ADVANCE ~ February 2009

AustChamThailand

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

www.austchamthailand.com

February 2009

Australia Day Ball IN THIS EDITION Event Sponsors

Don’t Panic: Strategic Staff Management in Tough Times Tax Risk Management: Beware of the Hidden Tax Risks in Your Business Strategies for the Recession 2009 CSR Supplement BUSINESS AWARDS 2008 BLCP Power: Environmental Excellence Award Recipient

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2009 CSR Supplement 304 Industrial Park: Sustainable Growth With Youth Development

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COMMUNITY SERVICES “Tree for Life” Charity Project – Pathumwan Princess Hotel

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CHAMBER EVENTS Infobite Luncheon – Where to Thailand?

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Inside Front Cover

KIS School

1/1 Note: __________________

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ANZ Bank

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Contents

Business Briefs 06 Don’t Panic: Strategic Staff Management in Tough Times 10 Tax Risk Management: Beware of the Hidden Tax Risks in Your Business Strategies for the Recession 12 Fail to Manage Customs Requirements at your Peril, Part II

– HS Tariff Classifications

14 Fighting Cybercrime

EMBASSY NEWS 18 Thai Stars Shine for “Australia” austcham business awards 2008 20 BLCP Power: Environmental Excellence Award Recipient

PATRON His Excellency Paul Grigson Australian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand PRESIDENT Shane Torr ISM Technology Recruitment Portfolio: Embassy Liaison; Foreign Chambers/Presidents; ATBC; Regional AustChams VICE-PRESIDENTS Khun Sutipong Ittipong Siam City Bank Portfolio: Community Services Peter Emblin Thai Strategic Capital Management Ltd Portfolio: Events; Seminars and Luncheons; BOI; Marketing and PR TREASURER Bruce Wunderlich Oxyvital (Thailand) Portfolio: Treasury

24 2009 CSR SUPPLEMENT 22 304 Industrial Park: Sustainable Growth With Youth Development 23 dwp Care: Sharing Happiness with Underprivileged Children throughout the World

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL 27 Empowering Student Learning at NIST: A Concept-driven Literature Course

Australia Thailand

Business Council 30 A More Stable Road Ahead

COMMUNITY SERVICES 31 Wat Pra Pathranporn School Visit on 13 December 2008 32 “Tree for Life” Charity Project – Pathumwan Princess Hotel Cover Photo: Australia Day Ball 2009

24 Raimon Land Steps up its Corporate Social Responsibility Activities 25 Servcorp – Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness 26 At Hemaraj, CSR Brings Peace of Mind

chamber Events 33 Eastern Seaboard Christmas Networking on 12 December 34 Australia Day Ball 2009 37 Infobite Luncheon – Where to Thailand?

New Members 37 New Members and Changes From the Chamber

Office 38 Message from the ED

DIRECTORS John Anderson Meinhardt (Thailand) Portfolio: Events-Awards; Industry Groups Andrew Durieux Coverage Portfolio: Events-AFL; Business Content; BCP Anne Lewinski AL Consultancy Hotel Solutions Portfolio: Membership Belinda Skinner talent+ Portfolio: Communications Ben Yong Baker & McKenzie Portfolio: Business Advocacy; Joint Foreign Chambers; TAFTA; Legal Saeed Zaki PhD dwp Portfolio: Industry Groups/Business Advocacy; Sustainable Development; CSR Ex officio Maurine Lam Trade Commissioner, Austrade

v From the Board

COORDINATORS Paul Whyte Tinfish (Thailand) ESB Coordinator Email: esb@austchamthailand.com Paul Wilkinson AGS Four Winds International Moving ESB Coordinator Email: esb@austchamthailand.com Harry Usher Lady Pie Phuket Coordinator Email: phuket@austchamthailand.com Executive Director Brett Gannaway 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 Shane Torr, Belinda Skinner, Robert Taylor, Gary Woollacott, Gregers Moller 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 Opinions expressed in Advance do not necessarily reflect the views AustChamThailand Advance of the Chamber.

Steady as she goes . . .

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o far the year has made a promising start with the new government moving forward in positive fashion and a welcome respite from street politics.

Nonetheless there have been some problems as workers have seen the effectiveness of blocking infrastructure (i.e. roads) in order to more aggressively put forward their wage demands; we hope this trend doesn’t continue and that Thai labour continues to remain competitive at an international level.

As we move forward into this challenging year, please remember that AustCham is here to help you and that it is during difficult times when the Chamber may be of most value to you. Some ideas: write an article for our monthly Advance magazine; join one of our industry focus groups; and, of course, keep in touch with colleagues and prospects via our business meetings and networking events.

Our Australia Day Ball was another notable night, with many of our members and guests showing how creative they can be whilst recognising the achievements of Australians on the global entertainment stage. Once again we express our grateful thanks to the event’s sponsors, Raimon Land and Akara Mining, for their excellent support. Photos from the evening, showing some of the great ideas people came up with, and the good time had by all, are further on in this issue.

Our Annual General Meeting will soon be upon us and will take place prior to Sun-

downers on Wednesday, 4 March 2008. If you have been thinking about how you might increase your participation and profile with the Chamber then standing for the Board of Directors is another great way of doing this.

AustCham welcomes new faces from small and large businesses alike. We see constant change as key to the Chamber’s development and we welcome talented and energetic individuals who can bring new ideas and their experience. AustCham believes in our Australian principles of diversity, inclusiveness and tolerance to help promote the Chamber’s growth. If you would like to know more about being a Director then please don’t hesitate to contact me, or any of our directors, to find out more.

At the end of January, David Cole, who has been standing in as Executive Director, departs after performing an outstanding job over the past several months. Our sincere thanks go to David for the excellent work he has done in keeping the Chamber moving forward.

On behalf of the AustCham directors, best wishes for your continued business success.

Shane Torr President, AustCham Thailand www.austchamthailand.com February 2009

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Business Brief

Don’t Panic: Strategic Staff Management in Tough Times

By Gary Woollacott, Opus executive search, Thailand and Vietnam

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he final quarter of 2008 saw a significant decline in the world’s economic prospects and although, thus far, Thailand has been somewhat insulated from the full effects – for a variety of reasons – there are definitely major challenges yet to be faced by companies operating in Thailand. As of early January 2009 the situation has not improved and each day seems to bring more unpleasant surprises. A comment at a recent roundtable discussion on global economic and business affairs was that “nobody has the right to a job any more” – a sentiment likely to be heard repeated.

There’s an expression that a rising tide lifts all boats: we saw what happened after the 1997 crash when the tide went out.

Senior managers realised that their staff were floundering, unable to cope with the new business situation. As executive search consultants, we received calls from conflicted and worried country managers who recognised that at the same time they needed to lay off people, they were starved of truly talented individuals and needed to recruit them: We see a similar situation now.

We may see alarming headlines of hundreds, or even thousands, laid off from this factory or that, but we will probably not see a repeat of the situation in 1997 whereby a whole industry was pretty much decimated: the forced closure of 56 finance companies. Nevertheless, unemployment is going to increase – even amongst exporters, which some see as Thailand’s salvation. Some forecasters are predicting one million unemployed but it is possible that the true number could be nearer two million if the under-employed, part-timers, or those who have not registered as unemployed could be counted.

Although this would represent under six per cent of Thailand’s workforce of 37 million or so (not a significant percentage when compared to, say, European norms) it would be high in local terms.

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Positives, with caveats Opportunities abound for nimble firms that are able to take advantage of others’ misfortunes. There will be plenty of staff available (beware of the variable quality though) and we might be pleasantly surprised if salary expectations also become more realistic. Even if you are in the situation of having to let people go, there may be someone who comes to your attention who is exactly right for your needs: excellent attitude, appropriate skills and relevant experience you simply can’t pass up. Those companies that are able to recruit quality during a downturn will be well positioned to benefit in the period until markets recover – and probably also outperform their competitors then too. It is essential that senior management is con-

Job security is a perennial requirement and it might just become more accepted that our own job performance is the best guarantee of job security...

vincing in word and deed when it comes to retention: lip service will be spotted quickly and discounted by the workforce, with potentially grave results.

The constant companions of retention are training, development, promotion and rewards. Surprisingly, some companies do not use any of these tools to try to retain their staff: the work alone is supposed to provide the satisfaction levels necessary.

These are sometimes the same companies that complain about high levels of staff turnover. More enlightened companies recognise that differing combinations of retention tools are necessary for different candidates. One size does not fit all, and line managers will need to pay increasingly more careful attention to the methods by which they hope to retain their staff aside from simply relying on the “scare factor” of being jobless.

Since the crash all those years ago many employees have left the workforce to study.

Those people may have spent some years at (perhaps average) universities around the world and have returned with their new degrees looking for work. Remember that these candidates may have added to their academic qualifications but they are still the same people who you would not

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Landmark

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Business Brief

have considered back then. In fact, nothing may have really changed with them apart from an improvement in their language skills.

Career development and security Poor quality superiors who block career progression can be another issue affecting retention. Can you remove the blockers, or rotate people around departments? Or give them a non-work related project? My own experiences in the UK and Australia have taught me that one of the best training exercises I had was when I organised a conference for fifty people from around the country. I still had responsibilities for my usual work – with some lightening of the load – but the skills I learned from that assignment could not have been gathered from my normal duties.

