‘Empower, Inspire, Transform’

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The Bangkok Post’s Ladies of the Year 2024 have been chosen as the outstanding people from a variety of areas who have inspired, influenced, and influenced change in their communities through their pursuit of excellence in the month of International Women’s Day.

Up until Thursday, there will be a number of in-depth characteristics of these people. The information will list their accomplishments, provide background information, and discuss their achievements.

We honor Narumon Chivangkur, Citi Country Officer and Banking Head, and Wallaya Chirathivat, President & Chief Executive Officer, Central Pattana Plc, now.

” Icon of financial light”

originating in the front

Wallaya Chirathivat , — , President &, Chief Executive Officer;  , Central Pattana Plc.

A light is a fixture in the active Thai business community: Central Pattana Plc ( CPN) President and CEO Wallaya Chirathivat.

Ms. Wallaya, who is the CEO of one of Thailand’s most important financial and property growth firms, goes beyond just being successful to being a visionary architect of the country’s future.

Her leadership has led the company to exceptional levels, and her career at CPN has been marked by pioneering accomplishments. Under her direction, the business properly launched a number of shopping center projects, thereby influencing the country’s financial history.

Her accolades demonstrate her management skill. Ms. Wallaya has been praised for her extraordinary accomplishments in driving operational success and encouraging impressive growth despite various difficulties. She has been named one of Forbes Asia’s best 20 businesswomen in 2022. She won the prestigious” Thailand Major CEO of the Year” honor in the real estate business group in 2023, a recognition of her remarkable management strategy and vision.

The revolutionary leadership of Ms. Wallaya has also won praise from around the world, with CPN receiving three big awards, including” Best CEO”,” Best CFO,” and” Best Investor Relations.” These accolades strengthen CPN’s status as a world leader in the field by demonstrating its quality in business and financial management.

Additionally, Ms. Wallaya’s commitment to sustainability has given CPN new levels. CPN continues to serve as the industry’s benchmark for sustainability with its listing in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices ( DJSI) for real estate management and development as well as S&amp, P Global’s The Sustainability Yearbook 2024.

Importantly, CPN is ranked No. In the DJSI, Ms. Wallaya’s unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship ranks first nationally in the real estate control and development industry.

Ms. Wallaya’s trip is deeply connected to her mother’s legacy as well as her career success. At age 23, she joined the family business kingdom and set out to change the financial landscape. She demonstrated her strong organization skills and creative spirit by overseeing the change of Central Supermarket into the renowned Tops company.

Ms. Wallaya spearheaded the revitalization of Robinson and the development of Central Phuket, marking important milestones in her career, when she transitioned to the position of co-chief executive in her 30s. Her first property development project was at CPN in 2005, combining her in-depth knowledge of financial with her drive for innovation.

The redevelopment of the World Trade Center, now CentralWorld, which received the prestigious” Best of the Best Award” from the International Council of Shopping Centers in 2010, was Ms Wallaya’s most notable accomplishment.

This award recognized Ms. Wallaya’s multidimensional approach to financial development, showcasing both design excellence and successful sales.

Despite Thailand’s slow economic restoration, the company continues to invest heavily and have ambitious plans for long-term progress. CPN intends to develop five big mixed-use projects in various strategically located in Bangkok between 2023 and 2027, with a total investment of more than 100 billion baht.

Part of this ambitious plan, Central Park, which will debut in the second quarter of 2025, will redefine Bangkok’s industrial landscape, creating memorable parks in New York and London.

” International finance pioneer”

crystal ceilings blown off

Narumon Chivangkur, the mind of Citi Thailand and the country official, is also a member of the team.

Narumon Chivangkur stands as a pillar of revolutionary leadership in the realm of foreign banks in the center of Thailand’s bustling economic hubs. She embodies a blend of vision, experience, and a continuous pursuit of excellence with an famous 28-year occupation at Citi. Ms. Narumon is a visionary shaping the future of international banking in the region as the Citi Country Officer (CCO ) and Banking Head of Citi Thailand.

Beyond her recognized finance job, Ms. Narumon’s quest is enhanced by her unique skills. She performed on stage as a well-known pop singer in a bygone age, captivating audiences with her melodic words and captivating stage presence. Ms. Narumon excels in her authority by combining her special combination of creative flair and business acumen, which infuses her authority with originality and a deep understanding of the various facets of human expression.

Ms. Narumon’s trip exemplifies passion, knowledge, and a continuous pursuit of excellence. Her progression through the ranks, from a management relate in 1996 to her present position as CCO and banking mind of Citi Thailand, is a testament to her unwavering dedication to fostering growth and innovation.

In May 2023, Citigroup appointed Ms. Narumon as the fresh CCO for Thailand, making her the first woman to hold this position after the company sold its customer banking operations to United Overseas Bank in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. I want to help both local and international customers in their search for new business opportunities under Citi Thailand’s leadership role, she said.

