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Meat & Livestock Australia launches “Aussie Pies – It’s Just Better” campaign with five exclusive pies created by leading pastry chefs in Thailand

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Meat & Livestock Australia launches "Aussie Pies - It's Just Better" campaign with five exclusive pies created by leading pastry chefs in Thailand

Meat & Livestock Australia launches “Aussie Pies – It’s Just Better” campaign with five exclusive pies created by leading pastry chefs in Thailand

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 02, 2023

Bangkok – January 30, 2023: “The Aussie Pies – It’s Just Better” campaign, celebrates Australian culture and one of Australia’s favourite foods for one month in Thailand.

Australian culture and cuisine is influenced by many people around the world and this campaign is no different It will feature a mixture of beloved Australian meat pies and some new Thai inspired versions to re-imagine our Australian classic. Using premium Australian beef and crafted by leading pastry chefs in Thailand, the special pie campaign runs from January 26th to February 26th, 2023. The pies made by five collaborating chefs are created with the Australian values of simplicity and bold flavours in mind and made with high-quality ingredients. This month-long campaign is a unique opportunity for pie lovers to try these unique pies and win gifts.

The five exclusive, specially created Aussie Pies using premium Australian beef and lamb are:

Meat & Livestock Australia launches "Aussie Pies - It's Just Better" campaign with five exclusive pies created by leading pastry chefs in Thailand

Shabu Aussie Beef & Melt Cheese Pie by Chef Natty-Napavadee Payackso of CHA’Sant by Chef Natty

Chef Natty is a Thai culinary sensation with over 100,000 followers on social media. At her restaurant in the Ekkamai area of Bangkok, she offers croissant and pie lovers a variety of mouth-watering options, including the highly sought-after truffle cheese, foie gras truffle and lobster truffle. Her flaky Shabu Aussie Beef & Melt Cheese Pie offers a powerful savoury punch edged by a delicious hint of sweetness with strong umami notes from the soy sauce and dashi. The rice vinegar and mirin in the shabu sauce give the filling its somewhat tangy and sweet notes. The tender cooked beef and the melty cheese are encased in deliciously flaky pastry.

Meat & Livestock Australia launches "Aussie Pies - It's Just Better" campaign with five exclusive pies created by leading pastry chefs in Thailand

Green Curry Aussie Beef Pie by Chef Chao-Tawjan Catherine Punyasingh of Bite Me Softly

Chef Chao-Tawjan Catherine Punyasingh, also known as Tawjan Catherine Punyasingh, bakes Aussie Beef Pies at her business, Bite Me Softly, located in Kai Chae alley in Bangkok. She has a reputation as the queen of baking, gaining popularity through her homemade cake recipe Facebook fan page. With seven years of experience as a supplier for several cafes and restaurants, Chef Chao now offers her unique and creative culinary style at Bite Me Softly, incorporating food culture from around the world into her menu. Her Green Curry Aussie Beef Pie is a unique combination of good quality tender Aussie beef, perfectly flaky pastry and the bold, complex and fragrant spices of the Thai green curry paste. Every bite has a hint of lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and green chilli peppers.

Meat & Livestock Australia launches "Aussie Pies - It's Just Better" campaign with five exclusive pies created by leading pastry chefs in Thailand

Aussie Mince Beef and Guinness Aussie Beef & Mushroom by Chef Michael James Handley and Laongdao Prathumchat of Tinnies Gourmet Pie Café

At Tinnies Gourmet Pies Café in Jomtien, Pattaya, Chef Michael James Handley and Laongdao Prathumchat offer authentic Aussie flavours with their Aussie Mince Beef Pie. The husband and wife team has over 14 years of experience in the pastry and pie-making industry, including operating a small pie shop in Launceston, Tasmania, for seven years and running Tinnies Gourmet Pies Cafe for the past seven years in Pattaya. The couple’s expertise is reflected in the reputation Tinnies Pies has gained for being the best pies in Pattaya, as shown by positive feedback from foreign YouTube channels and satisfied customers. Hearty and satisfying, this traditional Aussie Mince Beef and Guinness Aussie Beef & Mushroom has a rich and savoury flavour, with the beef encased in a flaky, buttery pastry crust cooked to perfection, creating a balance between the savoury filling and the pastry.

