The same rating was assigned to THAI’s proposed issue of up to Bt6 billion in senior unsecured debentures.

The proceeds from the debenture will refinance maturing debts and build a reserve for investments.

The soft-drink giant’s new campaign, “Hula Hula with Coca-Cola this summer”, will feature 24 new package designs, TV commercials, out-of-home media advertising, a “very uplifting summer anthem” videos and other content.

“Our starting point for this ‘Coke for Summer ‘idea came from the realization that so many of the world’s best summer destinations are in Thailand, and that we often forget just how special they are,” said Claudia Navarro, Marketing Director of Coca-Cola (Thailand) Ltd.

“We therefore chose 24 of the most popular spots and developed designs that relate to iconic symbols from each of these places. We are hoping Thais will have fun collecting them, or finding the one that means the most to them and sharing it with someone special back home.”

The group has yet to announce its 2017 financial performance.

The company has completed a restructuring of its business group, resulting in five strategic business groups instead of the four groups that had been in place for more than 10 years. The new structure took effect last month.

The five strategic business groups comprise information technology, food service and distribution, energy, network solutions, and services.

The IT business expects annual revenue growth of between 15 and 20 per cent this year, from average annual revenue of between Bt3 billion and Bt3.2 billion. For the food service and distribution business, revenue growth in the same range is expected, from average annual revenue of between Bt3.2 billion and Bt3.5 billion.

For the services business, revenue growth is estimated at 30 per cent this year, from average annual revenue of Bt2 billion, while that of the energy business is expected at between 12 and 15 per cent, from average annual revenue of Bt1.5 billion.

The network solutions business is projected to see revenue growth of 12 to 15 per cent this year, from average annual revenue of Bt4 billion.

Suroj added that all business units would see growth, especially the services business.

The services business includes total security solutions.

Currently, 70 per cent of the group’s revenue is contributed by state projects. Suroj said that the group has targeted reducing the revenue contribution from the state sector to 40 per cent over the next three to five years in order to ensure the group’s stable revenue stream in the long term.

He added that this move was aimed at avoiding the uncertainties that can arise from a concentration of business in state projects. However, this does not mean the group would no longer give importance to state projects. Instead, it would selectively focus on those state projects that look for bidders that can offer quality products, rather than contend with a selection procedure that is skewed to a focus on low prices.

Arthur’s long track record of C-suite insurance industry experience in Asia Pacific saw him most recently at Tokio Marine Asia, where he was the Chief Executive and member of the Board, as well as Executive Officer of Tokio Marine Holdings, driving the development and operations of the Tokio Marine in the region. He was also a member of a number of boards within the Tokio Marine Group.

Prior to Tokio Marine, Lee was Executive Director of The Asia Life Assurance Society for several years where he managed the Singapore and Malaysia property and casualty, and later, life businesses.

Kittipan Sri-bua-iam, Chief Executive Officer of Proimage Engineering and Communication or PROEN Internet, one of the first service providers of complete internet data centre in Thailand, said PROEN is the first service provider to offer software-defined WAN or SD-WAN as a hosted solution in Thailand. Customers pay a flat monthly subscription fee, without investing for equipment and maintenance.

SD-WAN is a new technology that improves network capabilities to accommodate digital transformation as it provides high-speed connection between branch offices and enhances the use of applications while reducing bandwidth costs. SD-WAN can be automated and centrally controlled, so it is easy to manage all connections.

“By partnering with VeloCloud, the world’s leader in SD-WAN, to introduce BranchConnect service, PROEN is the first company to provide cloud-based SD-WAN service here in Thailand. The service is basically fast, secure and simple, enabling connectivity between office branches with one-hour initial deployment; and it is strengthened with security solution that can prevent data breaches and ransomware. Our service is easy to manage, with monthly subscription fee, customers don’t have to buy expensive equipment,” said Kittipan

Kittipan added that SD-WAN technology is a new trend for WAN. According to IDC, SD-WAN market in Thailand is set to grow to Bt1.5 billion this year. PROEN targets to achieve SD-WAN revenue of Bt150 million. Most customers will be enterprises with several branch offices that need reliable connectivity such as retailers, hospitals, hotels, construction companies, cloud users and multi-national companies.

