UPDATE Q4/2022: Building and Construction Industry

BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Dear readers,

The construction industry is one of the major contributors to the Thai economy, accounting for US$ 42.18 million in 2021, with 60 per cent coming from the public sector and 40 per cent from the private sector, according to the National Economic and Social Development Council.

During the past two years, the construction industry in Thailand was severely interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in temporary shutdowns of several construction sites. The industry has continued to struggle in 2022 as a result of the impacts of the Russian Federation war against the Ukraine as well as steep global oil and commodity costs, which have significantly increased the prices of fuel and building materials.

However, the industry still has great potential for future growth. According to Krungsri Research’s forecast for 2023 and 2024, investment in the construction sector will increase by about 4.5%-5.5% per year. One of the primary drivers is the public sector, for which the Thai government will be providing funding for megaprojects, particularly those connected to the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), such as phase 2 of the transport infrastructure development plan for 2022-2026.

The outlook for private sector investments will also gradually improve with progress on infrastructure projects and broader economic recovery. Several industrial estates have announced new projects, such as “WHA Rayong 36” recently launched by WHA to meet rising demand from the S-curve industries. The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) has reported that it approved a total of 750 new investment projects, with a total value of US$ 11 billion, in the first half of 2022.

That figure was 42 per cent higher than during the same period in 2021.

Sustainability has been increasingly taken into consideration in the construction industry development with rising numbers of “green” buildings in Thailand. The trend of “green” buildings is being driven by the new Building Energy Code (BEC) enforced in 2021, and the higher return on investment when compared with traditional buildings.

Prolific in smart technology and innovations, German construction, engineering and consulting companies find a market in Thailand in demand. For example, EGS-plan provides engineering consultancy for energy-efficient and sustainable buildings and neighbourhoods. BEUMER offers ready solutions for cement plants that will support the Thai cement industry in terms of efficiency and sustainability. Thai BAUER, a subsidiary of the German BAUER Spezialtiefbau GmbH, carries out specialist foundation engineering work. ExYne Asia Technology provides smart technology inside buildings to help combat the pandemic. There are many state-of-the-art German products and services widely known in Thailand’s building and construction industry, to mention just a few.

I trust you will enjoy an interesting and informative read.

UPDATE is published quarterly by the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce (GTCC) and distributed through an electronic platform to members and qualified non-members in Thailand and abroad. It is also available on our website: thailand.ahk.de/en/publications.

Any opinions expressed in articles in this e-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.

For inquiries, please contact: communications@gtcc.org.

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief:

Sorapol Liengboonlertchai Tony

Dr. Roland Wein

Mechatronics Textbook

Mechatronics is the Thai translation of the Fachkunde Mechatronik textbook published by the Europa-Lehrmittel publishing company in German in 2019. The translation has been done by a KMUTNB team of experts.

Mechatronics is geared toward the professional needs of mechatronic technicians. It has all of the necessary materials across all learning domains and courses and it contains content required for Industry 4.0.

Mechatronics is one of Thailand’s most comprehensive mechatronics textbooks which can be used for efficient teaching and learning management, suitable for students both at the vocational level and university level especially those who work in the mechatronics industry. It includes basic and advanced concepts in metal technology, electrical engineering, electronics, and information processing.

If you are interested to purchase the textbook, please fill out an order form and send it to the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce, e-mail: gtdee@gtcc.org. The order form can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/3xT54xS

BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION

Thai construction sector cooling down

BEUMER Group – Your partner for the cement plant of the future

Opening doors to major business success in Asia

Green buildings in Thailand – Only a drop in the ocean?

Sustainability and architectural

UV-C air disinfection in building technology: Smart technology to combat the pandemic and make interior spaces

increasing for green and sustainable

for commercial

Building and construction industry in

CHAMBER ACTIVITIES

TÜV SÜD

Don Bosco Tech ASEAN delegation visits Pathum Thani Brewery Co., Ltd.

Vocational Education Committee meeting held at the Mercedes-Benz Competence Center

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Government and business stakeholders meet to discuss the benefits of seaplanes to Thailand

TÜV SÜD Thailand’s inauguration of its Battery and Automotive Components Testing Centre and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with TAI

New managing partner and co-owner of Skywave Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

holds ground-breaking ceremony for another Pandora factory

CORNER

GTDEE INSIGHT

high-quality

TRADE FAIRS

Thai construction sector cooling down

Thomas Hundt

triggered a construction boom in

with an investment

Afterwards, real growth in the sector flattened out. In the first half of 2022,

construction investments even shrank by 5 per cent compared to the same period last year.

and

Dwellings

Non-dwellings

services

declined (table 1).

Only private investment in housing and other construction services increased in the first half of 2022. Real estate analysts have confirmed the trend and reported that because of the Covid-19 pandemic more people are moving from inner cities to the surrounding areas where more new apartment buildings are being constructed.

Companies are also expanding their warehouses because of supply chain problems and the need of e-commerce companies for additional logistics centres. The 4.2 million m 2 of space in modern logistics centres are well occupied, according to CBRE real estate analysts.

BETTER YEARS AHEAD

The economic outlook is expected to brighten. The Ministry of Finance expects the overall economy to recover in the second half of 2022 and the Bank of Thailand (BoT) has even forecast economic growth of more than 4 per cent for 2023.

The projected recovery will require investment in new buildings and infrastructure, but financial resources are scarce. Companies, households and the State are highly indebted and can hardly afford financing. Rising interest rates and increasing

construction costs are further complicating their planning and calculations.

Large construction companies report that the procurement of building materials accounts for about 60 per cent of their construction costs. Steel, cement and concrete have become significantly more expensive in 2022. Wages are also rising sharply due to the scarce availability of workers.

INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS DELAYED

An action plan of the Ministry of Transport envisages transport projects worth billions of Thai baht from 2019 to 2036 (table 2). Authorities draw up individual plans according to these targets and put the projects out to tender. The Department of Highways and the Expressway Authority of Thailand, for example, are currently having several motorways constructed. The Ministry

of Energy will unveil a new master plan in 2022, which could spur the lukewarm investments in energy facilities.

Government agencies have also set up major rail projects that private operators are executing. Some projects have been delayed because they are under judicial review. Some of the executing consortia have also miscalculated and are looking to restructure their projects.

OVERSUPPLY OF OFFICES AND APARTMENTS

Investment in apartments has tended to decline since the Covid-19 pandemic. Real estate developers are launching fewer projects and are disposing of their stock of unsold apartments. New apartments and houses are being built mainly in the outskirts of the Bangkok metropolitan area , because the trend towards working from home will continue.

The office market is also feeling the impact of the new system of work; demand for offices is stagnating and rents are falling. However, the supply is increasing. About 1.2 million m2 of office space is currently under construction, according to consultancy firm CBRE, and will add to the existing stock of 9.5 million m2

POSITIVE TRENDS IN INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS

Table 2. Selected large projects in Thailand

Project Budget in Status

Project Management million US$ * Agency

Smart City and Business 37,000 Planning

Eastern Economic Corridor Office Hub in Chonburi

Bangkok Metro Orange Line 3,900 Submission of bids for PPP contract

Mass Rapid Transit Authority (Western Extension) of Thailand

Highway Extension Project 2,200 Planning

Expressway Authority of Thailand (Nakhon Nayok – Saraburi Chalong Rat) 105 km

Container Terminal 850 Start of construction 2023

GPC International Terminal Laem Chabang Port Phase III

U-Tapao International Airport 544 Application for financing

Eastern Economic Corridor Office Expansion Project

BDMS Silver and Wellness 400 Planning

Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Residence (BDMS)

Liquid Grid Maptaphut 300 Engineering, Procurement, Gulf MTP LNG Terminal Company Industrial Port III (Phase 1) Construction Contract to Italian Thai Limited

Suvarnabhumi Airport 220 Planning phase Airports of Thailand Public Company East Expansion Limited

One Origin Sanampao office 120 Project launch, completion end 2023 Origin Property, Tokyo Land Asia building in Bangkok

540 megawatt Burapa gas-fired n/a Start of construction 2025

Burapa Power Generation Company power plant Limited

Sources: Press releases and company data. * Average exchange rate in August 2022 1 US$ = 36.0 Baht

Investors developed many industrial sites and built ready-to-occupy factory buildings from 2006 to 2016. The industrial parks are now well-filled. The larger operators, such as Amata, www.thailand.ahk.de

WHA, Rojana Industrial, Nava Nakorn and the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, have announced new projects as they expect new businesses to set up shop.

Thailand offers itself as an alternative location to China. These hopes are being fulfilled. Thailand scores high in international competition and has a large industrial base. The national investment promotion agency, the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), reports that it approved a total of 750 new investment projects with a total value of US$ 11 billion in the first half of 2022. The figure was 42 per cent higher than in the same period in 2021.

SHOPPING CENTRES AND HOTELS SHOULD OVERCOME THE CRISIS

In the Bangkok shopping metropolis more than 7.9 million m 2 of retail space were available in mid-2022, 95 per cent of which is occupied. Another 1.5 million m2 of retail space are either under construction or are planned, according to CBRE.

However, the retail sector is suffering from cooling consumption. The retail stationary sector now has to defend itself against competition from online shopping. Malls and shopping arcades are therefore focusing more on gastronomy and entertainment for locals and foreigners.

Tourists and business travellers have been returning to the “Land of Smiles” in large numbers since Spring 2022. Many hotels and resorts will now have to be renovated or newly rebuilt. However, investors still lack the necessary confidence and capital.

There is also a need to catch up in building technology and construction planning. Energy efficiency, for example, plays a subordinate role. Some clients are rethinking. Electricity prices are rising and the State is increasing the energy requirements for buildings to reduce greenhouse gases.

MANY SMALL BUSINESSES AND FEW CONSTRUCTION GIANTS

The nominal value added of the construction industry in the first half of 2022 was 5 per cent below the previous year's level in priceadjusted terms, and amounted to the

equivalent of US$ 6.5 billion. The industry is currently going through a tough time. Even in the Covid-19 pandemic years of 2020 and 2021 it grew by 1.3 and 2.7 per cent in real terms.

More than 90,000 construction firms were registered at the Department of Business Development as of August 2022. Most of them are micro-enterprises with fewer than 10 employees. Experts and organisations such as the Thai Building Information Model Association are asking the firms to specialise more and modernise their construction

technology. Digital technology should also be used more widely.

The three joint stock companies Italian-Thai Development (ITD), CH Karnchang (CK) and Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction (STEC) are the largest construction groups in the country (table 3). They get involved in large projects and are working with international construction companies. The local construction groups are also active abroad.

