Book Expo Thailand 2022 attracts 1.3 million attendants and generates THB347 million
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022
The Book Expo Thailand 2022 concluded with 1.3 million attendants who spent 347 million baht during the 12-day event, said the Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand (PUBAT) on Thursday.
This year’s expo, held under the concept of ‘Booktopia: Utopia for book lovers’ from October 12-23, returned to its original site, Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre for the first time since the centre went under renovation in mid 2019.
PUBAT president Thipsuda Sinchawarnwat said a total of 1,355,893 book lovers have visited the event throughout 12 days, with a high volume of visitors seen on the weekend of October 22-23, during King Chulalongkorn Memorial Day.
Total sales of books during the event were recorded at 347,331,734 baht, increasing 74 per cent from the previous book fair held in March this year. “This shows that the reading trend is bouncing back and people still prefer buying physical books,” said Thipsuda.
Best-selling genres this year are novels, literatures, cartoons, and young adult books, respectively.
Apart from booths selling Thai and international books, the fair also featured various activities including the Booktopia exhibition, Reader Road, Envelope Letters of the Wall, Book Blind Date, and Book Playlist.
Thipsuda said the most popular activity this year, despite being available for only a few days, is the “Human Book” in the Live-Brary zone by PUBAT and publishing partners.
PUBAT will host the next book fair on March 30-April 9 next year at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, and will use suggestions it received for this year’s expo to further improve the next event.
Discover professional audiovisual and integrated experience technology solutions that are transforming and equipping businesses for the tech-hungry post-pandemic world.
October 14, 2022, Bangkok – InfoComm Southeast Asia which debuted in 2019 was a huge success. Now, after the Covid-resultant pause, the Show is back – as an in-person show, with access to new pre-show planning and engagement tools that will enhance the visitor experience. InfoComm Southeast Asia 2022 will take place from 2 to 4 November at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC).
InfoComm Southeast Asia is the region’s premier Professional AudioVisual (Pro-AV) and Transformative Technology tradeshow, featuring trailblazing international and local solution providers. Powerful solutions on show and insightful learning sessions cater to a spectrum of industries, including the government sectors of transportation, public security and defense, education, healthcare, hospitality, retail, and others.
The Show specially caters to AV industry players as well as embedded technology decision-makers and business end-users. For these stakeholders who are serious about transforming their organization and growing their business in and beyond the post-pandemic landscape, this is a show not to be missed.
“After the 2-year hiatus due to the global pandemic, InfoComm Southeast Asia is happy to once again bring together Pro-AV technology providers and business users; technology experts, industry leaders and open minds ready to learn,” said Richard Tan, Executive Director of InfoCommAsia. “Much has changed in terms of available tech-enhanced solutions and marketplace needs and trends. So, besides the opportunity for all stakeholders to reconnect face-to-face, InfoComm Southeast Asia 2022 is going to be an exciting space for visitors and delegates as they get up close and personal with exhibitors and experts – the drivers of tomorrow’s technology and solutions. The Show is the place to seek out the most advanced Pro-AV ideas to-date, to create and deliver an exceptional customer experience in an increasingly hybrid world.”
THE EXHIBITION
Transformative Solutions for All Industries
The world has just begun to emerge from a painful yet revitalizing lesson. It has learnt the urgency of technology adoption and the importance of constant upgrading along with technological evolution, to be future-ready and disruption-proof. Increased technology implementation and integration lead to greater reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) to mitigate the consequent increase in security risks. This reality is already fast unfolding, driven by Pro-AV technologies, making InfoComm Southeast Asia an important show for AV and IT professionals and business decision-makers.
