UPDATE Q2/2024: Pharmaceutical Industry and Trends

PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY AND TRENDS

THE MAGAZINE OF THE GERMAN-THAI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Dear readers,

The pharmaceutical sector is one of Thailand’s leading industries. The market value of pharmaceuticals and medical products in Thailand stands at approximately THB 2.5 trillion, with an annual growth rate of 5%, according to the Nation Thailand’s report in 2024.

The growth of the pharmaceutical industry in Thailand is projected to continue to be strong due to ongoing rise in chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and ageing population, the extension of universal health coverage scheme, an increasing number of foreign patients seeking treatments in Thai hospitals, and rising global concerns with wellness and preventative healthcare, according to Krungsri Research. The wellness tourism generated around 40 billion baht in revenue for the country in 2023.

In Thailand, 65% of the medicines available in the market are imported, according to the Federation of Thai Industries' Pharmaceuticals Industry Club. In 2021, imports markedly increased for COVID-19 vaccines with a historic high of THB 116 billion and the vaccines had a 32.5% share of all imports of pharmaceutical goods, mainly from China, Germany and the U.S. In 2022, Germany was the most important supplier of pharmaceuticals, accounting for 16.5% or USD 636 million from the total pharmaceutical imports of USD 3,847 million, especially for the COVID-19 vaccines.

Thailand’s pharmaceutical sector’s growth and position has been strengthened by the Thai government’s ongoing support to the medical industry which has been indicated as one of the new engines of growth among the 10 S-curve industries since 2018. In addition, wellness and medical tourism is included in Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s vision of “Ignite Thailand” to develop the country into global hubs in eight areas. The government plans to propel Thailand to become a global holistic healthcare center.

The new 5-year promotion investment strategy (2023 - 2027) from the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) marks the pharmaceutical industry as a focus area. Investors in the pharmaceutical industry have been offered substantial support through a range of tax and non-tax incentives, including up to 8 years of corporate income tax exemptions.

I trust you will enjoy informative and interesting reads. Dr. Roland Wein

MEMBERS’

Modern medicines face challenges

Thomas Hundt

PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY IN THAILAND - KEY POINTS:

• Demand growing: Ageing population and increasing incomes are fueling the demand for pharmaceuticals.

• Generics dominance: The industry primarily emphasises generic drugs, while innovative medications receive limited reimbursement.

• R&D and investment limited: There is minimal in-house research and development, along with limited investment in the sector.

Thailand has the second-largest pharmaceutical market in Southeast Asia after Indonesia, and sales are expected to increase further. According to the market research company BMI, sales are set to rise from 3.8 billion US dollars (US$) in 2022 to 9.4 billion in 2032. An ageing population, higher incomes and the expansion of healthcare are expected to drive growth.

In 2022, Thailand’s pharmaceutical expenditure per capita was only US$ 53 for its 72 million inhabitants per year. Consequently, the market for costly, innovative drugs remains relatively modest. Therefore, industry representatives emphasise that introducing new medications necessitates thorough market and competition analysis.

ORIGINAL PREPARATIONS MAINLY FOR CIVIL SERVANTS AND HIGH EARNERS

Approximately 4.8 million public servants and their families can benefit from costly imported original medications. These medicines are obtained by public hospitals through the Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme (CSMBS) and distributed to the families of civil servants. The Ministry of Finance oversees these public health expenditures and supervises the procurement of medications under the CSMBS.

On the other hand, for the nearly 13 million private sector employees covered by statutory health insurance, reimbursements for medications, especially original preparations, are capped. Consequently, generics are here predominantly prescribed and reimbursed within this group.

The tax-funded healthcare system, known as the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS), extends care to the 47 million uninsured Thai citizens. Medication administration under the UCS adheres to the National List of Essential Medicines, formulated by the Ministry of Health and the National Health Security Office (NHSO) in consultation with medical experts and pharmaceutical companies. This list predominantly comprises generics.

Additionally, this committee establishes average prices that effectively serve as upper limits for public healthcare organisations when procuring medications. The NHSO may only under exceptional circumstances engage in direct negotiations with pharmaceutical suppliers and procure patented medications.

“ Foreign pharmaceutical manufacturers no longer produce locally and are hardly involved in research and development because the market for innovative medicines is too small.”

PRIVATE HOSPITALS ARE ALSO KEY CUSTOMERS

Private healthcare facilities play a significant role, accounting for approximately a tenth of the demand for medicines in terms of value. Within these facilities, in-house pharmacies sell also imported original preparations at premium prices to both affluent domestic and foreign patients. Foreign medicine suppliers approaching private hospitals should be mindful that the decision-making process for purchasing pharmaceuticals undergoes careful evaluation by both medical professionals and purchasing departments.

Thailand also offers opportunities for clinical testing of new drugs. Competent medical faculties, schools, and well-trained doctors are readily available for this purpose. However, the Health and Pharma Working Group of the European Association for Business and Commerce expresses concern about patent protection for newly developed drugs. An improved legal framework could encourage manufacturers to conduct more extensive clinical trials.

GERMANY IS THE LEADING PHARMACEUTICALS SUPPLIER

Total imports of pharmaceutical products barely grew from 2012 to 2020. But in 2021 and 2022, imports of vaccines briefly boosted total imports.

16.5 % of pharmaceutical imports come from Germany

In 2022, Germany even was the most important supplier of pharmaceuticals, especially COVID vaccines.

INDUSTRY FOCUS ON LOCAL MARKET AND AIMS TO REDUCE IMPORTS

Over 80 per cent of pharmaceutical production, which amounted to around 48,000 tonnes in 2022, remains in Thailand. The exports of pharmaceutical products stagnate. The shipments of medicinal and pharmaceutical products (SITC section 54) were around USD 650 million per year from 2018 to 2022.

At the end of 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) counted a total of 151 pharmaceutical facilities that complied with the Good Manufacturing Practice standards of the pharmaceutical industry (PIC/S GMP), but only 12 of these facilities can manufacture active ingredients.

An important drug manufacturer is the state-owned Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO). The GPO, which belongs to the Ministry of Health, aims to reduce dependency on foreign originator drugs by producing or importing generics. The same mission is shared by pharmaceutical companies such as Siam Bioscience and the Defence Pharmaceutical Factory.

PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY AND TRENDS

research and development because the market for innovative medicines is too small.

More than 20 international pharmaceutical companies and the Swiss trading companies Zuellig Pharma and DKSH are represented through their sales offices. They have joined forces in the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association. PReMA promotes understanding the benefits of intellectual property rights in the development of innovative medicines.

TRANSPARENT APPROVAL PROCESS

The drug approval process overseen by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is widely acknowledged for its transparency and efficiency. Adhering to international guidelines set forth by the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use, the FDA ensures standards are met.

Moreover, the FDA upholds the international pharmacy standard of Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) nationwide, stipulating that only licensed pharmacists are authorised to dispense prescription medications.

With approximately 22,000 pharmacies across the country, accounting for roughly 40 percent of total pharmaceutical sales, their majority of transactions involve overthe-counter medications (OTC). They sell only 10 percent of the innovative medicines in the country. Notably, there's a growing trend towards pharmacies franchises and pharmaceutical chains like Boots, Watson, Pure Pharmacy, and Fascino. While online sales have yet to gain traction due to legal constraints, traditional pharmacy outlets remain the primary channel for OTC medicines and

healthcare items.

The Board of Investment (BOI) promotes investment in the pharmaceutical industry. The BOI exempts qualified investment projects from corporation tax and grants other privileges to investing companies, albeit recently with limited success in the pharma sector.

Foreign pharmaceutical manufacturers no longer produce locally and are hardly involved in

Contact details:

Thomas Hundt

Director Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos

GERMANY TRADE & INVEST

www.gtai.com

Innovating health: The rise of Thailand's pharmaceutical industry

Thailand Board of Investment (BOI)

The healthcare sector in Thailand has long been a beacon of excellence in the region. With a robust infrastructure, an international reputation for highly-skilled medical professionals, and services that meet global standards, Thailand has solidified its status as the medical hub of Asia. The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic further showcased Thailand's exceptional healthcare system, highlighting its preparedness for health crises and underlining the critical role of the medical industry in both managing the pandemic and revitalising the economy under a new global context.