Ms. Narumon has a wealth of knowledge in different fields, including foreign exchange, fixed-income securities, multi-award technique, and structured products. Her previous positions as head of business sales and arranging, head of derivatives and arranging, and nose of world markets and securities services at Citi demonstrate her management prowess. But beyond the office, she has an impact. Ms. Narumon is a steadfast supporter of diversity and inclusion, having previously served on the boards of directors of the Association of International Banks and the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand. She has never before been more committed to empowering women in the workplace, opening the door for a new generation of leaders.

She has a clear vision for Citi Thailand, helping both domestic and foreign clients find new business opportunities and navigate the complex foreign market. Under her leadership, Citi Thailand is more than just a institution; it is also a proponent of international commerce and a change-maker. The bank’s” think globally” philosophy makes use of Ms Narumon’s vast network, which spans 95 countries, to quickly respond to client needs and promote business development across borders.

Under the direction of Ms. Narumon, Citi Thailand is dedicated to supporting their growth and fostering long-term success in the global market, from small and medium-sized businesses ( SMEs ) to large corporations. Her commitment to customer satisfaction is underlined by her proper focus on providing customized options, such as effective payment systems that can process thousands of transactions per minute. However, Ms. Narumon’s influence extends beyond banks.

Ms. Narumon also emphasizes the value of the team, focusing on developing the organization’s staff ‘ potential and efficiency, who are regarded as essential resources. With this support, bank workers can work in new techniques and gain new perspectives in order to adjust to the rapid changes in the business and technology earth.

As Ms. Narumon moves on to the next chapter of her distinguished occupation, she continues to inspire other women to strive for success. Her hard work, innovative thinking, and unwavering commitment to excellence function as a guiding light for upcoming decades of leaders.

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‘Oppenheimer’ triumphs with 7 Oscars

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PUBLISHED: 12 Mar 2024 at 04 :00

'Oppenheimer' triumphs with 7 Oscars
During the 96th Annual Academy Awards at the Hollywood, California, venue on Sunday, American director Christopher Nolan poses in the press room with the Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture for” Openheimer.” Photos: Agency

Los Angeles: Oppenheimer, the historical drama about the atomic bomb’s creator, won seven Academy Awards on Sunday, including best photograph and best chairman for Christopher Nolan.

Cillian Murphy, an Irish artist, won the award for his description of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer. For playing his rival Lewis Strauss, Robert Downey Jr won the best supporting actor honor. Oscars for best initial tally, best proofreading, and best cinematography were also awarded to Oppenheimer.

Emma Stone won her second Academy Award, earning the best celebrity trophy for her performance in the Frankenstein-inspired black comedy Bad Things as a woman who has been revived from the deceased.

Additionally, Poor Things won awards for best generation style, best costume design, and best make-up and hairstyling.

Hayao Miyazaki, a well-known Asian artist, won his next Oscar with The Child and the Heron, his first and possibly his final feature as a Studio Ghibli co-founder. Miyazaki was no present to accept the award in Los Angeles.

Barbie was even a candidate for best image at the 2023 box office. What Was I Made For singer Billie Eilish received eight nominations, but it only received the award for best music.

The Zone of Interest, a strong psychological horror movie set in Auschwitz, won for best global picture and best tone. a number of organizations

Best professional: Cillian Murphy.

Best artist Emma Stone

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Court finds employee wrongfully dismissed due to pregnancy, awards S2,000 in damages

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SINGAPORE: A district court has awarded the former head of finance of an accounting firm around S$122,000 (US$91,700) in damages, after ruling that her employment was terminated because she was pregnant.

Ms Navinea Kanapathy Pillai was also the sole director at Longitude 101 when she was let go. The company subsequently sued her for misappropriating S$100,500 and breaching her employment contract by failing to return some items.

Ms Pillai then filed a counterclaim against the firm and its sole shareholder, Swiss national Thomas Haeusler, for wrongful dismissal.

In a written judgment dated Mar 1 and released over the weekend, District Judge Samuel Wee rejected Longitude’s claim, saying the company did not show sufficient cause for Ms Pillai’s termination.

The judge ruled in her favour and dismissed the allegations of misappropriation, instead finding that the money withdrawn by Ms Pillai were dividends and shareholder payments paid to Mr Haeusler.

JOINED IN 2019

Longitude is part of boutique consulting firm Latitude 1.1 Group, which was set up by Mr Haeusler in 2012. It provided accounting services to Latitude’s clients.

Ms Pillai was initially employed by Latitude sometime in 2019, when another man was its sole director.

In September that year, Longitude was incorporated with Ms Pillai named as its sole director. Mr Haeusler was behind this decision.

Mr Haeusler, who became a Singapore permanent resident in 2009, was disqualified from acting as a director under the Companies Act for five years from June 2017. This was because three companies of which he was a director had been struck off within the previous five years, which automatically triggers the disqualification.