InfoComm Southeast Asia is where entrepreneurs, business leaders and technical professionals will discover the latest Pro-AV solutions that are transforming every industry. More than 130 exhibiting companies from over 20 participating countries will gather under one roof to showcase their innovations for the post-pandemic marketplace. These include brands like Epson, Lenovo, Microsoft, Panasonic, Philips, and more. Visitors can expect to see:
• Large screen, projection mapping, AR/VR solutions for live events, museums, education and simulation training • Security, flood and surveillance monitoring systems for network operations centers • Control and automation solutions for smart city management • Room automation and centralized systems for smart homes and offices • Collaborative conferencing systems for in-person and hybrid meetings • Smart classrooms • Digital signage and display solutions for advertising and information • Virtual and hybrid learning solutions … and more
DISCOVER SOLUTIONS WITH vBOOTH
Pre-Show Engagement for Better Show Experience
To enhance show experience for visitors, InfoComm Southeast Asia has introduced facilitative tools on the Show website. These tools will allow solution-seekers to identify exhibitors that have those solutions, and connect with them.
• An intuitive business matching system instantaneously presents visitors with a list of exhibitors, based on their industry and the solutions they seek. • vBooth gives every exhibitor a dedicated page online, where visitors can explore the exhibitor’s solutions via multimedia presentations. Information will include the exhibitor’s range of solutions as well as products and solutions being presented at the Show. • Business card drop facility lets visitors leave their details for callback by exhibitors, and appointment scheduler allows visitors to pre-arrange meet-ups with exhibitors at the Show.
All these will help visitors organize their visit way before the Show begins. Fully-utilised, visitors can look forward to a productive time at InfoComm Southeast Asia 2022.
THE SUMMIT
Insights into Developments and Trends for Informed Business Decisions
Concurrent to an exciting show floor is the InfoComm Southeast Asia 2022 Summit line-up. Multiple conference tracks cater to different industries and learner profiles. Delegates can look forward to more than 30 free-to-attend learning sessions in the form of keynotes, panel discussion and case studies.
Tracks for Vertical Market Solution-seekers and AV Professionals • The two-day NIXT Summit focuses on end-to-end emerging tech solutions for businesses. Sessions delve into the successes and challenges of digital transformation practices in industries and enterprises.
Tracks for AV Professionals and Technology Decision-makers • AVIXA Seminars help AV professionals stay in touch with technical updates, industry practices and trends across various industries and application scenarios. • Asia AV Leaders Connect (By invite-only) gathers the AV industry’s C-suite and directorate leaders across Asia for the exchange of intelligence; discussions on geopolitical and economic concerns as well as emerging technology trends and disruptions; and identification of growth opportunities. • AV Managers Day sessions are designed for mid-level AV managers and use real-life case studies to delve into AV project challenges and how to overcome them.
There is also the AV Technical Tour which offers an opportunity to see Pro-AV solutions in situ. The “Smart Traffic Systems – Expressway Traffic Management Centre and Control Rooms” tour will take delegates into the very heart of command and control scenarios, where condition monitoring, situational management, emergency response, etc are critical. Visitors can learn how advanced technologies and control systems enable the Expressway Authority of Thailand to effectively and efficiently provide the best experience for expressway users.
For the full Summit line-up and latest updates, please visit the official Show website at www.infocomm-sea.com.
REGISTRATION IS OPEN
Admission to Exhibition and Summit is Free
InfoComm Southeast Asia 2022 will be at BITEC from November 2-4 (Days 1 and 2: 10am – 6pm; Day 3: 10am – 4pm local time). Visitors can register to visit the Show at www.infocomm-sea.com. Admission is free.
Human resources is often considered to be the people who look after documents, holidays, and benefits. But human resources is more than that, especially for DTGO.
At DTGO, human resources follows the concept of “Do Good, Do Great, Do It with Happiness”. Ms. Kannikar Sethi, Executive Vice President, explains the group’s culture, which recently won the HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2022 (Thailand Edition) award from HR Asia magazine.
Q: How does DTGO develop its people under the concept of “Do Good, Do Great, Do It with Happiness”?
A: At DTGO, human resource management is called “Corporate Culture Development”, we believe that culture is the key to developing human potential. Building a corporate culture is therefore our main task. We don’t have employees but “organization members” because membership means participation in a society with duties and roles.
This is about “People Branding” or creating a society of smart and good-hearted people according to the DTGO “Core Values”. We look to develop talented and ethical people who enjoy giving. Before our members can apply our core values in the world, they must have coherent principles and values to succeed.
Our organization’s name reflects its values in 4 letters: D, T, G, O.