One of the industries at the forefront of Thailand's healthcare achievements is the pharmaceutical sector. This industry has become a focus for development, driven by an increasing rate of illnesses post-pandemic, improved access to medications through the universal healthcare scheme, and the resurgence of health tourism. The demand for pharmaceuticals continues to rise, further emphasised by the ageing population in

Thailand, which accounted for around 19.7% in 2023 and is expected to reach 26.9% in 2030. This demographic shift underscores the growing importance of pharmaceuticals in addressing the health needs of an ageing society.

According to Krungsri Research, the value of the pharmaceutical market in 2023 was expected to grow by 5.5-6.0%, with growth projected to continue through 2025 at an average of 5.0-6.0% per year. This positive trend highlights the vibrant potential of the Thai market.

Beyond conventional medicine, Thailand has made significant strides in developing biopharmaceuticals. The market has experienced remarkable growth, with local researchers and companies developing highly efficient and adaptable innovative products. The COVID-19 outbreak was a particular moment of triumph, as Thai researchers developed various treatments, including the ChulaCov19 mRNA-based

vaccine, Chula-Baiya protein subunit vaccine, and CoviTRAP nasal spray, showcasing the nation's capability in innovative healthcare solutions.

To bolster the pharmaceutical ecosystem, Thailand has established numerous support facilities, such as the National Biopharmaceutical Facility and the National Biobank of Thailand. These initiatives are aimed at enhancing Thai expertise in research and development and scaling up production to meet market demands.

The Eastern Economic Corridor of Medicine (EECmd) has also been established as a medical valley and hub for genomic medicine. This targeted zone focuses on medical research and is expected to house a digital hospital, wellness health resort, senior living facilities, and a sports complex, offering comprehensive services to meet global health demands.

THE GOVERNMENT’S SUPPORTING POLICY

The government has identified the medical industry as one of the new engines of growth among the 10 S-curve industries since 2018, emphasising its role in transforming Thailand's economy. The new 5-year promotion investment strategy (2023 - 2027) from the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) still marks the pharmaceutical industry as an area of focus. Investors in the pharmaceutical industry have been offered substantial support through a range of tax and non-tax incentives, including up to 8 years of corporate income tax exemptions.

“ The demand for pharmaceuticals continues to rise, further emphasised by the ageing population in Thailand, which accounted for around 19.7% in 2023 and is expected to reach 26.9% in 2030.”

Eligible activities under this new scheme include biotechnology, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and medicines, along with incentives for medical devices and medical services. This comprehensive support enhances Thailand's appeal as a destination for the pharmaceutical industry and strengthens the overall ecosystem supporting its vision to become a genuine medical hub.

Tax:

- Exemption of import duties on machinery

- Exemption of import duties on raw materials used in production for export

- Exemption of import duties on raw materials used in R&D

Non-tax:

- Permit to own land

- Permit to bring into the Kingdom skilled workers and experts to work in investment promoted activities

- Permit for foreign nationals to enter the Kingdom for the purpose of studying investment opportunities

- Permit to take out or remit money abroad in foreign currency

* No ceiling amount of Corporate Income Tax exemption

Additionally, the BOI supports investment in the Yothi Medical Innovation District (YMID), offering a 50% corporate income tax reduction for five years on top of the standard package for eligible projects that collaborate with educational and medical institutions within the innovation district.

These ambitious actions by Thailand to develop its pharmaceutical industry and supply chain demonstrate the country's readiness to optimise opportunities in this exciting growth sector. With a clear vision and strategic support, Thailand stands ready to welcome new investments, offering a compelling proposition to investors looking to engage with an innovative and growing pharmaceutical market. The rise of Thailand's pharmaceutical industry is not just a testament to its resilience and innovation but also an invitation to the world to participate in shaping the future of global healthcare.

Contact details:

+66 2 553 8111

head@boi.go.th

www.boi.go.th

Table 1: Eligible activities for investment promotion related to pharmaceutical sector

Additional information on support facilities to bolster Thailand’s pharmaceutical ecosystem

NATIONAL BIOPHARMACEUTICAL FACILITY

The National Biopharmaceutical Facility (NBF) is Thailand’s first state-owned contract manufacturing facility for the production of clinical research grade biopharmaceuticals, with its vision of being “a hub for ASEAN/regional biopharmaceutical production”.

+66 2 470 7495

info.nbf@nbf.kmutt.ac.th https://nbf.kmutt.ac.th

NATIONAL BIOBANK OF THAILAND

National Biobank of Thailand (NBT) supports infrastructure for the conservation of the biological resources of Thailand. It carries out research using advanced technology on the value and potential for development of biological resources from the genetic to the ecosystem level. Biomaterials are collected and stored at Biobank which is a vital platform to enhance the development of bioindustry and biotechnology in Thailand.

+66 2 564 7000 ext. 71473-71477 nbt.store@nstda.or.th

https://www.nationalbiobank.in.th/en

EASTERN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR OF MEDICINE (EECMD)

EECmd is one of the promotional zones in the EEC, located in Bang Lamung District, Chonburi, covering the area of 556 rai (about 220 acre). EECmd is projected to be Thailand's first medical hub, where the area would offer complete health care and medical services. EECmd aims to elevate Thailand's health services and equip the country for the expansion of its ageing population.

+66 2 033 8000 saraban@eeco.or.th https://www.eeco.or.th/en

YOTHI MEDICAL INNOVATION DISTRICT (YMID)

The Yothi Medical Innovation District, driven by the National Innovation Agency (NIA), comprises of the medical institute, education institute, research units, residences, restaurants, cafe and co-working spaces for exchanging ideas and innovations. Covering an area of 1.7 million square meters, YMID provides one stop services for the medical industry such as funding, supporting startups, collaborative projects, consulting, international services, providing database for research and investments.

+66 2 017 5555 ext. 213 ymidoffice@gmail.com https://ymid.or.th/en

A kingdom for more children: Building a more

family-friendly

and sustainable Thai society

Paul Lidke and Natascha Braumann

Thailand is become more like Japan every year – and that’s not necessarily a good thing. Japan is the oldest society in the world, with 29% of the population aged over 65 and 10% over 80 years1. Last year, Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida publicly stated that his country is “on the brink of not being able to function as a society”2 because of its demographic decline. Thailand is rapidly following in these footsteps, raising concerns for the country’s economic prospects and the future of the social care system.

Thailand is on its way to becoming a ‘super-aged society’ – a term referring to those countries where more than a fifth of the population is over 60. From now onwards,

Total Fertility Rate Thailand since 1960

more people will be leaving the workforce than entering it. Thailand currently has a ratio of working-age people to elderly of 3.4 – meaning each older person is supported by more than 3 workers. By 2040, which is only 16 years away, it is forecast to be 1.73 –and it is difficult to see how Thailand will sustain its economy or support its elderly in that scenario. In 2020, the highly respected journal The Lancet estimated that Thailand’s population would continue growing to 72 million in 2028, and would then shrink by more than half, to only 35 million by the end of the century4. Turns out, even these dire predictions were too optimistic: Thailand has already started to shrink5

There are two key drivers to this demographic shift. Firstly, Thais are living longer than ever before – a wonderful success to be celebrated. Simultaneously, Thais are having fewer

children than ever before. In the 1960s, the average woman had about 6 children – this dropped to the second lowest fertility rate in Southeast Asia at 1.16 children in 2022 (except in Yala province, where the average is 2.27 children)6. And so Thailand’s society is ageing quickly.

POLICY OPTIONS TO SUPPORT FAMILIES

Senior cabinet ministers have taken note and have initiated policies to reverse the declining birth rates. But: which policies really work to boost fertility? What can Thailand learn from other countries who have grappled with this question? Economist Impact has analysed this in Fertility policy and practice: A toolkit for the Asia-Pacific region*. Based on evidence from around the world, this report assesses different policy

1 The Japan Times, 19 September 2022; https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/09/19/national/japansgraying-population/

2 BBC, 23 January 2023; https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64373950

3 https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/thailand-bids-to-avert-population-crisis-as-birth-rate-crashes

4 Vollset, S. E et al (2020). Fertility, mortality, migration, and population scenarios for 195 countries and territories from 2017 to 2100. The Lancet, 396(10258).