Meat & Livestock Australia launches "Aussie Pies - It's Just Better" campaign with five exclusive pies created by leading pastry chefs in Thailand

Luxury Steak Pie by Bangkok Bob’s

Bangkok Bob’s, located on Soi Sukhumvit 71 in Bangkok, offers a unique dining and shopping experience. As a restaurant and importer of high-quality meats and ingredients, they offer a selection of Western dishes prepared by the chef using your chosen ingredients. From Beef Stroganoff to Meat Croquettes to Cottage Pies made with Australian beef and mashed potatoes, there are various options for meat lovers. Their famous luxury steak pie is known for its unique balance of flavours. It is a rich, delicious, and well-seasoned treat that is hearty and satisfying.

Meat & Livestock Australia launches "Aussie Pies - It's Just Better" campaign with five exclusive pies created by leading pastry chefs in Thailand

Massaman Aussie Beef Pie and Khao Soi Aussie Lamb Pie by Chef Gun-Patinya Srithong from CRAFT at Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok

Chef Gun-Patinya Srithong is an experienced culinary professional specialising in fusion cuisine. He has honed his skills working in top kitchens throughout Thailand, including the Michelin-star L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Mohegan Sun, and Wine Connection. Currently, Chef Gun-Patinya can be found experimenting with unique ingredients and blending different cuisines at CRAFT, a perfect spot to enjoy single-origin coffee, craft cocktails and delicious bites. The café’s daytime cosy vibe transforms into a lively bar in the evening, with easy eats and great music. The classic Thai dish of stewed beef in Massaman spices inspires Chef Gun’s Massaman Aussie Beef Pie. The slow-cooked beef flavoured with curry paste, fish sauce, peanuts, coconut, tamarind and more makes for a rich, intensely punchy filling complimented by flaky, buttery pastry. Overall it is a rich, well-balanced pie.  Chef Gun’s Khao Soi Aussie Lamb Pie, is a revelation. The curried broth that flavours the lamb filling is wonderfully fragrant. The pie has a delicious spiciness that beautifully translates the comforting flavours of one of Thailand’s most popular dishes into a very Aussie Pie. 

Get an exclusive taste of Australia flavoured by the culinary expertise of these five remarkable chefs during the limited-time offer. As a bonus, the first ten customers who spend over THB 1,000 on a signature Aussie Pie will receive a THB 500 gift of Aussie Beef Aprons and Bags. 

To learn more about “The Aussie Pies-It’s Just Better” campaign and to find out more about the chefs and restaurants that are participating, visit https://www.thailand.aussiebeefandlamb.com or updates on events and news. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to savour the authentic taste of Australia!  Visit the participating restaurants from January 26th to February 26th, 2023, for your chance to taste these exclusive and delicious pies.

Thailand third highest buyer of gold in Southeast Asia in 2022

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Thailand third highest buyer of gold in Southeast Asia in 2022

Thailand third highest buyer of gold in Southeast Asia in 2022

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 02, 2023

Nongluck Ajanapanya

Demand for gold in Thailand was the third highest in Southeast Asia in 2022 as the precious metal remains popular for hedging against inflation and global uncertainties, the World Gold Council (WGC) said on Thursday.

Andrew Naylor, WGC regional CEO for Asia Pacific excluding China, told an online media briefing that demand for gold in Asean was in line with global trends.

However, while global gold demand is primarily driven by central bank purchases, demand in Asean is primarily driven by individuals who buy gold to increase their personal wealth or speculate for profit.

Asean gold buyers have also been encouraged by China’s reopening, which has rapidly restored the region’s business activity to pre-Covid-19 levels.

According to the Gold Demand Trend 2022 report, Vietnam was the biggest buyer of gold in Asean, with 69.1 tonnes, followed by Indonesia (50 tonnes), and Thailand (37.9 tonnes).

Naylor said that Vietnam’s gold demand was up 37% over last year, due to their strong recovery. Vietnamese craving for gold bars and coins accounted for around 41 tonnes of the country’s total gold demand. Indonesia saw similar trends, the council said.

