THE
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Contents This edition
BCCT
Board of Directors 2018 CHAIRMAN Chris Thatcher Anglo-Thai Legal Co., Ltd. M: 081 803 7377 christhatcher1@Gmail.com VICE CHAIRMEN Simon Matthews Manpowergroup Thailand T: 02 634 7273 matthews@manpower.th.com
David Cumming Amari Watergate Bangkok T: 02 653 9000 david.cumming@amari.com
12 To buy or not to buy
Carl Sellick Lucy Electric (Thailand) Limited T: (0) 2 663 4290 carl.sellick@lucyelectric.com
16 Building for the future 18
DIRECTORS Ali Adam Arcadia (Thailand) Co., Ltd. T: 02 108 1822 ali@arcadia-engineering.com Billy Chomsakorn British Airways Plc T: 001 80044 15906 billy.chomsakorn@ba.com Viriya (Boyd) Chongphaisal Glaxosmithkline (Thailand) Ltd T: 02 659 3000 viriya.x.chongphaisal@gsk.com
Property & Real Estate
Uncertainty looms over Bangkok homes market
24 Tech firms driving demand for Asia office space
Simon Landy Colliers International Thailand T: 662 656 7000 slandybkk@gmail.com
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42 Bad weather blows airlines off course
Pinyapa Pichaipalakorn Hlg (Thailand) Co., Ltd. T: 02 670 1848 ppichaipalakorn@harveylawcorporation.com
Jonathan Fryer Mazars (Thailand) Ltd. T: 026701100 ext 124 jonathan.fryer@mazars.co.th
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40 BOI gives new incentives for EEC infrastructure development
Colin Hastings The Bigchilli Co., Ltd. T: 02 635 5085 editorbigchilli@gmail.com
HONORARY TREASURER
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38 TAT eyes tourism potential in provinces
Stephen Frost Bangkok International Associates Ltd. T: 02 231-6201/6455 sfrost@bia.co.th
Sarah Smith Jamie’s Italian T: 662-2555-222 Sarah.Smith@jamiesitalian.co.th
28 Bangkok condo market looking ‘lively’
22 Rising investor interest in AP private education sector
Gareth Davies Fluxus (Thailand) Co.,Ltd T: 6696463 4704 gareth.davies@fluxus.io
Nick Smart Tesco Lotus (Ek-Chai Distribution System Co., Ltd.) nick.smart@tescolotusfs.com
26 Opportunities in downtown Bangkok residential rental market
Travel & Tourism Updates
32 TAT campaigns to attract more Chinese tourists 34 Global tourism growth reported by UNWTO 36 Wellness tourism takes lead in Asia Pacific
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Contents Issue 4/2018
Every editions
The Link is published by the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand. Advertising enquiries: Greg Watkins Email: greg@bccthai.com
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Chairman’s Message
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Executive Director’s Message
Editor: Dale Lawrence Email: dalelawrence2008@gmail.com Front cover design: GSBI Production: Scand-Media Corp., Ltd The views expressed by individual authors are not necessarily those of the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand or of the publisher. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand is strictly prohibited.
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Member News
44 PKF wins backing from SET 46 Jija hits right notes in Netherlands
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49 Putting firm stamp on campus theft 50 KPMG seals deal with robotic software firm 52 ESG governance issues threaten supply chains
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55 By the Numbers
British Chamber of Commerce Thailand 7th Floor, 208 Wireless Road Bangkok 10330, Thailand Tel: 02-651 5350/3 Fax: 02-651 5354 Website: www.bccthai.com Email: greg@bccthai.com Greg Watkins, Executive Director
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70 Comings and Goings
60 Chamber Events
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67 80 Final Word
A nature walk, just outside my classroom. Find out how your child can discover whole new worlds and build strong foundations for life-long learning. admissions@patana.ac.th www.patana.ac.th Tel: +66 (0) 2785 2200 Bangkok Patana is a not-for-profit, IB World School accredited by CIS and NEASC
Chairman’s Message
I
am writing this in early December and I have no idea when (or even if ) you will be reading it. So let me wish you a Happy Christmas, a Joyous New Year or a wet and wonderful Thai New Year (Songkran)! That covers most possibilities! The Board
CHRIS THATCHER Sterling Partner
Sustaining Partners
The year has flown past for me. Already we are looking towards the Christmas Lunch and the AGM and the opportunity for members to stand for election to the Board. Every year, seven Board members stand down and either stand again for a further two year term or are replaced by new Board members. Papers calling for nominations have been issued for return by early January so it isn’t possible at this stage to predict who will go or who will stay (or who will stand for election for the first time). All I know is that there will be some new faces as there always are. Being a Board member (if it is done properly) means contributing to the life of the Chamber and to the development of services to members. Each successful candidate does this in his or her own way. When it comes to voting, my sincere wish is that members choose candidates who are deserving of election regardless of the company that they come from. They are, after all, YOUR representatives, working to make the BCCT better for all. BCCT Much of the work of the Chamber is carried out by the dedicated people whom we employ and that costs money. Sadly (but perhaps inevitably) we have found it necessary to increase the fees that we charge for membership. It is the first increase for many years but it reflects the rising costs of running what must be one of the most successful Chambers of Commerce in Thailand. Some companies feel able to offer annual sponsorship to the Chamber and are deserving of thanks for doing so. Some offer sponsorship for specific events and I thank them as well. This helps us to mitigate costs. The Chamber is always striving to be better and you have a part to play in this as a member. Standing for election, voting for your representatives, attending the AGM (if at all possibly) are all ways that you can do this. Making sure we have your views and your suggestions for improvement is also important. Out with the old, in with the new The round of saying goodbye to the Embassy on its Wireless Road site has started. The last Ploenchit Fair to be held there has now taken place. The final BCCT Life and Style Garden Party at the Embassy will take place on Thursday 21st March and we are planning a goodbye party in the final month that the Embassy in its current form will exist (before the development of whatever comes next starts) to take place on Thursday 18th July. We hope to see many of you at these events.
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Executive Director’s Message Supporting Partners
It’s hard to believe that we are now in December. The year seems to have flown by. As I type this message the UK remains mired in the Brexit process. This uncertainty reaches far beyond UK’s shores. Here in Thailand companies of all sizes and nationality await clarity at the same time as we head towards the general election. The current government is pushing through as many major projects as possible. Members are focusing upon those directly linked to the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project as this looks very likely to provide greater market access and majority ownership in key sectors such as next generation automotive; intelligent electronics; advanced agriculture and biotechnology; food processing; high wealth and medical tourism; digital, robotics, aviation and logistics; healthcare; biofuel and biochemicals, and education. In October, the UK Department for International Trade released a market consultation on possible UK membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) post-Brexit. With all the noise about Brexit, CPTPP seems to have escaped the attention of many businesspeople. CPTPP currently represents 13.5 percent of the global economy and already includes some of the UK’s key trading partners: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. Thailand is currently considering joining. CPTPP could open the door to business opportunities for British companies. Greater market access will be achieved through lower or zero import duty rates, fewer or no non-tariff barriers and consistent business standards and practices among members. New opportunities should also appear for UK financial services – especially in the digital world, e-commerce, software development, investment banking, fund management and other services where the UK is a world leader. With Thailand well down the priority list of countries with which UK is planning to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement, CPTPP may provide a short-term alternative. The BCCT team is currently emailing invoices for membership renewal in 2019. You should have received an email attaching the invoice from this designation – messaging-service@post.xero.com. This is the first time we have emailed invoices. We hope the process will be more efficient for members. There is no regulatory requirement to print the invoice or for BCCT to send an original signed invoice. Members may process payment without either of these. On receipt of payment, a printed and signed tax invoice will be sent. This year we are launching a further initiative for online payment of the annual membership fee in monthly instalments by credit card. In consideration of the need for BCCT to be operationally sustainable each year without funding from DIT for the business support services function, the board resolved to increase the annual membership fee across
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all categories by five percent for 2019. This is the first annual increase for eight years. The fees still represent excellent value for money compared to other membership organisations in Thailand and in relation to the assistance that BCCT can provide in developing members’ businesses. If you or any of your team would like to discuss how your company can make the most effective use of BCCT membership I would be delighted to meet you personally. Please make payment for your membership as soon as possible but no later than 31 January 2019.
GREG WATKINS
Airline Partners
The BCCT Annual General Meeting on Thursday 24 January 2019 at the Radisson Blu Plaza Bangkok on Sukhumvit Road. Please make a vote to ensure that your company is represented at this important event. Half of the BCCT board (seven directors) will be elected to serve two-year terms. Nominations are now open with a deadline of 5 pm on Monday 7 January. If you would like to contribute to the work of the BCCT, please consider standing for election. We would like as many members to stand as possible. As a board director, you will help to guide the strategy and oversee governance of the Chamber. The role of a BCCT board director includes: - attendance at a minimum of 6 monthly Board meetings each year - actively participate in BCCT Groups and other meetings/events - preparation of regular reports or articles on news, developments, opportunities, etc. in your business sector- attendance at BCCT events in order to represent the chamber, meet members - input on any issues raised by BCCT members, officers or the BCCT office - promotion of the BCCT among the Thai and foreign business communities in and outside Thailand I would be delighted to provide more details if you would like to consider standing for election to the BCCT board for 2019 (and 2020). On behalf of the BCCT executive team I would like to thank all members for their support and fellowship during 2018 and wish all a Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous 2019.
Advertorial
Getting Ahead of Hypertension When was the last time you spoke to your doctor about your blood pressure? The fact is, many of us are suffering from hypertension (high blood pressure) and are not even aware, which explains why hypertension is often called a “silent killer.” It has claimed the lives of countless people worldwide, and is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease. Many people are still mostly uninformed about the factors which can increase their chances of developing hypertension, as well as the simple and effective treatment options that are available to them. Here, we’ll outline some of those risk factors as well as some of the treatment options that are available right here at Bumrungrad.
What Causes Hypertension?
Although it has been found that some older adults can gradually develop primary hypertension without a specific cause, secondary hypertension can be attributed to many different causes which include: • Tumors in the adrenal glands • Hyperthyroidism • Congenital defects in blood vessels • Difficulty sleeping, including obstructive sleep apnea There are several factors that can increase your chances of developing these conditions, including: • A family history of high blood pressure • Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle • Smoking or chewing tobacco • Excessive consumption of alcohol • High levels of stress, whether at home or in the workplace • Chronic conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease • Not getting enough potassium and vitamin D • A diet containing too much salt (sodium) • Aging
How to Prevent Hypertension
Unsurprisingly, the first step to preventing a chronic and dangerous condition like hypertension is recognizing the behaviors and factors that put you at risk, and making healthy decisions daily to combat these factors. Start by implementing some of the below healthy habits today, and you’ll see that the payoff to your health will be immeasurable. • Quit smoking and limit your alcohol intake • Become more conscious about your salt intake – most dishes come with a very unhealthy amount of sodium, which is ever-present in most sauces and seasonings • Start an exercise routine and stick to it • Take the necessary multivitamins to compliment your healthy diet • Actively and consistently work to lower your stress levels at home or in the workplace • Lose weight, and work to keep it off Generally speaking, the success of any treatment plan against hypertension will rely very heavily on your own overall health, which is more positively impacted
by healthy lifestyle changes such as the ones we highlighted above. Additionally, your doctor may recommend certain medications to help lower your blood pressure.
Expert Management of Hypertension
It can be difficult to stick to lifestyle changes that are more focused on health rather than indulgence, especially if you don’t feel or see the symptoms of your hypertension. However, it’s important to note that combating hypertension is much more likely to yield positive results before it becomes a major problem with clear and noticeable symptoms. The Hypertension Clinic at Bumrungrad International Hospital offers a complete hypertension management program that start with the root cause of your high blood pressure, and works to correct the problem from the cause. Through accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and lifestyle support including nutrition planning, keeping your hypertension under control is our top priority.
Simple Tips for a healthier Blood Pressure Hypertension is well worth preventing.
In the past 40 years, the number of adults with hypertension — the medical term for high blood pressure — has nearly doubled, to more than 1.1 billion worldwide. Hypertension is the leading cause of heart disease and stroke and is responsible for nearly 15% of all deaths. What makes hypertension even more dangerous is that it rarely produces symptoms — it’s known as “the silent killer” — leaving many unaware they have high blood pressure until their health suffers serious harm. The only way to know if your blood pressure is high is to have it checked by a healthcare professional.
The Impact of Hypertension
Blood pressure is a measure of the force of blood flowing through blood vessels at two points: • when the heart pumps out blood, known as systolic pressure (the top number in the result); and • when the heart is at rest between beats, called diastolic pressure (the bottom number). High blood pressure (140 / 90 or higher) puts additional strain on the arteries and the heart. Over an extended period, high blood pressure can cause arteries to thicken and lose flexibility, making it easier for them to narrow and become partially or fully clogged. The greater the extent of clogging and narrowing, the higher the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and dementia. Fortunately, hypertension is preventable, and there are plenty of simple steps you can take to keep your blood pressure under control and healthy, beginning with these four tips:
1. Cut back on salt.
Reducing your intake of salt (sodium) can boost your hypertension prevention efforts significantly. Spend some time reading food labels and you will quickly notice that salt is present in so many common foods — especially processed foods. In general, you can greatly reduce your consumption of salt by cutting back on: • breads and rolls • soups and sandwiches • cured meats and pre-packaged meat cold cuts • chicken and other poultry • pizza And keep a watchful eye on adding table salt to food at mealtimes, as salt is often added out of habit rather than necessity.
2. Consume more potassium.
Potassium is an essential mineral and electrolyte that lowers blood pressure by balancing out the negative effects of salt. The kidneys rely on potassium to limit the amount of fluid in the body; more fluid (which salt promotes) translates to higher blood pressure. Boost your intake of potassium-rich foods including: • bananas • apricots • avocados • orange juice and tomato juice • tuna • potatoes and sweet potatoes • broccoli, spinach and other dark leafy vegetables
3. Limit or abstain from alcohol
Consuming more than a modest amount of alcohol has been shown to raise blood pressure over time. Alcohol is also high in
calories, so the additional weight gained from excessive drinking adds a further boost to blood pressure. If you drink, it’s recommended you limit your daily consumption to one or two drinks. And if you haven’t tried it, consider abstaining for 30 days to see how much better you may feel without alcohol.
4. Up your physical activity
Inactivity is directly correlated with high blood pressure, making exercise and physical activity critical to hypertension prevention. For optimal health, 30 minutes of physical activity every day is recommended. But you don’t have to go to a gym to be physically active, and you don’t have to do all 30 minutes at once. Consider these ideas to increase activity during your normal daily routine: • if you commute to your job by train, subway or bus, get off one stop earlier on each trip to and from home, and walk the rest of the way • deliberately look for a parking space that’s not the closest to where you’re going, so you can add some walking to your driving trips • use part of your lunch break to take daily walks These tips represent some but certainly not all of the beneficial lifestyle changes that promote healthy blood pressure. Weight control, exercise and not smoking are the three pillars of hypertension prevention. Be sure to consult your doctor before embarking on any new exercise regimen or making significant changes to your diet— and to have your blood pressure checked.
By Dr Yaowarat Jantree, Internal Medicine Specialist, Medical Clinics, Bumrungrad International Hospital
Property & Real Estate
To buy or not to buy By Paul Gambles
P
roperty prices are useful for a couple of reasons: they help measure the health of an economy; and, a factor which is way too practical for most economists, they indicate how much you should expect to pay or receive if you’re buying or selling your home.
The beauty of property prices is that you can look at trends in one particular country, city, even area. To look
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for mid-to-long-term trends, it’s also handy to analyse the global picture. In some countries, you may get a mixed bag of data: city centre apartments may be getting more expensive, yet suburban houses may be stagnant or dropping in price. This is definitely not the case in Thailand. Everything is on the up – detached houses, town houses, condos and
Property & Real Estate
even land – and the last decade has seen a particularly strong surge. Unsurprisingly, if you take a look around Bangkok, the fastest increase has been in the cost of condominiums – more than 80 percent since late 2008. Land has increased at a similar rate and, while experiencing much steadier rises, town houses have gone up 50 percent and detached houses 40 percent. There’s an argument that such increases are a good thing. They encourage people to buy property, as they can make a profit a decade or two later, current homeowners are keen to sell as they can make a nice return and have to spend long periods of time in limbo looking for a buyer; and banks stay healthy as they receive steady long-term revenue. Everyone’s a winner, right? Well, not quite. If you’re a first-time buyer, it’s expensive to get on the ladder: the price of condos may have gone up by 80 percent in the last ten years, but it’s unlikely many people’s income has. That means that buyers are borrowing heavily in order to buy a place to live. This phenomenon is reflected in Thailand’s household debt figures, which are through the roof. Equally worrying is the fact that the rate of increase in household debt is even greater to that of property prices – demonstrating exactly where the money is coming from. The problem with such borrowing is that when substantial proportions of someone’s income is spent on loan repayments, they are not buying other goods, AKA consumption – an essential part of the economy. Instead, that money goes to the bank’s revenue entry. Most of it doesn’t get put back into the economy, as when banks give loans, they don’t actually use existing money but create new money in the form of a bookkeeping entry. Consequently, as prices go up, the more people borrow, and the banks are under little incentive to restrict the amount of borrowing, as they focus more on the profits that can be generated here and now by creating new money than the future risk of loss in the event of default. If we didn’t know before, the global financial crisis has shown us that there is a tipping point, whereby people can no longer afford to borrow so much money and the demand in property buying drops. When that happens, it’s rarely a gradual process, as many around the world have discovered to their cost and now find themselves owing more than what their home is worth. This happens essentially because the price hike wasn’t based on any inherent increase in value on the property or increase in wealth among buyers. It was instead built on hot air and virtual money.
Thailand is far from being the only potential bubble case; in fact, it’s not even the most worrying example. The UK (no prizes for guessing London is the driving force), Canada (Toronto and Vancouver) and Australia (Sydney and Melbourne) are all, quite frankly, scary. They all have two big bubble factors in common: sustained sharp rises in house prices and ballooning private debt. There’s no real telling when these Damocles swords will drop. Australia has been looking up nervously for years, while government policies have been putting off the inevitable in the belief or hope that they are truly the lucky country. It’s as yet uncertain as to whether Sydney’s deflation over the past few months is the precursor to a full-on burst, or whether the market is taking a breath before inflating again. One thing is for certain, the market there will drop eventually but these processes can take many years. Both Toronto and Vancouver have seen house price index increases of over 150 percent in the last 14 years, whilst the amount of Canada’s household debt has gone up at a similar rate. The government has tried to let some air out gently by issuing limits on foreigners buying property, but that is only a tiny part of the problem. The issue is how easily banks lend the money in the first place.
