Jota to miss World Cup with injury, says Liverpool’s Klopp
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022
Reuters
Portugal forward Diogo Jota has been ruled out of the World Cup due to a calf injury, Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp told reporters on Tuesday (October 18).
Jota, 25, was taken off on a stretcher deep into stoppage time during Liverpool’s 1-0 Premier League win against champions Manchester City at the weekend.
“Really not good news about Diego. I guess he will miss the World Cup,” Klopp said. “Pretty serious injury in the muscle, calf muscle, and now we have to recover. He starts all, the process starts let me say. That’s it pretty much, that’s the first diagnosis that’s pretty clear and all the rest will now follow in the next few days. Very sad news for the boy, for us of course as well, for Portugal for everybody.”
Jota, capped 29 times by Portugal, has scored 10 times for the national team.
Klopp also said he expected to be on the touchline against West Ham United in the Premier League at Anfield on Wednesday, despite being shown a red card in the feisty win over Liverpool on Sunday.
“I think I will be there tomorrow because nothing really happened yet. I don’t think something will happen tomorrow to be honest, a few hours before the game.”
Ten Hag defends United players’ behaviour despite FA charge
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022
Reuters
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has defended his players after they confronted the referee during Sunday’s goalless draw against Newcastle United, saying the reaction was not too strong despite the club being charged by the Football Association.
The FA charged United on Tuesday (October 18) for failing to control their players, who surrounded referee Craig Pawson after he disallowed a goal by Cristiano Ronaldo in the Premier League clash at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo claimed Newcastle had taken a free kick before he raced to take the ball away from goalkeeper Nick Pope and slotted it into an empty net, but Pawson disallowed the effort and booked the Portuguese forward as he led the players’ reaction.
“I must say I don’t think it was too strong, it wasn’t really aggressive but I don’t know what’s happening exactly on the pitch, I was too far away,” Ten Hag told reporters before United host Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.
“I saw it back on the video… It was quite obvious the player touched the ball from Newcastle and our players took advantage of it.”
The incident was one of many involving match officials being confronted in the top flight at the weekend, with the FA also charging Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp with improper conduct for his outburst at an assistant referee.
Ten Hag said his players are role models for amateurs and youth players but as professionals, they should be allowed to question referees’ decisions.
“We are an example for amateurs, for youth, professional players. We have to know our role and it’s also about professional football,” Ten Hag added. “It is also quite normal you ask why in the moment.
“My view is, quite quickly, you have to accept the referee’s decision and move on.”
Ten Hag added Anthony Martial will not be available to face Tottenham but Christian Eriksen has returned to training and is in contention to feature against his former club.
United are fifth in the league with 16 points from nine games while Spurs are third, level on 23 points with Manchester City after 10 games.
FWD Life Insurance serves up a special menu at Maguro sushi restaurant as part of brand awareness campaign
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022
FWD Life Insurance has joined hands with the Japanese sushi restaurant Maguro with a special collaboration menu to improve its image as an insurance company.
Pavarisa Chumvigrant, the company’s chief brand and communications officer, revealed that the company continued to create a brand experience, continuing from previous projects, to highlight itself as an insurance company with a difference.
She said that the company aimed to change people’s vision of the insurance company with brand communication involving the five senses of sight, taste, smell, hearing, and touch under the concept of “Experiences of Celebrate living”.
The company had earlier released a photobook “100 Life-Celebrating Stories” to inspire everyone to pursue their passions on October 17.
FWD is also collaborating with Donna Chang, a cosmetics and fragrance shop, to release the limited edition “Scent of Celebrate living” sachet to deliver a distinctive fragrance from August 25 to December 31.
Pavarisa said, “A key principle of the brand experience strategy that we have continued to implement over the past year is to build brand awareness of FWD Insurance by collaborating with lifestyle leaders so that everyone can fulfil their happiness goals.”
