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Prudential donates Bt4.9 million to help four hospitals in fight against Covid-19

Nov 11. 2020

By The Nation

Prudential Life Assurance (Thailand) and Eastspring Investments, a leading Asia-based asset manager, have donated Bt4.9 million to four hospitals – the Golden Jubilee Medical Centre at the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital of Mahidol University, Vajira Hospital, Hat Yai Hospital and Priest Hospital.

The funds will be spent on building Airborne Infectious Isolation Rooms (AIIR) and Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) Clinics in the hospitals to provide medical treatment to patients with respiratory diseases, including Covid-19. Prudential Thailand is also donating 2,500 face shields to help protect medical professionals and frontline health workers.

The Golden Jubilee Medical Centre is the first among the four hospitals to complete the construction. At the opening ceremony, top executives from Prudential Thailand including chief executive officer Robin Spencer, chief government relations officer Saipin Choaknumkij, chief customer officer Pasalaree Theerasas as well as representatives of Eastspring Investments, were welcomed by the execs of Golden Jubilee Medical Centre including managing director Assoc Prof Teera Kolladaruengkrai and vice director Somchai Dutsadeevettkul.

This donation is part of the Prudential Covid-19 Relief Fund, which provides financial support for Prudential’s communities and volunteering efforts of its people in Asia, the US and Africa against Covid-19.

“We have been battling the Covid-19 pandemic since early 2020. Although the situation in Thailand is under control, we should maintain vigilance and be prepared for the next potential wave of the pandemic. With our ‘We Do Health’ spirit, Prudential Thailand is committed to protecting the health and wellbeing of Thai people through supporting the building of medical infrastructure and service units and protecting frontline staff who are fighting against the pandemic. As a token of our appreciation and care, our employees have also teamed up to assemble face shields for frontline medical workers as part of our donation,” said Spencer.

Meanwhile, managing director of TMBAM Eastspring and Thanachart Fund Eastspring, said: “We believe that good wealth consists of two important elements – financial and health. When we are in good health, we will be able to enjoy a better quality of life and be more productive. Our management teams and staff fully support Prudential Thailand and the Golden Jubilee Medical Centre in the construction of the ARI Clinic to provide medical treatments against respiratory diseases such as Covid-19. This helps improve the well-being of our people and facilitate the overall recovery of the Thai economy.”

Somchai Dutsadeevettkul, vice director of Golden Jubilee Medical Centre said: “The ARI Clinic is key to treating patients with respiratory diseases, including Covid-19, and preventing medical personnel from possible infections while they perform their duties on the frontline. With support from Prudential and the Prudence Foundation, our hospital will also be able to strengthen our capacity and capability in providing medical services to our patients. As a public hospital, we are not only striving to provide medical treatments to all our patients, but to also make healthcare affordable and accessible, essentially to the lower income groups as part of the country’s renowned universal medical scheme.”

The treatment rooms at the other three hospitals – Vajira Hospital, Hat Yai Hospital and Priest Hospital – are currently under construction and due to be completed by next month.

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Heinz gets Fruity at Jim Thompson House

Nov 11. 2020Heinz Oyster Andita Rasyid, head of marketing for Kraft Heinz Asean, with Jon Lor, managing director of Wonderfruit, and Chef Ton (Thitid Tassanakajohn) from Le Du. 

By The Nation

Kraft Heinz poured 150 years of culinary expertise into Fruitfull at the Jim Thompson House Museum this past weekend. The Festival of Food, Sustainability and Culture saw Kraft Heinz collaborate with Michelin-starred chefs to serve up a fast-food Phantasia for Bangkok’s foodies.

At Mickey’s Diner, the classic Heinz ketchup was star of the show alongside the Heinz Dog, Ketchy Wurst, and Messy Biscuits, in a sell-out feast served up by Chef Chalee Kader from 100 Mahaseth. Meanwhile Chef Ton (Thitid Tassanakajohn from Le Du) teased more sophisticated palates with a special menu of Stir-Fried Pork with Heinz Oyster Sauce.

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Krungsri, Grab enter nano-finance with loans for Grab driver-partners and merchant-partners

Nov 10. 2020

By THE NATION

Krungsri (Bank of Ayudhya Pcl and its business units) and Grab Thailand have unveiled a long-term collaboration on an exclusive basis, jointly introducing two nano-finance products for Grab driver-partners and Grab merchant-partners.

The move strengthens both parties’ strategic alliance after Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) announced earlier this year that it would invest in Grab through MUFG Bank, MUFG Innovation Partners and Krungsri Finnovate, to co-develop innovative financial products and services to better cater to the financial needs of Grab’s driver-partners, merchant-partners and users.

Pairote Cheunkrut, Krungsri’s chief strategy officer, said: “Krungsri and Grab have entered into an exclusive long-term business agreement, jointly establishing three-year visions and strategies in expanding our customer base and delivering impressive customer experience. Through big data customer analytics and AI-powered data analysis, appropriate financial services will be delivered to customers via platforms they are using in daily activities, such as KMA, UChoose, GO by Krungsri Auto Application and Grab etc. In addition, Krungsri and Grab will continue to enhance competitive advantages to cover new market segments, while understanding, accessing and adding value for customers to make them part of the ecosystem built by Krungsri and Grab.”