Foreign construction companies set up subsidiaries if they see long-term

Table 3. Largest Thai public companies in the construction sector

Name Revenue in 2021 (million US$)

Italian-Thai Development

Sino-Thai Engineering

CH. Karnchang

Nawarat Pattanakan

Uniq Engineering and Construction 344 Power Line Engineering 235 TTCL 201

Christiani & Nielsen (Thai) 194

Syntec Construction 166 Civil Engineering 158

Source: SET

Note: Average exchange rate in 2021 was US$1 = 32.0 Baht.

“ The projected recovery will require investment in new buildings and infrastructure, but financial resources are scarce.”

opportunities for success. Chinese and Japanese construction companies have a local presence. Firstly, because many investors come from both countries and award construction contracts to partner companies they know. On the other hand, they have set up joint ventures with Thai partners to improve their chances of winning contracts.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR WESTERN TECHNOLOGY AND GERMAN KNOW-HOW

German construction, engineering and consulting companies as well as architects are also in demand in Thailand. German architect Ole von Scheeren was in charge of designing the Mahanakhon Tower, Bangkok's tallest building and landmark.

Thai BAUER, a subsidiary of the German BAUER Spezialtiefbau GmbH, carries out specialist foundation engineering work. The branch of the planning and consulting group Dorsch works, among other things, as a project management consultant, supervises projects and prepares documents. The engineering office EGS-Plan in Bangkok develops energy-efficient buildings. There are also sales opportunities in fittings, security systems and interior furnishings, which the Häfele branch, for example, distributes.

NEW LAWS, BUT OFTEN OLD STANDARDS AND CONSTRUCTION PLANS

Thailand passed the Eastern Economic Corridor Act in 2018 and the Public-Private Partnership Act in 2019. Both laws are intended to ensure faster and more transparent approval of

Contact addresses

Name Notes

AHK Thailand

Contact point for German companies

Ministry of Transport Responsible for transport infrastructure and national state-owned enterprises in the transport sector

Department of Highways Department for motorways Expressway Authority of Thailand Responsible for motorways in the Bangkok metropolitan area

Thai Contractors Association Construction Industry Association

Thai Structural Engineers Association Association of Civil Engineers

Thai Building Information Model Association of Structural Data Modelling Association Companies

Thailand Construction News News portal

BCT EXPO Fair for construction machinery and construction 21. to 23.09.22

FacTech Trade fair for the construction of factories 21. to 24.06.23

ConsBuild ASIA Fair for Construction Technology 02. to 4.11.22

Thailand Building Fair Construction fair 30.11.22 to 02.12.22

Portal Thai Government Information on guidelines, announcements, Procurement awarding of public contracts

public-private partnership (PPP) projects. Previously, large PPP projects only went to domestic consortia. Now international firms will be more involved.

The private PPP operators and builders pay attention to the price-performance ratio when awarding contracts to general contractors and subcontractors. European construction technology and execution often serves as a model. Foreign specialists are therefore in demand. However, project planning and construction management change frequently.

The Government Procurement and Supplies Management Act 2017 provides the legal basis for public procurement. However, the law is not implemented optimally in practice, according to international experts and the Thai Court of Audit.

Government agencies are required to publish their tenders on the central website (http://www.gprocurement.go.th). When public authorities tender EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) contracts, domestic construction companies are still more likely to win. International companies should therefore find out at an early stage about future awards if they want to work with potential EPC contractors.

Germany and Thailand have been exchanging information specifically on new developments in the railway sector since 2018 in the German-Thai Railway Association. However, contracts for the railway line from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima in northeast Thailand are negotiated directly between the Thai and Chinese governments on a G2G (government to government) basis.

Contact details:

Thomas Hundt

Director Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos GERMANY TRADE & INVEST www.gtai.com

BEUMER Group – Your partner for the cement plant of the future

Amir Sinai

Concrete is the single most widely-used building material in the world. The core of the concrete value chain is the cement plant. Similar to other energy and labour-intensive industries, cement producers are embracing automation, digitization and sustainability as their main strategic pillars to navigate through disruptive and challenging times. Digital and automation technologies, considered by some as the fourth industrial revolution and referred to as Industry 4.0, have led to massive changes in the way we work, communicate and produce. Where does the Thai cement industry stand today in terms of Industry 4.0 and what developments do we expect in the next years?

The Thai cement industry has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. While demand is rising again in 2022, last year saw demand for cement and building materials decrease by more than 20 per cent. The slump led producers to decrease production by closing mostly older or less efficient production lines. The road the cement industry needs to take is clear – embrace

ever higher levels of automation and digitalization while reducing the dependability on fossil fuels, especially coal, as the main source of energy. Combining these activities will allow the Thai cement industry to catch up with their European peers in terms of efficiency and sustainability, and pave the way for producers to recover from the effects of the pandemic while becoming more resilient to future challenges.

The BEUMER Group believes that cement plants of the future will be required to be more efficient, connected and green to ensure continued operation and competitiveness. This article presents view of the top three trends in the industry.

DIGITALIZATION AND MACHINE CONNECTIVITY

In a networked production plant, all machines and components can be connected with a higher-level control system. Web-enabled user interfaces and visualization software provide operators with the

necessary tools for configuration, monitoring and reporting. With modules and the dashboards, data analytics in the machine processes and prepares all the information that the system provider collects in a clear and understandable manner. Machine data, error messages and information on the operation enable the user to minimize downtimes with parameter optimization, and predictive maintenance and spare part management.

The cement plants in Thailand as well as other South-East Asian countries have yet to embark on the road to digital transformation. The current focus of most

BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION

producers ranges from cost reduction in times of low demand to volume maximization when the market allows. However, BEUMER believes that rapidly changing market requirements and increased competition will force cement plants to digitally transform and implement real-time decisionmaking and problem-solving processes based on data analytics and algorithms.

AUTOMATION

With rising salaries and people's unwillingness to do arduous manual labour, cement plants should minimize their number of workers by further automatizing their production processes, especially in the loading of the cement bags on pallets or trucks. With higher levels of automation, producers can focus on engaging employees in value-added activities.

SUSTAINABILITY AND DECARBONIZATION

Cement production, with 2.8 billion tons of CO2, contributes to approximately 8 per cent of global emissions. The global effort to combat climate change and stricter curbs by Governments on emissions will have a major impact the cement industry. The German cement industry has targeted carbon neutrality by 2050, a trend which surely will be followed in South-East Asia. The inevitable introduction of the carbon tax in Thailand has the potential to disrupt the entire value chain of local producers.

In contrast to other heavy industries, such as steel production, which emit CO2 mostly due to their high energy requirements, emissions in cement production are due to the raw material itself. Limestone, the main raw material in cement production, during the burning process releases up to 600 kg of CO2 per ton of produced cement. In addition, high energy requirements reaching more than 1,400 degrees Celsius in the production process are, in Thailand and other SouthEast Asian countries, currently satisfied by using coal.

Cement plants of the future must drastically reduce emissions, better sooner than later. Cement producers and equipment suppliers are working closely together to develop technologies to make cement "greener". Alternative raw materials or additivities as well as substituting fossil fuels play a key role in emission reduction efforts. In the latter case, the increased use of alternative fuels, such as refuse-derived fuels (RDF) produced from various types of waste such as municipal solid waste (MSW), industrial waste or commercial waste, is a visible trend in Thailand. However, while in countries such as Germany, 70 per cent of the plants’ energy demand is covered by alternative fuel, the coal substitution rate in the Thai cement industry is equal to, or under 30 per cent.

However, the management of waste and the availability of alternative fuels varies by region and is a critical factor in Thailand.

Effective waste management of municipalities plays a direct role in the availably and quality of alternative fuels available for the cement plants. While the technology to handle and process RDF and other alternative fuels is available, factories face supply bottle necks in terms of quantity and quality.

New innovations in the carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies create hope that significant CO2 emission reductions can be achieved. CCUS technologies capture CO2 from industrial processes to be either reused, for example for a variety of chemicals and fuels or to be stored in long-term facilities. Scientists are optimistic that new CO2 capture technologies for cement plants can cut emissions by 90 per cent.

Although there is no standardized solution or formula to pave the way for the cement plant of the future, there is no doubt that digitalization, automation and sustainability have evolved from fashionable terms to value and efficiency generating tools. Here, the BEUMER Group has been a reliable partner during the past 23 years in Thailand supporting the cement industry in realizing their visions for the future.

Contact details:

Amir Sinai

Managing Director

BEUMER Group (Thailand) Co. Ltd. +66 2 731 7190 th.customer.support@beumergroup.com www.beumergroup.com

“

With rising salaries and people's unwillingness to do arduous manual labour, cement plants should minimize their number of workers by further automatizing their production processes…”

Opening doors to major business success in Asia

Hendrik Schwartz

The world would not have evolved into what it is today without the architectural visions of daring pioneers. Hörmann intensifies collaboration with architects, and the company has a department for architecture consultation. Asia is the promised continent for global cutting-edge architecture. Unabated economic growth over decades has resulted in non-stop construction, revealing demanding architecture as an important feature of marketing competition between metropolises.

In this interesting interview Hendrik Schwartz, Sales Director of Hörmann APAC provides a detailed insight into the particularities of business relationships in Thailand and Asia.

HÖRMANN ARCHITECTS' PROGRAMME

In ASEAN and Thailand, architects and planners play a role as service partners. They adapt to the Asian tastes and market to be successful here.

To meet current customer requirements, architects and planners must always stay on top of state-of-art technology and have profound product knowledge. Constant innovations, further developments, changing

legal frameworks and wide product ranges can unnerve architects. They combine several roles into one. On the one hand, they are idea providers for Hörmann, thanks to their practical experience; on the other hand, they are the professional, cost-conscious and creative heads. This is why it is important for Hörmann to contact them as early as possible in a project and support them with our technical and production expertise.

CAN ASEAN BUILDING OWNERS BE COMPARED TO EUROPEAN ONES?

The Asian countries like Vietnam and Thailand are planning, developing and building projects on a large scale – all in

record time. This involves hundreds of hectares of urban planning, extensive residential construction, infrastructure and tourism projects, public buildings...a true paradise for architects.

In ASEAN countries everything is faster, larger. However, little value is attached to sustainability and durability. Buildingowner investors plan with maximum payback periods of three to five years. As a door supplier, you have to make fast decisions, in addition to being flexible. Signing a contract does not necessarily mean that it will be fulfilled – instead, this is seen as the basis for business down the road. Very often, external influences come into play.

HOW ARE WARRANTIES REGULATED IN ASEAN?

Each country has its own legal system and own warranty law. In many Asian countries, there is only a minimal understanding for warranties, and claims are generally low. By contrast, Japanese warranty law and understanding for quality are much more prominent than in Germany. We learn from our Japanese customers, and Hörmann strives to give the best product that will last for a very long time.

WHAT DIFFERENCES ARE THERE IN STANDARDS, FOR EXAMPLE THOSE RELATED TO FIRE PROTECTION?

