Bangkok Business Brief - Volume 3, Issue 1 - Mid-January/February 2014 by Mango Mango Ltd. Part.

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Vol. No. 3, Issue No. 1

Mid-January/February 2014

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Year of the Horse or Year of the LCC? By Carla Tate

2014 should be a challenging year for low-cost carriers (LCCs) in Thailand. After years of steadily increasing tourist numbers in the Kingdom and dramatic growth in the number of LCC passengers,

Inside General Interest 2 Government/Economy 3 Finance/Investment 4 Production 5 Real Estate 6 Retail/Services 8 Tourism 10 IT/Comms 11 The Calendar 14

established LCCs like Thai AirAsia and Nok Air are facing increased competition on both domestic and international routes from new players, Thai Lion Air and Thai Vietjet Air, and plan to aggressively expand their presence in the Thai market. Lower demand in November and December 2013 because of the political protests in Bangkok has curtailed expectations for 2014 somewhat, but the LCC market in Thailand still looks poised to expand dramatically, with new domestic and international routes and lower fares due to the increased competition.

(TAT) recognized that Thailand’s growth market was Asia, with China, India, Russia and Asean countries emerging as the main new markets. TAT’s marketing efforts have now shifted to these countries, while the Western nations continue their economic recovery. The rise of LCCs in Thailand has played a significant role in this shift of focus.

In 2013, low-cost carriers drove airport growth in Thailand, with LCC passenger volume increasing 30.8% in fiscal year 2013. According to Airports of Thailand (AOT), LCCs, operating at ThaiIn late 2012 and early 2013, the land’s six major airports, carried Tourism Authority of Thailand 26.6 million passengers, or 30.9%

of the total number of travellers. The majority of this growth was at Don Mueang International Airport, which had 14.8 million LCC passengers, an increase of 485% over prior year. Suvarnabhumi Airport had 3.2 million LCC passengers. All of this growth in the Thai LCC market, combined with the impending AEC market integration in 2015, has certainly attracted the attention of the regional players. According to consulting firm, Frost and Sullivan, as reported in The Nation, “Asean has triggered a mad rush by airlines to reach all Story continues on Page 12

P l a n n i n g , S u p p l y i n g a n d B u i l d i n g A s i a ’s R e c r e a t i o n a l I n f r a s t r u c t u r e

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MFU earns its energy chops

Mae Fah Luang University in Chiang Rai plans to cement its ranking as Thailand’s most environmentally friendly university with further energy-saving initiatives. Vice-president Yuthana Tra-ngarn said MFU is now testing a motorcycle fuelled by a one-kilowatt solar module. The electric motorcycle, donated last year by Sammitr Green Power Co at a cost of 785,400 baht, takes 5-8 hours to charge and can then run at 40 km/h up to an hour. If the pilot project goes well, MFU and the Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency Department will develop the scheme on an industrial scale. “We want to use this project to campaign for our 13,000 students and staff to place more importance on clean energy,” he said. To cut greenhouse gas emissions, MFU is already promoting the use of bicycles rath-

To read the full article of a story brief, enter the short code at the end of the story into your browser: er than motorcycles on its campus. MFU has also worked this year to save energy at all its 38 buildings through... Full story: http://goo.gl/ScwM6M

Solar flair All the talk about solar power’s benefits has prompted the energy industry and even end-users to pin their hopes on a resource that Thailand enjoys in abundance _ sunlight. But advocates warn many aspects still need to be sorted out, especially regarding the sought-after solar rooftops for residents. They say the solar-rooftop incentive scheme for residents should be extended, arguing that the application period was too short, regulations posed obstacles and the number of homeowners applying was quite low. Kawin Thangsupanich, secretary-general of the Energy Regulatory Commission, said the electricity buy-back policy for solar rooftops should be promoted amid the ongoing energy crisis and swelling electric bills. He notes that solar and wind are clean, free energy sources that will never run out as natural gas is likely to, probably within seven years. The cost of... Full story: http://goo.gl/pdwVbk

...added that the company had set aside a significant investment budget of Bt200 million to Bt300 million for overseas expansion. Full story: http://goo.gl/bH6PF

How to make family businesses sustainable

Why do only 4 per cent on average of family-owned businesses survive into the fourth generation? To Joachim Schwass, director of Switzerland’s IMD Global Family Business Centre, there are plenty of reasons. But based on 25 years of academic research into the subject, he says there are ways to preserve family wealth in a sustainable way. “Academic research offers the rationalisation approach, away from emotionality, to help families become better families, better owners and better managers,” he said at a dinner talk hosted by Kasikornbank for its premium clients. The bank launched a “Leading the Family Business” course in cooperation with the world’s oldest family-business institute to provide insight into the management techniques of world-class family businesses that may be applied to Thai businesses, enhancing opportunities for further success in the future. Schwass noted that family businesses had inherent strengths but tended to fall into

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a vicious cycle of the “six D’s” – divorce, departure, distrust, disinterest, death and deterioration. While the first generation creates, the second focuses on value... Full story: http://goo.gl/9XdP6s

Companies ‘must adapt to succeed’ Organisational adaptability, which covers a company’s vision, human resources and social responsibility, is a key to success for sustainable corporate development, say top executives. “We should be hungry to explore new things every day,” said Aswin Techacharoenvikul, chief executive of Berli Jucker Plc. Top executives should take care of their staff like family to help change their mindset, he said. In an international company such as Berli, one important challenge is how to blend staff of different ages and nationalities. More Thai companies are going to have foreign employees. Mr Aswin said management flexibility is a must. Companies should adapt by relying on consumer needs. The 131-year-old Berli has transformed itself from a product importer to a maker... Full story: http://goo.gl/CaQtur

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Doubt over highspeed rail plan’s sustainability

A high-speed rail network is necessary for Thailand if the country wants to sustain its economic growth over the long term, but there is “a big question mark” over the project’s financial sustainability. This is the view of Marc Spiegel, regional managing director of Vinarco International, a leading provider of technical consultancy services. Spiegel said that to capture the opportunities from the government’s recently announced Bt2-trillion high-speed rail and other mega-infrastructure projects in the region, Vinarco had asked him to help it launch a new infrastructure and railway division in September. High-speed rail is a specialised industry that requires highly skilled people, who are very hard to find in Thailand. “If Thailand undertakes the high-speed rail project, there are no qualified Thais,” the Vinarco executive said, adding that... Full story: http://goo.gl/whJodQ

4th Thai-Lao Bridge worth Bt1 bn opens The opening of the Fourth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, worth more than Bt1 billion, is expected to boost trade, investment and tourism among neighbouring Southeast Asian nations and southern China, and will also support the implementation of Asean Economic Community in 2015. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn officially opened the bridge, which links Chiang Khong district of Chiang Rai province with Houay Xai, capital of Bokeo province in Laos. The First Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge links Nong Khai with Vientiane, while the second connects Mukdahan province with Savannakhet. The third links Nakhon Phanom with Kammouane. The Fourth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge will connect with the 1,800-kilometre Route R3A, which links Bangkok and Kunming, capital of southern China’s Yunnan province. The bridge is expected to boost economic and trade activities of the three countries. It is hoped that Route R3A will facilitate transport among countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion, supporting economic integration at the macro level, including tourism and cultural exchanges. It... Full story: http://goo.gl/9FCyB8

