#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

DTAC, Yara launch first digital community network for farmers in Thailand (nationthailand.com)

DTAC, Yara launch first digital community network for farmers in Thailand

Dec 01. 2020

By THE NATION

Telecom operator DTAC and agricultural operations company Yara Thailand on Tuesday officially launched Kaset Go, a mobile application that connects farmers to reliable and real-time insights verified by agricultural experts.

Designed to empower Thai farmers, the app leverages Yara Thailand’s agricultural knowledge and DTAC’s communication technologies, the companies said.

Kaset Go presently allows farmers to ask questions to agriculture experts and gain knowledge from other farmers within the community with similar experiences. It also provides farmers access to key information such as daily crop prices, agricultural news, tips on eight major staples in Thailand: rice, maize, vegetables, durian, mangosteen, longan, citrus and mango. Content is geo-localised to meet the specific needs of farmers in Thailand’s major regions and there are sections within to support farmers groups with specific interests such as farm certification, logistics and marketing, the companies said.

The content is supported by experts from the Department of Agriculture Extension (DOAE) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the Rak Ban Kerd Foundation (RBK), and Yara Thailand.

Sharad Mehrotra, chief executive officer of Total Access Communication Plc, said: “DTAC has a long history of commitment to empowering Thai farmers with mobile connectivity, be it through information platforms or internet of things solutions. “Over the past 12-plus years, we have collaborated with the industry-leading partners like DOAE, RBK to support and learn more about the farmers. Kaset Go represents our most advanced platform built in partnership with Yara,” he said. “Because farming represents such a large part of Thailand’s workforce, and smartphone penetration is among the highest in the region, Kaset Go could be a game changer for Thailand’s digital transformation,” he added.

Since its soft launch in August, Kaset Go has had more than 150,000 downloads and attracted more than 100,000 registered users. As the number of downloads and users is rising exponentially, DTAC and Yara Thailand are already planning Kaset Go’s next phase of development, which will include information on 44 more crops and key features such as weather warnings, disease alerts, market price benchmarking, the companies said. There are also plans to extend further to other value-added services such as farm equipment, insurance and finance.

Mehdi Saint-Andre, managing director, Yara (Thailand) Co Ltd and vice president Thailand and Myanmar, said, “Since our foundation in 1905, we strongly believe that knowledge is key to support farmers’ productivity and with our extensive network of local agronomists, Yara has been providing sustainable solutions to Thai farmers for 47 years. Since 2017, Yara has been accelerating its digital farming strategy, providing precision farming tools to farmers across the globe, and the partnership to develop Kaset Go marks a milestone in Thailand’s agricultural industry as this platform connects farmers to reliable information vetted by experts and validated by the community.

“Kaset Go is expected to become Thailand’s biggest online platform for farmers and kickstart digital transformation in Thailand’s agricultural industry,” he said.

Kaset Go is available on iOS and Android from the App store and Google Play. Find out more at https://kasetgo.com/ 

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

MEA launches mobile app, offers free aircon cleaning services to first 100 customers (nationthailand.com)

MEA launches mobile app, offers free aircon cleaning services to first 100 customers

Dec 01. 2020

By THE NATION

The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) has launched its newest service “MEA e-Fix” mobile application that provides installation and maintenance of electrical appliances by professionals.

“All technicians under the campaign have undergone extensive MEA training to ensure efficient and safe installation and fixing of electrical appliances to customers in MEA’s responsible areas, which include Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakarn,” MEA deputy director-general and spokesman Jaturong Suriyassin said.

“The MEA e-Fix covers five types of electrical services: lighting system, wall socket installation, water heater installation, door buzzer installation and electrical switch box.

“To use the services, users can download and install the application, choose the type of work, provide details on points of installation with photos, then input the address and your convenient date,” he added.

“We accept payment via credit card and offer three months warranty on our jobs. Furthermore, the first 100 customers of MEA e-Fix will be offered free air-conditioner cleaning service [one unit per customer].”