“We chose to collaborate with Maguro because it is a Japanese restaurant that serves fresh and delicious menus from high-quality ingredients and offers great value for money and happiness to its customers, and that is exactly consistent with the brand promise of FWD Insurance,” she said.
The menu “Taste of Celebrate living Roll” consists of eight premium ingredients:
Akami — Maguro’s red meat is high in omega fatty acids, which are essential for cell repair and nourishment in the body.
Hotate from Japan is sweet-aromatic and high in calcium, iron, and vitamin B12.
The soft, gummy texture of Tako nourishes the body and supports the functioning of the bones, muscles and skin.
Mellow-flavoured pickled Saba aids in improving brain neuron function and the memory system.
Hamachi, a soft-textured white fish, is rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, and D.
Salmon, a popular ingredient, nourishes the brain and sights. It also helps in weight control as well.
Chutoro, the mouthwatering portion of Maguro, the King of Sea Fish, contains a good kind of protein that can aid in repairing wear and tear.
Madai, a white fish, is a rare seasonal ingredient that is high in protein, easily digestible, and low in fat.
The menu “Taste of Celebrate living Roll” will be available to everyone, not only to FWD customers, in 11 branches of Maguro restaurant and on delivery applications from October 21 to December 31.
Australia’s products are coming in a food & wine event
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022
THE NATION
The “Taste the Wonders of Australia” event will be held at Gaysorn Urban Bangkok on November 1.
Australian food and wine industry organisations have collaborated to bring beef, lamb, seafood, dairy products, fruits, nuts, vegetables, and wines to Thailand and will be showcasing them in a series of immersive experiences.
It will bring together leading Thai food and beverage industry professionals, importers, and distributors, who are bringing the best Australian products to food and wine lovers across Thailand.
Meanwhile, Thai government officials and representatives from the Australian Embassy in Bangkok will also be in attendance.
The Thai Chef from Gaysorn Urban Bangkok is creating a Thai fusion menu, blending flavours from two different cultures.
A leading sommelier will match Australian wines to each course, showing the versatility and drinkability of each wine with Thai cuisine.
Another Australian food and wine initiative taking place at the same time as Thailand’s next generation of chefs will prepare a sumptuous showcase menu of Thai fusion dishes using Australian produce.
The students will learn how to feature flavours in their dishes and appreciate how using high-quality and fresh ingredients can elevate the dishes.
Attendees at these invitation-only events can experience premium Australian food and wine.
Previously, trade guests were treated to a preview of “Taste the Wonders of Australia” during the Meat & Livestock Australia networking event.
A spokesperson from the Australian Food & Wine collaboration said, “Australia produces some of the best produce and wine in the world and is highly trusted and sought-after by chefs and consumers. Superb quality, distinctive taste and diversity of offering means unique & memorable experiences every time”.
Leo Global Logistics opens ‘Lifestyle Storage’ store in Bangkok’s Chinatown
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022
Opal Varunsuda
Leo Global Logistics Pcl has opened its second “Leo Self Storage” branch in Bangkok’s Chinatown, which is its first flagship store in Thailand.
The company plans two more branches by 2023, with a total of 10 branches opening in the next five years.The new facility is called “Lifestyle Storage”.The target demographics include city dwellers, collectors, small businesses, and online sellers with limited space. The company’s first branch on Rama 3 Road has a 90 per cent service rate.Kettivit Sittisoontornwong, Chief Executive Officer of Leo Global Logistics
According to Kettivit Sittisoontornwong, chief executive officer of Leo Global Logistics, “The Asian self-storage market is growing rapidly in comparison to other regions around the world. People’s lifestyles have become more diverse. Thailand is reopening its doors. It is increasingly driving the tourism section. These factors reflect the increasing demand for rental storage space.”
They can open and close the door through the application without carrying a key
In 2021, the global self-storage market would be worth $51.32 billion. By 2027, the market is expected to be worth 71.37 billion, according to a survey by ReserchAndMarkets.com.