Thailand, on the other hand, in 2022 witnessed only a modest increase in gold demand of 3% year on year.

The higher gold demand in Thailand was supported by a 15% year-on-year increase in jewellery demand, followed by an 8% year-on-year increase in bar and coin demand.

Overall demand for gold in Asean and around the world remains strong. High inflation, central bank policies, global economic uncertainties, and geopolitical tensions have driven investors to seek safe haven assets to protect their portfolios, Naylor stated.

However, as long as inflation remains high, gold demand from retail buyers will soften. Institutional investment will be the primary factor for gold’s rise in terms of demand and returns, he said.

He believes the trend should alert retail investors to be cautious.

“Institutions view gold as an effective hedge against inflation, but they also have access to other cutting-edge tools that individuals do not. Individuals have no other option to protect themselves against inflation than to invest in gold,” he noted.

However, institutional investor demand is likely to drive up gold price, making it prohibitively expensive for individuals to use gold for hedging.

Naylor believes that gold will continue to see at least modest demand this year.

Gold usually falls in value when interest rates are rising and the dollar is strong. However, given the current uncertainties and high inflation, most investors would see gold as a non-interest-bearing asset worth holding.

According to the WGC study, annual returns from investment in gold during periods of high inflation would average around 13% in dollar terms.

Naylor also shared key findings from 2022 global gold demand trends. According to the study, gold continues to play an important role in a recessionary and inflationary environment.

Annual gold demand increased 18% to 4,741 tonnes (excluding over-the-counter) in 2022, the highest annual figure since 2011. The main driver of the surge was a 55-year high in purchase by central banks — 1,136 tonnes — led by those in emerging markets, such as Turkey and China.

Meanwhile, gold investment increased 10% to 1,107 tonnes. In contrast, jewellery consumption fell 3% in 2022 to 2,086 tonnes, while industry demand for gold dropped as well due to the global slowdown.

Why is ChatGPT making waves in the AI market?

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Why is ChatGPT making waves in the AI market?

Why is ChatGPT making waves in the AI market?

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 01, 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) research and deployment company OpenAI recently announced the official launch of ChatGPT, a new model for conversational AI.

According to OpenAI, the dialogue provided by this platform makes it possible for ChatGPT to “answer follow-up questions, admit its mistakes, challenge incorrect premises and reject inappropriate requests.”

Since its launch, social media has been abuzz with discussions around the possibilities—and dangers—of this new innovation, ranging from its ability to debug code to its potential to write essays for college students.

What makes ChatGPT so interesting?

ChatGPT is the perfect storm of two current ‘hot’ AI topics: chatbots and GPT3. Together, they offer a wonderfully intriguing method of interacting with and producing content that sounds amazingly human. Each is the result of separate, significant improvements over the last five years in their respective technologies.

Chatbots allow interaction in a seemingly ‘intelligent’ conversational manner, while GPT3 produces output that appears to have ‘understood’ the question, the content and the context. Together this creates an uncanny valley effect of ‘Is it human or is it a computer? Or, is it a human-like computer?’ The interaction is sometimes humorous, sometimes profound and sometimes insightful. 

Why is ChatGPT making waves in the AI market?

Unfortunately, the content is also sometimes incorrect and the content is never based on a human-like understanding or intelligence. The problem may be with the terms ‘understand’ and ‘intelligent.’ These are terms loaded with implicitly human meaning, so when they are applied to an algorithm, it can result in severe misunderstandings.

The more useful perspective is to view chatbots and large language models (LLM) like GPT as potentially useful tools for accomplishing specific tasks, and not as parlor tricks. Success depends on identifying the applications for these technologies that offer meaningful benefits to the organization.

Potential use cases in the enterprise

At a high level, chatbots, or conversational assistants, provide a curated interaction with an information source. Chatbots themselves have many use cases, from customer service to assisting technicians in identifying problems. 

At a high level, ChatGPT is a specific chatbot use case where the chatbot is used to interact (chat) or ‘converse’ with a GPT information source. In this case, the GPT information source is trained for a specific domain by OpenAI. The training data used on the model determines the way questions will be answered.

