Sridharan Arumugam, vice president for Southeast Asia at IFS, a Sweden-based developer of enterprise software, said it had identified Thailand as having the highest growth potential for its enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions and platform services in the Asia Pacific region – beating Singapore and Malaysia.

The firm also announced its IFS Applications 10 offering, to run on its Aurena platform, for the Thai market.

The company has more than 8,500 users, with around 150 customers, in the region.

For the Thai market, it has cooperated with partners, such as NEC, provides its solutions in support of Japanese customers,

“Thailand offers high potential and continuing growth for our business,” Arumugam said.

“The top customers in Thailand are in the manufacturing, aerospace and automotive industries.”

He said that the launch of IFS Applications 10, for the Aurena platform, comes as a new version of its enterprise applications suites.

Built to help customers capitalise on disruptive industry trends such as automation and connected devices under the Internet of Things, as well as servitisation, the new version helps companies connect their business to a digital backbone.

It features the IFS Aurena Bot that empowers users to interact with the system via voice or textual input in an intuitive and efficient way, Arumugam said.

It also supports process manufacturing including new and extended capabilities for traceability, quality management, recipe and formula management, batch balancing, rework and trade management, he said.

It is available as a managed service in the cloud, as software as a service (SaaS) and on premises. It also supports various platforms, including desktop PC, tablet, smartphone and notebook.

Arumugam said the company believes that artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things will be important innovations that drive the service industry in 2018.

Bids for construction of a high-speed rail system linking three main airports and the management of motorways in and around the capital are likely to be invited by the government and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration this year and into the next, Keeree said.

“We have already bought the term of reference for the high-speed train connecting the international airports of Suvarnbhumi, Don Mueang and U-Tapao and for the planned motorway system,” he said after ceremony marking the rollout from a plant in Ankara, Turkey, of the first of 22 four-car trains destined for the BTS network in Bangkok.

“And we are also interested in joining the bidding for the development of two new rail systems that will be owned by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, including the Grey Line as a monorail section from Watcharapon-Rama 3 covering 39 kilometres, and a light rail system from Bangna to Suvarnabhumi, at 13.9 kilometres.”

Keeree, speaking at the production plant that is run as part of a joint venture between Germany’s Siemens and Turkey-based Bozankaya, said that BTSC is focused on continuing to develop the mass transit system and infrastructure that is required by Thailand in order to drive forward the economy and improve people’s lives.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration governor Pol Gen Assavin Kwanmeung, attending the rollout ceremony for the new train, said an environmental impact assessment would be carried out for the two new rail systems involving the monorail and light rail links. The study is expected to be completed by the end of this year, Assavin said.

The Bangkok administration expects to open the biding for construction of the systems in 2019.

The two projects have a combined investment value of more than Bt30 billion.

Bangkok officials say a section of single track linking to Taksin station will become a double track route. The improved links will help to remedy congestion on the Silom rail route. Construction would start next year. Passengers on the Silom Line would enjoy greater convenience and will be spared the overcrowding that happens in the rush hours now, Assavin.

“We are confidence that the investment going into for the development of the rail system in Bangkok will also improve Bangkok’s traffic problems,” Assavin said

According to BTSC, the company’s projects include operating the train system for an extension from Samrong to Samut Prakan, and from Mochit to Lam Luk Ka, as well as the two new monorail routes – the Yellow Line from Lad Prao to Samrong, and the Pink Line from Chaengwattana to Minburi.

These projects will boost the number of passengers from an average of 800,000 per day to 2 million in 2022, the company’s chief executive officer Surapong Laoha-Unya said.

This expansion would see the company’s total revenue double between this year and 2022, Surapong added.

Surapong said that, following the rollout of the first of the trains from the Bozankaya plant in Ankara yesterday, the following 21 four-car trains would be delivered to Thailand in the first quarter of 2019. Twenty-four four-car trains being supplied by Changchun Railway Vehicles Co Ltd would begin arriving at the end of this year, until the end of 2019. They amount to a combined investment value of Bt11 billion. Currently, the company has 52 trains. The addition of the 46 new four-trains will bring to the total fleet to 96.

As part of this sales push, the company – now ranked fifth in the Thai market – plans to release 34 products in the second half of this year. It would post double-digit growth every year over the period, the company said.

Toshiro Ishiwatari, chairman of Toshiba Lifestyle Products and Services Corporation (TLSC) in Japan, said that Toshiba “never stops innovating new products with Japanese design and manufacturing standards” in order to meet consumers’ need.

“The company pays a great deal of attention to the improvement of the life quality and lifestyles of consumers,” Ishiwatari said. “With the synergies of TLSC and Midea, we place great emphasis on creating products that meet the demands of the global market in expanding our product lines.”

Ishiwatari confirmed TLSC’s intention to invest in Thailand in terms of manufacturing base, product development, sales and marketing, and that Toshiba will “continue to grow sustainably and move forward together” with the Thai people.