D is for “Dynamic”, which means to honor your words and your time. Keeping your word is to honor yourself and others so that you receive trust and support in everything you do. Our time in life is precious and limited. Once it’s gone, we cannot regain even a second. We must throw ourselves into what we aim to do. If we follow both principles, we’ll be dynamic and successful. T is for “Teamwork”. We must work as a team, always ready to help one another, respectful of others and grateful for their differences, which lets everyone reach their potential to bring success to the team. G is for “Goodwill”, which involves “Good thoughts, good words, good deeds”, the basis of humanity in every society. O is for “Open-Minded”, to listen and think positively. Open-mindedness and positive thinking are the key to happiness. Generosity helps us listen carefully and opens a boundless sea of knowledge.
Apart from the “Core Values” that help enhance our corporate culture, we have 21 “Good People” life principles and the 14 precepts of our “Moral Code”, which guide our members in how to think, speak, and treat each other, aiming to create community full of love and unity to benefit people at large.
In the part of “Do Great”, we support limitless learning for our members, under a “University Model” for them to select and manage their personalized training. We have career choices for members to choose a path aligned with their interests and abilities. They can plan their roadmap through an “Individual Development Plan”, setting challenges and creating constant diverse career opportunities.
Finally, we believe everyone performs well when they are happy. We take care of our members in all aspects, including their physical, emotional, economic, and social well-being. An appropriate workplace helps ensure good quality of life, and happiness, leaving members free from stress and ready to work and live a meaningful life each day.
DTGO doesn’t prioritize profit. We create a culture where members think of contributing to society first, under the philosophy of Senior Chairman Dhanin Chearavanont: “All our undertakings, to which we devote our intellect, our strength, and our time, must benefit the people at large, the society we live in, our organization, and all other stakeholders.”
Q: Which key factor led DTGO to become one of the best organizations to work for in Asia?
The HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2022 (Thailand Edition) award from HR Asia Magazine comes from building the strong corporate culture I’ve described.
DTGO has a “Mother Tree” concept. We see DTGO as a forest. Big trees pass on nutrients, information, and alerts to other plants to keep the forest in balance.
DTGO’s organigram therefore has top management at its base not its top. They are like the roots that help their subordinates – the trunk, leaves, and branches – to grow and bear fruit. What matters most is a nurturing leader with a giving mindset who can inspire subordinates to grow happily, bloom and bear fruit, creating a strong ecosystem. We believe in roles rather than positions, so we use forest roles. The Chairman, for example, is Taproot Captain and the CEO is Root Captain, moving along the tree to the tips of the leaves. Our understanding of our roles lets us work across functional lines to be flexible, not sticking to the original format.
Q: How did DTGO develop into a learning organization?
A: We believe that everyone who joins us is talented. But we want to help people gain new skills. We have a wide variety of businesses, not just real estate but also finance, investment, entertainment. Everyone who works with us, regardless of their expertise, will eventually gain new skills.
For our people to learn new skills we also need a learning strategy that meets different needs and levels of expertise. We have compulsory courses for core values. Other skills are in the “Individual Development Plan”, which always assesses core competencies. We also encourage members to study outside the organization.
Q: Can you explain DTGO’s work anywhere policy, predating COVID?
A: In a few months it’ll be 2023. We’re going through a pandemic that has changed the whole world of work. People are now used to working together without having to sit in the same place.
But this is not unusual for us. The company’s “Work Anywhere” policy was piloted before the COVID-19 pandemic because we understand the world must change. The new generation has different needs from the old generation. We looked into it and found there was no need to come and sit and work at the office for effective working.
With our mission to be a global organization, flexible remote working lets us work across the world with foreign partners. This policy is therefore a key element to achieve that goal.
Next year, DTGO will focus even more on diversity and inclusion. This is another challenge in the world of work as everything changes fast. The group now has many generations as well as members working in branches around the world.
It’s crucial to create an organizational culture that values diversity and participation. The ultimate answer is giving everyone equal opportunities, regardless of age or gender, under the vision of an organization that nurtures everyone’s happiness, goodness, and talent.
