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https://www.nationthailand.com/pr-news/business/40014455

Many of you may wonder why the project is called “Hing Hoi”. It’s from an analogy that where there are fireflies, there is light. One firefly may only bring a small flicker, but hundreds, thousands of fireflies coming together could create great bright light.

Many of you may wonder why the project is called “Hing Hoi”. It’s from an analogy that where there are fireflies, there is light. One firefly may only bring a small flicker, but hundreds, thousands of fireflies coming together could create great bright light.

Similarly, CK Power Plc, the producer of renewables-based electricity, uses its know-how to build on its social initiatives through the Hing Hoi Project. This is how CK Power brings light and good quality of life to local communities.

CK Power Managing Director Thanawat Trivisvavet said the Hing Hoi Project is the company’s principal CSR initiative that has been running continuously since 2016.

He said this project aims to apply the know-how and knowledge that the people at CK Power have in renewable energy and engineering to reduce shortages while increasing the potential of the communities and societies around our power plants and the remote areas in Thailand and Laos.

The goal is to create awareness, engagement and social responsibility for all employees, he added.

Mr. Thanawat Trivisvavet, Managing Director, CK Power PLC

The company hopes to build a giver DNA among CK Power’s people into social value through 3Cs – competency in clean energy engineering, co-creation to share with society clean energy, and Cooperation by getting together employees, communities and stakeholders for the cause.

“The 3 Cs are executed through the ‘Competency, Co-creation, Cooperation, Connection’ strategy,” he explained.

“Competency means that CK Power uses its capabilities to empower communities, societies and stakeholders. Co-creation is the use of innovative ideas and processes for sustainable development. Cooperation is the engagement of employees with stakeholders. This leads to Connection, which is to work together with stakeholders for sustainable development.”

“Competency-Co-Creation-Cooperation-Connection” strategy

Thanawat added that the Hing Hoi Project was the result of CK Power conducting a survey of the local communities to learn how they are and what they need in terms of basic public utilities such as water supply and electricity as well as education.

“We want children and youngsters to have equal access to basic education and to have an environment conducive to learning,” he said.

“The activities are carried out by CK Power’s people at all levels, and evaluation is made at least once a year to see if we achieved the intended goals.”

The young generation in our company and local communities are also motivated to play a part in the project as much as possible to ensure sustainability from generation to generation, he added.

Hing Hoi Project Year 1 provided a solar-powered school building in Pu Kham Noi village and a hydropower turbine generator in Mae Pa Klang, Sop Moei district, Mae Hong Son province

The Hing Hoi Project of the past five years began in 2016 (Year 1). In the first year, CK Power built a solar-powered school building for Pu Kham Noi village and built a hydropower turbine generator for Mae Pa Klang village in Sop Moei district of Mae Hong Son province.

In 2017 (Year 2), the company continued its initiative at Ban Mae Ler Border Patrol Police Learning Centre in Mae Hong Son’s Mae Sariang district, where improvement was made to the learning building, a check dam was built along with a solar-powered pump reservoir with solar cells installed to power the water pump. Improvement was also made to the landscape surrounding the learning centre.

Hing Hoi Project Year 2 at Ban Mae Lor Border Patrol Police Learning Centre in Mae Sariang district, Mae Hong Son province

In 2018-2019 (Year 3), at the behest of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, CK Power built a royal project for the development of children and youth in Ban Mae Mu Nai in Chiang Mai’s Mae Chaem district.

With Her Royal Highness’ permission, the project was named “Ban Mae Mu Nai Border Patrol Police Learning Centre under the Patronage of CK Power”.

The centre consists of a learning building, a library and a road lighting system – all powered by solar energy. There is also a dormitory for the teaching staff, a dormitory with bathrooms for schoolchildren from remote areas, a canteen and a flag pole square. Improvement was also made to the surrounding landscape.

Hing Hoi Project Year 3 at Ban Mae Mu Nai Border Patrol Police Learning Centre under the Patronage of CK Power PLCin Mae Chaerm district, Chiang Mai province

In 2019 (Year 4), an initiative was taken in line with the Sustainable Power for The Future Generation principle. It was called “Huen Khiang Hong (Faifah)” – a community or house near the power plant. The activity involved developing the area of Ban Kang School in Luang Prabang province, the Laos, which is located near the Xayaburi Hydroelectric Power Plant.

