Advance ~ June 2012

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

June 2012

Australia in the Asian Century: A view from Bangkok

in this edition

Five Things for Australia to Consider in the Asian Century Business briefs Fighting a Battle on Two Fronts

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AustralianAlumni Business briefs Canberra, Cricket and Commerce A Life Time of Experience

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ATBC Thai-Australia Business Dialogue

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THAI

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Contents PATRON His Excellency James Wise Australian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand PRESIDENT John Anderson Meinhardt Portfolio: Regional Links VICE PRESIDENTS M.L. Laksasubha Kridakon Baan Laksasubha Resort Portfolio: Alumni

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Business Brief Fighting a Battle on Two Fronts Australia in the Asian Century: A view from Bangkok 10 Five Things for Australia to Consider in the Asian Century 14 Canberra, Cricket and Commerce

16 AustralianAlumni 16 A Lifetime of Experience

ATBC 18 Inaugural Thai-Australia Business Dialogue chamber Events 20 Luncheon with Dr Bandid Nijathaworn: Coalition Against Corruption – Wednesday, 16 May 2012 at Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit 22 Bangkok Sundowners on Wednesday, 2 May 2012

at Hansar Hotel New members & members’ changes 24 AustCham Welcomes New Members From the Chamber Office 26 Message from the Executive Director

Belinda Skinner Top Talent Asia Portfolio: Communications and English Teaching TREASURER Leigh Scott-Kemmis DBM Portfolio: Advancing Trade and Commerce DIRECTORS David Bell Crestcom – Ra-Kahng Associates Portfolio: Speakers and Talks Khun Jurairat Jammanee HASSELL Portfolio: AustCham Ball Warwick Kneale Baker Tilly Portfolio: Community Services Sam Mizzi McConnell Dowell Portfolio: AFL and Eastern Seaboard Industry Sriram Narayan Qantas / British Airways Portfolio: Business Conference and Business Awards Alan Polivnick Watson, Farley & Williams (Thailand) Limited Portfolio: Legal Charles Wrightman Natural Ville & Lenotre Portfolio: Sponsorship

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

From the Board

President’s Message EX OFFICIO Maurine Lam Regional Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner, ASEAN COORDINATORS Paul Whyte New Asia Pacific ESB Coordinator Email: paul@newasiapacific.com Paul Wilkinson JVK International Movers Ltd. ESB Coordinator Email: paul.wilkinson@jvkmovers.com Harry Usher Lady Pie Phuket Coordinator Email: phuket@austchamthailand.com Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce 20th Floor, Thai CC Tower 889 South Sathorn Road Bangkok 10120 Tel.: +66 2 210 0216 Fax: +66 2 675 6696 execdirector@austchamthailand.com www.austchamthailand.com

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

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

AustChamThailand Advance

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fter yet another month that was somewhat difficult to work through given all of the public holidays, I trust that everyone is back in the swing of work and feeling somewhat reenergized.

As I write this, I am preparing for the Prime Minster’s upcoming visit to Australia. I will be heading to Australia for these events and am greatly looking forward to being a part of this historic visit. From 26 to 29 May, Thailand’s Prime Minister, H.E. Yingluck Shinawatra will be visiting Australia as a guest of the Australian Government.

The visit is in recognition of the enduring bonds between our two great nations.

This year together we celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations. Our strong ties encompass education, security community relations and education and trade.

Between 2010/11, trade between Thailand and Australia totaled almost AU$20 billion and Thailand was our ninth largest trading partner overall. Our relationship is destined to grow many times stronger in what has been widely dubbed the “Asian Century”.

During Her Excellency’s visit to Australia, AustCham Thailand’s sister organization in Australia – the Australia Thailand Business Council (ATBC) – will, in cooperation with the Asia Society, host a dinner with Prime Minister Yingluck at the ShangriLa hotel in Sydney. The Thai Board of Investment (BOI) will also be hosting an investment seminar entitled “Unbeatable Thailand, Unparalleled Opportunities” on the following day.

Of course before flying to Australia, AustCham will be holding its major social event for the year – our Diamond Ball. Several months of planning have gone into this event. I wish to thank the generous support provided by our naming rights sponsor – Natural Ville & Lenotre and event supporters Diageo Moet Hennessey, PFJ Asia Pacific and the Bangkok Post. With Australian sparkling wine, entertainment and many prizes to give away (including a one carat diamond!!) the night is guaranteed to be another great success! The ball also raises much needed funds for our community services projects which have benefited countless of Thai people less fortunate than us.

Another great initiative that was originally started by the logistic members of the Chamber is ‘Convoy for Kids’. If

you happen to enjoy golf, please note that their annual charity tournament is coming up on 15 May. It costs only 3,500 baht to play and typically raises approximately one million baht for “The Foundation for the Welfare of the Crippled”. The foundation cares for children affected by many conditions including cerebral palsy, spina bifida and congenital deformities. A little known, alumnus from this school bought home eight gold and six silver medals from the 2000 Paralympics held in Sydney! Further information can be found by visiting www.convoyforkids. com or contacting CFK Chairman, Mr David Mills.

Last month, it was very sad to see the passing of a great Australian and big AustCham supporter Mr. William Slape.

Bill of course ran the Hell Fire Pass Museum in Kanchaburi. Bill will be very much missed by the Australian community living here in Thailand.

I will complete my message by sharing a brief update on another exciting initiative that AustCham is planning to undertake this year. At present, it is too early to confirm all the details; however we are pleased to let members know that AustCham has begun work on arranging a business forum to be held in the secondhalf of the year. We are anticipating some very high-level speakers and working hard to pull all the essential ingredients together now to ensure another successful event. Keep your eyes on this space!

John Anderson President, AustCham Thailand www.austchamthailand.com

June 2012

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business brief

Fighting a Battle on Two Fronts Asia Pacific companies have to step up their sales game, but a lack of sales skills is holding them back!

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nderstanding a situation is the first step towards improving it, and understanding is precisely what companies need right now in order to respond to the new economic currents sweeping the region, and in order to plan for what is ahead. After weathering the shockwaves of the financial crisis in the United States, companies in the Asia Pacific region find themselves in a real period of recovery for the first time in years. Businesses keen to take advantage of this upswing need to first understand what barriers and limitations are holding them back, before they can address any weaknesses in order to move forward.