In Asia there are not really uniform standards for fire protection. There are countries without their own standards and the “British standards” apply. On the other hand, China has a very progressive fire protection standard. All fire-rated doors are fitted with microchips that contain details of all related technical data, the manufacturer and the installation location. The true challenge lies in universal application of standards and the monitoring of compliance.

WHAT IS ONE AREA IN ASIA WHERE YOU SEE GOOD DEVELOPMENTS?

Hörmann is Germany's leading garage door producer. We have produced and sold 10 million up-and-over garage doors and more than 3 million sectional garage doors. With growing wealth levels in Asia, this has become one of our focus areas. Our clients have unique cars that need custom-made garage doors. We can cater up to 11-metrewide garage doors.

ABOUT HÖRMANN

The Hörmann Group is Europe’s leading door supplier. More than 6,000 employees in 38 factories in Europe, North America and Asia develop and produce high-quality doors, frames, industrial doors, high-speed doors, operators, loading systems, perimeter protection and storage space systems for private and commercial use.

The Hörmann Group headquarters are located in Steinhagen, near Bielefeld,

“ The Asian countries like Vietnam and Thailand are planning, developing and building projects on a large scale – all in record time. This involves hundreds of hectares of urban planning, extensive residential construction, infrastructure and tourism projects, public buildings.”

Germany. The business is still fourth generation family-run and records an annual turnover of more than 1 billion euros. Today, the variety of doors as well as matching operators, is still a crucial pillar in its product range. In this sector, Hörmann additionally produces highquality entrance and side doors, residential internal doors made of timber and glass as well as sheet steel doors and door frames. With tool sheds and firewood racks made of metal, durable storage space systems are offered for outdoor use.

Hörmann also plans and installs fire protection and multi-function door systems for construction projects. Industrial door systems are a further sector, including sectional doors and rolling shutters as well as high-speed and fire-rated doors – all controlled manually or via an operator and control system. Further, Hörmann supplies complete loading technology solutions comprising dock shelters, seals, dock levellers and loading houses. The product range has also been expanded to include perimeter protection systems that include highsecurity bollards and barriers to protect against unauthorized access to public and private areas.

Hörmann products protect people and assets. The brand stands for appealing design, maximum functionality and durability; it links German quality with innovation and the best service. Hörmann is present with 14 regional sales offices in Germany and more than 100 individual sales locations in more than 40 countries, and is represented by sales partners in more than 50 other countries.

Contact details:

Hendrik Schwartz

Sales Director Asia/Pacific Hormann (Thailand) Co.,Ltd. +66 2 118 2502 info@hormann.co.th hoermann.com

BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Green buildings in Thailand – only a drop in the ocean?

Dr.-Ing. Robert Himmler

Many people in Thailand and South-East Asia know the numbers – the construction industry is responsible for 40 per cent of the worldwide energy consumption, 30 per cent of the resource use and 30 per cent of the carbon emissions. However, buildings not only have a large impact on the environment; they can also have a negative effect on the health and well-being of building occupants – the lack of thermal, visual and acoustic comfort can lead to an unpleasant indoor environment and, in the long term, health issues such as, for example, sick building syndrome. Not only that, but buildings also reflect a country's cultural heritage and lifestyle.

In Thailand, we can observe the impact of decades of a profit-driven construction industry that rates quantity over quality: a mismanaged urban development that prioritizes cars above people, buildings with skyrocketing energy bills and complaints by building occupants about low indoor air quality as well as a lack of thermal comfort to name just a few negative aspects.

Growing concerns about the abovementioned issues have led to the introduction of green buildings on the Thai real estate market. Third-party green building rating systems usually define the green performance of such buildings. The two market leaders in Thailand are LEED (from the United States) and TREES – a localized Thai version of LEED. Both cover dozens of criteria under several main topics such as the environment, water, materials, indoor environment, site, regional priority and innovation.

Other systems have a different emphasis. The international version of the DGNB system (Germany) systematically groups the criteria under the three main pillars of sustainability: environmental; human; and economic quality. The economic quality is mainly covered through a life-cycle cost approach to make sustainable buildings affordable, and is one of the main differences compared to the above-mentioned systems.

On the other hand, the WELL system (from the United States) focuses entirely on

human well-being and health issues, and is therefore often paired with a TREES or LEED certification. Due to the many topics addressed during the certification process, green building certification systems are tending to become more complex and challenging to implement. A system that tries to simplify certification is EDGE, which only focuses on energy and water consumption as well as materials (grey energy). The development of the system was supported by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and is mainly focused on smaller residential buildings, but neglects human health and well-being.

An aspect that green building certification systems have in common is that they are voluntary and require additional consulting from a specialized company or person. The certification process should start during the pre-design phase by conducting a preassessment, defining the certification goals, and shouldbe continued during the design development and tendering. Even during construction and commissioning, the green

New headquarters of Choice Property Co., Ltd. (TREES Gold anticipated).

building consultant stays with the project and conducts regular quality checks regarding the green performance of a project.

After finishing the building, the certification documentation is sent by the green building consultant to the certification body, and – if successful – the building will be granted an award (depending on the certification system: certified, bronze, silver, gold, platinum etc.). This is usually the main motivation for real estate developers who, in the past, tried to build cheap and sell pricy. Such a lack of long-term thinking led to the consequences of unsatisfied

“

costumers and bad reputation. Now they have a tool to increase the quality of their buildings and prove it by a third party. Typically, this comes at a higher price for the additional consulting and construction costs. Depending on the normal construction standard of a developer and the achieved certification level, the additional costs range between 3 per cent and 20 per cent of the baseline construction costs. Research studies conducted by the World Green Building Council show that the additional costs are usually reimbursed within a few years due to lower energy, water and maintenance bills, a lower sickness rate and higher working efficiency of the building occupants.

So far, a total of 214 buildings in Thailand have been certified according to LEED, 75 buildings according to TREES and five buildings according to DGNB as well as one project according to WELL and three buildings according to EDGE. Many more projects are currently in the certification process. Thanks to the green building movement, a lively market for energy efficiency technologies, green products and services has been established.

To tackle the problem of the environmental impact of buildings on a broader basis, the mandatory Building Energy Code (BEC) was introduced in Thailand in 2021. Since then, all new construction projects with a gross floor area greater than 5,000 m2 need to fulfill – during the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) – the pre-defined requirements regarding shading, glazing, thermal insulation, lighting energy efficiency and air-conditioning equipment. However, the gross floor area requirement will be reduced to greater than 2,000 m2 in 2023 to increase coverage of the number of concerned buildings. The minimum requirements regarding energy efficiency are relatively low in order to make it feasible for average-sized

construction projects. So far, more than 5,000 buildings in Thailand have been approved or are currently in the approval process (see the ONEP webpage).

With some exceptions, Thailand's green building movement mainly addresses new buildings, even though all certification systems provide an option for renovation projects. Studies show that the ratio between new and existing buildings is only between 3 per cent and 5 per cent per year. These old buildings typically have higher energy consumption and poor human comfort. In terms of environmental and economic impact, it would be much more environmentallyfriendly and economical to reuse the concrete structure of these buildings and renovate them more sustainably rather than tear them down and rebuild them. Here, awareness on behalf of the building owner and planner is required to leverage this potential with new technologies and renovation strategies.

To sum up, green buildings are currently only a drop in the ocean, with the focus mainly on prestigious new high-rise projects in Bangkok. This becomes especially obvious when considering the huge renovation potential of existing buildings. However, green buildings play an important role when it comes to the development of innovative building concepts, products and technologies.

These new building concepts and technologies might trickle down to "normal" new building projects, and hopefully will also have an impact on the renovation of existing buildings. Yet, while increasing energy costs and user requests for comfortable living and working spaces will lead to a higher demand for sustainable and green buildings – certified or not, the question is will these innovations come fast enough to help stop global warming?

Contact details:

Dr. Robert Himmler

Managing Director

EGS-plan (Bangkok) Co., Ltd. +66 2 214 6146 info@egs-bkk.com www.egs-bkk.com

Comparison of the topics in green building certification systems.

Thailand's green building movement mainly addresses new buildings, even though all certification systems provide an option for renovation projects.”

Sustainability and architectural design

Therdsiddhi Hoprasartsuk-Pellaumail

There is no denying that sustainable design is still in its embryonic stage in Thailand. As in many emerging economies, a limited awareness, insufficient national policies and procedures, and deficient incentives to encourage the adoption of these practices are the main challenges for sustainable design and building.

As architects, we must design a selfsustaining micro-ecosystem that forms part of the larger ecosystem. When we encourage clients to realise green building., they initially often associate being “green” with photovoltaic installation, complicated air purifier engineering or other engineering gadgets. Although these fixtures can be environmentally beneficial, they are often costly to install and maintain.

However, the fundamental concepts of sustainable design are simple. It can be applied to architecture on any scale and for any function. The key is to design a sitespecific building rooted in its surroundings as well as a self-sustaining building that forms part of the planet’s larger ecosystem. Therefore, VIRTUARCH implements a few simple, sustainable strategies when designing its buildings.

As architectural practice focuses on sustainability, we do not measure major projects by the number of square metres that we design or build. In addition to the durability, construction timeline, budget and spatial equality, respect for the environment is a priority. Although it has a substantial environmental impact, construction is one

of the few industries where significant mitigation can be accomplished at no or minimal cost to society, thanks to fundamental architectural decisions.

We believe most sustainability projects can be solved by design. Here are a few design directions we consistently implement in projects: optimization of the building footprint, building orientation and the flexibility of the project.

PRACTICE RESTRAINT

Build only what is necessary. We are all ready to let our imaginations run wild on a blank canvas as architects, but we must exercise moderation and be sure to construct responsibly. When considering sustainable

TTBA Centre, Bangkok, Thailand

BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION

“ When recommending sustainable measures, it is essential to consider the site’s geographic location and climate zone. It is crucial to address local concerns because each climatic zone has different requirements for thermal comfort.”

USAGE OF LOCAL MATERIALS

Often the developer, owner and construction professional are taken aback by new "green" construction material products. In addition to being manufactured sustainably, construction materials and components must also answer the new requirements deriving from holistic environmental prerequisites. For example, it makes little sense to produce cladding glass in an environmentally-friendly manner if it would only be used on the west façade of a structure in a tropical monsoon climate. Instead, we prefer to use local materials that reduce the energy consumed in their transportation to the site as well as preserve traditional craftsmanship. Therefore, we need to inspire through vernacular architecture.

design, an excellent place to start is to maintain structure (where possible) and reuse materials. This attention guarantees a reduction in the overall usage of resources. It is crucial to strike a balance between building components extended life cycles and their ability to be reused. For extension projects, we may advise our clients to minimize the additional area footprint of the project or to pause and not build an extension at all, but instead focus on optimizing and upgrading their existing structures.