Knowledge was shared with the community on hydropower and natural resource conservation. Sports kits and equipment were handed over to schoolchildren.

The 4th year of the project also saw activity in Thailand at Bandu (Saharat Wittaya) School in Pak Thong Chai district,Nakhon Ratchasima province, near the Bangkhenchai Solar Power Plant.

Through its “Hero! Solar Zero Waste” initiative, the company provided training on environment preservation and plastic use reduction and donated computers to support youth education.

Hing Hoi Project Year 4 at Bandu (Saharat Wittaya) School in Pak Thong Chai district, Nakhon Ratchasima province

For the 2020 (Year 5) Hing Hoi Project, CK Power visited Wat Kudi Prasit School in Wang Noi district of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, near the Bangpa-in Cogeneration Power Plant to repaint the school building and lay a new foundation for a small children’s playground using shock reducing materials to minimise fall injuries. Improvement was made to the landscape of the school’s small garden and science park.

To promote better educational opportunities for youngsters, the company also improved the reading pavilion for parents and children and encouraged its staff to make desks and chairs from papier mache for small children to create an environment suitable for learning for students.

Hing Hoi Project Year 5 at Wat Kudi Prasit School in Wang Noi district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province

“I had the opportunity to go on a field trip of our Hing Hoi project every year and carried out activities with the staff members representing our company and the people in each community,” said Thanawat.

“We saw children’s smiles and happy eyes of people in the communities. It brought light to our hearts and made us at CK Power very happy.”

He believes that CK Power can empower the communities with the Hing Hoi Project as the company brings capabilities in renewable energy engineering to good use in line with its main mission to be one of the region’s largest producers of renewables-based electricity with one of the lowest carbon footprints.

“We are ready to support the net-zero greenhouse gas emission policy at both national and global levels in concrete ways to help with global warming in the long term,” he said.

To achieve sustainable development, he added that CK Power will continue to build on community development initiatives to provide better quality of life through the Hing Hoi Project, bringing light to needed communities, in parallel with focus on the renewable energy business.

“Despite it being just a small benefactor, it is able to work with other stakeholders to bring forth a great light – akin to a swarm of fireflies coming together,” he added.

Published : April 18, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40014479

Songkran is a spectacular time of year when families and friends come together and cool off in style, blessed by the healing powers of water.

The Standard, which is redefining boutique hospitality worldwide, is celebrating this month’s Songkran Festival by inviting lifestyle-seeking Thai travellers to take the plunge and immerse themselves in an idyllic last-minute island escape in the Maldives.
Songkran is a spectacular time of year when families and friends come together and cool off in style, blessed by the healing powers of water.
So, could there be any better destination to ring in this fun-filled festival than the Maldives? This amazing archipelago, with its string of exotic islands, turquoise lagoons and sparkling seas, is a haven of aquatic adventure where Thai guests can leave the outside world far behind and unwind in paradise.
Furthermore, it is now free from any Covid-related travel restrictions, so Thai visitors can enter the Maldives with ease, without the need for a pre-flight PCR test or to quarantine upon arrival.
Nestled in the Raa Atoll, just a short seaplane ride away from Malé’s Velana International Airport, The Standard, Huruvalhi Maldives is a pristine private island, all-pool villa retreat that provides the perfect setting for a Songkran vacation.

A choice of breath-taking beachside and overwater pool villas let holidaymakers immerse themselves in this world of wonder, with at least 110 square metres of luxurious living space, alfresco sundecks, infinity plunge pools and direct access to the turquoise lagoon.
Dreamy days can be spent snorkelling on the resort’s naturally protected house reef, or diving deeper with a boat excursion through the local waters.
During the summer months, hundreds of majestic manta rays gather at Hanifaru Bay, creating a truly mesmerising underwater experience.

For thrill-seekers who want to feel the spray of the ocean waves, a range of exhilarating water sports, such as jet-skiing, wakeboarding and kite surfing, are available.
Back on dry land, purifying therapies can be enjoyed at The Standard Spa, a hydrotherapy oasis that features a communal hammam, aroma steam room and nine treatment rooms to leave every guest feeling fully refreshed.