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...added that the set aside a signi company had budget of Bt20 ficant investment million for over0 million to Bt300 seas expansion Full story at http: . //goo.gl/bH6PF

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Asian growth may slow despite rosy Moody’s report

Asian corporate ratings have “stable” outlooks, what about the other 25 per cent and the countries that are currently experiencing slow growth? There are many external factors that can decelerate the already slow growth of Asian corporates that largely depend on the giants of the global economy. The European Union and the US are more important than China as sources of external demand for this region, and recovery in these economies will benefit Asia, but many Asian countries have been unable to exploit this opportunity. According to Moody’s, the US Federal Reserve’s tapering of its quantitative easing will reduce... Full story: http://goo.gl/3qmk7y

Outlook for 2014 economy varies Bank of Thailand Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul acknowledged that if a new government is not formed next year, economic expansion could be affected to a certain degree, as the government remains a key driver of the economy through spending and public investment. “There is concern over a possible delay in disbursement [of the fiscal budget]. However, there is more concern over whether there will be a government in place, as the government is a key mechanism. If there is a government and the mechanism is functioning, the economy will grow,” he said. The extent of the political impact on the economy next year was subject to various interpretations. Moody’s Investors Service said the dissolution of the House of Representatives and the snap election were negative for Thailand’s credit rating. Kasikorn Research Centre also said the political situation and particularly exports would largely dictate the growth rate of next year’s gross domestic product and gave a range of 0.5-4.5 per cent. UBS forecasts consumer-spending growth from 2014-15 to fall below its... Full story: http://goo.gl/NXiAAx

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BNP Paribas upbeat on local market, to double stake

France-based BNP Paribas Cardif plans to nearly double its stake in Thai Cardif Life Assurance to 49 per cent, as it sees a promising future for Thailand’s life-insurance market. Thai Life Group currently owns 75 per cent of the insurer, while BNP Paribas Cardif holds the remaining 25 per cent. BNP Paribas Cardif has completed talks with Thai Life Group to increase its holding in Thai Cardif, having seen the impressive growth achieved by the company over the past three years. Thai Cardif will submit BNP Paribas Cardif’s plan to raise its stake to the Office of Insurance Commission for approval by the end of 2013, Celine Yeap, general manager of Thai Cardif, said She said BNP Paribas Group had seen a greater opportunity for life-insurance business in the King-

To read the full article of a story brief, enter the short code at the end of the story into your browser: dom following Thai Cardif’s restructuring of its organisation and adjustment of its strategies over the past three years. The planned increase in its stakeholding is not only aimed at generating a higher... Full story: http://goo.gl/6IpNEj

Thai unrest has Japanese firms worried about future A growing number of Japanese companies might re-examine their investment strategies in Thailand because of the negative impact of anti-government rallies in Bangkok, according to Japanese newspaper Yomiuri. Many Japanese investors regard Thailand as a vital production base, but if they feel they must move elsewhere, it could spell disaster for the Kingdom’s export sector, which is already in bad shape. According to the Thai Board of Investment, Japan is the largest investing country in Thailand. For Japanese automakers and electrical-appliance manufacturers, this country is a leading production base. The Japan External Trade Organisation reported that 1,458 Japanese companies were operating in Thailand as of April.

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...added that the company had set aside a significant investment budget of Bt200 million to Bt300 million for overseas expansion. Full story: http://goo.gl/bH6PF

In 2012, Japanese companies made 761 investments worth a total of Bt348.4 billion. But if political instability drags on in Thailand, Japanese companies might become reluctant to invest here and take their business elsewhere. On the tourism front too, there are signs that that the number Japanese visitors to Thailand has declined since the beginning... Full story: http://goo.gl/nNqhGj

ITD’s loss of Dawei ‘not a deterrent’ The Myanmar government’s decision to take back the Dawei deep-sea port concession from Italian-Thai Development Plc may raise the eyebrows of some investors looking at the country, but negative repercussions on investment are unlikely, say analysts. Thailand and Myanmar late last month signed three memoranda of understanding on the Dawei project. One was to transfer the concession to Dawei SEZ Development Co, a new 50-50 special-purpose vehicle set up by the countries to run the project. ITD had hoped to find investors to join

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the project but did not succeed due to the enormous project size and required investment, prompting the two governments to intervene. The second MoU... Full story: http://goo.gl/ZCdb1b

Hospital, airline tycoon becomes richest stock investor Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth became the country’s wealthiest stock investor with listed securities worth a total of Bt37 billion. He took over the top ranking from Thongma Vijitpongpun, a three-year champion, who is ranked fifth with securities value of Bt25.45 billion, which rose only 8.32 per cent between October 2012 and September 2013. Prasert is ranked ninth in Forbes’ “Thailand’s 50 Richest” list, with net worth as of July at nearly Bt58 billion. He is the world’s 825th-richest billionaire, according to Forbes. The former surgeon co-founded and still runs Bangkok Dusit Medical Services, whose share price has risen on continued expansion. It now has 31 locations, including two in Cambodia. He also founded Bangkok Airways, which flies to... Full story: http://goo.gl/asbfEl

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Kingdom making better-quality vehicles

The JD Power Asia-Pacific 2013 Thailand Initial Quality StudySM released earlier this week says initial new-vehicle quality in Thailand improved by 28 per cent. “Efforts and investments made to improve vehicle manufacturing quality in Thailand are starting to be reflected, as fewer owners are reporting problems with their vehicles during the first few months of ownership,” JD Power Asia-Pacific senior manager Loic Pean said. “At the same time, vehicle owner expectations are increasing. In particular, owner feedback indicates increasing sensitivity to build quality and comfort features inside the cabin, including air-conditioning, interior materials and the audio/entertainment/ navigation system,” he added. Among the 78 models included in the study, four models from Toyota rank highest in their respective segments. Three models from Honda and one model... Full story: http://goo.gl/pdVTwI

Pepsi fizzes over new recycle deal

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Asean countries to enhance energy security. Thailand already buys electricity from Laos and Myanmar. Energy permanent secretary Suthep Liumsirijarern said Asean members will... Full story: http://goo.gl/7QLrRQ

Egat plans innovation centre The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand plans to begin constructing a giant Bt500-million Energy Innovations Centre next year to educate the public about alternative energy and technology. Egat Governor Soonchai Kumnoonsat said the state enterprise would design the facility to incorporate environmentally friendly, energy-saving devices and technology. It will be located at Egat’s corporate headquarters in Nonthaburi’s Bang Kruay district.

Pepsi-Cola (Thai) Trading Co, a local arm of PepsiCo Inc, announced a new partnership with a leading local waste separation and recycling service, Wongpanit Recyclable Waste Separation Co, to promote the collection, separation and recycling of PET bottles. The partnership reflects rising sales of carbonated soft drinks in PET bottles, a trend that has grown over the past five years.

