Based in Singapore, Fung will oversee the development of new projects and new deals in the Asia Pacific region for the group and its portfolio of brands: Dream Hotels, Time Hotels, The Chatwal and Unscripted Hotels.

“Dream Hotel Group’s global expansion is moving at a fast pace as we diligently work to introduce our brands to the Asian Pacific market. We are happy to have Kitmun bring her demonstrated expertise to Dream Hotel Group,” said Abid Butt, Dream Hotel Group CEO for Asia, Middle East and Africa.

“As the company’s growth continues to move in an upwards trajectory, we are grateful to have a strong team positioning us for success worldwide.”

Fung said: “I am delighted to be part of Dream Hotel Group’s Asia team during this pivotal moment as it looks to develop further properties in the region. I look forward to introducing Dream Hotel Group’s well-known lifestyle brand to new countries.”

Fung brings a broad background in business strategy, finance, and mergers & acquisitions to Dream Hotel Group with nearly 10 years working in financial services, and another decade of hospitality experience.

Fung most recently served as Director of Development (Greater China) at Hilton Worldwide, where she played an instrumental role in executing Hilton’s Greater China development strategy.

She also worked with Raffles International, where she worked on mergers & acquisitions and development for Raffles’ European operations. As well, she held positions with Intraco Ltd., Daimler-Benz, and Merrill Lynch International Bank.

She received her Master of Administration from the University of Hong Kong and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Nanyang Technological University.

M-150 won based on its success in four criteria: awareness, preference, usage and image. The achievement reflects the brand’s strength and influence as Thailand’s most popular energy drink. It also emphasises Osotspa’s commitment to creating premium-quality products, providing a positive experience and the highest satisfaction to its customers, as well as implementing a strategic plan to drive growth. M-150’s business plan consists of three key strategies: sports marketing, music marketing and idol marketing which were implemented through comprehensive activities across a wide range of channels. This strategic effort helped to make M-150 a top brand and the No.1 energy drink among Thai consumers.

The game has special activities and includes 10,000 prizes from Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, the companies announced in a press release on Thursday.

Nadim Xavier Salhani, chief executive officer of Mudman Company Limited, which is Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins franchisee for Thailand, said: “We are delighted to partner with Hot Head and Rising Soft to launch the ultimate mobile game, “Order of The Seventh Sphere”, or ‘OSS,’ which is developed by Thai developers, together with special campaigns of 3,000 free donuts and 10,000 discount vouchers, during the pre-registration period.

“The campaign will continue for the next two months to deliver the gamers who win prizes … donuts and coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts, or 100 per cent premium imported ice cream by Baskin-Robbins.”

Nadim said: “As the mobile games market has seen rapid growth over the past several years, we intend to enter this market. Moreover, gamers have changed their behaviour and now use smart phones and tablets to use the internet. So, we need to adapt our business expansion to match a rapidly changing world through an O2O (Online To Offline) marketing strategy to strengthen a strong brand via online media, Facebook and website, including DD Digital Card or Baskin-Robbins VIP member, the member card which offers additional discount promotions and privileges when customers registers online. It will allow us to expand our customer base, distribution channels, and raise brand awareness through digital channels.”

“We believe the expansion of our business by adjusting the marketing strategy will raise more brand awareness and reach more customers. Moreover, we expect that it will also increase our sales performance” Nadim added.

“Singtel wants to be the first-choice communications and entertainment provider for its customers,” said Arthur Lang, chief executive officer of Singtel International. “It wants to delight and excite them about coming to visit Singtel’s platform every single day.”

The mission of Singtel International is to create what Lang calls the digital glue “to connect its current 700 million subscribers”, because it’s “only by hunting as a pack that a company wins in the digital world”.

He said that companies require scale in the digital world and that’s why Singtel Group “needs to bring these 700 million subscribers together and that’s why the company needs to create the digital glue”.

“My challenge is to think about the types of digital glue that can bring us all together,” he said.

“The first digital glue is the payment side, while second one is gaming and e-sports. I look forward to having more glue to make the kind of stickiness that could ensure a really good asset of the 700 million subscribers. In the telco world, these numbers can be fragmented, but they can come together in the digital world.”

