Advance ~ October 2012

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

October 2012

Ranger: Australian Inspired, Thai Built, Ford Tough in this edition

A Guide to Expatriate Taxation in Thailand embassy news Australia Shares Expertise with Thailand

12

Community services Voluntary English Teaching at Baan Khao Din School, Chonburi

14

Chamber events AustCham Site Visit to RMA Automotive on Friday 17 August

18

Chamber events Bangkok Sundowners at Banyan Tree Bangkok

24

helping you find your piece of australia Keep up to date with what’s Learn how to maximize happening in the Australian your benefits of being property market an overseas Australian property investor Use our special “Property Investors Find your future residence Tool Box” at today’s price

Regular seminars on the important issues affecting Australian property investment Prepare for your children’s future education Gain access to Special Reports on issues affecting you as an expat

Critical information for all investors on Australian Property, Taxation, Finance & Migration

Visit our website www.aussieproperty.com & register using the Promotion Key “THAI” and be upgraded to a gold member for free (usual price US$150) and receive special benefits including discounts of up to A$1,000 on property & services.

www.aussieproperty.com

The Australian Property Tax and Finance Specialists Australasian Taxation Services, the leading Australian property tax experts

Specialist Mortgage, The leading provider of Australian property finance to International Investors

Why pay tax on your Australian Property investment when with legal tax planning it can be eliminated.

Don’t risk high penalties and tax bills.

Making the right decisions on

We can:

can save you money and give

•

you peace of mind for the future.

If you own an Australian Property, you must lodge annual Australian income tax returns.

•

Ensure tax free Australian property investment

•

Ensure you pay no tax for a period on your return to Australia

•

Provide full Migration and

SGD, USD, HKD & GBP •

Access to over 30 banks and financial institutions ensuring the best range

We are fully independent

of loan products for your Australian property

of all lenders and therefore

•

can professionally guide individual circumstances.

The most flexible lending criteria and

you to the best loan for your

repayment options •

Our service is FREE of charge

Expat tax planning service

For a free, no obligation discussion, contact: Steve Douglas steve@smats.net

Choose from a range of interest rates in AUD,

your Australia property finance

Tax Return

ATS can ensure you remain fully compliant with Australian taxation requirements and can help you to a tax free investment and tax holiday through proper tax planning.

ATS

Prepare your Australian

•

specialist mortgage

For a free, no obligation discussion, contact: Helen Avis helen@smats.net

Visit Our Website at www.smats.net

Since 1995

specialist mortgage

ATS

10 Jalan Besar, #17-01, Sim Lim Tower, Singapore 208787

Australia | China | Dubai | Hong Kong | Malaysia | Singapore | Thailand | UK | USA Australian Credit License Number: 385201

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

6

Belinda Skinner Top Talent Asia Portfolio: Communications and English Teaching

Business Brief 6 Ranger: Australian Inspired, Thai Built, Ford Tough 8 A Guide to Expatriate Taxation in Thailand

embassy news 12 Australia Shares Customs and Border Protection Expertise with Thailand

18 19 Eastern Seaboard Sundowners at Dicey Reilly’s, Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa 22 From Tigermen to Today: Dinner with Barry Petersen at The Westin Grande Sukhumvit 24 Bangkok Sundowners at

Banyan Tree Bangkok

16

19

community services 14 Voluntary English Teaching 16 AustCham English Teaching Programme

New members & members’ changes 27 AustCham Welcomes New Members

chamber Events 18 AustCham Site Visit to RMA Automotive on Friday 17 August 2012

From the Chamber Office 30 Message from the Executive Director

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

From the Board

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

Editorial Committee Belinda Skinner, Josh Hyland, Gary Woollacott 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 sasipa@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

I

am back from a great holiday in Europe where I discovered the joys of Weisswurst and German lager. I put on a bit of weight so I am now on a strict diet! The kids had a great time as we travelled by train to ten cities in seven countries.

In the last few months I have also had to make frequent trips to Myanmar where our company is hoping to establish a permanent presence in Yangon. Burma is proving to be quite a challenge. The country has a chronic need for just about everything. In particular it is short of hotels, office space and the basic infrastructure that we pretty much all take for granted – in particular electricity and reliable internet and mobile phone systems.

Probably most desperately needed for business is the establishment of retail and business banks. There are few ATMs and very limited use of credit cards. It is very difficult moving money around. Apparently less than one percent of the population have a bank account. Salaries are paid in cash. Presumably people keep their money under their mattresses!

Myanmar has a large, relatively young population that want to embrace change.

It has a government that hopefully has decided that there is no turning back. This all makes for a great opportunity. There are already a lot of business people currently looking to see whether they can do business in this country. There are a lot of people asking the same questions, probably making the same mistakes as well.

Several people have asked me whether there is there an Austcham in Myanmar and how does a chamber come into being? The answer is that there is no Austcham Myanmar – yet. However there are several people on the ground over there interested to form a chamber. We have been speaking with these people offering our ideas.

The Australian Thai Chamber of Commerce started off as a few business people getting together for lunch. Some 35 years later it employs seven staff and has a membership in excess of 400 companies.

It makes a lot of sense for our chamber to help establish an Austcham in Myanmar– so as to facilitate the doing of business in this country during these transformational times.

Many of our members here will likely establish business in Myanmar. This seems to be very much the emerging trend. This is indeed a place where we all could do with some assistance and pool knowledge for the collective benefit of each other. It is something for the members to think about, whether AustCham Thailand should provide some sort of administrative support to form a new chapter. As an interim measure we will be starting an AustCham Myanmar Interest Group. We hope to have a regular AustCham Myanmar lunch in both Yangon and Bangkok for our members who have a Myanmar interest and have a special section dedicated to Myanmar on our web site. More about this later.

The AFL Grand Final Day was another big success this year. Again thank you to all of those people who supported it on the day and a big thank you to our supporters Berlitz, The Coffee Club, Lady Pie, Raja’s Fashions and Transpo (Asian Tigers). I would like to give special thanks to BlueScope Steel as the major supporter of the AFL event this year. Without all our sponsors, the day would not be as successful as it was. Thank you again.

John Anderson President, AustCham Thailand www.austchamthailand.com

October 2012

5

business brief

Australian Inspired, Thai Built, Ford Tough

By Mark Carroll, AustCham Thailand

W

ith accolades such as “best in the business”, “best family utility rolling around” and “a styling triumph” the all-new Ford Ranger is redefining the compact utility vehicle – or ‘ute’ in the Australian vernacular. In fact, Ranger is the first pickup to achieve a five safety rating, raising the bar for not just vehicles in its own category, but across the board. In the pedestrian safety category, for example, Ranger scores more highly than any other car or truck on the road, according to a 2011 NCAP study.

So how do you go about producing one of the best looking, best performing, and safest vehicles around? Well, turns out you take the near 100 year history of ‘Ford Tough’ trucks and combine it with the best of Australian design and engineering skill and Thailand’s manufacturing prowess!

The new Ford Ranger was conceived, engineered and developed by Ford Australia at its Campbellfield engineering and design facilities in Victoria. The project began some four years ago with the ‘simple’ objective of developing a new utility from the ground-up and building it to be “among the forerunners – if not the pack leader – in every area that is important to the customer”.

6

October 2012

The Ranger model has been part of the Ford stable for some 20 years and has been one of Ford’s most popular pickups across the globe. So it was no small honour that the job of re-developing one of Ford’s flagship models was given to the team at Ford Australia. “The reason the design and engineering of the new Ranger was done in Australia was a combination of our proximity to a growing Asian pick-up truck market and Ford Australia’s worldclass design, engineering and testing facilities,” said Gary Boes vehicle line director of Ford’s new compact truck platform.

The team that developed the Ranger included some 500 engineers in Australia and around the world. During the ‘virtual development’ phase, advanced computer technologies were used to conduct some 30,000 computer-aided assessments on areas such as safety, durability, ergonomics, vehicle dynamics and aerodynamics.

Of these, 7,500 virtual assessments were carried out on the under-body to ensure a robust vehicle foundation, and more than 10,000 on the upper-body to align styling and functional requirements.

Ranger prototypes were tested in Australia, Thailand, Dubai, the United States, Brazil, Sweden and South Africa. More than a million kilometers on the road

added to the countless hours of testing in Australian laboratories.

The hard work of the Ford Australia team and Ford colleagues globally has paid off in the product they have developed. The Ranger does not compromise on any benchmark. As well as safety and good looks, it has impressive towing, payload and water-wading capabilities. Fuel efficiency is a paramount consideration in the various powertrain configurations, with 1,000 kilometres possible on a single tank of diesel. Ranger’s comfortable interior boasts a glove box large enough to fit a 16-inch lap top while door pockets comfortably hold 1.5-litre water bottles.

