#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40016238

Thai executives are less confident than their global counterparts that the metaverse will be a breakthrough or transformational, though they widely accept that the new world of technology will have a positive impact on their companies, Accenture’s Technology Vision 2022 study showed.

Accenture, a global professional services company with capabilities in digital, cloud and security, surveyed more than 4,600 business and technology leaders across 23 industries in 35 countries including Thailand.

At this early stage, 71 per cent of global executives believe the metaverse will have a positive impact on their organisations, while 42 per cent feel it will be a breakthrough or transformational.

Based on the data collected, 72 per cent of Thai executives also agree the metaverse will have a positive impact on their companies, but only 26 per cent feel it will be a breakthrough or transformational.

Accenture Thailand country managing director Patama Chantaruck said the report pointed out the metaverse has a continuum of prevailing challenges and therefore highlights why organisations must act today or find themselves operating in worlds designed by, and for, someone else.

She said it was notable that the survey showed Thai executives’ views of the increasingly popular metaverse mostly align with their global counterparts.

However, a slight difference is that many Thai businesses may not yet be embracing new technologies due to concerns about data security.
It means that local businesses need to find qualified partners to help them smoothly adapt metaverse technology.

“The next generation of the internet is unfolding and will drive a new wave of digital transformation far greater than what we’ve seen to date, transforming the way we all live and work,” Pattama pointed out.

The Technology Vision report also identifies four key trends that companies will need to address:

• WebMe – putting the “me” in metaverse: The metaverse and Web3 are poised to reshape the internet. Some 95 per cent of executives believe that future digital platforms need to offer unified experiences, enabling interoperability of customers’ data across different platforms and spaces.

• Programmable world – our planet, personalised: As emerging technologies such as 5G, ambient computing, augmented reality and smart materials advance, digital environments will be increasingly woven into the fabric of the physical world. Tellingly, 92 per cent of executives agree that leading organisations will push the boundaries of the virtual world to make it more real, increasing the need for persistence and seamless navigation between the digital and physical worlds.

• The unreal – making synthetic authentic: Businesses and environments are increasingly supported by artificial intelligence-generated data that convincingly reflects the physical world. Already, 96 per cent of executives report that their companies are committed to authenticating the origin of their data and genuine use of AI.

• Computing the impossible – new machines, new possibilities: The emergence of a new class of machines is empowering companies across industries to stretch the boundaries of what computers can solve. Tools such as quantum computing and biology-inspired computing are allowing businesses to solve problems that may be too expensive, inefficient, or flat-out impossible for traditional computing. Some 94 per cent of executives agree that long-term success will depend on leveraging next-generation computing to solve seemingly intractable challenges.

Accenture has for 22 years taken a systematic look across the enterprise landscape to identify evolving technology trends with the highest possibilities to disrupt businesses and industries.

Published : June 02, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40016145

The metaverse is fast becoming a key to companies’ growth and talent strategies as well as for new opportunities, consulting firm Deloitte said on Tuesday.

The metaverse is still in its initial stages and is expected to enter maturity from 2031 when independent metaverses from different industries will gradually share data and develop unified, integrated standards.

Unified data standards, payment systems and identity authentication are critical to achieving cross-platform development and integration.

From a business viewpoint, the line between offline and online channels is becoming blurred, representing rapidly growing opportunities in almost all industries from physical products to services like education and healthcare.

Soon, metaverse will have the potential to evolve traditional business models in different ways. Companies can use digital twins to emulate manufacturing and logistics processes within the metaverse, which may enable lower-cost predictive planning and maintenance.

Industrial engineers can also test product designs in a mixed-reality launch pad.

However, the metaverse will likely introduce new cyber vulnerabilities and risks related to digital identity and fraud.

Businesses and governments can be expected to focus on protecting personal information while identifying and addressing emerging cyber risks.

Regardless of the ultimate trajectory of the metaverse, it’s clear that technology is evolving rapidly to make virtual interactions more immersive, more diverse and more innovative.

Published : May 31, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40015673

The Electrical and electronic device business provides the highest salary for employees followed by the IT business, JobsDB said on Tuesday.

The job-search platform was revealing the top ten businesses with the highest salaries amid the Covid-19 crisis this year.

Its survey, which included the years 2020 and 2021, aims to boost opportunities for job seekers amid digital disruption and political instability.

JobsDB managing director Duangporn Promon said many government and private businesses have adapted to cope with the Covid-19 crisis, such as applying technologies and improving operations to cope with changes in consumer behaviour.

This has led to an expansion of the computer and IT industry and an increasing demand for employees in the sector, she pointed out.

