President Bundit Sapianchai said directors on September 17 approved BCPG Biopower 2 Ltd (BBP2), a BCPG subsidiary, investing in the project by acquiring all of the equities of Nam San 3A Power Limited, a listed company in Laos.

BCPG will have a 27-year feed-in tariff contract with Electricite du Laos dating to the start of commercial operations on January 29, 2016.

BCPG will invest US$173 million raised from cash flow and from loans from leading financial institutions, and profits are expected to be recognised immediately.

“The investment in hydropower project in Laos is in line with BCPG’s business growth strategy to expand into various types of renewable energy businesses in Asia,” Bundit said. “This will also enhance stability of the company’s revenue throughout the year, as well as a steady dividend payment to shareholders.

“It also helps balance the diversity of our renewable energy technologies apart from our solar business in Thailand and Japan, wind power business in Thailand and The Philippines, and geothermal power business in Indonesia.”

The Blue CONNECT application provides greater convenience for consumers in making payment via e-wallet, while also saving merchants time and easing their cash management burden, all in support of a cashless society in the digital era and in line with the government’s Thailand 4.0 policy.

OR president Jiraphon Kawswat said the companies joined to develop Blue CONNECT to allow consumers to go cashless.

The application can be used at a PTT Station and retail stores including Café Amazon, Texas Chicken, Hua Seng Hong Dimsum, Daddy Dough, Jiffy, FIT Auto and Pearly Tea.

As well as making secure and swift payments, customers can check their transaction history, link their accumulated PTT Blue Card points to the application, and enjoy a steady stream of promotions and privileges.

Blue CONNECT can be downloaded via the Play Store or the App Store nationwide.

Kattiya Indaravijaya, the KBank president, said they had supported OR with many projects that aim to reduce the use of cash and to create the best service experience for customers using the oil and retail company’s ecosystem, including PTT stations and stores under OR.

Blue CONNECT is equipped with enhanced security, and users can instantly conduct a variety of transactions through it, including bill payment, top-up and funds transfer, and reward point collection and redemption, according to a Friday release.

Krungsri also aims to become a trusted banking partner, as it builds non- interest income and fee income through solutions that help enhance business efficiency.

Pornsanong Tuchinda, Krungsri’s chief of commercial banking, said in the first half of 2019, Krungsri’s commercial banking group achieved growth target, while non-interest income rose beyond target.

Despite uncertainty in global trade and economics, Krungsri customers have been highly adaptive to changes in business environment, he said, adding that the commercial banking group emphasises on adjusting balanced portfolio to enhance quality management and strengthen overall operations. With ongoing volatility of economic conditions, Krungsri is strongly committed to supporting business customers consistently and sustainably, he said. It also continues to focus on the remarkable strength of synergies between Krungsri’s local expertise and MUFG’s global network, enabling us to provide differentiated financial services and introduce new risk management products that help mitigate currency and interest-rate risk, he added.

The bank also provides advice, knowledge sharing and networking activities through Krungsri Business Empowerment, designed to help our corporate and SME customers extend business potential and create strength in the long run. “We have also developed several digital platforms to offer more convenient and cheaper services to help our customers enter the digital economy era,” he said.

Metinee Jongsaliswang, Krungsri’s head of corporate banking group, said: “Krungsri gives priority to customer-centricity strategy and upgrades our services to become a thought partner, as well as provides comprehensive financial solutions via digital platforms to serve every aspect of customers’ needs. The strategies helped the performance of Krungsri’s corporate banking to exceed target in the first half, with total revenue increasing 6 per cent from the same period a year earlier, supported by an increase in fee income, such as derivative fees, investment banking fees, and those from domestic trade transaction.

“The growth helped boost the proportion of non-interest income to 25 per cent of total revenue from 18 per cent a year earlier. Through the collaboration with MUFG, Krungsri has enhanced capabilities to facilitate offshore business expansion, business matching and joint venture for corporate customers, which resulted in the strong growth of Krungsri’s corporate banking.”

Sayam Prasitsirigul, Krungsri head of SME banking group, said: “Krungsri’s SME banking group posted strong growth that exceeded our target. In the first half of 2019, loans for SMEs grew 8 per cent from the end of 2018, mainly due to outstanding performance of supply chain business, while deposits also posted robust growth of 8 per cent.

“Another strong area was fee income from trade finance, which rose 8 per cent from the same period a year earlier, as a result of the collaboration with MUFG. Fee income from cash management increased 26 per cent from a year earlier. On the asset quality, Krungsri SME has managed assets efficiently, with non-performing loan for the SME segment at 3.4 per cent in the first half of 2019, less than 3.8 per cent at the end of 2018 and lower than the industry average,” he added.