He advised high-net-worth individuals, family officers and multinational corporations on setting up structures to hold investments and assets, according to a High Court judgment.

TERMINATION WITH SALARY IN LIEU OF NOTICE

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in early 2020, Ms Pillai began working from home. Longitude provided her with furniture, stationery, computer equipment and documents to facilitate this.

Around Dec 15, 2020, she told Mr Haeusler that she was pregnant.

Between Jan 15 and Mar 18 of the following year, she withdrew sums amounting to S$100,500 from Longitude’s bank account. Longitude later accused her of misappropriating this.

The company then issued her a notice of termination on Apr 27, 2021. She was its only remaining employee at that point.

The dismissal took effect that same day, with Longitude offering to pay her three months’ salary — S$43,500 — in lieu of notice as well as an additional bonus of S$15,000. These sums have yet to be paid to Ms Pillai.

Aside from the reference to the termination with notice clause in Ms Pillai’s employment contract, no reasons were given for the termination.

Longitude also asked that she return some items in compliance with a handover clause in her contract. These included what the company had provided her for work-from-home purposes.

In the termination letter, the company further asked that she propose a time and place for her to meet its representative, who would collect the returnable items and provide her with a cheque for S$58,500. Longitude referred to the fact that she was working from home and “expecting”.

Longitude then sued Ms Pillai. It sought a return of the items, damages arising out of her alleged failure to return them, and payment of S$100,500.

Ms Pillai counterclaimed for damages over her dismissal, asserting that it was due to her pregnancy.

NEGATIVE REACTION TO PREGNANCY

In his judgment, District Judge Wee rejected Mr Haeusler’s argument that he was not acting as a director of Longitude.

The judge found that he was a de facto director who played an active and dominant role in the company’s decisions, such as signing Ms Pillai’s contract. He was referred to as the “boss” of Longitude.

The judge also noted Mr Haeusler’s negative reaction when he first found out about Ms Pillai’s pregnancy.

Based on Ms Pillai’s testimony, Mr Haeusler had told her it was not good to have a baby in Singapore, and suggested that she get an abortion. She also claimed he made life difficult for her.

During the trial, Mr Haeusler conceded that Ms Pillai’s termination was not due to performance-related reasons. District Judge Wee did not accept Mr Haeusler’s argument that tension between Ms Pillai and himself led to his decision to fire her.

The judge found that Longitude and Mr Haeusler did not show any reasons that amounted to sufficient cause for terminating Ms Pillai’s employment. In fact, they chose not to specify the reasons despite being invited by the court to do so.

The judge also found that they conspired by unlawful means to cause damage to Ms Pillai.

District Judge Wee briefly addressed Ms Pillai’s argument that her employment was terminated partly due to Mr Haeusler’s allegedly harassing behaviour.

The judge said he did not need to decide whether there was sexual harassment involved, since he had ruled that Ms Pillai was dismissed because of her pregnancy.

Nevertheless, the judge noted some “inappropriate and unacceptable” conduct on Mr Haeusler’s part. He had sent two topless selfies to Ms Pillai when he was serving his COVID-19 quarantine in a hotel room, in response to her asking about his swab test results.

When cross-examined during the trial, Mr Haeusler accepted it was not normal for a shareholder to send such photographs to a director in “big companies”, but that such an act was appropriate in the context of a smaller company like Longitude.

District Judge Wee said he found this argument “peculiar”.

ALLEGATIONS OF MISAPPROPRIATION

Longitude also argued that Ms Pillai had withdrawn S$100,500 in cash from Longitude’s bank accounts with no basis and kept the money. They claimed they only found this out after terminating her employment.

The judge instead found that Ms Pillai paid Mr Haeusler S$97,000 in dividends because he was the sole shareholder, and a further S$3,500 from a shareholder distribution that he requested.

This was supported by ATM transaction records that were acknowledged and signed by Mr Haeusler.

While Longitude and Mr Haeusler sought to dispute the authenticity of these records the day before the trial began, the judge dismissed this. He added that they had taken “inconsistent positions” as to why they objected to the authenticity.

Initially, they said Mr Haeusler’s signature was forged by ink signing and needed to be analysed by the Health Sciences Authority of Singapore, before conceding that the signature belonged to Mr Haeusler but that it seemed to be a “cut and paste” job. They repeated their initial position in their submissions at the end of the trial.

In terms of the items to be returned to Longitude, District Judge Wee found that it failed to prove it had suffered any quantifiable loss because of Ms Pillai’s breach of the handover clause.

Ms Pillai had indeed held onto some returnable items, such as a computer, cheque books and photocopied documents. But the judge said that Longitude’s position on the issue of loss was “unclear” and there was a lack of evidence on that front.

District Judge Wee also found that Longitude did not prove Ms Pillai had breached the confidentiality clause in her contract. The clause did not specify what constituted confidential information, and there was no evidence she had failed to surrender any such information.

