JAN 2021
First land based salmon farm in China COMMUNITY:
Trine Tveen Nielsen received Malaysian Award
INTERVIEW:
Mika Jokela - Hong Kong
BUSINESS:
Helsinki Times launches Chinese version
COMMUNITY:
Christmas for the brave in Bangkok
A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY
Jimmy Chiu’s 12 years at Bangkok Patana led him to Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering at Purdue University, then to prototype projects for Honda Research Institute, USA and AI. For fun he still races cars and works on pit crews. From the Design+Technology rooms at Bangkok Patana to the excitement of the race track, Jimmy embodies our definition of a life long learner.
Read Jimmy’s full story:
admissions@patana.ac.th www.patana.ac.th Tel: 02 785 2206 Bangkok Patana is a not-for-profit, IB World School accredited by CIS
January 2021
ScandAsia Stories
20 Nordic Aqua Partner to establish first land based salmon farm in Ningbo in China
22 Mika Jokela a hardy Finn in Hong Kong
07 Danish Badminton Champion opens company in China 10 Cycling Without Age offers virtual trip to elderly 17 Swedish brothers open heated Thai beach bar at home 33 EU pays Finland to export to China
7 18 26 Nordic Gin House used Covid to expand into Asia
Nordic Christmas service for the brave in Bangkok
10
9 Half Filipina in Norway big football player talent
17
33
4 ScandAsia • January 2021
KINDERGARTEN
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Nurturing children’s curiosity is at the heart of our inquiry and play based learning approach. If you’d like to know how this approach applies to concepts like literacy, math or STEAM, bring your child to our Kindergarten Open House and enjoy a fun and engaging morning of hands-on, teacher-led activities.
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Book your spot at www.cis.edu.sg/kg or call us at 6734 8088.
Editorial
2020 Year in Review
T
he ScandAsia website was quite popular last year! We had 461,118 visitors! Our best month was June with 57,328 visitors!
Behavior
Our 461,118 visitors viewed a total of 726,287 pages. Each visitor spent an average of 1 minutes on our website in 2020.
Most of your visitors viewed your website from their mobile device. Demographics
ScandAsia’s 461,118 visitors came from 228 different countries.
53% of your visitors were on a mobile device. • Desktop(44%) • Tablet(3%) • Mobile(53%)
Gregers Moller Editor in Chief
Gender
56% of our visitors were male - 44% were female
Average Age
30% of your visitors were between the ages of 25-34
ScandAsia is a printed magazine and online media covering the people and businesses of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland living and working in China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
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6 ScandAsia • January 2020 2021
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News brief
Danish badminton player Viktor Axelsen opens company in China
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orld champion Danish badminton player Viktor Axelsen has just opened a company in China together with his father. The new company will develop a supplement in relation to lactic acid, and this will be done in collaboration with another company in China, which is responsible for production. The new project VA Health has been underway for several years and the plan is to open up in Denmark in January as well. In an inter view with Danish newspaper BT, Viktor Axelsen says, “It is an area with enormous potential and I hope the product can help a lot of people who have stomach issues. Our focus is on lactic acid bacteria, and it is both a supplement for athletes as well as the general citizen. The product will be available worldwide.”
Throughout his career, the badminton player has been ver y focused on optimizing his lifestyle, diet and his body and constantly tried to find supplements. When the opportunity of manufacturing his own supplements presented itself, it was natural for him to go for it. As he speaks Chinese it was obvious that the project had to start in China.
Viktor Axelsen further explains, “When you travel a lot, you quickly find out how much your gastrointestinal flora means to the immune system. And optimizing is just a very important part of a healthy lifestyle as an athlete.” Viktor Axelsen is very involved in the project and plans to spend even more time on it, once the products are ready for sale. He hopes that this project is what he can devote his time to, once he retires from his career as a professional badminton player.
