B.Grimm Power joins in celebrating the Groundbreaking ceremony of NTT GDC’s new data center in Thailand, NTT Bangkok 3 Data Center (BKK3).
Mr. Attacha Atipongvanich (3rd from right), Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at B.Grimm Power Public Company Ltd., along with Mr. Chawalit Tippawanich (2nd from right), Chief Executive Officer of Amata U Company Ltd., and Mr. Junji Ozawa (Right), Head of Business Development Division at Sumitomo Corporation Thailand Ltd., had the honor of extending their congratulations at the Groundbreaking ceremony for NTT Global Data Centers (Thailand)’s esteemed business partners.
They were accompanied by Mr. Sutas Kongdumrongkiat (center), CEO of NTT Limited Thailand, and Mr. Suthipat Lueprasert (4th from right), CEO of NTT Global Data Centers (Thailand) Limited, in warmly welcoming the Groundbreaking ceremony of NTT Bangkok 3 Data Center (BKK3) in Thailand that is set to begin commercial operations in the second half of 2025 with 12MW of IT capacity across approximately 4,000 m² of IT space located in Amata City Industrial Estate in Chonburi.
Management list from left:
Mr. Kam Leung, Vice President of NTT Hyperscale & Enterprise Sales (APAC).
Mr. Chokchai Voraviwat, Senior Data Centre Operations Manager of NTT Global Data Centers (Thailand) Limited
Mr. Sanit Kashemsanta Na Ayudhaya, Senior Director, Network Services of NTT Limited Thailand.
Mr. Kenta Nishimura, Finance Director of NTT Global Data Centers (Thailand) Limited
Mr. Suthipat Lueprasert, CEO of NTT Global Data Centers (Thailand) Limited
Mr. Sutas Kongdumrongkiat, CEO of NTT Limited Thailand
Mr. Attacha Atipongvanich, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at B.Grimm Power Public Company Ltd.
Mr. Chawalit Tippawanich, Chief Executive Officer of Amata U Company Ltd.
Mr. Junji Ozawa, Head of Business Development Division at Sumitomo Corporation Thailand Ltd.
Newspaper front-pages are seen at a newsagent in London, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (AP Photo/David Cliff)
NEW YORK (AP) — A media frenzy was born on Feb. 27, when the hashtag #WhereIsKate exploded online with speculation about the whereabouts of Britain’s Princess of Wales. It opened a rabbit hole of amateur detective work, memes, bizarre theories and jokes — mixed with genuine concern about Kate’s health — into which thousands of people descended until her announcement last week that she was recovering from cancer.
The episode offered the royal family — and everyone else — a lesson in the modern world of online media: If your silence leaves an information vacuum, others will rush to fill it. And the results may be messy.
“The royal family’s mantra is never complain, never explain,” said Ellie Hall, a journalist who specializes in covering Britain’s king and his court. “That really doesn’t work in a digital age. It doesn’t take much to get the crazy things going.”
Britain’s Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales ahead of the State Banquet, for the state visit to the UK by President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee, at Buckingham Palace, London, Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. (Yui Mok/Pool Photo via AP)
It was, in part, entertainment for some people with too much time on their hands. Except it involved real people with real lives — and, it turns out, real medical challenges.
Anatomy of an information vacuum
On Jan. 17, Kensington Palace announced that Kate was in the hospital recovering from a planned abdominal surgery and would not be doing any public events until after Easter. There was relatively little online chatter, or official updates, until it was announced on Feb. 27 that her husband, Prince William, would not be attending his godfather’s memorial service due to a “personal matter.”
That’s when the theorizing really began, noted Ryan Broderick, who writes the Garbage Day newsletter about the online environment.
Where was Kate? Was she seriously ill — in a coma, perhaps? Did she travel abroad to undergo plastic surgery? Had she been replaced by a body double? Was there trouble in her marriage? Did she leave William? Had she been abused? Unsubstantiated rumors made it all the way to American talk show host Stephen Colbert. Memes appeared that included putting Kate’s picture on the face of an actress in “Gone Girl,” a 2014 film about a missing wife.
