BAAC launches new mobile banking app ‘for convenience of farmers’
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 02, 2022
Nongluck Ajanapanya
Thailand’s Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) has launched “A-Mobile Plus”, a new version of its mobile banking that offers farmers access to digital banking.
BAAC president Thanarat Ngamvalairat stated during the launch ceremony on Tuesday that the new application is an improvement over the company’s mobile banking services.
Thanarat said new functions and features are being added to make online transactions faster and easier. Users can now buy lottery savings scheme and apply for loans while their personal information is completely secure.
“Local farmers in rural areas make up the majority of our clients. As a result, we anticipate that our A-Mobile Plus will enable them to access banking services anywhere and at any time, as well as encourage them to participate in a cashless society and digital life,” Thanarat explained.
The move comes just a few weeks after the World Bank released a contentious report revealing that rural Thais, the majority of whom are farmers, continue to live in poverty. One of the primary reasons is a lack of banking and funding.
Meanwhile, he has vowed to take any measures necessary to assist farmers in repaying their debts following the recent severe floods.
He stated that the assistance is part of BAAC’s efforts to reduce its non-performing loan (NPL) rate, which is currently 12.5%. The target for bank NPLs is 7%.
“We have already collaborated with the government to implement numerous relief and subsidy schemes for affected farmers. We intend to launch additional projects aimed at assisting farmers in debt management and income generation,” Thanarat said.
He stated that Thai farmers are ready to repay the debt. They are unfortunately unable to do so. Therefore, the BAAC must increase their knowledge of efficient farming, fundamental accounting, effective money management, and product marketing.
Furthermore, he promised to peg the interest rate loan as long as possible if the Bank of Thailand decides to hike the interest rate to stabilise the country’s financial sector.
The announcement comes as BAAC reports its first six-month performance for the current fiscal year, which runs from October 1 to September 30.
During this time, the BAAC has advanced loans totalling 368.745 billion baht, amassing a credit balance of 1.6 trillion baht. Meanwhile, current deposit account totals 1.7 trillion baht. After deducting expenses, the net profit is 1.388 billion baht.
Thanarat confirmed that the bank’s performance remains on track to be a secure rural development bank offering integrated financial services to improve farmers’ quality of life.
We believe that many people recently learning about blockchain technology or investing in cryptocurrency are getting confused with a numerous number of coins to choose from.
One reason that can be explained with such a large number of coins is the use of blockchain technology, which has a continuous development. The development allows them to solve any problem that exists in previous networks, leading to numerous blockchain generations.
Hence, this article will get you to know more about each generation of blockchain, to understand what is the purpose of it being created and what is the problem of each generation following the solution itself.
1st Generation – Bitcoin
(Source: esri.com)
The first time blockchain used in finance was Bitcoin. In this use case, the purpose was to use Bitcoin to remove intermediaries from transaction, to avoid a problem occurring from this system such as a delay in international payment or a fee charged by the intermediaries.
Bitcoin was also created to have a characteristic of “Good Money” in that it was created to have a limited number of coins, 21 million, and to have a mechanism that reduces the number of coins launched every four years. This gimmick is called “Bitcoin Halving” making Bitcoin similar to gold in the digital world.
After Bitcoin was being well-known, there were many networks emerged such as Litecoin which was solved to have a faster transactions than Bitcoin. However, overall, both of them have a relative fundamental.
Apart from that, in October 2022, Guinness World Records just record Bitcoin for being the world’s first decentralized digital currency and for having a total value higher than any other digital currency.
2nd Generation – Ethereum
(Source: imbstudent.donau-uni.ac.at)
The blockchain that has been accepted as a generation 2 is Ethereum. This is because Ethereum was the first network that introduce the use of smart contracts in the blockchain.
The idea of smart contract is an agreement that can be executed automatically if conditions are met.
Smart Contract is similar to programming on blockchain but more transparent as everyone can examine its work process. This is why blockchain can do more than just transferring money.
When having a smart contract, developers can create applications on the blockchain, leading to new use cases such as the Decentralized Exchange used in Uniswap or the Decentralized Lending service used in AAVE.
