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ESG playing bigger role in rating debt issuers in emerging markets: Moody’s (nationthailand.com)

ESG playing bigger role in rating debt issuers in emerging markets: Moody’s

Nov 27. 2020

By The Nation

Moody’s Investors Service reports that 36 per cent of its nearly 1,800 ratings of debt issuers in emerging markets in 2019 involved material environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations, dominated by governance considerations. “

ESG risks are often higher in emerging markets [EMs] than they are in developed markets, while issuers’ capacity to respond to these risks is often also weaker,” said Nishad Majmudar, a Moody’s analyst.

“We expect ESG considerations to become even more material to debt issuers’ credit quality globally – and particular in EMs – given the range and rise of ESG risks such as climate change and public health,” added Majmudar.

Of the nearly 1,800 rating action announcements Moody’s published in 2019 for both private- and public-sector debt issuers in emerging markets (EMs), 36 per cent contained references to material ESG considerations, with many containing multiple references. Cited most often by far was governance, followed by social and then environmental considerations. For public-sector rating actions, environmental and social considerations became more prevalent in 2020 and will continue to rise, said Moody’s.

It added that ESG is more often cited in emerging market public-sector rating actions (65 per cent). This reflected generally weaker institutions and thinner buffers against environmental and social risks in EMs than in developed markets, said the ratings agency. Meanwhile about one-third of private-sector EM announcements cited ESG considerations. Moody’s cited governance four times as often as environmental considerations and nearly six times as often as social considerations. The ESG citations spanned a range of sectors, indicating ESG’s importance and pervasiveness as a credit consideration. Asia-Pacific, and specifically China, account for most citations.

The company said most rating actions citing ESG are directionally neutral. About 65 per cent were affirmations of an existing rating or issuance of a new rating. About 21 per cent were negative rating or outlook actions and 14 per cent were positive. Nearly half of the negative actions were downgrades and about 75 per cent of the negative actions cited environmental considerations.

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Dtac and WHA Group leading Thai industry’s 5G drive (nationthailand.com)

Dtac and WHA Group leading Thai industry’s 5G drive

Nov 27. 2020

By THE NATION

Dtac and WHA Group are showcasing 5G smart water and smart energy management solutions at “5G WHA Smart Ecosystem” exhibitions in Thailand and Southeast Asia.

The 5G solutions support industrial businesses in WHA industrial estates to drive growth through efficient management of infrastructure, energy and resources.

Meanwhile dtac is highlighting 5G Smart Water Management that enables remote and real-time monitoring of pH levels and chemical residues in wastewater. It also facilitates timely management of wastewater levels in ponds to mitigate overflow in the industrial estate. The system is currently being tested in the WHA Eastern Industrial Estate (Map Ta Phut).

The 5G Smart Energy Management enables real-time monitoring and control via live video streaming, contributing to increased safety and lowered costs.

Pictured at dtac’s booth at the 5G WHA Smart Ecosystem exhibition are: Rajiv Bawa (fifth left), chief business officer of Total Access Communication (dtac); Narit Duangkruaratichote (second left), dtac head of IoT and B2B Solutions; Jareeporn Jarukornsakul (centre), chairman and Group CEO, WHA Corporation; David Nardone (sixth left); group executive Industrial and International, WHA Industrial Development; and Kraitos Ongchaisak (third left), CEO, WHA Infonite Co Ltd.

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UOB becomes first bank in Asia to launch smart city finance framework (nationthailand.com)

UOB becomes first bank in Asia to launch smart city finance framework

Nov 27. 2020

By THE NATION

UOB on Thursday kicked off the UOB Smart City Sustainable Finance Framework (UOBSCSFF), the first financing framework to be launched by a bank in Asia that makes sustainable financing more easily accessible to companies contributing to the creation of smart cities.

Aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UOB’s framework is supported via Singapore’s Green and Sustainability-Linked Loan Grant Scheme.

UOB’s framework sets out the criteria corporate and institutional clients must meet when accessing services from green or sustainability-linked loans and trade finance facilities to other banking products.

