Ajinomoto holds the 2020 Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders
Jun 17. 2020
By THE NATION
Mr. Hiroharu Motohashi (Middle, 2nd row), President of Ajinomoto Co., (Thailand) Ltd., presided over the 2020 Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders in order to report the company’s business performance of fiscal year 2019 and to inform next growing step of business plan in fiscal year 2020.
The meeting was attended by Ajinomoto’s directors and other shareholders. The meeting was recently held at Ajinomoto Co., (Thailand) Ltd., Head Office, Bangkok.
MEA urges customers to use its e-bill services to cut Covid-19 risk and paper waste
Jun 17. 2020
By THE NATION
The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) is urging customers to use its e-bill service to receive electronic documents via either mobile phone or e-mail.
“The e-bill enables fast notification with no paper documents, reducing the need to come down to the MEA branch offices as well as the risk of contracting Covid-19 virus via touching papers,” the MEA posted on Tuesday (June 16) on its Facebook page @Metropolitan.Electricity.Authority.
The MEA e-bill will cover the following services: e-invoice for monthly power bill; e-receipt/e-tax invoice; e-notification (reminder to pay power bill)
“Furthermore, using e-paper will help save the environment by reducing the use of paper,” said the post. “For every customer that registers for e-bill services, the MEA will donate for the planting of one tree in mangrove forests in Samut Prakarn province under the Pluk Pa Chalerm Phra Kiat [forest planting in honour of King Rama X] campaign.”
For more information on MEA services, contact call centre 1130, twitter: @MEA_news, Line: @meathailand, facebook: @Metropolitan.Electricity.Authority or download the mobile application “MEA Smart Life”, available for both Android and iOS users.
Index Living Mall refreshes Ekamai branch to cater to new urban lifestyle
Jun 16. 2020
By THE NATION
Introduces new zones and new items in ‘Fresh-up Ekamai, Lift-up Your Life’ concept to attract Thai and expat customers living in city center.
Index Living Mall Public Company Limited has renovated its Ekamai branch in recognition of the potential of its location and to fulfill the lifestyle demand of the urbanites. The Company added new zones and new items under the “Fresh-up Ekamai, Lift-up Your Life” concept with the aim to create a new experience to fulfill the desire of both Thai and foreign customers who were shopping for furniture and decorations for homes and condominium units both for own domicile and for rent – with sets of items such as the ‘Condo Complete Set’ in Hi-end or Urban styles.
Miss Kridchanok Patamasatayasonthi, Managing Director of Index Living Mall Public Company Limited (ILM), Thailand’s leading integrated retailer of home furnishings, revealed that the Company has renovated and redecorated the Index Living Mall Ekamai branch to better cater to the demand of the consumers living in the area. This is because the Ekamai neighborhood is considered to be a business district as well as a mid-city residential area where many real estate developers have jumped in to develop a large variety of real estate projects such as condominiums, hotels, and office buildings for rent. Also, this zone is surrounded by international schools, hospitals, shopping malls as well as convenient transportation routes linking Sukhumvit Road and Soi Thong Lo, and adjacent to the BTS commuter train line. Therefore, Ekamai has become a popular residential neighborhood especially in regard to condominium units for rent to Thais and foreigners. And that in turn has spurred the growth of needs to shop for furniture, household items, home decoration, as well as electrical appliances.
A survey carried out on the behavior and interests of Index Living Mall customers in Ekamai area showed 80 percent of Joy Card members are Thai and 20 percent foreigners. While walk-in customers who are not members are also interested to purchase home decorations and decorative sets for condominium that included furniture, home decoration and electrical appliances. The clientele can be divided into two groups – one is the high-end group who would choose luxurious, stylish, and high quality items to decorate their own homes or condominium units. The other group is the economy shoppers who would look for items to decorate the condominium units to be rented out. So, they would look for complete sets of merchandise that will satisfy their tenants who can start their lives in these condominium units with just a suitcase-full of clothes. This group of customers would need items that are well within their specific budget to decorate studio and 1-bedroom units that can earn them rent of about 20,000-50,000 baht per month.
Index Living Mall Ekamai branch has been freshened under the “Fresh-up Ekamai, Lift-up Your Life” concept with new zones and new items, particularly furniture and decorative items designed specifically for condominium living, including furniture sets for bedroom, living room and dining room that are compact in size suitable for limited spaces but with complete functionality. Index Living Mall also have an in-house team of designer-specialists who can provide consultation in choosing the right furniture that suits the customers’ needs while offering free interior design service. Furniture items are available both as built-in and stand-alone.
The ‘new zone, new items’ feature the newest innovative “ITAL Smart” wardrobes that are much more just wardrobes, with fully adaptable functions either with racks for clothes or cabinets and equipped with LED lights, sensors and soft-touch drawers. Also available is premium “Italiving”furniture imported from Italy. “The Condo Collection” zone features furniture designed specifically for condominiums with perfect combination of design and function for storage in which every nook and cranny is fully utilized. Feel free to peruse show units with sizes starting from 20 square meters. In “Younique” zone, you may order customized furniture exactly the way you like it. In the “Sofa & Recliner Exhibition” zone, sofas in a large variety of designs are on view. The “Outdoor Life” zone offers decorative trees and plants in varying designs to add green to your house. Last but not least, the “Storage Solutions & Home Organization”zone houses a collection of storage solutions that will help to keep your houses tidy and orderly.