Britain’s Prince William, left and Kate, the Princess of Wales arrive to attend the BAFTA Film Awards 2023, at The Royal Festival Hall, in London, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. (Chris Jackson/Pool Photos via AP)
After two decades in which people have uploaded their lives to a system of platforms run by algorithms that make money off our worst impulses, “we have wondered what the world might look like when we crossed the threshold into a fully online world,” Broderick wrote on Garbage Day. “Well, we did. We crossed it.”
“Conspiracy is the Internet’s favorite sport,” Sarah Frier, author of “No Filter: The Inside Story of Instagram,” posted on X, formerly Twitter. “It starts here and becomes mainstream. At one point last week, MOST of the content on my (X) feed was about her. None of it was right. This is just what people do for fun and followers now.”
Then came the grand, unforced error — the palace releasing a photo on March 10 of Kate and her children that it later admitted had been digitally manipulated, without leaving clear exactly what was done.
Even before that, a ham-fisted public relations strategy by the royal family’s handlers had lost control of the narrative, said Peter Mancusi, a journalism professor at Northeastern University and a lawyer with his own business in crisis counseling.
Providing some proof of life, some morsels of information — even a staged shot of Kate waving from a balcony — would have filled the vacuum, he said. Mancusi contrasted the strategy with that surrounding King Charles, where it was quickly announced around the same time that he was fighting cancer. It has never been made clear exactly what kind of cancer the king has, but people are inclined to grant some degree of privacy with that diagnosis, Mancusi said.
Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla leave The London Clinic in central London, Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. King Charles III was in hospital to receive treatment for an enlarged prostate. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Mancusi frequently deals with clients who resist releasing damaging or uncomfortable information that usually winds up getting out anyway. Best to be pro-active or, as Hall said, “feed the beast.”
“It’s just human nature, and it’s the nature of a lot of companies when bad news hits, to go into a defensive crouch,” Mancusi said. “But hope isn’t a strategy anymore.”
Clear and verifiable information can help matters
Despite the temptation to ignore rumors and conspiracy theories, it’s best to respond quickly with clear and verifiable information, said Daniel Allington, a social scientist at King’s College in London who studies disinformation. “Once people start speculating that you are lying to them,” Allington said, “it’s very hard to get them back on board.”
In an article published on vulture.com 12 days before Kate announced she had cancer, author Kathryn VanArendonk seemed to anticipate that truth in a discussion about how the monarchy is not built for the modern information era.
“Catherine may be going through some private experiences she does not want to share widely,” she wrote, “and the internet has broken everyone’s ability to assess what’s a supervillain-level coverup and what’s more likely to be something sad and mundane.”
Cancer is something too many people can relate to. They understand how hard it is to speak those words to loved ones, much less the entire world. Kate’s video was a candid, emotional and effective way of sharing very personal information, said Matthew Hitzik, a veteran in crisis communications from New York.
It didn’t end wild online speculation, though. Almost immediately, suggestions popped up that the speech was generated by artificial intelligence or, in an unholy alliance of conspiracy theories, that her cancer was caused by the COVID-19 vaccine.
But that was nonsense, and felt churlish. A corner had been turned. The Sun in London now runs daily stories with “Brave Kate” in the headline. Trolls “should hang their heads in shame,” the newspaper editorialized. The Atlantic magazine headlined: “I Hope You All Feel Terrible Now.”
Britain’s Kate, the Princess of Wales recording her message announcing that following her abdominal surgery in January “tests after the operation found cancer had been present.” Kate, said Friday she has cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy. (BBC Studios via AP)
What shouldn’t be lost, however, is how preventable it all was.
“You cannot blame British newspapers for the miseries heaped on the Prince and Princess of Wales,” columnist Hugo Rifkind wrote in The Times of London. “Certainly we didn’t help, if only because a princess releasing doctored photographs to the public, for reasons at that point unclear, is an objectively grabby and fascinating story. But the conspiracy theories? The juggernauts of dirty speculation? You could argue, I suppose, that papers should have simply pretended none of this was happening.
“But it was, and it wasn’t driven by us,” he wrote. “It was driven by you.”
Two Russian guys admitted to being the males shown in the video spraying paint on public buildings and traffic signs on sidewalks in Patong, Phuket.
PHUKET – Patong Provincial Police Station officials arrested two foreign individuals who appeared in the video spray-painting a public road. Both are Russian men.
