Briefs

Singapore now tops the list of countries with investments in the Thilawa Special Economic Zone, the Myanmar Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) says.
Fourteen countries had made investments totalling US$838.305 million (Bt28.97 billion) in the SEZ as of last month.
At a press conference on Monday, the DICA said Singapore-based companies had invested $372.147 million in the SEZ. However, many of these firms are affiliates of companies based elsewhere that have incorporated in Singapore so as to invest more easily in Myanmar.
“We say Singapore, but it’s really European countries that are investing. They’d rather incorporate with Singapore because they will get to enjoy Asean Economic Community benefits,” said DICA deputy director-general Than Aung Kyaw. – Eleven Myanmar

ALLIANZ AYUDHYA EYES LEADERSHIP POSITION
Allianz Ayudhya aims to take a leadership position in life and health insurance protection to cope with Thailand’s ageing society and medical inflation.
Bryan Smith, president and chief executive officer, said the company was confident of reaching its premium-income target of Bt31 billion this year after recording gross written premiums (GWP) from all distribution channels for the first half of 2016 of Bt14.5 billion, up by 9.3 per cent. First year premiums (FYP) grew by 14.2 per cent year on year to Bt2.9 billion.
The agency channel remains the strongest premium contributor with GWP of Bt6.4 billion, followed by bancassurance at Bt4.7 billion and direct marketing with Bt2.4 billion.

AUSTRALIA APPOINTS HONORARY CONSUL IN KOH
The Australian government has appointed Heather Reid as its new honorary consul resident in Koh Samui.
Nearly 900,000 Australians visit Thailand every year, with many vacationing on Samui and the surrounding islands, the Australian Embassy in Bangkok said in a statement.
Reid will replace Kenneth Cheung, who has held the title since 2003. “Reid’s appointment will help the Australian government to continue delivering high-quality consular services to Australians in Koh Samui and the province of Surat Thani,” the embassy said.
Reid is an Australian citizen who has lived on Samui for more than six years. She has a comprehensive background in healthcare services.