Chamber Activities

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

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

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.

Fourth GTCC New Members Meet-up

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.

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.

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.