5 https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40023947

6 https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/declining-birthrates-will-see-thailand-s-population-drop-byhalf-in-next-60-years-experts

interventions to create family-friendly societies that support those wanting to build a family:

• Childcare: Evidence shows that both increasing childcare availability and subsidising childcare costs is associated with increases in birth rates as they help facilitate family life alongside working careers, and reduce social inequalities.

“ Demographic change is a critical and urgent issue for Thailand. It can only be addressed if all stakeholders join hands and work towards a common goal: Shaping a family-friendly society in which couples feel confident to choose to have children.”

• Workplace policies: Whether it’s improving maternity/paternity leave, offering flexible work like shortened or part-time hours, or introducing unpaid job-protected leave, there are many ways that a workplace can become more accommodating to families. Studies have shown that expansions of parental leave schemes have a positive (lasting and substantive) effect in increasing fertility, especially improving maternity leave.

• Financial incentives: This refers to policies such as baby bonuses, tax incentives, or monthly cash transfers. Studies show that transfers given for new births, or on a regular basis throughout a child’s life, can help increase fertility rates, primarily amongst lower income households. Financial measures were recommended for countries like Thailand, where rapid urbanisation and cost of living increases are squeezing young couples’ ability to support a family.

• Assisted reproduction: Not all couple who want to have a child can fulfill this wish on their own. Improved availability and accessibility of treatment options such as IVF have a positive effect on fertility rates.7

Clearly, there is no single magic solution to the problem of low birth rates. Building a family friendly society for Thailand will require efforts across policy areas. There is much to do!

THE ROLE OF EMPLOYERS

Fortunately, policy makers don’t have to do everything alone. Employers are critical to making a society family friendly. We want to do our part, so Merck is rolling out a fertility benefit scheme, to enable all our 66,000 employees globally to access fertility treatment if they need it to build their family. Other companies are also exploring ways to support family-building among their employees – and more of these efforts are needed.

Demographic change is a critical and urgent issue for Thailand. It can only be addressed if all stakeholders join hands and work towards a common goal: Shaping a family-friendly society in which couples feel confident to choose to have children. Where their desire for a family is not held back by the daily struggles of careers, cost-of-living or medical issues. That is the kind of society we all want to live in – for a bright and sustainable future for Thailand.

7Economist Impact: Fertility policy and practice: A toolkit for the Asia-Pacific region, 2023.

* Fertility Policy Toolkit, designed by Economist Impact and supported by Merck, brings together evidence from around the world and analyses the effectiveness of different policy measures in addressing falling fertility rates.

Fertility Counts is a global initiative with input from academia, private sector, and public sector, looking at the social, economic, and societal impacts of declining fertility rates and asking “what do we do about it?” For information, analysis, and data, visit www.fertilitycounts.com.

Contact details:

Paul Lidke

Managing Director

Merck Thailand

Paul.Lidke@merckgroup.com

Natascha Braumann

Head of Fertility Policy, Government Affairs

Merck Group

Natascha.Braumann@merckgroup.com

Boehringer Ingelheim continues to address unmet healthcare needs

Rodrigo Lau

Boehringer Ingelheim, headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies. The company has been transforming lives in healthcare since 1885 through innovation with the expertise in respiratory diseases, metabolism, immunology, oncology and diseases of the central nervous system. In Thailand, Boehringer Ingelheim has been operating a local office since 1966 and has been a GTCC member since 1968.

For this issue of UPDATE magazine, GTCC is pleased to interview Mr. Rodrigo Lau, General Manager & Head of Human Pharma at Boehringer Ingelheim Thailand on the company’s journey, especially the corporate culture, milestones, lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic, and new products to launch in the near future.

Boehringer Ingelheim has a rich history in the pharmaceutical industry. What are the

key milestones, innovations, and core values that have contributed to the company’s continued success over the years?

Boehringer Ingelheim is a family-owned company and was established 140 years ago in Germany, with a long history of innovative breakthroughs that have continued to serve patients and animals. Our purpose is to transform the lives through generations and innovation is in the DNA of the company. From the early beginnings, Boehringer Ingelheim started its operation as a producer for tartaric acids but through experiments, we became the first to discover large scale production of lactic acids, a very important emulsifier used across the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetics industry. Two years after this discovery, Boehringer patented the manufacturing of lactic acid, and that is when started our long journey to develop breakthrough therapies and serve unmet medical needs of people and animals around the world.

Shortly after establishing our research department in 1917, we have discovered several groundbreaking therapies in respiratory diseases which was the basis for treatments for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in cardiovascular diseases which paved way for treatments such as hypertension, heart attack, stroke. These areas have become our strong heritage products. Boehringer has been creating value through innovations and investing in innovations all the time.

The company has started international expansions in 1948. Boehringer’s first office in Asia was established in 1961, in Japan. We started our operations in Thailand in 1966, nearly 60 years ago through our partner distributor – Zuellig Pharma. We officially established an office in 1971, since then, we have been leveraging all those innovations developed by Boehringer Ingelheim worldwide for our local needs here in Thailand.

How has Boehringer Ingelheim navigated its journey in Thailand?

Thailand has a well-structured health system, with very clear schemes supported by the government authorities. Thailand is also a medical hub of the region. However, as any other country, the health system in Thailand also faced some challenges especially in regards to access to innovations in the context of an aging society.

At Boehringer Ingelheim, we try to understand the government challenges, establishing an open dialogue where we can work together bringing innovations to the country. This allows us to really live our purpose of transforming lives and make our products and innovations available to those that matters most: patients. In Thailand, we have products for both humans and animals, while our human health is the largest part of our business, there are vast opportunities for the animal health business in Thailand where we can further explore.

What are the key factors that have contributed to Boehringer Ingelheim’s success in Thai market?

First is bringing in innovation that addresses our patient’s needs and government priorities in Thailand. As a company with strong heritage in the respiratory, cardiovascular and metabolic areas, we invest in several areas levering our strengths including cardiovascular, renal, metabolic diseases areas as well as exploring new grounds in the space of ILD diseases in Thailand.

The second factor is our partnership with different stakeholders in Thailand. As a pharmaceutical company, we have the innovation, knowledge, and best practices from different markets we operate in. However, the success of one market cannot be directly replicated into another market. Hence, it is important for us to work with our local stakeholders to undercover local insights and provide the best treatments for our patients. To do so, we work with different medical associations, hospitals, external experts, and physicians.

The third factor is our people because they

are the people who work closely with our stakeholders and share with us their under standing of the local markets be it hospitals, patients, and the government. Together, we create or co-create solutions with the right attitude, mindset and the spirit aligning with the purpose of the company towards making more for every life.

This year, Boehringer Ingelheim has been awarded “Global Top Employer” for the fourth year in a row, and we are one of the 17 globally certified companies by the Top Employers Institute. For Thailand, it is the sixth consecutive year of recognition. Havin received this recognition means that we are doing the right things for our people here, fostering a safe environment of diversity, equity, inclusion, while reinforcing the culture of strong cross functional collaboration, agile and customer driven organisation.

How does Boehringer Ingelheim customise its pharmaceutical products and solutions to meet the specific requirements and preferences of customers in different regions, especially in Thailand?

Our products are globally developed with high technology. While we cannot customise products, we can customise the solutions that bring value to our customers and patients in Thailand. To do so, we really need to understand the local needs, market, culture of the market and behavior of our customers and patients.

To gain these insights, we work and engage very closely with our medical and patient associations to fully understand our stakeholder’s perspectives on the diseases, treatments, as well as the challenges they face through our interactions. Through that, we can craft services, projects or initiatives that really meet their needs.

Are there any upcoming product launches or expansions in Boehringer Ingelheim’s pharmaceutical portfolio that you can share with us?

We just launched a new indication for one of our products for the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD), a renal disease in December 2023. This is an important launch for us as CKD is a clear threat for patients affecting the Thai healthcare system and prior to this, there was limited treatment available before.

“ We have a long-term goal in seeking solutions, targeting areas of clear unmet medical needs, where treatment is not yet available […]”

The future is promising for Boehringer-Ingelheim, as we have a long-term perspective and plan in generations, we are consistently investing in R&D in areas with clear unmet needs, being one of the top investing companies in R&D across the industry. In 2022, we reinvested 20% of our sales in R&D, which means approximately €5 billion to explore new molecules/ indications across different therapeutic areas leveraging our existing expertise in CardioRenal-Metabolic disorders, including obesity, and expanding to new frontiers such as mental health, retinal health and different pathways in oncology.