According to Kettivit, “Currently, there are 6-7 competitors in Thailand located in Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, and Chiang Mai. The advantages of the businesses are good location, good price, and easy access for customers.”
“The Chinatown branch is the most comprehensive flagship for Leo Self-Storage, with an investment of 40 million baht. We have storage rooms for every lifestyle, such as “Lock Block”, which is a square metre in size and can be air or non-air conditioned. They can open and close the door through the application without carrying a key, have security 24 hours with alarm signal and 100 CCTV cameras. Customers can rent the storage with confidence,” Kettivit stated.
He added that the break-even point in this business is 60 per cent or higher. Each new branch opening in the first year must have 30-40% of people using the service, increasing to 80 per cent in the fourth year.
Leo Global Logistics is a leading integrated logistics service in Thailand, which can provide global coverage and pioneer in the self-storage business market.
Consumers in Thailand and SE Asia at the forefront of adopting new technology: survey
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022
Southeast Asia’s GDP is still growing positively, in contrast with other regions, even though it was affected by several challenges including Covid-19, Ukraine-Russia tensions and inflation, a report by Facebook’s parent company Meta and management consulting firm Bain & Company said.
According to the report, “SYNC Southeast Asia”, on the region’s digital economy and e-commerce, the long-term overview for Thailand and the region is still strong while e-commerce could grow better than bigger markets such as the US, Europe and China.
Derek Keswakaroon, partner at Bain & Co, said that the region was positively affected by investment distribution from the Chinese market.
He said there were 159 million spending households in the region, which will increase to 175 million in 2030 with around 50 million households having high purchasing power.
“We found that investors who have confidence are looking for an opportunity to enter [this market], as it was an important factor that led to more investments from transnational corporations. It could be summarised that Southeast Asia is a growing region with several supporting factors.”
Derek said that the region is attractive to investors but it is important to control inflation, manage the supply chain, develop the customer journey, seek investment opportunities, develop new business models to be trendsetters, and most importantly develop personnel.
However, it is worrying that Thailand has the lowest investment percentage from transnational corporations in the region with only 2 per cent of the total value, so he advised Thailand to attract more investors.
The report said that there are 370 million digital consumers in the region and will reach 402 million in 2027, while 72 per cent of the Thai population could access technology this year.
Derek said that consumers want a combined shopping experience both online and offline and also a smoother experience.
He added that 16.4 per cent of Thai consumers shop through online platforms, higher than the region’s average of 15.3 per cent.
Moreover, alternative e-commerce channels, such as business messaging or live video shopping, are key factors for e-commerce growth in Thailand, which accounted for 25 per cent of total spending in the country.
Meanwhile, social media accounts for almost half of online discovery, consisting of image feeds (15 per cent) or videos (21 per cent).
Derek mentioned that video content has grown more than 50 per cent yearly since 2020, while the region’s accessibility to digital wallets, digital currencies, and NFT digital assets is higher than other markets, including China, the US, the EU, and Japan.
Some 74 per cent of Thai people used at least one technology related to metaverse last year, slightly higher than the region’s average of 70 per cent.
It is expected that metaverse-related technologies, including AR, VR, virtual world, crypto, and NFT, would develop from 2D applications to 3D virtual worlds within 2-3 years.
Moreover, VR usage in businesses from training and development to holding virtual events might actually occur in the region in 10-15 years.
Prae Dumrongmongcolgul, country director of Facebook Thailand, said that consumers are using more diverse online platforms.
Last year, Southeast Asian consumers used 7.9 online platforms on average, the number has nearly doubled to 15.3 this year. Meanwhile, the number in Thailand has increased from 8.6 last year to 16.4 platforms this year.
She added that consumers are open to experimentation while interactions help in driving new behaviours.
Therefore, it is important that brands must interact with consumers through video content while social media are still important channels for consumers when they decide to purchase products.
Toyota’s hydrogen-powered Mirai II set for test run in Pattaya, Rayong
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022
Toyota Motor Thailand will next month import two of its latest hydrogen fuel cell cars for test runs in Thailand, its president said.
