Advance August 2013 edition

A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE AUSTRALIAN-THAI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AUSTRALIA THAILAND BUSINESS COUNCIL www.austchamthailand.com August 2013

An Unbeatable Mix: Thai and Australian Hospitality in this edition

The Eye of the Storm Business brief Business brief Travelling Scallops Highlight Thailand’s Tips for Effective Networking Push for Australian Food Firms

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embassy news Australian Oil and Gas Technology Forum held in Bangkok

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Chamber events Stars and Stripes Sundowners at Sofitel So Bangkok

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specialist mortgage

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Contents PATRON His Excellency James Wise Australian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand PRESIDENT Leigh Scott-Kemmis DBM (Thailand) Ltd. VICE PRESIDENTS Jason Ellis BlueScope Steel (Thailand) Limited M.L. Laksasubha Kridakon Baan Laksasubha Resort Hua Hin

14 business briefs 6 An Unbeatable Mix: Thai and Australian Hospitality 12 From Queensland to Thailand and back: Travelling Scallops Highlight Thailand’s Push for Australian Food Firms 14 Tips for Effective Networking

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Community services 22 Voluntary English Teaching Saturday 20 July 2013 at Baan Khao Huay Mahad School chamber Events 24 What it Takes to Transform a

City – an Evening with the Lord Mayor of Perth, Lisa Scaffidi 24 Digital Advertising in Thailand

– The Essentials 26 Stars and Stripes Sundowners at Sofitel So Bangkok

AUSTCHAM MEMBERS 28 New Members 29 Members Offers – Airlines

From the Chamber Office 30 Message from the Office

news and updates 16 The Bangkok Guide: All the Advice, Information and Insights You Need for Living in Bangkok 18 The Eye of the Storm 19 Revenues Department Issues New VAT Reporting Requirements for 2014 19 BOI Reaffirms Commitment to New Investment Promotion Policy for 2015

embassy news 20 Australian Oil and Gas Technology Forum Held in Bangkok

Belinda Skinner TopTalentAsia TREASURER Warwick Kneale Baker Tilly Thailand Limited DIRECTORS David Bell Crestcom-Ra-Kahng Associates Ltd. Josh Hyland AEC South East Asia Co., Ltd. Brenton Mauriello dwp Alan Polivnick Watson, Farley & Williams (Thailand) Limited Rananda Rich Blackmores Ltd. Pratamaporn Svasti-Xuto Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) Banking Group Ltd. Charles Wrightman Natural Ville & Lenotre EX OFFICIO Greg Wallis Senior Trade Commissioner, Thailand COORDINATORS Paul Wilkinson JVK International Movers Ltd. ESB Coordinator Email: paul.wilkinson@jvkmovers.com

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Trevor Dick Indochine Asset Management ESB Coordinator Email: trevor@indochine-asset.com

From the Board

Vice President’s Message Harry Usher Lady Pie Phuket Coordinator Email: phuket@austchamthailand.com Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce 20th Floor, Thai CC Tower 889 South Sathorn Road Bangkok 10120 Tel.: +66 2 210 0216 Fax: +66 2 675 6696 office@austchamthailand.com www.austchamthailand.com For more information on individual Board Member focus please visit www.austchamthailand.com/ boardmembers

Editorial Committee Belinda Skinner, Rananda Rich, Domenica Agostino, Gary Woollacott Marketing & Production Scand-Media Corp. Ltd 4/41-42 Moo 3, Thanyakarn Village Ramintra Soi 14, Bangkok Tel.: +66 2 943-7166/8 Fax: +66 2 943-7169 scandmedia@scandmedia.com Advertising Finn Balslev Email: finn@scandmedia.com Contributions to Advance magazine are welcome. Please submit content to domenica@austchamthailand.com by the first day of the month for publication in the following month’s magazine.

Opinions expressed in Advance do not necessarily reflect the views of the Chamber.

AustChamThailand Advance

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elcome back to those lucky enough to take a mid-year break, or ‘summer holidays’ as it is commonly termed here (although hard to get my head around that phrase, as for many of us coming from Australia it is certainly not ‘summer’ at the moment!). With the International Schools closing for their big break in July many depart Bangkok for a much earned holiday, so I hope those that were fortunate to do so, had a safe and enjoyable time.

For the Chamber though, there was no such break and the staff worked hard to continue to provide many enjoyable events. Thank you to those members who attended the Briefing and Open Forum prior to our special ‘Stars & Stripes’ Sundowners last month where we invited members from the American Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the Fourth of July. The briefing itself was an important opportunity for us to bring you up to date on our plans for the current Board term and to answer members’ questions.

We were pleased to announce at the briefing that AustCham was one of only a small group of overseas Australian Chambers of Commerce to win a grant under the Australian Government’s ‘Asian Century Business Engagement Plan’. Most of the funding was awarded to Australiabased organisations and we know that some Chambers missed out. The grant awarded to AustCham Thailand was significantly smaller than we had asked for, but the result is a good one nonetheless.

As well as allowing us to deliver some highly worthwhile activity, the grant is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase that we provide exceptional value-formoney in our efforts to support and promote Australian business in Thailand.

This month we also welcomed the Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Perth, Lisa Scaffidi, to our latest Alumni event. We extended our invitation to members of the Professional Women’s Group together with ANZWG and were rewarded with a great turnout. I have to admit, Lisa was an extremely entertaining and charismatic speaker. She had us captured as she spoke about the growth and transition of Perth together with her personal story of success in business - one remarkable achievement being the runner up in the World Lord Mayor awards (and the only

woman finalist). If you get the opportunity to hear her speak I urge you to do so. I certainly hope she returns to Bangkok and we would love to have her back at another AustCham event.

Additionally we held one of our successful Boardroom Briefings where we heard from Edge Asia Thailand discuss the essentials of digital advertising. Certainly an informative luncheon was had by all.

So if you missed this one, don’t miss our next one!

And of course we had our monthly voluntary English teaching program, which is still going strong. However we are in need of more volunteers. Trust me, you don’t have to be a teacher or have any teaching experience. All I ask is you come along with enthusiasm and ready to have some fun with the kids!

I look forward to seeing you at our next Sundowners event - and yes… I will be standing up there telling you ALL to be quiet! And if you are not careful I may just point you out! I must admit though, I have been impressed with the past couple of Sundowners as I have witnessed many of our attendees showing respect to our gracious sponsors to whom we are extremely appreciative of.

Please do keep up that good work – and help spread the word (silently!).

Belinda Skinner Vice President, AustCham Thailand www.austchamthailand.com

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business brief

An Unbeatable Mix: Thai and Australian Hospitality

By James Iles

H

ospitality is big business in Thailand, and forms a major contribution to the country’s economy: the Ministry of Tourism and Sports reported over 22 million tourists visited Thailand in 2012 and with literally thousands of hotels throughout the country, it is a highly competitive business. Three Australian General Managers of leading Bangkok hotels talked about their recipes for success in this high-profile industry and their enthusiasm and optimism was infectious.

All three particularly stressed the complementarity between the Australian and Thai perspectives on life: there are differences and similarities, but the two, particularly in their approach to hospitality, come together perfectly to deliver a standard which is second to none.

Charles Wrightman started as a dishwasher at a hotel in India, and progressed through the roles of waiter and barman until 1982 when he was recruited by the Accor Group. He was sent to work in Baghdad, followed by postings to London, Paris and Oman, before being sent to Australia in 1992. Wrightman loved Australia and became a citizen – but after opening hotels in Melbourne and Brisbane he was on the move again, to China, Malaysia and finally Thailand.