Why is ChatGPT making waves in the AI market?

As noted earlier, however, GPT’s capability to unpredictively generate information that is false means that the information can only be used for situations where errors can be tolerated or corrected. 

There are numerous use cases for foundation models such as GPT, in domains including computer vision, software engineering and scientific research and development. For example, foundation models have been used to create images from text; generate, review and audit code from natural language, including smart contracts; and even in healthcare to create new drugs and decipher genome sequences for disease classification. 

Ethical concerns

AI foundation models such as GPT represent a huge step change in the field of AI. They offer unique benefits, such as massive reductions in the cost and time needed to create a domain-specific model.

However, they also pose risks and ethical concerns, including those associated with:

Complexity: Large models involve billions, or even trillions, of parameters. These models are impractically large to train for most organizations, because of the necessary compute resources, which can make them expensive and environmentally unfriendly.

Concentration of power: These models have been built mainly by the largest technology companies, with huge R&D investments and significant AI talent. This has resulted in a concentration of power in a few large, deep-pocketed entities, which may create a significant imbalance in the future.

Potential misuse: Foundation models lower the cost of content creation, which means it becomes easier to create deepfakes that closely resemble the original. This includes everything from voice and video impersonation to fake art, as well as targeted attacks. The serious ethical concerns involved could harm reputations or cause political conflicts.

Black-box nature: These models still require careful training and can deliver unacceptable results due to their black-box nature. It is often unclear what factbase models are attributing responses to, which can propagate downstream bias in the datasets. The homogenization of such models can lead to a single point of failure.

Intellectual property: The model is trained on a corpus of created works and it is still unclear what the legal precedent may be for reuse of this content, if it was derived from the intellectual property of others.

How to integrate AI foundation models in an ethical way

Start with natural language processing (NLP) use cases such as classification, summarization and text generation for non-customer-facing scenarios and choose task-specific, pretrained models to avoid expensive customization and training. Use cases where output is reviewed by humans are preferred.

Create a strategy document that outlines the benefits, risks, opportunities and deployment roadmap for AI foundation models like GPT. This will help determine whether the benefits outweigh the risks for specific use cases. 

Use cloud-based APIs to consume models, and choose the smallest model that will provide the accuracy and performance needed to reduce operational complexity, lower energy consumption and optimize total cost of ownership.

Prioritize vendors that promote responsible deployment of models by publishing usage guidelines, enforcing those guidelines, documenting known vulnerabilities and weaknesses and proactively disclosing harmful behavior and misuse scenarios.

Bern Elliot, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner

Amex moving for bigger share of Thai luxury spending

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Amex moving for bigger share of Thai luxury spending

Amex moving for bigger share of Thai luxury spending

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 01, 2023

Nongluck Ajanapanya

American Express Thailand is offering premium cardholders more benefits and services and expanding the number of merchants who accept payment with Amex cards in Thailand, as the US company moves to take its share of post-pandemic luxury spending.

Prom Sirisant, Thailand country manager for American Express, told a media briefing on Wednesday that its data showed very promising spending trends in the premium and “super premium” segments of the Thai market.

Prom, who is also vice president of international services for American Express Thailand, said there was pent-up demand for “premium experiences”.

People are spending more money on hotels, restaurants, and other social activities after two years of lockdowns, he said.

“To reinforce our leadership position among these high-spending customers, we will update our platinum card benefits while keeping the annual fee unchanged. The total value of all benefits will exceed our annual fee [by] three times,” Prom said.

A platinum card costs 35,000 baht a year.

Prom SirisantProm Sirisant

Prom said the enhanced benefits for platinum cards were available now, and included credits for dining and travel.

Prom said that expanding the number of Thai merchants who accepted payment with Amex cards was a priority.

He said that, according to the company’s data, Thai Amex card users “spend 3.5 times more on average” than those who use other credit cards.

From 2017 to 2021, American Express increased the number of merchants who accept payment by its card outside the US by 128% – from 16 million to 36.5 million locations, Prom said.