In order to gain a deeper understanding of sales in the region, Huthwaite conducted a comprehensive survey. This survey extended across sales professionals in the Asia Pacific, with questions about first and second quarter sales targets and forecasts, challenges, both internal and external, and the activities and roles played by sales managers. The survey turned up some significant insights, as well as differences between Australia and Southeast Asia.

Of the nearly 1,400 respondents, the majority had over 10 years of experience in sales. They had a range of job titles, even though all the jobs had strong sales components, with the majority being sales managers or general managers.

Many came from large companies, with over 1,000 employees with the remainder being fairly evenly spread through companies of a smaller size. The companies they worked for were also fairly diverse, with a slight bias towards the information and communications technology (ICT) industry. Many reported that they worked in professional services rather than a specific industry.

The spread of respondents provides a foundation for understanding the survey results. The diverse and broad base of these sales professionals indicates that

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these results are not industry specific, or specific to companies of a particular size, but instead reflect more of a bird’s eye view that shows endemic or systemic behaviour.

For example, while the majority reported hitting their first quarter sales targets, a significant number of respondents (about 30 per cent) reported that they had not. When asked the greatest external challenge to reaching targets in the last quarter, Australian sales professionals named the poor economic climate as the number one challenge, while Southeast Asian sales professionals found that their number one challenge was facing increased competition. This is probably due to the increased economic activity in Southeast Asia, particularly as multinationals step up their operations in the region. Southeast Asians have more choices than ever before, making selling to them a more competitive operation.

Respondents in both Southeast Asia and Australia, however, identified the selling skills of their sales teams as the biggest internal challenge to meeting first quarter targets, with head count and lack of mentoring, coaching and sales leadership skills as the other factors.

Looking forward, Southeast Asian respondents to the survey did, however, have a great deal of confidence, as a clear majority (80.2 per cent) reported that they would reach or exceed forecast sales targets in the second quarter of 2011. This was stronger than respondents in Australia, where 74.9 per cent predicted that they would do the same, and only 49.1 per cent thought that they would hit targets.

Both sets of respondents placed a large emphasis on increased competition as the greatest external challenge faced in the second quarter of the year, although the economic climate and price focus of customers were also cited. Once again, the selling skills of the teams, head counts, and lack of mentoring, coaching, and sales leadership skills were the top internal challenges.

When asked what they spent the majority of their time on, the majority of respondents reported that they spent most of their time maintaining long term relationships with key customers and contacts (54 per cent), which they viewed as having a great impact on their business (64 per cent). Sales professionals in Australia reported spending a great deal of time helping the team close late-stage deals,

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business brief

Australian sales professionals named the poor economic climate as the number one challenge, while Southeast Asian sales professionals found that their number one challenge was facing increased competition. while they recognise that coaching specific skill sets with sales executives in the field would have a great impact on their business. Interestingly, Southeast Asian respondents spend the most time with under achievers when coaching the team (52.9 per cent) while Australian respondents focus more on solid performers (51.4 per cent).

The survey results paint an interesting picture, where sales managers are devoting too much time in last-stage deal closing activity (sales meetings and firefighting) instead of engaging in the coaching activity that their teams need, or in exploring early-stage opportunities. The survey

as well as competition from new players who realise the opportunities that the region presents. But companies within the region seem to be fighting a battle on two fronts, with an internal skill gap and shortage of skilled personnel inhibiting them from tackling their external challenges.

showed that only 26 per cent of sales managers’ time is dedicated to these early stage opportunities, in favour of late-stage meetings to close deals (18 per cent) and ‘firefighting’ to save deals (10.2 per cent).

About Huthwaite Founded on scientifically validated behavioral research, our methodologies – which include the internationally renowned SPIN® Selling – guarantee sales success. Huthwaite assesses your organisation’s needs and develops customized sales performance improvement and coaching programs for sales and marketing professionals that drive real business results. For more information, please visit: www.huthwaite. com or contact Izzy Gladstone, Principal Consultant Thailand on +66 (0) 2686 3449 or at igladstone@huthwaite.com.sg

The survey also showed that nearly 50 per cent of sales managers’ time was being spent supporting presentations or proposals – perhaps at the expense of the coaching opportunities that sales professionals realise are important, but find lacking.

The economic climate of recovery in the Asia Pacific is creating some unique challenges, and sales professionals have to face some residual customer resistance

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business brief

Australia in the Asian Century: A view from Bangkok

By Bandid Nijathaworn - former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Thailand, Chair of the Thai Bond Market Association

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his year, Australia and Thailand are due to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic ties, a relationship that economically has moved from strength to strength. Since the landmark free trade agreement between the two countries in 2005, Thailand is now Australia’s ninthlargest trading partner.

For any Thai familiar with Australia, the Sydney Opera House, good wine, affordable quality education, beautiful cities and trustful business practices are things that easily come to mind when Australia is mentioned. All this indicates a higher recognition of Australia now for its strength as a country that offers quality and systematic processes, an impression that is probably shared throughout Asia.

For Asia, Australia’s economic role has become increasingly intertwined with the region. Asia is now Australia’s largest trading region, and Australia supplies a large proportion of the commodities and mineral resources that drive Asia’s industrial growth. Such mutual roles will only increase as the process of development and urbanisation in Asia continues. So, going forward, Asia will need Australia as much as Australia will need Asia.

A key question for Australia in the Asian Century, then, is how Australia can best use its relative economic strength to engage closely and constructively with Asia beyond its current role as the region’s major exporter of commodities.

Analysing Australia in the Asian century from this perspective, one sees a large scope for a constructive engagement between Australia and Asia to develop further, an engagement that will offer mutual long-term benefits to both.

First, while Australia will benefit from having Asia as its markets for commodity exports,

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Australia will need Asia more as a market for its services, an industry which accounts for over 70% of Australia’s GDP. Growth of the services sector is vital for Australia’s long-term competitiveness and economic survival, given its uncompetitive manufacturing sector and the need to reduce the dependency on the resource sector so as to avoid a repeat of the damaging booming sector effects, as was the case in the past.

Asia offers an ideal market for the Australia’s services industry to grow. More importantly, for Australia’s services industry to develop into a global competitive force, it also needs a market that can be a learning ground for its product development and for sharpening its competitive edge.

