Bangkok Business Brief - Volume 1, Issue 8 - Mid-July/August 2012

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BANGKOK BUSINESS BRIEF Mid-July/August 2012

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BUSINESS BRIEF

Vol. No. 1, Issue No. 8

Mid-July/August 2012

Daily business news briefs at www.bangkokbusinessbrief.com

Thailand’s competitiveness slipping

By Dean Outerson

Reports from various international organizations in recent weeks indicate that Thailand’s overall competitiveness in most, if not all, key areas of development is slipping. Warnings about this drop

Inside General Interest Finance/Investment Government/Economy Production Retail/Services Tourism IT/Comms Real Estate The Chambers The Calendar

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in business competitiveness have come from the EU-funded European Asean Business Centre in Thailand, the Switzerland-based International Institute for Management Development’s (IMD) World Competitiveness Center, the Oxford Business Group, and even the World Economic Forum (WEF). In addition, the head of a major Japanese consumer products conglomerate has said that Thailand is losing out to neighbors Vietnam and even Myanmar in the eyes of investors, who see the recent political instability as a threat.

awareness that Thailand is lagging behind its neighbors and other ASEAN nations is steadily growing among government and business leaders. Companies and institutions are beginning to hold seminars and forums to discuss the AEC and its implications for Thailand. But is it too late?

Many of the discussions at the World Economic Forum on East Asia 2012 held in Bangkok recently also focused on 2015 and how the new economic community will affect competitiveness within the region. While the WEF’s own 2011-2012 Global CompetitiveWith the implementation of the ness Report didn’t show any drop AEC less than three years away, in Thailand’s overall ranking, par-

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ticipants at the Forum warned that Thailand faces many challenges to make the country more competitive, especially ahead of the implementation of the AEC in 2015.

These include “the quality and efficiency of its public institutions, the quality of education, the worrying security situation and property rights” issues.

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Briefs General Interest

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Key to relationship marketing

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Mid-July/August 2012

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Potential liability for termination: An employer’s perspective Many employers are unaware that terminations of employees, if not carefully considered and conducted, could not only lead to claims of civil liability for unfair termination but also potentially impose criminal liability on the company and its directors as an unfair act. It is extremely important to clearly understand what constitutes unfair termination and an unfair act, and their differences.

It’s more than being a nice person.

For those of us responsible for institutional, or business-to-business (B2B) sales, a vital part of our marketing mix is the establishment and maintenance of relationships with key customers. This is because when it comes to making a decision on procuring a multimillion baht IT solution, slick advertising or cutting-edge social media will probably Under Thai law, unfair terminanot weigh too heavily on the mind tion typically applies to situations in of the CEO or CIO. which the employee is terminated without cause, with insufficient What I think is really important is cause, by grounds that are not stated how these executives perceive the in the employment contract or in vendor’s representative; do they conflict with penalties stated in the trust them, do they respect them, work rules. Relief granted for unfair do they believe that the vendor has termination is typically in the form their best interests at heart? It is at... of compensation or can even...

Full story at http://goo.gl/RoGv6 Full story at http://goo.gl/mcORy

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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 at http://goo.gl/bH6PF

goo.gl/bH6PF

Most interviewees agreed Thailand is the regional centre but remains weak in language because those with English-language skills are...

Overall, Thailand remains attrac- Full story at http://goo.gl/250Fc tive for foreign investors, but worries about political stability means ‘Customer first’ Thailand should move to establish key to success its brand before the Asean Eco- in Asean market nomic Community (AEC) kicks off Siam Commercial Bank president in 2015, according to a new study. Kannikar Chalitaporn has suggestThe University of the Thai Chamber ed that Thai enterprises planning of Commerce (UTCC) conducted to expand into the Asean region interviews with four groups of for- after it becomes a single market in eigners _ media personnel, govern- 2015 should think more about how ment officials, retail investors and their businesses can benefit customlarge multinational companies _ ers in other countries than about totalling 20 persons. how to maximise profit. Kannikar said several global companies used Mana Kuntaraporn, UTCC’s as- this philosophy, as they know their sistant president for corporate overseas customers are as important communications, said the biggest as those at home. Companies doing concern in the foreigners’ eyes was business overseas must think about political uncertainty and renewed sustainability, and Thai companies strife, followed by corruption and should develop better products and flood management. services than local businesses if they want to succeed in Asean markets.

Nevertheless, the corruption situation is perceived as better than in In- She said Thai businesses should... donesia or the Philippines, she said. Full story at http://goo.gl/czDLd

Brand Thailand called for ahead of AEC formation

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TBank dangles refinancing for more SME clients

Thanachart Bank has set its sights on accelerating the expansion of its loan portfolio to small and medium-sized enterprises by refinancing good-quality customers of major banks. Refinancing is a key strategy to maintain the bank’s portfolio and add new customers within a short period, Jiratchayuth Amyongka, head of SME banking at TBank, said yesterday. Of all new loans booked, 60 per cent are expected to be refinances, he said. Existing customers tend to draw slowly on their credit lines, while refinance customers are concerned more about quick loan processing than interest rates...

Full story at http://goo.gl/Xh0bX

Thailand and Singapore strengthen financial ties with crossborder arrangement

rest

To read the fu ll article of a story brief, enter the shor t code at the end the story into your browser: of liam Shakespe are

...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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F

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 The robust eco y from global cr e, no Greece, India, Ch Land subsidence China and em mic growth of is es ina and Thailand erging economi caused by groun are home to the water losses top will open a ne es KUALA LUMPUR : The As d weake w s ian cri- pensi on systems in st national lems that must the list of probAsian economi opportunity for sis in the late 1990s was a wa es to increase the be the kesol cal up ved wo l for in rld cri Ba , the region that pp wealth from tra ir 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 a tim a blessing in d retire dis e 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 ational agencies financial sec Full story at htt are... d . 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 Risks and Ad of cycles sphere, accord ing sion Susta Global Investors Pen- Megac aptation in Asian Coastal to a panellist at a recent As inability Index, ities”, jointly con ‘There is a tid ean conference. ducted by the which Asian De tracks the rel e velop ati men, which, tak in the affairs of ity of nationa ve sustainabil- Internation ment Bank, the Japan l al leads on to for en at the flood, “There wi in 44 countries pension systems and the Wo Cooperation Agency ll be more crises tune”, wrote Wi around the wo rld Bank in 201 l- future, an in the showe rld, 0. d the Asian crisis in tirees d the number of Greek reThe report recom to people of wo rking age reFull story at htt mended a... p://goo.gl/20yMD Sponsored by

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adequate preparation, while investment and assurance from relevant governments are also critical, says the Asian Development Bank.

The ADB, which is part of the Greater Mekong Subregion secretariat, has concluded that the GMS’s Southern Economic Corridor should be extended to include Dawei on Myanmar’s eastern coast, said Arjun Goswami, the bank’s director of regional cooperation and operations coordination in Southeast Asia.

But he said this type of large infrastructure project requires time for...

Full story at http://goo.gl/6bKS1

Crises in west could be boon to Asean

Asean companies are encouraged to take advantage of the global crisis, as the economic outlook for this region is promising in the medium and long terms, according to business leaders and academics.

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Investors should not worry too much about how much stock markets plunge today, Kishore Mahbubani, dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, said yesterday. Mahbubani told business leaders that the future of Asia was bright despite the sovereign debt crisis in Europe and weakening of the US economy.

Thailand and Singapore have inked an agreement to establish a reciprocal cross-border collateral arrangement that will facilitate financial institutions operating in both countries and help maintain financial stability.

“Global economic power will shift towards Asia regardless of what Under the arrangement, eligible fi- happens in Europe and the US,” he nancial institutions operating in Sin- said. As China has emerged and it is gapore may obtain Singapore dollar believed it will someday overtake... liquidity from Monetary Author- Full story at http://goo.gl/UhbQ1 ity of Singapore (MAS) by pledging Thai baht or Thai government and Thai Bank CEO central bank securities with MAS. Sees Competition Similarly, eligible financial institu- Spurring Mergers: tions operating in Thailand may obtain baht liquidity from the Bank Southeast Asia of Thailand (BOT) by pledging Sin- Thailand’s banking industry may gapore dollar or Singapore govern- shrink to as few as five lenders from ment and central bank securities.

14 as competition and cost-cutting fuels consolidation, said Boontuck This collaboration reinforces the Wungcharoen, chief executive offigrowing trade, investment and fi- cer of TMB Bank Pcl. (TMB). “Thainancial relationships between Sin- land has too many banks for the gapore and Thailand. The arrange- size of the market,” Boontuck said. ment allows the...

“The country should probably have Full story at http://goo.gl/P4BKB five or six strong banks, so I think you will see consolidation over the ADB: Don’t next five years.” TMB is 26 percent rush Dawei owned by the Ministry of Finance.

The capital-intensive Dawei project Thailand nationalized more than... in Myanmar needs time to ensure Full story at http://goo.gl/3zc03

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Euro crisis : biggest risk to Thai economy The chronic crisis in the Euro zone is cited as the biggest downside risk for the Thai economy, as this could destabilise global financial markets and the global economy, two key committees of Bank of Thailand said. In their first joint meeting, the Monetary Policy Committee and the Financial Institutions Policy Committee agreed that volatility in the Thai financial market is imminent in the short term, with periodic tight demand and supply for foreign currencies. In the long term, Thailand would inevitably be affected when the Euro crisis drags down the global economy.

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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 at http://goo.gl/bH6PF

the stability of the Thai economy partners with most of their neighand financial market. They also bouring countries – not least Thaiurged all parties to prepare for any... land.

Full story at http://goo.gl/ZWniC import growth in these Thailand to benefit Substantial two biggest Asian economies offers from growing considerable opportunity for Thai import momentum companies to grow their...

Full story at http://goo.gl/TIaMl

in China, India

Thailand will reap significant ben- Exporters missing efits from the likely surge in imports out on tariff in China, which could exceed the privileges under value of its exports within the next five years, according to HSBC’s FTAs: Govt Global Connections report. HSBC Thai exports under free-trade packalso expected the same for India’s ages in the first quarter of this year imports. fell 5.98 per cent from the same period in 2011, partly because exportThe forecast is consistent with an ers are not reaping the benefits of increasing global shift whereby tra- tariff reductions. ditionally export-driven emerging markets are becoming global trad- The Foreign Trade Department ing hubs, decoupling their previous reported that exports under FTAs dependency on developed markets were worth US$9.42 billion (Bt298 to become important engines of billion) in the first quarter, comglobal economic growth in their pared with $10.22 billion during the In a statement, they said that policy own right. same period last year. Of total exoptions were discussed at the meetport value, only 45.49 per cent was ing to mitigate possible impacts on China and India are major trading shipped under free-trade privileges.

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To boost export value, Surasak Riangkrul, the department’s deputy director-general, urged exporters to educate themselves on how to benefit under the 11 FTAs that Thailand has so they can reduce their costs.

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Thailand was a very attractive place to invest, not just because there was good labour and quality people but because the government has...

Full story at http://goo.gl/EpsWC

Meet hears hurdles to growth

Thailand finds itself trapped in the developing stage and unable to step forward to become a developed nation, due to its internal conflict, inflexible rules and laws and slow progress on reform in all sectors, a seminar heard yesterday.

Unless action is taken to resolve these brakes on development, the country will also lose competitiveness to other Asean countries, in particular to Myanmar, which is expected to be one of the fastestemerging regional economies in the next five years, according to panellists at the annual symposium of the International Institute for Asia Pacific Studies (INSAPS) on “Thailand’s future in Asia-Pacific Dynamism”.