Singtel Group’s 700 million-plus subscribers are spread across six operators in the 20 countries. “In just the Asean region alone, about 70 per cent of over 300 million customers are below the age of 35 – these are the young millennial type of customer,” Lang said.

“We are not just about being a telco. We want to think about how we can create a platform for millennials who want to come and visit our platform. So it can be with payments, it can be with a new content platform, it can be gaming, short-form content, user-generated content, or any other types of content, including sport.”

Lang said Singtel wants to drive increases in the number of daily active users (DAUs) rather than focusing on the ranks of monthly active users (MAUs), as the former is about customer engagement and that is a good business model on which to build profits.

“We want customers to come to our platform on any single day many times. How do we get them here? It could be payments, games, digital content, short-form videos – there are many ways to do this,” he said.

Once Singtel moves up to go beyond being merely a telecom services provider, the sources of average revenue per user (ARPU) will come not just from telecoms and data, “they will come from new type of content, games, and payment and the like”, Lang said. However, such revenue would still be booked as ARPU.

Among the winners

“In the digital world, some new digital players will win, but not all will win. For the more established companies like ourselves, if we play this right and execute wisely, we can win as well,” said Lang.

He said all business lines are important. “The mobile wallet segment is now very small, but it will help the company to really create stickiness for customers and our engagement with customers,” Lang said. “From there, the company can build on many other services.”

Across the Singtel Group it has 50 million users of mobile wallet services. It aims to have 400 to 500 million users in three to five years across the region.

“We can handle all payments and we can distribute financial products like insurance and securities. We can do a lot of things to help really grow Asean and integrate Asean in the digital economy,” said Lang.

He said that in the digital world, it is all about partnerships. “What the company wants is just to grow the ecosystem; it is not to drive mobile payment adoption. Let’s work together to make customers’’ lives easier. The VIA platform, owned by Singtel, generates revenue shared across members of this alliance,” he said.

“We as a group can go together and actually build out the network of (mobile) wallets. I would like to call it a star alliance of (mobile) wallet services. It is the borderless mobile wallet; you can travel globally but pay locally.”

Financial services are a crucial business for Singtel Group, he said. “Those who own bank accounts are in the minority in several countries in the region, such as Thailand and Indonesia,” Lang said.

“How does the company actually get people to use these financial products? It is really through the mobile platform that this can be done.

“How to reach them – reaching the unbanked population, reaching the democratising payment and fintech. This is very important. Payment is fundamental and fintech is a natural extension. Once we have payments, it can be progressed and evolve into fintech. But the fundamental thing is payment. Payment is very important for all mobile companies.”

Some 75 per cent of Singtel’s profit, about S$3.9 billion to S$4 billion, comes from outside Singapore. Of its business, as of the last quarter, almost 25 per cent of the group’s revenues did not come from the telecoms side. Instead, it came from ICT and digital operations. Lang said the company wants to increase this proportion to 40 to 50 per cent over the next three to five years.

The restructuring was undertaken in the wake of the company’s acquisitions of breweries in Myanmar and Vietnam.

Fraser and Neave (F&N), a food, beverage and publishing conglomerate in Singapore in which Thai Beverage Public Company (ThaiBev) holds a majority stake, has gained approval from Myanmar’s investment commission to return to the country’s beer market.

The two partners founded Emerald Brewery Myanmar last December. Myanmar’s Than Lwin Aye Yar Industrial Production & Construction Co, which is said to have close ties to the government, holds 51 per cent of the venture. The rest is owned by F&N Investments, a wholly owned subsidiary of F&N.

ThaiBev had earlier partnered with a local company to buy a US$4.8 billion stake in Vietnam’s largest brewer, a key step for the company controlled by billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi as it seeks to |dominate Southeast Asia’s beverage market.

Vietnam Beverage, a local unit in which ThaiBev holds a stake, said it had won the bidding for an almost 54 per cent holding in Saigon Beer Alcohol Beverage Corp (Sabeco).

