The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) provides a large market for the gaming industry, with the value estimated to reach USD 13.12 million in 2024 and achieve USD 17.88 million by 2028, according to Statista Research. The gaming industry encompasses the development, distribution, and monetization of games across platforms such as mobile devices, PCs, consoles and cloud services, while it involves various industries such as electronics, digital/ICT, tourism and so forth. The growing popularity of e-sports is also boosting the gaming industry.
Thailand has the potential to become a hub for the gaming industry in South-East Asia. According to the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), the gaming industry’s value accounted for about THB 34 billion in 2023, ranked 20th in the world, the highest in ASEAN. The Thai government aims to promote games as one of the national soft power elements, boost the value of the gaming industry and further enhance other related industries.
The Steering Subcommittee on Game Industry, Thailand Creative Culture Agency (THACCA), was established in 2023 under the National Soft Power Strategy Committee to drive the gaming industry and expand the share of Thai entrepreneurs. According to Sittichai Theppaitoon, Chairman of this Steering Subcommittee, the gaming industry in Thailand is worth 38 billion baht per year on average, based on the calculation of Thai people’s spending on online games and hiring people to make the games. There are approximately 30 million online game players in Thailand.
In terms of infrastructure, Thailand has good facilities to support the industry, such as the fastest internet in the region and the wide coverage of 5G technology. The development of skilled labours is also promising. There are 18 universities that offer courses related to games and e-sports such as the 4-year Digital Design and Digital Technology (DD & DT) course at the King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT).
To attract investors in the gaming industry, Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) outlined a fiveyear promotion plan with incentives, as a part of the digital content sector. Activities eligible for investment promotion include the development of software, digital platform or digital content, and digital infrastructure such as data centres and cloud services.
I trust you will enjoy informative and interesting reads.
Dr. Roland Wein
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: Editor & Communications Director: Design & Layout: Sub-Editor: Dr. Roland Wein Chadaphan Maliphan Sorapol Liengboonlertchai Bruce Scott
04 Gaming industry has a bright future 07 THACCA Steering Subcommittee on Game Industry: Promoting the gaming industry as Thailand’s soft power
10 GAWOONI: Connecting the real world and partners through games
14 The rise of e-sports in Thailand and opportunities for investors
16 E-sports in the mainstream: Exciting opportunities for the gaming industry CHAMBER ACTIVITIES
18 Young Professionals Network Evening
18 Jungheinrich x Brose Site Visit
19 GTCC AFTERWORK Briefing with Lufthansa and Networking
20
21 GTCC AFTERWORK Briefing with Forvis Mazars and Networking 23 Rhenus Logistics Breakfast Talk 24 GTCC AFTERWORK Briefing with Luther and Networking CHAMBER ACTIVITIES
Seminar with
Coachology
25 Fact-finding mission in Germany on Biomethane 26 ASEAN Insights 2024
27 GTCC Multi-Chamber Eastern Seaboard Briefing and Networking
GTDEE INSIGHT 33 Workshop for teachers in automotive mechatronics
GTCC Vocational Education Committee meeting 35 Final examination in mechatronics part 1 36 Winning digital game design competitions: Adaptability to changes takes hard skills and cultural understanding
MEMBERS’ CORNER 38 New GTCC members
Gaming industry has a bright future
Thomas Hundt
When people in Thailand look like they are very focused on their smartphones, they are usually playing a video game.
One in ten video gamers in Southeast Asia can be found in Thailand, as young people and more and more adults are playing video games. Around 93 percent of internet users in Thailand between the ages of 10 and 50 play video games on their smartphone. This proportion is well above the global average of 83 percent.
However, gamers also use other devices. According to a survey, around 70 percent of internet users also use video game consoles and 84 percent also play on their computer.
GAMERS SPENDING MORE AND MORE MONEY
According to Statista, the video game industry in Thailand is expected to generate around US$ 2.2 billion dollars in revenue in 2024. Within the Southeast Asian video games market, which is estimated to be worth US$ 13.1 billion in 2024, the Kingdom
* Forecast
Source: Statista Market Insights 2024
Eight out of ten games are played on a smartphone, and for good reasons. Statistically, every citizen has a smartphone and many even have several. Mobile phone contracts are cheap, so even people with low incomes can play games online or watch game broadcasts on their devices. Mobile contracts also do not limit data volumes and network speeds are high. Fifth-generation high-speed networks completely cover urban centres.
ranks second after Indonesia (US$ 3.7 billion). The Thai gaming industry generates the largest revenue from the sale of gaming hardware.
The most popular mobile games in terms of revenue and number of players are currently: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang developed by Moonton from China, RoV from Tencent (China), Free Fire from Garena (Singapore), Coin Master from Moon Active (Israel) and eFootball (Konami, Japan). The gaming platform Roblox from the USA is also frequently used to play online or create your own computer games.
SPECIAL FEATURES OF MARKETING
Influencers and video streamers receive even more attention in Thailand than in other countries. The most important channels in Thailand are Twitch, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.
The most important messenger app, Line, is increasingly developing into a multiple platform and also offers its 54 million users video games. The strategy game “Let’s get rich” from Line became a huge success.
FOREIGN PROVIDERS ARE DOING GOOD BUSINESS
The government's Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) calculates that foreign video games account for more than 95 percent of the market. Major publishers such as EA Games, Tencent and Garena have therefore opened their own sales offices in Bangkok. And other developers and publishers from China, South Korea and the USA are entering the growth market.
The US developer and publisher of computer games Riot Games, for example, founded a representative office in Bangkok at the end of 2023 with the aim of tapping into the entire Southeast Asian region. Riot Games focus is on mobile games, which are to be adapted to local tastes, characters and cultural elements.
A third of gamers prefer multiplayer roleplaying games, while fighting games follow in second place. Games based on dance, music, and films – for example games based on well-known horror stories – are also popular among gamers. Young people are also strongly oriented towards trends and characters from Korea or Japan.
GAMES START FREE OF CHARGE
In Thailand, as elsewhere, many online games are initially free of charge, but in-game and in-app purchases to unlock additional content and functions drive up the providers' revenues. They are also earning more and more money from in-game advertising.
CONSOLE MARKET STABLE, ACCESSORIES ARE BOOMING
The market for gaming consoles such as Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s Playstation is expected to grow by around 1 percent per year until 2029. This is because the number of PC games on offer shrank to 24 video games in 2023.
However, they have a loyal customer base. Around 216,000 video game consoles were sold in Thailand in 2023. Their imports under customs tariff number 9504.50 amounted to US$ 62.6 million in 2023. China supplies more than 99 percent of video game devices.
However, expensive accessories are used. Computer games in three dimensions are becoming increasingly popular and sales of virtual reality glasses are expected to grow by almost 8 percent per year from around US$ 75 million in 2023 to 2029.
LOCAL GAMING INDUSTRY TO BE STRENGTHENED
The depa wants to strengthen the domestic gaming industry and ecosystem. Thai gaming companies and start-ups receive development loans and training from the depa.
Ten game developers have joined forces to form the Thai Game Software Industry Association. Domestic game developers include Corecell, FairPlay Studios, GAMEINDY, Innova, PIGSSS GAMES, RingZero Game Studio, Urnique Studio, Vermillion Digital, and Yggdrazil Group.
From July to September, 2024, the game association is organising the ‘Thai Games Talent Showcase’ series of events, which also includes seminars and competitions. Visitors can admire the latest games and trends from development studios.
Young girl experiencing Virtual Reality at the exhibition.
“ Around 93 percent of internet users in Thailand between the ages of 10 and 50 play video games on their smartphone. This proportion is well above the global average of 83 percent.”
In addition, 17 local publishers of online games are active. They can also help foreign developers to enter the market. The game publisher Asphere Innovations, founded in Bangkok in 2001 (turnover in 2023 approx. US$ 42 million), is expanding into other Southeast Asian countries as well and can organise regional marketing activities. The company Electronics Extreme also describes itself as a major publisher of online games and works with several foreign partners.
FOREIGN COMPANIES REQUIRE A LICENSE
Market entry can also be organised by the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce in Bangkok. German companies should prepare themselves well and consult a law firm if necessary.
If foreign owners have a majority stake in a company, they must apply for a ‘Foreign Business License’. However, the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) can grant an exemption from the Foreign Business License. In addition, the BOI exempts companies that produce software, digital platforms or digital content from corporate income tax at a rate of 20 percent for eight years upon application. The BOI can also grant visas and work permits for employees from abroad
SKILLED WORKERS URGENTLY NEEDED
Like the entire software industry, game developers are complaining about a shortage of skilled workers. On the one hand, the demand for developers and designers is likely to increase with the rapid growth of the gaming industry, while on the other, young people are
keen to turn their passion for video games into a career. Universities such as Mahidol, Bangkok University, and Thammasat are therefore increasing their course offerings in the gaming sector.