They shared the view that the country needed to reform its rules and regulations related to investment, as well as promote closer...

Full story at http://goo.gl/xAmIA

BOI plans survey in Europe to assess impact on investment

“Few exports have benefited from free-trade pacts even though some agreements have cut tariffs to zero, while other have just made reduc- The Board of Investment is plantions, and exporters aren’t... ning a door-to-door survey with Full story at http://goo.gl/Pv816 manufacturers in Europe as part of its plan to monitor the global Legal issues economy and its effect on investors remain obstacle in Thailand. The information colThailand risks losing the regional lected would help the BoI draw up race for foreign direct investment, its investment promotion plan for as authorities have failed to foster next year. an environment of legal certainty for foreign businesses to operate Secretary-general Atchaka Sibunhere, says Herbert Smith LLP, a ruang said last week that the BoI’s full-service international law firm. offices in Sweden, France and GerJonathan Scott, the senior partner many have been told to conduct the of Herbert Smith London, yesterday survey with businessmen. said Thailand is losing its attractiveness for foreign investors to do busi- The agency will also focus on highness compared with a decade ago. tech and alternative-energy businesses with expansion plans.

Meanwhile, other countries in the region have made themselves more There have been many concerns appealing by providing clarity in in- over the impact of the euro crisis on vestment laws and upholding inter- the world economy, but the BoI benationally recognised dispute reso- lieves that the Thai economy would lution mechanisms, he said. weather any storm as government agencies have not revised down...

“If you look back 10-15 years ago, Full story at http://goo.gl/fxr5x

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Reforms offer opportunities to Thais

In line with Myanmar’s expected growth, Thai shipments to the country should double by 2015, in time for the Asean Economic Community (AEC), a study by University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) found. Aat Pisanwanich, director of the UTCC’s International Trade Studies Centre, said exports to Myanmar would show strong growth this year due to higher demand for consumer goods and the increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) in that country.

Meanwhile, the Bank of Thailand and the Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) have inked an agreement for technical assistance. On average, Thai exports to Myanmar should grow by 27.1 per cent per year, with export value rising to US$14.2 billion (Bt446 billion) by 2015 from $7.01 billion in 2011.

rest

To read the fu ll article of a story brief, enter the shor t code at the end the story into your browser: of liam Shakespe are

...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

goo.gl/bH6P

F

Bangkok Business Brief

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 The robust eco y from global cr e, no Greece, India, Ch Land subsidence China and em mic growth of is es ina and Thailand erging economi caused by groun are home to the water losses top will open a ne es KUALA LUMPUR : The As d weake w s ian cri- pensi on systems in st national lems that must the list of probAsian economi opportunity for sis in the late 1990s was a wa es to increase the be the kesol cal up ved wo l for in rld cri Ba , the region that pp wealth from tra ir 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 a tim a blessing in d retire dis e 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 ational agencies financial sec Full story at htt are... d . 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 Risks and Ad of cycles sphere, accord ing sion Susta Global Investors Pen- Megac aptation in Asian Coastal to a panellist at a recent As inability Index, ities”, jointly con ‘There is a tid ean conference. ducted by the which Asian De tracks the rel e velop ati men, which, tak in the affairs of ity of nationa ve sustainabil- Internation ment Bank, the Japan l al leads on to for en at the flood, “There wi in 44 countries pension systems and the Wo Cooperation Agency ll be more crises tune”, wrote Wi around the wo rld Bank in 201 l- future, an in the showe rld, 0. d the Asian crisis in tirees d the number of Greek reThe report recom to people of wo rking age reFull story at htt mended a... p://goo.gl/20yMD Sponsored by

...

in Chon Buri at 130 MW. Combined investment for these three plants is 20 billion baht. These plants are scheduled to become operational...

Full story at http://goo.gl/IY9Qw

New Thai-built focus for local, export markets

The Ford Thailand Manufacturing (FTM) plant in Rayong will be the fifth facility globally to produce the all-new Focus, with the Thai-built models destined for the local market and export across the Asean region, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

The American auto-maker celebrated the official start of production for the new Ford Focus at the company’s new $450-million plant. Ford will officially launch the all-new Focus in Thailand in August. Ford Asean president Peter Fleet, vice president of manufacturing at Ford Asia-Pacific and Africa Gary Johnson and vice president of quality at Ford Asia-Pacific and Africa Mike Torolski joined FTM employees as they watched the first Focus roll off the assembly line.

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Volume 1, Issue 8 • Mid-July/August 2012 Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.

“The all-new Ford Focus is the next of eight vehicles that we will bring to Asean by mid-decade, continuing the successful, product-led transformation of our business,” said Fleet.

“The all-new Focus will expand our Amata B. Grimm appeal to a whole new generation on track of Ford customers in Thailand and Amata B. Grimm Power Co, major- across this region.” ity-owned by the local trading conglomerate B. Grimm, remains on Developed in Europe for sale in track to proceed with its 70-billion- more than 120 markets worldwide... baht investment plan to expand its Full story at http://goo.gl/u51XR capacity to 2,000 megawatts in 2019.

The export of industrial goods will enjoy significant growth, with their proportion of total exports rising...

Full story at http://goo.gl/MZO6S

President of the executive committee Preeyanart Soontornwata said the company is committed to developing 13 units of gas-fired power plants to serve the industrial sector.

Monitors: Protected, Then Hunted

Who would have thought that the reptile most hated in Thai society, taken as a jinx bringing us bad luck, might end up as something useful in people’s daily lives?Leather made from water monitor lizards is expected to be commercially manufactured over the next two years after the reptile is taken off the list of preserved species, according to the chairman of the Thai Leather Association.

It holds 16 operating licences for power plants under the small power producer programme. Amata B. Grimm has two plants operating in Thailand and one in Vietnam, generating 363 MW. All are gasfired power plants, with two units in Chon Buri and another in Bien Hoa, Vietnam.

There are fewer than 500,000 cows in Thailand against as many as 3 The company has started construc- million monitor lizards, which have tion on three more power plants, a unique skin pattern considered two in Rayong at 120 MW each, and by many to be more beautiful than

the plainer cowhide, said Somkiaet Bongkotpannarai. The water monitor (Varanus salvator) is on the list of preserved animals under the Forestry Department, making it illegal to hunt the species. Mr Somkiaet said leather made from monitor lizard skin has a 50%...

Full story at http://goo.gl/1yeFl

PooPooPaper’s Inspired Recycling

Entrepreneurs: Michael Flancman and his wife, Tun, created Torontobased PooPooPaper, a line of recycled paper products made from, as the name suggests, poop. The odor-

less stationery, notepads, greetings cards and journals are crafted from a pulp made with the dung of fibereating herbivores such as elephants, horses, cows, donkeys and pandas.

“Aha” moment: “There’s a lot of crap out there sold by a lot of companies, and they pretend it’s not crap. Could I actually sell product that is crap?”

Flancman wondered after meeting a papermaker who was experimenting with products made from elephant dung. “It was so bizarre and interesting,” Flancman says. “I thought there was a sexiness to it...

Full story at http://goo.gl/sUKe7

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rience of the business organisation, whether a success or a failure. Also, identity may refer to self-presentation made by particular business organisations with a purpose to make http://goo.gl/QyrTE “The new SL has been produced for themselves recognised by stakethe first time almost entirely from holders, which are consumers, comMercedes-Benz in aluminum and the lighter weight... munity, investors and employees. It high gear Full story at http://goo.gl/Hhz06 will finally lead to a strong reputaGerman carmaker Mercedes-Benz tion of the organisation. expects the luxury car market to Retail-sector firms post double-digit growth and reach advised to focus on Two major local and international 18,000 to 20,000 vehicles in 2012. corporate identity retailers – Central Department Meanwhile, the Mercedes-Benz Store and UK-based Tesco Lotus – brand is expected to grow by 15 per Amid the changes in the battlefield have adopted diverse strategies in... cent to 6,000 vehicles. Last month of the local retail industry, retailers Full story at http://goo.gl/9uyGt the German brand sold more than need to strictly focus on strengthen700 vehicles in Thailand, up 57 per ing business grass roots, especially Insurance giants cent compared to the same period corporate identity, which will make jostle for slice of last year. them sustainable in the heart of Southeast Asia consumers. market Apart from launching the new SL roadster launched last week, Mer- It is not unusual that following The race to win a bigger slice of cedes-Benz also plans to introduce closely the changing trend seems to Southeast Asia’s insurance market more new models, including the be one of the key methods selected is heating up as AIA Group, Manunew A-Class subcompact later this by most business people. However, life and Prudential PLC compete for year. such a step forward makes it hard to mid-size acquisitions in the region be recognised consistently. totaling up to $1 billion, sources The SL 500 BlueEfficiency Sports said. The three insurance groups as AMG Roadster is priced at Bt14.499 Identity is created from past expe- well as France’s AXA and Canada’s

Retail/Services

million, and is targeted at the growing sports car market. The SL 350 is also being offered, but the final price has not been set.

...added that the company had set aside a significant investment budget of Bt200 million to Bt300 million for overseas expansion.

Full story at http://goo.gl/bH6PF

goo.gl/bH6PF

Sun Life have submitted initial bids for the Malaysian life insurance joint venture between CIMB Group (CIMB.KL) and Aviva (AV.L), a deal estimated to be worth at least $400 million, the sources, who had direct knowledge of the matter, said.

The moves come against the backdrop of a $7 billion auction for ING’s (ING.AS) Asian insurance business as some foreign insurers exit the region to focus on their core markets, while some larger ones and new entrants try to gain bigger exposure to Asia. “Many of the recent opportunities have been driven by...

Full story at http://goo.gl/Ncvrg

Ratchaprasong area aims to emulate Orchard Road

Operators around the Ratchaprasong area are attempting to create an environment like Singapore’s Orchard Road in Bangkok with an integrated shopping area comprising the main streets of Ratchaprasong, Pratunam, Pathum Wan and Plo-

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December 20 11

Briefs 7

BANGKOK BUSINESS BRIEF Mid-July/August 2012

General Inte

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rest

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Major Cineplex Group has been challenging hotel and shoppingcomplex rivals in a proactive strategy to draw corporate customers into its cinemas and bowling alleys to host their marketing and internal staff events. The move is one of the group’s key mechanisms to increase return on investment on its highvalue assets.

Chate Mungkhalodom, chief media officer, said the group’s bowlingalley business had not seen any growth for three or four years as it is challenged by other entertainment alternatives and a lack of effective marketing communication and public relations. “We closed our non-performing 30-lane bowling alley at Piyarom Sports Club at the end of last year. This month we will close another...

Full story at http://goo.gl/6Sjlb

AirAsia to shift to Don Mueang by Oct

Budget airline Thai AirAsia announced it would move its base of operation from Suvarnabhumi to Don Mueang Airport, thanks to attractive incentives. The news ended a month-long row over its relocation – a move the government was forced to take because of overcrowding at the new airport.

