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THAI SELECT Festival 2026 Draws Strong Public Interest in New York, Reinforcing Thai Cuisine as a Global Soft Power
The festival marked another important milestone in Thailand’s efforts to strengthen the international recognition of Thai cuisine as one of the country’s most influential Soft Power assets while enhancing the global reputation of the THAI SELECT certification as a trusted symbol of authentic Thai food and exceptional dining experiences.
The Ministry of Commerce was deeply honored by the gracious presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi, who presided over the festival’s opening ceremony. Her Royal Highness’s participation added significant prestige to the event and underscored Thailand’s continued commitment to promoting its rich culinary heritage on the international stage.
Held under the theme “THAI SELECT Playground – Play with Thai Flavors,” the festival transformed one of New York City’s most iconic public spaces into an immersive celebration of Thai gastronomy. Visitors experienced Thailand through authentic flavors, cultural traditions, and interactive activities designed to showcase the diversity and creativity of Thai cuisine in an engaging and accessible way for audiences of all ages.
Following the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, Mrs. Suphajee Suthumpunaccompanied Her Royal Highness Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi on a tour of the festival, visiting all 15 THAI SELECT-certified restaurants participating in the event. Each restaurant showcased a selection of authentic Thai signature dishes alongside innovative culinary creations, offering visitors an opportunity to experience the richness and diversity of Thailand’s culinary heritage.
Throughout the festival, guests also enjoyed a variety of interactive culinary and cultural activities that provided immersive opportunities to explore Thai food traditions, craftsmanship, and regional flavors. Continuous participation across every activity zone created a vibrant atmosphere throughout the day, demonstrating the festival’s success in engaging consumers through authentic experiences while strengthening appreciation for Thai cuisine and the THAI SELECT brand.
Another major highlight of the festival was the appearance of internationally acclaimed Thai actors Mile Phakphum Romsaithong and Apo Nattawin Wattanagitiphat, who met with fans and joined festival activities celebrating Thailand’s culinary culture. As ambassadors of Thailand’s contemporary Soft Power, their participation generated tremendous excitement and further expanded public awareness of Thai cuisine and the THAI SELECT brand among international audiences.
The success of THAI SELECT Festival 2026 demonstrates the unique ability of Thai cuisine to connect people from diverse cultures through exceptional flavors, hospitality, and meaningful shared experiences. More importantly, the festival highlighted the growing role of food as a powerful driver of cultural exchange, international trade, tourism, and economic opportunity, further strengthening Thailand’s position as one of the world’s leading culinary destinations.
The festival also reaffirmed DITP’s long-term commitment to promoting Thai food products, supporting Thai restaurants overseas, and expanding international recognition of the THAI SELECT certification. Through initiatives such as THAI SELECT Festival, DITP continues to create valuable business opportunities for Thai entrepreneurs, strengthen consumer confidence in authentic Thai cuisine, and enhance the global competitiveness of Thailand’s food industry while advancing the country’s Soft Power strategy on the world stage.
Hashtag: #ThaiSELECT #ThaiSELECTFestival #ThaiSELECTPlayground
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About THAI SELECT
THAI SELECT is the official certification awarded by the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand to restaurants and ready-to-eat Thai food products that meet recognized standards of authenticity, quality, and the distinctive identity of Thai cuisine.
Today, the THAI SELECT program has established a global presence with 1,499 THAI SELECT-certified restaurants across 72 countries and territories, supported by 57 Thai Trade Centers worldwide. The certification is currently awarded across four categories: 11 Three-Star restaurants, 221 Two-Star restaurants, 894 One-Star restaurants, and 373 THAI SELECT Casual restaurants, reflecting a diverse range of authentic Thai dining experiences around the world.
In addition, 1,072 Thai ready-to-eat food products from 118 companies have earned the THAI SELECT certification, reinforcing consumer confidence in premium Thai food products available in international markets.
Through the THAI SELECT program, the Ministry of Commerce continues to strengthen Thailand’s global culinary reputation, support Thai entrepreneurs overseas, promote exports of Thai food products, and position Thai cuisine as one of the country’s most influential Soft Power assets.
From July 30 to August 9 at ICE BSD City, Tangerang, VinFast will welcome visitors to an immersive exhibition space designed to bring the complete EV ownership journey to life, from vehicle selection and charging to after-sales services, customer support programs, and solutions that help optimize long-term ownership costs while enhancing vehicle value over time.