Foreign training providers such as NobleProg, from Poland, also offer online training courses in gaming. Of course, international training providers must bear in mind that most people in the Kingdom have little or no knowledge of English.
HIGH SALARIES FOR GAMING EXPERTS AND ATHLETES
Companies looking to hire gaming professionals also turn to recruitment agencies. The recruitment agency RECRUITdee reports that experienced developers and designers expect salaries of the equivalent of at least US$ 3,500 per month.
Thailand has also produced hundreds of professional, high-earning e-sports players who are among the best in the world. E-sports tournaments in Bangkok attract thousands of spectators. The teams are also successful at international championships and experienced marketing companies such as the international Ampverse Group branch accompany the professional teams, organise tournaments, sponsorship and advertising.
Trade fairs also provide a good insight into the industry. The ‘Thailand Game Show’ will take place in Bangkok from 18 to 20 October 2024, and the Thai organisers, True Digital Group and Show No Limit, are expecting more than 170,000 visitors to the 17th edition of this popular industry get-together.
Contact details:
Thomas Hundt
Senior
Manager
South and Southeast Asia Germany Trade & Invest www.gtai.de
PlayStation Experience SEA 2018, held for the first time in Bangkok, Thailand.
THACCA Steering Subcommittee on Game Industry: Promoting the gaming industry as Thailand’s soft power
Sittichai Theppaitoon
Thailand’s gaming industry has the potential to generate more income, with the growth valuing 38 billion baht per year. The Thai government aims to promote games as one of the national soft power elements to boost the value of the gaming industry itself and enhance other related industries, such as tourism, food and textiles. Accordingly, a subcommittee on games has been established to drive the gaming industry and expand the share of Thai entrepreneurs.
GTCC had the opportunity to interview Sittichai Theppaitoon, Chairman of the Steering Subcommittee on Game Industry, Thailand Creative Culture Agency (THACCA), regarding the current situation of the gaming industry and the government’s plan to drive it forward as a soft power. Sittichai has a wide range of experiences in the gaming industry in Thailand, as he has been a game developer (F2P/MMO/Cross-platform/ Gamification/Metaverse) since 2001. In addition to his current role as the Chairman of the THACCA-Game subcommittee, he is an executive of the game companies GAMEINDY and Debuz, a member of Creative Digital Economy and E-commerce committee, a lecturer and game curriculum supervisor at King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT, also known as “Bangmod”), a government agency advisor, a member of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade of Thailand committee, along with many other titles and duties. Sittichai holds a Master's degree in Computer Engineering from Kasetsart University.
When was the Steering Subcommittee on Game Industry, Thailand Creative Culture Agency (THACCA), established and why?
The THACCA Steering Subcommittee on Game Industry was established on 6 October 2023, following the Prime Minister Settha Thavisin government's policy to drive games as one of the soft power areas. Thus the THACCA Steering Subcommittee on Game Industry is responsible for collecting data and proposing guidelines and measures for promoting and developing Thailand’s gaming industry to the National Soft Power Development Committee. The proposed guidelines and measures will be used in formulating national policies and plans for the development of the country's soft power.
The gaming industry in Thailand is worth 38 billion baht per year, calculated from the amount of spending that Thais deposit into games, buying items, and the hiring of people to make the games. This value tends to increase steadily. The Covid-19 period (2020) was considered the peak of the Thai gaming industry, while the value last year was approximately 34 billion baht. However, it was found that the income of Thai game developers was only 200 million baht. Therefore, one of the guidelines and measures proposed to the National Soft Power Development Committee is to increase the proportion of Thai games developed by Thai entrepreneurs in the market.
The second proposed measure is to push Thailand to become the centre of e-sports events in Southeast Asia. Compared to neighbouring countries, Thailand has better facilities to support e-sports. For example, our internet is the fastest in the region and our 5G technology covers every region of the country. Therefore, Thailand's infrastructure is suitable for organising game competitions and, in fact, many e-sports events have been organised in Thailand already. Thai tourism is also an outstanding feature that attracts a lot of visitors.
Another key measure proposed is to integrate games with other soft power areas, such as fashion, tourism, and education, so that they can support each other.
What is the gaming industry like in Thailand’s neighbouring countries?
The gaming industry of our neighbouring countries is quite well established. For example, Vietnam has a unicorn in gaming. The gaming industry direction of both Vietnam and Indonesia is strong, with the main factor of “population” accounting for approximately 90 million and 200 million people, respectively. As for Thailand, our population – 71.8 million people, according to the World Bank – may not increase much, but there is a good trend regardless. The value of Thailand’s gaming industry is ranked in the world’s top 20, based on the data from 2019* and 2023**, and it’s the highest in Southeast Asia. In addition, there have been more foreigners organising international e-sports competitions in Thailand, although with the participation of fewer Thai teams. If we do nothing, we will lose the opportunity to create this value. We should enhance public relations, execute the measures, and integrate with more comprehensive data on e-sports.
What is the potential for Thai youths to support the gaming and e-sports industries?
Looking at the value of Thai children’s spending on playing games, the potential of Thai youths in the gaming industry is very high. Another strength of Thailand, since the Ayutthaya period, is that we adopt all cultures. As we play games from both the West and the East, Thai people most likely have knowledge of designing games in the contexts of both the East and the West.
Because games are a recreational activity that Thai children are enthusiastic about, we have quite a lot of students with potential in this area. Thailand has 18 universities and courses related to e-sports, such as those at Silpakorn University, KMUTT, Thammasat University, Chamber of Commerce, Sripathum University, Rangsit University, and Rajabhat University, to name just a few.
At KMUTT, there is a 4-year programme called Digital Design and Digital Technology (DD & DT), which is an academic curriculum jointly developed by three institutes: Digital Design and Technology Innovation Center (DIDTC), KMUTT, and the DigiPen Institute of Technology USA. It is a dual degree programme, taught in Thailand for two years and then abroad for two years. Upon graduation, students will receive two Bachelor's degrees. They can choose to study at DigiPen Institute of Technology in either the United States or in Singapore, but most of them choose the USA. This collaborative programme allows students to be ready at the international level, expanding their access to global artists and giant companies.
E-sports has expanded from the physical education and sports education curriculum, resulting in increasing numbers of e-sports students and teachers. From my experience as a lecturer, if it's just about coding, there are about 15-20 percent of Thai students at the exceptional level. But when it comes to art and design, we have over 50 percent at the exceptional level. We are world-class in design. After the Covid-19 period, which accelerated work from home, foreign countries started to outsource, hiring Thailand’s younger generation to write programs. Moreover, those who graduated with a gaming degree can work in other careers, and there are about a thousand students studying games and e-sports all over the country. Thailand has a lot of skilled people in this field, but the value of the gaming industry, contributed by Thai companies, is still quite low.
Can you tell us a bit about the ‘Thai Game Craft’ event, explaining both the purpose of the event, and who are the partners involved?
Thai Game Craft is the first international Thai gaming event organised by the government,
“ Looking at the value of Thai children’s spending on playing games, the potential of Thai youths in the gaming industry is very high.”
under the THACCA Steering Subcommittee on Game industry, to support and promote Thailand’s gaming and e-sports industry to the international market. The event provides an opportunity to the industry stakeholders build networks and participate in business matching between Thai entrepreneurs and foreign investors. This allows Thai entrepreneurs to have a platform to showcase their potential and creativity, as well as new game developers who have integrated Thai culture or stories into their games. In the past, large-scale gaming events were mainly organised by the private sector.
Thai Game Craft 2024 was organised to align with the Bangkok International Digital Culture Festival 2024 (BIDC 2024) by the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce. The BIDC has been organised many times to showcase Thailand’s digital content potential, and as a business matching forum that includes games. But because this year the government will focus its support more on the soft power in the gaming sector, we would like to have a gaming exhibition held in parallel with BIDC’s business matching event to better meet gaming needs.
How does Thai Game Craft help drive the soft power policy, and create popularity for “Thainess” on the international stage?
The event showcases the game creations of Thai entrepreneurs, each of whom has incorporated their Thai identity and culture into their games. For example, the ‘Meow on Tour’ game features cats travelling to various important places or tourist attractions in Thailand. Other examples include ‘Dala and the Cursed Forest’, which is a Thai-style magic spell game, and ‘11 Hour’, a ghost game which tells stories about Thai ghosts.
Who were the participants in Thai Game Craft 2024?