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Property & Real Estate
Date: UK Land Registry & BIS, graph by MBMG Investment Advisory
The UK has a long history of boom and bust – the full story is covered in Reinhart and Rogoff ’s ‘This time is different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly’. For shorter attention spans, the book ‘Can we avoid another financial crisis?’ by Steve Keen details the debt explosion that began with Margaret Thatcher’s adoption of Milton Friedman’s ideologies and has been continued to a greater or lesser extent ever since. As you can see in the chart, London is right back on track for yet another bubble burst – its first since 2008-2009. What happens in different places around the world could easily influence what happens here in Thailand. That didn’t happen so much last time around, as much financial house cleaning had already been done by the Tom Yum Goong crisis in 1997. However, this time around, the price boom and household debt figures are more susceptible to being hit hard. So, if you’re looking to buy in Thailand, there are two big questions. Firstly, will you hit the market on the crest of a wave, or is it worth waiting for a dramatic drop? Secondly, how long did you intend to keep the property for: is it somewhere to leave or somewhere to rent pending a sale at profit? The answers to these will decide your strategy of if, where and when to buy although in general it probably remains the fact that second hand property in Thailand trades at such a discount to new builds is perhaps an indicator that selling well in Thailand can be more difficult than buying well. Yields often still offer
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a premium above the rate of inflation but in Thailand banks charge relatively wide margins on loans, making property rental income even more attractive for cash buyers than for borrowers than is the case in most other location, location, locations! But is this a good time to buy? Unfortunately, there’s no bell to indicate the top or bottom of a market, so you’ll have to weigh up the pros and cons in line with your own motivation to buy although, in some sectors, the amount of new inventory that is being developed could perhaps be taken as a warning sign.
Paul Gambles is Managing Director, MBMG Investment Advisory, Bangkok. Paul is also licensed by the SEC as both a Securities Fundamental Investment Analyst and an Investment Planner. MBMG Investment Advisory Co., Ltd. 75/56 Ocean Tower2, 26th Fl. Soi Sukhumvit 19 (Wattana), Klongtoey Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110 For more information and to speak with our advisor, please contact us at info@mbmg-investment.com or call on +66 2 665 2534.
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Property & Real Estate
Building for the future What opportunities and pitfalls lie ahead in Thailand’s residential and commercial property sectors? We asked leading real estate consultancies for an update. Khun Suphin Mechuchep, Managing Director of Jones Lang Lasalle Thailand, shared her thoughts with The LINK. Q: Will a General Election in 2019 influence demand for commercial and resident land and property? A: While an election season is usually accompanied by a temporary increase in flow of money in the economy following pre-election promotional activities by political parties, results of the general election will be more impactful than the election itself. Nonetheless, the election will mean Thailand’s return to democracy and thus should help the country’s economic sentiment to improve. This will be good for the property sector where demand is generally dependent upon economic conditions. Investor confidence should also improve. We expect commercial real estate to be the first to benefit from the improvement in economic sentiment. Stronger business and consumer confidence should encourage business expansion which will lead to an increase of demand in the office, retail and industrial/logistics sectors. The residential sector may be slower to feel the impact because this property sector historically often lags behind overall economic performance. Q: Is Bangkok CBD becoming too expensive for residential investors? To which areas of Bangkok are YOU now directing your clients? Yes, if the investors purchase a condo for rental yields. The average selling price of condominiums in Central Bangkok has doubled since 2008 to THB 250,000 per square metre at present. Condos in ultra luxury developments are offering much higher prices, averaging THB 364,000 per square metre. While prices have jumped, rentals have risen by only 10 percent - leading to yield compression. Condominiums across Bangkok, including the central area, are now offering rental yields averaging less than three percent a year, a substantial decline from five years ago. However, ‘no’ may also be the answer to this same question if the investors expect capital gain in the long term. Many people have continued to buy condominiums in Central Bangkok as an investment. These investors are aware that prime sites or land plots that are suitable for 16
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new condominium development are increasingly scarce and expect future condominium projects to offer higher prices as development costs, particularly the cost of land in the area, will continue to rise. Outside Central Bangkok, the riverside area along Charoenkrung Road and certain parts of Charoennakorn Road on the opposite side of Chao Phraya River are where luxury condos have a potential to offer capital gain in the long term, given the fact that there remains very little land supply that is suitable to accommodate new luxury/ultra luxury development projects. The recent opening of ICONSIAM has also given a big boost to the riverside area. There are a number of exclusive flagship developments in this area, including branded residences such as Banyan Tree Residences Riverside Bangkok, Four Seasons Private Residences and The Residences at Mandarin Oriental (ICONSIAM). Q: Are the new rail infrastructure projects driving up prices beyond working families? The new rail infrastructure projects will present condo developers with new opportunities as they are opening up new corridors. But generally, we don’t expect these projects to drive condo prices up in the short term. These rail projects are extensions of the existing mass transit systems, covering areas outside Central Bangkok. Therefore, most (if not all) of the future condominium projects that will be developed along these rail projects will be in the mass market segment where an oversupply remains. Even though certain areas near these new mass transit projects, such as areas around the Bang Sue Central Station, may have a potential to accommodate high end condominium projects we don’t expect these projects to fetch the same prices as those in Central Bangkok. Q: Why is it so difficult to sell a second-hand condo (at a profit) in Thailand? Actually, the resale condo market in Bangkok has remained very active, with strong demand from buyers purchasing used units for own use. There are a number of reasons for some second-hand or used condo units being difficult to sell.
Property & Real Estate
Wider choice The total stock of condominiums in Bangkok rose from 115,000 units in 2009 to more than 530,000 units at present. As a result, it comes as no surprise that buyers have no rush to make a purchase decision in a market where a wide choice of both first-hand and used condominium supply is available for them to pick and choose.
For example, 15 years ago buyers could buy units in offplan developments in a price range between THB 80,000 and THB 100,000 per square metre. Today, sellable prices of units in most of these aged developments range between THB 120,000 and THB 200,000 per square metre, while most of the newly launched projects in the area are asking THB 280,000-350,000 per square metre.
Unwanted products There are a number of factors that make used condos unsellable at a profitable price. Some of these factors lie in the condo unit itself. These include age, inefficient unit layout, bad location within the building (i.e. blocked view), undesirable furnishings and lack of maintenance. Others are to do with the development – poor quality of design and construction, bad location and accessibility and lack of professional property management.
There is only a handful of aged developments where units achieve prices at THB 250,000 up to THB 300,000 per square metre. These include developments that were designed and built to an exceptional standard, occupy highly sought-after locations and are well managed and maintained.
Gap in price expectations Another major factor that makes it much more difficult for some owners to sell a used condo is the gap between sellers’ and buyers’ expectations. In many cases, unrealistic pricing brings about this gap. Some condo owners expect prices of their aged units to be close to that of units in newly completed developments in the same area but the reality is that most of the units in aged buildings are available for sale at prices some 30 to 50 percent lower than units in newly completed projects.
Suphin Mechuchep is Managing Director, JLL Thailand. Tel: +662 624 6400 E-mail: suphin.mechuchep@ap.jll.com JLL is a leading professional services firm that specialises in real estate and investment management. A Fortune 500 company, JLL helps real estate owners, occupiers and investors achieve their business ambitions. In 2016, JLL had revenue of US$6.8 billion and fee revenue of US$5.8 billion and, on behalf of clients, managed 409 million square metres, and completed sales acquisitions and finance transactions of approximately US$145 billion. JLL has 300 corporate offices, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of over 80,000.
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Uncertainty looms over Bangkok homes market U
ncertainty is casting a shadow over the Bangkok residential property market, according to CBRE. Although developers have recently increased their launches of condominiums, sales to Thai buyers have slowed in some locations and are likely to slow further with the imminent imposition of tighter mortgage lending by the Bank of Thailand
Some developers are trying to find locations where there is real demand from Thai end-users and develop projects that buyers can afford. Others have increased their reliance on foreign sales where there is uncertainty as to who will be the final occupier. The downtown expatriate rental market is stable, but CBRE experts believe that the local rental market in the midtown/suburban areas is quite flat, so buy-to-rent investors may not achieve the yields they were expecting. The Bank of Thailand has recently imposed tighter regulations on mortgage lending by reducing loan to values (LTV) for certain categories of purchasers in an effort to curb mortgage and property market risks and improve housing loan quality. Effective from 1 April next year these new measures will favour first home buyers with genuine demand as opposed to buy-to-rent investors with multiple outstanding mortgages that are searching for yield. Although the new regulations will not force developers to collect minimum down payments at contract signing, it will encourage them to collect higher down payments to reduce the risk of loan defaults upon transfer. This will reduce the demand from speculative buyers as they will be required to pay up to 30 percent as a down payment – compared to today’s 10-15 percent. These measures, according to CBRE, will cool down and stabilise the overall market situation. As domes18
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Aliwassa Pathnadabutr - CBRE Thailand
tic demand is expected to shrink as a result of the new mortgage restrictions, CBRE anticipates a domino effect where developers will further shift their reliance towards foreign buyers, who purchase primarily with their own funds, as all the money must come in from overseas as foreign currency to comply with the foreign condominium ownership regulations.
Property & Real Estate
Many developers have reported that they have increased foreign condominium sales, particularly to Chinese buyers, both in the form of individual purchases and bulk purchases by Chinese property agencies. Several projects have revealed that they have reached their limits of foreign ownership quota (49% of the saleable area) which has been a very rare occurrence in the past.
CBRE does not believe that average prices in the downtown area will drop, except possibly in a very limited number of completed projects with a high level of unsold inventory. According to developers, sales performance of under construction condominium units in the downtown area has dropped to 67 percent, compared to 77 percent last year.
“This further raises our concerns on whether high reliance on foreign sales is positive. It is still uncertain whether these foreign buyers will transfer title if they were speculators and there is no clarity on who will live in these units once construction finishes. Most of the foreign buyers are investors and we doubt that they will live in the units which they bought,� said Aliwassa Pathnadabutr, Managing Director of CBRE Thailand.
The outlook is that sales will be relatively slow for most projects in the downtown area with buyers being more selective, especially for projects that are asking for more than THB 300,000 per square metre. Developers looking to achieve high price levels will have to convince buyers that their project is really worth top prices.
Based a survey by CBRE Research, roughly 7,200 units were launched in the downtown area in Q3 2018, compared to only 1,300 units launched in the first two quarters of the year. The total number of downtown units launched in the first three quarters of 2018 represents growth of eight percent from the same period last year. The average asking price of units in freehold condominium projects which were under construction (high-end and above) in downtown Bangkok increased slightly by 1.7 percent y-o-y to THB 277,000 per square metre.
CBRE Research reports that a total of 18,200 condominium units were launched in the midtown/suburban areas this quarter, the highest number of units launched in a quarter since Q3 2013. The total number of midtown units launched in the first three quarters of 2018 represents a decline of four percent from the same period last year. Developers are now focusing on locations along the future mass transit lines such as the extensions of the BTS Green Line and MRT Blue Line as well as the under construction MRT Orange Line, Yellow Line and Pink Line.
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The new Vittorio building, located close to Phrom Phong BTS station on Sukhumvit road, Bangkok.
The average asking price of off-plan condominium units in midtown/suburban Bangkok increased slightly to THB 99,700 per square metre, up by 5.6 percent y-o-y. The sales performance of more than 200 midtown/ suburban condominium projects that were under construction was 71 percent, compared to 59 percent in the same period last year. CBRE believes that the improvement in sales performance of projects in the midtown/suburban areas can be attributed to block sales to Chinese property agencies, although it is uncertain whether these sales will actually translate into transfers at completion. With rising supply and uncertainty about domestic end-user driven demand, coupled with fears about the sustainability of foreign demand, the outlook for the condominium market has become more uncertain. In the downtown market, there may have to be some
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realignment of developers’ expectations on prices in the prime areas or concentration on central locations with slightly cheaper land prices such as Sukhumvit 63 (Soi Ekkamai) rather than Sukhumvit 55 (Soi Thonglor). The midtown/suburban market will have to be increasingly reliant upon Thai end-user demand for projects where buyers can get a mortgage with fewer speculators and buy-to-rent investors. In the downtown expatriate residential rental market, the number of expatriates with work permits increased slightly by 2.7 percent y-o-y and there was no change in monthly residential rental budgets. The market situation overall remains unchanged with limited new apartment (single ownership) supply, but increased condominium supply where CBRE estimates that around 30 – 40 percent of the new condominium supply will be offered for rent by the individual owners when the buildings are completed.
Property & Real Estate
Rising investor interest in AP private education sector T
he private education market in Asia Pacific is a rising investment spot, driven by the region’s demand for high-quality international schools with a focus on English curricula. That’s according to a new report from property consultancy JLL.
According to the research, Asia Pacific’s private education market is estimated to be worth US$370 billion. The industry has seen a surge in demand from the region’s shifting macro-economic and favourable demographic trends, such as rising household wealth and rapid population growth. “With a burgeoning local middle class, shrinking family sizes and more double-income households, parents are now seeking first-rate academic options taught in English to give their children a leg-up in an increasingly globalised society,” said Noeleen Goh, Director of Alternatives, Capital Markets at JLL Asia Pacific. In Hong Kong, the number of English-medium international schools increased from 92 in 2000 to 177 in 2017 and the number of students more than doubled during this period. Countries without an adequate national English curriculum such as Vietnam, Thailand, Japan and China have also seen a spike in popularity among parents for English-language teaching institutions. “The proliferation of international schools in the region means that competition for students is fierce, so the quality of education is now higher than before. When choosing where to spend tuition fees for their children, parents place a lot of emphasis on an institution’s overall academic reputation, curriculum, teaching quality and even university acceptance,” added Noeleen Goh. JLL’s report also states that international schools in general have shifted their focus to affluent local markets in the face of declining expatriate families on company packages. Countries such as Malaysia and Thailand do not have any restrictions on international school enrolment. Vietnam has also relaxed restrictions in the recent-
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Noeleen Goh, Director of Alternatives, Capital Markets, Asia Pacific JLL
ly issued Decree 86, allowing an intake of up to 50 per cent of local students. Rising investor interest Investment has been rising among companies that run international schools, which have backing from institutional investors, private equity firms and pension funds.
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Property &Cover Real Estate Story
The education market in Asia Pacific is a bright spot for investment supported by favourable demographics and macroeconomic trends. This sector offers great opportunity whatever your investment strategy: from different market segments and geographies to OpCo / PropCo investment structures.
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– Noeleen Goh, Director of Alternatives, Capital Markets, Asia Pacific JLL
“In the private education sector it’s common for operators to separate the real estate from the operating company. This gives investors the option to sink their capital either into the education operations or the real estate assets,” said Noeleen. She explained that the former can channel their funds to invest in the core business of educational services. Real estate investors, on the other hand, can maximise the asset value by leasing the school facility back to an established long-term education operator or building a bespoke campus with rents to hedge against inflation. “With yields set to be at a premium above traditional asset class, many are keen to delve into this sector as it offers high-growth and is fairly recession-resistant due to its long-dated leases, making it less prone to market volatility compared to the more traditional property assets,” added Noeleen Goh. However, the report points out that market entry may pose a challenge in some countries with stringent teaching licences, or where basic national education for locals is compulsory and foreign ownership is restricted. “Typically, foreign investors enter the market by forming joint ventures or partnerships with local players as they offer a good understanding of the local competitive and regulatory landscape. Despite some hurdles, this sector is still very attractive for investors and poised for exponential growth in future,” concluded Noeleen Download full report here: ‘Private education gets top marks from investors’ The Link
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Tech firms driving demand for Asia office space J
ones Lang LaSalle is projecting that technology companies will drive office occupancy, potentially accounting for 15 to 25 percent of annual gross office leasing volumes in the next decade. This compares to figures of only five to 10 percent just three years ago.
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Technology companies have become a key office occupier group in the region and they are frequently the earliest tenants to pre-commit to newly constructed buildings, according to a report published by JLL.
Property & Real Estate
“Given that technology firms will become a key source of office occupancy, this is an opportunity for real estate investors and developers to create space that will meet this need,” explained Regina Lim, Head of Capital Market Southeast Asia Research at JLL. “Last year the tech sector attracted over US$6 billion in funding and the industry’s growth will contribute significantly to future office leasing volume. We estimate that this will rise at six percent annually amid a GDP growth rate of around five percent.” South east Asian economies are forecast to expand at five percent annually until 2020, exceeding the global rate of 3.5 percent. The region’s internet economy could be worth more than US$200 billion by 2025, with e-commerce seen as the fastest-growing segment. Along with an expanding middle class, this segment is predicted to rise at 30 percent in the next five to 10 years to reach US$88 billion by 2025, based on a Google-Temasek study. As internet companies developed their presence rapidly in the region in the last decade, e-commerce firms in particular have flourished in the past two years. The biggest global technology companies, including Alibaba, Facebook, Google and Sea, currently each occupy a total of 20,000 to 50,000 sq. metres, spread across three to five cities. Many of these companies have increased their headcount by 30 to 50 percent annually over the last five to 10 years, states the JLL report. Co-working and flexible workspace operators have also contributed to the region’s office demand. Flexible workspaces have climbed by an estimated 40 percent annually in the last three years and now take up two percent of office stock in the region, compared with 0.5 to one percent in 2015. “We think in the next decade, e-commerce companies will continue to grow, together with flexible workspace and co-working operators,” added Miss Lim. “As e-commerce firms spread their footprint, we predict that gaming and e-sports platforms may become the next driver of office occupancy in south east Asia.” According to JLL, the acceleration in office take-up by technology firms in the last three years has occurred mainly in Jakarta, Bangkok, Manila and Ho Chi Minh City, with the sustained growth of these companies driven by strong socio-economic trends. Technology firms in Singapore, Jakarta and Manila have tended to set up their operations in prime CBD areas. In Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur, technology companies’ office
Regina Lim, Head of Capital Market Southeast Asia Research at JLL
demand has recently shifted towards the fringe areas due to the introduction of mass transit infrastructure. Similarly, in Bangkok, technology companies have chosen to operate out of traditional office locations along mass transit lines. “Regionally, location preferences are influenced by access to talent pools, supportive government policies and access to customers. These provide for an innovative ecosystem conducive to collaboration and entrepreneurship,” added Miss Lim. Within each city, JLL has observed that technology companies emphasise the need for transport connectivity, integrated developments incorporating live, work and play elements and building prominence and signage. “Technology companies have continued to seek highquality office space to attract talent, and landlords in each Southeast Asian city will have to take notice of what this expanding category of occupier wants,” concluded Regina Lim. For more information, download the report here: Technology firms transform Southeast Asia
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Opportunities in downtown Bangkok residential rental market T
he downtown residential rental market in Bangkok is driven by expatriate tenants working in Thailand who want to rent in a limited number of areas and mainly choose either apartments, rental units in a condominium or a serviced apartment, according to CBRE Research
The report states that expatriate numbers are only growing at a slow rate and there has been no increase for many years in the average monthly budgets that these tenants are willing to spend on rent. There are only a few new apartments under construction, but many new condominiums. The increase in supply and limited growth in demand means that the market is competitive, but there are still opportunities for both apartment developers and buy-torent condominium investors. The key factor is to understand tenant requirements so that investors can maximise their occupancy and rent per square metre. There is a constant turnover of expatriate tenants as the average length of stay in Thailand is about three years so each new incoming tenant makes a fresh decision about where they want to live The latest survey by CBRE Research shows that there are about 10,000 single-ownership multi-family apartment units in the most popular expatriate rental locations of Sukhumvit, Lumpini and Sathorn. There are around 76,000 condominiums in the same areas and CBRE Research estimates that about 25,000 - 30,000 of these are owned by investors that are renting out their units. There is still a preference, especially from Japanese tenants, for single-ownership apartments rather than multiownership condominiums because they like the ability to talk to the owners’ representative about all aspects of maintenance. In a condominium, the property manager is only responsible for maintenance of the common areas and it is the individual owners’ responsibility to maintain the interior of the unit. It is more challenging for tenants to get things fixed inside a condominium unit.
