Advance ~ December 2012

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

December 2012

Australia and Thailand in an integrated Asia

in this edition

Highlights from the 2012 Business Conference Business Conference Australia, Thailand and the Asian Century

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Business Conference The changing Asian landscape: Asia financing Asia

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Chamber events Eastern Seaboard Sundowners at Holiday Inn Pattaya

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Chamber events AustralianAlumni “Make a Connection” at Oriental Residence Bangkok

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Contents PATRON His Excellency James Wise Australian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand PRESIDENT John Anderson Meinhardt Portfolio: Regional Links VICE PRESIDENTS M.L. Laksasubha Kridakon Baan Laksasubha Resort Portfolio: Alumni Belinda Skinner Top Talent Asia Portfolio: Communications and English Teaching

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2012 AustraliaThailand Business Conference 6 Australia and Thailand in an integrated Asia 14 Australia, Thailand and the Asian Century 16 The changing Asian landscape: Asia financing Asia

28 AustralianAlumni “Make a Connection” at Oriental Residence Bangkok 29 November Sundowners – Community Services Sponsor: Convoy for Kids 30 Bangkok Sundowners on 7 November at The Imperial Queens Park Hotel 32 Luncheon Meeting with Senator Joe Ludwig at The Grand Hyatt Erawan New members & members’ changes 32 AustCham Welcomes New Members

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From the Chamber Office 34 Message from the Executive Director

TREASURER Leigh Scott-Kemmis DBM Portfolio: Advancing Trade and Commerce DIRECTORS David Bell Crestcom – Ra-Kahng Associates Portfolio: Speakers and Talks Khun Jurairat Jammanee HASSELL Portfolio: AustCham Ball Warwick Kneale Baker Tilly Portfolio: Community Services Sam Mizzi McConnell Dowell Portfolio: AFL and Eastern Seaboard Industry Sriram Narayan Qantas / British Airways Portfolio: Business Conference and Business Awards

APEC CARD UPDATE 20 Greater access to APEC Business Travel Card?

Alan Polivnick Watson, Farley & Williams (Thailand) Limited Portfolio: Legal

chamber Events 24 Eastern Seaboard Sundowners on Friday, 19 October at Holiday Inn Pattaya

Charles Wrightman Natural Ville & Lenotre Portfolio: Sponsorship

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Cover: Tevin Vongvanich, CEO and President of PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited

Saeed Zaki, Ph.D. dwp Portfolio: Breakfast Briefings

From the Board

President’s Message EX OFFICIO Greg Wallis Senior Trade Commissioner, Thailand COORDINATORS Paul Wilkinson JVK International Movers Ltd. ESB Coordinator Email: paul.wilkinson@jvkmovers.com 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 execdirector@austchamthailand.com www.austchamthailand.com

Editorial Committee Belinda Skinner, Josh Hyland, Gary Woollacott, Domenica Agostino 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 to our Christmas edition of AustCham Advance magazine, as we wind down (hopefully) to some much needed and well deserved rest over the Christmas New Year period.

November was certainly a busy month for AustCham. We started the month out at the Imperial Queens Park Hotel where we enjoyed Sundowners outdoors and were entertained ‘Gangnam style’.

We welcomed to Thailand Senator the Honourable Joe Ludwig, Australia’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry at the Grand Hyatt Erawan who gave us the opportunity to hear about the newly released government White Paper ‘Australia in the Asian Century’.

We played host to a major business conference under the theme ‘Australia and Thailand in an integrated Asia’ at the St Regis Hotel. We ended the month at the Hogs Breath Café where we enjoyed Phuket Sundowners.

AustCham’s business conference was the culmination of over two years effort to make the Chamber a strong and knowledgeable advocate for Australian business.

This journey started out when the board decided that AustCham needed to expand its role beyond social networking activity. A key point of the journey was the land-mark study into Australian Business in Thailand. This was followed up with our ‘Asian Century White Paper’ submission, various press articles and the business conference.

The release of the White Paper has prompted us to ask some fundamental questions about the way Australia supports and promotes Australian business in Asia. ‘Australian firms need new business models and new mindsets to operate and connect with Asian markets’. The White Paper challenges us to think about the future of Australia in Asia. We believe there is much that Australian businesses can gain – and contribute – to Thailand.

We also believe there is a role for nongovernment institutions, including AustCham in helping to promote and support Australian business in Asia.

During the Minister’s visit I asked him to press his colleagues in Canberra to

financially support a ‘Business Incubator pilot program in Thailand’. The Incubator would be charged with facilitating the expansion of Australian businesses – particularly small and medium sized enterprises – into the ASEAN region. It would encourage a globalised Australian manufacturing sector. Above all, it would be a crucial enabler for the White Paper objective of ‘integrating Australian businesses into regional and global value chains’. The Incubator initiative reflects what those of us already on-the-ground in Asia have experienced as part of the Asian century. We hope that we will be successful in this initiative so that we can sustain the progress that we have made so far on the very modest operating budget of $A 270,000 a year.

We are proud of what we have achieved this year - the year in which we celebrated 60 years of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Australia. I am very appreciative for the support of my fellow AustCham Directors. I am in particular very grateful to our Executive Director, Mark Carroll, who has worked tirelessly and also to the hardworking AustCham staff, working behind the scenes. We are also very indebted for the very strong support we have received from the Australian Embassy, particularly Ambassador James Wise. Thank you James also for once again playing host to our members at our final AustCham event of the year, Christmas Sundowners 12 December. I hope to see many of you there.

John Anderson President, AustCham Thailand www.austchamthailand.com

December 2012

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Australia and Thailand in an integrated Asia “High-level and sophisticated event which generated healthy and robust discussions about the status and future direction of the bilateral relationship”

“Lively exchanges of differing points of view, and good networking opportunities”

“Substance and strong takeaways, these are important if we are serious about Asia and Thailand”

This is just some of the feedback of the 2012 Australia-Thailand Business Conference

Tevin Vongvanich, CEO and President of PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited

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Dr Michael Wesley, Professor of National Security, Australian National University

ocussing on the theme of ‘Australia and Thailand in an integrated Asia’, the conference kicked-off on 12 November with an elegant dinner at the St Regis hotel and not one, but two, keynote presentations. Having flown in just hours earlier from Hong Kong, Gilles Planté, Chief Executive Officer of ANZ Bank for the Asia Pacific emphasised that the “future of Asia is in Asia”. As he put it “rich Asian countries are turning to Asia for their future rather than the US or Europe. They are investing in an Asian future”. Building on the proposition, Dr Sarasin Viraphol, Executive Vice President at Charoen Pokphand Group, set out a convincing case for boosting the Australia-Thai partnership in trade and investment concluding that “the challenge for both sides is how to leverage their respective resources in hardware, software and peopleware”.

