Uniforms designed by student picked for young Thai entrepreneurs attending Apec CEO summit
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 02, 2022
Nongluck Ajanapanya
Uniforms depicting Thai identity and culture have been made for the upcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO summit.
The uniforms were unveiled by Young Entrepreneur Chamber of Commerce to show their readiness in organising the event.
The minimalist yet stylish longline indigo coat aims to portray Thai culture through the eyes of world citizens.
Pawichaya Klayaksorn
Pawichaya Klayaksorn, a freshman student at the School of Digital Arts and Design at the University of The Thai Chamber of Commerce, whose design was chosen by a vote of young entrepreneurs and a member of the Thai Chamber of Commerce’s board, expressed her pride and happiness at being allowed to participate in the summit.
“Personally, I adore traditional northern Thai culture, particularly its ‘Mauhom’ fabric. So I decided to design the coat with mauhom,” Pawichaya elaborated.
Mauhom is a type of northern Thai woven cotton that has been dyed indigo blue using the local indigo tree.
Meanwhile, to reflect Thai identity, she drew an elephant pattern on the right shoulder of the coat. The elephant is the national animal that is associated with every aspect of Thai life.
Various Thai cultural identities are also woven into this uniform.
The coat will be used as a uniform for 100 representatives of the Young Entrepreneur Chamber of Commerce who have been selected across the country to be part of the Apec CEO Summit 2022.
The chairperson of the Apec CEO Summit 2022, Poj Aramwattananont, stated that in addition to assisting with participant facilitation, they are also given the wonderful opportunity to experience the global event, which will serve as a foundation to host other global level summits in the future.
He said the purpose of the summit is not for one business to benefit from the economic stimulation during the summit, but for the conversation to create waves and impact trade and investment, which will drive the Thai economy forward.
The Apec CEO Summit 2022 will be held on November 17-18 at The Athenee Hotel in Bangkok. Following the event, the host will organise a trip for participants and followers in order to impress and stimulate Thai tourism.
Thai elderly and underprivileged affected by climate change, says Varawut
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 02, 2022
Jarupong Krisanaraj
Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa will propose Thailand’s guidelines to tackle climate change at the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt from November 6-18.
During the Global Compact Network Thailand (GCNT) forum at United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, he said climate change had impacted Thailand’s society and the economy, especially the elderly and underprivileged.
He pointed out that even though Thailand was ranked 22nd among top greenhouse gas producers, Bangkok was ranked 9th as those most at risk from climate change.
“This year, the flood crisis caused damage to the country similar to last year,” he said, adding the flood impact would be more severe in the future.
Varawut said Thailand is working on alternative energy, electric vehicles, carbon capture and storage, waste management and agriculture improvement to deal with climate change.
He added that Thailand has made a carbon credit trade agreement with Switzerland.
“Tackling climate change is about ensuring that the global temperature will not rise further,” he said, warning that people would suffer if they did not do anything.
He expected Thailand’s carbon emissions to peak in 2025 at 368 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent before declining.
“Thailand aims to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050 and reach net-zero carbon emissions in 2065,” he said.
He added that the Environment Ministry is working on a draft act on climate change to encourage entrepreneurs to take part in tackling climate change. It is expected to be proposed to the Cabinet by the end of this year.
Varawut said he would propose updated strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent within 2030 during COP27, which is currently under review.
“The strategies are short term and long term, such as applying technologies, developing carbon credit trade mechanisms, both domestic and overseas, and increasing carbon capture and storage,” he said.
Thailand has the potential and is ready to deal with climate change, Varawut said.
“Cooperation from every sector will enable Thailand to move towards carbon neutrality in a sustainable manner,” he added.
Up to 29 countries have started carbon credit trading, in which the carbon tax rate ranged from US$0.08 to $137 (3.01 to 5,158 baht).
PM stresses on path of sustainable growth through BCG model
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 02, 2022
Jarupong Krisanaraj
The Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economy model will be the key to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Wednesday.
He made this remark during the “Global Compact Network Thailand (GCNT) forum 2022: accelerating business solutions” to tackle climate and biodiversity challenges, at United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok.
The forum has been held annually since 2020 to create awareness among entrepreneurs on environment and natural resource preservation in a sustainable manner.
Prayut said Thailand is paying attention to environmental preservation, climate change and biodiversity, adding that these issues are a cause of political conflict and economic recession.
He added that tackling climate change and biodiversity loss would also result in sustainable economic growth.
“Hence, Thailand must take a clear stance on these issues to protect all groups of people in the long term,” he said.