The firm signed an agreement with Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) yesterday. Its first flight from Don Mueang will take off on October 1

goo.gl/bH6P

F

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 The robust eco y from global cr e, no Greece, India, Ch Land subsidence China and em mic growth of is es ina and Thailand erging economi caused by groun are home to the water losses top will open a ne es KUALA LUMPUR : The As d weake w s ian cri- pensi on systems in st national lems that must the list of probAsian economi opportunity for sis in the late 1990s was a wa es to increase the be the kesol cal up ved wo l for in rld cri Ba , the region that pp wealth from tra ir 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 a tim a blessing in d retire dis e 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 ational agencies financial sec Full story at htt are... d . 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 Risks and Ad of cycles sphere, accord ing sion Susta Global Investors Pen- Megac aptation in Asian Coastal to a panellist at a recent As inability Index, ities”, jointly con ‘There is a tid ean conference. ducted by the which Asian De tracks the rel e velop ati men, which, tak in the affairs of ity of nationa ve sustainabil- Internation ment Bank, the Japan l al leads on to for en at the flood, “There wi in 44 countries pension systems and the Wo Cooperation Agency ll be more crises tune”, wrote Wi around the wo rld Bank in 201 l- future, an in the showe rld, 0. d the Asian crisis in tirees d the number of Greek reThe report recom to people of wo rking age reFull story at htt mended a... p://goo.gl/20yMD Sponsored by

...

enchit, in a project aimed at increas- this year. Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO ing the daily number of visitors by of Thai AirAsia, pointed out clearly 30 per cent to 350,000 next year. that Suvarnabhumi would be its permanent base and hoped it would As part of the strategy, the Ratchap- be the last time it has to relocate – a rasong Square Trade Association move that will cost Bt80 million.

(RSTA) yesterday welcomed The Platimum Fashion Mall and Novotel Strategically, AOT Plc had to offer Bangkok Platinum as new members incentives to convince low-cost airto mark the area as an integrated lines to relocate from Suvarnabhucity lifestyle centre with a combined mi to reduce congestion at the new space of 1.02 million square metres airport. It has launched incentives in the heart of the capital. for 2012 to 2015, via three steps – a...

Full story at http://goo.gl/fDLXk The association is also poised to boost the potential of the Ratchap- Don Mueang shift rasong area through highly effi- irks BAC, BFS cient infrastructure along with its Airports of Thailand Plc’s move to international exposure as a leading divert flights from Suvarnabhumi business and lifestyle destination in airport to Don Mueang has led two Southeast Asia, targeting... groups to complain that the move Full story at http://goo.gl/BK6uo infringes on accords with firms granted concessions to run operaLet’s go bowling, tions at Suvarnabhumi.

Major tells corporate clients

Expatriate Medical Insurance ...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

Bangkok Air Catering (BAC) and Bangkok Flight Services (BFS) _ both units of Bangkok Airways group _ are complaining the shift of air traffic to Don Mueang to ease congestion at Suvarnabhumi is diluting their business opportunities.

Both BAC and BFS insist when they bid for concessions to build and operate facilities for airline catering and flight handling services at Suvarnabhumi more than six years ago, they were based on it being the sole airport serving Bangkok.

“We put up the highest bids for the 20-year concessions based our calculations of business opportunities arising from a single airport,” said Bangkok Airways president Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth. BAC and BFS have spent billions of baht to set up facilities at...

Full story at http://goo.gl/zsXPy

7-Eleven flood plans in place CP All Plc, the local operator of the 7-Eleven convenience store chain, is on high alert to set up contingency distribution centres in case the flood situation deteriorates in the coming months. Last year’s flood crisis taught the company a big lesson. At the time, not only were 700 stores damaged, but also its distribution centres. They could not deliver daily necessities to help the flood victims and other consumers. After the flood, the firm has learned to make adjustments. Plastic and fibre...

Full story at http://goo.gl/ZGRsw

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new for visitors who have already been to Thailand two or three times,” he said, adding that the stream of tourists entering the country has not changed. He said many tourists http://goo.gl/fxE4d now coming to Thailand, whether from other Asean members or as Change in tourism far away as India, are well-to-do and tack urged educated backpackers with diverse Upscale backpackers the order of requirements ranging from... the day – Thailand enjoys a geo- Full story at http://goo.gl/AHvdR graphical advantage in becoming an Asean tourism and logistics hub, Myanmar tourism but the country must still focus on industry determined developing new tourism products, to avoid traps especially if it wants to attract repeat visitors, says one travel industry in- The Myanmar tourism industry sider. heard more warnings at the Mekong Tourism Forum last week to beware This will be especially important the downside of the gold-rush. Inafter the advent of the Asean Eco- dustry stalwarts stressed that they nomic Community (AEC) in 2015, were well aware of the emerging said M.L. Hathaijanok Kritakara, issues, and offered assurances that the general manager of corporate they would be making every effort affairs at Accor Asia Pacific Corpo- to do things right. ration and honorary secretary of the Pacific Asia Travel Association.

Marking its 20th anniversary this year, the forum was attended by 12 “We’re still selling the same themes, public- and private-sector representhe same temples _ there’s nothing tatives from Myanmar, including

Tourism

www.bangkokbusinessbrief.com

Mid-July/August 2012

...added that the company had set aside a significant investment budget of Bt200 million to Bt300 million for overseas expansion.

Full story at http://goo.gl/bH6PF

goo.gl/bH6PF

U Htay Aung, the vice-minister for tourism and hotels. U Htay Aung himself took the lead by pointedly asking M.R. Disnadda Diskul, chairman of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, for advice on the richpoor income gap. M.R. Disnadda’s reply: “Everybody is going to rake Myanmar. They want your gas, your oil and your minerals. They are not coming to your country for your well-being. They say they want to help you, but you have to help...

Full story at http://goo.gl/3T3UM

Pattaya on course to see record numbers

Thailand is among the few destinations in the world that has enjoyed a tourism surplus over the past decades, along with Spain, the United States and Macau, said Marcio Favilla Lucca de Paula, executive director for competitiveness for the UN World Tourism Organisation.

“Your country has...

Full story at http://goo.gl/083uO

Infrastructure is the most important factor, said Mr Barnett. The proliferation of low-cost flights and improved toll roads to the area has made Pattaya an ideal weekend getaway for Thais, who account for...

Full story at http://goo.gl/tWjcG

Pattaya is on track to accommodate a record 8 million hotel guests this year, the highest-ever for a Thai resort destination, as improvements in the domestic market and infrastructure boost demand, says a hotel industry report.

C9 Hotelworks, the hospitality consulting firm, recently released a report highlighting a 66% hotel occupancy rate for the Eastern Seaboard Thailand gains city last year. The report stated in from regional 2010 and 2011, occupancy rose by 17% and 9%, respectively. Visitors to tourism focus the region doubled in 2010 despite Thailand is well positioned to ben- fallout from the financial crisis and efit from projections of rising tourist political turmoil. arrivals in Southeast Asia, say tourism experts speaking at the World Bill Barnett, managing director of Economic Forum. the Phuket-based firm, attributed Pattaya’s rise to solid infrastructure, Southeast Asia is projected to see a strengthening domestic market, its share of global tourism rise to at international brands and changing least 10% within the next 20 years perceptions of the city. “If you visit from 7.4% now thanks to ongoing Pattaya, you’re sitting next to the efforts by Asean members to pro- country’s capital with an established mote the region as a joint destina- tourism market. It’s the yin to Bangtion. kok’s yang,” he said.

Bangkok to host spa conference

Spa and wellness industry professionals will descend on Bangkok later this year for the World Spa & Well-Being Convention.

Taking place at the IMPACT Exhibition & Convention Center from 19-21 September 2012, the event is expected to attract 3,000 trade visitors, along with 400 congress delegates and 5,000 members of the public. Speakers will highlight the latest Asian spa industry trends, with a key focus on helping Thai spa operators and manufacturers prepare for the launch of the ASEAN Economic Community 2015.

“The event is designed to enhance the image of Thailand in the world spa market, upgrade quality...

Full story at http://goo.gl/ADNfn

Go cosmopolitan, says Unilever

Thailand’s food-service industry needs to create cosmopolitan foods ahead of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, to reap the benefits of an increased inflow of people from other regional markets and the growing cultivation of a dining-out culture in the country, Unilever said yesterday.

The Kingdom has an edge over other nations in Asean as the country is a regional travel and tourism hub, especially Bangkok, which attracts an increasing number of visitors from elsewhere in Southeast Asia, said Prasith Preechachalieo, managing director for Unilever Food Solutions, Thailand, Indo-china and Vietnam.

This will help the local service and food sectors to grow, while providing first-rate Thai chefs and others working in the food-service indus-

2

BANGKOK BU SINESS BRIEF

December 20 11

Briefs 119

Mid-June/July 2012 BANGKOK BUSINESS BRIEF Mid-July/August 2012

General Inte rest

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To read the fu ll article of a story brief, enter the shor t code at the end the story into your browser: of liam Shakespe are

...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

goo.gl/bH6P F

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 The robust eco y from global cr e, no Greece, India, Ch Land subsidence China and em mic growth of is es ina and Thailand erging economi caused by groun are home to the water losses top will open a ne es KUALA LUMPUR : The As d weake w s ian cri- pensi on systems in st national lems that must the list of probAsian economi opportunity for sis in the late 1990s was a wa es to increase the be the kesol cal up ved wo l for in rld cri Ba , the region that pp wealth from tra ir 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 a tim a blessing in d retire dis e 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 ational agencies financial sec Full story at htt are... d . 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 e shocks from the Grow with th a rep ort entitled “Clim e flow Western Hemi fallout in the The Allianz ate Risks and Ad of cycles sphere, accord ing sion Susta Global Investors Pen- Megac aptation in Asian Coastal to a panellist at a recent As inability Index, ities”, jointly con ‘There is a tid ean conference. ducted by the which Asian De tracks the rel e velop ati men, which, tak in the affairs of ity of nationa ve sustainabil- Internation ment Bank, the Japan l al leads on to for en at the flood, “There wi in 44 countries pension systems and the Wo Cooperation Agency ll be more crises tune”, wrote Wi around the wo rld Bank in 201 l- future, an in the showe rld, 0. d the Asian crisis in tirees d the number of Greek reThe report recom to people of wo rking age reFull story at htt mended a... p://goo.gl/20yMD Sponsored by ...

try withEstate more alternatives to work Contractor Narin Tijayang, assistant ridesdirector on Real in other Asean markets, he said. of the Tourism Authority of Thaicondo boom land’s (TAT) Moscow office, said “Thailand has great potential to be- Contractor Russian tourist the first and arrivals propertyindeveloper come a regional hub for the... six monthsPlcof isthis year will reach Pre-Built targeting revenue http://goo.gl/hPK52 Full story at http://goo.gl/0ES6k 500,000,ofso23the target... growth perfull-year cent to Bt3.7 billion Fullyear, storythanks at http://goo.gl/GSzzT to growing condoResidences toseeks this Buddy Group minium projects around Bangkok.

cost moreKhao San Blackout threatens to change status Home-buyers will have to increase hub Managing directorof Wirot CharoenRoad’s stereotype their budget by 5-10 per cent to buy Suvarnabhumi tra said contractors are engaged in residences in the second Buddy Group Hotels & quarter Resorts of is this year compared with lasttoyear, set to invest 100 million baht deproperty said. on Khao San velop twoexperts new projects Road that it says will create a new The price of residences will rise as a landmark. result of the hike in the daily minimum wage Bt300,think which came “Today whentotourists of Khao into effect on April 1, and also an San, most think of liquor, pubs, bars increase in the prices of construcand guest houses. As a business tion raw materials. leader there, we wantConstruction to re-create raw material firms the image as amanufacturing place to find creative have had to shoulder not only the products and as a tourism landincreased labour cost but also the mark,” said Sanga Rungwattanakul, rising pricechief of energy. the group’s executive.

