MultiCORE International Group sponsored game changing innovation around transparency and sustainability within food supply chains that will benefit growers and consumers.
MultiCORE International Group has sponsored an initiative entitled Tip Your Farmer that utilizes emerging blockchain architecture to support new levels of transparency and direct rapport between a restaurant guest and the farmers that provided them their meal.
Should the guest wish to check the provenance of the ingredients, they will be able to do so by scanning a quality seal on the menu and, if they wish, add a gratuity to the bill that will go straight to the farmer.
MultiCORE explained the innovative scheme during an event held the evening of August 24th at The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok. The exclusive dinner event was attended by potential consumers, Thai influencers, and people from diverse backgrounds who share the same interest in traceability and sustainability within food supply-chains, supported by emerging blockchain digital architectures. The following day, MultiCORE also sponsored a consultation and workshop for farmers and growers interested in being a part of the Tip Your Farmer pilot initiative.
Participating hotels and restaurants would feature a seal on the menu that reads: “Blockchain Certified: Proof of Provenance.” By using a smartphone to scan the seal, the guest would see information on the organic and sustainable methods that were used to provide the meal, as well as the measures taken to assure that the meal was properly and ethically sourced, including fair wages for workers and humane treatment of animals. The guest also has the option of tipping their farmer via a QR code that brings them into an application on their phone. The application will walk them through a brief process in which they may directly reward, or pay gratitude to, the individuals and/or their local farming communities.
Tip Your Farmer is being piloted as part of an official proof-of-concept research initiative sanctioned by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and is proposed and led by Marcus Shingles, who led the event as guest speaker.
Mr Shingles is an official member of WEF’s Expert Network, and has a specific focus on digital transformation, innovation, and helping organizations navigate disruptive change brought about by emerging technologies. He is the Chief Innovation Officer and Managing Executive Director of “Smart City & Urban Innovation” at MultiCORE, where he is leading a global team on a multi-year initiative to design and build entirely new smart-cities as part of future-oriented sustainable communities. MultiCORE is leading multiple Smart City & Urban Innovation projects throughout Southeast Asia and the Middle East to include Thailand, Cambodia, and United Arab Emirates. In Thailand, MultiCORE is in the initial development phase for a new Smart, Innovative & Cognitive City concept to be developed in the north.
The majority of the research is being underwritten by MultiCORE with an in-kind donation as well as providing pro-bono local resources in Thailand to support the pilot. Specifically, Michael Saif Ghanima, Group President, has agreed to support the research by covering travel and other operational expenses for participants, as well as offering his local team of young talented professional women at MultiCORE’s Thailand office to assist with language translation and facilitating discussions with farmers and growers involved in the pilot.
MultiCORE explained during the event that Thailand was a perfect location to launch the pilot program since Thailand promotes itself as the “Kitchen of the World” on account of its strength in the food industry, arising from its abundant natural resources, continuing investment in food innovation and commitment to food safety standards. In 2021, Thailand ranked 13th largest food exporter in the world, with exports valued at USD30.5 billion. The Tip Your Farmer initiative will highlight Thailand’s sustainability efforts to the global market and assist with post-Covid economic recovery efforts.
The Athenee Hotel is acting as the pilot for Tip Your Farmer, the project being supported by Brendon Partridge, the Hotel Manager, who overseas food and beverage, and Choo Leng Goh, The Athenee’s General Manager.
The hotel was selected by MultiCORE because of its sustainability focus. Amongst its many environmental programs, The Athenee has for several years been conducting a policy of sourcing organic produce directly from Thai farmers and serving it in the hotel restaurants, thereby promoting the sustainable concept to consumers and providing the local farming communities with a sure income.
Bangkok, August 26, 2022 — Mr Daniel Ross, Chief Investment Officer and Head of Sustainability at BTS Group Holdings Public Company Limited (BTSG), stated at “Asia Pacific Business Forum (APBF) 2022: Toward an Asia-Pacific Green Deal for Business” that BTS Group is determined to cooperate with all sectors in driving environmental action in line with Thailand’s participation in the Paris Agreement, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change initiative to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and reach net zero by 2065.