He explained that the BCG economy model focuses on using resources effectively, preserving the environment, enhancing the potential of agriculture, healthcare and tourism, to boost the country’s economy in the long term.
He said Thailand is working on clean energy, marine resource, waste management and environment to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss.
“Thailand is ready to forge cooperation among various sectors as these issues cannot be solved alone,” he added.
GCNT chairperson Suphachai Chearavanont
Meanwhile, GCNT chairperson Suphachai Chearavanont said global diversity fell more than 68 per cent over the past four decades, accounting for US$44 trillion in economic loss.
“Hence, it is necessary to pay attention to climate change and biodiversity loss,” he said, adding that government and private sectors should cooperate together to tackle those challenges.
He added that the GCNT supported the government’s move to promote the BCG economy model among economic leaders during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit for sustainable growth.
Thailand will host the Apec Summit at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok on November 18-19.
United Nations Resident Coordinator in Thailand Gita Sabharwal
The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Thailand, Gita Sabharwal, said climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution are affecting investment, business operations and even people’s lives.
She urged all countries to be strict in greenhouse gas reduction to boost the recovery of tourism and economy in a sustainable way.
“Environment preservation can help boost the economy as a half of global gross domestic product came from natural resources,” she said.
She added that new generation should be able to take part in tackling climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
New rules easing controls on alcohol production come into effect
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 02, 2022
A new regulation on alcohol production was published on the Royal Gazette website on Monday evening and takes effect from today, November 2.
A Cabinet meeting on Tuesday approved a Finance Ministry regulation easing controls on alcohol production ahead of Parliament’s deliberation of the opposition’s “progressive liquor bill”.
The newly approved regulation, however, would not affect government revenue while allowing small brewers to operate without official permission, he said.
The regulation stipulated that producers of craft beer for commercial purposes must be a juristic person under Thai laws and have at least 51 per cent of shares held by Thai shareholders.
Producers of non-beer liquors for commercial purposes must either be a registered agricultural group, cooperative, community enterprise, or a company/partnership under laws with all shareholders being Thai nationals.
Furthermore, candidates must not have broken any laws related to excise tax in the past year.
As for producers for non-commercial purposes, applicants must be over 20 years old and present evidence including a map of their production facilities, details of liquor, ingredients, production process, distilling machines used and production volume for Excise Department approval.
Producers who wish to extend their licence can file an application and are required to submit evidence within 90 days before the expiration date of their current licence.
Norway’s co-processing system offers new solutions to region’s plastic problems
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 02, 2022
Nongluck Ajanapanya
A team of Western scientists, led by a Norwegian expert, have come up with a “win-win solution” for eliminating single-use plastic and expanding business opportunities.
The solution, dubbed “co-processing”, uses waste as a source of energy to replace fossil fuels.
“This co-processing system has been used in Norway’s cement kilns for more than 30 years to treat hazardous organic waste. It has also been shown to significantly reduce plastic waste,” said Dr Kåre Helge Karstensen, chief scientist at the Norwegian Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research (Sintef).
Karstensen is also the project manager for Ocean Plastic turned into an Opportunity in Circular Economy (OPTOCE).
Despite the eagerness with which nations discuss and act on recycling plastic and developing new types of plastic, more than 5 billion tonnes of plastic waste has now accumulated in dumpsites and landfills across the world, he said.
He was speaking at the two-day OPTOCE Regional Forum held in Bangkok on October 28 in a move to seek cooperation from the business sector.
“An estimated 9.3 billion tonnes of virgin plastics were produced globally up to 2019. Of this, around 6.3 billion tonnes have ended up as plastic waste, with only 9 per cent recycled and 12 per cent incinerated – 79 per cent was dumped. If current production and waste-management trends continue, roughly 12 billion tonnes of plastic waste will be in landfills or the natural environment by 2050,” he warned.
Even worse, this plastic waste will eventually find its way into the ground, rivers, and ocean, he said. Numerous studies have demonstrated the presence of “microplastic,” or extremely small pieces of plastic, in both human blood vessels and marine life.
“The problem is that few people are talking about how to properly accumulate and eliminate single-use plastic. International action is key to tackling the most significant sources of plastic litter in the oceans,” Karstensen said.
Pilot project OPTOCE projects seek to discover the best way to deal with plastic waste management, particularly single-use plastic, across the world.
However, OPTOCE needs to provide more successful examples to encourage different parties to use the co-processing method.
Hence, a pilot project was officially launched in 2019 in five partner countries, namely Thailand, India, China, Myanmar and Vietnam.