The Buddy president and operates chief executive Group hotels officer of leading property firm and resorts in Bangkok, NonthaPruksa Real Estate, Thongma Vijitburi and Koh Samui. It also operphongpun, forecast that ates nine restaurants and residential pubs, and prices would increase by 3-5 per other businesses. cent. “We will absorb the increased Mr million bahtmonths would costSanga in thesaid first30 two or three go thewage firsthike phase of Khao San aftertothe to help our cusGarden, with 200that, square wah featomers. But after we will have... turing the at French restaurant Chez Full story http://goo.gl/onYC9 Bruno, a museum, a library, and a KBank offers retail space. The museumnew will...

50-year mortgage Full story at http://goo.gl/KuNyf Competition in the mortgage marTourism marketing ket is heating up as Kasikornbank focus for lon(KBank) needed offers the industry’s gest mortgage instalment of 50 Russia, China years. KBank is looking to penThailand developsegment better etrate the should lower-income tourism marketing of customers earning strategies 16,300 bahtfora the Chinese markets, month, downand fromRussian its earlier focus say travelaagents of 20,000 month.active in the two countries. Very little information on Thailand is available the Russian The longer maturityinloans would language, and there no direct make housing more are accessible to Moscow-Bangkok flights.via lower lower-income earners monthly payments. The previous Kondratyuk Ksienia, manager of maximum period for housing loans Primoravtotrans Travel Company, was 30 years, said executive vicesaid while Chatchai Thailand’sPayuhanaveebeaches are president beautiful and the quality of service chai. in Thailand is exceptional, Russian travellers need more information Typically for mortgages, 1 million on theincountry. baht credit is available for clients with monthly incomes of 20,000 The number of payments Russians of visiting baht for monthly 8,000 Thailand reach 1.2 million this baht over will 20 years. year and 1.4 million in 2013.The company did loan a survey of Russian KBank’s new package would tourists and customers found that they prefer also allow purchasing package tours houses to Thailand, Malaysia higher-priced more... and FullSingapore. story at http://goo.gl/NLEAE

more condominium projects this Bangkok’s reputation a key last reyear than in the sameasperiod gional air to hub face a major year. Due thecould limited number of threat following breakcontractors, it hasThursday’s created business down of an airport control to tower opportunities for Pre-Built get which affected nearly 50 flights. new contracts.

The company simultaneous breakdown of is engaged in conboth the main back-up power struction valuedand at Bt5 billion and supplies paralysed radar system will also bid for newthe contracts worth which guides flights SuvarBt5 billion in the nextthrough eight months. nabhumi International Airport for They include condominium, office an hour. A total of 49 aircraftfaciliwere building, and manufacturing affected – 21intake-offs 15 landties located Bangkokand and... ings were delayed, while 13 flights Full story at http://goo.gl/OJKcy were rerouted or returned to their Property departure point. developers

air their gripes

The property market will in radar breakdown maygrow be the line with the country’s recovering longest in the world for 45 years, economy thisexecutives year, but regulations and airline and pilots to France to process their Thai visa. wholly owned subsidiary of Malaystill obstruct its development, say “This inconvenience is blocking... sia-based TA Global, has invested yesterday called the incident “inexproperty developers and analysts. cusable”.

Full story at http://goo.gl/MgiW6 US$90.2 million (Bt2.7 billion) to buy Moevenpick Resort & Spa Thongchai Busrapan, president of Middle class Karon Beach Phuket from King“Our reputation has been tainted Nobletrust Development Plc, said dom Hotel Investments. The deal and in the reliability of the changing face property market will be goodtothis was confirmed yesterday by Jones Thai system has diminished a... of tourism year, story but at regulations, down pay- The rise of the middle class and the Lang LaSalle Hotels, the real-estate Full http://goo.gl/XBkNu ments and price supports will ham- increasing power of digital media agent for the seller.

Online per growth.visa Developers believe will change the way travel busiapplication on follows the nesses operate in coming years, The 338-key property includes Bangkok’s new city plan US model, where it the cards tries to reduce a seminar was told. These issues resort features, 30 two-bedroom urban density. were addressed at the “No Vacancy residences, eight food and beverage The Foreign Ministry has agreed Southeast Asia” conference held outlets, sukhumvit soi four 33 swimming pools, more Thailand’s floor-area (FAR) de- in Bangkok. The event focused on than 1,350 square metres of dediin principle to allowratio tourists from 400 meters from Sukhumvit Road termines how many squaretheir metres some countries to submit visaa the •Web, distribution, innovation, cated meeting space and a variety of • Newly renovatedsales, apartments offering large spaces building can online. have, meaning a 1:10 revenue facilities. applications The proposal management, digital recreational at attractive prices!. ratio allows one sq m of land to deby the Tourism Council of Thai- marketing and technology. velop(TCT) 10 sq misofbeing building.

“Thailand land considered, as • 2 & 3 bedroom units available.Nihat Ercan, senior vice president should have superblocks more Mark Flower, commercial director of investment sales for Jones Lang the ministry wants to help or alleviate 5-star amenities for the entire family. flexible FAR with higher for •Southeast the crowds andzoning, long lines of tourists Asia at InterConti- LaSalle Hotels, said this transaction wanting visa ontransportation arrival at SuvarnFAR neara public to... nental Hotels Group (IHG), said the was a milestone achievement as it abhumi airport.

Full story at http://goo.gl/89mW4 company had experienced increas- represents the largest single asset... demand from middle-class trav- Full story at http://goo.gl/Y9oxW Long-stalled landsuch ing Travellers from big countries ellers for many years. Therefore the tax bill as China and back India likein to do visa on group keeps expanding those prod- TCEB in big push arrival, as they are inconvenient to ucts that fit such demand, such as for Samui discussion arrange back home.

Theissize of their The Finance Ministry vowing to the opening of its first Holiday Inn The Thailand Convention and Exhicountries make difficult tostalled travel Express in Bangkok early this year, bition Bureau is making a big push push forward theitland tax bill, to nearest and Thaimay embassy or conforthe a decade, increase the the first such property in Southeast to promote the world-famous vacaThese areplans... must-see units with many of benefits. sulate. company tion playground Samui as a suittax ceiling. Under the current draft Asia. The an appointmentable today forfora executive viewingmeetings at http://goo.gl/bNgSr venue there are three tax rates depending Full storyMake and the best possible deal.

As well, peopleofin many emergin the region.

However, because of on the purpose land usage.

Land Malaysia’s Crystal ing to seek the lack of large-scale facilities and andcountries buildingsare forrequired commercial use,a 02-262-0747 visa at the embassy consulateand in Caliber buys Phuket airport capacity, the island has only residential land and or buildings, info@bangkokfinder.com afarmland third country.

For to example, tour- resort for $90m welcomed a small group of 40-60... are subject an annual... www.bangkokfinder.com ists are required to go Malaysian firm Crystal Caliber, a Full story at http://goo.gl/4c7By Fullfrom storyAlgeria at http://goo.gl/2Gbi1

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10

BANGKOK BUSINESS BRIEF

Briefs IT / Comms

http://goo.gl/VwYn9

Polycom to offer cloud-enabled service solutions to ICT Ministry Video-conferencing provider Polycom is offering its flagship Real Presence technologies to the government, saying these solutions would aid the efficient provision of services under the “Smart Thailand” programme.

www.bangkokbusinessbrief.com

Mid-July/August 2012

To read the full article of a story brief, enter the short code at the end of the story into your browser:

...added that the company had set aside a significant investment budget of Bt200 million to Bt300 million for overseas expansion.

Full story at http://goo.gl/bH6PF

ing can be done on any device, allowing people to communicate and collaborate anywhere at any time,” he said.

One Tablet per Child is one of the populist policies of the Pheu Thailed government in last July’s elections. It involves giving tablets to Pathom 1 and Mathayom 1 students The Real Presence platform enables countrywide, with the goal of accelgovernment agency representatives erating children’s learning curve. and citizens to communicate easily and effectively, wherever either may However, the project has yet to take be. This improves public services, off due to procurement problems. increases departmental efficiency Testing is still being done on the and responsiveness, and promotes products from the Chinese tablet inter-agency collaboration, Poly- producer Shenzhen Scope, which com says. Recently, the firm an- won the bid to supply the project. nounced the global expansion of the platform via cloud computing,...

The government will spend 5.4 bilFull story at http://goo.gl/VvxuB lion baht to buy 1.7 million units Prathom 1 and Mathayom 1stuApple to let students for dents in fiscal 2013. Of the total test iPad tablets budget, Obec has received the lion’s Apple Inc will lend tablets to chil- share, 4.1 billion baht. An Obec ofdren in 20 schools to help Thailand ficial said Apple would like to be... test the effectiveness of learning Full story at http://goo.gl/Vr6Us through tablets. The move is part of its corporate social responsibility Kingdom’s HP unit restructuring, programmes.

Marc-Alexis Remond, Polycom’s director for enterprise market and industry solutions worldwide, said the firm offered its RealPresence platform of voice and video solutions through three models: on the premises, private cloud, and public cloud. setting up demo It works across devices, including The Office of the Basic Education desktop computers, telephones, and Commission (Obec) will select 20 Hewlett-Packard (Thailand) will remobile devices. “Video-conferenc- schools to participate in the project. structure to focus on the consumer

goo.gl/bH6PF

and corporate businesses, while joining with SIS Distribution (Thailand) to set up a demo centre with an HP 3PAR storage system to support the enterprise market.

“I think the new organisation will be officially launched in July and will help our partners to take care of our customers in terms of one team as well as simplified products and services,” managing director Dhanawat Suthumpun said yesterday. HP headquarters had originally said it would restructure its organisation last month.

For the consumer or volume business, the firm has set up the Printing and Personal System, which gathers personnel from the personal-system and imaging-and-printing groups.

For the corporate market, the firm will combine server, storage, networking and technology services into the enterprise group to simplify its operations and improve performance and productivity. It has...

Full story at http://goo.gl/1d1iK

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December 20 11

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BANGKOK BUSINESS BRIEF Mid-July/August 2012

General Inte

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rest

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F

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 The robust eco y from global cr e, no Greece, India, Ch Land subsidence China and em mic growth of is es ina and Thailand erging economi caused by groun are home to the water losses top will open a ne es KUALA LUMPUR : The As d weake w s ian cri- pensi on systems in st national lems that must the list of probAsian economi opportunity for sis in the late 1990s was a wa es to increase the be the kesol cal up ved wo l for in rld cri Ba , the region that pp wealth from tra ir 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 a tim a blessing in d retire dis e 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 ational agencies financial sec Full story at htt are... d . 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 Risks and Ad of cycles sphere, accord ing sion Susta Global Investors Pen- Megac aptation in Asian Coastal to a panellist at a recent As inability Index, ities”, jointly con ‘There is a tid ean conference. ducted by the which Asian De tracks the rel e velop ati men, which, tak in the affairs of ity of nationa ve sustainabil- Internation ment Bank, the Japan l al leads on to for en at the flood, “There wi in 44 countries pension systems and the Wo Cooperation Agency ll be more crises tune”, wrote Wi around the wo rld Bank in 201 l- future, an in the showe rld, 0. d the Asian crisis in tirees d the number of Greek reThe report recom to people of wo rking age reFull story at htt mended a... p://goo.gl/20yMD Sponsored by

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its business on the Indo-China region in the second half of this year, and expects to generate revenue France-based Arianespace, the growth of about 30 per cent by the world’s leading satellite-launch- end of the year. ing service provider, is eyeing the growth of demand in Asia, par- Thanat Seththaopas, the new counticular in telecommunications and try manager of Trend Micro (Thaiearth-observation satellites. The in- land), said the firm in the second creasing popularity of telecommu- half of this year will focus on maknications, satellite TV, high-defini- ing Thailand the hub to provide tion digital broadcasting and mobile knowledge to the Indochina market, internet has led to the need for more especially Vietnam and Cambodia, satellite capacity in the region. as they are high-potential markets.

