Tencent woos Thai customers with AI cloud and promises of easy access to China’s market

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https://www.nationthailand.com/business/corporate/40023634

Tencent woos Thai customers with AI cloud and promises of easy access to China’s market

Tencent woos Thai customers with AI cloud and promises of easy access to China’s market

SUNDAY, JANUARY 01, 2023

Nongluck Ajanapanya

The cloud computing unit of Shenzhen-based Tencent is promoting its services and products to Thai businesses as vital components that ensure a smooth entry into China’s massive market.

Tencent (Thailand) chief operating officer Chang Foo told reporters that its Cloud-AI is a “must-have technology” for Thai businesses transforming their operations to compete in the borderless, digital economy.

Moreover, the advantage of using Tencent’s technology and services is that the company also provides the know-how necessary for a smooth and successful entry into China’s market, where its products and services are ubiquitous, Chang said.

Thai businesses can equip themselves with the cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies necessary to compete in the emerging digital economy globally while also ensuring their technology is built for success in China, he explained.

Tencent woos Thai customers with AI cloud and promises of easy access to China’s market

Chang touted Tencent’s Cloud-AI as one of its key products, saying it could have a transformative effect on the Thai businesses that use it.

His pitch to Thai businesses arrives at a time when they are swiftly upgrading technology to ensure competitiveness in an increasingly digital economy.

The International Data Corporation, which provides market research and advisory services, recently reported that companies in the region are investing heavily in technology that focuses on digital interaction to enhance customer engagement. AI is regarded as the key to accelerating efforts to engage consumers.

Chang said Tencent’s Cloud-AI was the ideal technology for accomplishing this, explaining that it can respond to swift changes in customer expectations.

Cloud computing refers to the delivery of computing services, such as storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence, via remote servers connected by the Internet. It provides faster innovation, enhances economies of scale, and greater flexibility.

Thai companies are rapidly shifting to cloud computing and Tencent can provide the technology to accomplish this, Chang said. The rapid increase in digital technology in Thailand is also increasing opportunities for Tencent to sell its Digital Enabler, he said.

Business transactions now require online data dissemination, storage, processing, and transfer, as well as enhanced security and management, Chang said.

The growing use of digital audio and video to improve customer engagement requires businesses to replicate in-person interactions with AI technology, he added.

Tencent’s products and services merge AI and cloud computing, Chang said.

“Tencent Cloud provides a number of Cloud-AI solutions … We also offer a variety of cloud security solutions to meet the needs of entrepreneurs, such as Cloud Streaming Service and Tencent Cloud Web Application Firewall,” he said.

Tencent woos Thai customers with AI cloud and promises of easy access to China’s market

Furthermore, Tencent already has the know-how to help businesses succeed in the shift to Web3, which Chang described as the next phase of the internet. It allows users and content developers to connect independently.

“As we enter the era of ‘Immersive Convergence’, with digital technology at the forefront of this transition, the integration of digital technology and the real economy has become a top priority. We are witnessing the formation of a stronger connection between the digital and real worlds as mainstream technologies become more widely used.” Chang said.

He said Tencent’s more than 20 years of experience and its thorough understanding of Chinese consumers can help its Thai customers succeed in China.

Tencent Cloud is one of the world’s leading cloud computing companies. It has two high-performance data centers in Thailand.

Nongluck Ajanapanya

Evolving cloud computing can transform Thai SMEs, US tech company says

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https://www.nationthailand.com/business/corporate/40023615

Evolving cloud computing can transform Thai SMEs, US tech company says

Evolving cloud computing can transform Thai SMEs, US tech company says

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2022

Nongluck Ajanapanya

California-based NetApp says it can help Thai companies remain competitive in an increasingly digital economy by reducing their costs and increasing their agility through cloud computing.

Cloud computing can help Thai companies, particularly small and mid-sized enterprises, swiftly accelerate their ability to thrive amidst the digital transformation, NetApp country manager for Thailand, Anchalee Towannasoot, told Nation Thailand.

Cloud computing gives businesses the flexibility, scalability, and agility necessary to increase innovation and enhance value, she said, referring to the remote servers cloud computing uses.

Thai companies are fully aware that digital transformation is key to their competitiveness. A recent study by Deloitte found that 95% of the Thai businesses it surveyed agreed that digital transformation was necessary for their survival.The digital transformation is being driven by competitors as well as customers, the survey found.

“This is where NetApp comes in,” Anchalee said. “By working closely with our local customers and partners … we can unleash the full potential of digital and cloud technologies. We are committed to helping our customers achieve simplicity, security, savings, and sustainability in their cloud journey.”