Mr. Evgeni, 23, and Mr. Oleg, 22, admitted to being the males shown in the video spraying paint on public buildings and traffic signs on sidewalks near the Government Savings Bank intersection, Patong branch, Baramee Road, Patong Subdistrict, Kathu District, Phuket Province, on March 23, around 9 p.m. They claimed to have done it for fun after taking marijuana.
The officers started looking at their vehicles. On March 25, police discovered the suspects staying in a dormitory on Thaweewong Road, Patong Subdistrict, Kathu District, Phuket Province.
They proceeded to investigate and discovered the two offenders inside the dormitory, with the vehicle matching the date of the incident. They found a red and black Yamaha Model G motorcycle parked in front of the hotel.
The traffic signs on sidewalks were sprayed with letters.
The police displayed the video to the two men, who admitted their actions. The police next took them to the Patong Provincial Police Station.
They charged the two individuals with “jointly causing loss of property.” The law imposes penalties that include up to three years in prison, a 60,000-baht fine, or both.
Vu Dang Yen Hang, chief executive officer of VinFast Thailand, poses in front of its electric vehicle VF7 during the 45th Bangkok Motor Show in Nonthaburi, Thailand, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
BANGKOK (AP) — Vietnamese automaker VinFast announced Tuesday that it plans to sell its electric vehicles in Thailand and said it had tied up with auto dealers to open showrooms in the country.
VinFast, which only began exporting its EVs last year, faces stiff competition in Thailand from Chinese automakers like BYD. Tesla also recently entered the fray. All were displaying their latest models at the Bangkok International Motor Show.
The Thai EV market is small but growing fast, buoyed by incentives and subsidies from the government. The country of more than 70 million plans to convert 30% of the 2.5 million vehicles it makes annually into EVs by 2030.
VinFast hopes to start selling both its electric scooters and electric SUVs in the country in the next two months, Vu Dang Yen Hang, chief executive officer of VinFast Thailand, told The Associated Press.
Vu Dang Yen Hang, chief executive officer of VinFast Thailand, smiles in front of its electric vehicle “VF7” during the 45th Bangkok Motor Show in Nonthaburi, Thailand, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Details about pricing and buying the EVs are likely to be announced later this year.
Thailand accounted for 58% of all EV sales in Southeast Asia in 2022, ahead of both Vietnam and Indonesia, according to market research firm Counterpoint Research. But the EV market remains small, accounting for only 0.5% of EV sales worldwide in 2022.
Thailand is trying to change this with incentives to promote manufacturing and sales of EVs, such as reducing import duties and paying subsidies to make them more price competitive.
VinFast has set a target of selling its cars in 50 markets worldwide by the end of 2024.
Initially it’ll rely on existing charging developers in Thailand, but the long term plan was to work alongside V-Green, a company that builds EV charging stations and is owned by VinFast’s parent company, said Hang.
“We will be working alongside (V-Green) to build infrastructure for our customers in Thailand who are using our cars,” she said.
A Thai model poses next to Vinfast’s electric concept pickup trucks called “Wild” during the 45th Bangkok Motor Show in Nonthaburi, Thailand, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
V-Green was launched this month and plans to spend $404 million in the next two years to build charging stations for VinFast cars in different countries. Like VinFast, it is a part of the sprawling conglomerate Vingroup, that began as an instant noodle company in Ukraine in the 1990s. It is founded and run by Vietnam’s richest man, Pham Nhat Vuong.
VinFast’s foray into Thailand is part of a global expansion that has included exports of EVs to the United States. The company is building an EV factory in North Carolina, where production is slated to begin later in the year. Another factory is under construction in India, and it plans another in Indonesia.
VinFast has begun shipping EVs made in Vietnam to neighboring Laos to supply vehicles for Green SM, an EV taxi operator that is mostly owned by VinFast’s founder Vuong.
Last year, the company listed its shares in August on Nasdaq, where they initially soared, pushing its market value briefly above those of General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. But investor enthusiasm has cooled and the company lost more than $1.4 billion in the first three quarters of 2023.
VinFast has struggled to sell its EVs in the U.S. and its early cars have received bad reviews, but the company maintains that if it can succeed in the crowded and competitive American market, it can succeed anywhere.
A file photo of Thai workers preparing durians for exports to China.
