RS said in a release that it aims to push revenues for its MPC business in the second quarter to reach a new high and to increase its database to exceed 1.5 million customers. The new campaign is expected to generate Bt300 million, a 70 per cent increase.

Pornpan Techarungchaikul, chief operating officer of RS Public Company Limited, said, “The economy in Thailand is on the rise once again, which boosts the confidence in the business sector because purchasing power has returned thanks to new measures introduced by the government to stimulate the economy.

“This benefits the commercial sector in many ways, including our multi-platform commerce (MPC) business which is mainly through 1781 Shop and offers free delivery nationwide and cash-on-delivery payment. Our MPC business has been well-received as it suits consumer behaviour in the 4.0 era.”

The company has joined forces with leading strategic partners to further drive our business through its mid-year sale, he said, adding that RS is investing more than Bt100 million for marketing, advertising and public relations to create a new shopping experience.

Up to 80 per cent discounts will be offered by leading brands through special deals and promotions, as well as free gifts, to certain customers as a reward for their trust and support.

This campaign is expected to drive purchase decision of consumers, said the release. Currently, the company claims 1.2 million customers in its database, the majority being in their 30s and older. About 20 per cent are based in Bangkok and surrounding provinces, and 80 per cent located in other provinces. On average, a customer spends Bt2,500 per transaction. This campaign is expected to draw in more customers and expand its customer base to 1.5 million, according to the release.

“We expect to see a 20 per cent increase in customers and generate Bt300 million through this campaign. The 11-day campaign will drive the MPC business in the second quarter and take our company’s revenue up to our targeted Bt5 billion,” Pornpan said.

All of BGRIM’s solar projects in Vietnam were successfully synchronised with the grid of Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), the offtaker, on June 3 for Dau Tieng 1, June 10 for Phu Yen TTP and June 13 for Dau Tieng 2.

“It is a successful startup, right on time and heralds a new era for the renewal energy scene in Vietnam while also representing a new significant revenue stream for BGRIM,” said BGRIM chief executive Preeyanart Soontornwata.

At the feed-in-tariff of 9.35 US cents (Bt3) per kilowatt hour, the two solar Photovoltaic ventures will provide steady power sale revenue to BGRIM over the next 20 years.

The commencement of the two solar PV projects lifts BGRIM’s total installed generating capacity already in commercial production by 31 per cent and boosts the contribution of renewal energy in the company’s total portfolio from 10 per cent to 30 per cent.

With Dau Tieng 1-2 billed as the largest solar facility in Southeast Asia to date with a total capacity of 420 MW, and the 257-MW Phu Yen, BGRIM operates 45 power projects with a combined installed capacity of 2,892 MW.

BGRIM’s power houses currently in production include 17 thermal, 24 solar, three hydropower and one diesel.

The company has 11 power projects under construction and development, which will raise BGRIM’s total generating portfolio to 3,245 MW in 2022.

BGRIM is actively pursuing expand investment opportunities both at home and abroad to achieve its mission to grow its portfolio to 5,000 MW in 2022.

BGRIM has been mandated by the Vietnamese government to explore additional renewable energy investment projects.

Under construction are several wind power projects in Vietnam which are expected to be finalised by this year-end.

Moreover, BGRIM has joined with alliance partners to study the feasibility of investing in many projects in South Korea, Malaysia, Cambodia, and the Philippines, both in the forms of creating greenfield projects and acquisitions.

It added and that it has recently received affected Chinese suppliers’ requests for more orders.

The company’s management are working to raise OEM share to 50 per cent within two years from the current level of 30 per cent as a way to cut production cost and cope with future minimum labour wage hikes, while maintaining the manufacturing processes under rigorous control to ensure that the products will meet the same quality standards as those achieved for Sabina’s own brands.

Bunchai said the company was confirming its no-layoff policy but will not accept new workers to replace those resigning, and that the increase in the OEM activities involving production of the company’s products at Chinese factories will not lead to a need to enhance production capacity and build or expand factories but will improve the production efficiency and the company’s capability to meet rising demand for (and sales of) products that are processed under rigorous control.