Mr Ross said “BTSG operates the world’s first and only mass transit rail company certified as carbon neutral. Since its inauguration, BTS SkyTrain has allowed mass transit in Thailand to avoid an equivalent of 1.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The company remains committed to improving its energy efficiency by finding alternative energy sources and having at least 10% of energy for its operations be from renewable sources, even carrying out a feasibility study on Solar PV Rooftops its Pink and Yellow Line Monorail depots. For the construction of our railway extensions and other projects , we prioritized environmentally friendly policies, such as reducing PM2.5 pollution from construction, and noise pollution.”
“Operating in accordance with sustainable development principles is challenging both in terms of time and cost, making it crucial to build cooperation among all sectors. The government sector faces the added challenge of having to set regulations and policies regarding green infrastructure and enhancing the role of entrepreneurs towards greater responsibility. Most important, however, is public cooperation, people need to realize the importance of mitigating environmental impact and helping to reduce CO2 emissions,” he added.
Mr Ross also presented four of his suggestions for national and international collaborations toward sustainability: 1) Increased support for Renewable Energy Supply & Utilisation in the region; 2)Incentives for operators to mitigate their environmental and improve their businesses for greater eco-friendliness, e.g., benefits for organizations with eco-friendly policies or activities; 3) Exchanges of eco-friendly operation knowledge and technology at the regional level; and 4) Establishment of networks in support of eco-friendly development partnerships and joint operations for sustainability.
The Asia-Pacific Business Forum (APBF) has been held annually since 2004. This year, APBF 2022 was held on August 26, 2022 at the ESCAP Hall of theUnited Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, and online in cooperation with the ESCAP Sustainable Business Network (ESBN), state agencies, business organizations, civil societies, and over 300 academics from across the region. The forum facilitated exchanges on management, recommendations, and innovative concepts aimed at environmentally-friendly and sustainable developments for business operations in the Asia-Pacific.
Rangsit University hosted 4th RSU International Ganesh Festival on 31st August at Rangsit University. The purpose of this grand annual Ganesh Chaturthi (Birthday of Shree Ganesh or Phra Phikanet) festival is to celebrate the divine grandeur festivities of lord Ganesh at Rangsit University.
As Thailand and India celebrate 75 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between two countries, the event is also aimed to strengthen social and cultural relations between India and Thailand.
This year, the festival activities are mainly aimed to pray for the well-being of the billions of people in Thailand, India and around the world who are recovering back from adversities due to Covid-19 pandemic.
The Ganesh festival has been celebrated since the time of King Shivaji Maharaj.
It was during India’s freedom struggle that Lokmanya Tilak changed Ganesh Chaturthi from a private celebration to a grand public festival where people from all castes of the society can come together, pray and be united.
Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is one of the important Hindu festivals celebrated across the world with a great devotion for lord Ganesh.
This day is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesh, the elephant-headed son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
Lord Ganesh is the symbol of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.
The day-long festivities include welcoming lord Ganesh and Sthapna puja, devotional cultural program, opening ceremony, Ganesh amulets, instrumental music concert, ganesh mahaprasad, and sewa activities for 151 families of the neighbourhood community who are facing challenges and adversities due to COVID-19 pandemic.
The festival ends with the ceremonial procession and immersion of Ganesh idol in water.
“We all believe in lord Ganesh and festival activities in Thailand have created a divine atmosphere for people-to-people interactions and cultural exchange and strengthened socio-economic and cultural relations between India and Thailand. Said Thanikan Pornpongsaroj, Member of Parliament, Thailand,”
“India and Thailand have had deep-rooted cultural relations for centuries. We believe that Shree Ganesh rituals conducted at Rangsit University will further contribute to good health, safety and prosperity for the people in Thailand and around the world. Said, Dharmendra Singh, Head of Chancery, Embassy of India, Thailand”.
Hundreds of devotees joined the festival activities physically as well as online. The Thai and Indian communities generously contributed and provided wholehearted support in making this landmark event a resounding success.