It will expand its business base once “Asia is the new frontier for Ariane- the Asean Economic Community space. This part of the world sees the comes into effect in 2015. The firm most significant growth. The region now has representive offices in Laos, is very active in launching commu- Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia. nication satellites.” said Jean-Yves Le Gall, the chairman and chief execu- The firm has divided its customtive. ers in Thailand into two main areas – enterprise and consumer marArianespace has secured seven or- ket. In the enterprise market, the ders in the region. Last month, the company is providing four main company finished launches for Ja- security solutions – virtualisation pan and Vietnam. “Nowadays, one infrastructure, data centre protecthird of our orders are from the re- tion, cloud application security, and gion. Within two years from now,... third-generation network/mobile Full story at http://goo.gl/kRpFu device solutions. He said that in the enterprise market, it distributes its Web security security solution through... firm ambitious Full story at http://goo.gl/YWpsF Blue Coat, a provider of Web security and wide-area-network optimi- Zuckerberg? What sation solutions, expects business about Tanaka? growth in Thailand of 20-25 per Information technology companies cent this year. The firm also uses its in Asia are able to lead the world in Thailand office as a base to expand creating new applications and techinto the Indochina region, which it nologies, say IT businessmen. sees as a market with high potential for growth.

Yoshito Hori, the chairman and chief executive of Globis, a businessSimon Molenberg, managing direc- management university with fator of Blue Coat Systems in Asean, cilities in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, said expectations of revenue growth Sendai and Shanghai, said during in Thailand of about 20-25 per cent a World Economic Forum session from last year were based on the that while many people are talkfast-growing market, the increas- ing about Facebook founder Mark ing concerns about security of the Zuckerberg, few of them know the enterprise and corporate Web en- second-youngest billionaire in the vironment, and the increasing use world is in Japan. Yoshikazu Tanaof cloud computing and tablet and ka, the founder of social networking other mobile devices. site Gree.jp is that person. His story is an inspiration for other Asian The company, with an eye to the companies and for entrepreneurs in Indochina market, has joined with the region, Mr Hori argued. business partners to distribute its products into Myanmar, Laos and He believes many IT companies can Cambodia. For the Vietnamese expand their businesses and emumarket, the company is working... late Mr Tanaka’s success. Asian IT Full story at http://goo.gl/KFZK9 companies nowadays would like to in the global market as domesTrend Micro targets grow tic demand shrinks. Japan is a good Indochina for example. “If IT companies don’t go global, they will be killed,” said Mr revenue growth Hori. Because of his belief...

Trend Micro (Thailand) will focus Full story at http://goo.gl/uR6aB

Arianespace to tap Asia boom

...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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BANGKOK BUSINESS BRIEF

Briefs Real Estate

http://goo.gl/hPK52

PropertyGuru investing Bt20m to promote DDproperty.com DDproperty.com, a Web portal that is part of Asia’s PropertyGuru Group, has budgeted Bt20 million to launch a major marketing campaign alongside innovative services aimed at changing the way people buy, sell and rent property in Thailand.

Group chief executive officer Steve Melhuish said it was delighted to have grown DDproperty to become the No 1 property website in Thailand. As a result, the company has decided to expand its investment in Thailand by promoting the DDproperty brand and new services for home-buyers, real-estate agents, developers and sellers. By

www.bangkokbusinessbrief.com

Mid-July/August 2012

To read the full article of a story brief, enter the short code at the end of the story into your browser:

...added that the company had set aside a significant investment budget of Bt200 million to Bt300 million for overseas expansion.

Full story at http://goo.gl/bH6PF

2015, PropertyGuru expects more pany is in talks over land acquisition than 15 per cent of its revenue to in prime locations in Sukhumvit, Sicome from Thailand. lom and Sathon areas for new project development next year.

“Our plan is to build the DDproperty brand into the most recognised “Locations should be near shopping brand in its sector so that when peo- areas, communities or workplaces ple think of property, they think of to attract real demand,” he said. “But DDproperty,” he said. new investment will depend on the political situation and the sales rate He added that the company had at Mode.” launched mobile applications and rejuvenated the website to bring Mode has 60% sales after launchit into line with the PropertyGuru ing in March 2011. The company brand image. The site’s search sys- brushed off concerns about the slow tem has also been simplified,... sales rate, as the project targeted real Full story at http://goo.gl/bVD7t demand rather than speculators.

The current condominium market...

Gaysorn to buy Full story at http://goo.gl/IvUzj

400-million-baht plot if politics stable

Gaysorn Property Co, the high-end property developer, plans to spend 400 million baht to buy a plot of land for a new condominium project if the political situation steadies and its existing project Mode reaches 75% in sales. Managing director Fafuen Temboonkiat said the com-

Fragrant considers Myanmar move

Fragrant Property Co, the condominium developer, may enter Myanmar, possibly through a joint venture with local investors. “Condos are the most attractive investment there, as land is cheap. The risk is quite low too, as condominium buyers in Myanmar usually pay

goo.gl/bH6PF

25% to book and a 50% down payment,” chief executive James Duan said yesterday.

Fragrant is also waiting for the Myanmar government to open bidding on an office building that used to house a government agency. If it wins, it will spend 300 million baht to renovate it as a 200-room hotel.

At home, Fragrant will launch two new condominium projects worth a combined 3 billion baht on Sukhumvit Sois 11 and 12 in the third quarter. Mr Duan, who was born in Myanmar, said his company paid 600 million baht for the plots on which these projects will be built.

Another 800 million baht has been...

Full story at http://goo.gl/oIBgM

Transfer fee set to rise from July 1

Owners who don’t transfer their land before the latest appraised value of land becomes effective on July 1 will face an increase in transfer cost of 5-20 per cent.

2

BANGKOK BU SINESS BRIEF

December 20 11

Briefs13

BANGKOK BUSINESS BRIEF Mid-July/August 2012

General Inte

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According to a survey by The Nation most landlords nationwide, who were negotiating sale of their land to property developers early this year, have decided to sell and transfer their land to the buyers before July 1, when the new appraised value becomes effective, the extent of increase depending on the location. This will lead to a hike of 5-20 per cent in transfer fee.

Business Housing Association president Issara Boonyoung said the new appraised value did not impact directly the land price because market price is now higher than appraised value. However, owners transferring their land to buyers after July 1 will have to pay a higher transfer fee because the Land Department will...

Full story at http://goo.gl/VaE9Y

Many firms undergoing revamps to cut costs

Property firms are restructuring their businesses to reduce cost and maintain net profit margin amid rising cost in the second half of this year.

Land & Houses managing director Anant Asawabhokhin said that net profit margin was significantly lower than last year because they cannot increase residential price to cover the rising cost as the market is faced with high competition from existing property firms and newcomers in the market.

Anant said property firms have to find ways to cut cost and invest in other property businesses such as retail and hospitality to balance their portfolio as net profit margin has dropped significantly.

Meanwhile, Pruksa Real Estate, which faced a hard period during floods last year, is also revising its business model to cover its business risk and reduce rising cost.

Pruksa Real Estate president and CEO Thongma Vijitphongpun said that he had started to restructure the business since last year’s floods, by integrating its business units...

Full story at http://goo.gl/u8tla

Housing rebound hinges on flood season’s outcome

Home sales will recover in the second half if there is no severe flooding this year, says the Kasikorn Re-

rest

To read the fu ll article of a story brief, enter the shor t code at the end the story into your browser: of liam Shakespe are

...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

goo.gl/bH6P

F

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 Ban • Dedicated. gkok from Trusted. Respected. out, suggests an should not miss Panel: Asia bett weakest pensld’s sink economist. inich • R of properties. g bidatabase ggest io off, not immun er n systems: stud chal e, lengeservice is second to none.

The robust eco • Our y fr om nomic growth gl ob Gr al eece, India, Ch crises Land subsidence China and em of erging economi caucommunicators sed by gro Eses xpert are home to the ina and Thailand water•los will open a ne es KUALA LUMPUR : The As weake tops the list of und w ian cri- pensi probon systems in st national lems tha& Asian economi opportunity for sis in the late 1990s was a negotiators. t mu st be solved in wa es to increase the the kecal up wo l for rld cri Ba , the region that pp wealth from tra ir has turned eig led by a mix of acute sover- kok to mitigate the impact ngde in goods an out to be of n debt, young the cli services at a tim a blessing in d mate change on retire dis 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 reg ers e are... ati ion on to fin al ’s wo an age rkers cia ncies. l sec and Full story at htt p://goo.gl/S65D6 able to sus tor is now strong and study poor pension take-up, a The conclusio showed. tain n is containe of shocks from a certain degree Grow with th d in a rep ort the entitled “Clim e flow Western Hemi fallout in the The Allianz ate Risks and Ad of cycles sphere, accord ing sion Susta Global Investors Pen- Megac aptation in Asian Coastal to a panellist at a recent As ina ‘There is a tid ean tracks the bility Index, which Asian ities”, jointly conducted by the conference. e Develop relati men, which, tak in the affairs of ity of nationa ve sustainabil- Internation ment Bank, the Japan en at the l al flo od leads on to for in 44 countries pension systems and the Wo Cooperation Agency tune”, wrote Wi , “There will be more crises around the wo rld Bank in 201 l- future, an in the showe rld, 0. d the Asian d the nu mber of crisis in tirees to people of wo Greek re- The report recom rking age reFull story at htt mended a... p://goo.gl/20yMD Sponsored by

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search Center. It found an active property market in the first half, depending on location. The provincial market was the busiest, with big developers in Bangkok shifting to outlying regions.

In Greater Bangkok, the impact of last year’s floods continued to dampen demand. Sales and new launches slowed, particularly in the low-rise segment. In the first four months, housing transfers in Greater Bangkok fell 7.4% to 42,663 units compared with the same period last year. Full-year transfers are predicted at 148,700-154,000, ranging from a decline of 1% to growth of 2.5% from 2011. Last year’s transfers fell 12.8%. In the first five months, 34,008 units launched, down 16.3% year-on-year.

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Tel: (66) 076.304.353 – 5 • Email: Phuket@juslaws.com Meanwhile, the property market may ebb temporarily with the... institute’s executive director Chak- “Most sois and roads in prime loFull story at http://goo.gl/E96gO porn Oonjitt. They are drafting laws cations like in the central business to create a Thai construction... district and Sukhumvit area are narIndustry told to Full story at http://goo.gl/XIYGU rower than 12-16 metres,” noted Ms set standards Nukarn. “Under the previous draft, The Thai construction industry Rule status quo many landlords were concerned beshould develop a legal framework, speeds up land cause their plots would no longer set up a construction bank and deals: Road width be suitable for high-rise developimprove construction and skilled ment. With the 10-metre width... labour standards to increase the at 10m keeps Full story at http://goo.gl/RC2ZA competency of Thai contractors and developers busy labour for the planned Asean Eco- Land deals have sprung back to life Young contractor nomic Community (AEC) in 2015. in a seller’s market led by condo- makes the leap miniums after the latest city plan to development Aungsuras Areekul, president of draft allows high-rise buildings to the Thai Contractors Association, be built on smaller roads.