The key question is: How can businesses better manage data’s exponential growth, intrinsic value, and movement?
She added that businesses must also find ways to improve data security and customer experience.

Cloud computing is the solution, Anchalee said, adding that it also allows users to better deflect cyber-attacks through its data-centric approach for bolstering cyber resilience.

Anchalee said NetApp helps companies remove barriers that separate data and ensure it is delivered where, when, and how businesses need it by providing hybrid cloud infrastructure.

Evolving cloud computing can transform Thai SMEs, US tech company says

Hybrid cloud infrastructure refers to a mix of in-house and remote data storage.

Cloud computing saves IT costs and gives small and mid-sized companies the same capacity for managing data that large companies have. This increases the competitiveness of smaller companies without requiring massive investments in IT, Anchalee said.

She also said that cloud computing had evolved to a new level, explaining: “We have reached the next phase of the evolved cloud, which focuses on delivering a better hybrid multi-cloud experience. Organizations will need a strategic approach that seamlessly connects a mix of clouds and on-premises environments.”

The shift to cloud computing is unstoppable, Achalee said, citing the 2021 study “Unlocking Thailand’S Digital Potential” by AlphaBeta. The study, which was commissioned by Google, said that if Thailand made full use of digital technologies it would generate up to THB 2.5 trillion baht in annual economic value by 2030 – an amount equivalent to about 16% of Thailand’s 2020 GDP.

Achalee said NetApp’s 30 years of cloud innovating experiences has positioned it as a leader in the provision of “unified hybrid multi-cloud experience with built-in data protection”.

“NetApp offers our customers something no other company can: the freedom to choose NetApp’s cloud services natively in the world’s top three public clouds, AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud,” she added.

Evolving cloud computing can transform Thai SMEs, US tech company says

Anchelee said that increasing NetApp’s relevance in Thailand remains its key focus over the next five years.

She said Thailand is at a crossroads and that many businesses here have already created hybrid multi-cloud environments. This represents a significant opportunity for NetApp to help them “smoothly transition into the next phase of the evolved cloud”.

According to Statista, Thailand’s public cloud market revenue will increase by more than 270% from 2022 to 2027, reaching US$2.75 billion a year.

Nongluck Ajanapanya

Bangkok Bank promotes world class technology research for Thais in the MIT Media Lab Southeast Asia Forum

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https://www.nationthailand.com/business/corporate/40023607

Bangkok Bank promotes world class technology research for Thais in the MIT Media Lab Southeast Asia Forum

Bangkok Bank promotes world class technology research for Thais in the MIT Media Lab Southeast Asia Forum

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2022

Bangkok Bank recently co-hosted the MIT Media Lab Southeast Asia Forum to give tech enthusiasts the opportunity to learn from the MIT Media Lab, the research lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), said Executive Director Charamporn Jotikasthira.

Under the mission to create a space to share state-of-the-art research and the use of emerging technologies to solve problems and build positive social impact, the forum was hosted for the first time in the ASEAN region and Thailand was chosen to hold the event with an aim to become an innovation hub of ASEAN.

The key focus of this seminar was to take a macro view of situations or challenges in the future where technological evolution will play a role and have a wide impact such as extended intelligence, hybrid realities, augmented creativity, cyborg health, smart materials, digital currency, space exploration and sustainability.

The forum was organized around the theme of ‘Beyond the Elephant in the Room’ to address issues that are challenging for humanity yet often ignored. This event was a collaboration between Bangkok Bank, KBTG, MIT Alumni Association in Thailand, MQDC, True, Thaicom, SCG and MIT Media Lab. There were 13 professors and PhD candidates along with seven executives from leading organizations in the public and private sectors, who shared their vision and knowledge. In addition, eight executives from various Thai organizations took the role of moderators throughout the 3-day event. The forum attracted the attention of more than 850 attendants per day including business executives, professionals in various fields and the education sector, ranging from teachers, university students and high school students.

Bangkok Bank promotes world class technology research for Thais in the MIT Media Lab Southeast Asia Forum

The Bank is delighted to be involved in this important event as it is a good opportunity for Thailand and Thai people to listen to world-class thinking and technological research, as well as establishing a collaborative network with leading researchers from the MIT Media Lab, which is considered an important research institute and provides world-leading research insights. The innovation created from such research will play an important role in driving Thailand and regional economies forward in the future. This is in line with Bangkok Bank’s vision that we strive to offer quality financial services to meet the needs of our customers by applying modern technology and working systems to support our goal as a leading regional bank, said Mr. Charamporn.