The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce, has proved a remarkable turnout of TILOG Virtual Exhibition: TILOG VE 2022 with a track record of successful in the second-year event. Generating more than THB1.24 billion of trade value.
Phusit Ratanakul Sereroengrit, Director-General of DITP, revealed that TILOG VE 2022 was held previously during August 24 – 26, 2022 on the platform http://www.tilog-ve.com in response to the promoting clusters of services, especially services of logistics providers as well as driving Thailand as a logistics hub in Asean policy of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, (Jurin Laksanawisit).
TILOG VE 2022 is humbled by the overwhelming response from international logistics service providers and buyers from various countries around the world namely China, Myanmar, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, India, Hungary, Russia, Nigeria, Kenya, etc.
“During the three-day event, there were 24,886 participants joining the virtual exhibition, resulting in 296 business matchings. The trade value of 1,244.20 million baht was generated, which exceeded the expected success,” he said
The success of this event has proven that there are readiness and increasing demand for international transportation in line with the value of Thai exports.
It is also an important opportunity for Thai logistics entrepreneurs to build a business network and expand the service to meet the target group effectively.
The DITP will be organizing related activities to develop and promote Thai logistics entrepreneurs, such as the Trade Logistics Symposium 2022, the international symposium on global trade logistics, under the theme Empowering E-Commerce and Cross Border Logistics.
The event is a stage for sharing and exchanging insights and knowledge regarding e-commerce and cross-border trade. Renowned speakers from the logistics industry both domestically and internationally will take to the stage to share their views on September 1-2, 2022 at Hall 2 Lido Connect and webinar.
In addition, the event entitled Digital Life…Digital Logistics by DITP, will be held between September 3 – 4, 2022 at Future Park and Zpell Rangsit shopping centres.
The line-up of e-logistics and technology manufacturers participate in booths to present products and services to interested entrepreneurs. Interested participants can join the above-mentioned events free of charge.
The Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment of Thailand and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH organised the regional knowledge exchange titled “Reduce! – From More to Better – Circular Economy for Sustainable Products in Southeast Asia (SEA)”.
The conference aims to encourage the debate on Product Lifetime Extension (PLE), a cornerstone of the Circular Economy. It will contribute to the development of scientifically based strategies for optimising PLE framework conditions from environmental, economic and social perspectives.
The Asean Vision 2020 defines the goal of a “clean and green” community of states with established mechanisms for environmental protection, sustainable use of natural resources and high quality of life for their populations.
Integrating PLE in current sustainable consumption and production (SCP) policies in Asean offers promising contributions to its Vision 2020, as well as to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
SDG12 specifically focuses on ensuring SCP patterns as solutions for improving natural resource use, emphasising the role of standards and consumer information to drive transformation.
In his keynote address, the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment of Thailand, Pinsak Surasawadi said: “To respond to today’s economic and environmental challenges, Thailand has adjusted its socio-economic development model to one that can capitalise on the country’s strength in biological and cultural diversity to create effective and more localised value chains for high-end products and services”.
He also introduced the Bio-Circular and Green Economy model (BCG Model), saying: “The BCG Model is Thailand’s way forward in the next decade. Especially with regard to the natural resource-based security, we are aiming at increasing resource utilisation efficiency throughout the entire value chain; systematically reducing waste production to safeguard the country’s resource base and minimise impacts on the environment; reducing resource consumption by two-thirds of the current rate; reducing waste by 16.5 million tons; as well as combatting climate change by focusing on the primary target groups of plastic, ICT products, garment or textiles industries as well as the construction sector.”
Ulf Jaekel, former head of Division of SCP and Product-related Environmental Protection of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) said in his welcoming address: “The European Green Deal and its Sustainable Product Initiative is Germany’s guiding policy. In Germany we have developed a Circular Economy Roadmap and a Circular Economy Action Plan, outlining a range of important reforms, including consolidation of consumer information tools, such as the Blue Angel eco-label, strengthening market transparency through digital passports, supporting Circular Business Models, regulatory tools such as mandatory eco-design, and many more. Ultimately our goal is to depart from More and develop Better products.”
