist destinations as well as lesser-known locations.

“This is a great opportunity for our 10 member states to celebrate Southeast Asia as the world’s fastest growing tourism destination,” said Benito C. Bengzon, Undersecretary, Philippines Department of Tourism, who is also Chair of the Asean Tourism Marketing Partnership Working Group. “By partnering with Mastercard and featuring convenient and secure ways to pay cross-border, we’re delivering on our vision of creating a cohesive Asean economy and sharing the vast array of exciting experiences with travellers from every corner of the world.”

Mastercard’s Priceless Cities programme will be an integral part of this campaign, making it easier for people to discover new experiences and make the most of their adventures. The Priceless.com platform offers a plethora of experiences in top cities so consumers can eat, shop, stay and play in line with their passions.

Mastercard’s transaction insights also indicate that visitors to Southeast Asian destinations are exploring new destinations outside of established tourist hotspots.

“Southeast Asia offers a treasure trove of opportunity and experiences for businesses and consumers, and Mastercard’s collaboration with the Asean Tourism Board will give travellers even more reason to immerse themselves in the region’s dynamic environment,” said Audrey Yeo, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Southeast Asia, Mastercard.

In addition to acceptance at over three million merchants in the region, travellers can also use their Mastercard cards to pay for local travel and small purchases. For example, Mastercard contactless credit, debit and prepaid cards can be used to pay for buses and trains in Singapore, as well as e-payments at convenience stories in Thailand and taxi apps across Southeast Asia.

Mastercard’s partnership with Asean NTOs builds on an earlier collaboration between the two organisations, the Visit Asean@50: Golden Celebration,

According to its filing with the Stock Exchange of Thailand on Wednesday, the JV is expected to be incorporated by January 1, 2020.

In a separate filing, the Triple i board also approved its acquisition of common shares of Excel Air (Cambodia) with investment of around Bt1 million, representing 32 per cent of total registered capital of the Cambodia firm in order to operate a cargo sales agent business in Cambodia.

The bank’s credit card spending in the first half of this year grew by only 6-7 per cent compared to 10 per cent for the same period of last year, according to Shoke Na Ranong, the executive vice president and manager of the credit card division of Bangkok Bank.

The card spending might improve in the second half of the year if the economy improves, he said, perhaps by as much as 10 per cent.

However, even if the second-half card spending expands against the slowing spending from the first half, it could result in full-year growth of between only 8 per cent and 9 per cent, falling short of this year’s target of 12 per cent growth.

Shoke added that economic slowdown is causing the growth rate of credit card spending to be unsteady. Consumers have been more careful of their spending since the beginning of the year, resulting in low first-half growth at 6-7 per cent. The bank is monitoring consumer confidence to see if it rebounds after the new government’s installation.

He said that the bank’s issuance of new credit cards this year was expected to be 200,000 cards, compared to 350,000 card in the previous year.

This suggestion came shortly after the government announced its new Cabinet, which the tobacco giant hopes will consider innovative “smoke-free products” for smokers, who otherwise would continue smoking, in its determination to build a smoke-free society.

Thailand has banned the import, sale and servicing of e-cigarettes since 2014, with violators facing arrest and a jail sentence. Philip Morris’s smoke-free products could also be included in this banned category.

Gerald Margolis, managing director of Philip Morris Thailand, said the company wanted to call on the government to make way for a discussion that is backed by findings about the impact of smoking and encourage policymakers to review scientific evidence indicating that smoke-free products are a safer alternative to cigarettes and could significantly reduce risks once smokers switch completely to e-cigarettes.

“With current developments in technology and science, it’s a great opportunity that we could get away from some ideological dialogues that we have had in the past and have more talks about fact and science instead to help create a smoke-free future in Thailand,” said Margolis during a group interview on Monday.

Philip Morris International, along with its sister organisation in Thailand, is working to create a smoke-free environment by planning to completely discontinue the production and distribution of combustible cigarettes and replace it with smoke-free products as soon as possible, according to Margolis.

Since 2008, Philip Morris has invested more than Bt1.8 trillion to develop smoke-free products or “heat-not-burn” cigarettes that remain well below the point of combustion when lit.

Scientific research has found that the primary source of harm from smoking comes from harmful chemicals in the smoke from a burning cigarette, not the nicotine that is consumed.

Aerosol from Philip Morris smoke-free product, left and centre, versus tar from smoke from a cigarette, right.

Hence, Philip Morris developed smoke-free cigarettes under the idea that if the combustion process is eliminated, then the risks can be reduced.

“If you smoke, the best thing to do is to quit. If you don’t smoke you should not start. And of course if you don’t quit, the better alternative will be to switch to better alternatives [that are less harmful],” he said, emphasising the company’s push for a smoke-free future.

In the past, the tobacco firm held regular discussions with the Commerce Ministry and Excise Department to share its scientific results and studies on alternative products, but it never held face-to-face meetings with public health agencies.

Margolis said moves to cut down on tobacco-related harm and promote smoke-free products was mostly successful in countries where scientific findings were shared with and embraced by public health agencies, and companies like Philip Morris were allowed to share related information with consumers so they could learn about the products and their benefits.

For instance, Public Health England launched a campaign telling smokers in the UK that vaping is not as harmful as smoking, while New Zealand government launched a website educating people on e-cigarettes and a campaign encouraging smokers to switch to vaping.

During the interview, Margolis also presented independent findings from some international health organisations which found that smoke-free products can significantly reduce health risks.

Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration confirmed that the Philip Morris “heat-not-burn” cigarettes were appropriate for the protection of public health and has authorised its sale in the United States.

Ban making little difference

Margolis said the nearly 11 million smokers in Thailand deserve a legitimate right to access these smoke-free products so we can make every day a “no-smoking day”.

He also pointed out that despite strict measures, the number of smokers has hardly changed – in 2015 it was 19.9 per cent, which dropped to just 19.1 per cent in 2017.

Under the National Tobacco Control Plan, Thailand aims to reduce the number of smokers to 16.7 per cent within this year.

Margolis said he really hopes the new government will review its ban on e-cigarettes and other alternative products, citing new Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s progressive election campaign to promote cannabis farming or a “cannabis liberalisation policy”.

“It would be very ironic if you can smoke marijuana, but smokers are given no access to other alternatives to cigarettes,” Margolis said.

Since 2008, Philip Morris has invested more than Bt1.8 trillion to develop smoke-free products

In a move towards lifting a ban on e-cigarettes and legalising it as a “controlled” instead of “banned” substance, the Commerce Ministry’s Department of Foreign Trade late last year tasked the Tobacco Control Research and Knowledge Management Centre with studying legal hurdles affecting the implementation of the ban.

Opponents, especially officials from the Public Health Ministry, insist that e-cigarettes remain prohibited, saying the devices are hazardous to health and could encourage young people to start smoking.

Margolis, however, defended this by saying cigarette alternatives were specifically designed for adult smokers, adding that the design, flavour and packaging are in no way attractive to youth, non-smokers or even former smokers.

Pre- and post-market studies on all of Philip Morris’s alternative cigarettes being sold in 48 countries also found that the youth are not attracted to these products.

He said a study conducted by a third party in Japan, where Philip Morris’s smoke-free products can be sold, showed that actual usage of the product by young people was less than 0.1 per cent.

“At Philip Morris, we are strongly against young people having access to any tobacco products, be it cigarettes or heat-not-burn cigarettes or e-cigarettes. Because of that, we advocate, obey and usually go beyond the wall in terms of marketing code. And for this new category, it’s no different,” he said.