Michal Zitek became involved in outside catering as a pocket-money job while he was still at school in Sydney. This opened up a whole new world to him: “It was just really interesting to see different people, create different experiences and create memories, whether it be weddings or parties”. He became increasingly interested in the business and on leaving school enrolled in a hospitality course – again, taking on various parttime jobs in the hotel industry, mainly in

Charles Jack has been General Manager of The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok since 2009; Charles Wrightman has been General Manager at Natural Ville managed by Accor since 2003; and Michal Zitek has been General Manager at the Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel from 2010.

All three are career hoteliers who have been through the ranks, studied for appropriate qualifications along the way and have a thorough grounding in all aspects of running a hotel.

Charles Jack left school in 1988 and embarked on career in hospitality as doorman at a hotel in Hobart, Tasmania.

“It was during this time that I discovered my passion for people and learned that first impressions count. Ensuring that guests receive a warm welcome is still as important to me today as General Manager of The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok as it was more than two decades ago working as a doorman,” he asserts. Since those formative years, Charles has worked his way up the ladder with Starwood Group hotels with positions in Australia, China, Brunei and Fiji, and in 2005, Thailand.

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Michal Zitek, General Manager of The Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel

AustChamThailand Advance

business brief

the food and beverage area in positions such as waiter and barman. However, on completion he still had a drive to learn more, to understand all the complexities involved in hotel management. Zitek made the decision to proceed with his

advanced diploma to learn other aspects of hotel management outside of basic operations “we learnt cookery, finance, legal, accounting… everything required to give you a true grounding of how to operate a hotel.”

Armed with his recent qualifications, he put his knowledge into practice and joined the Southern Pacific Hotels group, with whom he worked in Australia and New Zealand before putting his name on the “Asia List”; he was soon sent to work on Phi Phi Island, followed by spells in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and then Bangkok. As he puts it, the hotel industry provides a great opportunity to “move around the world where you can learn so much from different cultures, personalities and of course working in different environments teaches you many things.”

Charles Jack recalls his posting to Kunming, China in 1998 as being a culture shock. He was in his late 20s and there were very few foreigners working in the city at the time. Similarly, after then spending five years on the relaxed island of Fiji, he found his next move to Bangkok to be a challenging transition.

Michal Zitek also found the transition from Melbourne to Koh Phi Phi something of a “Robinson Crusoe” experience – the cultures of the two places could not have been more different. But all three managers emphasised the importance of being able to adapt as one of the ingredients of success in the international hospitality business.

Charles Jack, General Manager of The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok

Charles Jack discovered that Thais have very different values to Westerners in that they gravitate towards “kindness, generosity and respect”, while expatriate managers tend to focus more on “efficiency, profitability and leadership”. However, acknowledging and understanding the different cultural perspectives allows for a complementary working relationship

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Chamber Events business brief

between management and staff, and between staff and guests.

Thai people are exceptionally welcoming, and exceptionally keen to learn. The culture of happiness helps to minimise customer complaints. Under Charles Wrightman’s guidance, Natural Ville encourages staff at all levels to handle complaints as far as possible before they reach senior management. This has been successful in improving staff-guest relations. Zitek found that the expectations of overseas guests have to be understood by local staff. It is very important to train and develop a strong understanding of foreign cultures and foreign expectations in terms of service levels in order to ensure guest satisfaction. This was the case at Koh Phi Phi and although this may be a challenge it can be overcome by observation and training. The Thais are naturally hospitable, but their concepts of hospitality must sometimes be molded to meet other cultural expectations.

Another significant difference is that staffing in an Australian hotel is much leaner than in Thailand, partly because of the difference in labour costs: high staff productivity and multi-tasking are essential for survival in Australia where costs are high, while in Thailand it is common to employ much larger numbers, and for individuals to concentrate on only one task – which can bring benefits in terms of enhanced specialist skills. However, Wrightman has been successful in introducing the Australian multi-disciplinary approach, and has improved staff productivity to the extent that his hotel

Charles Wrightman, General Manager of Natural Ville and Lenotre

... Thai people are exceptionally welcoming, and exceptionally keen to learn. The culture of happiness helps to minimize customer complaints. now has the lowest staff-to-room ratio in Thailand. It also has the lowest staff turnover in the country.

Good staff relations pay off. In 2011, The Westin Grande Sukhumvit Bangkok was recognized as best employer in Thailand and one of the best in the AsiaPacific region by Aon Hewitt, an accolade of which it is deservedly proud. All three managers say the same thing: look after the staff, and they will look after the guests – and bring in the profits.

AustChamThailand Advance

Wrightman points out that one cultural trait which can create problems is the Thai respect for age: this makes it difficult for a young Thai manager to delegate to an older member of staff. This is gradually changing, however, and younger people are beginning to feel more comfortable in delegating to their elders.

The language barrier is not as serious a problem for an Australian manager as one might think. Many Thais have a passion for learning English, and enjoy prac-

ticing it – which makes them ideal for working with tourists and makes the life of a foreign manager much easier.

Charles Jack has a passion for hospitality and feels it coursing through his veins. He lives hospitality 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “We never close”, he points out – something that many take for granted. He feels he is still a visitor in Thailand, but is here to add value, and to develop local people so that eventually they can take over.

Hospitality is a people business first and foremost. Without people – employees and guests – a hotel is just an empty shell. It is the people who bring it to life, and that is the key to success – that

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business brief

and the unique Australian-Thai synergy.

Wrightman points out that it is dangerous to rely too heavily on modern technology which is available to make many tasks in a hotel easier. That special human touch is essential and, as he puts it, “without it we go down the gurgler!”

Australians may be found in the hospitality business at all levels all over the world – it seems to be something they are particularly good at. There are certainly many of them in Thailand. It may stem partly from their love of travel, but also from their personality.

All three managers agree that Thais and Australians bond well together, and work well in harmony with one another. An Australian is naturally friendly and easygoing, and typically a people person, as such is ideally suited to manage a hotel with hundreds of employees and guests.

While they take their jobs seriously, they also like to bring the Australian sense of fun, which neatly complements the “sanook” - a subtle aspect of the Thai work culture. Australians are neither judgmental nor confrontational. In partic-

ular, they come with an open mind and are prepared to adapt. This forms a twoway bridge where the Thai staff have to understand their guests and those working with Thais have to share an understanding of the Thai culture to create an effective working environment for all. In contrast, some cultures tend to be more strict and straightforward than the Thai culture, and this has mixed results.

The Thai hotel industry has had to deal with a number of crises over the years, such as the recent economic crisis, the 2004 tsunami, the Red Shirt disturbances and the floods of 2011. Following the tsunami, the Accor Group developed a Crisis Management Committee to provide advice and training on all kinds of crisis or disaster - whether natural, political or economic. A challenge is to keep the team together, safe and motivated through the crisis, and to look after the welfare of any guests who are affected. For example, during the floods, most of the hotel staff managed to remain in their jobs, despite problems at home. The hotels helped by providing accommodation for staff who had

to leave their homes, and for guests who were stranded, sometimes without funds. A positive outcome was a tangible increase in goodwill.