Non-monetary aspects can help promote satisfaction in the workplace and improve motivation and retention. This also has the

happy side effect of preparing people for greater success when the markets turn up.

Job security is a perennial requirement and it might just become more accepted that our own job performance is the best guarantee of job security, over and above the brand name that we may be working for. Of course that is not always the case – you might ask those laid off from the major auto manufacturers or from the travel and hospitality industries – but it is obvious to say that it is good policy to retain your best performers, whatever the prevailing economic conditions.

Maintaining confidence in your organisation Companies should be realistic and honest.

If you have a poor record with your current employees or a history of investing in Thailand and then pulling out when things get bad, people will know this and may

KSMB Thailand 1/4 Note: _____________

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avoid you. Companies who are known to treat their staff with disdain also get the cold shoulder – chances are that potential candidates know someone who works at such a company, or someone who has left.

For good companies, the reverse is true.

Be open with your prospective employees to ensure there are no nasty surprises.

In a downturn it is tempting to look in every possible place for cost savings and this can often result in training and marketing budgets being slashed. Marketing is an area for others who know much more than I, but in the case of investing in people I would counsel companies to maintain their programmes for their best employees.

The business environment is getting ever harder, not easier, and things are highly likely to worsen before they improve.

Gary Woollacott is CEO of Opus executive search in Thailand and Vietnam. He can be reached at +66 2 636 2323 or via gary@opusasia.net

Jentana & Associates 1/4 Note: ______________

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Amantee

1/1 Note: __________________

Business Brief

Tax Risk Management: Beware of the Hidden Tax Risks in Your Business Strategies for the Recession

By Steven Herring, RSM Advisory (Thailand) Limited

on the date of the sale of goods or rendering of services.

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Only when there is “justifiable ground” for selling at a lower price shall a Thai company be allowed to apply the lower prices for the purposes of computing tax liability. If your company does not have a “justifiable ground”, the Revenue officers can adjust your sales prices and re-assess your company’s corporate tax liability.

y all accounts, 2009 is going to be a recession year for business in Thailand. You should not expect the Thai Government to make it any easier for you, you should not expect the taxman to be any kinder to you as far as your compliance obligations are concerned, and in relation to the recession strategies that you could be implementing in 2009, you should be aware of the hidden tax risks that are inherent in some of those strategies.

Selling at Below Market Prices A business strategy of selling at lower prices is often adopted in recession years.

Whilst such a strategy is primarily intended to improve a company’s cash flow and in some cases, is vital for a company’s survival in a recession, selling at below market prices can result in a (surprising) tax liability.

Before you implement any strategy of selling at below market prices, you need to carefully consider and formulate a position with respect to Section 65 bis (4) of the Revenue Code, which prescribes as follows:

You may think that the global economic downturn is a sufficient “justifiable ground” for selling below market prices. But merely

...it’s going to be a few years before the Revenue officers investigate your strategy, and proof in documentary form is therefore vital... saying that is not enough. As all tax liabilities in Thailand are determined on the selfassessment system, your company has the onus of proof, under the self-assessment system, to prove to the Revenue officers that “justifiable ground” does exist for your particular company and your particular circumstances, and invariably such proof is required in documentary form.

“In the case where, without justifiable ground, property is transferred, service is rendered or money is lent without any compensation, service charge or interest, or with compensation, service charge or interest at an amount lower than the market value, the assessment officer has the power to assess the compensation, service charge or interest at the market value on the date of the property transfer, rendering of service or lending of money.”

Remember, it’s going to be a few years before the Revenue officers investigate your strategy, and proof in documentary form is therefore vital if you are to successfully argue against any Revenue challenge a few years after the event.

In layman’s terms, this provision requires a company, for the purposes of computing income tax, always to account for sales of goods and services at the market value

There is no definition of “justifiable ground” in the law, and apart from a guideline giving justifiable ground to companies selling goods and services to the Thailand

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Government for their special projects, there are no other guidelines for “justifiable ground” under the law.

The guidelines for this matter are really only obtained from researching and examining past tax rulings of the Revenue Department and past judgments of the tax courts. We have done this for you and below are some rulings and judgments, which should help you to determine whether your own company’s strategy for selling at lower prices could be caught by Section 65 bis (4) of the Revenue Code.

Selling motorcycle spare parts below the market price to an affiliated company was held not to be justifiable for the purposes of Section 65 bis (4). Selling liquor products to retailers below the market price because of potential gains to be made by other means was held not to be justifiable for the purposes of Section 65 bis (4).

Selling audio equipment and appliances to a certain customer below the market price because another customer had previously ordered them and cancelled the order was held not to be justifiable for corporate income tax purposes under Section 65 bis (4).

Selling chemical products below cost price because the chemical products are sold according to the world market price was held to be a justifiable ground for the purposes of Section 65 bis (4).

Selling cars below the cost price because demand for cars had plummeted but the car dealer was obliged to meet a certain sales volume that it had contractually promised to a foreign car manufacturer, requiring the car dealer to sell at prices below cost to stabilise the cash flow of the business in order to survive was held to be justifiable for the purposes of Section 65 bis (4).

The “guideline” that can be extracted from these few cases is that selling property

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Business Brief

below market price is a permitted justifiable ground for the purpose of Section 65 bis (4) of the Revenue Code only when there are specific independent external forces on the particular company that dictate the selling of property at lower prices. In the case of the chemical products retailer, it was the world price dictating the retailer’s below cost retail prices, and in the case of the car dealer, it was the contractual commitments to an independent party and the resulting cash flow effect that dictated the car retailer’s need to sell at prices below cost.

In both cases, the chemical products dealer and the car retailer provided documentary evidence for their selling below market price, the documentary evidence provided was external rather than internal, and there was clear evidence before the court that selling below market price was not just a ploy to create tax losses.

Offsetting Debts Thai tax law imposes withholding tax on payments of services from or in Thailand

to foreign companies and it also imposes VAT on the payment, for which the payer in Thailand is liable, according to the reverse charge rule. The tax point (i.e. the time when the tax liability is triggered) for such withholding tax and VAT is the date the payment is made to the foreign company.

If you implement a business strategy of offsetting an accounts payable debt owed to a foreign company against an accounts receivable debt owed from the foreign company, you should be aware that the offset is considered to be the same as physically making a payment. This means that on the date of the offset, the tax point is triggered, and you remain obliged to the Revenue Department for the withholding tax and the VAT liabilities.

Accepting “Haircuts” on Debts A business recession strategy of accepting haircuts on debts that are owed to a foreign company can also result in a (surprising) tax liability for your company.

If a foreign company grants a haircut on a debt for a service rendered or some other similar kind of debt (such as a royalty) in order to ease your company’s financial burden, then because the haircut reduces the payment or cancels the payment altogether, you may think that both the withholding tax and the VAT obligations are relieved.

But this is not so for VAT. The Thai tax law imposes VAT on services rendered by a foreign company and used in Thailand irrespective of payment being made.

Therefore, in the case of a haircut being accepted on a debt, although there may be a reduced payment or no payment at all, the VAT liability still arises because the service has been rendered and used.

The information herein was contributed

by Steven Herring, an experienced and senior RSM International Tax Consultant, for RSM Advisory (Thailand) Limited. He can be reached at +66 (0) 2670 9002-6 or via AskUs@rsmthailand.com

NIST International School 1/2 Note: ______________

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Business Brief

Fail to Manage Customs Requirements at your Peril, Part II – HS Tariff Classifications In our previous article we outlined ten Golden Rules for effective Customs Duty Management. We now want to focus on one very important customs compliance area: HS Tariff Classifications. Why?

By Sven Koops and Aschara Toopsuwan, Ernst & Young

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or two reasons. First, this is one of the most common areas of dispute and Thai Customs typically applies significant penalties in cases of non compliance. The level of penalties that Customs will seek to apply is directly linked to the import duties payable and these are tied to the tariff classification.

Second, this is one of the key areas where companies commit many inadvertent errors. Such errors occur either due to: • insufficient technical knowledge or lack of attention to detail; or • lack of oversight and management of compliance functions performed by third parties; or • both.

Nomenclature (AHTN), which itself is based on the HS Code of the WCO. The AHTN also has associated Supplementary Explanatory Notes (SENs) but these are for use in conjunction with the ENs. While “harmonisation” was the objective of introducing the AHTN, its final structure is overly complex.

In principle then, at the international level all countries should apply the same six-digit codes for like products. And at a regional ASEAN level the same should apply at the eight-digit level. However, at a national level, tariff classifications are set at a more detailed level and these are at the discretion of the national customs organisations.

For example, milk powder with less than 1.5% fat should be uniformly classified under HS code 0402.10. However, beyond this six digit level, Customs authorities can add more detailed product specifications or other conditions, creating in some countries classifications with as many as 15-digits. Thailand uses ten digits to classify goods with an additional three-digits for statistical data collection.

Tariff classifications are globally harmonised through the Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System (HS Code) developed by the World Customs Organisation (WCO). The HS Code comprises about 5,000 commodity groups, each identified by a six digit code. For example, milk powder with a fat content of less than The worst case 1.5% is classified as 0402.10, i.e. chapter “04,” heading “02,” subheading “10.”

Combined with the questionable objectivity of the system through which technical classification disputes are considered in Thailand, importers should not underestimate the amount of risk inherent in potentially wrong tariff classifications. In fact, tariff classifications do represent one of the most common areas of dispute with Thai Customs. The worst case scenario and the one most likely to occur as the result of a potentially wrong classification will be a duty underpayment, in which case Customs will seek to collect the underpaid duty and apply significant penalties.

scenario and the one most likely to occur as the result of a potentially wrong classification will be a duty underpayment...