Daily yoga classes, a well-equipped gym and a full-size tennis court are also available for physical, mental and spiritual stimulation.
Wondering how to keep the little ones entertained? Don’t worry! The Lil’ Shark Kids Club and inflatable water park ensure endless hours of fun and adventure.

With six unique dining options, ranging from a beachfront barbecue shack to a traditional Maldivian restaurant, and even an overwater (18+) nightclub with a glass-bottomed dance floor, all guests can enjoy epicurean excellence and upbeat entertainment with like-minded revellers.
“The Standard, Huruvalhi Maldives has a very special vibe. This is a place where families can reconnect and where couples can take a romantic break while also meeting some really cool, fun people and making new friends from all over the world,” said Standard International Executive Chairman Amar Lalvani.
“Songkran is a time to make memories with your loved ones, so there can be nowhere better to spend this magical time of year than the Maldives. Surrounded by water, this is a place to cleanse the body, clear the mind and create treasured moments together.”

The Standard hotels and resorts are present in the most desirable of destinations worldwide, from Miami Beach to the Maldives, London to New York, now Hua Hin and soon Ibiza and Bangkok.
For more information and to book your Songkran escape at The Standard, Huruvalhi Maldives, please visit www.standardhotels.com

Published : April 12, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/pr-news/business/40014435

Energy Absolute Pcl (EA) has clarified various issues raised by groups of people who it says are attempting to mislead investors about the company.

Energy Absolute Pcl (EA) has clarified various issues raised by groups of people who it says are attempting to mislead investors about the company.

In a statement, Amorn Sapthaweekul, EA’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, began the clarification about power plant projects in Nakhon Sawan and Lampang provinces. The Nakhon Sawan power plant project has a capacity of 126.126 megawatts (MW) and the total project is valued at 6.654 billion baht, an investment of 57.75 million baht per MW.

The Lampang power plant project has a capacity of 128.396MW and the total project value is 8.274 billion baht, an investment of 64.45 million baht per MW.

Amorn said both projects were being implemented in accordance with the rules and regulations, and project finance is being used to fund the projects.

He said a consulting firm has been chosen to assist in verification before direct disbursement of money for engineering, procurement, and construction. The cost of investment per MW was precise and verifiable, according to the company.

He compared the investment cost in the construction of the company’s power plants in 2013, and said some projects had cost 80 million baht per MW.

He said this showed that the company has achieved appropriate investment cost per MW.

He said the Blue Tech City Industrial Estate Project in Chachoengsao province has been chosen for investment due to its strategic approach and location in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).

The project had a lot of potential, including readiness for project development, a good location, and a potential transportation network. The company has already evaluated numerous aspects, and it is likely to be another initiative project with positive investor feedback.

Therefore, the investment was made legally after the town planning into an industrial area in 2019.

Amorn said information published by certain sources about CEO Somphote Ahunai selling his shares in the company were untrue.

Currently, Somphote still owns 43.48 per cent of the company’s shares, which he holds in his name and through entities such as UBS AG Singapore branch Amorn said.

He added that the company is gathering information and will pursue both civil and criminal charges under the Computer Crimes Act BE 2550 and related laws against the person who intends to import distorted or fake, in whole or in part, or false computer information into computer systems, including the fraudulent distribution or transmission of such computer information, which is likely to harm the company, in terms of good corporate governance and to a large number of retail investors. He said the company was not complacent and would take action

Published : April 11, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40014369

With commercial aviation in Asean returning to normality, AirAsia is powering up its plan to become the No 1 digital travel and lifestyle platform in Southeast Asia.

Tony Fernandes, AirAsia’s founder and CEO, predicts normal air travel will be restored in the region by July, as Covid-19 restrictions lift. AirAsia could bring its full fleet of around 200 planes back into operation by the end of this year and return to profit in 2023, he said on Friday. AirAsia sales were now at 75 per cent of pre-Covid levels, he added.

Fernandes was speaking at a virtual press conference to unveil the partnership between Google Cloud and the AirAsia Super App.
The cloud-powered app – a cornerstone of the company’s digital expansion – will offer on-demand services from car-hailing to flight bookings. 

