NOV 2020 INTERVIEW:
Christian Bergenstråhle
BUSINESS INSIGHT:
Seth Ryding, Telenor Connexion
CAREER OPPORTUNITY: Stay in Asia - job in Copenhagen, Reykjavik, or Stockholm
Senior Living:
Best places to retire
A WORLD OF
OPPORTUNITY
We inspire children to discover their passions and interests by exposing them to experiences in and beyond the classroom. Dance and Drama is one five specialised academies that nurture such passions by honing skills and practices to enable students to achieve their best and promote lifelong enjoyment of the discipline.
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November 2020
ScandAsia Stories
16 Christian Bergenstraahle
6 Credentials 7 New Norwegian Passport 11 Danish chemist invents new de-salination method 14 Finnair offers free Covid insurance
21 Seth Ryding Telenor moving forward with Internet of Things
6 34 Where to find a remote job?
7 38 Longship project to store CO2 underground
26
11
Theme: Senior Living Which country is best for active retirement?
40 Arnie Aniel’s book “You can be a Champion, too”
4 ScandAsia • November 2020
14
How can David Beckham help your child learn Chinese?
Our students know. By rejecting the traditional rote approach, CIS’s Bilingual Programme has changed the way children learn to speak, read and write in Chinese. As students learn to write in Chinese, they associate each Chinese brushstroke with a person or action they relate to - the David Beckham connection - quickly developing a deeper understanding and love for their new language.
50:50
Chinese & English
Meet the bilingual team to learn more at our open morning on 25 November 2020. RSVP at www.cis.edu.sg/bilingual-event or call us at 6734 8088. As an IB World School, CIS offers the PYP, MYP and IB DP. Canadian International School Pte. Ltd. CPE Registration No: 199002243H. Period of Registration: 8 June 2019 - 7 June 2023
News brief
Danish Ambassador met with HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn
O
n Monday 26 October, the Danish Ambassador H.E. JonThorgaard presented to His Majesty King MahaVajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua of the Kingdom of Thailand the Letters of Credence officially accrediting him as the Ambassador Extraordinar y and Plenipotentiary of Denmark to Thailand. The event was an exceptional and gracious ceremony, the Ambassador is looking forward to strengthening the strong ties between Denmark and Thailand. In 2021, Denmark will celebrate 400 years of Thai-Danish relations.
Photo: Naewna
King Harald of Norway received the Ambassador of Thailand
H
is Majesty King Harald V of Norway received on 5 November 2020 the credentials of the Ambassador of Thailand, H.E. Ms. Karntimon Ruksakiati. A formal ceremony held at the Royal Palace.
6 ScandAsia • November 2020
News brief
New Norwegian passport
N
orway launched new passpor ts on 18 October 2020. The new version of the passpor t has several security elements and a new design. The unique design combines security with images of Norwegian landscapes that all Norwegians can relate to.
See more here:
https://neue.no/work/norwegianpassports/ All existing passpor ts remain valid until their expir y date, and there is no need to apply for a new passport before the old one expires. From 19 October, it is more expensive to apply for a passpor t abroad than in Norway.
News brief
Finland-China celebrated 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations
T
he 28th October 2020 marked the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and Finland. While the official exchange of congratulatory greetings was taking place between Beijing and Helsinki – at the vice ministerial level between the Foreign Ministries of China and Finland – in Shanghai, a reception
was held at the Consul General’s residence with some of the most important stakeholders and collaboration partners present. After the welcoming words by Consul General Pasi Hellman, the guests had the chance to hear an official video greeting by the Permanent State Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, Matti Anttonen.
Finnish Business Delegation visited Hangzhou
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eam Finland China business delegation’s two-day visit to Hangzhou in Zhejiang province kicked off successfully on 21 October 2020. The delegation consists of 28 companies making it the biggest business delegation visit in East China this year. The two days include meetings with provincial government authorities, Chinese companies and universities as well as seminars and match making events with local companies.
8 ScandAsia • November 2020
The visit began with a meeting between Consul General Pasi Hellman and the Vice Governor of Zhejiang, Mr. Zhu Congjiu. The focus is on companies that operate on e-commerce, digitalization and energy as well as winter sports. Zhejiang aims to play a leading role in China’s AI core technologies and become a national digital industry demonstration zone. It is also the largest e-commerce base in China. The visit offers an excellent
oppor tunity for companies to further expand their presence in China. Team Finland China business delegation’s Zhejiang visit continued on 22 October 2020, with ChinaFinland Smar t Energy Forum and a meeting with Zhejiang Provincial Sports Bureau. The Smar t Ener gy For um gathered several par ticipants, 52 Chinese and 12 Finnish companies. Many energy companies in Zhejiang have shown interest in smart grid, vir tual power plant, energy storage and renewable integrated multienergy systems. At the meeting with the Sports Bureau, the focus was on winter sports, especially developing winter sports infrastructure. Winter sports cooperation between Finland and China has strong foundations, as 2019 was the China-Finland Year of Winter Sports, which included over 60 cooperation initiatives. The business delegation also visited, among other places, Zhejiang Future Sciencetech City and Alibaba Group.
November 2020 • ScandAsia 9
News brief
Danish embassy in Bangkok joins ‘Celebration of Silk’ event
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he Danish Ambassador to Thailand H.E. Jon Thorgaard is par ticipating in the “Celebrations of Silk” event. This year is their 10th annual event and a
very special one as they have given oppor tunities to the Thai fashion design students nationwide from Vocational Institutions, Universities and private fashion design schools
to work with the different embassies in creating a beautiful Royal Thai Silk outfit. Embassy of Denmark has been paired with a team of students and teachers from Bangsaen Technical College who visited the embassy on 21 October 2020. The meeting with the Ambassador aimed to discussed the design, styles and fabric selection which should both represent Denmark as well as showcase the beauty of the fabric. This annual event is held to promote the unique fabric of Thailand that is the Royal Thai Silk by cooperating with over 80 embassies and international organisations. The event is due to be held in early December.
Norwegian SN Power - Scatec Solar to acquire first wind farm in Vietnam
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he Norwegian SN Power AS, has signed a binding agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in the 39.4 MW Dam Nai Wind Power Joint Stock Company in Vietnam from Mekong Wind Pte Ltd which is fully owned by the Singapore based Armstrong South East Asia Clean Energy Fund. Dam Nai Wind is located in the Ninh Thuan province approximately 350 km north of Ho Chi Minh City in the southern part of the country. The wind farm was constructed in two phases – Phase I (7.9 MW) reached commercial operations in October 2017 and Phase II (31.5 MW) reached commercial operations in December 2018. The site encompasses an area of approximately 133,000 m2, at 10 metres above sea level, with flat topology and is surrounded by and interspersed with rice fields. The asset consists of 15 Sie-
10 ScandAsia • November 2020
mens wind turbine generators, each with a rated capacity of 2.625 MW. The average annual generation is 123 GWh with expected annual revenues of USD 10.5 million under the 20 year Feed In Tariff scheme for wind in Vietnam. The wind farm is financed by non recourse debt from the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV). Closing of the Dam Nai Wind transacton is expected to take place
in first quarter 2021. SN Power’s current owner Norfund (the Norwegian Investment Fund for developing countries) recently entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with Scatec Solar with regards to a full acquisition of SN Power. Scatec Solar develops, builds, owns, operates and maintains power plants and has an installation track record of more than 1.6 GW.
News brief
Danish chemist invents new and cheaper way to turn seawater into drinking water
D
anish chemist Jiwoong Lee, University of Copenhagen’s Department of Chemistry, has invented a groundbreaking technology that uses CO2 to conver t seawater into drinking water without electricity. “It’s a bit like the SodaStream machine that many people have in their kitchens. You add some CO2 to the water, after which a chemical process begins. But instead of using the CO2 for bubbly carbonation, we use it to separate salt from water,” said Jiwoong Lee, who, in addition to being a Department of Chemistry researcher and assistant professor, is the founder and CSO of CowaTech ApS, the spinout that patented his invention.
