Briefs

Thailand ranks 52nd in the 2016 Global Innovation Index, among 128 economies enlisted.
In the 2015 listing, from 141 economies, Thailand was ranked 55th.
In the three sub-indices, Thailand did the best in innovation output, placing it in the 50th. However, in the innovation input sub-index, it is placed the 57th. It is ranked 53rd in the innovation efficiency ratio sub-index.
Leading the ranking released by Cornell University, INSEAD and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) on Monday was Switzerland which retained the position for six years. Following regional leaders Sweden and UK are Finland (5), Ireland (7), Denmark (8), Netherlands (9), and Germany (10), which joins the top 10 in 2016. China was among the top 25, marking the first time a middle-income country has joined the highly developed economies.

TCEB LAUNCHES PLATFORM TO ATTRACT BUYERS
The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau has launched the “Thailand Incentive and Meeting Exchange” (TIME) platform for knowledge exchange and business negotiations.
The idea is to connect foreign meetings and incentive travel (M&I) buyers with Thai suppliers.
China is the programme’s first priority, because of the solid growth in MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) travellers to Thailand from that country.
TCEB president Nopparat Maythaveekulchai said yesterday that the initiative was aimed at supporting the development and capability of the private sector to meet expanding demand in the region and globally.
The bureau scheduled TIME programmes in Bangkok for yesterday and today, inviting 40 buyers from China, mainly Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, to share experiences and exchange perspectives on various topics.
These include markets and trends of China’s MICE industry, how Chinese corporations select overseas destinations, China’s corporate procurement processes and regulatory compliance, and how Thai suppliers can win Chinese MICE business.
In the first three quarters of fiscal 2016, Thailand welcomed 750,742 MICE travellers, generating revenue of Bt60.6 billion.
China remained the dominant market, supplying 23 per cent of MICE visitors to Thailand, followed by India, Singapore and Malaysia.
M&I travellers numbered 516,663, contributing Bt44.45 billion in revenue.
The bureau aims to make TIME an annual |platform to tap the target M&I markets. Next year, the TCEB will focus on India before expanding globally.

CPF REPORTS Q2 PROFIT GROWTH
Charoen Pokphand Foods yesterday reported that its second-quarter sales improved by 13 per cent to Bt116.78 billion and net profit by 35 per cent to Bt4.02 billion.
Its board of committee declared an interim dividend of Bt0.50 per share.
As of June 30, CPF’s investments covered 14 countries.
In the second quarter of this year, its domestic sales increased by 12 per cent to Bt44.63 billion and overseas operation by 13 per cent to Bt72.15 billion.
Thailand, China and Vietnam accounted for 77 per cent of its total sales, said Adirek Sripratak, president and CEO.
The company is also forecasting that the business is approaching its goal to grow by 10-15 per cent this year, he said.