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Theerathorn Prapunpong, CBRE Thailand
In Bangkok, few condominium owners use a managing agent to look after their unit and deal with all tenant issues. A condominium tenant must directly contact the owner about all issues relating to the inside of the unit and the ability of an individual owner to quickly arrange maintenance or repairs is mixed depending on their experience and is especially challenging for overseas owners. In some cases where the condominium managed by hotel and provides concierge services, the owner will have to pay the premium common area management fee and the property management will assist with maintenance issue in the unit.
Property & Real Estate
Apartment developers who build in preferred locations and understand tenant requirements continue to be successful, achieving high occupancy and good rental rates. Theerathorn Prapunpong, Head of Advisory & Transaction Services - Residential Leasing at CBRE Thailand, has advised developers of two recent apartment projects on the design and specification of their developments and acted as sole leasing agent. Piya Residence on Sukhumvit Soi 28 and 30 was completed in Q1 2018. The developer optimized the units’ layout and size to maximise the functionality and the rental per square metre. More than 60 percent of the units have been leased. Chani Residence on Sukhumvit Thonglor Soi 13 was completed in 2017 and has been designed to match Japanese tenants’ requirements and is now more than 70 percent leased. Both these buildings have a mixture of mainly two and three bedroom units for which there is still a high level of demand because many of the rental units in new condominiums have only one bedroom. Khun Theerathorn has advised on another development, Jittimon Residence on Sukhumvit Thonglor Soi 16, which will be ready for occupation in early 2019. The eight-storey building will have a range of units from one to three bedrooms and its unique selling points are the low density and large garden, which are unique features in a market where most developers maximise the plot ratio. One of the most important factors in determining the success of a rental apartment project is to match tenants’ requirements on size, layout, specification, location and facilities. “CBRE’s ability to provide apartment developers with practical advice is due to our real market data based on over 1,000 expatriate tenant lettings over the last three years. Knowing what tenants want and how much they will spend,” he added. The report also states that Bangkok’s Central Business District residential rental market will continue to remain competitive with owners of existing apartment buildings and individual owners of condominiums needing to maintain and renovate interiors and common areas to ensure that properties remain attractive to tenants.
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Bangkok condo market looking ‘lively’ T
he condominium market in Bangkok returned to a ‘lively state’ in Q3 2018, according to Knight Frank Thailand Managing Director Phanom Kanjanathiemthao, with new project launches releasing around 23,000 units onto the market. He said that this reflected ‘a good level of developers’ confidence in the direction of the market’.
Studies conducted by the company’s real estate research team found that there was a 22 percent increase in the supply of units for sale in Bangkok’s Central Business District compared to Q2 2018. At the same time, supply in the areas surrounding the CBD and the suburbs increased by 15 percent and seven percent respectively. Areas of interest to developers included Thonglor-Ekamai, Sathorn-Rama IV, Phayathai, Ratchada-Huay Kwang, Thonburi, Chatuchak and Bangna. Average take up rate for newly launched units in Q3 registered at around 55 percent, a decrease of five percent q-o-q that was due to the surge in new supply entering the market. Units that sold well were located in the zone surrounding the CBD and in the suburbs, with an average take up rate of 60 percent in both areas. The areas proving to be popular with buyers included mid-Sukhumvit (sois 42-63), Rama IX-Ratchada and Thonburi. The average asking price of newly launched units in 3Q 2018 was THB150,394 per square metre – an increase of about two percent from the previous quarter. This was bolstered by the prices of new units in the CBD and the suburbs which stood at THB 254,000 and THB 84,000 baht per square metre – increases of three percent and five percent respectively over Q2. For Pattaya, Phanom Kanjanathiemthao said that the resort’s condominium market was once again showing positive signals after a period of stagnation that extended over many quarters. In the first nine months of 2018 there were some 4,800 new units launched – an increase of 83 percent compared
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Phanom Kanjanathiemthao
to the same period in 2017 – with over 3,100 units of this new supply located in Jomtien. The average take up rate on newly launched units in Q1-3 2018 was around 62 percent. Areas most popular with Thai and foreign buyers included Central Pattaya, South Pattaya and Na Jomtien. The average asking price for new units stood at THB 118,510 per square metre, rising to around THB 130,000 per square metre for ‘luxury’ units.
Page 29 Budget Car and Truck Rental AD. Note: waiting last update
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Travel & Tourism Updates
TAT campaigns to attract more Chinese tourists T
hailand’s major tourism players are scrambling to lure back Chinese visitors in the wake of the Phuket boat disaster in July that claimed 47 lives.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is undertaking a series of tactical promotions to encourage Chinese tourists to visit the Kingdom during the lucrative high season. The Royal Thai government has also responded to pleas for help from travel trade organisations by waiving visa fees nationals from 21 source markets until 31 January 2019.
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Thailand welcomed 2.71 million visitors in October, down a fraction year-on-year. The downturn reflects the reduced numbers of visitors from mainland China – down by almost 20 percent compared to the same month in 2017. However, the total number of international visitors to Thailand recorded during the first 10 months of 2018 was 31,253,920, up 8.43 percent on the same period in 2017, and the total for this year is expected to be close to 38 million. KResearch, part of Kasikorn Bank,
is predicting that international tourist arrivals will total 37.99 million, up 6.7 percent compared to 2017 with tourism revenues of two trillion baht (up 9.2% on past year). The Royal Thai government has responded to pleas for help from travel trade organisations by waiving visa fees nationals from 21 source markets until 31 January 2019. The move is designed to deliver up to 500,000 additional international arrivals. Cumulative data published by Thailand’s tourism ministry officials
Travel & Tourism Updates
shows that China has remained the leading source market with just over nine million arrivals recorded from 1 January to 31 October. However, the monthly downward trend since the boat disaster in Phuket has prompted action by the TAT to restore the confidence of the Chinese travel tour operators and their many millions of clients. TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn stressed the importance of rebuilding confidence levels and it has been seeking support from local operators to impose ‘strict safety guidelines’. The TAT promotion ‘Amazing Thailand Grand Sale Passport Privileges’ was also designed to stimulate bookings and TAT activities in China included strong presence in Shanghai at two major travel events - the International Luxury Travel Market
show and the China International Travel Mart. The campaign is set to continue in 2019 with the TAT organising, in cooperation with the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Chinese Embassy officials in Bangkok, a series of Chinese Lunar New Year festivities in Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai. It is understood that the 2019 Chinese New Year celebrations will be staged in Siam Square, partly to attract a younger audience. Amazing Thailand road shows will be held on the Chinese mainland and there are plans to continue the annual Chinese-Thai friendship caravan in 2019 with expanded overland travel itineraries in neighbouring Mekong countries. The TAT is reportedly working with the Royal Thai Navy to establish effec-
tive marine surveillance along the Andaman coastal region and in the Gulf of Thailand. There has also been some discussion with the Thai Meteorological Department and China’s Aliabad to co-operate on a bilingual real-time weather notification system. A marketing campaign to promote secondary cities in Thailand, known as ‘Amazing Thailand Go Local’, is designed to establish what is described as ‘a fairer and more manageable distribution of tourists and tourism revenues between urban and rural areas and to even out what the TAT describes as ‘monthly travel seasonality’. In a bid to ease congestion at immigration caused by Chinese tourists, airports in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Hat Yai have introduced dedicated lanes manned by officials that speak Mandarin.
TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn (third from right) pictured at the launch of the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale promotion.
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Travel & Tourism Updates
Global tourism growth reported by UNWTO F
igures released by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) show that international tourist arrivals grew by six percent in the first six months of 2018. This follows another year of record growth in 2017.
All world regions enjoyed robust growth in tourist arrivals in JanuaryJune 2018. The increase was fuelled by strong demand from major source markets, supported by an upswing in the global economy. It comes after record year-round growth of seven percent in 2017. “The release of international tourism data for the first half of 2018 serves as further proof of the sector’s resilience and relentless growth trajectory. We continue to work with our many partners to translate this growth into better jobs, more benefits to societies, and more opportunities for sustainable livelihoods and destinations”, said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. By region, Europe and Asia and the Pacific led the growth – each recording a seven percent increase in arrivals. Interestingly, France, the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation reported double-digit increases in outbound spending in Europe. In-
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UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili
dia and the Republic of Korea drove growth in Asia and the Pacific. The first half of the year accounts for about 45 percent of annual international tourist arrivals. The second
half represents the larger balance as it is three days longer and includes the northern hemisphere high season months of July and August.
Travel & Tourism Updates
Thailand tops Asia tourist spending table I
nternational visitors spent more money in Thailand than in any other Asian country in 2017, according to a report from UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). The report states that Thailand recorded a total tourism expenditure of US$ 57 billion in 2017, ahead of Japan ($34 billion), Hong Kong ($33 billion), China ($33 billion) and Taiwan ($12 billion). The figures are based on surveys tabulated from credit card spending data and the cash receipts in different countries around the world. The
survey also indicated that Thailand has everything for everyone, ranging from luxury villas on private islands to affordable street food, which is why tourists can always find good valuable experiences in Thailand.
ies, as measured by the MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index. The Index also reported that Thailand is also the only country which has three cities ranked in this list: Bangkok (1st), Phuket (12th), and Pattaya (18th).
UNWTO is also predicting that tourism expenditure will record in increase in 2018 as a result of what is described as ‘strong Thai tourism promotion campaigns and growing foreign investment in world class hotels in Thailand’.
Preliminary figures from Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports show that the Kingdom welcomed 28,541,887 international visitors in the first nine months of this year – an increase of 8.71 percent compared to the same period in 2017. Initial calculations on visitor spending suggest an increase of some 20 percent to THB 1.49 trillion.
Bangkok retained its number one ranking in the list of most visited cit-
TAT hosts ambassadors on Kalasin junket T
he Tourism Authority of Thailand has hosted ambassadors representing six European nations on familiarisation trip to north east Thailand. Ambassadors from Portugal, the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovakia, Poland and Switzerland, accompanied by spouses, experienced some of the time-honoured traditions of Isan people. The programme included a visit to Kalasin, home to a large number of the Phu Thai ethnic group. Wearing traditional Phu Thai costumes they joined a wax castle procession at Wat Wang Kam. The group also attended workshops on local arts and crafts including handwoven textiles and bamboo crafts. The Link
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Wellness tourism takes lead in Asia Pacific W
ellness tourism is growing at twice the pace of overall leisure travel, reaching an estimated value of US$639 billion in 2017. Annual growth in this increasingly lucrative sector is recorded at 6.5 percent compared to 3.2 percent for the overall tourism market and the value of wellness tourism is expected to exceed US$9 billion in 2022. The figures were announced in a report published by the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) during the annual World Travel Market in London. North America drives the most wellness tourism revenues ($242 billion annually) and Europe the most wellness trips (292 million) but the Asia Pacific region is the growth leader. Wellness trips to destinations across the region have increased by 33 percent in the last two years. China and India rank first and second growth, adding roughly 22 million and 17 million wellness trips respectively from 2015-2017. According to GWI researchers Katherine Johnston and Ophelia Yeung, wellness, hospitality and travel are converging in unprecedented ways embracing ‘healthy’ hotels, airports, airlines, and cruises as well an everincreasing selection of wellness retreats and tours. World travellers made 830 million wellness trips in 2017 (139 million more than in 2015) representing 17 percent of tourism revenues and the sector is expected to grown at an average annual rate of 7.5 percent over
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A popular wellness spa in south east Asia
the next four years, compared to forecasted 6.4 percent annual growth for overall tourism. The pure annual percentage growth leaders in Asia Pacific during 2015 – 2017 were Philippines (31.1%), Malaysia (28.6%) and Vietnam (22.8%). The GWI report assesses wellness travellers as ‘very high-spending, high-yield tourists’, spending an average US$1,528 per international trip. The premium for domestic wellness tourists is even higher at US$609 per trip.
The GWI identifies two types of wellness travellers; primary and secondary. The primary tag embraces travellers whose trip and choice of destination is motivated primarily by wellness. So-called secondary travellers participate in wellness experiences on a leisure or business trip and this group represents the bulk of the market: 89 percent of all wellness trips and 86 percent of total expenditure. For the full report, visit: https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/ industry-research/global-wellnesstourism-economy/
Travel & Tourism Updates
TAT eyes tourism potential in provinces T
he Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has presented three concepts for promoting 55 secondary destinations across the Kingdom, helping to develop and market their tourism economies and cultural assets in an environmentally-friendly way.
provinces within the ‘big picture’ of Thailand’s development. The plan is to create conceptual models that are specific to each secondary province such as a ‘sports city’ in Buri Ram, home to an international race car circuit (picture), and a ‘wellness city’ in Chiang Rai.
These 55 provinces, which together receive less than four million local and foreign tourists a year, are to enjoy increasing prominence in TAT’s marketing campaigns.
The TAT has stated that its research has revealed more than 4,000 tourist attractions and over 8,000 accommodation units in the secondary destinations – creating enormous opportunities to help each of them look unique and interesting.
TAT research has identified the need to position these secondary 55 38
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The campaign is in line with the government’s policy to promote the tourism sector with inspiring attractions and to strengthen the foundations of tourism. TAT research also revealed that the most visited secondary destinations (hosting over 100,000 tourists per annum) are Nong Khai, Udon Thani, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son. Cities currently receiving between 55,001-100,000 tourists each year are Ubon Ratchathani, Mukdahan and Satun.
Travel & Tourism Updates
Ariya tees up new role as Thailand’s golf ambassador
A
riya Jutanugarn has been named as Thailand Golf Ambassador for the lucrative Japanese market. The announcement was made by the Tourism Authority of Thailand during the Japan Classic tournament in Otsu City. Ariya recently returned to pole position in the Rolex world rankings after a series of stellar performances in 2018. A TAT representative told media that golf was one of Thailand’s most important niche markets for international tourists. In December 2017 Ariya and her sister Moriya were named as Golf Ambassadors in the equally lucrative market in South Korea. The TAT is also eyeing the Chinese mar-
ket, staging the Amazing Thailand all star Golf Invitation Tournament
in Phuket for Chinese movie stars, athletes and ‘celebrities’.
Eco award for Krabi K rabi has received the title ‘Global Low Carbon Ecological Scenic Spot’ at a UN awards ceremony in Bangkok.
The award was presented at the recent Global Forum on Human Settlements and Sustainable Cities, held at the offices of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. Awards were presented to 36 winners in seven categories, including four winners from Thailand in three categories. Hua Hin was named as a Global Green City, and high school students Wang Ruoxi and Thanik Siriphongpak were named as ‘Global Little Green Ambassadors’. The Link
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BOI gives new incentives for EEC infrastructure development T
o drive concrete development of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), Thailand’s Board of Investment has approved an investment incentive scheme to encourage more bids to build Terminal 3 at U-Tapao airport. A new scheme has also been devised for the Digital Park Thailand development project. The two projects are expected to support the objective of strengthening the position of Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor as a regional business hub.
The bidding winner of U-Tapao Airport’s Terminal 3 development project will be granted exemption of import duty on machinery and will also enjoy an initial eight year freeze on corporate income tax (CIT). In the event that the developer cooperates with an educational institution to develop human resources the BOI will grant a 50 percent reduction of CIT for a further three years under the EEC investment incentive scheme. U-Tapao airport’s Terminal 3 is part of the Aerotropolis development project. Under public-private partnership format, the Aerotropolis includes the construction of a THB 233 billion baht passenger terminal that will increase passenger handling 40
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Air Asia operates services to domestic and international destinations from U-Tapao.
capacity from just five million passengers to 22 million passengers by 2033. The Royal Thai Government is also working on other infrastructure development to build seamless road, rail, sea and air transportation network. Projects include the construction of a THB 224 billion baht high-speed train linking Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi Airport and U-Tapao. The Digital Park Thailand bid winner will enjoy import duty exemption on machinery and CIT ex-
emption for eight years. The Park is designed to become the regional centre for digital industry, promoting commercialised digital innovations that drive the Thailand 4.0 transformation. The Digital Park Thailand will have comprehensive digital infrastructure, including high-speed optic fibre network. Built as a Smart City, the Park will feature advanced digital systems such as face recognition security system, smart tap water system and a 5G testing area. More details from the BOI. Call: 02 553 8111.
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Kansai airport
Bad weather blows airlines off course I
nternational Air Transport Association figures for September show that demand (measured in revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) rose 5.5 percent compared to the same month in 2017. This compares with 6.4 percent growth recorded in August 2018 year-on-year. Capacity climbed 5.8 percent and load factors slipped for the first time in eight months, down by 0.3 percent. IATA estimated that impacts from severe hurricane and typhoon activ-
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ity in September impacted negatively on expected growth. “While September’s traffic growth was in line with the long-term average, it represents a moderation compared to recent months. This is likely owing to the anticipated reduced demand boost from lower airfares due to rising airline cost pressures, particularly fuel. Heightened uncertainty about trade policies and mounting protectionist policies may also be having an impact,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.
Asia-Pacific airlines’ traffic rose 5.4 percent in September compared to the same month in 2017. This was down from 7.4 percent annual growth in August. The steep decline in part reflects the impacts of typhoon activity in the region including the multiday closure of Kansai International Airport. Capacity increased 4.3 percent and load factors climbed by 0.9 percent to 79.2 percent. IATA’s latest passenger forecast predicts demand for air travel reaching 8.2 billion passengers by 2037.
Member News
Recognition for Harrow students
S
tudents at Harrow International School Bangkok have been recognised in the latest Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards. Twenty students received awards in recognition of their outstanding results in IGCSE and A Level examinations conducted under the auspices of Cambridge Assessment, part of the University of Cambridge.
Cambridge IGCSE, the world’s most popular international qualification for 14 to 16 year olds, is taken in more than 4,700 schools based in over 150 countries. International AS and A Levels are taken in 134 countries.
Kathryn Gavin, Head of SR5 (years 9, 10 & 11), Jonny Liddell (Head of Upper School) and Karen Prout, Head of Sixth Form, are pictured with successful Harrow Bangkok students.
PKF wins backing from SET
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KF has been added to the prestigious list of audit firms in Thailand that are approved by the Stock Exchange of Thailand to conduct audits of listed companies and those seeking to perform an Initial Public Offering (IPO). PKF faced rigorous scrutiny by the
SEC to ensure the highest levels of standards, governance and monitoring. The Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission is an independent public agency under the Securities and Exchange Act B.E. 2535 (1992) with the duty to supervise and develop the Thai capital market to
ensure efficiency, fairness, transparency and integrity. Khun Sawinee Sawanont, an Audit and Assurance Partner from PKF, commented, “PKF is proud to assist the SEC with its important mission to protect the confidence and trust of all stakeholders for listed and potential IPO companies.”