Desalinated water in less than 10 minutes
The technology works by adding the compound diamine to saltwater. The type of diamine used is CO2-
Fresh water accounts for only 2.5% of the planet’s water supply. The remaining 97.5% of Earth’s water is salt water. responsive, meaning that the substance’s behaviour can be controlled when it comes into contact with CO2. The diamine binds with the added CO2 and thereafter acts as a sponge to absorb the salt, which can
then be separated. The entire process takes 1-10 minutes. Once the CO2 is removed, the salt is released again – allowing for the chemicals to be reused for several more rounds of desalination.
The Admirals Christmas Cup 2020 on 12 December 2020
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he Thai Nordic Golf Society announced on 23 October 2020 that the tournament “The Admir als Chr istmas Cup 2020” will be played on Saturday 12 December 2020 at Green Valley Bangkok. The Admirals Pub & Restaurant Bangkok will sponsor the dinner and Trophies at the December Tournament. The Thai Nordic Golf Society played on 14 November the SSS 100 Years Cup at Muang Kaew Golf Club November 2020 • ScandAsia 11
News brief
Ambassador Fries participates in opening of shelter project
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he Swedish Ambassador H.E. Harald Fries par ticipated in the inauguration of the Oasis Project at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute on 9 October 2020. The Oasis Project provides temporar y shelters for frontline medical workers. It is an initiative of the Office of the Vice President Leni Robredo, who delivered the keynote speech at the event.
Swedish homeware br and IKEA has donated the shelters to the project. Ambassador Fries mentioned that the Oasis Project is a good example of a partnership between the public and private sectors in responding to the corona pandemic. Photos: The Office of VP Leni Robredo
Cine Europa Film Festival in Philippines goes virtual
C
ine Europa is the longest flagship film festival in the Philippines. This festival normally travels to different cities and provinces around the country to bring the best of European cinema to the Filipinos. However, with the COVID-19, the organizers are making these films accessible and closer to your homes by embracing the digital platform to keep everyone safe. The festival is showcasing more than a dozen of critically acclaimed European films. Interested viewers may watch these films for free from 30 October to 30 November. Just
12 ScandAsia • October November 2020 2020
register online, pick the films you want to watch and you will receive links in your emails on the day of your chosen movie. Cine Europa is organized annually by the Delegation of the Europe-
an Union to the Philippines together with the EU Member States with the EU Cultural Institutes together with the Embassy of Switzerland. Source: https://www.cineeuropaph.com/
New EU – Vietnam Business Council established
News brief
I
n light of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) which took effect from 1st August 2020, the Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) have agreed to jointly launch an initiative to establish the European Union - Vietnam Business Council (EVBC). The new EVBC will be a cooperation mechanism between the two organizations to effectively implement the EVFTA, support enterprises of the two sides to make the most of the opportunities brought by the Agreement, and at the same
time fur ther strengthen the trade and investment cooperation between Vietnam and the European Union (EU). The EU-Vietnam Business Council (EUVBC), will bring togeth-
er representatives of the European and Vietnamese business communities to share insights and discuss common challenges in the implementation of this historic free trade agreement.
Sweden grants Covid-19 relief funds to Cambodia
T
he Embassy of Sweden in Cambodia announced on 20 October 2020 a COVID-19 response package to financially suppor t r ur al communities in Cambodia through tree planting activities. The initiative aims to engage over 1,600 rural households in Pursat and Siem Reap provinces to plant local trees, establish nurseries, and par ticipate in other conser vation activities across the country.
This initiative will be led by the Ministry of Environment with technical support from the UN Development Programme (UNDP) under the Building an Enabling Environment for Sustainable Development (BESD) project. The already high pressure on forests and biodiversity is on the rise due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Across Cambodia, tens of thousands of people have lost their jobs and over 100,000 migrant Cambodians have returned from neighboring countries to their hometowns in rural areas. For some, the search for money and food is becoming desperate. As a coping livelihood strategy during the crisis, an increasing number of people enter the forests to cut trees, hunt animals, and fish, causing additional pressure on already fragile ecosystems. H.E. Björn Häggmark, Ambas-
sador of Sweden to Cambodia said: “It is impor tant to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic. Sweden’s support to an immediate relief package, equivalent to SEK 4,300,000 or almost half a million US dollars, will contribute to this. It will quickly offer the most vulnerable communities income generation opportunities for tree planting to help them cope with the economic crisis. It will also contribute to the restoration of vital ecosystems,” The Ambassador further added that the initiative will run until June 2021, providing immediate employment oppor tunities for communities that have the greatest need through initial tree planting activities. The project will nurture these seedlings during the dry season and support another round of tree planting activity in May and June 2021. November 2020 • ScandAsia 13
Free coronavirus insurance for Finnair customers Finnair is offering complimentary COVID-19 insurance cover for customers departing from Finland.
F
innair Corona Cover, which was launched by the beginning of November, provides extra protection and security for customers for all existing and new bookings, for travel departures up to March 31, 2021. It means any customer who falls ill with coronavirus in their destination can claim for any coronavirus-related medical and quarantine expenses incurred in their destination. The cover supplements travellers’ own travel insurance. “It is important that Finnair customers feel they can travel safely as we recognise that travelling during the pandemic comes with new kinds of concerns and challenges.,” says Tiina Tissari, Finnair Vice President, Customer Experience and Products. “Now Finnair customers can enjoy the peace of mind and additional security which comes from Finnair Corona Cover, including cover for medical and quarantine expenses should those insured with us become sick with coronavirus while travelling.” 14 ScandAsia • November 2020
The insurance coverage is included in all existing and new bookings as long as your departure is between now and 31 March 2021 and your travel does not exceed 31 days. You don’t need to do anything extra to start your journey with peace of mind. We kindly ask you to carefully read the terms and conditions of Finnair Corona Cover. Finnair Corona Cover is included in your ticket with no additional cost when: • you have a Finnair ticket booked through Finnair website, mobile app or customer service (ticket number starts with 105–24…) • your departure is between 3 November 2020 and 31 March 2021 and your journey does not last more than 31 days • your journey originates from Finland and your destination is abroad. Finnair Corona Cover is also included in Aurinkomatkat (Suntours), Finnair Holidays bookings and Finnair Plus award flight bookings.
Finnair Corona Cover powered by AIG supplements your own travel insurance, and we always recommend you to check your travel insurance coverage before travelling. Finnair Corona Cover is not a substitute for travel insurance but it offers additional protection and peace of mind in case you get sick with coronavirus in your destination. If you do not have travel insurance or your existing travel insurance is not comprehensive enough for your needs, we recommend Finnair Travel Insurance.
Finnair Corona Cover includes the following expenses if you get sick with coronavirus in your destination:
• coronavirus related medical expenses and medical repatriation up to €50,000, for example, hospital stay or doctor visits • the price of a coronavirus test if the result is positive • additional quarantine costs due to getting sick with coronavirus up to €100 for a maximum of 14 days, for example, extra nights at a hotel • new return flight back home if you miss the original one due to infection.
This cover is valid regardless of your destination abroad with no additional cost.
What expenses are not included in Finnair Corona Cover?
Finnair Corona Cover does not bring insurance coverage to any other illnesses than coronavirus. Finnair Corona Cover doesn’t include the following: • medical expenses that are due to another illness than coronavirus • any medical expenses during domestic travel in Finland • mandatory quarantine required by your destination authorities for all travellers without a coronavirus diagnosis
• travel documents costs • the price of a coronavirus test if the result is negative or if destination authorities require a test for all travellers • coronavirus related costs before or after your journey • any expenses after your journey has lasted more than 31 days.
Do this in case you get sick in your destination:
• Always contact AIG first for consultation and approval for any expenses. Call to +44 1273 765 324. AIG Travel Assistance service is provided to you 24/7 in English. • AIG will settle any expenses directly with the local service providers, provided that you have first contacted AIG and gotten their approval. This means you don’t have to carry any risk for the costs. • Please prepare to send your Finnair, Finnair Holidays or Aurinkomatkat (Suntours) ticket or booking confirmation to AIG, which proofs your eligibility for the insurance. Best way to send this is by email to uk.assistance@aig.com.