Bluetooth, USB and iPod integration are standard – not to mention a range of other sophisticated technical goodies such as traction control.

The Ranger is also the first utility to be built under the ‘One Ford’ strategy which has guided Ford’s transformation in the wake of the global financial crisis and consequent seismic shifts in the automotive industry. Through the One Ford vision, Ford is re-emerging as an automotive giant that operates as a single global organisation, drawing on the talents of its employees worldwide to design and build vehicles that appeal

AustChamThailand Advance

business brief

to everybody, everywhere. Under ‘One Ford’ the Ranger is thus being sold in a massive 180 markets!

“We tailored Ranger’s series and configurations to accommodate a variety of customer applications and lifestyles around the world. Each series looks fantastic on its own,” said Craig Metros, chief designer of the Ranger. “We designed to a wide spectrum. From our fleet buyers who expect a tough workhorse with a hoseout interior to the executive who demands leather trim seating with luxury sedan appointments.”

Manufacturing of the Ranger for the Asia Pacific region (including export to Australia) takes place at the AutoAlliance Thailand (ATT) facility in Rayong, Thailand.

A joint venture between Ford and Mazda, the ATT plant is being upgraded at a cost of $US27 million in order to boost production by 20,000 units annually. This will take total utility capacity to a massive 195,000 per year. The latest investment takes Ford and Mazda’s total joint spend on the facility to close to $US2 billion since operations began in 1995!

Working hand-in-hand with the production team in Thailand was a priority for the Australia-based Ranger developers.

Recalling the experience, a Ford Australia spokesman says “Ford Australia has worked closely with the factory producing Ranger and the supplier base there for many years to help achieve the high-quality vehicle production that that produces the Ranger today”.

The Australian-inspired, Thai-built Ranger

Ranger is not the only Australian-inspired Ford you will be seeing on the roads in Thailand. Ford Australia has just shipped 100 of its top-spec model all-wheel-drive sports utility vehicles (SUV) – the Territory Titanium TDCi – to Thailand. is certainly proving to be a hit in the Thai domestic market. August 2012 sales jumped an extraordinary 264 percent to 2,724 units! Overall customer bookings in Thailand have already surpassed 31,000.

As it turns out, Ranger is not the only Australian-inspired Ford you will be seeing on the roads in Thailand. Ford Australia has just shipped 100 of its top-spec model allwheel-drive sports utility vehicles (SUV) –

the Territory Titanium TDCi – to Thailand under a low volume export deal.

With 130,000 units sold since 2004, the Territory is a familiar sight in Australia and New Zealand. Thai customers were able to catch a glimpse of the muscular yet elegant 7-seater SUV at the Bangkok Motor Show in March this year. The positive response prompted Ford to put the Territory on sale to a lucky few in Thailand.

Territory is an entirely Australian designed and manufactured vehicle, and is produced at Ford’s plant in Campbellfield.

Ford Australia President and CEO, Bob Graziano, described the Territory to Thailand export as a “small but important deal that will provide an important base on which to potentially build further exports”.

Looking at Thailand’s vast (and rapidly growing!) automotive sector, one could easily be forgiven for thinking it is a Japanese, American and European-only enterprise. But next time you see a Ford Ranger ute, or perhaps even the exclusive Territory SUV, remember to point to it as evidence that Australian automotive expertise is right up there with the very best.

AustChamThailand Advance

October 2012

7

business brief

A Guide to Expatriate Taxation in Thailand Prepared by RSM, Asia Pacific’s international tax experts, this Guide to Expatriate Taxation in Thailand is taken from RSM’s publication on tax policies and principles applicable in Asian countries.

Thailand Territoriality and residence An expatriate, who resides in Thailand at one or more times for a period or periods aggregating to 180 days or more in a tax year (i.e. calendar year) is a tax resident of Thailand, and as such, is subject to personal income tax in Thailand on all income derived from sources in Thailand, whether such income is paid within or outside Thailand.

In addition to the income derived from sources in Thailand, any income that an expatriate may earn abroad is subject to tax in Thailand upon bringing such income into Thailand.

An expatriate should note therefore that if their Thai tax residency commences in the year of arrival, any remittances of overseas income to Thailand, which is derived from 1 January of the year of arrival, would be subject to personal income tax in Thailand.

Double tax agreements Thailand has executed double taxation agreements (DTAs) with 54 countries.

Most of these agreements contain a provision, which exempts a person of a DTA country from tax on income earned in Thailand if all of the following three conditions are met: • The person is present in Thailand for less than 183 days in any 12 month period; and • The remuneration is paid by an employer who is not a resident of Thailand; and • The remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment or a fixed base that the employer has in Thailand.

Assessable income Assessable income comprises of eight categories of income as follows: 1. Income from employment; 2. Income from an office or position held or servicesrendered; 3. Income from goodwill, copyright and other rights and annuities; 4. Income from dividends, interest, share of profits, bonuses paid to shareholders and gains from the sale of shares; 5. Income from letting out properties on hire; 8

October 2012

6. Income from liberal professions; 7. Income from construction and contracts of work; and 8.

Income from business, commerce, industry or other activities not specified above.

Allowances and benefits Assessable income includes income both in cash and in kind. Any allowances and benefits provided by an employer or other persons, such as rent free housing, children’s school fees, air travel for home leave, tax paid by the employer on behalf of the employee etc. are treated as taxable benefits and included in the assessable income of an expatriate. There is no fringe benefits tax imposed on employers in Thailand.

Taxation of capital gains There is no capital gains tax in Thailand.

Capital gains from the sale of assets by expatriates are included in the calculation of assessable income and subject to tax at the normal personal income tax rates, with the exception of capital gains from the sale of shares on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, which are not subject to personal income tax.

The amount of the assessable income from a capital gain is calculated simply by deducting the cost of the asset from the consideration received on disposal of the asset. The cost of the asset is not indexed for inflation.

For the purposes of personal income tax, the consideration received is the amount of consideration actually received. This differs from the corporate income tax laws, which prescribe that the consideration received must be market price at the time of the sale.

Gains on the sale of assets by nonresidents where the income or gains are paid from or in Thailand are subject to withholding tax at the rate of 15 per cent.

Taxation of investment income Interest, dividends and royalty income derived from overseas sources are subject to tax in Thailand when the investment

income is remitted into Thailand in the year in which the investment income is derived.

Interest, dividends and royalty income paid from or in Thailand are subject to withholding tax at prescribed rates. For interest, the withholding tax rate is 15 per cent. For dividends, the withholding tax rate is ten per cent, and for royalties, the withholding tax rate is three per cent.

Tax exemptions For the following types of income, an expatriate need not include, or may choose not to include, for the purposes of calculating personal income tax liability in Thailand: • Income from the sale of Thailand immovable property acquired by bequest or by way of gift; • Income from the sale of Thailand residential buildings if the income is spent on acquiring a new residential building during the period of one year before to one year after the sale; • Income from Thailand interest, provided that the interest was subject to 15 per cent withholding tax at source; and • Income from Thailand dividends or share of profits from a Thailand registered company or mutual fund, provided that the dividends were subject to ten per cent withholding tax at source.

Taxable income Standard deductions and statutory allowances are allowed against assessable income to compute the taxable income.

Standard deductions The following standard deductions are allowable against assessable income: • 40 per cent of the income amount, but not exceeding Baht 60,000 against income from employment and income from copyright; • Ten per cent to 30 per cent of the income amount, against income from letting out property on hire, depending on the type of property rented; • 30 per cent to 60 per cent of the income amount, against income from liberal professions, depending on the type of profession; AustChamThailand Advance

business brief

Standard allowances Allowance Personal allowance Spouse allowance Child allowances (under 25 years of age) Education allowances (additional allowance for children) Parent and parent-in-law care allowances Parent and parent-in-law health insurance allowances Life insurance premium allowance

Amount per annum (Baht) 30,000 30,000 15,000 per child (maximum of 3 children) 2,000 per child (maximum of 3 children) 30,000 for each 15,000 for each Not exceeding 100,000 for each of taxpayer and spouse

Provident fund and retirement mutual fund allowance

15% of income, but not exceeding 500,000

Long-term equity fund allowance

15% of income, but not exceeding 500,000

Home mortgage interest allowance Social security fund allowance Charitable contributions allowance

Not exceeding 100,000 Amount paid Not exceeding 10% of income

• 70 per cent of the income amount, against income from construction and contract work; and • 65 per cent to 85 per cent of the income amount, against income from business, commerce or industry, depending on the type of income.