BANGKOK – Mr. Chantanon Wannakejohn, Secretary-General of the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE) at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, revealed the overall picture of Thailand’s agricultural trade with the world in 2023. Thailand had a total trade value of 2.372 trillion baht (65.2 billion USD), down 0.13 percent from 2022, which was 2.375 trillion baht. However, Thailand still had a trade surplus of 951 billion baht (26.1 billion USD).
Looking only at the countries that have joined the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), namely China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Peru, Chile, India and Hong Kong (with the exception of the ASEAN countries), it can be seen that they continue to show steady growth. In 2023, Thailand’s total agricultural trade with these 9 countries grew by 3.25 percent or 1.01 trillion baht (27.7 billion USD) compared to 2022, with Thailand achieving a trade surplus of 529 billion baht (14.5 billion USD).
Durian Ice Cream made in the ice cream maker is fresh and creamy with a delicious tangy and sweet flavour, It is the most expensive and most delicious of all durians.
The most important export markets for agricultural products are China, Japan, South Korea, India and Australia. The top 5 agricultural products exported by Thailand are durian (139 billion baht), processed chicken meat (53.2 billion baht), natural rubber (49.1 billion baht), cassava (39.9 billion baht) and frozen chicken meat and edible offal (36.1 billion baht).
Looking at the value of trade and the growth rate of the individual FTA partner countries compared to the same period last year, it is clear that China is still the market to which Thailand exports the most agricultural products. They were worth over 449 billion baht, an increase of 10.60 percent. Major exports include durian (137 billion baht), cassava crisps or pellets (39.4 billion baht) and natural rubber (35 billion baht).
Other FTA partners where Thailand’s agricultural exports increased last year include:
New Zealand: 7.39 billion baht, an increase of 11.18 percent. Major exports include dog and cat food (878 million baht), canned tuna (860 million baht), and sugar from cane (801 million baht).
Chile: 2.42 billion baht, an increase of 11.75 percent. Major exports include canned tuna (1.69 billion baht), dog and cat food (294 million baht), and processed pineapple (95 million baht).
Peru: 1.79 billion baht, an increase of 15.98 percent. Major exports include canned tuna (1.3 billion baht), corn for planting (187 million baht), and rice (179 million baht).
Countries where Thailand’s agricultural exports declined include: Japan: down 5.31 percent, South Korea: down 8.47 percent, and India: down 22.49 percent. Major exports include crude palm oil (24.4 billion baht), natural rubber (3.48 billion baht), and soybean oil (2.88 billion baht).
“Despite volatility in the global economy due to rising interest rates and unresolved geopolitical issues in many areas, exports have grown at a slower pace overall. Nevertheless, Thai agricultural products are still able to grow and provide steady income for the country. However, Thai agricultural products still need to improve the quality and standards of products to compete in the still highly competitive global market, especially in terms of environmentally friendly production,” said the Secretary General of the OAU.
BANGKOK – Dennis, a 31-year-old Norwegian, and his Thai wife, Ms. A, filed a complaint with Mr. Ekkapop Ruangprasert, the founder of the “Saimai Must Survive” Facebook group, on March 26. They stated that their possessions, including 30,000 baht in cash saved for their wedding, had been taken. He had already reported the incident, but there had been no progress.
Some people reported their cases to the Saimai Must Survive page, which shared them on social media to pressure officials to conduct an investigation.
Ms. A reported that the incident occurred on March 24, 2024, when she and her husband visited Central World to purchase rings and wedding outfits for their April 12 wedding. Following that, they waited for a bus to return home at the bus stop outside the Big C department store.
CCTV footage showed the moment a group of four thieves—one guy, two women, and one transgender woman—came across the scene. One of the members approached her and pressed against her as she was ready to get into the car. She turned around and questioned why she hadn’t gotten in the car instead of pushing her.
Less than a minute later, when she boarded the bus and went to pay with her wallet, she realised her wallet had been taken.
The stolen items were an iPhone 14 Pro Max phone, 30,000 baht in Thai money, 200 kroner in Norwegian cash, two credit cards, one debit card, and one Norwegian lottery ticket.
She and her Norwegian husband immediately proceeded to Lumpini Police Station to report the crime. The police officer instructed them to obtain proof by reviewing the CCTV footage. Because there were no police officers inside the police station at the time, they all stepped outside to do their jobs and apprehend drug dealers.