Ms Pillai was awarded S$122,123.93 in damages, plus interest at a rate of 5.33 per cent per annum from the date of termination to the date of judgment.

This comprised her bonus, salary in lieu of notice, encashment of balance leave, employer’s Central Provident Fund contribution, and eight weeks of maternity benefit as her child is not a Singapore citizen.

Ms Pillai was represented by Mr Kishan Pratap and Ms Jasmine Yan from Kishan Law Chambers, while Longitude and Mr Haeusler were represented by Mr Adrian Tan from August Law Corporation.

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The New Boy: Cate Blanchett film tackles faith and colonialism in Australia

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By Tiffanie Turnbull
BBC News, Sydney

It would take a remarkable child acting performance to rival Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett on screen.

But that’s exactly what untried prodigy Aswan Reid has done in her latest movie, critics say.

Barely 11 years old when The New Boy was shot in the dusty South Australian outback in 2022, Reid’s audition was the very first tape the film’s creators looked at.

“He’s absolutely magnetic. We were so lucky to find him,” Blanchett tells the BBC’s Today programme.

“[He’s] a Kiwirrkurra boy from the border of the Northern Territory and Western Australia – who had not only never been off Country, he’d never been on a film set. But yet, he learnt more in two days about the film industry than I’d learnt in almost 30 years.”

Variety calls Reid the film’s “secret weapon” while The Guardian wrote that he “delivers Australian cinema’s most impressive child performance for some time” – an assessment rubberstamped last month, when he took home the prize for Best Lead Actor at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards.

Aswan Reid on the set of The New Boy

Ben King

Reid plays the film’s titular character – a nine-year-old Aboriginal orphan with mysterious supernatural powers, whose arrival at a remote monastery in the dead of night sends the place into turmoil.

The fable, which is out in UK cinemas from 15 March, is set in 1940s Australia and touches on one of the nation’s darkest chapters.

From the mid-1800s until 1970, successive generations of Indigenous children – estimated to be in the tens of thousands – were forcibly removed from their families and cut off from their culture, under policies aimed at assimilation.

The film’s backers say it “explores spirituality, culture and colonisation in a way we haven’t seen on screen before”.

For writer and director Warwick Thornton, who is also a giant of the nation’s industry, it’s a deeply personal story.

At the age of 11, the Kaytetye man was sent from his home in Alice Springs to a remote missionary-style school run by Benedictine monks in Western Australia.

Though Thornton is not himself a member of the Stolen Generations, he says the movie is about the “cost of survival”, a theme which would resonate with “any Indigenous person through the last 250 years of colonisation”.

“Your lore, your culture and everything has just been completely obliterated to extinction in a strange way,” he said in the film’s press notes.

“You have to adapt in this new world that is like a plague, like a virus that has completely taken over your life and shut down everything that you’ve believed in.”

Aswan Reid, on stage with Warwick Thornton, accepting his AACTA prize

Getty Images

Blanchett – who plays a renegade nun – has said she’s long wanted to work with Thornton and when she read the script, she was determined to have it for her production company Dirty Films.

They first began discussing the project during the pandemic, but it had been written by Thornton almost two decades earlier.

“It was so personal that he put it in his sock drawer, his proverbial sock drawer, and left it there.”

But Blanchett too was drawn to the project for personal reasons.

Her father had died when she was just 10 years old, and – despite having no religious background – she found herself seeking comfort in the rituals and community of the Catholic Church.

“I was looking for some sense of understanding of what I had perceived as the disappearance of my father – which seemed some inverse miracle. How could he be there one day and gone the next?” she says.

“I was, I think in a very simplistic way, hoping that the hand of God would come down and tell me, you know, ‘Your father’s playing golf. You’ll see him in a few years’ time.’ But of course, that didn’t happen.”

She initially had no idea about Thornton’s childhood, but they soon bonded over their similar brushes with faith as youngsters.

“His work is often quite savage and brutal, but this is a very personal story about his own experience,” Blanchett says.

“And so, we found this connection.”

Originally about a monk and an Indigenous boy, it was Blanchett’s husband and collaborator Andrew Upton who suggested putting a nun in charge of the monastery – a role usually reserved for men.

“We have a nun who’s officiating mass and we have people who were all dislocated from their metaphysical country, and so I found it absolutely intriguing to go into the exploration of what it would mean to be a nun in those particular set of circumstances,” Blanchett says.

Kath Shelper, Warwick Thornton, Cate Blanchett, Andrew Upton and Aswan Reid on set

Ben King

Many of the film’s themes are very much still live issues in Australia too.

Indigenous children continue to be removed from their families at record rates by child protective services.

And when the film was released there last year, the nation was in the grips of a referendum on the constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, which was decisively rejected.

Critics of the defeated proposal argued the idea was divisive and would have created special “classes” of citizens.

But Blanchett describes it as a “missed opportunity” for the country to grapple with its complex past, and those policies that have contributed to the “eradication of Indigenous culture”.