From a total of 1,069 participants, 956 were Thais, and 113 were foreigners, with some of the foreigners being entrepreneurs who were exhibitors at the BIDC. Another group comprised entrepreneurs from New Zealand. There were also allies in the gaming industry from Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and India – to name a few – who are the partners of gaming companies in Thailand.
In the past, most of the Thai gaming events organised in Thailand were from abroad. There were very few presentations of the work of Thai entrepreneurs, even though we have quite a few. Thai Game Craft 2024 was unique in that it gathered the largest number of Thai gaming entrepreneurs ever.
What were the highlights of Thai Game Craft 2024, and the success factors of the event overall?
One of the highlights of Thai Game Craft is the pitching of game entrepreneurs onstage, showing the public how their games are outstanding. There was also space for new game designers showcasing student works, an e-sports competition showcasing the competition between Buriram United and the Talon team, cosplay games inspired by Thai culture, and art toys made by Thai artists (such as Ganesha in various forms). There was also a forum on the government’s measures to support the game industry, education, and teaching in Thailand, while the games that received international awards were presented with these accolades at this event.
The content of the event is hybrid, meaning both Thai and English languages are used, as well as having the host speaking in both languages. The entrepreneurs who presented on stage could use whichever language they were more comfortable with.
The success factors of this event are the cooperation of people from all sectors, because the Thai game industry has had hidden potential for a very long time. And as this event is a stage to showcase both the work of Thai entrepreneurs and the potential of Thai students, Thai media are there to help push it forward as well. Another event partner was Thai Game Software Industry Association (TGA).
Next year, Thai Game Craft will be held again, at around the same time. In addition to Thai Game Craft 2025, which is an international event, there will be a couple more government-run gaming industry events per year (one international and one national), along with private sector events.
It would be fruitful to have co-production between Thai game operators and German companies, and German business organisations can contact the Department of International Trade to enquire about business matching. For participation in Thai Game Craft 2025, please wait for more information next year.
Contact details: Sittichai Theppaitoon Director, National Soft Power Strategy Committee
Chairman, Steering Subcommittee on Game Industry, Thailand Creative Culture Agency (THACCA) bankdebuz@gmail.com https://thacca.go.th/
GAWOONI: Connecting the real world and partners through games
Frank Holz
Games generate more than US$ 180 billion in revenue per year worldwide, with an annual market growth of more than 5 per cent. The most important segment is mobile games, responsible for almost 50 per cent of the total revenue, and the strongest growth markets are Southeast Asia, India, and South America. Thailand's gaming industry is valued at 34 billion baht and the country is Southeast Asia’s leader in this sector, ranked 20th in the world. Thailand is leading in e-sports as well, as it won the most e-sport medals among ASEAN nations at the 2022 Asian Games in China and earned the third-most medals among Asian countries.
Delving deeper into this subject, GTCC UPDATE Magazine proudly presents an exclusive interview with Frank Holz, one of the founders and directors of GAWOONI – a German developer and publisher of mobile games (smartphones, tablets) and online games (PC / Browser), currently focusing on the digital growth markets of Southeast Asia and India. GAWOONI operates its own online gaming platform, gawooni.games, in more than 20 languages, and their development teams from Europe, India and Southeast Asia work together on international and innovative game concepts.
Holz has been active in the games industry for more than 20 years. He is a marketing professional with a background in economics and international marketing. He began his career as a consultant for companies like Daimler-Benz and Vodafone, before moving into the games industry in 1996 as marketing director for Infogrames and Atari. In 2021, he established GAWOONI MetaLabs, focusing on blockchain gaming (GameFi) and high-end NFT art production. The company’s first game, K4 Rally, features the expertise of real rally champions and renowned motorsport brands, highlighting Frank's dedication to innovation in gaming. The company’s new game, Tuk Tuk Rush, is expected to launch next year, and it
will connect gamers to the real world more than ever with the game quality, partnerships, and planned tournaments.
What is the meaning behind your company’s name, and why did you choose the slogan “The Next Big Thing in Gaming”?
Before I started running my own gaming company, everything in my life was about marketing. I was formerly the marketing director of Atari, a well-known games publisher, for 25 years. In my experience, it is crucial that you first have a rough idea about the concept, and secondly you need to check the availability of your desired company name. We played around and used the best letters from “Games World Online”, and when I checked the URL availability of GAWOONI it was free to use. And because it’s usually hard to get short names, we immediately registered it.
During that time I was already working in Thailand and had got in touch with elephant
care stations, where I became very familiar with these animals and learned to love them. So the GAWOONI slogan, “The Next Big Thing in Gaming”, is because of the elephant in our logo, not because I want everybody to think that we are better than everyone else.
Unlike other Western game developers, GAWOONI focuses on the digital growth market of Southeast Asia and India. Can you tell us the reason why that is?
In 2010, I started my own international games consulting company, and I was hired by the Thai government to promote its Thai games industry at an international level. For three years I visited Thailand often to give consultations to game developers and to the Thai government. I learned a lot about Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore, because I needed to look into each government’s benchmark in terms of how they supported their local games industry. After I came back to the Thai government with a long list of suggestions on what is possible, we started promoting Thai games developers and I promoted Thai development companies to get their international projects on board.
Normally, big international game publishers do not create an entire game by their teams only, but frequently look for external teams. This is where I connect game developers with international publishers and secure a lot of good projects for them. It’s also the reason why I became very familiar with the games industry in Southeast Asia and learned that this region especially is growing very fast in gaming. The overall global games industry is growing, but much slower than in Southeast Asia. Therefore, as a new game development company I should focus on these regions, because they have the highest potential, and a spirit of moving forward. Southeast Asia has a positive attitude towards gaming. Also, if you focus on big markets like USA, China, South Korea, you are just one of many companies.
Between Southeast Asia and India, which market is bigger for your products?
India is a very big country with a lot of gamers, but very few people are willing to pay. In Southeast Asia they play and pay, and Thailand is currently the bigger and more interesting market. For us, as game developers, this is very important because we need to cover all the costs upfront for game development. Once the game is live, we need to earn the money back, which is difficult in India. That’s why we decided to develop a Thailand inspired game, called Tuk Tuk Rush.
What unique things distinguish GAWOONI from other game developing companies?
What makes us unique is that we are only developing games that have a connection to the real world, which allows for partnerships, especially marketing partnerships. Besides developing a good quality game, it’s just as important to market it well. Normally, if you have no marketing partnerships, you need to pay for everything with your marketing budget. However, with a game related to the real world, using a tuk-tuk for example, we can simultaneously promote Thailand. There are also a lot of possibilities to connect with local brands, like King Power, Dtac, True, Terminal 21, Tourism Authority of Thailand and more, for partnerships in which we offer them a chance to promote their brand in the game.
We are not asking for money, but marketing partnerships. We are going to be running promotions together and are going to organise branded tournaments. These tournaments will be presented to you by a certain type of brand. And while we’re featuring this tournament in our community, our brand partners will be featuring it in their community. This is how we will be growing as a game, and marketing partnerships are super important for the success of a game.
All of our games, in fact, have a connection to the real world. Tuk Tuk Rush is the best
example, but we are also doing a K4 Rally racing game and partnering with a lot of good brands like Monster Energy, and Pirelli, who are also doing marketing for us.
Another important thing is to design your game in a way that it makes it advertisable. For Tuk Tuk Rush we are building parts of Bangkok, parts of Phuket, and so on, and when you have a racetrack – whether in Bangkok or in Phuket – advertising is a normal part of that landscape. Imagine driving through Bangkok and you see no advertisements, it’s impossible. So because it’s part of the real-life scenery, it also feels natural within the game.
Tuk Tuk Rush is a game that promotes Thailand, so it only makes sense to reach out to these companies and offer them the chance to be featured in the game for free. Subsequently, a lot of people from all over the world will play it and will recognise these brands. Using the example of Terminal 21, you’d be able to click on the icon and get extra information about the locations of their different branches in various parts of Thailand.
How many games has GAWOONI developed so far?
About 10, but now we are focusing on expanding our production and increasing the quality. Before we started with mobile games, and now we’ve switched to Cross Platform Productions. This means that you can play games on your PC, mobile, or on game streaming. You can play the game on different devices and places as they are connected.
What are the current trends in the games industry in Southeast Asia, particularly in Thailand?
The current trend is e-sports. People love to take part in competitions and win prizes. Like the Olympic Games, e-sport tournaments normally range from a period of three to six months and have lots of viewers worldwide. That’s why e-sports is driving our industry. It’s even in discussion to be included in the Olympics in a few years. A lot of people see e-sports as a true sport, and there are teams all over the world, including Thailand, which are sponsored by investors.
