UPDATE Q1/2016

1/2016 http://thailand.ahk.de

T H E M AG A Z I N E O F T H E G E R M A N - T H A I C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E

E DAT P U !

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TOURISM INDUSTRY Rediscover Berlin, City of Cool

Yaowawit Story: ‘A unique southern Thailand holiday for good cause’

Record number of guests at Oktoberfest 2015

Organized by:

Beverage Sponsor:

GTCC CHRISTMAS PARTY 2015 The German-Thai Chamber of Commerce wishes to extend its sincere gratitude for the generosity of our sponsors for this significant event.

Most importantly, special appreciation is due to all GTCC members as we couldn’t have come this far without your strong and engaging support for our development and initiatives over the years.

We look forward to our continued co-operation in 2016!

The GTCC Team Santa Claus Sponsors:

Sugar Cane Sponsors:

Snowman Sponsors:

In-kind Sponsors:

DEAR READERS Thailand has always been a world-class destination and remains an important gateway to the whole South-East Asia region. The tourism industry is one of the pillars for growth in Thailand. The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects an increase in foreign visitors to more than 30 million in 2016. Most of the tourists currently come from China, accounting for more than 8 million of the annual total.

Many local hotel brands as well as international hotel chains are planning further investment in new hotels in Thailand. Development of infrastructure and US$ 60 billion investments in mega-projects has been approved by the Government with the aim of attracting more tourists as well as to support short-term and long-term economic growth. The plan covers road, rail and waterway transportation. In this issue of Update we take a look at the significance of the country’s tourism industry from the perspective of the different players.

In the final quarter of 2015, GTCC supported the Bavarian Ministry and the Chamber of Commerce in Bavaria in organising a business trip to Thailand. Around 10 Bavarian companies participated in the visit in order to explore potential business opportunities and get first-hand insights of the economic market environment in Thailand.

The highly-specialised and leading niche market players from Bavaria visited Somboon Group, BMW Manufacturing (Thailand) and Mercedes-Benz Competence Center. In addition, GTCC organised specific target-group business match-meetings on an individual basis, to provide the Bavarian business delegation members with an exclusive opportunity to talk business with decision-makers from Thailand in the automotive, electronics, steel, food processing and consumer product industries.

The German Dual Vocational Education project (GTDEE) has expanded following the signing of a Memorandum of Co-operation with Don Bosco Technological College. GTDEE also successfully organised the “Teach the Teacher Workshop: Project-Based Learning” together with King Mongkut’s University Technology North Bangkok that is aimed at improving teaching standards. In 2016, we foresee that the current number of new students will double and we are offering a new curriculum for new industrial branches to accommodate the demands of our member companies.

In addition, the GTCC team and I are now very much involved in the planning of activities and events for 2016, when we will be introducing a number of fresh and improved services and event partnership opportunities.

Last but not least, on behalf of the GTCC team, I would like to thank you for the enthusiastic support that you have given the Chamber throughout 2015. We are looking forward to continuing our close co-operation in 2016, and we wish you all a merry Christmas, and a very happy, prosperous and healthy New Year!

Meanwhile, I trust you will enjoy an interesting and informative read of this issue of Update.

Best regards,

Dr. Roland Wein Update is published quarterly by the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce and distributed free of charge to members and qualified non-members in Thailand and abroad.

Subscription is also available at an annual rate of US$75 (airmail). Payment can be made in cash or by cheque to the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce, Empire Tower, 1 South Sathorn Rd., Bangkok 10120, Thailand. Tel.: +66 2 670 0600. Fax: +66 2 670 0601. E-mail address: info@gtcc.org.

Any opinions expressed in articles in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of the Chamber.

Update welcomes story and photo contributions from members and non-members alike. Articles may be reproduced with acknowledgement, except for those taken from other sources.

Circulation per issue : 2,000

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Roland Wein Acting Editor & Communications Director: Ratanaporn Bistuer Advertising Director: Pimtip Faktorngpan Design & Layout: Sorapol Liengboonlertchai Sub-Editor: Tony Oliver

Organizer:

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SAVE THE DATE

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GTCC Gala Night 2016

3 June 2016

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Join us at the

Gala Night 2016: A Night Out on Mainau for an evening of romance and colourful beauty.

We will bring to you Germany’s finest floral paradise, the island Mainau in the South of Germany.

You are invited to an unforgettable night.

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CONTENTS

06

Thailand remains a leading tourist destination: Hotel chains investing strongly in new initiatives

24 GTCC Annual Christmas Party 2015

26 Visit by Bavarian Business Delegation

28 GTDEE Student Camp

43 Interzoo 2016: Positive trend continues in Nuremberg

TOURISM INDUSTRY

23 JFCCT luncheon with Prime Minister

10 Rediscover Berlin, City of Cool 12 Mainau Island: A garden and nature experience

GTDEE INSIGHT

all year round

14 Medical tourism: the new norm of everyday life,

28 Teach the Teachers 29 MoU signing ceremony with Don Bosco

16 The Yaowawit story: ‘A unique southern Thailand

30 Exhibit at KMUTNB Exhibition

for many

holiday for a good cause’

BUSINESS BRIEFS 17 Etihad airways, Tourism Authority of Thailand sign new agreement

17 Siemens, Chulalongkorn University celebrate successful Summer Internship Programme

18 Bluechips Microhouse opens new headquarters in Chiang Mai

CHAMBER ACTIVITIES 20 Record number of guests at Oktoberfest 2015

Technical College

MEMBERS’ CORNER 32 Member2Member Benefits 39 New Members Orientation Programme, No. 6

TRADE FAIRS 40 41 42 43 44

Spielwarenmesse 2016 ITB Berlin 2016 Hannover Messe 2016 Interzoo 2016 IFAT 2016

OUR ANNUAL PARTNER:

06 TOURISM INDUSTRY

THAILAND REMAINS A LEADING TOURIST DESTINATION: HOTEL CHAINS INVESTING STRONGLY IN NEW INITIATIVES Contributed by Dr. Waldemar Duscha, Germany Trade & Invest

Tourism in Thailand is flourishing despite pronounced fluctuations in this sector due to external as well as internal factors. The hotel business has developed favourably and the potential exists for Thailand to attract greater numbers of business events visitors. Local chains such as Dusit, Centara, Minor and Chatrium are taking vigorous advantage of this potential and are strongly focusing on expansion overseas. Bangkok, which is the world’s second most popular tourist destination, is looking to launch new initiatives formed by the hotels on the Chao Phraya riverside. The challenge for the future is how to maintain quality and sustainability in the sector.

Although experience shows that heavy monsoon rainstorms or political crises lead to cyclical setbacks, tourism remains a primary pillar of the Thai economy. As such, there is great optimism that the tourism industry will most likely compensate for weak export performance over the medium term. According to official sources, the tourism industry currently generates around 12 per cent of the gross domestic product.

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The friendly “Thai Smile”, which is the trademark of the Thai people, together with the natural paradises and the exquisite Thai cuisine create the unique Thai touch.

In addition, the country has upscale hotels with excellent facilities staffed by qualified personnel including traditional massage and spa services.

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HOTEL CHAINS CONTINUE EXPANSION The hotel industry seems far from reaching saturation point. Most activities are concentrated in the metropolis of Bangkok – the world’s second-most visited city with an estimated total of 18.2 million international overnight visitors expected in 2015 – which lags only slightly behind London and ahead of Paris, according to the MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index.

One major investor in Thailand is the French hotel group AccorHotels, which operates 55 hotels with a total of more than 13,000 rooms. By 2018, the group plans to open 13 new hotels. The new properties will be branded as Sofitel, Pullman, M Gallery and Grand Mercure, and will have almost 1,400 rooms in total. The group also plans to introduce new brands to the market, such as The Sebel serviced residences and Mama Shelter mid-scale hotels.

One of the local prestige brands is the Dusit Thani Group, which was founded in 1948. By 2018, the hotel portfolio will have doubled in size, thanks to nearly 40 new deals in the United States of America, United Arab Emirates, China, South Africa and many locations in South-East Asia. Apart from international hotel development, Dusit Thani is enjoying success in the vocational education sector. Dusit Thani College was founded in 1993 and has since developed into a world-class academic institution, collaborating with the École Hotelière de Lausanne.

The company has also established Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School. In September 2016, the Dusit Thani Hotel School will be the first vocational school to follow the “ASEAN Common Competency Standards for Tourism Professionals”.

The other three local luxury brands – Centara Hotels and Resorts, the Minor Hotel Group (Avani, Anantara), and Chatrium Hotels and Residences – are also playing an active role in the hotel business. By 2018, the Minor Hotel Group will establish an additional 26 hotels with 4,200 rooms worldwide, bringing its total hotel portfolio to 186 with 25,172 rooms. Centara has 48 hotels in Thailand and 21 hotels overseas. Chatrium, which operates five properties in Bangkok with a total of 1,700 rooms, expects to open three new properties in Bangkok and Phuket under its Chatrium brand. Moreover, the hotel took root in Myanmar in 2011 by taking over the management of a respectable hotel and rebranded it as the Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon.

www.thailand.ahk.de

08 TOURISM INDUSTRY

CHAO PHRAYA RIVERSIDE Revitalization of the Chao Phraya riverside area with a series of events and activities will draw leisure and business travellers into Bangkok. To this end, eight local and luxury international hotel brands have formed the Bangkok River Partners initiative. They include the Millenium Hilton, Royal Orchid Sheraton, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, The Peninsula Bangkok, Shangri-La Hotel, Chatrium Hotel Riverside, Ramada Plaza Bangkok Menam Riverside and Anantara Bangkok Riverside.