Vitanart Vathanakul, CEO of Royal Cliff Hotels Group (middle) receives the TTG Travel Hall of Fame Award from Ittipol Khunpluem, Thailand’s Vice Minister of Tourism and Sports (left) and Darren Ng, Managing Director of TTG Asia Media Ltd (right) during the recent TTG Awards 2018.
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Asia’s Educational Oasis providing the best environment for world-class education
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Member News
Jija hits right notes in Netherlands
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he music scholarship programme at Regent’s International School Bangkok continues to produce outstanding young musicians, has a well-established reputation for attracting and developing music talent. The school’s scholarship programme is in high demand and the success of the young scholars is remarkable.
One student, Ariya Laothitipong (Jija), has received the top three prizes at the 10th International Piano Competition for Young Musicians in the Netherlands. Last year she was named as the Franz Liszt Young Musician of the Year. Arlene Karnjanaphan (Remi) in Year 12 has been accepted into the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, making her the youngest professional member of the orchestra.
Ariya Laothitipong (Jija)
Thannapas Luanpitpong (Xinxia)
There is also some amazing talent in the Primary School at Regent’s. Thannapas Luanpitpong (Xinxia) in Year 4 won the Gold Prize in Piano Solo (under 9 category) at the Yamaha Music Thailand Festival. The Regent’s School Yamaha Music School provides tuition and musical opportunities to all students. Auditions for the school’s 2019 music scholarships will take place in February.
Arlene Karnjanaphan (Remi)
ABar Rooftop, the alfresco venue located on the 38th floor of the Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park in Sukhumvit Soi 22, has been named ‘Bangkok’s Best Rooftop Bar’ in the BK Magazine B.A.D. (Bangkok After Dark) Awards 2018.
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Member News
BHMA appoints new Executive VP Commercial
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HMA, the hotels and accommodation arm of Flight Centre Travel Group, has appointed experienced international hotelier Paul Wilson to the position of Executive Vice President Commercial.
for luxury travel. BHMA is a driving force in redefining the luxury market and I am deeply privileged to join the team with a shared vision of delivering unprecedented growth, success and winning culture,” said Paul Wilson.
He is overseeing sales, revenue, distribution, ecommerce and marketing communications for BHMA. Paul Wilson joins the organisation from Centara Hotels & Resorts where he worked as Vice President for sales, revenue and distribution.
“Working cross-culturally is one of the most rewarding aspects of my role, and I’ve been proud to identify and build lasting relationships with the best players in each region. I look forward to continuing this work and welcoming a new era of truly distinctive travel with BHMA.”
“This is a tremendously exciting time
Shrewsbury performers produce magical Proms
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hrewsbury International School Bangkok Riverside has hosted yet another successful Last Night of the Proms Concert. The Shrewsbury Proms, a mainstay of the Bangkok performance calendar, celebrates the school’s British roots and centres upon a concert performed by the school’s outstanding young musicians. Guests were also treated to an international buffet dinner and a spectacular fireworks display over the Chao Phraya river.
The theme of this year’s event, ‘Magic and Fantasy’, was brought to life through an eclectic and energetic programme devised by Director of Music David Place that included items from stage and screen such as Wicked, Game of Thrones and Star Wars as well as classical masterpieces that included Stravinsky’s Firebird and Elgar’s Pomp and Cir-
cumstance March No.1. Conducting duties were shared between Shrewsbury’s new Director of Choral Dr. Onyu Park and international
guest conductor Bundit Ungrangsee. This popular annual event attracted an audience of almost 600 people.
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Member News
Kid racers on the grid in Singapore
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team from Amnuay Silpa School in Thailand has been competing in the latest F1 in Schools™ World Finals. More than eight months of hard work and dedication was put into the preparation of the project, ranging from budget planning, recruiting sponsors, conducting research and experimenting to build the fastest model-sized F1 car for Pursuit Racing Responsibilities covering engineering, marketing and finance were allocated to Pursuit Racing’s six talented team members, each aged between 13 and 16 years. The competition, held at the Hard Rock Hotel on Sentosa, attracted
50 teams from 24 countries. Pursuit Racing ranked second in terms of the overall race time; had the fourth fastest car, and was fifth seed for the knockout round of 16 final teams. Final overall team results also took into account the engineering, business and pit display scores with Pursuit Racing achieving a highly creditable sixth place. David Eccles, the team’s engineering advisor and design teacher, said, “Amnuay Silpa School firmly believes in the benefit of project-based learning, teamwork and STEM which develop thinking skills, scientific creativity, and problem-solving abilities. F1 in Schools™ is the ultimate challenge as the team must not only design and manufacture the
fastest miniature racing car but also function as a real F1 team by raising funds for the project.” Pursuit Racing was sponsored by Bangkok Bank, PTT, Bangkok Airways, Insight Telco, Bira Circuit, Jorakay Corporations, CTC, Autodesk, Thai Star Shipping, CP Meiji, Amnuay Silpa School andthe school’s Parent Teacher Association. Amnuay Silpa (ANS) is a bilingual school offering a combined ThaiUK curriculum. ANS was accredited by Exeter University as the first and only Thinking School in Asia in 2013 and was awarded Advanced Status by the Department of Cognitive Education at Exeter University in 2017. Golden Land Property Development has appointed CBRE Thailand as the lead leasing agent for the Mitrtown Office Tower located at the corner of Phayathai and Rama IV roads. The building is part of Samyan Mitrtown, a mixeduse development comprising office, residential and retail space. Pictured from left: Miss Piyawara Bhongsetong, Senior VP for Asset Development - Golden Land Property Development; Withawat Koottatep, Executive VP for Commercial Development - Golden Land Property Development; Miss Aliwassa Pathnadabutr, Managing Director - CBRE Thailand and Nithipat Tongpun, CBRE’s Head of Advisory & Transaction Services.
The Lancaster Bangkok has welcomed travel agents from Canada as part of the ‘Amazing Thailand Go Local’ campaign hosted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). The aim of the TAT’s ‘go local’ project is to spread the benefits of tourism across the Kingdom by promoting Thailand’s emerging tourist destinations. The familiarisation visit enabled the delegates from Canada to experience a wide variety of Thailand’s less frequented regions such as Kanchanaburi and Phang Nga provinces.
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Member News
Putting firm stamp on campus theft
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ecurity is an important aspect of school, college and university life. Students, staff and visitors all need to feel that they can move around campus safely and that the campus is an enjoyable place to study, work and visit.
While physical security is of paramount importance, protecting property such as valuable ICT and electronic equipment on campus is also vital. One way of doing this is by using Selectamark Security Systems plc’s UK police and insurance approved property marking and asset identification solutions which help to deter theft and keep track of valuable assets. SelectaMark stencils visibly and permanently mark property to deter theft. SelectaLabel asset and security labels provide a low cost and secure means of identifying valuable assets and equipment. It is recommended that customers also use Selectamark’s cloud-based asset register to track and manage assets. SelectaDNA, only visible under UV
light, is the most advanced crime reduction system offered by Selectamark. It forensically marks property and reduces theft and burglary by up to 83 percent. Marking, identifying and managing valuable property reduces the risk of suffering thefts and losses. Some of the UK’s largest schools, colleges and universities rely on the quality, consistency, effectiveness and great
customer service that are guaranteed with all Selectamark products. Selectamark products are available from Securus Asia, Selectamark’s distributor in Thailand, which is now focusing on helping to reduce crime in the education sector. This follows on from great success using Selectamark products to protect valuable assets from theft at hundreds of UK schools, colleges and universities.
New role for Saranya at Centara
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with a degree in Chinese Language from Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University she obtained a Master’s degree in Management from the University of York.
She was previously a Human Resources Business Partner in PepsiCo’s Asia Pacific Region and she has also held HR management posts at Estee Lauder and Friesland Campina. After graduated
“Saranya will help us make Centara one of the best places to work in the hospitality industry,” said CEO Thirayuth Chirathivat. “Her experience will benefit our training and career planning programmes, reinforce our values and help meet the high standards of our organisation.”
entara Hotels & Resorts has appointed Miss Saranya Chensukitphanit as Corporate Director of Training and Talent Development. Her appointment is designed to attract and develop talent in support of the company’s high-performance service culture.
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Member News
KPMG seals deal with robotic software firm
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PMG in Thailand announced that it has partnered with UiPath, the leading enterprise Robotic Process Automation (RPA) software company, to provide RPA solutions to companies in Thailand with the aim of helping them to improve productivity and service quality. This partnership will allow KPMG in Thailand to provide UiPath’s RPA solutions to major multinational corporations as well as local corporations and SMEs.
To gain market advantage in today’s highly competitive landscape, organizations are increasingly seeking solutions to help them expedite operational processes, increase agility and deliver greater value to customers. By partnering with UiPath, KPMG in Thailand will enable companies to complete routine tasks with optimal agility. Target tasks for RPA solution includes front and back-end processes, and repetitive, rule-based tasks in a wide variety of areas from finance and accounting to branch operations and HR. By delegating these processes to a virtual workforce of software robots, company employees will be able to focus on more strategic, creative and customer-facing initiatives. “We see many benefits of RPA for both our clients, and the Thai economy as a whole” says Winid Silamongkol, CEO, KPMG in Thailand, adding “Thailand is developing quickly and local companies are starting to expand and compete internationally. RPA helps make companies of all sizes more competitive, improving service speed and overall efficiency. UiPath is a reputable RPA vendor with a proven track record of delivering for customers in Asia, and KPMG in Thailand looks forward to leveraging their knowledge and experience to provide better service
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Hiroshi Akimoto, Chief Digital Officer, KPMG in Japan; Winid Silamongkol, CEO, KPMG in Thailand; Malina Platon, Head of ASEAN UiPath; and Paul Kessler, VP of Partnerships APAC, UiPath
– and results – for the companies we work with.” UiPath and KPMG in Thailand have conducted two pilot projects using RPA for clients in the manufacturing and financial services industries. For the manufacturing firm, RPA robots have helped the company with ten different business processes, with plans to expand globally in the near future. For the financial services firm, KPMG in Thailand used RPA to help the client improve front-end and back-office operations. The current pilot project seeks to automate three processes within the firm,
which expects to further expand its RPA use throughout its companies in Thailand in the next phase. Malina Platon, Head of ASEAN for UiPath, said “I am pleased to enter into partnership with KPMG in Thailand, and provide our RPA solutions for their existing and future clients. KPMG in Thailand is constantly at the forefront of technology and innovation and understands the role that RPA plays in their customers’ success. The current projects we are working on with them have been a success, and I look forward to many more RPA implementations in the future.”
Member News
Royal Cliff lands top entrepreneurship award
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he Royal Cliff Hotels Group has received an Entrepreneurship Award under the category of Corporate Excellence at the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards 2018 (APEA 2018).
The awards ceremony in Bangkok was attended by Thailand’s Deputy Minister of Commerce Chutima Bunyapraphasar and the Chairman of Enterprise Asia Dr Fong Chang Onn. APEA is a regional awards recognition programme in Asia that celebrates entrepreneurial excellence. Vitanart Vathanakul, CEO of Royal Cliff Hotels Group, said, “This inspires me to strive for excellence every day. To be selected as a winner from a group of businesses that have demonstrated extraordinary entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership is a great achievement. Behind every award or every project, there is great teamwork. As a
Vitanart Vathanakul (centre) receives the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Award for Corporate Excellence from Thailand’s Deputy Minister of Commerce and the Chairman of Enterprise Asia.
company, we strongly believe in making a meaningful impact in the hospitality industry and this award
is a wonderful reflection of all the hard work we do in seeing the company’s vision through.”
In for a Penny
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rett Penny, Head of NIST International School, has been awarded a fully-funded fellowship to the Klingenstein Center for Independent School Leadership’s 2019 Heads of Schools programme at Teachers College, Columbia University. This distinguished honour, established in 1991, is granted to just 20 heads of schools each year. The 2019 cohort includes Heads from across the United States in addition to participants from Brazil, Canada, Germany, Guatemala, Italy, Myanmar, Taiwan and Thailand.
In January 2019, head teachers from the USA, Europe, South America and Asia will convene at Columbia University for intensive study to examine educational issues facing independent and international schools. The Klingenstein Center is dedicated to improving the quality of independent and international school education by developing and strengthening leadership among teachers and administrators.
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Member News
ESG governance issues threaten supply chains
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Some 86 percent of European firms expect their level of trade and investment in ASEAN to increase over the next five years. Electronics is one of ASEAN’s most important sectors, directly employing more than 2.5 million workers. Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia account for over 90% of ASEAN industry exports.
sian companies, particularly those in south east Asia, are at risk of falling off multi-national corporations’ supply chains if their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), strategies are not addressed. That’s the result of a report commissioned by HSBC in partnership with East & Partners. The report looked at the attitudes and actions surrounding ESG of some 1,731 companies and institutional investors. The research included responses from more than 300 companies and investors in China, Hong Kong, and Singapore. According to the HSBC report, 24 percent of Asian respondents have an ESG strategy compared to 48 percent of corporates globally and 87 percent of mainland European and UK companies. The disconnect between European and Asian companies’ adoption of ESG strategies, and the sensitivity of Asian corporates to stakeholder pressure and supply chain initiatives, raises the question of what this means for supply chains in this region. European and British companies have deep and historic supply chain
In textiles, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam’s exports of apparel and textile products nearly tripled from US$24.4 billion in 2001 to US$71.8 billion in 2014.
Daniel Klier
connections in ASEAN. Many European corporates are now investing in electronics, textile and auto industries in the region. The connectivity is strengthening with Europe accounting for 22 percent of all FDI flows into ASEAN between 2000 and 2016. Recent research shows that 51 percent of European firms view ASEAN as the region with the best economic opportunities, followed by China (26%).
Top award for SIRVA
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IRVA Worldwide Relocation & Moving has been named ‘2018 APAC Relocation Management Company of the Year’. The award was presented at the APAC Expatriate Management and Mobility Awards (EMMAs) in Singapore. SIRVA is represented in Thailand by BCCT member Allied Pickfords.
SIRVA was also named Runner Up in the category ‘Best Vendor Part52
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nership’ for its collaboration with Petronas. “We are incredibly honoured and humbled to be given this award,” said Jacob George, SIRVA President for Asia and the Middle East. “It’s a validation of the hard work the team does every day and a recognition of our continued journey to deliver the world class service that our clients have come to expect from us.”
In 2016, Vietnam alone exported US$42 billion with Indonesia exporting goods worth US$16 billion. The automotive sector in Thailand is one of the key sectors in the Thai economy, continuing to grow at around 8.1 percent of GDP. The pressure for Asian corporates involved in supply chains within south east Asia is further compounded by separate research by the Carbon Disclosure Project which indicates that 80 to 90 percent or more of a business’s environmental impact is located in its supply chain. HSBC’s Global Head of Sustainable Finance Daniel Klier said: “With Europe’s clear leadership in ESG adoption, it stands to reason that large corporations will want to see a similar shift in their suppliers’ ESG stance. ASEAN is increasingly becoming the supply chain ‘factory’ for several sector strongholds for Germany, France, UK and China including electronics, textiles and automotive. “These companies are making very clear and public proclamations on their ESG strategies as well as their expectations on their suppliers. ASEAN suppliers of European clients who are not alive to this change risk being left behind.”
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Dataconsult
Chamber Events
etary Fund (IMF) 2018 growth forecast is 4.6%, therefore broadly within range.
By the Numbers
Chris Bruton Director, Dataconsult Ltd.
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hailand’s economic recovery may not be brilliant, but at least it appears real and modestly encouraging.
The latest forecasts by the Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) of the Ministry of Finance, as of October 2018, indicate a fullyear 2018 growth rate of 4.5% (range 4.3% to 4.8%) based on 2017 growth of 3.9%. The latest International Mon-
Thailand growth performance very much depends upon exports, for which the FPO forecasts growth of 8.0% (US$ terms) with range 7.8% to 8.2%, (2017 performance 9.7%). This achievement, and the potential for continuing future growth, appears very uncertain, not least because of the developing US$/China trade issues, and whether Thailand may benefit or suffer from redirection of trade through imposition of new protective tariffs. Although the current Thailand government projects higher GDP growth rates as targets for “Thailand 4.0” and 20 Year Strategy, the IMF forecasts GDP growth of 3.5% to 3.9% throughout 2019 to 2023, the lowest performance in developing ASEAN.
Thailand: Key economic performance indicators 2016
2017
2018f (as of October 2018) Average
Range
MAJOR ASSUMPTIONS Exogenous Variables Average Economic Growth of Major Trading Partners (percent y-o-y)
3.43
4.01
3.99
3.7 to 4.2
Dubai Crude Oil Price (USD/bbl)
41.2
53.1
71.8
68.8 to 74.8
Exchange Rate (Baht per U.S. dollar)
35.30
33.94
32.25
31.75 to 32.75
Policy Rate at year-end (percent y-o-y)
1.50
1.50
1.50
1.25 to 1.75
Public Expenditure (Trillion Baht)
3.39
3.46
3.63
3.61 to 3.65
Number of foreign tourists (million persons)
32.5
35.4
38.0
37.5 to 38.5
3.3
3.9
4.5
4.3 to 4.7
3.0
3.2
4.2
4.0 to 4.4
2.2
0.5
2.6
2.4 to 2.8
Policy Variables
PROJECTIONS GDP Growth Rate (percent y-o-y) Real Consumption Growth (percent y-o-y) - Real Private Consumption - Real Public Consumption Real Investment Growth (percent y-o-y) - Real Private Investment
0.5
1.7
3.9
3.7 to 4.1
- Real Public Investment
9.5
-1.2
5.1
4.9 to 5.3
Export Volume of Goods and Services (percent y-o-y)
2.8
5.5
4.6
4.4 to 4.8
Import Volume of Goods and Services (percent y-o-y)
-1.0
6.8
7.8
7.6 to 8.0
Trade Balance (billion U.S. dollar)
36.5
32.4
20.9
20.7 to 21.1
- Export Value of Goods in U.S. dollar (percent y-o-y)
0.1
9.7
8.0
7.8 to 8.2
- Import Value of Goods in U.S. dollar (percent y-o-y)
-5.1
14.0
16.0
15.8 to 16.2
48.2
49.3
39.5
39.3 to 39.7
11.7
10.8
7.7
7.5 to 7.9
Headline Inflation (percent y-o-y)
0.2
0.7
1.2
1.0 to 1.4
Core Inflation (percent y-o-y)
0.7
0.6
0.8
0.6 to 1.0
Current Account (billion U.S. dollar) - Percentage of GDP
Source: Fiscal Policy Office, Ministry of Finance: October 29, 2018
The FPO forecasts real public and private investment as more strongly positive in 2018 as compared with 2017. The next five years will depend very much on realization according to plan of the government ambitious infrastructure plans. These emphasize rail development, both for high speed rail standard gauge from Bangkok through the Northeast linking up with on-going Chinese projects now being developed through Laos, and also high speed rail links between three main international airports Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueng and Utapao. The Eastern Economic Corridor, the other main element in planning, of which high speed rail forms part, will also be a vital element in stimulating growth. If all projects can be realized on time, higher GDP rates could be achieved, but the IMF takes a conservative view, which is justified, bearing in mind the relatively tardy performance of past infrastructure schemes. One main hope for Thailand’s development is the tourism and hospitality industry. Arrivals of foreign tourists are forecast at 38 million for 2018, up from 35.4 million in 2017 and 32.5 million in 2016. Currently, 30% of total tourist arrivals are from China, where under 10% of citizens have passports and are able to travel. Additional to Chinese tourist spending on travel, they are now supporting a potentially overheated condominium market, which could collapse if Chinese money was less readily available to acquire property. The FPO forecasts are based on Thai Baht exchange value of Baht 32.5 to US$, and an oil price of US$ 71.8 per barrel (Dubai crude). It is anticipated that the Thai Baht could ease to beyond Baht 34.0 per US$ in 2019, while oil prices will be highly dependent on international markets and imposition of embargoes on supplies. Both these factors create forecast uncertainties.