Bangkok Bank Executive Director Dr. Pichet Durongkaveroj also joined the event as the local keynote speaker. He suggested six standout cultural highlights in Thailand including Tom Yum Kung – a famous spicy soup which is served in various places from fine dining to street food restaurants, Fah Talai Jone – a Thai herb certified in the alternative medicine system with properties to reduce inflammation and infection and that Thai public health service has used to treat Covid-19 symptoms, and Suda – an elephant at the Maetaeng Elephant Park & Clinic in Chiang Mai province that can paint beautifully, reflecting Thai elephants’ amazing learning and skills.

Bangkok Bank promotes world class technology research for Thais in the MIT Media Lab Southeast Asia Forum

Further, the Darunsikkhalai School of Innovative Learning is an elementary and secondary school under the supervision of King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi. The school partners with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Laboratory to fully implement the Constructionism learning method developed by Professor Seymour Papert from the MIT Media Lab. Another highlight is the Mini satellite (CanSat) – a small satellite the size of a soda can built by Assumption College students that won the global championship in the Annual CanSat Competition 2022 in the United States.

Bangkok Bank promotes world class technology research for Thais in the MIT Media Lab Southeast Asia Forum

The last highlight showcased a design that blends social and cultural dimensions with Samsen Street Hotel as an example. The hotel changed from an old-style motel to an architecturally new hotel presenting the Thai ways of life in the hotel area for guests to experience including a temple fair, outdoor movies, luk thung concerts, street food and others where the community participates and earns extra income. The design is modernized but still perfectly retains the famous charms of Thai culture.

Furthermore, the event also held a forum titled Creativity Across Scales: Co-Creation Communities of Possibilities moderated by Bangkok Bank Innovation Department Manager Dr. Pao Sriprasertsuk. The forum discussed the development of creativity which needs to start at a young age with parents as key supporters. Using creativity at work and utilizing advanced technology such as generative AI, which can create paintings, make videos, write novels and more, is very interesting because it is beginning to bleed into traditional human roles, many of which are about to change due to technological advancement. 

Bangkok Bank promotes world class technology research for Thais in the MIT Media Lab Southeast Asia Forum

A panel discussion titled ‘Interest of Values: Digital Currency, Web3, and Trustworthy Networks’ moderated by Bangkok Bank Executive Director Charamporn Jotikasthira covered topics related to decentralization which enables users to be part of a system to create direct value on the basis of mutualism. This provides users with confidence as there is no intermediary to control or regulate the system, which will be a key element of social media in the future. Currently, social media is under the control of a few major corporate giants who set rules and regulations for the access of certain content for each group of users. This can lead to misinformation and unpredictable social biases. The discussion also touched on blockchain technology, a result of MIT Media Lab research, which can be applied to data privacy with high efficiency and fast processing speed no different from a centralized system. Blockchain technology is an innovation that can be applied to a wide range of industries. For Thailand, the pilot of the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in the form of digital baht used for cross-border payments for businesses is an example of how modern technology can solve pain points in a sustainable way.

Bangkok Bank promotes world class technology research for Thais in the MIT Media Lab Southeast Asia Forum

Line Shopping lines up new tools to help e-commerce players cope with competition

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https://www.nationthailand.com/business/corporate/40023600

Line Shopping lines up new tools to help e-commerce players cope with competition

Line Shopping lines up new tools to help e-commerce players cope with competition

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2022

Nongluck Ajanapanya

Line Shopping Thailand is introducing more new features next year to help entrepreneurs in the fiercely competitive online marketplace.

All social commerce players will face a new level of competition next year, with more funding and investment for marketing no longer guaranteeing revenue and profit success, said Lertad Supadhiloke, director of e-commerce, Line Thailand, in an exclusive interview with The Nation.

He explained that almost all players, particularly the major ones, have realised that price strategy cannot win buyers’ loyalty. Hence, they must devise new strategies. Some of them have already done so this year. Despite losing market share, some of the big players are increasing their profits.

“The competition in social commerce next year would be fun because business owners, large and small, would have to creatively innovate their own marketing strategy for their specific target group,” Lertad said.

He added that some players will pay closer attention to budget management with specific target audiences.

In view of this situation, Line Shopping will provide more tools and features to assist business owners, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, in competing on the platform on an equal footing, he said.