The HS Code is arranged in a legal and logical structure and is intended to be applied by using the General Rules of Interpretation (GRIs). The official interpretation of the HS Code is given in the Explanatory Notes (ENs). The purpose of GRIs and ENs is to achieve uniform and disciplined classification decisions at the six-digit subheading level, prevent arbitrary classifications by national customs organisations to suit fiscal objectives and provide certainty for traders involved in international trade.

Cleary, the HS Code is one of the most successful instruments developed by the WCO. It is used by over 130 Contracting Parties (Thailand being one of them) as a product classification basis for applying Customs tariffs and recording international trade statistics. More than 200 countries and economic or Customs unions use the HS Code.

At a regional level, ASEAN countries have harmonised their respective customs codes up to the more detailed eight-digit commodity nomenclature or the ASEAN Harmonised Tariff

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Technically, determining the correct HS classification for your imported goods is a function of: • the proper and objective identification of the goods in question; • the correct assessment of Sections, Chapters, Headings and legal notes within the Customs Tariff, the ENs (and if applicable the SENs); and • the correct use of the GRIs. Furthermore, importers should also consider the following relevant principles when identifying goods:

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• goods are to be identified in their condition at the time of importation (exportation); • identification of the goods must be objective, having regard to the characteristics which the goods present on informed inspection; • identification is concerned with the goods and cannot be controlled by the description of goods adopted in the nomenclature of the Tariff; • nonetheless, in identifying goods, it is necessary to be aware of the structure of the nomenclature; • in identifying goods, knowledge of how those who trade in the goods and describe them is relevant but not necessarily conclusive; • all the descriptive terms, both specific and generic, by which the goods may fairly be identified may be relevant, and descriptive terms may be of varying degrees of specificity; • identification will frequently extend to characterisation of the goods by reference to their design features and suitability for a particular use. The extent to which these characteristics may be relevant to the ultimate classification of goods and whether evidence of the use to which they are put after importation is relevant, will depend on the language of the nomenclature of the Tariff; and • goods are not to be identified by their future use nor their essential character determined by the purpose of the importer or purchaser.

up a product master. If there is a process for obtaining new product numbers/SKUs, consider modifying the procedure to require classification as part of the process; • Involve Engineering or Marketing if necessary to understand the product and its uses; • Create a classification database; • Consider what information should be on the commercial invoice for your product such as detailed invoice descriptions, HS numbers, other requirements; • If you have products that are difficult to classify consider sending the shipper a questionnaire to gather the appropriate information; • Manage the customs broker by establishing written policies and procedures with them; • Monitor customs broker performance and entries; • Test classification process annually; • Have an in house classification expert; • Obtain Thai Customs Advance Classification Rulings to obtain certainty that you are using defendable tariff classifications.

In our next article, we will focus on Customs Valuation of imported goods.

Sven Koops and Aschara Toopsuwan are advisors on Indirect Tax matters, including Customs, Excise, VAT and Trade with Ernst & Young in Bangkok.

So far so good…if you have an in house classification expert to do this work! However, practically and as part of the normal customs clearance procedures, many companies tend to delegate the classification of goods to their customs brokers or agents. At that point it is not unusual for inadvertent (!) error to creep in due to: • the complexities of identifying the correct HS classification, • pressures to clear goods quickly through Customs, and • the not uncommon practice of brokers to classify goods based on the information on the commercial invoice or with only limited information provided by the importer.

Example – Classification advice by a Customs Port Officer A seller included a tariff classification in its export documentation, which the Thai customs broker initially declared at import.

Subsequently, a Thai Customs port officer challenged the classification and, informally, suggested an alternative classification.

The broker proceeded to clear the goods with the recommended classification without further considering all the aspects of the classification.

Ad SVT Europa 1/4 Note: ______________

Unfortunately, during a Customs Audit both the supplier’s and the Port Officer’s classifications were deemed incorrect. As a result, the Customs auditor sought duty short payments and penalties of more than THB 600m (plus VAT underpaid, VAT penalty and interest). Was this potentially an avoidable mistake?

We believe there are lessons to be learned and steps importers can take. First of all, don’t leave product classifications solely to your customs broker – since you are liable for the wrong tariff classifications. From our wide experience with clients we also suggest adopting some helpful and proven classification practices to avoid situations like the one just described: • The best time to classify a product is when you are setting

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Business Brief

Bernard Collin, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Safecoms Co. Ltd talks about cybercrime and Thailand’s new Computer Crime Act.

Fighting Cybercrime

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ould you walk down a dark alley in a bad part of town after midnight with a pocket full of cash? Probably not. Would you go browsing the Internet without a firewall or an updated virus checking program and a secure backup system in place? People do it everyday.

Your chances of not getting mugged are probably better in the dark alley.

Exact figures are hard to come by, but a detailed study by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 2006 estimated that revenue from cybercrime now exceeds the revenue criminals earn from drugs, prostitution, trafficking and other traditional forms of crime. The big reason cybercrime has become so attractive and so lucrative is that so many people using the Internet are unaware of the dangers and fail to take even the simplest precautions.

The business community in particular is falling victim to attacks of cybercrime.

The FBI research shows that nine out of ten companies have suffered incidents involving cybercrime and one out of every five organisations has experienced actual break-ins and attempts to steal their data, sabotage their systems or defraud the company in some way.

“Many people don’t really understand what cybercrime is”, says Bernard Collin, SafeComs founder and CEO. Most employers, for example, would be surprised to learn that many of their employees are actively engaged in cybercrime.

Staff may think it’s harmless, but when they are browsing porn sites, chatting with friends via MSN and downloading music and movies, they are stealing company time, infringing copyright agreements and exposing the company’s computer network to the threat of attack by fraudsters, spammers and criminal gangs.

Most employers would be surprised to learn that many of their employees are actively engaged in cybercrime.

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Many forms of cybercrime Cybercrime takes many forms, one of most common is “phishing”. Fraudsters ‘go fishing’ on the World Wide Web for people who will give their bank account details and personal information. The victim (you!) gets an e-mail that appears to be from a legitimate company such as eBay, Amazon or even your bank. The e-mail then directs the victim to a fake website that looks identical to the legitimate website and asks them to enter debit or credit card details so that a payment of some kind can be credited to your account. In actual fact, the fraudsters now have the information they need to withdraw money from your account.

Is there anything you can do to protect yourself short of unplugging your internet connections?

SafeComs suggests a number of simple steps...

Experts believe that almost half of all phishing thefts are committed by groups operating through the Russian Business Network (RBN), a web hosting company based in St. Petersburg. RBN has other tricks like fake antivirus software programs that actually give RBN access to your computer or computer network. “These are criminal gangs made up of very smart computer experts”, says Bernard Collin.

“Companies need experts with equal knowledge and skill to protect themselves, which is what SafeComs is all about.”

The Rock Group, a criminal gang specialising in phishing, stole about £75 million from bank accounts last year.

Is there anything you can do to protect yourself short of unplugging your internet connections? SafeComs suggests a number of simple steps companies and individuals can take to protect themselves and their computers from online threats.

The first, and perhaps most important, is awareness. Reputable companies never (as in “not ever”) ask customers for passwords or account details in an e-mail. No

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Siri Sathorn Serviced Residence 1/2 Note: ______________

Int School Bangkok 1/2 Note: ______________

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matter how convincing that e-mail sounds or how real that website looks, do not respond! “A good rule-of-thumb,” says Bernard, “if it seems too good to be true, it probably isn’t.” You can also learn to look for telltale signs that an e-mail or website is a forgery in much the same way you can learn to recognise forged bank notes.

Learn to look for telltale signs. The URL on most phishing websites differs from the genuine version.

For criminals with the right expertise, it’s incredibly easy to infect computers with malicious spyware and viruses through attachments, downloaded files and pirate software. Spyware, for example, is a simply a tiny program then monitors your activity, scans personal information and sends it back to fraudsters or hackers who can take control of your system or just use your identity for their own purposes. Your entire system can be knocked out permanently by some of these malicious invaders, which is why SafeComs strongly advises companies to invest in proper backup systems.

One in five pirate software packages is infected with viruses designed to harm your system or steal personal and banking information.

Fighting back: Thailand’s Computer Crime Act As of August 2008, Thailand has a new

For criminals with the right expertise, it’s incredibly easy to infect computers with malicious spyware and viruses through attachments, downloaded files and pirate software.

Computer Crime Act (CCA). There is an active debate about the pros and cons of the new Act and a lot of confusion yet about what some sections actually mean and who is obligated to do what. In the meantime, let’s start with assumption that the intention is good. For one thing, you now have recourse under the law if you are a victim of a cybercrime.

Defining crime The CCA, broadly defines three types of activity as criminal acts. The first covers ‘illegal access and use of computer systems and computer data’, more commonly known as plain old hacking, spamming and virus attacks. Hackers, spammers and malicious virus distributors now face the well-deserved opportunity of spending up to 15 years in jail if their activities are

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considered to be disruptive or threatening to public security or public services.

The second general area of now criminal activities covers fraud; distributing technology or data that could be used to break into computer systems or could affect public security. These activities will be justly rewarded with imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to Baht 100,000 or both.