Dennis and his wife are really upset. They had to go examine for themselves the footage from the CCTV cameras at the Big C department store near the incident’s site. The camera caught all four thieves. Everyone had been following Dennis and Ms. A since they entered the mall, but the couple hadn’t noticed.
They later reported the incident to immigration officials. But the officer told them, “This could be the karma you did 100 years ago.”
The Norwegian man expressed his sadness, saying he loves Thailand and had intended to marry here. However, he never expected Thais to take such ashamed acts. He doesn’t expect the property to return to its original condition, but he begs the authorities to act fast in apprehending and punishing the criminal in order to prevent similar incidents from happening to others.
Mr. Ekaphob stated that he will hasten to communicate with the superintendent of Lumpini Police Station to help find the perpetrator and prosecute them as soon as possible.
EM District (EMPORIUM, EMQUARTIER, EMSPHERE) invites you to experience the ‘Songkran Festival’, The traditional Thai New Year festival that has been culturally inherited for centuries. Under the theme of ONLY IN THAILAND’, decorations emphasize the colorful Thai loincloth, known as Pha Khao Ma, and feature enjoyable activities that represent Thai identity.
Experience local Thai food and products from every region of Thailand at the ‘Kudthai Transport Only Thailand’s Best’ starting on March 27, 2024, at Quartier Avenue, G Floor, EMQUARTIER, EM Market, G Floor, EMSPHERE, and Gourmet Market, 4th Floor, EMPORIUM.
Join the water fight in the heart of Sukhumvit at the THAILAND SONGKRAN FESTIVAL: EM SUMMER SPLASH, featuring a 50-meter-long water tunnel at the EMSPHERE, from April 11 to April 16, 2024.
Celebrate the biggest Songkran Festival party in Asia for the gay community at SHAGAYLA WORLD OF FANTASY SONGKRAN 2024, from April 12 to April 15, 2024, featuring 4 fantasy party themes: ANIME PLANET, EVER AFTER, HOUSE OF DRAGON, and MEDIEVAL GODS @UOB LIVE HALL. Besides, enjoy the hot pool party under the theme of MEGA TROPICANA @TRIBE SKY BEACH CLUB at EMSPHERE. For more information and ticket purchases, please visit gcircuit.com.
Furthermore, EM DISTRICT presents EMDINING SUMMERLICIOUS, featuring hot and spicy along with cold menus for summer at EMDINING: EMPORIUM, EMQUARTIER, and EMSPHERE. Additionally, you can shop the SUMMER GLOW SUMMERCATION, EM DISTRICT’s summer fashion collection, with special promotions available throughout this April.
Join us to experience the unforgettable Songkran Festival in the heart of Sukhumvit with EM DISTRICT. For more information about these activities, please visit the EMPORIUM EMQUARTIER and EMSPHERE at EM District Facebook pages or LINE @EMDISTRICT.
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra visited the Pheu Thai Party office on March 26, 2024. (Khaosod Photo/Chavalit Panyong)
BANGKOK – Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra visited the Pheu Thai Party office on New Petchaburi Road, Bangkok, on Tuesday afternoon. There was a group of about 150 Red Shirts, as well as party members and party supporters, welcoming him. He arrived at 1.30 p.m. and left at 3.10 p.m. with a smile and looking healthy.
Some anti-Thaksins derided him for recovering too rapidly from his condition when the Department of Corrections claimed that he was so ill that he needed to be hospitalised rather than remain in prison.
The Pheu Thai Party’s leader, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, revealed that her father was delighted after paying his first visit to the party following his conviction as a political prisoner for more than 17 years.
Asked if Thaksin’s presence will enable the party to gain more popularity than the Move Forward Party, Paetongtarn said it’s up to the voters to decide.
The Pheu Thai Party’s leader, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, and the party’s members welcome former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on March 26, 2024. (Khaosod Photo/Chavalit Panyong)
“He comes here without interfering with the work of party members or the administration since he has gone above and beyond. He’s happy like he returns home. I suppose that many individuals are pleased to meet him. He founded the Thai Rak Thai Party and was formerly an excellent prime minister. He makes the MPs more active and motivated to work. It’s a great feeling,” said Paetongtarn.