He demonstrated a new tool — Live features — which will be available in the first quarter of 2023. This new feature will allow business owners to connect with their customers in real time while also enabling them to discover new potential customers.

Users will notice differences between the platform and other live features platforms, he said.

“Our main objective is to be the tool that enables business owners to run their operations smoothly online. Our priority is their company’s success. According to a recent Line Shopping study, owners who use our tools can increase their sales by at least 20 per cent. We will maintain and even improve on that figure,” he stated.

He also predicted that with online technology allowing businesses to achieve their targets with a small budget, small business owners would have an equal opportunity to grow and compete with large corporations.

Therefore, small owners will have a chance to roar in 2023.

Aside from new features, he revealed that Line Shopping will expand collaboration with new partners in order to provide their customers, both business owners and shoppers, with unique experiences.

His announcement came just a few days after the company launched two new features called “Send Gift” and “Share&Earn” under the “RelationShop” concept. The two features will enable business clients to have more enjoyable shopping experiences with their friends or community members via Line platform.

He emphasised that Line Shopping is a social commerce platform that has always prioritised the relationship between merchants and customers. Therefore, the development of new features must take into account the importance of maintaining positive relationships with the goal of creating enjoyable shopping experiences.

“We will continue to be a space that provides businesses with the tools to increase their competitiveness while also providing more fun experiences for shoppers to shop with their friends,” Lertad promised.

Line Shopping currently has over 450,000 social shops on its platform, covering all product categories, and has over 12 million active users.

Thailand’s e-commerce market is expected to grow from 817 billion baht today to over 4 trillion baht in 2025, according to the Thai e-Commerce Association. Online shopping is the most important driver of the Thai e-commerce market, which is expected to grow by more than 128 per cent to 120 billion baht by 2025.

Nongluck Ajanapanya

Siam Yacht Club – Bangkok’s new unique riverside hangout venue

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https://www.nationthailand.com/business/corporate/40023588

Siam Yacht Club – Bangkok's new unique riverside hangout venue

Siam Yacht Club – Bangkok’s new unique riverside hangout venue

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2022

Nongluck Ajanapanya

Now that Thailand has opened up to foreign tourists, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts is jumping on the bandwagon by offering a new attraction in Bangkok – the Siam Yacht Club.

Michael Schlueter, general manager of Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel and Tower, told the press earlier this week that the aim is to turn Siam Yacht Club into a signature brand of the hotel.

With its unique menu and drinks created by master chefs and mixologists, as well as an astounding view of the Chao Phraya River, Schlueter reckons the Siam Yacht Club will soon become a key Bangkok attraction. He said it will also serve as a new gathering place for like-minded Bangkokians.

Siam Yacht Club – Bangkok's new unique riverside hangout venue

The restaurant, which is set to open in January, has proved to be popular since its soft launch this month, with most tables being reserved daily.

Schlueter said he believes 2023 will be very promising for the tourism and hotel industry, especially with more Indian and Saudi Arabian tourists arriving.

“Siam Yacht Club is a new place to provoke all the senses. It is what it says here: Get ready for a culinary and social experience like no other in Bangkok,” Schlueter said.

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts is part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of hotels in metropolises worldwide.

Siam Yacht Club is part of Sheraton’s new aim to offer everything from public space and food and beverage to flexible meeting spaces.

The restaurant is being opened in time to meet a surge in foreign tourists, especially now that China has decided to lift all travel restrictions and reopen its borders.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand believes Thailand will see more than 18 million tourists next year, generating some 970 billion baht in revenue. This estimate was declared before China announced it was lifting travel restrictions.

Nongluck Ajanapanya

Nation Group eyes at least THB730m from rights issue to support expansion

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https://www.nationthailand.com/business/corporate/40023584

Nation Group eyes at least THB730m from rights issue to support expansion

Nation Group eyes at least THB730m from rights issue to support expansion

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2022

Nation Group (Thailand) Plc’s board of directors has approved a rights offering of 10,847,920,965 shares at 0.53 baht each, the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) was informed on Friday.

Nation Group is aiming to raise at least 730 million baht from this capital increase, to be used as a revolving fund supporting future business expansion under the One Nation strategy.

The company also notified the SET that its board had approved the purchase of all 20,074,998 shares of Thansettakij Multimedia Company Limited (TMM) from News Network Corporation (NEWS) at 11.96 baht per share in a deal totalling 240 million baht. The decision was made earlier in late November.

The acquisition of Thansettakij secures Nation Group’s ownership of TMM’s print and online media, TV programmes, and events and seminars business.

