In‭ ‬ ‭‬collaboration‭ ‬ ‭ ‬with‭ ‬ the‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Digital‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Economy‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Promotion‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Agency,‭ ‬ the‭ ‬ ‭‬Association‭ ‬ ‭‬of‭ ‬ ‭Thai Software‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Industries,‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Line‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Thailand,‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Shopee‭ ‬ ‭ ‬and‭ ‬ ‭‭The FinLab,‭ ‬ ‭ ‬the‭ ‬ ‭ ‬training‭ ‬ ‭ ‬programme comprises 12 online courses.

Each runs for one to two hours and will enable SMEs to gain insights into the “new normal” business and social environment Covid-19 has created. For instance, given the growth in online‭ ‬ ‭ ‬spending ‭ ‬during ‭ ‬the ‭ ‬pandemic,‭ ‬ ‭ ‬SMEs‭ ‬ ‭ ‬will‭ ‬ ‭ ‬learn‭ ‬ ‭ ‬how‭ ‬ ‭ ‬to‭ ‬ ‭ ‬use‭‭ ‬digital‭ ‬ ‭ ‬solutions‭ ‬ ‭ ‬to‭ ‬ ‭ ‬attract customers‭ ‬ ‭ ‬through ‭ ‬better‭ ‬ ‭ ‬digital ‭ ‬marketing, ‭ ‬content‭ ‬ ‭ ‬management‭ ‬ ‭ ‬and‭ ‬ ‭ ‬customer‭ ‬ ‭ ‬relationship management.

As part of preparing their businesses for recovery, SMEs will also learn how to accelerate their digital transformation for greater business efficiency.‭ ‬ For example, UOB BizSmart, an integrated suite of cloud-based business solutions, can help the enterprises to manage digitally processes such as accounting, invoicing, employee and payroll management.

UOB’s innovation accelerator, The FinLab, will connect‭ ‬ ‭ ‬‬SMEs‭ ‬ ‭ ‬with‭ ‬ ‭ ‬suitable‭ ‬ ‭ ‬technology‭ ‬ ‭ ‬solution‭ ‬ ‭ ‬providers‭ ‬ to‭ ‬help‭ ‬ ‭them‭ ‬ ‭implement‭ ‬ ‭ ‬relevant digital solutions to seize opportunities.‭ ‬ The bank will also run a course on overseas expansion strategies and opportunities as the region gradually resumes its economic activities.

According‭ ‬ ‭ ‬to‭ ‬ ‭ ‬the‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Office‭ ‬ ‭ ‬of‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Small‭ ‬ ‭ ‬and‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Medium‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Enterprises‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Promotion,‭ ‬ ‭ ‬the‭ ‬  ‬pandemic has resulted in a Bt120-billion loss in income for SMEs as of April. As such, many SME owners recognise the need to react quickly and adjust their strategies and plans so that they can sustain their businesses.

“MEA executives and employees donated money and supplies to create 2,000 sets of MEA care packages to commemorate Her Majesty’s birthday,” MEA governor Keerapat Jiamset said.

“Each care package included alcohol-based hand sanitiser, fabric face mask and a face shield. The packages were distributed among customers who visited the 18 MEA branch offices in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan on June 4 and 5.

“Though the Covid-19 situation in Thailand is improving, MEA is still concerned about people’s safety and would like to remind people to keep their guard up and maintain social distancing,” he added.

“MEA will continue organising charitable activities to help those affected by the outbreak, as well as donate medical equipment to institutes and communities that are short on supplies to ensure we can overcome this crisis together.

The donation was accepted by Education Minister Nataphol Teepsawan.

Founded in late 2019 by two insurance industry veterans, Go! Insurance aims to redefine health insurance in Thailand and in Southeast Asia in terms of simplicity, flexibility and affordability, while offering a hassle-free all-digital customer experience, the company said.

Go! is a digital platform designed to offer personalised health insurance packages that meet customers’ lifestyles and budgets.

The company was founded by Firras Sabbah, previously chief information officer of Allianz Thailand General Insurance, and Eric Agulhon, who has extensive insurance industry experience through positions at MAAF, AXA and Allianz in Europe and Asia.

Go! Insurance is set to kick off in Thailand with GoHealth as its first product for the Thai market. By simply setting a monthly budget, the platform offers a product that matches that budget and once the online payment is done, the customer is insured right away without having to go to any agent or office.