A young engineer who started his said the AEC would not only allow construction business with only greater opportunities for Thai con- The new draft now requires roads 100,000 baht six years ago has tractors to get construction jobs in where high-rise buildings are to be jumped into property development Asean, but also enable Asean con- built to be 10 metres wide instead with the launch of a housing project tractors to take construction jobs in of 12-14 metres stated in previous worth 200 million baht on PhetkasThailand. drafts. This means high-rise projects em Soi 69 because the new venture of not more than 10,000 square me- is less of a headache than being conSingapore and Malaysia already tres can be developed on most sois tractor. have construction regulations, said and roads in Bangkok. The change Mr Aungsuras. has breathed a new life into the Waranyoo Prombandankul, foundmarket and driven up transactions, er and CEO of Asian Real Estate “There is no standard in our coun- according to Nukarn Suwatikul, as- Consultant Co, said property detry to control the industry. If we sociate director for investment ser- velopment is more attractive than have a Thai construction council, at vices at property consultant Colliers construction despite the lower net least we will have regulations for the International Thailand. margin. Construction generates AEC,” he said. up to 50% net profit for renovation The latest draft, a third one, is un- jobs and 20% for new construction, Currently the Construction Insti- dergoing a final public hearing. It while property development has a tute of Thailand is working with retains the 10-metre minimum road profit margin of 15-20%. But con30 organisations to restructure the width. A public hearing runs to Aug struction is a customised job and...

Thai construction business, said the 21.

Full story at http://goo.gl/TsxRR

2

14

BANGKOK BUSINESS BRIEF

BANGKOK BU SINESS BRIEF

Briefs

December 20 11

www.bangkokbusinessbrief.com

Mid-July/August 2012

The Chambers

General Inte rest

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 a 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 was 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 s 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 ...

Use your smartphone’s QR Code scanner or enter the short code to go directly to AMCHAM’s website.

The 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

http://goo.gl/mbUpG

AMCHAM considers Chiang Mai/Northern Thailand Chapter [Written by: Shana Kongmun] On May 21, AMCHAM Thailand Executive Director Judy Benn traveled to Chiang Mai to meet with businesses who have showed an interested in joining an AMCHAM Thailand Northern Chapter.

als interested in working with the American Chamber to start a branch in the North, as well as Consul General Foster and U.S. Embassy’s Counselor for Economic Affairs Julie Chung.

request can be submitted to the AMCHAM Thailand Board of Governors. Ms. Benn added that a business does not have to be American owned nor is American representation needed to join the Chamber. Of the 2,000 Ms. Benn noted that a minimum AMCHAM members, only 22% The event was attended by both of eight companies most com- are American and 50% are Thai, American, Thai and other nation- mit to the branch before a formal although most AMCHAM businesses have some relation to the United States, either as an importer or exporter or providing services to American companies.

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of American affiliated companies in the region continues to grow.

If the Chapter is formed, Ms. Benn said that AMCHAM hopes to not only provide bi-monthly meetings, but also help bring AMCHAM committee leaders and sector experts north and offer live streaming of events talks held in Bangkok.

Shana Kongmun is Managing Editor at the Chiang Mai Mail.

AMCHAM sees great promise in a She can be reached at Chiang Mai chapter as the number shana@chiangmai-mail.com.

New production facilities on Eastern Seaboard On May 18, members from the American, Australian and British Chambers of Commerce toured three new production facilities along the eastern seaboard and received a look at future of electric and petrochemical industrial production.

The tour began at the Dow’s AIE site, which is part of recently completed USD $3 billion dollars “Thai Growth Project,” a world class facility that includes Advanced Specialty Elastomers, Propylene Oxide and Hydrogen Peroxide units.

This site employs state of the art technology and is the largest Dow site in Asia-Pacific. The Propylene Oxide plant is the largest one of its kind and the second plant in the world that utilizes the award winning HPPO technology, which as jointly developed by Dow and BASF.

To rea enter the sto

The second tour stop was at the top of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) observation tower.

The tower offered a panoramic view of the entire industrial area and Gulf of Thailand and provided a unique insight into the massive scale of the Eastern Seaboard’s chemical and power production facilities.

Next on the tour was the GhecoOne, a USD$1.3 billion 660 MW coal independent power plant.

GHECO-One is a 65/35 joint venture between Glow Energy (the Thai listed subsidiary of International Power GDF Suez) and Hemaraj Land And Development PLC. The plant utilizes state-of-the-art systems, such as the Super-critical Pulverized Coal Boiler Technology, a high efficiency boiler system that can reduce consumption of fuel, thus reducing emissions making it one of the cleanest in the world.

2

16

BANGKOK BUSINESS BRIEF

BANGKOK BU SINESS BRIEF

Briefs

December 20 11

www.bangkokbusinessbrief.com

Mid-July/August 2012

The Chambers

General Inte

rest

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

Use your smartphone’s QR Code scanner or enter the short code to go directly to AustCham’s website.

...

The 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

AustCham Events for Your Calendar in July and August

Key Issues Dinner with Ambassador H.E. James Wise AustCham is pleased to invite members and friends to a Key Issues Dinner address by the Australian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand, H.E. James Wise. The Ambassador travelled recently to Australia to participate in the first official visit there of Thai Prime Minister HE Yingluck Shinawatra. He also held a range of meetings with various business, academic and political leaders in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Darwin, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. The Ambassador will speak on the Thai Prime Minister’s Australia visit, the outlook for Australia-Thai commerce and impressions from his consultations in Australia. This is an essential update for all those interested in the present state - and future - of the Australia-Thai relationship.

Date: Wednesday, 25 July 2012 Time: Registration from 18:30. Dinner served at 19.00.

Cost: Baht 1,700 for members and Baht 2,000 for non-members Location: “The Residence 305”, Mezzanine, Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok BTS: Ratchadamri / Chidlom To book: visit www.austchamthailand.com

http://goo.gl/N47Gg

All Chambers Sundowners AustCham is inviting members of all foreign chambers and business associations in Thailand to join our Sundowners networking event and we are looking forward to a large turnout.

We would also kindly ask guests to show their respect by remaining quiet during sponsors’ speeches - these typically last no more than five minutes and Sundowners wouldn’t happen without our sponsors.

AustCham wishes to thank its sponsors for their support: Corporate Sponsor: BlueScope Steel (Thailand) Limited Catering and Venue Sponsor: Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit Date: Wednesday, 1 August 2012 Time: 18:00 - 21:00 (last drinks served at 20.30) Cost: Baht 500 for all Chamber members and Baht 950 for non-members.

In order to receive the AustCham member rate, please state the Chamber that you are a member of.

Location: Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit To book: visit www.austchamthailand.com

2012 AFL GRAND FINAL - SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES

a sponsor of the AustCham AFL Grand Final family day. Sponsors are promoted not only throughout the day itself, but also prior to and following the event via AustCham’s website, e-news and Advance magazine.

AustCham is this year seeking three Major Sponsors, and three Event Supporter sponsors. A company may, however, wish to maximise their brand exposure by being the sole Naming Rights Sponsor at a reduced cost. We are of course always willing to discuss a sponsorship package that best meets your needs and will work with sponsors to maximise their sponsorship opportunity. Please contact Mark or Khun Chanakarn (chanakarn@austchamthailand.com) at the AustCham office on 02 210 0216 with any enquiries.

Major Sponsor Three non-competing sponsors at Baht 125,00 each, or single naming rights sponsor at Baht 300,00.

Event Supporter Three supporters at Baht 50,000 each

· T able for 8 guests at the Grand Final event, a Baht 21,600 value (sole naming rights sponsor would receive 20 tickets). · Large logo prominently displayed on all promotional material advertising the event, including in Advance Magazine, AustCham website and AustCham e-news – each time reaching an audience of over 3,500. · Large logo prominently displayed on AustCham website homepage banner for up to two months prior to the event. · Regular thanks by MC during the event. · Large logo prominently displayed on stage backdrop, bar, tickets and menu program at the event. · Opportunity for static product display on grand final day. · Logo printed on 1,000 neoprene ‘stubby holders’ distributed to participants. · Logo printed on wrist bands at the event. · Opportunity to air a 30 second corporate video during event.

· Four tickets to the Grand Final event, a Baht 10,800 value. · Logo displayed on all promotional material as an Event Supporter, including in Advance Magazine, AustCham website and AustCham e-news – each time reaching an audience of over 3,5000. · Thanks by MC during the event. · Logo displayed on backboard of handball competition structure. · Logo displayed on stage backdrop, bar, tickets and menu program at event. · Opportunity to air your 15 second corporate video during the event.

AustCham is now seeking sponsors for its 2012 AFL Grand Final celebration.

The largest of its kind outside of Australia, the AFL family day sees up to 600 guests gather for a full day of fun, feasting and (Australian) football.

The day includes a 5-star champagne brunch that runs from 9am until 2pm (and onwards), games and giveaways (including airline tickets to Australia) and Australian meat pies. The centerpiece is, of course, the AFL Grand Final which is displayed on no less than three big screens – recreating the MCG big game atmosphere.

There is no better way (or better value) to promote your brand than as

To re enter the sto

2

BANGKOK BU SINESS BRIEF

December 20 11

Briefs 17

www.bangkokbusinessbrief.com

BANGKOK BUSINESS BRIEF Mid-July/August 2012

The Chambers

General Inte

rest

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

Use your smartphone’s QR Code scanner or enter the short code to go directly to BCCT’s website.

...

British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) 7th Floor, 208 Wireless Road, Lumphini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 Tel: +66 (0)2 651 5350-3 Fax: +66 (0)2 651 5354 Website: www.bccthai.com Email: greg@bccthai.com

http://goo.gl/Vav3Q

Upbeat mood in the Britain and Thailand Despite the economic gloom, Britain is entering party mode. We celebrated the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June, managed to get through the first round of Euro 2012, and are hosting the Olympics this month.

And we have taken it all in strides - the good, the bad, the joy, the disappointment – all with exuberance.

ning to set up a service center to cope with the impact of the European economic crisis and also to focus on penetrating ASEAN Market.

One of the tasks of this ‘one stop service’ will be to focus on increasing Thai exports to the ASEAN regional block, according to Director General of the Department of International Trade Promotion Nuntawan Sakuntanaga. Countries like Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam will be the major target markets.

Not too dissimilar to Thailand and the Thai people. Since 2009, the country has faced political turmoils, natural disasters including the big floods in the last quarter of 2011, the country has rebounded The opening up of Myanmar earlier and the mood in Thailand contin- this year has put the country on the ues to be upbeat. agenda yet again – this time with a positive outlook and with much There are of course still uncertain interest from the business world. political and economic times ahead. The Chamber is closely monitorWhile the impact of the Eurozone ing developments in Myanmar, crisis has not been felt directly in and held a well-attended briefing Thailand just yet, it remains an session in late March where Gary ongoing concern and is inevitable. Biesty (South Asia Law), John Sim Thailand relies heavily on its ex- (KPMG Thailand) and Simon ports, with Europe being Thailand’s Landy (Colliers International) led major export market. As of the an animated discussion on how to end of June, Cyprus had requested respond to this opportunity. With a bailout, becoming the fifth from the suspension of sanctions by the the 17 Eurozone member states to EU in April interest continues to do so. Other countries that have re- rise. As yet there is much talk and quested a bailout include Portugal, not much investment and odds are Greece, Ireland, and Spain. that until the investment regulations are firmed up most investors Thailand is closely monitoring the will hold their fire. Nevertheless, we impact of the Euro Zone crisis on feel that our members in Thailand its economy, and is mapping long- are particularly well placed to benterm measures to mitigate impacts efit from service, trade and eventuon Thai exports, while at the same ally manufacturing opportunities time encouraging local entrepre- in Myanmar and we are formuneurs to diversify and look towards lating support strategies for these neighbouring countries within endeavours. Members interested ASEAN. to learn about developments in Myanmar are encouraged to conThe Department of International tact BCCT Director Gary Biesty via Trade Promotion (DITP) is plan- garyb@southasia-law.com.