Nation Group CEO Shine Bunnag said the board approved the capital increase and purchase of Thansettakij’s shares to strengthen the media group, as Thansettakij is acknowledged as a leading media entity in the country.

Nation Group is currently among Thailand’s strongest media organisations with a comprehensive stable of brands including Krungthep Turakij, Nation TV, Post Today, Nation Online, Kom Chad Luek, Spring Online, The Nation, OK Nation, Khob Sanam, The People, and Thansettakij, he said.

“The One Nation strategy highlights the strength of Nation Group. All media are synergized across all aspects: administration, personnel management, content management, and the use of innovation and new technology to produce high-quality news and knowledge to serve the public while adhering tightly to professional journalistic ethics,” said Shine.

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Nation Group’s board approves acquisition of Thansettakij for THB240 million

NRF adjusting business, and changing strategy to support future growth

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https://www.nationthailand.com/business/corporate/40023504

NRF adjusting business, and changing strategy to support future growth

NRF adjusting business, and changing strategy to support future growth

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2022

NR Instant Produce Public Company Limited (NRF) is a leading global manufacturer of sustainably produced foods and operates as a manufacturer and distributer of food seasonings, ready-to-cook foods, ready-to-eat foods and beverages, and plant-based proteins with products ranging over 2,000 SKUs and 500 recipes.

NRF was one of the first manufacturers to receive a certification for food manufacturing quality from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and has also passed many quality inspections from regulators such as IFS Food, GMP and the FDA. Moreover, NRF distributes products to more than 30 countries around the world, such as the United States of America and many European countries.

In 2017, Mr. Dan Pathomvanich acquired the Company, and set a policy to make the Company become a leading manufacturer of future foods and investor in food innovations to create a sustainable food ecosystem. This October is the two-year anniversary of NRF being a public company and the company has adjusted its business strategy to 3 main businesses that all fall under the purpose of making food that regenerates the planet.  

NRF adjusting business, and changing strategy to support future growth


Business Group 1: Specialty foods; This business group emphasizes diverse product offerings. The Company offers food products under NRF’s brand that have unique flavors that are according to the consumer’s taste for traditional flavors such as those under the Por Kwan brand and for modern flavors and packaging, such as those under the brands Thai Delight and Sabzu with quality raw materials and production processes that meet international standard. Botany Petcare will focus on plant-based pet food products and market its product under its own brand and become an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for exports to countries in ASEAN and beyond.  Botany Petcare started production in August 2022 following production standards from the Department of Livestock Development.

Business Group 2: E-commerce and Food tech; NRF seeks to increase the Company’s product on online channels due to dramatic changes in consumer behavior after the Covid epidemic. Furthermore, NRF saw opportunities to expand our products through investments in businesses that are popular with online consumers. NRF has acquired Intellectual Prime Labs, WellPath, and SOL Trading which are best selling products on Amazon. Moreover, in Thailand NRF is collaborating with Winnergy Medical Public Company Limited as a strategic partner to be a distributor of products to leading online platforms in Thailand to support the growth of in demand products in an Aging Society.


Business Group 3: Climate Action Food Group: Food transformation; NRF aims to develop food businesses that reduce emissions as the vision of the company is to be a Clean Food Tech Company. This means that NRF will invest and develop into novel food industries that are a part of the fight against climate change such as plant-based foods. NRF has assigned Nove foods, a wholly owned plant-based food subsidiary, to enter a joint venture with Innobic (Asia) in order to launch “alt. Eatery” a plant-based restaurant, café and Mini supermarket at Sukhumvit road. In addition, following the mutual commitment of these two companies to fight climate change, the construction of a jointly invested factory to produce plant-based meat at a capacity of 3000 tons per year is continuing as planned. Moreover, NRF has signed a Moratorium of Understanding (MOU) with PTTOR to further expand the presence of “alt. Eatery”’ in Thailand in 2023.

Grab names top 3 delivery trends for 2023

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https://www.nationthailand.com/business/corporate/40023553

Grab names top 3 delivery trends for 2023

Grab names top 3 delivery trends for 2023

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2022

Nongluck Ajanapanya

The top three delivery trends in the coming year will be healthy foods, afternoon snacks, and subscription-based delivery service, according to the latest Grab study.

The “Delivery Trend Report 2022” surveyed behaviours and attitudes of over 30,000 users of the platform in six Southeast Asian countries – Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand.

It found three big trends emerging as people move into the “new normal” post-pandemic lifestyle.