The riverside programme for 2016 includes music festivals, light festivals, marathons, design weeks, exhibitions, food fairs and corporate social responsibility activities. The Loy Krathong and Songkran festivals are already two highlights to be celebrated on the river. In addition, an increase in world-class offers in the MICE segment (meetings, incentives, conventions, exhibitions) is planned. Last but not least, a broad range of projects aimed at preserving the impor tant riverside cultural heritage are being developed in co-operation with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Thammasat University.

QUANTITY VERSUS QUALITY The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is aiming to earn 28.8 million visitors and about Baht 2.2 trillion in revenue (approximately Euro 55 billion) from tourism for the fiscal year 2015. The previous record year was 2013, when 26.5 million visitors were recorded. In 2014, the number fell to 24.8 million visitors (-6.4 per cent).

However, based on 2011 data (19.2 million visitors), if the 2015 target is reached it will mean the number of visitors will have skyrocketed by almost exactly 50 per cent in just five years.

This steady increase has largely been due to a substantial increase in the number of visitors to Thailand from East Asia. Sixty-eight per cent of visitors were from East Asian countries in the first eight months of 2015, but they contributed only 55 per cent of total receipts. China ranked the largest East Asia source market with 5.5 million arrivals, which represented 27 per cent of all overseas visitors; this was an enormous increase of 70 per cent over the same period in the previous year.

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TOURISM INDUSTRY 09

Tourism arrivals in 2015* Arrivals (persons)

Change (%)

Revenue (million baht)

Change (%)

East Asia

13,578,611

53.4

523,292

73.1

Europe

3,665,208

-8.8

251,518

-6.6

Americas

795,754

14.2

57,639

18.2

South Asia

919,393

18.3

38,981

26.6

Oceania

601,642

-1.8

44,325

6.7

Middle East

443,385

11.5

30,155

23.7

Africa

100,382

0.8

6,265

5.1

20,104,375

30.0

952,175

31.7

Total

* January to August, change compared to the same period of the previous year.

Source: Tourism Department.

The massive expansion of charter and low-cost airlines has contributed significantly to the growth in the number of visitors. This boost has been particularly noticeable in Phuket due to the increase in the number of direct flights from China. Chinese and Russians alone now make up more than half of all foreign tourists in Phuket. Twenty-seven new hotel projects with 1,613 rooms are coming on-stream between 2015 and 2018. A major of those hotels are scheduled to open in the second half of 2017. During the same period, Samui Island plans a more modest expansion, increasing hotel accommodation by only 4 per cent to 18,749 rooms.

In addition to the limited benefit of mass tourism as a source of foreign currency earnings, inadequate infrastructure and the environmental impact are increasingly urgent problems, as a result of which strong calls are being increasingly heard for long-term planning for ensuring Thailand’s sustainable future. With this in mind, a three-year “Tourism Development Master Plan” has been approved, through which Thailand aims, among other things, to boost the number of “quality tour ists” and promote better management.

In the higher-end hotel segment, green business practices have been an important consideration for some time, including the implementation of domestic quality standards.

Thai hotels have been honoured in the 2014 ASEAN Green Hotel Awards in recognition of their adoption of environmentally-friendly and energy conser vation measures; they include three each in Bangkok and Hua Hin, and one each in Chiang Rai, Koh Samui, Krabi and Koh Phangan.

www.thailand.ahk.de

10 TOURISM INDUSTRY

REDISCOVER BERLIN, CITY OF COOL Contributed by Nawinee Hengnalen, General Manager, Buynow Co., Ltd. After finishing a meeting in Frankfur t, Germany, we had a couple days left to chill out before going back to Bangkok. After considering which city to visit, Berlin – my familiar area – came up to mind! I had heard that Berlin nowadays was considered to be very charming and impressive among visitors.

Many people have fallen in love with Berlin since the East and West parts of the city were recombined 25 years ago.

The official name of the countr y is the Federal Republic of Germany, which located in the middle of Europe. Germany has the largest number of neighbours because it is surrounded by nine countries with which it shares its border – Poland and the Czech Republic in the east, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg to the west, Switzerland and Austria in the south, and Denmark in the north.

The northern border reaches the North Sea and Baltic Sea, while the south border reaches

the Alps mountain range in Bavaria. This means Germany has a variety of beautiful landscapes, among them the famous ones such as Bavaria. Moreover, Germany is the home of several world-famous innovative automobile brands such as Mercedes Benz, BMW, Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen.

In addition, public utilities are excellent, especially public transpor tation. Trains (Deutsche Bahn) are famous for their modernity, speed, cleanliness, convenience as well as being on time. For these reasons, we travel in Germany by train every time we visit. We are able to arrange our schedule throughout the country’s large network in the whole country and even connections with neighbouring countries.

It is particularly convenient for Thai people who can purchase an unlimited and flexible train ticket like the German Rail Pass (GRP) from the DB Bahn agency in Thailand through Railgermany.net. You can select periods of

3 to 10 days for this pass and. The GRP pass is valid for all DB trains and covers all routes and unlimited distance, and you can travel on IC, EC, IRE, RE, RB train from town to town.

You can also travel with ICE or Inter City Express and the City Night Line as well, but you will need to reser ve a bed. We recommend making all reservations well in advance because travelling by train is very popular for Germans as well as tourists.

During the journey, you do not have to worry about mobile phone and Internet connections because WIFI service is available on trains.

There are first- and second-class carriages with comfor table large seats, space for

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luggage, a restaurant or a board bistro for services. German Rail Pass holders can also travel to Salzburg, Basel Badischer, Brussels, Prague, Venice and other destinations without any extra charge.

When going to Berlin, another ticket that we recommend is the Berlin Welcome Card that offers a convenient way to travel in the city and which provides discounts for many places. You can buy this card at the airport, train stations, gift shops and even at the hotels. After spending quality time reading, enjoying the beautiful views and a delicious lunch, the express train took us to Berlin’s elegant, grand and modern main train station in the middle of the city.

CHILLING OUT IN BERLIN Berlin is the country’s capital with many stories and a painful past.

The saddest times were during several years after Germany’s defeat in World War I, and from the massive bombing in World War II until the divided city reunited following the removal of the Berlin Wall.

West Berlin enjoyed liberal government by England, France and America while East Berlin was governed by the former Soviet Union’s socialist system. Initially, people were able to travel to and from either side of the city; however, increasing inequality in living and economic conditions resulted in more and more people migrating from the eastern side to West Berlin. The Soviet Union “solved” this problem by starting to build a wall, which came to be known as the “Wall of Shame”, on 13 August 1961 that eventually was 155 kilometres long and four metres in height.

Parts of the Berlin Wall have been kept to remind new generations of that painful past. You can see the wall in many places such as Topography of Terner, the open air museum that shows what happened in Berlin in photographs from 1933 to1945. The museum, which is located on the site of the former Geheime Staatspolizei (Nazi secret agency) organisation, contains a great deal of historical evidence for people to study and it is well decorated in modern style.

The East Side Gallery, an open-air art gallery that is 13 kilometres long, exhibits a combination of brief history and modern colourful graffiti that visitors find delightful. Another museum close by is Check Point Charlie, which exhibits the story of Berlin Wall since its beginning, the different lifestyles of people on both sides, how people escaped using ingenious methods like hiding in a suitcase.

style building was been burnt down by the Nazi movement and rebuilt during 1957-1971 and renovated in 1999 by the famous English architect, Sir Norman Foster. He added the glass dome and its circular staircase for people to enjoy the wonderful view of Berlin.

We strolled across the street from the Reichstag and past 17 Juni St., to the most important Berlin symbol that should not be missed – the Brandenburget Tor (Brandenburg Gate). Although it is not as famous as the Arc de Triomphe of France, its beauty is unsurpassed. The design is reproduced from the ancient architecture style of Greece. This stunning sculpture was taken by Napoleon back to French but later was returned to its original site in Berlin. Brandenburget Tor is located between 17 Juni St. and Unterden Linden St., which forms Berlin’s most important historical centre and also a famous shopping area.

Berlin’s many world-famous museums are very interesting and they will definitely cast a spell on people who love museums and the arts, par ticularly those located in Museum Island. They include the renowned Pergamon Museum, Altes Museum, Neues Museum (which has the famous bust of ancient Egypt’s Queen Nefertiti, described as “the world’s most beautiful woman”), Alte Nationalgalerie, Bode Museum with its collection of Byzantine art, and the Egypt Museum.

Not far from Museum Island, there is the Cathedral of Berlin (Berlin Dom), another well-known symbol of the city. This is a Protestant church, in a unique Renaissance style, and it is often referred to as the “Entryway to Museum Island”.. The interior is also very impressive, and the church is often used for important ceremonies.