Similar centres will be set up in all regions where Egat runs power plants. In the North, Egat has proceeded with a centre at its Mae Moh power plant. In the South, the opening ceremony for a Bt100-million centre is set for December 20 at the Chana power plant in Songkhla,... Full story: http://goo.gl/dmj3CK

Under the agreement, an additional one baht per kilogramme above its standard buy-in price is to be paid for PepsiCo’s used transparent and coloured PET bottles. The incentive is designed to boost the overall recycling rate of PET bottles and to promote environmental awareness among consumers.

Stallions, a Thai motorcycle manufacturer, will start up its own 200-millionbaht assembly plant this month, aimed at doubling sales to 12,000 units next year. Stallions believes there is plenty of room for growth in the minibike segment. To tap this potential, it is opening a factory in Thailand and plans another one in Laos. Chief executive Areerat Sriprathai said the assembly plant in the Hemaraj Chonburi Industrial Estate has annual production capacity of 12,000 units. Stallions plans to export the motorcycles to Asean in the future. The minibikes are currently produced by a factory owned by Tiger, another Thai motorcycle brand, in Samut Prakan. Stallions has a contract to build 500 to 1,000 units per month at Tiger’s plant, but there are capacity constraints... Full story: http://goo.gl/wR2MsI

Nielsen research reports PET bottles now comprise over 60% of Thailand’s carbonated soft drink market, up from 44% in 2009. Returnable packaging such as... Full story: http://goo.gl/ren1Hb

Thailand signs up for Asean grid Electricity trading in the Greater Mekong Subregion is starting to take shape now that Thailand is the last Southeast Asian

...added that the set aside a signi company had budget of Bt20 ficant investment million for over0 million to Bt300 seas expansion Full story at http: . //goo.gl/bH6PF

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Nok Air joins with Singapore’s Scoot

A new game in Thailand’s hotly contested low-cost-carrier market is beginning in the long-haul low-fare segment, with Thailand’s Nok Air teaming up with Singapore’s Scoot to create a jointventure airline based here. Sources say management at both companies recently endorsed a basic agreement to establish NokScoot in Thailand with the prime mission of taking on Thai AirAsia X, a long-haul LCC being set up as the Thai offshoot of AirAsia X Bhd. International industry sources said Nok Air, Thailand’s second-largest LCC, will own 51% of NokScoot, with Scoot Pte Ltd, part of Singapore Airlines, owning 49%, the Thai statutory limit for foreign ownership. The creation of NokScoot could involve a capital outlay of 3 billion baht by a Bangkok-registered independent firm known by the same name. Nok

To read the full article of a story brief, enter the short code at the end of the story into your browser: Air CEO Patee Sarasin declined to comment, but sources said a final joint-... Full story: http://goo.gl/2cachk

Over 41,000 orders placed at Motor Expo A total of 41,083 orders were placed at 2013’s Thailand International Motor Expo. Show organiser Kwanchai Paphatphong said the event generated an estimated Bt46 billion in sales, which also included motorcycles, used cars and accessories. Toyota was the top seller, followed by Honda and Nissan. Isuzu was fourth and finishing in fifth place was Mitsubishi. In the luxury car segment, Mercedes-Benz was the top seller with 1,227 orders followed by arch rival BMW with 763. “Data collected from our promotion states that passenger cars made up 51.4 per cent of sales at the Motor Expo this year followed by SUVs with 26.8 per cent, pickup trucks with 14.6 per cent and other types of vehicles with 7.2 per cent,” Kwanchai said. He added that the average retail price of vehicles sold has risen to Bt1.046 million due to the falling... Full story: http://goo.gl/kYQOOf

...added that the company had set aside a significant investment budget of Bt200 million to Bt300 million for overseas expansion. Full story: http://goo.gl/bH6PF

Resignation of Thai Airways’ president no shock

Sorajak Kasemsuvan’s resignation as president of Thai Airways International was no surprise, given external and internal pressure he has had to endure throughout the past 14 months. Externally, THAI and other premium airlines have been affected by the rapid expansion of low-cost airlines. The situation will only get worse. According to The Wall Street Journal, at least 10 new low-cost carriers are set to take off in Asia in the coming year, expanding fare choices for consumers but squeezing airline margins even more. According to the International Air Transport Association, though Asia-Pacific airlines’ EBIT margin will rise to 4.4 per cent in 2014, their profitability is subdued by weakness in cargo demand and the expected delivery of 710 new aircraft. THAI this year took delivery of 17 new aircraft, though that number is dwarfed by orders from airlines based in the Persian Gulf. With high operating costs, Sorajak said, THAI cannot survive the fierce... Full story: http://goo.gl/DU0Sfq

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Hafele eyes Thai hub for AEC outlay Hafele Engineering GmbH & Co KG, a German hardware and furniture fitting company, will invest at least 1 billion baht in Southeast Asia in the next few years to prepare itself for the upcoming Asean Economic Community. Thailand will receive half of the budget, said Ulrich Hafele, the company’s shareholder. The other half of the budget will be used for its expansion in Indonesia and Vietnam. Hafele will spend 400-500 million baht on doubling the size of its distribution centre on Bang-Na Trat Highway to 20,000 square metres over the next two years. The extended space of the Thai distribution centre is to prepare for faster service to its clients in Thailand and Hafele’s network in Asean as well as having greater space to stock more products. “We’re confident that Thailand will be ready to become our hub in the region after... Full story: http://goo.gl/zK2RD3

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Ticking all the boxes Despite a downturn in the speculative market and a large new supply expected to hit a historic high this year, condominiums remain attractive for medium- to long-term investment due to higher capital gains and yields from rentals. Condo units launched with a rental yield guarantee have become a new choice for investors, with yields of 5-9% a year attractive amid rising inflation and low interest rates. Sutheekan Sathitkhun, the author of Ruay Duay Condo (Get Rich with Condos), says in her investment guidebook that those renting accommodation prefer condos as they are usually in a better location. Condos generally have a swimming pool, common area, fitness room, car park and better security, while units usually have a kitchen area. On the contrary, apartments or dormitories often have limits on the number of residents per room, non-24-hour opening and separate areas for men and women. “Electricity and water bills at apartments are much higher. Some charge 9 baht... Full story: http://goo.gl/hWrRcp

AIA Thailand looks to property investment AIA Thailand, the country’s largest life insurer by premiums, plans to invest in offices for rent in major provinces to capitalise on strong demand. Anucha Laokwansatit, AIA Thailand’s general manager and chief investment officer, said office demand in major provinces is strong but supply is still limited. The firm is interested in investing in office buildings for rent in Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen provinces. “In Chon Buri, there is also demand for office spaces from many companies in industrial estates, but there is no supply. Most of them rent shophouses instead,” he said. Mr Anucha said the company would discuss opening up investment regulations in the provinces with the Office of the Insurance Commission next year. Insurance firms can now only invest in property in Greater Bangkok. The company is interested in property investment because it generates a higher yield than other investment tools. Office buildings have a yield of at least 8% a... Full story: http://goo.gl/ZILajF