In this respect, Asia’s growing middle class, with generally less sophisticated demand, is an ideal market. This is similar to what Singapore is doing currently with its service industry, which is increasingly playing a regional role. In this respect, Asia is of immense importance for Australia’s long-term economic viability, both as market for commodities and as a source of future competitiveness.

Second, while Asia benefits from Australia as a supplier of commodities and services to fuel growth, countries in Asia can benefit much more from Australia’s recent successful experience in development and restructuring, especially in the public policy process and governance, which have transformed Australia into one of the world’s most competitive, least unequal, and wellmanaged economies. For Asia, maintaining growth while upholding financial stability and ensuring a fair distribution of growth benefits will be a key challenge. Australia has done well and has a lot to offer to Asia.

Finally, as global economic power shifts to Asia, Asia will also need support of countries outside the region to help with its new responsibilities and leadership role.

This is also an area in which Australia can be helpful, given the country’s status and track record in the world economy.

Therefore, Australia will be of immense value to Asia if the country’s strength and experience can be deployed in a manner that will help Asia sustain its growth, stability, and development. To this end, there are at least three roles that Australia can meaningfully contribute.

The first is the role of gate-keeper for the international commodities market. As Asia will need efficient and secure access to the supply of raw materials to fuel its growth in the Asian century, Australia – as a major exporter of commodities – can contribute by helping to improve the integrity, regulation, functioning, and transparency of international commodities markets. This is an area where Australia’s involvement will be of potentially great value to Asia and to the world alike, given the country’s strong commitment to promoting an efficient market and good public policy.

The second is its role as Asia’s dependable voice on global issues. Important in this context is the issue of global governance in international economic policy and a fair setting of global standards and regulation.

The third is its role as Asia’s partner in development. Australia’s vast expertise and experience can contribute importantly and usefully to Asia’s capacity and institution-building at all levels. Particularly important in this context is the public policy process and governance, issues that have become a challenge for most countries in Asia.

So, Australia will be important for Asia as much as Asia will be important for Australia in the Asian Century. The key is to focus on the synergy that will bring benefits to both.

This article was taken from the Lowy Institute’s online discussion of the Australia in the Asian Century White Paper.

To see a full list of articles submitted, visit http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/category/ Australia-in-the-Asian-Century.aspx

AustChamThailand Advance

business brief

Five Things for Australia to Consider in the Asian Century

By Dr Nattavud Pimpa

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n the twenty-first century, we can confidently predict two trends. First, Australia will become more ethnically diverse. And second, we will become more enmeshed with Asia. The next generation of Australians will be more likely to have been born in Asia, travelled to Asia, worked in Asia or married someone from Asia.

That’s why the Asian Century White Paper, which the government has commissioned from former Treasury Secretary Ken Henry is so important. Rapid economic growth in China and India isn’t just drawing millions of people out of poverty – it’s also placing Australia closer than ever to the economic centre of gravity of the world economy. This isn’t just a mining story (Australia’s service exports to China exceed our coal exports), it’s a story that illuminates the evolution of our national character.

The Asian Century has five big implications for Australia.

First, Australia needs to focus on the opportunities, not the threats. Straightforward trade theory tells us that Australia will be most prosperous if we focus on our comparative advantage – the things we do better than other nations. This means that as the outputs of other countries change, it will invariably affect our comparative advantage.

Managing industrial transformation is an important challenge for our nation. It is also important that we maintain a bipartisan conversation about how structural change is vital if we are to continue increasing living standards. Every day, thousands of Australians lose their jobs, and thousands find a new job. No government can – or should – try to prevent every job loss. And no opposition should seek to block change by engaging in partisan politics over job churning.

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It is often said that Australia is ‘competing’ with Asia. But in our reflections on industrial change, we must acknowledge that Asia is our most significant export destination, and that eight of our top ten trading partners are already in the Asian region. Demands for services such as education, tourism and technical expertise and goods such as high-quality agricultural produce, will only increase as the preferences of consumers adjust to their new middle-class status. The OECD projects that the proportion of the world’s middle class residing in Asia will increase from 28 per cent in 2009 to 66 per cent by 2030. The growth of the Asian middle class means a massive increase in consumption and spending on imported goods and services, the supply of which Australia is well placed to provide.

Second, I believe Australia should revitalise the push for a Republic. As the only Anglo-Celtic country in the Asian region, we have an extraordinary opportunity

to harness the rise of Asia. Yet there is a mentality that when we punch out at the end of our time working in or visiting China, we come safely home to the Anglosphere. For example, only 20 per cent of Australians currently working in China can speak Mandarin. Our political and cultural institutions reflect an attitude in which Australia is a dependant of the British crown. Despite the world’s economic centre of gravity shifting towards the Asian-Pacific, the notion still persists that Australia is located in the antipodes, far away from where the important decisions are made. We can no longer afford to think of ourselves as simply visitors to this region, when it is from this region that the future will be shaped. By becoming a Republic, we would be able to stand proudly independent of the United Kingdom and announce to our neighbours our readiness to be involved in our region.

Third, we must improve the Asia-literacy in Australia. Increasing Australia’s

AustChamThailand Advance

Eric Kenso Ward, ISB Class of 1979

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

business brief

skill base in Asian languages must be a strategic priority. Better language capacity is crucial to trade negotiations, and to picking up the opportunities offered by businesses across the region. Just as compelling are the social and cultural benefits of enabling people to communicate with people from other backgrounds.

A strong command of language allows listeners to far better understand differences in culture; to understand not just what is said, but why. If we want Australia to have a place at the table in the Asian Century – to even understand the opportunities available – we will need to adjust our Asian language competence from a level suitable for backpackers to one that fits the boardroom.

While we agree that it would be a good thing for more Australians to speak Mandarin, Hindi or Vietnamese, it is also vital to take a hard-headed look at the reasons behind the low take-up of such languages. Such an analysis should take into

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account the basic economic principle that acquiring a language is not costless, and recognise that for our nation, Asian language study is an investment in a safer, affluent and more engaged nation.