“ Compared to the German gaming industry, the Thai gaming industry is much younger, with much more enthusiasm […]. The development costs are also much lower”
When will you host the first tournaments for your upcoming game, Tuk Tuk Rush?
We plan to release Tuk Tuk Rush at the end of the first quarter next year, and run tournaments where you just drive for skills. And then we’ll have branded promotion tournaments with our partners, who are well-known Thai brands. Everybody will drive the same fully branded tuk tuk, and the first prize will be sponsored by our brand partner. For example, a shopping voucher of THB 50,000 from a brand partner will go to the winner, and then prizes number 2 to 9 are from our side. The branded tournaments will happen once a month, so we will have 12 branded tournaments in total every year.
The brand partners gain a lot of exposure because thousands of people are battling, and talking about the game on social media. We are doing things exactly this way with our game K4 Rally and it’s working very well. We have branded racing tournaments and people love it.
How did you initially penetrate this local Thai market?
Back in 2010 when I first came to Thailand I was still running my own game consulting company. I was hired by the Thai government and I had to work with SIPA, a software industry promotion agency. I saw that the biggest hurdle for Thai companies was English language comprehension. Thai people are sometimes too shy, which in a way is part of their culture, and most of the Thai game developers had an issue with language. So I advised the SIPA to invest in English courses because of the importance of clear communication when doing international collaborations. After that, they had enough self-confidence to actively participate in international calls. These days, however, you have a multitude of English translation apps, which makes communicating so much easier.
When was the idea for Tuk Tuk Rush developed?
The original idea was developed in 2016. The game was supposed to be released in October
2016, but then King Rama IX passed away. A one-year mourning period started, so there was no chance for us to release Tuk Tuk Rush. I tried to restart it in 2019, but then Covid-19 emerged in 2020, borders were closed, and there were no more tourists until 2022. Then, in 2023, a group of artists introduced us to blockchain gaming and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). In the art industry, you can buy art as an NFT. This gave us the idea to restart Tuk Tuk Rush as an NFT art project, so we got six famous Thai digital artists already on board to design their vision of a tuk tuk, which could be sold as an NFT.
Tuk Tuk Rush is now becoming more than just a game, since it's also a project where well-known Thai digital artists can express and promote themselves. The community is also highly interested in the story behind the artwork and the artists vision of Thailand. The most important thing is that we want to keep it non-political. Everything needs to be approved by us. We are promoting Thailand and nothing else.
We have 25 people working on Tuk Tuk Rush, 14 in Thailand and 11 in Germany, and they are working closely together. In Germany they’re very skilled at coding and programming, while Thailand is expertly handling the graphics and animation. We use the best from both countries. A lot of people are now waiting for this game because of the nearly photorealistic gaming experience. It will be the first game promoting Thailand in high-end graphic quality.
How many players do you target for Tuk Tuk Rush?
As it will be marketed worldwide, we are targeting around 2-3 million. It will be available as a
PC game, mobile game, and in game streaming. The game is free to play, you can race with the standard Bangkok Tuk Tuk, or buy special Tuk Tuks with an additional feature like a coin multiplier from Thai digital artists.
How do trends in the gaming industry compare between Germany and Thailand?
Compared to the German gaming industry, the Thai gaming industry is much younger, with much more enthusiasm, both here and in Southeast Asia. The development costs are also much lower, so it is easier to finance the full development project upfront. Developing the entire game would be very expensive in Germany.
What is blockchain gaming and are you involved in this?
We need to make one thing clear: Blockchain gaming is not crypto gaming. It is about using blockchain technology for our in-game items. For instance, you can buy a Tuk Tuk NFT and you have a chance to trade it for a higher value on external NFT marketplaces. It started 2021 in the Philippines with the game Axie Infinity. Whole families switched their normal jobs to gaming, levelling up game characters and earning by trading them. Blockchain gaming is adding a completely new layer of motivation to gaming.
Do you have any other collaborations with partners in Thailand?
We already have another racing game in development and planning for a martial arts game too. But for now, we want to put all our focus on Tuk Tuk Rush because we are eager to finally release it after waiting for so long.
Interviewed by Chadaphan Maliphan and Alisha Schmidt, GTCC Team.
Contact details:
Frank Holz Managing Director GAWOONI GmbH
frank.holz@gawooni.com
https://gawooni.company
The rise of e-sports in Thailand and opportunities for investors
Baker Mckenzie Team
E-sports has become popular in Thailand over the past two decades. The first e-sports tournament in Thailand was held in 2001, and apart from the aspect of professional sports and athletes, the popularity of e-sports also creates an ecosystem of businesses that revolve around it, including:
• Software and hardware business: In e-sports competitions and training, the games and equipment, such as computers, mobile phones, and other gaming gear used, are essential.
• Media business: The popularity of e-sports also evolves through live broadcasts and advertisements during e-sports competitions.
• Professional e-sports club: Similar to other traditional professional sports, e-sports also has professional sports clubs which are responsible for finding sponsors and sourcing income for athletes.
According to the research on Thailand's digital content business, undertaken by the Digital Economy Promotion Agency of Thailand (DEPA), the gaming industry in Thailand was valued at approximately 34 billion baht in 2023, and it is estimated that the digital content business in general will continue to grow at the rate of 4 percent in the next few years.
LEGAL STATUS OF E-SPORTS UNDER THAI LAW
Despite its popularity and success in Thailand, e-sports was not recognised as a professional sport until 2021. At that time, the Professional Sports Commission of Thailand ("Sports Commission") officially recognised and announced e-sports as a professional sport, similar to other traditional sports like football, golf, and tennis. Such official recognition provides concrete protection and legal obligations to businesses and stakeholders within the industry.
Now, under the current Notification of Professional Sports Commission, re: Designation of Professional Sports B.E. 2566 (2023), e-sports are finally recognised as a professional sport under the Promotion of Professional Sports Act B.E. 2556 (2013) ("Professional Sports Act"). Protection and legal obligations that apply to traditional professional sports shall be applied to stakeholders in the e-sports industry.
Below are certain key protections and legal obligations for stakeholders within the e-sports industry:
1. Professional e-sports clubs and professional e-sports associations
• Professional e-sports clubs and professional e-sports associations are required to notify the competent authority of their operations.
• Those who notify the competent authority will obtain the right to use e-sports-
“ E-sports are finally recognised as a professional sport under the Promotion of Professional Sports Act B.E. 2556 (2013)”
related terminology in their club or association name, and be granted certain benefits (e.g., athlete and staff development, information on athletes, participation of national and international professional competitions, and the lending of properties of the SAT).
• The notified professional clubs and associations must adhere to the following key requirements, including but not limited to:
(1) Entering into a contract with each of their e-sports athletes and staff, which must contain the minimum required terms (e.g., normal working hours, annual leave, and termination of employment).
(2) Issuing a code of conduct for their e-sports athletes or staff. The code must include punishment for any violations.
(3) Providing assurances that e-sports athletes, staff, fans or attendees of events/competitions will act in an orderly manner throughout the competition at the exhibition ground.
2. Professional e-sports athletes and staff
• Professional e-sports athletes and staff are required to notify the competent authority of their professional status. Similar to clubs and associations, those who notify the competent authority will obtain certain forms of protection and benefits (e.g., participation in national and international professional competitions, borrowing properties of the SAT, and the protection of contractual rights with professional e-sports clubs or associations).
• If any e-sports clubs and associations engage in unfair practices, professional
athletes and staff can file complaints with the competent authorities.
• Professional e-sports athletes and staff are entitled to establish an organisation to uphold the dignity and preserve the interests of its members.
3. Organising e-sports competitions
• An organiser of an e-sports competition is required to notify the competent authorities of its event plan, including the distribution of interests or revenue.
• Competitions must be organised in accordance with professional sports standards (e.g., venue safety, maintaining order measures, health checks for athletes, facilitation of necessary medical staffs and equipment, etc.). Organisers of an e-sports competition that is in compliance with the standards can also apply for promotion and support from the SAT.
4. Match fixing of e-sports
• Any person that influences professional e-sports athletes to commit match fixing, or e-sports athletes that commit match fixing shall be subject to criminal punishment under the Professional Sports Act.
• Any person that influences e-sports referees to provide unfair judgment, or a referee who commits unfair judgment, shall be subject to criminal punishment under the Professional Sports Act.
From the early days of national competitions, to achieving international success, e-sports in Thailand has fostered an ecosystem encompassing businesses such as media, advertising and professional clubs. Legal recognition and regulatory frameworks have further solidified the status of e-sports as a
professional sport, ensuring protections and obligations for professional athletes similar to other traditional sports.