After strolling around the museums, we stopped nearby for German curried sausage, known as Currywust, that originated in Berlin. It comprises sausages cut into pieces that are topped with sauce and curry powder, and served with mashed potatoes or French fries. The smell and the taste will make you go back again for more. Talking about German sausage, there are more than 1,500 kinds of sausages to be found in Germany!

After visiting so many wonderful places, we rested beside the Spree River, the main river of Berlin. This city, which has so much to offer visitors, has been through many changes. Modern and ancient styles have been combined perfectly. Design, art, history, restaurants and cafés, and theatrical performances draw huge numbers of visitors to Berlin, with many returning more than once. Visiting an old friend like Berlin was worth every second of our vacation. However, time ran out and we had to catch an express train back to Frankfurt Airport to begin our journey home.

From the main train station (Hbf), take U-Bahn number 55 to Bundestag station for a visit to a grand building that people line up to tour around. Topped by a huge glass dome, it is the home of the Reichstag (Parliament) of the Federal Republic of Germany. We noticed the black, red and yellow flag of Germany from far away, welcoming visitors from all over the world. The original Renaissance-

Visitors to Germany wanting to travel by train can buy tickets at the general sales agent of DB Bahn in Thailand (Railgermany.net). Just contact the agent by telephone at 02-653-2148 or visit the website at https://www.facebook.com/Railgermany/. The agency has staff who will be happy to answer all your questions and provide excellent service in helping you to plan your trip.

www.thailand.ahk.de

12 TOURISM INDUSTRY

MAINAU ISLAND: A GARDEN AND NATURE EXPERIENCE ALL YEAR ROUND Contributed by Mainau GmbH

Spring, summer, autumn and winter: Mainau Island is always worth a visit. Each season has something special for visitors besides the ocean of flowers in the park and gardens.

The Palm House and Butterfly House are unique attractions especially on cooler and rainy days. Newly erected on the castle terrace in 1998, the architectural design of the Palm House is a real eye-catcher. It provides shelter for more than 20 different palm species including a Canary date palm over 15 metres tall.

Visitors to the Butterfly House, one of the largest in Germany, enter a lush tropical landscape with temperatures between 20 and 30°C. 120 butterfly and moth species from different continents flutter through the air all year round. Fittingly, the gardens surrounding the Butterfly House provide the ideal habitat for native butterflies.

THE MAINAU FLOWER YEAR The orchid show in the Palm House traditionally heralds the start of the Mainau Flower Year in March. The exhibition is one

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of the most significant of its kind in Europe. Around 3,000 types of orchid are imaginatively arranged in this show. At the same time, spring flowers burst into colour outside in the park.

The first snowdrops and winter aconites bloom as early as February. These are followed by colourful crocuses and then tulips in a host of different shapes and colours. Around 400 different types of this plant bloom in the flowerbeds and meadows along the Spring Avenue.

Over 100,000 tulip bulbs areplanted each year in the meadows on the island’s southern flank contributing to the spectacular ocean of more than a million colourful spring flowers.

The spring flowers have barely faded when the rhododendron grove bursts into life.

Rhododendrons and azaleas, in a variety of sizes and colour shades, grow up the steep east slope above the lakeside garden. About 250 species of this peat bog plant can be admired here. Magnificent peonies also start to bloom in the peony garden next to the Floral-WaterCascade built in the style of an Italian Renaissance garden.

The rose month of June is the next highlight in the Mainau Flower Year. More than 1,000 varieties of the ‘Queen of Flowers’ bloom along the Wild and Bush Rose Promenade and in the Italian Rose Garden which Grand Duke Friedrich I of Baden laid at the foot of the castle.

Each year, visitors vote for the most beautiful to be crowned the Mainau Queen of Roses.

SUMMERY BLOSSOMS There’s an explosion of blossoms everywhere around the island during the warmer months of the year. Besides having wonderful flowerbeds, Mainau upholds its reputation as a ‘tropical island’ through special attractions. For example, the fountain arena with its terraces is the ideal spot for Mediterranean plants like the bird of paradiseplant, bananas, palms, agaves, trumpet flowers, bougainvilleas, sweet chestnuts and also cypresses. Fuchsias are planted out in the lakeside garden for the summer. Some are over a hundred years old and up to four metres tall.

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The historic collection of citrus plants is on show in the castle courtyard from June to September. These plants originally came from botanical gardens and also from plantations of Italian aristocratic families. They include Seville oranges, limes, oranges, grapefruits, papedas, citrons and lemons. The collection now consists of around 50 year old plants and some very rare varieties.

There are spectacular views from the roof garden of the Comturey restaurant at the island’s harbour. A main feature of this part of the park is the so-called hydrangea path which is lined with many varieties of this plant and has plenty of places to sit. This stepless path winds its way up to the Schwedenschenke restaurant at the centre of the island.

Some people are wary of them because their sting is not entirely harmless. However, they are necessary for farming, fruit and vegetable cultivation. In reality, wild and honey bees are important helpers because plants that aren’t pollinated don’t bear fruit. The insect garden located below the vineyard at the Swedes’ Tower illustrates the importance of these insects, the role they play for our nature and cultivation landscape and also the measures that need to be taken to preserve these endangered insects. The garden not only has nesting places but also provides forage for bees with so-called melliferous plants which produce lots of pollen and nectar from spring until autumn. There are tips for visitors on how to encourage bees to their own gardens to help these important insects survive.

AUTUMN’S HARBINGERS The annual dahlia show along the lakeside garden has a long tradition on Mainau Island. It colourfully announces autumn’s arrival in September. Over 12,000 dahlias in 270 varieties provide a stunning firework of flowers all vying for the visitors’ vote to be crowned the Mainau Queen of Dahlias. Strollers come across decorative, ball, pompom and cactus dahlias along the path with views of the shimmering Lake Constance.

WINTER MAGIC Mainau Island is still charming during the winter months. Even on cold days, there are dashes of colour in the park as witch hazel, camellia, mahonia and other attractive winterflowering shrubs come into bloom. Warm up afterwards in the Butterfly House and Palm House with a coffee and cake. There are exhibitions for the whole family in Mainau Castle’s Heraldic Hall during the autumn and winter months.

The island’s destiny is steered by the Bernadotte family who are related to the Swedish royal family. They uphold both Scandinavian and local traditions. The Lucia festival on 13th December is one of traditions celebrated on Mainau. The candlelit procession is said to bring light in the dark days. The festival starts on the island on the 12th December with Lucia singing followed by a carol concert. The island’s chefs also serve the traditional Swedish Christmas buffet, otherwise known as ‘Julbord’, on further days throughout November and December.

Who doesn’t know perennials from their own garden? These robust, luxuriant, long-flowering plants last more than a single year. Mainau’s herbaceous garden, set out in individual beds below the vineyard walls, is full of inspirational ideas. The sheer number of plants, around 16,000 in more than 800 varieties, makes this part of the garden interesting not only in spring and summer but also in autumn and winter. Willows and beech hedges add structure to the garden. Pathways meander by plazas, seating and fantastic flowerbeds planted up according to the seasons. It’s a place to relax, linger and saunter around and is an especially good spot for taking nature photographs.

Autumn is a particularly lovely time to take a stroll through the Arboretum at the centre of the island when the leaves of this large collection of trees change colour. This unique plantation is consideredthe hear t of Mainau.

It dates back to the time of Grand Duke Friedrich I of Baden who bought the island in 1853 as a summer residence and planted the first exotic trees here in 1864. Today, some 150 years later, there are 250 tree and shrub species in the Arboretum including native evergreen and deciduous trees and also exemplars from Asia, North Africa and America.

Giant sequoias, Atlas cedars, Lebanon cedars and tulip trees are amongst the most impressive.

The gingko tree planted next to the castle church in 1872 also belongs to the list of spectacular trees.

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14 TOURISM INDUSTRY

Spine doctor visiting medical university

MEDICAL TOURISM: THE NEW NORM OF EVERYDAY LIFE, FOR MANY Contributed by Mr. Winston Wuttisitti, Senior Manager, International Marketing, Bumrungrad International Hospital ‘‘Ground control to Major Tom… take your protein pills…commencing countdown and engines on’’ – David Bowie’s song ‘Space Oddity’ is playing on my iPod as I glance over to my watch. The dimly-lit cabin and the rocking motion of the mild turbulences seem to be drawing passengers into a zoning state.

The time is several minutes past 1 a.m. and the plane is flying somewhere above the Bay of Bengal.

Just 35 hours earlier, I arrived in Bangladesh with a medical surgeon. It was the doctor’s first South Asia subcontinent trip to present his keynotes on the “Advances of Minimal Invasive Spine Treatments”. Our doctor is a reputable Thai orthopaedic spine specialist with more than 20 years of consultancy and practice experience.

We were scheduled to participate in two events, each with distinct audience types.

The first afternoon event was held at a deluxe hotel ballroom downtown, which was

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attended by several physicians, middle-aged businessmen and women, representatives from several corporate entities and mainly family-oriented attendees.