All three managers are optimistic for the future of their industry. Their collective advice for achieving success in hospitality: “Approach everything with an open mind” explains Zitek; “Understand your team and help them to deliver” says Jack; and Wrightman adds “Learn how to adapt to change.” Wrightman also succinctly sums up Thai hospitality as “second to none, you can never go wrong in the Land of Smiles”. There is no doubting that Thailand has been through difficult times, and no doubt will in the future - but it is highly resilient and always recovers. And Thai hospitality will never die.

This article is based on a video produced

by Mufasa Co., Ltd. for AustCham.

Please visit www.mufasa.co.th for more information about Mufasa. The video will be available for viewing online on the AustChamThailand YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/AustChamThailand

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business brief

From Queensland to Thailand and back:

Travelling Scallops Highlight Thailand’s Push for Australian Food Firms

By Michael Bleby, @MichaelBleby

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hailand wants more Australian food growers to make use of its food processing industry in a bid by the Southeast Asian nation to strengthen its position as a high-end agro-processor and help stem a slowdown in the country’s rate of economic growth.

While agro-processing makes up just three per cent of Thailand’s economy – dominated by industry such as auto manufacture and services such as tourism – the country is offering tax breaks and simplified bureaucratic processes as an inducement to draw in investors from Australia and other countries, one of the country’s senior investment officials said.

An unbalanced plate In an effort to change this state of affairs, Thailand is offering tax breaks and streamlined bureaucratic procedures to encourage businesses to use the Southeast Asian nation as a hub for re-export to Australia as well as a base for further export.

There are signs the policy is working.

Rockliff Seafoods, a family-owned producer of shellfish, has exported 150 tonnes of Queensland scallops since starting late last year. Last month the company sent its first 22-tonne container of Tasmanian scallops for processing at a factory in Ranong, on Thailand’s western border with Myanmar.

Australian exports of unprocessed food have almost tripled to A$ 14.3 billion last year from A$ 5.6 billion in 2007 but Thailand ranks lower than other regional neighbours in terms of Australian food exports. Indonesia, for example, leads on imports of live cattle and wheat, Singapore on milk and cream products, Hong Kong (followed by Vietnam) on shellfish.

Malaysia ranks higher than Thailand as an export destination for many Australian food products.

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Processing growth It’s not just a matter of going where labour is cheaper. With his Thai-based Myanmarese business partner, Rockliff is planning to expand into the newly-opened country, where his company will catch wild seafood and farm fish such as barramundi through aquaculture, as well as process it. While the changes taking place will mean a loss of jobs at his company, which employs up to 50 people in Queensland, expanding into new territory like Myanmar gives the second-generation family company opportunities it would not otherwise have, he says.

“For us to be getting some of that raw material from out there is really securing the future for our next generation,” he says.

“In Thailand there are over 10,000 foodprocessing companies but technology is the thing we are looking for all the time,” the Board of Investment of Thailand’s deputy secretary-general Duangjai Asawachintachit said. “We are looking for foreign companies that have new expertise to complement what Thai companies here already have.”

While Thai exports to Australia have tripled to US$ 9.7 billion ($10.60 billion) last year from US$ 3.17 billion in 2005 when the two countries signed a free trade agreement, it is a lopsided equation, with Thai investment more than doubling that from Australia. Thailand, a country of 67 million people, last year posted growth of 6.4 per cent, which is likely to slow to about 5.3 per cent this year.

company is looking to get all its processing done in Thailand.

Mooloolaba-based Rockliff Seafoods last month sent its first 22-tonne container of Tasmanian scallops for processing at a factory in Ranong, on Thailand’s western border with Myanmar.

Labour costs of A$ 5 a day in Myanmar and A$ 10 a day in Thailand – in comparison to A$ 24 an hour in Australia – make it cheaper for Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast-based Rockliff to send product for processing in Thailand and re-import it to Australia, keeping it competitive with imported product from China, Japan, Canada and South America, owner Neville Rockliff says.

“The only way we can compete in the market place is by sending them over and getting them processed,” he says.

Rockliff says all the workers employed by his business partner are paid fairly and his

Thailand was last year Australia’s eighthlargest trading partner, with two-way trade in goods and services between the two of A$ 18.4 billion. Trade with fifthranked Singapore was A$ 29 billion and trade with ninth-ranked Malaysia was A$ 17.7 billion, government figures show.

The Board of Investment’s Asawachintachit said Thailand’s focus on higherend food processing set the country apart from its neighbours.

“We’re competing with Malaysia when it comes to the electronics industry,” she said.

“We’re competing with Indonesia when it comes to the automotive industry. When it comes to the food or agro-processing, I cannot see any obvious competitors.”

This article was originally published on 3 July on BRW.com.au. Business Review Weekly is Australia’s leading business magazine, examining the trends and opportunities shaping Australian business. Print and digital subscriptions available. Follow BRW on Twitter (@ BRW), Facebook (www.facebook.com/ BRWMagazine) and LinkedIn (http:// www.linkedin.com/today/brw.com.au).

AustChamThailand Advance

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business brief

Tips for Effective Networking

By Gary Woollacott

D

o you enjoy meeting new people, or does the thought of walking into a room of strangers terrify you?

Business networking can be challenging – it generally needs practice to make it successful.

Networking isn’t standing around at a function feeling uncomfortable or, worse, spending the whole time chatting with your friends and colleagues – that’s just hanging out with your mates. Effective networking starts with your attitude and it’s often misunderstood. At its best, it creates interesting contacts that may lead to business opportunities.

Forget about what happened at the office or the argument with your partner. Leave those thoughts outside the venue, put on a happy face and go in there determined to make great, new contacts and have some fun. All of us have bad days and we may have to remind ourselves that other people really aren’t as interested in our problems as we think they are. Don’t

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burden your casual contacts with terrible stories – they really don’t care, and will probably want to get away from you as quickly as possible.

The primary purpose of networking is to make contacts and develop relationships – it isn’t about making an immediate sale, it’s an opportunity to market ourselves and our companies. Don’t be afraid to approach people on their own; think how grateful you might be if the situation were reversed, to have someone start a conversation. Small talk is an easy ice-breaker – but don’t overdo it if you want to be thought of as a serious business person.

Take plenty of business cards as it’s frustrating to meet someone who has run out.

There may be valid reasons, but to the rest of us you just look unprepared – and if you can’t handle something simple like that, how will you perform if we work together?

If you do run out of cards, explain why, take the other person’s card and promise to send your details – and then make sure that you do.

Networking can work for everyone, if you let it. Younger people starting their careers can build a great contact base – and, if that’s you, you already have a head start: your fellow students. Some of them will be your friends for the rest of your life. If you are enrolled on a further education course of any kind (a Masters, a short course, a Directors certification) then that’s an excellent opportunity to start building a network – people with whom you are sharing a learning experience and who you will be able to call upon in the future. For those of us with more work experience, it really is true to say that you can never know too many people. They don’t have to become our best friends – far from it – but building and maintaining a strong network can only be an advantage as you move through life.

Don’t be too eager to present a card when you meet someone: it flows naturally as part of the conversation. Some people rush around, trying to meet everyone and proffering cards. But that just doesn’t look good. Take your time – a few quality contacts are far better than many superficial

AustChamThailand Advance

business brief

conversations. And be yourself: that’s who you are. No need to embellish – it’s far easier in the long run to be honest.