In addition, there are the popular mainstay brands such as Index Furniture, Winner Furniture, Logica office furniture, Power One modern home electrical appliances and many other household items and home decorations. Fulfill your lives to perfection with “Lift-up Your Life” in the modern atmosphere in the branch that provides pleasant shade, warmth and friendliness to enhance the inspiration for home decoration with a display of merchandise such as tableware, cutlery and kitchenware to match up with the dining room furniture, etc. Also new is the co-working space corner designed to cater for the lifestyle the new generation of urbanites who can work anywhere.
Visit the new-look Index Living Mall Ekamai branch to choose items that you have always dreamt of (2nd floor BigC Ekamai).
A leading auto-parts manufacturer is installing solar panels to drive production at its second Thai factory, marking another step by industry towards renewable power sources
Asno Horie (Thailand) Co Ltd has contracted WHA Utilities & Power Plc (WHAUP) to install a 2,012KW solar rooftop at its new plant in Rayong, following a similar project at its other plant in March. The second project is expected to begin generating revenue in October this year.
WHAUP says the new contract will drive its electricity-generating capacity, in terms of shareholding equity, to more than 597MW, exceeding the full-year target of 591MW.
Asno Horie will use its two solar rooftops, with total capacity of 3,629KW, to power its auto-parts production lines.
The company said the switch to solar power was in line with its policies on energy saving, environmental protection and reducing the impact of greenhouse-gas emissions. The solar rooftops will reduce electricity costs by up to Bt230 million during the 25-year contract and offset CO2 emissions, it added.
CAT laying submarine telecoms cable to link China with SE Asia
Jun 12. 2020
By THE NATION
State telecom agency CAT Telecom has joined forces with members of the Asia Direct Cable Consortium (ADC) to build a 9,400-kilometre submarine cable to serve international content providers at Digital Park Thailand and also provide enhanced technologies and 5G in Southeast Asia.
The ADC cable is expected to be completed in 2022.
CAT president Colonel Sanpachai Huvanandana said that the ADC, of which CAT is a member, is building a high-performance submarine cable connecting China (Hong Kong and Guangdong province), Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The consortium has selected NEC Corporation to construct the 9,400-km cable system, which is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2022.
The ADC cable system will be the main project to enhance CAT’s international telecommunication networks, supporting growing internet usage demand in Thailand.
The cable will also increase the diversity and stability of international telecoms networks, to serve the growing trends of international communication and connectivity in Thailand and the rest of the Asean region.
“The ADC cable system will contribute to the international content providers’ businesses in the Digital Park Thailand area and also enhance advanced technologies such as 5G, AI [Artificial Intelligence], cloud services, Internet of Things ( IoT), Smart City and Big Data,” said Sanpachai.
The cable will feature multiple pairs of high capacity optical fibers and is designed to carry more than 140 terabits per second (Tbps) of traffic, enabling high capacity transmission of data across East and Southeast Asia.
CAT, Symphony sign MoU to leverage their telecom strengths
Jun 12. 2020
By The Nation
State telecom firm CAT has joined hands with Symphony to provide telecommunication networks and services to meet the needs of customers in the digital age.
CAT Telecom Pcl has signed a memorandum of understanding in business cooperation with Symphony Communication Pcl to integrate current and future telecommunication networks and services of both parties to enhance services to customers and also to maximise the potential for telecommunication network usage and services, the companies said.
Dhanant Subhadrabandhu, senior executive vice president, marketing and service, at CAT Telecom said in a joint statement with Symphony that CAT’s mission is not only providing telecommunications network services infrastructure with the highest efficiency of landing and submarine cable systems, CAT also seeks cooperation with telecommunications operators both locally and internationally to increase the potential of telecommunications to meet the needs of customers at all levels, including the exchange of technology and knowledge to jointly push Thailand to the centre of telecommunications technology in the Asean region.
The scope of the MoU is to consolidate both companies’ expertise towards leveraging, sharing and collaborating the existing systems and networks to effectively provide services such as Metro Ethernet, Direct Internet, Voice Service and other services.
Alex Loh, chief operating officer of Symphony, said: “I am delighted to have this strategic collaboration with CAT Telecom, one of the leading national telecommunication and digital service provider in Thailand. “This collaboration intends to have both providers to leverage and optimise our network infrastructure together and expand more services throughout the country. Both companies are also able to share and leverage our strengths in our resources, expertise and infrastructures that will maximise our business growth in the future,” he said.
Bangkok Bank unveils mobile banking app for ‘new normal’
Jun 11. 2020
By THE NATION
Bangkok Bank has launched a new version of its mobile banking application with a fresh design for the so-called “new normal” and mobile era.
The app aims to attract 11 million users by the end of this year.