For income categories five to eight, an expatriate is also required to file a half yearly personal income tax return. This return and the half yearly tax payment are required to be filed with the Revenue Department on or before the last day of September in the income year.

Statutory allowances In addition to the above standard deductions, statutory allowances as described in the table above are allowable against assessable income.

Payment of taxes All payers of income have a duty to withhold tax at source, file a withholding tax return and remit the amount of withheld tax to the Revenue Department on a monthly basis. The amount of tax withheld is credited against the tax liability in the personal income tax return.

Tax credits An expatriate who receives dividends from a company or partnership incorporated in Thailand is entitled to claim a tax credit against the amount of computed income tax payable. For the purposes of computing income tax, the dividend received is grossed up for the amount of the tax credit, and the tax credit is then credited against the tax liability.

However, as noted under tax exemptions, an expatriate may choose not to include dividend income from a Thailand registered company for the purposes of personal income tax, provided that the dividends have been subject to ten per cent withholding tax at source.

Other employment taxes The employer and the employee are required to contribute equally five per cent of salary to the social security fund. However the maximum contribution payable is Baht 750 per month.

Lodgement of tax returns All expatriates are required to file a personal income tax return and make payment for any additional tax to the Revenue Department on or before the last day of March following the income year.

10

October 2012

Personal income tax rates Net income (after deductions and allowances) is taxed at progressive rates. Payment of income to nonresidents abroad is subject to withholding tax at the rate of 15 per cent of the gross income.

Terms of employment For compliance with the Civil and Commercial Law, the Labour Law and the Immigration Law, it is necessary for an expatriate to have a formal employment contract in Thailand. The employment contract is presented to the authorities to support the expatriate’s work permit application. All payments specified in the contract, which are subject to taxation in Thailand, must be included in the expatriate’s personal income tax return.

Independent personal services For an individual earning independent personal services income (i.e. income other than employment income), most of Thailand’s DTAs prescribe that the income is not taxable in Thailand if all of the following three conditions are met: • The recipient is present in Thailand for a period or periods not exceeding 183

days in the tax year; and • The recipient does not have a fixed base available in Thailand for the purposes of performing the activities; and • The income is not paid by an enterprise or a permanent establishment situated in Thailand.

Where all three conditions are not met, the personal services income is taxable in Thailand.

There are no taxation rules dealing with the use of a company structure for such income. In fact, due to the requirements of Thailand’s Foreign Business Act, an individual who is a tax resident of Thailand is firstly required to establish a form of legal entity in Thailand before independent personal services income can be earned in Thailand.

Payments to such a Thai entity are subject to three per cent withholding tax.

In the case where a foreign entity obtains a foreign business license to conduct the independent personal services in Thailand, three per cent withholding tax applies when the foreign entity has a permanent office in Thailand and five per cent withholding tax applies when the foreign entity has no permanent office in Thailand. This withholding tax is credited against the entity’s corporate income tax liability, calculated on the net profits earned from all sources, both within and outside of Thailand.

The corporate income tax rate is 30 per cent. However, a small-to medium enterprise, which can be established by foreigners in Thailand, is exempt from income tax on the first Baht 150,000, and pays income tax at the rate of 15 per cent on the next Baht 850,000 of profits, 25 per cent on the next Baht 2 million of profits, and 30 per cent on all profits over Baht three million.

Exchange control There is no difficulty in repatriating funds to an expatriate’s home country as long as the expatriate can show evidence of the source of income (including work permit and confirmation of employment) and evidence that personal income tax has been paid in Thailand.

RSM Asia Pacific, Level 8 Rialto South Tower, 525 Collins St, Melbourne Victoria, 3000 Australia T: +61 3 9286 1862 F: +61 3 9286 1999 W: www.rsmi.com 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

Embassy news

Australia Shares Customs and Border Protection Expertise with Thailand

T

he Australian Government, through the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS), recently funded a Thai Customs delegation twoweek visit to Australia for capacity building programs. The visit, comprising eight Thai Customs officers was the largest customs placement program to date with Thailand.

Upon their return to Thailand, two representatives shared their productive experiences in Australia and their determination to apply the knowledge gained to local customs operation.

Participating in the Air cargo placement program in Sydney, Mr Surapat Sikkares, Thai Customs Technical Officer, said he learnt the systematic practice of ACBPS including the advantages of having an integrated criminal record database in effectively identifying risks. Mr Sikkares was impressed with the capability of ACBPS’s dog detector unit and aspired to see similar units being established in Thailand. In addition, he valued Australia’s emphasis on operational safety for officers including tools such as glow-in-thedark uniforms which could be embraced

by Thai Customs too.

Thai Customs delegates exchanged their knowledge and experience on a professional and cultural level with Australian Custom and Border Protection officers in Australia.

Mr Nipon Thongphuk, Thai Customs Technical Officer, experienced firsthand Australian Customs Enforcement operations in Melbourne. He was impressed with the effective use of CCTV and X-ray technologies in inspecting containers

Thai Customs delegates strengthened their expertise through active engagement in hands-on operation with Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.

12

October 2012

and the image analysis expertise of Australian officers Not only did Australia share their expertise in Customs and Border Protection Service, the Thai Customs delegates also exchanged their knowledge and experience on a professional and cultural level on this visit. Mr Thongpuk appreciated the opportunity to continue the exchange of knowledge and existing collaboration between ACBPS and the Thai Customs department, which increases the knowledge and skills of both organisations.

The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service has enjoyed a close relationship with Royal Thai Customs over many years through a range of cooperative initiatives. The visit reinforces the intentions of Australia and Thailand to continue working more closely together in matters relating to customs and border protection. The visit has also further strengthened the bilateral relationship, particularly in 2012, the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Australia.

AustChamThailand Advance

MBMG Group is a multi-award-winning professional research and advisory practice that provides a full spectrum of investment, insurance, financial and legal services for individuals, corporations and institutions throughout Asia.

Founded in Thailand in 1996, MBMG Group has since established a reputation for providing sound, intelligent and impartial advice to clients from all walks of life.

But don’t just take our word for it, look at the awards we’ve won....

• ACQ Finance Magazine Global Award, MBMG Group, Business Advisory Firm of the Year, Thailand 2012 • ICFM Leading Regulated Fund Management Provider, Thailand 2012 • ICFM Continental Awards, Thailand 2012 • Finance - Monthly Tax & Estate Planning Firm of the Year, Global Award 2012

• Finance - Monthly Tax & Estate Planning Firm of the Year, Thailand 2012 • Lawyers World Global Leading Firm, Top Tier Rankings 2012 • Lawyers World Annual Jurisdiction Awards 2012 • Lawyers Monthly Legal Award 2012 • The DealMakers M&A Awards 2012, Independent Financial Consultancy Firm of the Year (Thailand)

MBMG InTernaTIonal Co., lTd. 75/56 Ocean Tower II, 26th Floor, Soi Sukumvit 19 Klongtoey Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110 Tel: +66 (0) 2 665 2537 - 9 Fax: +66 (0) 2 665 2996 Email: info@mbmg-international.com Web: www.mbmg-international.com

Looking for a New

Home to lease?

We make it EASY and FREE.

HC_Advance Mag_91x131mm FCQP.indd 1

9/19/12 4:05 PM

Follow us on facebook

community services

Voluntary English Teaching Saturday 18 August at Baan Khao Din School, Chonburi As part of our community services program, AustCham Thailand conducts an English teaching program at three schools in the provinces of Chonburi and Rayong. Volunteers work with small groups of children aged between five and 12 years and play simple games and activities which encourage the children to use the English language. No prior teaching experience is necessary, just a lot of enthusiasm! Many thanks to all who joined us last time. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact varin@austchamthailand.com.

14

October 2012

AustChamThailand Advance

Accredited and Affiliated with

AT.Advance Mag_91x131mm_QPFC.pdf

1

10th Anni BKKPrep_ADVANCE_180x130mm_FCHP.indd 1

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

9/18/12

9:21 AM

9/17/12 1:47 PM

community services

AustCham English Teaching Programme

there is such a buzz, all talking about the various kids and laughing at general antics.

By Belinda Skinner, AustCham Vice President

O

ne of my guiding principles in life is to help those less fortunate than I am.

And one of the most valuable things I believe anyone can donate is their time.

After all, it’s the one thing you can never get back! The reward I gain from helping others is priceless. How can you ever put a figure on that “warm and fuzzy” feeling?

For over six years now I have been actively involved in AustCham’s voluntary English Teaching programme, conducted in three schools in the Chonburi / Rayong area.

These schools are remote – we are not talking the Chonburi city area. The children we teach are from the rubber plantations and farming families. They are down to earth, fun-loving and willing to learn.