BUILDING ORIENTATION: A CONSUMPTION-REDUCING DESIGN

When recommending sustainable measures, it is essential to consider the site’s geographic location and climate zone. It is crucial to address local concerns because each climatic zone has different requirements for thermal comfort. For example, positioning the building appropriately on the property is a straightforward yet efficient approach to guarantee proper daylighting. This consideration ensures that the building’s daytime illumination load is reduced. If the building is adequately orientated, natural ventilation may be used practically all-year-round to replace mechanical ventilation in most locations. The right orientation also helps avoiding overheating and therefore reduces cooling loads.

Thus, for small and medium-sized projects, the green building initiative often comes from the construction professional. As architects, builders and engineers, we must guide stakeholders towards sustainable design, which can be done with limited resources.

A famous Thai proverb says "Build a house to please the dweller…" It’s time to amend that to include "…and preserve the planet".

Contact details:

Therdsiddhi Hoprasartsuk-Pellaumail Managing Director, Architect DGNB Consultant Virtuarch Bangkok Tel: +66 9 696 99798 thp@vai.ch www.vai.ch

Nara Thai Restaurant, Central Village, Samutprakarn, Thailand Entirely made by handcrafted rattan furniture and structure

La Petite Ecole Kindergarten, Bangkok, Thailand Quietly insert in the school garden

TGSaving Archive Centre, Bangkok, Thailand. Using a existing old structure of a garage.

UV-C air disinfection in building technology: Smart technology to combat the pandemic and make interior spaces safer

Uwe Heitzmann

The risk of becoming infected with a virus or other pathogens is particularly high in closed rooms where there is no natural exchange of air. The motto has therefore been "wear a mask, keep your distance and ventilate regularly". However, what if sufficient distance cannot be maintained and adequate ventilation is not possible?

Enclosed rooms offer a particularly good breeding ground for viruses and bacteria.

Undisturbed by external environmental influences such as wind, microorganisms can spread in the air and settle on surfaces, which is why the germ load is relatively high in such places. In elevators and (office) buildings, there is also the fact that people are in a confined space and the routes of infection are therefore particularly short. Sufficient air exchange is often hardly or not at all possible.

Two approaches to making closed rooms safer, especially in the workplace, are UV-C disinfection in elevators and in central HVAC systems – LiftNclean and LEM are both products manufactured in Germany that meet all the quality and regulatory safety standards one would expect from German products.

WELL-PROTECTED EVEN IN THE TIGHTEST OF SPACES: UV-C DISINFECTION IN THE ELEVATOR (LIFTNCLEAN)

To reduce the risk of infection in narrow, closed spaces such as elevators, Exyne Asia Technology is offering LiftNclean from Dinies Technologies GmbH in Germany, a lowmaintenance UV-C disinfection device that can also be installed and put into operation in existing elevator systems. The UV-C radiation reliably kills up to 99.9 per cent of all pathogens such as the influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 in the elevator air. Since this process takes place inside the machine and

Elevator with LiftNclean Module fitted

without the use of chemical agents, there is never a health risk for the people in the elevator cabin. The device works parallel to the elevator in continuous operation and does not have to be switched on or off separately.

The noise pollution is also significantly lower compared to HEPA filters; while the fans used there reach >45 dB, the noise level of the LiftNclean is a maximum of 35 dB. "In this case, the room air is first directed with the help of a fan through the disinfection tube inside the housing, where a UV-C emitter is located," explains Uwe Heitzmann, Managing Director of EXYNE Technology Co., Ltd. "When the corresponding radiation with a wavelength of 254 nm hits the microorganisms in the air, it modifies their DNA so that they can no longer reproduce or die off."

GERM-FREE AIR WITHOUT CHEMICALS AND FILTERS: UV DISINFECTION IN AIR DUCTS OF HVAC SYSTEMS (LEM)

Dangerous pathogens and fungi are largely distributed by central ventilation units in the premises of all types of buildings. Medical facilities, production facilities, schools and office complexes are particularly affected. To prevent this, the interior of ventilation systems can be specifically equipped with UV-C lamps. There, UV-C tubes can clean the air and control fungal growth in hard-to-reach places. The room air is disinfected with the help of the UV-C light as it is passed through the ducts. The escaping air is then up to 99.9% germ-free.

The disinfection of cooling and ventilation systems with UV-C light not only leads to less duct contamination, but also ensures better air quality. The UV-C ventilation disinfection module, called LEM from Dinies Technologies in Germany, is a plug and play module that can be installed directly in the existing central air-conditioning ducts. UV-C radiation eliminates up to 99.9 per cent of all micro-organisms. The air that is returned into the rooms after disinfection

is up to 99.9 per cent sterile and no longer infectious. In addition, the pathogens cannot develop resistance to UV-C radiation, which is why the light in the ultraviolet spectrum does not have to be adapted to mutated viruses, for example. Rather, it can be used to effectively inactivate almost all viruses, bacteria and fungi such as mould spores which are usually also present in air ducts.

LOWER MAINTENANCE COSTS DUE TO INFREQUENT TUBE CHANGES

Both LiftNclean and LEM are characterized by a long service life with long maintenance intervals. Compared to HEPA filters, which must be changed regularly, the light tube must be replaced at most once a year. This not only lowers the acquisition and maintenance costs, but also significantly reduces the working time and, in the case of elevators, the downtime of the corresponding cabin. The change can be easily carried out by the service technicians and is done within a few minutes.

The advantages gained by implementing from the start of designing building or even by retrofitting LiftNclean and LEM are apparent – chemical-free disinfection in buildings of all types reduces the cost of expensive cleaning services and makes facility management so much easier. It gives a plus for safety and a good feeling with hygienically clean air – simply by UV disinfection and retrofitability in every ventilation system. Whether a hotel, office building, school, university or research centre, with the new LiftNclean and LEM-Module you get efficient and effective solutions for the disinfection of air, surfaces and objects.

Uwe Heitzmann

Managing Director

EXYNE Technology Co., Ltd.

Contact details:

Witcharai Petbundi Exyne Asia Technology Co., Ltd +66 85 323 7260 info@exyneasia.com https://exynetechnology.com

“The UV-C radiation reliably kills up to 99.9 per cent of all pathogens such as the influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 in the elevator air.”

LEM Module installed in the central air-conditioning duct system

Demand increasing for green and sustainable designs for commercial buildings in Thailand

Marian Kusy

Green buildings are increasing in Thailand. The number of such buildings in Thailand rose more than three times during 2012-2017. The majority of the green buildings comprise office premises (40 per cent) and retail establishments (40 per cent), according to the SCB Economic Intelligence Centre. This increasing trend of green buildings is driven by the new Building Energy Code (BEC), enforced in 2021, and the higher return on investment when compared to traditional buildings. However, one of the main challenges to developing green buildings in Thailand is the lack of green building consultants.

Archetype Thailand provides consulting services in sustainability and green design. It is part of the world’s leading private construction consultancy company Archetype Group. The company’s core services are architecture and master planning, building and infrastructure engineering, industrial and process engineering (which is one of the differences of Archetype from other architecture/construction firms), and project and cost management. Archetype’s services cover three sectors – building and real estate, industry and manufacturing, and energy and infrastructure

Archetype’s Mr. Marian Kusy is an experienced Managing Director and Engineering Director with more than 16 years of experience in engineering, procurement and project management in a wide range of industrial sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, and food and beverage. In this Interview, Mr. Kusy discusses the challenges that the

construction Industry is facing, the future of Archetype Thailand and sustainable development.

As Archetype Thailand offers consulting services in sustainability and green design, could you briefly explain the green building trend?

There has been an increasing demand for green and sustainable design in Thailand in recent past years. However, compared to some parts of the world, such as the European Union, it’s still just at an early stage. Some activities have been put in place and even some regulations are starting to appear in Thailand. In addition, the number of consultants providing this service is also increasing, although the overall numbers are still behind the more developed countries.

I have checked some statistics based on the current number of green certified buildings

in Thailand, and I have found that around 265 (around 80 per cent) are offices and commercial buildings, but there are almost no green residential buildings). This number is increasing slowly, but compared to the total number of new investments this number is still small. The green building trend currently in Thailand mostly covers offices and commercial buildings, followed by industrial buildings. In addition, there is almost no green building initiative for housing projects. To conclude, there needs to be more awareness regarding the need for green buildings.

How is the green building trend affecting the building and construction industry in Thailand?

When you invest in green building it always comes with an extra cost. This cost is a problem for the clients who want to invest in green buildings; the effect occurs in the later stages of the operational cost. So, the number of projects are increasing but more awareness needs to be spread among investors about the benefits and advantages of investing in green buildings.

How has the building and construction industry changed due to this trend?

I would say that more consultants and construction companies are now aware of the green building trend and are able to provide the regarding the specific services required. An increasing number of seminars and events are focusing on this topic, and more clients are understanding the benefits of investing in a green building. There is an increasing number of green building projects in Thailand and there is a spike in the increase of utilities (e.g., electricity) This higher utility consumption will push towards a sustainable design solution for the going number of green building. There will be new markets, new methodology and technologies which will have to be implemented in the Thai market, but which are not being used yet. One of the challenges in Thailand is that they stick to the conventional methods and technologies, while there are newer systems being put in place in other countries. The problem is that these technologies come at an increase in cost; however, the benefit will be created during the operational stage.

What further challenges are facing the building and construction industry in Thailand?

In the past two years, the major challenge has been the worldwide Covid-19 challenge. Recently, one of the biggest challenges has been the increased cost of construction; triggered by geopolitical issues in Europe it forced us to increase fuel prices, which are having an adverse impact on prices in transportation and therefore also materials. This has slowed down the progress of many projects that were planned to start or restart after the Covid-19 pandemic.

The pandemic has led to some potential investors be stuck in their countries and unable to travel. Another challenge is, for example, is the use of newer technical solutions in construction, newer more sustainable materials as well as better, more efficient technologies. Initially, these new technologies come at a higher cost, but provide significant savings at a later stage of operation. However, most clients are

construction methodologies or conventional conservative designs. This is something that should be changed by proper education. Universities should promote and teach about what is new in the world, including more about sustainability. In my opinion, the reason is mostly the initial cost, which in most of the cases is higher than that for conventional ways and/or the lack of knowledge.

focusing on the initial investment rather than on the future savings; this viewpoint should be changed by the provision of the latest related knowledge.

Can you describe one example of an important green building project in Thailand?

In mentioning some of the green building designs and achievements by Archetype, I would include the Mars Petcare project in Chonburi which obtained LEED Gold level about two years ago and Mars Pet Center project which received the LEED Gold the beginning of this year. It is an industrial production plan and research center for producing high quality animal food. We are also currently working on another project (still at a design stage) from Europe, for which we are trying to achieve LEED Gold.