Thai corporates investing THB300m in 5G pro hub to promote e-sports and digital tech
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2022
Nongluck Ajanapanya
Three Thai corporate giants, Siam Piwat, True Group and Kantana, have teamed up to launch “True 5G Pro Hub” in an effort to support and advance the nation’s e-sports community.
The space is also intended to encourage and educate the country’s young generation about digital technology.
Kantana will be in charge of running the hub, while True will support digital technology devices and equipment, including the 5G network, and Siam Piwat Group will provide the location and oversee the hub’s decoration and maintenance.
Each party will contribute around 100 million baht, for a total of 300 million baht, to run the hub for three years.
(From Left) Jatuporn Laosongchitra, Piroon Paireepairit and Jiraj Kaljaruek
Piroon Paireepairit, strategy committee and head of working group 5G, True Corporation, said at a press conference on Wednesday that the fund includes a budget for holding events, such as e-sport tournaments during this time period.
“This area is expected to be a one-stop shop for e-sports, with space for large tournaments and a community that caters to the needs of both amateurs and professionals. It will also be a new world in which new generation people will be able to use cutting-edge technology to endlessly expand their future skills,” said Piroon.
He insisted that the “True 5G Pro Hub” will accommodate the needs of the three new generation lifestyles of gamers and e-sports participants, Generation Z lifestyles, and future skills.
The hub is currently under construction on the 4th floor of Siam Discovery, said Jatuporn Laosongchitra, senior vice president – core business development, Siam Piwat. One-third of the 2,000 square metres of space have been completed.
It will be officially opened for full service on December 20.
“We believe that ‘True 5G Pro Hub’ will be a new destination for new generation people in the future, full of opportunities for expanding business,” Jatuporn noted.
Jiraj Kaljaruek, director of content and marketing at Kantana Group, a leading content and production company in Thailand, said that the “True 5G Pro Hub” will be another important milestone in driving Thailand’s digital economy to sustainable growth with an economic value of up to 37.6 billion baht.
He emphasised that this is not only an extension and development of the e-sports industry but also skills and lifestyles that the younger generation are interested in, as well as future skills with digital connections.
The hub will be divided into five zones: gaming zone for amateur players to share their skills, private VIP zones for professional players seeking privacy, arena zones for events and e-sports competitions, future skills training zones, and food and beverage services.
The partnership of these three leading companies in real estate, technology and content production highlights the potential growth of Thailand’s e-sports and gamers industry. According to statista.com, the revenue in the e-sports market could reach $5.94 million in 2022. Meanwhile, revenue is expected to grow at a 12.25 per cent per annum, resulting in a market volume of $10.58 million by 2027.
Academics divided on the impact of conditions set for True-DTAC merger
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2022
The conditions for the merger of True Corporation and Total Access Communication (DTAC) will benefit the telecom industry, a telecommunications academic said on Wednesday.
Suebsak Suebpakdee said the conditions should be applied to all operators in the industry to ensure maximum benefits for consumers.
The regulator, National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), last Thursday voted 3:2 in favour of the proposed merger.
The conditions set for the merged entity include service fee controls and ceiling, independent verification of cost structures and service pricing for at least five years after the merger, market space for the operation of mobile virtual network operators, and separate rates for voice, data and messaging services.
In addition, True and DTAC must use their existing brand names – True Move H Universal Communications (TUC) and Dtac TriNet (DTN) – for three years before they can adopt a new brand name and share their respective frequencies.
“We are confident that the merger will not cause unfair competition or negatively impact consumers,” he said, adding that the merger will instead improve the telecommunication sector’s efficiency and regional competitiveness.
However, Assistant Prof Suchart Tripopsakul, from Bangkok University’s School of Entrepreneurship and Management, said earlier that conditions prioritising consumer benefits may disrupt True and DTAC’s future strategy.
Suchart said the three-year embargo would affect True and DTAC’s plan to combine their strengths to attract more users, the core purpose of the merger. This condition alone would cost True and DTAC the opportunity to become the market leader immediately after the merger, he added.
Bankers warn US, Europe economic slowdown may tame Thailand’s roaring exports
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022
Economists from two leading banks warned on Thursday that the economic slowdown in the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union may put a damper on Thailand’s hot exports.