He further illustrated some visions of the Circular Economy (CE), saying: “In the old days, a company would produce a product, sell it and that product would disappear from its responsibility. (…) Soon, they will sell you the mobility, not the car itself. The important aspect here is that the ownership of the car will remain in the company with the interest to maximise efficiency during the entire lifecycle.”
Finally, he emphasised the economic opportunities of the CE. “In a circular economy, companies can reduce their costs, and they can sell more services. The global market for sustainable products and services is estimated to be worth more than $2 trillion a year. Let us go back to the example of the car, especially critical for Germany’s manufacturing industry: hydrogen and battery production offers huge investment opportunities. Further developing circular business models for critical materials, such are rare-earths often used in such technologies, offer a wide range of business opportunities and new green jobs.”
During the Conference, the new GIZ Scaling SCP project was launched.
This project is adding another stone to the long-lasting support of the German Government to Thailand, underling the 160 years friendship of between the countries.
Scaling SCP is implemented in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines with the objective to reduce dangerous greenhouse gas emissions.
The project focus is on developing ambitious green standards for products and services, for example for ACs and Data Centers. Such greener products will be certified by the Thai Green Label to inform consumers, and the government will procure these to support market penetration.
Circular Economy product criteria play a critical role to reduce emissions from products and extend their lifetime.
This conference is a part of Scaling SCP, SCP Outreach, and the Collaborative Actions for Single-Use Plastic Prevention in Southeast Asia (CAP SEA) projects under the support of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV).
These projects support 8 Countries in Southeast Asia to improve and develop Sustainable Consumption and Production policy frameworks, promote eco-labelling and Sustainable Public Procurement and reduce single-use plastic consumption.
The EV trend is undeniably growing in Thailand, as more and more people are seeking out electric vehicles. Although Thailand’s EV infrastructure is expanding to cover most areas, EVs are still new to many Thais, leaving them intrigued and concerned about potential problems when using EVs.
GWM, the Global Intelligent Technology Company and xEV leader, would like to share simple and practical recommendations for dealing with any issues that may arise when driving an electric car, in order to make every driver feel more confident every time they start their beloved EV.
Running out of power while driving an EV: Easy way to find an EV charging station
On the go, if drivers notice that the battery is running out of power and that the vehicle may die soon, it is now easier than ever to find a nearby charging point due to the infrastructure provided by both the public and private sector, which is helping push the electric vehicle ecosystem in Thailand to be more accessible by increasing the number of EV charging stations to cover a much wider area.
Users can use Google Maps to search for relevant keywords (e.g. EV charging, EV charging stations, or EV charger) or download apps that help locate charging stations.
Some apps can check the availability, monitor the real-time charging status, as well as reserve a charging queue place in advance, such as EVolt, EA Anywhere, PlugShare, MEA EV, EV Station PluZ, PEA VOLTA, GO TO-U, and G-Charge, which comforts drivers by collecting charging station locations across Thailand and combines them into one app.
By the end of August, the GWM app will cover 65% of the charging station network, and this will increase to 85% by the end of this year.
All GWM G-Charge Supercharging Stations are equipped with high-power DC charging units, starting at 120 kW, to serve all brands of electric vehicles.
The fast, safe, and highly available EV charging stations ensure 24/7 operation of the charging points by using the GWM app, where users can search for charging stations and reserve a timeslot for charging.
However, the best way to prevent battery drainage to a low level along the way is to plan your route and charge in advance to avoid any negative surprises during the journey.
Getting into an accident or engine malfunctioning on the road: How to get help?
The first thing to do when facing the unexpected, whether the car dies or breaks down on the road, is to remember to follow these critical steps: turn on the emergency warning lights to alert other commuters that your car is having trouble.
After that, try to turn off the engine and wait for about 20 minutes and restart the engine, or reset the vehicle’s system and start the engine again.
If the situation still does not improve, call the relevant agencies such as the police at 191, highway police at 1193, emergency ambulance hotline at 1669, or the emergency roadside assistance service, etc.
For those who have car insurance, you can call the car insurance company right away.