Based on the Thailand Investment Promotion Strategy 2023 – 2027, e-sports is presented by the Board of Investment (BOI) as one of the new areas with potential for investment opportunities in Thailand in the area of creative industry i.e. software development. A qualified software development project could receive up to eight years of corporate income tax exemption privilege from the BOI.
As the industry continues to expand, Thailand remains a significant player on the global e-sports stage, with promising prospects for future growth and success.
Authors
• Nont Horayangura, Partner, Intellectual Property and Technology
• Teetouch Dilokgomon, Associate, Intellectual Property and Technology
• Chana Sooppipat, Associate, Corporate and M&A
• Haruthai Chaisanee, Associate, Corporate and M&A
Contact details:
Melanie Geslin, Special Counsel, European Desk Baker & Mckenzie Ltd.
+66 2 666 2824 ext.4051 www.bakermckenzie.com
E-sports in the mainstream Exciting opportunities for the gaming industry
Thailand Board of Investment (BOI)
Attracting the interest of millions of people worldwide, e-sports has evolved from a niche sector of the video game industry into a global phenomenon in its own right. In Thailand, gaming is one of the fastest growing industries with a market value of US$961 million in 2022. The games market encompasses the creation, development, distribution, and monetisation of video games across a variety of platforms such as consoles, PCs, mobile devices, and cloud gaming services. It also includes related industries such as game streaming and gaming hardware.
RISING TRENDS IN THAILAND’S GAMING AND E-SPORTS INDUSTRY
The tremendous growth of the gaming industry in recent years has been made possible by the digital innovations and technology developments which have significantly enhanced the gaming experiences of players while also accelerating the game creation processes. Increased internet penetration and the accessibility of gaming devices and smartphones across Thailand have also opened up the industry to a greater number of players. Thailand’s e-sports also received a major boost in 2017 when it was recognised as an official sport by the Sports Authority of Thailand, resulting in a positive shift in attitudes towards gaming.
According to the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), Thailand’s gaming industry is projected to reach US$1084 million in 2025 with 5% CAGR between 2020-2023. It is also expected that by 2027, the number of gamers in Thailand will reach 18.7 million, with over 10.7 million people actively following e-sports competitions.
THE GOVERNMENT’S SUPPORTING POLICY
The current government has made it clear that the gaming and e-sports industry will be fully
promoted in line with Thailand’s goal to become a “Digital Economy Hub” under the Thailand Vision 2030. In addition, the gaming industry, as one of 11 promoted industries under the Soft Power policy, will receive additional support through entrepreneur development programs and funding. The government also has plans to build the Thailand e-sports Stadium in order to develop the infrastructure needed to support Thailand’s gaming industry. To address the shortage of specialists and skilled human resources in this sector, various government agencies are implementing their own gaming related plans with the aim of strengthening competitiveness and human capital. For example, the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) established the Digital Economy Promotion Master Plan, aiming to drive digital industry, where the gaming industry is one of the priority sub-sectors for development.
Under the five-year investment plans from the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), the gaming industry, as a part of the digital
content sector, is one of the areas targeted for attracting investors. In this respect, the BOI is providing investment incentives and support measures for gaming and related industries.
To qualify for the BOI incentives, investors must meet specific criteria: (1) The minimum investment capital of each project must not be less than 1,500,000 baht per year, calculated on the basis of the expenditure on salaries for Thai information technology personnel employed after the application for investment promotion. (2) Qualifying projects must include a development process for software, digital platforms or digital content in Thailand. However, the investment promotion of this activity does not include the retail and wholesale of all types of products. The BOI also grants up to 8 years of CIT exemption with a set at 100 percent of the actual expenditure in the year of application including;
• Expenditure on salaries for Thai information technology personnel employed after the application in comparison with salaries for Thai information technology personnel employed before the submission date of the application for investment promotion
• Expenditure on information technology development related training courses to develop Thai personnel’s skills.
• Expenditure on operations to acquire the standard quality system certificate ISO 29110 or CMMI from Level 2 or other equivalent international standards.
• Furthermore, the Thailand Board of Investment has provided promotional benefits for entrepreneurs who invest in data center and cloud industries. Investment promotion measures can help improve digital infrastructure which is crucial to the development of the gaming industry. These include tax-based incentives such as an exemption of 8-year corporate income tax with no cap and import duties on machinery together with non-tax incentives such as a permit to own land and to bring skilled workers and experts into the country.
Contact details:
The Office of the Board of Investment +66 2 553 8111 head@boi.go.th www.boi.go.th
Tax:
- Exemption of import duties on machinery
- Exemption of import duties on raw materials used in production for export
- Exemption of import duties on raw materials used in R&D
Non-tax:
- Permit to own land
- Permit to bring into the Kingdom skilled workers and experts to work in investment promoted activities
- Permit for foreign nationals to enter the Kingdom for the purpose of studying investment opportunities
- Permit to take out or remit money abroad in foreign currency
* The ceiling amount for Corporate Income Tax exemption is equivalent to the investment capital (excluding cost of land and working capital)
Source: The Board of Investment Announcement No. 9/2565
“ The gaming and e-sports industry will be fully promoted in line with Thailand’s goal to become a “Digital Economy Hub” under the Thailand Vision 2030.”
Table 1: Eligible activities for investment promotion related to the gaming and e-sports industry
Young Professionals Network Evening
The German-Thai Chamber of Commerce (GTCC) organised the second GTCC Young Professionals Network Evening on 26 June 2024, at the Sindhorn Midtown Hotel Bangkok. Dr. Thanapob Bumphenkiatikul, OB/GYN specialist at Bumrungrad International Hospital, held an enlightening discussion on ‘Embracing Diversity and Inclusion in Healthcare’. Among the several highlights discussed were the dynamic exchanges on barriers to workplace inclusion, and diversity across different industries. Thank you to all guests, event partner Bumrungrad International Hospital, beverage partner Paulaner and Ink Gin by Flow Inter, and venue partner Sindhorn Midtown Hotel Bangkok, for being part of this event.
Jungheinrich x Brose Site Visit
The event ‘Unlocking Efficiency: Jungheinrich AGV Enhance Operations in Brose’s Smart Warehouse’ took place at Brose (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Chonburi on 19 July 2024. The highlights included engaging speeches by Denis Reul, the Managing Director at Brose, and Ivan Ho, the Head of Sales and Account Management at Jungheinrich, as well as a presentation on AGV technology, a factory tour, and a Q&A session. GTCC and participating members would like to express sincere thanks to the Brose and Jungheinrich teams for their warm welcome, insightful presentations, and informative factory tour.
GTCC AFTERWORK Briefing with Lufthansa
The GTCC AFTERWORK Briefing with Lufthansa took place on 11 July 2024, at the Ascott Thonglor Bangkok. Special thanks go out to our speaker, Anlee Do, the General Manager Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and the Mekong Region at Lufthansa, for providing valuable insights into how future generations will reshape travel. Her presentation ‘The Change of Travel Trends for the Generations to Come’ was very enlightening and interactive.
GTCC AFTERWORK Networking – July
Following the briefing session with Lufthansa, a networking session of GTCC AFTERWORK was organised on 11 July 2024. GTCC President Alexander Donau opened the event, welcoming GTCC members, partners and friends in the relaxing poolside ambiance at the Ascott Thonglor Bangkok. We would like to express our gratitude to event partners Lufthansa German Airlines and Alva Water, venue partner Ascott Thonglor Bangkok, and all our guests for making the GTCC AFTERWORK July edition possible.
GTCC Seminar with SAP
GTCC, in collaboration with SAP Indochina, organised a seminar on 7 August 2024, at the Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel, with the participation of about 80 representatives from various governmental organisations. The seminar, entitled ‘Leapfrog Thailand’s Competitiveness through Digitalisation of Government Workforce’, aimed to propel Thailand’s e-Government efforts towards achieving a top 50 ranking in the UN’s e-Government Development Index. Nattha Bhachaiyud, the Advisor on Public Sector Development, Office of the Public Sector Development Commission, delivered keynote remarks on ‘Advancing Thailand’s Digital Government: Current Progress and Future Directions’. This was followed by a keynote speech on the seminar’s topic by Kulwipa Piyawattanametha, Managing Director, SAP Indochina. Speakers and panelists from digital government development agencies, SAP, and prominent companies shared their practical insights into the strategic alignment for the digitalisation of human capital management in the public sector.
Coachology Training
The GTCC Training with Coachology on “organisational wellbeing and wellness” took place at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok on 22 August 2024. The training covered tools and exercises to improve employee and organisational wellbeing, manage stress for emotional intelligence, and understanding “neuroscience” to tackle related issues. We would like to sincerely thank Luke Salway, the coach, for the practical guidance.