“So many positives could have come out of it,” she says.

“I think it’s to our detriment that we have not been able to really adhere to the deep-time, vibrant history that came before white settlement.”

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Korat to host international expo in 2029

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Doha meeting awards Thailand third horticultural exposition

Korat to host international expo in 2029
An artist’s rendition of the 2029 International Horticultural Expo site, or Korat Expo 2029.

Thailand has been selected to host the 2029 International Horticultural Expo, a 4-month event expected to attract up to 4 million visitors and pump about 19 billion baht into the economy.

The right to organise the 25th expo was approved by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH), which is meeting in Doha, Qatar, from March 3-7. It will be held in Nakhon Ratchasima and be billed as the Korat Expo 2029.

A total of 32 member countries tendered bids to host the exposiion.

The Thai team that made the final presentation supporting Thailand’s bid comprised representatives of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, the province of Nakhon Ratchasima and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB).

Following approval by the AIPH, Thailand must now make a submission to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), to complete the approval process and become a Certified Licensed Host of an A1 Level Exposition.

Korat Expo 2029 is scheduled to run from Nov 10, 2029 to Feb 28, 2030. The theme will be “Nature & Greenery: Envisioning a Green Future”. It is anticipated to attract up to 4 million visitors, bring in about 19 billion baht in revenue and provide more than 36,000 jobs.

It will will cover such issues as the delicate balance between human development and environmental protection; green communities; sustainable food production; connections between nature, culture and people’s livelihoods; and agricultural and food production advancement.

Sira Swangsilpa, the Thai ambassador to Qatar and head of Team Thailand, on Wednesday affirmed the government’s commitment to making Korat Expo 2029 a success. He said Nakhon Ratchasima, as gateway to the northeastern region, had historical and cultural richness, agricultural expertise and biodiversity. 

Rapipat Chantarasriwong, chief of the Department of Agriculture, said that Korat Expo 2029 will showcase the country’s horticulture sector, which combines technology with traditional wisdom. Nakhon Ratchasima governor Sayam Sirimonglol said it will transform the province into a model for green innovation.

Jirut Issarangkul Na Ayudhaya, director of TCEB, said the exposition promised to be a key social, economic and environment driver for the country and thanked all stake holders for helping secure the right to host the event.

In March 2022, the AIPH awarded Thailand the 2026 International Horticultural Expo, to be held in Udon Thani from Nov 1, 2026 to March 14, 2027 under the concept “Diversity of Life: Connecting Water, Plants and People for Sustainable Living”.

In 2006, Thailand hosted the International Horticultural Expo in Chiang Mai, the first international event to be organised in the northern region. It was awarded a gold medal for outstanding success.

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Volume One 2024 magazine out now | FinanceAsia

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We are delighted to announce that the first volume of FinanceAsia’s 2024 bi-annual magazine, is now available for your perusal. 

In this edition, we celebrate all the winners the FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2023 and explain the rationale behind why each institution won. In addition to the Deal and House Awards for Asia and Australia and New Zealand (ANZ); this year we added a new category, the Dealmaker Poll, which recognises key individuals and companies based on market feedback. 

 

In feature format, Christopher Chu examines the potential and reach of artificial intelligence (AI) in Asia – the fast-moving technology is presenting both huge challenges and opportunities for investors. While it remains caught in the cross-hairs of geopolitics and regulation, he examines how AI could be a game-changer for productivity.

 

Ryan Li explores the proposed breakup of Chinese giant Alibaba and how the firm’s ambitions fit in with wider developments across China’s tech sector.

 

Also in the magazine, Andrew Tjaardstra reviews IPO activity across key Asian markets in 2023 and looks ahead to how public markets might perform in 2024 – while it certainly hasn’t been an easy ride for the region’s equity markets over the last 12 months, there have been some bright spots, notably India and Japan, which are set to continue their momentum this year.

 

Finally, read Ella Arwyn Jones’ exclusive interview with Rachel Huf, the new Hong Kong CEO of Barclays. Huf shares her transition from lawyer to leader, offering insights around her career path and the strategic direction of the bank in the Special Administrative Region (SAR) over months to come. 

 

Click here to read the full magazine issue online. 

 


¬ Haymarket Media Limited. All rights reserved.

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PM aims high for airport

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Premier outlines aviation ambitions

The government aims to have Suvarnabhumi airport rank among the world’s 20 best airports within the next five years, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin says.

This is part of the government’s “Ignite Thailand, Aviation Hub” campaign to make the kingdom a regional aviation hub, Mr Srettha, also the finance minister, said at Government House.

“Suvarnabhumi airport will become one of the world’s top 50 airports in one year and a top 20 airport within five years. I want to thank and offer support to everyone involved in fulfilling the goal of making Thailand an aviation hub,” he said.

Located in Samut Prakan, east of Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi airport ranked 68th in the Skytrax World Airport Awards last year and 77th in 2022.