Watching the arrivals of the guests, particularly those in their formal national attires, was intriguing and captivating. The women wore headscarves with accents of lime green to baby pink hues, etched with golden threaded embroideries. The opulent yet subtle assemblage of vivid colours of the well-educated and world-travelled audiences expressed interest in the treatment procedures including the option of going abroad - where and how to connect.

The next morning, we were hosted by one of Bangladesh’s top medical hospital-universities.

Arriving at the entrance to a concrete building, we saw a large mosaic of its distinguished founder. We were then led by their committee and guards through the halls, up the elevator and into the main auditorium. We entered an auditorium of 170 senior medical students and several administrative members cladded in white lab coats. The session highlighted on the sciences and protocols of the medical aspects, at the same time the enthusiastic interests of accessing care overseas were clearly evident.

MEDICAL TOURISM – HEALTH CARE ABOARD? In many countries and societies, an increasing number of people have adopted traveling abroad for medical treatments and health care as an ordinary part of life – the new norm.

The methodology has changed significantly in the past 20 years.

Services ranging from health screening to sustaining and treating life-threatening illnesses such

TOURISM INDUSTRY 15

as cancer, heart disease and managing spinal and knee problems have delivered answers whilst rapid upgrades of technologies have reshaped medical tourism in many parts of the world.

MEDICAL TOURISM IS INTER-GLOBAL – BUT WHAT ARE THE “MUST CRITERIA” FOR PATIENTS?

regarding basic needs during the visits can be extremely challenging.

In Thailand, some of the world’s top international hospitals have international staffing, including multi-language interpreters and “Foreign Medical Co-ordinating Teams” to ensure medical information are clearly communicated when ser ving international patients.

Private hospitals must also create their own inner infrastructure for receiving medical tourism inline of the international standards (with accreditations such as JCI) for safety and quality. Bumrungrad International Hospital is classed in this category.

1. Accessibility. The adage “the shortest distance between two points is a straight line” is true especially in this context. Patients are likely to enjoy the advantages when travels between home and visit-countries are easily accessible. Medical institutions, on the other hand, should provide the ease of contact with medical personnel for pre- and post-care communications that are both credible and transparent.

With the complexities, less than a handful of international hospitals around the world are able to cope and remain truly patient-centric.

Hence, when planning medical trips abroad one could weigh the impor tant criteria. With the availability of excellent medical accessibility and infrastructure like that in Thailand, one won’t need to be concerned of being lost (like Major Tom) in space.

2. Infrastructure. Medical destinations worth visiting are the countries where its national infrastructure supports the regional and global endeavors that assure the availability of experienced doctors, well trained care givers and safe quality care.

Protein pills - optional.

The term medical tourism has broaden to the level of inter-global demand and supply from what was once ‘’Go West’’.

Thailand is recognized in the region and beyond for its leadership of medical expertise and the support it continues to receive since initiated by Prince Mahidol Adulyadej of Songkhla (father of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej), regarded as the countr y’s father of medicine and public health.

Another example of Thailand - located in the heart of South-East Asia and is well-known for its warm and gentle people. The country excels in tourism, whereby receives support at the national interests for tourists’ needs for quality accommodation, reliable transpor tations and differentiated value proposition.

Patient’s related-costs of treatment, par ticularly for those with accompanying family members or friends – the additional expenses for accommodation, food, transpor tation other needs, add up over the duration of the trip. In that regard, Thailand is considered to be reasonably priced with good value.

Patients who are unable to communicate with doctor s and medical per sonnel

www.thailand.ahk.de

16 TOURISM INDUSTRY

THE YAOWAWIT STORY ‘A UNIQUE SOUTHERN THAILAND HOLIDAY FOR A GOOD CAUSE’ Contributed by Lauren Kiddle, Content Writer, Thanyapura Phuket It is more than a decade since the devastating tsunami hit Phuket and Phang Nga, changing the lives of thousands of people across Thailand. The effects were almost immediately clear, with families losing loved ones or houses they once cherished. Following with this disaster, there was a huge charitable response by millions of people across the world who helped to give Thai people some hope for the future.

German hotelier, educator and philanthropist, Philipp Graf von Hardenberg, came to Thailand for the first time four weeks after the tsunami hit. Seeing the devastation and the many traumatised children, he immediately wanted to give something back to the community and help those in need.

It was then, in Februar y 2005, that the Yaowawit School of Phang Nga was founded.

To this day, the school celebrates an evergrowing success built on providing children through its own form of theoretical and professional education that gives them a pathway to a successful life.

Yaowawit is a unique boarding school that was built not only to help tsunami-affected children, but also for those who were living in extreme pover ty in southern Thailand.

Nestled in the picturesque mountains of the beautiful province of Phang Nga are hundreds of smiling children who are educated each and every day in the many educational centres within Yaowawit – the life-skills learning centre. There is an eco-farm with

UPDATE 1/2016

agriculture, fish and chickens, and the hospitality training centre that has recently partnered with the Marriott Hotel Group and Phang Nga’s Hospitality College.

Yaowawit has its own deep-well water pump and filtration system, which ensures that clean water flows all-year-round. The project has its own solar panel field, providing up to 50 per cent of the needed electr icity.

Volunteers, who come from all over the world, spend their time in educating the children and help to teach English.

The children, who range in age between 4 and 18, all have very different ambitions.

Some wish to work in the hospitality field, some as doctors or nurses, while others want to become pilots. But no matter the ambition, there is one thing that stays the same – every single child has a smile on his or her face, no matter their situation. They are happy and healthy.

However, this amazingly unique school does not just provide an oppor tunity for the underprivileged. It also provides an oppor tunity for tourists who want to experience a different side of Thailand. Each year, groups of volunteers, many international schools and corporate groups take time out of their busy schedules to experience the real beauty of life.

While hot springs, waterfalls, national parks, forest temples, local markets, Thai restaurants

and many other attractions exist in Phang Nga, the campus of this unique school makes a journey to Yaowawit an amazing experience.

Volunteering at Yaowawit is about learning, dedication and serving. It’s for you as an individual to find out how you can combine your compassion with your patience to help the children as one big happy family. The volunteering programme not only helps to evolve the skills and experiences of the children but also helps the community. Also, as a volunteer, you are a role model for the children that you spend time with every day.

Philipp Graf von Hardenberg was recently listed as one of the 40 Heroes of Philanthropy

by Forbes Asia.

BUSINESS BRIEFS 17

ETIHAD AIRWAYS, TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND SIGN NEW AGREEMENT Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) have signed a landmark US$ 1.25 million Memorandum of Understanding on increasing tourism to Thailand. Under the new agreement, the Abu Dhabi-based airline and TAT will jointly promote travel to Thailand from priority markets, including the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, South Africa, Iran and Kuwait.

great benefit to both par ties – to Thailand in terms of increased visitor numbers, and to Etihad Airways in terms of promoting its international network.”

For 2015, TAT has set a target of 28 million international visitors generating an estimated 1.35 trillion baht (US$ 41 billion).

The agreement was signed by Etihad Airways Senior Vice-President Marketing, Mr. Shane O’Hare , and TAT’s Acting Governor Mrs. Juthaporn Rerngronasa at a commemorative event in the Etihad Airways-Alitalia Pavilion at Expo Milan 2015, on 22 July They were joined by Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports, Mr. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, and high-ranking officials from both organisations.

Mrs. Juthaporn Rerngronasa said: “Europe has long been a prime market for Thailand.

We have also seen an increase in visitors from the Middle East and Africa. The new partnership with Etihad Airways will be of

Seated, from left: Mrs. Juthaporn Rerngronasa, Acting Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and Mr. Shane O'Hare, Senior Vice-President, Marketing, for Etihad Airways. Standing behind them, from left: Mr. Surapit Kirtiputra, Ambassador of Thailand to Italy, and Mr. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Thai Minister of Tourism and Sports

SIEMENS, CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITY CELEBRATE SUCCESSFUL SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME On November 4, 2015, Siemens Ltd. (Thailand), in partnership with Chulalongkorn University, held the official certificate presentation and closing ceremony of the ”Summer Internship Programme” on 4 November 2015 at the Siemens Thailand head office in Charn Issara Tower II.

For students wanting hands-on experience with gas turbine production, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, as there are no such facilities in Thailand.

The Summer Internship Programme is a collaborative project between Siemens Thailand and the Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, with suppor t from Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery (SIT) AB, in Finspang, Sweden. The aim of the programme is to develop local competencies to support Thailand’s growing need for experts in the energy field. In this pilot programme, Siemens Thailand supported the participation of three third-year students in a two-month internship at the Research and Development Organization of Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery (SIT) AB, Finspang, Sweden.

www.thailand.ahk.de http://thailand.ahk.de

18 BUSINESS BRIEFS

BLUECHIPS MICROHOUSE OPENS NEW HEADQUARTERS IN CHIANG MAI The new Bluechips headquarters and manufacturing plant in San Kamphaeng district of Chiang Mai province was officially opened with a Grand Opening ceremony and celebration on Monday, 12 October 2015. The ceremony, at the company’s new home located in a unique building set in the northern Thai countryside, was attended by customers, suppliers, officials, and friends and families to celebrate the biggest milestone in Bluechips’ near-16-year history.