Customers are advised to always contact Finnair’s insurance par tner for a consultation and approval for any medical or other expenses, before using local services. Expenses will be settled directly with local service providers, provided each customer first contacts and is given approval from the insurance partner. This prevents customers from having to pay for the services themselves or carry any risk for the costs. The service is provided to Finnair customers, 24/7, with English-speaking customer service agents on hand to provide assistance. For more information, please visit finnair.com.
November 2020 • ScandAsia 15
Christian Bergenstråhle SwedCham Hong Kong’s new GM Christian is excited about his new role as SwedCham’s new GM. He brings energy and enthusiasm to the position as well as an ability to think ‘outside the box’. By Colin Rampton 16 ScandAsia • November 2020
I
was for tunate enough to inter view the friendly, ar ticulate, and wakeful Christian Bergenstråhle, and when one looks at the depth of his CV., his ability to cram much into his long days is evident. But I get ahead of myself. Let me enlighten you a little about Christian. He took up the reins at Hong Kong’s Swedish Chamber of Commerce (SwedCham) in September 2020 after the retirement of Eva Karlberg who had worked tirelessly for the organisation for 22 years.
Life in Hong Kong is amazing. It’s a vibrant city with high pace and lots of possibilities, but around the corner you have the island life and great hiking. It’s really a city where you can have a perfect work-life balance. I think quite a few people do not know this about Hong Kong.
A True Entrepreneur
Christian has been running his own businesses for 14 years and before joining SwedCham, some of his energies were taken up by his company ‘Savetime Consulting’ which he founded in Sweden in 2007. At Savetime, he was involved in advisory roles in the marketing and communication fields with an emphasis on sponsorship, social media, and digitalization. Christian’s skills were particularly in demand for lectures, workshops, and seminars – speaking to groups from just a few to several hundred. Initially based in Sweden, he continued to develop this concept in Hong Kong and this work took him to such diverse places as Taiwan and South Korea. As well as consultancy, Christian has a background in Design and Art and in 2014 he developed a business called XIKO ART, an innovative idea where Swedish artists were able to print limited editions of their work on plexiglass (‘plexiographies’), allowing the art to be lit from behind. He collaborated with about 20 artists and photographers and it was this business which brought him to the shores of Hong Kong in 2014. He also runs SWEDEGOOD a local online design platform where mainly Swedish designers sell sustainable and/or laudable products (www.swedegood.com). Christian is truly an entrepreneur with many facets to his portfolio. He is currently involved in several startups – including ‘New Organic Food’. He also finds the time to write for www.swedenhk.com which is a website that promotes Swedish culture in the region. It is just as well that he has so many hours in his day!
The Work of SwedCham
The Swedish population in Hong Kong numbers some two thousand, and SwedCham acts as a catalyst to bring nationals together and connect them to the local ecosystem, the objectives being both to exchange/develop business ideas, and to encourage family and social activities. As GM of the organisation Christian is answerable to a voluntary board of governors and his activities are very much driven by members’ views.This is how he summarizes his role:
November 2020 • ScandAsia 17
Even though you may not be able to do things in the usual way, you can always create an alternative. It’s just about being creative and to dare to think in a new way.”
Christian Bergenstråhle with SwedCham Hong Kong’s previous General Manager, Eva Karlberg. “Since I represent a membership organization it’s a lot about meeting members and listening to their needs. I have just started, so the rest of 2020 will be very much focussed on networking, but at the same time offering relevant events, online and offline, as well as continuing the lobbying work run by the Chamber.”
Swedish Roots
Christian was born and raised in the southern Swedish coastal resort of Båstad and had a happy outdoor childhood with one brother and one sister. The town is the tennis capital of the country and like many of his friends he played the game a lot. He has maintained his passion for the sport but is not quite as active these days. Christian’s mother still lives in the town. “I do love Sweden and always appreciate going home for a visit.” Before the current Covid crisis this was 3 or 4 times a year back home. Christian’s English is flawless and as well as his native language he can also speak Spanish.
Overseas Experience
Christian has had a varied experience of different cultures, having been an exchange student at a Los Angeles 18 ScandAsia • November 2020
High School at the age of 17, and studying Spanish at the University of Malaga. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Media and Communication from Gothenburg School of Economics and Commercial Law, Christian worked in Sweden in Project Management, International Sales and in the Fitness Industry. The latter took him to Jordan where he was appointed as a Health Club manager. He enjoyed the Middle East experience and looks back fondly at his time in Amman, but he is aware of its limitations. “To live in a city without water, trees, sidewalks etc is tough if you are brought up in the countryside by the water.”
Hong Kong Life
Christian lives in the enclave of Discovery Bay on the island of Lantau, and this early bird starts his working day with a ferry trip and a visit to the gym. He maintains a good level of fitness and tries to eat healthily, enjoying some of the amazing food Hong Kong has to offer. He also finds the time to hike and enjoy the local beaches. He appreciates the contrasts on offer in the city: “Life in Hong Kong is amazing. It’s a vibrant city with high pace and lots of possibilities, but around the corner you have the island life and great hiking. It’s really a city where you can have a perfect work-life balance. I think quite a few people do not know this about Hong Kong.”
The Covid Effect
Of course, current limitations have influenced everyone’s lives, but Christian feels that the Hong Kong government has been proactive in dealing with the pandemic. Local people learned a lot from the 2002 SARS outbreak and their willingness to adopt precautionary measures have paid off, and the numbers infected by Covid 19 have been contained. The City is struggling in other ways however and tourism has plummeted. “We do hope everything will open up soon since international business is essential not only for Hong Kong but also many other countries around us.”
Christian acknowledges that the pandemic has had an influence upon the relocations of new Swedish companies, although so far SwedCham has not lost many members. He is optimistic that things will improve, and he plans to develop services for overseas members to attract more companies when this happens. This is something he can do using digital tools. There is very much a ‘wait and see’ viewpoint amongst members but he remains upbeat. “I think that in all challenging times there are opportunities. We just have to work together and make the best of it. I do think that because of the situation the value of the Chamber will increase.”
Flexibility
Christian is nothing if not creative. Instead of cancelling the annual SwedCham crayfish event he and his team instigated the world’s first ‘Vir tual Catered Crayfish Party”. Members ordered crayfish packages and there were satellite celebrations all over the Territory. People used Zoom to join in and there was an introduction, speeches, songs, and a competition before the families enjoyed their food. Christian sums up his approach during these difficult times: “Even though you may not be able to do things in the usual way, you can always create an alternative. It’s just about being creative and to dare to think in a new way.”
Christian is excited about his new role at SwedCham and the Chamber did well to appoint such a dynamic and accomplished new manager. He brings energy and enthusiasm to the position as well as an ability to think ‘outside the box’. One thing is certain – he won’t fall asleep on the job! For more information about the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, please visit www.swedcham. com.hk.
What does Christian Bergenstråhle have in common with Margaret Thatcher and Thomas Edison? Perhaps little at first glance, but had those two been alive today, they could join Christian as members of the ‘sleepless elite’ - that tiny percentage of the population who get by on perhaps 3 or 4 hours a night. These individuals manage to achieve far more than us mere ‘eight-hour’ mortals. They may be night owls, but they are up with the lark and fit much into their waking hours. Other examples of this rarity include Jack Dorsey the founder of Twitter, and the American comedian Jay Leno.
November 2020 • ScandAsia 19
BUSINESS
Telenor Connexion making headway in Asia-Pacific Seth Ryding at its helm as CSO With 20 years’ experience as developer and provider of IoT solutions Telenor Connexion also has over ten years in AsiaPacific region. The Swedish-based provider is now boosting its organisation to further develop the established customer base, and to leverage on the significant market opportunities and future growth throughout the region. In charge to lead that effort is Mr Seth Ryding, appointed as Chief Sales Officer for APAC in July 2019 and based at Telenor Group’s Singapore hub. He shares his experience so far, in building a customer base and what the important factors are to succeed in Asia, plus of course all about Telenor Connexion’s IoT services.