The government also plans to increase the capacity of the airport to handle 150 million passengers annually. It currently handles about 60 million passengers per year, he said.

Suvarnabhumi’s third runway is also expected to be opened for service in October, enabling the airport to handle about 90 flights per hour, up from about 60 flights, the prime minister said.

“Six months from now, I hope we will not see long queues at Suvarnabhumi,” Mr Srettha said in response to passengers and tourists’ complaints about the long wait at the airport’s immigration control.

The government also plans to develop Don Mueang airport into a point-to-point airport system and to increase its capacity from 30 million to 50 million passengers per year, with the construction of a new terminal for international passengers and expansion of its facilities, the prime minister said.

He said the government also plans to upgrade existing airports in other smaller cities across the country, such as Nan and Si Sa Ket, as well as to build new ones, such as Andaman airport in Phangnga and Lanna airport in the northern province of Lamphun.

Airports of Thailand (AoT) said it is speeding up construction of the new Andaman International Airport, which is set to become a direct long-haul flight hub in the South.

Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said earlier that the new airport, which is in its second stage of development, will serve as an extension of Phuket airport.

The two airports are expected to handle as many as 18 million passengers per year, compared to the annual average of 12.5 million currently handled by Phuket airport, he said.

Once Andaman International Airport opens, it will be a hub for direct long-distance international flights while the original airport in Phuket will accommodate only domestic and short-haul international flights, he said.

AoT president Kerati Kijmanawat said that the AoT is ready to proceed with its East Expansion project, which involves the expansion of Suvarnabhumi’s passenger building. It will invest 9 billion baht in the project, with bidding to start in June, he said.

Construction is expected to be completed in 2027, he said.

He added that bidding for the construction of Suvarnabhumi’s West Expansion project and Satellite Terminal 2 will start next year.

Mr Kerati said earlier that the AoT also aims to increase the flight capacity of Suvarnabhumi’s Satellite Terminal 1 from 50 flights per day to 120 flights per day within two months, then 400 flights per day by the end of the year.

He said the AoT will also invest 36 billion baht in the third phase of Don Mueang airport’s development.

The plan includes the construction of a new international terminal and the renovation of Passenger Building 1.

The expansion will increase the passenger capacity from 30 million to 50 million annually.

The bidding for the project will begin later this year.

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Kharkiv luminary takes page out of US governors’ playbook – Asia Times

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Just over two years ago, Kharkiv Regional Council chairwoman Tetiana Yehorova-Lutsenko was forced to grab her two sons and go into hiding as invading Russian troops sought to assassinate locally elected officials, especially those aligned with President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Servant of the People Party that the university law professor serves as deputy party chief.

The battle for Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second city located kilometers from the Russian border, was more violent, more deadly than the Russian blitz to take out Zelensky and his government in the capital, Kiev.

The heroic resistance and defense of Kharkiv shocked Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Kremlin henchmen, who fully expected the predominantly Russian-speaking city to capitulate and welcome the invading soldiers rather than fight a block-by-block insurgency, leaving large swaths of working-class apartment complexes in rubble.

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Utah Governor and National Governors Association chairman Spencer Cox speaks with Capitol Intelligence/CI Ukraine along with Colorado Governor and vice-chairman Jared Polis, former NGA chairman and Maryland Senate candidate for governor, Larry Hogan, and Maryland Governor Wes Moore on supporting Ukraine in Washington, DC, during the NGA Winter Meeting on February 22, 2024.

But two years after the invasion, Yehorova-Lutsenko has expanded her role by leading economic development to the region, such as persuading a Canadian company to build thousands of high-quality prefabricated homes for displaced workers from occupied Donetsk that now work in Kharkiv-based factories.

Yehorova-Lutsenko, who became the president of the Ukrainian association of locally elected officials last year, is now copying a page from the highly successful model used by US governors to promote economic investment in their home states: foreign trade missions accompanied by accomplished and dynamic business leaders.

Her direct counterpart in the United States is Utah Governor Spencer Cox, the current chairman of the National Governors Association.

Not only has Utah been the US state most active in Ukraine – leading numerous people to people and business to business missions throughout Ukraine – but the association of Utah defense companies 47G Utah Aerospace and Defense, led by Aaaron Starks, was the first US defense group to sign a memorandum of understanding with Zelensky to establish and promote co-production in the country.

During the National Governors Association Winter Meeting in Washington, President Joe Biden stressed to the governors their important role in helping Ukraine to achieve victory.

Utah, which calls itself “Silicon Slopes,” has surpassed Texas as the best state to do business in thanks to its diverse mix of companies, from high tech to agrochemicals, and a global outlook stemming from the Church of Latter Day Saints’ (Mormons’) tradition of sending its youth out to the world as missionaries.

