Thailand Facility Grand Opening

KYOCERA AVX’s new flagship facility in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, features 1.2 million square feet of state-of-the-art design, manufacturing, testing, storage, and distribution space, meets FM Global standards, and features walkable ceilings, full electrical power supply redundancy, and column-free production areas.

FOUNTAIN INN, S.C. (November 10, 2022) – KYOCERA AVX, a leading global manufacturer of advanced electronic components engineered to accelerate technological innovation and build a better future, has announced the grand opening of its $300 million advanced manufacturing facility for ceramic and tantalum capacitors in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. The new facility features 1.2 million square feet of state-of-the-art manufacturing and warehousing space.

Deliberately designed as a safe and sustainable global facility for the production of ceramic and tantalum capacitors, the new KYOCERA AVX manufacturing facility consists of three separate buildings housing manufacturing and office spaces, break areas, a sports arena, a pavilion, and a cultural center for employees to practice Thai customs and gather for sponsored events.

The Nakhon Ratchasima facility will expand KYOCERA AVX’s global presence as a leading manufacturer of high-performance, high-reliability ceramic and tantalum capacitors designed to satisfy an extensive range of challenging electronics applications in the automotive, military, aerospace, defense, telecommunications, renewable energy, industrial, medical, consumer electronics, networking, and transportation industries. The construction process began in 2019, took more than six million man-hours to complete, resulted in zero reported injuries, and earned KYOCERA AVX both local and national recognition for its handling and prevention of COVID-19 during construction.

“We are proud to announce the completion of our new ceramic and tantalum capacitor manufacturing facility in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand,” said Jeff Schmersal, President, KYOCERA AVX. “The new facility represents an investment of more than $300 million USD and the achievement of a safe and sustainable manufacturing and distribution site that will further strengthen our commitment to supporting local economies, developing competitive, cutting-edge component solutions for an extensive range of electronic applications, and further expand the global production of our best-in-class products.”

For more information about KYOCERA AVX, please visit https://www.kyocera-avx.com/ , email inquiry@kyocera-avx.com, follow them on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram, like them on Facebook, call 864-967-2150, or write to One AVX Boulevard, Fountain Inn, S.C. 29644.

Asian Tour makes $25,000 donation to Ain Hallouf Rural School of Golf

November 5, 2022 – Rabat: The Asian Tour has underlined its ongoing commitment to the communities that host its International Series events by making a $25,000 donation to the Ain Hallouf Rural School of Golf, a golf school for children held under the leadership of His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid and the Moroccan Golf Federation.

The center provides lessons in golf and important societal values to children in the Douar Ain Hallouf area near Royal Golf Dar Es Salam golf club, the venue for the International Series Morocco, the fifth event of the Asian Tour’s flagship series.

Rahul Singh, Head of the International Series, presented the cheque to Abdelkader El Hali, General Manager of the Ain Hallouf Rural School of Golf, on the sidelines of the $1.5million tournament, which runs through Sunday – and to which entry is free.

Singh said: “The Asian Tour is committed to supporting the communities at our International Series host venues through philanthropic efforts, and we are delighted to make this charitable contribution which underscores our commitment to developing the game at the grassroots level. By supporting the school we can support the growth of the game in Morocco, a golf market of real potential.”

El Hali, General Manager of the Ain Hallouf Rural School of Golf, said: “This generous contribution will benefit many youngsters in the area, by empowering them through sport and educating them in the positive values of golf, building strength of character, confidence and resilience.”

The Douar Ain Hallouf area has a strong connection with the game of golf. Many locals have found employment at the Royal Dar Es Salam course in the 50 years since it was first developed in 1971, and the locals have even built a course for their community, in the middle of the forest.

The Ain Hallouf Rural School of Golf has helped many players to develop their game and many Moroccan professionals are native to the area, such as Ahmed Marjan, who is playing in the International Series Morocco.

The Asian Tour’s philanthropic efforts are felt at each of the International Series destinations, with significant donations being made to support local communities in Thailand, England, Singapore and South Korea already this season.

The International Series Morocco takes place at the historic Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, in Rabat, from November 3-6 and admission is free to spectators. The International Series then moves on to Egypt the following week, at Madinaty Golf Club in Cairo, from November 10-13.

Lee in a class of his own at the International Series Morocco

November 4, 2022 – Rabat: Canadian Richard T. Lee fired a classy eight-under-par 65 to take the halfway lead in the International Series Morocco today at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.