This first-of-its-kind facility will help the multinational giant to bring functional, safe and environmentally friendly packaging solutions to the market and to address the global challenge of plastic packaging waste.

Mark Schneider, Nestle’s CEO, said: “Our vision is a world in which none of our packaging ends up in a landfill or as litter. To achieve this, we will introduce reusable packaging solutions and pioneer environmentally friendly packaging materials. Furthermore, we support the development of local recycling infrastructure and deposit schemes to help shape a waste-free world. The Nestle Institute of Packaging Sciences enables us to create a strong line of sustainable packaging solutions for Nestle products.”

The Institute of Packaging Sciences focuses on a number of science and technology areas, such as refillable or reusable packaging, simplified packaging materials, recycled packaging materials, high-performance barrier papers as well as bio-based, compostable and biodegradable materials.

Stefan Palzer, Nestle CTO said: “Reducing plastic waste and mitigating climate change effects through cutting-edge technology and product design are a priority for us. Nestle experts are co-developing and testing new environmentally friendly packaging materials and systems together with our development centres, suppliers, research institutions and start-ups. Located at our Nestle Research facilities in Lausanne, the institute also leverages our existing research capabilities in food safety, analytics and food science.”

Sander Defruyt from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation said: “Nestle was one of the first companies to sign the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, setting concrete targets to eliminate plastic waste and pollution at the source. It is great to see the world’s largest consumer goods company now increasing its research focus and capacity to deliver on these ambitions.”

Nestle is already making progress towards its 2025 packaging commitments and has launched novel packaging solutions. For example, Nestle packaging experts and suppliers developed products in recyclable paper packaging such as the Nesquik All Natural cocoa powder and the YES! snack bars in under 12 months.

The company has already brought Channel 3 soap opera content to some countries in Asean as well as to South Korea. It is expected to soon close a deal with a Japanese partner to promote the soap opera on digital TV channels in Japan.

Because Thai content is seeing increased popularity, Jakkaphong said this is the time for the company to boost its overseas revenue. Its entry to the Korean market will pave way for the company to jump into other regional markets.

JKN has also continued to bring more foreign content to Thailand’s digital TV channels, as well as joining with local and foreign partners to produce a variety of content including documentaries and for TV.

Next year it will focus on broadcasting its content on an online platform.

The company is expected to generate revenue of Bt1.6 billion this year, up 15 per cent year on year. The company achieved revenue of Bt870 million in the first half of this year with a net profit of Bt150 million.

The company set out to build a strong and efficient e-commerce infrastructure through its online shopping platform for the trust of consumers.

Rvisra Chirathivat, Chief Marketing Officer said “JD Central has realised its plan and expectations after the official launch on September 28, 2018. Today, we have achieved more than four million downloads with a 35-fold increase in orders, 2,000 registered official stores, and a 100 million platform visitors within just a year. These impressive records reflected the success of  our customer-centric strategy, offering quality products with 100 per cent authenticity and fast delivery. JD Central also solves online customer pain points by delivering products within 24 hours nationwide. It is even faster in Bangkok where customers may receive online orders  in a couple of hours.  We also use data analysis technologies to create marketing strategies for direct communication to consumers.

“In addition, JD Central gives priority to the rights of online consumers. Recently, we signed an MoU with the Foundation For Consumers (FFC) and other related government parties to underscore our responsibilities to our clients. We would like to express our gratitude to customers, brands and partners for their support and collaboration throughout the first year of our operations. We believe it will continue well into the future,” Rvisra said.

In the first year,  JD Central focused on building a strong e-commerce infrastructure through collaboration with government agencies, aiming to boost Thai SMEs’ competency in cross border trade, e-logistics integration and development, backed by JD.com technologies including online consumers’ right protections.

Meanwhile, Rvisra said, the company had teamed up with various brand partners for  “O2O strategy”,  which has been implemented within the Central Group as well as other services, such as banks, restaurants, telecommunications and applications. It not only provides customers with more channels for shopping and product selection, but also expands our service to meet their demands for easy access to products and services.

One of key factors of our success is the “JD Thailand Official Flagship Store”, formed  under a partnership between JD Central and JD.com in China, which has widened the opportunities  for cross-border selling by Thai entrepreneurs, Rvisra added.

The school will have capacity for 1,800 students from pre-nursery to Grade 12.

“It is my long-term goal to create something that will benefit future generations, not only to add value to our business,” said Keeree Kanjanapas, chairman of BTS Group Holdings and U City.