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Kharkiv Oblast chairwoman Tetiana Yehorova-Lutsenko speaks with Capitol Intelligence/CI Ukraine on her talks with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to forge a partnership agreement between the Region of Kharkiv and the State of Ohio after the sister-city partnership between Kharkiv and Cincinnati, Ohio, in Kiev on June 8, 2023.

Not only does Cox lead foreign trade missions with the chief executive officers and owners of leading Utah-based companies, but the Salt Lake City-based World Trade Center hosts foreign leaders and their companies. WTC Utah is headed by Ukrainian speaker Jonathan Freedman.

Yehorova-Lutsenko will lead her US investment mission with two Kharkiv-native business owners: Ivan Shvaichenko, the founder and CEO of Boosteroid, the world’s third-largest cloud gaming hosting company after GE Force and xCloud of Microsoft, and Alexander Kroshka, the founder and CEO of Ukrainian green commercial and residential boiler manufacturer EPG-Kolvi Group of Companies.

Boosteroid’s Shvaichenko has just opened his US headquarters in Houston, Texas, where he is investing millions to expand the company’s half-dozen data centers and cementing his business relationships with Advanced Micro Devices and Hewlett Packard Enterprises.

Boosteroid, with its 10-year partnership agreement with Microsoft’s Activision and commercial agreement with South Korea’s Samsung, along with HPE and AMD, has created a group rivaling the giant Nvidia with its market capitalization of nearly $2 trillion.

Kroshka has made EPG-Kolvi into a leading heating-supply company, with its growth mainly due to replacing energy-inefficient and polluting systems of the former USSR. 

Kroshka, like Shvaichenko, is living proof of the resilience and dynamism of the Ukrainian private sector, as both were able to grow their companies even after being bombed by the Russians during the invasion and now facing near daily missile attacks (intercepted by US Patriot anti-missile systems).

“Right at the beginning of the invasion, we, like everyone else, were in shock. The plant was damaged when an aerial bomb fell. Thanks to the fact that the structure was strong enough, everything held together. But it was a serious blow,” Kroshka said in an interview with RBK Ukraine, adding, “Many of the staff have gone abroad [after February 24, 2024]. But we survived the most difficult period, even increasing our production capacity.”

In his spare time, Kroshka invented and built an AI-guided drone capable of delivering an explosive payload 750 to 1,000 kilometers inside Russia. The AI guiding system makes the drone immune to Russian electronic warfare, and the distance between Kharkiv and Moscow is 765km, making the $50,000 drone the cheapest cruise missile in the world.

(President Ronald Reagan’s deployment of US cruise missiles in Europe was the final straw that broke the financial and military back of the Soviet Union.)

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AI-powered drone with 750-1000km range invented by Alexander Kroshka and tested in undisclosed location in Ukraine.

Moore takes a page from Mississippi’s successful mission to Uzbekistan, when then-governor Phil Byrant traveled to the geopolitically important Central Asian nation with number of CEOs and business owners.

Moore can do the same, and even more, with a delegation of Maryland-based companies – led by the CEO of Bethesda-based Lockheed Martin, James D Taiclit – on an official mission to the Baltic state of Estonia and a lower-key visit to Ukraine.

Baltimore, Maryland, civil-rights icon Marvin “Doc” Cheatham said Governor Moore can return from his visit to Estonia with an agreement to staff Baltimore elementary schools with Estonian computer-science teachers. Estonia is the only nation that teaches computer science and cybersecurity at third grade, while only three US states have mandatory computer-science courses for secondary education (ages 12-18).

Boosteroid’s Shvaichenko also won the personal attention of the former Rhode Island governor and venture capitalist, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, after his talks to build a server data center and software and gaming academy in America’s most economically depressed and segregated city of Gary, Indiana, located a mere 50km from Chicago.

Not only is Raimondo doing everything in her power to promote US corporate investment into Ukrainian companies like Boosteroid and EPG-Kolvi, but Shvaichenko’s willingness to create new tech-sector jobs and a bootcamp in Gary fulfills much of the promise of the $39 billion Chips and Science Act to make the United States self-sufficient in the manufacture of critical semiconductors by 2030 and create “hundreds of thousands of new jobs.”

The bill was passed through the bipartisan efforts of US Senators Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia, and Todd Young, a Republican from Indiana.

At a standing-room-only crowd at the Center for Strategic Studies, Raimondo bluntly stated that self-sufficiency in semiconductor chips is vital to US national security and that the world’s largest economy cannot be dependent on one country (Taiwan) for the supply of chips needed for everything from cars to intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

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US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo filmed by Capitol Intelligence/BBN on achieving a US renaissance in semiconductor production and the first award of CHIPS funding to BAE Systems, Global Foundries and Microchip Technology at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC.

According to US intelligence analysts, one of the top three threats to the national security of the US, the European Union and Asian allies is that Chinese President Xi Jinping will order a two-week blockade of Taiwan and set off a veritable Pearl Harbor on global financial markets.