People are increasingly focused on their health and wellness, which is driving growth of associated products, said Chantsuda Thananitayaudom, senior director of Commercial & Marketing for Grab Thailand, in the report issued on Wednesday.

Healthy and plant-based alternatives are no longer niche, as 74% of Thais say they eat at least one healthy meal every two to three days, and 2 out of 5 consumers have tried plant-based in the last six months.

Meanwhile, as people return to the office, snack breaks at work have become a popular option for group activities. According to the report, 2 out of every 5 Thais snack at least once a day, and 64% admit to ordering snacks for more than one person.

The rising popularity of delivery services is driving up Grab revenue as calculated by delivery Gross Merchandise Value (GMV).

Chantsuda said Grab’s regional GMV soared by 24% in 2022 from last year, with 7 out of 10 consumers polled saying deliveries are now a permanent part of their lives.

“In Q2 2022, Grab’s total transacted delivery sales volume increased by 24% year on year, while average basket sizes of spending via GrabFood and GrabMart increased by 17% year on year,” she added.

Nongluck Ajanapanya

Air purifiers, high-waist jeans, and kitty beds are among Alibaba’s trending products for next year

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https://www.nationthailand.com/business/corporate/40023542

Air purifiers, high-waist jeans, and kitty beds are among Alibaba’s trending products for next year

Air purifiers, high-waist jeans, and kitty beds are among Alibaba’s trending products for next year

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2022

E-commerce will continue roaring ahead next year as sales of medicinal supplements, fashion, and kitchen products surge, e-commerce titan Alibaba said.

Globally, e-commerce sales will surpass US$5 trillion this year, resulting in a surge of money circulating in business-to-business portals.

E-commerce has remained vital for B2B business despite the war in Ukraine, supply chain hiccups, and energy shortages, Alibaba said.

Sales of health and wellness products will rise next year, Alibaba said, citing a survey by the World Economic Forum that found 62% of respondents were more concerned with their health now than they were before the pandemic.

Unease about health and the environment will foster greater use of eco- and health-friendly products, such as medicinal supplements, air purifiers, and reusable water bottles, Alibaba said.

Fashion products, especially shapewear and high-waist jeans, will also see rising demand due to the resumption of social and outdoor activities. Demand for beauty and personal care products, like sleeping masks and  electric toothbrushes, will surge by more than 50% over the next few years, reaching $131 billion in revenue by 2026.

Kitchen items, like portable blenders and air fryers, are likely to post strong sales next year as consumers continue to dine at home. Even after the pandemic, seven out of 10 consumers will continue to cook at home, Alibaba said.

The company also said that home decor products would continue to see high sales, with growth forecast to rise by 4.8% a year. Online sales of home decor products saw revenue of $641.4 billion in 2020, Alibaba said.

Spending on childcare-related products – including baby monitors, swings, and toys – is rising. In the US alone, demand for these goods climbed by 17% in 2021, according to Alibaba.

Demand for pet-care products, like kitty beds, will also rise, it said, citing Google Trends.

Sales of office supplies and gadgets will continue to surge as more people work from home, Alibaba said.

THAI to recruit 300 cabin crew from Jan 1-10 as travel demand takes off

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https://www.nationthailand.com/business/corporate/40023489

THAI to recruit 300 cabin crew from Jan 1-10 as travel demand takes off

THAI to recruit 300 cabin crew from Jan 1-10 as travel demand takes off

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2022

Thai Airways International (THAI) has announced it will recruit another 300 cabin crew from January 1 to 10 amid steady recovery for Thailand’s aviation industry.

The recruitment drive comes after travel demand increased significantly in the fourth quarter of this year, the national carrier said. It expects demand to rise further next year. Demand from China, Thailand’s biggest pre-pandemic tourism market, is expected to soar from January 8 when the country lifts its quarantine requirement for travellers.

“The airline plans to expand flight routes and increase the number of flights from the first quarter next year,” THAI said.

THAI listed the following requirements for applicants:

  • Must be a Thai national
  • Single with no children
  • Bachelor’s degree in any field
  • Not over 27 years old (born after January 1, 1996)
  • Height over 160cm for women and 165cm for men
  • Body mass index of 18.5 to 21 for women and 19-24.5 for men
  • Healthy with no need for eyeglasses
  • Able to swim for 50 metres
  • No tattoos visible while wearing uniform
  • Male applicants must have passed or have been exempted from military service
  • Fully vaccinated with at least two Covid-19 doses
  • English proficiency certification

For more information, visit https://career.thaiairways.com/cabin-crew-recruitment-2023/.

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