To download the application, follow this link http://onelink.to/rzrf65. For more information, contact MEA Call Centre at 1130, Line: MEA Connect and Twitter: @mea_news

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

GPSC Board of Directors visited Thailand’s first production plant for semi-solid energy storage units to follow up on the construction progress. (nationthailand.com)

GPSC Board of Directors visited Thailand’s first production plant for semi-solid energy storage units to follow up on the construction progress.

Nov 30. 2020

Board of Directors of Global Power Synergy Public Company Limited or GPSC, led by Mr. Pailin Chuchottaworn, Chairman of the Board, recently visited the company’s energy storage unit production plant, located on a plot of 12 rai in Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, Muang District, Rayong Province, to follow up on the construction progress. The manufacturing facility, worth over 1.1 billion baht, is Thailand’s first production plant for semi-solid batteries and will have the first-phase production capacity of 30 MWh. It is expected to complete construction and start of regular production in the second quarter of 2021. The Board of Directors was welcomed by Mr. Chawalit Tippawanich, Chief Executive Officer and President and other executives of GPSC.

About GPSC

The shares of GPSC are held by PTT (22.8%), PTT Global Chemical or PTTGC (22.7%), Thaioil or TOP (8.9%), Thai Oil Power or TP (20.8%) and public investors (24.8%) (PTT is under the process of purchasing 8.9% of GPSC shares from TOP which will increase PTT’s percentage shareholding in GPSC from 22.8% to 31.7%. The share purchase transaction is expected to be completed by the end of 2020).

GPSC, an electricity and utility flagship of PTT group with core business to generate and supply electricity, steam and utlities to its industrial customers, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) etc. The total current generating capacity according to Equity MW is around 5,031 MW of electricity, around 2,876 tons per hour of steam, around 15,400 refrigeration tons of water and around 7,372 cubic meters per hour of processed water.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Krungsri powers revamped website with new technologies (nationthailand.com)

Krungsri powers revamped website with new technologies

Nov 30. 2020

By The Nation

Krungsri (Bank of Ayudhya Pcl) has revamped its Krungsri.com website, implementing new technologies to increase convenience and ease of use by enhancing accessibility, using new designs and content layouts as well as adding new features.

Mingkwan Pattanawong, Krungsri executive vice president, head of corporate branding and marketing division, said: “Krungsri.com is a website that provides information of the bank that has more than 2 million page views per month.

“The majority of these are users searching for the bank’s products and services information, particularly about personal loans and savings. Our marketing strategy is to focus on reaching out to customers, providing convenience to those who have interest in the bank’s offerings to visit Krungsri.com website for more information and choose to leave their information to be contacted by our staff.”

Comparing 2019 and 2018, the number of new customers who were attracted by the website increased by 83 per cent, which is a clear indication that Krungsri.com has high potential in reaching out and appealing to the target audience.

“We conducted marketing research to determine the needs of customers on the bank’s website and use them to improve the online experience. These changes include improved speed in accessing information, more modern designs, a search-friendly content arrangement, while adding more features for users to manage their personal information by themselves.”

The new technologies include “real-time analytics”, and “market automation system.”

Real-time analytics analyses the behaviour of website visitors, showing a handful of useful data, including the order of user access to the website, content that have been moved past, and the order of content that have been viewed. These pieces of information will be incorporated into the bank’s “big data” that can be used to improve the user experience in the future.

“Marketing automation system memorises user behaviour and interacts with them at a personal level, such as presenting banners based on users’ interests and offering promotions that suit customers’ lifestyles.

In addition, the website has also improved its page loading speed, while offering self-service for customers to issue their bank documents, such as requesting for a home loan certificate through e-mail and purchasing travel insurances online.

Users will be able to communicate with the bank customer service unit via the Live Chat feature on Krungsri.com as well.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

CK Power’s Bt4-billion debenture oversuscribed 3.9 times (nationthailand.com)

CK Power’s Bt4-billion debenture oversuscribed 3.9 times

Nov 30. 2020Thanawat Trivisvavet 

By THE NATION

CK Power has issued Bt4 billion worth of debentures as the company prepares to invest in a hydroelectric power plant in Laos.

Pre-orders soared to 3.9 times the issue size.