In January, AirAsia rebranded as Capital A to reflect the company’s expansion from aviation into logistics, lifestyle and financial services. 

Fernandes said AirAsia’s focus on technology and innovation had seen it through two years of Covid-19 crisis and the airline was now ready to step into the digital economy era. 
 

“With a five-year strategic partnership contract with Google Cloud, I expect this to drive our ambitions to carve out long-term AirAsia business, both onsite and online”, said Fernandes.

Google Asean director Sherie Ng hailed the collaboration as a landmark for “a new decade of digital possibilities”.

The Super App offers flight and hotel bookings, e-commerce, food and parcel delivery, ride-hailing, financial and health services, on-demand education and more, anchored by a rewards programme and mobile wallet. Since its launch in 2020, the Super App has become one of three unicorns headquartered in Malaysia, according to Credit Suisse.

“We may be late in the game, but with the Super App as the centre of our ecosystem of e-commerce, logistics and fintech, we are determined to give all 700 million people in Asean inclusivity, accessibility and value,” said Fernandes.

Published : April 09, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/pr-news/business/40014306

The new packaging tray is 50 per cent lower in carbon emission and promotes a circular economy, they said.

Dow Thailand Group, a leading materials science company, together with Thepvimol Plastic have successfully developed food packaging trays formulated with polystyrene that contain up to 87 per cent recycled content, the firms said in a press release.

The new packaging tray is 50 per cent lower in carbon emission and promotes a circular economy, they said.

According to Dow, most frozen food trays are made from polystyrene, thanks to its lightweight, impact resistant, low moisture absorption, and recyclable properties.

Chatchai Luanpolcharoenchai, President of Dow Thailand

The company has now invented a new formula of polystyrene resin to help packaging manufacturers “achieve sustainability goals while meeting the needs of modern consumers”.

The innovation aims to support the packaging industry in its goal of achieving carbon neutrality.
Utilising Dow’s innovative solution, carbon dioxide emission is reduced by up to 2,046 tonnes per year, equivalent to planting more than 6,340 rai of trees per year, the press release said.

“We focus on reducing carbon emissions, stopping plastic waste, and closing the recycling loop,” Dow Thailand president Chatchai Luanpolcharoenchai said.

Thanachai Wongvibulsin, Managing Director of Thepvimol Plastic

Thepvimol Plasti managing director Thanachai Wongvibulsin said: “Clean work pieces of non-standard sizes or food-grade leftovers from the entire production process can now be recycled to produce new products. The solution reduces transportation costs of the scraps and efficiently helps us manage waste materials in the factory. Our frozen food tray now has half the carbon footprint it used to have. This allows us to gain competitive advantages in the global market.”

Find out more about the various types of polystyrene plastic resins from Dow Thailand at https://th.dow.com/en-us/products-solutions/polystyrene.html

Published : April 07, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/pr-news/business/40014298

This new partnership comes as Monsoon Valley celebrates its 20th Anniversary as Thailand’s premier vineyard. This year’s F1 season commences with the Bahrain Grand Prix from March 18-20.

Monsoon Valley Vineyard, the home of Siam Winery’s premier flagship brand, has announced a new partnership with Thai Formula One driver, Alex Albon, as he joins the Williams Racing F1 team for the 2022 season.

This partnership unites two of Thailand’s most respected and world-renowned exports: Monsoon Valley, which produces superior grapes and exceptional beverages, and Alex Albon, who has reached the pinnacle of racing. 
As a Brand Ambassador, Alex will promote the company’s non-alcoholic beverages by displaying the logo prominently on his helmet and overalls.

Alex became Thailand’s first F1 driver in 65 years when he made his debut for the Toro Rosso team in 2019. Having been promoted to the Red Bull Racing team, he became the first Thai driver ever to achieve a podium finish when he finished third at the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix.

Having enjoyed a successful season in the DTM German touring car championship in 2021, winning a race at the iconic Nürburgring race track, he returns to F1 in 2022 to drive for Williams Racing. As a Williams driver, Alex follows in the footsteps of F1 legends such as Keke Rosberg, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve, all of whom became world champions.