To re enter the sto

Lord Jonathan Marland

A special luncheon featuring Lord Jonathan Marland, UKTI Business Ambassador, was held on the 12 July. Lord Marland shared his views from the recent mission led

by UKTI into Myanmar. Details from the presentation will be available in Issue 4 of BCCT magazine The Brief.

Upcoming events T3 Networking Evening Thursday 19 July 2012 Venue: Queen Vic, British Embassy Joint Eastern Seaboard Farewell Dinner Ambassador Asif Ahmad Friday 20 July 2012 Venue: Holiday Inn Pattaya

BCCT Farewell Lunch Ambassador Asif Ahmad Thursday 26 July 2012 Venue: Plaza Athenee Bangkok BCCT Special Dinner with Chaturon Chaisang Tuesday 31 July 2012 Topic: Future Directions of Thai Economy and Politics Venue: TBA

For further information about the Chamber and our work, visit www.bccthai.com or write to Greg@bccthai.com or Sarinthorn@bccthai.com.

2

18

BANGKOK BUSINESS BRIEF

BANGKOK BU SINESS BRIEF

Briefs

December 20 11

www.bangkokbusinessbrief.com

Mid-July/August 2012

The Chambers

General Inte

rest

To re enter the sto

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

Use your smartphone’s QR Code scanner or enter the short code to go directly to a Chamber’s website.

...

Belgian-Luxembourg/ Thai CC (BeLuThai) 15 Soi Tonson, Ploenchit Road Lumpini, Pathumwan Bangkok 10330 Tel: +66 (0)2 309 5250 Website: www.beluthai.org Email: info@beluthai.org

Japanese CC (JCC) 3601 36th Floor, Q Houses Lumpini Bldg., South Sathorn Rd., Tungmahamek, Sathorn Bangkok 10120 Tel: +66 (0)2 677 7393 Fax: +66 (0)2 677 7394 Website: www.mtcc.or.th Email: admin@mtcc.or.th

Thai-Canadian CC (TCCC) 139 Pan Road, Sethiwan Tower, 9th Floor, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 Tel: +66 (0)2 266 6085/6 Fax: +66 (0)2 266 6087 Website: www.tccc.or.th Email: tccc@loxinfo.co.th

Thai-Norwegian CC (TNCC) 888/142 Ploenchit Rd, 14th Fl., Mahatun Plaza, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 Tel: +66 (0)2 650 8444 Fax: +66 (0)2 627 3042 Website: www.norcham.com Email: contact@norcham.com

Danish-Thai CC (Dancham) 34 C.P. Tower 3, 9th Floor Tower A, Phayathai Road, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400 Tel: +66 (0)2 354 5220 Fax: +66 (0)2 354 5221 Website: www.dancham.or.th Email: contact@dancham.or.th

Korean-Thai CC (KTCC) 6th Fl. Rajapark Bldg, 163 Asoke Sukhumvit 21 Rd, Klong Toey Nua, Wattana Bangkok 10110 Tel: +66 (0)2 204 2503 Fax: +66 (0)2 204 2504 Website: www.korchamthai.com Email: ktcc@korchamthai.com

Thai-Chinese CC (Thai-CC) Thai C. C. Tower 9th Fl., 889 South Sathorn Rd., Sathorn Bangkok 10120 Tel: +66 (0)2 675 8577-84 Fax: +66 (0)2 212 3916-7 Website: www.thaicc.org Email: info@thaicc.org

Thai-Pakistan CC (TPCC) Thai Samut Asset Co., Ltd., Unit J, 16th Floor, 163 Suriwongse Road, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 Tel: +66 (0)2 634 0147-8 Fax: +66 (0)2 634 0149 Website: http://goo.gl/Z1VOd Contact: http://goo.gl/OKPmC

Franco-Thai CC (FTCC) 5th Floor, Indosuez House, 152 Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 Tel: +66 (0)2 650 9613-4 Fax: +66 (0)2 650 9739 Website: www.francothaicc.com Email: contact@francothaicc.com

Netherlands-Thai CC (NTCC) 15 Soi Tonson, Ploenchit Road Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 Tel: +66 (0)2 309 5250 Website: www.ntccthailand.org Email: info@ntccthailand.org

Thai-Finnish CC (TFCC) C/O Netpoint SEA Ltd. 2nd Floor Wandee Siam Bldg, 58/84 Muangthong Thani, Chaengwattana, Klongklua, Nonthaburi 11120 Tel: +66 (0)2 574 2879-80 Fax: +66 (0)2 574 2877 Website: www.thaifin.or.th Email: tfcc@thaifin.or.th

Thai-Russian CC (TRCC) 14th Floor Loxley Bldg, 102 Na Ranong Road, Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110 Tel: +66 (0)2 348 8873 Fax: +66 (0)2 240 3307 Website: www.trcc.or.th Email: admin@trcc.or.th

German-Thai CC (GTCC) 25th Fl., Empire Tower 3, 195 South Sathorn Road, Yannawa, Sathorn, Bangkok 10120 Tel: +66 (0)2 670 0600 Fax: +66 (0)2 670 0601 Website: www.gtcc.org Email: services@gtcc.org

New Zealand Thai CC (NZTCC) 9th Floor, ITF Tower, 140/26 Silom Road, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 Tel: +66 (0)2 634 3283 Fax: +66 (0)2 634 3004 Website: www.nztcc.org Email: director@nztcc.org

Thai-Hong Kong Trade Association (THTA) Empire Tower, 25th Floor, 195 South Sathorn Road, Yannawa, Bangkok 10120 Tel: +66 (0)2 343 9000 Fax: +66 (0)2 343 9029 Website: www.thta.or.th Email: thai-hongkong@thta.or.th

Thai-Swedish CC (TSCC) 34 C.P Tower 3, 9th Floor Tower A, Phyathai Rd, Ratchathewi Bangkok 10400 Tel: +66 (0)2 354 5229-31 Fax: +66 (0)2 354 5232 Website: www.swecham.com Email: contact@swecham.com

India-Thai CC (ITCC) No. 13, Sathorn Soi 1, Thungmahamek, Sathorn, Bangkok 10120 Tel: +66 (0)2 287 3001 Fax: +66 (0)2 679 7720 Website: www.itcc.or.th Email: info@itcc.or.th

Singapore-Thai CC (STCC) 193/8 Lake Rajada Office Complex, 1st Floor Rachadapisek Road, Klongtoey, Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110 Tel: +66 (0)2 264 0680-4 Fax: +66 (0)2 264 0688 Website: http://goo.gl/WrTpX Contact: http://goo.gl/L727M

Thai-Israel CC (TICC) 14th Fl., Manorom Building, 3354/45 Rama 4 Rd., Klongton, Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110 Tel: +66 (0)2 672 7020 Fax: +66 (0)2 672 7021 Website: www.thaisraelcc.com Email: ticc@thaisraelcc.com

Thai-Taiwan Business Association (TTBA) No. 30/207 Sukhumvit Soi 39, Sukhumvit Rd., Kiongtannua, Bangkok 10110 Tel: +66 (0)2 662 7335-6, 662 7385 Fax: +66 (0)2 662 7382 Website: www.ttba.or.th Email: ttba@ttba.or.th

Irish Thai CC (ITCC) Maneeya Center Bldg, 7th Fl, 518/5 Ploenchit Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 Tel: +66 (0)2 652 0848 Fax: +66 (0)2 652 0671 Website: www.irishthaicc.com Email: info@irishthaicc.com

South African-Thai CC (SATCC) 10/143 (1503A), 15th Fl, Trendy Bldg, Soi Sukhumvit 13, Klongtoey-Nua, Wattana Bangkok 10110 Tel: +66 (0)2 168 7416-7 Fax: +66 (0)2 168 7418 Website: www.satcc.net Email: satcc@satcc.net

Thai-Italian CC (TICC) 1126/2 Vanit II Bldg, 16th Fl, 1601B New Petchburi Rd., Makkasan, Rajdhevee, Bangkok 10400 Tel: +66 (0)2 255 8695 Fax: +66 (0)2 253 9896 Website: www.thaitch.org Email: info@thaitch.org

Joint Foreign CC of Thailand (JFCCT) 38th Floor, State Tower 1055/914 Silom Rd, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 Tel: +66 (0)2 630 6307 Fax: +66 (0)2 630 6303 Website: www.jfcct.org Email: secretary@jfcct.org

Japanese CC (JCC) 15th floor Amarin Tower, 500 Ploenchit Road, Kwang Lumpini, Khet Patumwan Bangkok 10330 Tel: +66 (0)2 256 9170-3 Fax: +66 (0)2 652 0931 Website: www.jcc.or.th Email: info@jcc.or.th

Swiss Thai CC (STCC) 36/9-10 Chaengwattana Road Kwaeng Thungsonghong, Khet Laksi Bangkok 10210 Tel: +66 (0)2 982 4896 Fax: +66 (0)2 982 4897 Website: www.swissthai.com Email: info@swissthai.com

Bangkok Business Brief is offering a new service

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BangkokBusiness BusinessBrief BriefMagazine Magazine––Publication PublicationInformation Information Bangkok Bangkok Business Brief Magazine – Publication Information Magazine– Thailand – Thailand businessnews news&&Chamber ChamberofofCommerce Commerceinformation information Magazine business Magazine – Thailand business news & Chamberใช้of information ร่วCommerce มกัน รายงานการละเมิ ด บล็อกถัดไป» Circulation– 10,000 – 10,000 copies Circulation copies Circulation – 10,000 copies Distribution Areas– Bangkok – Bangkok&&the theEastern EasternSeaboard Seaboard Distribution Areas Distribution Areas – Bangkok & the Eastern Seaboard

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Graph Values: 35,28,20,15,2 Overview Overview Overview pie chartnews magazine and daily website with domestic and regional business news articles aggregated from a Chart Type: The Bangkok Business Brief is a monthly3D business The Bangkok Business Brief business news with domestic domesticand andregional regionalbusiness businessnews newsarticles articlesaggregated aggregatedfrom froma a The Bangkok Business Briefis isaamonthly monthly business news magazine magazine and daily website with variety of news agencies.

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Short synopses of articles are displayed online, though should the reader wish to view the full versions of the news stories, variety of news agencies.

Short synopses of articles are displayed should the reader wish to view the full versions of the news stories, short URLs are included for easy navigation to the original sources’ story pages. Each month, the printed stories are decided from the most popular online short URLs easy original sources’ storyand pages. month, thewith printed stories aredecided decided from themost mostpopular popular online short URLs areincluded included for easynavigation navigation tothe the original sources’ Each month, the printed stories from the 200to Height: stories, asare measured byfor analytics for Bangkok Business Brief’s website, are again presented short URLsare and QR codes to take readers to theonline stories, measured analytics forBangkok Bangkok Businessnews Brief’s website, and are again of presented with short stories, asas measured bybyanalytics for Business Brief’s website, presented with shortURLs URLsand andQR QRcodes codestototake takereaders readerstotothe the original articles in Current their entirety and to other related categorized into 12 areas business interest.

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The 10,000-copy monthly circulation is highlyAdd targeted toward top- to mid-level managers and executives.

