BCPG to divest its nine solar farms in Japan for strategic reinvestmentLegacy BCPG Plc, Bangchak Group’s power generation subsidiary, is planning to divest all its nine solar farms in Japan, in a strategic move to revamp its long-term investment in renewable energy. The assets on sale include equity worth 6.93 billion baht and net debt totalling 3.44 billion baht. The company has entered into an asset purchase agreement with Danish renewable energy investment firm Obton, with the transaction expected to conclude by the first quarter of next year, stated Niwat Adirek, who holds the positions of ..read more

Thai government approves 8 billion baht scheme to tackle PM2.5 pollutionLegacy To mitigate the escalating PM2.5 pollution problem, the government recently approved a scheme worth 8 billion baht designed to incentivise sugarcane farmers to modify their harvesting methods. The initiative, which is set to be implemented in the 2022/23 harvest year, encourages farmers to cut fresh sugarcane without burning the residue, a practice known to be a significant contributor to the pollution issue. The state-owned Bank for Agricultural and Agricultural Cooperatives will be the source of the funding for th ..read more

Thai PBS proposes 4K broadcasting trial to combat streaming threatLegacy Thai Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), in a bid to stay in line with the global trend of upgrading broadcast technology, has proposed a trial of the 4K high-resolution broadcasting platform. This would broadcast content in 16 provinces across Thailand, said the public broadcaster. This move is seen as crucial to combat the rising threat of streaming platforms in the broadcasting industry, according to an anonymous source at the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). There are more than four milli ..read more

Thailand’s PM courts tech giants for digital sector investmentLegacy Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has been courting major corporations in a bid to bolster foreign direct investment (FDI) in Thailand’s digital and high-tech sectors. This comes after the initial deals struck for tech investment under the previous administration. During his recent visit to the US, the 61 year old Thai PM engaged with several technology behemoths, imploring them to consider Thailand as a viable production base. His talks with electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Tesla centred around possible investment opportunit ..read more

Thai EV solutions provider teams up with Chinese manufacturer for electric taxisLegacy In an innovative move to capitalise on the upswing in electric vehicles (EVs) in Thailand, EVme Plus Co, a leading EV solutions provider, is partnering with a Chinese EV manufacturer. This collaboration is aimed at promoting the usage of battery-powered cars among taxi drivers. EVme Plus Co is a part of the oil and gas colossus PTT Plc. The company is teaming up with Aion Automobile Sales (Thailand) to market the Aion ES model of EV as a taxi. Aion Automobile Sales (Thailand) is a subsidiary of the Guangzhou ..read more

Thailand ramps up fight against online IP infringementsLegacy Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai ordered the Intellectual Property Department to accelerate measures against online intellectual property (IP) infringements. The proliferation of such violations on digital platforms, he noted, not only damages IP owners, predominantly entrepreneurs but also tarnishes Thailand’s image. In response to this, small and medium-sized enterprises are being encouraged to boost their comprehension of IP rights. This includes registering for protection across various IP sectors such as copyrights, paten ..read more

Invest in foreign bonds, REITs, healthcare, and tech stocks for 2024, advises Tisco bankLegacy Tisco Bank’s Head of Wealth Advisory, Nattakrit Laotaweesap, advises investors to focus on foreign bonds, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and healthcare and technology stocks in the next year as a safeguard against potential downturns. The global economy’s pace is anticipated to decelerate next year due to the impact of tighter monetary policies, which could result in a potential downgrade in global listed companies’ profits, Nattakrit said. “Investors should consider investment strategies tha ..read more

Baconomics at play: Pork prices sizzle down, fuelling October’s inflation cool-offLegacy A decline in pork prices significantly contributed to a reduction in the inflation rate in October, an anonymous figure within the Finance Ministry has revealed. The inflation experienced a year-on-year decrease of 0.31% in October, largely due to a 0.2% drop in energy prices, attributed to lower oil costs and employed subsidies to keep energy prices in check. Moreover, food prices saw a decrease of 0.5% in October, with pork prices being a significant contributor. Despite a 0.2% price increase in ready-to ..read more

Rice production crisis forecast: Dry woes, dwindling waters, and El Nino brew troubleLegacy Asian rice production during the off-season is predicted to suffer due to a blend of unfavourable weather conditions including dry planting, dwindling reservoirs and ongoing El Nino weather patterns. These issues are due to reduce the early 2024 yields, further squeezing supplies and potentially causing a rise in food inflation. Both India, the world’s largest rice exporter and Thailand, the second-largest supplier, are projected to witness a drop in off-season crop production in the first quarter. Mean ..read more

Thai Commerce Ministry plans new year mega saleLegacy The Thai Commerce Ministry has unveiled plans for a new year mega sale, an extensive retail event, to alleviate living costs for the local population. The sale, which is being presented as a new year’s gift to the citizens, is set to take place at Muang Thong Thani from December 20 to December 24. The Commerce Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, reported that the Internal Trade Department has coordinated with various manufacturers, business operators, wholesale and retail stores, convenience stores, and online platforms to orchestrate this mega ..read more