GWM also has technology installed in every vehicle that helps the driver to easily operate in the event of an unexpected incident by having an SOS button to call for emergency assistance in the case of any accident involving injured passengers.
Another button activates customer service, which provides 24/7 roadside assistance with an expert technician on hand to assist and arrive at the scene within 30 minutes for emergencies and 45 minutes for a trailer lift operation.
Moreover, customers can contact the GWM Contact Center via the GWM app or call directly at 02-668-8888 and press 1 for emergency service, giving the full name, contact number, and body number (VIN), which is the unique identification code of each vehicle.
This will help staff work to find information more conveniently and quickly. However, in the event of a traffic accident, please contact your insurance company to coordinate further assistance.
With renewable energy vehicles that are powered by electricity and have a working mechanism and innovative technology that is not similar to a combustion car, many people are concerned that if their electric vehicle has a problem or its systems malfunction, who should they turn to?
It could be mentioned that many car garages today are well prepared for EVs as they send their mechanics and technicians to learn more about EV systems.
However, if you need more confidence, you can report the damage to the service centre of the purchased electric vehicle.
GWM has many GWM Partner Stores across the country and is ready to take care of customers with an experienced and well-trained team.
Moreover, GWM provides a complete manual with the purchased car, in which drivers can look for EV driving techniques and information with detailed explanations to help drivers become accustomed to car features before driving.
Driving EVs through floods: Is it really safe?
It is quite a common crisis for internal combustion engine drivers in Thailand to face a car stall in the rainy season because the ventilation or cooling systems of the internal combustion engine are connected to the exterior, which puts the engine at risk when there is a flood.
By contrast, the EV engine (including the motor, battery, and charging system) is designed to be in a closed and secure area, preventing it from being exposed to water and having lower risk in a flood.
When driving over floodwaters, EV drivers should keep in mind that the flood level should be less than 30 centimetres high, or at the level of the footpath, or halfway up the wheel.
It is advisable to stop driving if the flood extends above the car door sill, as water might leak into the vehicle and halt or damage the system.
Because all components of EVs are powered by electricity, drivers must be cautious not to allow water to enter the vehicle, as this may cause damage to the electric wire, battery system, motor system, gears, or engine control unit, despite the fact that these components are thoroughly waterproof sealed.
As the battery is one of the crucial components of EVs, it is tested for IP Rating (Ingress Protection), which is the standard for preventing solids and liquids from entering inside the car, causing electricity leakage if the car is underwater.
The standard for electric vehicles generally is IP67, which guarantees to prevent damage from flooding up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.
The ORA Good Cat uses batteries that meet IP67 standards, are waterproof, and can prevent damage from flooding up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.
It also remains completely dustproof and can drive through 40 cm of high floodwater. That means drivers can rest assured that floods won’t cause damage to the EV battery.
However, there is a risk of water leakage into the battery components, especially for salt water, which can erode substances and may damage lithium batteries.
It is therefore advised to avoid driving EVs in high levels of water for a long period of time to prevent the damage it may cause.
It is advised that after driving through floods, you apply the brakes repeatedly for 5-10 minutes to push water from the brake pads. If water gets inside the car, dry it off by exposing it to the sun and opening the hood and doors. Alternatively, drivers can take their vehicle to a service shop to have it fully inspected.
Charging an EV: How it works and what to do when it doesn’t work
In the early period of using electric vehicles, there was a lot of confusion about how to charge and the location of the charging port – which the driver would get used to after using the vehicle for a while.
If the charger is unable to connect to power when it’s plugged in, it may be that the charger plug is not properly connected.
The simple solution is to unlock the vehicle and re-insert the charger firmly in place. Then press the vehicle lock and press ‘Recharge’ in the app to complete the process.
For example, the ORA Good Cat doesn’t have a button to unplug the charging port, so the owner has to unlock the vehicle first and then pull it out.
There are several reasons a charging port might get stuck, and each is as frustrating as another; it could be due to incorrect communication between the vehicle and the standard vehicle charger – such as the vehicle stopping the charging itself before the timer expires.
Therefore, it is recommended to unlock three times to cut off the electrical system, then the vehicle’s charging port can be unplugged.