More and more clients are starting to set sustainability targets as global KPIs. Most of them are international companies that are already forced by regulations to reach a certain sustainability level in other parts of the world. They are realizing the benefits of such investment and are implementing it further on all projects. The pressure for green and sustainable solutions will be higher with the increase of utility costs in Thailand, which already started in the past couple months.

What is the industry’s most important challenge, and why?

The challenge to change and adapt to new trends in design and construction. We can see the use of many of the old ways of

What kind of obstacles do you face in green building projects?

There are a few but, in my opinion, the most significant are (a) the lack of education and consequently current consultants providing this type of service to the Thai market, (b) higher investment costs compared to those for standard construction methods and (c) the lack of regulations that would force each party to proceed into this direction.

How do you visualize the future of Thailand’s building and construction industry?

The construction industry in Thailand will grow, like in every other part of the world. There are indications of many new projects which are still on hold with the clients waiting for the right moment to launch. Thailand, and specifically Bangkok, has many old hotels, offices and other old buildings that are waiting for full renovation. Many of them are 20 to 30 years old. To maintain their competitiveness with new buildings, these offices and hotels need to undergo a full renovation which should include proper upgrading in line with some green design principles.

Contact details: Marian Kusy Managing Director Archetype Thailand Info-bkk@ archetype-group.com www.archetype-group.com

“ More and more clients are starting to set sustainability targets as global KPIs.”

Building and construction industry in Thailand is recovering

Sravut Rujipornpong

Bilfinger (Thai) Construction Co., Ltd. is a leading construction service provider for international clients in the gas and oil sector, processing industries, logistic buildings and general contracting for green field and brown field projects. The company’s mission is to solve challenging tasks with know-how, commitment to their client’s needs, commitment to reliability, efficiency as well as continuous improvement in performance, profitability and growth, and commitment to the well-being of people and the environment.

the green building trend. Mr. Sravut Rujipornpong has a long history and extensive experience in working in the construction industry.

Through research we found out that Bilfinger (Thai) Construction Co., Ltd. is operating in various industries. Can you tell us which industry is the most important for you as a company, and why?

Can you give us details about one on-going project in your industry focus?

Bilfinger has many ongoing projects that are very large in terms of execution and their importance, but those projects are confidential, and the names cannot be mentioned yet. More than 90 per cent of our clients are international clients.

What is an interesting trend in this industry?

I have seen that the construction industry in Thailand has changed tremendously over the past 30 years. Interestingly, more and more clients are now well aware about good safety practices and opting for higher quality of work.

UPDATE recently interviewed Mr. Sravut Rujipornpong, Managing Director of Bilfinger (Thai) Construction Co., Ltd., to find out more about the company’s commitment to the environment, in terms of sustainability and

The industrial sector is one of the most important sectors for Bilfinger (Thai) Construction Co., Ltd. Our main market segment targets are international clientele, chemical process industries, customers industries, oil and gas refineries, logistic buildings, beauty and personal care, food and beverages, animal food and nutrition, garments and renovation. Those market segment targets are all equally important to Bilfinger (Thai) Construction Co., Ltd.

Moreover, although construction methods and techniques such as prefabricated elements, formwork systems, etc. have been developed recently, the construction remains the same in principle.

To what extent has the sustainability trend been influencing this industry?

It will be part of communities everywhere around the world and as well in the construction industry. There are projects

which are planned for the next one or two years that will take into consideration the sustainability trend; however sustainability is still not the number one influence in the construction industry. Generally, sustainability is influencing the industry but not in all areas. However, there are a few industries – for example, chemical production – that are influenced by the sustainability trend.

What is the current major challenge in this industry/sector?

One of the challenges that Bilfinger has been facing is prices which, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, have been driven to extremely low levels during the past two or three years. Our competitors are looking urgently for new projects, and to win ventures now they need to drive their prices very low. This makes business difficult. However, I believe that within six months or during the forthcoming year, as soon as the economy and the businesses begin recovering from the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic, prices will rise again. Currently, though, the situation is very challenging for Bilfinger (Thai) Construction Co., Ltd.

Have you received any investment incentives from the Thai government?

Some of our clients’ major projects that will begin in less than half a year have been receiving investment incentives from the Thailand Board of Investment (BoI). Those investment incentives make up a big part of the client’s financial plan.

Do you think the building and construction industry in Thailand has already started to recover from the pandemic?

I believe that the Thai economy is already picking up and looking better compared to the past two to three years. There are numbers of new industrial project’ inquiries from designers and consultants and direct contact from international clients.. Bilfinger (Thai) also has some

potential projects with important clients planned for the foreseeable future.

As sustainability has been gaining significance, what measures related to sustainability has Bilfinger (Thai) Construction Co., Ltd been implementing?

Bilfinger Thai always make safety as the first priority in addition to commitment, quality people, efficient practices & controls and cost effective that are key philosophies to drive company to success. These have been proven in Bilfinger Thai’s portfolio that 70 % of the completed projects were repeated clients. In terms of sustainability in construction, design and selection of high quality of materials will definitely enhance building sustainability even though construction methods are maintained.

How do you see the future of the building and construction industry in Thailand with regard to the current global situation?

It is looking better compared to the past 18 months to two years. Currently, business is quite active.

Do you plan to expand your market to neighbouring countries and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)? If yes, when and how?

No, Bilfinger (Thai) will not expand to other countries. We only focus on Thailand. The reason is that in addition to the uncertainty with neighbouring countries due to political problems as well as regulations are reasons why Bilfinger (Thai) Construction Co, Ltd. will not expand soon. From what I have heard from others in the industry, expansion to neighbouring countries is very challenging from geopolitical uncertainty.

Contact details:

Sravut Rujipornpong

Managing Director Bilfinger (Thai) Construction Co., Ltd. +66 2 691 9449 info@bilfingerthai.com https://thai.bilfinger.com

“I have seen that the construction industry in Thailand has changed tremendously over the past 30 years. Interestingly, more and more clients are now well aware about good safety practices and opting for higher quality of work.”

GTCC Stammtisch Bangkok at SIXTYFOUR

The warm and friendly networking event, the GTCC Stammtisch, took place at the Sixty Four restaurant on 23 June 2022. GTCC would like to express its appreciation to the 60 guests for joining the gathering, the great support from Event Partner Samitivej Hospital for the ATK testing, and Venue Partner Sixty Four Restaurant for the nice setting, food and beverage arrangements.

GTCC Young Professionals Network Evening “A creative outlook on the future of mobility and the impact on the lives of our young professionals”

At the GTCC Young Professional Networking evening organised on 7 July 2022, the participants gained insights from speaker Bjoern Voss, Managing Director of P3 group (Thailand), on the future of mobility and its impacts. They also enjoyed networking with the circle of young professionals as well as the finger food buffet, and free flow of wines and beer, in the wonderful ambiance of Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok.

Our sincere appreciation goes to speaker Bjoern Voss for sharing his insights, Event Partner Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok and Beverage Partner Flow Inter (Paulaner) for their generous support.

GTCC Executive Breakfast Talk

“The new Thai PDPA, the EU GDPR and their implications on businesses in Thailand”

The new Thai Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and their implications on businesses in Thailand were discussed by Ms. Arunrat Rattanaarun, Mr. Sebastian Blasius and Mr. Fabian Lorenz from Luther at the GTCC Exclusive Breakfast Talk on 19 July 2022, at the Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park.

The attendees gained insights into key aspects in preparing their businesses for the PDPA and GDPR accordingly and had lively exchanges of their views with the speakers while enjoying the wide selection of delicious breakfast dishes. The GTCC would like to thank the speakers and the attendees for joining in the event.

The ITAP Voice of the Market: Thailand Digital Roadshow

The ITAP Voice of the Market: Thailand Digital Roadshow took place on 19 July 2022. The roadshow was designed to highlight the latest trends and development in Thailand's automation industry. Key discussions focused on the realization of the BCG model, and the necessity for breakthroughs in innovation, manufacturing techniques, automation and robotics. Its aim was to also encourage Thailand’s manufacturing ecosystem and its stakeholders to adopt Industry 4.0 and ultimately spur their interest and participation at ITAP2022.

GTCC Business Women Networking 2/2022

Another successful GTCC Business Women Networking session was held on 20 July 2022 with a well-rounded discussion on "Embracing your vulnerability in women's leadership" About 50 participants attended the event.

The GTCC is grateful to the moderator, Cristy Aphimonthol, Managing Director of Coachology and Pink Lotus Foundation and the two panelists Jessica Doehring, CFO at Siemens Mobility Limited Thailand and Julia Panchkowry, founder and CEO of The Banana Warrior and International Life and Business Coach, for sharing their experiences and insights into the vulnerability in women's leadership. A big thank you also goes to Venue Partner Maitria Mode, Sukhumvit 15, Bangkok, and Beverage Partners Haus of the Sober and Serenity Wines Asia Co. Ltd. as well as all the ladies who joined the event.

GTCC Open Forum

GTCC members gathered online on 16 August 2022 at the GTCC Open Forum moderated by GTCC Board member Mr. Jan Wittenstein, Head of Automotive Technologies, Sales and Business Development, Schaeffler Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Mr. Wittenstein led the discussion on "Thailand EV Roadmap" with his presentation on the fact that 50 per cent of car production in South-East Asia will be with electrification by 2030, while Thailand will remain the region’s largest automotive market in the long term.

Before speed networking, a polling on the GTCC Open Forum was conducted, and results showed that the GTCC Open Forum met the expectations of most participants. The participating members also gave some suggestions such as meeting face-to-face or using another online meeting tool for future Open Forums.

GTCC Members Exclusive

Site Visit to TÜV SÜD (Thailand) Limited

On 19 August 2022, GTCC members explored the TÜV SÜD Battery and Automotive Components Testing Centre in Chonburi, which was officially opened in July 2022.

Thanks go to Ms. Silvia Imran, Vice-President Strategic Account Management and Sales Excellence, Mr. Kuldhaj Bunbongkarn, General Manager, Mr. Hadi Sanjaya Sim, Program Manager, Product Service – Transportation, and the team of TÜV SÜD (Thailand) Limited, for providing an overview and valuable insights into the centre as well as their a warm welcome to the GTCC members.

GTCC connects – Welcome Back

A relaxing business networking event, “GTCC connects”, held by the spectacular Chao Phraya River was organised on 25 August 2022 with participation by GTCC members, partners, guests and friends. The event started with welcoming remarks by GTCC Board members Mr. Martin Liebenow, Mr. Jan Wittenstein and Mr. Enrico Sielaff.

This event would not have been possible without the generous support from our partners. GTCC thanks Event Partners Le Meridien Bangkok, Mazars in Thailand and Luther. Thanks also go to Venue Partner Ramada Plaza Bangkok Menam Riverside for providing the wonderful venue and delicious food.