As for the business expansion strategy, Krungsri and Grab are planning to extend their networks throughout the country. 

Krungsri’s acquisition strategy would be implemented through the bank’s many campaigns and enhancing financial access for customers, the company said.

“Krungsri believes that the collaborations would help us achieve our targets in business expansion to cover diverse markets nationwide through the synergy of network strength and distinctive expertise of both parties. This would surely help drive the Thai economy, in particular the segment of small businesses which still need support for their access to financial products and services,” Pairote said.

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CP Foods speeding up payment for SME suppliers

Nov 09. 2020Prasit Boondoungprasert, CEO of CP Foods 

By The Nation

Charoen Pokphand Foods (CP Foods) has announced it is cutting its deadline for paying suppliers to 30 days in an effort to boost their liquidity. The move covers 3,000-4,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and is aimed at helping them retain workers to stimulate economic recovery from the Covid-19 crisis.

Prasit Boondoungprasert, CEO of CP Foods, said the pandemic has caused unprecedented disruption in all business sectors, but especially SMEs, which are suffering cash-flow challenges.

In response, CP Foods and its sister brands CP, CP Freshmart and BK are shortening the payment period for suppliers to 30 days after reception of goods or services.

Prasit said the deadline already covered many CP Foods suppliers and would quickly be rolled out to cover all of them.

“This will enable their businesses to run smoother, protecting thousands of jobs across many related sectors as a consequence,” he said.

CP Foods operates agro-industrial and food businesses with 3,000-4,000 SME partners, mainly supplying raw materials, ingredients, packaging and products for its global business.

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Huawei continues to strengthen ICT skills among youth through “Seeds for the Future” program

Nov 09. 2020

By THE NATION

The tech giant vows to prepare students for high-paying jobs in the rising digital market to contribute to Thailand’s ICT development.

Huawei Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd. recently held its annual “Seeds for the Future 2020” event in Bangkok to offer talented and motivated university students the opportunity to enhance their digital skills through a hands-on training program with leading ICT experts. A group of 15 students from Chulalongkorn University (CU), Kasetsart University (KU), King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) and King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), were selected to participate in an exclusive five-day ICT course covering the fields of 5G, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Cloud and Huawei Mobile Services (HMS).

Initiated in Bangkok in 2008, the Seeds for the Future program aims to help cultivate young talent, ensuring that the digitally-resilient young people have the skills and mindset needed to compete in the future work landscape. Every year over the past decade, 10 qualified Thai students were given a chance to go on a two-week ICT study trip to China, where they meet fellow students from 125 countries and explore first-hand Huawei’s state-of-the-art learning centers and facilities in Shenzhen and Beijing.

Due to the global pandemic, this year’s event was held locally at Huawei Thailand’s head office. The intensive week-long program included ICT courses live streamed from Huawei headquarters in Shenzhen, an extensive Chinese culture workshop, offline courses held exclusively at Huawei office and a comprehensive tour of Thailand 5G Ecosystem Innovation Centre (5G EIC) and Customer Solution Innovation and Integration Experience Center.

Experts on 5G, Cloud, Artificial Intelligent (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) shared industry insights as well as their personal experience in helping the country’s transformation using advanced technologies. Huawei also invited the team from Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) which under the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society. During this special session, the students listened to a presentation on the role of ICT technology in developing solutions and services for the e-commerce sector in Thailand.

The presence of Ajarin Pattanapanchai, Ministry of Digital Economy and Society Permanent Secretary, confirms Huawei’s alliance and commitment with the public sector. Because of its relevance and importance to Thai progress, the program has had the support of the Ministry for several years.

“The DES Ministry believes that ICT skills development is critical for today’s digital economy. Practical training programs will enhance the students’ ICT capabilities and broaden their horizon,” said Ajarin, during the graduation ceremony. “Huawei’s long-term mission to incubate young talent and unlock opportunities for sustainable growth is in line with ours. I would like to extend my thanks to the company for initiating the Seeds for the Future porgram and continuously contributing to Thailand’s digitalization that will drive the country towards Thailand 4.0.”

“Huawei is very proud to be part of Thailand’s development. With the mission of ‘Grow in Thailand, Contribute to Thailand,’ we stress our commitment to help Thailand become a digital hub in the Asia Pacific region. It is with great pride and joy that we continue to implement the Seeds for the Future Program because it helps promising, young ICT talent gain knowledge and skills about new technologies, and boost their career paths,” said Abel Deng, Huawei Thailand CEO, during his opening address.

As a prominent enabler and accelerator of digital transformation, Huawei has been investing heavily in cultivating ICT professionals and concentrating its efforts on supporting the development of the ICT ecosystem in Thailand. Over the past two decades, the company has been partnering with various government agencies to create effective ICT development models that bring benefits to society for decades to come. Through talent promotion programs such as the Seeds for the Future initiative, the company seeks to close the gap between knowledge learned in the classroom and the skills required by the industry. Huawei will continue to support and collaborate with the government to ensure sustainable economic and social development in Thailand.