GTCC AFTERWORK Briefing with Forvis Mazars
GTCC organised an informative briefing with Forvis Mazars on 15 August 2024, at the Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel. Special thanks to the speakers from Forvis Mazars – Martin Liebenow, the Tax Director / Head of German Desk, and Vachirawit Kaew-udom, the Senior Tax Manager – for providing to our participants their insights into important topics such as potential events triggering tax audits, processes and expected timelines, problematic issues commonly challenged by the tax officials, and important tax updates in 2024.
GTCC AFTERWORK Networking – August
The briefing session with Forvis Mazars was followed by GTCC’s AFTERWORK Networking event where GTCC members, partners and friends expanded their network and reconnected over delicious finger food and beverages. We would like to thank our event partner Forvis Mazars Thailand, beverage partners Arcobräu and Ink by Flow Inter, and venue partner Sindhorn Kempinski Bangkok, for their wonderful support.
Top Golf Foreign Chambers Open 2024
GTCC fielded two teams joining the Topgolf Foreign Chambers Open 2024 on 22 August, with the participation of our Vice President, Honorary Treasurer, Board Members, Members and Executive Director. We would like to congratulate the winner, the AmCham team, for taking home the tournament trophy! The event was organised in partnership with multiple foreign chambers of commerce in Thailand – GTCC, AmCham Thailand, AustCham Thailand, BCCT, BeLuThai, CanCham Thailand, NTCC, and SATCC – and Topgolf Thailand.
Falling Walls Lab Thailand 2024
Somjeen from Schaeffler Manufacturing Thailand Co., Ltd. and Joseph Hong from Bosch Thailand.
Congratulations to the winner, the runnersup and the popular voted presenter of the 6th Falling Walls Lab Thailand. The winner and the first runner-up will represent Thailand at the Global Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin during 7-9 November 2024.
This prestigious and international platform is dedicated to supporting emerging researchers to present their groundbreaking ideas, fostering meaningful connections and transcending the boundaries of science. The Falling Walls Lab Thailand is the result of a strong collaboration between Thai and German partners and is inspired by the fall of the Berlin Wall, which symbolises the aspiration that young researchers can dismantle barriers and push frontiers.
The 6th annual Falling Walls Lab Thailand took place on 24 August 2024 at the Skyview Hotel Bangkok, with the participation of GTCC Board Members, Members and Executive Director.
The Falling Walls Lab Thailand’s jury members included Enrico Sielaff, Director of the GTCC Board, and GTCC Members Nopadej Karnasuta from B.Grimm Power PLC, Chatchawan
Fourth GTCC New Members Meet-up
Rhenus Logistics Breakfast Talk
On 4 September, GTCC organised an executive breakfast talk supported by Rhenus Logistics Thailand. Tim Burger, the Managing Director of Rhenus Logistics Co., Ltd., opened the event and welcomed about 40 participants with his introduction remarks. The event featured a discussion on ‘Gender Equality in Manufacturing and Logistics: Focus on Women in Leadership’ by four panelists: Lavinia Chan, Head of APAC Commercial at Rhenus Air & Ocean; Katharina Klotz, Head of Marketing APAC at Villeroy & Boch; Waranya Pratumtin, Director of International Sales at Thai Switchboard and Metal Work (TAMCO); and Katrina Yu, Chief Financial Officer at Purem Aapico Co., Ltd. The talk was moderated by Laura Evans, Head of Marketing APAC at Rhenus Logistics. Thank you to all participants for joining us and supporting gender equality.
The GTCC hosted the fourth New Members Meet-Up of this year on 27 August 2024 at The Great Room in the Gaysorn Tower. Jantarath Korbuakesorn, GTCC Head of Membership, Events and Communications, welcomed representatives from our new member companies including: Bollhoff Co., Ltd.; DowHow Trading UG; Infineon Technologies Manufacturing (Thailand) Ltd.; Interroll (Thailand) Co., Ltd.; Sesotec (Thailand) Ltd.; The Great Room; Vero Advocacy; and Dr. Wolfgang Sienel. We sincerely thank all the representatives who joined us, and we look forward to future collaborations.
GTCC AFTERWORK Briefing with Luther
The GTCC AFTERWORK Briefing with Luther took place on 12 September at the Le Meridien Bangkok hotel. Special thanks to our speakers Fabian Lorenz, the Director/Partner of Luther Law Firm (Thailand), and Arunrat Rattanaarun, a Lawyer at Luther Law Firm (Thailand), for providing valuable insights into the ‘Roles, Duties and Liabilities of Directors in Thailand’. The session was very informative and engaging.
GTCC AFTERWORK Networking - September
Our briefing session with Luther was then followed by a GTCC AFTERWORK Networking event where GTCC members, partners, and friends all had a great time expanding their networks and catching up while enjoying tasty finger foods and drinks. We extend our gratitude to our event partner, Luther, our beverage partner, Arcobräu, and our venue partner, Le Méridien Bangkok, for their exceptional support.
Fact-finding mission in Germany on Biomethane
GTCC in cooperation with eclareon GmbH organised a fact-finding mission in Germany on “Biomethane: Production and Application Examples in Germany” for Thai decision makers during 15-19 September 2024, as part of the German Energy Solutions Initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). The mission enables the participants from Thailand to gather first-hand information on biogas and biomethane technologies and applications, while establishing business contacts with German companies.
• KICK-OFF EVENT
The mission officially kicked off on 16 September 2024 at IHK Munich. GTCC Deputy Executive Director Marius Mehner delivered welcome remarks after the greeting and introduction to "Energy Solutions made in Germany" by Philip Bergforth, eclareon GmbH and welcome remarks by H.E. Dr. Nadhavathna Krishnamra, Ambassador of Thailand to Germany. Keynote speeches included “BioMeth Bayern: Shaping the Political Framework for Sustainable Energy Solutions” by Kerstin Ikenmeyer, Deputy Head of Department for Bioenergy, Synthetic and Biofuels; “Biomethane in Germany: distribution in road transport and opportunities for the future” by Gunnar Placzek, Association of the German Biofuel Industry (VDB) - Sustainability and Market and “Maximizing Efficiency: Innovations in Biomethane Production and Utilization” by Dirk Bonse, German Biogas Association (Fachverband Biogas e.V.).
• SITE VISITS
After the kick-off event, the Thai delegation explored the Biomethane and Biogas Plant of the Eggertshof Bioenergie GmbH & Co. KG. in Freising.
The second day, September 17, featured two site visits. The first site was Flottweg SE in Vilsbiburg, where the Thai delegation gained first-hand experiences in the company’s mechanical separation technology in SEA agriculture. The second site was Hallertau bio natural gas plant of Hallertau Bioerdgas in Wolznach.
On the next day, they visited SUMA Rührtechnik in Sulzberg and Biogastechnik Süd in the Allgäu to explore biogas production, components and industrial application for bioenergy plants.
As for their last day on September 19, the Thai delegation visited AVA Augsburg to learn about the bio-waste digestion plant and biogas upgrading.
ASEAN Insights 2024
On his mission in Germany, GTCC Executive Director participated in the ASEAN Insights 2024 organised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Munich and Upper Bavaria (CCI) on 18 September 2024. He shared updates and perspectives on Thailand’s economic development and business opportunities at the session of “ASEAN introductory and current trends” and participated as a moderator in the “Future of ASEAN business: Production hub with prospects” discussion together with executive directors and chief representatives of the other German chambers of commerce (AHK) in ASEAN.
The ASEAN Insights featured a keynote address by Dr. Denis Suarsana, Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste at Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation (KAS), on emerging ASEAN countries as alternatives to China; presentations on the current situations in the region; and discussions on the future of ASEAN business.
Representatives from GTCC member companies including Martin Knoss, Regional President, Robert Bosch Automotive Technologies
(Thailand) Co., Ltd. and Dr. Timo Slawinski, Head of Operations Specialty Firms, Covestro Deutschland AG, along with Maximilian Föhse, Head of Factory, Siemens Singapore joined the panel discussion to share their experience.
The event was concluded with networking opportunities and individual consultations, allowing attendees to make valuable connections and gain personalised advice on entering these promising markets.
Wirtschaftstag: Doing Business in ASEAN
The significance of ASEAN as both a consumer market and a production location has increasingly come into focus, due to the recent global crises and shifts in supply chains.