Raimondo awarded the first tranches of the $39 billion of the CHIPs Act to UK-based BAE Systems to build a semiconductor factory in Nashua, New Hampshire, to supply the US Department of Defense; $1.5 billion to the United Arab Emirates’ sovereign-wealth controlled GlobalFoundaries to produce automotive and sensitive chips in Malta, New York and Vermont; and Chandler, Arizona-based Microchip Technology to produce microcontroller units (MCUs).

While she is fully aware the initial awards did not make her friends with the giants Intel and Nvidia, Raimondo says she is confident industry leaders will be even more motivated in submitting value-added proposals.

But the problems for Ukraine are not the democratically elected leaders of the West, but resentful mandarins who violate CNN founder Ted Turner’s motto: lead, follow or get out of the way. 

“The problem for Ukraine is not support from Western and Ukrainian leadership but the second line of bureaucrats and mid-level executives who do everything to delay or undermine the efforts of their principals,” said the vice-chairman of PKO’s Ukraine unit Kredobank, Adam Swirksi.

Another Biden administration leader in getting private-sector investment into Ukraine is the president of the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Scott Nathan, who said he welcomes the initiative of Yehorova-Lutsenko highlighting investment in Ukraine companies.

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US International Development Finance Corporation (US DFC) CEO Scott Nathan speaks to Capitol Intelligence/CI Ukraine at the rally for Ukraine making the second year of Russia’s aggression at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on February 24, 2024.

Zelensky is like any successful political leader or CEO, who dream of cloning themselves so they can be everywhere.

But as he cannot clone himself, Zelensky is pushing for regional and municipal officials like Yehorova-Lutsenko to travel the globe to help support the country in its existential battle for survival and create the global economic footprint as it prepares to enter the European Union by the end of 2025.

The question world leaders must now ask themselves whether they want a new Canada as a member of the European Union or a new South Korea where NATO soldiers will be stationed to defend against a new North Korea.

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New retention scheme a ‘reason to stay’ but payouts not substantial enough, say some nurses

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In: South-East Asia

SCHEME “FALLS SHORT” IN SOME AREAS

But Sarah and some nurses CNA spoke to pointed out they have to wait four to six years for each payout and that the incentive does not apply to those in the private healthcare sector.  

Sarah, who has been a nurse for 10 years, acknowledged that the retention scheme serves as an “additional boost” on top of existing benefits. 

But a S$20,000 payout over four years means S$5,000 a year, or just S$417 per month.

This is “close to” the amount a locum or stand-in nurse receives in one shift, Sarah noted. “I feel that it is the main reason why nurses are speaking up; (they do) not consider it a substantial amount,” she said, pointing to comments from fellow nurses on social media. 

To this, SIT’s Assoc Prof Siow said: “It is difficult to put a specific amount on what is considered a sufficient payout for nurses.

“At first pass, the amounts do look generous, but it must be understood that these payouts happen every four to six years,” she said.

“Some nurses may forgo the amounts if they have better opportunities elsewhere or prefer to leave the workforce for personal reasons – such as to take care of family or children – despite the loss of these payouts.”

Janet (not her real name), a home care nurse working at a community care organisation, also told CNA that while she appreciates the Health Ministry’s initiative to retain nurses, she believes it “falls short”.

“Nurses need an annual salary increase with a minimum cap. We are underpaid, considering the hard work we put in to meet patients’ needs and deliver quality care,” said the 36-year-old who has been a nurse for more than 10 years.

Publicly funded community care organisations and social service agencies can also apply to participate in the scheme. They will need to co-fund the awards, with most of the funding coming from the government, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Tuesday.

Private hospitals, however, are not included in the scheme. 

“I would be grateful if such schemes are given to private sectors as well. As nurses, be it in the government or private sector, the job is equally stressful and lacks staff welfare,” said Mr Staffan Stewart, who works in the transitional care facility at Raffles Hospital.

“I do hope that private hospital nurses will also be recognised for their hard work,” added the 31-year-old.

Mr Stewart also wanted to see that the welfare of all healthcare workers, and not just nurses, improve gradually. 

“If not, it’s painful to see our locals moving away to other countries just to get the life they are unable to live in Singapore.”

Nurses also told CNA that there is more to retaining the workforce than money.

“Beyond monetary compensation, nurses require adequate rest, a safe working environment, protection from healthcare worker abuse, and opportunities for promotion and career progression within the health organisation,” said Alexandra Hospital nurse Ms Yap.

Likewise, Assoc Prof Siow highlighted that nursing attrition is a multi-faceted issue which “cannot be addressed just by one solution”. 

“The pull factors for remaining in the profession are not entirely monetary. There are other factors that should be considered such as work conditions, passion for the job, regard for the profession, opportunities for upskilling and opportunities for career progression,” she said. 

“Beyond implementing measures to retain nurses, we need to continue efforts to grow the nursing workforce by getting more people to consider nursing as a career.” 

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