On March 25, senators who were appointed by the coup leader spoke in the Senate, accusing the justice minister and prime minister of assisting detainee Thaksin in avoiding prison, damaging public trust in the country’s legal system.
Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong, Minister of Justice, pointed out that Thaksin’s visit to the Pheu Thai Party office did not violate the law, although it might attract public criticism.
Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong, Minister of Justice
He clarified that the Probation Department has instructed former Prime Minister Thaksin to report on his whereabouts and the people he meets with, but the ministry’s regulations do not state that it is prohibited to engage in political activities under the conditions of suspension. The movement restrictions imposed by the Department of Probation consist of no substance abuse and no visiting inmates together. Beyond that, there are rights and freedoms.
Pol. Col. Tawee explained that the Ministry of Justice normally only reviews the criteria for behavioral control, while the issue of suspension of sentences is related to punishment by the Prison Service, which is still subject to the condition of being a convict. The Prison Service does not reduce anyone’s sentence, but there is a process called sentence management, suspension of sentence or use of other methods of detention.
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is greeted by the Red Shirt supporters on March 26, 2024. (Khaosod Photo/Chavalit Panyong)
Earlier, Pol. Col. Tawee responded to some senators, including Tawin Pleansri at the meeting that as far as he knew about Mr. Thaksin, he had never instructed him to do anything against the law or the judiciary.
He said that when Mr. Thaksin entered the justice process on August 22, 2023, at that time, General Prayut Chan-o-cha was the Prime Minister. Mr. Wisanu Krua-ngam served as the Minister of Justice, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and the Director-General of the Department of Probation remained the same from the previous administration.
Pol. Col. Tawee explained that he had compromised the judiciary. He said that had no power to influence the previous government, and that compromising the judiciary meant destroying the constitutional law for him. When the country was hit by a coup, someone offered him a seat but he refused as he was a firm believer in democracy.
As for Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, he had previously informed reporters that he did not come because he had other duties, including cheering on the Thailand national football team playing against South Korea at Rajamangala Stadium.
ONYX Hospitality Group Expands Culinary Portfolio with the Launch of Nila: A Celebration of India’s Coastal Culinary Heritage
ONYX Hospitality Group, a leading force in Southeast Asia’s hospitality industry, proudly announces the launch of Nila, a sophisticated dining destination that pays homage to the culturally rich flavours of India’s coastal and river port regions.
The first NILA launched in March 2024 on the 4th floor of Amari Bangkok, promising an unforgettable culinary journey curated by Chef Bharath S. Bhat, the esteemed winner of Thailand’s Iron Chef one-on-one battle chef competition. This attractive establishment sets a new standard for Indian cuisine, blending traditional recipes with contemporary flair to create a truly immersive dining experience.
“NILA” derives its name from the Malayalam word for the colour blue, symbolising the azure waters that line India’s picturesque coast. The restaurant’s interior design draws inspiration from the vibrant hues of Portuguese architecture found in Goa (a state on the southwestern coast of India), complemented by traditional Indian textures and visuals, creating an ambiance that transports guests to a bygone era of maritime trade and cultural exchange.
Chef Bharath’s menu at “NILA” showcases an array of dishes influenced by centuries of culinary heritage, featuring fresh seafood recipes influenced by Portuguese cuisine from Goa and the Malabar coast, as well as European culinary traditions along India’s eastern coast. Each dish is meticulously crafted to highlight the diverse flavours and spices that define India’s coastal cuisine, promising to tantalise the taste buds of even the most discerning gastronomes.
“With the opening of NILA, ONYX Hospitality Group continues its tradition of delivering unparalleled hospitality experiences that resonate with the evolving preferences of global travellers,” said Mr. Yuthachai Charanachitta, CEO of ONYX Hospitality Group. “We are thrilled to introduce this unique culinary concept to Bangkok and look forward to establishing NILA as the premier destination for Indian coastal cuisine not only in Thailand but across our Southeast Asia network.”
NILA marks the latest addition to ONYX Hospitality Group’s diverse portfolio of hospitality brands, which alongside hotels and resorts, also includes the renowned Italian restaurant Prego. The company has also unveiled plans for branch expansion into prominent hotels and resorts across Southeast Asia, reaffirming its commitment to providing guests with unforgettable culinary experiences that celebrate the rich cultural tapestry of the region.