In regard to the CRM diseases, we try to understand the link of one disease with the others. For example, we explored what kind of diseases connected to diabetes and discovered heart failure, chronic kidney disease and obesity are related areas.

How does Boehringer Ingelheim ensure adherence to specific regulations in Thailand's pharmaceutical industry, and its commitment to high-quality standards in its operations and product offerings?

We strictly follow the guidance and practices specified by the Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as well as Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association (PReMA) Code of Conduct.

Internally, we have our own Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which provides clear guidance on what they can do and processes to ensure whatever we do is compliant. We provide trainings to our employees to ensure that they are constantly reminded and aware to follow these processes. We place highest emphasis on this, as our people are the foundation of our decisions and compliance is everyone’s responsibility in our company.

We encourage our employees to have a speak up culture where they can report anonymously about anything they think is not correct. We put in place the committee for investigation and the measures to tackle those things not to happen again. This part of the culture is very important, and it is how we can strengthen our processes.

In terms of product offerings, we have strict quality assurance and control process in place with frequent audits to ensure our quality processes are of the highest standards. We also have post-production quality assurance processes in place to monitor our products as well

as open channels of communication for our customers to report adverse effects for further investigation.

What are noteworthy partnerships or collaborations that have been instrumental in Boehringer Ingelheim’s journey?

As highlighted earlier, collaboration is a critical to bring different stakeholders to achieve common goals and so have several partnerships and initiatives and partnerships for patients and the general population.

We collaborate with the Thai Stroke Society to run the “ANGELs”, a global project that was launched in Thailand to optimise the quality and time of treatment of stroke patients across all stroke centers. For stroke patients, delayed diagnosis and treatment of stroke can lead to death or permanent disability. This is why it’s so important for us to work with hospitals and put the right process in place to ensure that stroke patients can receive treatment once they arrive at the hospitals. Our goal is to ensure patients receive their treatment within 45 minutes. Since the launch of this project, 186 hospitals in Thailand have been registered under this ANGELs.

Beyond optimising the quality of treatment, we also want to raise awareness of stroke among children, as a lot of them live with their family and grandparents, we can motivate them to seek help should their family members exhibit symptoms. Together with teachers, we work with them to produce materials used to teach the students. Globally, we have over 325,000 kids in 6,500 schools in more than 26 countries and we

hope to reach out to 1 million children worldwide. This project is something we have piloted in two schools in Thailand and we’re currently exploring ways on how we can further expand this program to address local needs.

Diabetes is also a major health issue in Thailand, there are at least 300,000 new diabetes patients diagnosed each year. Hence, we’ve collaborated with the Diabetes Association of Thailand to launch the “HealthyDM” project aimed to raise awareness about the connection between diabetes, heart, and kidney diseases as well as share tips on lifestyle changes to manage and prevent diabetes.

How has Boehringer Ingelheim observed the effects of COVID-19 on the industry, and what strategies does the company have in place to adapt to such challenges?

The pandemic has taught us so many lessons, especially one about the importance of collaboration towards common goals. If we look back to those days, we clearly see how everyone prioritised and moved very quickly. Pharma companies were quick to put in the investments and resources to develop vaccines; authorities were active in approving and implementing vaccination programs. This is the same everywhere, in Thailand and globally.

My takeaway is that, as a company especially with the purpose to transform lives of people and patients across generations, we would be even more open to collaborate with different sectors, even other private companies and public institutions to co-create solutions for emerging diseases and bring life forward. When we talk about health, there's no me or you, it's us. At Boehringer we work with unwavering optimism to anticipate and adapt to changes and challenges to come.

What would be the key trend in the pharma industry, probably AI?

Technology will continue to be the trend. In terms of AI, we can consider different ways of using artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical trials such as testing molecules, and the research and development. However, we must acknowledge that there are challenges, limitations, and concerns on AI, especially on the regulatory and ethical front. Once we have answers to the challenges and concerns, I have no doubt that AI will change our lives a lot.

Digital health and applications are also emerging trend, as they can be used to improve and supplement treatment for patients i.e. health tracking apps.

In a competitive landscape, how does Boehringer Ingelheim differentiate itself from other players in the pharmaceutical industry?

As one of the top companies Boehringer has very promising innovation pipelines in different areas. We are leveraging our areas of expertise and exploring new areas with specific focuses. Our strength and uniqueness is that we have a long-term goal in seeking solutions, targeting areas of clear unmet medical needs, where treatment is not yet available, also in search of the areas that we would make the difference to the people’s lives and society.

The second differentiation is our people — the right people in place with the right attitude, the right behaviour, with the right goal of working together as a team, working with stakeholders and understanding the needs of patients and customers.

The final differentiation point is our people’s competency – the three core competencies we believe are very critical are accountability, we want to ensure our people are held accountable in whatever they do, agility, which is not only focused on speed but also how we deal with changes or anticipate change. Finally, intrapreneurship, as we take ownership with the right attitude to make things happen with flawless execution. Our competencies drive our people at Boehringer Ingelheim across the world and in Thailand through our long-term purpose, which is to transform lives for generations. I believe these are our points of differentiation.

Contact details:

Rodrigo Lau

General Manager & Head of Human Pharma

Boehringer Ingelheim Thailand

+66 2 308 8500

webmaster@bkk.boehringeringelheim.com

https://www.boehringer-ingelheim. com

Visit of DIHK CEO Dr. Wansleben and business delegation from Germany

Dr. Martin Wansleben, CEO of German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), and the business delegation from Germany had various meetings with GTCC member companies and high-level officials in Thailand during their visit to Thailand from 18-19 January 2024 as follows.

18 JANUARY: VISITING GTCC OFFICE, MERCEDES-BENZ, COVESTRO AND MERCEDES-BENZ TRAINING CENTER

On the first day, GTCC had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Wansleben and the delegation at our office. Our Executive Director Dr. Roland Wein provided a briefing on GTCC’s members and key activities, while Counsellor Economic and Commercial Affairs of the German Embassy Bangkok Mr. Johannes Kerner and Director Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos of Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI) Mr. Thomas Hundt gave a comprehensive overview of Thailand's political landscape, economic development and German businesses in Thailand.

They further visited Mercedes-Benz Thailand and were welcomed by Managing Director & CEO Mr. Martin Schwenk, with an overview of Mercedes-Benz’s operation and success stories in Thailand. Mercedes-Benz is one of GTCC members and the German-Thai Dual Excellence Education (GTDEE)’s partner companies.

Upon their visit to Covestro (Thailand), they had a meeting with the company’s Managing Director and Site Manager Map Ta Phut Dr. Timo Slawinski and learned about the progress of Covestro’s business in Thailand as a German supplier of premium polymers.

After joining GTCC Business Luncheon “Thailand Economic Outlook 2024” (read more details on the next page), they visited Mercedes-Benz Training Center. Welcomed by MB General Manager National Training Thailand & SEA 1 Mr. Chatchai Jariyaungsanakul, and GTDEE Senior Manager Dr. Kamonsak Suradom, they were introduced to the GTDEE operated by GTCC and witnessed the PAL examination onsite. In the evening, they joined a reception hosted by German ambassador to Thailand, Dr. Ernst Reichel.

19 JANUARY: MEETING WITH B.GRIMM, EECO, AMBASSADOR OF EU IN THAILAND AND SIEMENS

On the second day, Dr. Wansleben and the business delegation from Germany visited B.Grimm, meeting with Dr. Harald Link, Chairman of B.Grimm. B.Grimm, the oldest infrastructure and healthcare company in Thailand, has developed into a multi-business corporation active in the fields of energy, industrial, healthcare, lifestyle, transport and real estate, after doing business in Thailand for more than 145 years.

They extended their visit to the Eastern Economic Corridor Office, meeting Assistant to Secretary General, Dr. Cholachit Vorawangso Virakul and Assistant to Secretary General, Dr. Nusara Satproedprai, Deputy Director Medical and Health Industries Division. The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) lies at the heart of Thailand’s 4.0 development strategy, aimed at restructuring and revitalizing the Thai economy.

This visit has been followed by a luncheon meeting with H.E. David Daly, Ambassador of the European Union to Thailand, and Mr. Petros Sourmelis – Head of Economic and Trade Section, European Union Delegation to Thailand.

