The new hospital joins two Japanese hospitals, Takatsuki General and Sano, to offer patients high-quality healthcare services.

The Japanese Hospital by Samitivej falls under the management of Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS).

The hospital offers Japanese doctors and nurses and modern medical equipment.

Dr Chairat Panthuraamphorn, CEO of Samitivej and BNH Hospitals, said: “For many years, more Japanese expats have come to work in Southeast Asia, while Japanese investors have come to invest and establish companies in the EEC [Eastern Economic Corridor].”

Chairat said Samitivej Sukhumvit and Smitivej Sriraha Hospital have provided healthcare for the Japanese in the region for 40 years. Last year, there were about 400 Japanese patients per day and approximately 200 Japanese babies are born at Samitivej each year, Chairat added.

The company posted a strong performance for the first quarter of 2019, with the annualised new premium (ANP) growing at 6 per cent.

“In the first quarter of 2019, the insurance market has slowed due to a numbers of factors including an economic slowdown resulting in a decline in the purchasing power of consumers,” said Bryan Smith, the president and CEO of Allianz Ayudhya Assurance Public Co Ltd.

“However, Allianz Ayudhya has managed to post a strong performance generating total premiums of Bt7.9 billion.”

The agency channel remained the key premium contributor, generating total premiums of Bt3.1 billion, he detailed. The bancassurance channel produced Bt2.4 billion and the direct sales channel maintained its market leadership position for the 10th consecutive year with total premiums of Bt1.2 billion.

Annualized new premiums (ANP) grew 6 per cent to Bt1,350 million with Bt463 million from agency, Bt250 million from bancassurance and with direct sales generating Bt510 million.

“Life insurance, especially Health insurance is performing well for the company with significant growth potential due to the low penetration of health insurance today,” said Smith, “and as Thai people better understand the importance of protecting themselves and their families with health insurance.

“We feel that in 2019, despite an increasingly challenging economic environment, Allianz Ayudhya will continue to grow its business, especially in the health segment, with our stated aim of becoming the leader in protection in Thailand,” Smith concluded.

In a press release, the he company also reported the progress of its sustainability goals and recent sustainability initiatives.

Sooksunt Jiumjaiswanglerg, Chief Executive Officer – Agro Industrial Business and Co-President of CP Foods, said the company has a strong commitment to promote an eco-friendly supply chain, reducing carbon footprint and promote sustainable energy in an effort to tackle global warming.

To put the commitment into action, the company recently announced “CP Foods Coal Free by the year 2022”. This project draws to call off coal use in the company’s business units in Thailand. It will significantly reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions by more than 70,000 tons CO2e per year. The same policy will be applied to its operations worldwide later on.

CP Foods will replace fuel source for steam boiler system from coal to biomass in 4 strategic plants, including CP Feed Mill Bangna KM.21, Nong Kae’s Aquaculture Feed Mill, Mahachai’s Aquaculture Feed Mill and Samutprakan’s Manufacture of Chicken feather meal and Dry Duck feather Processing Plant.

The transition towards more sustainable energy at four plants is a result of a successful implementation in Ratchburi Feed Mill Production plant. The pilot plant is able to save Bt7 million per year in costs and reduce GHG emissions over 10,425 tons CO2e after completely shifted to renewable source like Palm kernel shells and scrap wood chips.

CP Foods has taken many green initiatives for a better efficiency of its environmental management to help the company achieves its sustainability development goals 2025.

Within 2025, CP Foods pledges to reduce GHG emission by 25 per cent, overall energy consumption by 15 per cent, water consumptions by 30 per cent and waste disposal to landfill by 35 per cent against a 2015 baseline.

Last year, the company kicked off “CP Foods’ Solar Rooftop” project to generate more than 40 Megawatts of electricity from solar power by installing rooftop solar panels on the roof of 34 plants nationwide, cutting GHG emissions by 28,000 tons CO2e per year.

It also announced successful results in increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources to 25 per cent of Thailand’s Final Energy Consumption. As a result from using biogas to generate electricity, the company was able to reduce 322,000 tons CO2e.

For green innovations, CP Foods has developed a sustainable feed for pig, helping the company to reduce 41,000 tons CO2e per year. The eco-friendly feed is currently used by the company’s operations in seven countries, including Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, China, Taiwan and Russia.

CP Foods determined to develop sustainable packaging design based on Circular Economy concept. The company made a commitment that 100 per cent of its packaging to be reusable or recyclable or upcyclable or compostable by 2025 for Thailand operations and by 2030 for overseas operations.

It is attempted to source packaging that has recycled material containing in non-contact food packaging (Secondary Packaging) or, i.e., corrugated boxes. Those packaging have contained recycled material ranging from 70-100 per cent.

The company developed bioplastic trays made from natural renewable resources, namely Polylactic Acid (PLA), which is biodegradable. It was the first company in Thailand to use such trays in chilled raw meat products.

In 2018, CP Foods could reduce more than 3.9 million PET trays or over 60 tons of plastic, which is equivalent to GHG emissions reduction of 132 tons CO2e per year.