Fujitsu chief in Thailand seeks inner transformation

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Fujitsu chief in Thailand seeks inner transformation

Fujitsu chief in Thailand seeks inner transformation

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 01, 2023

Jarupong Krisanaraj

Technology alone cannot make companies achieve digital transformation, Kanokkamon Laohaburanakit, managing director of Fujitsu (Thailand), said on Wednesday.

Internal transformation is also necessary to cope with technological disruption, drive a company towards sustainability, and gain trust among employees and consumers, Kanokkamon said.

The challenge in digital transformation is changing employees’ mindsets as they may feel uncertain about new things, she said.

“Fujitsu highlights that internal transformation is essential and very important. Every employee is important to drive the organisation towards sustainability,” Kanokkamon said.

The company uses the principle “Fujitra” (Fujitsu Transformation) to help it improve internally, she said, adding that the concept includes leadership and culture, is data-driven, and focused on digital transformation.

Employees around the world are allowed to work anywhere and go to their offices only when required, she said, adding that the principle boosts trust among employees and consumers.

The principle also enables Fujitsu to help customers cope with digital transformation and achieve their sustainable goals effectively, she said.

Kanokkamon LaohaburanakitKanokkamon Laohaburanakit

Fujitsu has 124,000 employees in over 100 countries. In Thailand, it employs 408 people.

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Centara Expands Customer Experience with New Thai Airways Partnership Ahead of Centara Grand Hotel Osaka Debut

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Centara Expands Customer Experience with New Thai Airways Partnership Ahead of Centara Grand Hotel Osaka Debut

Centara Expands Customer Experience with New Thai Airways Partnership Ahead of Centara Grand Hotel Osaka Debut

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 01, 2023

Centara Hotels & Resorts, announces a partnership with Thai Airways to offer  passengers exclusive benefits ahead of the grand opening of Centara Grand Hotel Osaka, Centara’s first-ever property in Japan in July 2023.

This partnership marks the latest addition to Centara’s expanding airline partnership network which includes Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Thai Vietjet, Go First, Myanmar Airways International, and Vistara Airways.

“As we prepare for the highly anticipated launch of our debut property in Japan, we are thrilled to partner with Thai Airways to offer their network an array of exclusive benefits and to welcome travellers for the first time to this exciting new hotel, Centara Grand Hotel Osaka. Elegant, modern and conveniently located in the heart of downtown, our latest hotel is ideal for business travellers, families, couples, and solo explorers looking to discover breathtaking Osaka and enjoy Centara’s signature service and warm hospitality”, said Tom Thrussell, Vice President – Brand, Marketing & Digital of Centara Hotels & Resorts.

The new marketing partnership offers Thai Airways passengers an exclusive introductory rate of 25% off the lowest publicly available online rates at the brand-new Centara Grand Hotel Osaka with bookings made from now – 30th June 2023 for stays between 1st July – 20th December 2023.

Located in the vibrant shopping and entertainment district of Namba, Centara Osaka is a remarkable landmark soaring 33-storeys above downtown. Guests will discover an eclectic selection of world-class bars and restaurants, including a rooftop dining destination with spectacular views, an assortment of accommodation choices designed for sophisticated comfort, Japan’s first-ever SPA Cenvaree, and modern event and meeting spaces, including MICE facilities, a rooftop Sky Event space and Grand Ballroom, for any occasion.

“With the reopening of Japan to international tourism, Thai Airways is excited to partner with Centara to welcome our passengers back to Osaka and to experience the brand-new Centara Grand Hotel Osaka with exclusive privileges and introductory rates. Japan is a phenomenal destination, and we look forward to sharing its beauty with our customers once again with this new Centara partnership”, said Mr. Wit Kitchathorn, Director of Sales of Thai Airways.

Spectacular modern architecture at Centara Grand Hotel OsakaSpectacular modern architecture at Centara Grand Hotel Osaka

All passenger traveling with THAI to Osaka can enjoy this exclusive offers by simply fill out THAI’s ticket numbers in booking link that we promote in all online channel.

