The investment budget will come from both the company’s initial cashflow, with cash in hand now of US$150 million or about Bt4.8 billion, and the rest from project financing from a commercial banks.

Currently, the company has a production capacity of about 600 megawatts.

Bundit said that the company would focus on alternative energy operations, such as from wind, solar and biomass, with the investment targeted at Asia-Pacific countries.

At present, the company has investments in wind power in the Philippines and geothermal power in Indonesia.

The new investment would increase the company’s production capacity in alternative energy by 200 MW, with 150 MW planned for the wholesale market, and 50 MW for retail, Bundit said.

Under the company’s investment plan, the company expects its return on investment will be as much as 15 per cent, he said, adding that business growth of up to 15 per cent is targeted for this year, from last year, thanks to the investments in the Philippines and Indonesia that will generate income in 2018.

For 2017, the company recorded revenue from sales of electricity of Bt3.32 billion, up 7.7 per cent year on year, and booked a share of profits from investment in associates for the first time, to the tune of Bt749.4 million. This helped the company to report net profit before foreign exchange and extraordinary items of Bt2.07 billion, a year-on-year jump of 50 per cent.

For last year, the company booked a gain in foreign exchange from normal operations and positive accounting translation in net foreign-denominated liability exposure that amounted to a total of Bt72.4 million. However, there was a loss from foreign currency forward contracts that came to Bt304.2 million. The loss was attributable to hedging activities made to secure the investments in the Philippines and Indonesia. As a result, the company reported net profit of Bt2.01 billion, up 30.8 per cent from 2016.

The companies, in collaboration with Verité, refurbished a traditional Thai fishing boat, transforming it into a vessel demonstrating good living and working conditions. This includes adequate and clean food and drinking water, appropriate rest, dining and leisure areas on board, a first-aid kit, and toilet facilities with proper sanitation standards.

The first-of-its-kind demonstration boat launched in December 2017. Since then, 83 boat owners, captains and crews have taken part in training sessions in the provinces of Trat and Pattani.

The initiative commenced in March 2016, supported by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre (SEAFDEC) and the Thailand Department of Fisheries (DOF). More training sessions will take place throughout the year. The Department of Fisheries will manage programme in the long-term.

Profit came in at S$12.93 million (just over Bt3 billion) for the 12 months to December 31, a stark turnaround from the S$16.2 million loss in 2016. Revenue was up 3 per cent to S$317.5 million.

The better performance was largely due to a S$21.2 million increase in other income, mainly gains from the deconsolidation of certain entities after an agreement with China Vanke last August to create Banyan Tree Assets (China) Holdings.

Net profit for the fourth quarter fell 54 per cent to $3.9 million, mostly because of the absence of the benefit enjoyed last year from a reclassification in net fair value gain after Thai Wah became the group’s associate.

Revenue increased 9 per cent, thanks to the recognition of the sales of 31 units of Cassia Phuket (Phase 2) and higher turnover from its Thailand, Seychelles, Indonesia and Morocco resorts, and partially offset by lower revenue from China and Maldives.

Subscribers will be able to enjoy iflix’s vast library of popular international, Asian and local TV shows andmovies on the service, which is equipped with HD video and improved audio quality.

The companies said n a media statement that new GMM Z Stream customers would receive three months of unlimited access to iflix’s premium entertainment, worth Bt300 BHT, sponsored by GMM Z.

Chukiat Tansunthonsakul, director of marketing for Z Trading Co, said: “Linear TV viewing covers 80 to 90 per cent of household entertainment consumption, but we see a rising trend in video-on-demand and second-screen viewing as consumer behaviours start to shift radically.

“Collaborating with a clear market leader like iflix is a great opportunity for us to address consumer demands.”

Artima Suraphongchai, head of marketing for iflix Thailand, said: “We are thrilled that GMM Z has chosen iflix to empower and enhance the entertainment experiences of their subscribers across Thailand.”

The aim is to promote spending in provincial areas and drive Thailand’s overall economic growth in line with the “Trade and Services 4.0” objectives, aiming to extend the network to cover 4,500 merchants nationwide, the partners said

Kalin Sarasin, chairman of the TCC and the Board of Trade of Thailand, said that e-payment transactions have remarkably increased, changing consumer behaviour and future business operations, especially for SMEs. For this reason, entrepreneurs directly interacting with their customers needed to adjust their business approaches to catch up with new technologies.

A statement said: “TCC and provincial chambers of commerce nationwide have carried out various projects with their networks to promote the privileges of their members, while strengthening TCC to become a leading organisation, which is well-recognised and modernised, ready for the digital economy. The effort is in line with TCC’s Trade and Services 4.0 initiative and in accordance with the Thailand 4.0 policy of the government.”

Predee Daochai, KBank president, said that the cooperative effort to introduce the programme was another milestone to drive Thai entrepreneurs toward the 4.0 era with the use of QR Code payments. The move would enhance management efficiency and provide added business opportunities for participating merchants.