This new partnership comes as Monsoon Valley celebrates its 20th Anniversary as Thailand’s premier vineyard. This year’s F1 season commences with the Bahrain Grand Prix from March 18-20.

Varit Yoovidhya, assistant managing director of Siam Winery, said: “We are delighted to partner with Alex, one of Thailand’s most prominent sportsmen. Alex’s passion for continuous improvement and relentless pursuit of excellence are values that unite and inspire us to never give up, and his journey to the highest levels of motorsport has inspired Thai youths and athletes everywhere. As part of Siam Winery’s commitment to supporting Thailand’s motorsport ambitions, we are thrilled to have Alex on board as a Brand Ambassador and for him to proudly display Monsoon Valley’s logo when he races on the global stage.”

Alex Albon commented, “It’s a real honour to be named as the Brand Ambassador of Monsoon Valley in its 20th anniversary year. As a proud Thai, I feel deeply privileged to represent my country when I travel around the world. Every time I put on my helmet and step into the car, I am racing for Thailand. It feels fantastic to be able to support and promote Monsoon Valley, a home-grown world-class Thai brand. Racing in Formula 1 is a dream come true, and I hope that I can encourage even more Thai boys and girls to achieve their dreams in the future.”

Built on the site of a former elephant corral near Hua Hin, Monsoon Valley Vineyard produces a selection of world-class wines and non-alcoholic grape juices. Owned by Siam Winery, one of the most successful and innovative Asian wine producers, Monsoon Valley has been continuously pushing the boundaries and elevating the standard of Thai beverage production for the last two decades.

Visit www.monsoonvalley.com for more information.

Published : April 07, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/pr-news/business/40014290

Imagine yourself as a small business entrepreneur: you have been marketing your products/services for a while and have several regular customers. Then, the pandemic strikes, causing rapid changes in consumer behaviour.

Demand falls as people adapt to the new lifestyle. There is increased competition in the market from larger players. Now, you need more funding to upgrade your offerings to remain relevant in the market. However, you have never taken a loan from the bank, which increases the risk of you being denied funding. This is one of the biggest obstacles many individual and small entrepreneurs are facing.

The definition of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by The Office of SMEs Promotion covers those with annual revenue less than THB500 million, and employing less than 200 people. They are characterised by their smaller size as compared to corporate counterparts. They usually carry out less technical business operations, regardless of the industry they are in, as many of them were originally household enterprises, founded by sole proprietorships. Every 7 out of 10 Thai nationals are employed or operating a business in this category.

When it comes to funding request or business expansion, traditional financial institutions usually input the payment behaviour of applicants in the credit-scoring model, as well as calculate the expected liquidation value of tangible collateral before deciding on the approval. This obviously excludes potential borrowers that possess no borrowing track record, or new generation startup enterprises where land and buildings are not required to operate thriving businesses. This puts MSMEs at a disadvantage compared to their large corporate rivals. This problem seems to be self-reinforcing and gaps between smaller and larger enterprises are only widening. To reduce this inequality, financial inclusiveness is already on the table of governments around the world.

Studies on modelling SME credit risks conducted in countries such as Japan, Indonesia, India and Thailand have found that financial statement information could also provide clues about borrower behaviour, as those with solid liquidity ratio tend to weather their business significantly better than others. Leverage ratio (the use of debt in their capital structure) and profitability ratio can also demonstrate their creditworthiness to a certain extent.

The question is, would it be possible to assess the credit risk of MSME borrowers, especially those without financial statements, like the case of sole proprietorships, where many of them have never taken bank loans before? The solution to this comes unexpectedly. The pandemic has forced a mass adoption of technology in all walks of life. We turned to remote working and restocking our groceries using mobile applications, we communicated more through social media to supplement physical interaction, and we adopted electronic banking transactions en masse. Online marketplaces hence became larger than ever.

This phenomenon has created a large unstructured data pool during the process, and in combination with advancement in modelling techniques, we are now able to predict the borrowers’ likelihood of defaults by detecting patterns in these data. Our study of countries across Asia shows that they are demonstrating promising predictive powers even if individuals or corporates never accessed formal banking products before.

