Also, the move is aimed to increase foreign investors’ confidence so that they will continue to invest in the country. NACC pointed out that corruption has been long major problem that hampered social development and impacted many countries’ development in all aspects. Overall, many countries have failed to fight against corruption, with up to 95% of countries making no progress in tackling corruption since 2017. The conflict in each country creates more chances for corruption. The country without peace has also created more chances for corruption, according to the NACC, Thailand.

The NACC’s Secretary-General, Mr. Niwatchai Kasemmongkol, revealed that according to the NACC’s survey on the perception of investment fraudulence in Thailand among Thai and foreign investors, the survey found that the overall perception of investment fraud in Thailand in 2023 was moderate. The perception of corruption in government agencies providing investment services in Thailand was also at the moderate stage. This reflects that Thailand still has room to improve its anti-corruption endeavor so that more foreign investors will come into the country.

The survey shows that both Thai and foreign investors are aware of efforts to improve the investment service processes of government agencies. Thus, to promote more foreign investors’ confidence, the NACC recently issued eight guidelines for both local and international investors’ practices against corruption, he explained.

Those eight guidelines to prevent and combat corruption are: 1. Advocate for the public sector and civil society to participate in the prevention and suppression of corruption. 2. Use social sanctions 3. Use IT systems to control and audit the investment application system/reduce the use of discretion. 4. Disclose operational procedures transparently and clearly. 5. Study, review/update laws related to corruption. 6. Strengthening and morality of public officials7. Publicize government information on anti-corruption through online media 8. Educate the youth about the worst of corruption, and promote anti-corruption values.

Additionally, according to a survey by the NACC, Thai and foreign investors foresee that the highest risk for doing business that could lead to corruption is ‘delays in providing services’ by civil servants. Officials could demand money or other items or other kinds of benefits in exchange for faster service. This is a channel of corruption due to investors generally requiring speed in dealing with government agencies. Most are willing to pay in exchange for saving their time.

In Thailand, the main causes of corruption are the investment application system that has a lot of documents, needs to contact many agencies, and time consumption, while the information linking system of government agencies is not so effective. The controlling and inspection system is not able to cover the entire system, while some government officials, who provide services, lack morality and integrity in work, and there is a foster system in some agencies.

NACC’s secretary-general added that one of the most efficient ways to prevent corruption is the adoption of information technology systems in the business approval process. This will reduce conflict of interest, while will also help facilitate an application for various licenses with transparency.

In addition, the implementation of the Integrity and Transparency Assessment (ITA) system, assessing the integrity and transparency of government agencies’ operations is also used as a positive assessment tool as a measure to prevent corruption and as a mechanism to raise awareness for government agencies to operate transparently and with integrity.

In terms of private business, the NACC has encouraged the private sector to become the Thai Private Sector Collective Action Against Corruption (CAC) and participate in monitoring the performance of the public sector.

Hashtag: #IntegrityWay #AntiCorruption #ZeroCorruption #NACC #NACF

https://nacc.go.th/english

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), Thailand

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is a constitutional independent organization and supervised by nine commissioners selected from various professions. It is authorised to undertake work on the prevention and suppression of malfeasance, particularly in government agencies, on assets investigations, as well as on the monitoring of ethics and virtues of political position holders.

It has the authority to file charges in court as well as support and build up awareness of the penalties for committing corruption. The NACC is supervised by the NACC Board and has the Office of the NACC as its administrative agency.

Since 1997, Thai Courts have ruled against and punished politicians, former ministers, high-ranking government officials as well as executives of the private sector in the thousands of cases submitted by the NACC.

Corporate Wellness Offerings

The Kriya Lightning Foundation provides meditation, mindfulness training and emotional release workshops as part of its comprehensive corporate wellness programs. These offerings are designed to support the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of corporate professionals in Hong Kong and beyond. Each of these training sessions can range from 30 minutes to 3 hours.

Meditation training aims to help individuals calm their minds, relax their bodies, and cultivate present-moment awareness. Kriya Lightning Foundation’s experienced meditation teachers guide participants through various techniques that promote peace, presence, and relaxation. By incorporating mindfulness into their daily lives, employees can enhance their focus, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being.

The emotional release workshops provided by the Kriya Lightning Foundation are designed to bring awareness to and release emotional blockages that hinder inner peace, lightness, and freedom. These workshops offer a safe and supportive environment for individuals to explore and let go of emotional burdens, allowing for a deeper experience of peace and happiness. Tailored to specific topics or areas of interest, these workshops empower participants to address emotional challenges and develop healthy mindsets.

Hashtag: #KriyaLightningFoundation

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About The Kriya Lightning Foundation

Headquartered in Hong Kong, The Kriya Lightning Foundation is an NGO committed to assisting individuals worldwide. What initially began as a personal exploration into managing stress and emotional discomfort a decade ago is now a NGO that shares groundbreaking original techniques like Open Awareness, aiming to guide others in finding inner peace and joy.

At the Kriya Lightning Foundation, practical methods are provided to train the mind and body in releasing attachments and resistance through meditative practices. These techniques, developed over a decade of careful refinement, are tailored to enhance clarity and effectively address emotional obstacles, as evidenced by the testimonials that attest to its proven efficacy.

Learn More
Details regarding the corporate wellness programs offered by the Kriya Lightning Foundation can be found here. Further information about the Kriya Lightning Foundation itself can be found here.