Gross Domestic Product at current price (total value) (countries ranked by 2018 size) Country China United Kingdom India Indonesia Thailand Malaysia Singapore Philippines Vietnam Myanmar Cambodia Lao Brunei
(US$ billion)
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
8,570.3 2,677.1 1,827.6 919.0 397.6 313.5 290.7 250.1 155.5 59.9 14.1 10.2
9,635.0 2,755.4 1,856.7 916.6 420.3 324.9 304.5 271.8 170.4 60.1 15.2 12.0
10,534.5 3,036.3 2,039.1 891.1 407.3 340.1 311.6 284.6 185.8 65.6 16.7 13.3
11,226.2 2,897.1 2,102.4 860.7 401.4 301.8 304.1 292.8 191.3 59.5 18.1 14.4
11,221.8 2,669.1 2,273.6 932.4 411.8 297.8 309.8 304.9 201.3 63.3 20.0 15.9
12,014.6 2,628.4 2,602.3 1,015.4 455.4 312.4 323.9 313.6 220.4 67.3 22.1 17.0
13,457.3 2,808.9 2,690.0 1,005.3 490.1 347.3 346.6 331.7 241.4 71.5 24.1 18.2
14,172.2 2,809.9 2,957.7 1,066.8 524.3 372.6 359.6 354.3 266.2 74.0 26.4 20.0
15,462.0 2,912.9 3,258.9 1,175.1 555.2 401.5 377.2 385.4 292.2 82.1 28.7 21.9
16,768.1 3,012.4 3,586.6 1,259.0 586.1 431.3 395.6 422.6 318.8 90.5 31.2 23.9
18,131.7 3,135.2 3,941.2 1,349.1 617.9 464.5 415.0 464.0 346.9 99.8 33.9 26.0
19,580.6 3,257.1 4,329.9 1,446.4 652.2 498.5 434.9 510.9 376.2 109.7 36.7 28.3
19.0
18.1
17.1
12.9
11.4
12.1
14.7
15.2
15.3
16.1
17.0
17.4
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Gross Domestic Product at constant prices (growth) (countries ranked by 2018 size) Country India Cambodia Lao China Philippines Vietnam Myanmar Indonesia Malaysia Thailand Singapore Brunei United Kingdom
2012 5.5 7.3 7.8 7.9 6.7 5.2 7.3 6.0 5.5 7.2 4.1 0.9 1.4
2013 6.4 7.4 8.0 7.8 7.1 6.0 8.4 5.6 4.7 2.7 5.1 -2.1 2.0
2014 7.4 7.1 7.6 7.3 6.1 6.7 8.0 5.0 6.0 1.0 3.9 -2.5 2.9
2015 8.2 7.0 7.3 6.9 6.1 6.2 7.0 4.9 5.1 3.0 2.2 -0.4 2.3
2016 7.1 7.0 7.0 6.7 6.9 6.8 5.9 5.0 4.2 3.3 2.4 -2.5 1.8
(Percentage change year-on-year)
2017 6.7 6.9 6.9 6.9 6.7 6.6 6.8 5.1 5.9 3.9 3.6 1.3 1.7
2018 7.3 7.0 6.8 6.6 6.5 6.5 6.4 5.1 4.7 4.6 2.9 2.3 1.4
2019 7.4 6.8 7.0 6.2 6.6 6.5 6.8 5.1 4.6 3.9 2.5 5.1 1.5
2020 7.7 6.5 7.0 6.2 6.6 6.5 7.0 5.2 4.8 3.7 2.7 4.3 1.5
2021 7.7 6.3 6.9 6.0 6.8 6.5 7.0 5.3 4.8 3.5 2.7 7.5 1.6
2017 57,713.3 39,800.3 28,278.4 9,755.2 8,643.1 6,590.6 3,875.8 2,988.9 2,540.8 2,353.4 1,976.1 1,379.3 1,278.1
2018 61,230.2 42,260.9 33,824.1 10,703.6 9,633.1 7,084.5 3,789.0 3,099.3 2,690.2 2,552.8 2,016.2 1,485.3 1,354.2
2019 62,983.5 42,035.9 34,559.1 11,338.7 10,098.5 7,570.4 3,970.6 3,245.9 2,907.1 2,788.0 2,188.0 1,598.6 1,394.9
2020 65,503.5 43,358.4 34,276.8 12,063.1 10,971.5 8,011.4 4,318.6 3,461.8 3,138.8 3,030.6 2,379.5 1,715.8 1,537.4
2021 68,115.4 44,639.3 35,831.0 12,793.6 11,853.2 8,452.4 4,569.2 3,721.0 3,371.8 3,275.7 2,584.8 1,838.5 1,684.8
2022 70,834.3 46,275.2 37,262.3 13,607.1 12,773.6 8,907.4 4,834.6 4,005.8 3,617.6 3,532.3 2,803.5 1,964.1 1,846.0
2021 20.1 8.6 2.7 2.1 1.0 0.8 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.0
2022 20.6 9.0 2.8 2.1 1.0 0.8 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.0
Gross Domestic Product per capita (countries ranked by 2018 size) Country Singapore United Kingdom Brunei Malaysia China Thailand Indonesia Philippines Lao Vietnam India Cambodia Myanmar
2012 54,716.7 42,023.1 47,736.3 10,624.8 6,329.5 5,850.3 3,744.5 2,591.6 1,640.9 1,750.8 1,481.6 945.7 1,186.0
2013 56,389.2 42,981.3 44,716.3 10,754.7 7,080.8 6,154.5 3,684.0 2,768.5 1,900.0 1,898.9 1,485.6 1,009.3 1,179.6
2014 56,959.3 47,003.9 41,630.5 11,074.0 7,701.7 5,933.0 3,533.6 2,849.3 2,075.1 2,047.4 1,610.4 1,090.7 1,275.3
2015 54,939.9 44,494.9 31,047.1 9,677.2 8,166.8 5,830.6 3,369.4 2,882.8 2,212.4 2,085.7 1,638.8 1,163.4 1,147.3
2016 55,241.3 40,657.9 26,967.6 9,415.1 8,115.8 5,970.3 3,604.3 2,953.2 2,416.9 2,172.0 1,749.2 1,270.5 1,210.5
2022 7.7 6.0 6.8 5.8 6.8 6.5 7.1 5.3 4.8 3.5 2.7 5.9 1.6
(Current prices US$)
GDP Purchasing-power-parity (PPP) share of world total (countries ranked by 2018 size) Country China India Indonesia United Kingdom Thailand Malaysia Philippines Vietnam Singapore Myanmar Cambodia Brunei Lao
2012 15.3 6.2 2.3 2.4 1.0 0.7 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0
2013 15.9 6.4 2.4 2.4 1.0 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0
2014 16.5 6.6 2.4 2.4 1.0 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0
2015 17.1 7.0 2.5 2.4 1.0 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0
2016 17.7 7.2 2.5 2.3 1.0 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0
2012 2.8 3.0 10.0 9.1 4.0 2.9 2.8 2.6 1.7 4.6 4.3 3.0 0.1
2013 5.7 2.6 9.4 6.6 6.4 3.0 2.6 2.6 2.1 2.4 6.4 2.2 0.4
2014 5.1 3.6 5.8 4.1 6.4 3.9 1.5 2.0 3.1 1.0 4.1 1.9 -0.2
2015 10.0 0.7 4.9 0.6 6.4 1.2 0.0 1.4 2.1 -0.5 1.3 -0.9 -0.4
2018 18.7 7.7 2.6 2.2 1.0 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.0
2019 19.2 8.0 2.6 2.2 1.0 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.0
2020 19.7 8.3 2.7 2.2 1.0 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.0
2017 4.0 2.9 3.6 3.5 3.8 2.9 2.7 1.6 3.8 0.6 0.8 0.7 -0.2
2018 6.0 4.9 4.7 3.8 3.4 3.3 2.5 2.2 1.0 1.0 0.9 0.9 0.4
2019 5.8 4.0 4.9 4.0 3.8 3.3 2.2 2.4 2.3 1.4 4.5 0.9 0.5
2020 5.7 3.3 4.6 4.0 3.8 3.2 2.0 2.7 2.6 1.4 3.3 1.1 0.5
2021 5.5 3.1 4.3 4.0 3.4 3.1 2.0 2.8 2.5 1.3 3.1 1.4 0.5
2016 106.8 87.9 69.5 58.4 59.9 56.2 44.2 41.8 39.0 35.7 29.1 28.3 3.0
2017 111.1 87.5 71.2 63.6 58.5 54.1 47.0 41.9 39.9 33.6 30.4 28.8 2.8
2018 112.9 87.4 69.6 66.7 57.8 55.1 50.1 41.9 39.8 33.2 31.7 29.8 2.4
2019 114.3 87.2 68.1 67.9 57.4 54.3 53.9 41.3 39.2 34.2 33.8 29.9 2.3
2020 115.0 86.5 66.5 68.2 57.1 52.9 57.1 41.2 38.6 34.1 35.9 29.7 2.3
2021 115.8 85.9 65.2 68.7 57.3 51.5 60.1 41.3 38.0 34.5 37.7 29.5 2.2
2016 19.0 11.7 12.9 2.4 2.9 1.8 -0.4 -1.8 -0.6 -5.2 -3.9 -8.6 -13.0
2017 18.8 11.2 16.7 3.0 2.5 1.4 -0.8 -1.7 -1.9 -3.8 -4.3 -8.5 -12.1
2018 18.5 9.1 7.8 2.9 2.2 0.7 -1.5 -2.4 -3.0 -3.5 -5.3 -10.8 -13.9
2019 18.3 8.1 17.4 2.3 2.0 0.7 -1.5 -2.4 -2.5 -3.2 -5.7 -10.6 -12.3
2020 17.8 6.9 17.5 2.1 1.7 0.7 -1.4 -2.3 -2.4 -3.0 -5.9 -9.9 -11.3
2021 17.5 5.9 16.1 1.9 1.6 0.5 -1.3 -2.2 -2.4 -3.0 -5.9 -8.8 -8.6
2016 6.8 1.3 4.5 2.7 3.5 3.0 0.7 2.0 2.1 -0.5 1.6 0.2 -0.7
2012 105.1 84.1 69.1 55.2 48.4 54.6 34.3 41.9 47.9 40.7 31.5 23.0 2.1
2013 101.5 85.2 68.5 54.3 52.0 56.4 37.0 42.2 45.7 33.2 31.6 24.8 2.2
2014 96.6 87.0 67.8 58.6 55.0 56.2 39.9 43.3 42.1 29.9 31.8 24.7 3.2
2015 100.5 87.9 70.0 58.1 57.4 57.9 41.1 42.5 41.5 34.5 30.9 27.5 3.0
2012 17.0 -0.4 29.8 5.2 6.0 2.5 2.8 -2.7 -4.8 -3.8 -4.1 -14.0 -26.0
2013 16.5 -1.2 20.9 3.5 4.5 1.5 4.2 -3.2 -1.7 -5.1 -4.9 -13.4 -28.4
2014 18.7 3.7 31.9 4.4 4.9 2.2 3.8 -3.1 -1.3 -4.9 -2.2 -10.1 -20.0
Source: World Economic Outlook Database, October 2018
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2015 18.6 8.0 16.7 3.0 -0.1 2.7 2.5 -2.0 -1.1 -4.9 -5.1 -9.0 -18.0
2022 5.5 3.0 4.1 4.0 3.0 3.0 2.0 2.9 2.4 1.3 3.1 1.8 0.5
2023 5.4 3.0 4.0 4.0 3.0 3.0 2.0 3.0 2.3 1.3 3.1 2.0 0.5
(Percentage of GDP)
Current Account Balance (countries ranked by 2018 size) Country Singapore Thailand Brunei Malaysia Vietnam China Philippines Indonesia India United Kingdom Myanmar Cambodia Lao
2023 21.0 9.3 2.8 2.0 1.0 0.8 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.0
(Percentage change year-on-year)
General Government Gross Debt (countries ranked by 2018 size) Country Singapore United Kingdom India Lao Vietnam Malaysia China Thailand Philippines Myanmar Cambodia Indonesia Brunei
2023 73,618.8 47,887.7 37,732.2 14,422.8 13,780.0 9,400.4 5,118.5 4,324.2 3,881.2 3,797.3 3,040.0 2,098.1 2,017.9
(Percent)
2017 18.2 7.4 2.5 2.3 1.0 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.0
Inflation: average consumer prices (countries ranked by 2018 size) Country Myanmar Philippines India Vietnam Indonesia Cambodia United Kingdom China Malaysia Singapore Lao Thailand Brunei
2023 7.7 6.0 6.8 5.6 6.9 6.5 7.2 5.4 4.8 3.6 2.6 3.9 1.6
2022 116.3 85.1 64.0 69.2 57.6 49.9 62.7 41.4 37.4 34.7 39.4 29.5 2.1
2023 116.7 84.0 62.9 69.7 58.1 48.1 65.1 41.3 36.8 35.3 40.8 29.3 2.1
(Percentage of GDP) 2022 16.7 5.2 15.1 1.8 1.5 0.3 -1.4 -2.2 -2.5 -2.9 -5.9 -8.0 -9.9
2023 15.9 4.2 15.7 1.7 1.5 0.1 -1.3 -2.2 -2.6 -2.9 -5.8 -7.0 -8.7
Population (countries ranked by 2018 size) Country China India Indonesia Philippines Vietnam Thailand United Kingdom Myanmar Malaysia Cambodia Lao Singapore Brunei
2012 1,354.0 1,233.6 245.4 96.5 88.8 68.0 63.7 50.5 29.5 14.9 6.2 5.3 0.4
2013 1,360.7 1,249.8 248.8 98.2 89.8 68.3 64.1 51.0 30.2 15.1 6.3 5.4 0.4
(Million persons)
2014 1,367.8 1,266.3 252.2 99.9 90.7 68.7 64.6 51.4 30.7 15.3 6.4 5.5 0.4
2015 1,374.6 1,282.9 255.5 101.6 91.7 68.8 65.1 51.8 31.2 15.5 6.5 5.5 0.4
2016 1,382.7 1,299.8 258.7 103.2 92.7 69.0 65.6 52.3 31.6 15.8 6.6 5.6 0.4
2017 1,390.1 1,316.9 262.0 104.9 93.6 69.1 66.0 52.6 32.0 16.0 6.7 5.6 0.4
2018 1,397.0 1,334.2 265.3 107.0 94.6 69.2 66.5 52.8 32.4 16.3 6.8 5.7 0.4
2019 1,403.4 1,351.8 268.7 109.2 95.5 69.3 66.8 53.0 32.9 16.5 6.9 5.7 0.4
2020 1,409.3 1,369.6 272.1 111.3 96.4 69.3 67.2 53.4 33.3 16.7 7.0 5.8 0.4
2021 1,414.6 1,387.6 275.6 113.6 97.3 69.3 67.5 53.7 33.7 17.0 7.1 5.8 0.5
2022 1,419.5 1,405.8 279.0 115.8 98.2 69.4 67.8 54.1 34.1 17.3 7.2 5.9 0.5
2023 1,420.9 1,424.3 282.6 118.2 99.1 69.4 68.0 54.4 34.6 17.5 7.3 5.9 0.5
Source: World Economic Outlook Database, October 2018
World Bank: Ease of Doing Business Survey 2019 Economy
Ease of Doing Business Rank 2017
Starting a Business
(Ranking based on 190 countries)
Dealing with Construction Permits
Getting Electricity
Registering Property
Protecting Minority Investors
Getting Credit
Trading Across Borders
Paying Taxes
Enforcing Contracts
Resolving Insolvency
2018
Singapore
2
2
3
8
16
21
32
7
8
45
1
27
United Kingdom
7
9
19
17
7
42
32
15
23
30
32
14
Malaysia
24
15
122
3
4
29
32
2
72
48
33
41
Thailand
26
27
39
67
6
66
44
15
59
59
35
24
China
78
46
28
121
14
27
73
64
114
65
6
61
Brunei
56
55
16
55
31
142
1
48
84
149
67
64
Vietnam
68
69
104
21
27
60
32
89
131
100
62
133
Indonesia
72
73
134
112
33
100
44
51
112
116
146
36
India
100
77
137
52
24
166
22
7
121
80
163
108
Philippines
113
124
166
94
29
116
184
132
94
104
151
63
Cambodia
135
138
185
179
141
124
22
110
137
115
182
79
Lao PDR
141
154
180
99
156
85
73
174
155
76
162
168
Myanmar
171
171
152
81
144
136
178
185
126
168
188
164
Source: World Bank Group, 2018
Foreign Direct Investment Inflows 2012- 2017 Country SE Asia total Singapore Indonesia United Kingdom
(Million US Dollars)
FDI inflows 2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
111,862 59,837 19,138
118,963 57,453 18,817
129,594 73,475 21,811
117,322 62,746 16,641
120,613 77,454 3,921
2017
FDI outflows
Country
133,771 United Kingdom 62,006 SE Asia total 23,063 Singapore
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
20,700 58,629 20,058
40,486 81,348 44,441
-151,286 88,368 52,418
-83,492 54,931 31,123
-22,516 38,969 27,922
99,614 55,026 24,682
55,446
51,676
24,690
32,720
196,130
15,090 Thailand
10,497
11,679
5,575
1,687
12,414
19,283
Vietnam
8,368
8,900
9,200
11,800
12,600
14,100 Malaysia
17,143
14,107
16,369
10,546
8,011
5,792
Malaysia
9,239
12,115
10,877
10,082
11,336
9,543 Indonesia
5,422
6,647
7,077
5,937
-12,215
2,912
Philippines Thailand
2,449 9,135
2,280 15,493
5,285 4,809
4,447 5,624
6,915 2,068
9,524 Philippines 7,635 Vietnam
3,407 1,200
2,189 1,956
6,299 1,150
4,347 1,100
1,032 1,388
1,614 540 259
Myanmar Cambodia Laos Timor-Leste Brunei
497
584
946
2,824
2,989
4,341 Cambodia
36
46
43
47
121
2,001
2,068
1,853
1,823
2,476
2,784 Laos
0.1
-0.3
12
53
24
30
294
427
721
1,119
997
853
271
-590
78
258
-85
13
13
13
13
13
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
39
50
49
43
5
865
776
568
173
-150
813 Brunei 7 Timor-Leste -46 Myanmar
Source: UNCTAD, World Investment Report 2018
Foreign Direct Investment Stocks: inward and outward ( 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017) Southeast Asia FDI Inwards Stock
Country SE Asia total United Kingdom Singapore Indonesia Thailand Malaysia Vietnam Philippines Myanmar Cambodia Laos Brunei Timor-Leste
(Million US Dollars)
FDI Outwards Stock
2013 1,553,205 1,605,522 837,652 230,344 185,463 144,705 81,702 32,547 14,171 9,399 2,779 14,212
2014 1,687,452 1,662,858 912,355 253,082 199,311 133,767 90,991 57,093 17,652 13,035 3,630 6,219
2015 1,704,891 1,457,408 978,411 224,843 175,442 117,644 102,791 59,303 20,476 14,739 4,850 6,061
2016 1,872,239 1,196,520 1,096,320 234,961 188,651 121,621 115,391 64,249 22,666 16,656 5,639 5,739
2017 2,162,289 1,563,867 1,284,929 248,510 219,368 139,540 129,491 78,788 27,806 20,794 6,560 6,162
2013 720,413 1,884,819 497,880 16,070 58,610 133,996 13,191 465 14 134
2014 845,669 1,584,147 576,396 24,052 65,769 135,685 7,490 35,603 484 134
2015 913,349 1,538,133 625,259 30,171 68,058 136,892 8,590 41,100 531 16 2645
2016 1,012,808 1,443,936 682,404 58,890 85,636 126,937 9,978 45,377 652 19 2,803
2017 1,204,190 1,531,683 841,402 65,871 107,298 128,517 10,518 47,824 911 188 1,550
230
316
332
346
339
83
86
86
112
112
Source: UNCTAD, World Investment Report 2018
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Nominations invited for BCCT Board of Directors N
ominations are invited for election to the 2019 BCCT Board of Directors. The election takes place at the Annual General Meeting on Thursday 24 January 2019 at the Radisson Blu Plaza Bangkok
If you would like to contribute to the work of the BCCT please consider standing for election. We would like as many members to stand. As a board member, you will help guide and drive the direction of BCCT. To further discuss the role of a board director or other related queries please contact a current Board Director, or the BCCT Executive Director (greg@ bccthai.com)
Seven existing Board directors will vacate office. They may stand for re-election with other BCCT members who are not current directors. At the election, the seven highest polling candidates will be appointed to serve a two-year term of office. A nomination form will be e-mailed on request. Please contact: jintana@ bccthai.com. The signed nomination form, complete with the names of proposer and seconder, must be submitted to the BCCT office no later than 5.00 pm on Monday 7 January. Nominations may be accepted thereafter, including from the floor at the AGM, but they will not be pre-printed on
the voting forms circulated to members before the lunch or used at the AGM. The role and responsibilities of a BCCT Board Director include: • Attendance at monthly Board meetings (dates set at the beginning of the year). You should attend at least six meetings. Missing three consecutive meetings without notice is deemed to be resignation from the Board • All directors will be expected to participate in as many BCCT Groups as possible and at other meetings/events as and when applicable • Preparation of regular reports on news, developments and opportunities etc in your sector or area of expertise, or writing articles for The Link magazine (no specific numerical requirement) • Attendance at BCCT events in order to represent the Chamber and to meet members
58
Merry Christmas
• Input on issues raised by BCCT members, officers or the BCCT office
We wish all our readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous and Peaceful New Year
• Promotion of the BCCT among the Thai and foreign business communities in and outside of Thailand
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Finally, all Directors are required to sign a declaration regarding conflicts of interest.