Psychological matrices can also be leveraged to assess the creditability. A conscientious individual makes effective economic decisions; selflessness and generosity is statistically more credible than individuals with different characteristics. Social media activities can also provide information about potential behaviours, for example users with less connections or those who tend to be active during particular hours of the day could be less reliable than others. Other factors can be considered for optimisation as well.

The predictions from this alternative technique not only supplement the traditional way of credit risk measurement, but they are also found to provide improvements in predicting the probability of a default for borrowers. In some countries, there was an incorporation of banking transaction data in the model or a consideration on whether MSMEs have attended relevant development programmes aimed at increasing business operations efficiency. Participants in those programmes, sometimes sponsored by state-owned entities, tend to be more credible than those who did not and thereby enjoy lower funding costs.

This new approach will help a lot of MSME borrowers to gain funding access at more competitive rates, and financial institutions to better understand their customers, resulting in more financial inclusivity and reducing economic disparity. However, to achieve this goal, there must be enhancement in the data collection and sharing facilities, as data may need to be interchanged across providers from different industries (sharing mobile phone data usage with banks). Some advanced economies are planning to launch a Commercial Data Interchange, a data-sharing infrastructure operated on a consensual basis.

Regulatory bodies can play equally important roles in supporting this initiative by stipulating clear guidance and providing clearance on personal data collection and handling, to ensure that all data shared within the ecosystem is obtained rightfully and protected strictly from unauthorised access.

Stakeholders should have in place an end-to-end process of collecting and sharing information, and using this data to perform analysis for relevant factors for each business setting to obtain regulatory clearance. Once the process is streamlined and successful, there will be opportunity for a greater presence of MSME players to shine on a global stage, carrying more flexible operations and the ability to compete head-to-head with larger enterprises.

Sarun Boonchalakulkosol is Deloitte Thailand’s senior manager of risk advisory

Published : April 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40014274

WHA Utilities and Power Plc (WHAUP), PTT Plc, Sertis Co., Ltd. and PEA recently co-hosted an online seminar to introduce the Renewable Energy Exchange (“RENEX”) platform, a Peer-to-Peer Energy Trading system using Blockchain technology.

RENEX will enhance efficiency and security of transactions and facilitate energy trading between  industrial users. As part of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Sandbox scheme, the platform will allow participating companies to freely trade solar power directly with one another via the grid network of PEA.

During the seminar, Mr. Punrapee Noparumpa (left), WHAUP’s Director of Power Business Development, together with Mr. Prasong Intaranongpai (center left), PTT’s Executive Vice President, Strategy & Portfolio Management, Mr. Thuchakorn Vachiramon (right), Sertis’ CEO and Founder, and Mr. Kritsanapol Duanghom (center right), PEA’s Deputy Director of Renewable Energy Promotion and Small Power Plant Department, introduced the platform features and conducted platform usage training for the participants in preparation for real energy trading that is soon to take place.

Published : April 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40014209

The “Power of Human Energy: A Journey Inspired by the King” project has not been without its difficulties, but its successes have more than paid off

Following His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy isn’t always easy, but it should not be rejected either as being too difficult. Today, nine years after it started, the “Power of Human Energy: A Journey Inspired by the King” project, has achieved its objectives.

Managed by Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production, the Institute of Sufficiency Economy and the Agri-Nature Foundation, this human-driven project, based on the late beloved monarch’s theories on water conservation, aimed to instruct people living in and around the Pa Sak River on how to design catchment areas – “loom kanom krok” or “khok nong na” as they are known in Thai – in order to prevent floods and provide water during the drought.

Dr Wiwat Salyakamthorn, president of the Agri-Nature Foundation and Institute of Sufficiency Economy, says: “I have been an instructor in rural development and a rural developer since 1974. My work has shown me how difficult it is to make people change their minds. The art of magnetic communication is to attract and charm people with knowledge.

“If they start taking action, they’ll see results. The sufficiency economy philosophy has more than 40 theories and success looks different for everyone. Thailand’s special forces helped change villagers’ mindsets and that in itself was a victory in the war over hardship. Famously, a foreign reporter once asked the late King if his struggle was against the Communists, to which His Majesty said no, the battle is against starvation. So, His Majesty’s philosophy of sufficiency is not just about solving the water problem, but also saving people’s lives.”