A key highlight of VinFast’s presence at GIIAS 2026 is the debut of its “Drive Worry Free” proposition, built around five pillars: Zero Operating Cost, Battery Peace of Mind, Ownership Confidence, Service Confidence, and Business Confidence. Through these five pillars, VinFast aims to support customers throughout every stage of EV ownership, from selecting and purchasing a vehicle to everyday use, by addressing practical considerations including operating costs, charging accessibility, battery support, after-sales services, long-term vehicle value, and opportunities to unlock additional economic value.
Visitors who place a vehicle deposit during GIIAS 2026 will also enjoy a range of exclusive promotions. Customers purchasing the VF 3 mini-SUV will receive a MAP shopping voucher worth IDR 3 million. Buyers of the VF MPV 7 and Limo Green will receive a shopping voucher worth IDR 4 million, while customers purchasing the VF 6 or VF 7 will receive a voucher worth IDR 5 million.
In addition, customers who place a reservation at the exhibition will have the opportunity to participate in a lucky draw featuring attractive prizes. The promotion is subject to VinFast’s applicable terms and conditions, and shopping vouchers are non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash.
Alongside these exhibition-exclusive offers, VinFast continues to provide a range of competitive ownership programs designed to enhance customer confidence throughout the ownership journey. These include a resale value guarantee of up to 80%, complimentary charging at the V-GREEN charging network, two years of complimentary battery subscription and a lifetime battery warranty.
Visitors to the VinFast booth can explore the Company’s growing product portfolio, including the VF 3, VF 6, VF 7, VF MPV 7, Nerio Green, Herio Green, and Limo Green. Selected models will also be available for test drives, allowing visitors to experience their performance, technology, comfort, and driver assistance features first-hand.
Beyond the vehicle display, visitors can also explore the dedicated V-GREEN charging zone to learn more about the company’s expanding charging infrastructure, including its growing network of thousands of charging points across Indonesia and the charging programs available to VinFast customers.
The booth also features the Green Rental zone, showcasing the “Sewa Jadi Cuan” initiative, which enables eligible VinFast owners to make their vehicles available for rental through VinFast’s official platform when not in use, allowing them to generate additional value from their vehicles.
In addition, visitors can consult VinFast representatives on warranty and maintenance programs, battery subscription plans, the resale value guarantee program, and a range of flexible financing solutions offered in collaboration with banking and financial partners in Indonesia.
Antonio Zara, CEO of VinFast Indonesia, said: “Choosing a vehicle is not simply about selecting a means of transportation. It is also about choosing an ecosystem that can support customers throughout their ownership journey. Through GIIAS 2026, we want Indonesian consumers to experience how VinFast brings together electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, after-sales services, customer programs, and mobility solutions into one integrated ecosystem, making the transition to electric mobility more convenient and worry-free.”
In just over two years since entering the Indonesian market, VinFast has built an increasingly diverse product portfolio while steadily developing a comprehensive electric mobility ecosystem supported by its assembly plant, the V-GREEN charging network, an expanding dealer and after-sales network, Green Rental mobility solutions, and a growing range of customer-focused ownership programs.
To date, VinFast has established more than 40 dealer showrooms across Indonesia and continues to expand its retail footprint, with plans to add more than 150 new showroom locations in the coming years. This expansion underscores the Company’s long-term commitment to the Indonesian market and its aspiration to support the country’s transition toward greener transportation./.
Hashtag: #VinFast
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Accordingly, the reaffirmation of SeABank’s Ba3 local currency (LC) and foreign currency (FC) LT bank deposit and issuer ratings, together with the change in outlook to Positive from Stable, reflects the Bank’s strengthened intrinsic credit profile. This is evidenced by the upgrade of SeABank’s BCA and Adjusted BCA from B1 to Ba3, reflecting Moody’s view that the Bank’s solvency profile has strengthened, supported by stable asset quality, stronger capital and risk management.
In addition, the upgrade of SeABank’s LT FC and LC CRRs to Ba2 and LT CR Assessment to Ba2(cr) demonstrates a positive assessment of the Bank’s ability to meet its financial obligations to counterparties. These upgrades further reinforce SeABank’s reputation in the financial market and enhance its ability to expand partnerships and access funding from domestic and international financial institutions.