The third general category of criminal acts is designed to protect personal privacy rights. The CCA makes it a crime to import into a computer system that is publicly accessible, any data where another person’s picture appears either created, edited, added or adapted, “in a manner that is likely to impair the third party’s reputation or cause that party to be isolated or embarrassed.” This is a wide definition and applies to things like blog discussions and chat rooms or publishing ‘amusing’ mobile phone video clips on publicly accessible websites like “YouTube.”

Compliance The Act is far from perfect and there are lots of issues that need to be sorted out.

While the lawmakers and civil rights advocates and ICT gurus are debating those issues, the best approach you can take is to demonstrate that you are taking all reasonable measures to comply with the law. For example, the law seems reasonably clear on what data you need to keep and for how long and this is basically a hardware and procedures issue,” says Bernard Collin.

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Limited offer valid until 31 March 2009* Registration fee of 4,000 Baht waived for new members who join prior to this date!

AustCham needs you, you need AustCham Now! is the perfect time to benefit from AustCham membership – so please inform your business partners, colleagues, friends.

Our website tells it all www.austchamthailand.com Or call/email our office for membership application and more details Tel.: 02 210-0216-8 Email: execdirector@austchamthailand.com (minimum 12 months membership)

AustChamThailand 16

February 2009

Having defined a criminal act, the police now need evidence that a crime was committed. Just like the Hollywood movies, they have to have a court order or ‘search warrant’, and they have to show it to you before they can copy data from a computer system, inspect or access a computer system or seize a suspect computer system for the purpose of obtaining details of an offence under the CCA. And, because they are nice guys, they will not cause any ‘excessive interference’ with your business operations in the process of doing any of these things and return any equipment and files within 30 days.

AustChamThailand Advance

Business Brief

Accidental criminals “It’s one thing to give police authority to gather evidence of a crime,” says Bernard, the next trick is to make sure there is evidence to gather.” That evidence comes in the form of data that internet service providers must now capture and store.

Section 26 of the Computer Crime Act makes it mandatory for all service providers to keep records of their users’ email, chat, internet usage and personal identification for a minimum of 90 days. The details were left to the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Ministry. On August 23, 2007, the Ministry issued a Notification defining in more detail exactly who is a service provider and what data records they have to keep. These requirements became effective on 24 August, 2008.

Bernard says, “A lot of people are now at risk of becoming accidental criminals.”

Basic data capture measures First, restrict all access to the internet through free access for employees or visitors. Next, install a relay (proxy server) that will redirect all connections via a login system that requires individual identification. The third step is to record all information about each communication, but not the communication itself. The Act, defines what information you need to keep, such as the exact time of each communication.

The Act also requires that you synchronise your data recorder with a public time server and maintain precision logs. Then, you need to divide your data logs into readable parts and store them safely and maintain a secure backup. Criminals have the ability to find where on the drives you log your information and can introduce viruses to wipe their ‘digital fingerprints’ after the crime.

The good old days “The good old days are gone,” says Bernard. “Even ten years ago, setting up a computer network or connecting to the Internet was a straightforward technical issue. These days, the technical infrastructure is just the first step before you start dealing with the security and legal issues.”

“Most companies and small service providers will want some expert help with this,” says Bernard, “because it’s easy to spend a lot of money and effort on this and get it wrong.”

AustChamThailand Advance

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Internet Security

Internet and network security

SafeComs http://www.safecoms.com

SafeComs http://www.safecoms.com/about-us. html

SafeComs is a Bangkok based company specialising in network security for computer systems and for unique security solutions delivered over the Internet. SafeComs can provide Internet security audits, license legalisation audits, critical backup solutions and anti-spam services.

Identity Theft Identify Theft Resource Center, Nonprofit Organisation http://www.idtheftcenter.org Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) is a nonprofit, nationally respected organisation dedicated exclusively to the understanding and prevention of identity theft. The ITRC provides consumer and victim support as well as public education. The ITRC also advises governmental agencies, legislators, law enforcement, and businesses about the evolving and growing problem of identity theft.

SafeComs Thailand is a privately-held company established in 2004 by a group of expert security engineers.

SafeComs is happy to answer questions about hardware and software solutions for compliance with the new law.

An unofficial translation of the Computer Crime Act http://www.prachatai.com/english/ news.php?id=117 Check if a website contains malware that could infect you. http://www.browserdefender.com/ Not sure how safe a website is?

Browser Defender will test Web sites for excessive pop-ups, “phishing” and other fraudulent practices, and browser exploits. Downloads are tested for viruses and bundled adware, spyware or other possibly unwanted programs.

Computer Crime Acts Worldwide http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Computer_crime

Computer Scams and Hoaxes Hoax-Slayer http://www.hoax-slayer.com Hoax-Slayer is dedicated to debunking email hoaxes, thwarting Internet scammers, combating spam, and educating web users about email and Internet security issues. Hoax-Slayer allows Internet users to check the veracity of common email hoaxes and aims to counteract criminal activity by publishing information about common types of Internet scams. Hoax-Slayer also includes anti-spam tips, computer and email security information, articles about true email forwards, and much more. New articles are added to the Hoax-Slayer website every week.

As usual, Wikipedia provides a reasonably good primer on the basics of computer crime. This article lists countries with CCAs, including Malaysia and Singapore. Thailand’s CCA is not listed yet.

SafeComs Network Security Consulting Co., Ltd. 21/16 Premier Condominium 4th Floor, Unit 401 Sukhumwit 24 Road, Klongton Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110, Thailand Tel: 02-259-6281-3 Website: www.safecoms.com Email: info@safecoms.com

February 2009

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Embassy News

Bronte Moules with executives of Major Cineplex, the Yukol family and Tourism Australia’s Thailand Manager.

Thai Stars Shine for “Australia”

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he Australian Embassy was delighted to host the premiere screening of Baz Luhrmann’s latest movie “Australia” at Major Cineplex’s ENIGMA – The Shadow Screen. The event, hosted

by Bronte Moules, Chargé d’Affaires, was attended by 35 VIP guests and celebrities including MC Chatrichalerm Yukol, the internationally renowned Thai film director and good friend of Baz Luhrmann.

Australia is an epic romantic action adventure, set in 1930s Australia, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.

Baz Luhrmann, an Oscar-nominated Director, whose previous works include Moulin Rouge, Romeo & Juliet and Strictly Ballroom, used the vast expanse of Australia’s outback as the backdrop for his epic tale of romance.

“Australia showcases the country in a way never before seen. This is an epic picture

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February 2009

Andrew Biggs (centre), Khun Kiat Kitcharoen (left) and Major Cineplex Executive.

about an epic land. It brings to life Australia’s extraordinary natural environment, history, and indigenous culture,” Bronte said.

Also present at the premiere screening of the movie were Mom Kamala Yukol, MR Srikhumrung Yukol, TV stars Andrew Biggs, Khun Kulnadda “Nina” Patchimsawat and Khun Kiat “Kik” Kitcharoen, leading international news columnist Khun Nitipoom Navaratna and well-known film critics Khun Pornpimol Limcharoen and Khun Sananjit Bangsapan, Australia was presented by Tourism Australia, Twentieth Century Fox, Qantas and Jacob’s Creek.

AustChamThailand Advance

pg 17

Harrow Int School 1/1 Note: Artwork with Finn

AustCham Business Awards 2008

BLCP Power: Environmental Excellence Award Recipient Congratulations to BLCP Power for receiving the AustCham Environmental Excellence Award.

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LCP Power Limited operates a coalfired power station at the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate under a longterm lease contract signed with the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT).

BLCP Power Station is privately-owned and operates in accordance with national policy under the scheme for Independent Power Producers, or known commonly as the IPP Program. This allows for greater access and participation of the private sector in the electricity generation business, reducing the country’s financial burden, lessening government dominance and promoting greater competition among electricity generators.

Sustainable Development and Environmental Excellence At BLCP, environmental compliance is never compromised. Its power station is well designed and equipped with modern equipment using proven technology. Coal is imported from Australia and Indonesia, which are regarded as high quality sources.

It is BLCP policy to comply with all applicable environmental laws and regulations and apply best practice standards where laws or regulations do not exist. For BLCP, the role of business is not concerned merely with profit but also with promoting desirable social ends. BLCP takes its responsibilities and actions to protect the environment seriously to build trust and respect among its counterparts including suppliers and customers.

Formula for Success BLCP is never content with its past achievements. It strives for innovation to make today better than yesterday while always maintaining its responsibilities to the neighbouring communities.

BLCP’s main policies are to conduct business ethically, to contribute to the country’s economic development, to maximise

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February 2009

“BLCP strives for innovation to make today better than yesterday while always maintaining its responsibilities to neighbouring communities.” shareholders value and to produce electricity to serve the Thai people as its key stakeholder. BLCP is committed to improving the quality of life of its employees and their families as well as the local communities.

Competitive Advantages in the Thai Market BLCP COD timetable fits into Thailand’s Power Development Plan (PDP) to ensure system stability and to keep the reserve margin within the country’s target policy level. Being a coal-fired power plant, BLCP Power Station holds a role in supporting the country’s fuel diversification policy in the long run.

Current Market Position and Future Plans BLCP is the fifth largest power plant in Thailand. With a high rank in EGAT’s merit order, BLCP believes that it has helped keep the national energy cost down in the midst of an oil crisis.