They attend our English programme on Saturdays not because they are told to, but because they want to.

AustCham volunteers teach the children simple conversational English. We cover basic words and phrases. We keep it fun for both the volunteers and the children, playing games, encouraging conversation and practicing reading and writing. It’s a light-hearted and rewarding environment.

AustCham’s English teaching programme has two main aims. The first is to encourage the children to be enthusiastic about English. Because the programme is spread across three schools we are only able to visit each school three to four times a year. This of course limits the amount that can be ‘taught’. So we instead focus on demonstrating to the children that learning English can be fun and easy. We give them the confidence and encouragement to continue learning to communicate in English. The second aim is to demonstrate that farangs are not ‘scary creatures’!

16

October 2012

None of our volunteers are professional teachers. It is not required! We are not teaching grammar or formal English. We are teaching simple words and having fun.

Many of our English teaching volunteers have very little Thai skills so we show the children that we can still communicate with each other via our basic Thai, and their basic English. At any one time various mimes are being played out, replete with hand actions, funny faces and other non-verbal cues. The children love to see us make mistakes with our Thai, especially my bad pronunciation of their names! It puts them at ease and shows them that it’s ok to make mistakes.

Our English teaching day starts off fairly early on a Saturday morning once per month. We depart the Thai CC building as a group, heading directly to the nominated school where we teach for a couple of hours. Any longer and the kids get too tired. After that, AustCham provides a simple lunch for the children, ably served by our volunteers. Once the children are fed, the volunteers then pile back onto the mini-van and are taken to lunch courtesy of AustCham as a way of saying thanks for the time invested. Then it’s a sleepy ride back to Bangkok for a mid-afternoon arrival.

I get two joys out of our English teaching days. The first is knowing that I’ve helped give something valuable to the kids. I love to watch them develop their skills. Some have a natural flair and are truly incredible in what they can achieve in a short amount the time. The second reward is to hear the excitement from the volunteers once they get back into the van leaving the school –

We do, however, need to see our volunteer list grow! Currently we have only a handful of regulars (to whom I am eternally grateful) but we all need a break (or have other commitments) from time-to-time.

Regrettably there have been some occasions where we are ridiculously short of volunteers.

If you are interested in assisting – and doing something rewarding for yourself as well as others – then I encourage you to speak to me or put your name down with the Chamber staff.

The only two requirements of volunteers: enthusiasm and reliability. No teaching experience is necessary! We don’t ask volunteers to attend every month, but if you can be available every second or third that would be great.

We also ask that if you do volunteer for a particular day then please show up or give us fair warning that you can’t make it! There is nothing worse than disappointed children or overloaded volunteers. We understand there are occasions when volunteers will be unwell or have unexpected priorities, but please let us know as early as possible so that we can make alternate arrangements.

Thanks again to all those existing and past volunteers who have contributed so much of their valuable time to the AustCham English teaching programme. You have helped make it the success it is today. For those considering volunteering don’t wait!

It is a worthwhile and rewarding experience and I urge you to come along and have some fun with us!

AustChamThailand Advance

Bangkok Community Theatre Celebrates 40 Anniversary with ‘The Country Wife’

B

angkok Community Theatre (BCT) celebrates 40 years of English-language theatre in Bangkok with its latest production, “The Country Wife”, William Wycherley’s hilariously bawdy classic Restoration comedy. Staged at the British Club on Silom Soi 18 from Wednesday 10 to Saturday 13 October, buffet dinner will be available from 6pm with showtime at 8pm.

The production’s themes of sexual freedom, gossip, double standards and hypocrisy are as applicable today as they are in the 17th century setting. Above all, the play provides plenty of belly-laughs and a really fun night out.

Tickets are 800 baht and can be booked by emailing bctcountry@

gmail.com, calling 081 741 0703 or at the British Club.

More information can be found at www.bct-th.org or on BCT’s Facebook pages.

English-speaking Men and Women of all nationalities (minimum age 18 years) are invited to audition for BCT’s March 2013 production of the dinner theatre comedy “Blithe Spirit.” Classic Coward comedy with misadventure leading to mayhem and madcap merriment, auditions are open to the general public at 1pm on November 11th at the British Club.

Please email BCT@sala.net with your full name and contact details to register.

Chamber Events

AustCham Site Visit to RMA Automotive on Friday 17 August 2012

O

n Friday, 17 August 2012, AustCham members and friends visited the RMA Group Assembly and Distribution Centre in Laem Chabang for a fascinating look into their production of light and heavy-duty vehicles, purpose-built modified vehicles and fleet solutions.

Headquartered in Bangkok, RMA Group is an international company with a global presence providing essential automotive and infrastructure solutions for clients operating in difficult markets and terrains.

RMA’s 90,000 m², full-service Assembly and Distribution Center (ADC) in Laem Chabang is equipped with extensive engineering and development laborato-

18

October 2012

ries and studios, advanced digital and real-world test facilities and a state-ofthe-art assembly plant that can complete up to 2,000 vehicles per month.

RMA customers are typically governments or government agencies, aid and relief organisations, peacekeeping missions, and other non-commercial enterprises. RMA also supplies and supports commercial enterprises that include aid and development contractors, and those engaged in construction, road building, utilities, mining, and telecommunications. The company has over 700 skilled employees on site.

Many thanks to Nicholas Ling, Tom Bell, and the RMA team for such a fascinating tour of their facility.

AustChamThailand Advance

Chamber Events

Eastern Seaboard Sundowners at Dicey Reilly’s, Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa Hosted by AustCham and held in conjunction with the British (BCCT) and American Chambers of Commerce (AMCHAM), August ESB Sundowners saw a great crowd meet for an enjoyable evening of networking. AustCham would like to thank Catering and Venue Sponsor, Dicey Reilly’s, Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa, for use of their venue and fantastic support.

AustCham Bronze Corporate Sponsor: McConnel Dowelll

building

civil

electrical

fabrication

McConnell Dowell is a specialist engineering, construction and maintenance service provider to all market sectors with capability in civil and marine, mechanical, pipelines and tunnelling.

In nearly 50 years of operation, we’ve built a reputation for successfully undertaking technical challenging projects and delivering them on time and on budget. By employing engineering skills to assess the risks, devise solutions and overcome the challenges provided by our clients, the name McConnell Dowell has become synonymous with innovative and creative construction.

This entrepreneurial approach, initially in marine works and later in pipelines and heavy industrial projects, became the springboard for growth into the international organisation we are today.

MacDow has a proven track record of suc-

AustChamThailand Advance

maintenance

marine

mechanical

cessful long-term relationships with our clients, no matter where they are based, which is a testament to our innovative and client focused capability.

Our commitment doesn’t end at delivering innovative and creative projects for our clients.

It is multi-faceted and includes standards and targets for safety, quality, the environment and the community. Our people harness our values and work as a co-ordinated team to create our journey to success.

With specialist skills in mining and metals, oil & gas, chemical processing and water markets we provide a complete construction service in green and brown-field facilities construction from engineer, procure, fabricate, field erection, civil, marine, mechanical, piping, and electrical installation works through to commissioning.

pipelines

rail

tunnelling

Our technical expertise is matched by intuitive relationship management skills and our capacity to perform works under various contract types including joint venture, early contractor involvement, public private partnership, design and construct.

To find out how we can provide a creative solution for your project, call our Thailand Head Office on +66 2 3915406, email: thai@macdow. com.au or visit our website for more informaiton.

www.mcconnelldowell.com Australia | Asia | New Zealand | Pacific Islands | Middle East

October 2012

19

AustCham Bronze Corporate Sponsor: Aurecon Consulting (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

World Class Engineering and World Class Engineering Management and About Management Aurecon World Class Engineering and

IKEA & MEGA BANG NA, Thailand

IKEA & MEGA BANG NA, Thailand

Aurecon provides engineering, management and specialist technical services for public and private sector clients globally. The About Aurecon group, with an office network extending across 23 countries, has About Aurecon been provides involved inengineering, projects in over 80 countriesand across Africa, technical Asia Aurecon management specialist Aurecon provides engineering, management and specialist Pacific the and Middle East and employs around 7,000 people The services forand public private clients The globally. group, with technical services for sector public and privateglobally. sector clients throughout 11 industry group, with angroups. office network 23 countries, hasin an office network extending across 23 extending countries,across has been involved Aurecon Thailand provides the fullinAfrica, range scope of multidisciplinary been in projects over 80Asia countries across Asia projects in over 80involved countries across Pacific and Africa, the Middle engineering services structural, mechanical, electrical, Pacific and including the Middlecivil, East and employs around 7,000 people Eastgeotechnical, and employsfacard, around 7,000 people throughout 11 industry groups. environment engineer and Transport services. throughout 11 industry groups.