Choose Color Color The10,000-copy 10,000-copymonthly monthlycirculation circulationisishighly highlytargeted targeted toward toward toptop- to mid-level managers The managers and and executives. executives.

Colors: Print & Online News Categories Generate Chart Print&&Online OnlineNews NewsCategories Categories Print Bangkok Business Brief Magazine Distribution – 10,000 copies The news categories featured in both The news categories featured both The news categories featured ininboth the Bangkok Business Brief monthly the Bangkok Business Briefmonthly monthly the Bangkok Business print version and theBrief daily news print version andthe the daily news print version and daily news website represent all sectors relevant (20%) website represent sectors relevant website represent allallsectors relevant to all business readers.

Executives have business readers.

Executives have toto allallbusiness Executives the ability toreaders. quickly review the have (15%) the abilityto toquickly quicklyto review the subjects pertinent the industries in the ability review the subjects pertinent theindustries industries which they are employed or required subjects pertinent totothe inin (2%) (28%) which they are employed or required to bethey informed about. or required which are employed informedabout. about. totobebeinformed

Advertising Rate Card

Dimensions

1 Month

3 Months

6 Months

12 Months

COLOUR

Full Page Half Page Quarter Page Eighth Page

Width x Height 222 mm x 314 mm 222 mm x 155 mm 109.5 mm x 155 mm 109.5 mm x 75.5 mm

THB p/month 40,000 27,000 16,000 9,600

THB p/month 37,000 23,500 13,500 8,100

THB p/month 34,000 20,000 11,000 6,600

THB p/month 27,000 17,000 9,500 5,700

B&W

Full Page Half Page Quarter Page Eighth Page

222 mm x 314 mm 222 mm x 155 mm 109.5 mm x 155 mm 109.5 mm x 75.5 mm

30,000 18,000 9,500 5,700

27,000 16,200 8,500 5,100

21,000 14,000 7,500 4,500

19,000 11,500 7,000 4,200

COLOUR

Circulation Information Circulation Information Circulation Information The readership of the publication The readership of the publication has been determined to be between The readership of the publication has been– determined to be between 25,000 45,000. has been determined to be between 25,000 – 45,000.

25,000 – 45,000.

The Pass On rate is estimated to be The Pass Onand rate4.5 is estimated between 2.5 times per to be The Pass On rate is estimated between 2.5 and 4.5 times per to be individual copy. between 2.5copy. and 4.5 times per individual individual copy. of 10,000 copies The circulation The circulationdirect of 10,000 copies incorporates mailing to Chamber The circulationdirect of 10,000 copies incorporates mailing to Chamber of Commerce members, circulation incorporates direct mailingcirculation to Chamber of Commerce members, throughout Amata Industrial Estate, ofthroughout CommerceAmata members, circulation Industrial Estate, Eastern Seaboard, delivery with throughout Amata Industrial Estate, Eastern Seaboard, delivery with Food by Phone orders, and strategic Eastern Seaboard, deliveryand with Food by Phone orders, strategic distribution points at Bangkoks Food

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(35%)

Advertising Rate Card Advertising Rate Card

Front Cover Inside Front Cover Inside Back Cover Back Cover

222 mm x 65 mm 222 mm x 314 mm 222 mm x 314 mm 222 mm x 314 mm

40,000 43,500 43,500 47,000

37,000 40,000 40,000 43,500

34,000 37,000 37,000 37,000

27,000 33,500 33,500 33,500

Advertising Information

Andy Hyde - +66 (0) 8 0814 9080 - andy@bangkokbusinessbrief.com Andy Hyde - +66 (0) 8 0814 9080 - andy@bangkokbusinessbrief.com Mango Mango publishing 124 Sukhumvit 38, Prakanong, Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110 Andy Hyde - +66 (0) 8- 0814 9080 Soi - andy@bangkokbusinessbrief.com Mango Mango publishing - 124 Sukhumvit Soi 38, Prakanong, Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110 Mango Mango publishing - 124 Sukhumvit Soi 38, Prakanong, Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110

20

BANGKOK BUSINESS BRIEF

www.bangkokbusinessbrief.com

Mid-July/August 2012

Thailand’s competitiveness slipping

ization remain positive, with the Kingdom ranking 18th out the 59 countries that participated in the Story continued from Page 1. survey. Ireland, Chile, Denmark, Malaysia and Hong Kong were the anyone who provided information top 5, with France at the bottom to authorities about foreigners us- with the least positive attitudes toing nominees to purchase land by ward globalization. giving the informants 20% of the market price of the land in ques- Despite this healthy attitude totion. Whether the proposal passes ward the principle of globalization into law or not, the proposal itself among the general population, raises questions for potential in- Thailand still lags behind many of vestors. its neighbors and fellow ASEAN members in preparing for the Meanwhile, the International In- changes that will occur in 2015. stitute for Management Develop- According to the Federation of ment (IMD) in Lausanne, Swit- Thai Industries, up to 80% of the zerland released the findings of its SMEs in Thailand are not ready World Competitiveness Yearbook for the AEC in 2015. And ac(WCY) at the end of May 2012. cording to a recent analysis by the Thailand dropped from #27 in Oxford Business Group (OBG), 2011 to #30 this year. The WCY a London-based publisher and rankings “measure how well coun- consultancy, Thailand needs to tries manage their economic and address its “structural weaknesses human resources to increase their such as logistics costs and educaprosperity.” While this year’s rank- tion”, if it’s to take advantage of its ings show a “growing skepticism” strategic location in the region. for globalization in many countries around the world, Thailand The first “European Business Poremains among the less skeptical sition Paper,” which was recently half of the countries that partici- released by the European Asean pated. According to the survey, at- Business Centre in Thailand, takes titudes in Thailand toward global- note of the downward trend in for-

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Orion Investigations Co., Ltd Phone : +66-2-714-3801 to 3 Fax: +66-2-714-3804 E-Mail: info@orioninv.co.th Website www.orioninv.co.th or www.orionforensics.com

eign investment over the past six years. The paper also warns that Thailand’s competitiveness in areas such as education, productivity, and rules and laws is slipping, while other countries gear up for full regional integration in 2015.

The report notes that Thailand has a unique strategic position in the region that it should utilize to enhance its competitiveness. But the report also points out that longterm competitiveness will require political stability and structural improvements in order to restore investor confidence.

All of these reports that Thailand’s competitiveness is slipping are reflected in comments by the head of a major Japanese conglomerate in Thailand. Boonsithi Chokwatana, chairman of the Saha Group, told the Bangkok Post recently that Thailand, once the favorite destination of Japanese investors, has fallen behind Vietnam, Myanmar, and Indonesia because of instability and “lingering political uncertainty.” He noted that Japanese investors have traditionally chosen Thailand as a production hub because of its cheap labor. But with the ongoing labor shortage

in Thailand, investor strategies are changing and are focusing more on market potential.

As a leader in the region and with a well-established infrastructure and a population of 70 million people, Thailand has the potential to reap enormous benefits from the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.

However, Thailand has now been warned by a number of international groups that it could easily squander its strategic advantages and lose this great opportunity if changes are not made. Without significant investments in time and resources from both the public and private sectors into building up and improving the quality of education, the efficiency of public institutions, and innovative technologies markets, Thailand risks falling further behind its neighbors. With 2015 now coming into focus, time is running out.

Read fresh business news briefs about Bangkok, Thailand, and Asia every weekday at www.bangkokbusinessbrief.com

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BANGKOK BUSINESS BRIEF Mid-July/August 2012

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BANGKOK BUSINESS BRIEF

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Mid-July/August 2012

The Calendar

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

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July

Sunday

Bangkok Trader Networking Party http://goo.gl/6ngBg

goo.gl/6ngBg

Tuesday

Monday

AMCHAM: Exim Briefing http://goo.gl/7R8ka AMCHAM: Legal Cmte http://goo.gl/zWZxF

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AMCHAM: ICT Cmte http://goo.gl/T96Wc AMCHAM: Tax Cmte http://goo.gl/WKsaR AMCHAM: Professional Women & SME Cmte http://goo.gl/8hhou

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31 Bangkok Trader Networking Night http://goo.gl/EnNbR BCCT: Special Dinner (Chaturon Chaisaeng) http://goo.gl/KbxUZ

Aug.

5

6

12

13

7

AustCham: Board of Directors http://goo.gl/eVD2V AMCHAM: Board of Govs. http://goo.gl/y5rrw AMCHAM: YPC Networking http://goo.gl/KZFuY

14 AMCHAM: HR Cmte http://goo.gl/0oiue

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20 AMCHAM: Legal Cmte http://goo.gl/sTlvN

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AMCHAM: Tax Cmte http://goo.gl/o5n6j AMCHAM: Professional Women Cmte http://goo.gl/0Q33M Bangkok Entrepreneurs http://goo.gl/U98Ux

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BANGKOK BUSINESS BRIEF Mid-July/August 2012

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Send us your business event details for the Mid-August/September issue by August 2nd to reid@bangkokbusinessbrief.com Wednesday

Thursday

18 AMCHAM: CSR Cmte http://goo.gl/OzjXg AMCHAM: Energy Cmte http://goo.gl/5IVZx

25

BCCT: Half-Day Workshop (Change & Paradigm Shifts) http://goo.gl/lZfKJ AustCham: Key Issues Dinner with Ambassador H.E. James Wise http://goo.gl/vjAty

Friday

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AMCHAM: Adopta-School Visit http://goo.gl/cbbEa Movers & Shakers http://goo.gl/paqjY BCCT: Third Thursday Networking Evening http://goo.gl/RlgDv AMCHAM: Charitable Foundation Cmte http://goo.gl/hZ44U

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BCCT: Special Luncheon (British Ambassador) http://goo.gl/9prix

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Saturday

20

Joint Lunch: Business Opportunities in China, Vietnam & Thailand http://goo.gl/nFcXc Joint Chambers: E. Seaboard Dinner – H.E Asif Ahmad, Brit. Amb. http://goo.gl/9FP2v

27 Joint: Luncheon with Abhisit Vejjajiva – Thai Politics – friend or foe of business? http://goo.gl/kALHC

21 AustCham: Voluntary English Teaching http://goo.gl/hNwWP

28 AMCHAM: Adopt-a-School Dedication – FedEx Express in Ayutthaya http://goo.gl/ejHKU

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AMCHAM: Food & Agri Business Cmte http://goo.gl/MVxtc All Chambers: Sundowners http://goo.gl/IKJK8

8 AMCHAM: Social Networking @ Hansar http://goo.gl/H1BQQ

15

AMCHAM: CSR Cmte http://goo.gl/PHik3 AMCHAM: TLC/Security/ OSAC: Regional Piracy & Maritime Fuel Theft http://goo.gl/gQrQE

16

AMCHAM: SME Cmte - Banking http://goo.gl/Pk6ns BCCT: Board Meeting http://goo.gl/MKRJT BCCT: Third Thursday Networking Evening http://goo.gl/BMT0O

22 AMCHAM: Monthly Luncheon http://goo.gl/9dzp6

AMCHAM: HBI Dedication: Surin http://goo.gl/WzkVA

AMCHAM: Travel & Tourism Cmte http://goo.gl/G8Xqz

23 AMCHAM: Charitable Foundation Cmte http://goo.gl/RCdsf

17 Joint Chambers: Eastern Seaboard Networking http://goo.gl/vWqoO

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BCCT: Half-Day Workshop (Customer Service) http://goo.gl/lSpNx AMCHAM: Greater Phuket Chapter – Green Hotel Programs http://goo.gl/S1j2X

18 AustCham: Voluntary English Teaching http://goo.gl/k6Vds

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