The company also stands ready to enjoy a baht appreciation given the Fed’s potential decision to cut interest rates earlier than expected, which will keep down the cost of importing OEM products from China. It seeks to increase marketing spending to boost purchases over the second half of the year, Bunchai Punturaumporn, chief executive of Sabina PCL (ticker symbol: SABINA), the manufacturer and supplier of Sabina lingerie products.

Toh said in an interview with The Nation that the Singapore-based ride-hailing giant feels extremely positive about its business outlook for 2020 and beyond, having the largest number of rides in the market.

“We are investing in Myanmar for the long term and have put the building blocks in place to bring positive impact to different communities,” she said.

The firm has enjoyed an average 30 per cent increase in daily bookings since June last year, said Toh.

“This is extremely encouraging, because Grab users are also adopting cashless payments with a 10 per cent increase in the use of GrabPay over the same time period.”

To date, nearly 2 million people in Myanmar have downloaded the application, suggesting that users have embraced Grab’s safety features and the convenience of upfront, fixed fares.

“While we have taken strides in Myanmar since our launch in 2017, we believe the journey here is just the beginning,” she said.

In Myanmar, Grab is now in Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan, and will be expanding its ride-hailing services later this year. It will soon introduce the web-booking service for hotels and multi-site offices to efficiently book more rides through an online portal, and will offer hourly and daily car bookings in Mandalay. Available packages include tour options and oneway trips to Pyin Oo Lwin, Sagaing and Innwa.

“Our expansion plans are always influenced by the needs of residents in each city. Grab users are always encouraged to try beta versions of our new services,” she said.

“In Yangon, we have the largest driver-partner base among all ride-hailing providers. On average, we register several hundred new driver-partners each month.”

In Mandalay, the GrabThoneBane driver base has increased by 50 per cent since January this year. GrabBike and GrabTaxi are also service options found in Mandalay, and the firm is also working with more than 50 drivers in Bagan to serve foreign and domestic visitors.

As the commercial hub of Myanmar, Yangon continues to mainly drive the firm’s business, accounting for 90 per cent of Grab passengers. The passenger and driver base in Mandalay and Bagan is also on the rise, said Toh.

She stressed the importance of caring for the needs of thousands of driver-partners in Myanmar. She lauded the efforts of the Partner Care team whose members work behind the scenes to assist drivers – from inspections of vehicle safety conditions, registrations and licensing, to the education of customer service best practices and trouble-shooting the software.

Through its partnership with locally-owned CB Bank, the firm has brought thousands of driver-partners into the digital banking ecosystem. The partnership results in the safe-keeping of drivers’ earnings, ensuring easy cashout at the bank’s automated teller machines at any time.

“Our goal is always to deliver the best possible experience for drivers and passengers. We believe we are best placed to help transform Myanmar’s transportation sector further,” she said.

“This can happen by making strategic investments in product and technology development, quality driver recruitment, and a focused commitment to out-serving all users on our platform.”

As more and more passengers and driver-partners enjoy the safety, comfort and convenience of Grab services, the firm gets a bit closer to its primary goal of improving lives and providing value-added services to Myanmar and its people, said Toh.

In 2017, the firm announced its plan to invest US$100 million (Bt3.1 billion) in Myanmar over three years. Toh said the firm stressed the importance of investing in local talents and building an independent local operation, as it can better position them to understand local issues and deliver real solutions to local needs.

The firm now has more than 100 employees, with 99 per cent of them local talents, including leadership comprised of repats and young professionals across Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan who have a passion to see their motherland be fruitful.

“We will continue to scale up our workforce according to our operational needs and the rollout of new services in the months to come,” she said.

“Rooting ourselves in Myanmar means we can accelerate digital literฌacy and the adoption of technology services when users need it most.”

Toh takes pride in the increasing number of business rides with Grab, with more than 100 companies in Myanmar having adopted Grab for Business services for corporate travel. They include private, public and multinational companies from various industries operating in Yangon and Mandalay.

“Our mission will expand beyond transport services. As a technology platform, our team is constantly workฌing on other solutions for Myanmar companies in order to drive efficiency, help retailers gain more market exposure, and provide safer solutions for the general public,” she said.