Furthermore, for NFT, an asset having a unique feature that cannot be interchaged, when people hear this word, they probably think of digital art such as Bored Ape Yacht club or CryptoPucks. However, NFT can be used in various specific assets like real estate, collectibles, vehicles, or even game items.
With smart contracts and NFT, the blockchain has been expanded apart from just transferring money like in the Bitcoin era. However, a problem still exists in this generation such as scalability, which is an expansion of network to be suitable for a large number of users. Therefore, such a problem leads to the development of new blockchain generation.
3rd Generation
(Source: weforum.com)
A major weakness of both Bitcoin and Ethereum is the issue of scalability, or expanding the network to handle higher transaction volumes, which causes a bottleneck leading to transaction delays and higher gas fees.
In order to fix this problem, third-generation blockchains like Cardano, Avalanche, TRON, etc. have been developed. Each network employs a unique set of technologies, such as sharding or sidechain. Some networks have been overhauled by switching from blockchain to a DAG (Directed Acyclic Graph) data structure.
The Ethereum side did not just sit around, as Ethereum 2.0 is being developed to improve speed, smart contracts functions, along with other features, which were partly completed in the September 2022 update of The Merge. This is an update that changed the consensus algorithm from Proof-of-Work to Proof-of-Stake. However, the date for the next update has not been announced, and therefore, we will have to keep an eye out for it.
Nevertheless, the majority of third-generation blockchains are still very new and are not as widely known or used as Bitcoin and Ethereum. Thus, it remains to be seen whether these networks will prove themselves capable of handling massive transactions effectively in the future.
4th Generation
(Source: cloudhm.co.th)
At present, it is still uncertain how the fourth-generation blockchains will develop since the third-generation blockchains are still relatively new, with most of them trying to fix the issues that arose in the second generation.
Some believe the fourth generation will integrate blockchain with AI (Artificial intelligence) technology, while others believe it will focus on mass adoption, making blockchain more accessible to the general public, educational institutions, or small businesses.
However, it is highly likely that the fourth-generation blockchain may arrive sooner than expected due to the leap forward in technological advancement nowadays. In particular, the advent of the metaverse has caused all industries to turn their attention to key infrastructure such as blockchain technology.
Conclusion
Blockchain is constantly evolving like any other technology. Currently, blockchain can be divided into 3 generations:
First generation: solves the problem of making transactions through an intermediary (Bitcoin)
Second generation: smart contracts were added to support new use cases (Ethereum)
Third generation: solves scalability issues and enables massive transactions in blockchain (Cardano, Avalanche, TRON)
Fourth generation: is expected to be about integrating AI technologies or perhaps focusing on mass adoption that will allow blockchain to infiltrate everyday life better.
Citi completes sale of Malaysia, Thailand consumer banking to UOB
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 01, 2022
Citi announced on Tuesday that it has completed the sale of its Malaysia and Thailand retail banking and consumer credit card businesses to United Overseas Bank Limited (UOB) subsidiaries, which includes the transfer of over 3,000 related staff.
The move marks the completion and closing of the third and fourth divestitures of Citi’s restructuring.
The transaction is expected to result in a capital benefit to Citi of over US$1billion.
Citi and UOB first announced the transaction on January 14, 2022, as part of a broader sale agreement covering consumer banking across Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia and excluding the bank’s institutional businesses. As previously disclosed, the sales of the Vietnam and Indonesia consumer businesses are expected to be completed in 2023.
Since announcing as part of its strategic refresh that Citi intends to exit consumer banking across 14 markets in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Mexico, sales agreements have been signed in nine markets. Transactions have now closed in four markets including Australia, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia. Citi is also in the process of winding down consumer banking in South Korea and Russia.
Asia Pacific CEO Peter Babej said, “Today’s announcement is positive for clients, colleagues, and our firm. Citi remains deeply committed to Malaysia and Thailand and we will invest further in both markets across our leading institutional franchise to support clients locally and where they do business across Citi’s network. We thank former employees and customers for their commitment and support and wish them continued success in the future.”