The economists, from Kasikorn Research Centre and TTB Analytics Forecast Centre, were commenting on the country’s export performance in September, which beat expectations.
The Commerce Ministry had reported that September’s exports worth US$24.91 billion (941.4 billion baht) expanded by 7.8 per cent, growing for the 19th consecutive month.
The ministry said that during the first nine months of the year, exports valued at $221.3 billion grew by 10.6 per cent.
Kasikorn Research Centre managing director Chao Kengchon said export growth for September was earlier predicted at only 4-5 per cent, but a much higher growth was recorded.
Chao said the impressive performance was attributed to an easing in inadequate supplies of semiconductors, allowing manufacturers of motorcycles and vehicles to resume production for export.
The easing semiconductor shortage also allowed factories that make computer parts to resume manufacturing for export, he added.
Besides, the weakening baht had made Thai goods more competitive, Chao said.
He noted that September’s economic figures were good because both imports and the trade deficit slowed down to $25.7 billion and $853.2 million, respectively.
But he warned that the clear downtrend of economic growth in the US, the EU and the UK would affect Thailand’s exports in the last three months of the year.
With a slowdown in major economies, high inflation rates and possible interest rate rises posing a serious challenge, Thailand’s export growth might slow to 7-8 per cent this year or 2-3 per cent next year, Chao said.
However, Kasikorn Research Centre expects the trade deficit to slow down in the fourth quarter to end at $16.8 billion as global oil prices are likely to fall.
The centre also expects the current account deficit to drop during the remaining months of the year and it might even turn into a slight surplus next year because of a healthy tourism sector revival, with 10 million foreign arrivals likely this year and 20 million in 2023.
The centre has maintained its economic growth prediction at 2.8 per cent this year and 3 per cent next year, Chao added.
Meanwhile, TTB Analytics Forecast Centre chief Naris Sathapholdeja said that although September’s exports were higher than predictions, exports could slow down during the remaining months of 2022 due to a global economic slowdown.
TTB Analytics predicted that export growth this year would be about 5 per cent.
While Kasikorn saw a downtrend in imports, Naris warned that if imports did not slow down in line with exports, the current account deficit could widen and hurt the country’s economy.
Naris voiced concern that imports continued to expand by two digits, or 15 per cent, in September although it was lower than the predicted 20 per cent.
However, Naris said, the current account received a positive factor from the improving service account thanks to the increase in foreign arrivals.
He said TTB Analytics expected foreign arrivals to reach 10 million this year, which would help bring down the current account deficit to about 1.5 per cent of GDP.
If the number of foreign arrivals next year rises to 15 million, the current account will not see a deficit but reach a balance, Naris said.
However, if the number of foreign arrivals is higher than 15 million, the current account will enjoy a surplus in the second quarter and GDP would expand by 2.8 per cent next year, he added.
Thailand records deficit of over THB600 billion in 9 months
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022
Thailand faced a deficit of more than 600 billion baht from January to September this year due to the impact of rising fuel prices on import costs, the Commerce Ministry reported on Thursday.
The kingdom saw a US$14.98 billion (624.78 billion baht) deficit as imports in the first nine months totalled $236.35 billion, up 20.7 per cent year on year, higher than exports worth $221.36 billion, a rise of 10.6 per cent year on year.
The country has recorded a trade deficit for five consecutive years since 2017.
“Even though Thailand had a trade deficit in the first nine months, the country witnessed export growth for 19 consecutive months,” the ministry said.
It expected exports during the remainder of the year to total $20.5 billion-$25 billion, a growth of 8 per cent.
Even though exports expanded, they are likely to slow due to global economic uncertainty and the risk of a recession in partner countries, the ministry said.
Exports to main and secondary markets expanded by 10.6 per cent and 2.9 per cent, respectively – the US (up 26.2%), Asean (up 9%) CLMV (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam) (up 26.3%), and the European Union (up 18%), the ministry reported.
However, exports to other markets shrank by an overall 40.3 per cent, such as Switzerland (down 4.5%).
“The Commerce Ministry expects Thai exports to gain positive sentiment from an unravelling supply shortage and the weakening baht,” the ministry noted.