BLCP has the infrastructure necessary for future expansion. With a team of experienced staff and operating technologies transferred from its international allies, including Australia, BLCP is confident in its potential for expansion once the opportunity arises.

Clear Communication BLCP recognises the importance of open, transparent communications. BLCP has established the Kiang Saket Energy Center (KSEC) as a learning centre for its visitors.

BLCP initiated a meeting among three related parties i.e. BLCP, government authorities and communities in 2002.

For six years this meeting has served as a forum for BLCP to report transparently on its operations and environmental aspects.

AustChamThailand Advance

Patana School 1/2 Note: ______________

JVK Mover 1/2 Note: ______________

2009 CSR Supplement

304 Industrial Park: Sustainable Growth With Youth Development

Health & Quality of Living Activities Science day youth camp: Staff and engineers from many plants come to teach and show new science and new inventions.

Pee Sorn Nong Project: Staff teach Thai, Maths, English and Science to children by using many types of educational materials for easy learning.

Nong Im Tong and Porpeang Class: Children learn about the concept “Por-Peang” living. They will enjoy planting vegetables and feeding fish by themselves. They will know how to make lunch and money from their productivity in school.

Leang Nong Wan Kerd activity: Lunch for children which has so far been organised over 50 times. The activity is launched with the purpose to give a chance for staff who were born in that month do a good thing on their birthday by hosting a nutritious lunch together with the children in the area.

Entertainment Activities

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sually when we talk about industrial estates, people often think about business related issues such as land allotment, infrastructure management and supporting facilities. These kind of issues are used to attract investors to establish their businesses and factories. However, sustainable growth is not only about business.

It consists of business, the environment and the social-side, thus all related parties take advantage in industrial development together.

At 304 Industrial Park, we not only provide the best package for business opportunities for investors, 304 Industrial Park is also concerned with social development – especially in youth and education development. 304 Industrial Park is committed to being a good member of the community. We are fully willing to contribute to the development of the community and of being a liaison between children and customers in 304 Industrial Park. More than 100,000 children have participated in educational tours, educational youth camps, and environmental friendly camps for instance.

Environmental Friendly Camps Kids adventure in energy and the environment: Camping activity gives children enjoyment in learning about the world of energy especially electricity. Everyone learns about the production process of electricity from beginning to end from our five biomass power plants. Moreover, they learn how to save energy in their homes and schools.

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Children’s Day activity: Each year 304 Industrial Park will support this activity with all schools in the area by giving gifts and educational material to all children. We also have entertainment activities together.

Environmental appreciation youth camp: Camping activity provides knowledge of important natural resources. Youth learn easy ways to save energy which they can apply in their daily living.

Outdoor Learning Tour Outside classroom tour: All children are welcome to visit 304 Industrial Park. They have a chance to see an overview of facility management in the industrial park. Children get to know customers in 304 Industrial Park. In addition, we take them to watch a production process in a factory of our customer.

Outdoor youth tour: Children will be invited to travel to an interesting place where they will receive some great experiences such as Thailand Book Tower, Ministry of Energy etc.

All activities as mentioned have been provided for all schools in the community, from generation to generation in the areas of Prachinburi and Chachoengsao. The objective is to give knowledge about energy, natural resources, industrial development and to stimulate their realisation to save our world and environment. All staff fully intend to input content in an edutainment style which children will enjoy. Besides the activities, 304 Industrial Park has organised donations for scholarships, school supplies, sport equipment and educational funds for poor students in Prachinburi and Chachoengsao.

We know that children today will grow up to be adults in the future: all children will become the main force to propel development of Thailand, thus we believe that the better way of learning is to give them real experience from a real place. Here we not only have real places that serve as a knowledge mine. We also have many staff who have many different experiences to share with them. All children can expand their perspective to provide them with inspiration.

However, there is only one desire that 304 Industrial Park expects from our youth, it is to watch them create a great thing for our community and country.

AustChamThailand Advance

2009 CSR Supplement

dwp Care: Sharing Happiness with Underprivileged Children throughout the World

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wp (Design Worldwide Partnership) places great emphasis on the development of underprivileged children throughout the world. The company has recently launched a campaign to share happiness and help build their development potential.

for children from the House of Grace Child Foundation, located in Chantaburi, Thailand.

Those activities include painting, magician shows and games that stimulate their imagination.

During a one day get-together in Bangkok, dwp executives took the children out from their usual setting and turned their ordinary day into a fun-

filled day out, sharing laughter and happiness with all the company employees. The goal of such activities is not only to bring more happiness into their lives, but also to help develop and improve the children’s skills and creativity. After lunch, the children were taken to Siam Ocean World for an unforgettable experience through the aquarium.

This exciting and fun activity left smiles on all the faces of the children and their caretakers.

During the last part of the day’s programme, the team of dwp executives, led by Brenton Mauriello, Chief Executive, then handed out scholarships and Blackmores’ vitamin supplements to the children before their journey back to Chanthaburi province.

With a firm commitment to deliver the best results to our customers, dwp is a leading architectural and design firm in Asia. At the same time, the company is playing active roles in areas of corporate social responsibility or CSR as a way to give back to societies and countries in which it is operating around the world. Under the campaign theme of dwp CARE, dwp organises several CSR activities around the world, most of which are aimed at helping and improving the lives of needy and underprivileged children. These include children with autism, HIV/AIDS and orphans.

Mauriello further commented about the activity: “This is definitely a great opportunity to get involved with the children, to give back to society and to get all our employees and staff to participate in a fun and charitable event together all at the same time. By engaging in such an activity, we learnt a lot from the experience, reinforcing our commitment among all our employees and staff to think about their own society even further. This is going to be an annual event for our company. Similarly, other branches around the world are doing the same.”

Time is set aside for extra-curricular activities

dwp, www.dwp.com

AustChamThailand Advance

February 2009

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2009 CSR Supplement

Environmental Conservation Faithful to its focus on “developing a better environment”, Raimon Land is committed to leading the way in the use of environmentally-friendly technologies and products and to supporting initiatives which improve the environment and help raise environmental awareness in Thailand.

A Raimon Land-sponsored tree nursery has been established in Khao Yai operated by the Plant A Tree Today Foundation to grow saplings to offset the company’s carbon emissions. The facility is operated by local residents and is also open to other companies looking to reduce their carbon footprints. Furthermore, the nursery will act as a training centre for local people and an environmental education facility for students of all ages.

Raimon Land Steps up Its Corporate Social Responsibility Activities

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he property developer continues in its role as a leading corporate citizen through its primary sponsorship of more than 20 charities and foundations in recent years, with activities focusing on social contributions, environmental conservation, arts and education, and sporting events.

Social Contributions A key part the company’s CSR programme involves supporting projects which help the poor and underprivileged in Thailand.

Together with key partners and suppliers, the company has made a significant contribution to the Mercy Centre for the Human Development Foundation, a non-profit organisation established

by Father Joe Maier which will see Raimon Land constructing two separate fully self-contained homes for 40 boys and 40 girls in the Klong Toey community area of Bangkok.

the Melissa Cosgrove Children’s Foundation.

Raimon Land is covering the construction and operating costs for the day care centre, which will be used by the children of the construction team at the company’s Northpoint development in North Pattaya.

Further north, the developer adopted a baby female calf elephant named Pang Raimon at the Anantara Elephant Camp in Chiang Rai province where Pang Raimon was born. The sponsorship commitment covers the duration of the elephant’s life and will help highlight the plight of elephants on the streets of Bangkok and help get them back to their natural habitats.

Helping increase awareness of the need to respect nature, in 2008 the company was the main sponsor of Earth From Above: An Aerial Portrait Of Our Planet Towards Sustainable Development – a photographic presentation by famed naturalist Mr Yann Arthus-Bertrand. Supported by UNESCO, the popular exhibition promoted the need for humankind to modify production and consumption to ensure the longevity of the planet.

Arts and Education As part of its continuous support of the arts in Thailand, Raimon Land supports initiatives which raise the profile of the arts and promote the talents of young artists. The company has supported the Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL), a nonprofit organisation which has developed a diverse range of activities and projects devoted to the career development of talented young artists and musicians from around the world.

Raimon Land is the main sponsor of the ROSL’s Young Artist of Thailand and ROSL’s Young Musician of Thailand competitions, which give young

Outside the Thai capital, Raimon Land works closely with Habitat for Humanity Thailand, a non-profit organisation dedicated to eradicating poor housing and homelessness by helping lowincome families construct simple, decent and affordable houses.

On the eastern seaboard, the developer supports the Sanuk Community Centre, operated by 24

February 2009

AustChamThailand Advance

2009 CSR Supplement

Thai artists and musicians a platform to promote their work and further develop their talents.

Together with the internationally acclaimed Wallpaper magazine, Raimon Land has helped young Thai furniture designers showcase creative ideas by sponsoring the Wallpaper Design Contest 2008 under the concept, “Reinventing Functionality for Modern Lifestyles.” The contest gave all finalists the opportunity to have their designs transformed into real furniture products and displayed to the general public. Helping provide quality education for the underprivileged is also a key aspect of the company’s CSR programme.

In addition to supporting the Mercy Centre in Bangkok and providing educational programmes for the children of construction workers, Raimon Land works closely with the American Women’s Club of Thailand, a non-profit organisation which provides 400 scholarships to underprivileged women throughout Thailand each year. As well as making significant donations to support this worthy cause, Raimon Land is the main sponsor of the AWC’s annual fundraising event which has to date raised millions of Baht to pay for the education of underprivileged women.