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Nature and life in JuliusCaesar. 1997-98 wa are cyclical _ the impact of s a blessing, as the mains seasons of the yea 2008 would ha above the Europ the phases of the r, life and death, far worse ve been ean average. for the region, mo http://goo.gl/o on, the tides. ” Azman In Caught up in da zbNM India, China ily details, we eas Mokhtar, the managing and Thailand, ily forget that dir ect of or Kh Asia stands to rou aza ghly 12 percent nah the business wo of has cycles, too. rld told the CI Nasional of Malaysia, tion contribute to a the populaWe are all fam MB Asean Confe gain from W pension, while iliar with the econo rence. the we es t mi ak c ne bu sse sin s ess of cycle His com slowdown of expansion, con sion system are Thailand’s penments were... ... covery. Howe traction and re- Full story Full story at htt The shift of eco ver, other cyc at http://goo.gl/d nomic growth p:/ /goo.gl/rtpH3 lic ph al fu2 en u om ena affect... momentum to the Thailand near Preventing up numerous East has opened Full story at http://goo.gl/fJ to p opportunities olr of list of wor that Asian countries Bangkok from out, suggests an should not miss Panel: Asia bett weakest pensld’s sinking bigges economist. io off, not immun er n t systems: stud challenge ive years ago, house Thethe robust y econo that YuttanafrPiom global crise, Greece, India, Ch Land subsidence China and em mic growth of es ina and Thailand erg caused by groun ing economi KUALA LUMP yatrakul waswitrying develop and are home to the water losses top es cond ll open a to UR : The Asian weakest na new s the cri- pension Asian economi opportunity for sis in the late 1990s was a systems in the tional lems that must be sol list of probwa esas struct was laughed at a waste of time to keinc cal up ved wo l rea for in rld cri se Ba , the region that pp their wealth from tra has turned eig led by a mix of acute sover- kok to mitigate the impact ngde in goods an out to be of the n debt, young climate change services at amission. a blessing in d chief and an impossible But the time retire dis on States and Europ when the United nearly 15 years later, as the guise high ratios of pension ment ages, a study by multin flooding, says region’s ers an ers to worke are... ational agencies financial sector FullGreen d poor . story at htt executive of Design Degree is now strong an p://goo.gl/S360 d study showe pension take-up, a The con 65D6 able to sustain a cer d. clu sio tai n n de is gre contained in of shocks from e Growhis Co has achieved _ a house a rep witinnovation ort the h the flow Western entitled fallout Hemisphere, acc in the The Allianz Global and Adaptation “Climate Risks of cycl Investors Penording sion that can rotate byes360 degrees toto save a panellist at Megacities”, jointl in Asian Coastal Sustainability a rec en Ind t ‘There is a tid y conducted by As ex, ean conferen which Asian De tracks the rel e in the affair the velop ati s of energy andmeenable stay coolce. n, which, residents ity of nationa ve sustainabil- Internation ment Bank, the Japan taken at the to l al pe flo Co nsi od, “There wi leads on to for operation Agenc on systems and in 44 ll tun cou y be more crises e”, wr the World Bank ntries around the ote Wi throughout the year. The first pilot house l- fut in the in 2010. wo ure, and the Asian crisis in showed the number of Greek rld, tir reees to people of was created in his home area in Chiang working age re- The report recommended a... Full story at htt p://goo.gl/20yMD Rai with a patent registered for its base-

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Real Estate

December 20 11

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ment system. Mr Yuttana’s innovative house has passed through thousands of test runs over the last few years, and in 2010 he succeeded in sorting out the house’s waterworks and electricity system. The house can be rotated to take advantage of sunlight or cooling winds. It is also designed to be lifted when flooded, while the basement is earthquake-resistant. The house is decorated with highly efficient electrical appliances, water-saving sanitary ware, roof and wall insulation and a smart home system that enables the... Full story: http://goo.gl/5cvZz0

Green push for office buildings Officials plan to launch an aggressive nationwide campaign to promote public awareness of green buildings. The Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency will draft measures to create greater concern among the public, including a grant that covers 20% of the modification cost to make a building greener, said deputy director-general Twarath Sutabutr. The new campaign is aimed at cutting average electricity demand at office buildings to below 225 kilowatt-hours (or units) a year. Under the world standard for green buildings, each should consume less than 170 units a year. The cost of a green building is 25-30% higher than for a conventional building, but operating cost is 25-30% lower. “We plan to promote greater concern among property developers because... Full story: http://goo.gl/uEMDhP

Renewed Japanese confidence in Kingdom spurs growth of Thai real estate market Japan has long been one of the largest foreign investors, principally in manu-

facturing. It accounted for 30 per cent of all FDI last year. While the sentiment of Japanese manufacturers was dampened by the 2011 floods, Japan regained its confidence in Thailand and continued its commitment to invest and expand its production base here. With over 1,350 Japanese companies, the industrial real estate market has been driven by Japanese demand, besides local demand.

vit rental market is largely driven by demand from Japanese tenants.

Japanese also account for the largest expat community – 32 per cent of work permits. Sukhumvit from Sois 39-55 and surrounding areas where the Japanese community is concentrated is seen as “Little Tokyo” with many Japanese restaurants and supermarkets. The Sukhum-

Japan has also had a large impact on the retail landscape from retail formats to brands, particularly in F&B, as Japanese food is one of the most popular cuisines. Within retail development, Japanese restaurants and chains are likely to... Full story: http://goo.gl/hWPfW9

In residential sales, Japanese investors have a very small share. However, after the Japanese tsunami in 2011, we began to see more and more Japanese buyers in the Bangkok condominium and resort home markets. We believe the trend will continue.

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liam Shakespe are Nature and life ar seasons of the yea the phases of the r http://goo.gl/o Caught up in da m zbNM ily ily forget that Asia stands to the has cycles, too. We gain from W with the econo mi slowdown est of expansion, con c tr cov ery. However, The shift of eco o nomic gro on track for further although inph enomen wth mentum togrowth, the East has op mo- Full sto a affect... ry at http://g ened up conduct numerous opproject vestors should feasibility po rtu nities that Asian countries should not mi out, sugspeculative ss Panel: Asia b studies and avoid gests an econo investment, mist. off, not immu says tourismTheand consultancy robustproperty fr economic gro om global c wt h of China and em erging economi KUALA LUMP firm C9 Hotelworks. will open a ne Myanmar’s es ecoUR : Th w opportunity sis in the for Asian economi es to nomic and we political reforms have pro- late 1990s wa alth from trade increase their call for the region that in goods and out to be a ble servic es at a timea flourishing ssing gressed well, enabling hotel States and Europ when the United nearly 15 years later, as e are... financial sector ll story at destinations industry inFumajor such as is now http://goo.gl/S 65D6 able to sustain a cer shocks from the ta Gro Yangon, said managing BillofBarw with thdirector fall e fl ow Western Hemi of sphere, cy cl es to a panellist nett. at a rece ‘There is a tid conference. e men, which, tak in the affairs of leads on to for en at the flood, “There wi ll be more cri tun ote Wi In both hospitality ande”, wr real estate, l- futureC9 , and the As s ian

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Tourist fee angers Koh Chang people

