Latest news with #ARIP
Bangkok Post
03-07-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Commart buoyant despite uncertainty
A surge of gaming devices, the unveiling of devices powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and aggressive promotions are expected to encourage purchases at IT and computer fair Commart. However, economic and political uncertainty could dampen market sentiment, according to an event organiser and IT vendors. Pornchai Jantarasupasang, media and event director at ARIP, organiser of Commart Unlimited, said this time of year is challenging for IT organisers because of the rainy season and an uncertain outlook. However, various promotional campaigns should stimulate consumer buying impulses if they perceive value for money, he said. The IT fair runs until July 6 at Bitec Bang Na. Products launched earlier this year offer mid-year promotional pricing as part of vendors' strategy to clear inventory and build momentum ahead of the release of new items at year-end. Now tech consumers can buy AI-powered PCs priced 25,000 baht, down from 30,000-40,000 baht earlier, he added. The most popular products are notebook PCs and gaming devices with fair visitors' average spending standing at 38,000 baht. Organisers of Commart predict sales of 3 billion baht, with 100,000 visitors per day. Takon Niyomthai, investor relations manager at leading IT retail chain operator Com7, said this July will be a key test for the information and communications technology industry whether political and economic uncertainty will make consumers delay spending. "Normally, retail sales dip one week before and after the Commart fair, as shoppers wait to see promotional campaigns. But this time, the sales trend remains stable," said Mr Takon. He added that the availability of new technologies, particularly gaming laptops equipped with Nvidia GeForce RTX 5000 series graphic cards, has drawn interest from the gaming community, while prices of existing models have also been cut. "At Commart, 70% of sales are from gaming laptops, with the remainder from thin-and-light notebooks," he said. The upcoming end of support for the Windows 10 operating system is expected to spur a new wave of computer device replacements -- not just among corporate clients, but also consumers who purchased personal devices during the pandemic. "Consumers typically replace their devices every 3-5 years," he noted. To make purchasing more accessible, Com7 offers instalment plans for non-credit card users to drive sales. He expects AI-enabled PCs in the price range of 26,000-30,000 baht will perform well. Mr Takon said Thailand's computer market has reached maturity, with much of the demand now driven by the replacement cycle. "Rather than contracting, the market is maintaining its scale," he said. Nitipat Praweenwongwuthi, marketing director of Acer Thailand, said at the fair Acer will demonstrate its "Global Thai First" initiative, featuring an exclusive collaboration with Butterbear -- one of the country's most beloved mascots. The campaign introduces the Acer x Butterbear Aspire Lite 15 Limited Edition notebook, following the brand's successful global collaboration on the Acer Hello Kitty Limited Edition earlier. Priced at 19,900 baht, the special edition device comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 processor, a 15.6-inch display, Windows 11 and a Microsoft Office package. Online pre-orders are available via Acer stores from July 3-8. "Despite ongoing economic uncertainty and softened consumer sentiment, computers have become essential tools -- especially for students navigating the new normal of online learning," Mr Nitipat noted. "In some schools, online learning is reinstated whenever classroom outbreaks resurface, making access to reliable devices more critical than ever." SWITCH 2 Kasame Srilertchaipanij, vice-president for marketing at IT City, revealed at Commart that the company is expanding its range of offerings for gaming enthusiasts -- introducing a broader selection of notebooks and do-it-yourself desktops featuring the latest GeForce RTX 5050 and 5060 graphics cards. "We've also partnered with Synnex to provide 18-month insurance coverage for the Nintendo Switch 2 gaming device," said Mr Kasame. He expects over 100,000 current Switch 1 device users to upgrade to the new model. In addition, IT City is broadening its instalment plan partnerships, particularly for non-bank users. "We've seen double-digit year-on-year growth in instalment payments, reflecting strong demand for mid-to-low priced smartphones under 15,000 baht and notebooks below 20,000 baht," he said.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gov. Evers continues annual statewide 'Pothole Patrol' Tour in Oshkosh
OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) – Gov. Tony Evers made a stop in Oshkosh as part of his annual 'Pothole Patrol' tour, highlighting the need for continued investment in Wisconsin's roads, bridges, and infrastructure in the upcoming state budget. Now in its fifth year, the 'Pothole Patrol' tour gives the governor a chance to meet with local public works crews and transportation leaders, while also drawing attention to the state's ongoing infrastructure needs. This year's visit was joined by representatives from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and local officials. Cops, kids & kindness: 'Lemonade With The Law' kicks off in Oshkosh Since taking office in 2019, Gov. Evers has made infrastructure a top priority, overseeing improvements to more than 8,600 miles of roads and 2,000 bridges across the state. To put that in perspective, that's enough road to drive from Wausau, Wisconsin, to Disney World in Florida and back, three times. 'Infrastructure isn't just about fixing potholes. It's about making sure our communities can grow and thrive,' Gov. Evers said. 