Sporting Events Sport is a key vehicle through which the developer helps increase the profile of Thailand and its resort destinations as well as helping to raise money for worthy causes across the Kingdom.

The company has become a leading sponsor of prominent lifestyle sporting events, and nowhere is this more evident than in Raimon Land’s longstanding support of the sailing community in Thailand, particularly key events such as the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, Pattaya’s Top of the Gulf Regatta, as well as Phuket Raceweek. This involvement dates back to 2004, when the company became the leading sponsor of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, an event which has since become Asia’s biggest and most popular regatta. The company also supports a variety of other sporting events which have helped charities in the fields of the environment, education, women’s welfare and health. This includes golf tournaments, the Bangkok International Rugby Tens, as well as the annual Elephant Polo Tournament, held at the Anantara Resort in the Golden Triangle.

Servcorp – Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness

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uring the months of October and November, Servcorp Bangkok conducted a charity raffle with the aim to raise money for the Thanyarak Breast Cancer Association. In Thailand every fifth woman has signs of breast cancer, which can be cured if detected early. Sadly the awareness campaigns are far behind those in other countries and not many women know how and where to get check ups. To further the breast cancer education in Thailand many of our clients and business partners have donated wonderful prizes from hotels stays, restaurant vouchers, spa treatments to exquisite wines.

Servcorp Thailand is working together with the Thanyarak Breast Cancer Association under the patronage of her Royal Highness the Princess Mother. All Servcorp team members were excited to sell raffle tickets and contribute to this noble cause. Servcorp raised Baht 135,000 for the Thanyarak Breast Association. These funds will help 150 underprivileged women to free breast check ups.

This was the first time Servcorp Thailand has raised money for the Thanyarak Breast Cancer charity and has taken its lead from Servcorp Australia’s long term support of

the Breast Cancer Foundation Australia.

For the year 2009, the ambitious team of Servcorp will assist the Thanyarak Breast Association on the day of the check ups and sponsor refreshments as well as assist in the marketing campaign.

At Servcorp we are committed to our clients and their businesses. The Servcorp team has shown the same commitment to this charity project. We look forward to continuing our charity efforts in the new year and would also like to thank AustCham for assisting us in this effort.

Most recently, Raimon Land has signed a threeyear sponsorship deal with one of Asia’s most successful golfers, Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, to promote the Kingdom as one of the world’s leading golfing destinations at high-profile tournaments across Asia, the US and Europe.

AustChamThailand Advance

February 2009

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2009 CSR Supplement

At Hemaraj, CSR Brings Peace of Mind

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In addition to supporting primary education, Hemaraj annually provides four-year scholarships (including expenses) for local secondary school graduates, thus enabling them to study at the university or technical vocational school level.

emaraj Land and Development takes pride in its commitment towards society.

Since 1988, the company has placed great emphasis on environmental education and community. For the past two decades, Hemaraj has demonstrated a commitment to green industrial estates providing support for pupils and students in the Eastern Seaboard and nurturing the communities around its estates.

Hemaraj also recognises the need for students to balance study with sports, which teaches them discipline, perseverance, forgiveness, and teamwork. Accordingly, Hemaraj sponsors the Chonburi Football Club.

To protect the environment, Hemaraj has installed infrastructure that not only meets, but in many cases exceeds, government standards for environmental protection, and all of its industrial estates have achieved ISO14001 certification.

For example, rather than simply burning non-hazardous waste, Hemaraj uses a more environmentally-friendly approach. Hemaraj has engaged the services of Waste Management Siam to create a landfill at Hemaraj Chonburi Industrial Estate that utilises a state-of-the-art land fill method to ensure that the waste and the by-products generated during decomposition are handled properly.

For wastewater treatment, Hemaraj has adopted a leading environmental approach at both Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate and Hemaraj Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate. The Constructive Wetland approach, which has been approved by all relevant authorities, uses vegetation (plants and bacteria) to treat the wastewater and the quality of the treated water is then suitable for gardening and secondly in factory use. Not only is this treatment method less energy intensive, it can also help reduce factories’ needs for fresh water.

Another element of Hemaraj’s CSR program directly involves the community through projects that include land donation, provision of potable water and access to medical care.

“Hemaraj helps to unleash parents’ burden with the scholarship” says Director Meechai Wongpan and Suphakorn Cuchawalit, Student at Sugar Mill Community School who received a scholarship.

of Commerce (AMCHAM) Adopt-a-School programme (which matches a portion of Hemaraj’s donations), the company funds repair and construction of school facilities, water tanks, playgrounds, libraries, water filtration systems, books and classroom equipment for more than ten schools a year.

In each of the past two years, Hemaraj has made donations of land. The first to the Rayong Provincial Electricity Office for a new sub-station and then to the Sugar Mill Community School to help them expand to better serve the community.

In addition, every year, Hemaraj organises mobile medical unit trips to provide free medical checkups to residents in Thasit and Chompholchaopraya districts adjacent to Hemaraj Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate.

Through its CSR activities, Hemaraj continues to demonstrate that it wants to be a good corporate citizen and continue to earn the support and trust of the communities in which it operates.

In addition to ensuring that waste is properly disposed of and causes no adverse impacts on the communities surrounding its industrial estates, Hemaraj has continuously placed a great deal of emphasis on community involvement, particularly in terms of youth and education.

As far as educational concerns, for more than a decade, the company has supported primary education in the areas around its industrial estates through the Hemaraj Annual School Contribution program. The company coordinates the contributions from its industrial estate customers and suppliers and donates education kits and school supplies to more than 10,000 students at 40 schools in Rayong and Chonburi.

In conjunction with the American Chamber 26

February 2009

“Every year, Hemaraj joins our activities such as Thai New Year and supports our Children’s Party Day.”, says Khun Somchai Lerdridwiriyakul, Mayor of Jompholchaopraya Municipal.

AustChamThailand Advance

International School Supplement

Empowering Student Learning at NIST This article extends our International School Supplement featured in December 2008.

By Paul Dunbar, NIST

E

mpowering student learning is a slogan which has its roots in some very specific educational ideas.

These might be generally described as “student-centred” or “constructivist” ideas, which are founded on a modern understanding of how human beings understand, learn and create meaning. These are the ideas which underpin the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, with its ideal of open-ended mutual inquiry.

An influential research institute, Harvard University’s Project Zero, encapsulates the same ethic in its exhortations to teachers to “teach for understanding” and to create “a culture of thinking” in their classrooms.

But you don’t have to be a Harvard professor to understand this philosophy. It is identical to the ancient Chinese proverb about fishing. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a life-time. We must teach our students to fish; that is, empower them to be independent learners.

What does this mean in terms of the English classroom at NIST? What is the equivalent of teaching our students to fish, if the ocean is literature?

The new English course launched this year in Year 10 has been developed as an attempt to answer these questions.

It covers a similar scope to previous courses, but aims to be concept-driven rather than content-driven. In other words, instead of reading the books and extracting interesting ideas, we reverse the process; we begin with the theory and use it to approach the texts. The initial agenda is set by the concepts – in fact you could teach this course with any selection of books. The course builds a framework of literary concepts which the student can then use to investigate the experimental materials – i.e. the books, plays, screenplays and other narratives they will accumulate. By adopting this approach, we are seeking to integrate the year course. The classes will undertake a year-long, openAustChamThailand Advance

ended inquiry; the portfolio, likewise, is a year-long project. Within the trimesters, the students will write essays, stories and reflections and learn and practice the same writing skills, but thematically and conceptually the course aims at a high level of connectivity.

Students should notice this continuity. One of our ground-rules is that every text, once introduced into the discussion, remains part of it. Whether we begin by reading Of Mice and Men or A Midsummer Night’s Dream or Life of Pi, we will still be talking about it at the end of the year. The texts will be visited and revisited, as new levels of narrative are introduced. Likewise, the questions which arise out of the framework will tend to be asked of each subsequent text. This is the disciplinary heart of the unit, the foundation of knowledge, specialist language and critical strategies which we want the students to take over and use with increasing independence as the year goes on.

Students are motivated by the satisfaction of progressively mastering a discipline, of learning and applying, of maturing from naïf to novitiate to apprentice to master.

The word ‘discipline’ implies progression – progressive initiation into a mystery or craft.

It implies sequence, structure, conceptual coherence, and a schooled understanding. A discipline, as it is mastered, empowers its student with a comprehensive set of interlocking ideas and principles which enable the apprentice to interpret phenomena, generate authentic questions, create meaning and make predictions.

The aim of introducing basic narrative theory into the study of literature is not to complicate, but to simplify as well as to deepen. Although we will have the students read a lot this year, the course is not about coverage, it’s about uncoverage. It’s about using ideas which are both basic and profound and establishing simplicity on which to build complexity. The aim is to create a map of the concepts we have about literature and literary production; a framework of interpretive and analytical ideas; a set of skeleton keys which will open anything; a set of rules by which to play the game. The aim is to turn the spotlight back on literature itself and to tackle the problem of a graspable, theoretically coherent basis for the discipline at high school level. Only by doing this can we teach literature in a way which is empowering for all students.