A least 200 local boat operators and villagers in on Koh Chang gathered on Tuesday to demand the removal of the new chief of Koh Chang National Park, saying he was acting against their best interests in imposing new fees on tourists. They said new park chief Veera Khunchaiyarak, who took up the job just over a month ago, has caused troubles by random enforcement of laws without listening to local opinion. The group met with Peera Iamsunthorn, chief of Koh Chang district, who agreed to raise their demands with the Trat provincial governor. Mr Veera has introduced a new fee for tourists who visit Koh Rang island, charging adult foreigners 200 each and children aged 3-14 years 100 baht each. For Thai tourists, he is charging adults 40 baht and children 20 baht. The park chief set Dec 1 as the first day to collect the new charge, but so far the park has not yet collected any fees. Boat operators and other local people say the new fee should be announced well... Full story: http://goo.gl/a8yuzk

Chinese travellers ‘will return’ The number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand has begun to drop due to political turbulence, but a Thai diplomat says confidence can be restored shortly after the situation is resolved. Suchart Liengsaengthong, the Thai consul-general in Kunming, said the 10% decrease in Chinese visitors to Thailand is not a surprise, given how political conflict has escalated in recent months. “What we saw is a normal reaction to the situation in Thailand,” Mr Suchart said. “If tourists don’t want to visit now, they can (later). Every country has problems, whether it’s the same as us or different, but I believe Thailand can bounce back shortly.” Regarding the effect on investments, he said long-term confidence in Thailand remains intact despite a handful of violent incidents. “They will understand if we explain to them that this is just development of a... Full story: http://goo.gl/4bVqIe

Myanmar’s hotel sector enjoys boom The hospitality business in Myanmar is

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Hotelworks is now working on many projects in the country, catering for keen interest from both Thai and international investors, he said. “The Myanmar hotel business is brilliant, Asia’s fastest-growing market so far,” said Mr Barnett.

In 2012, international passenger arrivals at Yangon Mingaladon Airport soared by 53% to touch a historic high of 550,654. Foreign tourist arrivals to Yangon continued to surge in the first five months of... Full story: http://goo.gl/mUNjOA

Tourism industry counting cost of political chaos The local travel industry, including airlines, hotels and convention centres, have started to feel some impact from the current political chaos, which could hurt their financial performance in the final quarter of the year. Thai Airways International said its cabin factor last month was 74 per cent, down from 76 per cent in November last year. The airline expects its cabin factor to be 75 per cent this month, down from 78 per cent in December 2012. Chokchai Panyayong, THAI’s senior executive vice president for commercial, said the largest decline in passengers was from the China market, at 18 per cent. The airline also expects the number of passengers from Australia to be reduced. The load factor of the European market was 77 per cent last month, below target. Only the Japanese market is still showing good growth, as Japan is now the favourite destination for Thai travellers. THAI has also increased the number of Japan routes and the number of seats to cater to this growth. “The drop in number of passengers has been caused by many factors, including more competitors, as well as the slow recovery of the world economy, particularly Europe, and the slower economies in Australia and India. The Chinese government is also quite strict in monitoring ‘zero dollar’ tours. Meanwhile, the political conflict in Thailand is getting... Full story: http://goo.gl/bZyKXI

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Mid-January/February 2014

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Nok Air logs on to WiFi before rivals

Nok Air is leading the Thai airline industry in offering free in-flight broadband connectivity for passengers. The budget carrier’s board endorsed an investment plan to equip its 18-strong fleet of B737800s with satellite-based WiFi systems. Nok Air’s first internet-enabled aircraft is due to be connected in March and all its aircraft will have WiFi in two years’ time, chief executive Patee Sarasin said. The service is a collaboration with Thaicom Plc, the SET-listed satellite communications provider, and Global Eagle Entertainment Inc, a US-based provider of satellite-based in-flight WiFi and device-based entertainment. Details of the deal were not disclosed but an industry estimate put the outlay for installing the system on each Nok Air jet at 14 million baht.The WiFi launch has been made possible by affordable service costs... Full story: http://goo.gl/C5hwJY

Google’s Hot Trends now available in Thai language Google Thailand has launched a new feature called “Hot Trends” that allows users to find the day’s hottest keywords in Thai. Hot Trends tags the day’s most-searched keywords in more than 50 languages worldwide. Thai is one of the 10 latest languages available for this feature. Pornthip Kongchun, head of marketing at Google Thailand, said the feature was part of the free Google Trends service. “Google Trends, a service available at Google.com/Trends, is a digital marketing tool that allows users to determine criteria [surrounding] a search, while Google Hot Trends monitors near-realtime top keywords of the day. It represents the hot issue or topic of any particular day,” she said. Apart from Google Trends, there are many search-related services, including Think with Google, which provides inside information that can be applied for specific industries, Google Adwords, and... Full story: http://goo.gl/Mkbw1K

Microsoft opens the cloud to students Microsoft Corporation, the world’s biggest software firm, is giving students in Thailand free access to online office and

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Nature and life in JuliusCaesar. 1997-98 wa are cyclical _ the impact of s a blessing, as the mains seasons of the yea 2008 would ha above the Europ the phases of the r, life and death, far worse ve been ean average. for the region, mo http://goo.gl/o on, the tides. ” Azman In Caught up in da zbNM India, China ily details, we eas Mokhtar, the managing and Thailand, ily forget that dir ect of or Kh Asia stands to rou aza ghly 12 percent nah the business wo of has cycles, too. rld told the CI Nasional of Malaysia, tion contribute to a the populaWe are all fam MB Asean Confe gain from W pension, while iliar with the econo rence. the we es t mi ak c ne bu sse sin s ess of cycle His com slowdown of expansion, con sion system are Thailand’s penments were... ... covery. Howe traction and re- Full story Full story at htt The shift of eco ver, other cyc at http://goo.gl/d nomi p:/ software services, aiming to capitalise on /goo.gl/rtpH3 lic c ph al fu2 gro en u wt om h moena affect mentum to the Thailand near st has opened Full story at htt ... Preventing up numerous inEaacademia. p://goo.gl/fJolr to growing IT spending The p opportunities of list of wor that Asian countries Bangkok from should not mi ss Pa sugges move by theout,US giant tonomi give free ac-nel: Asia be weakest pensld’s ts an eco sinking bigges st. io off, not immuntter n t systems: stud challenge e, cess to its Office productivity suite is gl The rob365 ust eco y from no obal crises Greece, India, Ch Land subsidence China and em mic growth of ina and Thailan erging econoapps caused by ALA LUMPUR challenging Google’s education that mies KU will open a ne : The Asian cri- are home to the weakest natio d water losses tops the list ground w of na pension system Asian economi opportunity for sis in the late 1990s was a s in the world l lems that must be solved in probwa esaccess let 14 local universities free online to keinc cal up l rea for cri se Ba , the region that pp their wealth from tra has turned eig led by a mix of acute sover- kok to mitigate the impact ngde in goods an out to be of the n de cli ser a d bt, young retire mate change on vices at a tim blessing in dis email, documents, calendars and video e States and Europ when the United nearly 15 years later, as the guise high ratios of pension ment ages, a study by multin flooding, says region’s ers an ers to worke ational agencies financial sec Full story at htt are... d . conferencing. p://goo.gl/S65D6 able to sus tor is now strong and study poor pension take-up, a The conclusio showed. tain a certain n de is gre contained in of shocks from e Grow with th a rep ort the entitled “Clim e flow Western Hemi fallout in the The Allianz ate Ris and cyclcloud-based on in Asian Co ks es to a pa Office 365,ofthe version ofnellist atsphaererec, enaccording sion SustainaGlbilobityal Investors Pen- MegacAditieapts”,ati astal joi ntl Ind t ‘There is a tid y As con ex, ean conference. ducte which Asian De tracks the rel e in the affair velopment Bank d by the ative sustaina s men, which of the well-known Microsoft Office suite, , the bil ity - International , taken at the Japan of national leads to fortune”, wr flood, “There will be more in 44 countries pension systems and the Wo Cooperation Agency ote messaging, around the wo rld Bank in 201 also offers freeonemail, instant crises in the Wil- future, rld, 0. showed the nu and the Asian mber of crisis in tirees to people of wo Greek re- The report recom group video and voice chat, online storrking age reFull story at htt mended a... p://goo.gl/20yMD age and video conferencing. Students