It vowed to closely monitor exports as these would be affected by an economic recession in overseas markets amid high inflation and a penchant for interest rate hikes.
NESDC counters World Bank, insists Thailand’s poverty situation has improved
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022
The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) on Thursday argued that Thailand’s poverty rate had improved contrary to a recent World Bank report.
NESDC secretary-general Danucha Pichayanan said Thailand’s poverty rate declined from 6.83 per cent in 2020 to 6.32 per cent in 2021 and the number of poor people fell from 4.7 million in 2020 to 4.4 million.
The report stated that from 2015, Thailand’s progress in poverty reduction slowed down and poverty actually rose in 2016, 2018 and 2020 because of a slowing economy, stagnating farm and business incomes and the Covid-19 pandemic.
“In 2020, the poverty rate was over 3 percentage points higher in rural areas than in urban zones and the rural poor outnumbered urban poor by almost 2.3 million,” the report says.
“The majority of the poor (79 per cent) live in rural areas, mainly in agricultural households.”
Danucha explained that the Covid-19 crisis caused the Thai economy to severely contract at the rate of 6.2 per cent in 2020, causing the number of unemployed workers to rise to 650,000.
He said the unemployment rate in 2020 increased by 74.4 per cent from the previous year, while economic contraction caused the poverty rate in 2020 to rise to 6.83 per cent, compared to 6.26 per cent in 2019 when the number of the poor was 4.3 million.
The World Bank report also stated that the distribution of poverty was uneven across geographic regions, with the poverty rate in the South and Northeast almost double the national level.
“In 2019, the average monthly income of rural households was around 68 per cent of urban households,” the report went on to state.
“Rural households in the Northern region have the lowest average income.”
But Danucha said most unemployed workers, who returned home to their provinces during the Covid crisis, returned to work as farmers and the farming sector helped absorb the impact from the crisis.
He also noted that in 2020, the farming sector benefited from the rising prices of agricultural crops, allowing farmers to have increased income.
Meanwhile, the prices of farm products rose by 6.05 per cent in 2020, allowing farmers to have higher income at an average rate of 2.27 per cent, Danucha said.
According to him, per capita income between 2019 and 2020 showed that people in rural areas saw their income increase more than those living in urban areas.
In 2019, the average income for rural people was about 7,588 baht per head per month and rose to 8,130 baht, a 7.14 per cent increase, Danucha pointed out.
He said the average income of urban people was 11,712 baht per head per month in 2019, and this rose to 12,018 baht in 2021, a 2.61 per cent increase.
The poverty rate by region in 2021 showed that the South had the highest poverty rate of 11.6 per cent with 1.1 million poor people, followed by the Northeast (11.5%), North (6.84%), Central (3.24%) and Bangkok (0.49%).
The World Bank report also stated that with an income Gini coefficient of 43.3 per cent in 2019, Thailand had the highest income inequality level in East Asia.
Danucha said Thailand’s income Gini coefficient was on the downtrend but he admitted that the impact from the Covid crisis caused the rate to rise from 0.429 in 2020 to 0.430 in 2021.
He said after Thailand’s economy slowed to 2.2 per cent growth in 2019, compared to 4.2 per cent the previous year, the Thai government has been using several stimulus measures to revive the economy.
The measures helped the economy expand by 1.5 per cent in 2021, compared to a 6.2 per cent contraction in 2020, and the unemployment rate in the fourth quarter of 2021 fell to 1.6 per cent compared to 1.9 per cent in the same period of the previous year.
The driving force of the economic revival in 2021 helped the economy expand by 2.3 per cent in the first quarter of this year and 2.5 per cent in the second quarter, while the unemployment rate in the second quarter of this year dropped to 1.4 per cent, the lowest since the Covid pandemic, Danucha added.
Baht could continue strengthening to 37.50: market strategist
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022
The baht opened at 37.65 to the US dollar on Thursday, strengthening from Wednesday’s close of 37.75.
The currency will likely move between 37.50 and 37.75 against the greenback during the day, Krungthai market strategist Poon Panichpibool predicted.