Bangkok Bank executive vice president Prassanee Ouiyamaphan said it will be easier and more convenient to use with several new features, including easy-to-read streaming charts, shortcuts menu for quick access to transactions, easy funds transfer with fewer errors. Meanwhile the option to copy and paste account numbers means there is no need to memorise or write them down and full account numbers can be viewed in a single click.
Also featured are easy app management, with the ability to add, delete and sort third-party accounts, view transaction history by month, and frequently used transactions are grouped together.
Bill payment is made easier with the ability to scan on the first page. Payments can be made quickly in five seconds or just two clicks. Searching for a payee is easy with new categorisation, a list of popular payees, and payees’ logos.
International security standards protect against outdated operating systems and rooted or jailbroken devices. Customer data will be secure as these devices will not be able to make transactions.
The update will be rolled out in batches and the first batch of Bualuang mBanking customers can update their mobile banking app to the new version from today.
All users will be able to update within two weeks. The application will be available for mobile devices with iOS version 9.0 and above or Android version 5.0 and above (Android version 7.0 or above is recommended for the better experience).
Existing customers can access the application using their existing 6-digit PIN without having to reregister. New customers can download the app and sign-up with a Bangkok Bank debit card or credit card number.
“Data during the first four months of this year clearly reflects this changing customer behaviour,” said Prassanee. “Our number of mobile banking users has grown by approximately 28 per cent compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, fund transfers and bill payments via mobile banking grew by 51 per cent and 47 per cent, respectively. This indicates that customers are becoming more familiar with making transactions via mobile banking. Furthermore, the Covid-19 outbreak has also raised concerns over using cash and increased the popularity of online purchasing via mobile banking due to the inconvenience of going to physical stores. In addition, many customers have registered to use their Bangkok Bank account for PromptPay to receive Bt5,000 handouts from the government.”
CPF adopts ‘circular economy’ principle in bid to promote sustainability
Jun 11. 2020
By The Nation
Charoen Pokphand Foods PLC (CPF) has announced that it will boost the use of renewable energy in its operations and promote sustainability in line with the “circular economy” principles and the UN’s sustainable development goals.
Wuthichai Sithipreedanant, CPF’s senior vice president for corporate social responsibility and sustainable development, said the company has adopted the circular economy principle to optimise efficiency in the use of resources.
He added that CPF has been proactively looking for solutions to reduce food loss and food waste generated in its operations as well as boost efficiency in the consumption of water and energy. He went on to say that CPF is also using more renewable energy in a bid to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and has continuously reduced single-use plastic and is working on designing eco-friendly packaging.
“As a leading food producer, CPF places importance on safe and eco-friendly production,” Wuthichai said. “The balance of human life is closely linked to the balance of nature. People cannot live in sustainable prosperity without nature’s abundant resources. Therefore, we must take care of the environment as we take care of ourselves.”
He added that CPF wanted to join the fight against plastic waste by developing sustainable plastic packaging. At present, CPF’s plastic packages are reusable and recyclable.
CPF has also developed an effective system of water consumption throughout the production process based on the circular economy principle. For instance, CPF has applied the bio-floc system to its closed shrimp farms in Chanthaburi and Rayong provinces, which allows natural microbes to treat the nitrogen produced from shrimp manure. This reduces the need to replace water in shrimp ponds, leading to a 70 per cent reduction in water consumption compared to conventional shrimp farming.
The company is further reducing its water footprint by using ultra filtration technology to filter recycled water, which is then used to refill shrimp ponds.
Currently, 26 per cent of CPF’s power consumption comes from renewable energy produced from biowaste. The company aims to run coal-free operations by 2022.
Meanwhile, CPF has transformed wastewater and manure in all its swine farms into biogas to generate electricity. This practice has been expanded to the company’s operations in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
CPF has also installed solar rooftops in 24 feed mills, food-processing plants, ready-to-eat production plants and distribution centres. The solar rooftops generate 15 megawatts worth of electricity and are expected to be fully operational within this year.
The company has also joined the Royal Forest Department and local communities in reforesting 5,971 rai around Lopburi’s Khao Phraya Doen Tong area.
Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) posted on its facebook page this week a video and tips on how to help victim of electric shock.
The tips are:
– Keep calm and cut/turn off the power source as fast as possible
– Absolutely do not touch the victim with bare hands
– Use dry rope or towel pull the victim from the electricity source in a swift manner
For more information on electricity safety, contact MEA call center 1130, twitter: @MEA_news, Line: @meathailand, facebook: @Metropolitan.Electricity.Authority or download the mobile application “MEA Smart Life”, available for both android and iOS users.
‘Smart airport’ deal between CAT and U-Tapao takes wing
Jun 09. 2020
U-Tapao International Airport director Vice Admiral Kritchaphon Rianglekjamnong, second from left, and CAT president Sanphachai Huvanandana, second from right, during the signing ceremony.
By THE NATION
CAT Telecom has signed a collaboration deal with U-Tapao International Airport to study ways to adopt information and communications technology to transform the facility into a smart airport.
The partnership aims to use ICT to boost the airport’s flight traffic, manage its security and promote its digital transformation.
Photo credit: Senivpetro
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