The company has been awarded an “outstanding” rating in performance evaluation by the Thai Institute of Directors for three consecutive years as well as being selected as one of the 2020’s Thailand Sustainability Investment Index (THSI) by the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

Thanawat Trivisvavet, managing director of CK Power Pcl (CKP), revealed that the company has recently issued debentures (non-subordinated, unsecured with bond representatives type) totalling Bt4 billion to large firms and investors. The debentures were divided into 3 sets: Bt1 billion baht debentures with a tenure of two years at interest rates of 2.31 per cent per year; Bt1.5 billion debentures with a tenure of three years at interest rates of 2.62 per cent per year; and Bt1.5 billion debentures with a tenure of seven years at interest rates of 3.76 per cent per year. These sets of debentures were assigned a credit rating of “A-/Stable” by TRIS Rating Co Ltd (“TRIS Rating”).

“The company’s debentures drew a lot of attention from investors. We have received pre-orders 3.9 times the amount initially offered. On behalf of CK Power, I would like to express my appreciation and sincere gratitude to investors for their continuous support and confidence in our debentures,” said Thanawat.

As of November 30, CKP will have raised a total of Bt10.5 billion through debentures. However, the company can raise another Bt9.5 billion to support future growth, although the company is yet to schedule the issuance of such debentures in the foreseeable future. With the issuance of these recently issued debentures included, CKP will have the net interest-bearing debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, which is considered low.

Thanawat said that the purpose of issuing these new debentures was to pay off outstanding debentures, which are due for payment in the first half of 2021, in order to reduce the average financial cost of CKP and its subsidiaries and to prepare the company for future investment in new hydroelectric power plants in Laos.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

B.Grimm, SCG units join forces to offer cutting-edge industrial solutions (nationthailand.com)

B.Grimm, SCG units join forces to offer cutting-edge industrial solutions

Nov 30. 2020

By THE NATION

B.Grimm Joint Venture Holding Co Ltd (BGJV) has signed a cooperation agreement with Rayong Engineering and Plant Service Co Ltd (Repco), a subsidiary of Chemicals Business, SCG to offer cutting-edge industrial solutions.

The collaboration between the subsidiaries of B. Grimm Group and SCG zeroes in on offering integrated product and service support, and Internet of Things solutions to power plants, oil refineries, chemical factories and other industries.

The accord was formalised by the president of B.Grimm Joint Venture Holding Co Ltd, Caroline Link, Fabrice Goetschmann, president of B.Grimm Industrial Businesses, and Repco managing director Chokchai Montreeamornchet.

BGJV is to execute the collaboration with Repco through three units under the umbrella of B.Grimm Group, namely B.Grimm Trading Corporation, Hamon B. Grimm Co Ltd and B.Grimm Babcock Power Co Ltd.

B.Grimm Trading Corporation is an importer and distributor of engineering products from Europe, the US and many other countries around the world.

Hamon B. Grimm manufactures and distributes cooling equipment for generators and chemical industries.

B.Grimm Babcock Power is involved in the production and distribution of steam generators and equipment for power generation, refining and petrochemical industries.

Repco comes under SCG’s chemical business and is a provider of engineering solutions and maintenance services.

The collaboration creates a synergy to provide the most complete solutions to the customers of both parties, they said.

This enables customers to receive quality products, installation and maintenance, with a platform that can perform predictive analytics through artificial intelligence and machine learning to enable early warning, preventing parts or equipment from being damaged.

That reduces the risk of factory downtime and increases production efficiency.

Link said the collaboration with SCG represents another important step for B.Grimm to strengthen the technical and business cooperation.

“It is extremely beneficial in enabling both parties to meet the needs of their clients in all aspects — something in which B.Grimm has placed great importance,” she stated.

Goetschmann noted that the partnership helps further strengthen the relationship between B.Grimm and SCG, and raises the level of Thailand’s industrial standards with the most advanced innovations and solutions.

In the past, both sides have undertaken many important activities together such as jointly providing engineering study to customers.

There are more than 10 other collaborative projects in the pipeline which the two parties are contemplating.