However, if the charging port still gets stuck, the driver can press the ‘Emergency’ or ‘Off Breaker’ main button to cut off the power on the charger side. After that, the charger can be unplugged.
As a last resort, if following the initial steps, the charger still cannot be unplugged, call the electric vehicle charging service provider’s call center for emergency assistance and describe the problem for technical troubleshooting.
Most charging stations clearly post a toll-free customer service number. Even if they can’t provide an easy fix, it is essential for the charging company to know that there was a problem with their equipment.
A couple of things to know about charging: if a driver wants to stop charging, especially at a public charging station, it is necessary to press ‘stop charging’ on the app first so that the vehicle system connects with the charging kiosk to stop the power supply.
However, users can stop charging immediately when charging their EV at home.
Maintaining and servicing an electric vehicle: Everything you need to know
Even though electric vehicles may not require as much maintenance as internal combustion engine vehicles and consist of fewer parts and equipment than conventional cars, a periodic maintenance check is something that every user must pay attention to.
Checking the mileage accordingly will help extend the life of the electric vehicle and provide worry-free driving. The service center will inspect the operation and any possible malfunction with the motor, battery, charging system, cooling system, radiator, gear, lighting system or tires.
Most electric vehicles are scheduled to have a periodic check with a service center every 12 months or 15,000 kilometers (whichever comes first).
The ORA Good Cat, the 100% electric vehicle from GWM, comes with a 5-year or 75,000-kilometer warranty, which covers both a specialized technician and consumable parts. (For Premiere Deal consumers, the 12 Volt battery, wiper blades, and brake pads are not covered.)
Consumers can use their vehicle with peace of mind and worry-free driving every time.
In addition, GWM also offers Mobile Service, an off-site car check-up service following the periodic maintenance table, using a fully-equipped vehicle and a specialized technician team.
It also includes Pick Up And Delivery On Demand, a service to pick up a vehicle for maintenance (depending on distance) at a standard GWM service center and deliver it back at the appointed location after the service is finished.
The service can also be requested two business days in advance through the GWM app, Partner Store – which covers many areas, or the GWM Contact Center (02-668-8888).
After-sales service for 5 years. Conditions as designated by the company.
The 7th Asia Pacific Geoparks Network Symposium (APGN) 2022 is scheduled for September 4–11, 2022 at Songkhla Rajabhat University, Satun Campus.
Unesco Global Geoparks covers four districts in Satun, comprising Mueang Satun, La-Ngu, Thung Wa, and Manang, as well as other key landmarks in the province.
This year’s geoparks networking conference will be held in person under the theme “Unesco Global Geoparks Building Sustainable Communities” to foster collaboration and engagement with a shared goal to achieve geographical sustainability.
The 7th APGN 2022 in Satun features representatives from the Unesco Global Geoparks Council, GGN Executive Board, APGN Advisory Committees, APGN Committees, APGN members from countries in Asia-Pacific, members of geoparks network in Thailand, tourism communities in designated geoparks, and delegates from relevant organizations in the public and private sectors and education institutions, totaling more than 1,000 participants.
Pongboon Pongthong, Director General of the Department of Mineral Resources, said the objective of the 7th APGN 2022 is to enhance engagement among members of the geoparks network in order to move forward geographical development frameworks initiated under the Unesco Global Geoparks Network in Asia-Pacific as well as strengthening collaboration with other geoparks in other countries globally, including geoparks network in Thailand.
The ability to host the symposium serves as an efficiency assessment benchmark for a renewal of the status of the geoparks network in Satun.
In addition, it aims to promote tourist destinations, natural beauty at geoparks and marine excursions in the province.
Thai and foreign participants will be able to recognize the unique identities of communities in geoparks such as art and culture, local wisdom and tradition, and a distinctive way of life.
Satun governor Ekkarat Leesen said Satun stands ready to host the 7th APGN 2022 with standard infrastructure, conference facilities, venues, and accommodations in place to welcome participants from Asia-Pacific.
They will experience the uniqueness of Thai hospitality and the beauty of Thai-style amicability.