“With the pandemic challenge, we believe that digitising health insurance can benefit everyone, especially people in Thailand and SEA, where digital services are on the rise and people have access to smartphones,” Sabbah said.

“We believe there is a better way of offering insurance packages by creating a digitised product, which customers can complete without disturbing their daily routines,” he added.

GoHealth customers can access a broad network of hospitals where they will be treated the same way as traditionally insured customers, without having to pay anything upfront, the company said.

Go! is working with Krungthai Panich Insurance.

Funds from the pre-seed funding will be used by Go! to stimulate its growth in Thailand, develop its platform and invest in talent acquisition, the platform added.

The new resin is designed with 40 percent PCR content which creates a film with performance comparable to those made with virgin resins. The product, XUS 60921.01, can provide us 17% CO2 reduction and 30% energy savings (estimated numbers depending on factors). The new formulated PCR resin is going to help converters, brand owners and retailers meet their sustainability goals, while also giving a new end-of-life to plastics that otherwise would have become waste.

“This new resin is helping to make a circular economy for plastics a reality, all without compromising on the performance that brand owners and consumers require,” said Bambang Candra, Asia Pacific commercial vice president, Dow. “As a material science company, we have the responsibility to bring these products to market to prevent plastics from becoming waste in the environment.”

The growing demand for e-commerce will require durable, efficient packaging that can protect products throughout their supply chains while producing minimal waste for consumers. Dow’s new formulated PCR resin can provide brands and consumers with comparable performance to collation shrink film made with virgin resins to ensure products are delivered safely while also reducing the amount of plastic waste ending up in our environment.

The resin is designed to be used as 100 percent of the core layer of collation shrink applications and will enable the development of film with 13 – 24 percent recycled content.

“Developing new end markets for plastic waste will help incentivize collection and recycling, enabling more recycled products to be developed while reducing the amount of plastics entering our environment,” said Suny Markose, Asia Pacific commercial recycling director for Dow.

The new offering is part of Dow’s comprehensive strategy to develop a circular economy for plastics by focusing on integrating recycled content into product offerings.

To learn more about the product, visit www.dow.com/pcrshrinkfilm.

In its commitment, Huawei aims to nurture 50,000 talents over the next five years, spread across various businesses and technology sectors. The academy will provide more than 3,000 ICT courses involving 100 skilled trainers to nurture digital talent.

“The Huawei ASEAN Academy in Malaysia is the first in Asia Pacific region which plays an important role in ICT development towards digital economic growth. It is more than ever, to nurture and develop local talent to ensure that they are well equipped with the proper ICT knowledge to adapt to this ever-changing globalization landscape. The Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (KKMM) and Huawei have had a long collaborative relationship in ICT since 2001 when Huawei Technologies was first established, we hope to have more successful collaborations in the future between both parties to steer digital economy in the right path,” said YB Dato Saifuddin Abdullah, Minister of Communications and Multimedia of Malaysia.

The academy’s ICT training programs and courses are designed to target government bodies, industry professionals and university students, providing a holistic approach in growing the country’s ICT ecosystem. It will implement established and diversified educational methods namely scenario-based and online live training, and overseas study tours. The academy also provides multi-dimensional solutions for different types of talent and levels of need to ensure that these solutions effectively match the current talent gaps for enterprises.

“As we all adapt to this new normal of social distancing, the importance of having a strong digital network and infrastructure is more obvious now than ever. The backbone of a strong digital network and infrastructure still remains with the people that builds and maintains such services for Malaysians to enjoy. The trainings and programs provided by the ASEAN academy will empower local talents to be future-ready and actively contribute to accelerating the country’s digital transformation journey,” said Michael Yuan, CEO of Huawei Malaysia.

Based on the industry requirements, the academy addresses pain points of the country’s talent gap within the three core pillars which are ICT Industry Trend Guidance, Ecosystem Talent Enablement and Skill Improvement. The academy uses technology as a key enabler in skills and talent development to provide a solid foundation for the country’s digital economy.

As a global leading ICT solution provider, Huawei advocates for an open, shared, ICT talent ecosystem that benefits all parties. The Huawei ASEAN Academy presents another significant milestone in Huawei’s journey to develop local ICT talent and enable the digital transformation.