“I have always aimed to invest in human resources, and eventually found the right partner, Fortune Hand Ventures, to build an international school that truly provides an innovative and highly progressive educational experience in Bangkok.

“At the same time, we are transforming one of the company’s assets next to our Thana City estate on Bangna-Trat Road into a value-accretive property for the future. Located on 168 rai, this is set to become the largest international school in the Bangkok metropolitan area. It will be approximately 60 per cent green space to provide students with comfort, emotional safety, and intellectual and artistic inspiration.”

Keeree Kanjanapas, chairman of the board of directors of BTS Group Holdings Plc and U City Plc

Fortune Hand Ventures’ participation represents the largest single foreign investment in international schooling in Thailand.

With experience in education dating back over half a century, Fortune Hand Ventures will directly operate the school under the stewardship of founding headmaster Cameron Fox.

The starting point for the project, said Fox, was a simple question: How can we design a new international school that will truly prepare its students for a world that is changing faster than at any other time in human history?

He invited the global design and innovation firm Ideo to help imagine what such a school of the future could and should be.

“Working closely with Ideo’s San Francisco studio, a highly talented team used a human-centred design approach to create Verso’s dynamic and compelling vision for the future,” Fox said. “The opportunity to design and build a school of this magnitude from scratch represents a unique opportunity for the Verso team to positively impact the future of school designs on a global scale.

“We have re-engineered a comprehensive set of American educational standards to form the foundation for Verso’s own ‘Future-Ready’ curriculum. Learning will be interdisciplinary, project-based, and skills-focused.”

Cameron Fox

Verso comes at an opportune moment in the wake of structural shifts in the global economy towards Asia and Thailand’s ongoing efforts to digitise its economy. Leading organisations and companies are seeking a new generation of leaders and innovators who have the skills and mindset needed to respond quickly to change while positively impacting the world around them.

Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor, which is projected to attract up to 100,000 people to the region annually, is increasing the need for international schools in the eastern part of Bangkok. This reality has influenced U City’s decision to transform its property into an innovative international school that will cater to this anticipated economic growth.

According to the International Schools Association in Thailand, the Kingdom is Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing international school market, with double-digit growth for the past eight years.

Piyaporn Phanachet, chief executive of U City, said the school will be just four kilometres from Suvarnabhumi Airport and close to future Light Rail Transit on the Bangna-Suvarnabhumi line.

Thana City and the surrounding area are poised to become a top-class community ecosystem with an extensive range of amenities within easy reach. This will include condominiums and homes and shopping and lifestyle destinations such as Mega Bangna, Central Village, Thana City’s world-class golf course, restaurants and the newly opened Eastin Thana City Golf Resort.

Piyaporn Phanachet, Chief Executive Officer of U City Plc

James Rama Phataminviphas serves as chief executive officer and Kanokwan Jitchobtham as managing director of Banpu Infinergy Co Ltd, along with Chanit Suwanparin as managing director of Banpu Electric Vehicle Business.

The firm said it was gearing up the business group “towards innovation and technological development with a ‘Greener & Smarter’” and an international business model that “builds on smart city solutions”.

“To achieve sustainable growth, Banpu consistently ensures that we stay abreast of abrupt changes in technology and consumer demands in the digital era,” said CEO Somruedee Chaimongkol. “While the energy trend is today shifting towards decarbonised, decentralised and digitalised power generation, Banpu has introduced the ‘Greener & Smarter’ strategy across our three core business groups – Energy Resources, Energy Generation and Energy Technology – to bring about synergised effects of this implementation.

“We are continuingly engaged in energy technology research and development alongside constant development of our people, business operations and management. Most recently, we have strengthened our high-level management team with appointment of business executives who are well-versed in technology and have insightful understanding of consumer behaviour and needs.”

James is responsible for business planning and strategies as well as overall management of the Energy Technology Business Group. Under his guidance, the group will ensure its alignment with the Greener & Smarter strategy and become more competitive with expanded capability to offer a more comprehensive array of products, services and solutions.

James has more than 24 years of multi-industry experience that spanned banking, finance and telecommunication. He is an executive keen on technology-driven business transformation to achieve greater efficiency and competitiveness.

In the banking sector, he was most recently country head of Channels and Digitalisation at United Overseas Bank (Thai), with more than 1,500 people under his leadership. He also has extensive work experience in overseas telecommunication markets including the US and China.

Kanokwan continues as managing director of Banpu Infinergy, a one-stop provider of total solar energy and smart city services. Her key responsibilities include company management, business development and pursuit of new opportunities to strengthen the group’s business portfolio.