GTCC Executive Director in Berlin

OAV GERMAN ASIA-PACIFIC BUSINESS ASSOCIATION: LÄNDERAUSSCHUTZSITZUNG THAILAND

GTCC Executive Director Dr. Roland Wein discussed the current situation and economic developments in Thailand at the Country Committee Meeting organised on 5 September 2022 by OAV, together with German Ambassador to Thailand H.E. Georg Schmidt, and Chairman of the Country Committee Stefan Messer, CEO of Messer SE & CO. KgaA.

The OAV German Asia-Pacific Business Association offers experienced Asian companies and newcomers the ideal platform for a crossindustry exchange of experience and availability of a comprehensive range of services.

MEETING WITH ASEAN PARLIAMENTARIAN GROUP

GTCC Executive Director and other Executive Directors and Chief Representatives of the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs) in ASEAN had a meeting at the German Federal Parliament in Berlin on 6 September 2022 with ASEAN Parliamentarian Group led by Chair of the Group Executive Committee Mrs. Gabriele Katzmarek.

ASEAN INSIGHTS 2022

With a population of 625 million, the ASEAN region offers a huge market that is becoming increasingly interesting as an "alternative market" to China. The region’s potential, current trends and key challenges were addressed at "ASEAN Insights 2022" on 7 September 2022 through panel discussions by Executive Directors and Chief Representatives of German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs) in the ASEAN region: Dr. Roland Wein from AHK Thailand / GTCC; Mr. Daniel Bernbeck, AHK Malaysia; Dr. Martin Krummeck, AHK Myanmar; Mr. Christopher Zimmer, AHK Philippines; Dr. Tim Philippi, AHK Singapore; and Mr. Marko Walde, AHK Vietnam.

The event, held at the IHK Düsseldorf, was opened by Mr. Ralf Schlindwein. The topics of the workshop ranged from sourcing in ASEAN and production development in the region, to free trade agreements.

GTCC Young Professional Network Evening

The third GTCC Young Professionals Network evening of 2022 was organised on 8 September 2022. The GTCC would like to express its sincere gratitude to the guests and to the speakers: Schaeffler Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd.’s Mr. Micah Shepard – Schaeffler Regional CEO, Southeast Asia/Pacific, Mr. Harry Vuylsteke –Director Automotive Aftermarket, Southeast Asia, and Mr. Jan Wittenstein – Head of Business Group Automotive Technologies, Southeast Asia for sharing their expertise on the topic of "Resilience during transformation". GTCC also thanks Venue Partner SO/Bangkok for providing such a stylish venue as well as delicious food and drinks.

GTCC Multi-Chamber Executive Briefing and Networking: “Restructuring into a foreign-owned business”

What foreign investors should know if they plan to take full control of a business in Thailand was shared on 15 September 2022 at the GTCC Multi-Chamber Executive Briefing and Networking: "Restructuring into a foreign owned entity – opportunities to gain 100% control over your company in Thailand", held at the Le Meridien Bangkok. Thanks go to Mr. Till Morstadt, Managing Partner of Lorenz & Partners (L&P) for providing the useful insights and for the 22 guests for joining the event organised in co-operation with Advantage Austria. The networking session was also excellent.

Visit to the BMW Service Apprentice Programme organised in co-operation with GTDEE

In June 2022, the GTDEE team visited the apprenticeship programme of BMW Service Apprentice Programme, Batch 2021. They are currently undergoing practical training at BMW dealers. The GTDEE team and teachers from Don Bosco Technological College and Bang Kaeo Fah Industrial Community Education College joined the visit to a total of 12 dealers.

TÜV SÜD Thailand opening ceremony

On 19 July 2022, the GTDEE team joined the opening ceremony of the battery and automotive component testing centre of TÜV SÜD Thailand, located at Amata City Industrial Estate, Chonburi. TÜV SÜD Thailand is investing in a new testing facility in Thailand with the objective of working more closely with industry and key stakeholders to make Thailand and ASEAN a production centre for electric vehicles.

Monitoring project-based learning at Eastern Technological College

On 31 August 2022, the GTDEE team visited a project-based learning for mechatronics students at Eastern Technological College (E.Tech). The meeting shared knowledge of planning for designing and developing pick and place devices with conveyer belts. The students are learning to plan handling control systems.

Workshop on Quality Control Concept

On 31 August 2022, the GTDEE team organised a Workshop on the Quality Control Concept for the Robert Bosch Automotive Technologies Thailand Apprenticeship Programme (Hemaraj Plant), Batch 2022, at the Mechatronics Department, Thai-Austrian Technical College. The students joined in the workshop on using the Mechatronics textbook, sharing knowledge and discussing the quality control concept and continuous improvement.

Online meeting with the TÜV SÜD on training programmes

On 3 August 2022, the GTDEE team organised an online meeting with TÜV SÜD to seek additional training opportunities for trainees and trainers in companies and for teachers in vocational colleges. TÜV SÜD provided excellent insight into training offers from its digital academy and know-how development as well as high-voltage training and best practices. TÜV SÜD specializes in corporate training programmes, competency gap analysis programmes, and International Register of Certified Auditors (IRCA).

PAL Final Examination Part 1 preparation

on 23 August 2022 Senior Manager GTDEE Dr. Kamonsak Suradom and Mr. Sorathorn Sainak Head of DVET, Don Bosco Technological College was meeting with Trainers and Apprentice at Pathumthani Brewery Co., Ltd. This meeting focused on Examination preparation, tools and equipment for Apprentices. The PAL Final Examination Part 1 will be held in Nov 2022.

Seminar on “Securing high-quality skilled labour for electromobility”

On 26 August 2022, a King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB) seminar on “Securing high-quality skilled labour for electromobility” was organised by GTDEE/GTCC, the Thai-German Pre-Engineering School, KMUTNB, and the KMUTNB Alumni at the Benjarat Auditorium to commemorate the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Germany. The panelists included: Asst. Prof. Dr. Warit Thammasiriroj, College of Technology, KMUTNB; Mr. Hadi Sanjaya, Program Manager – Transportation Product Service Division, TÜV SÜD (Thailand) Limited; Mr. Parkin Saengvijit, Managing Director of MadLab Motorwerk Ltd.; Mr. Pakpum Phlykaew, Apprenticeship, BMW Service Apprentice Programme, Batch 2021; Mr. Markus Hoffmann, GTDEE Project Director, who was the moderator; and Dr. Kamonsak Suradom, GTDEE Senior Manager. The participants from Thailand, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Germany joined the seminar onsite and online.

Seminar on “The fundamentals of safety concepts for EV technology”

On 27 August 2022, a seminar was co-hosted by GTCC and King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB) Alumni on the fundamentals of safety concepts for electric vehicle (EV) technology by panelists who included: Mr. Kijjapisit Sangtup, system technician at Benz Primus Autohaus, who graduated from the Mercedes-Benz Apprenticeship Programme, Batch 2019; Asst. Prof. Dr. Warit Thammasiriroj from KMUTNB; Khun Prawed Moonthongsong, General Manager of VCB Car Service; Asst. Prof. Direk Choowichie, Examiner Board of GTDEE in Automotive Mechatronics, and moderator Dr. Krishda Srichanpiyom Faculty of Technical Education, KMUTNB.

“AdA International –Train the Trainer 2022”

On 22 and 29 August 2022, the "AdA International – Train the Trainer 2022 (Full Version) Examination" was successfully conducted for 17 technical teachers of the Thai-German Pre-Engineering School at KMUTNB. Dr. Sathipharp Khamsa-Ard, Chief People Officer of Ananda Development Public Company Limited and GTCC representative as well as Asst. Prof. Dr. Panarit Sethakul, President of the Faculty of Technical Education Association were invited to participate as a committee for the examination. The examination was organised by GTDEE Project Director Mr. Markus Hoffmann and Senior Project Manager Dr. Kamonsak Suradom.

Don Bosco Tech ASEAN delegation visit to Pathum Thani Brewery Co., Ltd.

On 2 September 2022, a delegation visited Pathum Thani Brewery Co., Ltd. to learn more about the dual vocational training based on the German standard within the co-operation framework between Pathum Thani Brewery Co., Ltd, Knowledge Management Boonrawd Group, Don Bosco Technological College Bangkok and GTCC/GTDEE. The Pathum Thani Brewery management team and trainers shared their knowledge and demonstrated how to implement practical training with regard to the German standard and how to prepare for the PAL Final Examination, part 1 and part 2, in Germanstandard electronics.

The delegates also explored the production line, guided by Pathum Thani Brewery’s Engineering Department manager and in-company trainers, where the apprentices are presented with different methods of practical training in problem-based learning.

GTDEE organises training for apprentices at RBTA and RBTY

On 6 September 2022, GTDEE Project Director, Mr. Markus Hoffmann, and GTDEE Senior Manager, Dr. Kamonsak Suradom organised training on “Quality control concept in the German standard” for apprentices of Robert Bosch Automotive Technologies (Thailand) Co. Ltd. (RBTA) and Robert Bosch Automotive Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (RBTY) at the Amata City Plant.

Vocational Education Committee meeting held at the Mercedes-Benz Competence Center

On 7 September 2022, a Vocational Education Committee meeting was organised by GTCC/GTDEE. The meeting focused on activities between January and September 2022 in co-operation with GTDEE regarding the development of dual vocational education in Thailand. Experiences from Don Bosco Technological College, Eastern Technological College on Project-Based Learning in Mechatronics Development and In-Company Trainers from Pathum Thani Brewery Electronics Apprentices Training Method were exchanged. The participants also visited the training facility for the Mercedes-Benz Apprenticeship Programme 2021.

The meeting was held at the Mercedes-Benz Competence Center and attended by representatives from partner companies Mercedes-Benz (Thailand), BMW Group Thailand, Robert Bosch Automotive Technologies (Thailand) Amata City Plant, KM Boonrawd Brewery Group, Pathum Thani Brewery Co., Ltd., Bangkok Cable Co., Ltd., and partner colleges that have co-operated in Mechatronics Project-Based Learning such as Don Bosco Technological College, Bangkok, and Eastern Technological College.

Government and business stakeholders meet to discuss the benefits of seaplanes to Thailand

Key stakeholders from the Thai government and business community met at Swissôtel Bangkok Ratchada on 13 June 2022 for a seminar to discuss the benefits of seaplanes to Thailand. The seminar was hosted by Siam Seaplane Co., Ltd., Thailand’s first high-standard seaplane service looking to launch its operations within 2022.

Transportation by seaplanes has proven to be a key transportation option in many markets, most famously in the Maldives for high-end tourism as well as in United States of America, Canada and Australia for transportation and logistics. Several South-East Asian countries are also actively pursuing seaplane operations or new seaplane regulations, such as Indonesia, and the Philippines. Meanwhile, Thailand is perfectly suited for seaplane operations for better connections— from premium tourism to freight, medical evacuations and other purposes.