The guests were greeted by a welcoming address from the ViceGovernor of Chiang Mai, Mr. Mongkol Suksai, and the German Ambassador to Thailand, Mr. Peter Prügel, who both took the time to emphasise the importance of positive relations between Germany and Thailand as well as praising the work and investment of Bluechips Microhouse in this regard.

They were followed by a speech from Bluechips Managing Director, Mr. Thomas Zimpfer. In pragmatic fashion, Mr. Zimpfer talked enthusiastically about his vision for moving forward rather than reflecting on what has already come to be. He noted that particular emphasis had been placed on providing the best atmosphere possible to allow the Bluechips team the space to grow and continue their hard wor k in suppor ting the company’s customers.

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Following the speeches, the official opening of the new premises was held. Instead of the more traditional ribbon cutting ceremony, a box designed to reflect the design of the Bluechips San Kamphaeng was opened. Mr. Zimpfer and his wife, Mrs. Sabine Zimpfer, were joined

by Ambassador Peter Prügel, Chiang Mai Vice-Governor Mr. Mongkol Suksai, San Kamphaeng Mayor Ms. Suphanimit Worrakitti, Honorary German Consul for Chiang Mai Hagen E.W. Dirksen, Executive Director of the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce Dr. Roland Wein and San Kamphaeng district Police Chief, Pol. Col. Anurak Kijprasert in counting down to the moment of opening.

CHAMBER ACTIVITIES 19

CLUSTER MEETING ON ICT, AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY In the final quarter of 2015, GTCC hosted Cluster Meetings that focused on information and communication technology (29 September 2015) and the automotive industry (2 December).

Serving as the platform for a sector-specific exchange of experience, each cluster meeting attracted an average of 15 executives and

experts from member companies, who voiced ideas and discussed challenges pertaining to the topic under consideration.

Check out the GTCC online event calendar for the focus of forthcoming Cluster Meetings in 2016.

www.thailand.ahk.de

CHAMBER ACTIVITIES 21

http://thailand.ahk.de

22 CHAMBER ACTIVITIES

DUCATI FACTORY VISIT DRAWS 50 MEMBERS GTCC, in co-operation with Ducati Motor (Thailand), organised a site visit to the Ducati factory in Amata Industrial Park of Rayong Province on 16 October 2015.

This exclusive member visit attracted tremendous interest from more than 50 members, who were personally guided through the facility by Mr. Piaggio Gabriele, General Manager of Ducati (Motor) Thailand Co., Ltd. The iconic Italian motorcycle manufacturer officially opened its Ducati Motor Thailand factory in Rayong in 2014, marking the completion of its production lines for all model families and the start of production for the new Ducati Scrambler model.

The 22,000-m2, state-of-the-art facility is located on a 45,000 m2 site in a Free Trade Zone within the Amata Industrial Park. The Italian manufacturer’s production lines are now complete and fully functional, producing Ducati’s full range of Diavel, Hypermotard, Monster, Multistrada and Superbike (899) models in addition to the company’s brand-new and highly anticipated Ducati Scrambler.

LARGE TURNOUT FOR EASTERN SEABOARD STAMMTISCH

The GTCC hosted the fourth-quarter Eastern Seaboard Stammtisch on 16 October 2015, at which more than 100 guests were welcomed from all partnering Chambers of Commerce. The event was held at the outdoor restaurant of the Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort, Pattaya. The networking event was made possible through the support of the host hotel.

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CHAMBER ACTIVITIES 23

JFCCT LUNCHEON WITH PRIME MINISTER The German-Thai Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Joint Foreign Chamber of Commerce in Thailand and other Chambers, organised a Prime Minister’s Luncheon on “Our Economy: Building for Future” at the Convention Centre, Centara Grand, at Central World on 25 November 2015.

“Please be confident about our policies and kindly give us time to put the country’s economy in order so as to pass through the transition period safely and successfully,” he said.

The luncheon was attended by more than 800 Thai and foreign business leaders, Cabinet ministers, high-ranking government officials, ambassadors and trade representatives. At the event, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha called on foreign investors not to leave Thailand. The Government has assured foreign investors that Thailand’s policies will be designed to support long-term investment after it steps down. In addition, new measures aimed at facilitating foreign direct investment, including the cluster scheme, special economic zones and huge infrastructure mega-projects.

The Prime Minister also talked about the economic progress that Thailand had made during past decades as well as the country’s current efforts to lay the foundations for national reform and economic stability.

STAMMTISCH TRI-NATIONS 2015 In the final quarter of 2015, the biggest Stammtisch in Bangkok was again organised as Tri-nation Night on 19 November 2015 at the Deutsche Eck Restaurant in the hear t of Sukhumvit district to welcome guests from the three German-speaking nations of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. GTCC took this opportunity to

welcome German Ambassador to Thailand, Mr. Peter Prügel, and Swiss Ambassador to Thailand, Mr. Ivo Sieber.

Stay tuned for the new Stammtisch Bangkok 2016 schedule – don’t miss this typical German get-together brought to you by GTCC!

www.thailand.ahk.de

24 CHAMBER ACTIVITIES

GTCC ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY 2015

After a successful and productive year, GTCC was delighted to again be able to host its annual Christmas party on 15 December at the Garden Villa of Sukhothai Bangkok. The celebration was shared by more than 200 Chamber members, and their families and friends.

A delectable Christmas feast and drinks were served together with various entertainment activities for all ages. In addition, in keeping with the Chamber’s long-standing tradition, the children were given an opportunity to meet-and-greet our own Santa Claus as well as receive special Christmas gifts from him.

Thanks are also due to all of our sponsors of the event, including B.Grimm Trading Corporation, Lufthansa German Airlines, Mahasamutr, Hong Kong Transpack, Asia Riding Adventure and Paulaner, who made it possible for the Chamber to host such a relaxed and very enjoyable evening.

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CHAMBER ACTIVITIES 25

www.thailand.ahk.de

26 CHAMBER ACTIVITIES

VISIT BY BAVARIAN BUSINESS DELEGATION A Bavarian business delegation visit to Thailand was organised from 30 November to 2 December 2015 by the Bavarian Ministry for Economic Affairs and Media, Energy and Technology and the Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Bavaria, with support from the GTCC. Representatives from some 10 Bavarian companies participated in order to explore potential business oppor tunities and to get first-hand insights on the economic market environment in Thailand.

The highly-specialised and leading niche market players from Bavaria had the opportunity to visit Somboon Group, BMW Manufacturing (Thailand) and Mercedes-Benz Competence Centre.

In addition, the GTCC organised specific target-group business match meetings on an individual basis to give the Bavarian business delegation an exclusive opportunity to talk business with decisionmakers in Thailand’s automotive, electronics, steel, food processing and consumer products industries.

GTCC STAFF PARTY

The Chamber hosted a staff party on 4 December at the Ramada Menam Riverside in Bangkok. The event was organised to show special thanks to the GTCC staff for their productive and fruitful contributions to the work of Chamber. In addition, some activities were also organised to strengthen staff relations, and everyone went home with gifts from colleagues.

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The Bavarian delegation also took part in the GTCC Automotive Cluster Meeting held on 2 December 2015 at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel, featuring presentations by high-level representatives from the Thai Automotive Industry Association (TAIA), Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT) and ThaiGerTec Co., Ltd.

www.thailand.ahk.de

28 GTDEE INSIGHT

TEACH THE TEACHERS

Followed the results of the recent school development project assessment, GTDEE introduced innovative teaching methods by organising a “Teach the Teacher Workshop on Innovative Methods of Teaching: ProjectBased Teaching”, from 26 to 30 October 2015 for 18 teachers from the colleges in the project.

The workshop was successful and highly appreciated by the Office of the Vocational

Education Commission (OVEC). During this workshop the participants studied the holistic process of learning by planning projects from scratch. They also learnt how to identify and differentiate the various learning goals, essential methods and media.

In addition, the par ticipants identified the different “Learning Fields” covered in an individual projects and how to link the project to vocational colleges’ curricula. The

workshop used the method of developing different projects on different competence levels from a tape-roller to a 3D-printer.

The 40-hour workshop was organized at King Mongkut University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB).

GTDEE STUDENT CAMP

Followed the school development project assessment on uniforms and conflicts between colleges, GTDEE organised an experiential GTDEE team-building camp for 51 students, teachers, and trainers from six company/college pairs (11 organisations) during 19 and 20 November 2015 at the Officers Club, Sattahip, Chonburi province.

This was the biggest event of GTDEE this year in which students and personnel from companies, public colleges and private colleges undertook activities together. The

UPDATE 1/2016

objectives of the camp were to: (a) build discipline, punctuality and good German working traits; (b) strengthen analytical thinking and problem-solving skills; (c) strengthen teamwork and individual responsibility; and (d) support activity-based learning.

The participating students learnt how to communicate and share ideas while teachers and trainers had the opportunity to become familiar with each other in order to foster a stronger working relationship in the future.

GTDEE INSIGHT 29

FIRST VOCATIONAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING To strengthen the work of GTDEE as well as establish a firm base for dual vocational education development in Thailand, GTDEE organised the first GTDEE Vocational Education Committee (VEC) meeting on 25 November 2015.

VEC serves as a crucial body in influencing college curricula from the private sector side as well as commenting on and approving dual vocational-related issues concerning companies as implementation units.