What about if someone is boring you and telling you the same story again and again, or a never-ending tale? Well, it’s OK to escape if you feel stuck with someone. Just say you are going to get something to eat or drink, or thank the person nicely and excuse yourself. Don’t scan the room over their shoulder looking for more interesting people – that’s rude and they will certainly notice. Everybody is allowed to use the bathroom too, and that can provide another escape route – just make sure that you do head off in that general direction or your scheme will be rumbled.

And don’t neglect networking even if you are the expat CEO at the top. Many times these guys have sent me a CV because the company now wants to send them home, and they want to stay. So, I ask them, are you using your contacts to find out market information and possible opportunities? Then I hear that they were ‘too busy’ to go to networking nights or attend chamber functions so they don’t actually know anyone outside the company. What a waste of their time here.

You can’t build a decent network in two months. Start now.

Many chambers of commerce hold networking events; go along to one and make some contacts who might help

... but don’t fall into the trap of talking to each other all night though; you are there to meet new people. Invite a third and fourth person to your conversation and let things develop from there. you and your business prospects. Finally, remember to enjoy it. Relax, have fun and look forward to making new contacts. Tell yourself that they aren’t strangers, but new friends you haven’t met yet. A positive attitude helps to make it more fun.

If you’re reading this article in Advance then you’ll probably already know that AustCham Sundowners is by far the best networking event in Thailand. Held normally on the first Wednesday of each month, Sundowners has grown in size and reputation and now regularly attracts over 300 eager networkers. That number of people might be daunting for some – how will I manage to meet them all? But the truth is that you don’t have to meet everyone, nor is it even possible to do so in three hours of Sundowners. Just set yourself a modest goal of meeting a couple of interesting people, using the tips above, and see how much more enjoyable it can be. And if you’re really nervous of walking into a room filled with that many people, then take a friend and talk to each other for a short while until you feel more comfortable. But don’t fall into the trap of talking to each other all night though;

you are there to meet new people. Invite a third and fourth person to your conversation and let things develop from there.

You might also consider developing an ‘elevator pitch’ where you explain your role and what your company does in around thirty seconds. Practice that so that you are comfortable with describing yourself in a friendly and easy-going way – you will have plenty of opportunities to use this if you are meeting new people. You will be much more impressive if you can give a fluent and clear snapshot of yourself, rather than fumbling over an explanation and looking unprepared.

A final tip would be to think of others first: how can I help this person? If you really listen to the other person’s conversation and set your mind to thinking to whom you can introduce them to make their business more successful, this has wonderful knock-on effects. It makes you come across as an interested and attentive listener (no bad thing), plus becoming a go-to person for contacts (networking heaven). Now you’re a networking superstar! Enjoy practicing your new skills, and I’ll see you at Sundowners one day.

Gary Woollacott is the Chief Executive Officer of Opus Executive Search and has been active in executive search since 1995. His search experience has encompassed numerous seniorlevel assignments across the broad spectrum of functional disciplines in most sectors. Gary can be contacted at gary@ opusasia.net or +66 2 636 2323.

Excellent human resources are essential for all organisations that are serious about competing in an increasingly difficult business environment: Opus specialises in identifying and recruiting senior level business people who will help to lead an organisation to achieve its full potential. An integral part of our reputation is the contribution to business success made through search assignments undertaken with clients.

AustChamThailand Advance

August 2013

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News and Updates

The Bangkok Guide: All the Advice, Information and Insights You Need for Living in Bangkok

M

oving to Bangkok and getting to know this amazing city can be a very daunting experience. Since 1971, The Australian-New Zealand Women’s Group of Bangkok (ANZWG) has tried to make this transition easier through publishing the Bangkok Guide.

19 th Edit ion

BANGKO

ANZWG has for more than 50 years played a major part in the lives of many expatriate women who have been lucky enough to reside in this fascinating yet sometimes challenging city.

ANZWG’s main role is to promote friendship amongst its members and to encourage them to support each other during their stay here in Thailand. As well as its social events and activities, ANZWG is also well known for its community service work and fundraising.

• Asia B ooks • Kinoku niya • Booka zine • Villa M arket • www.d cothai.

The 19th edition of the Bangkok Guide features over 450 pages of practical and helpful information for foreign residents. It is an invaluable resource for anyone who wants to get the most out of living in Bangkok.

210 mm

Out NOW

The Bangkok Guide is arguably one of ANZWG’s greatest contributions to the expat community living in Bangkok. What began in 1971 as a small handout in the Australian community has grown into the book you see today - one of the most respected publications of its kind. Compiled by foreigners living and working in Bangkok, the information and advice contained in the Bangkok Guide is based on personal experience and professional expertise and is designed as a complete guide to expat life in Bangkok. Each edition is thoroughly revised and updated, making the Guide the most popular and reliable handbook for new arrivals and long-term residents alike.

Described by the Bangkok Post at the time as a “gem of a book”, the guide has become the essential resource for those new to Bangkok as they navigate their new surroundings. For those who have lived here for a while, it offers updated recommendations on the latest expat haunts in this constantly evolving city.

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ANZWG, as well as from other women’s clubs and community organisations, members of the business community, family members, home help, drivers and friends – who have together committed thousands of volunteer hours in checking listings and recommending new locations.

The topics covered in the Bangkok Guide 19th edition include: Thailand in brief / Moving to Thailand / Getting settled / General services / Education / Health / Children in Bangkok / Shopping / Buying Thai products / Restaurants and nightlife / Sports and leisure activities / Community and volunteer opportunities / Exploring Bangkok and beyond As in the past, the 19th edition has been completely reviewed, revised and refreshed by a large team of volunteers – from

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Importantly, individual listings included in the Bangkok Guide result from recommendations from volunteer contributors; listings are not paid for by businesses. The Bangkok Guide reflects the latest recommendations from unbiased contributors.

This 19th edition includes a number of new features, including a new chapter bringing together child-specific information for parents of young children, a child-friendly symbol to highlight appropriate listings, and the inclusion of map references to

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News and Updates

assist with navigation. An updated Bangkok Guide Map and a handy Survival Thai pocket guide also feature.

By purchasing the ANZWG Bangkok Guide you not only get a wealth of essential information about living in Bangkok, but are also contributing to the education and health of many women and children in Thailand.

All proceeds from the sale of the ANZWG Bangkok Guide go directly towards funding ANZWG-approved community projects, with a particular emphasis on health and education for Thai women and children in need.

Sales of the previous editions of the Bangkok Guide have allowed ANZWG to provide ongoing support for many education and health projects including: • The sponsorship of over 100 school children in Thailand • Milk powder for orphaned babies and babies in the Khlong Toey community • Daily hot lunches at a local kindergarten orphanage • School uniforms, shoes and bags for students in the Khlong Toey community One off projects recently funded by ANZWG include:

AustChamThailand Advance

• Full university scholarships for two students from Hilltribe communities • Funding micro-businesses in slum areas • Sewing machines for women to generate income • A security wall for an orphanage in a challenging neighbourhood • Food supplies for a residential home in the Yala district • A week long empowerment camp for teenage girls who show leadership potential This remarkable book is still going strong and has raised millions of baht for ANZWG’s charities, enabling them to continue their valuable work in the Thai community. This 19th edition marks over 40 years of the Bangkok Guide – 40 years of hard work and dedication by ANZWG project teams putting the guides together, and 40 years of assisting many Thai women and children to build better lives.