The companies said in a press release that they will collaborate across multiple areas, including:

· Everyday consumer payments: LINE’s 187 million global monthly active users will be able to apply for a digital Visa card from within the LINE app, and over time, add any of their existing Visa cards to make seamless payments from their mobile phone. The companies will also offer consumers additional and enhanced experiences like integrated loyalty programs and tailored offers and new payment capabilities for users when they travel overseas.

Solutions for merchants: Through Visa, LINE Pay consumers will be able to use LINE Pay branded capabilities at Visa’s 54 million merchant locations worldwide, enabling them to take advantage of LINE Pay offers and services. They will also be able to see these transactions in their LINE Pay digital wallet, even where LINE Pay is not directly accepted.

In addition, Visa and LINE Pay will collaborate on ways for merchants to interact with the LINE Pay service as well as LINE Pay digital wallet, supporting the continued growth of globally interoperable payments.

Fintech services: LINE Pay and Visa will develop new experiences based on blockchain that enable B2B and cross-border payments and alternative currency transactions.

Marketing: Ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Visa and LINE Pay will partner on exclusive marketing campaigns and promotions to contribute to Japan’s acceleration towards a cashless society in the lead-up to and after the Olympic Games.

This new partnership extends the existing relationship between Visa and LINE Pay, which includes co-branded LINE Pay Visa cards in Taiwan and to be launched later this year in Japan.

“The Visa co-brand program that currently serves 2.3 million customers in Taiwan is one of Visa’s fastest-growing programs globally,” said Chris Clark, Regional President, Asia Pacific, Visa.

“There are three mortgage projects which will be introduced to support members of the grassroots economy. These are people who cannot take out traditional mortgages due to their lack of financial credentials such as a stable income,” said the bank’s president and chief executive officer, Chatchai Payuhanaveechai, at a press conference in London on Sunday.

He said the projects will be discussed at the bank’s board meeting on June 18 and expects the new plans to be rolled out for the public shortly after.

In 2018, GSB made a profit of Bt30.8 billion. Chatchai said he aims to maintain the bank’s profits at a minimum of Bt30 billion this year through these new measures.

The first measure will be called “Save before Loan”, which will allow low-income earners to take out home loans if they have saved consistently with the state-owned bank for at least one year. “This way, the customers can demonstrate their ability to pay their mortgage interest by adding money to their savings consistently with the bank for at least one year,” Chatchai said.

For example, if the mortgage requires the customers to pay Bt7,000 a month, customers will first be required to save at least Bt7,000 every month with the bank for one year to demonstrate their ability to pay off the mortgage. If they do so, they will be able to take out a mortgage with the bank.

The second method involves the bank working with property developers. Under this strategy, Chatchai said, property developers can act as the middleman and take out loans for their customers. The customers then pay for the mortgage interest to their developers as rent for two years.

If the customers are able to pay for their rent consistently for two years, the ownership of the home will then be transferred to them and they will be able to start paying off their mortgage directly to the bank.

“The final method involves calculating the future level of income of customers based on their current occupation,” Chatchai said. “This will give customers more financial credentials and allow them to take out mortgages that they may have been previously denied.”

For the first quarter of this year, the bank reported a profit of Bt6.08 billion, with interest revenue of Bt13.9 billion. Its non-performing loans stood at 2.83 per cent, a slight increase from the fourth quarter of 2018, which was 2.81 per cent.

As of March 3, 2018, the bank’s total assets were Bt2.7 trillion, with total deposits of Bt2.3 trillion and total outstanding loans of Bt2.16 trillion.

The bank has 5.5 million users of mobile banking services, with electronic transactions making up 82 per cent of total transactions.

It spoke in detail about the challenge of plastic pollution in Asean at an event organised by the British Chamber of Commerce in Thailand on June 5.

Ipsos Business Consulting told the assembled audience that 49 per cent of respondents in an online survey of 3,928 consumers (across three countries) felt that dealing with waste is now the top priority for their country, with 55 per cent of respondents considering the excessive use of plastics to be a serious problem.

When asked who if anybody did they believe should take most responsibility for finding a way to reduce the amount of unnecessary packaging which is sold, over two thirds of consumers (67 per cent) agreed that responsibility needs to be shared equally between government, business and consumers.

Talking about the survey findings, together with his own team’s observations of what is happening across the region, Chukiat Wongtaveerat, Country Head for Thailand at Ipsos Business Consulting, noted that the Ipsos survey showed that consumers are in tune with what action is required if society is to have a meaningful impact on solving the plastic pollution crisis.

He said “what we see from this survey is that consumers are expecting more leadership and direction from government and business, whilst not overlooking their own important role in the process.

Whilst there are some good examples of plastic reduction from packaging companies, makers of packaged goods and retailers, consumers seem ready for, and expect, much more ambitious action. I believe that the general sentiment expressed by the Asean consumers is sensible and aligns with our belief that the region needs a 3-point action plan to reduce waste and plastic pollution, namely:

1 Government must bring forward policies and regulations which promote effective and efficient sustainable packaging practices across the entire value chain.