Chokchai added that the cooperation underscores the vision the two sides are sharing in becoming leaders in innovation and industry solutions.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

ESG playing bigger role in rating debt issuers in emerging markets: Moody’s (nationthailand.com)

ESG playing bigger role in rating debt issuers in emerging markets: Moody’s

Nov 27. 2020

By The Nation

Moody’s Investors Service reports that 36 per cent of its nearly 1,800 ratings of debt issuers in emerging markets in 2019 involved material environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations, dominated by governance considerations. “

ESG risks are often higher in emerging markets [EMs] than they are in developed markets, while issuers’ capacity to respond to these risks is often also weaker,” said Nishad Majmudar, a Moody’s analyst.

“We expect ESG considerations to become even more material to debt issuers’ credit quality globally – and particular in EMs – given the range and rise of ESG risks such as climate change and public health,” added Majmudar.

Of the nearly 1,800 rating action announcements Moody’s published in 2019 for both private- and public-sector debt issuers in emerging markets (EMs), 36 per cent contained references to material ESG considerations, with many containing multiple references. Cited most often by far was governance, followed by social and then environmental considerations. For public-sector rating actions, environmental and social considerations became more prevalent in 2020 and will continue to rise, said Moody’s.

It added that ESG is more often cited in emerging market public-sector rating actions (65 per cent). This reflected generally weaker institutions and thinner buffers against environmental and social risks in EMs than in developed markets, said the ratings agency. Meanwhile about one-third of private-sector EM announcements cited ESG considerations. Moody’s cited governance four times as often as environmental considerations and nearly six times as often as social considerations. The ESG citations spanned a range of sectors, indicating ESG’s importance and pervasiveness as a credit consideration. Asia-Pacific, and specifically China, account for most citations.

The company said most rating actions citing ESG are directionally neutral. About 65 per cent were affirmations of an existing rating or issuance of a new rating. About 21 per cent were negative rating or outlook actions and 14 per cent were positive. Nearly half of the negative actions were downgrades and about 75 per cent of the negative actions cited environmental considerations.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Dtac and WHA Group leading Thai industry’s 5G drive (nationthailand.com)

Dtac and WHA Group leading Thai industry’s 5G drive

Nov 27. 2020

By THE NATION

Dtac and WHA Group are showcasing 5G smart water and smart energy management solutions at “5G WHA Smart Ecosystem” exhibitions in Thailand and Southeast Asia.

The 5G solutions support industrial businesses in WHA industrial estates to drive growth through efficient management of infrastructure, energy and resources.

Meanwhile dtac is highlighting 5G Smart Water Management that enables remote and real-time monitoring of pH levels and chemical residues in wastewater. It also facilitates timely management of wastewater levels in ponds to mitigate overflow in the industrial estate. The system is currently being tested in the WHA Eastern Industrial Estate (Map Ta Phut).

The 5G Smart Energy Management enables real-time monitoring and control via live video streaming, contributing to increased safety and lowered costs.

Pictured at dtac’s booth at the 5G WHA Smart Ecosystem exhibition are: Rajiv Bawa (fifth left), chief business officer of Total Access Communication (dtac); Narit Duangkruaratichote (second left), dtac head of IoT and B2B Solutions; Jareeporn Jarukornsakul (centre), chairman and Group CEO, WHA Corporation; David Nardone (sixth left); group executive Industrial and International, WHA Industrial Development; and Kraitos Ongchaisak (third left), CEO, WHA Infonite Co Ltd.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

UOB becomes first bank in Asia to launch smart city finance framework (nationthailand.com)

UOB becomes first bank in Asia to launch smart city finance framework

Nov 27. 2020

By THE NATION

UOB on Thursday kicked off the UOB Smart City Sustainable Finance Framework (UOBSCSFF), the first financing framework to be launched by a bank in Asia that makes sustainable financing more easily accessible to companies contributing to the creation of smart cities.

Aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UOB’s framework is supported via Singapore’s Green and Sustainability-Linked Loan Grant Scheme.

UOB’s framework sets out the criteria corporate and institutional clients must meet when accessing services from green or sustainability-linked loans and trade finance facilities to other banking products.