The seminar was joined by government representatives from the Ministry of Transport, Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), Marine Department, Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), Rayong Provincial Authority Organisation, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), airline and aviation executives, prominent Thai hotel owners and developers, as well as various investors and business stakeholders.

The conclusions were unanimous — seaplanes can be operated safely and through a standardised model, and they can be monitored and regulated as per international recommendations. The Thai authorities, in close conjunction with the attending stakeholders and Siam Seaplane, are collaborating to ensure all processes and regulations are to be in place, in order for many benefits to be reaped.

Vana Belle Koh Samui wins Haute Grandeur Excellence Award 2022

Vana Belle (“a beautiful jungle”), a magnificent Luxury Collection Resort in the top tier class of all Marriott hotels and resorts, is located on Samui Island, at the beautiful Chaweng Noi beach. Discovering the mythical theme of the Himavanta forest, where the surrounding tropical forest blends perfectly with the crystal-clear ocean of the Gulf of Thailand attracts many visitors. The resort’s epicurean activities such as Rum Experience and a variety of Thai food offerings as well as Thai boxing are also major attractions.

Vana Belle has received three awards of excellence from Haute Grandeur – Best All Suite Hotel in Asia, Best Beach Hotel in Asia, and Best Honeymoon Hotel in Thailand. Winning these awards has shown the excellent services in all levels.

“The Vana Belle family feels honoured to have received these awards of excellence from Haute Grandeur, especially at this time given the current the tourist situation as well as the rising competition in the hospitality industry. These awards reflect our principles of hard work, the effectiveness of our ambassadors and continuing success in the tourism sector. We consider ourselves the best resort in Koh Samui in terms of luxurious accommodation, sustainability and romantic atmosphere. Vana Belle is more than ready to welcome guests from all over the world and to share the joyful moments with loved ones” said Mr. Francois Poletti, General Manager of Vana Belle.

More information: https://www.siamseaplane. com/news/thailand-seaplane-seminar

Schaeffler Thailand offers new products for high-quality vehicle maintenance

Schaeffler Thailand has introduced a new range of high-quality vehicle maintenance products under the “Schaeffler TruPower” brand. The new products include reliable and durable passenger car batteries, such as Sealed Maintenance Free (SMF) batteries, Enhanced Flooded Battery (EFB) batteries and Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries, for all passenger car types. Apart from batteries, the high performance Schaeffler TruPower lubricants and grease types complement vehicle maintenance efforts by providing better protection and lifetime extension of the engines, brakes, clutches, gears and boilers.

Through new collaboration with 12 distributors – Auto Business Corporation, CPS Automotive, Autoworld and Yonprakit (1996) for the central region, Global Asia Pacific and Srisiam Kolkarn for the eastern region, Ruamcharoen Wholesale for the

north-east region, S.U.M. Group and Lo Heng Mong Trading for the western region, Nong Hoi Petroleum and Lampang N.T.S Part. for the northern region, and Certech Energy for the southern region – Schaeffler Thailand hopes to play a role in shaping the Automotive Aftermarket sector in Thailand as well as expand its business. More information is available at https://www.schaeffler.sg/en/news_media/press_releases/pressa_releases_detail. jsp?id=87839362

TÜV SÜD Thailand’s inauguration of its Battery and Automotive Components Testing Centre and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with TAI

TÜV SÜD Thailand, a leading automotive components certification, testing, auditing, inspection and training company and the wholly-owned subsidiary of TÜV SÜD Group, Germany, officially inaugurated its Battery and Automotive Components Testing Centre in Chonburi, Thailand on 19 July 2022.

This laboratory adds to the existing network of eight battery testing centres spread across North America, Germany and Asia. Spanning more than 3,000 m2, this integrated facility at the Amata City Chonburi Industrial Estate provides easy access to global expertise and local knowhow for addressing quality and safety requirements, a prerequisite for faster adoption of e-Mobility. Equipped to handle battery performance and lifecycle as well as environmental and durability testing to a name a few, this is TÜV SÜD’s second location in Thailand, the first one being at Pathum Thani, which has been catering to safety, quality, security and sustainability requirements of Thailand’s industries for more than 10 years.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)was also signed between the Thailand Automotive Institute (TAI) and TÜV SÜD to further strengthen the infrastructure and support for the automotive industry to comply with global standards such as R136 battery homologation testing. Under this MoU, TÜV SÜD will partner with TAI and co-operate with the laboratory at Sanam Chaiyakhet in Chachoengsao.

New managing partner and co-owner of Skywave Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Skywave Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (SWT) welcomed Mr. Stefan Molnar as managing partner and co-owner, effective from 1 September 2022.

After a highly successful international management career in various countries for the Lufthansa Group, Mr. Molnar has decided to start a new, very different adventure with Skywave Technologies. He brings a wealth of experience and expertise, especially in sales and customer relations; combined with his energy, enthusiasm, and charismatic and hands-on personality, he will continue to maintain SWT’s journey of success. Moreover, the company is confident that he will take the company to a greater level of readiness for the business challenges of the future. The Chamber wishes him greatest success for his new journey.

Seasoned hotelier Mr. Adrian Rudin is appointed as the new general manager of Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok

Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Adrian Rudin as its new general manager, with regional responsibilities as Vice-President, Kempinski Hotels Operations, South-East Asia.

Mr. Rudin joins the Bangkok hotel from Beijing, where he has worked for the past decade, launching the new hotel brand NUO and, in his capacity as Vice-President, Asia, for the Kempinski group, overseeing the opening of Kempinski Bali, Singapore, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Jinan and Guangzhou hotels as well as the Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok, the Universal Beijing Resort’s NUO hotel and Universal Grand Hotel. He has held senior positions with some of the world’s leading luxury hospitality brands, such as the Shangri-La Group, Mandarin Oriental and Peninsula Hotels. A Swiss national, he has a strong culinary background, rising through the ranks in food and beverages before moving into general management.

With a wealth of experience in the hospitality industry, and a commitment to providing unique and unparalleled guest experiences, Mr. Rudin is set to make Sindhorn Kempinski a wellness landmark in a place he knows well from his first stay here in 1998. “It is an honour to be part of this Kempinski flagship hotel in Bangkok, regarded as the world's most visited city,” he said. “I am thrilled to be here and I am looking forward to welcoming local and international guests to its only wellness city-resort style property,” he added.

EGS-plan’s new sustainable building project achieves a DGNB Gold award!

EGS-plan was contracted to consult the sustainability concept and supervise the implementation of the new Harn Engineering building in Bangkok. The project has received a DGNB Gold award from the German Sustainable Building Council (Deutsche Gesellschaft für nachhaltiges Bauen).

GTCC Executive Director Dr. Roland Wein delivered congratulatory remarks at the award session prior to a speech by Khun Thammanoon Tripetchr, CEO of Harn Engineering Solutions PCL, about the motivation of the building owner to design and certify the building according to DGNB requirements. Dr. Acharawan Chutarat, architect and lighting designer of Bioarchitek Co., Ltd., gave a talk on the architectural and sustainable design concept of the building.

Afterwards, the certificate was handed over by the Managing Director of EGS-plan Dr. Robert Himmler to Khun Thammanoon

Tripetchr. Thanks are due to Dr. Jain Charnnarong, Executive Director of Harn Engineering Solutions PCL, for hosting the event and the invitations.

Following the ceremony, the group toured the building to appreciate the sustainability features such as a great thermal comfort, the daylight atrium, the communication spaces and the biophilic design.

OIA holds ground-breaking ceremony for another Pandora factory

OIA’s subsequent state-of-the-art, nature-bound project, “The Forest Factory,” for the world’s leading jewellery producer, Pandora, has been officially inaugurated.

The ground-breaking ceremony was held in traditional Brahman manner on site in Lamphun, Thailand, on 9 June 2022 at 9.09 a.m. Honorary attendees included OIA’s Managing Director Elmar Kleiner, Pandora’s Vice-President I&PD Lars Renz Nielsen, Chief Executive Officer Mr. Alexander Lasik, and Chief Supply Chain Officer and Managing Director Jeeraset Buranasamrit together with government officials and executives of the Saha Group.

New GTCC members up to 30 September 2022

German-Thai Chamber of Commerce warmly welcomes 15 new members

Blackcam 4D GmbH

Mr. Thomas Janze CEO

Mr. Thomas Haupt Accounting / Finance office@blackcamsystem.com www.blackcamsystem.com

Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products | Manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c.

Buono (Thailand) Public Company Limited

Khun Achara Jeamthavorn CEO

Khun Worawarin Sanpulsup Chief Commercial Officer info@buonogroup.com https://buonogroup.com/ Manufacture of ice cream | Manufacture of dairy products | Manufacture of prepared meals and dishes

Go Globe Company Limited

Mr. Youness Tanani Director info@goglobeth.com https://goglobeth.com/ Sea and coastal freight water transport | Freight air transport | Warehousing and support activities for transportation

dteq Transport Engineering Solutions GmbH

Mr. Juergen Kohnen

Regional Director Business Development APAC Mr. Boris Dykiert

Commercial Director info@dteq-solutions.com https://dteq-solutions.com/

Architectural and engineering activities; technical testing and analysis | Other professional, scientific and technical activities

Mr. Edgar Wentzlaff

IT Consultant / Software Developer edgar.wentzlaff@euu.rocks

Kistler Instrument (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Khun Ronnawas Limtrakulthongchai Accounts Sales Manager Khun Tamonwan Kanchitakorn Country Manager www.kistler.com

Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products | Manufacture of other transport equipment n.e.c.

MAFAC - E. Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG

Mr. Thomas Lang Senior Sales Manager Asia Mr. Peter Ruoff Head of Sales info@mafac.de www.mafac.de

Manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c.

Mr. Per Christensen

Managing Director at Azamarc Co. Ltd. per.christensen@azamarc.com

PERI Formwork & Scaffolding (Thailand) Ltd.

Mr. Stefan Euchenhofer

Managing Director

Mr. Tom Prince Sales Manager www.peri.co.th

Construction of buildings | Civil engineering | Specialised construction activities

Property Scout (Thailand) Co. Ltd.