Fourth, we should increase the Asia-literacy of our politicians. At the federal level, we can be proud to have some parliamentarians of Asian descent, who speak Asian languages, and who have lived in Asia. But there is more work to be done to ensure that our politicians continue to look like the electorate. Too few members of parliament are absorbed in Asian art and literature, and too few travel regularly in our region. There are plenty of parliamentarians who follow every twist and turn of United States or United Kingdom politics, and but not enough who understand party politics in India and Malaysia.

Fifth, we should engage our neighbours in trade, aid and diplomacy. As Hugh

White’s provocative Quarterly Essay has illustrated, the rise of China creates significant challenges for Australia. Australia should not relinquish its strong support for open markets and open societies. Allowing the Renminbi to rise to an appropriate level would be good for Chinese consumers, as it would increase their buying power and help to curtail domestic inflation. Encouraging China to deliver more of its foreign aid through multilateral institutions would help donor coordination and poverty reduction.

Similarly, while the Association of SouthEast Asian (ASEAN) has built a strong and generally progressive community of nations, its policy of non-intervention in national affairs must not be used as an excuse for social reforms to languish.

Australia must focus its diplomatic and development capacity on encouraging Asian nations to harness their growth for the benefit of their own populations, the region and the world.

AustChamThailand Advance

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Canberra, Cricket and Commerce

By M. L. Bhuthong Thongyai, Trade Commissioner, Thai Trade Centre, Sydney

it all adds to the excitement and challenge in my new job as Thailand’s Trade Commissioner to Australia – I just hope I can live up to the high expectations that come with such a privileged posting.

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was six years old when my father opened Thailand’s first Trade Commissioner’s office in Canberra in 1972, where we were to live for the next 17 years. I still recall our home in Moresby Street and the many fond memories of growing up in Canberra – particularly the many mischievous years at Red Hill Primary, Telopea Park High, and Narrabundah College before moving on to ANU.

My immediate role since arriving in December – besides promoting Thai Hom Mali rice – has been to restore confidence in the Australian business sector following the worst flooding in Thailand’s history. Although measures are being taken by the government to prevent future flooding, which includes a 350 billion baht budget to construct storm water drain facilities, digging new water diversion canals, and to improve the overall water resource management system, it is difficult to convince people that these measures will work. The real test will be as early as May, when the rainy season is expected to hit the country yet again.

Cricket was the favoured sport in our family, thanks to Dad, who got us off to a great start with our very own fullsize turf cricket pitch in the backyard.

We were also very fortunate to have the likes of the great Jack Fingleton as our close neighbour who would often come over to give us a few tips.

Unfortunately for me, it was my brother who excelled in this national sport as a solid left-hand opening batsman, and who made his mark by representing the Australian Capital Territory in the Under19 State Championship Tournament in Melbourne in 1983 before subsequently being selected in the Australian Under19 squad alongside such famous names as the Waugh brothers.

M. L. Bhuthong Thongyai

Returning recently to Australia after 23 years was like coming home. Aussies have always been down-to-earth people and it feels great to be back amongst my mates, eating four-n-twenty meat pies, sausage rolls, and watching Australia thrash India in the recent cricket series.

Most other export industries in Thailand faced the same dilemma as Australian

My two sons started their first schooling in Australia and they are already getting into the cricketing craze with bat and ball in hand, and I’ll certainly do my best to push them along as did my father for me.

Living in Sydney is a far cry from the peace and tranquillity of Canberra, but

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With high hopes of expanding trade between the two countries, I was shocked to see Thai exports to Australia contract for the first time in decades. In spite of the strong Aussie dollar, 2011 was a nightmare year for our exports, which fortunately for me was not confined to the Australian market, but rather, Thai exports all over the world had declined as a result of the recent flooding. I experienced this phenomenon first hand when buying a new car in Sydney for my wife. Many dealers had simply run out of stock of imported Japanese cars from Thailand and were now importing directly from Japan and other countries.

My brother, M.L. Kathathong Thongyai, later became Captain of the Thai national cricket team.

Thai exports to Australia were continuing to lose valuable market share to its competitors, which only makes my job even harder.

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importers and businesses preferred to hold back their orders until delivery could be assured and for the Thai Government to clearly provide positive signals that such circumstances would not recur. In the meantime, Thai exports to Australia were continuing to lose valuable market share to its competitors, which only makes my job even harder.

The then Thai Ambassador to Australia, H.E. Mr. Vivadh Na Pom Bejra (centre) and his wife Mrs. M.R. Nivatwarn Na Pom Bejra (back row second from left) attended the Tulip Festival in Bowral N.S.W. together with the then Thai Trade Commissioner to Australia M.R. Nabthong Thongyai (right), his wife, Mrs. Kulanit Thongyai Na Ayuthaya (back row second from right, and their three sons, M.L. Kathathong Thongyai (front row left), M.L. Bhuthong Thongyai (front row second from left) and M.L. Thongmakut Thongyai (front row second from right).

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As I know everyone is well aware this year marks a special year for AustraliaThailand relations as we celebrate 60 years of close friendship and diplomatic relations. Trade between the two countries has been a key factor in bringing our people closer together, and I will do my very best to ensure this bond is strengthened. The new Thai Ambassador to Australia, H.E. Mr Maris Sangiampongsa, has also recently arrived so I will be working closely with him and with the ATA to keep the ball moving.

June 2012

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AustralianAlumni

A Lifetime of Experience

By Duncan Smith

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n Australian education has steered Khun Pichai Chuensuksawadi to a stellar journalistic career. But his experience at Australia’s ‘university of life’ was just as important in shaping the person he is today.

“There is no doubt that the experience of learning and living in Australia for ten years influenced who I am, my career and my attitude to life,” says Chuensuksawadi when asked about his Australian education.

“I had never been on a plane before nor travelled overseas,” recalls Chuensuksawadi of his parents decision to send him to school in Brisbane. “I suspect my father was influenced by his Australian bowling teammate, who had parents living there.”

“I found the people genuinely friendly and outgoing. Bear in mind, at the time there were very few Asians studying in Australia, let alone Brisbane. I think in my first year at boarding school there were no more than five of us – one from Hong Kong, three from Malaysia and myself.”

Throughout boarding school, Chuensuksawadi had no particular idea what he wanted to study at university or what career path he would pursue. “In those days you had to make a choice at grade ten to take the science-maths route or to go with the arts-history, English and geography. I chose the maths-sciences stream, despite being better at English and history. I soon realised I did not like it and did not do well, but rather than lose face and repeat a year, I pursued the subjects nonetheless and passed, barely,” he says.