Referring to the ‘Australia in the Asian 6

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Rohini Kappadath, Director of CrossBorder Business, Baker Tilly Pitcher Partners

Century’ White Paper, Dr Sarasin said there was “a need by Thailand’s political leadership to engage in a similar exercise in articulating the country’s future positioning with regards to its international trade and investment, particularly in preparing its citizenry, bureaucracy and corporates to take up the global challenge”.

The conference plenary on Tuesday 13 November opened with Chairman of the Australian Government’s Australia-Thailand Institute, Mike Courtnall, stressing that while breaking down tariff barriers remained important, the contemporary trade policy challenge was “how countries work together to leverage their relative strengths so that their companies can benefit in regional and global markets”.

That ‘leveraging national strengths’ theme was developed further in the first

Peter Michener, VP-Strategic Business Development, Mitr Phol Group

conference session, with Peter Michener, Vice President at Mitr Phol Group walking the audience through a case study of Mitr Phol’s investment in the Australian sugar industry. In fact, it would be difficult to find a better example of complementarities in action. Thailand is the second largest exporter of sugar in the world, and Australia is third. Different growing seasons in Thailand and Australia provide a continuous supply of cane. And, there is much the two countries have to learn from their respective production processes. Thailand’s sugar industry is fed by small labour-intensive farms while Australian producers are highly mechanised and cultivate large swathes of land with very small labour inputs.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s state-of-the-art sugar refineries stand in stark contrast to Australia’s decades-old mills. Peter called on both the Australia and Thai AustChamThailand Advance

2012 Australia-Thailand Business Conference

Charamporn Jotikasthira, President, Stock Exchange Thailand

Dr Kobsak Pootrakool, Executive Vice President, International Banking Group, Bangkok Bank

governments to ensure an environment conducive to the mutually-beneficial exchange of knowledge and expertise, for example through streamlined visa and work permit arrangements.

Tevin Vongvanich, Chief Executive Officer and President of PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) provided another example of the natural synergies between Australia and Thailand, pointing out that while both countries have extensive experience in the oil and gas sector, Thailand is a net importer of energy while Australia is a net exporter.

With a strong foundation for cooperation – and Australia’s substantial natural gas reserves – PTTEP’s commitment to its expanding Australian operations was, therefore, a long-term one. It also fit well with PTTEP’s expanding regional role, as it now had energy interests throughout Southeast Asia. Khun Tevin neatly summarised PTTEP’s experience in Australia saying that any company able to meet Australian regulatory requirements and high-cost business conditions was well placed to operate in the toughest markets worldwide.

The Australian perspective on AustraliaThai complementarities was presented

by Carey Ramm, Executive Chairman and Principal Economist of AEC Group Ltd and Rohini Kappadath Director of Cross-Border Business for Baker Tilly Pitcher Partners, Australia. Carey contrasted Thailand’s rapidly expanding $US 113 billion manufacturing sector with the 106,775 manufacturing jobs lost in Australia over the past four years. He chalAustChamThailand Advance

Dr Kirida Bhaopichitr, Senior Economist, World Bank

lenged the myth that (the relatively few) Australian manufacturers that had established in Thailand were ‘offshoring’ Australian jobs, pointing out that the vast majority of Australian companies in Thailand were using it as a base for selling into high-growth Asian markets rather than to export back to Australia. He called on the Australian Government to fund a business Incubator in Thailand in order to provide Australian companies with practical on-the-ground assistance to expand into regional value chains and, above all, “to make the change from thinking LOCAL to acting GLOBAL”.

Reinforcing the message that Australian businesses needed a “mind-set shift” and see Asia as their future, Rohini Kappadath pointed to Australian automotive manufacturers Futuris and ARB. Futuris had expanded from 50 workers to nearly 1,000 in two years in Thailand and were in the midst of planning a third expansion.

ARB was similarly expanding its business in Thailand and as a consequence was also growing its Australia-based workforce. Both were examples of Australian companies benefitting by exporting (not offshoring) their ‘know-how’ and ‘capability’. Rohini called on more Australian businesses to see themselves as ‘powering’ and ‘enabling’ Asian growth by drawing on their innate strengths, particularly in innovation and delivering outcomes.

The potential of ASEAN’s ambitious ‘regional connectivity’ agenda to turboboost regional economic development was a recurring theme throughout the

Dr Bandid Nijathaworn, CEO and President, Thai Institute of Directors Association

conference, and a special focus of the second session. Dr Porametee Vimolsiri of Thailand’s National Economic and Social Development Board and Craig Steffensen, Country Director for the Asian Development Bank, examined in detail how ASEAN countries planned to align their transport, energy and telecommunications infrastructure to not only make the most of growth in ASEAN markets, but also capitalise on ASEAN’s key position as a bridge between South Asia, North Asia and the Pacific.

The temperature rose during the conference luncheon, and not because of a lack of air-conditioning. The Australian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand, HE James Wise, spoke on the Australian Government’s view of its recently released ‘Australia in the Asian Century’ White Paper, while leading Australian strategist and opinion-shaper, Dr Michael Wesley, presented a contrasting point of view. With questions exploding from the floor, session moderator David Armstrong drew on his skills as a media veteran to guide the discussion to its logical conclusion. That is, Australia’s future is inevitably tied to Asia (as it has always been) and more needs to be done to promote Australian engagement in Asia. The challenge, of course, is giving substance to the ambition!

If the Thais in the audience were fazed by the robust luncheon discussion it didn’t show in the post-lunch session on “Thailand: gateway to Myanmar and the Mekong sub-region”. The three impressive presentations laid bare December 2012

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ated by a rapidly growing and integrating Asian market. Dr Kirida Bhaopichitr, World Bank Senior Economist, spoke of the need to avoid Thailand’s ‘middle income’ trap by increasing labor productivity and moving to a higher valueadded economy. Data provided by Dr Kirida confirmed what businesses have been saying for some time now – that labour is becoming scarcer in Thailand; it is increasingly difficult to find employees with the right skills; and that Thailand’s neighbours are seriously outpacing it on productivity gains.

the facts – ASEAN is emerging as an integrated market comparable in size to China and India and, arguably, with some notable business advantageous over its giant neighbours. Being geographically located at the heart of a region (ASEAN) that is itself perfectly situated to capitalise on Asian growth, Thailand stands to benefit enormously from an integrated Asia. Thailand is – to say the least – well positioned! A better title for the session may have been ‘Thailand: the heart of a region at the centre of Asian growth’.

Charamporn Jotikasthira, President of the Thai Stock Exchange, gave an illuminating presentation on the growth of the Thai equity market, the internationalisation of Thai listed companies and the strong improvements in corporate governance by Thai multinationals. He also looked at how the ASEAN Exchange alliance was bringing together the seven ASEAN Exchanges to jointly promote the development of an ASEAN asset class and increase the liquidity of the member exchanges. A $US 1.4 trillion virtual market had been created as a result of the Stock Exchange of Thailand connecting with Bursa Malaysia and Singapore Exchange on the ASEAN Trading Link.