Third from left Seth Ryding representing Telenor Connexion during Business Sweden trade delegation to South Korea. 20 ScandAsia • November 2020
S
By Joakim Persson eth’s professional career already includes working for Telenor Group for the last 14 years; with fixed and mobile, and within sales, marketing and operations. The opportunity that opened up for the Asian career step was a 6-month project in Myanmar (during which he frequently travelled back to Sweden to see his wife and three small kids). “That was the ticket to ride to get the Singapore offer, where I first started out as Head of Region APAC over 3.5 years ago and last year we upgraded the Asia organisation, with me becoming CSO,” begins Seth, who has a Master of Science Electronic engineering from Linköping University (Swe). Being the adventurous type Seth went abroad already at the age of 15 - to Michigan as a foreign exchange student. “I’ve always been driven by exploring things and seeing new areas and regions. And I think learning about new cultures is constantly ongoing here, which I find interesting. It’s challenging in a positive way to work far from the Nordics and in cultures that are very different within Asia as well. Both internally and externally it means that a lot of local variations need to be handled and implemented.” Seth also says that he is seen as an energetic person who drives change and improvements. He thrives in Asia and while living and working here he has noticed the cultural differences and how important the relationships are in doing business. “You need more than a good product to get the opportunity to present it, the company and yourself. If you want to succeed and have a continuous dialogue you need to have high-level relationships. And you need also to have good proof of a really operational, reliable and working solution. That has been one of the more challenging areas for us as a non-Asian operator in that sense – especially as we are working primarily towards Northeast Asia – to establish the local foundation and the trustworthiness around the brand,” he observes. Telenor Connexion has Scandinavian heritage and supplies managed global IoT connectivity and cloud
services to enterprises with large fleets of connected devices across the whole world. It was one of the early pioneers within IoT. “We have been in Japan for more than ten years, working with Hitachi Construction machinery. That sets the quality reference quite high, which makes it much easier in a lot of dialogues.”
S
eth and his team started out by flying into the Asian countries, building up a pipeline of prospects and establishing relationships, sometimes with assistance from Business Sweden. To hire someone locally however makes all the difference, to take conversations further in the local language in order to increase the likeliness of landing clients. In general, it’s needed to start with getting a few customers in each market, to be able to show localisation. “That has been a threshold in the different countries. We have now achieved that in China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.” “But you need to add a local touch too in terms of both customers and local presence. They want to know what customers we have locally, with contact persons, and to have our local representative as contact. This has been a main driver for me in developing the organisation.” Telenor Connexion recently appointed a GM for China and a Head of Region for Japan and Korea, while Seth looks after the rest of APAC
November 2020 • ScandAsia 21
BUSINESS
Telenor Connexion frequently uses the services of Business Sweden to penetrate markets. “Having a local manager is an additional management layer, because previously I have been the focal point as a regional manager. It means that you get managers in the region that can visit the customers and you can also build relationships on different layers with them. From the customers as well as an internal perspective you get day-to-day support on questions that need to be handled – so it’s very positive. As they have now reached the next stage in their expansion Seth’s focus is to create an even more localised APAC from a day to day perspective, for increased capabilities in order to shorten lead times and increase efficiency as well as customer satisfaction, but also to decentralize mandate in terms of decision-making. While Covid-19 has barred travelling frequently in the region as he is used to, Seth is fully dedicated to continuously driving and expanding the regional team in order to build and scale strong customer partnerships and continue with the localisation. “Now we’re experiencing a shift towards a large increase of inbound requests. That also increases the need of having more and more localised support: Customers are increasingly getting comfortable, seeing us more as a local company rather than a foreign. In Japan we’re getting to the point where senior executives of our customers are talking to each other and endorsing Telenor Connexion.” Sourcing new business opportunities in this region, expected to become the top market in IoT adoption, is also one of Seth’s tasks, where he will be targeting mainly Australia, Indonesia, New Zeeland, Singapore and Taiwan. Being based in Singapore is partly due to that new business growth might come from countries across the region. “Then we also have the Asian Hub for Telenor Group there, for efficiency, and as we have collaboration 22 ScandAsia • November 2020
with the group’s other business units, it makes a lot of sense to be closer to that part of the region.” Within Telenor Connexion they have target verticals, where automotive and transportation & logistics are the ones of highest interest in Asia, an early area within IoT that has a higher probability to need connectivity. Therefore Northeast Asia is in focus as it is ahead from a technology perspective and has much more export products (with lots of deployments in Southeast Asia). At the same time Southeast Asia is leapfrogging, going directly to new technologies, so there are many interesting areas going forward such as smart cities and health care. “The decision is usually made in the country of origin of a brand. For instance, connected solutions on Japanese cars might actually be produced outside the country, but with the technology and solutions used coming from the headquarters. And there is still a lot of additional business for us in those core countries, where we are now: we are fully focused on the multinational companies,” explains the Swede.
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he IoT connectivity technologies used are standardised and developed according to the GSMA standard, and connectivity are roaming-based solutions on 2G, 3G and 4G networks, including newer IoT specific technologies such as LTE-M and NB-IoT. “That’s also something very important to point out in terms of service quality over time. If you deploy solutions such as smart metres or e-call, those are solutions that need to be operationally secured for some 10-15 years. And you cannot secure that length of time unless it is based on standardised, non-proprietary technologies. “ Telenor Connexion is a MVNO, Mobile Virtual Network Operator, running on the MNOs, the ones in the countries that have the networks.” Our solutions work in
200+ countries and we connect through 400+ selected, high quality networks.” They offer ‘global managed connectivity’, which is a monitored solution where the customers’ SIM cards are connected to a platform with the purpose of controlling and managing these in an efficient way and according to specific needs. Customers get access to the global networks from us as supplier, who then monitor and proactively services the operations with a round-the-clock expert support organisation. “It’s usually a tailor-made solution, based on which countries and networks that are planned to be used and how much data you want to consume. Telenor Connexion also supplies a managed IoT cloud service, based on Amazon web services, which is an easy way for customers to shortcut years of internal developing and high investments. “It takes only a few days to take a device with standardised sensors and getting it connected to our cloud”. The system setup and the user interface design also tend to be highly specialised, explains Seth.
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or businesses the main drivers are the following: a) Create new revenue by launching new services or charging models, and differentiation from competition b) Increase cost efficiency c) Improve Customer Experience d) Improve Product Performance. Seth elaborates: “There are three different areas where you need a connected solution. The main driver historically has been predictive maintenance so you can know the quality or status of something and schedule service before it breaks down, a car, excavator or metre etc. And this is also an important factor when offering a service level agreement: you can promise quality on your product, which is a differentiator when you promote your
product but also when you put the price on your product. Moreover the connected solutions enable you to gather a lot of data from devices out in the market about how they are performing.This brings you directly to something that is very important as well: the R&D part of a product, how you continuously develop it when you go from one edition to another one. Then you can do performance upgrades or continuous development on actual usage data rather than guessing.” “And within business development you can add other kinds of charging models. Things that tend to be expensive are purchased once. Then you use them – but we are going much more towards the shared economy, which means that instead of owning an asset you only pay for your usage. So you can rent an excavator and can actually pay for the number of tons that you are digging. That creates a totally new business model. Over time it has to be a more profitable solution for the provider and you also get much better utilisation of the things you are producing. So it’s more of a sustainable way for society over time to use things.” Swedish Scania Trucks is a telling case study: “Initially, Scania made it a choice for the truck buyer: ‘Do you want to be connected truck or not?’ Then the uptake was not that high. If you give the choice to owners they don’t always see the benefit. But then the manufacturer decided they would connect all trucks as default. Looking at the total price of a truck, the connectivity and the module is a fraction of the cost. They also started to monitor the performance of the truck and of the driver, sharing this in basic reports to the owner.”
November 2020 • ScandAsia 23
Vehicle uptime is essential and with this information service planning is facilitated with minimum downtime for fleet owners. “Scania also initiated a driver education and incentive programme. The most extreme case I have heard is that you had 25 % fuel reduction after changing the behaviour of the driver of a specific truck. My understanding is that they also use it for their development of products.”