Straight out of school Chuensuksawadi went to James Cook University in North Queensland to study Southeast Asian politics. Journalism was not yet on the radar screen. “Once there, I decided I wanted to study Law but had to chalk up enough points to transfer and complete the degree at the University of Queens-

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“Education in Australia has certainly changed since I was there in the seventies.... Australia is close to Thailand compared to other countries like the UK or US. But, more importantly, the overall standard of Australian universities is high. I also like how Australian educational institutions include practical work experience in the curriculum, helping students prepare for life and work in the real world.” land in Brisbane, he says. “But by mid1977 I realised that I wasn’t cut out to be a lawyer and soon lost interest.”

the port in Mackay and a chocolate factory in Brisbane. In hindsight, you learn a lot about people and life,” he says.

After graduating, Chuensuksawadi spent the rest of the year travelling along the Queensland coast, working odd jobs along the way. “I worked as a labourer at construction sites and built sewage systems in Townsville. For a while I worked at

“Perhaps because of those six months of discovery, meeting people with so many fascinating lives and stories to tell – and influenced by All The President’s Men (the book and subsequent film of the Watergate scandal) – I finally decided that I

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AustralianAlumni

would study Journalism at the University of Queensland,” recalls Chuensuksawadi.

more Sun and worked as a stringer for the New York Times Bangkok correspondent.

“The overall standard of Australian universities is high. I also like how Australian educational institutions include practical work experience in the curriculum, helping students prepare for life and work in the real world.”

“When I finally returned home to Bangkok, I was armed with two bachelor’s degrees but, more importantly, I now knew what I wanted to do,” he states. “Soon after, I started my career in journalism as a proofreader at the Bangkok Post.”

He took up various positions with the paper, including foreign affairs reporter, political writer and news editor, then went to work for the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Secretariat in Jakarta as Special Assistant. “It was a golden opportunity to witness and record policy discussions and formulation, especially given my experience as a foreign affairs reporter,” he explains. “Then as fate would have it, I was offered the editorship of the Bangkok Post and returned to take up the position in August 1994.”

During the next four years, Chuensuksawadi worked his way up to the role of rewriter on the news desk, also writing news features and covering foreign affairs when the opportunity arose. “But I’d got bored and wanted a new challenge. I needed to learn and wanted to write lead stories for an American newspaper – my time in Australia had certainly given me international aspirations.

“I discovered and developed my speaking and oratory skills during my Australian education and became a member of the local district’s debating team, competing in state competitions. Throughout my career in Thai journalism, I draw on these skills when I deliver speeches, make presentations, moderate panel discussions and anchor my news-analysis television programme,” says Chuensuksawadi.

“In 1984, I applied to the Alfred Friendly Press Fellowship and secured a year’s placement at the Baltimore Sun in Maryland,” he explains. Thousands applied but only ten were selected. “I’m sure being Australian-educated and having experience with the Bangkok Post under my belt helped me stand out from the crowd. In Asia, having an international perspective like that was rare at the time.”

“Equally important to me are the longlasting relationships that l formed when living in Australia,” says Chuensuksawadi.

“Throughout boarding school and university, I realised that by participating in the activities outside the class or lecture room, by being open and engaged, you form friendships which last a lifetime. I am in regular contact and meet with a handful of my school and university mates. One is a former diplomat. Another is a businessman. A third was in journalism training and now in academia,” he says.

“I asked to be assigned to the city desk.

I figured that was the best way to learn about Baltimore,” he says. Within three months he had written a front page lead for the newspaper and later one of his stories even got a response from the White House.

“President Reagan, running for re-election against Walter Mondale, was visiting a school in Baltimore. Reagan stopped and asked a girl who she would vote for if she could – the girl said Mondale. Her teacher got upset and banned her from the Easter Egg Hunt (a big thing apparently). When the story ran, the calls from the White House came. I thought it was so funny at the time.”

Khun Pichai returned to the Bangkok Post but continued writing stories for the Balti-

AustChamThailand Advance

Khun Pichai’s son will soon graduate from the University of New South Wales. “I encouraged him to look at Australian universities when the time came. I wanted him to enjoy a more open educational environment and widen his experience by living in another country, to become more independent and make his own decisions and learn from his mistakes. Neither of us is disappointed.”

“Education in Australia has certainly changed since I was there in the seventies,” says Chuensuksawadi, who sees many advantages to an Australian education. “Australia is close to Thailand compared to other countries like the UK or US.

But, more importantly, the overall standard of Australian universities is high. I also like how Australian educational institutions include practical work experience in the curriculum, helping students prepare for life and work in the real world”, he says.

“My advice to students going to Australia is don’t just spend time in the classroom and seeing the sights. By all means be proud of who you are and where you come from, but reach out and be engaged in as many aspects to Australian life as you can. You will be a better and richer person if you do”.

Today, Chuensuksawadi is the editor-inchief of Post Publishing, which publishes the Bangkok Post amongst others. He is also managing director of Present Post News where he presents Morning Focus on Channel 11. But his urge to get ‘out in the field’ has by no means been sated. “I have always wanted to return to Australia for a month-long trip along the coast of Queensland and New South Wales, visiting all the cities and towns again. My son will be graduating in 2013; perhaps we’ll do it together.”

Australia Unlimited is part of the Brand Australia program, and its website is all about sharing the stories of people changing the world for the better – through their art, business acumen, scientific or humanitarian efforts. It is fantastic to see Australian alumni in Thailand featured so prominently alongside other Australian-related success stories!

Australia Unlimited wants to hear your stories of Australian-related achievement – whether it be about yourself, a colleague, a friend, a relative, or somebody you know. They are looking for stories with a connection to Australia whether it be through place of birth and experience of living, or through working or studying there. Simply submit a short outline via the Australian Unlimited website.

June 2012

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AUSTRALIA THAILAND BUSINESS COUNCIL

Inaugural Thai-Australia Business Dialogue

T

he Australia Thailand Business Council (ATBC) convened the inaugural Thai-Australia Business Dialogue in Sydney on Wednesday 2 May. For the first time in recent memory, the forum brought together a range of key stakeholders in the Australia-Thailand commercial relationship, both from the government and the private sector. A key focus of the discussion was preparing the ground for the first official visit to Australia by Thai Prime Minister H.E. Yingluck Shinawatra.