“In 2021, computer and IT industry firms announced they would recruit more than 12,200 workers,” she said.

She added that there is a possibility new graduates would get salaries of THB30,000 depending on their potential.

Duangporn said demand for employees in the tourism industry has also increased in response to a recovery in tourism.

“However, employers in the tourism industry have not increased salaries as high as the IT industry has,” she said.

Duangporn added that the report also indicated that organisation size is not an important factor in determining salaries as some industries that need skilled employees offer salaries higher than large organisations.

The insurance industry had the highest salary increase percentage of 33.3 per cent, followed by hotels and restaurants at 18.2 per cent, she said.

The top ten businesses with the highest salaries are:

1. Electrical and electronic device business: THB37,500

2. IT business: THB32,500

3. Banking and finance business: THB32,500

4. Telecommunications business: THB32,000

5. Insurance business: THB30,000

6. Real estate business: THB25,500

7. Transportation business: THB25,500

8. Distribution business: THB25,000

9. Food, beverage and catering business: THB25,000

10. General manufacturing business: THB25,000

Published : May 18, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40015341

Tired of all the hype from advertisers promising paradise if you buy their products?

You are not alone, judging by the latest big trend in Thai advertising campaigns.

Brands are going viral with Facebook adverts showcasing the “ordinariness” of their products – defying Thailand’s obsession with luxury and exclusivity.

The trend took off on Friday when Thai apparel manufacturer Double Goose flew in the face of advertising wisdom by showcasing its “ordinary” shirts for ordinary people’s needs.

Thai shoe manufacturer Nanyang quickly jumped aboard the honesty bandwagon, replying that its shoes were “ordinary” as well.

On Saturday, Origin Property added real estate to the snowballing trend.

“We understand your lifestyle amid the ups and downs of work and living. We also understand that ordinary people want places to rest,” it posted, before promising:

“You can experience unordinary relaxation in ordinary condominiums and houses with unordinary room layouts here.”

Real estate rival SC Asset, with plans to build 40 billion baht’s worth of houses and condos this year, quickly joined the race to connect with the “common” man and woman. Ordinary people were “special” to the company, it posted on Facebook.

The new trend was hailed as proof of Thai marketing executives’ ability to think outside the box to connect with consumers online.

Published : May 08, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40014497

Economists and analysts have warned that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would impact Asia’s energy and commodity prices and affect growth more than previously expected, but they still believe the region could handle the crisis in the long term.

Speaking at a webinar hosted by the Asia News Network on “Impacts of food and energy crises on Asia” following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Albert Park, chief economist of Asian Development Bank (ADB), said the conflict brought with it several risk factors that have shaken investor and consumer confidence, resulting in less spending. Therefore, the increase in oil and gas price might cause severe impacts, he warned

Park said the overall Asian economy was currently experiencing financial market volatility caused by the aggressive sanctions on Russia by the US and western partners, followed by capital outflows and currency depreciation that have led to a rise in financial stability risks in the region.

Meanwhile, there are also risks from the latest outbreak of Omicron in Shanghai and Guangzhou, in China, and the two major cities are under strict lockdown.
If the Russia-Ukraine war continues longer, it could affect the planting seasons in Ukraine, which would definitely lead to a shortage of staple grains such as wheat, maize, corn as well as rapeseed oil.

Park, however, believes that most Asian nations would face only a moderate impact on food price, as those grains are not a staple for the region. However, a prolonged war could put price pressure on rice, a major staple food of this region, as some countries have started to substitute rice for other grains.

Raimondo Serra, the European Union’s directorate-general for agriculture and rural development for Asia and Australia, added that the Russian war had not only led to a spike in food prices but it had also hiked the cost of farming, as Russia is one of the world’s major exporters of fertilisers.

In his opinion, although most Asian countries are far from the battlefield in Ukraine, they are still the indirect victims of the Russian invasion because the war has led to a sharp increase in the price of natural gas, a key ingredient in fertilisers.

Serra said higher fertiliser prices were making the world’s food supply more expensive and less abundant. This situation comes at a time when the UN Food and Agriculture Organization reported recently that the world food-price index in March had reached the highest level since records were kept in 1990.

However, overall Asia could manage to stabilise growth, he said. 
ADB estimates that Asia is going to see an average 5.2 per cent GDP growth this year and 5.3 per cent growth next year, on continued recovery in domestic demand and solid exports, while inflation will rise to 3.7 per cent in 2022 and 3.1 per cent in 2023.

