Category: The Bangkok Post

Sweden and Thailand share a deep commitment to sustainability, blending tradition with innovation to achieve shared environmental goals, according to Anna Hammargren, the Swedish ambassador to Thailand.

.Speaking on Thursday at the Swedish-Thai Sustainable Talk Stage and Networking Reception during the the SX Sustainability Expo 2025, Ms Hammargren said ‘tradition and innovation, together, are the key to achieving our common sustainability goals’.

According to her, a new collaboration between the two countries under Thailand’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, which is aligned with Swedish values and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, has transformed ambitious visions into tangible actions.

She said partnerships with government, academia and the private sector are driving new solutions, with Swedish companies in Thailand showcasing how cutting-edge technologies, research and circular practices are accelerating the green transition.

Viktor Friberg, Cluster President for South East Asia and Oceania at Alfa Laval, during the talk highlighted his company’s role in redefining industrial efficiency.

Specialising in heat transfer, separation and fluid handling, Alfa Laval’s technologies address critical challenges in energy transition, clean water, sustainable food and marine transportation, he said.

With 40% of global emission reductions expected to come from efficiency improvements, Mr Friberg said, Alfa Laval’s solutions can cut energy consumption by up to 70%.

Last year, the company set a new emissions reduction target for 2027, reinforcing its commitment to operational sustainability, he said.

Strategic partnerships, including MoUs with other Swedish firms, are accelerating innovation, reducing costs and delivering transformative solutions, he said.

Alexis Richard, General Manager of Electrolux Thailand, shared how the Stockholm-based home appliance giant has been leading the shift towards greener living since 1992.

Electrolux designs products that offer sustainable choices without compromising quality of life, he said. In 2023, the company achieved a 31% reduction in product-related greenhouse gas emissions – three years ahead of its climate targets, he added.

He said key initiatives include a zero-landfill programme, responsible sourcing and supplier environmental footprint monitoring.

Collaborating with brands like AEG and Frigidaire, he said, Electrolux continues to innovate in taste, care and well-being, with upcoming launches of highly energy-efficient laundry and vacuum products.

Ratanasiri Tilokskulchai, Managing Director of Tetra Pak Thailand, meanwhile, emphasised that the company’s mission to ‘protect what’s good – food, people and the planet’ goes beyond packaging.

Tetra Pak’s innovations tackle climate, nature, circularity and social sustainability, she said.

By reducing aluminium in its packaging, the company has cut carbon emissions by 33%, and in 2024, achieved a 25% reduction in greenhouse gases, she said.

With more fibre-based and recyclable designs, Tetra Pak is reshaping the food system with circularity at its core, she said.

Less than one-third of data centres in Thailand possess the advanced capabilities necessary to support artificial intelligence (AI) workloads, creating a critical urgency for Thai organisations to upgrade their IT infrastructure.

Meeting these rising demands is essential for Thailand to secure its position as a leading AI hub in the region, according to Cisco Systems (Thailand).

“AI workloads are placing unprecedented demands on Thailand’s data centres, with most facilities not yet fully optimised for AI,” said Weera Areeratanasak, managing director of Cisco Thailand and Myanmar.

According to Cisco’s 2025 Networking Report, IT leaders in Thailand found that about 28% of data centres in Thailand say they are ready to fully utilise AI.

By 2027, the country aims to triple its data centre capacity from 350 megawatts (MW) in 2024 to 1 gigawatt (GW), backed by a US$6.5-billion infrastructure push.

Organisations in Thailand need to reimagine how they architect, scale, and secure their infrastructure to meet AI demands, the report says.

There is also growing expectation to leverage AI’s potential, with all companies surveyed in Cisco’s 2024 AI Readiness Index reporting an urgency to adopt and deploy AI over the past year.

However, AI introduces new challenges — driving greater complexity, putting pressure on existing infrastructure and creating a trust deficit.

“Technology is evolving faster than before and organisations in Thailand have a short runway to put the secure, critical infrastructure needed for AI in place,” said Mr Weera.