Peter BabejTiti Cole
Citi’s CEO of Legacy Franchises, Titi Cole, said, “With these completed sales, we have now divested four consumer businesses and are making swift and strong headway in delivering on our firm’s strategy refresh. We are confident about the future our former employees and clients will have as part of UOB and look forward to seeing them prosper.”
Tibor Pandi
Tibor Pandi, Country Head, Citi Thailand said, “I would like to thank for a strong support and commitments of our former staff to prepare the smooth transition of the services for our clients to UOB, I wish them all the best for their new career path. Citi Thailand remains a key market for Citi globally and we remain committed and focused on serving institutional clients locally, regionally, and globally as we have for over half a century.
Bangchak continues expanding with more petroleum fields in Norway added to portfolio
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 01, 2022
Bangchak Group continues the expansion of its natural resource business through Norway’s OKEA ASA, of which it is a major shareholder. On November 1, OKEA acquired three petroleum fields namely Brage, Ivar Aasen and Nova fields. The total value of the transaction stood at more than 4 billion baht, with revenue recognition starting from November 1 onwards.
Chaiwat Kovavisarach, Group Chief Executive Officer and President,Bangchak Corporation Public Company Limited, as Chairman of OKEA ASA, Norway, an exploration and production company listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange, stated that as of 1 November 2022, OKEA ASA has completed the acquisition of Wintershall Dea‘s 35.2 % interest in the Brage field, 6.4615% interest in the Ivar Aasen field, as well as a 6 % interest in the Nova development field.
The acquisition also includes the operatorship of Brage oil field. The total value of the transaction amounts to NOK 1.1 billion or over 4 billion Baht.
The acquisition of the Brage field and two other assets represents a significant step in OKEA’s growth strategy, like the acquisition of the Draugen field in 2018. It will not only add over 7,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOEPD) of production capacity and bring OKEA’s total production to 25,000 – 27,000 BOEPD in 2023 – 2024 but will also increase OKEA’s reserves by 30 – 40%, and further expand its portfolio and strengthen the company’s position as a leading mid- to-late-life operator on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).
Moreover, 140 competent and highly experienced offshore and onshore employees from Wintershell Dea will be transferred to OKEA, doubling the number of OKEA employees.
“The acquisition of the operatorship of the Brage field reiterates OKEA’s ambitious growth strategy and reflects Bangchak Group’s focus in balancing the energy trilemma; energy security with energy affordability, and environmental sustainability” Chaiwat concluded.
Baht might weaken but resistance level will be 38: market strategist
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2022
The baht opened at 37.80 to the US dollar on Thursday, weakening from Wednesday’s close of 37.58.
The currency will likely move between 37.70 and 38.00 against the greenback during the day, Krungthai market strategist Poon Panichpibool predicted.
He speculated that the baht might be pressured to weaken as the dollar advances amid increased gold purchases as prices of the precious metal went down after the US Federal Reserve chairman signalled he would continue to increase the interest rate.
This is in line with Poon’s view that investors should beware of a volatile baht and there could be a chance the Thai currency would weaken after the Fed chairman’s statement.
Poon said the baht might weaken but its resistance level will be 38 to the dollar.
However, he said the baht will not weaken much from its resistance level while its support level would be around 37.50 to 37.60, the level that importers are waiting for to buy the dollar.
Poon advised investors to use hedging tools such as options to manage risks in a highly volatile currency market.
Thailand targets a juicy THB200 bn worth of fruit exports next year
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2022
Thailand expects 200 billion baht worth of fruit exports in 2023 after earning 1.8 billion baht in revenue so far this year from 2.82 million tonnes of fruit exports, the Department of Agriculture said.
Director-general Raphiphat Chantarasriwong said on Wednesday that China is still Thailand’s biggest market, responsible for 84.75 per cent of total fruit exports. Other markets include Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, South Korea and the United States, respectively.
“Next year, we expect China to import up to 2.39 million tonnes of fruit worth 159 billion baht, while overall fruit exports would reach 200 billion baht,” he said.
Raphiphat said that next year the department plans to apply to export more types of fruits to several countries after negotiating with foreign markets.
