#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Israel signs pact to recruit 25,000 more Thai workers

Jul 13. 2020

By The Nation

The governments of Israel and Thailand signed an agreement in Jerusalem today (July 13) to recruit a fresh batch of 25,000 Thais for agricultural work in the Middle East country, a press statement said.

The agreement follows a bilateral pact signed in December 2010 to enable the recruitment of Thai workers in a “legal and transparent manner”. The 2010 agreement regulates the procedure to prevent illegal actions, including high charges which were paid by Thai workers to private recruitment companies.

“This agreement is a flagship project of bilateral relations between Israel and Thailand,” Israeli Ambassador Meir Shlomo said today. “I have no doubt it will continue to contribute significantly to more prosperity in Thailand and in Israel, and to enhance job creation especially during these times of economic difficulties.”

The new bilateral agreement is a significant milestone in the cooperation between the two countries as it forges a close connection between the two peoples, the statement said. Within this framework, tens of thousands of Thais have worked in Israel so far, under protected and respected employment.

Israel is considered an attractive work destination for Thais as they enjoy attractive income as well as legal protection of employment rights according to Israeli law.

“Moreover, these workers can transfer valuable knowledge in agricultural techniques from Israel to be put into practice in Thailand upon their return,” the statement said.

Thai agricultural workers in Israel are an important component of the Middle East country’s economy, which needs a skilled agricultural work force.

“Over the years, the dedication and hard work of Thai workers have greatly contributed to success in Israeli farming, which is recognised worldwide as a global leader in agricultural technologies,” the statement said.

“We sincerely thank the Labour Ministry and the Thai government for successfully holding intensive negotiations during recent months, despite the very challenging circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic,” the ambassador added.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

A health insurance plan for foreigners with long-stay visas

Jul 13. 2020

By The Nation

Southeast Insurance is offering a health insurance plan for foreigners holding O-A and O-X visas who are more than 50 years of age and wish to apply for renewal of visa for residency in Thailand.

“We are ready to take care and provide premium health coverage at over 293 hospitals,” Chiravuthi Bunyasiri, managing director of Southeast Insurance Pcl, said.

“Southeast is ready to support the policies of the government by launching our long-stay-visa insurance plan for retirement visa holders for both one-year temporary stay [non-immigrant visa O-A] and 10-year long-stay [non-immigrant visa O-X],” Chiravuthi said.

“For O-A visa holders, the plan is ideal for foreigners who travel to Thailand for short-term medical tourism or for other health services such as health recovery or wellness purposes. For O-X visa holders, the plan is tailored for foreign business persons who travelled to Thailand for work who had entered into transactions i.e. purchase of condominiums, vehicles etc. Both types of visa holders are required to renew their visas annually. Considering their health risks, the plan offers protection throughout the period of their stay in Thailand with not less than Bt40,000 out-patient treatment expenses and not less than Bt400,000 for in-patient treatment expenses,” Chiravuthi added.

Southeast Insurance is one of the companies collaborating with Thai General Insurance Association in the campaign for foreign tourists residing in Thailand with O-A and O-X visas.

The insurance plan for foreigners provides comprehensive service through a network of more than 293 hospitals, Southeast Insurance said. The plan covers in-patient treatment at hospitals or medical facilities from accidents and illnesses with maximum expenses of Bt500,000 per year and Bt45,000 per year for out-patient treatment along with Bt100,000 for emergency.

The policy can be purchased at the website of Thai General Insurance Association: longstay.tgia.org. For holders of health insurance of an international company, the insured amount shall not be less than the amount of health insurance required in Thailand.

For news and updates on Southeast Insurance and Finance Group, visit Southeast Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/Segsoutheastpage/

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

MEA inspects water drainage facilities to avoid mishaps during monsoon

Jul 11. 2020

By THE NATION

The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) conducted safety inspections of a drainage tunnel under Bang Sue Canal, the authorities said.

On July 9, Samrerng Chiewchukul, MEA deputy governor, together with officials from Bangkok Water Drainage Office inspected the electrical system in the drainage tunnel under Bang Sue Canal located in Dusit district to ensure that equipment is working optimally and safely during the rainy season.

“As the provider of electricity and related services in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakarn areas, MEA is committed to ensuring that all facilities related to public utilities are functioning at 100 per cent capacity, especially during rainy season when flash flood and heavy rains may damage electrical equipment,” he said. “MEA has dispatched staff to monitor 10 water drainage facilities and 492 drainage tunnels in Bangkok and surrounding areas to provide emergency services in case of equipment malfunctions at anytime of the day.”