According to the criteria, the company is required to have a clear sustainability strategy and objectives to achieve their targets and must use the funds to further their sustainability agenda.

Businesses are also required to demonstrate how their activities promote a better quality of life such as through the use of renewable energy, construction of green buildings, improved energy efficiency, green transportation, sustainable water and waste management and climate change adaptation. UOB will monitor the company’s use of the loan and the environmental and social impact its business activities have on an annual basis.

Companies committed to building sustainable and smart cities can apply for sustainable financing without having to develop their own financing framework which can take time and resources. This means that they can focus their resources on contributing to a better environment for all.

Frederick Chin, head of UOB’s Group Wholesale Banking and Markets, said: “The UN estimates that US$2.5 trillion is required annually for developing countries to bridge the financing gap in achieving the SDGs by 2030. Financial institutions can and must play a part, together with governments and businesses, to help channel more funds to sustainable development. Such efforts will go a long way in making the cities of Asia more sustainable and liveable.”

The bank also launched the UOB Real Estate Sustainable Finance Framework last year to help finance the construction of sustainable buildings.

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Nestle invests over Bt4 billion to expand operations in Thailand (nationthailand.com)

Nestle invests over Bt4 billion to expand operations in Thailand

Nov 26. 2020Victor Seah, chairman and chief executive officer of Nestlé Indochina 

By The Nation

Global food and beverage giant Nestle announced that it is investing more than Bt4.5 billion to expand production at its three factories in Thailand as well as improve its presence online.

This move will also expand the number of Nestle products that are available to Thai consumers.

Victor Seah, chairman and chief executive officer of Nestlé Indochina, said: “Even though this is a challenging year, Nestlé believes in the Thai market and sees strong potential for long-term growth.

“This is why we invested in three key factories, in Amata and Bangchan as well as the Navanakorn 7 UHT plant. They will serve increased demand in pet food, ice cream and UHT beverage markets.”

Strengthening pet food portfolio

With more people treating pets as friends and family, the demand for pet food in Thailand has increased substantially. Even with the Covid-19 outbreak, with many consumers reducing spending in other categories, pet food is still seen as a necessity.

They are also willing to pay more for better quality, premium products for their pets.

Nestlé is investing Bt2.55 billion to build a new factory in the Amata industrial estate to boost its production capacity and strengthen its pet food portfolio. Production will start in mid-2021.

Introducing product innovations

Nestlé’s factory in Minburi’s Bangchan industrial estate produces ice cream. To satisfy consumers’ need for indulgence, Nestlé continually introduces innovations into the ice cream market, such as mochi ice cream that rides on the market trend of Korean and Japanese ice cream flavours.

Nestlé allocated Bt440 million to expand production lines at the Bangchan factory in October this year.

Healthy products in green packaging

The new Navanakorn 7 UHT plant produces Nestlé’s UHT product range such as Milo and Bear brand milk. Research from Nielsen shows that UHT products in the cow’s milk and chocolate malt beverage categories will grow at close to 3 per cent over the next three years, demonstrating Thai consumers’ preference for on-the-go products that are healthy and convenient.

To capture this opportunity, Nestlé allocated Bt1.530 billion, which began ramping up production in May 2020. This state-of-the-art facility reflects the global eco-trend by introducing recyclable packaging innovations. For example, Milo UHT is the first UHT product in Thailand to come with a paper straw, which aims to eliminate the use of over 500 million plastic straws in 2021.

In addition to supporting Nestlé’s ambition to have 100 per cent recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025, these three factories have environmentally-friendly production processes that reduce the company’s carbon footprint, energy use, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions while creating zero landfill.

Adopting technology to drive e-commerce

“Before Covid-19, the e-commerce market was expected to grow 30 per cent. But during Covid-19, we saw acceleration across all categories.

“To respond to digital trends, Nestlé established an e-Business team in 2018. Since then, we have made ongoing investments in both people and systems, with a total investment this year of Bt50 million.

“In addition, we have invested in building up our own marketing and advertising technology and data management systems. This will allow us to offer more personalised services, products, and communications that suit consumers’ needs,” Seah added.