Representatives from the following companies in the GTDEE project joined the meeting; Mercedes Benz, ThyssenKrupp Elevator Thailand, Grohe Siam, Amata B.Grimm Power, Bosch Automotive & Bosch Packaging and Wangnoi Beverage. The companies agreed to identify personnel in their internal working group as well as trainers to be sent for an 80- hour, in-company training course in spring 2016.

MoU SIGNING CEREMONY WITH DON BOSCO TECHNICAL COLLEGE

On 26 November 2015, the GTDEE project signed an MoU with Don Bosco Technical College to collaborate in three main areas: (a) to implement the German model dual vocational education together with a new company par tner, Aapico; (b) to provide training courses for teachers and trainers participating in the GTDEE project to help them reach the German standard; and (c) to utilize Don Bosco training facilities as an examination venue for GTDEE’s apprentices.

GTDEE looks forward to fruitful collaboration with high quality vocational colleges like Don Bosco in the future.

www.thailand.ahk.de

32 MEMBERS’ CORNER

S R E B M E M ONLY

Sponsored by

Name Last Name Company Name

Valid Thru

31 December 2016

As a GTCC member, we offer you the GTCC Membership Card to enjoy special discounts at GTCC’s events and consultancy services as well as a number of special discounts from participating GTCC members. Whether it is for your lunch/dinner business meeting or other services, we want to assure you that, as our valuable member, you will enjoy special treatment from fellow GTCC members to

Show or refer to your GTCC membership card to enjoy these special discounts!

strengthen your business network and relations. The list of participating outlets and services is available on our webpage, thailand.ahk.de, together with corresponding benefits and discounts for members to explore! For more information or submission of your offer/discount, please e-mail us at membership@gtcc.org

ARKITEKTURA

ATA SERVICES CO., LTD.

ATA SERVICES CO., LTD.

Tel: +66 2 392 5460 to 4

Tel: +66 2 744 3180 to 1

Tel: +66 2 744 3180 to 1

50% Discount for Bedding Products of

Special rate for meeting room rental at 200B. /hour, from 500B. normal rate.

5% discount

40% Discount for Bedding Products of

Get Free 1 additional month and a complimentary Free Wi-Fi plus

Hugo Boss Home

Calvin Klein Home and Sanderson

(Only at Siam Paragon Showroom, 3rd Floor)

Validity: now - April 2016 www.arkitektura.co.th

BERKELEY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL Tel: +66 2 747 4788

50% Discount

on Yearly Tuition for all German speaking people.

Validity: now - December 2016 www.berkeley.ac.th

UPDATE 1/2016

on all prices for Car rental/Car leasing contract (Thailand)

Selected beverages for a 12-month office rental contract.

Validity: now - March 2016 www.ata-servicedoffices.com

Validity: now - March 2016 www.ata-servicedoffices.com

DEUTSCHES ECK

GLOBAL PROPERTY & INSURANCE

Tel: +66 2 262 0263

10% discount

on all our food and beverage items (except happy hours and special promotions).

Validity: now - December 2016 www.deutscheseckbangkok.com

Tel: +66 81 838 1390

5% Discount on all first year premiums Fire/All Risk Insurance Motor Insurance Health Insurance Liability Insurance

Validity: now - December 2016 www.globalpropertythailand.com, www.globalinsurancethailand.com

MEMBERS’ CORNER 33

KONZEPT WORX LTD. Tel: +66 2 630 3151

790 THB/m2 for dust-free sanding and

MAIKHAO DREAM HOTELS & RESORTS Tel: +66 76 371 371

NINIVE GAMES CO., LTD. Tel: +66 84 763 1980

20% OFF our BAR rates for both,

50% Discount for the Board Games: Settlers of Catan (TH), Camel Up (TH+EN) and Port Royal (TH+EN)

Suitable for commercial floors! (in BKK, area > 60 sqm.)

20% OFF our F&B and Spa outlets for

The perfect gift for your business partners.

Validity: now - March 2016

Validity: now - December 2016

Validity: now - December 2016

www.konzeptworx.com

www.maikhaodream.com

www.ninivegames.com

PACIFIC LEISURE (THAILAND) LTD.

REGUS CENTRE (THAILAND) Ltd.

THE PENINSULA BANGKOK

Tel: +66 2 670 1000 ext. 103

Tel: +66 2 677 7186

Enjoy 5%

1 Month Free serviced office with a

“Dine Four Pay Three”

oiling of wood floors with German wood oil for a natural look and healthy living.

Discount wonderful Package

Tours in New Zealand with SEAT IN COACH or SELF DRIVE Please contact PLT directly to discuss about your needs!

Validity: now – April 2016 PacificLeisureThailand

Maikhao Dream Villa Resort & Spa, Phuket and Natai Beach Resort & Spa, Phang-Nga. both the properties.

12 month term contract. 25% Discount on meeting room in Bangkok and Laem Chabang, Sriracha.

THB 5,000

Office referral fee at and virtual office at THB 1,500 (min. 6 month contract).

Tel: +66 2 861 2888 for dinner buffet at River Cafe & Terrace

Discount is not applicable to special events and cannot be used in conjunction with other promotional programmes.

Validity: now - October 2016

Validity: now - March 2016

www.regus.co.th

www.peninsula.com/bangkok

www.thailand.ahk.de

34 MEMBERS’ CORNER

NEW GTCC MEMBERS up to 31 December 2015

German-Thai Chamber of Commerce warmly welcomes 21 new members!

AccGlobal TH Co., Ltd. 20/10 Chai Tower, 3rd Floor, Nana Thai Sukhumvit 4 Road, Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110 Thailand Tel: +66 2 254 5820 Fax: +66 2 254 5821 info@accglobal.asia www.accglobal.asia

110/56 Moo 11, Plubpla, Muang, Chanthaburi 22000 Thailand Tel: +66 2 635 1116 Fax: +66 2 635 1118 info@dararehab.com www.dararehab.com

Activities The company provides development in the field of embedded systems, PLC's and industrial robots. Commissioning and retrofitting of automated systems, inhouse logistics and production lines. Virtual commissioning. 3D Factory and Robot work cell simulation.

Activities Residential Rehabilitation Treatment for Drug and Alcohol Use disorders.

Chamber Representatives Michael Winter and Nipaporn Hansen

165 Ramkhanghaeng 141, Saphan Soong, Bangkok 10240 Thailand Tel: +66 85 064 1541 bkt@bkrungthai.com www.b-krungthai.com

Advanced ID Asia Engineering Co., Ltd. 116 Moo 3, Maekhue, Doi Saket, Chiang Mai 50200 Thailand Tel: +66 53 387 316 to 7 Fax: +66 53 387 319 carlo@aae.co.th www.aae.co.th Activities Manufacturing for Cable Harness Assembly, Macromelt Machine, Home Automation Product and PCBA Manufacturing.

Chamber Representatives Carlo Schneider and Gottfried Auer

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Asia Health Co., Ltd. (DARA Thailand)

Chamber Representatives Sebastian Schade and Tin Tin Ohn

B.Krungthai Co., Ltd.

Activities For 25 years, our company has been trading in building materials. Our focus is on supplying customers with raw materials for the construction sector in Thailand.

Using our own fleet of vehicles, we are able to supply our customers ourselves.

Not only does our company supply building materials to the domestic market, but also the international market.

Chamber Representatives Jaruwan Vesprasit and Andreas Titze

MEMBERS’ CORNER 35

CPL Inter-Trading Co., Ltd. 168/45 Prasert-Manukitch Road, Khlong Kum, Bueng Kum, Bangkok 10240 Thailand Tel: +66 2 519 4426 Fax: +66 2 519 4429 marketing@cpl-inter.com www.cpl-inter.com Activities Import alcohol beverage from Germany.

Export yeast to Japan.

Chamber Representatives Premsak Limpakanont and Kanyakorn Thapananan

EGS-plan (Bangkok) Co. Ltd. 44 Srijulsup Building Floor 12, Rama 1 Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 Thailand Tel: +66 2 613 6656 info@egs-bkk.com www.egs-bangkok.com Activities Energy and Sustainability Concepts for Buildings and Neighbourhoods, Building Simulation, MEP Design Services, Energy Audits, LEED and DGNB Building Certification.

Chamber Representatives Dr.-Ing. Robert Himmler and Dr.Atch Sreshthaputra

GSF Sport Company Limited 157/142-143, 2-3 Floor, Moo 5, Pattaya-Naklua Road, Naklua, Banglamung, Chonburi 20150 Thailand Tel: +66 38 370 731 to 2 Fax: +66 38 370 733 gsf@gsfsportfashion.com www.gsfsportfashion.com Activities GSF Sport Co., Ltd. is the exclusive Distributor of the most famous Motorsport Brands in the world, Distributor of Puma and Franchisee of Adidas with over 200 Doors nationwide, in Myanmar, Laos, Macau and Australia.

Green Energy Marketing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Level 29, Offices at Centralworld, 999/9 Rama 1 Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 Thailand Tel: +66 2 207 2399 Fax: +66 2 207 2626 melvin2@humanics678.com www.watercloud1.com, www.humanics678.com Activities Nature of Business: Biotech Industry, Alternative Green Energy, BioAzionics 678 Micro Power Generation System, Bio-Based Plastic technology and Implementation of ISO based legislation for environmental bio-diversity in governmental agencies worldwide.