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IT / Comms

December 20 11

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and teachers can learn and teach anywhere using a PC, tablet or smartphone. Haresh Khoobchandani, managing director of Microsoft’s local unit, said Thailand is the biggest country for cloud computing adoption in Asean, boosted by the education sector. The country ranks in the top five for cloud use in the classroom via Microsoft services. Thailand’s education sector spends 1-3% of total budget on information and communication technology, said Mr Khoobchandani. Education is the... Full story: http://goo.gl/I2EWWP

SE Asia telecom margins to decline as data importance grows The competition and declining use of traditional voice and text services will lead to lower margins for most Southeast Asian telecom firms next year, but data demand growth will generally outpace margin decline, so cash generated and credit metrics will be broadly stable or slightly improve, except in Thailand, where large investment will increase leverage, according to Fitch Ratings. Thailand’s private operators’ exposure to legal and regulatory risks will decline as they migrate customers to the new licence system for third-generation cellular service, which will overcome many of the weaknesses of the former 2G concession system. Technology upgrades to 3G should support growth in non-voice revenue and offset declining voice services. A significant increase in capital expenditure for the 3G network will lead to deterioration in credit metrics. However, the two largest mobile operators – Advanced Info Service and Total Access Communication (DTAC) – have sufficient headroom in their ratings. In Indonesia, Fitch expects the top four telcos will continue to... Full story: http://goo.gl/nLCiHa

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December 20 11

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liam Shakespe are Nature and life ar seasons of the yea the phases of the r http://goo.gl/o Caught up in da m zbNM ily ily forget that Asia stands to the b has cycles, too. We gain from W with the econo mi slowdown est of expansion, con c tra cov ery. However, The shift of eco o no mentum to the mic growth mo- phenomena affect... up numerous East has opened Full story at http://go op Asian countries portunities that out, suggests an should not miss Panel: Asia b economist. off, not immu The robust eco fr om global c nomic growth China and em of erging economi will open a ne es KUALA LUMPUR : Th w opportunity sis in the late 1990 for Asian economi s wa es wealth from tra to increase their call for the region that de in goods an out to be services at a tim a blessing i d e States and Europ when the United nearly 15 years later, as t e financial sec Full story at htt are... p://goo.gl/S65D6 able to sus tor is now tain a cer of shocks from the ta Grow with th fallo e fl ow We ste rn Hemisphere, of cycles to a panellist at a rece ‘There is a tid con ference. e men, which, tak in the affairs of leads on to for en at the flood, “There wi ll be more cris tune”, wrote Wi l- future, an d the Asian Sponsored by

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American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand (AMCHAM) 7th Floor, GPF Witthayu Tower A, 93/1 Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 Tel: +66 (0)2 254 1041 Fax: +66 (0)2 251 1605 Website: www.amchamthailand.com Email: service@amchamthailand.com

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AMCHAM Thailand Recognizes Top Corporate Social Responsibility Programs The American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand (AMCHAM) has honored 47 member companies that carried-out exemplary corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs in 2013. The honorees were presented with ACE recognitions, an appreciation presented by U.S. Ambassador Kristie Kenney and AMCHAM Vice-President Darren Buckley on behalf of the AMCHAM Corporate Social Responsibility Excellence Recognition Program (ACE). To qualify for an ACE recognition, a firm’s CSR program must receive high-marks in four categories: (1) Attention to business objectives and societal needs; (2) Creation of long-term economic and social gains; (3) Communication and sharing of best practices; (4) Program sustainability. Special designations were given to firms that have received the ACE award for three straight years (Silver Award), firms with excellence in creativity and innovation (Creative Partnerships), and for Small and Medium Sized Business (SMEs). The forty-seven award recipients were (special designations in parentheses): • Accenture Solutions Company • Aditya Birla Group • American International Assurance • Amway (Creative Partnership) • Bank of Ayudhya • Baxter Healthcare (Creative Partnership) • Bumrungrad Hospital (Creative Partnership) • Cisco Systems • Central Food Retail (Silver Award) • Chevron Thailand Exploration & Production (Creative Partnership & Silver Award) • Citibank (Silver Award) • Coca-Cola (Creative Partnership and Silver Award) • Diageo Moet Hennessy • Dow Chemical (Creative Partnership and Silver Award) • Du Pont • Esso (Creative Partnership and Silver Award) • FedEx Express (Creative Partnership and Silver Award) • Ford Motor Company (Silver Award) • Foster Wheeler • Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok (Silver Award) • General Motors / Chevrolet (Creative Partnership) • GlaxoSmithKline (Creative Partnership and Silver Award) • Google (Creative Partnership) • Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok (Creative Partnership and Silver Award) • Hanesbrands (Creative Partnership) • Hemaraj Land And Development (Silver Award) • HSBC (Creative Partnership and Silver Award) • Intel Microelectronics (Creative Partnership) • Kenan Institute Asia (SME)

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• McThai (Creative Partnership) • Mead Johnson Nutrition • Microsoft (Creative Partnership and Silver Award) • Minor International (Creative Partnership and Silver Award) • MSD • Pfizer (Creative Partnership) • Philip Morris (Silver Award) • Procter & Gamble (Silver) • PTT Global Chemical (Creative Partnership and Silver Award) • Raja’s Fashions (SME) • Santa Fe (Creative Partnership and Silver Award) • SAS Software • Seagate Technology (Silver Award) • Standard Chartered Bank (Silver Award) • Top Scholars (Creative Partnership and SME) • Tour de Asia Bicycle Touring (Creative Partnership and SME) • Tractus (Creative Partnership and SME) • YUM Restaurant International (Creative Partnership and Silver Award) “American companies bring innovative products and services to markets across the globe, yet never overlook the importance of the community in which they operate. We are here today to applaud those efforts,” said award presenter U.S. Ambassador Kristie Kenney. AMCHAM President Darren Buckley congratulated “our 47 member companies whose principled business and community practices benefited their employees, business partners and the people of Thailand. For the seventh year, we honor those who have made positive contributions to Thai society.”

Recipients of AMCHAM Thailand’s 2013 ACE Recognition for Exemplary Corporate Social Responsibility with U.S. Ambassador Kristie Kenney (center).