'We've made historic progress, but there's still more work to do.' In his 2025-27 Executive Budget, Gov. Evers proposed over $2.6 billion for the State Highway Rehabilitation Program, marking a $397 million increase from the previous cycle. Other key transportation proposals in the budget include: $100 million for the Local Roads Improvement Supplement Program; $50 million for the Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP); $790 million for major highway development, including I-41 and I-43 expansions; More than $300 million to continue work on the I-94 East/West project; Increases to general transportation and county forest road aid programs. Camper in Door County a complete loss after fire, owner's call to 911 fails several times due to Cellcom outage However, many of these proposals were recently stripped from the budget by the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee. Among the cuts were funds for ARIP, transit capital assistance, expressway policing, and local traffic calming grants. 'We're doing everything we can to keep moving forward, but these cuts are a step in the wrong direction,' said Evers. 'Strong infrastructure means safer roads, more jobs, and better opportunities for families and businesses across Wisconsin.' The governor's visit in Oshkosh is part of a broader push to rally public support for restoring these investments in the final budget. With infrastructure shaping up to be a key issue in the upcoming legislative session, the 'Pothole Patrol' is once again putting Wisconsin's roads, and those who depend on them, front and center. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Zawya
05-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Nigeria: Blockchain will aid market regulation — SEC
The Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr Emomotimi Agama has emphasized that the deployment of blockchain technology will improve efficiency and aid the regulation of the capital market. Agama stated this during a session with a delegation from Algorand Foundation, at the Commission's headquarters in Abuja. Essentially, blockchain is a decentralized system that enhances trust and security by allowing multiple parties to independently verify and validate transactions without needing a central authority. Agama said in Africa, where there are significant issues such as financial exclusion, lack of transparency, and inefficiencies in public and private sectors, blockchain presents an opportunity to build a future where the challenges can be addressed as blockchain is a digital ledger technology that securely records and verifies transactions across a network of computers. Furthermore, the SEC DG said the commission is consistently aligning with international best practices by collaborating with global regulatory bodies such as the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), adding that this ensures that the commission's regulatory framework remains robust, adaptive, and aligns with global standards, enabling cross-border collaboration and fostering investor confidence. He disclosed that the SEC has introduced several measures to ensure that these innovations are harnessed responsibly: Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Program (ARIP) and Regulatory Incubation (RI) Program: The ARIP and RI Program were designed to on-board firms operating in the digital asset space and provide a controlled environment to test new models, products, and services. Related News SEC warns public against Risevest, Stecs investments CIS increased to over N3trn in 2024 — SEC SEC sets January 31 deadline for CMO registration renewals These programmes, he stated, foster innovation while ensuring that robust consumer safeguards are in place adding that the recent approval-in-principle granted to two digital asset exchanges and five firms participating in these programs is a testament to our commitment to enabling innovation. According to him, in this era of technological innovation, the question is not whether Africa will adopt blockchain, but how it will shape its adoption to maximise its benefits for all the people. 'We want to activate the blockchain in our efficiency; we want to be able to use it to regulate our market. My dream is to have all of the information we need to do our work in a blockchain. We want to bring technology into our system for effectiveness where we can work seamlessly and everything that we do will be traceable. 'So wherever there is a toxin in the blockchain we will find it and deal with it. We will extend it to the point where a review of applications will be done on the blockchain so whoever drops the ball will be seen. Each transaction is grouped into a block, and these blocks are linked together in a chronological chain. This structure ensures that once information is added to the blockchain, it cannot be altered or deleted, providing a transparent and tamper-proof record. 'We want to leave a legacy that each one of us will be proud of when we leave this Commission. But in getting that to happen, we must all be educated enough to drive that course,' Agama said. The DG disclosed that the Commission being the apex regulator of the capital market cannot be left out in technological advancement hence the need to engage Algorand Foundation to explore the Commission's needs and potential application and benefits of blockchain technology. 'It is very interesting that we have this opportunity to do this for our organization, this is a knowledge-based institution and I am leading from the front. All our staff must begin to retool themselves because as regulators, we have to be on top of our game. 'As we begin our steps in moving the commission forward together, the foundation of everything that we do requires deep knowledge and understanding, without knowledge, we cannot get it done. No matter what I say, without you all being part of that train we cannot get the work done. There is no way I can do everyone's job; we all have to be equipped to regulate this market,' he added. In his remarks, Global Head of Business Development Algorand Foundation, Mr. Eric Wragge said the team is in Nigeria to democratize technology and assist interested organizations and businesses take advantage of the numerous benefits of implementing blockchain technology in their operations. 'It is an honour to be here. We are here to tell you what blockchain is all about and how it can help your work. We are here to democratize the technology, it's free to use, and anybody can use it. Our job is to go round the world, discover where the technology can be used and help people implement it,' he stated.