Moody’s also expects SeABank’s credit profile to benefit from ongoing efforts to diversify its funding base and improve funding stability over the next 12–18 months. The agency also believes SeABank has the potential for a one-notch rating upgrade if Vietnam’s sovereign rating is upgraded in the future.
The report also notes that SeABank’s asset quality remained broadly stable, with non-performing loans ratio (NPL) maintained at an appropriate level and new delinquencies expected to remain low over the next 12–18 months, underpinned by the supportive operating environment and the bank’s adequate track record in asset quality management.
Furthermore, Moody’s expects SeABank to maintain a solid capital position, with its tangible common equity to risk-weighted assets (TCE/RWA) ratio remaining above 12%, in line with domestic peers.
Moody’s also noted that SeABank’s growing access to long-term funding from development financial institutions will further enhance the stability of funding structure, mitigate refinancing risks, and support the Bank’s sustainable growth in the years ahead.
Hashtag: #SeABank
https://seabank.com.vn/The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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New Battery-Operated Bluetooth® Controller Enables Truly Mobile, Plug-and-Play Access
Powerful Performance from Just Four AA Batteries
Powered by only four AA batteries, the controller delivers over two years of operation when driving a 12VDC latch, dramatically reducing maintenance compared to typical battery-powered systems. Its high-efficiency internal buck/boost technology ensures optimal power delivery while using fewer batteries than conventional approaches.
Redundant Power for Critical Access
When batteries eventually require replacement, Southco has designed built-in redundancy to avoid downtime. A power override port—compatible today with a 9V battery and adaptable for future power inputs—provides temporary power so users can unlock the enclosure, replace batteries, and restore full operation quickly.
Smart Monitoring Through the Keypanion® App
Battery health is continuously monitored through Southco’s Keypanion® App, which alerts users well before battery replacement is needed, reducing the likelihood of emergency access situations.
For Original Equipment Manufacturers building their own mobile apps, Southco also offers a Software Development Kit (SDK), enabling seamless integration between the controller and customers’ existing digital ecosystems.
Designed for Real-World Enclosures
A removable battery pod allows fast, frustration-free battery changes—especially valuable in tight, hard-to-reach installations. Users can slide out the cartridge, load all batteries at once, and reinsert it without navigating cramped enclosure spaces.
The controller also features true plug-and-play installation. Simply insert the four AA batteries, plug in the latch, and the system is ready to operate—no wire splicing, no external power, and no additional electronics required.
Mobile Access Without Security Infrastructure
With the Keypanion® App, users can activate, manage, and share access directly from a mobile device. There is no server setup, no IT overhead, and no wiring required. Permissions can be granted or revoked instantly, replacing physical keys with secure digital control.
New Possibilities for Remote and Unpowered Applications
This combination of self-contained power, Bluetooth® connectivity, and mobile access expands what designers can do in environments once considered too challenging for electronic access. Ideal applications include:
- Remote and public installations without external power
- Retrofit upgrades for existing unpowered enclosures
- Critical infrastructure such as fiber optic boxes requiring secure, monitored access
By eliminating the need for solar panels, power drops, or complex security systems, Southco’s Battery-Operated Bluetooth® Controller reduces material costs and gives OEMs far greater design freedom.
A Flexible, Future-Ready Solution
Beyond immediate use cases, the power override port helps engineers address mechanical override considerations by providing a reliable method to restore power and gain entry when traditional power sources fail—a major benefit noted by early customer feedback.
The Battery-Operated Single Output Bluetooth® Controller provides a strong foundation for the next generation of remote access solutions, delivering convenience, efficiency, and security in one streamlined device.
For more information, please visit www.southco.com or email Southco’s 24/7 customer service team at in**@*****co.com.
Hashtag: #Southco
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Southco
Southco, Inc. is the leading global designer and manufacturer of engineered access solutions. From quality and performance to aesthetics and ergonomics, we understand that first impressions are lasting impressions in product design. For over 80 years, Southco has helped the world’s most recognized brands create value for their customers with innovative access solutions designed to enhance the touch points of their products in transportation and industrial applications, medical equipment, data centers and more. With unrivalled engineering resources, innovative products and a dedicated global team, Southco delivers the broadest portfolio of premium access solutions available to equipment designers throughout the world.
Southco Asia Limited
2401, Tower 2, Ever Gain Plaza
88 Container Port Road, Kwai Chung
Hong Kong