These countries were chosen because they are among the world’s largest plastic consumers, producing about 217,000 tonnes of plastic waste per day or 79 million tonnes per year.
They are all plagued by inadequate waste management infrastructure and treatment capacity.
In addition, with close to 3 billion people living along coastlines, they need an immediate solution to this problem. It is estimated that more than 80 per cent of marine debris originates on land.
These countries are also industrially intensive and use a lot of fuel to make cement and steel.
“Some pilot countries, such as Thailand, already use incineration. However, when compared to co-processing, this method is not suitable as a long-term solution. This is because the incineration process still emits carbon dioxide,” Dr Karstensen said.
Incineration is a waste-treatment process that involves the combustion of waste materials’ constituents. Waste-to-energy plants are commonly used in industrial waste incineration plants.
“There is no dedicated incinerator for organic hazardous waste in Norway. Today, over 75 per cent of coal is replaced by various wastes from the Norwegian cement industry,” Karstensen added.
Businesses can have a sustainable source of energy, reduce carbon emissions and help communities get rid of plastic waste thanks to this pilot project, which diverts single-use plastic and turns it into fuel.
Unfortunately, Karstensen said, this project is moving at snail’s pace due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He added that now is the time to act quickly and investigate the advantages and disadvantages of bringing the cement industry into plastic-waste management in Thailand and other countries in the region.
Alternative business opportunities Karstensen said the co-processing technology will not just improve the circular economy, but will also reduce the plastic waste in oceans, boost waste-treatment capacities and establish sustainable, cost-effective integrated waste-management options.
With many countries focusing on responsibility and sustainability, Karstensen said he is confident that co-processing will offer business opportunities for some entrepreneurs.
“The ‘polluter pays principle’ is a common rule in the West. It means that the company that generates the waste and pollutes the environment must pay waste-management fees,” he said.
Though the investment is significant, the co-processing company will profit from both waste elimination and the sale of carbon footprint quotas. The company will also get to save money on fuel consumption and raw materials.
Let market mechanisms work The goal of the pilot project, Karstensen said, is to foster collaboration among private firms so they are willing to invest in equipment, technology, talent, and licence.
He said a pilot project in China, launched in 2005 in collaboration with a local environmental agency, began with no co-processing plant and has now grown to more than 200 co-processing cement kilns.
“The Chinese government just did one project as a model and let the private sector across the country learn the [co-processing] technology,” Karstensen explained.
He said the project does not require any financial support from governments. All they need to do is enact and support some regulations that are strictly enforced.
“The Malaysian government once tried to do it on their own and the project went bankrupt. As a result, it demonstrates that simply allowing the market to run its course is sufficient,” Karstensen explained.
He concluded that the OPTOCE would take co-processing or integrated waste management into consideration. By substituting non-recyclable plastic waste for some of the coal could prevent a significant amount of plastic from entering the ocean.
This would reduce reliance on fossil fuels and indirectly cut greenhouse gas emissions by not building new landfills or incinerators.
Each Apec leader attending summit will be presented with seven gifts
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 02, 2022
The Foreign Ministry has prepared seven gifts for each Apec leader who will attend the summit in Bangkok on November 18 and 19, the Protocol Department chief said on Wednesday.
Department director-general Pakawat Tansakul said each of the Apec leaders will receive seven souvenirs, which are:
– A metal engraved picture from Wat Sri Suphan community in Chiang Mai
– A box for storing accessories, decorated and engraved with pictures. The boxes, which are made from the same community, will be given to spouses of the Apec leaders in attendance.
– Handmade products made of silk dyed with natural dyes and made in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Pak Thong Chai district. The products include neckties, handkerchiefs, face masks and shawls. These gifts will carry the Apec logo of “chalom”, or a woven basket.
– Special editions of a directory of silk cloth makers around the country and a directory of silk cloth sellers. The two directories are printed by the National Identity Office and counted as one gift from the Protocol Department, Pakawat said.
– An Apec commemorative coin made by the Treasury Department.
– A photo frame made of silver niello ware granted by His Majesty the King. Pakawat said the frame will carry the photo of the Apec leader taken when he or she is granted a royal audience with His Majesty.
– A silver-edged box made from lygodium. These boxes will also be granted by His Majesty the King, Pakawat said.
Are you going in for beauty treatment such as botox? Beware, you could become resistant, with the treatment having no effect whatsoever.
But here’s where leading Thai hospital Siriraj is stepping in to help. The hospital has “solved” the mystery of botox resistance by opening Southeast Asia’s first Botulinum Neurotoxin-A (BoNT-A) Immunoresistance Diagnosis Centre.