Furthermore, there are sideline activities that will be concurrently held as part of APGN such as Geofair, Intangible Heritage Exhibition, exhibition booths featuring a range of unique products made in global geoparks as well as a lineup of local products. Participants will be guided to discover 3 GeoTrails for Mid – Excursion.
Satun is being developed under the concept “Ecotourism, Geoparks, Economic Prosperity, Livable Society, Sustainable Peace, Gateway to Asean”.
It focuses on sustainable economic development to create value-added by reinforcing the province’s unique selling propositions such as the geoparks network, ecotourism, agricultural products, and geographical advantage as an Asean gateway.
Satun is committed to becoming an advocated geopark sustainable tourism destination to help revitalize the tourism industry in the region for inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Firmenich, the world’s largest privately-owned fragrance and taste company, has announced it has been recognized for its exemplary leadership in Diversity & Inclusion, winning the Cercle Suisse des Administratrices Grandes Entreprises Award 2022.
The Cercle Suisse des Administratrices is an association that promotes diversity and competencies within governance bodies – Board of Directors and management in Switzerland. It was created to give more visibility to the many women playing a senior role on management teams and boards of directors and its awards are widely considered the most prestigious in the diversity arena in Switzerland.
The judges applauded Firmenich’s inclusive culture, the strong representation of women across senior leadership roles, the absence of gender pay gaps, and its equitable recruitment, training and mentoring programs.
Firmenich was selected as a finalist out of 36 companies and received the award during a ceremony held at the Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne.
“I am very proud that Firmenich received the 2022 Grandes Entreprises Award from Cercle Suisse des Administratrices,” said Mieke Van de Capelle, Chief Human Resources Officer, Firmenich. “This award recognizes our ongoing efforts in embedding equality across our leadership and senior roles worldwide, as well as across the wider organization. We continue to set the standard for excellence as the best place to work in our industry. While I am very proud of this achievement, we recognize this is a journey. Therefore, we are constantly focusing on new frontiers with targeted actions that go beyond gender. By embracing the power of inclusion, we continue to be a leading creative powerhouse.”
“Firmenich was selected out of 36 companies and the Jury was particularly appreciative of the voluntary and long-standing commitments of this family-owned global company. The progress and results of its diversity and inclusion programs and the policies across all levels of its organization and its Board of Directors, are among the defining elements that were taken into consideration by the Jury,” said Dominique Faesch, Présidente du Prix 2022, Cercle Suisse des Administratrices.
Since 2018, Firmenich has raised women’s representation in leadership roles to 46% and eliminated gender pay gaps. According to the UN, women earn 77 cents for every dollar men earn for work of equal value. Firmenich has also expanded flexible working opportunities worldwide, made recruitment and promotion practices more diversity-focused, created diversity and inclusion training and mentoring programs, and enhanced equal representation at all levels including critical pathways to senior management. Since 2020, 50% of Firmenich’s Executive Committee are women.
In addition to achieving gender equality, Firmenich is also focused on raising the bar with targeted action beyond gender. This is about embracing the power of inclusion of minority groups, securing effective representation and engagement of people with different abilities, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds and sexual orientations.
Building on its achievements, Firmenich’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy sets ambitious 2030 people goals, including commitments to human rights, ethnic pay equity, creating 5,000 job opportunities for youth and continuing to raise the representation of differently-abled people in its workforce to 10%.
This Award is one of many milestones along Firmenich’s journey to be the most inclusive player in its industry and the world of work. Firmenich was the 7th company in the world and 1st in its industry to be globally certified as a gender-equal employer by EDGE; the Group was recognized as a Diversity & Inclusion leader with the Responsible Business Award by Ethical Corporation; Firmenich’s CEO joined the Valuable 500 movement to put disability inclusion on their leadership agenda, and Firmenich was one the first four companies in French-speaking Switzerland to receive the Swiss LGBTI* label.
The Cercle Suisse des Administratrices Awards 2022 showcased companies leading in gender equality and women leadership.
Industry leaders advance longstanding collaboration with interactive rooms, available at three Marriott Hotels properties around the world including Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park.