If you witness damaged electrical equipment or powerlines at these facilities, contact MEA Call Centre 1130 or Facebook: @Metropolitan.Electricity.Authority, Line: @meathailand, Twitter: @mea_news or via the MEA Smart Life mobile application, which is available at http://onelink.to/measmartlife

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Bangkok Land launches ‘Cosmo Walk’ in the heart of Muang Thong Thani

Jul 10. 2020

By The Nation

Bangkok Land is going ahead with its Bt400-million project to develop the “Cosmo Walk” in the centre of Muang Thong Thani as it expects that the reopening of the IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Centre will help revive tourism and shopping activities in the area.

Peter Kanjanapas, vice president and managing director of Bangkok Land, said the company has invested more than Bt400 million between June last year and this month to develop the project in a bid to expand retail business in Muang Thong Thani. This project links the three shopping malls, Cosmo Bazaar, BEEHIVE Lifestyle Mall and The Portal with other long-established venues like Outlet Square and Popular Walk.

It also includes the fifth phase expansion of Outlet Square, the biggest sports outlet in Thailand covering more than 15,000 square metres and housing top sports and fashion brands, as well as a Bt140 million 320-metre skywalk connecting IMPACT exhibition halls to ibis Hotel and Cosmo Bazaar.

Meanwhile, it has spent Bt245 million to develop Cosmo Walk, a two-storey commercial building covering 6,800sqm, 4,500sqm of which is up for rent. Cosmo Walk currently houses a 1,300sqm Nike factory store, a Dohome outlet which sells construction materials and home décor products and Malaysian brand Mr DIY, which focuses on lifestyle products.

Cosmo Walk is open daily from 10am to 9pm.

“Cosmo Walk meets the demands of customers from all levels, though its main targets are residents, government employees, office workers, university students and professors as well as guests from Novotel and ibis Hotel. It is also a convenient meeting point as there is a skywalk connecting all buildings,” Peter said.

He added that since the Covid-19 outbreak is more or less under control in Thailand, it is expected that people will travel and shop more in the second half of the year.

Data from the IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Centre also shows that there is an increasing number of reservations for trade shows, seminars, parties, wedding and other events, which should help revive businesses in the area.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Jul 10. 2020

By The Nation

Apichet Srivaddhaprabha, assistant chief operating officer at King Power Group, fourth from left, presides over the launch of ‘Million Footballs, Million Power for Thai Youth’, a project in which footballs will be handed out to children in remote areas. The event was held at the Wat Nong Sala School in Nakhon Pathom province recently.

Also present were, from left, Tawatchai Kuammunkun from Fox Hunt football club, actor Jirayu La-Ongmanee, Krobkeaw Panyarachun from King Power, Min Prachubwan, deputy director of the Primary Education Service Nakhon Pathom Area Office 1, Bundit Laoaroon from the Nakhon Pathom Provincial Administrative Organisation and Chantana Phumma, director of the Wat Nong Sala School (Prachanukul).

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Luxury mattress maker opens flagship store in new outlet complex

Jul 10. 2020

By The Nation

High-end luxury bedding manufacturer Omazz has opened a new flagship store at the Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok complex in Samut Prakan.

The 174-square-metre store, designed following a dark gothic minimalist style, features a full range of mattresses and bedding accessories made from natural materials.

A 60 per cent discount on selected products is also being offered at the new Omazz Gallery Store at Siam Premium Outlets.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

CPF subsidiary to offer A+ rated debentures in August

Jul 10. 2020

By THE NATION

CPF (Thailand) (CPFTH), a subsidiary of Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF), has signed up with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to offer unsubordinated and unsecured debentures to institutional investors and/or high-net-worth investors.

The offering comprises five series of debentures with tenors of four years and six months, seven years, 10 years, 12 years and 15 years, all of which have been assigned a credit rating of A+ from TRIS Rating.

CPFTH has appointed Krungthai Bank, Kasikornbank, Siam Commercial, Government Savings Bank, CIMBThai Bank, TMB Bank and Phatra Securities as joint lead arrangers for this batch of debentures, which should be offered by August 20.