Arthit Kritpipat, business support general manager of Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production Ltd, says: “Social networks have played an important role as a public relations tool, showing examples and allowing people to chat with each other. When Covid-19 arrived, we created an online agri-nature handbook to serve as the foundation for self-sufficiency standards and to further expand knowledge. Now, many people are paying attention to ‘khok nong na’.”

Moving step by step

The past nine years have been divided into three stages comprising creating a social ripple, creating instructors and tools and creating abundance.

Dr Wiwat, who is better known as Ajarn Yak, recalls the early days, saying: “I remember when the King wrote his new theory and three procedures for small farmers to follow on a computer himself. The guidelines were on how to have enough to eat, how to collaborate in the community and how to join with government, private companies, and foundations. The prime minister, who was also commander-in-chief at that time, ordered military units around the country to study at the Mab Aung Natural Agriculture Centre and practice making 100 ‘khok nong na’ at Army training units for six months before heading to villages to build another 100 over the following six months.

“The ‘khok nong na’ at the Special Warfare Command in Lop Buri, which was led by Maj-General Thanasak Kengthanomma, is considered the most beautiful and amazing.

“In the second three-year phase, some of those who had completed their catchments and were running their smallholdings according to the self-sufficiency philosophy became teachers and turned their places into learning centres. They included Ban Pong Ket School in Saraburi where the teacher initially received complaints from parents that their children were learning to dig. But, after Covid-19, their children participated in collaborative farming activities, or ‘Aou Mue’ in Thai, and were able to support our agri-nature networks.

“In the last phase, ‘khok nong na’ were developed and became more abundant, while learning centres became more powerful and effective. The most important achievement was changing people’s mindsets; those who once thought we were going mad by insisting on and making use of our swampy agricultural land, turned to follow the King’s philosophy.”

This nine-year project has utilised “Aou Mue” collaborative farming to improve the land of nine sufficiency economy learning centres with catchments for water. They are Boonrom Taokaew’s Suan Lom Sri Rin Sufficiency Economy Centre in Saraburi, Sila Muangngam’s Ban Hin Ngon Community Learning Centre in Phetchabun, Piranrat Sookpeat’s Khuen Pa Sak Learning Centre in Lop Buri, Maj-General Thanasak Kengthanomma at the Special Warfare Command in Lop Buri, Sawaeng Srithammabut’s Naring Church Earth Safe Standard Agri-Nature Centre in Udon Thani, Bandid Chimchat’s Si Nan National Park in Nan, Krongkan Sirapaibulporn’s Haihao Farm in Lampang, Pranee Chaitaweepornsuk’s Bok Lao Kao Tam Sufficiency Economy Centre in Chaiyaphum and Sunita Haewnok’s Sa-ngiamkam Agriculture Farm in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Boonrom Taokaew says: “My parents owned 20 rai of paddy fields. Previously, my father rented another 80 rai of fields in the hope of becoming rich from the rice trade, but couldn’t pay back his loans due to insufficient output. In 1992, he had the chance to see the new theory of agriculture of HM the late King at Wat Mongkhon Chai Phatthana and began digging an 8-metre deep swamp on one-rai of land for water catchment. After that, he stopped renting the 80-rai of fields and planted 300 mango, 100 santol and 100 jackfruit trees, which didn’t sell as well as expected. His mindset, however, changed after he attended a course at Mab Aung Agri-Nature Centre because the main purpose of New Theory Agriculture is to make farmers more self-reliant through holistic management of their land while living harmoniously with nature and within society.”

A legacy of sufficiency

The project came to an end this year at the Sufficiency Economy Learning Centre, Suan Lom Sri Rin in Saraburi, which featured a photography exhibition presenting several farming activities of the nine learning centres as well as 21 booths from the agri-nature networks in several provinces offering fresh vegetables and fruits, food and beverages, processed goods, and handicrafts.

Suparpron Kanjaree from Suan Kanjaree Learning Centre in Lop Buri owns 13 rai and has transformed 6 rai into “khok nong na” after taking a course at Mab Aung Agri-Nature Learning Centre in Chon Buri.