Aurecon has a client centric business us the Aurecon Thailand provides the fullmodel range that scopegives of multidisciplinary Aurecon provides theincluding fullour range scope ofmechanical, multidisciplinary engineering services civil, structural, electrical, agility Thailand to deliver the full range of services globally.

We create geotechnical, environment engineer and Transport services. engineering services civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, best teams for our including keyfacard, clients, develop strong client relationships Aurecon has a client centric business that gives us the geotechnical, engineer andmodel Transport services. and deliverfacard, market environment leading solutions.

Our clients benefit from our agility to deliver the full range of our services globally. We create collaboration business model as it nurtures the development of best teams for our key clients, develop strong client relationships market expertise across industries.

Ourus technical Aurecon hasleading aand client centric business model that the from agility deliver market leading their solutions.

Our gives clients benefit ourto professional develop business advantage our create clients on deliver the fullcollaboration range of our services globally.

We best teams for business model as for it nurtures the based development of

Management

market leading theirthey industries.

Our technical our key develop clientacross relationships and deliver market deepclients, understanding of strong theexpertise industries in which operate. professional develop business advantage forcommitment our clients based leading solutions.

Our form clients from our collaboration business Aurecon’s Values thebenefit foundation of our toon deep understanding of the industries which they operate. model it nurtures the development ofto in market leading our as client relationships; our promise our people; andexpertise the Aurecon’s Values form communities the foundation of which our commitment across their industries.

Ourtotechnical professional develop contribution we make the in we business live to relationships; our promise to our people; and the and work. advantage forour ourclient clients based on deep understanding of the induscontribution we make to the communities in which we live triesWe in which they operate. aim to set industry standards, benefit communities and and work.

make a We significant contribution throughout the developed aim to set industry standards, benefit communities and

and developing Aurecon’s Values the foundation of our throughout commitment our client makeform aworld. significant contribution the todeveloped relationships; and ourdeveloping promise world. to our people; and the contribution we make to the communities in which we live and work.

We aim to set industry standards, benefit communities and make a significant contribution throughout the developed and developing world.

Dawei Seaport Development, Myanmar

Dawei Seaport Development, Myanmar

Bangkok Office

Bangkok Office Aurecon (Thailand) Co., Ltd. BangkokConsulting Office th Floor, UnitUnit 11011101 Pakin Building, 1111th Pakin Building, Floor, Aurecon Consulting (Thailand) Co.,Ltd. th Ratchadapisek Road, Floor,Dindaeng Unit 1101 Bangkok 10400 Pakin Building, 11 Ratchadapisek Road, Dindaeng Bangkok 10400 Road, Tel:Ratchadapisek +66 2333 3222 Fax: +66 2333 3333 Tel: +66Bangkok@aurecongroup.com 2333 3222 Fax: +66 2333 3333 Dindaeng Bangkok 10400 Email: Email: Bangkok@aurecongroup.com Tel: +66 2333 3222 Fax: +66 2333 3333 Visit us: www.aurecongroup.com Aurecon Consulting (Thailand) Co.,Ltd.

Email: Bangkok@aurecongroup.com Visit us: www.aurecongroup.com Visit us: www.aurecongroup.com

AustCham Bronze Corporate Sponsor: BNH Hospital

Enjoy restful sleep: make sleepless nights a thing of the past!

Sleep is critical for recharging both mind and body after a long day. Good sleeping patterns can make all the difference to your overall health and wellbeing. If you feel excessively sleepy during the day, are fatigued, less alert or perhaps even depressed despite having slept for a long period you may be exhibiting the signs of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

OSA is a sleep disorder characterised by abnormal pauses in breathing or instances of abnormally low breathing during sleep.

This may occur many times a night and for many hours. The disorder will cause the oxygen saturation to be lower than normal.

Research shows that OSA can increase the risk of hypertension, diabetes, heart attack and heart failure if left untreated.

If OSA is suspected a ‘sleep test’, or polysomnography, should be done to monitor pulse oximetry (O2), brain waves (EEG), heartbeat (EKG), chest movements, and eye movements. Traditionally this test was done overnight at the hospital, an unfamiliar environment not always conducive to sleeping uncomfortably and therefore increasing the risk of inaccurate test results.

Today’s technology allows you to have the test in your own bed in the comfort of your own home. The watch-like device will be set at your fingertips and your arm to monitor the position of sleeping and the movement of your eyes. If you suspect you may suffer from OSA, then trying this new friendly test may save you

money. This easy take home sleep test gives you the same reliable results as the traditional hospital sleep test. Isn’t it better to get a good night’s sleep that can help prevent sickness and underlying disease?

Dr Ranee Siravisidporn Ear Nose Throat Specialist BNH Hospital www.BNHhospital.com +66 2 686 2700 info@bnh.co.th

AustCham Silver Corporate Sponsor: Allied Pickfords

Alliedto-Allied Worldwide

moved

600 families

the

allied pickfords

difference

Allied-to-Allied Single-Source Network

Experience

With over 800 locations worldwide, no one else provides the consistent, top quality service that comes from single-source control of shipments from origin to destination.

Allied Pickfords’ international experience has been acquired from servicing the needs of thousands of multinational companies and Government agencies across the globe over many years, including 47% of the Fortune Global 500.

Allied Pickfords has the world’s largest integrated moving services network, giving customers the ability to track their consignment 24 hours a day, 365 days a year from anywhere in the world.

Professional and Ethical Conduct

per day

Allied Pickfords moves more than 600 families a day, 365 days a year, making us the industry’s leading international mover.

1/3/07 12:41:45 PM

easy moved

making it

/7 24online

per day

From the pre-removal survey to unpacking at the final destination, your employees’ personal effects are in the best hands – Allied Pickfords’ hands. Highly trained and experienced moving crews pack your employees’ belongings utilising the world’s best quality packing materials and techniques.

Your employees can relax in the knowledge that their personal belongings are secure when they are stored with Allied Pickfords. With secure storage capacity across the globe of some three million square metres, your employees Global will Scope; never be Local far awayService from their stored personal belongings.

Allied Pickfords operates the world’s largest moving services Pet and Vehicle Relocation network, with operations in over 40 countries.

Insurance From the pet cat to the family car, we lavish care on dating back to 17th century London allows us to Allied Pickfords can arrange comprehensive, replacement A heritage everything that is vital to your employees’ peace of mind. claim international expertise and detailed local knowledge value transit and storage insurance cover, providing a Option to Include unrivalled in the industry. Relocation Services superior service and shorter claim settlement period to that offered by our competitors. associate company SIRVA Relocation Over Through 70% of Allied Pickfords’ business is with the and corporate its certified partners, are able present a trulydefined and Government sectors, we meaning wetohave a clearly one-company complement appreciation of thesolution needs oftothis market. your employees’ requirements, including: Home Search, School Search, Orientation, Visa and Immigration Services and Cross-cultural Training.

Allied Pickfords moves more than 600 families a day, 365 days a year, making us the industry’s leading international mover.

9212_4_fa_cmyk.indd 2-3 9212_4_fa_cmyk.indd 4

tracking

With GlobalComSM, Allied Pickfords’ sophisticated online tracking system, you and your employees can find out the status of moves, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

for your employees

Storage

A heritage dating back to 17th century London allows us to claim international expertise and detailed local knowledge unrivalled in the industry.

9212_4_fa_cmyk.indd 2-3

600 families Removal of Household Goods

Allied Pickfords operates the world’s largest moving services network, with operations in over 40 countries.

Over 70% of Allied Pickfords’ business is with the corporate and Government sectors, meaning we have a clearly defined appreciation of the needs of this market.

Allied Pickfords will at all times adhere to the highest standards of professional and ethical conduct when dealing with you and your employees.

9212_4_fa_cmyk.indd 1

Global Scope; Local Service

Making it easy for HR On-line Tracking Technology Specialist software, GlobalComSM gives human resource managers the ability to track and report on the status of all your employees’ consignments, whilst allowing employees to view the status of their own consignments.

Process Management via Single Point of Contact Corporate Coordinator appointed to personally manage the day to day operation of all moving services requested on behalf of your employees.

Corporate Manager assigned to manage our relationship with your human resources team and report on service delivery.

Commitment to Service A commitment to service quality unmatched in the industry, including detailed Service Level Agreements and Key Performance Indicators.

Premium Quality at Competitive Prices As the largest trading partner of many of our suppliers, we are able to command preferential service at highly competitive prices.