They also visited Siemens Thailand Engineering, welcomed by CEO Mr. Tomasz Mazur and Director Lead Competence Excellence (LCE) Mr. Marco Maurer, who presented them an overview of LCE and engineering hub for signaling and electrification.

GTCC Business Luncheon: Thailand Economic Outlook 2024

GTCC welcomed about 110 participants including guests of honor German Ambassador H.E. Dr. Ernst Reichel and the members of a business delegation from Germany at GTCC Business organized on 18 January 2024 at The Sukhothai Bangkok.

GTCC President Mr. Michael Welser gave his welcome remarks and expressed his sincere gratitude on behalf of the GTCC to keynote speaker, Dr. Martin Wansleben, CEO of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) for sharing his valuable insights on “Germany's economic landscape and business ties with ASEAN and Asia-Pacific”.

Dr. Wansleben’s keynote was followed by a very informative discussion on “Industry insights, sustainability, competitiveness and challenges ahead” and live survey results by the following panelists from GTCC member companies.

• Mr. Alexander Donau - Regional Head Asia Pacific at Leschaco Service Ltd.

• Mr. Bjoern Bodenstein - Managing Director of Siemens Healthineers

• Mr. Jan Wittenstein - Director Sales & BD Automotive Technologies, SEA at Schaeffler Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

• Ms. Van Cam Nguyen – General Manager of Hormann (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

• Ms. Waranya Pratumtin - Director of International Sales at Thai Switchboard and Metal Work Co., Ltd.

The discussion was moderated by Mr. Krisana Thiengtham, Deputy Managing Director, Thai Nakorn R.O.P.

Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany visited Thailand

On the occasion of the visit of the Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany H.E. Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Thailand, H.E. Dr. Ernst Reichel, German Ambassador to Thailand, hosted a reception on 25 January 2024. Many guests of honor among them, GTCC President, GTCC Board members, GTCC members and GTCC Executive Director joined the reception which was organised at MOCA Museum of Contemporary Art.

Before the reception, the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade of Thailand organised a discussion for representatives of Thai companies and the German business sector with the participation of our Executive Director. The event took place at the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok.

AHK Regional Meeting APAC

AHK Regional Meeting Asia-Pacific 2024 was organised by GTCC during 31 January – 1 February 2024 at the Anantara Siam, started with welcome remarks by Dr. Volker Treier, Chief Executive of Foreign Trade at DIHK and Member of the Executive Board.

Executive Directors/ Chief Representatives of German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs) in the Asia-Pacific region as well as key DIHK representatives discussed current topics in the region including political initiatives, diversification, trade, FTAs and further collaboration.

GTCC New Members Meet-up

FIRST MEET-UP

GTCC proudly hosted the first New Members Meet-Up of 2024 on 30 January 2024, welcoming representatives from our new member companies including BSI Insurance Broker, Draeger Medical (Thailand) Limited, Lebua Hotels & Resorts, LODEC Metal Trade, Mueba Somboon Automotive Co., Ltd., Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers, SAP Systems, Siemens Limited, and Wuerth Industry Service (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

SECOND MEET-UP

On 26 March 2024 GTCC hosted again our “New Members Meet-Up” with the participation of representatives from new member companies such as JP contagi GmbH, Siam Fuji Industries Co., Ltd., Chulalongkorn University, DSI Laser Service (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Fuchs Lubricants (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Notion (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Herrenknecht (Asia) Ltd., Phoenix Contact (Thailand) Co.,Ltd., Combi Lift Projekt GmbH & Co. KG, and Siam Fuji Industries Co., Ltd.

GTCC AFTERWORK Briefing with L&P

2024 has brought substantial changes to Thai tax legislation and we were pleased to organise this year’s first GTCC AFTERWORK Briefing with Lorenz & Partners (L&P) on 8 February 2024 providing “Update on Personal and Corporate Income Taxation – and strategies to minimise their impact” Thanks Mr. Till Morstadt, Managing Partner at L& P, for giving the useful insights and advice at the event.

GTCC AFTERWORK Networking February

Following the Briefing, GTCC delightfully welcomed more than 100 guests at the networking session. GTCC President Mr. Michael Welser opened the first networking event of 2024 and thanked Venue Partner Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok for arranging the wonderful location and F&B, and for supporting the decent lucky draw prizes and all the guests for joining the event. He also expressed his sincere gratitude to GTCC Premium and Annual partners of 2024 for the continued support.

GTCC Executive Director’s mission in Germany during 19-22 February 2024

MEETING IN BERLIN WITH AMBASSADOR OF THAILAND TO GERMANY

GTCC Executive Director Dr. Roland Wein had a meeting on 19 February 2024 with Ambassador of Thailand to Germany H.E. Nadhavathna Krishnamra at the Royal Thai Embassy in Berlin. They discussed several important topics including the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK), which will take place in New Delhi during 24-26 October 2024.

ASIA FORUM IN BREMEN ON “DEVELOPMENT OF ELECTRIC MOBILITY”

On 23 February 2024, GTCC Executive Director joined the Asia Forum titled “Development of Electric Mobility - Example of China and Thailand" as Keynote Speaker, providing insightful information and perspectives on Thailand’s economic development with a focus on its industrial and production landscape. His keynote speech was followed by informative presentations from Professor Hans-Ulrich Sachs, former board member of the Volkswagen Group, and Mr. Krisda Utamote - President of the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT).

The event was honored by the presence of distinguished guests including H.E. Parnpree Bahidda-Nukara, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand. and H.E. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Thai Ambassador to Germany, H.E. Nadhavathna Krishnamra, and the German Ambassador to Thailand, H.E. Dr. Ernst Reichel.

The Forum was organised by the German Asia Pacific Business Association (OAV), Hochschule Bremen (HSB), IHK for Bremen and Bremerhaven, and Ostasiatischer Verein Bremen e.V. in Bremen.

GTCC Young Professionals Network Evening “Back to the Future”

A dynamic GTCC Young Professionals Network Evening on 29 February 2024 welcomes about 90 people with trailblazers “GTCCYP of 2024” sharing insights and making meaningful connections in the “Back to the future” ambiance of Siam@Siam Bangkok. The participants also enjoyed variety of beers supported by Bavarian Craft among other beverages. GTCC would like to thank all guests, Venue Partner Siam@Siam Bangkok and Beverage Partner Bavarian Craft for joining the first GTCC Young Professionals event of 2024.

GTCC Meets the German Ambassador

One hundred twenty-one GTCC members joined “GTCC Meets the German Ambassador” event which was hosted by H.E. Ambassador Dr. Ernst Reichel at his residence on 5 March 2024.

Following the opening remarks by GTCC President Mr. Michael Welser, German Ambassador Dr. Reichel shared his insights as a diplomat in different postings in Europe, the US and Thailand, during his talk with Khun Saksith Saiyasombut, Thailand Correspondent for CNA.

The event facilitated meaningful exchanges among the Ambassador and GTCC members further enhancing the strong cooperation between the German Embassy and the GTCC.

GTCC AFTERWORK Briefing with Luther

At GTCC AFTERWORK Briefing with Luther on 14 March 2024, “ESG in Thailand” was discussed by Mr. Fabian Lorenz (Partner), Ms. Arunrat Rattanaarun (Attorney-at-Law & Senior Associate), and Mr. Lukas Baumgärtner (Attorney-at-Law (Germany)/ Rechtsanwalt Associate). They provided an overview of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) regulations relevant for businesses in Thailand, while also gave practical advice on how organisations can begin or continue their journey toward ESG compliance and implement efficient and meaningful ESG standards within their business operations in Thailand.

GTCC AFTERWORK Networking March

Following the GTCC AFTERWORK Briefing with Luther, the second #GTCCAFTERWORK of 2024 took place and continued strengthening the German-Thai business community with the participation of 100 guests including GTCC members, partners and friends.

Thank you very much to our Event Partner: Luther for the generous support to GTCC AFTERWORK today and to our Venue Partner Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok for supporting us with this wonderful setting and F&B arrangements.

GTCC Executive Director’s mission in Germany during 11-15 March 2024

VDMA FORUM IN FRANKFURT AM MAIN

In Frankfurt am Main, on 11 March 2024, GTCC Executive Director discussed “The future of European mechanical engineering in the ASEAN countries: Trends, strategies and prospects” along with Executive Directors / representatives from the German Chambers of Commerce (AHKs) in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam at the meeting organised by VDMA. He provided his perspectives and insights into Thailand's business and industry landscape, potential and challenges. The VDMA is the largest network organisation and an important voice for the machinery and equipment manufacturing industry in Germany and Europe.