For more information or to make a reservation at Nila, please contact +66 2653 9000 or visit our website at www.amari.com/bangkok
In the past year, T-POP has grown exponentially and become more recognized internationally. One of them are the Latin Americas. They are a group of countries that has the largest music market and the preferred countries where Thai artists would like to perform.
It is obvious that to bring Thai music, including artists to global market involve many detailed operations and complications. It does not depend only on the artist’s talent alone, but also the timing and opportunities as well.
In Thailand, there are many promoters who are trying to take Thai music to global market. One of them is Mr.Sittiporn Huangkaewpray (Oat), Music Business Developer, the person who successfully took Thai artist and Thai music to global. He is one of the few people in Thailand who can bring Thai artist to perform in Latin America.
Due to the year 2023, 4MIX which a T-POP band who have a unique and distinct dance performance from other T-POP group, is very popular in Latin America countries currently. They had the opportunity to do solo concert in Mexico with the support of Thai Embassy in Mexico and had a chance to be interviewed by local media in Mexico which created a trend in Latin America countries, including U.S.A
From the trend in Mexico same year, 4MIX had the opportunity to performed at Washington, D.C supported by Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C
At the beginning of 2024, Mr.Oat had the opportunity to take Thai artist to perform in Washington D.C. again. For this time his objective is to spread Thai Modern Culture to the world. The artist combined between Pinn (Thai instrument) and EDM music presented by Ae BOTCASH, the talented DJ and producer that have his own unique identity.
At the end 0f 2024, Mr.Oat aiming to push Thai artist continuously. He is working on big project that will bring 4MIX to invade Latin America Market. For this time is touring concert and festival with 3 countries, such as Brazil, Mexico and Chile. It is solo concert of 4MIX all of 3 countries. We are collaborating with top 3 organizers in each country that aware of 4MIX talent so much.
This is just a small beginning of a big ambition of Sittiporn Huangkaewpray (Oat) who is still seeking for ways in other countries to bring Thai artist to global music market in their own styles, including to expanding the business of music industry, aiming to generating profit from oversea to Thailand. His expectation is not only about popularity of artist but including how to enhance music industry and showcasing the potential of the music industry is the most important objective of Mr.Oat.
Sittiporn Huangkaewpray said, “I want to combine music, art and Thai culture together in my own style and spread it to global such as 4MIX, they are known for outstanding performance and their branding also represent equality of everyone in the world. And Ae, artist, DJ and producer who is first Thai artist to combine Pinn (Thai instrument) and EDM music in his unique style. People overseas probably knows K-POP, J-POP, but T-POP is becoming more and more popular. So, I want people overseas to try open up to Thai music and creative thinking of Thai people in this industry including Thai instrument and Thai contemporary rhythm. I just want to be a small part to bring Thai artist to be recognized in a wider aspect.”
“The Latin America project enhanced the image of Thai artist, including people in the front and behind the scene, also promoting the image of Thailand to become more renowned. I have got a lot of problem when I took Thai artist to aboard. We have to study the market and culture of each country to completely organize a concert. The plan I made last year was to start by collaborating with Thai embassy in each country. After that I will approach to partner company because when we have support and advise from Thai embassy, its easier to work and also for safety reason. “
“In the past, overseas Fan club gave us a good hospitality. When I was there I’m felt so proud because I invested in my belief and in my team including the artists. I believe whole heartedly that if we have a chance to get there, according to the picture I have in mind, which I knew exactly how it is going to be or even if it doesn’t’t go to plan, I’ve prepared the solution.”
In the end when I saw a lot of fan club waiting for the artists, Its the best. It inspires me to further develop from this model. For the next project, I try see in wider perspective and proceed on my roadmap as planned. However, I will have backup plans thats prepared for every situation because now a days everything changing so fast.
I guarantee that in 2524 and more years to come, we will see T-POP artist make it big in Latin America market for sure. My ambition for Latin America and oversea project is I want the world to listen to Thai music and able to sing in Thai language. Moreover, I want to show the world that people in Thai music industry is as talented as the global artists and I want Pinn (Thai instrument) to be recognized worldwide.
At last. If I have the opportunity from government, the things that I want to do more is to have teams to research about music industry in each countries so we will have more insights to support our work and precisely identify our targets.