January 2021 • ScandAsia 7
News brief
The Danish Parliament passed a critical statement on Tuesday 22 December 2020 criticizing China’s actions in Hong Kong. Photo: ólafur Steinar Rye Gestsson / Ritzau Scanpix
China criticized the Danish Parliament’s criticism of China
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ess than 2 hours after the Danish parliament expressed its cr iticism over China’s security law in Hong Kong, the Chinese embassy in Denmar k issued a statement criticizing the Danish Parliament for intervening in its domestic political affairs. The critical statement, which passed parliament, said that over the past few years, China has continually diminished Hong Kong’s selfdetermination, cracked down on demonstrations, and intervened in Hong Kong’s electoral process and parliament. A broad majority in the Danish Parliament (Folketing) passed the critical statement, which said: “The Danish Parliament expresses its deep concern at the human rights situation in China and notes that with the recent restrictions on democratic rights in Hong
8 ScandAsia • January 2021
Kong, two systems can no longer be meaningfully spoken of. The parliament urges the government, together with like-minded countries, to continue to criticize China for the human rights situation in the country - especially the deeply worrying situation in Hong Kong.” Regarding the critical statement,The Embassy of China in Denmark released the following: “The Chinese government attaches great impor tance to the promotion and protection of human rights. I emphasize that issues concerning Hong Kong is entirely a Chinese domestic policy issue, which the Danish parliament has no right to interfere in”. The embassy continues: “Some Danish parliamentarians turn a blind eye to the facts and make unfounded attacks on China’s policy in Hong Kong as well as the human rights
situation. We strongly urge these parliamentarians to stop interfering in China’s domestic political affairs. China has long been criticized for violating human rights. In recent years, criticism has increased after it emerged that China is severely oppressing the Uighur population.They have largely been subjected to fierce scrutiny of all aspects of their lives, and China has detained over a million in secretive internment camps. Source: BT
News brief
Pinoy sporting excellence football player Sara Eggesvik from Norway
Filipino-Norwegian football player Sara Eggesvik with Charlton Athletic. Photo Philstar Global
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ara Eggesvik, half Filipino half Norwegian has made a name for herself in the world of women’s football. Sara Eggesvik was born in Bodo, Norway and at 23 years old she has already played professionally for clubs both in Norway and in England, and also internationally for Norway’s youth teams. Filipino athletes across the world are making waves in their own respective sports. Phillstar acknowledges their Filipino athletic countr ymen and in a newly published interview, they talk to another athlete of Filipino heritage who is
also carrying the banner of Pinoy sporting excellence. Though based on the other side of the world in Norway, Sara Eggesvik is close to her Filipino heritage through her mother, a Davao native. Her first encounter with football came through her older brother and watching him play football through their childhood, inspired her to take on the spor t herself. After falling in love with the game, Sara realized her potential as a football player and after playing for four years in the seniors team of
IK Grand Bodo, Sara Eggesvik was given a chance to play for Charlton Athletic in England, which competed in the region’s second-tier of women’s football. After experiencing a higher level of play in Carlton and learning a great deal, Sara is now back in Norway again playing for a new club in KIL/Hemne since summer of this year. Sara Eggesvik hopes to continue her growth in the sport, while also balancing her studies of medicine. The Filipino culture stays a part of her everyday life through food and regular visits to the Philippines. Sara says: “I really enjoy being there. I try to be there as much as possible. I’m really proud, I love the Filipino culture.” The football player also emphasized her Filipino family’s undying support of her in all her undertakings and explains the great interest they show in her football when she visits the Philippines. When asked about being open to play for the Philippine women’s football team, which recently made the ranking of World No. 65 in the FIFA World Rankings Sara Eggesvik answers with a smile, “I think that would be fun”.
World-class quarantine center for seafarers established in Manila
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he Norwegian shipowners have facilitated safe crew changes during the pandemic by establishing a wor ld-class quarantine center for seafarers in Manila. The center was set-up on 27 November 2020 and is managed by the Norwegian Training Center led by the Managing Director of the NTC Erlend Grimstad and Jo Even
Tomren. Roughly 500,000 seafarers are currently unable to disembark or embark ships globally due to the restrictions related to the pandemic. Norwegian Shipping companies employ around 25,000 Filipino seafarers, accounting for one third of the total number of seafarers on Norwegian controlled vessels. January 2021 • ScandAsia 9
News brief
Danish charity ‘Cycling Without Age’ in Singapore goes virtual
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ince August, Cycling Without Age Singapore, a charity which takes senior s from nur sing homes and senior activity centers for trishaw rides have turned to technology, to continue to give the elderly a chance to explore Singapore despite the restrictions caused by the pandemic. During the pandemic nursing homes have not permitted visitors and volunteers in order to protect their vulnerable elderly residents so the charity worked with Mind Palace, a social enterprise that develops vir tual reality (VR) technology for seniors, to develop a virtual reality trishaw ride. Using a trishaw, they filmed some of the routes the charity used to take seniors on, like those in Admiralty Park, Bishan Park and Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. Since August more than 80 seniors have had the 10 minute VR ride where they through a VR headset sees the view as though they were actually riding the trishaw. Cycling Without Age was started by Danish social entrepreneur Ole Kassow in Denmark in 2012