Executive Vice President for International Banking at Bangkok Bank, Dr Kobsak Pootrakool, examined the forces of regional integration that were encouraging Thai businesses – including Bangkok Bank – to expand regionally. For Thailand itself Dr Kobsak encouraged upgraded customs arrangements and new economic zones at key border crossings with Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia as a way of Thailand taking further advantage of its fortunate geography.

Looking specifically at Myanmar, Manop Sangiambut, Executive Vice President at Siam Commercial Bank, encouraged investors to move quickly – but with the right local partner. He saw Myanmar developing rapidly with three special economic zones and large scale projects already

John Hancock, Chairman, Hancock and Associates and Manop Sangiambut, Executive Vice President, International Banking Group, Bangkok Bank

Dr Bandid Nijathaworn, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Thai Institute of Directors Association and Greg Wallis, Senior Trade Commissioner at the Australian Embassy offered solutions. Dr Bandid stressed that “Asia will need Australia as much as Australia will need Asia” and that “next to commodities, Asia offers an ideal market for Australia’s services industry”.

He also called for an increased presence in Thailand of Australian universities and schools, and for more exchange arrangements. Using the Thai automotive sector as a case study, Greg foresaw an urgent need for increased vocational training to drive worker productivity as output increases from an already substantial 2 million vehicles this year, to a staggering 3.2 million in 2016.

Conference MC, Tamerlaine Beasley, Managing Director, Beasley Intercultural/Australia Thailand Business Council President and AustCham Thailand President, John Anderson, Meinhardt Thailand

With 18 speakers in a little over one day, Ambassador James wise summarised proceedings by pointing to the healthy dose of introspection – and self-criticism – by Thais and Australians alike, but reminded the audience that both Thailand and Australia had a lot to be proud of.

They were both economically successful countries with strong commercial sectors and decades of experience cooperating together. As he put it, “History shows that the roots of Australia-Thailand relations were commercial roots. Investment and trade led the way”.

beginning in power, oil and gas, transportation, telecommunications, real estate, hospitality and agriculture. Perhaps most importantly for Thailand, Burma’s normalisation provided the opportunity for Thailand to transform the way for goods, ideas and people flow across Southeast Asia via a new and strategically invaluable EastWest corridor.

Entitled “Productivity and skills – an imperative in an integrated Asia” the final conference session focussed on some of the inevitable pressures gener-

“Asia will need Australia as much as Australia will need Asia” 8

December 2012

With a strong foundation on which to build, the 2012 Australia-Thailand business conference demonstrated there is still much untapped potential in the Australia-Thai business relationship. It also confirmed there is a core interest group in both Thailand and Australia strongly dedicated to promoting commercial links between these close friends.

AustChamThailand Advance

AustCham would like to thank conference partners, moderators and speakers for ensuring a successful event

John Anderson, AustCham President, Meinhardt; John Dick, Australian Business Asia; Gilles PlantĂŠ, ANZ Bank; Dr Sarasin Viraphol, CP Group

Dr Michael Wesley, Australian National University; HE James Wise, Australian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand; David Armstrong; Tamerlaine Beasley, Beasley Intercultural / Australia Thailand Business Council President

Dr Kobsack Pootrakool, International Banking Group; Charamporn Jotikasthira, Stock Exchange Thailand; John Hancock, Hancock and Associates; Manop Sangiambut, Siam Commercial Bank; Tamerlaine Beasley, Beasley Intercultural / Australia Thailand Business Council President

Dr Kirida Bhaopihitr, World Bank; Christopher Bruton, Dataconsult LTD; Dr Bandid Nijathaworn, Thai Institute of Directors Association; Greg Wallis, Australia Trade Commission

Peter Michner, Mitr Phol Group; Pichai Chuensuksawadi, Post Publishing; Tevin Vongvanich, PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited; Rohini Kappadath, Baker Tilly Pitcher Partners; Tamerlaine Beasley, Beasley Intercultural / Australia Thailand Business Council President; Carey Ramm, AEC Group LTD

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Craig Steffenson, Thailand Resident Mission; Warwick Kneale, Baker Tilly Thailand; Dr Porametee Vimolsiri, National Economic and Social Development Board

Mike Courtnall, Australia-Thailand Institute

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Following is a summary of a speech delivered by HE James Wise, Australian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand at the 2012 Australia-Thailand Business Conference

Australia, Thailand and the Asian Century A

ustralia and Thailand established diplomatic missions in each other’s country in 1952. But relations between Australia and Thailand – or, more accurately, between Australians and Thais – started well before that. In the 19th century, Australians were deeply involved in the development of tin mining in Thailand. And early last century, Australia began to export horses to Thailand.

Today, Australia remains a favoured source of horses for Thailand. And an Australian mine is one of Australia’s biggest investments in Thailand. History shows that the roots of Australia-Thailand relations were commercial roots.

Investment and trade led the way.

The Australian Government recently released a White Paper titled Australia in the Asian Century. The White Paper lays out an ambitious, 300-page plan for Australia. In a nutshell, the White Paper acknowledges the rise and importance of Asia, and recognises that Australia’s future is tied to the continued prosperity, sustainability and stability of our region. It sets out a roadmap for the whole of Australia – governments, business, educators and the broader community – over the next decade.

The White Paper is a major, constructive and ambitious policy document. All Australians should be grateful for it and the messages it sends about the need for even greater Australian engagement in Asia. The challenge now is to apply its important messages. In particular, what does the White Paper mean for Australia’s relations with Thailand? How can we convert the White Paper’s aspirations into results for Australia-Thailand relations?

The White Paper says we must do even more to develop the capabilities that

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will help Australia to succeed in the Asian century. In my view, Australia has already developed many of these capabilities when it comes to engaging with Thailand. We have skilled, educated, creative, pragmatic, problem-solving, hard-working and ambitious people – lots of them. The capability we need more of – lots more of – is confidence; confidence to apply our existing capabilities in a place like Thailand.

We do have a growing number of Australians who are engaging confidently with Thailand. You only have to look at AustCham’s membership list, or attend one of AustCham’s monthly networking meetings, to appreciate that more Australians are active here. But the number is still far too low, as is the volume of Australian investment in Thailand.

Why are the numbers so low? Partly because we don’t have many Australians who know Thailand well and who are therefore confident in dealing with Thailand. The White Paper acknowledges this. It says that, as a nation, Australians needs to broaden and deepen our understanding of Asian cultures and languages, to become more Asia literate. So people like us, people who want Australia-Thailand relations to flourish for the next 60 years, should be asking what do we Australians need to do to broaden and deepen our understanding of Thai culture and Thai language, to become more Thailand literate? The efforts of organisations like AustCham certainly help. But the job of making Australians more Thailand literate, like most of the work that flows from the White Paper, needs to be undertaken mostly in Australia. We have to start with our education system, with our students.