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hen Telenor Connexion started out 20 years ago, they used the available connectivity technology at that time - 2G.Today, two nextgeneration mobile IoT technologies being rolled out are‘LTE-M’ (based on ‘LTE’) and ‘NB-IoT’. With these the mobile networks have for the first time been developed to answer to the specific needs of connected things, designed to support IoT devices that need a long battery life or are used at locations that are difficult to reach with normal 4G technology. “Both are called ‘LPWA’ – Low-Power Wide-Area network. They will be the obvious choices for industries looking for 2G and 3G replacements for devices with long lifecycles, requiring extended device battery life and increased coverage. A sensor underground in a parking lot is not sending any data if no car comes. You also have a low energy saving mode, which means that it just stays shut off for a long period of time.” 45 billion IoT connections will be suppor ted by LPWAN technology by 2025 worldwide. “We generally recommend LTE-M for global deployments that are not static and when you don’t know where in the world the device will be deployed. It it’s expected to become globally available faster and is more 24 ScandAsia • November 2020
straightforward when developing and maintaining applications. It also has a higher ability to transfer data which is needed for software updates during the lifespan. NB-IoT might be the best choice for static, very large-scale sensor networks where requirements are known and when deep indoor coverage is essential, says Seth. Usually it is global companies or companies that export products globally that turn to them: “Then it quickly becomes very complex and you need another kind of service and that’s where we come into the picture because we have extensive experience in doing this. A local operator has roaming agreements that are primarily used for consumers and mobile phones - which is something entirely different from monitoring devices globally on a roaming solution. Then they come to us after a while when they want to go expand outside the home country. We have several examples where the customer has started out with deploying smart solutions in their local country and then they go with us for the regional or global deployment.” After a while some companies even shift their domestic devices, seeing the benefit of having everything in the same solution and with the same supplier. As a differentiation Telenor Connexion also tends to be more of a technology advisor, in terms of solution development and connectivity behaviour, to get costefficiency over time. “Within Telenor Group we also have a large unit that runs R&D projects related to the mobile networks, including deployments and tests of services in Asia. So we are definitely in the forefront of developing new technologies - and contributing to society. This key vision is something that has been very well perceived”
AstraZeneca to produce COVID-19 vaccine for Thailand and South East Asia
News brief
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he Swedish Embassy expressed its delight to witness, on 12 October 2020, the signing ceremony of the Letter of Intent on the manufacturing and supply of the University of Oxford’s potential COVID-19 vaccine AZD1222 for Thailand and South East Asia between Thailand’s Ministry Of Public Health, Siam Bioscience Co., Ltd., SCG and British – Swedish biopharmaceutical company, Astrazeneca (Thailand) Ltd. The signing ceremony on 12 October 2020 at Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health. Photo: Embassy of Sweden in Bangkok
Wafi experienced Ambassador Marina Berg’s duty on GirlsTakeOver Day
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he 11th October is Inter national Day of the Girl Child under the slogan “Investing in girls means investing in a sustainable and equal future.” In Indonesia, the Swedish Ambassador H.E. Marina Berg met online with the Indonesian woman, Wafi, who on the same day last year took over Ambassador Marina’s role as the Ambassador of Sweden to Indonesia and Timor Leste for a day. That was also part of the GirlsTakeOver event organised by Plan Indonesia and globally by Plan International. The two women discussed about Freedom of Expression and Freedom Online. November 2020 • ScandAsia 25
Theme: Senior Living
Active Retirement which country is the best?
Whether you are just turning 50 or will be reaching your long-awaited retirement age in a couple of months, retirement is something that everyone has to prepare for. But some countries are more attractive than others. 26 ScandAsia • November 2020
W By Gregers Moller
here you want to spend your golden years is one of the most important questions when planning for retirement. To help you answer this question, this article will suggest the absolute best countries to retire in 2020 mostly based on the unique Retirement Index created by International Living. The Retirement Index is the most comprehensive and in-depth survey of its kind. It’s the best way we know of to sift through the wealth of opportunity the world offers, bring some order, and help you pinpoint the best destination for you. ScandAsia is a magazine and website for people living in the crosshair of Scandinavia and Asia. But none of the Nordic countries are among the 24th best countries in the world to retire. Before turning to Asia, two opportunities outside of Asia may be more attractive to Scandinavians than any of the Asian alternatives if you have no personal relationship with any of the Asian countries to consider.
Portugal
Portugal is often overlooked by expats but the country is one of the best retirement destinations ever.The country offers top quality healthcare infrastructure, a warm and comfortable climate, as well as excellent seafood. Portugal is far enough away to be off the beaten track, but close enough to keep London, Paris, Milan, Rome, and other major European cities within a twohour flight. It is a challenge that Portuguese – a Roman language based on Latin – is the main language, but English is widely spoken, - in fact more so than in France, Spain, or Italy. For Danish citizens it is an added benefit that your pension will be paid out in full and not cut down to half like when you move to Asia. Another benefit for Scandinavian citizens with an Asian spouse, who is considering moving away from their current country of residence, is that Portugal allows both of you to move there and live together without the resistance you will meet if you try to move with your spouse to one of the Nordic countries.
November 2020 • ScandAsia 27
Ecuador
If you are open for other destinations than Europa and Asia, Ecuador is another country worth looking at. It tops the countries in Latin America in the Retirement Index. Settling in Ecuador can generally doable on less than $20,000 per year. If you’re wondering how much of your pension income you’ll need, you’ll generally be able to survive on less than $1,200 to $1,400 per month. The country’s adoption of the U.S. dollar, along with its low cost of living, also affords expatriates many other benefits. Because Ecuador’s constitution guarantees foreign residents the same rights as its citizens, retirees 65 years and older can also save on things like taxes and healthcare. For instance, Ecuador offers retirees tax exemptions on certain utility and municipal taxes. Exemption also extends to registration and notary fees. Ecuador also gives retirees 50% off all public and private transportation, discounted electric and water bills, free local landline phone service and discounted tickets for cultural and sporting events. In addition to certain tax exemptions, you’ll also receive reductions on other taxes. And if you’d like to travel to other countries, Ecuador offers retirees 50% airfare reduction on international flights. Ecuador has visa policies like any other country. For pensioners, the country mandates a minimum pension or income of $800 a month, plus an additional $100 for each dependent. So you’ll want to keep this in mind when determining how to budget your Social Security benefit. You should also note that in Ecuador pensioners can qualify for a visa even if they’re younger than 65 years old.
Asia
Returning to Asia, no country ranks higher in this region than Malaysia which this year came in as the 7th best country on International Living’s Retirement Index. Further down the list, the index ranks other Asian countries like Vietnam (10th best country), Cambodia (12th best country), Bali (15th best country) and Thailand (17th best country). It is not known how the other countries usually considered retirement options in Asia were doing, like Taiwan and the Philippines. 28 ScandAsia • November 2020
Malaysia
Malaysian law is based on the British system and all road signs are in both English and Malay, which makes driving around easy. The unofficial first language of the country is English, so you don’t have to learn another language here if you don’t want to. A family of six can dine out in a good local Chinese restaurant (10 courses) for less than $5.70 per person, including beer. A men’s haircut costs just $2.16. In Penang, a couple can live comfortably on $1,800 a month, including rent. Malaysia is actively courting expats with its Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) Programme which was launched in 2006. This is a ten-year visa, unique in Asia, allowing multiple entry and exit to the country. It is the best option for retirees and also good for families as children under 21 are permitted. Applicants must prove income of MYR10,000 per month (around US$2,300) as well as proving liquid assets of over RM350,000 (for over 50s). In addition, they must place a fixed deposit in a Malaysian bank account of RM300,000 in year one. In year two up to 50% of this can be used for a house purchase or health insurance. This visa does not give permanent residence, which is very difficult to attain, but it is as good as for most expats wishing to retire to Malaysia. For further information, you will find the mm2h website an invaluable resource.