In the meantime, the pace of recovery remained uneven across economies. South Asian countries will see on average 7 per cent growth this year and 7.4 per cent next year, outperforming East Asian and Southeast Asian countries.
Despite various risks and challenges, experts recommended that governments in Asia continue to maintain their support for economic recovery, sustain their development goal, and keep investing in green transformation as well as reforming their tax and financial system.

Published : April 13, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/pr-news/business/40014481

Amidst the war in Ukraine, the use of cryptocurrencies has passed a true test of strength in the debate on the advantages of using cryptocurrencies over traditional ‘money’, as they are decentralised and might be the only means of payments left.

It is undeniable that cryptocurrencies have a unique place despite the controversy surrounding them.

Thailand is a world leader in the proportion of internet users who own cryptocurrencies, an average of more than 2 in 10 according to the Digital 2022 Global Overview Report. Thai regulators have recognised such a trend and have been trying to restrict the adoption of cryptocurrencies in Thailand.

The event that triggered a regulatory mindset in Thailand came from the fundraising of J-fin coin in 2018, which was sold out within a few days.

In response to that, a royal emergency decree was issued governing digital assets, which became effective from May 14, 2018. The decree was mainly divided into regulating the offering of digital tokens, and digital asset operators including exchanges.

Since then, Thai regulators have been following up with the development of the industry and have gradually issued more regulations in response to the actions of players in the digital asset network.

Take the recent amendment to the regulation issued in 2021 as an example. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) prohibits certain tokens from being listed on licensed exchanges. They are: meme tokens; fan tokens; NFTs, and tokens issued by an exchange cannot be listed on the same exchange.

This caused a stir within the industry as this prohibition may raise a lot of uncertainties and limit the growth of digital asset operators.

For example, it is unclear what is considered a “meme token” since some may simply be in the stage of development and they are not meaningless, or tokens issued by exchanges have already been done and it creates an uneven field for newcomers.

Not to mention, the rationale for not allowing NFTs to be listed is still puzzling for those involved.

These prohibitions, as a result, may lead Thai exchanges to be less competitive than foreign exchanges in terms of product offerings.

To top it off, late last year, the Revenue Department reminded relevant persons to report and pay any taxable income derived from cryptocurrencies based on the 2018 decree.

The Revenue Department is well aware that more clarifications are needed, such as how to calculate capital gains from trading or the timing to be considered as having gains from farming or mining of cryptocurrencies.

After receiving feedback from the industry, a manual clarifying these issues was issued in January 2022. Also, recently a regulation was issued to allow losses from trading on the approved exchanges to be deducted for individuals, and there will be a follow-up on related laws for further clarity, for instance VAT may be exempt for trading on approved exchanges.

Further, in response to increasing cooperation among commercial industries and digital asset operators to use cryptocurrencies as a means of payments, the authorities have a major concern about financial stability as there may be other units of accounts prevailing over the baht.

Consequently, the authorities plan to issue a regulation, effective from April 1, to prohibit digital asset operators from not supporting the use of any digital assets as a means of payment, which include the restrictions on not providing any systems supporting such activities.

Regulations on cryptocurrencies are still in the process of development and constantly adapt to changes in the digital assets industry.

To support the growth of Thai digital assets operators and enable them to be competitive in the worldwide market, regulators may consider incentives and fewer restrictions to make Thailand a hub of the business, given that we have demand from investors and readiness of players in our country.

It is always important to note the balance between business opportunities from the emerging industry of digital assets, and concerns about government control or investment risks in which authorities, digital assets operators and investors will help shape the tone and its movement.

Published : April 12, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40014333

Magnolia Quality Development Corporation (MQDC) has teamed up with Accenture, a global professional services company, to create the MQDC Metaverse – a seamless connection for people between reality and the virtual world.

Magnolia Quality Development Corporation (MQDC) has teamed up with Accenture, a global professional services company, to create the MQDC Metaverse – a seamless connection for people between reality and the virtual world.

Parut Penpayap, project director of MQDC Metaverse, said MQDC would create positive outcomes and authentic unique experiences through its own Metaverse. Accenture will support MQDC in inclusive business planning, marketing development and user experience design.
“This Metaverse Development Project demonstrates to our customers that we are not just a premium real estate developer but also an advanced technology and innovation service-provider for all well-being”, said Parut.

He added that MQDC is the first company in Thailand’s property sector to step into the metaverse. The concept for the MQDC Metaverse project can be divided into three parts.

The first is to deliver an experience beyond imagination to customers and newcomers. The second is to develop new areas for people who are interested in participating in business development in the metaverse. And the third is to create an infinite space that connects the real world with the virtual world to allow customers and the general public to participate in various activities. Customers will be able to enter hybrid experiences that have never been seen anywhere else in the world, MQDC promised.