NIST is at the cutting edge of development in the field of technology, but has not forgotten that there is more to being a leading IB school than the ratio of computers to students. This year’s schoolwide theme of empowerment reflects this, and signals the intention to stay ahead of the wave in educational terms. By developing a concept-driven literature course in Year 10, the English Department seeks to empower its students by challenging their thinking and creativity, whilst laying down structured set of understandings and strategies for their future studies. www.nist.ac.th

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Chamber News

AustCham Vice-President Receives Meritorious Achievement Award

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hun Sutipong Ittipong, an alumnus of Pittsburg State University (graduated with BA. and MS. in Economics), was recently recognised by the university with its prestigious Meritorious Achievement Award.

For the Chamber, Khun Sutipong currently serves as Vice President and is Chairman of AustCham’s Community Services Subcommittee. He has served on the Board for over 15 years and has been Vice President since 1995.

The Meritorious Achievement Award is given to a small number of recipients each year to commemorate outstanding achievements in their careers, communities, and lives.

His Chamber responsibilities have included the Banking & Finance Subcommittee and chairing the Community Services Sub-committee which has been responsible for many outstanding charity projects such as libraries for school in Kanchanaburi, Rayong and Cholburi, the donation of computers and water filtration systems, the funding and donation of books for libraries, the donation of Baht 400,000 to buy a foetal heart monitor machine for Panthong Hospital in Cholburi and the completion of a bakery training center in Kanchanaburi.

Khun Sutipong is the Senior Executive Vice President of the SMEs Business Group of Siam City Bank Plc. (SCIB).

He has represented SCIB in donating money to victims of the Tsunami, to the Thai Red Cross, to victims of unrest in the four southern provinces, and in donating books to remote schools.

Khun Sutipong has also served in various director positions including as a director of Charan Insurance Plc., chair of S Factors Co. Ltd., and chair of both Best Western Samui Bayview Resort and Spa and Samui Laguna Resort. Under his leader-

ship, shareholders have contributed profits from both the Samui Bayview Resort and Spa and Samui Laguna Resort to build a well-stocked library in the local community.

Sundowners Across Asia When travelling regionally, keep in mind these other AustCham networking events: Bangkok Hanoi Ho Chi Minh Hong Kong Jakarta Kuala Lumpur Manila Phnom Penh Shanghai Singapore Vientiane

first Wednesday first Thursday first Thursday third Thursday third Wednesday last Thursday second Tuesday third Wednesday every Friday third Friday ad hoc

AustCham members pay local members’ prices. Don’t forget to check the venue with the local AustCham!

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It is due to Khun Sutipong’s many years of dedicated community service and outstanding achievements in his career that he is recognised for this well deserved award.

Member Get Member AustCham Thailand has introduced a scheme for members to introduce new members. If a new member is recruited, the existing member will receive three lunch tickets and three Bangkok Sundowners tickets which, at non-member prices, have a value of around Baht 5,000.

So now you can help friends and colleagues reap the benefits of joining AustCham Thailand and be recognised for your help in expanding the AustCham community!

The tickets will be given to the introducing member – evidenced by that member being recorded in the new membership application as the first named referee. Each existing member may receive these reward tickets for up to three new members in any one membership year.

AustChamThailand AustChamThailand Advance

Advertorial

RealEscape’s

“HideAway” in Kuiburi

Niche developer, RealEscape, with its first project in Thailand, ‘The HideAway’ delivers the tropical beach villa dream at WhaleWatchers Beach in Kuiburi, about 65 kms. south of Hua Hin.

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t is probably everyone’s dream at sometime in their life to get away from it all and indulge in the dream of living on a tropical sandy beach in a modern resort style house.

No more suit and tie. No more Northern European winters. Just casual living at your own pace with spectacular sea views and tranquility. And, when the urge is there, get the news, catch up on correspondence via e-mail or watch your favorite TV series.

Niche developer, RealEscape, with its first project in Thailand, ‘The HideAway’ delivers this dream and at a price which is not usually associated with real estate with this location and quality. RealEscape is a European Developer.

‘The HideAway’ project provides the tropical beach villa dream at WhaleWatchers Beach in Kuiburi, about 65 kms. south of Hua Hin. This area is starting to become popular with both foreigners and locals, especially with the launches of new, trendy resorts, such as X2 (Cross To), which is receiving rave reviews from guests, and, which is located just to the south of ‘The HideAway’.

‘The HideAway’ is truly a niche development, with 4 beach villas each with their own individual ‘cool pool’. Design and finishes follow a minimalist style, reminiscent of the new developments in the Northern Mediterranean. This concept and the compact, yet spacious design are the result of the creative blend from RealEscape’s experience and the skills of Simple Space, the Architects behind the upscale Aleenta Resort in Pranburi and Phuket (Phangnga).

All 4 villas are right on the beach and not, as for so many ‘beach front’ properties, in the

back lot of a development with a small beach frontage or with a road between the beach villas and the beach or with a view of the beach if you have x-ray vision!

The construction of ‘The HideAway’ villas is complete, as is the infrastructure. The Show House is ready for December visitors, and incorporates state of the art materials, fittings and appliances, as well as materials that are natural – local stone and bamboo – and environmentally friendly.

If this all sounds too good to be true, then do as the Developers say – Just Imagine ……. Invest in Your Lifestyle. The key RealEscape partner and contact in Thailand is Martin Olsen : E-Mail:beach@ realescapethailand.com or phone: +66 (0)81 855 5291 / + 45 36953316.

ATBC President’s Column

A More Stable Road Ahead PATRON His Excellency Mr Bandhit Sotipalalit Ambassador, Royal Thai Embassy, Canberra

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hailand has recently seen the appointment of the Democrat-led coalition which is now getting on with the business of government in difficult conditions.

ATBC – Australian Section NATIONAL PRESIDENT Robert Taylor AusThai Connections president@aust-thai.org.au

In Australia, business has returned from the annual “silly season” holiday to a more uncertain and fragile economic environment.

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT John Connor Karjura Pty Ltd

For bi-lateral trade and business to flourish the apparent conditions do not look spectacular. However in many respects the fundamental reasons for and underpinning of the Australia-Thailand economic links remain sound.

But work needs to be done to restore confidence, especially to those Australian business people who were directly affected by the street protests and airport blockades of late 2008. The tourism market, which is less sophisticated and informed in understanding the conditions on the ground, needs much confidence rebuilding work.

The ATBC will work hard with its Australian and Thailand government together with corporate sector contacts to help promote the factual position regarding Thailand as a business destination and business partner.

Should any of our AustCham member colleagues be visiting Australia in the near future please let Colin Mackenzie, our National Executive Director, know at secretariat@ aust-thai.org.au – as your on-the-ground knowledge will be of great interest to our members – and we can organise an evening event around your visit.

An understanding of the cross cultural background is also a pre-requisite for flourishing trade and business. To this end it’s pleasing that ATBC will again be supporting the sixth annual Melbourne Thai Culture and Food Festival on 21 and 22 March 2009; its 50,000 visitors will gain a

FOUNDING PRESIDENT Charles Battersby Intelmar Australia Pty Limited VICE PRESIDENTS Chair of the New South Wales Chapter Tamerlaine Beasley Beasley Intercultural nsw@aust-thai.org.au Chair of the Queensland Chapter John Cockburn jkcockburn@hotmail.com

better understanding of Thai culture and the opportunities that exist for trade. (see www. thaifestvic.com) More details on ATBC can be found at our website on www.aust-thai.org.au Regards

Chair of the Victorian Chapter Graham Sherry Baker & McKenzie vic@aust-thai.org.au NATIONAL TREASURER Douglas Blunt Centrelease Australia Pty Ltd EXECUTIVE MEMBERS Clare Florence Glen Robinson ASEAN Focus Group Pty Limited

Robert Taylor - National President – Australia Thailand Business Council: www.aust-thai.org.au - President – Australia Thailand Association: www.vicnet.net.au/~atai - Founding Committee Member – Thai Culture and Food Festival Inc: www.thaifestvic.com - Director – AusThai Connections Pty Ltd www.austhaiconnections.com

Gavin Thomas Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd Director - Thailand Liaison Graham Storah storah@loxinfo.co.th SECRETARIAT Colin Mackenzie Australia Thailand Business Council PO Box 6005 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Tel: +61 2 6273 2311 Fax:+61 2 6273 3196 colin.mackenzie@acci.asn.au www.aust-thai.org.au ATBC – Thai Section Chairperson Khun Barbara Buranasilpin

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Community Projects

Wat Pra Pathranporn School Visit on 13 December 2008 On Saturday 13 December 2008, volunteers (together with AustCham staff), visited Wat Pra Pathranporn School, Sri Ra Cha. It was a successful day enjoyed by all. We thank the volunteers - Emma Fenby, Khun Kasemsri (Tai) Eufemio, Belinda Skinner, David Betts and Khun Chuanpit Ngamsanga (Naam) Meyer for their generous participation.

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February 2009

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Community Projects

“Tree for Life” Charity Project – Pathumwan Princess Hotel

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he Pathumwan Princess Hotel “Tree for Life” charity project raised money from hotel guests from 15 October to 15 December 2008.

Hotel guests purchased cans of CocaCola and the empty cans were used to build the Pathumwan Princess “Recycling Christmas Tree.”

The Pathumwan Princess Hotel generously donated funds from the project to AustCham’s Kindergarten project in Kanchanburi.

The funds were presented by Pathumwan Princess General Manager Khun Supanit Vimooktanon to AustCham Senior Executive Vice President and Chairman of AustCham’s Community Services SubCommittee Khun Sutipong Ittipong at a ceremony held at the Pathumwan Princess Hotel on 16 December 2008.