“We (ThaiBev) have invested almost US$5 billion in the two investment deals, both in the Sabeco acquisition in Vietnam, as well as the building of our first brewery in Myanmar, which will cost about US$60 million,” said Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, chief executive of ThaiBev. Thapana will also become a new chief beer officer under the new management structure, so that he will be able to directly involve the group’s beer business.

He said that ThaiBev’s first brewery in Myanmar started production in August and the beer products, which are under the company’s existing brands, including Chang Beer, will be launched this month. The plant’s capacity is now at 50 million litres a year and will be expanded to 120 million litres.

“My responsibility for the beer business is to ensure that they will be able to generate organic growth and a good return on investment to the company,” said Thapana, adding that his job is also to impose financial discipline and create synergies among the company’s operations in Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand, as well as its strong foothold operations in Singapore and Malaysia.

“We will change our loans from short-term payments to medium to long-term,” he said.

ThaiBev has about US$6 billion (Bt200 billion) in total debt, with a debt to equity ratio of 1.56. The company posted US$8.8 billion in total sales last year and has a market capitalisation of about US$15.3 billion. Of the total sales, about 60 per cent comes from Thailand, with 36 per cent from Asean and 4 per cent from the rest of the world.

“I myself would like to see a good balance of 50/50 between domestic and international sales in the future,” said Thapana, who adds that Asean will become the fourth-largest economy in the world by 2030.

“We (ThaiBev) are currently ranked the fifth- largest company in Asean in term of sales, and the fourth-largest in terms of market capitalisation,” he said.

Edmond Neo Kim Soon, the company’s previous chief executive officer for beer business, has become the company’s executive vice president and the chief brand investment officer to handle all branding strategies for the company’s beverages in Thailand and Asean.

He said that ThaiBev has 23 to 24 per cent of the beer market in Asean. The total beer market in the region amounts to 110 million hetrolitres.

Nongnuch Buranasetkul, senior vice president and chief food business for Thailand, said:  “Since 2008, our food business has tripled in size. Today, we operate 562 branches of Japanese and non-Japanese restaurants.”

The seminar was hosted by the Advanced Info Service plc (AIS) in cooperation with Minor International Pcl, the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), Kasikornbank, Muang Thai Life Assurance Public Company Limited, Southeast Asia Centre (SEAC), Standford and MIT. The seminar aims to raise awareness of digital disruptions in the business landscape and discuss ways different companies can prepare and cope with this issue.

“This is because humans can see at a strategic level. We have the unique ability to critically interpret data given to us by AI and make the next strategic move,” he explains.

“For example, 7-Eleven is the number one store in Japan selling pantyhose, and most of them are sold at night to Japanese men,” he continues, “this is because Japanese women often ask their husbands to buy pantyhose from 7-Eleven when they are on their way back from work.”

From this piece of data, 7-Eleven started to sell pantyhose beside beers in 7-Eleven convenient stores. As a result, the beer sales in Japan grew, according to Hau.

Hence, this case demonstrates that with data alone, productivity will not grow.

Instead, we also need to develop human capabilities in data analytics in order to interpret data and increase productivity by making strategic decisions, he says.

“There are many cases where companies implement technology blindly without accessing what benefits it will bring. This has led to an increase in cost with no significant increase in productivity or revenue,” added Sara Lamsam, president and chief executive officer, Muang Thai Life Assurance Public Company Limited.

“You cannot separate technology and the people element. Ultimately, you need people to connect new technologies to the customers,” concurs Patamawalai Ratanapol, chief people officer, Minor International PCL.

“When we are introducing new technologies, we must also help Thai people develop the knowledge, skill and awareness of these technologies through events suc h as today’s seminar, so that they can understand and benefit from using technologies,” says Kantima Lerlertyttitham, chief human resources officer, AIS.

“For example, if everyone in Thailand uses mobile banking services, we can save up to Bt 900 million in the next 5 years,” she claims.

“We aim to list the top 10 listed companies in the Philippines on the Thai stock market, and we’re discussing the plan with the SET and Securities and Exchange Commission,” Win Udomrachtavanich, executive chairman of the KTBST said yesterday.

“We may see the dual listings happen next year,” he said after signing the MoU for cooperation with Unicapital Group yesterday, a brokerage firm based in the Philippines.