Recently, Ajinomoto Co, (Thailand) Ltd., led by Mr. Hiroharu Motohashi, President, Mr.Takaaki Arashida, Vice President together with Mr.Thongdee Paso, Mr. Varong Prayoonpong, Managing Director and Mrs. Kesya Chaicharncheep, Director, joined to deliver the money donation worth 1 million Baht and company products including “Birdy” RTD canned coffee, “Prottie” Chocolate flavor Protein Drink and “aminoVITAL” RTD amino power gel to M.D.Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai, Director General, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health. The donation was aimed to support the work of Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute under Department of Disease Control for fight against COVID-19 epidemic.

In addition, the company also supports this kind of donation to another 4 hospitals including Siriraj Hospital, Ramathibodi Hospital, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital and Rajavithi Hospital with support at the amount of 5,250, 000 Baht in total.

We, Ajinomoto, aims to encourage all personnel and medical staff who work fight against COVID-19 and to be a part in supporting Thai society to overcome through the COVID-19 situation together in soonest.

It is part of a wider #bettertogether campaign to boost morale and encourage unity in the “new normal.” All healthcare workers using dtac monthly postpaid plans can register for this special privilege via the dtac application from May 20th – June 10th, 2020. Already, 8,000 healthcare workers have registered. The dtac app is available at http://dtac.co.th/s/vqIMV

Sharad Mehrotra, Chief Executive Officer Total Access Communication Public Company Limited or dtac said, “As a sign Thailand is ready to begin a new chapter after the COVID-19 crisis along with the public, dtac has also changed the network name seen on the top left of mobile screens from ‘Stay Safe’ to ‘Better Together.’ It signals that by being optimistic and united, caring for each other and sharing kindness, we can get through these tough times.”

dtac is also encouraging the public to participate by sharing video clips which were posted on all dtac social media channels on 20 May 2020 (Facebook, LINE, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter). The video clips show influencers expressing their gratitude to healthcare professionals in their unique style, featuring.

To participate, everyone is encouraged to share the videos and tag their posts. Together, the posts will be a powerful testament to how grateful Thailand is for the long hours and hard work they must put in, in addition to being most exposed to risks of infection.

GULF pledged more than 150,000 food boxes for 232 communities in Bangkok to help people cope with the Covid-19 fallout, and believes that this project has also indirectly helped boost the economy because the production of 2,500 to 3,000 meals a day required many ingredients. As a result, many restaurant staff, farmers and small-scale logistics providers continued having income in this time of crisis.

“The group will continue with this initiative as there are still a lot of people in difficulties due to the crisis. This time professional golfers ‘Pro Mo’ and ‘Pro May’ are also stepping in to help GULF with the distribution of meal boxes. This can be considered a success, because it will spread the story and encourage others to join us in helping those in need,” said Sitamon Ratanavadi, GULF’s assistant corporate social responsibility manager.

“We are delighted to lend help in easing the difficulties of those affected by Covid-19. We are positive that our efforts will reach those who have suffered and really need help,” the sisters said.

Since Covid-19 hit Thailand, GULF has helped by procuring medical equipment for Ramathibodi Hospital, Rajavithi Hospital, the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute, the Central Chest Institute of Thailand, the Police General Hospital and Buddhachinaraj Hospital; providing alcohol sanitising gel to small hospitals in Pattani and Yala provinces; providing 100,000 N95 medical masks to King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital and other hospitals in need; as well donating cloth face masks to sub-district health screening teams in 10 provinces.

GULF also promised to provide meals to poor communities across Bangkok and has partnered with Egat to provide survival kits for people in Nonthaburi province. GULF aid initiative has also been extended to Thai elephants suffering from the pandemic through donations to the Aob Chang project.

The board also named Ananpol Nonthaphund as chief operating officer.

Kulapa said the toughest time of the Covid-19 crisis may have passed, but both the public and private sector need to find the right time to ease restrictions, so people can return to their normal lives and the economy can be slowly rehabilitated.

When the crisis hit the country, government agencies and businesses adjusted to the situation by adopting digital technology, such as video conferencing, working from home and e-commerce, so lives to continue as normally as possible.

However, the adopting of digital technology has brought about a change in consumer behaviour, which in turn has created a new market or the “next new normal”, which in the post-Covid era will give SVOA an opportunity to further develop its potential.

She added that the company and her management team are ready to develop technological solutions for businesses and government agencies.