Kanokwan spent more than nine years working in Banpu’s legal department, where she was engaged in contract management and project M&A in many countries where Banpu invested. She was also part of the management team steering its major restructuring and she was one of the founding members of Banpu Infinergy, giving her a deep understanding of the various business units.

She stays alert for growth opportunities and partnerships that will further strengthen the business ecosystem, such as investment in Sunseap Group, Durapower Technology (Singapore) and Fomm Corp.

Chanit will lead the EV business unit with a “mobility as a service” concept, which is focused on offering end-to-end electric vehicle and mobility services by combining hardware and software technologies to address current urban needs.

He will also explore opportunities to extend the group’s capability and competitiveness in terms of technology and integrated solutions as well as delivery of all-encompassing services to customers.

Chanit has more than 30 years of management experience in key roles at many leading companies. He is recognised for his ingenuity and product development acumen, which often use innovation to add values to products and increase overall competitiveness.

Prior to joining Banpu, he was managing director at TAC Consumer, where he was part of the executive team that successfully listed it on the Market for Alternative Investment. Career highlights include key positions at Green Spot (Vitamilk), Cerebos (Thailand) and Unilever Holdings (Thailand), as well as at the Marketing Association of Thailand.

“We are confident that the strengthened team will contribute significantly to extend BANPU as a leading supplier of integrated energy solutions with service that are always abreast of consumer behaviour and global energy trends,” said Somruedee.

Last year, the company achieved Bt4.043 billion in revenue.

Revenue growth this year will come mainly from the growth of out-of-home media business and new revenue sources, according to Wacharapong Leethochawalit, the head of the company’s Investor Relations Department.

The company expects revenue growth of 20 per cent each year during the next three to five years, driven by organic growth, joint investment, and acquisitions.

Currently, the company is in talks with partners to expand its advertising media into retail stores, especially convenience stores due to the higher traffic of shoppers in those outlets.

Plan B reported to the Stock Exchange of Thailand on September 18 that its 80 per cent -owned subsidiary Plan B CS Company Limited had entered into an agreement with CP All Plc to invest and manage the advertising activities of 7-Eleven convenience stores. CP All is the owner and operator of 7-Eleven.

Under the agreement, Plan B Cs will install, arrange and manage digital advertising media for 7-Eleven, targeting coverage of 5,000 branches within 10 years.

The diaper uses super absorbent polymer from Belgium. The company is targeting sales of Bt200 million within three years.

Jirawat Teepsrepreuk, managing director of SP Wellness and Innovation Co Ltd, which imports the adult diaper, said that Thailand is becoming an ageing society. Advanced medical technology, regular exercise lifestyle and Thai people’s changing values on better diet have increased longevity while the annual birth rate is not increasing. The proportion of the elderly in the overall population is therefore increasing.

Jirawat said the launch of the innovative adult diaper for the elderly follows a lot of research and development to satisfy the Thai market with recognised technology and production standard from Belgium.

“Our collaboration with Premier Marketing Public Company Limited will help enhance the market opportunities for supporting the elderly market in Thailand. At the same time, this launch also provides knowledge to family members to learn how to take care of the elderly, understand how to select products due to the diversity covering all needs of users,” Jirawat said.

“The target group for our products is mainly a group of patients and the elderly whose physical conditions are classified as category ADL 0, meaning people with urinary incontinence; and category ADL 5, meaning bedridden patients,” Jirawat added.

“The company has the innovation to take care of these patients at reachable and reasonable price and the sales target is expected to reach Bt200 million within three years,” Jirawat said.

Prior to kicking off this project, the company looked at statistical data on the market value of the past three years; it was found that the total market value was over Bt2 billion.

The partnership with Premier Marketing Public Company Limited will support the distribution network.

“Our business cooperation is divided into 4 main areas, including logistics. Premier Marketing has a distribution network that is nationwide. The marketing of Dr Klean will be conducted offline and online as well as through leading department stores that have a good relationship with Premier for a long time, such as Siam Paragon, Emquartier, Embassy, The Mall, Villa, Tops and Maxvalue, etc,” Jirawat said.

Pitoon Pungvirawat, assistant managing director for sales at Premier Marketing, said the diaper market in Thailand tends to grow continuously, partly due to the ageing society. “The innovative adult diaper, Dr Klean, besides being an outstanding product, can avail of the company’s distribution channels with long experience in the market.”

“Premier Marketing Group is one of the leading distribution companies with over 40 years of experience and has distributed a wide range of consumer products. This strategic combination will make the product quickly acceptable to Thai consumers” Pitoon said.