2 Brand owners must incorporate sustainability within the complete packaging lifecycle and put in place waste management processes that maximize recycling.

3 Consumers must practice responsible purchasing and consumption patterns, taking care to recycle at every opportunity and to minimize their use of single-use packaging.

“History shows that collective goals can be met when widespread awareness meets a will to take action. Issues surrounding plastic manufacture, use, and disposal offer excellent opportunities for leadership at every level of society. Asean stakeholders can deal with plastic waste issues by coordinating up and down the value chain, starting with optimizing their own practices for maximum sustainability” said Wongtaveerat.

Also speaking at the British Chamber of Commerce in Thailand event, Gordon Milne, Senior Client Director, Asia Pacific at Ipsos, talked about how his discussions at businesses operating around the Asia Pacific region.

In some cases, a gap between their corporate leadership’s stated aspirations on sustainable business and reduction of waste, and the initiatives being pursued at a strategic business unit level.

“Manufacturers must increasingly demonstrate to consumers tangible packaging outcomes which are understandable as a direct consequence of their CSR aspirations.

Undoubtedly there are some very good campaigns and initiatives being implemented around the region, which are having a positive impact on the reducing the consumption of plastic. Brand owners should be applauded for this” said Milne.

“But my sense is that much more can be done to seize the opportunity to position their brands in a very positive light with consumers, making the use of eco-friendly materials and sustainable packaging a feature that is strongly associated with the brand.

Packaging is a distinctive brand asset and requires careful management. My belief is that sustainable pack is a commercial imperative that shapes consumer sentiment and drives profitability. Brand owners need to act quickly if they are going to be able to turn this business imperative into an opportunity to enhance their brand image with consumers across Asean.”

Milne went on to acknowledge that there are some hurdles in the way of brand owners, specifically the need for government to set down in clear terms some guidelines on its expectations in relation to packaging, plastic and recycling, as well as the creation of a level playing field for all industry players, including those involved in the recycling business, which should not be under-estimated.

Samui  – “Bangkok Airways Samui Half Marathon” was organized to promote Samui tourism and to ensure that participants recognize the importance of a healthy lifestyle.

The event was divided into 3 categories, fun run of 5 kilometers, mini marathon of 10 kilometers and half marathon of 21 kilometers.

All runners had an opportunity to enjoy beautiful beach scenery of Koh Samui and experience the unique lifestyle of the fisherman’s village on the island with Bangkok Airways’ signature boutique touch that features on running shirts, medals and trophies which were designed by stupidnoobmacc, the renowned Thai illustrator behind “BabyBoy” character using iconic symbols of Koh Samui to integrate into the design.

One of the highlights in this program is “Care the Bear: Change the Climate Change” which is a partnership project between Bangkok Airways and The Stock Exchange of Thailand.

The campaign aims to reduce carbon emission from organizing events which Bangkok Airways put the initiative forward at Samui Half Marathon by involving 100 youth volunteers at the event to assist in waste segregation, reduce the use of plastic and foam and promote the re-use of event decorations.

Bangkok Airways Samui Half-Marathon is the second event out of six planned programs of the Bangkok Airways Boutique Series 2019. The remaining programs are the “Lampang Half Marathon” on July 7, “Phuket Half Marathon” on August 4, “Chiang Rai Marathon” on September 15 and “Lanna Half Marathon” on November 3.

– Bangkok Airways led by Chanthip Thongkanya, Vice President – Office of President (5th from Left) organized the “Bangkok Airways Samui Half Marathon”, the second running program of the Bangkok Airways Boutique Series 2019 at Nathon Pier, Koh Samui, Surat Thani.

caption : Worawit Techasupakura, Vice Minister For Tourism and Sports (4th from Left), Nithee Seeprae, Executive Director Southern Region of Tourism Authority of Thailand (5th from Right), Narop Tuaycharoen, Chairman of the Municipal Council of Koh Samui (3th from Left) and Urassaya Yaya Sperbund, Bangkok Airways’ presenter also joined the event.

According to its press release, it recently held a stage to evaluate Pracharat School development plans under the CONNEXT ED Project.

On this occasion, True Group’s management members, contributing to the project as school counselors, including Noppadol Dej-Udom (8^th from right), Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee, and Siripoj Kunakornphan (8^th from left), Group President (Co), True Corporation Plc. provided advices and approved plans to drive 367 Pracharat Schools in the North.

 This year, digital technology is used in the transparent process of proposing the school management plan, submitting the plans online as well as online scoring system in line with the project’s major strategic transformations.  True Group will arrange venues for Pracharat Schools from four regions of Thailand; namely, central, northeastern, northern and southern regions, to present their school development plan continuously until June 2019.

The development plans are aimed at driving those projects in order to make changes for Thai education by achieving the target of 1,000 Pracharat Schools under care of True Group this year.