The White Paper covers in some detail

the need to expose Australian students to the study of Asia through the school curriculum. It also outlines that all Australian students will have an opportunity to study an Asian language. We also need to get more of our students to study in Asia, and to undertake internships in Asia. As you know, the number of Thai students in Australia has grown impressively over the last 10-20 years – from just a couple of thousand in the 1990s to 21,700 in 2011. As a result, many Thais know Australia well and are confident in dealing with Australia. In contrast, the number of Australian students at Thailand’s well-regarded universities is very low, pitifully low. We need to find ways to encourage more young Australians to study in Thailand.

A new Discover Thailand scholarship – announced during the May 2012 visit to Australia by Thailand’s Prime Minister – is designed to encourage Australian university students to study in Thailand for at least one semester. This program is further supported by the Thailand: Study Abroad Guide for Australian Students, which was jointly prepared by the Australian Studies Centre and Australian Education International as a 60th Anniversary initiative. But these are only two initiatives. We need more.

Thailand’s profile is lower than it should be because Thailand is overshadowed

by China, India and Indonesia – and, to a lesser extent, by Vietnam, Malaysia and Myanmar. Their prominence makes it harder for Thailand’s story to be heard. But Thailand’s profile is also low because Australians simply aren’t aware that Thailand has the secondlargest economy in ASEAN. Or that, according to the IMF, Thailand has the 24th largest economy in the world. (The IMF ranks Australia at number 18). Or

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yellow and all colours in between – are pro-business and pro-market. Yes, Thailand’s politics can be volatile. But there is no debate about broad economic policy.

All political parties want the economy to grow strongly and all of them welcome foreign investment.

Additionally, my sense is that Thais appreciate Australia’s economic strengths more than many Australians do. Thais are well aware of the openness and the resilience of our economy.

Thais, and Asians generally, applaud economic achievement. Being rich is a virtue in this part of the world. And Australia is rich, and getting richer. Our economy has grown ten per cent since the global financial crisis. Beyond that, the Australian economy has grown continuously for over 21 years. No other developed economy and very few developing economies can match that performance. I believe Thais and others in the region are impressed by this achievement. Equally, I think we Australians still feel a little discomfited in speaking confidently about what we have achieved.

Australia has a good economic story to tell. We should tell it a little more often and a little louder.

The Australian economy has prospered because Australia has remained very open to foreign investment. The White Paper has endorsed four national priorities for foreign investment in Australia: clean energy; tourism; infrastructure and innovation. Three additional investment priorities have been identified by Australia’s state and territory governments: the digital economy; agricultural science, food technology and processing; and resources technologies, services and processing. that Thailand has some fine universities that are already attracting thousands of foreign students because they offer good courses in English in a welcoming and safe environment. Partly, too, the comparatively low Australian commercial engagement with Thailand reflects continuing Australian misperceptions about Thailand.

I think most Australians, including in our business community, still see Thailand as a holiday destination, and as a relatively poor country beset by political instability. Yes, Thailand is a very attractive place for a holiday and hundreds of

AustChamThailand Advance

thousands of Australian tourists make a big contribution to Thailand’s economy every year. But, contrary to views still held in Australia, Thailand is not poor. Important parts of its economy are world-class, and surpass Australian standards. We need to find ways to bring Australian business up to date on the size and sophistication of the Thai economy.

We also need to find ways to get Australian business to understand that Thailand’s periodic political instability does not manifest itself in the workplace, and to understand that all sides of Thai politics – red,

We encourage Thai companies to continue to expand their presence in the Australian economy, especially in these areas. In recent years, Thai investment in Australia has grown impressively. Thai companies – particularly in energy, agribusiness and tourism – are benefitting from Australia’s investor-friendly environment. We would warmly welcome more Thai investment in Australia.

To read the full version of Ambassador James Wise’s speech please visit the conference website. www.austchamconference2012.com

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Following is a summary of a speech delivered by Gilles Planté, CEO Asia Pacific, ANZ Bank at the 2012 Australia-Thailand Business Conference

The changing Asian landscape:

Asia financing Asia I

have been fortunate to live and work in many markets across Asia for most of my career. Each of these markets is at a very different stage of development. Like many of you, I have experienced personally the challenges of the recent Global Financial Crisis. I also experienced the Asian Crisis in 1997, which is when I joined ANZ. One distinctive difference between the Asian Crisis of 1997 and the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 is the structural change in markets and behaviour.

Asia was able to draw from its experience during the Asian Crisis to weather the storm that came from the Global Financial Crisis. Since the 1997 crisis, Asia has been less leveraged and has adopted more conservative policies and risk profiles. We have seen a shift in investment behaviour in Asia where trade and investment flows were predominantly going from Asia to the West: the “traditional” model was for Asian countries, led by Japan and followed by China, to export goods to the West. These Asian countries would accumulate reserve surpluses and invest their cash surplus back to the West by buying US Treasuries and, to a lesser extent, European assets.

These US and European assets were considered to be among the safest investments in the world – they had a very strong tripleA sovereign rating – and were very liquid.

Western markets are still very liquid and still attract global investments. However, there is definitely a shift of Asian investments from the West to Asia. Asia’s balance of payments has undergone a structural shift over the past 5 years, with lower current account surpluses. However, reserve accumulation has continued as capital inflows have, to a large extent, offset the decline in the current account.

The clear trend we have been seeing is a substantial rise in intra-Asian flows, which we think will be an increasing feature of the 16

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Asian financial landscape. Across ASEAN, the percentage of long-term debt funded

by Asia has increased from 16 to 51 per cent from 2001 to 2010, and the shortterm debt from 15 to 70 per cent. There are two parallel dynamics at work here: first, developed Asian nations, like Japan, with a current account surplus are no longer exclusively investing in the US or Europe.

Instead, they are looking for investment opportunities in the developing economies of Asia. Asia is diversifying its investment portfolio and increasingly looking at investing a greater share of their portfolio in Emerging Asia. We see this in bond and

equity investment, but also through Foreign Direct Investments.

This brings me to the second dynamic at work: developing nations of Asia, which are predominantly in South and Southeast Asia, need funding to further their economic growth. For example, they need funding to improve their infrastructure – better roads, bigger ports. As a result, we increasingly see investment flows going from North to South, with Asia increasingly financing Asian growth. The rich Asian countries are turning to Asia for their future rather than the US or Europe. They are investing AustChamThailand Advance

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in an Asian future. This behaviour shift in Asia happened before the Global Financial Crisis of 2008. The Crisis accelerated the change, but the seeds had already been planted well before.

ASEAN Growth ASEAN remains a diverse region with uneven levels of development, but its growth story has strengthened in aggregate. Growth in ASEAN has caught up with that of India, expanding an average of 5.0 per cent year on year in the first half of 2012, and the growth gap with China has narrowed. Part of the story is that China and India have slowed, but the upturn in ASEAN growth has caught the attention of investors. Indeed, the ADB estimates that around $US 60 billion of infrastructure investment alone will be needed across ASEAN in roads, rail, power and water each year over the next ten years.

