The NBTC will today put on sale three slots at the 700MHz spectrum at a price of Bt17.584 billion. Each slot features a 10MHz bandwidth. The licence term will be 15 years and payments for the licence is divided into 10 instalments.

The company that picks up a slot will start paying for it next October.

The NBTC will use the proceeds from the slot sales to help ease the financial burden of the digital TV broadcasters.

The sale of the 700MHz slots is related to the junta’s recent launch of relief measures to ease the financial burden of the three 900MHz telecom operators as well as digital TV broadcasters.

The three 900MHz operators are subsidiaries of Advanced Info Service (AIS), Total Access Communication (DTAC) and True Corp.

Under the junta relief measures, the NBTC will split the total upfront licence fee for the 900MHz spectrum of the three licence holders into total 10 instalments, giving them more time to make payments from the current four instalments.

However, the junta’s relief measures include a condition that makes it mandatory for any 900MHz licence holder taking up the relief measures to purchase a 700MHz spectrum slot from the NBTC.

If they decline to buy the slots, they will lose the longer instalment plan and would have to pay as per the original payment schedule.

According to the original schedule, AIS subsidiary Advanced Wireless Network (AWN) and True Corp’s subsidiary TrueMove H Universal Communication (TUC) are scheduled to pay hefty final instalments of Bt59.574 billion and Bt60.218 billion, respectively, for their 900MHz licences in 2020.

DTAC subsidiary DTAC TriNet is due to pay its Bt30.024 billion final instalment for the 900MHz band in 2022.

Pattanapong Tansomboon, chairman of the Lao unit of Kasikornbank (KBank), said the Thai bank aimed to be a driving force for Asean economic growth, especially in Laos, which has seen rapid growth and thriving industrial sectors, as evidenced by rising purchasing power of Laotians who are seeking quality goods and services.

Healthcare business is one of the industries under the Lao government’s support as it aims to promote greater access to quality medical services on a par with international standards, in line with the country’s economic expansion, he said.

KBank Lao PDR realises that healthcare business, and chiefly hospitals, is an essential area in which Laos needs to improve its people’s quality of life, he added.

Therefore, Pattanapong explained, KBank Lao PDR is providing financial support to Bangkok Chain International (Lao) Co Ltd, under the BCH group which is a long-time business partner of KBank, for the construction of Kasemrad International Vientiane Hospital to provide medical services meeting international standards.

BCH currently operates leading private hospitals under four groups: World Medical Hospital, Kasemrad International Hospital, Kasemrad Hospital and Karunvej Hospital.

BCH has expanded its medical-service network to the Asean region in accordance with its target.

KBank is confident in the potential, experience and professionalism of the management and staff of BCH, and hopes that this overseas business expansion succeeds, the bank chairman said.

The business collaboration is also in line with KBank’s strategy of participating in the economic development of countries in Asean.

KBank Lao PDR has succeeded in expanding its SME business customer base, which is an area of KBank expertise.

Additionally, KBank manages to reach out to big business groups in Laos in both the public and private sectors, especially foreign investors from Japan, South Korea and, more importantly, Thailand, which are business partners of KBank, Pattanapong said.

Dr Chalerm Harnphanich, chairman of BCH and chief executive officer of Bangkok Chain International (Lao), said the construction of Kasemrad International Hospital Vientiane required an investment of around US$50 million (Bt1.56 billion).

The company is committed to offering advanced medical services under the Kasemrad International Hospital brand to ensure that general patients, both local consumers and foreign nationals working and travelling in Laos, receive quality medical services on a par with international standards, he added.

Bangkok Chain International (Lao) is a joint venture between BCH and a company in Lao PDR under the supervision of the country’s Health Ministry.

Kasemrad International Hospital Vientiane will have 254 beds and 38 examination rooms.

The Aunjai Cyber project aims to protect children, raise awareness and develop an online content system that can filter inappropriate content by focusing on two aspects: promoting learning and building digital skills to create awareness. The project will also provide digital solutions to teach children how to navigate the digital world carefully and protect them from the risks posed on the internet.

DeeMoney, having successfully undergone all the stringent evaluation for Excellence in Retail Financial Services

Awards 2019, was chosen from amongst the established names in the remittance industry.

It was the first time that these awards were opened for non-banks in the retail financial services category. Adding

another first to its credit, DeeMoney becomes the first non-bank in Thailand to receive this award.