Currently, THAI operates 54 weekly flights to six destinations in Japan which are Tokyo (Narita/Haneda), Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Sapporo. For more information, reservation and ticketing, please visit thaiairways.com or call 0-2356-1111 for THAI Contact Center (24 hours a day)

 Under the Centara x Thai Airways promotion, guests will not only receive a special introductory offer of 25% off the best available room rate when logged in as a CentaraThe1 member. This is lower than any publicly available rate and exclusive to Thai Airways passengers. Other privileges also include complimentary room upgrades, early check-in, and late check-out which are all subject to availability, as well as a 25% discount on food at Embassy of Crab or Suan Bua restaurants. In addition, guests who order 2 or more set menus at either of these restaurants will receive one complimentary bottle of wine.

Travellers who are not yet members of Centara’s loyalty programme can sign up for free in less than a minute, and immediately start enjoying benefits and earning points. To take advantage of all CentaraThe1 membership privileges, sign-up or sign-in now at www.CentaraThe1.com

To book or learn more about Centara x Thai Airways offer, please visit https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/cgoj-tg

ANN news highlights: Thur, Feb 2, 2023

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Thursday, February 2, 2023

Thursday, February 2, 2023

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 02, 2023

Check out what’s hot in the region as The Nation puts together headlines from members of Asia News Network (ANN). Click to read more:

ANN news highlights: Thur, Feb 2, 2023
Bringing Asia Closer

Military 
India 
Defence outlay increased by 13% to acquire new weapon systems – The Statesman
 

NATO Japan-Korea
Amid Growing Global Risks, NATO Seeks Closer Ties with Japan, ROK – The Japan News
 

Geopolitics
Japan and NATO Building Ties to Counter China and Russia – The Japan News

Economy Asia-Pacific
China’s rebound to fuel Asia-Pacific outlook: Moody’s – The Star
 

Myanmar Crisis 
Myanmar’s state of emergency extended by six months – Straits Times

Diplomacy Philippines-Japan
7 pacts to be inked during Marcos trip to Japan next week | Inquirer
 

Cities Malaysia
Malaysia aims to turn federal territories into smart cities by 2030 – The Star
 

Travel S Korea 
New visas, faster entries: Immigration changes in 2023 – Korea Herald
 

Terror Pakistan
Opinion: A treacherous deal – Dawn
 

ChatGPT
Opinion: What ChatGPT means for Korea – Korea Herald

Retail Japan
Department Stores Turn Fateful Corner Amid Closures – The Japan News
 

Tech S Korea 
Geopolitical conflicts pose risk to chip, battery industries: BOK – Korea Herald
 

EV China
Tesla’s China revenue jumps 31% in 2022 – China Daily
 

Energy Bangladesh
Talks ongoing to generate hydrogen power from seawater: PM | The Daily Star
 

Finance China
Major steps in reform of capital market made – China Daily
 

Travel Cambodia
Cambodian travel agents recruit tourists on Thai trip | Phnom Penh Post

China’s caffeinated consumption looks to grow further as more companies start to expand their presence

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China’s caffeinated consumption looks to grow further as more companies start to expand their presence

China’s caffeinated consumption looks to grow further as more companies start to expand their presence

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 02, 2023

It is no secret that coffee consumption has been rising exponentially in China over the past few years, and industry players have forecasted that this growth will continue for years to come as more coffee companies and startup cafes are poised to make their entry into smaller cities.

According to Daxue Consulting, Chinese coffee consumption saw a staggering 500 % increase between 2006 and 2018. Business intelligence service provider China Briefing also reported that China’s coffee market surged by 31 % over the previous year in 2021, and is likely to have a compound annual growth rate of 9.63 % between 2022 and 2025.

Though the number of coffee drinkers in China has ballooned in recent years, most coffee consumers are from well-developed tier-1 and tier-2 cities like Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen of Guangdong province, and this explains why top domestic coffee brands like Manner Coffee and M Stand have just a few stores in lower-tier cities.

But as an increasing number of people across the country develop a taste for coffee, smaller cities and towns are being viewed as gold mines.

Furthermore, statistics from Meituan, a major online food and beverage delivery platform, show that the growth of cafes in lower-tier markets, including small cities, towns and even rural areas, was much higher than that in major cities last year.

