Bangkok--2 Aug--Maxima Consultants
The Coca-Cola system in Thailand recently signed an agreement with the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute (HAII) announcing their long-term commitment to community water resource management. The agreement outlines the long-term support that Coca-Cola will provide to HAII’s ‘Village That Learns’ community development and water resource management program.
In recent years Thailand has faced a series of major environmental challenges related to water resource management, including flooding and prolonged droughts in several regions of the country. The Village That Learns program is designed to empower local communities with knowledge and appropriate ICT resources so that they can better manage their own environmental and water resources, which will help to reduce the impact of seasonal droughts and flooding.
Dr. Sumet Tantivejkul, Chairman of the HAII Board, said, “The Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute was founded upon His Majesty the King’s initiative to develop an integrated water resource and agricultural information system that could be used to improve decision-making about the nation’s natural resources. Our agreement with Coca-Cola will help support HAII’s Village That Learns program in several communities around Thailand. This program facilitates and guides community members on how to use technology to gather data on their water and natural resources and use that data to better manage these resources for sustainable development.”
Mr. Bjorn Jensen, Region Manager, Coca-Cola (Thailand) Limited, said, “Coca-Cola is committed to being a model corporate citizen and making a positive difference wherever we operate. All of us at Coca-Cola are very excited about our relationship with HAII and the positive impact it can have for communities across Thailand. For us water, and its management, is of particular importance. From our global headquarters down to every operating unit, The Coca-Cola Company has recognized the importance of this vital resource and we are committed to playing positive role in developing practical solutions. In fact, water stewardship is one of the core pillars of our global corporate citizenship platform.”
During the signing ceremony Dr. Royol Chitradon, Director, Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute, outlined the details of the program stating, “The Village That Learns program uses appropriate information technology to provide new knowledge and skills to local people to facilitate sustainable community development. Coca-Cola and HAII will be working together with three Village That Learns communities located in Nakorn Sawan, Buriram and Chaing Mai Provinces. In fact, a team from HAII and Coca-Cola Thailand have already made a joint site visit to the community in Nakorn Sawan and visits to the communities in Buriram and Chaing Mai are planned for August.”
The Coca-Cola relationship with HAII will both strengthen water resource management capacity in several regions as well as yield valuable lessons that can be shared with communities across the country.
About The Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute
The Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute (HAII) was the ongoing programme of TIWRM (Thailand Integrated Water Resource Management) and AIN (Agricultural Information Network). HAII was founded based upon His Majesty the King’s initiative aiming to develop information integration mechanism for integrating, sharing, and networking information among concerned organizations. With this mechanism, the concerned organizations are able to collaborate on research and development plans that would enhance the water resources and agricultural information management. Apart from the concerned organizations, the public are also able to access to this information and make use of it for decision making and planning. This will develop collaboration in public sector on water resources preservation and management as well as being a tool for the operation of a national watershed preservation organization in the future. In brief, HAII serves as a focal point of information service provision in the area of water resources, agriculture and natural hazard risk mitigation.
About Coca-Cola
The Coca-Cola system in Thailand comprised of Coca-Cola (Thailand) Limited and its bottling partners Thai Pure Drinks and Haad Thip PCL is the leader in the Thai non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverage industry. Along with Coca-Cola?, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company markets, Fanta? and Sprite?, and a wide range of other beverages, including diet and light soft drinks, water, juice drinks, teas and coffees. For over 50 years, Coca-Cola has maintained a commitment to be a model corporate citizen in Thailand and has supported a wide range of activities and programs that address important social needs and national priorities. Everyday in everything we do we seek to realize our vision of refreshing the world in mind, body and spirit.
For more information, please contact
Coca-Cola (Thailand) Ltd Maxima Consultants Company
Tel 0-2-955-0778 (ext 476) Tel 0-2434-8300
Ratchanee Rungsereerach Suchinda, Seangnapa, Anchalee
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