The recommended retail price of the latest edition of the Bangkok Guide is Baht 990 and can be purchased at:

Asia Books / Bookazine / DCO / Kinokuniya / Villa Market

Attractive discounts are available for bulk orders. For more information, please contact sales@anzwg-bangkok.org

August 2013

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News and Updates

The Eye of the Storm

By Paul Gambles

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ack at the end of 2011, with the Australian Dollar at US$ 1.10, MBMG Group issued a medium term warning that the ‘Aussie’ would weaken. This was driven by many factors but primarily: 1. A slowing Australian domestic economy that would prompt further RBA interest rate cuts, narrowing the differential between Australian rates and the lower rates of most developed economies 2. A slowing in Chinese growth rates that would i) adversely impact both Australian export volumes and terms of trade as commodity prices weakened ii) result in cutting back of the kind of forward-looking infrastructure project investment plans that had proved so beneficial to the Australian economy of late 3. A need for the pump-priming economies (the USA, Europe, China) to focus their stimulus policies far more on their domestic economies than on the creation of global liquidity pools that had overflowed every which way since 2008 and had been particularly supportive of commodity prices (to the benefit of the Australian economy and to the detriment of ‘Arab Spring’ economies).

Just over 18 months ago, this was more of a general, strategic medium term outlook, although we felt that AUD had reached some kind of a ceiling at the 1.10 level, that property was getting close to peak pricing and that the ASX was starting to look dangerously expensive. By the start of this year, we felt that the reckoning was getting a fair bit closer, issuing a research note to sell AUD in February that was made available to Chamber members.

By the time that I did my monthly appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box program in April, just after one of my regular visits to Australia, the impending AUD weakness had become the main theme I wanted to talk about. The prior week AUD had been trading up at 1.05 and my expectation was an initial fall that would settle 18

August 2013

in a range of 90-99 before a more sustained weakness that by the end of 2014 would have seen AUD below 70 Cents on USD. This created quite a stir – CNBC ran a feature article - “Why shorting the Aussie is the trade of the century”. This piece explained my view that risk and reward were asymmetrical in Australia’s currency – the upside from 1.05 was perhaps 5-10 per cent at most (the most extreme commentators at this time were calling for around 1.15) whereas the downside could have been over 40 per cent.

The story gathered pace the following week when George Soros threw his weight behind the call and shorted AUD:USD prompting another CNBC article which began to gain traction in the Australian press, being picked up by the Sydney Morning Herald’s Markets Live team on 8 May:.

“I would be surprised if the Aussie Dollar is still holding above 90-99 US Cents by the year-end, but once the move comes, then [from] parity to 60 [something] could happen within a matter of just a few months.”

Readers voted more than 2:1 that the Aussie would hold up at those levels.

The following day saw an article in the SMH by Max Mason (syndicated to media partners at The Brisbane Times, Newcastle Star, Canberra Times, WA Today, The Age and a raft of others, some of which like the Esperance Express, The Eyre Tribune and the Eden Magnet I have to confess I’d never encountered before!)

Max pointed out that MBMG’s call was at “the extreme end of the spectrum”.

“Following George Soros’ rumoured run at the Dollar, commentators around the world are beginning to speculate on the future of the Australian Dollar.

Lining up against this were Macquarie global head of economics Richard Gibbs, who expected the Dollar to stay above parity and finish the year about US 102 Cents alongside ANZ currency strategist Andrew Salter, who expected the Dollar to remain about US 105 Cents.

Talking to CNBC’s Asia Squawk Box, managing partner at advisory firm MBMG International Paul Gambles said shorting the Australian Dollar looks like the trade of the century.

So MBMG: 1, Other analysts: Nil. But where does that leave us now with AUD already down to 90 cents by the time of writing? Far from gloating or suggesting that anyone who missed the initial advice AustChamThailand Advance

News and Updates

should jump on the bandwagon, I’m not yet convinced that this is the big move down. Before Max Mason starts penning headlines that I’ve changed my mind and gone bullish on the Aussie, that’s not the case either. I think that this is just a far less clear market entry point and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a bounce in the Australian currency before the big wave comes along that, in surfer parlance, wipes it out.

We may be closer to the events that would cause that to happen – governments throwing in the towel on QE, a return to recession/depression, a liquidity panic that causes a simultaneous flight to US Dollar and to gold, a capitulation of Chinese data, a (another) panic in the EuroZone – but it feels as though that’s still a little while away. If markets settle their nerves that could be supportive for the Australian Dollar. I wouldn’t want to bet the ranch on that though as ultimately a rate of 60 something at some point still feels to me like it’s inevitably going to happen but maybe not just yet. At 105 the asymmetry of the trade was very attractive. At 90, that’s less so.

At 105 in April I was very comfortably short the AUD – today I’d caution that, in the short term, pretty much anything can happen even if we’re not changing our medium term view. For Australian expats that might not seem helpful but in the medium to longer term there may well be much better opportunities to convert US Dollars to AUD than we’re looking at today.

But if your budget, lifestyle and financial plans don’t allow you to take a long term view and ignore the short term then there’s definitely an argument for converting some of your hard-earned offshore Greenbacks at today’s rate. One size definitely doesn’t fit everyone and this brief overview isn’t intended to be taken by anyone as financial advice. Every situation demands personal, professional advice. Either that or we could ask some of those other analysts? They seem pretty confident that they know what the future holds!

Paul Gambles, Managing Partner of MBMG International, is a regular speaker at events. He is featured regularly on CNBC’s “Squawk Box”, and most days on Money Channel’s “News at Ten” programme.

Paul’s regular MBMG Updates can be found at http://www.mbmg-group.com/ mbmg/blog and he can be contacted at paul@mbmg-international.com AustChamThailand Advance

Revenues Department Issues New VAT Reporting Requirements for 2014

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vices sold, and (6) the VAT on the sale.

The summary is to be filled out in accordance with the standard form provided in the announcement.

Under this new reporting requirement, the VAT registrant must submit a monthly summary on sales of goods or services.

The summary must include the (1) VAT receipt numbers, (2) names of the purchaser of goods or services, (3) tax identification number of the purchasers, (4) main or branch office of the said purchasers, (5) the value of the goods or ser-

This new reporting requirement will enter into effect on 1 January 2014. It represents a significant addition to the existing monthly VAT reporting requirement. Under the existing reporting standard, the VAT registrant is only required to file a monthly VAT summary (Form Por Por 30) with the lump sum input and output VAT. The VAT registrant is not obliged to provide details of each VAT transaction to the Revenues Department.

n 27 May 2013, the Revenues Department issued a new VAT reporting requirement that is applicable for all VAT registrants (Announcement of the Director General No. 197 (2013)).

BOI Reaffirms Commitment to New Investment Promotion Policy for 2015

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he Secretary General of the Board of Investment (BOI) reaffirmed the commitment to revise and implement a new investment promotion policy.

The new policy is expected to enter into effect on 1 January 2015.

In January 2013, the BOI released a draft of the new investment promotion policy, which represented a complete overhaul of the current investment promotion scheme. In May, the BOI issued a press release that reaffirms its intention to implement the new promotion scheme, though the effective date has been moved to 2015 to allow time for businesses to adjust themselves.

Under the new promotion scheme, the BOI has discarded the zoning concept (whereby investment incentives are granted on the basis of geographic zoning), and adopted a targeted industry and industrial cluster approach. Presently, the BOI proposed to promote 10 types of industries including infrastructure, med-

icine, scientific equipment, renewable energy, business support services, high technology automotive and electronics, food processing, etc.