According to National Business Daily, Starbucks’ expansion plan for the Chinese market involves opening new stores in nearly 3,000 counties, county-level cities and city districts. It has also been reported that local coffee giant Luckin will be opening new stores in small cities like Xinxiang in Henan, Daqing in Heilongjiang and Dezhou in Shandong province.

A young driving force

One such city where the popularity of coffee has been steadily growing is Zhejiang province’s Tongxiang, which is a 52-square-kilometre county-level city famous for its wool fashion industry and ancient water towns.

One of the key coffee promoters in the city is He Jie, owner of Xiaoman Cafe, which is located in a charming century-old two-story house with a small courtyard.

“At the beginning, my cafe had almost no local guests – most of the customers were tourists from big cities, such as nearby Hangzhou and Shanghai,” she said. “Gradually, more and more young locals started coming. Now, I get dozens of locals ordering coffee every day.”

He, who quit her job five years ago to pursue her new passion of making coffee, said she does not regret the move one bit even though she works longer hours – from 11 am to 9 pm, six days a week. She cites her interesting interactions with like-minded customers as one of the key reasons why she enjoys running this business.

The business has been brisk, too. According to He, Xiaoman Cafe can sell about 150 cups of speciality coffee on a busy day. She took two and a half years to recoup her investment of nearly half a million yuan ($74,050).

He also pointed out that local palates have become more discerning over the years. For example, many local customers who dipped their toes in coffee drinking by ordering less intense options like mocha and latte now appreciate handmade black coffee.

Tarffy Cafe in Dongxing village, Shantou, Guangdong province, is highly popular among locals. [Photo provided to CHINA DAILY]Tarffy Cafe in Dongxing village, Shantou, Guangdong province, is highly popular among locals. [Photo provided to CHINA DAILY]

Mechanical engineer Chen Yu is one of Xiaoman’s regular customers. After drinking coffee to lose weight, he gradually became addicted to the drink and now visits the cafe after the gym almost every day.

“Sitting in a nice cafe and sipping my favourite Americano after a day’s work is my joy,” said the 28-year-old man who lives in Tongxiang. He has also learned handmade coffee-making from He and makes fresh coffee at home during the weekends.

Another young cafe owner who has been riding the growing wave of coffee consumption is Lin Junping, who together with her husband opened two cafes in a village in Guangdong that is now highly popular among locals.

Today, her Tarffy Cafe in Dongxing village of Gurao town in Shantou is almost always packed with enthusiasts every evening.

Lin said her cafe is more about providing a social space. Apart from coffee, her cafe also sells milk tea and cocktails. Unlike most cafes in the city, hers is open till midnight to cater to young villagers who like gathering with friends and colleagues and enjoying a drink after a day’s work.

Though located in a small village, Tarffy Cafe can sell over 550 drinks on a good day.

The location of Lin’s cafe is a small industrial centre featuring lingerie fashion and manufacturing instead of traditional agriculture. Many families here own plants and online stores selling lingerie and underwear.

“About 80 % of my guests are locals and this ratio is still growing,” she said. “Most of my customers are between 18 and 25 years old. They earn a decent income and generally face less pressure, unlike people from the big cities. They need a space to have a nice drink and chat and we offer the right place.”

Optimism abounds

The location of such cafes has also played a big part. In recent months, June Cafe, which is located in a village in Guangdong’s Dongguan, Kahf Cafe in Sangpo village of Jiaozuo in Henan province, and Two Tree Coffee in a village near Xi’an of Shaanxi province, have all gone viral in China’s social media platforms because they are located in scenic and tranquil locations.

Both He and Lin said they are confident that business will only get better despite seeing more competition recently.

Just last year, Lin’s two cafes were the only shops selling coffee in the town. Today, another 10 new cafes can be found. A similar situation has occurred in Tongxiang where several new cafes opened in recent years after Xiaoman. Some are community cafes selling speciality coffees and some focus on delivery services.

“More competition is good. We need a competitive business atmosphere. It’s difficult for a single store to stay afloat for long,” said He.

