Business
Thailand’s Junta Pushes China’s Belt and Road Initiative Despite Differing Visions
BANGKOK – Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha’s appearance and welcome at the second Belt and Road Initiative forum that ended in Beijing on Saturday suggests a warming of Sino-Thai relations, but questions remain over whether the two sides can achieve the connectivity they have so keenly emphasized.
Two years ago at the first BRI forum, Beijing snubbed the Thai prime minister due to frustration over delays to the high-speed rail line that China envisages will one day run between its southwest and Singapore. The signing at the forum of a Memorandum of Cooperation between Thailand, Laos and China, aiming to hasten construction of the HSR line between Nong Khai in northeast Thailand and Vientiane in Laos, augurs progress.
Construction on Thailand’s section of the HSR line has been repeatedly delayed because of disagreements over the terms of a related loan from the Export-Import Bank of China, disputes over land rights and concerns over the project’s commercial viability.
Prayut on Friday told Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang that he would accelerate construction of the Thai section of the railway to meet a notional 2023 completion date.
For Prayut, the trip also served to assure Chinese President Xi Jinping that his government remains firmly in place, despite lingering uncertainty over the results of Thailand’s general elections in March.
But even if Prayuth himself does not stay as prime minister, the government is legally bound to abide by the country’s 20-year National Strategy, which was implemented last October and is part of the 2017 constitution. It is the blueprint through which Prayut’s military government aims to turn Thailand into a developed country by 2037.
The strategy’s success is contingent on Thailand securing foreign investment for its $45-billion Eastern Economic Corridor development plan, which Prayut has positioned as the fulcrum of the nation’s future economic growth. “Once the BRI is complete, it will allow great connectivity into Thailand, and the EEC, [which] will be a core economic and industrial part of Thailand, so prosperity will spread across the country and across ASEAN,” said Prayuth in an interview with Chinese state-owned news channel CGTN on the sidelines of the forum.
However, the two sides likely have differing visions as to what a complete BRI in Thailand and its consequent connectivity might look like.
Under its vision for a China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor, China views connectivity in Thailand as including not just the HSR line, but also the construction of a 120 km canal across the Kra Isthmus — the narrowest part of the Malay Peninsula in southern Thailand — and the clearance of rapids that prevent the passage of mid-sized commercial ships along the Mekong River.
“The EEC link to the Kra Canal, connecting the Gulf of Thailand to the Andaman Sea, is possible if the Chinese really push it,” said Paul Busbarat, lecturer in international relations in the faculty of political science at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University. “The grand scheme is the EEC as a hub of industry, from which the Chinese can export through the Kra Canal without going through the Malacca Strait.”
In October last year, Prayut ordered Thailand’s National Economic and Social Development Board and Office of the National Security Council to look into the proposed canal project, but the government first needs to address geostrategic concerns from the likes of India and the United States, and to drum up some 2 trillion baht ($63 billion) in financing.
There are more obstacles in the path of Thailand’s other BRI-related projects.
China is pushing for the northern Thai city of Chiang Rai to be the centerpiece of a cross-border special economic zone and logistics hub that would enable the elimination of tariffs on goods shipped down from southwest China via the Mekong River, while encouraging trade in e-commerce. But Thai stakeholders, including local government officials, are opposed to the plans, arguing that navigation knowledge of the river’s upper reaches lies with Chinese businesses, and that e-commerce is of little relevance in a region that is largely devoted to agricultural production.
“In Thailand, civil society and local people question government policy. So it’s not easy for Prayut,” said Dr. Chayan Vaddhanaphuti, director of Chiang Mai University’s Regional Centre for Social Science and Sustainable Development. “After declaring the area an SEZ, the government has not been able to secure proper investment in their plan, or carry out the infrastructure investment in electricity or water.”
The result of these various sticking points is Chinese direct investment into Thailand has so far been limited, according to Maria Brenda Lapiz, managing director of the institutional research department at Maybank Kim Eng Securities in Bangkok.
“In the BRI, mapping Thailand is missed out,” she said. “That’s why Thailand is insistent on getting the HSR project going despite difficulties and delays. As for Chinese investment in Thailand, many say it is growing and the industrial estate operators also confirm this. However, we don’t see evidence of this in the Board of Investments data.”
In 2018, Chinese applications to Thailand’s BOI were dwarfed by those from the U.S.
