The company has set 2019 revenue targets of Bt25 billion and Bt30 billion and aims for construction projects in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Plew Trivisvavet, who chairs the company board, yesterday pointed to its leadership in the market, confidence in strong business backed by a credit rating upgrade to A level by TRIS Rating and the positive trend in the construction industry.

Currently, the company has a total backlog of Bt48.96 billion as it plans to join bidding for public private partnership (PPP) projects worth Bt1.77 trillion as they come available this year. They include the Bt179.412-billion Thai-Chinese high-speed train project phase 1 from Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima, Bt143-billion MRT Cultural Centre-Bang Khun Non orange line, and the Bt30.437-billion express way Rama 3-Dao Khanong, Bt84.6-billion motorway Bang Pa-In–Nakhon Ratchasima, Bt55.62-billion motorway Bang Yai–Kanchanaburi, and Bt397.084-billion SRT Double Track Phase 2 in nine routes, the company’s chief executive officer, Supamas Trivisvavet, said.

The second focus is on EEC investment projects. Most of these projects are to be jointly developed by the government and private sectors, such as the high-speed train project linking Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and U-tapao airports worth Bt224.544 billion, and the U-Tapao airport expansion project worth Bt200 billion. The company has been closely monitoring progress on these projects.

The company will also focus on Asian countries, especially infrastructure projects under the PPP model. CK is particularly interested in low-risk projects with potential to generate significant returns. At present, the company is studying the different investment avenues for US$400 million expressway construction in Yangon, Myanmar, and water supply system development in Sri Lanka. As well, CK Power is in discussions with the Laos government over a hydroelectric power project that is expected to see progress shortly, she said.

“All of them will drive our backlog rising to serve our business growth for the long term,” Plew said.

Meanwhile, for 2018 year-end, CK reported total income of Bt31.17 billion as planned, net profit on equity of Bt2.49 billion and a gross profit margin of 7.92 per cent.

The partnership will ensure a stronger insurance franchise focused on meeting the diverse and growing protection needs of local customers and enhancing the Allianz proposition in the region. The transaction will result in the combining of Allianz General Insurance (AZTH) and Sri Ayudhya General Insurance (SAGI) in order to form a larger life, and property and casualty (P&C) company well-positioned for future growth and innovation. Key insurance-related entities will also fall under the Allianz Ayudhya brand for enhancing local market presence and delivering a consistent experience for customers. Allianz SE has also become the largest shareholder of AYUD.

“Thailand has consistently been a long-term growth market for both life, and property and casualty. The key for both will be the ability to invest in digital innovation in customer service, partner support and direct sales approaches,” said Bryan Smith, Allianz Thailand country manager and president and CEO of Allianz Ayudhya Capital Plc and Allianz Ayudhya Assurance Plc.

The deepened partnership across both life and general insurance businesses will increase investment and innovation locally and ensure the partnership is well-placed to accelerate growth and deliver increased value for customers in Thailand, he said.

“The partnership will lead to many key benefits, including a stronger insurance franchise; extended distribution network for life and P&C; an ability to build a diversified and resilient portfolio; leveraging economies of scale; and enabling significant digital investment,” said Smith.

As part of the transaction, AYUD will be renamed Allianz Ayudhya Capital Plc. It continues to be listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand under the ticker AYUD. Further, Sri Ayudhya General Insurance (SAGI) will be renamed Allianz Ayudhya General Insurance Plc.

Veraphan Teepsuwan remains chairman of Allianz Ayudhya Capital Plc. Bryan Smith has assumed the role of president and CEO of Allianz Ayudhya Capital, and the newly created position of country manager, Allianz Thailand, overseeing the overall business in Thailand. He remains the president and CEO of Allianz Ayudhya Assurance Plc, the life insurance business. Lars Heibutzki has been appointed as president and CEO of Allianz Ayudhya General Insurance Plc.

Smith said that in Thailand, Allianz Ayudhya was looking to become the protection leader for life and health; driving digital innovation to support customers and partners across all one Allianz Ayudhya companies, and to create a unique value proposition by providing a one-stop shop for all customers in Thailand.

“One of the key challenges in the market going forward will be the need to make significant investments in digital technologies to support the changing needs of customers and the business expectations of partners. In this regard the industry needs significant capital and technological expertise. The consolidation of One Allianz Ayudhya in Thailand enables Allianz Ayudhya to invest heavily into both Life and P&C; and the global Allianz technological expertise enables Allianz Ayudhya to bring the very latest technologies to Thailand,” he said.