The two brokerage firms will cooperate in three key areas – investment banking, dual-listing and infrastructure fund establishment, he said, adding that KTBST will help Philippines corporates raise funds via equities, bonds and alternative investment products.

The company will also promote dual listing for both Thai and Philippines companies. Given the high liquidity in the Thai capital market, it would be an attractive venue for raising fund and dual-listing activities, he said.

Thailand’s capital market is larger than that of the Philippines with the SET market capitalisation at 120 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). The Thai market is also effective in promoting infrastructure funds and the two brokerage firms could help Philippines corporates set up such funds here. Vice-versa, Thai investors also look abroad. With high GDP growth and a young population, Philippines offers vast investment opportunities, he said.

Jaime Martirez, chief executive officer of Unicapital Goup, said that Philippines corporates are looking for raising funds in foreign countries. “They have raised fund in Singapore, why they would not do in Thailand,” he said.

Philippines investors view the Thai economy as stable and the baht currency strong.

He also expected more merger and acquisition (M&A) activities both ways as corporates expand their businesses.

For Thai investors looking for portfolio investment opportunities in the Philippines , they may look at many sectors including services, infrastructure, retail trade, energy, hotel and property, he suggested.

The Philippines government has been spending big on infrastructure and energy projects.

As the country has enjoyed steady economic growth for more than decades, it has also led to high demand on fossil energy and clean energy. High demand on office building has recently led to double-digit rise in property valuation, he said.

The Philippines economy grew 6.7 per cent last year, the fastest rate in the region.

The International Monetary Fund forecasted the country’s growth rates at 6.5 per cent and 6.7 per cent this year and next respectively. Foreign direct investment into the country hit a record high last year, reaching US$10 billion, he said.

However, the country is now facing several challenges, including rising inflation due to several factors such as the recent damages caused by typhoon Mangkhut , according to Martirez.

Tax reform introduced by the government has also fuelled inflation as the government plans to lower the income tax rates in the future, he said.

Capitals have been leaving the local capital market due to the US Federal Reserve hiking its policy rate as well as the uncertainty over the trade tensions between the US and China. These have also led to depreciation of the peso currency.

These issues are expected to be temporary and the Philippines monetary authorities are currently addressing the issue of inflation, he said.

Charoenrath Vilailuck, chief executive of Samart Corporation, said that the Young Technopreneur 2018 contest was aimed at encouraging innovation and technology to boost Thailand’s technology industries, enhance business knowledge and increase funding under the Samart Innovation Awards.

The contest focused on new ideas and developments that will drive the economy through innovation, technology and creativity. It also created opportunities for members of the new generation to develop innovative products and services to support the market in the digital age.

For the awards, the company partnered with the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and provided consultation and training for startups in order for their leaders to gain sufficient confidence to launch their products and services.

Phumin Podhayanukul, managing director of World Amulet 3D, said the company provides a website for people who love to collect amulets, and “they can check on amulets via the website with an accuracy rate of over 90 per cent”.

More than 2,500 items are displayed on the site, http://www.worldamulet3d.com.

Phumin said the website allows people to check on amulets, anywhere and at anytime. In the next stage of development, the company will provide the role of an e-marketplace. Owners of amulets will be able to auction their items via the website and a related mobile application. The company will use QR code technology as part of its offerings.

ActiveBoost was recognised for its Smart Microcapsule, an innovation that will support smart farming for animal heath and welfare, as well as the development of nutraceuticals and functional food along with gene therapy and regenerative medicine.

Kitteung’s automobile application is designed to help people search for car care services, including delivery and garage options. It also provides a promotion campaign for drivers.

Sansanee Huabsomboon, director of the Technology Business Incubation Centre at NSTDA, said the agency and its business partners had been staging the Young Technopreneur contest for seven years. The 16 teams that entered the final round have been trained in basic business skills and each project has been backed with a business plan. “This result is admirable and it marks the beginning of creative innovation among Thailand’s young people,” Sansanee said. “The six contest topic groups cover technology and businesses related to the Thailand 4.0 policies, such as in food and agriculture, healthcare including ageing technology and wellness, as well as tourism, logistics and transport, robotics and automation, and the Internet of Things.”