On 19 September 2024, GTCC Executive Director was invited to the ‘Wirtschaftstag: Doing Business in ASEAN’ event held at the IHK Magdeburg. He provided insights into Thailand’s market opportunities and strategies for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to enter Thai market, along with Executive Directors from the AHKs in the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam who gave first-hand information on their country. They further gave individual consultations to SMEs interested in the business opportunities, market entry and sourcing/sales in each of respective countries.
The event also marked a welcoming address by Andreas Müller, the International Director of IHK Magdeburg and a keynote presentation on “ASEAN – a region with rapidly growing importance” by Thomas Hundt from Germany Trade & Invest. Attendees had the chance to engage in a discussion on diversification in supply chains and implementation of the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act.
GTCC Multi-Chamber Eastern Seaboard Briefing
The GTCC Eastern Seaboard Briefing with Forvis Mazars on ‘What Companies Need to Know, to Overcome Hassles in Tax Audits and Tax Updates for 2024’ took place at the Siam@Siam Design Hotel Pattaya on 20 September 2024. The speakers were Martin Liebenow, Tax Director / Head of German Desk, and Vachirawit Kaew-udom, the Senior Tax Manager at Forvis Mazars (Thailand) Ltd., and both provided valuable insights on the topic.
GTCC Multi-Chamber Eastern Seaboard Networking
Following the briefing, GTCC organised the chamber’s second Eastern Seaboard Networking event of 2024, in collaboration with other eight bilateral chambers of commerce in Thailand. GTCC Director of the Board, Matthias Hoffrichter, opened the event, which was attended by 100 guests, including GTCC members and partners. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the following partners for their great support: event partners Forvis Mazars, Jungheinrich, Rhenus Logistics and Schaeffler Manufacturing; venue partner Siam@Siam Design Hotel Pattaya; and co-hosts AmCham, AustCham, BCCT, BeLuThai, CanCham, NTCC, STCC and SATCC.
Grand opening of Jungheinrich NXT Warehouse
Jungheinrich, a global leader in the manufacturing and development of advanced materials handling technology – from forklifts to fullyautomated warehouses – launched its NXT Warehouse in the Samut Prakan facility, Thailand, on 30 August 2024.
The grand opening featured a series of key activities, including keynote speeches from Jungheinrich's top executives, and a technological showcase featuring products such as Jungheinrich’s Automated Guided Vehicle, the EKS 215a. The event also included a cultural celebration with a traditional Thai dance performance, followed by a networking session and a tour of the newly renovated office and the NXT Warehouse.
The NXT Warehouse aims to provide visitors with insights into Jungheinrich's latest innovations and technology offerings and capabilities, ranging from electric trucks, to racking, to software systems – providing a one-stop solution for end-to-end needs. Currently on display is Jungheinrich's integration of Material Handling Equipment (MHE) which showcases their range of automation, racking solutions, safety, and refurbished trucks, demonstrating sustainable solutions, safety, and the effectiveness of their products first-hand. Jungheinrich is devoted to innovation and sustainability, and understands the growing relevance of energy efficiency in today’s industrial world.
Blumenthal Richter & Sumet’s Corporate Practice receives recognition from The Legal 500
Blumenthal Richter & Sumet (BRS)’s Corporate / Mergers & Acquisitions practice, under the leadership of Senior Partner Andreas Richter, has been acknowledged for the 11th consecutive year by The Legal 500.
The Corporate / Mergers & Acquisitions team, which has a strong focus on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) advisory work, is led by Andreas Richter, a lawyer trained in Germany who has over 30 years of expertise in guiding multinational companies conducting business in Thailand. Together with his team, Andreas positions clients for success in the Thai market by efficiently navigating Thailand’s foreign investment and corporate law framework, assisting clients of various sizes and industries. Andreas is supported by Partner Stefan Riedl, the team’s veteran in contract drafting and negotiations, who celebrated 10 years with Blumenthal Richter & Sumet in 2023.
Andreas recently established BRS’s Japan Desk and China Desk, which provides specialised legal assistance to corporate clients from Japan and China in connection with their inbound activities in Thailand.
Skywave Technologies celebrates 10th Anniversary
Skywave Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd, a German-owned IT company founded in Bangkok in 2014, recently celebrated a decade of successful operations with clients, partners and friends in a night of appreciation at the Millennium Hilton Hotel.
As proud member of the GTCC since 2014, Skywave Technologies (Thailand) said “We were very happy to welcome GTCC President Alexander Donau, Executive Director Dr. Roland Wein, Deputy Executive Director Marius Mehner, Jantarath Korbuakesorn, Head of Membership, Events & Communications Department as well as GTCC Board members at this special milestone celebration. We deeply value the strong connections
we have built within the German business community and the friendships that have grown along the way. We look forward to many more years of collaboration and shared success!”
Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok appoints
Jee Hoong
Tan as Hotel Manager
Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok recently announced the appointment of Jee Hoong Tan as the new Hotel Manager. With a remarkable 30-year journey in the luxury hospitality industry, he brings to his new role a wealth of expertise, leadership, and a proven track record of success.
Tan has held key leadership positions with some of the world’s most prestigious hotel brands, including Renaissance, Mandarin Oriental, Sheraton, and Le Meridien. His pivotal role within the pre-opening teams of these prestigious hotels, and his contribution to their successful launches and ongoing successes, underscores his leadership skills and instils confidence in his abilities.
Originally from Malaysia, Tan has been a prominent figure in Thailand’s hotel industry for the past 19 years. His tenure, marked by roles as Director of Sales and Marketing at Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok and the Regional Director of Sales and Marketing in Southeast Asia, has been characterised by his ability to foster growth and elevate brand standing through dynamic leadership and innovative strategies.
Examination preparation workshop for apprentices of Pathumthani Brewery Programme
On 19 June, 18 July and 14 August 2024, GTDEE/GTCC organised an intensive training for the PAL final examination part 1, for the industrial mechanics apprentices batch 2023 of the Pathumthani Brewery Programme, in cooperation with Don Bosco Technological College, Pathumthani Co., Ltd. The event followed the roadmap of training and didactic yearly planning to develop technicians based on the German standard dual vocational education and training aboard.
Workshop for mechatronics students batch 2023 at E.Tech
On 26 June 2024, GTDEE/GTCC organised a workshop led by Senior Program Manager Dr. Kamonsak Suradom on how to plan project-based learning development with regards to the sustainability concept of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for mechatronics students at Eastern Technological College batch 2023. The participating students plan to link their activities to SDGs and reduce the carbon footprint from their project.
Examination preparation workshop for Mercedes-Benz Thailand apprentices
on 10 July 2024, GTDEE/GTCC organised a preparation workshop on the PAL final examination part 1 for the Mercedes-Benz Thailand Apprenticeship Programme batch 2023 at the Mercedes-Benz Training Centre in Samut Prakan. This workshop focused on technical competence in automotive mechatronics training, with regards to German standards. In addition to social competence as a sustainability concept, the apprentices learned from case studies, group works, and brainstorming on SDGs. The PAL examination will be held in November 2024.
Monitoring the training of mechatronics students at Don Bosco (pilot programme)
On 6 and 8 August 2024, GTDEE/GTCC organised a mechatronics teachers workshop on how to make an assessment and score in the electrical control system installation. This workshop aimed to transfer knowledge from Germany to Thailand on the assessment competencies for students in the mechatronics programme, under a projectbased learning initiative at Don Bosco Technological College.
Workshop on quality control concepts for apprentices of Robert Bosch Programme batch 2024
On 7 August 2024, GTDEE/GTCC organised a workshop on quality control, based on the German standard, for the Robert Bosch Technologies Thailand Apprenticeship Programme batch 2024, operated in cooperation with Thai-Austrian Technical College’s mechatronics programme. The apprentices attending the workshop were from the Robert Bosch Automotive Technologies Thailand Apprenticeship Programme batch 2024.
Orientation for Chiangmai Beverage Mechatronics Apprentice Programme batch 2024
On 26 August 2024, GTDEE/GTCC organised a workshop to give an introduction to the GTDEE and develop systematic thinking for the Chiangmai Beverage Mechatronics Apprentice Programme batch 2024 (pilot program). A total of nine apprentices participated in the workshop and discussed how to link the theoretical and practical parts of mechatronics. The apprentices plan to start their training at the Chiangmai Beverage Co., Ltd. from October 2024 to February 2025, within their first semester.
Between 23 and 30 July 2024, GTDEE/GTCC organised a preparation workshop on the PAL final examination part 1 and systematic thinking for BMW Service Apprentice Programme batch 2023 at the BMW Training Center, Pathumthani. Participants were trained on how to evaluate competencies in the logbook, and how to re-check the link between practical training in the company and theoretical teaching in the vocational college. This workshop also guided the participants on how to plan the road map by themselves through brainstorming, and experience sharing. By using a holistic learning approach, this German methodological model develops young people in dual vocational education and training related to professional competence, human competence, and social competence. The PAL final examination part 1 of this profession will be held in November 2024.