10 ScandAsia • January 2021
and it is now in 35 countries. In October 2016, Singapore became the first country in Asia to open a Cycling Without Age chapter when Danish expatriate Pernille Bussone had a free trishaw, given by a Danish university, shipped to Singapore and star ted taking seniors on joyrides there. After Pernille Bussone returned to Denmark, Singaporean
social entrepreneur Aaron Yeoh and Danish Marieke Bink carried on the work and in 2018, Cycling Without Age Singapore was registered as a charity. According to general manager Mr Addie Elicano, it now has 10 trishaws sponsored by the Temasek Foundation for its Moving Generations programme. Source: The Straits Times
News brief
The Norwegian School in Singapore now offers learning to children from the age of 3 years old
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he Norwegian School in Singapore (Norskeskolen i Singapore) as a new initiative now offers classes in Norwegian to young children from the age of 3 years old. Their target group is Norwegian children between 3-15 years old living in Singapore who want to maintain and develop their Norwegian language skills alongside their international schooling. According to The Norwegian School in Singapore’s website, the results of a survey conducted earlier in the year showed a big interest in providing learning to the younger learners aged between 3-7 years old and this has now been made a possibility. Divided into groups based on age and whether Norwegian language is an active language at home or not, toddlers, children and youth students will also learn about
the Norwegian culture, traditions and anniversaries. The Norwegian School in Singapore has offered complementary teaching in Norwegian in collaboration with committed teachers for a number of years and helped thousands of children develop their language skills since the school was established in 1983. The school was previously located at OFS, NEXUS and SAIS but has now moved to The Norwegian Seamen’s Mission Singapore (Sjø-
mannskirken i Singapore) as based on the parent survey, this location was preferred. Parents are also provided with more flexibility in regards to time and place for the children’s classes and private lessons are also available. Registration for school star t opens in Januar y 2021 and The Norwegian School in Singapore will open its doors 23 January onwards. Registration form and more information is available here https:// www.norskskolenisingapore.com/
Innovation Norway shares Norway marine aquaculture experience with Vietnam
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Commercial Counsellor, Director of Innovation Norway, Arne-Kjetil Lian. Photo: Ta Quang
o m m e r c i a l C o u n s e l l o r, Director of Innovation Norway, Arne-Kjetil Lian shared some insights with Lao Dong as Vietnam is planning to develop the country’s marine aquaculture on an industrial scale. From experience and lessons learned from the development of Norway’s marine aquaculture, ArneKjetil Lian said that Vietnam needs to step by step shift to industrial marine farming with the participation of large-scale enterprises using modern technology, in which focus on a few key objects suitable for
expor t at a cost high price. That is necessar y, towards sustainable development, to create a breakthrough for the marine or marine aquaculture industry. Arne-Kjetil Lian said that nature has been very favorable for both Vietnam and Norway because of their long coastline with waters full of fish and the two countries have a tradition of fishing as well as farming. He is responsible for bridging Vietnamese and Norwegian businesses and said that marine farming is one of the three areas he has promoted since his appointment in August 2019. January 2021 • ScandAsia 11
News brief
China finds Coronavirus on packaging of imported food from Denmark
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he town of Tianjin in northern China has found the COVID-19 virus on a sample collected from the packaging of imported pig trotter, local authorities have announced. The food had been impor ted from Denmark and the
city’s COVID-19 prevention and control headquar ter s said that authorities detected the novel coronavirus in the sample taken from the packaging in a cold storage unit in Binhai New Area during an inspection.
China has stepped up efforts to block the spread of COVID-19 through imported food. The Ministry of Transport released a guideline in mid-November to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 through cold-chain food imported via roads and waterways. The impor ted goods from Denmark did not enter the market and have now been sealed by authorities. A total of 196 samples collected from the packaging of the frozen food and the environment tested negative for COVID-19 and 24 people who had been in contact with the contaminated packaging are under quarantine. They have all tested negative for COVID-19 so far. Source: China Daily
Singapore temporarily halts import of egg and poultry from Denmark due to Bird flu
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ue to the H5N8 avian influenza (bird flu) detection i n Denm ar k in rec en t months, some countries, including Singapore, Japan, Russia, the United and Arab Emirates have temporarily stopped importing eggs and poultry such as chickens from the country. 12 ScandAsia • January 2021
The bird flu has been reportedly spreading in Europe in recent weeks, with wild birds suspected for the spread and similar outbreaks have previously resulted in culling of tens of millions of birds, causing big damage to the poultry industry. According to a statement by