“We plan to apply for exports of date palm, passion fruit and salak to China; coconut husk to Saudi Arabia; lychee, longan, rambutan, dragon fruit and pomelo to the US; mango, mangosteen and pomelo to Japan, and lychee, longan and pineapple to Australia,” he said.
Raphiphat was visiting the “Asia Fruit Logistica” fair, which runs from November 2 to 4 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok. The annual event has been organised for the past 15 years with participation from Thai and international agricultural authorities, fruit importers/exporters, and companies across the fruit supply chain to carry out fruit-trade negotiations. The event also helps local firms to explore new market opportunities in the Asian region.
At the fair Raphiphat met Spanish Ambassador Emilio de Miguel Calabia and American Ambassador Robert F Godec, while visiting the booths of the two countries to discuss fruit import and export opportunities as well as additional agricultural cooperation.
Baht advances but could be affected by results of key US Fed meeting
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 02, 2022
The baht opened at 37.76 to the US dollar on Wednesday, strengthening from Tuesday’s close of 37.74.
The currency will likely move between 37.65 and 37.95 against the greenback during the day, Krungthai market strategist Poon Panichpibool predicted.
He said the baht strengthened more than he expected due to a series of factors – the weakening of the dollar, hopes that the Chinese government would ease its Covid restrictions, the increasing gold price, and over 6.1 billion baht in foreign transactions involving Thai stocks.
However, these supporting factors might decrease or disappear if investors remain unsure whether the US Federal Reserve would slow its interest rate increases.
Poon warned investors to beware of market and stock volatility during the Fed chairman’s press conference.
He expected the market not to get too shaken up with the results of the Fed’s key meeting and has acknowledged that the Fed might increase the interest rate by 0.75%.
If the Fed chairman does not clearly signal a move to slow its interest rate increases in the future or does not show concern for the US economy, the baht might weaken as the dollar would strengthen.
Poon said the baht’s new support level is between 37.60 and 37.70 to the dollar, while the resistance level is between 38.20 and 38.30 if the Thai currency exceeds the 38 level.
It might weaken to 38 if the market fluctuates during the Fed press conference, Poon added.
He advised investors to use hedging tools such as options to manage risks in a highly volatile currency market.
Thai private sector ‘ready to host’ world business leaders at APEC CEO Summit
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 01, 2022
Nongluck Ajanapanya
Thailand’s private sector said on Tuesday it will be ready to host the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit on November 16-18, revealing programme highlights and keynote speakers.
Poj Aramwattananont, chair of the business leaders’ summit, held a press conference on Tuesday to announce that 90% of preparations were complete, including the venue, hospitality, security, reception party, and the summit’s programme – which covers the economy, trade, investment and society.
He said the remaining 10% concerned the schedule for world leaders attending the summit as keynote speakers, including China’s President Xi Jinping.
“We invited economic leaders from 13 economies to attend the APEC CEO Summit 2022, and the PM [Prayut Chan-o-cha] intends to deliver a speech.”
Poj said three leaders had confirmed their attendance at the CEO Summit: Peru’s Pedro Castillo, Chile’s Gabriel Boric, and Vietnam’s Nguyên Xuân Phuc.
He pointed out that current economic challenges on all fronts – food shortages, power crises, inflation, and pandemic recovery – had put the private sector on high alert.
The APEC CEO Summit will offer a platform for exchanges on key global directions, as well as an opportunity for Thailand to revive its economy after reopening post-pandemic, Poj said.
The main agendas for world business leaders at the summit will be lowering barriers to free trade, measures to combat inflation, and the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economy model for sustainable development.
Business leaders will exchange ideas at a forum themed “Embrace, Engage, Enable” on November 17 and 18, said Kasemsit Pathomsak, executive director of the CEO Summit.
Leaders of economies would be joined by top CEOs and thought leaders from around the world, such as Prof Klaaus Schwab, founder and managing director of the World Economic Forum; Hooi Ling Tan, founder of Grab; Bob Moritz, PWC global chairman; and executives from Johnson & Johnson, Meta, Google, Exxon, and others.