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Ajinomoto signs bio-fertiliser deal to boost crop yield, cut chemicals

Nov 09. 2020

By THE NATION

Takaaki Arashida, vice president of Ajinomoto (Thailand), recently signed a five-year contract for technology transfer of PGPR bio-fertiliser with Phichet Wiriyapaha, a representative of the Agriculture Department.

Under the contract, Ajinomoto will use PGPR technology and know-how to develop, produce and distribute this bio-fertiliser at a reasonable price to Thai farmers for five years.

Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) bio fertiliser is a beneficial group of soil bacteria that colonises plant roots and promotes plant growth by nitrogen fixation to boost agricultural productivity and crop strength.

“Each year, Ajinomoto Thailand consumes a lot of agricultural products. We would like to contribute to sustainability of Thai agriculture by using our bio-technology and bio-cycle value chain to create more productivity and value for Thai agricultural product,” said Arashida. “With PGPR bio-fertiliser we are targeting a 10 per cent increase in crop yield and a 25 per cent reduction of chemical fertiliser usage. This move will help improve Thai farmers’ quality of life in accordance with the company’s ASV policy (Ajinomoto Group Creating Shared Value).”

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Central, Tops launch New Year ‘baskets of happiness’

Nov 06. 2020

By The Nation

Central Food Retail has launched its 2021 New Year gift basket campaign under the theme “Infinite Happiness”. The baskets are available at every branch of Tops Market, Tops Superstore, Central Food Hall, Tops Daily and Tops online until January 5.

Highlights include gift baskets for pet cats and dogs, for health and beauty, and for DIY.

Stephane Coum, CEO of Food at Central Food Retail, said the long-awaited season of happiness was rolling around even as Thailand and the rest of the world fought the Covid-19 pandemic..

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TikTok launches new contest to hunt for Southeast Asian marketing trendsetters

Nov 06. 2020

By The Nation

TikTok, the leading social-media app for short video clips, is calling on Southeast Asian marketing and creative professionals as well as agencies to participate in the TikTok Trendsetter competition.

Launching on Monday, the contest aims to inspire people and agencies in the region to harness the potential of TikTok to solve real-world marketing challenges.

Contestants will be divided into three categories, namely:

• Individual: Contestants will submit one TikTok video creative idea that addresses marketing-related challenges for small and medium enterprises, and sectors such as fast-moving consumer goods and government.

• Agency: Contestants will submit a storyboard for at least four TikTok creative ideas, a media plan using TikTok and a sample TikTok video that address marketing-related challenges for industries such as fintech, luxury, automobiles and telecom.

• Existing Campaigns: Campaigns that have already run on TikTok this year can also participate in the competition.

The deadline for submission is December 24, with votes running from January 4 to 22.

The panel of judges will include in-house and agency creative executives as well as TikTok creators. The winners will be announced on February 1, 2021.

Agency teams will have a chance to win up to US$40,000 in prizes, while individual contestants can win a mentorship session with TikTok Global Business Marketing executives.

TikTok will hold a creative workshop on November 24 and 26 in partnership with BBDO Singapore to provide a deeper understanding on how TikTok can be used for marketing purposes. The workshop will be held virtually at https://www.tiktok-trendsetter.com/ and is accessible to all.

Visit https://www.tiktok-trendsetter.com/ to enter the competition, view tutorials, best practices and creative playbooks.

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CP Foods first in Thailand to receive ISO management innovation certification

Nov 06. 2020

By The Nation

Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF)’s Bang Na feed mill is the first Thai operation to be granted international ISO 56002 certification for management innovation.

Siripong Aroonratana, COO of the company, received the certification from Punnee Angsusingha, president of Management System Certification Institute (Thailand) at CP Tower in Bangkok recently.

Punnee explained that the new ISO standard was initiated to provide a framework for a systematic innovation management, helping the organisation to get the most benefit out of their own innovations.

She praised CP Foods for continuously driving organisational development through innovation. She noted that the company was the first in Thailand to receive the new certificate, reflecting its status as world leader in the agro-industrial and food business that is constantly boosting its competitiveness and driving the food industry towards Thailand 4.0.

Siripong thanked the company’s management as well as all employees for their contributions to boosting innovation in the organisation.

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GPSC appoints new president, CEO

Nov 06. 2020Worawat Pitayasiri 

By The Nation

Global Power Synergy Plc (GPSC)’s board of directors on Friday appointed Worawat Pitayasiri as new president and chief executive officer of the company, effective from December 1.

The board also acknowledged the resignation of Chawalit Tippawanich as president and CEO, effective from December.

Chawalit is leaving to take up the posts of IRPC’s president and CEO. The IRPC board of directors appointed him on November 5, effective from December 1.

GPSC said Worawat, 54, has many years of experience and expertise in technology and innovation management, which is in line with the firm’s vision and growth strategy as a global sustainable power leader and flagship of the PTT Group.

Worawat is currently senior executive vice president for Innovation and Digital at PTT. He has been with PTT Group for over 20 years, holding senior positions including executive vice president, Downstream Business Group Planning, executive vice president, Downstream Business Group Collaboration, and president of PTT MCC Biochem.