“We place great emphasis on developing good products with Japanese quality, with great consideration to consumers’ demand and lifestyles, in order to bring good things to the lives of Thai people, as stated in our marketing slogan,” he said.

Brian Zhao, president of Toshiba Thailand Co Ltd, said the Thai economy been undergoing a recovery this year, citing the targeted expansion of 4.1 per cent. This would mark the highest economic growth since 2012. Zhao expects the economy to add to this momentum.

For the first quarter of 2018, sales of electrical home appliances were steady at a 0.2 per cent growth rate, due to weather conditions that impacted sales of air conditioners. This segment saw a 9 per cent drop in sales.

However, sales of small home appliances grew 7 per cent, providing confidence for the future, Zhao said.

For the first quarter, overall Toshiba saw growth of more than 20 per cent compared with the same period in 2017. Toshiba introduced 32 new models in eight categories, with all of these coming from joint venture development between Toshiba and Midea, and these new products were the main source of Toshiba’s high growth.

For the second half of the year, Toshiba said it will continue to rely on the advantages from the synergies of three countries: Japanese quality products, Chinese speed in manufacturing and development, and Thai experience.

“With these advantages, Toshiba will launch the concept of ‘A New Chapter Beyond All Limits’ to reinforce the new age of Toshiba to move forward with no limits, by expecting to become top three provider of electrical appliances within three years, and to grow at a double-digit rate,” Zhao said.

“We plan to expand our business by introducing a new product line up, and in the second half of the year we will launch 34 more models in eight product categories.”

Hiroyuki Takase, general manager for electrical home appliances and audio visual, said that value of electrical home appliance market in Thailand increased by 0.2 per cent, according to data for the period from January to April.

“The largest proportion came from SDA (small domestic appliances), with 31 per cent, while the proportion from air conditioners was 32 per cent, refrigerators 19 per cent, and washing machine 18 per cent,” Takase said.

Sales of refrigerators and washing machines grew by 4 per cent, but those for air conditioners decreased 9 per cent. Sales of small home appliances grew up to 7.1 per cent, water heater 31 per cent, and microwave ovens 15 per cent over the period, Takase said.

For the first half of this year, Toshiba’s revenue increased more than 20 per cent as a result of the growth in sales of refrigerators, washing machines, microwaves, and water heaters, which reached 38 per cent, 35 per cent, 189 per cent, and 146 per cent, respectively.

Sales of air conditioners increased by just 1 per cent.

Among the 34 new products planned for the second half of the year, Toshiba are refrigerators, washing machines, rice cookers, blenders, AV items, and water heaters.

The company expects more than 3,000 visitors for the 4-day event.

As Thailand’s leading retailer of diamond jewelleries, known for its internationally recognised innovative designs, and to emphasise Jubilee Enterprise Plc is the producer and retailer of diamonds and diamond jewelleries of its own “Jubilee Diamond” brand, the company is marking its 89th birthday with the “Jubilee Diamond Mid Year Expo 2018: the 89th Sparkling Phenomenon”.

Krungsri Auto, a leader in automotive finance under the Bank of Ayudhya Plc, recently announced a strong performance of its automotive and sales finance business in Laos under the “Krungsri Leasing” brand, with 97 per cent compound annual growth rate for new volume over the past three years and a new lending volume of Bt2.56 billion in 2017.

After establishing the business in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in December 2014, Krungsri Leasing Services Co Ltd or “Krungsri Leasing” delivered an impressive result of 97 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in new lending volume of Krungsri New Car and Krungsri First Choice products during 2015 – 2017. Last year, the company also achieved a robust new lending volume of Bt2.56 billion and loan outstanding of Bt4.45 billion.

For its mid-term business plan (2018–2020), Krungsri Leasing aims to attain a compound annual growth rate of 27 per cent for new lending volume and 31 per cent for loan outstanding.

Pairote Cheunkrut, head of Krungsri Auto Group, Bank of Ayudhya Plc, said “Despite its small size, Laos’ automotive finance market has maintained constant growth. This was fueled by increasing purchasing power and the rapidly expanding economy. This year, the country’s GDP is expected to grow by 7 per cent, mainly from electricity export and major infrastructure developments, including the Laos-China railway project.

Consumer preference for automotive finance services also sees continuous growth, with the current ratio of car buyers via cash versus loan sitting at 40 to 60.”

Delta showcases green energy, EV charging at Asean expo

Delta Electronics (Thailand) Plc, showcased its portfolio of renewable and clean energy products and solutions for the green energy industry at the Asean Sustainable Energy Week 2018.

Held at BITEC in Bangkok, the exhibition hosts Renewable Energy Asia, Entech Pollutec Asia and Energy Efficiency Expo under one roof. Here regional decision-makers from 45 countries converged for four days at one of Asean’s largest comprehensive renewable energy, environmental & energy efficiency exhibitions.

Throughout the event, Delta highlighted its PV inverters, Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers and smart monitoring and control solutions.