May 2019
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Chamber Events
Ploenchit Fair 2018 On Saturday 24 November the British Community came back together once more to help those in Thailand less fortunate than themselves as the Ploenchit Fair returned to the British Embassy Bangkok where it was founded. Grand Raffle organised by BCCT raised THB 591,000 this year for the Fair. Thanks to all who supported.
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Chamber Events
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Chamber Events
Thailand International Business Awards 2018 BCCT, together with BigChilli, held the second Thailand International Business Awards (TIBA) on Tuesday 16th October 2018 at Amari Watergate Bangkok. H.R.H. Prince Richard, The Duke of Gloucester presented awards to Vernon Unsworth on behalf of Thailand Cave Rescuers (Social Impact Award) and Triumph Motorcycles Thailand (Outstanding Company). Congratulations to all winners - AstraZeneca Thailand (Most Innovative Company), Kensington International Kindergarten (Outstanding Small Company), Primal (Most Promising New Business), Sahib Anandsongvit (Thai Entrepreneur) and Mark McDowell (Young Professional). Big thanks to our generous sponsors Mazars (Thailand) and Samitivej Hospital for their great supports, making it a wonderful event.
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PLAY Today Learn for
LIFE
Our creative, play-based Early Years curriculum, delivered by fully qualified specialists in carefully designed and resourced environments, nurtures creativity, imagination and a love of learning that sets the foundations for successful education at school and beyond. Shrewsbury is now open for applications into Early Years 1 - Year 6 at both campuses, City Campus and Riverside. Shrewsbury City Campus Call: 02 203-1222 Email: enquiries-city@shrewsbury.ac.th Website: www.shrewsbury.ac.th/city
Shrewsbury Riverside Call: 02 675 1888 Email: enquiries@shrewsbury.ac.th Website: www.shrewsbury.ac.th/riverside
Exceptional People • Outstanding Opportunities • Academic Excellence The Link
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Chamber Events
BCCT Multi-Chambers Lunch: SET
Annual Update on Employment Law
On Friday 14th September, the Stock Exchange of Thailand President Dr Pakorn Peetathawatchai spoke to BCCT members and guests on the past, present and future of Thailand’s Stock Exchange market and its implementation towards the changing digital world and consumer behaviour. Key points in its major contribution to the Thai economy and country’s growth as well as regional investment destination were also presented to the audience. Massive thanks to Mazars for sponsoring the event.
BCCT organised a BCCT Briefing: Annual Update on Employment Law on Tuesday 18th September 2018 at British Business Centre. Speaker Komson Suntheeraporn, DLA Piper Of Counsel, discussed recent updates on Thailand’s employment law concerning employers obligations, employee rights in various cases. Topics on law amendments were also raised including new terms of employee termination and rights, calculation of severance payments and leave entitlements.
Pictured from left, Mazars Audit and Advisory Partner Blake Dimsdale, BCCT Board of Director Pinyapa Pichaipalakorn, AustCham Treasurer Peter Emblin, Dr Pakorn Peetathawatchai, BCCT Chairman Chris Thatcher, British Embassy Deputy Director Trade and Investment Mark Smithson and BeLuThai Executive Director Philip Coates.
Pictured from left, BCCT Board of Director and Legal & Taxation Committee Chairman Stephen Frost, Komson Suntheeraporn and Dataconsult Executive Director Christopher Bruton.
BCCT T3 Business Networking
Empowering SMEs through Facebook
At BCCT T3 Business Networking on Thursday 20th September, BCCT members and guests indulged in a fine selection of authentic Swiss, Japanese, Chinese and international dishes brilliantly hosted by Swissotel Bangkok Ratchada. Massive thanks to General Manager Bruno Rotschaedl and F&B Director Matin Fischl for a fantastic evening. Also special thanks to Samitivej Hospital for their generous support as always.
Facebook Thailand Account Manager Alynpim Kiriyapong (pictured) spoke for BCCT members and guests at BCCT Briefing on “Empowering SMEs through Facebook” on Tuesday 25th September at The Lancaster Bangkok. The session was very informative and insightful, giving audience tips and updates on how their business can benefit from Facebook, Instagram and Messenger platforms.
Pictured from left Bruno Rotschaedl, Samitivej Hospital International Marketing Manager Porntip Utsahaphan, BCCT Chairman Chris Thatcher and BCCT Vice-Chairman and Chairman of BCCT Events Committee Simon Matthews.
The BCCT Briefing raised a number of interesting issues for discussion.
Thank you to our sponsors. 64
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Chamber Events
BCCT Briefing: Power Technology
BCCT Phuket Briefing
Nissan Motor (Thailand) President Antoine Barthes spoke to BCCT members and guests at BCCT Briefing on Power Technology – new LEAF, electrification ecosystem and electric vehicle (EV) technology on Thursday 27th September at British Business Centre. Updates, trends and the future of electric vehicles in Southeast Asia was discussed with interesting questions raised by the audience.
BCCT, together with Hughes Krupica, organised a BCCT Phuket Briefing on “Thai Company Nominees: What Are They Allegedly?” on Thursday 4th October at Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort prior to the Business Networking. The discussion covered crucial points on Thai law and regulations towards Thai company nominees and what business environment faced with these restrictions.
Pictured is our guest speaker Antoine Barthes from Nissan Motor (Thailand).
Special thanks to the panellists from Hughes Krupica (from left) Partner Pongsak Daengkaew, Senior Partner Robert Krupica and Desmond Hughes and and moderator – Associate Sirikwan Tan.
BCCT Phuket Business Networking
BCCT Eastern Seaboard After Hours
On Thursday 4th October, BCCT held a Phuket Business Networking welcoming Phuket members and guests from BCCT, AustChamm, CanCham, EABC, FTCC and NTCC to network and enjoy fantastic food and drink kindly hosted by Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort. Special thanks to our event sponsors Hughes Krupica and Budget Car and Truck Rental. Also, a fabulous media support from The Phuket News and Window on Phuket.
On Friday 5th October, BCCT Vice-Chairman Simon Matthews and BCCT Executive Director Greg Watkins welcomed BCCT members and guests to BCCT Eastern Seaboard After Hours. Hosted by Hooters Pattaya, attendees enjoyed drinks while meeting business contacts in the Eastern Seaboard.
Pictured from left Budget Car and Truck Rental Thanit Phuvanich, BCCT Chairman Chris Thatcher, Window on Phuket Managing Director Grenville Fordham, Phuket News General Manager Jason Beavan, FTCC President Alexandre Dupont, FTCC Executive Director Sukanya Uerchuchai, Thanyapura Vice-President Edgar Toral and Budget Car and Truck Rental Kitikun Thongpibal.
BCCT Vice Chairman Simon Matthews (left) and Executive Director Greg Watkins (second from right) welcomed members and guests.
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Chamber Events
BCCT T3 Business Networking
One-Day Workshop: Good Leaders
Akyra Thonglor welcomed BCCT members and guests to the October’s BCCT T3 Business Networking on Thursday 18th October at Som Tam & Chardonnay Restaurant on the 11th floor of Akyra Thonglor. Excellent selections of food and drinks presented by the hotel while guests enjoyed networking in a lovely ambience.
On Wednesday 24th October, BCCT organised a BCCT OneDay Workshop on What All Good Leaders Need to Understand at British Business Centre. Facilitator Lieutenant General Peter Pearson CB CBE, Founder and Director of Senior Advice Limited, covered crucial points on the fundamental of leadership, leadership versus management, strategic analysis and planning and public speaking.
Pictured from left, BCCT Vice-Chairman Simon Matthews and Christian Zunk
Pictured are Peter Pearson (far left) and the workshop participants.
BCCT Business After Hours - Bangkok
Tesco Lotus Open House
BCCT organised a BCCT Business After Hours in Bangkok at Hooters Bangkok Sukhumvit 15 on Friday 26th October. BCCT Chairman Chris Thatcher welcomed BCCT members and guests to enjoy a fun and lively evening.
BCCT, together with Tesco Lotus, organised a Tesco Lotus Open House welcoming BCCT members to visit Tesco Lotus store at their HQ in Sukhaphibal 1. Tesco Lotus Chief Human Resources Officer Aurakanda Attavipach covered an insightful session on the company’s people practices and labour relation following by a store visit.
Pictured are BCCT Chairman Chris Thatcher (second from left) and Tenzing Pacific Services Senior Associate Craig McAvinue.
Pictured fourth from right is Aurakanda Attavipach
Thank you to our sponsors. 66
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Chamber Events
BCCT DTG Briefing: How Has the Internet Developed
BCCT Multi-Chamber Chiang Mai Business Networking
On Wednesday 31st October, BCCT and BCCT Digital Technology Committee member Paul Phenix organised a BCCT Digital & Technology Briefing: How Has the Internet Developed at British Business Centre. Speakers included Hitachi Consulting Andrew Hamilton (left), Fluxus Django Beatty (right) and Gareth Davies (middle).
BCCT, in collaboration with AMCHAM, AustCham, CanCham, EABC, FTCC, NZTCC and STCC, welcomed Chiang Mai members and guests to BCCT Multi-Chamber Chiang Mai Business Networking on 1st November at Hard Rock Cafe. The evening featured a Q&A session with British diver Vernon Unsworth and rock climber Josh Morris.
The briefing focused on how the internet has developed, where it’s going and where Thailand is really placed on the Internet Road Map.
Pictured from left, BCCT Chairman Chris Thatcher, Josh Morris, BlueStar Country Manager Chris Ryan and Vernon Unsworth
BCCT Two-Day Workshop: Presentation Skills
BCCT Young Professionals Networking
On 6th-7th November, BCCT organised a BCCT Two-Day Workshop on SpeakPro Presentation Skills at The Sivatel Bangkok. The session covered important factors of how to enhance your business presentation and communication as well as tips and techniques to enhance their business skills.
BCCT Young Professionals (YP) gathered for the final BCCT YP networking of 2018 at Sawasdee Bar hosted by Diageo Moet Hennessy. Guests enjoyed an exquisite selection of fine Johnnie Walker drinks including the Gold Label Reserve. A donation fund was also raised during the event for Foundation of Slum Child Care.
Workshop Facilitator and SpeakPro Training Coach Pachara (Billy) Yongjiranon (pictured standing) engaged participants in a fun and active business presentation skill workshop.
Massive thanks to Diageo Moet Hennessy for being an amazing host and special thanks to Oriental Residence Bangkok for a lucky draw prize. Pictured from left, Diageo Managing Director Alberto Ibeas and BCCT Chairman Chris Thatcher.
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Chamber Events
Safe Child Thailand/BCCT Briefing: CSR in Thailand
BCCT T3 Business Networking
On Tuesday 13th November, Safe Child Thailand together with BCCT organised a CSR briefing session sharing successful CSR initiatives that companies could consider rolling out in their own organisations. The Briefing also covered current projects they are offering to companies who which to start formal partnerships with charities.
On Thursday 15th November, BCCT together with the lovely host Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, welcomed BCCT members and guests to the last BCCT T3 Business Networking of 2018 at The Campus. Massive thanks to Flow Inter for fantastic London Pride and ciders as well as Shrewsbury International School Bangkok for their generous support as always. See you again in 2019!
BCCT members discussed a broad range of CSR topics.
BCCT Chairman Chris Thatcher welcomed guests to the event.
BCCT Young Professionals for FSCC
BCCT Workshop: Smart Business Communicator
BCCT Young Professionals Committee Aime Pinyapa Pichaipalakorn and Kieran Taylor visited the Foundation for Slum Child Care to donate 10,000 Baht raised from BCCT Young Professionals Networking on Thursday 8th November at Diageo Moet Hennessy.
On Tuesday 20th November, BCCT members participated in a BCCT One-Day Workshop on Smart Business Communicator by Voxtree Managing Director Neil Stoneham (pictured standing). Participants learned to boost their communication skills to become confident and effective business communicators.
Relying solely on donation money, the Foundation accepts over 300 new-born to 5-year-old children daily from parents in need of help in 4 areas including Klong Toey and Suayai. If you missed our event but would like to help to donate.
BCCT members showed great interest in improving their communications skills.
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Chamber Events
BCCT Lunch: Minister of Tourism and Sports
BCCT Briefing: Management Transformation for Future Success
H.E. Weerasak Kowsurat, Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports, addressed BCCT Multi-Chamber Lunch on “How do we solve the current Tourism Crisis, what actions are to be taken?” on Wednesday 21st November at Banyan Tree Bangkok. Special thanks to Oman Air for their generous support making it a wonderful event.
On Wednesday 28th November, Ted Rangchaikul (pictured standing), the CEO of Tedpartners and Institute of Leadership and Management Excellence, spoke at a BCCT Briefing on Management Transformation for Future Success at British Business Centre. Business challenges and people management were highlighted with key learning and solutions.
Pictured from left, AMCHAM Deputy Director Sarawan Dever, Oman Air District Sales Manager Areelak Soralump, NTCC Executive Director Hans van den Born, H.E. Weerasak Kowsurat, BCCT Chairman Chris Thatcher, BeLuThai Executive Director Philip Coates, Austcham Executive Director Brendan Cunningham and BCCT Vice-Chairman and Travel & Tourism Committee Chair David Cumming.
BCCT members heard about the keys to management excellence.
Inter-Chamber Young Professionals Networking Night 2018 BCCT Young Professionals, together with AMCHAM, FTCC and GTCC, hosted the very first Young Professionals (YP) gathering on Friday 30th November at Inter-Chamber Young Professionals Networking Night 2018 at The Altitude Rooftop, The Westin Grande Sukhumvit Bangkok. With support from AustCham, BeLuThai, CanCham, Irish-Thai, NTCC, NZTCC and STCC, over 400 guests joined together to network.
Massive thanks to fantastic BCCT sponsors - Captain Hook’s Smokehouse, NokScoot, BHMA Hotels and Resorts, Renaissance Pattaya Resort & Spa, Jamie’s Italian Siam Discovery, The BigChilli and The Westin Grande Sukhumvit Bangkok.
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Comings and Goings The British Chamber of Commerce Thailand welcomes the following new members:
Air for Life Ltd Cervantes House 5-9 Headstone Road Harrow, Middlesex HA1 1PD Tel: +44 7548565671 Email: info@airforlife.net Website: www.airforlife.net Chamber Representative
Mr. Jay Vitale - Founder and CEO Background Air For Life Technology started with NASA in 1994. A revolutionary ionizing technology called PCO (Photocatalytic Oxidation) was developed in order to extend the life of fruits and vegetables in the space shuttle. Professor N. Ghosh from West Texas A&M University (Head of Air For Life Research & Development) and his team of scientists further engineered this NASA Developed Technology to create a nanotechnology AHPCO® (Advanced Hydrated Photocatalytic Oxidation) and incorporated it into a specially designed range of next generation purifiers and sanitisers called Sanifiers®. AHPCO® produces millions of human friendly negative ions, more than any other purifier or ioniser on the market today. These ions destroy on contact impurities in the air such as dust, pollen, pet dander, VOC’s (volatile organic compunds), bacteria (including MRSA) and viruses such as H1N1). They also eliminate offensive odours, bathroom and cooking smells at the source and do not mask them like an air freshener. Leaving 99.9% clean, fresh, safe air and surfaces.