Excellence in Retail Financial Services programme is probably the most rigorous, prestigious and transparent awards

programme for consumer financial services in the world. At the moment it covers all of the Asia Pacific, the Middle

East and Africa.

More than 300 banks and non-bank retail financial services players in more than 42 countries are evaluated in a

thorough process every year. The Thailand leg of the Awards was introduced in 2015.

Managing Editor of The Asian Banker, Foo Boo Ping said, “Through these awards, we aim to capture the evolving

competitive landscape and recognise the outstanding players and initiatives, from which the industry can learn from

to better provide consumer financial products, services and experience.”

“We are studying two land plots in the country to prepare for developing the next shopping centre in Malaysia, and are also eyeing two new land plots to develop a shopping centre in Vietnam,” said CPN’s deputy chief executive officer, Wallaya Chirathivat, after the grand opening of Central i-City on the weekend.

“We have to take the time to properly study to find the solution that gives us the best business model for each country.”

She said the company could not promise the timing for the next shopping centre projects in Malaysia and Vietnam. When expanding into overseas investments it is important to learn the legalities of investing in each country, as well as to learn the behaviour of local consumers before making a final decision said Wallaya.

“For our first project in Malaysia, the new shopping centre in Shah Alam, we took seven years to study and learn before completing the project. For the next one in Malaysia, and Vietnam, we also have to take time to study before finalising the deal. However, we will try to do so as soon as possible,” Wallaya said. The investment in Central i-City, Shah Alam, is a joint venture with its Malaysian partner, i-Berhad, the owner of the i-City Project, a mixed-use project that boasts the shopping centre as well as condominiums and an office building. CPN holds a 60 per cent stake in the JV firm while 40 per cent is held by i-Berhad with an investment budget of Bt8.5 billion.

The company expects it could take up to 10 years to recoup its investment cost, Wallaya said.

Prior to the weekend’s official opening, the project had held a “soft launch” since March 23. Shopper numbers averaged 30,000 daily over weekdays, and above 50,000 a day during weekends, which Wallaya deemed a success. The customers’ spending records averaged 100 ringgit (Bt749) per head per square foot per month. The project has retail space totalling 904,000 square feet, with 350 retail shops and an opening occupancy rate of about 80 per cent with expectations of achieving 85 per cent by October this year.

“We decided to open our first overseas shopping centre in Malaysia because we saw the purchasing power of the Malaysian people, who have an income up to 200 per cent higher than Thai people. Although the population is lower than for Thailand, the country’s economy also has constant growth,” Wallaya said.

Vietnam also presents a challenge, inviting business expansion as that country’s economy continues to grow and purchasing power is hitting record highs, Wallaya said.

“Our investment expansion in Asean is in line with our business strategy to be a ‘regional retail platform’ in this region. Our strategy will pave the way for and introduce Thai brands into the international markets and offer sustainable business growth with CPN. We will also support Thai brands and products as well as tourism by spearheading a concept of ‘Thainess to the World’,” she said.

Meanwhile, the company is also creating a platform to support the introduction of Malaysian and Vietnamese products to Thailand as part of the company’s aspiration to be the retail platform for the region.

“We want to be ‘the’ retail firm in Asean,” Wallaya said.

Currently, Central i-City has attracted four Thai firms to open up shops in the centre, including Amazon Cafe, Black Canyon, John Henry, and Trudy &Teddy. The new centre also includes Thai restaurants owned by Malaysian people, some of which are locally operated franchisees of Thai brands.

“We believed that with our success in opening our shopping centre in Malaysia, we would challenge Thai investors to open their shops in Central i-City and in the other new projects that we will launch in Malaysia and Vietnam shortly,” she said.

Wallaya added that Asean offers the firm regional potential for its business expansion after having opened 33 shopping centres in Thailand.

Under the expansion strategy, the company will build new factories driven by opportunities in both domestic and international locations, as well as reviewing potential pharmaceutical acquisitions to support its future business.

Vivek Dhawan, CEO and chief coach of Mega Lifesciences Public Co Ltd, noted that it had 36 years of experience developing world-class medicines to promote wellness and improve people’s quality of life. It was a leading brand, offering nutritional and pharmaceutical products and over-the-counter (OTC) medication in 33 countries, as well as the distribution and logistics services for pharmaceutical and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) in Myanmar, Vietnam and Cambodia.