First piloted with select clients in the region last year, the CitiDirect BE Mobile App offers clients what the bank calls a fast, simple and secure banking experience.

Through the app, a client can authorise payments, view balances and cash positions, and manage users.

The app and biometric authentication capability will be separately introduced in additional markets in the region progressively, US-based Citi said on Tuesday.

Designed in partnership with clients, the biometric solution enables authentication in mere seconds and serves as an additional alternative for secure access to accounts.

“We continue to digitise our core offerings, incorporating a design thinking and client-centric approach to offer solutions that provide real value to institutional clients. It is imperative that institutions adopt new mobile technologies to remain efficient and competitive.

“The CitiDirect BE Mobile App, coupled with biometric authentication capability, now enables clients to manage their institutional banking needs anytime and anywhere,” said Keng-Mun Lee, Asia Pacific head of Channel and Enterprise Services, Treasury and Trade Solutions.

Commenting on the client experience, Capgemini India treasury director Saravanan Sokkalingam said: “Citi has brought a user experience akin to consumer banking to corporate clients with the necessary security features in place. This has enabled me to seamlessly approve transactions with added convenience.”

Shakira Suwan, chief executive officer of The Green Lion Thailand, said: “I appreciate being able to authorise transactions in seconds. The biometric authentication feature is easy to use and the CitiDirect BE Mobile App is clear and simple.”

Citi’s institutional clients are increasingly embracing mobile.

Last year, the bank saw a 20-per-cent year-on-year increase in the number of mobile users on Citi Direct BE in Asia Pacific.

Over the past two years, more than US$2.5 trillion (Bt79.8 trillion) of payments processed by Citi’s Treasury & Trade Solutions business in the region were approved using mobile devices.

The company has set a 2019 revenue target at between Bt25 billion and Bt30 billion and aims to win construction projects in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).

Chairman Plew Trivisvavet said Ch Karnchang would continue to focus on strengthening its business, leveraging on its subsidiaries’ diverse strengths in infrastructure development, including rail, road, energy and water supply systems.

Its subsidiaries include Bangkok Expressway and Metro, CK Power and TTW, all of which are listed firms.

Supamas Trivisvavet, chief executive officer of Ch Karnchang, said: “We are confident of maintaining growth momentum this year, considering our Bt48.965-billion backlog. We aim to generate Bt25 billion to Bt30 billion, considering the positive growth trend in the industry for the next few years. To achieve this goal, we will focus on three major areas – infrastructure projects in Thailand, the EEC and overseas investment.”

For Thai infrastructure projects, it is expected that a number of projects that are ready for calling bids and public-private partnership (PPP) projects worth Bt1.77 trillion will be available this year.

They include the Bt179.412-billion Thai-Chinese high-speed train project phase 1 from Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima; the Bt143-billion MRT Orange Line – Thailand Cultural Centre-Bang Khun Non; the Bt30.437-billion expressway – Rama III-Dao Khanong; and the Bt84.6-billion motorway – Bang Pa-In to Nakhon Ratchasima.

There is also the Bt55.62-billion Bang Yai-Kanchanaburi motorway, and the Bt397.084-billion SRT Double Track Phase 2, comprising nine routes.

The second focus is on EEC investment projects.

Most of these projects are jointly developed by the government and private sectors, such as the B224.544-billion high-speed train project linking Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and U-tapao airports, and the U-tapao airport expansion project worth Bt200 billion.

The company has been monitoring the progress on these projects closely, the CEO said.

Investment overseas

As to overseas investment, Ch Karnchang will focus on Asian countries, especially infrastructure projects under the PPP model.

The company is particularly interested in low-risk projects with potential to generate significant returns, Supamas said.

At present, the company is studying the different investment avenues for US$400 million (Bt12.77 billion) worth of expressway construction in Yangon, Myanmar, and water-supply system development in Sri Lanka.

An additional hydroelectric power project in Laos, for which CK Power is in discussion with the Lao government, is expected to see progress shortly, she added.

In terms of ongoing project progress, Supamas said the company had achieved significant progress in all projects.

The Bt135-billion Xayaburi Hydroelectric Power Project in Laos is 93 per cent and will be commercially operated by the final quarter of this year.

The MRT – Blue Line (extension) contract No 2 is 99 per cent completed, while the MRT – Blue Line (extension) contract No 6 is 60 per cent completed.

Finally, the MRT – Orange Line (Thailand Cultural Centre-Min Buri) contracts 1, 2 and 5 are 20 per cent completed, she said.