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Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce (AustChamThailand) 20th Floor, Thai CC Tower, 889 South Sathorn Road, Yannawa, Bangkok 10120 Tel: +66 (0)2 210 0216-8 Fax: +66 (0)2 675 6696 Website: www.austchamthailand.com Email: admin@austchamthailand.com

Thai productivity cloud offers silver lining for Aussie business Is there a silver lining to Thailand’s productivity cloud? Absolutely, say two of the most prominent Australians in Thailand. And, they add, it’s a win-win. Speaking at the Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Australian Business Forum (ABF) on the Eastern Seaboard, HE James Wise, the Australian Ambassador, and David Chuter, Executive General Manager of Futuris Automotive, called on Australian companies to consider the rewards of operating in Thailand. They pointed out that the productivity stresses in Thailand presented a rare window of opportunity for Australian companies to break into this rapidly developing market – and for those already established to boost their growth. The outlook for Futuris in Thailand is bright to the point of being dazzling – as it has been for the past three years. In fact, it is difficult to find a better success story about Australian business in Thailand. Futuris was one of the first Australian automotive component manufacturers to venture offshore. It established in China in 2005 and has continued to grow there, adding multiple customers and facilities. In 2010 it saw an opportunity in Thailand. Three short years later, it has not only outgrown one, but two, Hemaraj Industrial Estate factories. It is now planning further expansion. Chuter sees a doubling of Futuris sales in Thailand as a very real prospect over the next few years. With Thailand’s new status as one of the world’s top ten automotive producers, it offers a cornucopia of supply chains that lead into virtually every major car manufacturer.

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its past. Its Australian customer base is shrinking rapidly, but Australia remains the core of Futuris – particularly its Australian design and development capability. For Australian businesses looking to follow in the rather large Futuris footsteps, Chuter has some advice. “Set up your business for flexibility as well as growth”, he says. The automotive industry is one of aggressive margins; one where risks are increasingly being transferred to suppliers. New opportunities can arise quickly, and it is important to be able to seize the day. Businesses should have the ability to shift resources to areas where they can be of greatest value. They need to be nimble. Setting up a new business also requires “clarity, conviction, and will-power”. As Chuter puts it, “You must have a vision. You have to know why you are getting out of bed in the morning. In fact, you have to want to jump out of bed!” There is a paradox in Chuter’s final – and perhaps most forceful – message for Australian businesses, and that is that business is looking to become more challenging in Thailand. But, in challenge, Chuter sees opportunity. This is an environment, Chuter says, where Australian companies cannot just compete, but have the opportunity to thrive. Ambassador Wise backs him strongly on this point. Australian businesses, they say, have long faced the pressures of punishingly high labour costs, extreme competition and burdensome regulation. Many have consequently built efficient and effective business models that rely on ultra-high productivity and world-leading innovation. They are business models for the belt-tightening times, which Chuter sees as being just around the corner.

Attractive tax and other incentives from Thailand’s Board of Investment have helped Futuris in Thailand. But that does not explain Futuris’ success, says Chuter. Its remarkable achievements are a product of the company’s vision and culture, its history of achievement in Australia and a huge amount of hard work and application. The single most important factor, according to Chuter, is Futuris’ ability to maintain a business model that is “driven by forward thinking, adaptability, integrity, a can-do attitude and a passion for delivering superior products and superior solutions in a global and increasingly competitive environment”.

They are also business models that Ambassador Wise says can help Thailand reach its aspirations of moving up the value chain and towards a knowledge-driven economy; productivity and innovation being two pre-requisites for that goal.

While Futuris is fast becoming a global business, Chuter emphasises that Australian expertise and innovation remain central to the company’s future, as well as explaining

AustCham will regularly hold ABF gatherings in Bangkok, the Eastern Seaboard and Phuket. For more information please visit www.austchamthailand.com/abf.

At Futuris, preparations are already underway to rein in costs a notch or two. As is the case in design and development, the innovations that will allow for Futuris to remain competitive in such conditions will be driven from Australia; drawn from the hard-won lessons of experience.

BANGKOK BUSINESS BRIEF

Mid-January/February 2014

Year of the Low-Cost Carriers Story continued from Page 1.

the major markets in the region – Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. But the latest zone of significant market activity is Thailand, predominantly because there has been no major low-cost carrier (LCC) founded in Thailand besides Nok Air. Indonesia has Lion Air, Singapore has Tigerair, Malaysia has AirAsia, and the Philippines has Cebu Pacific. This lack of a home-grown regional LCC has left the market open for LCCs from elsewhere.” In Thailand, domestic and international LCC routes have been dominated by two airlines: Nok Air and Thai AirAsia, which has been in Thailand for almost a decade. According to the Centre for Aviation (CAPA), Nok Air claims to have had 27.2% of the domestic market in 2013 (through September 2013), compared to Thai AirAsia’s 26.9% share. Thai AirAsia, on the other hand, has 57% of all international LCC capacity in Thailand.

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But with Thai Lion Air and Thai Vietjet Air ready to enter the market in 2014, both Thai AirAsia and Nok Air are planning to respond with new routes, new planes, and increased services to established routes. Thai AirAsia plans to start flying a Chiang Mai-Hangzhou route next month, their third direct air link to China from the northern city. They will also increase services to Yangon, Myanmar and Siem Reap, Cambodia, and will shortly accept their first A330-300, which will be the first plane to be used by Thai AirAsia X for their new long-haul international flights to North Asia, Europe, and Australia. Don Mueang will be the second hub of AirAsia’s long-haul service after Kuala Lumpur. Meanwhile, Nok Air, after its successful IPO in June 2013, plans to solidify its position in the domestic market by expanding its fleet and by adding short-haul international flights to markets like Vietnam, China, and Myanmar. Thailand’s most profitable airline in 2013, according to AOT, has also established a joint venture with Scoot, Singapore Airlines budget carrier. NokScoot will begin operations in the second half of 2014 and will focus on long-haul international flights. The main new player in the market, Thai Lion Air, which began operating this month, plans to compete with Thai AirAsia on the Bangkok-Jakarta and Bangkok-Kuala Lumpur routes, as well as on other international and domestic routes. Thai Lion Air also plans to expedite expansion of its fleet in order to consolidate its network in the Thai market. Thai Vietjet Air, meanwhile, plans to enter the Thai market, and even boutique carrier, Bangkok Airways will respond to the increased competition by expanding its domestic services and network. Other LCCs, like Tigerair Mandala, have been flying the Bangkok-Jakarta route for more than a year, but look less likely to expand into the Thai market in 2014 because of less-favorable market conditions in Indonesia. CAPA claims that the Southeast Asian market is good for LCCs at the moment, with growing middle classes emerging in most of the Asean economies. But with almost every LCC in the region planning aggressive expansion in 2014, overcapacity in several markets, including Thailand, is a distinct possibility. LCCs in the Thai market could face an increasing number of challenges in 2014, depending on how long the political situation remains unstable. They will have to try to balance the need to establish or consolidate a solid foothold in what is still expected to be a long-term growth market, with the short-term ramifications of prolonged protests in the capital. Getting the right balance will determine which of the LCC players survive in this prized market. Until all of this plays out, it seems that, for the foreseeable future, passengers will be the big winners, with low fares and great deals on regional and domestic routes.