Japan, which remains by far the largest overseas investor in Thailand on a net basis, committed 143 billion baht last year compared with China’s 20 billion baht.
However, recent pledges of further investment in Thailand by Chinese companies such as Alibaba Group and Huawei suggest Sino-Thai interests are beginning to coalesce. Prayut told CGTN in the interview at the BRI forum that he expects more high-tech Chinese investment in the EEC going forward.
Prior to leaving for Beijing, Prayuth underlined in a statement to Chinese media that Thailand views the BRI’s progress as contingent on its compatibility with multilateral frameworks.
He also called attention to pledges Xi made in his keynote address to find new ways to work with multilateral frameworks, which have long been anathema to Chinese policymakers, such as the European Union, African Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
For Prayut, finding a way to engage China within ASEAN is critical for Thailand to retain influence, particularly as Beijing’s gaze sweeps further west, focusing increasingly on Myanmar and developing BRI projects in central and western Asia, said He Baogang, Alfred Deakin professor and chair in international relations at Australia’s Deakin University.
“It’s interesting to what extent China will adjust its policy to use multilateral and regional organizations to promote its agenda,” he said. “ASEAN’s infrastructure building and connectivity proposals, which demand involvement from a diverse array of international stakeholders, provide a test case for China’s ability to work within multinational frameworks, as does China’s ability to jointly develop a code of conduct for the South China Sea.”
By David Green
Nikkei Asia
Business
PepsiCo Reduces Revenue Projections As North American Snacks And Key International Markets Underperform.
(VOR News) – In the third quarter of this year, Pepsi’s net income was $2.93 billion, which is equivalent to $2.13 per share. This was attributed to the company.
This is in stark contrast to net income of $3.09 billion, which is equivalent to $2.24 per share, during the same period in the previous year. The company’s earnings per share were $2.31 when expenses were excluded.
Net sales decreased by 0.6%, totaling $23.32 billion. Organic sales increased by 1.3% during the quarter when the effects of acquisitions, divestitures, and currency changes are excluded.
Pepsi’s beverage sales fell this quarter.
The most recent report indicates that the beverage and food sectors of the organization experienced a 2% decline in volume. Consumers of all income levels are demonstrating a change in their purchasing habits, as indicated by CEOs’ statements from the previous quarter.
Pepsi’s entire volume was adversely affected by the lackluster demand they encountered in North America. An increasing number of Americans are becoming more frugal, reducing the number of snacks they ingest, and reducing the number of times they purchase at convenience stores.
Furthermore, Laguarta observed that the increase in sales was partially attributed to the election that occurred in Mexico during the month of June.
The most significant decrease in volume was experienced by Quaker Foods North America, which was 13%. In December, the company announced its initial recall in response to a potential salmonella infection.
Due to the probability of an illness, the recall was extended in January. Pepsi officially closed a plant that was implicated in the recalls in June, despite the fact that manufacturing had already been halted.
Jamie Caulfield, the Chief Financial Officer of Pepsi and Laguarta, has indicated that the recalls are beginning to have a lessening effect.
Frito-Lay experienced a 1.5% decline in volume in North America. The company has been striving to improve the value it offers to consumers and the accessibility of its snack line, which includes SunChips, Cheetos, and Stacy’s pita chips, in the retail establishments where it is sold.
Despite the fact that the category as a whole has slowed down in comparison to the results of previous years, the level of activity within the division is progressively increasing.
Pepsi executives issued a statement in which they stated that “Salty and savory snacks have underperformed year-to-date after outperforming packaged food categories in previous years.”
Pepsi will spend more on Doritos and Tostitos in the fall and winter before football season.
The company is currently promoting incentive packets for Tostitos and Ruffles, which contain twenty percent more chips than the standard package.
Pepsi is expanding its product line in order to more effectively target individuals who are health-conscious. The business announced its intention to acquire Siete Foods for a total of $1.2 billion approximately one week ago. The restaurant serves Mexican-American cuisine, which is typically modified to meet the dietary needs of a diverse clientele.
The beverage segment of Pepsi in North America experienced a three percent decrease in volume. Despite the fact that the demand for energy drinks, such as Pepsi’s Rockstar, has decreased as a result of consumers visiting convenience stores, the sales of well-known brands such as Gatorade and Pepsi have seen an increase throughout the quarter.