The famous venue’s Red Course once again provided a stern test, but Lee impressively rose to the challenge making an eagle and six birdies to move to nine under par for the US$1.5 million event. He was one of only five players to break 70.

Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong returned a 72 and is in second place two back, while Australian Scott Hend and Spaniard David Puig are a stroke further behind after carding 69 and 70 respectively.

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond (70) and Rattanon Wannasrichan (71), Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent (71) and Englishman Steve Lewton (73) are another stroke adrift.

Local hero Ayoub Lguirati is still in the mix for the weekend after returning a level par 73 for a one-over aggregate score.

Lee eagled the par-five fifth, made three birdies in a row from the 10th, birdied 18 and missed numerous chances, including nearly holing out for an eagle on the sixth, to go even lower.

“I think definitely the fifth hole when I made the eagle that kind of made me pumped up a little bit,” said Lee.

“You just need to hit the fairways out there and that’s key on this course. I didn’t really like hit my drivers high, I tried to hit my low Stinger drivers just to make the fairways and from there it’s easy.”

He spent four days in Dubai before this week to acclimatize and adjust to the time zone and it has clearly paid dividends.

He said: “Oh, definitely. I mean, I know a few people that just came in from Korea and from the US as well, and definitely the jetlag is hitting them pretty hard. Yeah, I went to Dubai for three, four days, just practiced with a few friends of mine at the Emirates Club and the Els Club. Yeah, it was good practice.”

The 32-year-old is a two-time winner on the Asian Tour but has not tasted victory since claiming the Shinhan Donghae Open in 2017. But the signs have been there this year that his A game is coming back, particularly when he finished joint second in the International Series Singapore in August.

Nitithorn, whose nickname is “Fever”, has already won twice this year and is clearly hot for more success although he wasn’t satisfied with his performance today.

“I had a frustrating day,” he said, who started the day in a share of the lead with Lewton.

“I started not so good with a bogey on the eighth, my first hole. I don’t know, I didn’t play so good today but made a lot of up and downs. But I missed a lot of birdie opportunities also.

“I’m still happy with the result today, I mean I was really focused on my game.”

The 26-year-old won The DGC Open presented by Mastercard in March for his maiden success on the Asian Tour and in August triumphed in the International Series Singapore. He sits in third position on the Tour’s Order of Merit.

Like all the competitors this week he is treating the Red Course with a lot of respect.

He said: “Oh, for me it’s a little tough. It’s got a lot of bunkers on the side of the fairway, and you have to drive it really straight in the fairway. You’ve got to keep the ball in the fairway to make the next shot easy, because the rough is really thick and it’s like a sponge. I don’t really know how to hit it from the rough.”

He made three birdies and two bogeys to help put him in strong position heading into the weekend.

Vincent is first on the International Series Order of Merit and fifth on the Merit list, having won the International Series England in June, and will no doubt be a threat at the weekend.

“It has been a good two days, I did a lot of things very well,” he said.

“Just trying to stay present and engage each and every shot. I had a really good group to play with today. Kiradech (Aphibarnrat) is someone I have looked up to for a very long time. That was a lot of fun and we really enjoyed ourselves out there.

“Weekend approach is the same, same approach, same as what we have been doing, I am just out here each week to get a little bit better. Learn and grow is what we call it. That’s the goal.”

Lguirati had an eventful round, posting five birdies, three bogeys and a double-bogey.

He credited his pre-event preparation as the reason behind his strong showing, saying: “I started the game well today with one goal in mind, the second round. The good preparation work carried out with the whole team has given its results, despite the difficult playing conditions today.

"I was able to make a lot of birdies which allowed me to play under par, despite a few mistakes, which I will try to avoid making again during the rest of the competition.

"There are two days of competition left, I remain confident for the future, especially on such a technical course."

Simply Red for Madey and Nitithorn at International Series Morocco

November 3, 2022 – Rabat: Not much is known about American Cole Madey on the Asian Tour – this week’s inaugural US$1.5 million International Series Morocco is only his third event on Tour – but based on today’s opening round of six-under-par 67, which gave him a share of the clubhouse lead with Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong, it looks like he could be a player to look out for in the future.

An eagle and four birdies put Madey in control at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam with Nitithorn, ahead of Englishman Steve Lewton who carded a 68 – helped by a brilliant eagle on the par-four 13th where he holed a 127-yard wedge shot from a fairway bunker.

Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut, American Trevor Simsby and Danny Masrin from Indonesia, shot 69s while Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Zimbabwean Scott Vincent, and Spanish rookie David Puig were in a group of nine players in with 70s.

On a national level, several of the ten Moroccan players competing look set to be in a good position to make the cut and play over the tournament’s two closing days.

Amateur Mohammed Nizar Bourehim proved he is a talent worth watching, shooting one-over-par –a score shared with his professional compatriots Ahmed Marjan and Ayoub Lguirati.

Eleven players will complete their first-round tomorrow morning as fading evening light stopped play for the day.

Madey is 25 years old and after graduating from UCLA he turned professional in 2019 with high hopes of travelling the globe and playing golf but the COVID-19 pandemic immediately scuppered those plans.

However, he was able to get back on track last year and play the PGA Tour Latin America before also getting a couple of starts on the Asian Tour in March this year in Thailand.

“With things shut down for a couple of years I didn’t really get my feet wet in professional golf,” said the American.

“But now I am starting to travel and play pro golf, learning how to manage my time and so on. I have been learning a lot and the events I played on the Asian Tour in Thailand were great and now I am here, I love to travel, and the Asian Tour is an incredible organization.”

A six under round with no dropped shots is an impressive performance on the testing Red Course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. Madey felt he was helped by the fact that the course reminds him of a favourite layout in the US.

He said: “I love the course, it reminds me of a course I played in the States, called Saticoy Golf Club, where the greens are extremely undulating, and unforgiving on some approach shots meaning the ball can spin off the green. I really like it, I am from the North-West where there are also a lot of trees, it suits my eye.”

He made his first birdie on seven, eagled the par-five eighth, and birdied 13 before closing with birdies on 17 and 18.

“I putted pretty solid,” he said. “My driver was a little shaky in the beginning. I made all my four footers which was important. There are some huge slopes so it’s important not to try and leave yourself too much work with 30 or 40 footers.”

Nitithorn has been victorious twice this season – in The DGC Open presented by Mastercard and the International Series Singapore – and joined Madey on top of the leaderboard late in the day with an eagle on the driveable par-four 17th and a birdie on the par-five 18th.

“I feel good. I didn’t know my score until I made eagle on 17, when I then realised I was five under,” said the Thai golfer, who made six birdies in total and two bogeys.

“I was really in the zone today so wasn’t keeping track. I drove the ball so well and that’s key for me around this course. I played good golf today.”

On the penultimate hole he hit a miraculous tee shot to two feet to set up the eagle.

Lewton last played Royal Golf Dar Es Salam 13 years ago, when he says it was a very different layout.

“It’s changed a lot. I don’t remember the greens being this sloppy. They have made some changes, which have been brilliant,” he said. “It is a tricky golf course this week, rough is kind of up, it is playing kind of long and the greens are tricky. You have got to control your golf ball. I didn’t have a great lie in the bunker on 13, I was trying to hit it as good as I could, and it came out well and I thought it would be close but with a bit of luck it went in.”

Puig’s good start caught the attention of many as this is only his second event as a professional having joined the play for pay game in September.

“I didn’t play a tournament since September, which was the LIV Golf event in Chicago, so it’s been a month and a half of complete grind on the driving range,” said the 20-year-old former amateur star at Arizona State University.

“I played pretty good. I think I am swinging the club better. I worked pretty hard, you know I usually struggle a little off the tee, but I hit it pretty good off the tee which helped, so I am pretty happy with the round overall.”

Puig played the back nine first and struggled with his game making the turn in one over but was a different player on his second nine carding birdies on one, three, five and eight shooting a four-under-par 32.

He has spent his time off in the States working with golf coach Dave Philips and Sean Drake, an athlete chiropractor.

He added: “I think we did a really good job the last month and a half. I am excited to keep going this week and next week. They (Philips and Drake) are both very good, they know each other, they are connected, so what I needed to improve on the course I practiced it with the chiropractor, with helped with technique and everything.”

International Series Morocco a ‘special opportunity’ for golf in the country, says local hero Lguirati

       - Six professionals and four amateurs will be representing Morocco in a star-studded field

November 2, 2022 – Rabat: Moroccan star Ayoub Lguirati is “honoured” to be among the ten local players representing their home country and gaining invaluable experience alongside the best in the game as they battle it out for glory at the International Series Morocco on the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam course in Rabat this week.