Mr. Felix Wittlinger

Sales Director Dr. Marco Barth COO & Co-Founder contact@propertyscout.co.th www.propertyscout.co.th

Information service activities | Real estate activities

Ms. Roseline Nzete rosnz777@gmail.com

Reeracoen Recruitment Co., Ltd

Mr. Thomas Ehle

Director of Recruiting Division Mr. Hiromichi Kawata

Managing Director info@reeracoen.co.th www.reeracoen.co.th Employment activities

Renaissance Pattaya Resort & Spa

Mr. Bruno Rotschaedl

General Manager

Ms. Caroline Shen Director of Sales & Marketing info@renaissancepattaya.com renaissancepattaya.com

Hotels and similar accommodation | Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles

Siemens Healthineers

Mr. Bjoern Bodenstein

Managing Director Siemens Healthineers Thailand, Myanmar & Cambodia Mr. Shin Heewon

Diagnostic Imaging, Advanced Therapies & Ultrasound https://www.siemens-healthineers.com/ Scientific research and development | Other professional, scientific and technical activities | Business and other management consultancy activities

The Senizens Stroke Rehabilitation Center

Dr. Amnaj Prasitdumrong CEO senizensoffice@gmail.com www.thesenizens.com

Residential care activities | Human health activities | Real estate activities

ISPO Munich 2022 The largest gathering of the sports industry 28-30 November 2022, Munich

ISPO Munich is the world's largest multisegment trade fair in the sports business. The global sports community meets in one place at ISPO Munich to show and experience product innovations as well as build the future of sport together. It is the only place where you can discover the trends that will massively influence the world of sport in the years to come. Get in touch with global brands and international start-ups, and discover the latest products and trends.

At ISPO Munich, more than 2,800 international exhibitors present their latest products to around 85,000 visitors from 120 countries. For 50 years, the leading international sports trade fair has shown the entire range of sporting goods, sports shoes and sports fashion. On display will be sportswear and shoes, fitness equipment, licensed articles, equipment for winter sports and mountaineering, and various services. ISPO Munich is the place to be for all players in the sports and outdoor industry and beyond.

Returning after a successful digital edition, this year ISPO Munich finally takes place again from 28 to 30 November at the Trade Fair Center Messe München. For three days, everything will revolve around networking

with industry colleagues and athletes, the latest trends in the industry as well as many innovations and new products. Together, the sports industry will discuss tomorrow's solutions and provide valuable insights and food for thought for a sustainable and successful future. Topics such as sustainable and responsible production and climate neutrality will be in focus at the exhibition as well as in the supporting formats like the ISPO Academy Conference.

ISPO Munich makes it easy for sports industry professionals to anticipate the macro-trends and developments in eight segments: Health and Fitness; Manufacturing and Suppliers; Outdoor; Snowsports; Teamsports; Trends and Innovation; Industry Services; and Urban and Vision. ISPO Munich 2022 will have all it takes for a business to forge new connections and find a variety of high-quality products.

More details on ISPO Munich are available at https://www.ispo.com/en/munich. For further information, please contact the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce’s official representative for Messe München GmbH in Thailand, Ms. Patamaporn Wasuwat, by telephone at +66 2 055 0641 or by e-mail at muenchen@gtcc.org.

2023:

GREEN

–sustainability at your fingertips 12-15 January 2023, Hannover

Deutsche Messe has used the time of the COVID-19 pandemic hiatus to adapt the world's leading trade show for carpets and floor coverings to changing market needs as well as to further strategic developments. From 12 to 15 January, DOMOTEX will show several new features – a modern and optimized arrangement of the two newly introduced DOMOTEX labels "Rugs" and "Flooring" as well as an adapted hall structure that will facilitate orientation. In addition, DOMOTEX offers even more application orientation and more special formats tailored to specific target groups for more atmosphere and more relevance.

“At the next DOMOTEX, there will be many new things to discover. We have used the last year intensively to develop new participation opportunities for companies and to create a new brand experience for our trade show guests. Extremely valuable for us was, and is the exchanges with all market participants. The topic of sustainability and the circular economy play a major role. The past two years in particular have shown that topics such as resource efficiency, environmentally-friendly products and production processes as well as difficult supply chains are increasingly coming to the fore. With its special showcase "THE GREEN COLLECTION", DOMOTEX is focusing on the issue of sustainability, and offering exhibitors and visitors a hands-on experience of the keynote theme.

The 'new' DOMOTEX will offer everyone involved plenty of scope for experience, orientation, innovation and inspiration, but also, of course, access to new customers, partners and suppliers. We will be presenting trends, innovations and lifestyle de-centrally in the respective exhibition areas. Exhibitors and trade show guests can look forward to many innovative ideas. They can discover trends and innovations that will shape tomorrow's business,” explained Sonia Wedell-Castellano, Global Director DOMOTEX, Deutsche Messe AG.

Likewise, with the new special display area “THE GREEN COLLECTION”, the theme of sustainability will be presented in an inspiring ambience. In line with the keynote theme FLOORED BY NATURE, the special GREEN COLLECTION area will provide an overview of products and production processes from carpet and flooring manufacturers that stand for sustainability. These curated exhibitor contributions will provide orientation and inspiration for anyone seeking information on sustainable products and, thanks to corresponding

manufacturer credentials, make it easier to find products at DOMOTEX. THE GREEN COLLECTION covers the topics of: eco-friendly products; healthy products; sustainable production; and social responsibility. Current research projects, and thus a glimpse into the future of carpeting and flooring, are also offered at the event.

For more details, please contact Mr. Nupat Khusribanchong, the official German-Thai Chamber of Commerce representative for Deutsche Messe AG Thailand, by telephone at +66 2 055 0643 or by e-mail at hannover@gtcc.org.

Perimeter Protection 2023: Anticipation is already strong for the next Perimeter Protection

17-19 January 2023, Nuremberg

In 2022 the decision was taken, on account of the pandemic, and in close consultation with exhibitors and partner entities Gütegemeinschaft Metallzauntechnik (Metal Fence Technology Association), Verband für Sicherheitstechnik (German Association for Security Technology, VfS) and UAV DACH (German-speaking Association for Unmanned Aircraft), to defer Perimeter Protection for a year. Plans are now in full swing for the event in January 2023, and 90 per cent of the exhibition area is already booked.

Trade visitors can look forward to an event that reflects the entire range of products and services for mechanical, electric and electronic security solutions. Rounding out the exhibition is the integration of the U.T.SEC platform, which focuses on the technical, legal and practical opportunities available for the use of drones and other unmanned technologies, and for defence against such systems.

Perimeter Protection 2023 will once again offer an accompanying Trade Forum with highcalibre speakers, presenting practical solutions as well as offering participants plenty of opportunities for professional knowledge-sharing and discussions with experts during the three days of the event.

The themes of perimeter protection, fencing and building security, and unmanned technologies are a firm part of the programme, which is being organized in partnership with the VfS (German Association for Security Technology), UAV DACH (German-speaking Association for Unmanned Aircraft) and CURPAS (Civil Use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems). The presentations will focus on innovative approaches and novel solutions, and will tackle topics of current interest. The Trade Forum will also offer businesses and institutions an opportunity to present their subject-area expertise and products, and services to the exhibition and lecture visitors.

For more details, please contact Mr. Nupat Khusribanchong, official German-Thai Chamber of Commerce representative for NürnbergMesse GmbH in Thailand, by telephone at +66 2 055 0643 or by e-mail at nuernberg@gtcc.org.

The International Green Week 2023

20-29 January 2023, Berlin

The 88th International Green Week (IGW) will take place from 20 to 29 January 2023. IGW is a one-of-a-kind international exhibition of the food, agriculture and gardening industries. IGW is the origin of the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA). This is where more than 70 international ministries and food producers meet and with their displays reveal the fascinating world of the food and beverage industries.

Everyone who has been around since 1926 knows how traditions are maintained as well as how innovations are created in order to ensure continuity. Renewable resources, organic agriculture, gardening and the future of rural development continue to gain importance at IGW.

A visit to IGW is like a culinary journey around the world! Immerse yourself in our theme worlds and get in the mood for what awaits you on-site.

• German regions: Would you like to explore the culinary delights of our federal states? Start an indoor tour, from the Alps to the Baltic Sea.

• World Tour: Are you more of a globetrotter? Then you've come to the right place. The diverse range on offer at the IGW is a culinary world tour for all the senses.

• Green up your life: Discover our new hall segment that is all about a more sustainable lifestyle. Recycling, urban gardening, eating regional are just a few of the many topics that are waiting for you.

• Rural diversity: Multi-talent wood, renewable raw materials, forest, game, hunting and nature, rural development, voluntary work and bioeconomy.

• Flower hall: Gather inspiration for your own garden and enjoy the first harbingers of spring in the middle of winter!

• Animals: Around 5,000 animals are on the grounds. Whether cows, sheep, horses, pets or farm animals, here every animal enthusiast gets his money's worth.

• Street food: Feast on the delicacies of our food trucks and experience the latest street food trends in our market hall.

• Garden, house and yard: Whether it's new patio furniture, the long-held desire for a winter garden, bulbs for the new flower bed, or even new kitchen equipment, you are sure to find your inspiration for your next project.

• Event farm: Learn more about the responsibility of modern agriculture for animal welfare, the protection of nature and the reliable supply of food.

More details on International Green Week are available at https://www.gruenewoche.de/en/. For further information, please contact the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce’s official representative for Messe Berlin GmbH in Thailand, Ms. Patamaporn Wasuwat, by telephone at +66 2 055 0641 or by e-mail at berlin@gtcc.org.

Spielwarenmesse brings 2023 trends to life

1-5 February 2023, Nuremberg

In the retail trade, toy trends play an important part in shaping the product range and can affect the success of the business. In such matters, the Spielwarenmesse relies on the expertise of its TrendCommittee to identify relevant developments at an early stage. The team is pulling together its findings and meeting to identify the Spielwarenmesse trends that will be announced around mid-October 2022. After a two-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, visitors will once again be able to explore the trends with relevant products in the redesigned ToyTrends special area in Hall 3A.

The international Trend Committee is made up of market researchers, trend scouts and journalists. For the Spielwarenmesse, its 13 members have devoted themselves again to the search for future-orientated trends in their own countries. And the team has a new member –Jackie Breyer is succeeded by Maddie Michalik of the USA. As a journalist for The Toy Insider and The Toy Book, she keeps the industry up to date, reporting on innovations, trends and new product launches. In addition, she often appears as a guest in various TV shows to discuss such matters.

In specifying the trends, there are key criteria that the Spielwarenmesse experts take into account. Prime focus is on medium-term industry trends that will exert an influence on the world of toys in the future. This gives the toy sector an overview and a means of orientation as to the trends that are already playing a part in the relevant media and social networks, but which are not yet affecting the market to a significant extent.

“Other important factors for the Spielwarenmesse trends are the international dimension and mass-market suitability,” explains Christian Ulrich, Spokesperson for the Board at Spielwarenmesse eG. “With its ability to look beyond the usual horizons, and given the different personal backgrounds of its members, the TrendCommittee has a real feel for newly emerging trends.”

For more details, please contact Mr. Nupat Khusribanchong, official German-Thai Chamber of Commerce representative for Spielwarenmesse eG in Thailand, by telephone at +66 2 055 0643 or by e-mail at nuernberg@gtcc.org.