Job Seeker Priorities Shift: Stability Ranks Higher as Tech Talent Favors Financial Security Over Perks

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 April 2024 – NodeFlair, the leading tech talent platform in Southeast Asia, unveiled the Asia Tech Salary Report 2024, leveraging insights from over 422,000 salary data points spanning different roles and countries. This comprehensive report not only illuminates the industry’s reaction to the burgeoning trend of Generative AI but also addresses significant hurdles like layoffs and hiring freezes.

Key findings from the report include:

• Software Engineer Salaries Dip 0.99%: While recent years saw substantial growth, tech salaries have declined overall due to Southeast Asia’s tech funding hitting a five-year low in 2023. Nevertheless, salaries still surpass those from two years prior, signalling a shift towards a more equitable compensation framework.
• Huge Pay Gap: Among software engineers, the salary discrepancy between the 10th and 90th percentiles can extend up to 3 times.
• Blockchain to AI: tech’s pivot for innovation: Blockchain engineer salaries fell by 5.41% amidst industry turbulence sparked by FTX’s collapse and Binance’s CZ Zhao’s legal issues. Data scientists, however, saw an 11.30% increase due to rising interest in Generative AI. Cybersecurity Engineers also experienced an 8.24% rise in salaries.
• Job seekers increasingly prioritise stability and higher salaries over perks: 10 of the top 15 searched companies now pay 20% above the market median, up from 6 out of 15 last year. Talents are becoming more willing to overlook imperfect company cultures if their salary meets expectations. Last year, 13 out of 15 companies surpassed a median Glassdoor rating, but now only 9 out of 15 maintain this level.This shift indicates a broader change in career priorities towards practical financial considerations.
• Regional Talent Distribution: Mid-senior talent percentages are higher in Singapore (62.7%) and India (79.3%) compared to Vietnam (36.9%) and Indonesia (49.6%).

“In 2024, the tech industry grapples with talent challenges amidst the rise of Generative AI and financial prudence.” says Ethan Ang, CEO of NodeFlair. “Our latest salary report promotes transparency and benefits both job seekers and companies by providing actionable insights into changing compensation trends.”

A copy of the report can be downloaded here.
Hashtag: #nodeflair

https://nodeflair.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/nodeflair/

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

NodeFlair

NodeFlair, the leading tech talent platform in Southeast Asia, offers a comprehensive suite of tools tailored to every stage of a professional’s career journey. With verified compensation data, individuals can confidently navigate their job search process. For more: visit https://nodeflair.com

This year the bank targets 22% growth in profits to VND15.85 trillion (US$634.13 million) and dividend payment of up to 30% (with a maximum of 15% in cash).

According to the documents, the annual general meeting (AGM) will be held online on April 26.

HDBank will submit reports to shareholders for approval, including its business performance in 2023, business plans for 2024, profit distribution plans for 2023, and other key reports.

Eyeing VND16 trillion profits in 2024, ROE at 24.6%

HDBank, which has gone through a 10-year journey of reform, maintained its high and steady growth in 2023.

Its profitability ratios, ROA was 2% and ROE was and 24.2% last year, keeping it among the group of leading banks.

In 2024 the bank remains on track for high growth while developing a comprehensive environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy.

It targets pre-tax profits of VND15.85 trillion, an increase of 21.8% from 2023, ROE of 24.6% and maintaining its non-performing loans ratio at among the lowest levels in the industry.

Total assets are set to exceed VND700 trillion ($28 billion) this year, an increase of 16% from 2023.

Total fundings are expected to reach VND624 trillion ($25 billion), up 16%.

Loans outstanding are projected to cross VND438 trillion ($17.5 billion) in line with the credit growth target allocated by the State Bank of Vietnam.

Up to 30% dividends in cash, stocks

HDBank will table at the AGM its dividend distribution plans for 2023 at the rate of 25%, 10% in cash and 15% in stocks.

Notably, it plans to pay 30% in cash and stocks for 2024.

HDBank has consistently paid high dividends for over a decade when it achieved rapid and steady growth.

This year the bank plans to increase its charter capital by over VND4.56 trillion ($182.88 million) to VND33.65 trillion ($1.34 billion) from the current VND29.1 trillion ($1.16 billion) by issuing shares to pay dividends, further consolidating its financial health indicators, which are already among the best in the industry, and solidifying the strategic foundation for its sustainable development in future.

HDBank remains steadfast about achieving sustainable development, comprehensive digital transformation and green growth.

It has steadily improved its management capacity and adopted advanced international management standards such as Basel III.

HDBank is a pioneer in embracing a comprehensive ESG strategy, publishing an ESG report and proactively implementing corporate social responsibility, while enhancing digital banking development plans towards modern retail banking.

The bank’s better than expected results in 2023 mean good news for shareholders at the AGM on April 26.

The bank is confident to accomplish the targets for 2024 (stated in the AGM documents) when the economy remains uncertain.

Nearly 20,000 shareholders of the bank are preparing for the AGM in an optimistic mood about HDBank’s governance and capacity to achieve the 2024 plans.

Hashtag: #HDBank

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About HDBank

HDBank stands as one of Vietnam’s prominent financial institutions, deeply committed to promoting ESG, sustainable development, innovation, and development.

The bank’s mission is to offer financial solutions that enable both individuals and businesses to thrive and prosper.