Manufacturing ISO-Certified Bio-Based plastic products.

Chamber Representatives Dr. Leonard Melvin Fernando and Tan Eng Lock

Guenthart (Thailand) Co., Ltd. 47 Phahonyothin Road, Nong Khae, Saraburi 18140 Thailand Tel: +66 36 326 340 Fax: +66 36 380 298 thailand@guenthart-th.com www.guenthart.com Activities Günthart is one of the world’s leading companies for sweet decorations. More than 1,500 employees are working in 10 countries according to the quality regulations of IFS and BRC. Manufacturing with high quality ingredients and sophisticated production processes we offer high-quality décor products for every occasion and season to bakeries, pastries and retail.

Chamber Representatives Thorsten R. Spiering and Ueli Frick

Chamber Representatives Uwe Hufschmidt and Dennis Hage

www.thailand.ahk.de

36 MEMBERS’ CORNER

Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road 81 Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 Thailand Tel: +66 2 207 4999 Fax: +66 2 207 4998 hotelindigo.bangkok@ihg.com www.hotelindigo.com/bangkok Activities Hotel, accommodation and food services.

Chamber Representatives Melinda Lampier

Konrad Hornschuch AG Salinenstrasse 1, Weissbach, 74679 Germany Tel: +49 7947 810 Fax: +49 7947 7264 info@hornschuch.de www.hornschuch.com Activities Manufacturers of design and functional films and wall, floor and table coverings, artificial leathers, films and coated textiles.

Chamber Representatives Inbong Chung and Lothar Machule

KUKA Robotics (Thailand) Ltd. 179 Bangkok City Tower 27th Floor, South Sathorn Road, Thungmahamek, Sathorn, Bangkok 10120 Thailand Tel: +66 2 173 6443 Fax: +66 2 744 3177 www.kuka-robotics.com/thailand/nn/ and www.kuka.com Activities Selling Robotics and after-sales services.

Chamber Representatives Thomas Vollrath and Thorsten Naumann

NARIT & Associates Ltd. 65/101 Chamnan Phenjati Business Center, 11th Floor, Rama 9 Road, Huaykwang, Huaykwang, Bangkok 10310 Thailand Tel: +66 2 248 2872 Fax: +66 2 248 2873 narit@naritlaw.com www.naritlaw.com Activities Legal services on commercial dispute, corporate & commercial and tax by capitalizing profound local knowledge to provide clients with a creative but aggressive representation. Our services include resolving a commercial dispute and a shareholders' dispute, collecting an unpaid bill, defending against a nonmeritorious claim, contract negotiation/review, M&A, and efficient tax planning.

Chamber Representative Narit Direkwattanachai

Oxford Business Group 8th Floor, Zuellig House, 1 Silom Road, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 Tel: +66 2 231 8156 www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com Activities A global publishing, research and consultancy firm, which publishes economic intelligence on the markets of the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Chamber Representative Tanya Naydukh and Tigran Karapetyan

Regus Thailand 87 M Thai Building, 23rd Floor, Wireless Road, Lumpini, Phatumwan, Bangkok 10330 Thailand Tel: +66 2 677 7186 Fax: +66 2 627 9001 michael.berger@regus.com www.regus.co.th Activities Serviced offices, co-working spaces, meeting rooms and business lounges Chamber Representatives Michael Berger and Christoph Hodapp

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MEMBERS’ CORNER 37

Peter Vandlik, Mr.

Thai Union Group PCL 979/12, M Floor, S.M.Tower, Phaholyathin Road, Samsenai, Phayathai, Bangkok 10400 Thailand Tel: +66 2 298 0024 Fax: +66 2 298 0554 www.thaiunion.com

GTCC MEMBER 2015

Activities Trading, automotive consulting and technology transfer.

Activities Seafood manufacturing.

Chamber Representatives Joerg Ayrle and Sasinan Allmand

Tricon Thai Automation Co., Ltd. 213/7 Laem Chabang Industrial Estate, Moo 3, Thungsukhla, Sriracha, Chonburi 20230 Thailand Tel: +66 38 492 505 slp@tricon.co.th www.tricon.co.th

Narasiri Village 878/135, Pattanakarn 54, Suan Luang, Bangkok 10250 Thailand Tel. +66 81 171 0598 peter.vandlik@siamtradeconsult.com

Rene Haehnen, Mr. GTCC MEMBER 2015

40/32 Naravadee Resort Soi 11, Si Kan, Don Muang, Bangkok 10210 Thailand Tel: +65 6 496 0168 rhaehnen@gmail.com Activities Airline Catering & Catering specialist / Lean & Six Sigma Black Belt Certified.

Activities Engineering and Production of Switchboards and Automation Solutions.

Chamber Representative Søren Lehmann Poulsen

VEM (Thailand) Co., Ltd. 64/205 Moo 4, Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate, (Soi 14, Free Zone), Pluakdaeng, Pluakdaeng, Rayong 21140 Thailand Tel: +66 38 955 310 Fax: +66 38 955 359 sales.thai@vem-ltd.com www.vem-tooling.com Activities Injection Mold, Injection Parts, Blow molding, Aluminum and steel works.

ACCESS THE FULL MEMBER DIRECTORY ON GTCC WEBSITE AND MOBILE APP*

Chamber Representatives Porntip Damsanit and Peter Hefner

Chris Grabow, Mr. GTCC MEMBER 2015

570/63, Soi Naklua 27, Pattaya, Nong Prue, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri 20150 Thailand Tel: +66 98 310 3326 fourkrit@gmail.com Activities Consultancy.

SCAN HERE TO SIGN UP * The login on mobile app will only be accessible from the first of 2016

MEMBERS’ CORNER 39

From left (standing): NEAC Compressor Service Ltd., Regus Centre (Thailand) Ltd., Roedl & Partner Audit Services Ltd., Etihad Airways, Winterhalter Asia Co., Ltd., OSRAM (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Assyce Fotovoltaica (Thailand) Ltd., Covestro (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Grohe Siam Limited, CNC Design Co., Ltd., Guenthart (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Bilfinger (Thai) Construction Co., Ltd., EGS-plan (Bangkok) Co. Ltd., Phytobiotics (Thailand) Co., Ltd., From left (sitting): Bosch Automotive (Thailand) Co., Ltd., FLS 1993 (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Stars Microelectronics (Thailand) Co., Ltd., NARIT & Associates Ltd., Green Energy Marketing (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION PROGRAMME MEETING NO.6

SCAN

FOR MOR HERE E A N D T E S T PICTURES IM O N IA L S

On 15 December 2015, GTCC thailand.ahk .de/en/mem bers/new-m organised its sixth New Member ember-orie ntation (and New Representative) Orientation Meeting at the Sukhothai Bangkok Hotel, at which it welcomed 20 member companies. These meetings provide a unique opportunity for participants to learn about the Chamber’s ser vices as well as make impor tant connections with each other through a speed networking format.

“It is three minutes of valuable networking time – warm with an atmosphere of friendship. I enjoy knowing and learning more about other GTCC members. It is also a good opportunity to introduce Covestro to them.

Thank you for inviting me to participate in this programme.”

Kultida Charoensawad, Advocacy and Government Relations Manager Covestro (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

"Thanks for the wonderful organisation of the New Member Orientation at the Sukhothai Hotel. It was a very innovative idea to have included a speed networking session for individual members, as this went a long way in making the event really fruitful. This was one of the most memorable orientations I have attended."

Laxmi Narayana Acharya, Director CNC Design Co., Ltd.

“I have to thank you for inviting me! The New Member and Representative Orientation event was excellent and well-organised in one of Bangkok’s best locations. At first, I had some doubt regarding the effectiveness of three-minute speed networking meetings but having participated I was definitely convinced to the contrary.

Congratulations to your team and please continue these meetings!”

Tobias Wimmer, Managing Director Winterhalter Asia Co., Ltd.

http://thailand.ahk.de

40 TRADE FAIRS

SPIELWARENMESSE 2016: 360° TOYS AND A WHOLE LOT MORE! 27 January-1 February 2016, Nuremberg

Spielwarenmesse 2016, the world’s largest trade fair for toys and leisure products, is scheduled to take place Germany for the sixty-seventh time, from 27 January to 1 February 2016 in Nuremberg.

In 2016, the fair will present 75,000 brand-new toys from the following 12 product groups: Baby and infant articles Fashionable and trendy articles Dolls and soft toys Games, books, learning and experimenting multimedia School articles, stationery, creative design Festive articles, carnival, fireworks Model construction, hobbies Technical toys, educational toys, action toys Model railways and accessories Sports, leisure, outdoor activities Wooden toys and craftwork Multi-product group Classic toys, lifestyle and trendy articles through to baby products and fireworks were presented by 2,800 exhibitors – from market leaders to the latest start-ups – will participate in the 2016 event. More than 400 are new exhibitors and many could only be found at the fair.