“ZUKUNFTSTAG MITTELSTAND 2024” IN BERLIN WITH PM THAILAND

On 13 March 2024, GTCC Executive Director joined “Zukunftstag Mittelstand 2024” at Station Berlin, attending the transformation stage in which Thailand’s Prime Minister H.E. Srettha Thavisin was one of the keynote speakers. PM Srettha emphasised that Thailand is open for cooperation with German businesses. He introduced "Ignite Thailand" vision making Thailand a regional hub in 8 future industry sectors.

“Zukunftstag Mittelstand 2024” is a platform for decision makers from the worlds of business and politics to discuss crucial topics for the future of German SMEs. Participants include high-profile representatives of the German federal government and from the business sector.

“LÄNDERAUSSCHUSS THAILAND 2024” & “TALENT POOL ASIA” IN HAMBURG

GTCC Executive Director participated in a meeting “Länderausschuss Thailand 2024” on 14 March 2024 together with German Ambassador to Thailand H.E. Ernst Reichel. He provided an overview of “Thailand's economic development and situation of German companies in Thailand”. The meeting was organised by OAV (German Asia-Pacific Business Association) at the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce.

He also attended a conference on “Talent Pool Asia – Building Bridges to Overcome Skills Shortages in 2024” organised by OAV at the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce. The event aimed to expand the dialogue between Asian and German business leaders with a focus on strategies for effectively using work models to manage Human Resources, thus tackling skills shortages.

MEETING AND RECEPTION OF OAV BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ADVISORY BOARD

GTCC Executive Director joined the meeting and the reception of the OAV Board of Directors and Advisory Board as part of the 101. Ostasiatischen Liebesmahls. The event took place on 15 March 2024 at the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce and the Hamburger Rathaus, respectively.

Thai-German Conference on “Energy Storage Solutions including Hydrogen”

GTCC in cooperation with the eclareon GmbH organised the Thai-German Conference on “Energy Storage Solutions including Hydrogen” at the Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park Hotel on 19 March 2024, with an objective to discuss state-of-the-art technology solutions in the field of energy storage, including hydrogen.

Opening remarks were delivered by Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the German Embassy Bangkok Mr. Johannes Kerner, and GTCC Executive Director Dr. Roland Wein. During the event, we were honored to have Mr. Sarat Prakobchat, Deputy Director-General of the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO), Ministry of Energy of Thailand as a keynote speaker and the participation of leading German experts in the field of energy storage and hydrogen.

Representatives from prominent German companies including ARCA Regler GmbH, BAE Batterien GmbH, CONCEPT GREEN Engineering GmbH & Co.KG, Enstoretech GmbH, H2 Core Systems GmbH, and SFC Energy AG, showcased their advanced technology and innovative solutions. There was also a panel discussion featuring Thai experts from both the private and government sectors including Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT), Office of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), Hydrogen Thailand Club, Thailand Energy Storage Technology Association (TESTA) and Energy Absolute (EA).

The event was organised to strengthen the business relations between Thai and German companies, and within the framework of the German Energy Solutions Initiative supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

Workshop on “Energy Storage Technologies including Hydrogen”

The current state of energy storage and hydrogen technologies in Germany and possible applications in Thailand were discussed at a workshop on “Energy Storage Technologies including Hydrogen” organised on 19 March 2024 by the Climate Department of the German Embassy Bangkok at German Ambassador H.E. Ernst Reichel's residence.

GTCC Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director participated in the workshop which was led by presentations of experts from Germany: Mr. Urban Windelen, Executive Director of BVES – German Energy Storage Systems Association, and Mr. Werner Diwald, CEO of the German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (DWV).

GTCC Business Women Networking “Invest in women”

On 20 March 2024, about 50 female leaders and professionals gathered at "GTCC Business Women Network" event, connecting and addressing "Invest in women: Accelerate progress" to enhance women's rights and share practices to support women. We thank all of the participants for making this event a success, especially our speaker Khun Pahrada (Mameaw) Sapprasert, Partner at 500 Global Thailand; our special guest Khun Usa Lerdsrisuntad, Executive Director of Association for the Promotion of the Status of Women (APSW); our moderator Khun Cristy Aphimmonthol, Managing Director at Coachology; Beverage Partner Serenity Wines Asia; and Venue Partner Intercontinental Bangkok Sukhumvit.

Research day “The Societal Welfare Gains of Stainless Steel Recycling in Thailand”

The research day entitled “The Societal Welfare Gains of Stainless Steel Recycling in Thailand” was hosted on 27 March 2024 at the Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit by Oryx Stainless, this event was co-organised by GTCC with the support of the German Embassy Bangkok. The event also welcomed online guests via Zoom.

It is a joint project between Thai and German scientists for the benefit of excellence in stainless steel circular economy research. It aims to showcase the collaborative research efforts between Thais and Germans with a

focus on Circular Economy, Decarbonisation, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Emission Trading Systems, and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

At the event, Mr. Sirichai Tempoomsuk and Mr. Johan Van Loggenberg, Managing Directors of Oryx Stainless Thailand, delivered welcoming addresses, while Mr. Hans-Ulrich Südbeck, the Chargé d’affaires of the German Embassy Bangkok, provided the opening remarks; and Mr. Roland Mauss, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Oryx Stainless Group, delivered the closing remarks.

The insightful presentations and discussions on stainless steel recycling were given by representatives from Oryx Stainless (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Oryx Stainless Group, the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand, the Eastern Economic Corridor, the Fraunhofer Institute, Fraunhofer IMW, the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), NSTDA, and ErnstAbbe-Hochschule Jena.

GTCC Ordinary General Meeting 2024

GTCC Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) 2024 was conducted on 28 March 2024 at Anantara Siam Bangkok. The meeting was attended by 91 representatives of our German and Thai member companies from various industries. Mr. Hans-Ulrich Südbeck, Chargé d'affaires of the German Embassy in Bangkok, also joined our event as a guest of honor. The election of five Board Members as well as the election of the President were conducted successfully using the Election Runner tool.

GTCC congratulates the newly elected Board Members as well as Mr. Alexander Donau, Regional Head Asia Pacific and Director of the Board, Leschaco (Thailand) Ltd. on his election as GTCC President for a two-year term.

The newly elected Directors of the GTCC Board for 2024/2025 are listed in alphabetic order of the member companies as follows:

• Mr. Enrico Sielaff, Managing Director of gerenga Service (Thailand) Co., Ltd;

• Mr. Martin Liebenow, Tax Director/Head of German Desk of Mazars (Thailand) Ltd;

• Mr. Matthias Hoffrichter, Managing Director of Ruwac Asia Limited;

• Mr. Jan Wittenstein, Head of BD Engine & Transmission Systems, E-Mobility and Chassis Southeast-Asia of Schaeffler Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd; and

• Mr. Krisna Thiengtham, Deputy Managing Director of Thai Nakon R.O.P.

We wish to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to outgoing President Mr. Michael Welser, Managing Director, Powertech 2004 Co., Ltd., for his strong commitment and great contribution to GTCC. Our thanks also go to outgoing Director of the Board, Mr. Steve Loo, Managing Director, Siemens Energy Ltd., for his support to GTCC.

Bradley Williams joins Bayer Thai as Managing Director and leads Pharmaceuticals Division

Bradley Williams has been appointed as Managing Director of Bayer Thai Co., Ltd and Country Division Head of Pharmaceuticals. The appointment takes effect from 1 February 2024. He will be responsible for overseeing overall development and business operations of Bayer in Thailand with a focus on our growing healthcare and agriculture sectors.

Bradley brings over 26 years of proven experience and expertise to this dual leadership position, having served in senior leadership roles throughout his career in the pharmaceutical industry. He started his career in healthcare industry in 1998 and has worked in companies such as Glaxo Wellcome, Novartis, Abbott Laboratories and AbbVie.

Joining Bayer Australia in 2020, Bradley's leadership as Business Unit Head of Specialty Medicine was instrumental in propelling forward the Ophthalmology business ensuring Bayer strengthened their market position as well as achieving significant brand growth. In 2022, Bradley broadened his scope by transitioning to Head of Portfolio, overseeing both the Ophthalmology and Cardiorenal businesses before moving to Thailand. Now, he takes on a new role

as Managing Director of Bayer Thai Co., Ltd and Country Division Head of Pharmaceuticals in Thailand.