As such, both business owners are planning to expand their footprint.

He said she has already rented another house in Tongxiang, which she plans to convert into a cafe that sports a different style from the current one. She believes her customers under 35 years old are willing to try something different brewed by a privately owned cafe.

Meanwhile, Lin has been busy preparing for the opening of her third store in a nearby town located about 20 minutes’ ride away. This new store will be her biggest yet and will start interior renovations after Spring Festival.

“I believe in the consumption power of the villagers,” said Lin. “I’m sure I will be busier than ever when the third store opens after Spring Festival.”

China Daily

Asia News Network

Germany needs more Leopard tanks urgently, says defense minister

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Germany needs more Leopard tanks urgently, says defense minister

Germany needs more Leopard tanks urgently, says defense minister

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 02, 2023

Germany needs to order new Leopard tanks quickly to replace those going to Ukraine, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Wednesday, adding he did not care where the money came from.

“For me, the crucial fact is that we have to order new tanks, not in a year, but swiftly, so that production can begin,” he told reporters on a visit to a tank battalion in the western town of Augustdorf, which has been chosen to supply 14 of its Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv.

Pistorius watched as the tanks manoeuvred on the terrain. He boarded one of the tanks and was driven around the base.

“Where will the money come from? Let me casually put it like this: Frankly, I don’t care. It is essential that we can provide them (the tanks) quickly,” Pistorius said.

The minister was responding to the question of whether he was pushing for an increase in a 100-billion-euro special fund set up for the modernisation of the military following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Pistorius aims to accelerate arms procurement and ramp up ammunition supplies in the long term after almost a year of arms donations to Ukraine has depleted German military stocks.

Even before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Germany was 20 billion euros short of reaching Nato’s target for ammunition stockpiling.

Asked about calls to reintroduce conscription, which was suspended in 2011 partly to save money, Pistorius said such a move would not plug short-term gaps in the Bundeswehr‘s manpower.

Reuters

Ukraine raids home of billionaire in war-time anti-corruption crackdown

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Ukraine raids home of billionaire in war-time anti-corruption crackdown

Ukraine raids home of billionaire in war-time anti-corruption crackdown

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 02, 2023

Security services searched the home of one of Ukraine’s most prominent billionaires on Wednesday, moving against a figure once seen as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s sponsor in what the authorities called a war-time anti-corruption purge.

The action, days before a summit with the European Union, appears to reflect a determination by Kyiv to demonstrate that it can be a steward of billions of dollars in Western aid and shed a reputation as one of the world’s most corrupt states.

Photographs circulating on social media appeared to show Ihor Kolomoiskiy dressed in a sweatsuit and looking on in the presence of an SBU security service officer at his home.

The SBU said it had uncovered the embezzlement of more than $1 billion at Ukraine’s biggest oil company, Ukrnafta, and its biggest refiner, Ukrtatnafta. Kolomoiskiy, who has long denied wrongdoing, once held stakes in both firms, which Zelenskiy ordered seized by the state in November under martial law.

“Every criminal who has the audacity to harm Ukraine, especially in the conditions of war, must clearly understand that we will put handcuffs on his hands,” Ukraine’s security service chief Vasyl Malyuk was quoted as saying on the SBU Telegram channel.

The prosecutor general’s office said the top management of Ukrtatnafta had been notified it was under suspicion, as were a former energy minister, a former deputy defence minister and other officials.

Kolomoiskiy, who faces a fraud case in the United States, has been at the centre of corruption allegations and court disputes for years that Western donors have said must be resolved for Kyiv to win aid.

Zelenskiy, who first came to fame as the star of a sitcom on Kolomoiskiy’s TV station, has long promised to rid Ukraine of so-called oligarchs but had faced accusations that he was unable to move decisively against his former sponsor.

In an address overnight before the raids, he alluded to new anti-corruption measures in time for Friday’s summit, at which Ukraine is expected to seek firm steps towards joining the EU.

“We are preparing new reforms in Ukraine. Reforms that will change the social, legal and political reality in many ways, making it more human, transparent and effective,” he said, promising to reveal the details soon.

Reuters