To address these challenges, Cisco is moving from a “best-of-breed” approach to an integrated “platform” approach.

The platform approach combines networking, security, and observability into a single, unified platform to provide comprehensive visibility and control.

Cisco’s strategy focusses on three key areas.

First, it supports data centres to be AI-ready. Readiness would not only support AI workloads but also leverage AI to automate and simplify data centre operations.

Its standout initiative in this area is the Secure AI Factory solution, created in collaboration with Nvidia, which delivers a certified, secure, and ready-to-deploy AI data centre design.

Second, Cisco is enabling a future-proof workplace by supporting secure hybrid and remote work environments.

Finally, it enhances organisations’ digital resilience in recognising that IT is now a core part of business operations to help organisations mitigate risk and maintain continuity during disruptions.

By integrating data from across the network, security, and applications, organisations will have end-to-end visibility, enhanced resilience, and the agility needed to embrace new technologies such as AI, helping clients maximise value, streamline management, and accelerate innovation.

In the past year, Cisco demonstrated strong AI momentum, recording more than $2 billion in AI infrastructure orders in the 2025 fiscal year, more than double the original $1-billion target.

“AI is emerging as a significant growth driver for Thailand’s digital economy,” said Mr Weera.

However, a gap remains between businesses’ ambitions and their readiness for AI.

To truly capitalise on this technology, governments need to establish the right governance and policy frameworks, investing in skills and infrastructure, addressing regulatory and privacy concerns, and ensuring that businesses have the appropriate tools and expertise to leverage AI effectively.

Mr Weera said considering the total cost of ownership when investing in AI over the long term, rather than just upfront costs, is critical to sustainable AI adoption and maximising return on investment.

To address cost concerns, Cisco developed tailored solutions covering everything from silicon to full AI systems, including networking, compute, optics, data centre interconnect, security, and observability.

Organisations can choose validated full-stack solutions with integrated management or select individual components to build a custom stack.

‘Annyeong: Pet Adventure In Korea” is the concept for the 15th “SmartHeart Presents Thailand International Pet Variety Exhibition”, which kicks off on Oct 9 and runs daily from 10am to 8pm until Oct 12, at Impact Exhibition Hall 7-8, Muang Thong Thani.

A retro Korean atmosphere will be recreated for this year’s edition, inviting pet lovers and their furry friends to enjoy, take chic photos and shop for products and services. This is another chance to witness more than 20,000 pets of various kinds at many zones inspired by famous Korean landmarks and packed with fun activities.

The “Cat Zone: The Land Of Korean Kitties” will see pedigree and adorable domestic cats on the stage before international judges to vie for cash prizes during “CFA Cat Competition 2025 By SCFC” on Oct 11 and 12. Also running on both days will be the “Bright-Eyed Beauty Cats” contest.

Also prepare to enjoy the world’s first ARBA standard rabbit competition at the “Rabbit Zone: The Cute Rodent Realm”, which will bring over 10 rare rabbit breeds. Also presented will be a mouse race, a hamster contest, an up-close experience with giant bush babies and a debut showcase of Thailand’s only Continental Giant and German Lop blue rabbits.

On display at the “Exotic Zone: Wonders Of Unusual Pets” will be rarely-seen creatures including meerkats, ferrets, sugar gliders, iguanas, ball pythons, horned frogs, eagles, Sulcata giant tortoises, macaws, giant bush babies, rare palm civets, ring-tailed lemurs, prairie dogs, skunk gangs, as well as lizards of various species from around the world.

The “Pet Playground Zone: Friends Show Their Skills” will be full of exciting challenges including grooming contests for cats and dogs, a wall-climbing dog challenge, the 38th “Thailand Pitbull Weight Pulling Championship”, the “UDC The Star” contest. Also, enjoy fun Korean-themed games such as “Do You Remember Me? Appa or Omma?”, “Mama’s Award: Saranghae”, “Come Here Baby: Monitor Lizard Racing” and treat-licking games for cats and dogs.