The lab will present evidence that some patients develop BoNT-A immunoresistance, resulting in the use of BoNT-A, also known as botox, having no therapeutic effect.
Apichat Asavamongkolkul, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, said at the launch ceremony on Wednesday that the lab is a collaboration between the Dermatology Department, the Immunology Department, the Internal Medicine Department and Merz Aesthetics Thailand.
He noted that BoNT-A injections have grown in popularity in Thailand, resulting in many people going in for the procedure but with little knowledge, potentially increasing the risk of a patient developing BoNT-A immunoresistance.
This is a public health concern for patients who may require BoNT-A in the future for neuromuscular disease therapeutic treatments.
“We have known about the prevalence of BoNT-A immunoresistance for a long time and are determined to formally develop a body of knowledge in treating this condition for aesthetic practice,” Apichart said.
Rungsima Wanitphakdeedecha from the Dermatology Department pointed out that there is already an excuse in the aesthetic field when patients show no effect from botox after a long history of BoNT-A immunoresitance.
Fortunately, the Siriraj lab can now demonstrate that such symptoms do exist.
Rungsima Wanitphakdeedecha speaks on the stage.
The centre has invented a test to detect the presence of antibodies or immunity in the blood of patients who have failed BoNT-A treatment, as well as a body of knowledge for physicians involved in the treatment to help prevent BoNT-A immunoresistance.
The general public can now access this knowledge and receive proper diagnosis with maximum safety and efficacy. At the same time, aesthetics practitioners can gain a better understanding of the procedures, said Rungsima.
“The incidence of BoNT-A immunoresistance has been recognised for some time now but has not gained much attention among the medical community. This is largely caused by BoNT-A’s structural components stimulating body immunity,” she explained.
According to Yuvadee Pitakpatapee of the Internal Medicine Department, the public are aware that BoNT-A is used for facial reshaping and removing wrinkles. However, few people are aware of the significance of BoNT-A in the treatment of neurological diseases, particularly hemifacial spasms and neck muscle spasms.
(From Left) Kittiwan Rattanachandr and Yuvadee Pitakpatapee
The lab can determine which type of BoNT-A a patient has immunoresistance to, so that the doctor can prescribe the right type and amount of BoNT-A in terms of treatment efficacy and drug duration.
The most recent data from blood tests on 137 patients with suspected BoNT-A immunoresistance from 2011 to 2022 show that 79 of the patients tested positive, accounting for 58 per cent of the total.
Immunoresistance can be classified based on two protein structures of immunity: 48% is resistant to core neurotoxins, 18% to complexing proteins, and 8% to both core neurotoxins and complexing proteins.
Some cases with complexing protein resistance may still be able to use high-purity dosages of BoNT-A free of complexing proteins, but those with core neurotoxin resistance require time for antibody levels to drop.
Rungsima highly recommends treatments from trustworthy and quality aesthetic practitioners to reduce the risk and prevent potential BoNT-A immunoresistance.
“We recommended using a small amount once every 3-4 months,” Rungsima said.
Yuttana Srinoulprasert from the Immunology Department said the centre is an integration between a clinic and a pre-clinic that uses clinical data – a patient’s history of type, dosage, and non-responsiveness of BoNT-A injections to effectively select a suitable treatment or the right BoNT-A type so that patients can safely receive continued treatment.
The cost of the test is around 1,600 baht, said Yuttana.
Meanwhile, Siriraj Hospital has joined forces with Merz Aesthetics Thailand, a world leading manufacturer and distributor of Altera and pharmaceuticals for aesthetics clinics, to officially inaugurate the BoNT-A Immunoresistance Diagnosis Centre.
This collaboration aims to provide channels for Thais to conveniently access testing programmes. It also creates a network for data collection, including blood samples of patients who may develop BoNT-A immunoresistance and guides patients through professional assessment and management of the condition.
The network now has 40 partnered aesthetics clinics across Bangkok. The goal for the coming year is 100 aesthetics clinics.
Merz Aesthetics Thailand plans to open new communication channels for patients and customers to receive BoNT-A immunoresistance consultations in the near future, CEO Kittiwan Rattanachandr said.
The centre is meant to enhance Thailand’s medical tourism.
The country’s aesthetics medicine market was worth US$1.52 billion (57.4 billion baht) in 2021, according to grandviewresearch.com, and is expected to grow by 9.7% from 2022 to 2030.