Workshop for teachers in automotive mechatronics Examination preparation workshop for BMW Service Apprentice Programme batch 2023
On 16 August 2024, GTDEE/GTCC, in cooperation with the BMW Service Apprentice Programme of BMW Group Thailand, organised a workshop for automotive teachers on upgrading curriculum content with respect to car technology and sustainability concepts. The participating technical teachers were from partner colleges of the BMW Service Apprentice Programme batch 2024 such as the Chitrlada Vocational School, Don Bosco Technological College, Eastern Technological College, Bangkaewfa Industrial Community Education College, and Banphai Industrial Community Education College. This workshop focused on collaborative activities to develop a didactic yearly plan linked with practical training in theoretical and practical concepts, and the co-creation of teaching aids in electric car systems, according to the Modern Automotive Technology textbook (translated from Europa Lehrmittel).
Online workshop on intergenerational collaboration in dual VET
On 27 August 2024, the GTDEE Senior Manager joined the DIHK workshop on intergenerational collaboration in dual VET, which was led by Stefan Dietl of Robert Bosch GmbH. The workshop focused on topics such as GenZ, and intergenerational learning, and how the young generation is faster, and has ideas about work-life-balance that stem from different perspectives. The participants joined this workshop from AHKs.
GTCC Vocational Education Committee meeting
On 5 September 2024, GTDEE/GTCC organised the first Vocational Education Committee meeting of this year. Topics covered included exchanging updates on activities, workshops, and teacher development, and the plan of further cooperation between Germany and Thailand in vocational education training and development. The meeting also included the introduction of the new Chairman of the Vocational Education Committee, Cholawit Suk-Udom, the Director of Knowledge Management and Talent Development at the Boon Rawd Brewery Co., Ltd.
Participants in the online meeting were from companies and institutions working in the field of vocational education and training, including BMW Service Apprentice Programme, Mercedes-Benz Apprenticeship Programme, Pathumthani Brewery Apprenticeship Programme, Robert Bosch Automotive Technologies Thailand Apprenticeship Programme, Boonrawd Brewery Co., Ltd, Mechatronics Department of Eastern Technological College, Mechatronics Programme of Don Bosco Technological College, and the GTDEE/ GTCC.
Visiting BMW dealers with vocational colleges
Between July and September 2024, GTDEE and technical teachers visited the apprenticeship under BMW Service Apprentice Programme batch 2023 and 2024. These apprentices are involved in practical training at BMW dealers in the Bangkok area. The GTDEE and teachers from Don Bosco Technological College, Bagkaewfa Industrial Community Education College, and Banphai Industrial Community Education College, jointly visited a total of 12 dealers
Final examination in mechatronics part 1
On 11 September 2024, GTDEE/GTCC organised a final examination in mechatronics part 1 for 14 students of Eastern Technological College batch 2023. This examination is based on the PAL final examination in mechatronics, but in level B (local dual VET in line with the German model) under the mechatronics development project at Eastern Technological College. The Examination Committee comprises experts from the Institute of Technology, KMUTNB, GTCC, and independent mechatronics experts from the private sector.
Winning digital game design competitions: Adaptability to changes takes hard skills and cultural understanding
Phacharapol Sanjit
Tell us about the 47th International Skills Competition in France, and how important the competition is to Thailand and the new generation.
WorldSkills is an international organisation that hosts world and national championships for vocational skills every two years. In the past, WorldSkills was known as the International Vocational Training Organisation (IVTO). The purpose of the competition is to demonstrate the importance of various
Recently the 47th International Skills Competition, WorldSkills Lyon 2024, took place in France, from 3-17 September 2024. One of the skillful international competitors was Phacharapol Sanjit, a fresh graduate* from the Eastern College of Technology (E. Tech). Amongst the 22 participating Thai youths, from 19 fields, he represented Thailand at the competition in the 3D Digital Game Art category, while two of his friends from the same college joined the competition in the categories of Web Technology and Electrical Systems. Here, Phacharapol shares with GTCC UPDATE details about his background, inspiration, and experience, as well as the support he received from his college and from the Thai government.
careers, and to improve vocational education. It generates a very positive effect for Thailand, especially in terms of enhancing and creating more skilled labour.
What language did you use in the WorldSkills competition and what was the inspiration for joining the competition?
I can speak English. That is very important because it can affect our results. I think any language barrier is a major obstacle in the competition. Knowing a foreign language helps us understand the culture, thinking, and behaviour of the native speakers of that language, which will be formulised through the challenge modules.
English has been a favourite subject since my childhood, and most of the knowledge available
*He completed a Technical Diploma (Por Wor Sor) in April 2024.
in the world is also in English. Often, it makes me see the world in a way that’s different from my local friends, and that has become central to my inspirations. First, I want to disseminate knowledge in my field, which is the creation of 3D game models, so that it can be accessed from the vocational certificate level and can be studied intensively at the associate degree level. Children can save almost 2-3 times the cost and can immediately work because it is a practical study. This happens all over the world, especially in the West. However, currently, if Thai children want to study in this field, they must pursue higher education, which I think may not be up-to-date with the world market. Secondly, from the inspiration mentioned earlier, if I want to make that happen, I have to fight, without giving up, and show more patience than any other.
Who are the main competitors in the field of creating 3D digital game models (3D digital game art), and how would you prepare to defeat them?
I divide the main competitors into two types. The first type is the competitor whose strength comes from intense competition in their own country, with a high level of job competition. Thus, they must get a medal only, such as China. The second type is the competitor whose strength comes from their solid and easy-to-access knowledge, such as France, which is famous for its art, and India which has strong vocational institutes. My own strength is the adaption to the situation. Many times I received a task that I had never done before, but I was able to win. As for practical skills or “hard skills” (know-how and skills acquired during training or on the job), it is about using game engines. The point that I have to develop is the image gallery in my head, and I have to study a wider variety of games, including character design.
What was your inspiration to become an E.Tech student, how high is the cost of your current major study, and what equipment do you need for the course?
When I was about to finish Mathayom 3, I had no idea what my life would be like in high school but I encountered the E.Tech college who came to give advice at my high school. Honestly, at that time I didn't think that vocational education could give me this much. But in reality, the college has clear divisions according to careers. I think the expenses for the course are affordable as well. Most importantly, you can pay in installments, which I had never seen before, but here you can. The cost of studying in my major at E.Tech is almost the same as the cost of a provincial high school. As my study is Digital Media and I can use computers equipped with digital cameras. Actually, the college has everything ready for you.
What kind of job will you do after graduation, and what is your dream career?
I would be willing to work as an Environment Artist, responsible for creating scenery, atmosphere, and scenes in games. This is something I am most comfortable with. In the future, I wish to gain more experience to become a Technical Artist as I have some knowledge of the C++ programming language since I have obtained the Certificate in Vocational Education (Por Wor Chor). My dream company is Earthshine Studio (developer of Kingdoms Reborn, a citybuilding game).
What kind of support does the Department of Skill Development, under Thailand’s Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, provide for this competition?
Currently, we have a subcommittee to drive the gaming industry, which is very exciting. I think that if we want the Thai gaming industry to be more sustainable, we need to support people in the country to produce games with Thai IP (intellectual property). Currently, the proportion of Thai IP is shockingly low. Another thing that I have experienced is that we really have a lot of talented people, but the environment is not conducive to forming a game development team in Thailand. Another interesting thing is that if Thailand can form a game development team by registering a cooperative, it will be fruitful. That probably sounds strange, but it really exists. For example, the successful game ‘Dead Cell’ was developed by a cooperative in France, because the cooperative structure fosters small people to create big projects.
Note: E.Tech has been GTDEE Partner College since 2013.
Contact details: Phacharapol Sanjit Digital Media graduate, The Eastern College of Technology (E. Tech) Pungpon36@gmail.com
New GTCC members
up to 30 September 2024
German-Thai Chamber of Commerce warmly welcomes 13 new members
Dr.-Ing Athisaya Krakau Buranasompob
Senior Manager R&D Tyson athisaya.bu@gmail.com
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Mr. Pichai Sirikij Logistics Director https://www.infineon.com/ Manufacture of electrical equipment
InterContinental Bangkok Sukhumvit
Mr. Prin Pathanatham General Manager
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Ms. Natnicha Moritz
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Dr. Maria Schlueter Senior Lawyer maria@silklegal.com https://silklegal.com/ Legal and accounting activities
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