A number of Korean-themed workshops will also be arranged for pet owners to create a lucky charm, a key chain, a pet leash and other keepsakes, while the “Korea-Pet Street Market” will feature over 250 booths, offering Korean-style pet fashion, healthy pet food and snack, toys and the latest technology innovations. Special promotions will be presented and free pet health check-ups from top veterinary clinics will be available.

Another highlight is a series of business seminars by the Thai Pet Products Industry Association and the Thailand Exotic Pet Keepers Association, on Oct 9 from 12.30pm to 5.30pm. There is no admission fee but seats are limited.

Entry fee is 20 baht, with part of the proceeds going towards the 1 Baht For Hungry Dogs project.

Police in Bangkok have arrested a 55-year-old woman accused of opening bank accounts for a transnational money laundering network that had more than 5 billion baht in circulation.

Officers from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) apprehended the woman identified only as Wimol, on Ngam Wong Wan Road in the Lat Yao area of Chatuchak district on Wednesday, said Pol Maj Gen Tasaphum Jaruprat, the ECD commander of the ECD.

The suspect was wanted under two arrest warrants issued by the Criminal Court, on April 25 last year and on Feb 26 this year. The charges against her include colluding to defraud the public, conspiracy to launder money, inputting false information into a computer system, allowing others to use her bank accounts for technology crimes, and conspiracy to commit serious crimes linked to a transnational criminal organisation.

According to a police investigation, Ms Wimol had opened bank accounts for foreign nationals and got involved in laundering money for a transnational criminal syndicate that had more than 5 billion baht in circulation.

Police said she had previously served a jail term at the Central Women’s Correctional Institution for her role in a separate fraud case that resulted in 9 million baht in losses.

After she was released, ECD investigators tracked her movements and managed to arrest her while she was walking along Nam Wong Wan Road, said Pol Maj Gen Tasaphum.

During questioning, Ms Wimol reportedly confessed that she had been approached by an unidentified woman in 2023 to open bank accounts. The woman had persuaded her that the accounts would be used for an online business.

After she handed over the details of the accounts, the suspect said she lost contact with the woman. She later discovered that her accounts had been used for illicit activities.

She has been handed over to investigators at ECD Sub-division 3 for further legal proceedings.

RAYONG – Seven people, including three small children, were killed when fire destroyed their house early on Thursday.

Police and rescuers were called at about 2.20am to the scene in a housing estate in tambon Tha Pradu of Muang district, according to Pol Lt Col Chaikrit Taurat, an inspector at the Muang Rayong police station.

A fire truck from Rayong municipality office was deployed to the scene. Firefighters encountered flames engulfing house No. 66/16 and spreading to three others, police said.

The house where the fire originated was destroyed, and seven dead bodies were discovered inside. They were one man and three women, aged 29-57, and three children aged under 3.

It took about 30 minutes to bring the blaze under control. Residents of the other affected houses were injured from inhaling smoke and were taken to hospital.

The chief of Muang Rayong district, Anusorn Sangkla, said the cause was believed to have been a short circuit,

The victims appeared to have been sleeping on the second floor and tried unsuccessfully to escape after the fire started, as some of them were found at a bedroom door, he said.

Thailand ranks 24th in this year’s Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) mixed ratings, with a high score in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, medium in energy use, low in climate policy, and very low in renewable energy.

Thailand’s Taxonomy Phase 2, which is now open for public consultation, focuses on defining sustainable economic activities in the agriculture, real estate, manufacturing, and waste management sectors. This taxonomy guides businesses and governments in aligning with both international and Thai environmental standards, promoting green finance and investment.

This comes amid a growing partnership between Thailand and Australia over climate change initiatives.

Among successful green transition efforts, Australia has been one of the most progressive countries in driving the green economy forward following policy changes in 2023.

“The transition to renewable energy is accelerating, especially in South Australia, which by 2027 will generate all of its electricity from renewable sources, backed by large-scale battery storage,” said Australian Ambassador to Thailand Angela Macdonald.

At the national level, Australia has legislated a target of reducing emissions by 43% by 2030 compared to current levels, and has recently announced a more ambitious target of 62-70% by 2035.