“Previously, we practised monoculture farming – growing corn – but nowadays we can grow upland rice, several vegetables, bananas, cabbage and jackfruit, and make processed products such as pickled fish, sour fish with fermented rice and a herbal drink from dried bael fruit after learning the ways of nourishing the soil and digging a swamp for water catchment. Our lives are better because we have organic products that are good and safe. Right now, we are very proud of our shady area where students come to learn about planting practices. Taking part in the King’s philosophy means having perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves.”

Thanaporn Pangjid from Art & Mam Farm Slow Life in Saraburi enjoys a healthy life with many organic vegetables and fruits such as “phak plang” (Ceylon spinach), “cha om” (Senegalia pennata), sweet basil, banana, mango, papaya and coconut on her 4-rai land after taking on the King’s philosophy.

“We are preserving and making local sweets ‘Khao Piang’ [black glutinous rice with shredded coconut] and ‘Khanom Tok Huab or Khao Krieb Wow’ [crispy rice] using my grandmother’s recipes. We follow the King’s new theory of nine steps to a sufficiency economy livelihood, especially the 7th step of preservation. Prices for all products have increased as a result of Covid-19, but we aren’t too badly affected because we have vegetables and fruits from our farm, which keeps costs down.”

Wanida Damrongchai, or Kamnan Kai, a village chief in Sao Hai District of Saraburi and president of Kok Na Sai Sufficiency Economy Learning Centre, has followed in the King’s footsteps of sufficiency economy philosophy for four years on her 20 rai of land after having learned by trial and error for five years.

“I’m a leader, so I felt I had to create a model for people in our community to see how good it is before persuading them to believe in what I did. It was very difficult to change their mindset. They thought that rice farming was better for productivity, while ‘khok nong na’ damaged their farm with potholes. They didn’t know how to earn money. But I proved them wrong even though I don’t do rice farming, as I have income from my productivity.

“We created our signature drink, Iced Tamarind Americano, sell doormats made by housewives and brooms by a group of seniors. Over the past two years, many more people have started paying attention to ‘khok nong na’.”

Published : April 05, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/pr-news/business/40013991

Business/social organisation DTGO has been recognised by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” in 2022.

Business/social organisation DTGO has been recognised by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” in 2022.

DTGO is the “only four-time honoree in Thailand, having now received the designation since 2019”, the company said in a press release.

Some 135 companies covering 45 industries in 22 countries and have been recognised with the designation.

The company was founded in 1993 with a focus on business and society. Its goals include creating well-being for all under its motto of “Adding Value in Everything We Do”.

DTGO’s many business groups include Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Limited (MQDC), a property developer, DigitaLife, an e-commerce specialist, Obodroid and Obotrons, joint ventures to develop robotics technologies and automation innovations, including Home Intelligent Systems, Dees Supreme, a global procurement and trading company, and Unisus Green Energy, which designs and operates environmentally friendly energy and utility systems.

DTGO’s diversified expertise enables it to address challenges such as the Covid-19 outbreak. The MQDC helped set up its “Light of Heart” project in 2021 as the country’s first private-sector field hospital. The facility integrated knowledge and skills from across the group. Obodroid, for instance, contributed the Kaitomm Hospital telemedicine app for staff to communicate safely with patients. The company’s “Pinto” robot delivers food, drinks and medicines at field hospitals.

Under its socially integrated business approach of doing business alongside societal contribution, DTGO dedicates 2 per cent of its topline revenue to initiatives for the world. The group works through non-profit organisations such as Buddharaksa Foundation, which focuses on education, and Blue Carbon Society, which addresses the environment, the press release said.

The group also works with other organisations for public health.

DTGO has been selected for four straight years as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies through Ethisphere Institute’s rigorous ethics quotient system.

This assessment has five main sections: ethics and compliance programme, the culture of ethics, corporate citizenship and responsibility, governance, and leadership and reputation.

DTGO sees ethics and integrity as crucial to sustainable business success. The group’s commercial achievement will further contribute to helping society and the planet, conserving ecosystems and letting everyone achieve their full potential in life, the press statement added.

The full list of the World’s Most Ethical Companies 2022 can be found at https://worldsmostethicalcompanies.com/honorees.

More information about DTGO can be found at www.dtgo.com 

Published : April 05, 2022