Also present will be leading Thai CEOs such as Nualphan Lamsam, managing director and president of Muang Thai Life Assurance; and Suphachai Chearavanont, managing director of True Corporation.
Sanan Angubolkul, chairman of the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking and chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce said that the summit is seen as a great “opportunity” for the country to showcase its trade, investment, and competitive potential in multiple dimensions including food, tourism, healthcare, and automotive manufacturing.
The APEC CEO Summit 2022 will be held at the Athenee hotel in Bangkok on November 16-18. Some 500-600 business leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region will be joined by over 200 high-level Thai CEOs at summit events.
Illustrating the world-renowned brand’s commitment to innovative, groundbreaking luxury travel experiences, Evrima signifies the evolution of the hospitality icon while paving the way for a new era of yacht-style cruising.
BETHESDA, MD –- The Ritz-Carlton today announced the debut of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, marking a significant moment for the iconic hospitality brand as it makes its foray into the luxury yachting space. Envisioned to perfectly blend the lifestyle of The Ritz-Carlton resorts with the casual freedom of a yachting vacation, Evrima, the first of three custom-built yachts from The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, delivers highly tailored getaways for travelers seeking to wholly immerse themselves in the culture of each destination.
“We are thrilled to introduce The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and usher in an exciting new chapter for this beloved brand,” said Chris Gabaldon, Senior Vice President for Luxury Brands, Marriott International. “The Ritz-Carlton has long been rooted in innovation and service excellence, guided by a commitment to be at the forefront of delivering transformative travel experiences. As we continue to evolve our legendary brand, we could not be more excited to give our guests the opportunity to experience The Ritz-Carlton in a new way.”
Unveiling unique itineraries and immersive experiences, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection carves out an exclusive space within the industry while exemplifying the brand’s forward-thinking approach to luxury hospitality. Stopping at both intimate and signature ports of call, most voyages range from seven to ten nights, with no two journeys alike so that guests can combine itineraries without repeating a destination. Depending on the season, Evrima visits the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. Destinations along the way range from Spain’s Balearic Islands and coveted havens along the French Riviera, to the aquamarine shores of Aruba and the tropical coastlines of Costa Rica. The intimate size of Evrima also allows unique access into some of the most sought-after ports of call, delivering yacht-style cruising in destinations such as Mykonos, Saint-Tropez, and St. Barts.
“The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is revolutionizing the luxury cruising industry, creating an entirely unique category designed for those in search of unmatched getaways, highly curated itineraries, insider access and a level of personalization previously unseen in the space.” commented Douglas Prothero, Chief Executive Officer for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, “Every element of the luxury yachting experience was considered when designing and creating Evrima, and we are excited to deliver unforgettable journeys for both longtime cruisers and those who are new to the industry.”
The specially designed yacht measures 190-meters and can accommodate up to 298 passengers. The onboard experience reflects the sublime comfort and legendary service for which The Ritz-Carlton brand is renowned, with one of the highest staff and space ratios at sea. The design of the yacht’s 149 suites is one of the many tone-setting elements. In addition to offering a high percentage of large suites, Evrima also features several innovative two-story loft suites, a unique duplex accommodation. All rooms feature a private terrace and floor to ceiling windows, resulting in some of the most airy and expansive guestrooms at sea. Through a blind wall, select suites also have the option to be combined into larger, open-concept spaces allowing for more flexibility when selecting accommodations. All suites feature the luxurious amenities that visitors expect from Ritz-Carlton properties around the world, including a king bed, double vanity bathroom, luxury linens, and more.
Travelers enjoy a relaxed sense of freedom aboard Evrima, with access to a range of elevated programming and amenities including a thoughtfully curated menu of ESPA and 111SKIN spa treatments, a sauna and steam room, watersports from the yacht’s marina while at anchor, an infinity pool, a fitness studio and more. Guests can also select from a breadth of dining options including locally-inspired creations in The Evrima Room, creative interpretations of Southeast Asian Cuisine and a sit down sushi bar at Talaat Nam, a specialty dining experience in S.E.A., designed by chef Sven Elverfeld of Aqua, the three Michelin-starred restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg, and more. Enriching entertainment on board includes intimate performances by in-house jazz and classical musicians, discussions led by renowned experts, and partnerships with local arts and music communities. Families exploring the world together can enjoy a dedicated space on board for Ritz Kids. The Ritz Kids programming, tailored for young guests between the ages of four and twelve, has been crafted to appeal to children’s curiosity and innate love for discovery, with an emphasis on marine conservation.