“With a vast landmass, the driest continent on Earth, Australia has been tackling the effects of climate change — water scarcity, air quality challenges — very clearly,” Ms Macdonald told participants at the Talk Stage at the Sustainability Expo 2025 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center on Wednesday.

“Thailand, while smaller geographically, has a much larger population and is part of Asean, our regional neighbourhood. The challenges we face — plastics in the oceans, PM2.5 pollution, emissions, flooding — are not confined to one country. They are regional and global,” she said.

“Collaboration with Thailand and Asean will help us navigate these issues and address them together.”

Australia’s contributions to Thailand’s decarbonisation efforts are being implemented through the Mekong-Australia Partnership.

Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is also collaborating with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand to enhance electricity grid stability.

“That’s just one government-level collaboration. At the same time, many Australian businesses are bringing commercial solutions in energy and green innovation,” Ms Macdonald said.

Australia-Thailand collaborations extend across multiple initiatives, including Bangkok’s Makkasan Park, the Indo-Pacific Plastics Innovation Network and advancements in battery technology, green hydrogen, and pumped hydro energy storage.

How will Thailand build climate resilience and strengthen water security by 2050?

Join us for a forum featuring insights from leaders and experts across government, private sector, academia, and international organizations. Highlights from the event include:

?Latest findings from the Thailand Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) by the World Bank Group

?Keynote on building climate resilience and investing in the future

?Panel 1: Climate-Resilient Growth – From Policy to Action

Panel 2: Water 2030 – Shaping a Secure Water Future Together

Date: Friday, October 3, 2025

Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Venue: Meeting Room 208-209, Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok

Speakers include representatives from: World Bank, IFC, PIER, TSRI, DCCE, EEC, FTI, Hydro-Informatics Institute (HII), Mitr Phol, Chulalongkorn University, and more.

Don’t miss this opportunity to network and gain deep insights from real leaders-and be part of shaping a sustainable future!

Pre-register now to join the event!

Option 1 – Through the SX Application

Steps to register:

Download the SX Application

Fill in your registration details

Go to the “Activities” menu

Select Pre-Registration

Choose the date and time you’d like to attend

Receive a QR Code to present at the entrance

Option 2 – Quick QR Code Scan

Simply scan the QR Code to access the SX Application, enter your details, select the event, date, and time, and instantly receive your QR Code for entry.

Siam Paragon, the global destination long recognised as the number one ‘Top of Mind’ choice among Thai customers and international visitors, together with ICONSIAM, the world-class landmark on the Chao Phraya River, continue to create experiences beyond expectations. Driven by the strategy of Customer-Centric Experience, both destinations are committed to delivering superior service and ‘Meaningful Moments’ for their valued customers.

Most recently, the two destinations organised the exclusive event ‘Moonlight Dinner Cruise: A Mid-Autumn Celebration’, extending invitations to ONESIAM Black members for a special evening on the Chao Phraya River. The elevated dining experience was co-created with Okura Cruise, specially designed to present a memorable, one-night-only culinary journey. The event was graced by Saruntorn Asaves, Executive Vice President – Customer Centricity and Relationship Management, Siam Piwat Co., Ltd., and Thanaporn Tantiyanon, Managing Director of ONESIAM Shopping Center Business Group, who warmly welcomed ONESIAM Black members including Varunya Chatphiriyaphan, Grit Supadechoochai, Supatra Yoovidhya, Nipa Cholsaipan, Nam Cholsaipan, Chanya Sawangchit and Dao Sathienthirakul.

Commencing at ICONSIAM Pier, the evening began with a delicate welcome drink on the deck as 25 ONESIAM Black member couples admired 360-degree panoramic views and captured sunset photographs along the river’s most iconic landmarks. Guests then savoured the highlight of the evening-the Okura Cruise Seasonal Kaiseki, a premium Japanese haute cuisine experience co-created by Siam Paragon, ICONSIAM and Okura Cruise. Designed as a ‘First and Only’ menu, it combined refined flavours, textures, colours and presentation to reflect the beauty and philosophy of Japanese nature, crafted exclusively for this night.