BANGKOK, THAILAND – Marriott Hotels, the signature flag of Marriott Bonvoy’s 30 extraordinary hotel brands, furthers its partnership with idea engine TED through its award-winning educational arm TED-Ed, to debut their one-of-a kind immersive experience outside of a TED conference. Aimed at sparking curiosity and enriching the experience of global travelers, The Curiosity Room by TED features interactive, mind-bending activities integrated into the Marriott Hotels guest room design. Following the launch in San Francisco, California, the experiential interactive room experience will begin welcoming its first stays in Bangkok and soon, in London, with reservations for all three locations available now. From August 15 – November 15, 2022, guests can book this unique experience at Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, the landmark five-star hotel in the heart of the Thai capital.
Recent social listening research conducted on behalf of Marriott saw a significant year-over-year uptick in searches for #themedrooms (+106%) and “hotel rooms” + themed (+65%), suggesting consumers are craving more distinct and inspiring hotel experiences.
Recommended for families and friends aged seven and up, the immersive adventure starts immediately upon entry to the room, which is a puzzle waiting to be solved. Intriguing elements are seamlessly woven into the décor and travelers will be able to uncover hidden messages, hunt for missing pieces, and experience elements of the room in unexpected and exciting ways. The room also features a “Curiosity Journal” which serves as a guide to the in-room riddles, with hints available in case guests need a helpful hand. When the final challenge has been completed, guests receive a certificate and can celebrate with a complimentary dessert at the hotel’s restaurant.
“At Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, we have always sought to be a place where guests can be inspired at every corner of their experience and we are pleased to be one of the three Marriott Hotels properties in the world to launch The Curiosity Room by TED,” said Simon Bell, General Manager, Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park. “The Curiosity Room by TED is a one-of-a-kind adventure, and it further fosters the notion for our guests to stay curious in their travels, opening their minds beyond a typical overnight stay and propel them to explore Bangkok as a destination with renewed desire to learn something new.”
Guests can now book their stay in The Curiosity Room by TED, starting at THB 15,960++, which includes a two-night stay for up to 4 guests, one dinner at Goji Kitchen + Bar, and a treat from the Siam Tea Room’s bakery. This offer is valid for stays taken from now to 15 November 2022, click here.
Marriott Hotels has a longstanding, global partnership with TED. The relationship began in 2016 by distributing TED Talks and TED Fellows Salons, blogs, and original quotes to hotel guests worldwide, and has continued to elevate every year with new elements of the partnership. Travelers staying at Marriott Hotels have access to custom content expertly curated by TED, with selected themes that are topical and relevant to guests including innovation, travel, entrepreneurship, and much more. Specifically, new TED-Ed content will now be available at hotels with video-based lessons that vary by subject and age.
To explore more, please visit TEDRooms.Marriott.com. Be inspired by following along with Marriott Hotels on Facebook, @marriott on Twitter, and @marriotthotels on Instagram as well as via #MarriottxTED.
For more information and reservations, please call +66 (0) 2059 5999 or stay connected via the following channels:
(PR News) China’s economy is bouncing back quickly from the impact of Covid-19 it has suffered over the past few years, thanks to strict disease control measures and the government’s financial and treasury policies that aim at driving the country forward.
China is also opening more of its borders and has reduced the mandatory quarantine period for foreign arrivals, which is expected to help boost the tourism industry as well as attract more foreign investment.
To maximise the opportunities to grow along with China’s economy, Principal Securities Ltd has launched two new funds namely Principal China Equity (PRINCIPAL CHEQ) and Principal China Technology (PRINCIPAL CHTECH), which focus on high-potential industries and are suitable for long-term holding.
Visit Principal’s website here or tel. 02-686-9500
Investors should study the conditions, returns, and risks of the funds before investing. These funds invest mainly in China, investors should consider distributing the risk of their investment portfolio. The company uses future contracts as a hedging tool to prevent risks from the currency exchange rate, depending on the discretion of the fund manager. Foreign investment funds could have risks from the currency exchange rate, while investors can gain profit or suffer a loss from the exchange rate. Past turnover does not guarantee future turnover.
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