The shifting trend toward maintaining optimal aesthetic beauty is one of the major motivators for the use of aesthetic procedures. Additionally, rising medical tourism and an aging population are expected to propel market growth.
Prayut gets a taste of ‘future foods’ to be served during Apec Summit
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 02, 2022
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday tasted future foods to be served to leaders and delegates attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit 2022 that Thailand will host from November 14-19.
The future food showcase event “APEC Future Food for Sustainability” took place on Tuesday at the Government House before a Cabinet meeting, government spokesman Anucha Buraphachaisri said on Wednesday.
The government has been organising a competition for Thai food startups under the concept “Plate to Planet”, aiming at finding new dishes that highlight sustainability and Thai elements to show the country’s potential in food as a soft power to drive the economy.
Eight newly created Thai dishes from the 21 finalist teams were presented at the fair and to be tasted by the prime minister and members of the Cabinet. They were: Southern-style chickpea rice salad with five vegetables; carb-free ramen from egg white protein; milk-free ice cream with kale and passion fruit; vegan Hor Mok (steamed fish with curry paste); layered sweetmeat with fiber and probiotics; plant-base croquette Phanaeng (dry curry); low-sodium sandworm noodle, and ice cream made of protein from crickets.
Anucha said the winning teams will receive prizes valued at 2.5 million baht, and their dishes will be served to leaders and delegates from the 21 Apec economies during Apec Economic Leaders’ Week from November 14-19.
The Apec Gala Dinner on November 18 and 19, however, will be prepared by celebrity chief Chumpol Chaengprai under the concept of “Sustainable Thai Gastronomy Gala Dinner”. The food will highlight the theme of the Apec Summit this year, which is “Open. Connect. Balance.”
“The gala dinner dishes will open new experiences to Thai cuisine by featuring all eight tastes of Thai foods,” said Anucha. “Ingredients have been selected from all parts of Thailand that possess unique geographical indications, while the presentation will reflect the balance between the nature and sustainable development guided by the concept of sufficiency economy.”
Tono’s charity swim raised nearly 83 million baht on Thai side
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 02, 2022
Contributions to Phakin “Tono” Khamwilaisak’s charity swim totalled nearly 83 million baht as the donation window closed.
The singer-actor’s daring “One Man and the River” charity swim to Laos and back on October 22 raised funds for hospitals on either side of the Mekong — Khammouane Hospital in Laos and Nakhon Phanom Hospital in Thailand.
On Wednesday, the Facebook page “เก็บรักษ์” (Keb Ruk), which has been tracking the collections, said the donations were now closed and a total of 82.92 million baht had been received from donors on the Thailand side.
The page thanked all people who had contributed to the charity project, adding that it would add donations from the Laos side to the total within 15 days.
Phakin recently said on his Instagram that Nakhon Phanom Hospital has submitted the list of crucial medical equipment that it is still lacking. He promised to post the list so that donors can see how their money would be helping the work of doctors and nurses there.
Last month Phakin said he planned to be ordained as a Buddhist monk at a Nakhon Phanom temple as a gesture of his gratitude for the overwhelming support he received from fans in both Thailand and Laos. His ordination was scheduled after New Year 2023.
Phakin reportedly had set the fundraising target from his charity swim at only 17 million baht.
Funds to secure World Cup football broadcast rights to come from NBTC budget
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 02, 2022
The national telecom watchdog will foot the bill to acquire the broadcast rights for Fifa World Cup 2022 to ensure that people in Thailand can watch the matches for free, Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan said on Wednesday.
Prawit said that the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) will use its budget to purchase the broadcast rights for the World Cup, which kicks off in Qatar from November 21 to December 18.
“The deal has yet to be finalised, but the budget will come from the NBTC,” the deputy PM said.
The World Cup is one of the sport events under the “must-have” rule imposed by the NBTC since 2012 to be made available for free on television.
Other sport events covered by this rule are: the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, SEA Games, Asean Para Games, Asian Games and Asian Para Games.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin clarified on Wednesday that he was not aware of the details as he was not responsible for the deal, although he had been involved in broadcast deal negotiations in the past.
Somsak estimated the licence fee to be under 1 billion baht, adding that the government still has around 300 million baht leftover budget from previous broadcasting deals.
It is best to finish negotiating the deal as soon as possible, because the price will usually go up closer to the event, he said.
Pawichaya Klayaksorn
GCNT chairperson Suphachai Chearavanont
United Nations Resident Coordinator in Thailand Gita Sabharwal
Rungsima Wanitphakdeedecha speaks on the stage.
(From Left) Kittiwan Rattanachandr and Yuvadee Pitakpatapee