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These are the same ions that are found in sea air, mountain air and by lakes and waterfalls. Negative ions have many health benefits and are scientifically proven to increase concentration levels and improve quality of sleep and mood, leaving you feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. They are known as the “vitamins of the air”. Most purifiers contain filters such as HEPA filters that cannot trap small bacteria and viruses. Air For Life Sanifiers® contain NO FILTERS and can kill the disease causing bacteria and viruses that pass through filters. For more information visit www.airforlife. com and for the latest updates follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @ airforlifesaver. Bakricono Shipyard Co PMG Marine Complex, 5/7 Moo 4 Suchada Beach Road, Tumbon Nuen Pra Ampur Muang, Rayong 21150 Tel: +66 38010570 Email: info@bakricono.com Website: www.bakricono.com Chamber Representatives Mr. Philippe M Guenat - Senior Partner Mr. Bernard Lamprecht - General Manager
BASIS International School Bangkok BISB Experience Center 1/1 Park Village Rama II, Soi Rama II Soi 56 Samaedam Bangkhunthian, Bangkok 10150 Tel: +66 24150099 Email: e.thies@bisb.co.th Website: www.bisb.co.th
Chamber Representatives
Ms. Elizabeth Thies - Head of School Mr. Jonathan B Schwimmer - BISB Limited Managing Director Background BASIS International School Bangkok will be the 35th school in the BASIS Curriculum School network. BASIS Curriculum schools have been ranked consistently among the best schools in the United States and in the world. This success is rooted in the belief that advanced coursework is for all students; to that end, the BASIS Curriculum is designed to help students develop autonomy and organizational skills, as well as academic success. We focus on student engagement and instilling the love of learning through dynamic and hands-on classroom experiences. We offer a unique twoteacher model in the Primary years to ensure that we have a subject expert teacher as well as a teacher that specializes in childhood development in every classroom. In our higher grade levels, our goal is to provide accelerated classroom experiences in all of the core subjects and beyond to ensure that our students are exposed to an advanced STEM and Liberal Arts curriculum as well.
BDMS Wellness Clinic 2/4 Wireless Road Lumpini, Pathumwan Bangkok 10330 Tel: +66 28269999 Email: info@bdmswellness.com Website: www.bdmswellness.com Chamber Representatives
Ms. Pattamaporn Suwannawong Marketing-Partnership Background The BDMS Wellness Clinic was founded on a single principle: to make the best regenerative and preventative care from around the world accessible in one place. At the heart of any regenerative and preventive medicine program is a complete evaluation that takes into account all aspects of our lives, from nutrition and work-life factors, to exercise habits and sleeping patterns, coupled with a comprehensive medical screening utilizing the latest advances in modern diagnostic technology. Our medical screenings are designed to provide our doctors with a clear understanding of the unique health condition of each individual at a cellular level. By taking into account such things as vitamin, mineral, antioxidant, and micronutrient levels in the body, as well as hormone deficiencies and even genetic factors that may predispose us to specific conditions, our doctors are able to develop personalized programs to slow down deterioration and support disease prevention. The BDMS Wellness Clinic applies an evidence-based approach to health and wellness in order to restore the body with greater vitality and resilience. This approach requires highly trained specialists and leading-edge medical technology to provide optimal disease prevention and life-prolonging practices.
The BDMS Wellness Clinic is committed to pushing the boundaries of modern medicine to identify individual health needs and develop programs that promote longevity and prevent the onset of disease. Products or Services Our Services The BDMS Wellness Clinic offers a comprehensive range of predictive diagnostic services and health optimization programs to regenerate the body and reduce the risk of disease. Our comprehensive wellness services are offered through the following clinics: • • • • • • •
Regenerative Clinic Musculoskeletal & Sports Clinic Neuroscience Clinic Cardioscience Clinic Dental Clinic Fertility Clinic Digestive Wellness Clinic
At the BDMS Wellness Clinic, we believe preventive medicine is the future of healthcare and the key to a long and healthy life. BHMA Hotels and Resorts Floor 11, 10/125 The Trendy Bldg. 13 Sukhumvit Road, Khwaeng Khlong Toei-Nua, Wattana Bangkok 10110 Tel: +66 2-168-7533 Fax: +66 2-168-7544 Email: info@bhmahotels.com Website: www.bhmahotels.com Chamber Representatives
Mr. Peter Lucas - CEO Ms. Buddhachard Paengchai - VP Marketing Communications Background BHMA is a regional Asian-Pacific hotel management company wholly owned by the ASX listed Flight Centre Travel Group ( FCTG ). FCTG is one of the world’s largest and progressive travel companies, incorporating diverse worldwide distribution, in destination travel experiences such as transport and
touring as well as hotel management solutions. BHMA is a part of FCTG ‘s Global Hotel Network providing management for hotels, resorts, villas, serviced apartments and branded residences. BHMA delivers owner services all the way from the very early sourcing & planning stages of a development, through technical services during build, to pre opening services and finally professional ongoing hotel management. Visit www.BHMAhotels. com for more information.
Cataclean Global Ltd Cataclean House, Unit 34, Dunes Way, Liverpool Merseyside L5 9RJ Tel: +44 0928720462 Fax: +44 (0) 151 236 5271 Email: daniel@cataclean.com Website: www.cataclean.com Chamber Representatives
Mr. Daniel Hales - Asia Sales Manager Background Established in Liverpool, England, in 1997, Cataclean® holds a portfolio of worldwide patented products to service the automotive, motorcycle, commercial vehicle and off highway after markets. With a portfolio of fuel and exhaust cleaning products we are widely recognised as a global market leader in the world of fuel additives. We are now applying strategies to replicate our market successes across Europe and the U.S. in Asia, whilst increasing our product range to incorporate industrial applications. Cataclean® offers products suitable for all diesel, petrol and hybrid engines. These products protect and maintain the catalytic converter whilst cleaning, restoring and protecting the engine, cylinder head, intake valves, injectors, oxygen sensor and exhaust. Cataclean® Diesel offers these benefits in addition to reducing the risk of diesel particulate filter (DPF) clogging. Cataclean®
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products are proven to reduce emissions by up to 60%, Products or Services Cataclean® contains solvents that break down deposits in fuel delivery systems formed by oxidation and polymerisation of hydrocarbon. When Cataclean® combusts, it forms specific acids and compounds. When these reach the exhaust vapours, they remove carbon deposits from the entire exhaust system. The result is an increase in the exhausts ability to remove harmful emissions. markedly increase fuel economy, maximise vehicular safety test pass rates and improve BHP, torque and throttle response. Affiliates RAC, Daniel Rowbottom, Affinity Leasing, Babol, Platform hire, Euro Car Parts, The Parts Alliance, Halfords, ARI Fleet Management.
Check-6 (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Office 2033, 20th Floor, SJ Infinite One No. 349 Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road Chompol, Chatuchak Bangkok 10900 Tel: +66 (0) 2 018 3552 Fax: +66 (0) 2 018 3500 Email: pao@checksix.com Website: www.checksix.com Chamber Representatives
teams, which deliver exceptional performance and ensure operational success. It all started with a phone call in 2007 from a Houston Drilling Engineer, Gordon Tschritter to Brian “Bru” Brurud. Tschritter was telling Brurud about a white paper he had read from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, which concluded that the oil and gas industry would be well-served if the people in those industries would take lessons learned from military aviators and astronauts. The author made the assumption that the people in those high-reliability industries had high-level training in leadership and efficiency that would serve the oil and gas industry well. Tschritter asked Brurud if he would be willing to write a syllabus for this ne Products or Services • Performance Excellence® Consulting • Efficiency Improvement Programs • Leadership and Human Performance • Workshop and Events Service • Rigor® Digital Checklist System • Well Control Virtual Instructor • HSSE Training (Health/ Safety/ Security/ Environment) • Dropped Object Prevention Services
CLCA Call Direct 11 Henry Close, Battlefield Enterprise Park, Shrewbury Shropshire SY1 3 TJ Tel: +44 3336005005 Email: enquiry@clcacalldirect.com Website: www.clcacalldirect.com Chamber Representatives
Mr. David Shiner Ehrmann - SE Asia & Australia Manager Dr. Sergej Bashir - Strategic Management Coach Check-6 (Thailand) Background Given our goal to be the partner clients can rely on to fulfill their own missions, it made sense to express our commitment right up front, in our name…Check-6. It reminds us of our commitment, each and every day, to help our customers build the very best self-supporting
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Ms. Cherry Adams - CEO Mr. Andy Connell - Chief Commercial Officer Background CLCA Call Direct is an outsourced multichannel business solutions specialist.
The aim of CLCA Call Direct is to help clients meet the challenge of forming a successful and rewarding experience for customers and staff alike. In a fast-paced and demanding world, it is becoming increasingly important to have available resources on hand to meet the needs of your business or customers. In this digital age, our resources allow you to maintain your day-to-day business 24-hours a day, 7 days-a-week across the globe. The services we offer can be used as a short-term measure to reach a specific goal or as a cost-effective long-term solution. We work closely with clients and invest the time to understand their business processes, goals and aspirations and from this, we build relevant requirements. This unique understanding of businesses allows us to tailor a structured account implementation. To ensure the team we have assigned is meeting the obligations of your business, we will send daily key performance indicator (KPI) reports of their activity to give you full visibility into their progress against agreed service levels. We are aware that we are often the first point of contact for organisations and are proud to represent you. We are confident in our ability to deliver a world-class service to our clients and can guarantee that choosing CLCA Call Direct will revolutionise your business process. We view success as building a network of professionals that have the same goal to make a difference to your business, product or service. Our quality is dependent on the people we choose to carry out our services and to maintain this standard and to give our clients peace of mind, we uphold a rigorous application process. CLCA Call Direct is one of the most reliable global outsourced call centres for tailored multi-channel support.
CNH Industrial Services (Thailand) Ltd. 173/8-9 Asia Center 14th Floor South Sathorn RoadThungmahamek Sathorn, Bangkok 10120 Tel: +66 20968100 Website: www.cnhindustrial.com Chamber Representatives
Mr. Mark Ralph Brinn - Managing Director SEA & Japan Background CNH Industrial, a new Group created from the merger of Fiat Industrial and CNH Global, is a solid, major industrial enterprise; a global leader in capital goods, uniting CNH’s agricultural and construction equipment operations with Iveco trucks, commercial and specialty vehicles and FPT Industrial’s broad portfolio of powertrain applications. Products or Services From tractors and combines, excavators, wheel loaders, trucks, buses, firefighting and civil protection vehicles to powertrain solutions for on and off road and marine, the Group designs, produces and sells ‘machines for work’. Across its 11 brands, 64 manufacturing plants, 49 research and development centers. Companies Represented Case IH, Case Construction Equipment, New Holland Agriculture, New Holland Construction, Steyr, IVECO, IVECO Astra, IVECO Bus, Heuliez Bus, Magiruz, FPT Industrial, IVECO Defence Vehicles. Senior Management - Mr. Mustak Emre Karazli - Business Director - Mr. James Allan Green - Business Director - Mr. Koray Kursunoglu - Business Director - Mr. Davide Zama - Business Director - Ms. Luisa Guarischi - CFO - Mr. Amor Kadachi - Purchasing Manager - Ms. Waraporn Jongjit – HR Manager
Denla British School Bangkok 58 Moo2 Ratchapruek Road Om Kret, Pak Kret Nonthaburi 11120 Tel: +66 2-666-1933 Email: info@dbsbangkok.ac.th Website: www.dbsbangkok.ac.th
It is located on Ratchapruek Road, northwest of Bangkok, and offers a curriculum grounded in the National Curriculum for England, and enhanced by an all-encompassing school day with a vision for holistic learning. DBS is currently enrolling students aged 3 – 13 (EY1 to Year 8) and each year will extend, until reaching a complete throughschool for students up to 18 years of age (Year 13).
Chamber Representatives
Dr. Temyos Pandejpong - Board Member Mr. Mark McVeigh - Principal Background DBS is part of the Denla Schools Group which had its first school established in 1979, with the mission to provide excellent education to young learners in Thailand. The School grew tremendously over the years as trust from parents developed and the Denla reputation grew. The group is currently managed by Mr. Arn Pandejpong, Dr. Toryos Pandejpong and Dr. Temyos Pandejpong. Our Principal, Mr Mark McVeigh, went to school at Campbell College in Belfast, and graduated from the University of Bristol, where he read Chemistry. He achieved a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from Queen’s University, Belfast, and took up a teaching position at Lancing College in West Sussex. He was appointed as Head of the Chemistry department at Marlborough College in Wiltshire, and then a boarding Housemaster of C2 House. At this time, he acquired an HMC / De Montfort University Master of Arts in Educational Management. A role in International Liaison led to him being selected as Deputy Head at Marlborough College’s new partner school in Malaysia. He was subsequently appointed as Headmaster of the Senior School at Marlborough College Malaysia. Products or Services Denla British School is a world class school for future leaders of the world.
En-Siri Co., Ltd 119/26 M.11 Huay Yai Pattaya Banglamung Chonburi 20150 Tel: +66 89 604 6253 Email: ensiri.c2r@gmail.com Website: www.ensirimediahouse.com Chamber Representatives Mr. Raywat Willard - Managing Director Khun Juthamat Thanomkul - Sales Manager Background En-Siri Media House, we specialize in corporate photography with offices in both Bangkok and Pattaya. We provide high quality photography, images and attractive video presentation to showcase your product / services. Our customers includes international hotels, manufacturing, industries, international schools and headlining corporate events. With the latest in imagery technology combine with a dedicated team, we go above and beyond to help you stand out from the crowd. Products or Services 1. Interior, Exterior, F&B, Event Photography 2. Video Presentation, Company Profile, Social Media Package, Training Video 3. Product Shooting, Studio and Equipment Rental 4. Digital Signage Rental for the Events, Trade show, Exhibition, Grand Opening (ie LED, Information Kiosks)
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Ownership Mr. Raywat Willard
Products or Services We are a highly successful British international school that provides a world-class education to children from the ages of 2 to 18. GIS is based in the quiet town of Ban Chang and offers a peaceful, safe and rural environment for your children.
Garden International school, Thailand MBf Taylors Limited. 188/24 Moo 4, Pala-Ban Chang Road Tambon Pala, Amphur Ban Chang Rayong 21130 Tel: +66 (0) 38030808-9 Fax: +66 (0) 38030805 Email: enquiries@gardenrayong.com Website: www.gardenrayong.com Chamber Representatives
GIS is the only school in the region with full accreditation from the Council of International Schools (CIS). We offer a curriculum that uses the British system as a framework and is modified to suit the needs of our international intake. The curriculum is delivered by our experienced, skilled and highly qualified professional staff. Our students consistently achieve well above international standards in the IGCSE and International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma examinations.
Mr. James Abraham - General Manager Mrs. Dinah Hawtree - Principal of Garden International School
We are a family oriented community and our students come from more than 40 countries, making us international in every sense. Most of our students live in the surrounding communities of Ban Chang, Sattahip, Rayong and Pattaya, with our boarding students hailing from all four corners of the globe.
Companies Represented Mr. Raywat Willard
Background Garden International School, Thailand, was established in 1994, to serve the educational needs of the children of the growing international community living in and around the Eastern Seaboard. Within a year the school had grown considerably due to increasing number of expatriates in Ban Chang, as a result of the establishment of the growing industrial sites situated nearby. The school was registered with the Thai Ministry of Eduation in 1994 and with the United Kingdom’s Department for Education and Skills in 1995. GIS was a founding member of FOBISIA (Federation of British International Schools in Asia) in 1997, and gained accreditation from the IBO (International Baccalaureate Organisation) in 1998. Garden International School had its first group of students sit for the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) in June 1996 and its first International Baccalaureate Diploma candidates in June 1999. In 2012 GIS became the first school in the region to be fully accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS). 74
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We have premium facilities that include two swimming pools, four fully-equipped science laboratories, three ICT suites, dedicated music, art and drama rooms in addition to a well-stocked library. We offer Boarding to students on a long or short-term basis. Harsco Metals Group Ltd. Harsco House, Regent Park, 299 Kingston Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 7SG Tel: +44 1372 381454 Email: mjames1@harsco.com Chamber Representatives Dr. Matthew James - Vice President Strategy & Business Development Background Harsco Metals & Minerals is the largest and most comprehensive waste-tovalue creation provider of onsite material processing and environmental services to the worldwide metals industry – with
more than 130 customer sites in more than 30 countries across the world. In addition to metal recovery we find innovative ways to re-use and re-purpose waste into valuable commodities such as asphalt, aggregates and fertilisers – preventing avoidable landfill and preserving vital global resources. In the process, transforming and enriching the lives of our customers, employees and their communities and environments wherever we work around the world.
Ipsotek Pte Ltd. 60 Paya Lebar Road 11-30 Paya Lebar Square Singapore 409051 Tel: +65 8672 6927 Email: chris.bishop@ipsotek.com Website: www.ipsotek.com Chamber Representatives Mr. Chris Bishop - Sale Director APAC Background Ipsotek is the world leader in Intelligent Scenario based Video Analytics solutions. Our patented scenariobased approach allows multiple behaviour descriptions to be applied simultaneously or in predefined sequences to the output of an IP CCTV cameras; and it is these scenario combinations that create an exact description of the target behaviour, thereby giving dependable real-time alerts and dramatically reduced false alarms. Established in 2001 with its headquarters in the United Kingdom and offices in the Middle East, Singapore and North America. Ipsotek’s solutions are delivered to end-user clients globally, through a network of accredited channel partners. Products or Services - VISuite 10.1 – Hybrid video analytics engine - Single camera tracker - Scenario based alarm rule engine - Behaviour recognition - Event counting
- Tag and Track – Video based tracking - Multi-camera tracker - Overlapped and non-overlapped cameras - Live or forensic deployment - Tracker++ - VI Forensics - Forensic Search - Real-time content based video retrieval to support highly sensitive forensics investigation - Advanced Facial recognition - Search based on targets colour, shape, location, speed and other features - VICloud – Cloud based video analytics - Hosted video analytics - Central database for alerts and business data - Designed for scalability and flexibility - VISense AR Glasses Augmented Reality Security Glasses. VISense is designed to enhance situational awareness by capturing video through the on-board camera, detecting and storing faces, and comparing them to faces enrolled in the on-device database. The glasses take full advantage of Augmented Reality technology to overlay detection results on suspect’s faces in the field of view.
Leading Supreme Co.,Ltd. 530 Choniwes, Pracharchun Road, Chatuchak district, Bangkok 10900 Email: rungwit@leadingsupreme.com Website: www.leadingsupreme.com Chamber Representatives Mr. Rungwit Isarapandh - Executive Partner Products or Services Our Services included: - One-on-One Coaching - Group Coaching - Training - Assessment - Training roadmap and Succession plan - HRD Consultant
Field of Expertise: - Coaching & Mentoring - Leadership - Talent Engagement - Communication - Presentation & Storytelling - High Performance - Intercultural Management
Products or Services Content Writing, Video Production, Graphic Design, Branding, Social Media Marketing, Influencer Marketing, Digital Marketing, Translation, Editing & Proofreading, Animation Loadtec Engineered Systems Ltd. The Stables, Coach House, Smeeth Kent TN25 6SP Tel: +44 1303 813030
Lexicon Business Communications 109, CCT Building, 13th Floor, Room 4, Surawong Road, Suriyawong Bangkok 10500 Tel: +66 02 235 8868 Email: david@lexiconthai.com Website: www.lexiconthai.com Chamber Representatives
Chamber Representatives Ms. Sue Keeler - Director LS Productions 107 Constitution Street, Edinburgh, Scotland EH6 7AE Tel: +44 131 651 0120 Email: katy@lsproductions.com Website: www.lsproductions.com Chamber Representatives
Mr. David Norcross - Managing Director Ms. Lalita Pudsa - Operations Director
Ms. Katy Ludvigsen - Head of Brand & Communications Asia
Background Lexicon provides Digital PR services from our Bangkok headquarters to the world.