1/3/07 12:41:45 PM 1/3/07 12:41:48 PM

50/808 Moo 3 Soi La Salle 34 Sukhumvit 105, Bangna, Bangkok 10260 Tel: 66 2 361 3961 Fax: 66 2 361 3962 Email:info@alliedpickfordsthailand.com Website: www.alliedpickfordsthailand.com

Chamber Events

From Tigermen to Today: Dinner with Barry Petersen at The Westin Grande Sukhumvit AustCham members and friends enjoyed a very special Key Issues Dinner on Wednesday 22 August with celebrated Australian Barry Petersen MC JP. With a life story resembling a Hollywood movie, Barry recalled the experiences that led to him being awarded 13 service medals – including the rare Military Cross – for active service in Malaya, Vietnam and Borneo.

On loan to the American CIA as a young man, Barry was sent into the Vietnamese highlands to recruit, train and operate a Montagnard guerrilla force in the early years of the Vietnam War. His 1998 book “Tiger Men: An Australian Soldier’s Secret War in Vietnam” captures the story. Barry has returned several times to Vietnam since the war, and twice managed to enter the Central Highlands, restricted to foreigners, to visit his Montagnard brethren.

AUSTCHAM Members’ offers Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square Double Bonus Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square offers “Double Bonuses” exclusively for KTC Credit Card Holders.

• Come four Pay two on the international buffet dinner at The Square (except Thursday Nights) • Come four Pay three on the all-you-can-eat Dim Sum Lunch at Lok Wah Hin (Monday-Friday) • For fitness lovers, grab a three-month membership at InBalance and get another three months completely free • At Tammachart Day Spa buy any spa or massage treatment price from Baht 1,800, (except package) and get one free.

Offer until: 31 October 2012 Call: +66 2 209 8888 Website: novotelbkk.com

Swissôtel Le Concorde Bangkok MEET @ LE CONCORDE! Swissotel Le Concorde Bangkok is offering a full day “Exclusive Meeting Package” for Baht 1,000 per person. A half-day package is Baht 900 per person. Offer Includes • 40 Participants get complimentary Wi-Fi

22

October 2012

• Free flow tea & coffee plus one herbal drink all day • International lunch buffet • Two Coffee breaks (for full-day meeting) • One Coffee break (for half-day meeting) • 200 Participants complimentary Wi-Fi internet for two persons and LCD Projector Offer until : 31 October 2012 Call: +66 2 694 2222

Holiday Inn Resort Phuket Mai Khao Beach Stay More, Benefits Galore Package Holiday Inn Resort Phuket Mai Khao Beach is offering a special Stay More, Benefits Galore Package.

The package is inclusive of Deluxe Garden View Room with daily buffet breakfast, round trip transfer from and to Phuket airport and complimentary wired/wireless internet throughout your stay.

Package starts from Baht 3,099++/night Offer until: 31 October 2012 Call: +66 76 603 699 Email: reservations@ holidayinnmaikhao.com

Angsana Laguna Phuket Residence Summer Promotion at Baht 16,200 +++/night

Enjoy your private three bedroom pool residence nestled in a luxury villa community of Laguna Phuket.

Enjoy complimentary daily buffet breakfast, round trip airport transfer and a complimentary evening cocktail each day and benefit from all the resort’s facilities and services available through complimentary shuttle bus and boat. AustCham Members receive a standard ten per cent discount and an additional 25 per cent when booking seven days in advance.

Offer until: 31October2012 Call: +66 76 324 101 Email: reservations-lagunaphuket@ angsana.com

Emirates Airline, Bangkok Emirates offers special exclusive fares to Sydney.

Emirates offers special exclusive fares for Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce with seven per cent discounts on Economy Class to Sydney for bookings and travelling any time from now until 30 November 2012 Visit http://www.emirates.com/ th and use the promo code: THAUS12 Offer until: 30 November 2012 Call: +66 2 664 1040-5 Email: BKKSALES@emirates.com

Swissôtel Nai Lert Park Bangkok Special Offers for AustCham members Exclusively for AustCham members, Swissôtel Nai Lert Park, Bangkok offers you ten per cent discount on your food bill when you dine at our ISO Restaurant, Noble House Restaurant, Pool Bar and Syn Bar. * Terms and conditions apply.

Offer Until: 31 December 2012 Call: +66 2 253 0123, 867 7000 Email: restaurants@nailertpark. swissotel.com

The Sukhothai Bangkok Exclusive ‘Romance Package’ Honeymoon The Sukhothai Bangkok now offers a unique ‘Romance Package’ which gives couples a variety of indulgent added value extras during your stay; from stimulating cuisine to sensual spa treatments. Package Price: Deluxe Studio Baht 12,000++ per room per night; Executive Suite Baht 15,000++ per room per night A minimum length of stay of four consecutive nights is required.

Offer until: 28 December 2012 Email: reservations@sukhothai.com

AustChamThailand Advance

Women With a Mission is delighted to invite friends and supporters to join their

4TH ANNUAL CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT

Proudly supported by Aust ChamThailand

Date:

Friday, 19 October 2012

12:00 Noon shotgun start (registra�on from 11:00am ‐ 11:45am) Time: Loca�on: Phoenix Golf Club (Sukhumvit Road, KM158, Huai Yai) Player Fee: B3,500 per golfer or B14,000 per team of 4. Open to men and women.

Includes green fee, caddy, goody bag, tournament golf shirt and admission to AustCham's ESB Sundowners at Holiday Inn, Pa�aya. Cart and �p not included.

All proceeds from the event will benefit children in Women With a Mission's NOURISH, EDUCATE and CARE programmes in Thailand.

See www.mywwm.org for more informa�on.

For sponsorship opportuni�es contact Paul Wilkinson at (paul.wilkinson@jvkmovers.com or 081‐903 9477), Kylie Grimmer (kagrimmer@gmail.com or 087‐482 3520) or Rosanne Diamente (mrdiamente2003@yahoo.com or 081‐865 0714).

For bookings or further informa�on, please contact kagrimmer@gmail.com or mrdiamente2003@yahoo.com, or call 087‐482 3520 or 081‐865 0714.

Premium Sponsors

Organised By:

On course photography by

Gold Sponsors

Proudly Supported By:

daveb Images

Silver Sponsors

Sundowner Sponsors:

www.mywwm.org

Chamber Events

Bangkok Sundowners on Wednesday, 5 September at Banyan Tree Bangkok Sponsored by Akara Mining Limited and hosted at Banyan Tree, Bangkok Sundowners was once again a great success. Thanks to our generous sponsors for a spectacular evening and their ongoing support.

1

2

4

3

5

6

7

8

1) Tareq Bagaeen - Banyan Tree Bangkok; John Falconer - Akara Mining; John Anderson - AustCham President, Meinhardt. 2) John Falconer - Akara Mining; Greg Wallis - Austrade. 3) Michael Binney - Transearch; Simon Farbenbloom - Australian Embassy; Khun Achara Boonyahansa - Grant Thornton. 4) Nathalie Post - Phachara Suites; Lynda Calver - Infinity Financial Solutions; Veronique Sirault - Park Plaza Hotel; Charles Wrightman - AustCham Director, Natural Ville & Len么tre; Benjamin Krieg - Radisson Suites Bangkok Sukhumvit; Khun Nattaya. 5) Khun Tanapum Jongboonwattana - Property Care Services; Khun Issareeya Teeyapong Property Care Services; Khun Janejira Asvatanakul - Property Care Services; Khun Khisna Ram-Indra - Property Care Services. 6) Thierry Cusin - Transearch; Greg Wallis - Austrade; Michael Binney - Transearch. 7) David Armstrong, Alan McAllister - Tile Asia Limited; Donal Dixon - DBD Consulting. 8) Khun Varaporn Lamai - Hilton

24

October 2012

AustChamThailand Advance

Chamber Events

9

10

12

11

13

Pattaya; Yolanda Chen; Nigel Mckinnon - Boral; Khun Juthathip Tittayanon - Amari Orchid Pattaya. 9) Bill Brininstool - HEIL Trailer Asia; Jeffrey Edwards - HEIL Trailer Asia. 10) Khun Watsharawee Wutthimaythissuwan - Resource Link; Heinrich Seul - L-TAG Technologies; Khun Rapatsa Teerapongnapalai - The Business Research Specialists; Khun Perada Lakanathampichit - PTTEP. 11) Khun Piyawan Withoorat - The British Club; Khun Satita Pimnarapokin - Bangkok Property Agents. 12) Asst Prof Anucha Chintakanond - Alumini; Khun Thamrongsak Sinthurak - Towers Watson; Khun Nuchjarin Kaewphet - KONE; Khun Nicha - dwp; Matthew Silvester Meinhardt. 13) Khun Sarocha Sophanawach - PATT Foundation; Khun Tananpat Jitratanapong - PATT Foundation; John Llyod - JNP Legal; Khun Kasira Vikullawong - PATT Foundation; Peter Upperton - Administration Outsourcing.