Ayoub joins fellow professionals Karim El Hal, Yassine Touhami, Othman Raouzi, Ahmed Marjan and Ayoub Id-Omar along with the amateur quartet of Adam Bresnu, Mohammed Nizar Bourehim, Hugo Mazen Trommetter and El Mehdi Fakori for the US$1.5 million event from November 3-6, the fifth of the Asian Tour’s new flagship series of elevated tournaments.

The Moroccan players will be gaining invaluable experience on the course in a strong field that includes current Order of Merit leader Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe and nearest challengers Sihwan Kim and Phachara Khongwatmai. All three are returning to Asian Tour duties after competing in the season-ending LIV Golf Team Championship on the Trump National Doral in Miami.

Lguirati said: “You cannot imagine the honour for me to be playing this event and representing my country. I am so delighted to play – especially on this course - the ‘Red Monster’ is a wonderful course, and it is important for Morocco to host tournaments like this.

“It is a special opportunity for the Moroccan players to test themselves against the best players in the world, and it is a wonderful opportunity to grow the game of golf and raise awareness of the sport in the country.

“We have some really great players here – His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid and the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation are doing a great job developing the players over the years, and developing golf for everyone, and now you can see we have a really good field of local players this week in a big international tournament.”

With just four events remaining, including this week’s International Series Morocco, Zimbabwe’s Vincent is ranked first on the International Series Order of Merit (OOM) and fifth on the Asian Tour OOM. With lucrative purses still to play for, finishing top of both is a realistic possibility.

But despite the stakes being high, Vincent is staying typically grounded and not looking beyond the job at hand this week at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.

“I try not to think about it,” he said.

“Obviously, it is there, and people talk about it. For me it’s not a priority, I am just trying to work on being present, being here. This is one of the steps in my career, this is where I am now.

“I am focusing on the very next thing I have to do. And, of course, any opportunity I have to come back and play in Africa it is a great thing.”

The International Series Morocco takes place at the historic Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, in Rabat, from November 3-6 and admission is free to spectators. The International Series then moves on to Egypt the following week, at Madinaty Golf Club in Cairo, from November 10-13.

Golfing giants touch down in Rabat ahead of International Series Morocco

November 1st, 2022 – Morocco Some of the biggest names in the world of golf took time away from the course to see the spectacular sights of historic Rabat ahead of this week’s International Series Morocco, the Asian Tour event taking place at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam from November 3-6.

Thai legend Kiradech Aphibarnrat, compatriot and International Series Singapore champion Nitithorn Thippong, Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Bio Kim of Korea and Moroccan star Ayoub Lguirati enjoyed a sightseeing trip to the historic Mausoleum of Mohammed V in central Rabat, as part of a whistle-stop tour of some of the city’s many cultural sites ahead of tournament week.

Aphibarnrat, a multiple winner on the Asian and European Tour, said: “It is my first time here in Morocco. When I heard the event was coming here it was something I really started looking forward to - it is my first time here in Morocco, I’m really excited to be here, it is a beautiful country and I can’t wait to see the golf course and get playing.”

Thippong, currently third in the Asian Tour OOM, added: “It is great to be here in Morocco playing an International Series event. The golf course is really nice. My form has been good this year, and I won in Thailand last month, so for me form-wise, it is so far so good!

“The International Series events are good for both the Asian Tour and players. The series gives us more big events to perform in over the course of the season and more opportunities than ever. My International Series win in Singapore has given me good confidence, but this is a new week and a new competition, and I just need to focus on doing what I have to do.”

Korean Kim, who lost out to compatriot Taehoon Ok by a single stroke last time out at the International Series Korea at the Lotte Skyhill Country Club on Jeju Island in August, added: “I’m very excited to be playing in the International Series Morocco. It is the very first time I have visited here but I already like it and I am looking forward to a good week.

“The venues are always great for the International Series events and the players see these events as big tournaments that they all want to win. For me, it is all about trying to lift up a trophy I have never won this week. I haven’t played too much of late, with a few events in Asia and the United States, but my game is getting there, I’m putting a little better and I’m shaping the ball better with my new driver, so I feel good. I’m leading on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit and I’m certainly aiming to try and extend that this week, so let’s go out and make some birdies.”