Birathon Kasemsri Na Ayudhaya, True Corporation Plc’s chief content & media officer, said on Tuesday that games are today a critical part of global content businesses, valued at about USD 130 billion – higher than the combined value of the film and music industries.

In Southeast Asia, more than 97 per cent of games consumed in the region are imported intellectual properties.

With True Group’s advantage in terms of communication infrastructure and the multiple platforms it operates, it seeking to develop or acquire high-quality game products.

In a move to expand its game businesses vertically, True recently invested in a joint venture with Kona Venture Partners from South Korea and in the private equity fund Line Games –True-Kona Global Limited Partnership. True’s objective was to seek opportunities by investing in companies that have targeted the game business and related technology.

True Group is also taking another significant step in unveiling INVICTUS: Lost Soul mobile game, developed by its subsidiary True Axion Interactive (TAI).

The game will be available for Thai gamers to download from May 8, 2019 on both iOS and Android platforms.

Sponsored by Major Cineplex Group Plc in collaboration with Suntory PepsiCo Beverage (Thailand) Co Ltd, the activity is targeted to workers seeking a special holiday with the movies.

With a valid personal staff ID and the purchase of two movie tickets, participants will get a free 32-ounce Pepsi, normally priced at Bt85. The free Pepsi drinks are limit to 10,000 customers.

The campaign is available only at all Major Cineplex, Icon Cineconic, Quartier CineArt and Promenade Cineplex. In addition, for bowling and karaoke, customers who show personal staff ID, get one free soft drink.

Lazada, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia, joins with TGIF market, the professional event organizer, to present Lazada presents BOB Baby Oh! Baby.

This mom and kid’s phenomenon delivers over 120 curated brands in one roof for modern-day parents who love premium quality products for their little monsters. The events will be launched from May 3 to May 5 between 12pm-9pm at GMM Live House on the eighth floor of CentralWorld.

One of a kind experiences, shoppers will be surprised by the gigantic family photography spots, while shopping curated brands such as Enfagrow, Babyhills Thailand, Baby Gift Thailand, Nanny, Attitude Mom, Bentley Babies Style, Cherry Baby, Happy Bear, Mom to Mom, PUMPNOM, LEGO, ToysRus, Hasbro, Pororo Aqua Park, etc.

Lazada offers online shopping platform that makes shopping extremely easy with special promotions for shoppers such as Bt1 price, Buy 1 get 1 Free, discount coupons and tons of freebies to engage even more fun online shopping experiences.

The event under the theme pastel prince and princess bedroom includes fun activities for kids to play all day long at the heart of city playground, enjoy taking theme photos by a professional photographer, watch a lively parade from Pororo Aqua Park’s characters, and experience graphic face painting – everything for free. The parents are invited to participate in an exclusive interview with prominent mother & baby influencer from Facebook page “motherlurka.” It will be plentiful of warmth and joy, and don’t forget to bring your kids for double the fun!!!

For more details, visit Facebook/Instagram: @bobevent.th or call 094-485-6694.

In line with Red Planet Hotels’ uncompromising support of environmental causes, within the past year alone the rapidly growing hotel group has partnered with 4Ocean, Earth Hour, and a number of local conservation NGOs to cement the brand’s commitment to responsible tourism.

The activity was held on April 16.

“The travel and hospitality industry needs to play a growing role in fighting climate change and its devastating effects on marine life. Especially in popular travel destinations where tourism and pollution are ultimately killing coral ecosystems, we must spring into action to restore the damaged coral fragments, and nurture them into new, healthy reefs,” said Red Planet Chief Executive Officer, Tim Hansing.

“Red Planet’s ethos is that we must act urgently to arrest this global calamity, and I am proud that Red Planet Thailand is playing an increasingly active role to highlight ways to mitigate environmental degradation,” Hansing added.

The coral reef planting initiative is in addition to Red Planet’s green milestones that are aimed to reduce environmental impact. “We are becoming a plastic-free hotel chain,” said Red Planet Thailand’s Director of Operations, Poonnapha Tritanachart.

“We have reviewed all of our procedures and procurement strategies, and are progressively removing single-use plastic from each hotel, including back-of-house operations.”

Red Planet’s green initiatives will continue to expand in the following months, according to the press release.

Red Planet seeks to tie up with further local and global organisations to both increase awareness of environmental causes as well as to continually evolve its own operational practices as a way to ease the travel industry’s footprint on the planet.

Red Planet Hotels is a leading Asian budget hotel chain with five hotels in Thailand and another 25 hotels operating in Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines, said the press release.