“We are confident about the development of our Metaverse project. With creativity technology expertise as well as a deep understanding of Accenture’s metaverse development, our Metaverse project will bring comprehensive value and benefits to all users”, said Parut.

Husin Adam, Accenture Thailand’s managing director, product industry lead, added that Accenture’s collaboration with MQDC would expand the reach of the digital world and bring consumers an immersive experience in an environment enriched with the physical, virtual and fantasy worlds.

“We believe there are massive opportunities in the metaverse, which will change how our business operates. Our -metaverse-powered] business will connect to our customers. We also believe that this (MQDC) project has a lot of potential. For Accenture, our expertise will lead you on a great metaverse journey”, said Husin

Parut added that the announcement was merely the first phase in the journey of the MQDC Metaverse project. He said more interesting events will be launched in future, as the MQDC Metaverse’s ultimate goal is to allow simple access for clients all around the globe.

MQDC’s Metaverse project also plans to connect with Translucia Metaverse. This project is under the management of T&B Media Global (Thailand), a global entertainment content and animated series production company.

Meanwhile, MQDC is also one of 11 partners of T&B Media Global who are co-issuing Crown Tokens – a digital asset which launched on leading crypto trading platform ZIPMEX last month. Crown Tokens link intellectual properties to non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and the metaverse to create a fully integrated ecosystem.

Published : April 08, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40014251

EA Anywhere is seen as a pioneer and the leader in the charging service business, which is in line with EA’s strategy to become the complete leader in EV.

To prepare for the future of the Thai automotive industry, three giants — Energy Absolute (EA), Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA), and J.R.W. Utility — have joined hands to develop EV smart charging stations to join the drive in making the country pollution-free and environmentally friendly.

As the world focuses on development that takes into account its impact on the environment and energy security, many countries are opting for environmentally friendly energy consumption, especially the automotive industry by developing more EVs. The Thai government has set a target to become the EV hub of Asean. However, the development of charging stations infrastructure in the country has been lagging.

Recently, EA’s subsidiary Energy Mahanakhon Co Ltd (EMN) signed a memorandum of understanding with MEA and JR for an EV smart charging station project to allow flexibility in EV usage with the first two projects.

EA’s chief executive officer Somphote Ahunai said that this cooperation will support EV usage. By supporting the development of more flexible EV charging stations, he said they had looked at the possibility of developing an EV smart charging station as well as other business opportunities that are related to EVs. MEA will help EV charging stations in applying for the electricity, while JR will plan and facilitate the engineering aspects related to the construction of EV charging stations with EMN.

“This cooperation will be a part of infrastructure development to support EV innovation for the automotive industry in the new era. It will also help to reach the goal set by the national EV road map of EVs comprising 30 per cent of all auto production by 2030. It comes with policies to support each aspect, including setting a target to instal public EV charging stations all over the country,” Somphote said.

Currently, EA Anywhere has around 430 charging stations and 1,800 outlets available from AV chargers to DC Ultra-Fast Charge that takes only 15 to 20 minutes. Moreover, there is an application “EA Anywhere” that will facilitate users with an online system for reservation, payment, and charging at the same time. The application has been downloaded 33,000 times. EA Anywhere is seen as a pioneer and the leader in the charging service business, which is in line with EA’s strategy to become the complete leader in EV.

JRW’s chief executive officer, Jarun Wiwatjesadawut, said that JR is responsible for designing, finding, and installing the electricity transfer system and network in this project. JR is also designing and developing the energy conservation system with EMN by finding places to instal charging stations of the appropriate size, number, and places for the project to support EV usage in Thailand.

As JR is a leader in ICT and electric system installation in Thailand, it has a team with expertise and experience of more than 28 years in installing telecommunication and information technology systems which are critical to make this project successful.

Published : April 07, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40014216

While digital assets hold huge potential to rival traditional capital markets, there is also a need for clear guidelines to ensure the least degree of risks, an online forum: “Digital Assets: The Financial World’s New Paradigm Shift” organised by The Nation and Asia News Network heard last week.

Zipmex co-founder and CEO Marcus Lim, PDAX founder, and CEO Nichel Gaba, and Fusang CEO Henry Chong shared their views on the growing digital assets trends, especially in the context of Asean.

Marcus Lim, the CEO, and co-founder of Zipmex, Singapore and a speaker at the forum, said: “The world needs to pay attention because people that are adopting digital assets are mostly the millennial generation and as they say, the genie’s out of the bag, there’s no way to pull this back in. All regulators have to pay attention, and almost everyone is adopting it. So the key is how to make regulators and policymakers think about ensuring that they still have a governing system that is in line with their local currency and how do they deal with cryptocurrency, which could be in conflict with the national currency.”