Bradley holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree majoring in Marketing from the University of Western Sydney.

ARBURG Thailand joins hands with Thai-German Institute for a strategic partnership

On 25 January 2024, ARBURG Thailand signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Foundation for Industrial Development Thai-German Institute (TGI) for a cooperation project to enhance and utilise the injection moulding capabilities, empowering engineering students, production supervisors, and the R&D team through informative seminars and workshops. ARBURG and TGI will share industry insights, and tailor the training programs to ensure that we meet industry needs and drive growth together.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Mr. Somchai Jakkareen, President of Thai-German Institute, at the head office in Amata City Chonburi Industrial Estate.

He said, “We aim to become a leading organisation in enhancing manufacturing productivity through technology upgrades, automation, and innovation in Industry 4.0. We are excited to partner with ARBURG Thailand, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of plastic injection moulding machines with robotic system and complete turnkey solutions. They are pioneers in Industry 4.0, and we look forward to continue our collaborating with ARBURG”.

Mr. Ruben Sander, Director Operations of ARBURG

ASEAN, said “We believe that TGI stands as one of the leading institutes in effectively training and transferring advanced manufacturing technology to the plastic industry in Thailand. As Thailand’s manufacturing sector moves towards automation and Industry 4.0 to modernise and stay competitive. Easy access to the latest innovation technologies in plastic injection and trusted brand like ARBURG will help Thai businesses to integrate smoothly automation and Industry 4.0. ARBURG not only boosts efficiency but also supports sustainability efforts, ensuring a brighter future for the plastic industry”

Siemens appoints Ross Conlon as new President & CEO for Thailand

Siemens has announced the appointment of Ross Conlon as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of Siemens Limited. He also assumed the responsibilities of Head of Smart Infrastructure, effective 1 January 2024. This appointment follows the retirement of Suwannee Singluedej from the company.

In this role, Ross oversees the company’s businesses in Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos.

With a distinguished career spanning over a decade with Siemens in the ASEAN region, Ross has held various key positions in Smart Infrastructure businesses focusing on building automation. He has strong background in system design, sales and business management, including sales funnel development, partner relationship management, and business strategy development. His leadership has been instrumental in driving robust growth for Siemens' business in the region.

In his new role, Ross brings a wealth of experience and a strong focus on leading with sustainable innovation to rigorously drive future businesses for Siemens in Thailand at all levels across the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization for industries and infrastructures. He will also continue providing his full support to customers, partners, and stakeholders, in achieving sustainability goals in this digital transformation era.

Ross holds a Master of Science (MSc) from the University of Limerick and a Bachelor of Business Studies (BBS) from Limerick IT in Ireland. He is based in Bangkok, Thailand.

Kuene + Nagel launched electric vehicles in Thailand

Kuehne+Nagel announced the launch of the electric vehicles to serve its customers in Thailand.

On 6 March 2024, GTCC Deputy Executive Director Mr. Marius Mehner joined the launch ceremony in the presence of Mr. Siew Loong Wong, President of Kuehne+Nagel Asia Pacific and Mr. Anish Kumar Jha, Managing Director of Kuehne+Nagel Thailand. During the event, Mr. Mehner underscored the importance of decarbonising the transport sectors and the industry as a whole.

Ms. Ratchaya Mangklapan, National Road Logistics Manager in Thailand, said: “The vehicles will be mostly used for pre-carriage to the Bangkok airport. The vehicles will mainly do pick-ups in the provinces of Chonburi and Rayong, where we have the highest customer density. These distances are suitable for the vehicles’ driving range of up to 200km with one charge."

In Thailand, the future looks bright as the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, especially in the metropolitan area of Bangkok, is progressing fast. That’s because the government takes the decarbonisation of transport seriously. In February, it expanded its incentive program to promote the adoption of electric trucks and the local production of EV battery cells. "Such government initiatives have strongly contributed to a higher interest among our customers to improve their carbon footprint,” she added.

On 10 January 2024, GTDEE organised a workshop in preparation of GTCC final examination part 1 for 15 mechatronics students at the Eastern technological college (E.Tech). The students actively engaged in group designs, installations and the robotic control system testing.

The workshop aimed at building students’ competencies of GAP analysis based on the content of the online workshop held on 3 January, such as handling IT systems, deploying software, connecting and utilising peripheral devices, as well as making machine tools, testing and measuring the equipment ready for operational uses and maintaining such tools and equipment.

DIHK CEO and business delegation visited Thailand Workshop for mechatronics students at E.Tech

Dr. Martin Wansleben, CEO of German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), and the business delegation from Germany visited the training center of Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) Limited (MBCC) on 18 January 2024. Mercedes-Benz is one of the GermanThai Dual Excellence Education (GTDEE)’s Partner Companies.

Warmly welcomed by MB General Manager National Training Thailand & SEA 1 Mr. Chatchai Jariyaungsanakul, and GTDEE Senior Manager Dr. Kamonsak Suradom, they were introduced to the GTDEE programme operated by GTCC and witnessed the PAL final examination part 1 (practical examination) in automotive mechatronics organised by GTDEE for the Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) Apprenticeship Programme batch 2022

Handover of AdA International Certificates at Chiangmai Beverage

On 23 January 2024, AdA International (Train the Trainer) Certificates handover ceremony took place at Chiangmai beverage Co., Ltd. A total of 8 certificate recipients comprised trainers from Chiangmai Beverage, a technical teacher from the Faculty of Engineering, RMUTL and an expert from the Welding Institute of Thailand, who passed the AdA Examination in December 2023.

The event was started with welcome remarks by Khun Prapote Keodchareon, Managing Director of Chiangmai Beverage Co., Ltd. and followed by a congratulation speech and the handover of AdA International Certificates by Mr. Marius Mehner, GTCC Deputy Executive Director. Khun Cholawit Sukudom, Director of Knowledge Management and Talent Development of Boon Rawd Brewery Co., Ltd., delivered a thank you speech to close the event.

Monitoring apprentices training for BMW Service Apprentice Program

Between January to February 2024, GTDEE Senior Manager Dr. Kamonsak Suradom and Teachers from GTDEE partner colleges including Don Bosco Technological college, Chitrlada vocational school, Bangkaewfa and Banphai industrial community education college visited 10 BMW dealers. They aimed to monitor the BMW Service Apprentice Program batch 2022 and 2023 that are currently under practical training at the BMW dealers.

Pre-selection Robert Bosch Mechatronics Apprenticeship Programme Batch 2024

On 8 February 24, GTDEE organised a preselection aptitude test for Robert Bosch Mechatronics Apprenticeship Programme batch 2024 at the Mechatronics Department, Thai-Austrian Technical College. Carried out by GTDEE and electrical engineering experts from CIT, KMUTNB, the paperless test focused on mathematics for technicians, logic, analytical skills, teamwork, English for technicians, as well as safety and environmental protection.

Pre-selection aptitude test for BMW Service Apprentice Programme

Between 8 January to 15 February 2024, GTDEE organised a pre-selection aptitude test for the BMW Service Apprentice Programme batch 2024. This pre-selection process focused on automotive technical tasks, mathematics for technician tasks and logical tasks included safety and environmental protection.

Vocational colleges in cooperation with BMW and GTDEE/ GTCC for this batch consist of Chitralada Vocational School, Don Bosco Technological College Bangkok, Eastern Technological College, Bangkaewfa Industrial and Community Education College and Banphai Industrial Community Education College. The number of applicants who are currently studying in Automotive Techniques (Por-wor-chor 3) and achieving more than 2.75 GPA increased about 45% from the number last year.

GTDEE organised PAL final examination part 2 (theoretical and practical) in automotive mechatronics for Mercedes-Benz Thailand Apprenticeship Programme batch 2022 during 6-7 March 2024 at Mercedes-Benz Competence Centre (MBCC).

The Examination Committee comprised experts from German-Thai Chamber of Commerce, the College of Industrial Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB) and the private sector.