Indonesia today accounts for nearly half of ASEAN-5 GDP growth, and, after China, is now the second fastest growing large emerging market in Asia. Most recently GDP grew 6.2 per cent in the third quarter of 2012, bringing the year to date expansion to 6.3 per cent. The Philippine economy is regaining its growth momentum after decades and its growth rate is not far behind that of Indonesia, growing 5.9 per cent in the second quarter and 6.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2012.

Malaysia’s growth has remained resilient through the global slowdown averaging 5.1 per cent year on year over the past six quarters, but Vietnam has slowed to 5.4 per cent in the third quarter of 2012 below its long-term growth rate of 6.9 per cent as it is grappling with difficulties in its banking system.

Thailand remains a country with significant growth potential notwithstanding the floods of last year, and the subsequent global slowdown which has weighed on its economic recovery. The rebound from the floods has been rather sharp and we are expecting GDP to be nearly six per cent in 2012.

So two key questions I will try to address are: first, what is unique about ASEAN growth? And, second, what are the opportunities presented for Thailand? A common theme among the three fastest growing economies of Southeast Asia is that we have seen a sustained pickup in investment, AustChamThailand Advance

for the first time since the Asian financial crisis. In turn, the investment upturn has been supported by the stable consumption of a growing middle class, improved policy credibility, deepening financial markets and improved balance of payments.

Another region-wide theme is the growth of intra-regional trade. This is limiting some of the downside impacts from falling demand from the West. In particular, the emphasis on intermediate goods reflects deepening regional production networks.

Thailand remains unique in three important ways. First, as the second largest economy in the region, with a well-developed manufacturing base, it is set to capitalise on growing income levels of and demand from ASEAN economies. The Thai Government’s plan includes around Baht 2.3 trillion ($US 75 billion) in road and rail investment over the next seven years, mainly in transportation. Second, if Chinese costs – particularly labour costs – continue to increase, intermediary manufacturing could spill over to Thailand which has a well-established track record of manufacturing expertise, with sound infrastructure to back it up.

Third, Thailand is situated next door to a re-awakening Myanmar and rapidly growing Cambodia and Laos. It is truly well positioned to provide aid, expertise, financing and boost regional connectivity which will spur future trade and growth opportunities across the region.

Overall, looking across ASEAN, resilient economic growth and activity in the region has resulted in a flurry of capital raising activity, heightened regional cross-border merger bids and acquisitions. The trend of local/Asian MNCs finding new markets within Asia is exciting as it opens the door to new business opportunities and reinforces our long-term faith in Asia relying on other Asian markets for growth and financing.

Opportunities in India and China GDP growth in ASEAN has recently caught up with India. In addition, its growth gap with China has narrowed. We believe that leading ASEAN economies should be able to maintain their high growth rates. And their geographic location and proximity between the two rising giants is an advantage and not a threat. The shift towards a more consumption driven economic model in China, and ongoing reforms and the outward orientation of India creates strategic opportunities for ASEAN, especially for Thailand.

First, our economists estimate that a pickup in consumption-driven GDP growth in China will increase intra-regional Asian trade by nearly the same amount as US demand boosted Asian trade in the past decade. In particular, the shift in China’s growth model will continue to drive opportunities in intermediate goods and agricultural products. Both of these are areas where Thailand has an advantage through its solid manufacturing base and its comparative advantage in food production and exports. Similarly with India, the ASEAN– India Free Trade Agreement (AIFTA) which came into effect in 2010, could eventually open the doors to services trade and unlock opportunities for Thai companies in more value added areas such as IT, consulting, and finance.

Last, but not least, with its well-developed tourism infrastructure, Thailand is also primed to take advantage of the leisurely pursuits of the huge middle classes of China and India. Thailand could also become a hub for commercial interactions and travel linkages between Myanmar, and the greater Mekong region, with China, India and Indonesia.

The Future of Asia is in Asia Investment and financial dynamics in the region are structurally changing and will continue to integrate financially. We believe that this trend will continue through 2025, presenting significant opportunities. Asia learnt many lessons as a result of its own crisis in 1997 and has been better placed in the Global Financial Crisis and better placed to deal with Basel III. However, challenges ahead in Asia include: avoiding regulatory fragmentation - ASEAN countries need to ensure they take a joinedup view across borders rather than national approaches: avoiding inhibiting cross-border activity - supporting trade and capital flows is fundamental to economic growth in Asia – and globally. This implies the need to build co-operative regional regulation and avoid extra-territoriality issues. Financial markets are under-developed in many parts of Asia. The regulatory agenda needs to encourage the growth of regional banks and development of capital markets, not just regulation of markets.

To read the full version of Gilles Planté’s speech please visit the conference website. www.austchamconference2012.com December 2012

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2012 Australia-Thailand Business Conference

AustCham Thailand would like to thank all Conference Partners tical commercial advice and a caring working environment.

Australia-Thailand Institute (ATI) The Australia-Thailand Institute (ATI) was established in 2005 to promote bilateral relations with Thailand and to expand institutional and people-to-people links.

To advise the Australian Government, through the Minister for Foreign Affairs, on broadening and deepening the relationship between Australia and Thailand and to undertake and support programs that strengthen next generation links between Australia and Thailand.

Baker Tilly Pitcher Partners/ Baker Tilly Thailand The Pitcher Partners national association is an independent member of Baker Tilly International. Each firm operates as a separate independent business, but with a shared commitment to common values including providing exceptional client service, technical expertise, rigorous and prac-

Baker Tilly Thailand is an independent member of Baker Tilly International, the eighth largest accounting and audit firm in the world, headquartered in London employing over 26,000 staff in 509 offices and in 114 countries. Very strong representation in the U.K., the U.S.A. and throughout Asia. Baker Tilly Thailand Limited started operations in 2003.

BlueScope Steel BlueScope Steel Limited is a world leader in quality coated steel products and innovative steel solutions. The company began manufacturing steel in 1915, and has grown to become a global business with over 75 manufacturing plants in 16 countries. The company operates two businesses in Thailand. Both are joint ventures with Loxley Public Company Limited.

BlueScope Steel (Thailand) Limited represents a Baht 8 million investment to serve the Thai building, construction and manufacturing industries with locally produced, international quality, metallic coated and painted steel coil.

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2012 Australia-Thailand Business Conference

AustCham Thailand would like to thank Media Partner and Venue Supporter Bangkok Post The Post Publishing PCL is the publisher and distributor of the Bangkok Post – an English-language newspaper – and the Post Today – a Thai-language business daily – and Student Weekly – an English-language magazine for high school and college students. The company also has a commercial printing operation that offers general printing services for the company and its subsidiaries as well as to outside customers. The company’s news and information businesses in the last few years have been expanded to include electronic and digital media.