Several types of industries that are currently promoted will be removed from the promotion scheme. These include hospitals, telecommunications, design centers, several textile and garment businesses, electric powered vehicles, 4 stroke motorcycles, ceramics, forestry, animal feed, etc.

For further information, please contact Tanva.Mahitivanichcha@th.gt.com Tanva is a Director at Grant Thornton working in Tax Consulting. His expertise includes foreign investment planning and structuring, trade privilege structuring, customs compliance, transaction tax structuring, and regulated industry compliance. He is a member of the Law and Tax Committee, and the Customs and Trade Facilitation Committee at the Federation of Thai Industries.

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embassy news

Australian Oil and Gas Technology Forum Held in Bangkok

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he Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) joined forces with Industry Capability Network (ICN) and the Petroleum Institute of Thailand (PTIT) to organise an Australian Oil and Gas Technology Forum in Bangkok in May. Australia has a robust and diversified oil and gas services industry, which has grown substantially over the past twenty years in line with the development of a number of large oil and gas projects in Australia. Several of the major oil and gas projects in Australia are ground-breaking ones such as Chevron’s Gorgon LNG (one of the world’s largest at A$ 52 billion) and Shell Prelude FLNG (the world’s first floating liquefied natural gas facility) off the coast of Western Australia, not to mention various unconventional gas

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projects such as Coal Seam Gas (CSG) in Queensland.

Australian companies which have been involved with these projects understand how critical it is to provide the highest quality, safety-focussed and leading edge solutions to be competitive. Most of them are able to offer solutions that will save the client’s overall cost in the long term. They are also able to provide strong expertise and best practices in the region. This was underscored by the keen interest shown with a strong attendance from blue-chip companies such as PTTEP, Chevron and CUEL to name a few.

The forum was a means to showcase Australian expertise in the industry through technical presentations

and sharing experiences. Areas covered included heat transfer and carbon reduction process, data management for enhancing oil recovery and collision avoidance systems to offshore structures.

The feedback from the Australian companies was very positive. It did generate strong interest which will no doubt lead to some opportunities with clients in the region who are seeking expert solutions to challenges they are currently facing.

Austrade and ICN are keen to continue organising these events to increase the profile of Australian capability in the oil and gas sector to the wider region.

If you are interested in participating in future events, please contact Pannalak@austrade.gov.au

AustChamThailand Advance

AustCham Bronze Corporate Sponsor: Aurecon Group

community services

Voluntary English Teaching Saturday 20 July 2013 at Baan Khao Huay Mahad School Fancy giving back something to the community? Want to have some fun doing it? Well join AustChams’ volunteer English teaching group for a very rewarding experience!

AustCham Thailand Community Services supports many worthwhile programs. One of these in particular has been its long running voluntary English teaching program. We have been supporting schools in the provinces of Chonburi and Rayong for a number of years now. We get a group of volunteers together and visit these schools to undertake activities and games in a fun-filled way. We work with small groups of children aged between 5 and 12 years. Our aim is to have some fun with them and show them that learning English is not as scary as they think! They get to interact with foreigners and Thais to build their confidence and hopefully encourage them to keep learning English. If you would like to join us, we welcome you! No prior teaching experience is necessary, just a lot of enthusiasm! So come and give it a try‌ contact varin@austchamthailand.com to put your name down now.

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AustChamThailand Advance

AFL GRAND FINAL FAMILY DAY 2013 datE: saturday 28 sEptEmbEr / tImE: brunCh sErvEd FrOm 10.00am / venue: the imperial queen’s park hotel th

FIne aussIe BuBBles served at Brunch From 10am

two return tIckets to australIa wIll Be gIven away courtesy oF Qantas

event suPPorters

• actIvItIes For the kIds IncludIng the FunarIum JumPIng castle and a magIc show By clown eckIe • gourmet aussIe PIes served at halFtIme courtesy oF lady PIes

• AustChAm’s long bAr serving free flow beer courtesy oF heIneken and wIne all day • over 70 great PrIzes IncludIng hotel, restaurant and sPa vouchers

IndIvIdual PrIces: adults 2,500B chIldren 700B sPecIal Packages: FamIly tIckets only 5,500B! (Includes two adults and two chIldren) taBle oF 10 only 22,500B tIckets must Be Purchased In advance. For more InFormatIon: OFFICE@austchamthaIland.com or 02 210 0216

Chamber Events

What it Takes to Transform a City - an Evening with the Lord Mayor of Perth, Lisa Scaffidi Thursday 11 July 2013 at The St Regis Bangkok

AustCham, together with the Professional Women’s Group, Australian-New Zealand Women’s Group Bangkok (ANZWG) and AustralianAlumni, were pleased to host special evening presentation by Lisa Scaffidi, the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of the City of Perth in Western Australia. Ms Scaffidi immediately won guests over with her inspiring and friendly personality and guests were intrigued as they listened to the story of how Perth is transforming into a city of the future. She also spoke on her personal journey and the challenges and experiences she has faced as both a leader and professional woman at the very top of her field and also the first woman to be elected to the position of Lord Mayor of Perth.

Digital Advertising in Thailand – The Essentials Tuesday 16 July 2013 at Double Tree by Hilton AustCham in conjunction with the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT), Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce (TCCC) and South AfricanThai Chamber of Commerce (SATCC) hosted a luncheon conducted by one of Thailand’s largest digital agencies, Edge Asia Thailand. Magnus Barsoe who presented on how to get most out of digital in Thailand, and how to make an impact in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.

Edge Asia Thailand went through the essentials of digital advertising in the Thai market and a strategic perspective on the marketing possibilities in the digital age in Thailand. For the presentation slides please visit wwww.austchamthailand.com/news

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AustChamThailand Advance

Can a business partner promise the world if they only operate on half of it?

We don’t think so.

You’ll find TTi Global staffing, learning, research and consulting experts hard at work driving change, every day, in more than 24 countries around the world. From Afghanistan to Argentina, China to Chile and beyond, we deliver the tools, technology and talent to drive change improve business performance for our clients.

Ambition and expertise that knows no bounds.

It’s how we drive change in our business - and. yours.

For more information or to contact us, visit tti-global.com

AustCham Bronze Corporate Sponsor: Meinhardt

Staffing

Research

Learning

Consulting

Chamber Events

Stars and Stripes Sundowners Wednesday 3 July 2013 at Sofitel So Bangkok AustCham was pleased to invite members and friends from the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand (AMCHAM) to join us for a very special Stars and Stripes Sundowners to acknowledge the United States 4th of July Independence Day. Hosted by the Sofitel So, an urban design hotel, guests were impressed by the unique and innovative dÊcor of the hotel and exceptional service from the staff. A true masterpiece created by world renowned fashion designer Monsieur Christian Lacroix. Guests were also thrilled to see Berri Estate as our wine sponsor for the evening and thoroughly enjoyed taste testing their unique varieties. Thanks must also go to Baker Tilly Thailand, our corporate sponsor for the evening for helping to make the night possible. We were also thrilled to announce John Hunt from QBE as the winner our recent member’s competition. Our corporate sponsor, Singapore Airlines, generously gave us a return ticket to Australia to help us celebrate the launch of our new website and at the end of June we randomly chose one person registered as a member in our system to win this fabulous price. Congratulations John!

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Chamber Events

CT Ong from Singapore Airlines proudly presents John Hunt from QBE with the winning ticket to Australia.