To elevate the experience further, Siam Paragon and ICONSIAM collaborated with Boucheron, the world-renowned high jewellery Maison, to present an exclusive showcase of exquisite masterpieces on board. This intimate presentation offered ONESIAM Black members a rare opportunity to view Boucheron’s finest creations up close.

The evening culminated in a surprise performance by legendary artist J Jetrin Wattanasin, whose vibrant stage presence transformed the dinner cruise into an unforgettable celebration. His dynamic performance created moments of joy, excitement and exclusivity-embodying the promise of ‘Extraordinary and Money Can’t Buy Experiences’ that Siam Paragon and ICONSIAM are dedicated to curating for their most valued customers.

This event marked yet another ‘Meaningful Moment’ designed especially for ONESIAM Black members, reinforcing Siam Paragon and ICONSIAM’s commitment to delivering world-class, unforgettable experiences.

Thailand is working to expand its domestic cryptocurrency exchange-traded fund plans beyond Bitcoin to include other digital tokens, with the rollout expected early next year, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The SEC and other agencies are drafting rules for new exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that could be offered by local mutual funds and institutions, secretary-general Pornanong Budsaratragoon said, elaborating on plans announced earlier this year.

‘Our possibility now is to broaden the criteria for the crypto, such as a basket of cryptocurrencies,’ Ms Pornanong said in an interview on Wednesday. ‘We want to have broader supply of those crypto assets in the ETFs.’

Thailand has been accelerating its push to become a regional crypto hub, rolling out policies to make tokenised products part of mainstream investment choices.

Like other regional markets exploring the digital space, the move could attract younger participants, especially as the stock market is down 7.6% this year. These efforts would come with new risks, however, and the SEC is seeking to upgrade its oversight powers.

Currently, Thai investors can gain crypto exposure by buying tokens directly or putting money into funds managed by licensed asset management companies that invest only in overseas cryptocurrency ETFs. The new initiative would go beyond those limitations.

‘Some investors, especially young people, prefer to have exposure in cryptocurrencies in their portfolios as a way to diversify,’ Ms Pornanong said. ‘One of our main tasks is to facilitate’ that demand.

Crypto momentum has picked up across Thailand’s financial markets. Major players such as Binance and Kasikornbank are targeting growth in the sector. Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra remains one of the country’s vocal crypto advocates.

The expansion of Thailand’s digital asset space coincides with the SEC’s push for a bill to broaden oversight powers. The proposal would allow the regulator to order companies to suspend major transactions if financial irregularities are found.

It would also empower the SEC to investigate market-impacting cases such as insider trading, rather than relying solely on limited police resources.

The bill has cleared initial screening by legal advisers to the government, and the SEC is in talks with the new administration to accelerate parliamentary approval, Ms Pornanong said.

‘Speedy enforcement against wrongdoers will definitely revive confidence in our oversight of the capital markets,’ she said.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has launched the “Local Taste Local Thai” campaign, using authentic local food as a magnet to inspire a journey of genuine Thai experiences until Nov 15.

Held under the concept of “Grand Moment, Moment Of Giving”, the campaign is designed to create memorable moments for high-quality travellers and the expat community, support local communities and preserve traditional culinary heritage.

It is woven around four distinct travel lifestyles — Eco and Adventure, Wellness, Foodie and Sporty. These themes are linked to local dishes from four pilot provinces — Uthai Thani, Phuket, Trang and Songkhla.

The campaign aims to inspire travellers to explore lesser-known routes and to savour local food along the way, enriching their journey with a creative and unique touch.

To join the campaign, participants can purchase a 50% discount e-coupon via Line official account: @localtastethai. Each person can purchase up to 10 coupons per day. A special buy 10, get 1 free promotion is also available.

They can use the coupons to receive discounts on food and services at 63 participating restaurants, communities and activities across all five regions of Thailand, from now until Nov 15.

Every expense will be converted into points in the Taste Pass system and top spenders will receive special rewards from Bangkok Airways.