Of the 24 countries surveyed in the index, Malaysia comes out top for healthcare with 97 out of 100. Which makes it the perfect choice for those with concerns in this area. It also has scores in the nineties for ease of fitting in, probably due to the high number of locals who speak English and a large expat population, entertainment and amenities and healthy lifestyle. Malaysia is an extremely diverse country with Indian, Chinese and Portuguese influences all evident in the architecture, culture and food. Kuala Lumpur for example is an extremely modern and cosmopolitan city which will suit urbanites but second tier cities such as George Town in Penang or Melaka might be a better choice if you want a more relaxed lifestyle while still having access to great healthcare and other amenities.
Vietnam
Vietnam has been rapidly developing in recent years. The Southeast Asian country has seen record-breaking GDP growths, high employment rates, and fast-paced infrastructure development. Vietnam’s exceptionally low cost of living is a major incentive for living here. Wherever you are in Vietnam, you’ll find that the cost of living is low. Even in the most expensive cities—Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi—two people can live well for less than $1,500 per month. If you’re on a limited budget, you’ll find the entire country affordable; if you have a larger budget, you’ll be living a life of luxury for a fraction of what you would pay in the West. In 2020 and beyond,Vietnam will only become more suitable for expat retirees as its public transportation and infrastructure continue to improve. Big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City beautifully juxtapose old French
buildings, traditional Vietnamese culture, and modern services. These factors make Vietnam a fantastic retirement destination for expats in the upcoming decade. Vietnam is an easy place to live. English is widely spoken, and the local people are exceptionally friendly and welcoming. Making friends—both expats and Vietnamese—is easy. Life’s little luxuries are more than affordable in Vietnam. It’s not surprising that so many foreigners have chosen to retire here. The biggest problem is that Vietnam does currently not offer a retirement visa program (similar to the one available in Cambodia or Thailand). The easiest way for foreigners living in Vietnam is to deal with short term Visa (from 3 months to 6 months). First you ask a visa agency to provide you an invitation letter matching the date you would like to stay. Then you do a visa run to Cambodia, Laos or Thailand to renew your visa. The goal is to enter Vietnam at the specified date of your invitation letter. At the immigration office in the Airport, you will get a new visa that will allow you to stay in Vietnam for a number of months. There is a way to get a permanent residency permit from one to three years. The process is through the creation of a local Vietnamese company. The recommended option would be to involve a friend who is Vietnamese and can simplify the paperwork to create and maintain the entity. Having a running company in Vietnam will allows you to open a business like a restaurant, guesthouse, or something like that and that way obtain a permanent residency permit instead of the usual visa. Once gained, you won’t need to leave the country every 3 to 6 months and will be able to stay up to 3 years.
November 2020 • ScandAsia 29
Cambodia
People come from all over the world to visit Cambodia, and then they stay there. There are several reasons for this. This country has a very painful past, but a great potential for the future, and many people from all over the world have understood this. We meet retirees who come to seek serenity, youth with a head full of ambition, families tired of their routine drawn in by the charm of the beaches and welcoming population. All these people have one thing in common: making a new start in this country. One of the main reasons and benefits why there are many retired expats living in Cambodia is that the budget and cost of living is very low. If you have a Scandinavian retirement income because of the cost of living and prices in Cambodia, you can expect a very good quality of life. This criterion being of course added to the sympathy of Cambodians, climate and excellent food. Those who wish to retire in Cambodia must apply for a Cambodian E-class visa at the airport upon arrival at Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, or Sihanoukville airports. This visa is good for 30-days and costs $35. After Covid hit the world, there are also special health insurance requirements you need to meet. To get an ER visa extension for retirees, applicants must show documentation of retirement from their home country and proof of funds to support their stay. People aged 55 and up can get this visa but only if they are not employed. However, ER visa holders do not need work permits to work in Cambodia. The 6 and 12 months’ ER Visa allows multiple entries. This simple procedure is among the reasons why many consider Cambodia the best place on Earth to retire.
Bali
Bali is one of the most cozy and comfortable places to spend time for retired persons. Good tropical climate, warmth, beautiful nature, growing medical care and 30 ScandAsia • November 2020
hospitality of local people… That is all you need for a careless life. Bali is the perfect destination for retirees. Sanur’s beautiful beach stretches far and wide, giving you a topnotch view each day. Sanur also has its fair share of amazing restaurants featuring traditional Indonesian cuisines as well as international dishes. The living cost is also quite affordable, ranging from $650 to $1,700 per month for a single person. You can expect to spend up to $2,200 if you live together with your spouse. Nearby, Lombok is a gorgeous and mostly untouched paradise. Far away from busy cities, living in Lombok will be perfect for those who wish to have a peaceful retirement. The cost of living in Lombok is also very affordable and way cheaper than living in the neighbouring island of Bali. For a single person, expect to spend around $450 to $1,500 per month. If you live together with your spouse, the cost of living should be under $2,000 each month.
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Good news is that Indonesian law provides a special type of visa for senior citizens – Retirement Visa. Retirement Visa is a temporary residence permit that is issued to applicants older than 55 years who have no intention to work - not even as a volunteer - in Indonesia. Other requirements are proof of holding a pension or bank deposits and proper health and life Insurance. If your application is approved, you will be allowed to come to Indonesia initially for one year and your visa can be extended every year to a total of 5 years. After 5 years you will be entitled to apply for a KITAP – a permanent stay permit.
The visa can be valid either for single entry or multiple entries, which lasts for a year. Before the end of the full year, you can renew your visa at your local immigration office in Thailand. Once you get the Thailand Retirement Visa, you can enter the country within the duration that the visa is issued for. However, there are cer tain rules that all expatriates in Thailand have to comply with. One is that you have to apply for a Thai Re-Entry Permit if you want to leave and the other is that you have to report your address to Immigration every 90 days which you continue to live there.
Thailand
Philippines
Thailand is renowned the world over for being a popular destination for retirees. The country ticks many if not all the boxes on a retiree’s wish list. In fact, retirees have access to gorgeous beaches, top healthcare services, traditional and modern Thai gastronomy, vibrant culture, and much more! So if you are 50 and above, then you’ll be pleased to know that the country offers a special type of retirement visa, known as a non-immigrant O-A long-stay visa. It is a type of visa that is designed for expat retirees planning to live in the country long term. The process of applying is really straight-forward and simple, however, there are strict requirements that you must meet to successfully be granted an “OA” long-stay visa. You must be aged 50 years or above and meet any one of the three financial requirements shown below: A bank/security deposit of THB ฿800,000 in a Thai bank account for at least 2-3 months prior to the visa application. Monthly Income of THB ฿65,000 THB going back at least 3 months. Combination of a security deposit and annual income with a total of THB ฿800,000. When these tougher requirements came into effect in 2019 it forced a number of Nordic retirees to leave Thailand as their home and only return here on long annual vacations or explore other options. As this article shows, other attractive options are indeed available. After Covid hit the world, there are also special health insurance requirements you need to meet. 32 ScandAsia • November 2020
If you are looking for somewhere that you can fit in easily, then the Philippines comes out on top. With English the official language in the archipelago, communication should not be a problem either. The cost of living is on a par with Thailand and healthcare facilities in the bigger cities rival those anywhere in the world although these may be lacking in more rural areas. The government’s support for expats is fantastic. The Philippine government has a whole department devoted to encouraging expats to retire there. The cost of living is low, health insurance is cheap, and it’s a beautiful country. With over 7,000 tropical islands, the country is not short of beautiful beaches if that’s your bag but you could also opt to live in the cooler climate of the mountains at Baguio or Tagaytay, or in a more urban location like Cebu City. Wherever you go you will find the people warm and welcoming. The Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) is tailormade for expats wishing to retire in the Philippines. It offers permanent, non-immigrant status with no restrictions on entry and exit to the country and the Smile version is available to anyone over the age of 35.
November 2020 • ScandAsia 33
Copenhagen, Reykjavik, Stockholm and Oslo - that’s where you should look for a remote job With millions of employers across the globe shifting to employing people working remotely, four Nordic cities emerge among the top ten best cities with most opportunities to find that dream job abroad - without physically moving anywhere.