Background The UK’s largest stills and film Production Company, with a library of unique locations. LS Productions make clients visions happen.
We call our complete suite of services Fusion Marketing as Lexicon fuses together the best elements of contemporary digital marketing (social media, analytics, SEO) with the best of traditional, content-driven marketing (copywriting, branding, visual design). Lexicon is unique in Thailand as all of our work is done in-house, meaning we don’t charge additional agency fees. Our copywriting team sits side-by-side with our designers, video producers and social media marketers, thus ensuring joined-up solutions and world-class services at local Thai prices. These USPs allow Lexicon to differentiate on both price and quality, making us an excellent partner for multinationals looking to enter the Thai market, as well as for companies in Singapore and Hong Kong looking to lower operating costs while maintaining international standards.
With an HQ in Edinburgh and offices in Manchester, London, New York and Bangkok the twenty five - strong team is spread across four cities and three continents. LS Productions provide exceptional production for creative agencies, directors, photographers, production companies and brands. Their Locations department work tirelessly to make its locations library the best in the UK, with over 6,000 UK-wide locations of every type of cityscape, landscape and backdrop their clients may need. Going above and beyond to cover every aspect of your shoot, the extraordinary doesn’t faze them. Clients include: Adam & Eve DDB, Anomaly, Bear Grylls, BMW, Chanel, Chivas, Glenfiddich, GQ, Harper’s Bazaar, H&M, Harry Styles, Johnnie Walker, KIA,
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Mazda, Marks & Spencer, NBC, Park Pictures, Samsung, Renault, SSE, Vogue, VCCP & Volvo Products or Services Production and Locations for creative agencies, brands and fashion editorials. Nissan Motor (Thailand) Co., Ltd. 3 Rajanakarn Building, 27th Floor South Sathorn Road, Yannawa Sathorn, Bangkok 10120 Tel: +66 2339 3400
include Q Gen consultant providing an HR strategy advisor as well as Employer branding promoting the company by using social media as a channel. Q Capability center providing training course both external event and in-house training. Apart from that, in order to support and fulfill the expectation of our clients. We decided to set up Horizon Principle
their strategic goals to become Effective Enterprises.
Products or Services - recruitment service in all levels - HR strategy advice - Business
Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa 555 Moo 3, Mai Khao, Talang Phuket 83110 Tel: +66 76-363-999 Fax: +66 76-363-988 Email: phuket@renaissancehotels.com Website: www.renaissancephuket.com
Chamber Representatives Ms. Mantana Sae Lau - General Manager Khun Suthakorn Apirajkamol Q Hunter Company Limited. 63 Athenee Tower, 15th Fl. Unit 1506 Witthayu Road Lumpini Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 Tel: +66 2-168-0890 Email: Jakkraphan@qhunter.co.th Website: www.qhunter.co.th Chamber Representatives
Process Outsourcing, Outplacement service, Recruitment Process Outsourcing, HR administration such as Payroll Process and other specializations. QAD (Thailand) Ltd. Unit 2301, 23rd Floor, CW Tower A, 90 Ratchadapisek Road, Huaykwang Bangkok 10310 Tel: +66 (0) 2202 9300 Fax: +66 (0) 2168 3040 Email: bnp@qad.com Website: www.qad.com Chamber Representatives
Mr. Jakkraphan Kaewsrichan - Managing Director Khun Nattinee Suebsureekul - Business Development Executive Background Q Group is the new generation Human resource advisory firm, provides total solution in human resource services, comprises five companies under its umbrella which are Q Hunter recruitment, Q Gen consultant, Q Capability center, Horizon Principle and Q Elitez. We started the first business known as Q Hunter recruitment agency, established in 2013 providing recruitment service in all levels for both leading Thai and MNC companies. Throughout the year, we learnt and understood more in depth in our client’s HR problem, so we decided to deliberate and expand our business that can support our clients with more effective solution. Those companies
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Khun Ben Padoongpan - Business Development Manager Mr. Stephen Fowler - Managing Director Background QAD Inc. (Nasdaq: QADA) (Nasdaq: QADB) is a leading provider of flexible, cloud-based enterprise software and services for global manufacturing companies. QAD Cloud ERP for manufacturing supports operational requirements in the areas of financials, customer management, supply chain, manufacturing, service and support, analytics, business process management and integration. QAD’s portfolio includes related solutions for quality management software, supply chain management software, transportation and global trade management software and B2B interoperability. Since 1979, QAD solutions have enabled customers in the automotive, consumer products, food and beverage, high tech, industrial manufacturing and life sciences industries to better align operations with
Products or Services QAD Cloud ERP, Enterprise Application
Chamber Representatives Ms. Siriphan Uasrikongsuk - Director of Sales & Marketing Ms. Dutdao Khattiyarangsarit - Director of Sales - MICE Background Set amidst the unspoiled splendor of Mai Khao Beach, Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa, a Marriott Luxury and Lifestyle Hotel, is the ultimate retreat for guests looking for relaxed luxury. Whether you’re here for a vacation, a dream wedding, or a business retreat, our award-winning resort welcomes you to experience the beauty of Thailand; you’ll feel at home, thanks to our famous hospitality and excellent amenities. Our deluxe rooms and private villas boast sophisticated decor, plush bedding, and modern technology; many of our accommodations feature breathtaking beach views, and some even include plunge pools. Pamper yourself with a visit to our resort spa, fit in a workout at our fully-equipped gym, or satisfy your appetite with cuisine from one of our several on-site restaurants. Weddings are truly special occasions here; honor your love with a beach ceremony, and spend your honeymoon here in Phuket with us! Products or Services Hotel and resorts
Retox (Honey Properties Co Ltd) 508/2-3 Moo 10 Soi Honey Nongprue, Banglamung, Chonburi 20150 Tel: +66 800951316 Email: info@retoxpattaya.com Website: www.retoxpattaya.com Chamber Representatives Mr. Dean Ciolek - Group Manager Mr. Simon Peatfield – Owner Background Pattaya’s Biggest and Best Sports Bar. Serving the Finest Gastro Pub Fayre, Steaks,Sunday Carveries and Breakfasts in Pattaya.
our many locations, whether for private visits or charter operations. Our local teams will handle all local administrative protocols and services promptly and with discretion. • Provisioning - An experienced and dedicated supply department to handle your Chef’s orders. • Logistics - Handling of guest and crew airport transfers, and helicopter & private jet permits. • Bunkering - Supplying of fuel in our locations worldwide. • Maintenance - We offer a full coverage of technical and mechanical support for your engineers. • Formalities - Inbound & Outbound clearances and immigration bonds, with crew invitation letters provided on request. • Cash to Master - Local banking facilities for your remitted funds incountry, to deliver on board.
Seal Superyachts Co., LTD. A10 The Royal Place, 96/68 Praphuketkhew Road, Kathu, Phuket 83120 Tel: +66 76612654 Fax: +66 76612655 Email: info@seal-superyachts.com Website: www.seal-superyachts.com; www.superyacht.news
Securus Asia Ltd 88/70 Moo 12, Srinakarin Road Bangkaew, Bangphli Samutprakarn 10540 Tel: +66 2 348 2007 Fax: +66 2 348 2238 Email: stephen.wright@securusasia.com Website: www.selectamark.co.uk
Chamber Representatives
Chamber Representatives
& Homeowners protect and track their property, marking over 75 million valuable items in the process. Products or Services • SelectaDNA offers forensic marking & offender marking solutions using a completely secure and unique synthetic DNA technology. SelectaDNA has been proven to reduce theft and burglary by up to 83%. Products include Property Marking Kits, Tagging & Defence Sprays, Intruder Sprays, Gel, Grease & Trace. • Selectamark Permanent Visible Property Marking Stencils & Labels • SelectaLabel Asset & Security Labels • Powerful Affordable Cloud-Based Asset Register • Handbag Theft Prevention Chelsea Clip Affiliates Selectamark (Hong Kong) Limited Companies Represented Selectamark Security Systems Plc, UK Ownership British/Thai Senior Management Mr. Stephen J. Wright, Director Ms. Siriluk Wright, Director Senior Advice Limited Pandy Farm, Earlswood, Chepstow Monmouthshire NP16 6RE Tel: + 00 44 7824 995324 Email: peter@c-pearson.co.uk
Mr. Adam Frost - Managing Director Mr. Jeffrey La Valette - Operations Assistant Background Asia and Oceania’s most experienced and longest established Superyacht Support Agency. Servicing the Worlds’ largest Yachts for over twenty five years, our team of dedicated superyacht support offices provide an ever growing coverage of the Indian Ocean, Asia and the Pacific Ocean regions. Products or Services We provide a full service solution for owners, Captains and managers visiting
Mr. Stephen J. Wright - Director Ms. Siriluk Wright - Director Background Securus Asia Ltd is the Thailand Distributor for Selectamark Security Systems Plc, UK, a leading supplier of property marking and asset identification solutions which deter theft and aid recovery of stolen property. Selectamark Security Systems Plc has been at the forefront of providing Police and Insurance recommended property marking solutions since 1985. Since then, the company has helped Police, Businesses, Governments, Local Authorities, Hospitals, Schools, Universities, Colleges, Hotels, Retailers
Chamber Representatives Peter Pearson CB CBE - Lieutenant General Background Senior Advice Limited was founded in 2010 by its sole consultant – Peter Pearson. Having spent 35 years in the British Army as a Gurkha officer, and rising to the rank of lieutenant general – the top 10, he spent the first few years after leaving the Army running a charity. More recently, he has started to diversify his business, which originally consisted mostly of giving talks on leadership and being employed as an after dinner speaker;
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much of which was pro bono. Now he assists companies with their strategic analysis and planning, helps facilitate leadership development courses for lower and middle management and advises individuals and companies in the arena of leadership. More recently, he has started to train people in public speaking, something he continues to be asked to do himself on a regular basis. He plans to publish a book and develop an app on public speaking in the near future. Products or Services Assisting companies in carrying out Strategic Analysis and Planning; Facilitating Leadership development of lower and middle management staff; Assisting all levels in understanding the art and science of Public Speaking and in delivering talks/speeches/presentations.
Shama Lakeview Asoke Bangkok 41 Soi 41 Sukhumvit 16, Sukhumvit Road, Klongtoey Bangkok 10110 Tel: +66 (0) 2-633-2234 Fax: +66 (0) 2-633-1250 Email: nannaphat.j@shama.com Website: www.shama.com Chamber Representatives
Mr. Sukamal Mondal - General Manager Ms. Nannaphat Jiemrugeekul - Director of Sales Background Contemporary Serviced Apartments in Asoke: Set in the heart of the Central Business District, the chic modern Shama Lakeview Asoke offers a calming retreat in one of the capital’s most prestigious neighbourhoods. Within a 10-minute walk to Asoke BTS Station and Sukhumvit MRT Station, our prime location gives you easy access to Terminal 21 Shopping Mall, Queen
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Sirikit National Convention Centre, international schools, embassies, banks and the trendy EM District. Products or Services Tailored for both business and leisure travellers, our central Bangkok accommodation options range from studio suites to spacious threebedroom apartments. Featuring scenic views of Benjakiti Park and Lake or overlooking Bangkok, all units feature a fully-equipped kitchen, living and dining area, flat-screen TV with DVD player and an en-suite bathroom with a bathtub. Amenities at Shama Asoke include an all-day dining restaurant, pool deck with lake views, golf practice range, fitness centre and kids’ playroom, making our apartments perfect for short or longer stays. St. Mark’s International School 900 Rama 9 Road, Suanluang Bangkok 10250 Tel: +66 2-300-5463 Fax: +66 2-300-5465 Email: info@stmarks.ac.th Website: www.stmarks.ac.th/ Chamber Representatives Mr. Mark Eastland - Head of Admissions Background Established in 1999, St. Mark’s International School is a trilingual Christian international school committed to developing creative, confident, and accomplished young people. With the focus on the languages in English/ Mandarin/Thai, our students are capable of conversing, reading and writing in all 3 languages. Our primary programme combines the Australian English curriculum with the rigourous Singaporean Maths and Science program. Our smaller class size in a caring environment, coupled with our quality programme in Mathematics and Science, has enabled us to nurture each individual student according to their need, be it academic or personal growth. The recent academic year was an impressive one for us with great achievements across the board, where
more than 80% percent of our students achieved at least an A grade or higher in the IGCSE examination. Surapon Foods Public Company Limited 247 Moo 1, Theparak Rd. Theparak, Muang Samutprakarn 10270 Tel: +66 23853038 Fax: +66 23853179 Email: info@surapon.com Website: www.surapon.com Chamber Representatives Mr. Sorapon Vongvadhanaroj - Chief Executive Officer Mr. Thomas Ferenc UNG - Senior Vice President Background Surapon Foods Public Company Limited was the first frozen foods manufacturer listed in the Stock Exchange of Thailand. In the first stage, the main products were frozen seafood. In 1996, the Company has changed its name from Surapon Seafoods Public Co., Ltd. to Surapon Foods Public Co., Ltd. in order to reflect business diversification into both frozen seafood and frozen non-seafood products including frozen Ready to Cook product and Ready to Eat product. Our production processes have been internationally accredited by GMP, BRC, HACCP and etc. These international standards show high level of trustworthy in safety, quality, and traceability in our products together with the Corporate Social Responsibilities awareness. The Company has invested and established the other subsidiary and related companies in various businesses such as Surat Seafoods Co., Ltd. Surapon Nichirei Foods Co., Ltd. Surapon Supreme Foods Co., Ltd. Mobile Logistics Co., Ltd. and Surapon Finest Co., Ltd.
University of Surrey 388 Stag Hill Guildford Surrey GU2 7XH Tel: +44 1483 68 8752 Email: sbs@surrey.ac.uk Website: https://www.surrey.ac.uk Chamber Representatives Michelle Chiuunga - British Blockchain Association Background Executive Education at Surrey Business School works with organisations to deliver fit-for-purpose education solutions tailored to enterprises. With the core aim of accelerating innovative thinking into practice the team works with local, national and international enterprises bringing forward cutting edge research and designing practical enterprise solutions that fit. We believe our Executive Education portfolio should equip leaders to be able to make sense of the confusing digital, economic and business environment (‘wicked times’), and then figure out and execute responses that are both fit for purpose and innovative. Hence the overarching theme of our Executive Education portfolio is Leading in ‘Wicked’ Times. Products or Services - Digital transformation - DLT (Blockchain) - Leadership - Entrepreneurship - SMEs/Women-led business - Finance - Business Analytics - Agile Innovation - 5G/Artificial Intelligence/Robotics - Business Insights Lab - Science to practice events/seminars
Vimto International Laurel House, Ashton Road Newton Le Willows WA12 0HH Tel: +44 7590880946 Email: John.Gray@vimto.com Website: www.vimto.com Chamber Representatives
is one of the leaders in the provision of scientifically-based integrated longevity medicine. Our mission is to deliver measurable health span improvement through predictive, preventive, revitalizing and regenerative treatments. We customize our programs, services, and supplements to our client’s needs and requirements individually. Products or Services Wellness, Anti-aging, Weight management, Detox, Aesthetic.
Mr. John Gray - Regional Manager Asia Pacific Background Founded in 1908 in England, Vimto is a soft drink brand that is hugely popular in the UK and enjoyed around the world in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Made with a mix of raspberries, blackcurrant and grapes, along with a blend of herbs, Vimto provides consumers with a unique burst of flavour and refreshment. Products or Services Soft Drinks and Beverages
Vitallife Corporation Limited 210 Sukhumvit 1, Klong Toei Nua Vadthana, Bangkok 10110 Tel: +66 20668899 Fax: +66 20114011 Email: info@vitallifeintegratedhealth.com Website: www.vitallifeintegratedhealth.com Chamber Representatives Ms. Pattaravadee Wangviriyaphan Associate Division Director of Marketing and Sales Background Vitallife Wellness Centre is a 100% owned subsidiary of the publicly traded Bumrungrad International Hospital since 2001 and located on the campus of Bumrungrad International Hospital,
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FINAL WORD
Botham’s corker By Dale Lawrence
C
ricket legend Ian Botham showed plenty of bottle during his sparkling England test match career, knocking off 5,200 runs and taking 383 wickets. He is now bowling over wine lovers around the world with a fascinating selection of labels bearing the Botham brand. The ‘All Rounder’ range includes a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Chardonnay (both from Australia) priced sensibly in the UK at £8.00. Each wine in the ‘Botham Series’ costs £14.95 and includes a Barossa Shiraz that commemorates Sir Ian’s heroic performances with bat and
ball during the 1981 Ashes series. The three wines in the Sir Ian Botham range are priced more for connoisseurs at £42.50 per bottle. There are plans to expand the wine list with an English sparkling wine and a rosé from Provence as well as red wines from Argentina and Spain. Sir Ian’s involvement in other wine projects includes an enterprise in Australia that saw him team up with England fast bowler Bob Willis – another hero of the unforgettable Ashes test at Headingley in 1981 when he took 8 for 43. The former Somerset, Worcestershire
Sir Ian Botham
and Durham cricketer has raised millions of pounds through his longdistance walks to support Bloodwise, a charity dedicated to funding research into all forms of blood cancer. He was knighted in the 2007 New Year Honours.
More friends for Dorothy
A
state school in Brighton, a town well known for its ‘friends of Dorothy’, has 40 children who do not identify with their gender at birth and another 36 pupils claiming to be ‘gender fluid’, according to a council survey. But Richard Bradford, head teacher at the Dorothy Stringer School, told the Sunday Times newspaper that the actual number of ‘openly trans’ children was lower than the council’s figures.
The school was once praised by Tatler magazine for its ‘liberal vibe’ and for having the ‘perfect balance between work and fun’. Less praiseworthy were the actions of the school’s deputy head Ken Browne who was sentenced to 10 months in chokey in 2009 for possession of indecent images of children. Browne was also one of 25 teachers in the UK selected by the Foreign Office to be an ambassador for the European pupil ex-
change project in 2007. Taxpayers’ money is now being used to fund an NHS service for children seeking to change gender, and Brightonbased charity Allsorts Youth Project launched the UK’s first-ever group for ‘trans or gender-questioning’ children aged five to 11 years. The group, aided by £166,000 in public and lottery funding, runs gender awareness courses at Dorothy Stringer school. Matron!!!
And finally……..
W
ith beleaguered Thai Airways announcing plans to broadcast soap operas in real time on flights in a desperate bid to attract more passengers, I wondered whether
British Airways was about to follow suit with episodes of Coronation Street and Eastenders. When I contacted BA’s Country Manager Billy Chomsakorn he referred the matter to the airline’s regional PR
team. The reply appears to be in a holding pattern. Meanwhile, TG passengers face hours of predictable story lines and questionable thespian skills on their seat back TV screens.
The views and opinions expressed on this page by Editor Dale Lawrence are entirely personal and do not reflect official BCCT policy. 80
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