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1) Kasidit Kanchanaranya, Siam Winery; Ong Cheow Teck, Singapore Airlines; Mark Kujawa, Diamond V Mills; Leigh Scott-Kemmis, DBM, AustCham President; Belinda Skinner, TopTalent, AustCham Vice President; Bianca Nicolodi, Sofitel So Bangkok; Warwick Kneale, Baker Tilly Thailand. 2) Regula Schmidhauser, DFDL Legal & Tax; Kristal Collis, MBMG Group. 3) Andrew Crawford, Trafalgar International; Christa Avery, Australia Thailand Business Council; Dr Michael Waters, Deep Running Waters. 4) Rungnapha Kaewduangsri, Santa Fe; Jurairat Jammanee, Gensler; Suganya Rangsigutta, ClasG. 5) Sam Flanagan, Meinhardt; Marvin Ordonez, Infinity Financial Solutions; Leanne Pamintuan, Sandee Thai Language School. 6) Singapore Airlines Team. 7) Michael Berger, Bangkok Base; Kayti Denham, I-mag; Chloe Gorman, Bangkok Post; Patricia Weismantel, Spice Roads; Christa Avery, Australia Thailand Business Council. 8) Theerasak Jaturapattarapong, LawtonAsia; Ornmanee Praditpolpanich, LawtonAsia; Sujittra Jaturapattarapong, LawtonAsia; Andre Geertsma, Zi-Argus. 9) John Anderson, Meinhardt; Panida Kaewpradit, McConnell Dowell, Sam Mizzi McConnell Dowell.10) Phillip Smith, AusWaThai; Arwee Manigluck, Auswathai; Matt Burns, Auswathai. 11) Gary Woollacott Opus/Horton International; Anne Lewinski, Rembrandt Hotel Bangkok; Mardi Boon, Accor Asia Pacific; Zayne Boon, Novotel Bangkok Impact. 12) Watcharaporn Adithepsathit, Clarity IT; Tiamnapa Baobuangoen, Clarity IT; Jack Nathan, Clarity IT; Sebastian Rickard, Vinarco International

AustChamThailand Advance

August 2013

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AUSTCHAM MEMBERS

AustCham Welcomes New Members Bangpakok 9 International Hospital 362 Rama 2 Road, Bangmod Jomthong, Bangkok 10150 Phone: +662 877 1111 Fax: +662 877 2222 Website: www.bangpakokhospital.com

Representative: Ms Naowarat Namtian International Marketing Manager Mr Thirachai Jotikabukkana International Marketing Director Bangpakok 9 International Hospital is a tertiary and private hospital located in Bangkok Thailand. We provide healthcare with world-class standard to local and international customers. Our Specialised Centres include: Heart Centre, Plastic Surgery Centre, Happy Long Life Centre, Aesthetic and Skin Centre, Orthopedic Centre, Rehabilitation Centre, Cancer Centre, Women’s Centre, Dental Centre, etc.

Our International Customer Services (ICS) serves people of all cultures and our international team gives full attention to the need of international patients. Our interpreters are multilingual: English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Bahasa, Tagalog, Amharic and Dutch. We offer airport and immigration services, international insurance claim assistance and in-house Residence services.

At Bangpakok 9 International Hospital, we ensure a welcoming experience for everyone.

Products and Services: Health Care

Bladerunner Consulting Asia Co. Ltd 1103/1 1 Sukhumvit 25, Bangkok, 10110 Phone: +6683 773 7768 Website: www.bladerunnerconsulting.com

Representative: Neal Brazel, Managing Director 28

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Bladerunner Consulting Asia was formed in Thailand to address the needs for companies to fix operational problems quickly, formulate and implement operations strategies to anticipate future needs and provide practical solutions with tangible results for operational challenges going forward.

Products and Services: Providing hands-on operations consulting services to global and domestic companies in need of: - Strategic direction for operations, planning and distribution groups - Coaching on implementation of strategic goals Hands-on leadership in turning around poorly functioning operations departments with challenges including: - Logistics and Supply Chain - Manufacturing and Scheduling - Planning and Procurement - Distribution and Reverse Logistics

FLS 1993 (Thailand) Co.,Ltd 53 Moo 9, Talay-Thong Tower Sukhumvit Road, Suite No. 1406 Laem Chabang, Chonburi, 20230 Phone: +663 849 4144 Fax: +663 849 0558 Website: www.flsasia.com

Representative: Torbjoern Larisch, Managing Director FLS is widely known as a Global Project Logistic Provider with Tailor-Made service approach, excellent know-how and a long and distinguished track record.

24 hours a day, 7 Days a week and 365 days a year: we constantly handle different and always challenging projects.

Our tailor-made project approach provides our customers with a unique service level and our know-how and our track record puts us into a league of our own.

Products and Services: Break bulk full and part charter, FCL/ FCL container services, tug and barge

operations, airfreight full and part charter, heavy lift transportation, container and oversized trucking, container lashing and stowage, port operations, supervision and survey, customs clearance, insurance and warehousing.

Malaysia Airlines Unit 322b, 3rd floor, All Seasons Place Retail Center, 87/192 Wireless Road Lumpini, Phathumwan, Bangkok, 10330 Phone: +662 250 6560-7 Fax: +662 250 6576 Membership Level: Corporate Ordinary Website: www.malaysiaairlines.com Representative: Yuwanda Pliwissara, PR/Marketing The story of Malaysia Airlines started in the golden age of commercial air travel. A joint initiative of the Ocean Steamship Company of Liverpool, the Straits Steamship of Singapore and Imperial Airways led to a proposal to the Colonial Straits Settlement government to run an air service between Penang and Singapore. The result was the incorporation of Malayan Airways Limited (MAL) on 12 October 1937.

On 2 April 1947, MAL took to the skies with its first commercial flight as the national airline. Fuelled by a young and dynamic team of visionaries, the domestic carrier turned into an international airline in less than a decade.

With the formation of Malaysia in 1963, the airline changed its name to Malaysian Airlines Limited. Soon after, Borneo Airways was incorporated into MAL. Within 20 years, MAL grew from a single aircraft operator into a company with 2,400 employees and a fleet operator using the then latest Comet IV jet aircraft, six F27s, eight DCs and two Pioneers.

In 1965, with the separation of Singapore from Malaysia, MAL became a bi-national airline and was renamed MalaysiaSingapore Airlines (MSA). A new logo was introduced and the airline grew exponentially with new services to Perth, Taipei, Rome and London. However, in 1972, the partners went separate ways.

Malaysia introduced Malaysian Airline Limited, which was subsequently renamed Malaysian Airline System and took to the AustChamThailand Advance

AUSTCHAM MEMBERS

skies on 1 October 1972. It was later branded Malaysia Airlines and continues to be the country’s national flag carrier.

listed Australian company ARRIUM. We specialise in scrap and processing of stainless steel, nickel and exotic alloys along with copper and aluminum.

Products and Services: Airlines Products and Services: Purchasing of all grades of scrap material and provision of bin system for collecting of scrap and downgrade material.

Thai Metal Recycling Limited 92/8-9 Moo 1, Bangna Trad Road KM 35.5, Homsin, Bangpakong Chachoengao 24180 Phone: +6603 857 1960 Fax: +6603 857 1962

Representative: Mr Ignatius Brun, General Manager Thai Metal Recycling Limited are an Australian Subsidiary of the publicly

Mr Chris King, Evolve Co. Ltd 25/1 Sukhumvit Soi 10, Klongtoey Nua Wattana,Bangkok, 10110 Thailand Phone: +668 1257 6277 Email: chris@evolve.co.th Chris’ career has been based with agricultural and livestock enterprises with extensive travel through Asia and America - through that time based in Australia, US, Brazil, India and Thailand. Responsibilities have included General Management, Research and Development, Marketing and Sales.