He said market concerns that the US Federal Reserve might increase the interest rate at the end of the year have eased, which has led to a weakening of the dollar.
Meanwhile, the gold price is increasing and foreign investors have returned to purchase long-term bonds worth 6 billion baht for the first time in several weeks.
These factors have caused the baht to strengthen more than expected and exceed its support level of between 37.80 and 37.90 to the dollar, Poon said, adding that the baht might strengthen even more and head past its next support level of between 37.40 and 37.50 if these factors remain.
However, he warned investors to beware of market volatility as results of a key European Central Bank (ECB) meeting are announced.
Investors might sell the euro for profit and cause the currency to weaken if the ECB does not signal a rapid increase in the interest rate or shows concern for an intensified economic slowdown, even though the bank is expected to increase the rate by 0.75 per cent, he said.
Poon advised investors to use hedging tools such as options to manage risks in a highly volatile currency market.
“The Collectors” launched at Thailand Game Show 2022 as the first game in Thailand that focuses on environmental protection and sustainable development
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2022
Charoen Pokphand Group and True Digital Plus join hands with partners from the government, private sector, and civil society with expertise in sustainable development and video game development to launch a new sustainability-themed mobile game at Thailand Game Show 2022, Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC).
These partners include the Department of International Organizations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council, the United Nations Development Programme, the SDG Research and Support Programme (SDG Move), and True Axion Interactive Co., Ltd. The Collectors is a game about collecting trash and protecting the planet. As the first game in Thailand that highlight the principles of sustainable development, The Collectors represents a new dimension in mobile gaming.
The Collectors was developed from a prototype game about sorting and recycling waste called Trashed, which was created by the team THAItan, the winner of the SDG Game Fest design and development competition. The aim of the competition was to establish video games as a medium through which audiences can better understand and learn about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while having fun. The game will help raise awareness among the youth about environmental issues. Furthermore, The Collectors also integrates into its gameplay six key SDGs: Good Health and Well-Being, Quality Education, Clean Water and Sanitation, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, and Life Below Water.
The game is designed to be easy and fun to play, whilst educating players on proper waste management. There are various game modes: Story Mode takes players through the main story; Challenge Mode lets players compete for the best score; and Multiplayer Mode allows 6 players to play together simultaneously. These fun modes teach players about properly managing waste and recycling to protect the environment and lead sustainable lifestyles. The game also does not contain any in-app purchase of any kind.
At the launch event’s panel discussion, the partners supporting the development of the game are represented by Ms Cataleya Phatoomros, Director of the Development Affairs Division, International Organizations Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Mana Prapakamol, General Manager True Digital Plus Co., Ltd. & True Axion Interactive Co., Ltd., Ms Aphinya Siranart, Head of Exploration, UNDP Accelerator Labs, Dr Yanin Chivakidakarn Huyakorn, Deputy Director of the Knowledge Communication Department, Center for SDG Research and Support (SDG Move), Dr Thuttai Keeratipongpaiboon, Director of International Strategy and Coordination Division Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council, Mrs Konrawan Sapitaks, Assistant Vice President Global Partnership for Sustainability and Communications, Charoen Pokphand Group Co., Ltd., and Mr Anat Lokaew, member of THAItan Team, winner of SDGs Game Fest competition.
Furthermore, the partners will expand the game’s reach both domestically and internationally through their networks, including C.P. Group’s partner educational institutions. The Collectors will raise awareness about sustainable development and serve as a model for many countries to put sustainability into practice. Finally, it will also further empower Thai developers and inject innovation and creativity into the Thai gaming industry, enabling its growth into the global market. News on The Collectors can be followed at https://www.facebook.com/thecollectorsgame
(From Left) Jatuporn Laosongchitra, Piroon Paireepairit and Jiraj Kaljaruek
Meanwhile, TTB Analytics Forecast Centre chief Naris Sathapholdeja said that although September’s exports were higher than predictions, exports could slow down during the remaining months of 2022 due to a global economic slowdown.
But Danucha said most unemployed workers, who returned home to their provinces during the Covid crisis, returned to work as farmers and the farming sector helped absorb the impact from the crisis.
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