In each destination, guests can choose from a selection of unique experiences within The Shore Collection that align with their interests or utilize the services of the Concierge Ashore to customize their own private tours. Experiences onshore range from a guided tour in a world-class museum with its curator, visiting a UNESCO World Heritage site, to yoga on a private beach, zip-lining through a rain forest, truffle hunting, and more. By working with local guides who were selected for their insider knowledge and subject matter expertise, guests enjoy a singular journey. On select itineraries, guests can deepen their experience mid-voyage through an overnight tour, promising an unforgettable and uniquely immersive cultural experience before rejoining the yacht at their next destination.
The yachts of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection are also available for private charter. For more information, please visit www.ritzcarltonyachtcollection.com. For reservations, contact a Reservations Services Agent at (833) 999-7292 (U.S. & Canada) or contact your travel professional. Voyage prices vary based upon the itinerary and season. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is also a part of Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s travel program.
‘SINGHA LEMON SODA’ and ‘SMILEY WORLD’ deliver happiness and freshness on limited-edition cans
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 01, 2022
“SINGHA LEMON SODA” joins with SMILEY WORLD, the world-famous lifestyle brand to deliver 8 famous smile icon designs on limited-edition cans in the concept of “Keep Smiling, Smile for a Different Freshness” to spread happiness with smiling faces, fill the freshness in every day with a satisfying sourness to the end of this year via every 7-Eleven channel, and let the fans collect items to the most exclusive.
Mr. Titiporn Thammapimookkul, Chief Marketing Officer of the Boonrawd Trading Co., Ltd. revealed the success of the product “SINGHA LEMON SODA” by doing marketing for only 2-3 years. It creates growth that can dominate the cores of the target consumers remarkably well with its unique taste, which is to glorify the fizziness and perfect combination of real lemon sourness, with no sugar and 0% calories to fulfill the freshness, and it comes with being a healthy alternative drink for consumers.
Therefore, from the first product, SINGHA LEMON SODA comes with a commitment to fulfill the needs of target customers to serve a variety of new flavored beverages. In accomplishing this, The company has strengthened by releasing a new flavor ‘SINGHA YUZU LEMON SODA’, which brings a yuzu citrus scent which is a popular trend around the world and in Thailand to satisfy consumers. And recently, we also launched ‘SINGHA RED LEMON SODA’, to serve the most popular drink menus in Thailand with no sugar and calorie-free to fulfill the needs of customers.
This time, SINGHA LEMON SODA, has joined forces with the world-famous smiley icon “SMILEY WORLD” to bring a total of 8 cute designs with limited-edition designs on a can of SINGHA LEMON SODA, which is the first time to create a new taste of happiness with a smiling face, fulfilling the freshness that combines sour and satisfying every day with the style and uniqueness of the consumer. This product will be sold via exclusive convenience stores, only at 7-Eleven stores. Also, The fans can prepare and be ready to collect the exclusive items.
The highlight of SMILEY WORLD before it is the smiley face icon that resonates with the world today. Beginning in 1971, French journalist “Franklin Loufrani” painted a yellow smiling face with the slogan “Take Time To Smile”. It became an emoticon for the newspaper France-Soir, which symbolizes the appearance of good news. Later, SMILEY WORLD entered the digital world, continued to warmly welcome people with many new face designs, and became the emoticon that brings happiness and brightness that won the hearts of people around the world.
The campaign “SINGHA LEMON SODA X SMILEY”, will begin to bring happiness to consumers from today onwards. You can join the fun and get special awards from Smiley world, with T-shirts, hoodies, and bags. You can follow the details of the event at https://www.facebook.com/SinghaLemonSoda