Noriaki Yamashita said two second generation Toyota Mirai cars will be imported for the tests in Pattaya and Rayong to showcase the automaker’s commitment to develop vehicles with low or no carbon dioxide emissions.
Mirai Generation II is powered by hydrogen fuel cells, so the car’s by-product is only water with no carbon dioxide emissions.
Toyota explained that the Mirai, which is a fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV), works by having hydrogen from the fuel tank mix with oxygen from the air in the fuel cell stack. The oxygen and hydrogen create a chemical reaction that results in electricity which powers the car’s motors.
Toyota Thailand has teamed up with PTT and other partners for the test run in Pattaya mid-November.
On its part, PTT will open a pilot hydrogen refilling station in Pattaya. The station will be set up in cooperation with Bangkok Industrial Gas, a major supplier of hydrogen in Thailand.
In mid-December, the Japan-based president of Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) will arrive in Thailand to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Toyota Thailand. The occasion will see the launch of a special Corolla model with a 1.6-litre internal combustion engine running on hydrogen fuel.
Toyota Thailand said the hydrogen-powered ICE car will be used in a motor race in Buri Ram.
Auto experts and observers said Toyota, unlike Chinese auto manufacturers, has been reluctant to develop and produce battery electric vehicles because it has invested a lot in developing FCEVs.
Around 10,000 of the second-generation Mirai have been sold worldwide, while the first generation has seen sales of 12,000 units, according to Toyota Thailand.
Noriaki said Toyota has been developing environmentally friendly vehicles that use alternative energy, including hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in HEVs and FCEVs.
Once the Mirai test runs are completed, Toyota would compile opinions from people for its marketing plans, Noriaki said.
He hoped the project would benefit Pattaya, which has announced its goal to become a decarbonised sustainable city. The pilot project would later be expanded to other provinces.
According to Noriaki, the TMC president will bring along the ORC Rookie Racing team to participate in the 25-hour endurance race with the hydrogen-powered ICE Toyota Collora. Toyota will also enter its e-fuel GR86 CNF concept car in the race.
Country’s first electric mini truck hits the road with prices starting at THB748,500
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022
Energy Absolute (EA) has launched Thailand’s first electric mini truck, aiming to help businesses reduce transport costs. Prices start at 748,500 baht.
The MT30 is fitted with a 30Kw/h li-ion battery that is manufactured by EA’s Thai subsidiary Amita Technology.
The vehicle can travel up to 202 kilometres on a single charge and be charged at EA Anywhere DC stations. About 30 to 80 per cent of the battery can be charged in 15 minutes.
The mini truck is 4,585mm long, 1,750mm wide and 1,940mm high. The flatbed area measures 2.5×1.58 metres.
The MT30 was developed by EA’s subsidiary Mine Mobility Corporation, which specialises in 100 per cent electricity-driven vehicles.
“As electric vehicle manufacturing is one of the New S-Curve industries under the government’s strategic development plan, EA has been committed to upgrading the commercial transport system by developing locally made electric vehicles,” said EA deputy chief executive Amorn Sapthaweekul.
Developed under the concept of “Respect the Environment”, the MT30 aims to not only help entrepreneurs save on transport costs but also reduce air pollution.
The MT30 is priced at 748,500 baht for standard colours and 766,500 baht for pastel colours, which have six choices – solid white, pastel yellow/white, pastel pink/white, pastel sky blue/black, pastel green/black and pastel gray/black.
These prices already factor in the 150,000-baht discount offered by the government to EV buyers.
THAI’s revised rehabilitation plan set for take-off after Bankruptcy Court nod
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022
The Central Bankruptcy Court on Thursday approved a request by Thai Airways International (THAI) to revise its rehabilitation plan as the national carrier begins to fly high this year on the wings of a fast recovery.
The court verdict came after most creditors of the financially troubled airline endorsed the revised plan, according to a THAI source.