According to the criteria, the company is required to have a clear sustainability strategy and objectives to achieve their targets and must use the funds to further their sustainability agenda.

Businesses are also required to demonstrate how their activities promote a better quality of life such as through the use of renewable energy, construction of green buildings, improved energy efficiency, green transportation, sustainable water and waste management and climate change adaptation. UOB will monitor the company’s use of the loan and the environmental and social impact its business activities have on an annual basis.

Companies committed to building sustainable and smart cities can apply for sustainable financing without having to develop their own financing framework which can take time and resources. This means that they can focus their resources on contributing to a better environment for all.

Frederick Chin, head of UOB’s Group Wholesale Banking and Markets, said: “The UN estimates that US$2.5 trillion is required annually for developing countries to bridge the financing gap in achieving the SDGs by 2030. Financial institutions can and must play a part, together with governments and businesses, to help channel more funds to sustainable development. Such efforts will go a long way in making the cities of Asia more sustainable and liveable.”

The bank also launched the UOB Real Estate Sustainable Finance Framework last year to help finance the construction of sustainable buildings.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Nestle invests over Bt4 billion to expand operations in Thailand (nationthailand.com)

Nestle invests over Bt4 billion to expand operations in Thailand

Nov 26. 2020Victor Seah, chairman and chief executive officer of Nestlé Indochina 

By The Nation

Global food and beverage giant Nestle announced that it is investing more than Bt4.5 billion to expand production at its three factories in Thailand as well as improve its presence online.

This move will also expand the number of Nestle products that are available to Thai consumers.

Victor Seah, chairman and chief executive officer of Nestlé Indochina, said: “Even though this is a challenging year, Nestlé believes in the Thai market and sees strong potential for long-term growth.

“This is why we invested in three key factories, in Amata and Bangchan as well as the Navanakorn 7 UHT plant. They will serve increased demand in pet food, ice cream and UHT beverage markets.”

Strengthening pet food portfolio

With more people treating pets as friends and family, the demand for pet food in Thailand has increased substantially. Even with the Covid-19 outbreak, with many consumers reducing spending in other categories, pet food is still seen as a necessity.

They are also willing to pay more for better quality, premium products for their pets.

Nestlé is investing Bt2.55 billion to build a new factory in the Amata industrial estate to boost its production capacity and strengthen its pet food portfolio. Production will start in mid-2021.

Introducing product innovations

Nestlé’s factory in Minburi’s Bangchan industrial estate produces ice cream. To satisfy consumers’ need for indulgence, Nestlé continually introduces innovations into the ice cream market, such as mochi ice cream that rides on the market trend of Korean and Japanese ice cream flavours.

Nestlé allocated Bt440 million to expand production lines at the Bangchan factory in October this year.

Healthy products in green packaging

The new Navanakorn 7 UHT plant produces Nestlé’s UHT product range such as Milo and Bear brand milk. Research from Nielsen shows that UHT products in the cow’s milk and chocolate malt beverage categories will grow at close to 3 per cent over the next three years, demonstrating Thai consumers’ preference for on-the-go products that are healthy and convenient.

To capture this opportunity, Nestlé allocated Bt1.530 billion, which began ramping up production in May 2020. This state-of-the-art facility reflects the global eco-trend by introducing recyclable packaging innovations. For example, Milo UHT is the first UHT product in Thailand to come with a paper straw, which aims to eliminate the use of over 500 million plastic straws in 2021.

In addition to supporting Nestlé’s ambition to have 100 per cent recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025, these three factories have environmentally-friendly production processes that reduce the company’s carbon footprint, energy use, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions while creating zero landfill.

Adopting technology to drive e-commerce

“Before Covid-19, the e-commerce market was expected to grow 30 per cent. But during Covid-19, we saw acceleration across all categories.

“To respond to digital trends, Nestlé established an e-Business team in 2018. Since then, we have made ongoing investments in both people and systems, with a total investment this year of Bt50 million.

“In addition, we have invested in building up our own marketing and advertising technology and data management systems. This will allow us to offer more personalised services, products, and communications that suit consumers’ needs,” Seah added.