One of Delta booth’s main highlights was the large-scale Central Inverter, displayed alongside the RPI-M50A, M20A commercial series and the H4A single phase home series.

Delta unveiled its Central Inverter designed for 1MW to 3MW power generation and features advanced hybrid cooling technology for high delivery output power. Besides the booth, visitors experienced the power of Delta’s AC Mini Plus and DC Wallbox EV chargers first-hand at the exhibition’s EV test drive.

On the second day of the event, Delta welcomed the event organizer UBM Asia (Thailand) and 30 member delegation of energy and manufacturing industry representatives from Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines to the company’s headquarters at Samutprakarn.

The delegation explored Delta’s complete products and solutions portfolio at the company showroom and toured the rooftop solar solutions. This business matching sideline event aimed to kickstart business networking between key people in the region’s energy industry.

The Asean delegates showed a keen interest in Delta’s solar energy solutions and established contact with Delta managers for further business opportunities.

SU holds first SEA summit in Thailand

Singularity University (SU), a Silicon Valley-based global community of thinkers and innovators, focusing on empowering leaders to transform industries and solving global challenges through exponential technologies, recently its first summit in Southeast Asia (SEA).

The SingularityU Thailand Summit 2018 is being held at the InterContinental Bangkok from 19 to June 20, 2018.

SingularityU Thailand Summit 2018 is among the first series of events and initiatives from Exponential Social Enterprise Co Ltd, an organisation that is aiming to speed up Thailand’s potential for growth beyond existing economic models and social development.

The aim is to inspire change by exposing new questions about the impact of innovation on productivity, talent, industries and public policy. The summit concentrates on how fundamental changes in thinking affect broader implications of technological advancements, and how the integrated impact of these transitions can transform everything around us.

The summit sees government officials and top industrial executives joining together to listen to world leading exponential technology experts about current technological achievements and potential future solutions.

The visitors can expect topics such as: Artificial Intelligence (AI), The Future of Digital Health and Medicine, The Future of Energy, Cybersecurity, Blockchain, Finance of Tomorrow and Global Grand Challenges.

Participants of the summit can join in workshops – by speakers from Deloitte and The Alchemy of Creativity, concentrating in creativity and future of work.

The summit provides possibilities for networking and discussion between professionals from different industries that can potentially create further associations in terms of technological and social development.

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Guests of honour were Pol General Assavin Kwanmeung, Bangkok governor; Keeree Kanjanapas, chairman of Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTSC); Surapong Laoha-Unya, BTSC chief executive officer; management figures from Siemens, Bozankaya and Krungthep Thanakom, which is BTSC’s maintenance partner; members of the press from both Thailand and Turkey; and VIPs from the Turkish government.

The roll-out of the first of 22 trains to be supplied by Siemens is part of a broader deal for a total of 46 new four-car trains, with the other 24 to be supplied by China’s Changchun Railway Vehicles.

The Bt11-billion order will support the increasing ridership of the BTS Skytrain system on the Silom and Sukhumvit Lines, and extension of the network.

The 22 new trains will feature the latest available technology, specially designed by Siemens in Germany and Austria.

Major components are sourced from Turkish manufacturer Bozankaya, the project partner of Siemens.

The German engineering giant is recognised for developing and manufacturing environmentally friendly systems in Europe.

Furthermore, the Siemens train will enable BTS to transport more passengers, and includes energy-saving facilities in accordance with the Siemens standard.

Following delivery and final commissioning, all new trains will be put into passenger service on the existing Sukhumvit and Silom Lines and on the 13-kilometre extension from Bearing to Samut Prakan, which is scheduled to open this December.

The extension of the Green Line consists of nine stations that opened for public service from Bearing to Samrong last December, and a further eight – Pu Chao, Chang Erawan, Royal Thai Navy, Pak Nam, Srinagarindra, Phraek Sa, Sai Luat and Keha – that are scheduled to open at the end of this year.

Reich, an Austrian, currently serves as CEO of Telenor Hungary and Head of Telenor Group’s Central Eastern Europe Cluster.

Prior to joining Telenor Group in 2016 she served as EVP and Head of Mobile Business for Swisscom Enterprise.

“Alexandra Reich brings the right experience at the right time for dtac,” said Boonchai Bencharongkul, Chairman of dtac Board of Directors. “Her background in the intersection between digital and telecom, in combination with her strong leadership attributes and focus on customer experience make her well qualified to take dtac forward.”

After a career in investment banking, Reich became a pioneer in online business, launching her first digital startup in 1986.

In 2001, Reich joined the telecommunications industry, holding roles as General Manager of T-Online Austria and Chief Operating Officer at 3G Hutchison Austria and Sunrise.

She holds a Business Management Degree from the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration.

Reich replaces Lars Norling, who is leaving dtac and Telenor Group to pursue new opportunities. She will take the helm at the company prior to the end of Norling’s tenure. Norling will remain in his current role until September 1, 2018.

The bank said there were no grounds for such a rumour.