Spielwarenmesse also offers special interest areas. These areas comprise country pavilions that provide presentation opportunities for many international exhibitors from around a dozen nations. Furthermore, test and inspection institutes are represented in the Testing and Inspection Centre, while the GamesCafé caters for the games community.

Those visitors seeking advance information regarding expected trends in 2016 can visit the TrendGallery where they will find product innovations and new toy trends. Covering more than 1,000 m², the TrendGallery offers visitors the opportunity to be among the first to see the latest products, view live events and participate in trade discussions.

More details about Spielwarenmesse 2016 are available at www.spielwarenmesse.de. For more information or inquiries, contact GTCC’s official representative for Spielwarenmesse in Thailand, Ms. Chonlagorn Loypetch, by telephone at (0)2-670-0600, ext. 4006 or by e-mail at chonlagorn@gtcc.org.

UPDATE 1/2016

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ITB BERLIN 2016: CELEBRATING 50 VERY SUCCESSFUL YEARS It is now 50 years since ITB Berlin, the world's leading travel trade show, was launched and celebrations are under way with a major anniversary campaign with the slogan “From Berlin with Love”. In co-operation with airberlin, 50 ambassadors of ITB Berlin are travelling to 50 destinations around the world to meet 50 representatives, all of whom have interesting, fascinating and unusual stories to tell. The individual visits to places around the world can be followed by visiting www.itb50.com, where each week new stories will be published. All of these encounters will be recorded in a book, to be presented at ITB Berlin 2016.

In order to meet the travel fair’s visionary founder, without whom ITB Berlin would not exist today, there was no need for the event’s current head, Mr. David Ruetz, to travel halfway around the globe. He stayed at home instead. Dr. Manfred Busche, former CEO of Messe Berlin (1987-1999), now lives in Ketzin near Berlin. In 1966, with the introduction of the first international tourism exchange, Dr. Busche paved the way for a success story, one that was “Made in Berlin” and has now spanned 50 years. When it was first launched it hosted nine exhibitors from five countries, and was attended by only 250 trade visitors.

It quickly became the world's leading travel trade show.

The statistics speak for themselves; in 2015, 10,096 companies and organisations from 186 countries exhibited their products and services to 175,000 visitors, who included 115,000 trade visitors.

Here are some short interviews with two people who made ITB Berlin what it is today: How did you come up with the idea of launching ITB? Dr. Manfred Busche: “We thought about the expansion of the exhibition programme in Berlin because we felt something was missing. At first, we thought about a hunting exhibition, but we eliminated that thought quickly due to the fact that it had to do with shooting. Regarding the four-power status in Berlin (at that time) this seemed illusory. Afterwards, we came up with the idea of the travel trade show – which made sense.”

Who was critical of the idea of ITB in the beginning?

Dr. Manfred Busche: “In the beginning, ITB was a difficult subject because it threatened the interests of many. Powerful travel agencies believed that ITB would harm their business because it would mean a shift in the business. Additionally, the hoteliers’ opinions were divided; they took a critical stance towards ITB, as they were against the expansion of the hotel capacity in Berlin. On the other hand, the hoteliers also appreciated the idea of meeting others from the industry to discuss business.”

How do you see the development of ITB in the upcoming years?

Mr. David Ruetz: “In times of the Internet and in the digital age, the longing for personal encounters is increasing. An annual family reunion such as ITB, where you look one another in the eye and shake hands, is an absolute must. Additionally, I believe that ITB can grow in other markets due to the strength of the brand just take a look at ITB Asia. Finally, I think that ITB can offer and develop additional services, such as consulting and training. I also have the vision of extending the collective think tank, consisting of the congress and studies. Ideally, we will become important to the world all year around, not just five days a year.”

ITB Berlin 2016 will take place from Wednesday to Sunday, 9 to 13 March. From Wednesday to Friday, ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only. Parallel with the show, the ITB Berlin Convention – the largest event of its type – will be held from Wednesday, 9 to Saturday, 12 March 2016. More details are available online at www.itb-convention.com.

More details about ITB Berlin are also available at www.itb-berlin.de/en/ For further information, contact GTCC’s official representative for Messe Berlin GmbH in Thailand, Ms. Patamaporn Wasuwat by telephone: +66 (0)2-670-0600, ext. 4010

www.thailand.ahk.de

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HANNOVER MESSE 2016: ‘GET NEW TECHNOLOGY FIRST’ 25-29 April 2016, Hannover

engineering; innovative subcontracting solutions, production engineering and services; and research and development. The United States of America is being honoured as the Partner Country of Hannover Messe 2016.

In recent years Hannover Messe has pioneered the Industry 4.0 era. Rarely has a technological development made such a profound impact so quickly. What previously was a vision is now a reality, ready for use in factories. Hannover Messe 2016 will give this trend further momentum – not only with new technologies, but also with the new business models that such technologies enable.

The next Hannover Messe, the world’s leading trade fair for industrial technology, will be staged from 25 to 29 April 2016 in Hannover, Germany. Integrated Industry – Discover Solutions" will be the lead theme, with the digitization of factories and energy systems as the foremost topic.

Hannover Messe 2015 gave tangible shape to the vision of the "intelligent factory". In the factory of the future, information will be seamlessly exchanged between machines and products, ensuring optimal results and peak efficiency. More than 220,000 trade visitors – 70,000 of whom came from outside Germany – used Hannover Messe to catch up on the latest technologies and make key investment decisions. Some 6,500 companies from 70 countries showcased technologies for tomorrow’s production plants and energy systems during the 2015 event.

The event will feature five parallel shows: Industrial automation; energy; digital factory; industrial supply; and research and technology.

At Hannover Messe 2016, the main emphasis will be placed on the following four topics: Industrial automation and information technology; energy and environmental

More details about Hannover Messe 2016 are available atwww.hannovermesse.de/home.

UPDATE 1/2016

Related news: In 2016, GTCC will organise a “Study trip to Hannover Messe 2016 and Automotive Industry”. For fur ther information, contact GTCC’s official representative for Deutsche Messe in Thailand, Ms. Kamolchanok Nantaburom by telephone at 02-670-0600, ext. 4004, or by e-mail at hannover@gtcc.org.

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INTERZOO 2016: POSITIVE GROWTH TREND CONTINUES 26-29 May 2016, Nuremberg Professionals from the international pet sector will gather once again in Nuremberg from 26 to 29 May 2016 to attend Interzoo, the world’s biggest trade fair for pet supplies.

The initial registration period has already flagged a positive growth trend.

The figures from the previous Interzoo held in 2014 – around 1,700 exhibitors and more than 37,000 trade visitors from 128 countries – prove that in more than 60 years, Interzoo has evolved into the biggest international trade fair for pet supplies. In addition to the traditional segments for dogs, cats, small mammals, birds, aquariums and terrariums, the exhibition covers areas such as equestrian sports, pet food technology, shop fitting and IT systems, among others.

Visitors to the fair are exclusively industry professionals who are generally decisionmakers from the trade, drugstores, building and garden centres, food retailers, online stores and pet grooming salons. Pharmacists and veterinarians are also represented.

Although the international visitor contingent has risen to 69 per cent, Interzoo continues to be the pet trade fair with the largest number of visitors from Germany (2014: 11,643) and the German-speaking region.

For more details, visit the official Interzoo website at www.interzoo.com.

For exhibitor/visitor inquiries, please contact GTCC’s official representative for NürnbergMesse, Mr. Nupat Khusribanchong at tel: +66 2 670 0600, ext. 3003; or e-mail: nuernberg@gtcc.org.

www.thailand.ahk.de

44 TRADE FAIRS

IFAT 2016: ‘THE WORLD’S LEADING ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY TRADE FAIR’ 30 May-3 June 2016, Munich IFAT events present the world’s most extensive display of innovations and solutions in the field of environmental technology. Climate change, rising raw material prices, an increasing number of mega-cities and advancing industrialisation in emerging countries – all are boosting demand for products and services that address environmental and climate challenges. IFAT, the world's leading trade fair for water, sewage, waste and raw materials management trade show, identifies strategies and applications for using resources in intelligent cycles in order to preserve those resources for the long term.

In 2016, the world’s biggest environmental technology trade fair will again be taking up all the available exhibition halls and a part of the open air site at Messe München, Munich, from 30 May to 3 June 2016.

With a total of 135,288 visitors from 168 countries, IFAT 2014 set new records, including the highest proportion of visitors from abroad in the history of the event. A total of 3,081 exhibitors from 59

UPDATE 1/2016

countries presented innovations and trends in the environmental technology sector at IFAT 2014 between 5 and 9 May was. The event covered 230,000 m2 of exhibition space too, which was also a new record for international participation at 44 percent.

This extremely positive response from the exhibitors not only highlights the high status enjoyed by IFAT within the sector, it also bears witness to the ongoing immense potential that there is in the environmental technology sector. All of which holds great promise for the participants at the upcoming IFAT in 2016.

More details about IFAT 2016 are available at www.ifat.de. For exhibitor/visitor inquiries or more information, contact GTCC’s representative , Ms. Kamolchanok Nantaburom, the official representative of Messe Muenchen in Thailand, at +66 (0)2-670-0600, ext. 4004 or by e-mail to muenchen@gtcc.org.