Laguarta expressed his opinion to the analysts during the company’s conference call, asserting, “I am of the opinion that it is a component of the economic cycle that we are currently experiencing, and that it will reverse itself in the future, once consumers feel better.”
Additionally, it has been noted that the food and beverage markets of South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa have experienced a decline in sales volume. The company cut its forecast for organic revenue for the entire year on Tuesday due to the business’s second consecutive quarter of lower-than-anticipated sales.
The company’s performance during the quarter was adversely affected by the Quaker Foods North America recalls, the decrease in demand in the United States, and the interruptions that occurred in specific international markets, as per the statements made by Chief Executive Officer Ramon Laguarta.
Pepsi has revised its forecast for organic sales in 2024, shifting from a 4% growth rate to a low single-digit growth rate. The company reiterated its expectation that the core constant currency profitability per share will increase by a minimum of 8% in comparison to the previous year.
The company’s shares declined by less than one percent during premarket trading. The following discrepancies between the company’s report and the projections of Wall Street were identified by LSEG in a survey of analysts:
SOURCE: CNBC
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Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.
Business
Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.
(VOR News) – Old National Bank, a commercial bank with its headquarters in the Midwest, and Infosys, a firm that specializes in information technology, have recently entered into a strategic expansion of their link, which has been in place for the past four years.
This expansion is more likely to take place sooner rather than later, with the likelihood being higher.
For the purpose of making it possible for Old National Bank to make use of the services, solutions, and platforms that are offered by Infosys, the objective of this expansion is to make it possible for the bank to transform its operations and processes through the application of automation and GenAI, as well as to change significant business areas.
This lets the bank leverage Infosys’ services, solutions, and platforms.
Old National Bank Chairman and CEO Jim Ryan said, “At Old National, we are committed to creating exceptional experiences for both our customers and our fellow employees.”
This statement is applicable to Old National Bank. Infosys is carefully managing the business process innovations that it is putting us through, putting a strong emphasis on efficiency and value growth throughout the process to ensure that it is carried out efficiently.
This is a routine occurrence throughout the entire operation. Because of Infosys’ dedication to our development and success, we are incredibly appreciative of the assistance they have provided.
Old National has been receiving assistance from Infosys in the process of updating its digital environment since the year 2020, according to the aforementioned company.
Ever since that time, the company has been providing assistance. The provision of this assistance has been accomplished through the utilization of a model that is not only powerful but also capable of functioning on its own power.
Infosys currently ranks Old National thirty-first out of the top thirty US banks.
This ranking is based on the fact that Old National is the nation’s largest banking corporation.
It is estimated that the total value of the company’s assets is approximately fifty-three billion dollars, while the assets that are currently being managed by the organization are valued at thirty billion dollars.
Dennis Gada, the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Banking and Financial Services, stated that “Old National Bank and Infosys possess a robust cultural and strategic alignment in the development, management, and enhancement of enterprise-scale solutions to transform the bank’s operations and facilitate growth.”
This remark referenced the exceptional cultural and strategic synergy between the two organizations. Dennis Gada is the one who asserted this claim. This was articulated explicitly concerning the exceptional cultural congruence and strategy alignment of the two organizations.
We are pleased to announce that the implementation of Infosys Topaz will substantially expedite the transformation of Old National Bank’s business processes and customer service protocols. We are exceedingly enthusiastic about this matter. We are quite thrilled about this specific component of the scenario.
Medium-sized banks operating regionally will continue to benefit from our substantial expertise in the sector, technology, and operations. This specific market segment of Infosys will persist in benefiting from our extensive experience. This phenomenon will enable this market sector to sustain substantial growth and efficiency benefits.
SOURCE: THBL
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American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
States Sue TikTok, Claiming Its Platform Is Addictive And Harms The Mental Health Of Children
Qantas Airways Apologizes After R-Rated Film Reportedly Airs On Every Screen During Flight
Business
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
The largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States stated Monday that it had been the target of a cyberattack, forcing the company to halt invoicing to consumers.
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
American Water, based in New Jersey and serving over 14 million people in 14 states and 18 military facilities, said it learned of the unauthorized activity on Thursday and quickly took precautions, including shutting down certain systems. The business does not believe the attack had an impact on its facilities or operations and said employees were working “around the clock” to determine the origin and scale of the attack.
According to their website, American Water operates over 500 water and wastewater systems in around 1,700 communities across California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
SOURCE | AP
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