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Participants included the Thai Ambassador, H.E. Maris Sangiampongsa, representatives from the Thai Embassy and Consulate, Thai Trade and Board of Investment, Austrade, the Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce (AustCham), the Australia Thailand Institute, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Board of the Australia Thailand Business Council. CEO’s and representatives of key ATBC member companies also attended – thus involving directly in the discussions some of the largest businesses involved in two-way trade!

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AUSTRALIA THAILAND BUSINESS COUNCIL

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Given 2012 is the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, this was seen as an ideal opportunity to broaden and deepen the commercial relationship. A focused business agenda was regarded as essential and therefore a top priority in preparing for the visit.

The event was kindly hosted by King & Wood Mallesons at their spectacular office overlooking Sydney and its harbour.

Participants were optimistic about the future of the business relationship, noting that the strength and resilience of the Thai economy was underlined by its rapid recovery from devastating floods in 2011. And if there was a silver lining to the floods, it was that Australians had begun to realise that Thailand was not just an important economy regionally, but globally.

With merchandise trade doubling since the 2005 ThailandAustralia Free Trade Agreement to a monumental $AU16 billion, both countries rank the trade relationship as amongst their most important. Investment is also on the up, though notably one-sided: of the two-way total of almost $AU7 billion in 2010, there was a greater Thai focus on Australia as an investment destination with nearly $AU5 billion invested, while Australians invested only $AU 1.9 billion in the Thai economy.

Given the success of the meeting in bringing together senior stakeholders and generating ideas, the Thai Australia Business Council is working to see how such gatherings can become a more regular feature of Australia-Thailand business dialogue. (Editor: And AustCham is keen to help from the Thailand end.)

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Preparations for Prime Minister Yingluck’s visit were high on the agenda for the forum, with participants discussing how the business agenda could be maximised. Given 2012 is the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, this was seen as an ideal opportunity to broaden and deepen the commercial relationship. A focused business agenda was regarded as essential and therefore a top priority in preparing for the visit.

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June 2012

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5/22/12 10:53 AM

Chamber Events

Luncheon with Dr Bandid Nijathaworn: Coalition Against Corruption – Wednesday, 16 May 2012 at Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit In his new role as Secretary General to the Collective Action Coalition of the Thai Private Sector Against Corruption, Dr Bandid (former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Thailand) briefed AustCham, American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand (AMCHAM) and British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) members and friends on ways the coalition is working towards a corruption-free business environment in Thailand.

The Collective Action Coalition runs a certification program to train companies in anti-corruption policies and are urging everyone to sign up. For further details, please contact the AustCham office.

Please see page 8 for an article by Dr Bandid “Australia in the Asian Century: A view from Bangkok’.

Passing of William Slape

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AustCham members and friends will be saddened to learn of the passing of William (Bill) Slape over the weekend. Bill was a pillar of the Australian community in Thailand. As Manager of the Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum he was well-known and highly-regarded by all those associated with recognising Hellfire Pass as a site of great significance for Australia, Thailand and the many other countries whose citizens perished there. Bill, through the museum, helped make a terrible history relevant to a new generation. Bill was always there to help in any way he could.

He did a magnificent job of running the memorial facility and dedicated much time and care to many visiting war veterans, school groups, and general tours.

efforts in support of the AFP tsunami relief operation in Thailand in December 2004.

Bill was a retired Vietnam Vet and Warrant Office, and, in recent service was presented with the Australian Federal Police (APF) Operations Medal by Deputy Commissioner Michael Phelan for his

As in his everyday life, if Bill could help in some way, he would. On behalf of the entire AustCham family our sympathies extend to Bill’s family and friends. He will be sorely missed.

Bill responded at short notice to a request for assistance as a linguist to facilitate AFP operations at Phuket and took a very active role. Among the many additional tasks he took on, Bill sought approval for international medical teams to use two temples as temporary mortuaries, sourced equipment and supported AFP forensic staff. He worked in this environment for 16 days nonstop. The AFP Operations Medal had never been awarded to a civilian and was awarded to Bill at the direction of former AFP Commissioner, Mick Kelty.

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Chamber Events

Bangkok Sundowners on Wednesday, 2 May 2012 at Hansar Hotel AustCham’s monthly networking event for May was held on the breezy rooftop of Hansar Bangkok Hotel and Residence. We would like to thank both Hansar for hosting us at their beautiful venue and Singapore Airlines, for their corporate sponsorship of this evening.

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1) Belinda Skinner – AustCham Vice President, TopTalent Asia; Khun Susan Chayavichitsilp – Hansar Hotel; John Anderson – AustCham President, Meinhardt; H.E. James Wise – Australian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand; Eddie Leong – Singapore Airlines; Khun Jurrairat Jammanee – AustCham Director, HASSELL. 2) Khun Itthiphon Intarapanya – Singapore Airlines, Khun Treenuch Kamkanok – Singapore Airlines, Khun Nathawan Baitrakul – Singapore Airlines, Khun Wannaporn Lertchaikulsathien – Singapore Airlines. 3) Vincent Pourre – Wall Street; Peter Taylor – Baker Tilly. 4) Karen Hochhauser – APM Group; Thalia Andrews – Legend-Tec International Project Management. 5) Arnaud Bialecki – Sodexo; Khun Gataikan Duttadintorn – Ticon Logistics Park;

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AustChamThailand Advance

Chamber Events

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Khun Patan Somburanasin – Ticon Logistics Park. 6) Mario Gross – Sika; Khun Suchart Suvimolwan – Sika; Uwe Wehnes – Sika. 7) David Sharman-Selvidge – Austraining International; Helen Bird - ABV. 8) Khun Natsawan Laemluang – Anantara; Mike Gristaffi – Allied Pickfords. 9) Matt Burns – S.E.A. Images; Julia Nelson – dwp; BJ Radomski – Big Picture; Daniel Bird – Aztec Engineering. 10) Khun Rujirake Sakdapipanich – Meinhardt; Iain E. Hardie – Magnolia Quality Develompent Corporation. 11) Khun Chetsada Premanan – BAE Systems; Mike Holloway – RSM Advisory; Thalia Andrews – Legend-Tec International Project Management.