Paisan Chirakitcharern, chief financial officer for CPF, said CPFTH’s business encompasses integrated operations in Thailand in relation to livestock, comprising swine, broiler and layer chickens as well as duck.

CPFTH’s operation covers three core livestock business lines, namely the production and sale of animal feed; breeding, commercial farming, and primary meat processing; and production of processed semi-cooked, fully-cooked and ready-to-eat meals, including outlets like CP Fresh Mart, Five Stars, Star Coffee and CP Kitchen. It also runs a Korean BBQ restaurant chain called “DakGalbi” and a seafood and international food buffet restaurant chain called “CP Hilai Harbour”.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Thai Otsuka joins hands with Nation Group in donating ‘Medical Food’

Jul 10. 2020

By THE NATION

The chairman of Thai Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, Thanan Suntayodom (4th from left), along with president Shinsuke Yuasa (2nd from left), director of BIV & CN Business Division Wattanachai Itsarasenarak (1st from left), and finance manager Thanasunun Suntayodom (5th from left) recently donated medical food ‘Blendera-MF” for those at risk of malnutrition to Yuttana Nualjaras, (3rd from left), editor and representative of Nation Group, at Interlink Tower in Bang Na district.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

WHA Group makes successful Bt4-billion bond offering

Jul 07. 2020

WHA Group CEO Jareeporn Jarukornsakul

By THE NATION

WHA Corporation Public Company Limited witnessed significant demand for its 1/2020 bond offerings worth Bt4 billion from June 30 to July 2, according to the company.

There are three tranches of the bond – a 3-year term maturity in 2020 amounting to Bt2.05 billion, a 4-year maturity in 2024 of Bt1.45 billion and a 5-year maturity in 2025 amounting to Bt500 million. Interest rates are a fixed 3.30, 3.75 and 4.20 per cent, respectively.

WHA said it would use the proceeds from the issuance of the bond on debt repayment, capital expenditure, new investment for business expansion, and/or working capital to support business operations.

Tris Rating assigned the bond an A rating as of March 24. The bonds were distributed via three underwriters – Kasikorn Bank, Siam Commercial Bank and UOB Bank.

WHA Group CEO and chairwoman Jareeporn Jarukornsakul said she is confident the business will perform very well in the second half of the year, with continuous growth of the logistics business.

In addition, the company plans to launch its 10th industrial estate in the Eastern Economic Corridor, bringing the number of WHA’s industrial estates across Thailand and Vietnam to 12.

The company forecasts higher water volume sales than the first half, with the drought situation easing. It’s power business is expected to reach 590 equity MW in operation by the end of 2020 from the current 569 MW.

WHA said its digital business is also growing well as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The firm has signed contracts with customers to provide 109 racks of data centre services.

The company has received a licence from the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission to test a 5G network with leading service providers at its industrial estates.

In addition, the firm aims to monetise assets to WHA Premium Growth Freehold & Leasehold Real Estate Investment Trust (WHART), and Hemaraj Leasehold Real Estate Investment Trust (HREIT) worth approximately Bt3.23 billion and Bt1.35 billion, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2020.

WHART and HREIT have witnessed occupancy rates of 91.9 per cent and 95.3 per cent, respectively, as of the first quarter, the company added.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

KPMG offers tips on how businesses can survive Covid-19 crisis

Jul 03. 2020Sasithorn Pongadisak, left, and Auaychai Sukawong

By THE NATION

KPMG, a professional services network, has launched a series of tips to help private enterprises in Thailand navigate the current climate and grow their business.

The tips are provided by KPMG Thailand’s experts, including Sasithorn Pongadisak, chief of private enterprises, advisory partner Surayos Chuepanich and tax partner Auaychai Sukawong.

The experts also provide tips on how family businesses and entrepreneurs pursuing mergers and acquisitions (M&A) or other investment deals minimise their risks.

They say businesses considering M&A must understand the process from start to finish so they know how to manage each step, from pre-deal, deal transaction to post-deal. They also need to have a clear idea of M&A objectives as well as an understand of the other party. Due diligence should also be conducted in terms of financial metrics, tax, as well as legal and operational steps.

Determining a purchase price is also one of the most important decisions to be made. Making the right preparations for M&A will also result in effective tax planning.

Since there were many changes in tax law over the past few years, entrepreneurs need to understand the principles underlying these changes.

KPMG is also planning to provide tips on managing human resources, system and processes to improve business.

Visit https://home.kpmg/th/ for more details.