Read today’s business news briefs about Bangkok, Thailand & Asean every weekday at www.BBBrief.com

CMY

Grande Caribbean Condo Resort Pattaya celebrates a tremendous 2013 Pattaya – Grande Caribbean Condo Resort Pattaya under the Blue Sky Group, a real-estate asset developer, recently celebrated the success of its developments in the year 2013 with the “Grande Caribbean presents Sea of Dreams” party and invited all Bangkok and Pattaya media to share in the experience as gratitude for being a part of the company’s accomplishments over the past year. Apichart Gulati, Project Manager of Blue Sky Group Co. Ltd, said the purpose of the “Grande Caribbean presents Sea of Dreams” party was not only to thank and reward the commitment of all partners, who have always provided support and been an integral part of the company’s success story, but also to celebrate the success of the 2-billion Baht value Grande Caribbean Condo Resort Pattaya. The Grande Caribbean Condo Resort Pattaya is a premium real estate project by the group that takes the concept of holiday homes to the next level, by offering a completely turnkey approach with prices starting at 1.89 million Baht per unit. Another of the group’s celebratory milestones in 2013 was the launch of “The Cruz Grande Caribbean”, a 30-storey condominium development that followed the success beyond expectations of the first phase.

The launch of the project in February 2013, along with the “Buy at the Cruz, Win a Cruze” promotion, garnered a positive response from both Thai and oversees clients, stimulating market interest and boosting sales figures to achieve reservations to date of almost 80% for both projects. To create further interest and achieve similar results in 2014, the Grande Caribbean Condo Resort Pattaya has launched the campaign “Double Your Luck”. Customers who purchase a unit will be entered into a lucky draw for a chance at winning one of two prizes worth 20 Baht weight in gold. The campaign is taking place from now until 8th March, 2014. Moving forward into 2014 the Blue Sky Group will continually strive to further improve the quality of every development, in order to advance closer to the goal of being acknowledged as the leading company in real estate management. For more information of the Grande Caribbean Condo Resort Pattaya project, please visit www.grandecaribbeanpattaya.com.

BANGKOK BUSINESS BRIEF

www.BBBrief.com

Mid-January/February 2014

The Calendar Sunday

20 AMCHAM: Community Engagement Cmte http://goo.gl/qpfmuR

Mango Metro Networking Party http://goo.gl/6ngBg

goo.gl/6ngBg

Tuesday

Monday

Feb.

Jan.

For event details, enter the short code below the event into your browser:

27 AMCHAM: Adopt-a-School Dedication for JLF Associates & Tractus Thailand http://goo.gl/7e8oeQ

3 AMCHAM: Community Engagement Cmte http://goo.gl/EubuL8

AMCHAM: Elon University Briefing http://goo.gl/qo5xKY AMCHAM: Professional Women Committee â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Being Your Own Boss http://goo.gl/5N0wgf

AMCHAM: Business Economics Cmte http://goo.gl/f3Tk9n AMCHAM: Legal Cmte http://goo.gl/swl25n Bangkok Entrepreneurs http://goo.gl/JihG3 AMCHAM: Board of Governors Meeting http://goo.gl/gwYEFC Mango Metro / Bangkok Trader Networking http://goo.gl/EnNbR

AMCHAM: Joint HR & Legal Cmtes http://goo.gl/CrqNcV AustCham: TRANSEARCH TriNations BBQ (Braai) http://goo.gl/iAOC59 AMCHAM: Marketing http://goo.gl/xPRioD

AMCHAM: ICT Cmte http://goo.gl/OyKbJB AMCHAM: Tax Cmte http://goo.gl/kNc1xb AMCHAM: Professional Women Committee http://goo.gl/RVroG0

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Mid-January/February 2014

BANGKOK BUSINESS BRIEF

Send us your event details for the Mid-Febuary/March issue by February 7th to reid@bbbrief.com Wednesday

Thursday

22 AMCHAM: Monthly Luncheon with World Bank Country Director http://goo.gl/pnY3J2

29 AMCHAM: Board and Committee Chair Strategic Planning Session http://goo.gl/37NBsm

Friday

AMCHAM: CSR Cmte http://goo.gl/bSPtLL AMCHAM: New Member Orientation http://goo.gl/GSzp2k AMCHAM: Social Networking http://goo.gl/vdxnAV

30 Movers & Shakers http://goo.gl/xOfWr AMCHAM: YPC Networking Night http://goo.gl/4IrCGa

Saturday

AustCham: Natural Ville Australia Day Golf Tournament http://goo.gl/3O3EQe AMCHAM: 3rd Annual Thailand Tourism Forum 2014 http://goo.gl/RsTwhz

AMCHAM: Independence Day Picnic Cmte http://goo.gl/1UUT56

7 AustCham: Voluntary English Teaching http://goo.gl/iogZwa

AustCham: February Sundowners http://goo.gl/Rj44jh

12 AMCHAM: SME Cmte http://goo.gl/aAP8BH AMCHAM: Social Networking http://goo.gl/gLELtU

19 AMCHAM: Energy Cmte http://goo.gl/D65xCz

26 AMCHAM: Monthly Luncheon http://goo.gl/55qJn7

AMCHAM: Food & Agri-Business Cmte – World Feed and Supply Situation http://goo.gl/tvmM0C

AMCHAM: 2014 Gala Installation Ball – SS AMCHAM http://goo.gl/19ZoWw

AMCHAM: Customs & Excise Cmte http://goo.gl/fVOJ37 AMCHAM: Community Engagement http://goo.gl/p3F0Rb

AMCHAM: Transpo. & Logistics Cmte – Laem Chabang Port Visit http://goo.gl/DQMGDV

AMCHAM: CSR Cmte – Hemaraj w/Sustainable Growth http://goo.gl/yYylXa Movers & Shakers http://goo.gl/xOfWr AMCHAM: YPC Networking Night http://goo.gl/QtIgHx

AMCHAM: Independence Day Picnic Cmte http://goo.gl/Z8iFhO Joint: Eastern Seaboard Networking http://goo.gl/Qgw2sr http://goo.gl/ICJLc3

Uretek AMATA Thai FP ad_Layout 1 30/09/13 5:06 PM Page 1

WE RAISE, RE-LEVEL AND RE-SUPPORT CONCRETE FLOORS AND DRIVEWAYS

We raise and re-level sunken floor slabs by injecting structural resins which expand as they enter the ground. This creates huge pressure. Voids and crevices are tightly filled, weak ground is compacted and strengthened and the floor is raised back to level.

If there are very weak soil strata below the floor, we insert PowerPiles to compress the soil and provide proper floor support .

Bumps & trip hazards disappear FAST! No excavation; no waiting for concrete to set. Minimal interruption for you.

At left is a prime example. Recently we re-levelled the canteen floor at a major, AMATA factory. PROBLEM

✔ SOLVED

PROBLEM

Here we used Uretek patented PowerPiles as shown above, because there was a significant stratum of weak soil below much of the canteen floor. Dangerous trip hazards had developed and tiles and walls were cracked. The floor was raised back to level and completely re-supported.

✔ SOLVED

Uretek Ground Engineering 02 152 0900 www.uretek.co.th info@uretek.co.th