AustChamThailand Advance

June 2012

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Chamber Events NEW MEMBERS and members’ changes

Beak A La Carte Meats Pty Ltd 59 Steel Place Morningside, Queensland 4170 Australia Phone: 617 3895 4900 Fax: 617 3399 2611 Website: www.alacartemeats.com.au Email: shop@alacartemeats.com.au

Representatives: Mr Geoff Atkinson - Managing Director Background: A la Carte Meats was established eight years ago by Geoff and Sharon Atkinson to supply the foodservice market in Queensland. Geoff, a third generation butcher, identified a gap in the market for high quality grain fed beef products into the hospitality and restaurant market. With personal service and extensive industry experience behind them it was not long before the business began to grow significantly.

The business today employs over 50 people supplying 180 venues daily in Australia as well as exporting throughout Asia.

The business recently has built strong relationships with the Independent retail sector in Australia supplying the full range of meats including sausages, burgers and other value added products.

Products/Services: Portion controlled beef, pork and lamb for foodservice and retail supermarkets. Value added meats products including sausages, burgers and roasts. Vacuum packaging as well as modified atmosphere retail packs.

Clubhouse Bar 21/1-3 Sukhumvit 23 Road Klongtoey Nua, Wattana, Bangkok Phone: 662 664 1376 Fax: 662 664 1375 Website: www.theclubhousebangkok.com Email: contact@theclubhousebangkok.com admin@theclubhousebangkok.com

Representatives: Mr Daniel B. Doolan-Director Mr Bryan N. Dodd-Director Background: After living in Thailand for 15 years and having over 25 years of building experience, I decided with a colleague to build a cool sports bar that would offer sports viewing for everyone, a place where you could take your family or girlfriend. Having the experience of building numerous bars and restaurants in Thailand already, we wanted to offer a place that was not already been offered but was needed.

Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit 189 Sukhumvit Road Sukhumvit Soi 13-15, Klongtoey-Nua Wattana, Bangkok 10110 Phone: 662 126 9999 Fax: 662 126 9998 Website: www.sofitel.com Email: H5213@sofitel.com

Representatives: Mr Christian Schlegel - Hotel Manager Mr Anthony Slewka - Director of Sales and Marketing Background: Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit, the Southeast Asia flagship for Sofitel Luxury Hotels, brings to Bangkok the refined luxury of French elegance. The brand new 32-storey hotel sits comfortably among the very best Bangkok has to offer,

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flanked by the commercial and financial district and prime shopping areas. Modern and opulent, Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit offers a truly luxurious experience for upscale business and leisure travelersFrench savoir-faire at its finest.

Products/services: The 345 guestrooms and suites include 233 Luxury rooms, 75 Luxury Club Millesime rooms and 32 Prestige suites, each boasting floor-to-ceiling windows and timber floors, and feature the ultimate in sophisticated luxury and state of the art technology.

The three Opera Suites and two Imperial Suites offer terraces with sweeping views over the Bangkok skyline.

ISS Facility Services Co.,Ltd 92/9 Moo7 Phaholyothin Road Anusawaree, Bangkhen, Bangkok 10220 Phone: 662 972 3874 Fax: 662 972 3728 Website: www.th.issworld.com Email: sales@th.issworld.com

Representatives: Mr Abhijit Datta – Chief Financial Officer and Support Services Managing Director Mr Glenn Liddell – Chief Operating Officer/ Security Services Background: ISS Facility Service Company Limited is a leading one stop facility service provider. Founded in 1901 in Copenhagen, Denmark and in 1985 in Bangkok, we are recognised as the world’s second-largest private company in facility service business. Currently there are branches in over 50 countries with more than 500,000skilled employees, 28,000 of which in Bangkok and several major provinces in Thailand. All our branch companies earnestly pursue a management principle that focuses on the constant development of service quality.

Products/Service: ISS’s business covers broad areas of work, from tailored to one stop services.

Service business includes: • Cleaning services: daily cleaning, height cleaning ,clean room, pre-factory opening cleaning and washroom services.

AustChamThailand Advance

NEW MEMBERS and members’ changes

• Support Services: outsourced factory workers and office staff, co-packaging services and drivers • Security Services: manned guarding, security system, aviation and exhibition/ event.

• Property Services: pest control, indoor air quality and landscaping.

Limcharoen Hughes & Glanville (Phuket) Co., Ltd 63/102 Moo2 Thepkasattri Road Koakaew, Muang, Phuket 83200 Phone: 6676 346 642 Fax: 6676 346645 Website: www.limcharoen.com Email: info@limcharoen.com

Optimus Oil and Gas Engineering Ltd One Pacific Place, Suite 1702, Level 17 140 Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok Phone: 662 653 0272 Fax: 662 653 0277 Website: www.optimusoge.com Email: enquiries@optimusoge.com

Representatives: Mr David Morton-Director Background: Optimus are unique in offering independent Process and Safety Engineering consultancy based in Bangkok.

Representatives: Mr Kris Limcharoen Mr Desmond Richard Lewis Hughes Background: Limcharoen Hughes & Glanville is a leading legal service provider which dispenses high quality business advice throughout Asia and to clients across the globe. We, like our clients, are committed to the foreign direct investment markets and assisting clients with either investing in, or procuring investment in Asia.

Limcharoen Hughes & Glanville’s locations reflect expertise in different market segments all of which can provide clients with assistance in effecting investment or procuring receipt of investment in the developed and emerging markets of Asia.

Our locations assist with leverage of knowledge, connections and local expertise in relation to targeted investments specific to one location and also in relation to cross border or multijurisdictional investments. We are also able to assist with multi-jurisdictional dispute resolution and litigation.

Products/Services: • Dispute Resolution and Litigation • Real Estate • Commercial Transactions • Foreign Investment • Public and Private Corporate, Banking and Finance • Intellectual Property (IP) • Public and Private Ventures/Projects • Individual Regional Law Compliance

AustChamThailand Advance

The team is led by David Morton who has over 20 years of experience working for Operators and Contractors in the region and having spent 2009/ 2010 working in the Aberdeen office of Optimus returned to establish the office in Sukhumvit in October last year.

Our experience is biased to front end engineering and operations support but undertake all process engineering studies relating to oil and gas operations.