The St. Regis Bangkok The St. Regis Bangkok continues the St. Regis legacy in Thailand offering the premier choice to reside with unrivaled luxury dimension, bespoke service and refined elegance on the prestigious Rajadamri Road in the heart of Bangkok, in close proximity to the prime commercial corridor, magnificent high-end shopping and Lumpini Park. The St. Regis Bangkok offers 227 guest rooms including 51 suites with the renowned St. Regis Butler Service offering unparalleled personal attention to every guest at any hour.

AustChamThailand Advance

AustCham Thailand would like to thank all Conference Supporters

Australian Trade Commission The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) is the Australian Federal Government’s trade and investment development agency. In Thailand, Austrade is represented by a team of 18 professionals.

Austrade Bangkok is also responsible for the surrounding markets of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited AIS is #1 for network quality and coverage in Thailand which also includes various privileges that will give you maximum satisfaction with our service. AIS SME provides valued mobile phone packages along with business solutions in order to help your business reduce its IT communication cost and increase work efficiency. More information at www.ais.co.th/sme

Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) If you wish to set up an operation in Thailand, your best contact point is the Office of the Board of the Investment (BOI), which operates under the Ministry of Industry and is the principal government agency for encouraging investment. The BOI is available to assist you in numerous ways.

McConnell Dowell Constructors Thai Ltd. McConnell Dowell is an engineering and construction company that offers complete multi-discipline engineering, construction and fabrication services on a self performed basis. Our Thailand team offers customised contracting services ranging from Alliances through EP.

QBE Insurance (Thailand) Co., Ltd. QBE Thailand provides a wide range of specialist insurance products including Professional Indemnity, Directors and Officers Liability, Construction All Risks, Trade Credit, Extended Warranty and Marine.

Special Mentions AustCham would also like to give a special thank you to BB&B for providing the popular Vittoria coffee and fine sparkling wine that all guests immensely enjoyed during the conference. Natural Ville and Lenotre must also be mentioned for the contribution of the delicious macaroon gift packs to all Golf Day participants. Including all contributors to the participant gift bags handed out; Austrade, BlueScope Steel, AIS, Blackmores, Bangkok Post and McConnell Dowell.

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APEC CARD UPDATE

Greater access to APEC Business Travel Card?

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ore small and medium-sized businesses will now have access to the APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC), the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, announced last month.

Under the stage two eligibility criteria, businesses will be able to have their organisation or business entity certified by an approved body as being genuinely engaged in international trade or investment in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region.

as large global companies.”

“The ABTC is an important tool, as it saves businesspeople the time and effort involved in applying for individual visas or entry permits each time they wish to travel for business.”

“This better recognises the broad range of employees on which businesses rely to conduct trade and investment activities on their behalf,” Mr Bowen said.

Through a single application form, the ABTC allows accredited businesspeople to travel for short-term visits to other APEC economies over a three year period. The two approved bodies announced under stage two are the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI). Details of the certification process can be found on their and DIAC’s websites.

“It also ensures that most small to medium-sized businesses can enjoy the same level of access to the ABTC

This follows the implementation of stage one eligibility criteria that allow applications from businesses recognised as

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being engaged in trade in the APEC region. For example, businesses with an Export Market Development Grant or on the current Forbes Global 2000 business list.

The ABTC scheme commenced in March 1999 in response to the need for businesspeople to gain streamlined entry to other economies within the Asia-Pacific region. The scheme contributes to APEC’s goal of free and open trade. In the 2011-12 program year, the number of ABTCs issued to Australian nationals was 16,247, a slight increase over 2010-11.

More information about the APEC Business Travel Card and eligibility criteria can be found on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s website at www.immi.gov. au/skilled/business/apec

AustChamThailand Advance

Eric Kenso Ward, ISB Class of 1979

International School Bangkok Bringing out the superhero in each of us since 1951. www.isb.ac.th

AustCham Gold Corporate Sponsor: BlueScope

Chamber Events

Eastern Seaboard Sundowners on Friday, 19 October at Holiday Inn Pattaya Hosted by AustCham and held in conjunction with the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) and American Chamber of Commerce In Thailand (AMCHAM), October Sundowners was also host to the awards presentation for the fourth Women With a Mission Charity Golf Tournament. With 31 teams and 124 participants in the Golf Tournament, the WWM team managed to raise Baht 650,000 for the NOURISH, EDUCATE and CARE program. AustCham would like to thank catering and venue sponsor, Holiday Inn Pattaya, for ensuring all guests enjoyed an entertaining evening of networking.

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Chamber Events

Women With a Mission would like to thank all sponsors, golfers and prize donors for helping to make the Golf Tournament a successful day Prize Sponsors 20 Nails Studio; Amari Orchid Pattaya; Anantara Golden Triangle; Anantara Si Kao; Asian Tigers Mobility; Bangkok Hospital Pattaya; Birds & Bees Resort, Pattaya; Botany Beach Resort; Bruno’s Restaurant and Bar; Captain’s Corner; Casa De On; Casa Pascal’s; Club Wax, Pattaya; Dicey Reilly’s Pub and Eatery; Fenix Apparel; Fitting Golf Pattaya; Gian’s Italian Restaurant, Pattaya; Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya; Harmony Massage; Hilton Pattaya; Holiday Inn, Pattaya; Indian By Nature; Jameson’s; Jelly Belly Candy Company (Thailand) Ltd; Jomtien Boathouse; JW Marriott, Khao Lak; Kizwa - OK Company Ltd; La Ferme Restaurant, Pattaya; Lihn’s Golf Guide; Linda’s Restaurant; Mantra Restaurant and Bar; Mike’s Mexican Restaurant, Pattaya; Minor Food Group; Neville Hammond; Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport; Ocean Marina Yacht Club; Pan Pacific Serviced Apartments; Pathumwan Princess Hotel; Pattaya Mail Media Group; Pattaya City Golf; Pinnacle Hotels, Resorts & Spas; Purple Space Monkey Bar & Grill; Rabbit Resort Pattaya; Radisson Suites Bangkok Sukhumvit; Raja’s Fashions; Royal Varuna Yacht Club; S2 Embroidery; Shenanigans Irish Pub, Jomtien; Siam @ Siam Design Hotel and Spa; Sofitel SO Bangkok; Total Access Communication PLC; Woodlands Suites Serviced Residences.

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AustCham Gold Corporate Sponsor: Natural Ville & Lenôtre

Relationship marketing at its best in Natural Ville & Lenôtre

Natural Ville & Lenôtre is a leading Hospitality and Catering services company in Thailand.

FORMULA FOR SUCCESS The combination of both well established brands of Accor, Natural Ville & Lenôtre have set new standards in the world of Hospitality and Catering. Natural Ville known for its simple yet elegant apartments and Lenôtre for its exclusive catering and confectionary, both tied up with strong Internal and Relationship marketing strategies is its formula for success. The professional yet friendly team of staff display a remarkable sense of humour that flows from the manager down to all staff. Their success comes only through ‘word of mouth’ from all their customers. Internal Marketing is evident in the 0.02 per cent staff turnover in the last nine years of operations.