AustChamThailand Advance

October 2012

25

IS THERE SOMETHING YOU MISS ABOUT HOME? CONTEMPORARY ARTIST VIPOO SRIVILASA WANTS TO KNOW Join VIPOO in one of his pop up studios and create a small sculpture of things you miss or had to give up when you move to Thailand.

These sculptures will be presented in the Thai Na Town - Little Oz exhibition at the Art Center, Chulalongkorn University. ขอเชิญชาวไทยที่เคยไปออสเตรเลีย เปิดใจกับศิลปินร่วมสมัย วิภู ศรีวิลาศ ว่าคิดถึงอะไรที่ประเทศออสเตรเลียมาก ที่สุด วิภู จะช่วยคุณปั้นดินเป็นของที่คุณคิดถึง แล้วนํามาจัดแสดง เป็นส่วนหนึ่งของนิทรรศการ Thai Na Town - Little Oz ที่หอศิลปวิทยนิทรรศน์ จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย

Each session is FREE and will take only 15-20 minutes.

DATES AND LOCATIONS

EXHIBITION DETAIL

Insight Education Consulting

Opening night

56 Yada Building, 3rd Floor, Silom Road RSVP by Fri 23 Nov to usa@insight.in.th T: 086 570 6760

Exhibition dates

Australian Embassy

Public floor talk and workshop

37 South Sathorn Road RSVP by Thu 29 Nov to vipoo@vipoo.com

The Art Center

Sat 24, Sun 25 Nov, 10 am-4 pm

Fri 30 Nov, 9 am-12 pm

Fri 30 Nov 2012, 7-9 pm 1 Dec 2012 - 16 Jan 2013 Mon 3 Dec, 1-3 pm

7th Floor, Center of Academic Resources (Central Library/หอสมุดกลาง), Chulalongkorn University, T: 0-2218-2965

more detail : vipoo@hotmail.com or visit www.vipoo.com

This 26 project is supported by the Australian Government through the Australia International Cultural Council, an initiative October 2012 AustChamThailand Advanceof the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Commonwealth through the Australia-Thailand Institute.

NEW MEMBERS and members’ changes

Advance Info Service PLC. (AIS) 414 Intouch Tower 17th Floor Phaholyothin Road, Samsen Nai Phayathai, Bangkok 10400 Tel: 662 687 4034 Fax: 662 299 5717 Email: pacharar@ais.co.th Website: www.ais.co.th

Circa Co., Ltd 144 Soi Siripot (Soi81),Sukhumvit Road,Suan Luang, Bangkok 10250 Tel: 662 742 4571 Fax: 662 332 8664 Email: circa.co2012@yahoo.co.th Website: www.abacusdesign.co.th

Representatives: Ms Pacharawan Roonapai - SME Marketing Manager Ms Krittapon Thavornsook - Corporate Marketing Activity Manager AIS are the mobile phone network operator in the frequency 900MHz Digital GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication).

We also own the subsidiary Digital Phone Co., Ltd (DPC) providing mobile phone network frequency 1800 MHz Digital GSM1800.

Additionally, we have subsidiaries providing other telecommunications business: import and distribute mobile phone devices, data communication services via mobile cable, payment for products and services via mobile phone, cash card, contact center and international call services.

Products/Services: • Smart Messaging is communication and broadcasting information service with SMS or MMS for sending out to target customers. Smart messaging support for one way communication service that for broadcasting and two way communication service that for interactive function like as vote, contest, mobile inbox, quiz or survey.

• AIS Web Conference, used to conduct live meetings, training or presentations via the internet. The service can be either a downloaded application on each of the attendees’ computers or a web-based application where the attendees access the meeting by clicking on a link distributed by email(meeting invitation) to enter the conference.

• Mobile Wallboard, provide the mobile application and platform that allow corporate workforces to upload picture, videos from sites to back office systems real time by EDGE/GPRS/3G900.

• Location-Based SMS, new messaging service developed by AIS on Location Based Service technology, will perform signal detection of the colleagues or customers who use AIS mobile phone service when entering the specific areas.

• Smart Tracking, provides broad range of fleet management solutions including supporting both passive and real time tracking and analysis of both vehicles and people by combing the latest GPS technology with two-way GPRS network communications including with digital map-based management systems.

AustChamThailand Advance

Representatives: Ms Montha Li Lightbody - Managing Director Ms Samantha Lightbody - Project Director Circa is an Interior Design company found

by Ms Montha Li Lightbody and John Li Lightbody, It was set up to supply interior life style products for homes.

Products/Services Circa source products from Thailand. Indonesia, Philippines and China and would like to concentrate export interior products to Boutique hotels, Resort Hotels and Spas abroad. We can help to create the interior ambiance through art work.

All of ClasG’s team members have a strong commitment to both local and international regulations illustrated by our strict client acceptance procedures. This unique focused combination empowers each ClasG country office to meet individual requirements with insured success.

ClasG’s rapid expansion through Asia has begun with offices in Bangkok, Yangon and Hong Kong up and running in its first year.

Products/Services: Incorporation services; business entry study and local regulatory consultant; dissolution and liquidation services; corporate secretarial practice; commercial registration services; bookkeeping and reporting services; tax compliance services; human resources and payroll services; work permit and immigration assistance; employment matters; commercial contract drafting and negotiation; legal and accounting related administrative assistance.

Cranbrook School 5 Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill New South Wales 2023 Australia Tel: 612 9327 6864 Fax: 612 9327 7619 Email: enrol@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au Website: www.cranbrook.nsw.edu.au

ClasG Thailand Limited Unit 1002, 10/F Park Ventures Ecoplex 57 Wireless Road, Lumpini Pathumwan Bangkok 10330 Tel: 662 108 2290-2 Fax: 662 108 2293 Email: info@clasg.com Website:. www.clasg.com

Representatives: Ms Suganya Ransigutta - Managing Director Mr Clayton Hebbard - Chairman ClassG is Corporate Legal Administrative Services Group provides regulatory assistance and corporate legal consulting as well as business process outsourcing services including bookkeeping and tax copliance and payroll services for private and multinational clients.

ClasG’s team, made up of professionals with extensive experience in various fields, work with international clients who understand the needs of thinking local and acting global.

Representatives: Mr Michael Atkins - Director of Admissions Established in 1918 Cranbrook School, Sydney is one of Australia’s leading independent boys and Boarding schools. With a small secondary student population of just over 900, every boy is very well known to staff and is supported by his housemaster and tutor throughout his years at the school. Cranbrook has a fine tradition of catering to Australian expat families.

Products/Services: Cranbrook offers a rigorous academic programme complemented with compulsory sports and co-curricular options such as music, drama, public speaking and debating. Cranbrook Alumni have gone on to make their contributions to society in a wide range of areas, following their graduation from university.

October 2012

27

Chamber Events NEW MEMBERS and members’ changes

Ocean Property Company Limited 167/5 Moo 4 Sukhumvit Road Najomtien, Sattahip, Chonburi 20250 Phone: 6685 248 3216 Email: scott.finsten@oceanmarinayachtclub.com Website: www.oceanmarinayachtclub.com

Representatives: Mr Scott Finsten - Harbour Master Mr Napong Paripontpochanapisuti - Vice President Project Development Ocean Property is Thailand’s leading premium real estate developer. Established in 1989, Ocean Property started its operations with the creation of two corporate high-rises in the heart of Bangkok, Ocean Tower one and two. Our operations have since expanded to include a wide range of beachfront residences, hotels, luxury resorts and marina.

• Ms Atchara Suknaibaiboon, Director is a new representative of TMF Thailand Limited.

• Mr Magne Henning Hansen, General Manager is a new representative of Chatrium Residence Sathon Bangkok.

• Ms Rananda Rich, General Manager is a

new representative of Blackmores Ltd. • Mr Stanley Chan, General Manager is a new representative of Grand Mercure Fortune Bangkok.

• Mr Marc Beuthe, Senior Business Development Manager Indochina is a new representative of International SOS Services (Thailand) Limited.

• Mr Kieran Twomey, Vice President and General Manager is a new representative of Shangri-La, Bangkok.

• Mr Marlon Hirsh, Resident Manager is a new representative of Shangri–La Bangkok.

• Mr Anutin Kraitong, Director of Sales and Marketing is a new representative of Holiday Inn Resort Phuket Mai Khao Beach.