“The second is around the applications of blockchain. For the past six months, we’ve moved towards the NFT market space and very quickly into the metaverse space. We’re seeing big companies like Facebook rebranding themselves into Metaverse. And with the pandemic and lockdown, we’ve seen a lot of people not contacting each other in the physical world and moving into the virtual world. So can we create a virtual world where everyone can co-exist?”

Another trend to keep a close eye on for a year or two is payments. “Southeast Asia has a huge population that’s unbanked, like in Indonesia where 60 percent of the entire population has no bank accounts. Thailand has a slightly smaller proportion but slightly larger when compared to the Western world. And if we look at the way digital assets operate, effectively you can send value to anyone seamlessly and almost at no cost. So if you look at the traditional world where banks have to provide infrastructure to the mass population in order for them to be banked, that’s the whole nature of digital access. It can cut through and make everything more efficient and cost-effective. And I think the short-term trend I’d like to see is how we start to include Southeast Asia and not through just the traditional trade … but rather how crypto exchanges on all platforms play a part in inclusion.”

“The biggest thing that is holding us back is regulations. There’s a regulatory framework in place.”

Henry Chong, CEO of Fusang, Malaysia, Hong Kong, shared his views on the importance of security as one of the up-and-coming trends.

“The world of cryptocurrency and NFT is unbelievably exciting but 99 percent of assets, such as shares, funds, bonds, real estate, everything we see around us today, I think all these assets can, will, and should be tokenised as well. I think it is inevitable and I can’t imagine in the years to come that we will have these pieces of paper that represent all the assets that we own. I’m convinced that blockchain technology makes a lot of sense and we’re going to see traditional assets be tokenised and traded very similar to how cryptocurrencies are today. But the big difference is it becomes very important to be clear when you have a security token, what is the underlying asset? If the token represents shareholding in a company, what are the rights that I get, and what are the actual assets that I own. I think people can and will start looking at it through different lenses and what are the fundamental value drivers of securities like that.”

Nichel Gaba, the founder and CEO of PDAX, Philippines, said he had seen a new trend in the Philippines. While many people had lost their main income due to the pandemic, many had earned money through gaming that allowed them to earn tokens. Another popular trend he had witnessed was Cross-Border Remittances.

“Migrant workers are sending money into the country in a third currency, other than the peso, The use of Cross Border Remittances also grew in popularity and volume”

“In terms of investment, the Philippines equity market has been struggling to expand so many corporates and institutions are asking whether it would make more sense to raise capital via the token market.”

Nichel said cryptocurrency trading in the Philippines is around $3 million and $3.5 million, thanks to a strong cryptocurrency-friendly and savvy base.

When asked what advice he would give the younger generation interested in joining the digital world of crypto and NFTs, Gaba said: “Having been in the market throughout my career, I know how fast the weather can change. New investors should focus on developing real business skills,” he said.

“The genie is out of the bottle. It is a magic that is evolving very quickly,” he said.

Published : April 06, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40014132

Thailand has fallen behind Asian rivals in its bid to escape the middle-income trap, according to an expert panel debating economic revival after Covid-19.

To break free from the trap, the Kingdom must accelerate GDP growth and sustainable development across all of society amid global political conflict, digital transformation and energy industry revolution, said Banyong Pongpanich, chairman of Kiatnakin Phatra Financial Group (KKP).

Banyong was speaking during Saturday’s virtual seminar “This is the end of the line: How to rebuild Thailand economy”, organised by KKP and The Standard.

He noted that Thailand’s GDP growth rate was slower than Asian countries with a similar beginning point, such as China and Singapore.

Meanwhile high-earners enjoyed on average eight times greater income than low-earners, proving the difference in access to education and resource across Thai society, he added.

“Thailand has strong economic fundamentals, but transitions in technology, politics and the environment will impact the country’s sustainability,” Banyong warned.

“Hence, troubleshooting in development sectors that have not reached their goals is the beginning of the solution.”

Thiraphong Wachiraphong, Kiatnakin Phatra Securities director of research, said Thailand’s economy was at a turning point as its economic growth and market share declines.

He added that global political conflict, the energy shortage and digital disruption meant Thailand could no longer depend on external factors to boost the country’s economy.

“Hence, relying on foreign direct investment (FDI) and tourists is not enough. Thailand must forge innovation fundamentals based on good education and corruption suppression,” he said.

Published : April 03, 2022

By : THE NATION