These numbers are selected by Master Chang, Todsaporn Sritula. The campaign comes with a smartphone promotion up to Bt13,000 discount and the 0% interest for up to 24 months for smartphone purchase and service fee, including two offers for new SIM registration, the Go No Limit and‘Super Non Stop packages.

The Go No Limit package offers unlimited internet access with no speed drop and unlimited call to DTAC numbers, while the ‘Super Non Stop’ package provides non-stop internet access with unused internet being rolled over to the next month.

Roj Dachodomphan, vice president, head of postpaid division, Total Access Communication PLC or DTAC, said: “The year 2017 was an important year for as DTAC went ahead of its counterparts by introducing digital technology to customers.

“More than half of our customers made their payments online via the DTAC app. We also had an Q&A chatbot that met the customers’ needs up to 30%. We plan to serve customers with easy and friendly digital services in the year of 2018 with the main strategies of: 1. Best Value – To give customers the best value for money that they pay for our products and services; 2. Digital Leader – To become a digital brand of Thailand by introducing digital experience to customers through a variety of channels. For example, we have a ‘Go No Limit’ package that meets customers’ digital lifestyle or a DTAC Call app that unites various DTAC numbers being active on the same phone. Thus, we offer great value promotions to customers at the Thailand Mobile Expo 2018.

The deal will see it bring in SnailWhite products to traditional trade shops nationwide. Sales of the product in sachet packaging will also be promoted. The expansion to the traditional trade channel is expected to significantly boost the company’ sales.

Sarawut Pornpatanarak, chief executive officer, said: “In 2018, the company plans to increase our customer base and sales through the expansion of distribution in nationwide traditional trade channel thanks to the cooperation with Sino-Pacific.”

Sino-Pacific is the country’s leader in transport and distribution of goods to traditional trade nationwide. It has been in the industry for over 40 years and trusted by more than 70 leading global brands to serve them as local distributor.

Sino-Pacific also uses world-class delivery and storage system standards. The four distribution centres nationwide, in Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Phuket, have enabled Sino-Pacific to efficiently manage goods flow and achieve transport cost efficiency.

“At present, Do Day Dream supplies our products through only 1,300 shops. The cooperation with Sino-Pacific will increase our capability to reach more than 440,000 existing traditional trade shops across the nation,” Sarawut said. “We will focus on using sachet packaging, which is compact and affordable, to penetrate traditional trade market. Priced at Bt39t, the sachets will best address the diverse needs of consumers, especially those buying goods from convenience stores and mom and pop shops.”

Chief executive Phurit Bhirombhakdi said that the company plans to penetrate the country’s super premium beer segment in the near future.

“We want to increase its market share of Singha beer to 65 per cent, and up to 23 per cent for Singha drinking water,” he said.

Phurit said that the company has managed its beverage products by brands, not the total portfolio. Then, the brands that have not performed well will be withdrawn from the market. The move will help strengthen the total bottom line.

“We have withdrawn both Syder Bay and Sanvo from the retail shelves as both brands have small market size and with huge competition,” he said.

“The customers have not responded quite well to the products. For Syder Bay, which has been distributed and marketed domestically for three years, we cannot conduct any advertisement for such alcohol product as being prohibited by the government. Individual customers then cannot access the product and their awareness is quite low,” said Phurit. “Meanwhile, for the Sanvo sports drink, Thai consumers have also been attached to major brands that are quite strong in the market place,” he added.

Mobile-phone users can pay bills instantly by using any of several freely available apps to scan QR codes on an EDC terminal.

Since there is no need to use cash and enter the payment amount, the dynamic QR code service helps consumers avoid the risk of carrying large amounts of cash and bolsters Thailand Post’s cash-management efficiency.

The pilot QR code payment service is being introduced to Thailand Post’s personnel and counter parties before it’s offered to customers at offices and payment counters nationally.