Pre-selection Chiangmai Beverage Mechatronics Apprentice Programme PAL final examination part 2 at MBCC

On 15 March 2024, GTDEEorganised a pre-selection aptitude test for Chiangmai Beverage mechatronics apprentice programme mebatch 2024, which took place at the Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna (RMUTL) Tak campus. This preselection process focused on mechatronics technical tasks, mathematics for technician tasks and logical tasks, as well as safety and environmental protection.

This first batch of Chiangmai Beverage mechatronics apprentice programme is under cooperation with the Faculty of Engineering, RMUTL. The applicants study in mechatronics, electrical power and related fields of automation control systems under the criteria of achieving more than 2.75 GPA in por-wor-chor level.

on 19 March 2024, GTDEE organised a training workshop on mechatronics final examination preparation for Robert Bosch Automotive Thailand Mechatronics Apprenticeship Programme batch 2022. The workshop took place at the Thai-Austrian Technical College.

Dr. Kamonsak Suradom, GTDEE Senior Manager, led this workshop on the topic of examination guideline, criteria of examination and electrical equipment based on international standard. Mr. Nathapon Panyaluang, expert from Thai-German Pre-engineering school, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB), led on the topic of precision tools and equipment for mechanic assembling parts in mechatronic systems.

PAL final examination part 2 at BMW Group Thailand Training Center Preparation workshop for GTCC final examination in mechatronics

Between 25 and 29 March 2024, GTDEE organised PAL final examination part 2 (theoretical and practical) in automotive mechatronics for BMW Service Apprentice Program batch 2022. The practical examination during 25-28 March 2024 took place at BMW Group Thailand Training Center, Pathumthani. Theoretical examination on 29 March 2024 took place at GTCC; Bangkaewfa industrial and community education college, Nakorn Pathom, Don Bosco technological college, Bangkok and Welding Institute of Thailand KMUTNB.

The Examination Committee comprised experts from German-Thai Chamber of Commerce, the College of Industrial Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB) and the private sector.

Introducing a young talent from GTDEE alumni

After Mr. Pakpum Playkaew passed the PAL final examinations part 1 and 2 in automotive mechatronics in 2022 and 2023, his accomplishments signify his comprehensive understanding and proficiency in automotive mechatronics. He received the prestigious DIHK-AHK Certificate (German Dual Vocational Education and Training Abroad (A)) in Automotive Mechatronics in February 2024. The certificate serves as a testament to his dedication and competence in the field.

Currently, he is on-the-job-training at Lehrwerkstatt für Mechanik, Basel, Switzerland after his graduation on 30 April 2023 from Chitralada vocational school, which cooperated with BMW Service Apprentice Programme and GTDEE.

Young generation’s perspective on DVET

Mr. Jeerasak Chankrabi graduated from the BMW Service Apprentice Program 2021 in cooperation with Bangkaewfa college and GTDEE. He shared his perspectives on the dual vocational education and training (DVET) as follows.

“I gained a lot of knowledge and experiences in automotive car maintenance. During my time with the programme, I was really impressed by the training in the actual workplace with high technologies under the BMW brand. With the DVET based on German standard, my technical skills and soft skills have been improved through the supervision of GTDEE/ GTCC in cooperation with the BMW Service Apprentice Program and Bangkaewfa college. Nowadays, I am working as a technician full-time at BMW Amorn Prestige Rungsit Branch.

I think, this is the best thing that supports young generation and my career path to make me capable to work with BMW, which is my dream brand. I am now working with the good team and BMW family. I would like to thank GTDEE and GTCC very much for the help and support for the success of DVET in Thailand. I would like to tell the new batch of BMW Service Apprentice Program that this is the best dual vocational education and training in Thailand”, he added.

New GTCC members

up to 31 March 2024

German-Thai Chamber of Commerce warmly welcomes 21 new members

ALPLA Circular Economy & Recycling Asia

Mr. Bernd Wachter

Corporate Director

https://www.alpla.com/en

Other professional, scientific and technical activities n.e.c.

BSI Insurance Broker Limited

Mr. Roland Sensch

Sales Director

Mr. Tom Thomson

CEO

bsi@bsibroker.co.th

https://www.bsibroker.co.th/ Non-life insurance

Chulalongkorn

University

Dr. Ram Piyaket

DowHow Trading UG

Mr. Markus Gabel CEO

office@dowhow-trading.com

https://www.dowhow-trading.com/ Other education n.e.c.

Draeger Medical (Thailand) Limited

Mr. Dhiman Dasgupta

Managing Director

https://www.draeger.com/th_th/Home

Manufacture of medical and dental instruments and supplies

Director of the Office of International Affairs and Global Network

Dr. Pietro Borsano

Deputy Executive Director, Industrial and Global Alliances int.off@chula.ac.th

https://www.chula.ac.th/en/ Higher education

DEPRAG Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.

Mr. Weng Keong Wan

Managing Director

Mr. Alexander Carl Hallmann

Consultant South East Asia admin@deprag.my

https://www.deprag.com/en/index.html

Manufacture of electrical equipment | Manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c. | Repair and installation of machinery and equipment

DOSTOFARM

(Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Mr. Komkrid Trakuljunsang

Commercial Director Asia/Pacific

Mr. Thomas Logemann

CEO

https://dostofarm.com/

Manufacture of prepared feeds for farm animals

DSI Laser Service (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Mr. Stephan Thiemonds

Director Welding Engineering Department

Ms. Thongplew Banpao

General Manager thiemonds@dsilaser.com www.dsilaser.com

Repair and installation of machinery and equipment | Other professional, scientific and technical activities | Other education n.e.c.

Emerhub Consulting (Thailand) Ltd

Ms. Arrissra Limpisthien Director arrissra@emerhub.com

https://emerhub.com/ Legal and accounting activities

JES Architect & Interior Renovation Co., Ltd.

Mr. Sompohn Leelapraphan President

Ms. Paka Kamonrat

Sr. Operation Manager customer@jesinterior.com

https://www.interiorthai.com/ Manufacture of office and shop furniture | Architectural activities

JP contagi GmbH

Mr. Chris Moll

Associate Partner

Mr. Martin Tjan Managing Partner

Martin.Tjan@jp-contagi.com

https://contagi.ch/ Activities of employment placement agencies | Business and other management consultancy activities

Lighthouse Logistics Solutions Company Limited

Mr. Patrick Fassnacht

Executive Director

Ms. Prawadee Wongsrida

Overseas Department Manager

https://www.lls-th.com/

Sea and coastal freight water transport | Freight air transport | Warehousing and support activities for transportation

Mubea Somboon Automotive Co., Ltd.

Mr. Elvis Adrovic

Managing Director

info_msa@mubea.com

https://www.mubea.com/en/home

Manufacture of parts and accessories for motor vehicles

Notion (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Mr. William Hong

Managing Director

www.notionvtec.com

Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment | Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products | Manufacture of parts and accessories for motor vehicles

Oryx Stainless (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Mr. Sirichai Tempoomsuk

Director

Mr. Johan Frederick Van Loggenberg

Director

https://www.oryx.com/en/home/

Manufacture of basic iron and steel and of ferro-alloys

Phoenix Contact (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Mr. Phasit Kaiyoonrawong General Manager

Ms. Rachael Cheah

Sustainability & Branding Executive info@phoenixcontact.co.th

https://www.phoenixcontact.com/en-sg/ Manufacture of electronic components and boards

Qatar Airways

Ms. Pattanee Bavonratanavech Country Manager - Thailand & Myanmar resbkk@th.qatarairways.com https://www.qatarairways.com/ Passenger air transport

Ricoh (Thailand) Limited

Ms. Thanutya Sukkeaw Sales

Ms. Panisara Chutikarnjanadhechathorn Sales Supervisor

http://www.ricoh.co.th

Manufacture of computers and peripheral equipment | Photocopying, document preparation and other specialised office support activities | Repair of computers and peripheral equipment

Mr. Sascha Heylmann

Managing Director

Heylmann Consulting OÜ sascha@heylmann-consulting.com

Siam Fuji Industries Co., Ltd.

Mr. Yoshihiko Seki

Managing Director

Ms. Phenapa Deeprasert Manager

https://www.ficjp.com/en/ Wholesale of chemical products | Wholesale of other intermediate products

The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok

Mr. Robert Wittebrood General Manager

Ms. Wasinee Tungboonsaensin

Director of Sales and Marketing bangkok@westin.com

www.westingrandesukhumvit.com

Hotels and similar accommodation | Event catering activities