For Lguirati, it is an honour to represent his country at such an illustrious tournament on home soil. He said: “I am excited to play, it is an honour to play in this momentous event in Morocco - I will try to enjoy every moment and every shot. It is very good for the players and for the visiting golfers to experience our country, and it is also a great opportunity for Morocco to welcome such high caliber golfing talent.”

The Morocco event is the fifth in the International Series calendar and the first of two back-to-back tournaments, with the International Series Egypt taking place next week on the Madinaty Golf Course in Cairo from November 10-13. Both events offer US$1.5m in prize money.

TAT is simultaneously organizing workshops for the “Super Host" project, NEW CHAPTERS, nationwide. More than 2,500 participants are headed for next normal tourism, preparing to welcome high-season visitors to Thailand.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is organizing "Super Host " NEW CHAPTERS training workshops on 1 – 2 November 2022 in 5 regions nationwide. The opening ceremonies will be held on 1 November 2022 at Berkeley Hotel Pratunam, Bangkok. The event will be honored by Mr. Phiphat Ratchakijprakarn, Minister of Tourism and Sports, who will preside over the opening ceremony for the training workshops, along with Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of Tourism Authority of Thailand, Mr. Apichai Chatchalermkit, Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business of Tourism Authority of Thailand, and Miss Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Deputy Governor for Domestic Marketing of Tourism Authority of Thailand, who will welcome participants and broadcast live streams to event venues in 4 other regions in order to prepare the tourism industry and local communities for NEXT NORMAL tourism.

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, disclosed that the event’s main objective is to prepare the tourism industry, including public and private sector agencies, and local communities, as well as those involved in the tourism industry, and to increase knowledge, understanding and the ability to be “Super Hosts”, ready to support tourists during the forthcoming high season and adapt to the changing global and tourism situation. To create meaningful travel experiences for tourists while simultaneously enhancing the Thai tourism industry and propelling it towards high value and sustainability, TAT is organizing the "Super Host " NEW CHAPTERS workshops in 5 regions nationwide for 2 days and 1 night between 1-2 November 2022.

At the "Super Host " NEW CHAPTERS workshops, TAT will focus on shaping the supply chain by inviting expert speakers to educate and update regarding key tourism trends in the NEXT NORMAL era, as well as organizing up-skill workshops centered around new digital marketing skills to develop Thai tourism personnel in recognizing the importance of developing tourism potential, particularly in terms of raising awareness about the role and importance of being a Super Host and triggering consciousness about maintaining tourist attractions along with caring for tourists. These are vital areas which are likely to lead to a successful recovery and reflect the highest level of preparation in order to become Super Hosts. The NEW CHAPTERS to Tourism NEXT NORMAL with Sustainability event is being held in five regions nationwide: at The Berkeley Hotel, Pratunam, Bangkok, in the central region; at The Heritage Hotel Chiang Rai Hotel & Convention, Chiang Rai Province, in the northern region; at Alvarez Hotel, Rayong Province, in the eastern region, at Golden City Hotel, Buriram Province, in the northeastern region and at The Twin Lotus Hotel, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, in the southern region.

Participants in the events are required to be personnel or entrepreneurs in the tourism industry, government officials involved in the provision of tourist services, as well as tourism and service-related agencies from all over the country, with 500 individuals per region, totaling 2.,500 participants. This event will be key in helping develop and promote the image of Thai tourism and ensuring the highest level of preparation for a tourism industry which is rapidly returning to normal, and it should be instrumental in creating increased income and further economic growth within the country.

Aside from the "Super Host " NEW CHAPTERS project, TAT continues to organize activities to promote tourism in Thailand, as well as reinforcing the "Amazing Thailand Trip" campaign with projects such as AMAZING THAILAND WORLD MOUNTAIN & TRAIL RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2021, AMAZING THAILAND MARATHON BANGKOK 2022, WATERCOLOR EVENT, Loy Krathong Expo 2022 and "Vivid Chao Phraya" illumination event to welcome APEC leaders, as well as the Amazing Thailand Countdown 2023.

These activities are staged under the project "365 Days of Wonder Thailand, Travel Every Day", which aims to accelerate the recovery of Thai tourism and achieve 80% of the numbers achieved in 2019 by the year 2023, and they are driven by the vision, "TAT is the driver of Thai tourism strategy to create valuable experiences towards sustainability," in accordance with the TAT Corporate Plan 2023 – 2027.