“Doing simple things extraordinarily well”

Strange and remarkable but true, the relationship marketing of the company is done on the golf course. With an extraordinary popular monthly golf tournament the managing director Mr Charles Wrightman proudly states that he cannot tell the difference between working and playing. This unique attitude prevails in his participation as a director of AustCham.

Natural Ville & Lenôtre is visible in most corporate and diplomatic societies for its innovation and creativity in the catering and hospitality industry.

With the core values of Accor displayed in all public areas of the property it certainly does give guests and staff a sense of pride.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES The company offers renowned levels of international standards and service that makes every customer return. Lenôtre maintains a depth of experience and specialist knowledge which allows for their excellent teams of chefs to create unique products for each and every function.

Through Accor, Natural Ville & Lenôtre have many global Green Team initiatives that (Sustainable Development) allows the best knowledge to be brought from around the globe.

Natural Ville & Lenôtre maintains an extensive program of staff training, food tasting reviews and project workshops to maintain a cutting edge approach to design and architecture in its food presentation.

CURRENT MARKET POSITION & FUTURE PLANS Natural Ville & Lenôtre have managed to lead the market in growth even through the economic down-turn and still maintain an excellent quality of service, presentation and occupancy. Natural Ville & Lenôtre commenced operating in 2003. Today Natural Ville & Lenôtre is the leader in exclusive catering services in Bangkok.

Future plans include maintaining present market position and broadening the client base throughout the diplomatic and corporate societies.

CLEAR COMMUNICATION With a clear objective to capitalize on simple common sense applications, the team of majority Thai staff feel confident and comfortable in dealing with both guests and peers. Simple websites with actual pictures enable current and prospective clients to better understand the extent of the company’s professional services and varied range of skills.

Ongoing Thai and English language training in both oral and written skills supports clearer communication within the multicultural team of professionals.

Client feedback provides a valuable communication tool. The company listens to clients and then shares those comments with all staff. Response to guest’s feedback is immediate.

WINNING CONCEPT Natural Ville & Lenôtre excels by using golf as its main relationship marketing tool, this passion is clearly evident in the company’s occupancy as one of the leaders in the market. Its commitment to design and taste excellence in food preparation is second to none.

The team’s desire to be “simply the best” at everything the company does is also reflected in its product quality and consistency.

Finally the culture created to have fun while working with peers and guests is evident on its high ratings on Trip-advisor.

Chamber Events

AustralianAlumni “Make a Connection” at Oriental Residence Bangkok AustralianAlumni recently held another successful networking event: “Make a Connection”. Many thanks must go to venue sponsor, The Oriental Residence Bangkok for providing delicious food and exceptional service. Held in the stylish Playroom, guests enjoyed an evening of networking games and entertaining speakers.

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Chamber Events

November Sundowners – Community Services Sponsor: Convoy for Kids There are many worthy charities around Bangkok and AustCham would love to be able to assist them all. Unfortunately we can’t! The Community Services Subcommittee have instigated an initiative to endeavour to support some of our member related charities. Our aim is to promote various charities to our members in order to raise awareness or where our members are perhaps looking for a new CSR partner – a type of CSR matching service. Each month part of your Sundowners entry fee will go towards the monthly CS sponsor. Each charity will have presented to, and been approved by, AustCham’s Community Services Subcommittee.

Convoy for Kids Convoy for Kids’ main beneficiary is the Sri Sang Wal School in Pakred which is part of The Foundation for the Welfare of the Crippled in Thailand which was founded under The Royal Patronage of the late Princess Mother. The school does great work in rehabilitating handicapped children and has helped countless pupils cope with their handicaps and face life with a positive attitude. The children’s courage has motivated the Convoy for

Kids Committee and AustCham to fully support this worthwhile cause.

There are two events held each year, a golf event in June and a day out every November for the children from the school and other charities. This year’s saw 300 children going for a trip to Bang Saen beach on 25 November.

If you would like to help bring some enjoyment into the lives of handicapped and underprivileged kids, then please contact us.

Convoy Founder John Kershaw email: JKershaw@linfox.co.th Convoy Committee Chairman David Mills - Tel +66830194772 email: davidmbkk@gmail.com

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Bangkok Sundowners on 7 November at The Imperial Queens Park Hotel This month’s Sundowners was hosted in the open air courtyard of The Imperial Queens Park Hotel where guests could look up towards the impressive two towers of the hotel reaching 37 floors. On the evening corporate sponsor Thana Burin, gave guests an unexpected sneak peak of what’s to come at the World Body Building competition in December while other event sponsor, Allied Pickfords presented small gifts to all attendees. November Sundowners was also host to AustCham’s first monthly community service initiative. Convoy for Kids, kicking off the new project, was present on the evening with some of the children displaying their artistic talents.

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1) Eddy Bellavoine, SafeComs; Natchanan Dechaakhrawanit, Allied Pickfords; Les Weaver, Coverage. 2) Sandra Helmig, New International School; Jacqui Cuthbertson, Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Bangkok. 3) Rod Oborne, Affiliated Computer Services Australia; Anne Hutton, Lee Hecht Harrison DBM; Mark Rowswell, Arundel Thailand. 4) Johan Vimolchalao, Thana Burin; John Anderson, AustCham President, Meinhardt Thailand; Michal Zitek, The Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel; Neil Chiu, Allied Pickfords; David Mills, Convoy For Kids; Warwick Kneale, Baker Tilly Thailand; Show Team. 5) Chariya Chayakul, Allied Pickfords; Pimjai Chaimongkol, Allied Pickfords; Neil Chiu, Allied Pickfords; Michael Grisaffi, Allied Pickfords; Wiparat Somkuancharoendee, Allied Pickfords; Bundith Punyasai, Allied Pickfords. 6) Richard Stepney, RSM Recruitment; Sisi Kochakorn Sookprayoch, Meinhardt Thailand; Panadda Khamparat, RSM Recruitment. 7) Nanatchalan Suwanpanchu, Thana Burin; Johan Vimolchalao, Thana Burin; Nattawan Iamsittipol, Thana Burin. 8) Katarzyna Filas, JAC Recruitment; Anne-Sophie Keereman, JAC Recruitment; Parinda Viranuvat, NLP Top Coach. 9) David Mills, Convoy For Kids; John Lloyd, JNP Legal. 10) Sri Sangwal School’s student. 11) Rinrada Korntikakul, AES Group; John Lloyd, JNP Legal; Farantee Taechathanabut, AES Group; Narumolwon Sungkatat N.Ayudhya, AES Group. 12) Kanokwan Natikool, NSTDA; Peter Upperton, Administration Outsourcing; John Kershaw, Linfox; Pattama, Convoy For Kids. 13) Markus Wehrhahn, Resource Link; John Anderson, AustCham President, Meinhadt Thailand; Carey Ramm, AEC South East Asia; Paul Stinson, Capra. 14) Tim Stainlay, CPLG; Niorn Maneesint, AEC South East Asia; Tim Althaus, CPLG; Marion Grasby, CPLG; Josh Hyland, AEC South East Asia. 15) Nicki Bunclark, Servcorp; Emma Gray, The Creative Partnership; Philippe D’acquet, SmartSoftAsia; Ami Mandel, Business Spice.