At their recent meeting, 78.6 per cent of the creditors, including the Finance Ministry, voted to support THAI’s revised rehabilitation plan in the hopes that a quick recovery would make it possible for the airline to resume stock market trading by 2025, the source said.
THAI will next hire a financial adviser company to prepare for debt-to-equity swaps and a capital increase involving existing creditors and shareholders.
The revised plan calls for new funds of no more than 25 billion baht by 2024, instead of 50 billion as permitted by the court under the original restructuring plan.
After being mired in debt for years, the national carrier is now flying into a welcome cloud of recovery, with its average passenger load soaring to 80 per cent and cumulative cashflow of about 20 billion baht.
In July, THAI petitioned the Central Bankruptcy Court, seeking to revise its rehabilitation plan with the hopes of exiting the plan before the 2025 deadline.
The airline filed for bankruptcy protection in late 2019 after reporting massive debts of 245 billion baht. The Cabinet in May 2020 gave the rehabilitation plan the green light under the Bankruptcy Act, which was later approved by the Central Bankruptcy Court.
OR teams up with GWM to install “EV Station PluZ I GWM” chargers at potential commercial areas outside of service stations
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022
THE NATION
Mr Suchat Ramarch, President, PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited (OR) and Mr Narong Sritalayon, Managing Director, Great Wall Motor (Thailand) (GWM) participated in the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the installation of EV Station PluZ I GWM chargers in potential commercial areas.
This is the first time that OR, as an EV charging station provider, and the leading automaker have collaborated to expand Quick Charge stations in potential commercial areas outside of service stations to cover leading department stores, community malls, and hotels, among others. The project will start with pilot installations that are expected to be completely rolled out within the fourth quarter of 2022.
Mr Suchat revealed that “This collaboration is to ensure a seamless energy transition as well as to encourage widespread use of electricity for the purpose of travel and transportation within the country, developing the company’s EV business and bringing it to the leading position in the EV Ecosystem. With concrete commitments and approaches to expanding the charging station network to potential commercial areas, this cooperation with GWM, one of the most significant EV manufacturers, marks the first time OR joins forces with an automaker. The new locations of EV Station PluZ I GWM charging stations at leading department stores, community malls, and hotels will facilitate accessibility to electric charging stations even more while also responding to lifestyles of consumers who have adopted electric vehicles and prefer using clean energy. The pilot branches of EV Station Pluz I GWM chargers were planned to be completely set up by 2022 and will secure their places in commercially potential areas, be they leading department stores, community malls, hotel chains, or any other areas that can precisely touch the needs of EV users.
Furthermore, in July, OR and GWM also signed an MoU for joint study and development of a platform to integrate the roaming system that helps navigate EV Station PluZ, book services, activate online payments, and check the roaming history, unlocking seamless connectivity within the EV Station PluZ network, both inside and outside PTT Stations, while also raising confidence of both GWM and OR’s customers, guaranteeing excellent services for all.”
Mr Narong said that “From the first step we took through to the second year of our business in Thailand, Great Wall Motor has been committed to providing electric vehicle products and services of high quality, as well as catering new experiences to consumers in parallel with developing and strengthening the EV Ecosystem in Thailand. We aim at erecting a total of 55 charging stations by 2022 through three operations: 1. G-Charge Super Charging Stations; 2. Electric charging station at GWM partner stores; 3. Destination charges (collaborating with business partners to set up charging stations at different landmarks nationwide). The collaboration engaged by Great Wall Motor and OR contributes to the expansion of Great Wall Motor’s charging stations, building new stations in communities and important landmarks. Not only will this enhance the experience of EV usage, convenience and peace of mind for travelers, but it also reflects Great Wall Motor’s commitments to steering the growth of the EV industry, as well as propelling Thailand to become a truly EV hub of the ASEAN region. Great Wall Motor would like to express our appreciation to OR for their trust, active cooperation, and support to complement the EV ecosystem.”