In that time he was responsible for a number of successful startup operations.

In 2013 Chris set up Evolve Co Ltd based in Bangkok to develop markets and products within the South East Asian and South Asian markets and consultation. Chris is also a keen photographer, has held exhibitions and specialises in images from around Asia.

More information at www.evolve.co.th Mr Mohit Goyal, Questor Capital Ltd Thai Wah Tower One, Level 5 South Sathon Road, Sathon Bangkok, 10120 Thailand Phone: +6681 021 1019 Email: 29mohitgoyal@gmail.com I am a self-employed Financial Adviser working in Bangkok with a focus on providing financial advice and wealth creation / management solutions to Aussies living in the region. I am an Australian qualified Financial Adviser with seven years of work experience working with one of the top four banks as a Financial Adviser in Australia. I have a total of 14 years of work experience in the field of wealth creation/management.

Members Offers - Airlines Qantas Qantas is offering “Happy Travelling Promotion” special airfares to Australia and New Zealand, available for sale until 15 August 2013. Business Class airfares to Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Adelaide) are for sale starting at Baht 77,275 return, while to New Zealand (Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown or Wellington) are for sale starting at Baht 93,960 return.

of improvements to its international schedule, as part of a phased approach aimed at delivering a more convenient schedule for customers between Asia and Australia. Qantas flights from Bangkok to Sydney were retimed from 31 March 2013, with earlier arrival times into Sydney to better connect to onward destinations in Australia.

The joint Qantas-Emirate network into Australia also provides customers with an additional daily service from Bangkok on a Qantas codeshare service with Emirates.”

Economy Class airfares on Qantas flights to Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Adelaide) are for sale starting at Baht 25,315 return, while to Perth (via Singapore on Jetstar Asia or Cathay Pacific) at Baht 20,280 return. Economy Class airfares to New Zealand Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown or Wellington) are for sale starting at Baht 30,110 return.

The airfares are available for outbound travel from Thailand between now and 30 November 2013, and include airport taxes, service fees and other surcharges.

Qantas Manager for Thailand & Vietnam, Mr Bob Everest, said, “Earlier this year, Qantas introduced a series

Customers in Business are now eligible for a 40kgs baggage allowance, and Economy customers are now eligible

AustChamThailand Advance

Qantas customers travelling in Economy will also enjoy the new Qantas international weight-based checked baggage policy which applies to travel between Thailand and Australia.

for 30kgs, with no restriction on the number of pieces.

Customers are able to book the sale fares through their preferred Travel Agents or phone Qantas office at +66 2 632 6611. On products and services interested customers can visit Qantas website at www.qantas.com.

Singapore Airlines An attractive promotion for booking via singaporeair.com. Great fares begin now! Only at www.ilikesingaporeair.com All inclusive return fare starts from Baht 7,800 to Singapore, Baht 18,400 to Tokyo, Baht 21,000 to Australia and Baht 33,200 to Europe. Purchase any fare at singaporeair.com and earn up to 20,000 bonus KrisFlyer miles. Plus, bring home a limited edition Singapore Airlines Teddy Bear when you register at www.ilikesingaporeair.com Book now until 5 August 2013.

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From the Chamber Office

Message from the Executive Director

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lthough we introduced our new website and member management system back in March, this is the first time I’ve written to members about it. I’ve been putting it off because I was nervous. Cutting across to the new system had potential risks for the Chamber.

I was confident in our approach, but basically all of the work on the new system was done in the AustCham office. So if something went wrong the finger would be pointing exclusively at us!

Four months into the new member management system and I’m ready to put it into the ‘win’ column. And with a big tick. I’m very, very pleased with the way the new system is working. I’ll readily concede that it isn’t perfect, but it is a vast improvement compared to the way we were operating in the AustCham office.

When I joined the Chamber a few years ago, it became quickly evident that we needed to take a careful look at the processes and practices in the Chamber office. Thailand, it seemed to me, was not going to enjoy cheap labour forever and, like Australia before it, was going to need to shift to highly productive, rather than labourintensive, workplaces. I was also struck by the fact that we had three different member databases which made event management, membership coordination and overall administration unnecessarily complex. For instance, I was shocked by the days (yes days) it was taking us to produce nametags for events.

I was also adamant that we needed to align our membership management system with our dayto-day definition of an AustCham member (i.e. anybody who works for an AustCham member company) as well as our constitutional definition (i.e. Corporate (Ordinary), Individual (Ordinary) etc.).

I concluded that the AustCham office needed to either dramatically update the way we were using our existing member system, or have a new system built. Ideally, I believed, any new system would seamlessly stitch together the essential needs of the Chamber: a membership database, on-line applications, optimal communication systems, events bookings, informationsharing portals, on-line membership directories, and invoicing, payments and receipts.

We knew from our experience with the AustralianAlumni group website and member management system that AustCham simply didn’t have the funds for a custom made solution. So we took the project in-house. That culminated in the system we introduced in March this year. It was a lot of work, but I estimate it saved the Cham30

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ber more than Baht 400,000 in set–up costs – a significant sum in Chamber terms.

The new member management system is of course only a tool. And like any tool it is only as good as those who use it. So we’ve also spent a lot of time investing in new processes and procedures in order to meet the needs of our members better. Crucially, we’re making sure that we have a documented series of Standard Operating Procedures so that it is clear how things should be done – and so that we don’t constantly ‘reinvent the wheel’. This enables us to focus more on serving our Members by providing simpler ways to engage with the Chamber, providing high quality services and connections, the ability to get more information that is relevant for you when you need it, and minimising time and admin for you. I hope you are already seeing our improved systems and processes translating into better and more efficient customer service.

Calendar of Events Wednesday 7 August All Chambers Sundowners

18:00-21:00 Venue: Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok Corporate Sponsor: NS BlueScope (Thailand) Limited Catering and Venue Sponsor: Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok Monday 12 August AustCham Office Closed in honour of H.M. the Queen’s Birthday Saturday 17 August Voluntary English Teaching

Bus departs at Thai CC Building at 8:00 Location: Baan Khao Din School, Chonburi Wednesday 21 August AustralianAlumni

Aussie Vitamins and Organic Foods for Healthy Living 18.30-21.00 Venue: Double Tree by Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok

From a management point of view, the things I value most from the new system are the transparency, mobility, accountability and flexibility. Whereas many of our old processes were opaque to me as a manager, they are now all accessible to me anytime, and anywhere. If somebody books for an event, I’m notified by email. If a new member signs up, I know right away. If we send out an email I can see who has received it, and how many people have read it. If somebody sends AustCham an email, I see it right away and can then assign it to a staff member for action and track the response. Because of the new system, all of us in the office are now highly accountable for our actions.

I consider the new member management system to be a major achievement for the AustCham office. We have delivered a professional-grade system with virtually no professional help. We managed everything from system architecture and data migration, to DNS settings and HTML design. It was no small task but we now have a solid foundation from which we can improve service to members. And we’ve only just begun to build on it.

Thank you to July sponsors:

Mark Carroll Executive Director, AustCham Thailand www.austchamthailand.com AustChamThailand Advance