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new study conducted by DirectlyApply https://directlyapply.com/ reveals the best European cities for remote jobs that can widen your job search and boost your pay-check without leaving your current geographical location. Copenhagen comes out as the overall best city to remotely apply for jobs, offering the best chances for finding your dream job with high remote career potential. With a high percentage of English speakers (86%!) and an average salary of £2,971, searching for a remote job here becomes quite attractive. Following in second, Luxembourg might be one of Europe’s smallest countries, but their pay-checks surely aren’t. With a median payslip of £3,246 and with one in five (21%) companies offering remote positions, it’s a city of grand remote working opportunities.
Iceland’s capital Reykjavik might not be the cheapest place to go for a quick business trip if your presence should ever be required in person, but you can be sure your future employer and the entire team have excellent English proficiency (80%). As a cherry on top, the monthly income averages a whopping £3,246!
Stockholm Is the Most Prepared City to Take on International Remote Workers
Sweden comes in fourth on the overall list - but Stockholm tops the list as the most prepared city to take on international remote workers and as such one of the best cities to land a remote job. On average, the country offers a typical paycheck of around £2500 and over 1 in 5 companies allow for remote working with 31% (!) of Swedish job opportunities offering fully remote positions. Oslo is number 10 on the list mostly because there are fewer remote opportunities thare. Helsinki is number 18 mostly because of the low percentage of people speaking English.
November 2020 • ScandAsia 35
If your main motivation for finding a fresh career path is financial gain, try to land a remote job in Bern in Switzerland. Working for a Swiss company remotely, offering the highest average monthly salary in Europe (£4.177), is the perfect way to make a killing without losing the majority of your income to the expensive way of life there. The study was done from a UK perspective, so the UK itself does not appear in the ranking. Go back one page and take a closer look at the top 20 cities to remotely apply for a remote job.
Budapest, Rome and Madrid Are the Worst Cities to Remotely Job Hunt In for Remote Work
Despite its close time difference (GMT +2) and incredibly cheap flights (£18), Budapest officially ranks as the
offered as a remote position. In addition to this, we took into account the average prices of a return flight to each capital city and the time difference between said country and the United Kingdom. This study included all 44 European countries, where the top 25 cities for remote work were highlighted. For the full research on all countries and associated sources, please check out the website: https://directlyapply.com/ blog/dream-jobs-abroad
Other sources:.
https://business.linkedin.com/talent-solutions/resources/ talent-acquisition/a-look-inside-remote-job-trends https://www.halofinancial.com/overseas-news/top-citiesand-countries-to-work-from-home https://www.merchantsavvy.co.uk/remote-working-statistics/ https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/if-you-wantto-work-remotely-these-countries-are-your-best-bets https://ceoworld.biz/2019/04/15/top-6-best-europeancities-for-tech-jobs/ 36 ScandAsia • November 2020
worst city to find your online dream job. With only 3.4% of companies offering the option to telework and under £700 in average monthly wages, this city has very few benefits making it the worst option for a digital career. Even though they’re only one hour ahead of the UK, (GMT +1) both Rome and Madrid have much lower salaries than a UK company would offer — £1.624 and £1.569 respectively — making it infeasible to be employed in these countries whilst living in the UK!
Sources and Methodology To find out the most ideal target city to land a dream remote job we looked at a variety of metrics that make a country ideal for a teleworking role whilst continuing to live in the United Kingdom. Average salaries were analysed, as well as the percentage of English speakers for each country and the proportion of jobs that are
https://remoters.net/jobs/companies/europe/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_English-speaking_population https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_European_countries_by_average_wage https://www.google.com/flights
DirectlyApply is the world’s leading job discovery platform. We enable job seekers to find opportunities that match their goals and aspirations by providing them with powerful tools to optimize their job search. Job seekers who use DirectlyApply are able to find jobs quicker and easier as we continue to streamline the search and application process inline with our mission to find a job for everyone.
News brief
European Film Fest 2020 in Indonesia moves to online platform this year
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he annual Europe On Screen festival has moved to online platform this year to reach out to more people through out 16-30 November 2020. “Of course, we will miss the silver screen and the bustle of the crowd entering the movie halls. But, we will compensate for that with
a selection of the best and latest films Europe has to offer, and with an even wider geographic reach: from Sabang in Aceh all the way to Merauke in Papua, covering 34 provinces,” said H.E Vincent Piket, EU Ambassador to Indonesia. “Although it is being held online, audiences can still watch our
films together. The only difference is they need to set schedules beforehand to watch the same film, from the safety of their respective homes,” said Nauval Yazid, EoS Festival Co-Director, during the press conference. “An online festival opens the possibility for everyone in Indonesia to watch Europe on Screen, anytime and anywhere”. The online platform, Festival Scope, is specialised and designed to host screenings of online film festivals. The platform has been used by the most prestigious international film festivals, such as Venice, Helsinki, and many others. To watch the films, audience will need to sign up for a Festival Scope account and have the latest version of device operating system and browser. Free tickets will be available on the screening date and each film will have a limited number of tickets
FinnCham Hong Kong offers Youtube presentation of members
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innCham in Hong Kong is now offering members an interview based video which will be published on FinnCham’s YouTube channel and all of the social media platforms to boost the members’ image, brand, products and services. In the video, FinnCham will focus on introducing the member and showing video clips of the corporate’s work environment, products and services. All videos are going to be personalized depending on the industry. https://www.youtube .com/ channel/UCK-vl09J9IC3buwGzLdZblA/featured November 2020 • ScandAsia 37
Longship
-a carbon capture and storage project in Norway The Norwegian Government proposes to launch a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in Norway. The project has been named ‘Longship’, in Norwegian ‘Langskip’.
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Illustrasjon: OED - Miksmaster Creative
Credit: Gassnova
orway will create an ambitious project spearheading carbon capture and storage (CSS) in Norway named ‘Longship’, in Norwegian ‘Langskip’. “Longship is a milestone in the Government’s industry and climate efforts,” says Prime Minister Erna Solberg. “The project will lead to emission cuts, and facilitate development of new technology and thus new jobs,”
transport liquid CO2 from capture facilities to a terminal at Øygarden in Vestland County. From there, CO2 will be pumped through pipelines to a reservoir beneath the sea bottom.
Others must follow
The Government proposes to first implement carbon capture at Norcem’s cement factory in Brevik. In addition, the Government also intends to fund Fortum Oslo Varme’s waste incineration facility in Oslo, providing that the project secures sufficient own funding as well as funding from the EU or other sources. “For Longship to be a successful climate project for the future, other countries also have to start using this technology. This is one of the reasons why our funding is conditional on others contributing financially as well,” says Solberg. Longship also comprises funding for the transport and storage project Nor thern Lights, a joint project between Equinor, Shell and Total. Northern Lights will 38 ScandAsia • November 2020
Bit by bit
For many years, various Norwegian governments have supported technology development, test and pilot projects, and underscored the importance of carbon capture and storage as an important climate tool internationally. The present Government has followed up this work and made targeted efforts on CCS since 2013. “Building bit by bit in collaboration with the industry has been important to us in order to be confident that the project is feasible. This approach has worked well, and we now have a decision basis. Longship involves building new infrastructure, and we are preparing the ground for connecting other carbon capture facilities to a carbon storage facility in Norway. This approach is a climate policy that works,” says Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Tina Bru. “Longship is the greatest climate project in Norwegian industry ever. We will cut emissions, not progress,” Bru adds. According to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, CCS will be necessary to reduce
Longship is the greatest climate project in Norwegian industry ever.
global greenhouse gas emissions in line with the climate targets at the lowest possible cost. There are currently few facilities in operation on a global basis. We therefore need more projects that bring learning and technological development. In turn, they will help reduce costs. If CCS is to become an efficient climate policy instrument, new facilities must be established in Europe and globally.