Community Services Special Project

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he AustCham Community Services Sub-Committee has identified a disadvantaged kindergarten that is in desperate need of repair and assistance located close to the historic Hellfire Pass site, an area AustCham focuses on in terms of our Community Services activities.

The kindergarten acts as a day care centre for some 90 young children whose parents work all day in the Kanchanaburi area. The school was identified by Bill Slape from the Hellfire Pass Museum, together with Peter Feeney, a member of the AustCham Community Services Sub-Committee. There are a number of different areas that need work: the main teaching building needs refurbishment, a new canteen is required (the existing one has dirt floors) together with the toilet facilities that need to be made sanitary.

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The kindergarten has already been inspected by the Community Services Sub-Committee and has been approved as a suitable project to support.

Three of our members (Meinhardt, Hassell and EEC Lincolne Scott) have already agreed to provide engineering and design assistance and you too can also provide assistance, goods or cash sponsorship.

Your support will help AustCham improve the lives of these children dramatically. All cash donations will be matched from the Chamber’s existing Community Services funds. It is estimated to complete the project, that we will need to raise 400,000 baht in cash in addition to the non cash support being provided by member companies.

More information, contact: execdirector@austchamthailand.com

AustChamThailand Advance

Chamber Events

Eastern Seaboard Christmas Networking on 12 December On Friday, 12 December 2008 Raimon Land invited all foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand to an Eastern Seaboard Christmas Networking event at Raimon Land’s Northpoint, Wong-amat Beach, Pattaya. Thank you to Raimon Land for generously hosting this event.

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February 2009

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Chamber Events

Australia Day Ball 2009 Proudly sponsored by Raimon Land in conjunction with Akara Mining Saturday, 24 January 2009 at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Monday, 26 January 2008 was Australia’s birthday and, although AustCham Thailand’s Australia Day Ball was held two days prior, the Australian spirit was certainly in full-force. This year’s theme was Australian Film Legends and many of our guests came dressed as their favourite character from an Australian movie or as their favourite movie character played by an Australian actor. After enjoying cocktails at the Raimon Land bar, the ballroom doors opened to a dazzling movie themed scene. From there on it was a spectacular evening of fun, with music from City Beat, DJ music from Paul Jackson, dancing, spot prizes and great prizes including tickets from Qantas and a sapphire ring from Artinian. A special thank you to our MCs Raine Grady and William Vaughan. What a great way to spend Australia Day!

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Chamber Events

AustChamThailand Advance

February 2009

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Chamber Events

Thank you to all the Sponsors, Prize Donors and Contributors for their Support for this Year’s Ball • • • • • • • • • • •

Accor Asia Pacific Akara Mining Allied Pickfords Amari Hotels and Resorts Amari Watergate Hotel Artinian Baker Tilly Thailand Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa Blackmores BNH Hospital Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld • Dimet (Siam) • dusit D2 baraquda Pattaya • Dusit Thani Bangkok

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February 2009

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok Fraser Hospitality Global Turf Consulting Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya Hemaraj Land and Development Holiday Inn Bangkok Holiday Inn Silom Bangkok Horseshoe Point HSBC InterContinental Bangkok Kimberly-Clark Thailand Limited KIS International School Le Meridien Bangkok Marriott Resorts & Spas – Bangkok, Hua Hin, Pattaya

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Molly Malones Irish Pub Nai Lert Park Hotel Novotel Bangkok Lotus Oakwood Residence Sukhumvit 24 Bangkok Pan Pacific Bangkok Qantas/British Airways Raimon Land Raja’s Fashions Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Bangkok Santa Fe (Thailand) Saraan Lifestyle Development Sat-Ed Systems Schenker (Thai) SCHUTZ DSL (Malaysia)

• Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok • Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit • Siam@Siam Design Hotel & Spa • Six Senses Resorts & Spas • Sofitel Centara Grand Bangkok • Sofitel Silom Bangkok • SpiceRoads • The Conrad Hotel, Bangkok • The Creative Partnership • The Dusit Thani, Bangkok • The Irish X Change • The Landmark Bangkok • The Metropolitan • The Minor Food Group

AustChamThailand Advance

Chamber Events

Infobite Luncheon – Where to Thailand?

On Thursday, 11 December 2008, AustCham Thailand was delighted to invite members and guests to attend a luncheon meeting at the Four Seasons Hotel entitled “Where to Thailand?

– Thailand’s outlook within a global economic slowdown and domestic disruptions.”

AustCham organised a distinguished panel of speakers to discuss the future for Thailand in a slowing global world.

Our panellists covered the property, industrial, tourism and financial sectors.

The session was moderated by Mr. John Hancock formerly of Baker McKenzie.

Our distinguished panellists were James Pitchon – CBRE; Ian Hamilton – TICON; Brian Sinclair Thompson – Swiss International Airlines and the Board of Airline Representatives; and Angus Kent – Macquarie Securities.

Members’ Changes

Change of Company Address

Dimet Siam 1/4 Note: _____________

Australia Network 3 Temasek Ave #34-00 Centennial Tower Singapore 039190 Tel: +65 6327 9282 Fax: +65 6327 9218 Syngenta Crop Protection Limited 25th Floor, Tower A CyberWorld Tower 90 Ratchadapisek Road Huai Khwang District Bangkok 10310 Tel: +66 (0) 2201 4999 Mr. Bill Meale Weiss-Rohlig (Thailand) Ltd 10/1-2nd Floor Soi Farm Watana Rama 4 Rd, Prakhanong Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110 Tel: +66 (0) 2381 2940 Fax: +66 (0) 23812937-38 Email: bill.meale@weiss-rohlig.com

AustChamThailand Advance

Change of Company Name HNP Legal Counsellors Limited changed company name to be HNP Counsellors Limited.

Change of Representative Mr. Kieran Hehir, Vice President – LBGA Export is a new representative of Siam Gypsum Industry (Saraburi) Co., Ltd. Mr. Stephen Appleyard, CEO is a new representative of Ayudhya Allianz C.P. Life PCL. Mr. Raymond Chong Chin Wah, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer is a new representative of Samitivej Public Company Limited.

Ms. Jane Bailey, South Asia Regional Manager is a new representative of Bangkok Hospital Medical Center.

Mr. Craig McMahon, Director of Sales – Corporate & Travel Trade is a new representative of lebua at State Tower.

February 2009

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From the Chamber Office

Message from the ED

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he Australia Day Ball is over for another year and once again a great evening was had by all. Thank you to our event sponsors Raimon Land and Akara Mining for their support of the evening. As always our major events would not be possible without our event sponsors and our annual corporate sponsors.

I would also like to thank all the companies who donated prizes for the evening. Monies raised from the sale of the raffle tickets are donated to our community services programme. This year we had over 50 prizes to give away that included a return trip for two to Australia, hotel room nights, dinners, cruises as well as a stunning sapphire ring donated

by Artinian.

Thank you to those companies who helped make the night memorable; Rajas Fashions for the backdrop photography on the evening, Allied Pickfords for logistics support and of course the Royal Orchid Sheraton for providing such a great venue. Last but not least I would like to thank the AustCham office staff.

The staff really do work hard to co-ordinate all of the Chamber events such as the Ball so thanks team for a job well done.

You should have already received the 2009 AustCham Handbook along with the souvenir booklet from the AustCham Business Awards. Veritas Graphics have done a fantastic job in producing the full colour Handbook and I would like to thank them for their tireless

commitment in assuring accuracy and quality.

The Annual General Meeting will be held shortly on 4 March 2009 – I would like to invite members to consider standing for election of the 2009/10 Board.

Being a Director of the Chamber is both a challenging and a rewarding experience. It allows you to be closely involved with business leaders in Thailand, Australia and the region and is a great way to give back to the community through the Chamber’s extensive charitable work.

Being on the Board also allows you to have direct input on how you would like to see your Chamber grow and evolve.

For those who cannot attend the meeting in person, please ensure that you appoint a proxy for this meeting and the Board of Directors elections. The full agenda and nomination forms will be on the way to you shortly, so keep an eye out for full details.

Calendar of Events WEDNESDAY, 4 FEBRUARY Sundowners

18.00 – 21.00 Catering & Venue Sponsor: Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok Venue: “Pool Side,” Four Seasons Hotel, Bangkok MONDAY 9, FEBRUARY Public Holiday: Maka Bucha Day

AustCham Office Closed TUESDAY, 10 FEBRUARY Breakfast Briefing: Standing out from the Crowd

07.30 – 08.30 Guest Speaker: Tim Arrowsmith, Blue Marlin Asia Venue: AustCham Office FRIDAY, 13 FEBRUARY ESB Sundowners

18.00 – 21.00 Venue: TBC SATURDAY, 14 FEBRUARY Voluntary English Teaching

Venue: Baan Khao Din School, Chonburi TUESDAY, 17 FEBRUARY Breakfast Briefing: Saving the Coral Reefs of Thailand

Brett Gannaway Executive Director, AustCham Thailand www.austchamthailand.com

07.30 – 08.30 Guest Speaker: Peter Walker, Senior Partner, Grant Thornton Venue: AustCham Office

Thank you to all January event sponsors

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Inside Back Cover

Samitivej

1/1 Note: __________________

Back Cover

International School

1/1 Note: __________________