In Safety and Loss Prevention we offer a full suite of Safety Analysis and reviews including Concept Safety ALARP studies, QRA, HAZID, HAZOP and LOPA. Additional consultancy in Risk Management, Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering and Project Management are provided through our Aberdeen head office.

INDIVIDUAL MEMBER

Mr David Boyce Regional Head Pharmacy Solutions Zuellig Pharma Thailand F 8/9 Ploenchit Centre Building 2 Sukhumvit Road, Klongtoey Klongtoey, Bangkok Phone: 662 656 9800, 6681 920 0008 Fax: 662 656 9801 Email: dboyce@zuelligpharma.com

Profile: David has a strong ability to develop strategy from inception through to implementation. With experience in multiple industries he is able to bring breath of experience to business challenges.

His current role requires development of retail strategies across 11 countries in Asia. This is a complex environment differing challenges in every country. Specialties include; Business Development, Retail Strategy Development, Sales & Operations Execution, Marketing Communications and Advertising, Event Management.

Change of Company Address KONE Public Company Limited 555 Rasa Tower2, 26th Floor Phaholyothin Road, Chatuchak, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900 THAILAND Tel: +66 2 784 6500 Fax: +66 2 937 1100 Mainstay Property Solutions Company Limited 102 Na Ranong Road, Klong Toey, Bangkok 10240 Tel: +66 2 348 8570-73 Fax: +66 2 348 8577 Change of Representative • Ms Chanyanuch Chantarachoti, Senior Associate is a new representative of Opus/Horton International.

• Dr Andrew Davies, Head of School is a new representative of International School Bangkok.

• Mr Peter Lucas, General Manager is a new representative of Park Plaza Hotel.

• Mr Robert Pincock, Director is a new representative of Molly Malone’s Irish Pub Bangkok.

• Ms Heather Suksem, Group Managing Director is a new representative of Property Care Services (Thailand) Ltd. • Ms Napatr Tienchutima, Associate Director of Advisory Services is a new representative of Colliers International Thailand.

• Mr Aloke Vaid, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer is a new representative of Asia Biogas Management Co., Ltd.

June 2012

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From the Chamber Office

Experience shows closer Thais can only help manufacturing Taken from ‘The Australian’ on 17 May 2012

By Mark Carroll

W

ith the outlook for Australian manufacturing perilous, its future may paradoxically be in Asia. Such is a key conclusion of an Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce study to be released ahead of the first official visit to Australia of Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The study shows Australian manufacturers in Thailand are thriving on the back of another massive wave of Japanese and US investment, particularly in the automotive sector.

Thailand produced 1.5 million vehicles last year, dwarfing Australia’s output of 225,000.

The experiences of Australian manufacturers in Thailand are a wake-up call for all Australian business. Most who took the plunge and established operations in the country did so in the recognition it was not just an attractive option, but critical to their future. They said their outlook was uncertain, even bleak, if they focused solely on the Australian market.

Many followed suppliers such as Ford and Toyota, but once they were established their Australian strengths in quality, delivery for the customer and innovative solutions generated unexpected demand from unanticipated quarters. As a result, they are now advancing their business plans and boosting production to meet the demand of previously untapped markets.

Before setting up in Thailand, many Australian firms looked to China, but they decided Thailand was a more friendly and more manageable business environment, scaled for Australia’s typically mid-sized manufacturers.

Crucially, a key to enduring success was the retention of sufficient manufacturing capability in Australia to underpin research, prototyping and other vital development steps that precede full-scale production.

This is a business model that takes advantage of Australian strengths at the high end of the value chain, while simultaneously capitalising on Thailand’s advantages, particularly its strategic location at the centre of Asia and the attractive investment incentives offered by the Thail Board of Investment. It is a model that acknowledges the shifts in Australia’s economic foundation but retains the best of Australian can-do. And with the forthcoming ASEAN Economic Community set to transform Southeast Asia into an integrated market of 600 million people, it is a model Australia businesses would ignore at their peril.

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For the Thai government, an important message of the study is that it risks becoming a victim of its own success.

With 39 million workers, labour force participation is already high at 72 per cent.

Combined with industry expansion and a rise in the minimum wage to a comparatively high $9.50 daily, labour supply is becoming critically short and wages are increasing. Businesses are therefore looking for productivity gains, where once they would have simply hired more workers.

The good news for Thailand is that Australia’s strong services sector makes it an ideal partner to help Thai businesses adapt and evolve to handle existing pressures, not to mention those that will inevitably accompany the transition to the AEC in 2015. High on the agenda for the Thai leader’s visit should be how the 2005 Thailand-Australia free trade agreement – a ground-breaking treaty that has more than doubled trade in merchandise to $16 billion – can be refurbished to facilitate such an important win-win.

Calendar of Events MONDAY 4 JUNE Visakha Bucha Day

AustCham Office closed WEDNESDAY 6 JUNE Commonwealth Sundowners

18.00 – 21.00 Venue: Eastin Grand Hotel Corporate Sponsor: HASSELL FRIDAY 15 JUNE Tee off at 12 noon Convoy for Kids Charity Golf Day

Venue: Pattana Sports and Golf Resort, Sri Racha WEDNESDAY 27 JUNE AustralianAlumni Event

Venue: VIE Hotel

Perhaps the most disappointing finding of the study was how little value Australia attaches to its business expertise in Asia.

Australian business people in Thailand are outnumbered three to one by Brits and two to one by Americans, but they are disproportionately influential in leadership ranks.

Yet the same executives said their international experience was all but a liability in the Australian corporate world, in stark contrast to the US and European multinationals, in which international experience was usually a prerequisite for executive progress. All felt infrastructure and opportunity was lacking to contribute to promoting Australia in Asia.

There are important messages here for the federal government’s Australia in the Asian Century white paper. Its consultation phase has largely bypassed the valuable expertise that exists in the Australian business diaspora in Asia. And indications are that Canberra’s preoccupation with larger and more complex markets such as China and India means it will overlook opportunities such as Thailand could provide in helping to save local manufacturing. It would be a shame, for example, if the white paper failed to recognise that Thailand has become Japan’s manufacturing hinterland, and the best opportunity for Australian businesses to break into lucrative but difficult-to-penetrate Japanese supply chains.

Thank you to May sponsorS:

AustChamThailand Advance