“KBank will have standardised QR code system installed at 4,500 stores under the quality product certification scheme in provinces across the country,” Pradee said.

“Merchants will generate a standard QR code of their own to accept payment by scanning via the mobile banking application of any bank.

“The QR code payment is thus an alternative channel that comes with both convenience and security, thus reducing our reliance on cash.”

Belmond Lee, Hilton cluster business development manager for Myanmar, said: “As the venue sponsor of Miss Myanmar Mandalay Region 2018, we would like to join in the collaborative effort to promote the best talents in Myanmar, a country blessed with lovely nature and natural resources as well as rich culture and tradition.

“We also see crucial importance in empowering women to enable them to play a bigger role in society, and hope that there will be more and more platforms to meet that goal.”

Ko Win Ko Myint, Mandalay regional director of Miss Golden Land Myanmar Organisation said: “Like a tapestry, Myanmar is made up of many societal and cultural elements. What we’re doing through our annual pageants is to build on that richness and at the same time showcase the beauty of Myanmar and its people, promote tourist destinations and raise international public awareness about this nation we call home.”

It also reported normalised net profit of Bt489.2 million, improving 1,402 per cent y-o-y, and strong EBITDA of Bt2.06 billion, due to an upturn in the shipping industry.

In fiscal year 2017, consolidated revenues were recorded at Bt13.36 billion, in line with last year result but with improved margins, the company said in a statement.

Shipping, offshore service, agrochemical and investment contributed 30 per cent, 37 per cent, 21 per cent and 12 per cent to the consolidated revenues respectively. Gross profits amounted to Bt3.42 billion, an increase of 19 per cent y-o-y. Gross margin also improved from 21 per cent in FY2016 to 26 per cent in FY2017.

TTA resolved to maintain a strong balance sheet reflecting in the year-end consolidated cash, cash equivalents, and current investments which remained high at Bt6.42 billion and low-net-interest-bearing-debt to equity at 0.07 times as of December 31, 2017.

“Long-term investment strategies look beyond short-term volatility for sustainable growth,” the company said. “Reflecting this philosophy, we have re-organised our other businesses under investment. Thus, our new business segments are shipping, offshore service, agrochemical and investment.”

However, the company expects profit recovery and a positive direction in 2018.

Kematat Paladesh, MCOT president, said the company has reported its 2017 financial statements ended December 31, 2016, to the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). Its total revenue is Bt2.73 billion, a 5 per cent decrease compared to the previous year.

The company has also recorded the impairment of its licences to operate two digital TV channels and licences to provide broadcast network and facilities. A sluggish economy that significantly affected digital TV operators and licence fee payments to operate 9 MCOT HD and MCOT Family 14 were cited as the causes of the deficit.

The impairment of the licences to operate two digital TV channels and licences to provide broadcast network and facilities valued at Bt2.54 billion, brings an imbalance between revenue and expenses and results in the deficit of Bt2.54 billion, a 236 per cent increase from the previous year. Regardless of the impairment, the company would face a deficit of Bt726 million (exclusive of VAT), which reduced 17 per cent from last year, due to its ability to control operating expenses.

In accordance with accounting standards, the impairment of assets is not considered as an actual expense for the companies. Given projected revenue, expenses, growth rate and expected cash flow that reflect operations under the current digital TV situation, MCOT management has conducted the impairment and will review key factors and indicators on a yearly basis. It is expected that digital TV operators who have struggled a financial crisis will also carry out an impairment of assets.

In 2018, MCOT will focus on adding value to its assets, especially its 50 rais of land in Rachadapisek area. The company will also seek to join hands with new partners on new business development.

“This coming April, MCOT HD will broadcast new programmes to better meet the needs of its fans,” the company said in a statement. “MCOT radio network is planning to broadcast its content into new digital platforms to attract young audiences. The company will also concentrate on cost management and operations’ improvement to enhance its efficiency.”

NJ Digital said the country’s largest national English essay contest for high school students will be held on March 9 from 5pm to 8pm at the Rembrandt hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 18.

Recommended dress code is business attire.

The newspaper confirmed Tuesday it is in talks with cable channels and online platforms on which the planned 30-minute show could run, according to Sam Dolnick, an assistant managing editor.

No specific timetable was announced for the show, which is expected to showcase the New York-based daily’s investigations and reporting.

A number of Times journalists are expected to participate in the project, according to CNN, which first reported the plans.

The Times, which already streams its own podcasts, would not be the first newspaper to venture into television.

In 1988, USA Today launched a daily television news broadcast that was pulled after 14 months.

Newer online services like Vice combine traditional news with television, including an HBO show called “Vice News Tonight.”

The Times has been transitioning increasingly to digital as more readers turn away from print.

In its latest quarterly update, the Times said it added 157,000 net digital subscriptions in the final three months of the year, which pushed subscription revenue for the full year to more than $1 billion.