• Mr Chaiyasit Wiboonlertwatana, Business Development Manager is a new representative of Simat Technologies Public Company Limited • Mr Benjamin Krieg, General Manager is a new representative of Radisson Suites Bangkok Sukhumvit.

• Mr Michael Farley, Head Master is a new representative of Harrow International School, Bangkok • Mr Allan Forbes, Head of Upper School is a new representative of Harrow International School, Bangkok • Mr John Jaspers, Managing Director is a new representative of Total Training Innovations (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Our real estate experts currently manage over 100 million US dollars in exclusive properties in prime locations throughout Thailand. Ocean Marina Yacht Club is Thailand’s premier marina resort complex, situated on Jomtien beach, Pattaya. It’s just a short drive from Bangkok, less than an hour from Suvarnabhumi international airport, and only 15 minute from U-Tapao airport.

Ocean Marina is renowned as one of the best international-class marinas and yacht clubs in Asia. Surrounded by mountains, beach, and splendid seascape of the eastern coasts, and close to many tourist attractions, golf courses, shopping and entertainment areas as well as rarely-seen islands, Ocean Marina offers a unique nautical resort, a charming hideaway for your leisure.

Besides, it also has two twin towers of luxury residences, San Marino Condominium and Ocean Portofino Condominium for who dreams of owning a private home with a marina lifestyle.

Product/Services: Marina berthing; dry storage; boat repairing facilities; hotels and resorts in Pattaya, Bangkok, Hua Hin and Koh Samui; restaurants and bars; condominium sales and rentals, bangkok and pattaya; office rentals in Bangkok.

Change of Representatives • Mr Paolo Tavolato, Managing Director is a new representative of TMF Thailand Limited.

28

October 2012

AustChamThailand Advance

In celebration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Thailand, we are delighted to invite you to

2012 Australia-Thailand Business Conference:

Venue: Date:

The St. Regis Bangkok, 159 Rajadamri Rd, Bangkok, Thailand Tuesday 13 November 2012

(Keynote Dinner on Monday 12 November )

Tickets: 8,500 baht - Conference and Dinner 7,000 baht - Conference Only

(Tuesday 13 November 9am-6pm)

2,000 baht - Dinner Only

(Monday 12 November from 6pm)

(Early bird discount 10% available for AustCham and ATBC members)

Website: www.austchamconference2012.com Contact: Mark Carroll execdirector@austchamthailand.com Tel. +662 210 0216

Sponsorship opportunities available Conference partner:

Dinner on Monday 12 November:

The outlook for an integrated Asia (Keynote Dinner address) Dr Surin Pitsuwan, ASEAN Secretary General (COMMITTED)

Conference on Tuesday 13 November:

Leveraging national strengths in an integrated Asia Isara Vongkusolkit, Chairman, Mitr Phol Sugar (INVITED) PTT Exploration and Production PCL (CONFIRMED) Board of Investment Thailand (CONFIRMED) Australian Trade Commission (INVITED)

Regional connectivity – pipelines, planes, trains and automobiles Lindsay Fox AC, Founder Linfox (INVITED) Annie Meyer, Director & CEO Asia, Transtar (INVITED) Dr Porametee Vimolsiri, National Economic and Social Development Board (CONFIRMED)

Between rousing giants -ASEAN, China and India (Keynote Luncheon address) Gilles Planté, CEO Asia, ANZ (CONFIRMED) Dr Sarasin Viraphol, Executive Vice President, CP Group (INVITED)

Thailand - gateway to Myanmar and the Mekong sub-region

Mr Charamporn Jotikasthira, President, Stock Exchange of Thailand

(CONFIRMED)

Dr Kobsak Pootrakool, Executive VP, Bangkok Bank PCL (CONFIRMED) Siam Commercial Bank (CONFIRMED)

Productivity and skills - an imperative in an integrated Asia

Dr Kirida Bhaopichitr, Senior Economist, The World Bank (CONFIRMED) Sawasdi Horroongruang, Chairman, Hemaraj Land (COMMITTED) Dr Bandid Nijathaworn, CEO and President, Thai Institute of Directors Association (CONFIRMED)

Post-conference drinks and networking

From the Chamber Office

Message from the Executive Director

Calendar of Events

W

WEDNESDAY 3 OCTOBER Bangkok Sundowners and Tour of dtac House

ith our major AFL family day now behind us, the office is turning its attention to another large event – our 2012 Australia-Thailand Business Conference to be held at the St Regis on Tuesday 13 November. The theme of the conference is “Australia and Thailand in an integrated Asia”. Our intention is to focus attention on the fact that Asia is well on its way to becoming the dominant economic region of the 21st century.

We hear a lot about the ‘rise’ of China and India, but it is important for organisations like AustCham to emphasise that as a block – and individually in their own right – the countries comprising the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are important and dynamic economies.

We intend for the business conference to examine how countries – and businesses – can make the most of the opportunities of Asia’s resurgence, particularly as trade liberalisation agendas, combined with the forces of globalisation, mean that economies are becoming more and more integrated. The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) – which is set to be in place by 2015 – is one example.

The ASEAN Secretary General Dr Surin Pitsuwan is scheduled to tell us more about AEC at the conference dinner on Monday 12 November!

A point that came through clearly in our Study of Australian Business in Thailand earlier this year was that in an era of economic integration, countries need to look at how they can use complementary strengths for regional (and global) business success. This type of thinking can be seen in the recently concluded Australia-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement which, among other things, provides much greater market access in Malaysia for Australian services companies.

Clearly the Malaysian Government regards the Australian services sector as a forcemultiplier for their businesses as the AEC approaches. Hopefully the Thai and Australian Governments will see similar logic as they work through the review of the ThailandAustralia Free Trade Agreement that was reaffirmed recently by both Prime Ministers.

We have already secured a number of highprofile speakers for the conference and will be

30

October 2012

locking in more in the weeks ahead. You can stay up to date via a dedicated website – www.austchamconference2012.com – and can subscribe to conference news.

A ten per cent ‘early-bird’ discount is available to AustCham members.

Corporate sponsorship of the business conference is available. As well as capturing the participation of key business people in Thailand and the region, we expect the conference will receive prominent media coverage in Australia and Thailand. BlueScope steel has already confirmed to be one of our Conference Partners. We look forward to hearing from you if you would also like to support the conference – and promote your brand in the process.

I am also pleased to report that the AustCham Board of Directors has decided to evolve the Sundowners business model to incorporate a community services beneficiary for each event.

Similar to the companies that support Sundowners through corporate and venue sponsorship, the monthly Community Services ‘sponsor’ will be promoted via AustCham’s e-news and website communications, and at the Sundowners event itself. Sundowners supporters receive extensive brand exposure, so we believe there is considerable benefit in adding a community services component.

Organisations will not themselves raise funds at Sundowners, but we will be levying a 50 baht additional charge for each attendee. This will go directly to the community services program. The levy will not, however, come into effect until next year. Until then funds will be drawn from the existing community services account – which was generously topped-up as a result of the AFL charity raffle! Thanks to all those who supported the raffle and the AFL event.

Registration: 16:45 Tour: 17:15-18:00 Sundowners: 18:00-21:00 Venue: dtac House, Chamchuri Square Corporate Sponsor: Bumrungrad International FRIDAY 19 OCTOBER Women With a Mission Charity Golf Tournament

Venue: Phoenix Golf and Country Club, Pattaya FRIDAY 19 OCTOBER

18:00-21:00

Eastern Seaboard Sundowners

Venue: Holiday Inn Pattaya tuesday 23 OCTOBER

Chulalongkorn Memorial Day AustCham Office Closed

Thank you to September sponsors:

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

AustChamThailand Advance

NO

N

OPE W THE COFFEE CLUB MAJOR I EKAMA

GOOD FOOD GREAT SERVICE EXCELLENT COFFEE Australia’s largest home grown cafe brand is now open in Bangkok.

The Coffee Club is the perfect place to catch up with family and friends, for a business meeting or simply have some time out with a relaxing coffee.

Our signature blend coffee is UTZ certified which comes with an assurance that every coffee prepared by our baristas is produced in a socially and environmentally responsible way.

From great value All Day Breakfast, Pastas, Gourmet Sandwiches, Salads, Grills, Thai favourites, and of course delicious cakes and excellent coffee; there is something for everyone at The Coffee Club.

:: FREE WI FI :: NO SERVICE CHARGE

PHUKET:: Jungceylon | Turtle Village | *Kata Beach (Opening soon) SAMUI:: Chaweng Beach PATTAYA:: Royal Garden Plaza | Naklua Road BANGKOK:: Suvarnabhumi Airport | Major Ekamai @thecoffeeclubth

The Coffee Club Thailand