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Chamber events/NEW MEMBERS and members’ changes

Luncheon Meeting with Senator Joe Ludwig at The Grand Hyatt Erawan Minister Ludwig’s recent visit to Thailand was in recognition of the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations between Australia and Thailand. The Minister discussed the opportunities presented for both Australia and Thailand after the release of the White Paper on Australia in the Asian Century.

His discussion centred on the mutually beneficial nature of the Australia and Thailand relationship and its importance to both countries’ agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries. Minister Ludwig advocated, although such trade has brought enormous opportunities to both of our agricultural

• Mr Harald Feurstein, General Manager is a new representative of Conrad Bangkok.

• Mr Ian Harriss, General Manager is a new representative of Clubhouse Bar Limited.

Individual Member Gisler Sherrill, Ms 87/122, 15th Floor All Seasons Mansion, Lumpini Pathumwan, Bangkok 11030 Email: sherrill.gisler@ mondialemarketing.com Sherrill has over 20 years experience working in Sales and Marketing, in particular designing and implementing loyalty programs for hotels all over the world.

Change of Representative

sectors, there is always more that can be done, together, to remove obstacles to doing business between our countries and to harness the opportunities of the Asian Century.

• Ms Thanita Taminee Jirathateep, Marketing and Communications Manager is a new representative of The Australian Pub & BBQ. • Mr Paul Anthony Connelly, Partner is a new representative of International Legal Counsellors Thailand Ltd.

Change of Company Address iHR Asia (Thailand) Co., Ltd. 88 Paso Tower 14th Floor, Unit A1 Silom Road, Suriyawong Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 Tel. 02-634-4545 Fax. 02-634-4546 Andrew Biggs Co., Ltd 1521/2, 2 Floor Sukhumvit Road North Prakanong Wattana, Bangkok 10110 Tel. 02-726-9857-8 Fax. 02-726 9856

AustCham Silver Corporate Sponsor: Ceva Logistics

Anywhere in Asia At CEVA, our global network and local expertise keep your business flowing smoothly anywhere in Asia Pacific. We enable you to focus on your business while we take care of your supply chain, whichever market sector you are in.

That’s why our people are sector specialists who partner with you closely and apply their deep industry knowledge to tailor solutions which help grow your business wherever you are.

Leave your logistics to us.

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business moving End to End Solutions | Contract Logistics | Freight Management | Consultation and Solutions Design

Contact us T: +65 6507 2600

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with our

global connections www.cevalogistics.com

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From the Chamber Office

Message from the Executive Director

Calendar of Events

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WEDNESDAY 5 DECEMBER AustCham Office Closed

ast month we broke two droughts. We hosted the first AustCham business conference in five years and the first talk by an Australian Minister to AustCham in over four years. Both were very, very successful events.

AustCham President John Anderson was able to present a forceful case to Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator the Hon. Joe Ludwig, for increased support of Australian business overseas. AustCham members also had the opportunity to quiz the Minister on aspects of the ‘Australia in the Asian Century’ White Paper. It was a good exchange of views and a learning experience for both sides.

Feedback on the business conference has been fantastic. The vast majority of respondents to our on-line survey said their overall conference experience was ‘excellent’ with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5.

Participants were most impressed with the speaker line-up but also saw ‘excellent’ value in the networking and learning opportunities provided. Most pleasing to me was that the highest rating of all was given to ‘service by AustCham staff’ – more than 75 per cent of respondents put it in the highest category.

Well done office!

The conference was a substantial undertaking for AustCham (there’s a reason the last one was five years ago!) and I was impressed with the way the office staff methodically delivered in each of their areas of responsibility, rather than waiting to be told what to do next. It demonstrates that we have made significant gains in changing the culture of the office and encouraging an approach of personal responsibility and delivering outcomes rather than top-down direction. We considered contracting a professional conference organiser, but in the end produced everything in-house, including the website, booking engine, graphic design etc. etc.

I personally found the conference highly engaging, particularly the way a narrative unfolded throughout the proceedings, highlighting that while both Australia and Thailand have room for improvement (individually and collectively), we really are two very lucky countries with strong factor endowments and, perhaps most importantly, talented people.

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December 2012

The conference also reaffirmed that there is a core group of Thais and Australians strongly committed to the bilateral commercial relationship. The question now is where we go to from here?

As is always the case with large events like the conference there was a lot of effort from many different quarters. Financially we could not have done it without our sponsors and we thank them enormously. The Embassy, particularly Amelia Henty, helped secure many of our top-profile speakers and provided highly-valuable support and advice along the way. The many speakers and moderators gave up their valuable time, and several ‘trusted advisers’ lent their expertise and experience. Thank you to everybody who contributed.

We have a few more events to deliver before calling it a year, not the least of which is Christmas Sundowners at the Ambassador’s residence. We are also, however, looking to next year and in particular our finances. That means corporate annual sponsorship! Annual sponsorship really is a win-win. Much of the sponsorship value is returned in membership dues and pre-paid tickets to Chamber events. If you then add the value of brand promotion via our website, magazine and at Chamber events then the packages look very good value indeed. Bronze sponsorship, for example, make sense for any company that is an AustCham member and plans on attending a few Sundowners and major events. We will also be adding to the value of Silver and Gold packages, with company logos gaining greater prominence on the new AustCham website (see the test platform at http:// www.austchamthailand.wildapricot.org/).

In lieu of H.M. The King of Thailand’s Birthday Thursday 6 December BCCT/NZTCC/AustCham Professional Women’s Group Networking

18.30 Venue: Diageo Office, 18th Floor, Empire Tower Cost: Baht 500, includes finger food, cocktails and wine Sponosr: Diageo Moet Hennessy (Thailand) Ltd. MONDAY 10 DECEMBER AustCham Office Closed

In lieu of Constitution Day WEDNESDAY 12 DECEMBER Christmas Sundowners

Pre-registration Essential 18.00-21.00 Venue: Ambassador’s Residence Corporate Sponsor: dwp Architecture and Interior Design Catering Sponsor: Natural Ville and Lenôtre MONDAY 24 DECEMBER – 2 JANUARY AustCham Office Closed

Thank you to November sponsors:

If you are interested in corporate sponsorship please let me know and I would be very happy to discuss. We can also tailor packages to individual company requirements.

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

AustChamThailand Advance

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