During this time, MEGA had demonstrated the ability to achieve continuous growth in its business, with average annual revenue increasing by 12.1 per cent from 2010 to 2018, said Dhawan. The company’s normalised net profit increased 19.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2019.

“Our business performance and growth in Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia demonstrate that we truly understand the Southeast Asian market. Our acquisition of Bio-Life Marketing Sdn Bhd, one of the leading players of consumer health products in Malaysia, together with our acquisition of ownership rights in designated pharmaceutical products from Sandoz GmbH in Myanmar and Ethiopia, were important in reinforcing our position and our commitment to boosting regional growth,” said Dhawan.

“We also strengthened our offerings, launching new products to deal with pain relief, allergies, and digestive health, in addition to our Eugica natural cough and cold range, medical nutrition supplements, our BiO-LiFE probiotics line and prescription products in select therapeutics. These product groups are expected to play a significant role in furthering the growth of our business. This year, the company plans to launch more than 10 products,” said the CEO.

To continue on its long-term growth trajectory, MEGA has unveiled a strategy to deliver on its commitment to providing high-quality health products by expanding into new markets. The company is focusing on developing countries in Southeast Asia, Central and Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa and the CIS countries that offer strong growth potential.

MEGA has now started operating in Nepal and plans to begin its operations in Colombia this year, alongside ramping up its presence in Ethiopia and other sub-Saharan African nations. The company is optimistic about the growth opportunities in these markets over the next five to seven years and more, and is reviewing potential acquisitions to further strengthen its regional presence. MEGA is currently evaluating a potential acquisition in Indonesia.

“These potential markets have the potential to grow with a growing population, more NCDs [non-communicable diseases] and the GDP growth to drive consumption. We have presented in these markets with the right products. They are prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines and complementary medicines, including condition-specific vitamins, herbal medicines, probiotics, medical nutrition and natural cough and cold treatments. We are committed to human wellness with teams on the ground engaging with retailers, heath care professionals and consumers, together with our consumer engagement programmes and a holistic offering of high quality affordable medicines to these developing countries,” said Dhawan.

“These developing markets have a unique potential, which is emerging. They enjoy a growing population, an ageing population with growing non-communicable or lifestyle diseases. Every country has this challenge. Higher costs will impact every country other than capacities, which are beds and medical professionals. This creates huge opportunity for countries to educate and develop self-care where pharmacies play a role. And above all, we as humans start actively improving lifestyles and hence the burden on government funding.

Affordable treatments

Meanwhile, the medical community can work on new technologies and improvements to bring cures to many who cannot afford [current treatment] or for diseases that need treatment. Each has a role and this will lead to changes in the way we manage health – [moving] from ‘sick care’ to ‘wellness care’,” he said.

“We are working on bringing new drugs – through our venture in Myanmar. We are also doing work to educate humans on lifestyle changes through our Wellness We Care Centre. Meanwhile, we continue to bring the best products backed by science and made at world-class facilities. And developing a digital platform, a ‘we care app’, to become a source of knowledge and a guide for professionals and consumers to become more involved in their wellness,” said Dhawan.

Dhawan said that MEGA is making a capital investment of over Bt1.2 billion with part of it already spent as of March 2019 and with the remainder to be spent over the next two to three years. This investment includes around Bt600 million towards building a new factory in Myanmar under the Mega-MSN Joint Venture (MSN Laboratories is the fastest growing research driven company from India). This factory, with construction expected to begin in 2019, will produce new-generation medicines to treat cancer, diabetes and heart disease, which should be available on the market by 2022-2023.

MEGA has also opened a state-of-the-art large distribution centre in Myanmar to support logistics and distribution services, resulting in more efficient inventory management. The distribution centre is ISO 9001-accredited and follows globally recognised good distribution practices. MEGA is presently constructing an office space in Myanmar at a cost of over Bt100 million, with completion expected this year.

Around Bt500 million has been set aside for the planned expansion in Thailand’s Bang Pu, next to the company’s existing manufacturing plant. This project, when complete, will include a research and development centre, a warehouse and a facility to manufacture liquids and thus enabling the addition of new class of prescription medicines and herbal products for kids to MEGA’s portfolio. Construction is ongoing with completion expected by 2020.

MEGA is also moving ahead with Mega-Malee, its joint venture with Malee Group Plc. Two products have already been launched under the DR. DRINK brand: AK-TIV and D-GEST.