A necessary climate measure
Norway has committed itself to cutting domestic emissions by 50-55 precent by 2030. “For the world to achieve the goals that we have committed ourselves to in the Paris Agreement, we need large-scale carbon capture and storage. Not all emissions can be cut by applying renewable energy. In several industrial processes, such as production of cement, CCS is the only technology that can cut emissions. With Longship, Norway will support development of climate solutions for the future,” says Minister of Climate and Environment, Sveinung Rotevatn. Norway is in a good position to contribute to the development of CCS. The country has a strong technological community in the field of carbon capture, transpor t and storage. For decades, the development and operation of the CO2 storage projects on the Sleipner and Snøhvit fields have demonstrated safe carbon storage on the Norwegian continental shelf. “Effective climate policies must be positive industrial policies.Through Longship, the Government will strengthen Norwegian industry by enabling enterprises to meet
the climate requirements of the future. The project is an important contribution to green growth and will secure and create new jobs in the industry,” says Minister of Children and Families, Kjell Ingolf Ropstad. Longship facilitates the fur ther development of CCS both in Norway and Europe. The project has been matured to a level required for an investment decision, and the decision basis shows that all parts of the project are feasible. The project also involves risks. For Longship to have the desired effect, an ambitious development of climate policies in Europe is needed. The risks are primarily connected to the economy of the project, such as the technical integration of the different parts of the project, the scope of following projects and necessary support schemes for such projects from the EU and individual countries. What is not at risk is the safety and integrity of the storage solution for CO2.
25 billion NOK
The total investments in Longship are estimated at NOK 17.1 billion. This includes both Norcem, For tum Oslo Varme as well as Northern Lights. The operating costs for ten years of operation are estimated at NOK 8 billion. The total cost estimate is thus NOK 25.1 billion. Longship will receive state aid in accordance with negotiated agreements. The state’s part of these costs are estimated at NOK 16.8 billion. Source: Pressrelease, https://www.regjeringen.no/
November 2020 • ScandAsia 39
You Can Be A Champion Too! By Anna Frummerin, Vice President Education at Bangkok Advanced Toastmasters Club, Mentor, Leadership Coach & Consultant
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o you ever have to present, make public speeches, persuade, sell a product or an idea in your daily life? Are you already a champion at doing it or do you want to become one? I want to become a champion; I want to be the person that sweeps the audience away and leaves the audience with only the feeling that “the sky is the limit”. What is keeping us from being one? We often fear public speaking and you may ask yourself why is public speaking important? Believe it or not but public speaking is one of the most important skills you will ever develop in your life. Public speaking can be the one deciding factor in your professional life; your career development, your business growth and even in the relationships you have with your friends and family. Last year, on 27th of November 2019, I was about to hold my third speech at Bangkok Advanced Toastmasters Club and one of the Club Trainers, Arnie Aniel, was appointed to give me the feedback on my speech. I was terrified! THE Arnie Aniel is known as The Champion in Public Speaking! Almost exactly one year later, 29th of October 2020, I was one of the very first people holding Arnie`s new book called “You can be a champion too!” in my hand at his book launch in Bangkok. 40 ScandAsia • November 2020
Not only that, I was also honoured to be the Master of Ceremonies (MC) of the event. The room where the book launch party was about to kick off, was quickly filled with Arnies close friends and friends from different Toastmasters clubs in Bangkok, everyone wanted to be on time. Blue beautiful helium balloons decorated the room, the books were lying at a big table, like a great delicious smorgasbord that we could not wait to dig into. I was overwhelmed with the friendly, happy, and positive atmosphere. After the introduction, Arnie entered the stage, ready to unveil the light of his book that we all had been waiting for. Arnie has over 10 years of experience of being a Public Speaker, he has been a champion in various contests for speakers organized through toastmasters’ events. In 2015, 2017 and 2019, Arnie was the District (97) Champion in international speech contest covering Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. He was a semi-finalist in the world championship of public speaking in the USA in 2015 and in Canada in 2017. One could expect someone “over confident” entering the spotlight. Arnie is the opposite however - a humble man that says he is experienced, yet not an expert. He is always learning and developing and he wants to share what he has learnt. To all our surprise he actually considered himself as a shy person.
Everything changed after he joined a public speaking club, Bangkok Toastmasters club under Toastmasters International. The Public Speaking skills opened doors of opportunities and made him a champion. Arnie loves to read books and one of his dreams has been to write his own book one day, which he did during the COVID time, at the same time as he did his PhD. During his time of writing the book, he thought of someone special. If it wasn’t for her, he would not have been writing this book, not in this way anyway. He wanted to have a living proof, someone that he had mentored to become a Champion. This very special person has been following him since 2017 and approached him at every contest, wanting to take photos of them together. By saying that, Arnie introduced the District Champion in Toastmasters International Speech Contest 2020, Jinda Teerabulkul.
“What is mentoring and what is it like to be mentored?” “You have to be open minded and get encouraged by evaluations that you will gain from the mentor or, if it is something that you don’t agree on, you have to say that to your mentor. If you want to be champion, it is up to you if you believe me or not” Arnie says. Jinda added, to have a mentor as Arnie, you know that he will be honest and tell you what to wear, pants or a dress, colors, how much you should smile, close your mouth or not. Were you should look in the camera and for how long?
Jinda Teerabulkul, District Champion in Toastmasters International Speech Contest 2020.
The book launch was clearly a joyful event.
There was a time when she looked at the stage, looked at Arnie and wondered, could she make it to the final stage one day? Could she win the championship some day? “The person that you see here on the stage today was someone that Arnie helped me become”. “I could not have done this without the help from Arnie” After this, a Q & A session followed and many in the audience were eager to know more from Arnie.
“Do you think we are born champions or do we become champions?” “I believe that we can practice, be determined and we can all be a champion. But there are some people that are born leaders and champions. If you ask me if I was a born champion, I was not. It took years of practicing. Practice and with the book you will become one.”
Quotes from Arnie: “If you want to grow, you have to have the courage to be open minded.” “Listen with your heart and speak from your heart.”
November 2020 • ScandAsia 41
Hinda Zamiti, Former President at Bangkok Advanced Toastmasters Club, making a comment.
Alisa Chalerychit, President at Bangkok Advanced Toastmasters Club
After becoming a champion, what is the next step? Consistency is a big challenge and the key for becoming and being a champion. Once you are a champion, everyone expects you to perform in different roles. “Don’t be a champion for the contest, be a champion for life!” That is included in the second part of the book. Each chapter is related to real life and how to become a champion. If you are a public speaker that wants to impress, maybe that is not the right goal, to be a Public Speaker it’s about expressing and sharing a message. Arnie shared with all off us the powerful quote; “Every person that you will meet is a lesson to learn and every situation you will meet a message to share” Where is the book going to be available? At Amazon and through me also got a request to have the book as an audio. “Public speaking is like making a presentation. Everything you learn at Toastmasters is something you can apply directly to your work.”
Arnie rocked his first book launch by leveraging his Champion Leadership style, that is engaging, interactive and fun. If I would say three things that was the standing out messages for the evening it was: 1. Speak from your heart. 2. Public Speaking is not about you, it is about the audience. 3. Everyone needs a mentor. Which makes me wonder if Arnie has time for another client?...;) I left the event with the feeling; I can be a Champion Too and my first step will be to read the book! If you ant to read it, too, go to Arnie Aniel’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile. php?id=100009601877914
How do you challenge yourself and how do you go to the next step? “To be a mentor and help others to become champions.” Arnie ended by saying; “Each one off us is a champion, but weather you consider yourself as a champion or not depends on you.” How you feel about yourself, especially when you do something. Sometimes when you are making a speech, you might feel that you were the best even though you did not win and get the trophy. Sometimes you get the trophy but don’t feel like a champion. It’s all about how you feel about your performance. 42 ScandAsia • November 2020
Anna Frummerin was the MC of the event.
FinnCham Hong Kong invites to Jetour Mall X Finnish Online Christmas Market
T
he Finnish Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong cordially invites vendors to par ticipate in the Finnish Online Christmas Mar ket on 4-20 December 2020. The Finnish Chamber of Commerce together with the Jetour Mall brings together a traditional selection of Finnish food & beverage and gift & lifestyle items. This year the traditional Christmas Market is being held online and it’s a part of the What’s Up Finland?-Week and the Business of Design Week.
News brief
The Chamber says, the event is a great opportunity for your business to boost end-of-year sales or try out products in the Hong Kong market.
November 2020 • ScandAsia 43