the Food and Control Administration, the H5N8 type of the avian influenza virus was again recently detected among chickens in a farm in Lovel close to Viborg, Denmark during controls by the Danish State Serum Institute. Authorities reported that around 9,000 chickens on the farm will be culled to prevent the spread of the virus and asked for measures to be taken against wild birds in poultry farms. According to the World Health Organization, the risk of humans potentially contracting the highly pathogenic H5N8 bird flu virus cannot be excluded, although the likelihood is low. Source: yenisafak
News brief
Chinese movie promotes Finland in new romantic drama
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inland has achieved a prominent role in a new Chinese romantic drama ‘I remember’ which was shot last year in Lapland and Helsinki. The story of the movie is about two colleagues, played by the two young Chinese superstars Angela Yeung Wing (Angelababy) and Hongchi Lee, and their trip to Finland. Their journey in the movie takes them from Helsinki and continues to several destinations in Lapland, such as Rovaniemi, Kemijärvi and Kittilä. Finland’s visibility in the new romantic drama can greatly benefit the Finnish Tourism industry, as the Chinese film industry has been on
the rise throughout the 21st century. China has been predicted to leave behind Hollywood in terms of both movie studios and ticket sales and experts estimate that China’s movie market may already be the largest in the world. The movie has the potential to gain a large audience in China, especially thanks to Angela Yeung Wing who has more than eight million followers on Instagram. She has been ranked as no. 16 on China’s celebrity list 2020 by Forbes China and in addition to Asian film productions, Angela Yeung Wing has also starred in Hollywood movies such
as Independence Day, Resurgence and Hitman and Agent 47. It was repor ted that Finland and China started negotiations on cooperation in the film industry two years ago. Business Finland confirms in a press release that they welcomed CMC Pictures ‘I Remember’s production company as guests of the Lapland Film Commission and visited the movie locations. Paavo Virkkunen, Director of Finland Promotion Service at Business Finland says that Finland offers nature and wilderness destinations as well as urban environments, all easily accessible thanks to the functioning infrastructure. The choice of filming in Finland was influenced by the production incentive granted by Business Finland for production in the audiovisual sector. Helsinki Marketing, the City of Helsinki and the Lapland Film Commission were all partners in the production of the movie. Lapland gains a lot of muchneeded domestic and international visibility from movie and TV production, especially from the CMC Pictures ’I Remember’. The romantic drama premiered in China, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK on 24 December and in Singapore on 31 December. January 2021 • ScandAsia 13
News brief
China’s Xpeng delivers first batch of smart electric cars to Norway
He Xiaopeng, chairman and co-founder of Xpeng Motors with the company’s G3 electric SUV, at the Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition, in Guangzhou, China, on November 16, 2018. Photo: Bloomberg
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he Guangzhou-based company Xpeng Motors will directly deliver 100 G3 SUVs to individual buyers in Norway. It’s the first time the company delivers the Chinese-made smar t EVs directly to individual customers in Europe. The deliveries may open the door for Chinese electric vehicle start-ups such as Xpeng, NOI and Li Auto, to target EV-mature markets and mainland drivers’ growing interest in green cars, after making the list of the world’s most valuable companies. The Tesla challengers, all of which are yet to make a profit, are racing to fine-tune production, churn out new models and increase sales to secure a foothold both at home and overseas.
14 ScandAsia • January 2021
In a statement on Monday the company said: “Xpeng is actively exploring oppor tunities in other EV-mature markets with supportive government policies, advanced EV infrastructure and high EV awareness.” Xpeng also plans to launch its P7 electric sports sedan in Europe within the next 12 months Smart EVs are electric batterypowered cars that use technology to enhance navigation, improve incar entertainment and link up with other cars or mobile devices digitally. In 2019, Chinese EV maker Aiways became the first mainland company to export smart SUVs to Europe. The company delivered 500 of its U5 vehicles under a businessto-business deal to Hertz Corse, a car rental firm in Corsica, Italy.
Since the middle of the year, other Chinese carmakers such as BYD and SAIC have started selling conventional electric cars in Europe.
News brief
Danish Trine Tveen Nielsen received Malaysian Women Leaders Award 2020
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rine Sofie Tveen Nielsen received Malaysian Women Leaders Award 2020 based on her contribution in building a sustainable leadership pipeline, for suppor t and encouragement to gender, diversity and inclusion at work and promoting of empowerment and social change and for her ability to influence policy and strategy and optimal utilization of opportunities and recourses.
The thank you note from Trine Sofie Tveen Nielsen read: “I honestly am not sure what makes me most proud. To be awarded and recognized as a woman leader in Malaysia, or being privileged having a job that gives me enough room to unfold my talents (and to make the mistakes I learn so much from). Whether it is one or the other, I think in the end it is two sides of the same coin. Working in the right posi-
tion and with the right people as well as working with what you are passionate about, then the framework is well set for recognition. Therefore, I give much of the credit for this award to my employer and my team, who have made it all possible. Thank you Malaysian Danish Business Council, thank you to the board and all members of our Malaysian Danish Business Community! thankyou for your support.”
Malaysian-Danish Business Council connected members online
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alaysian-Danish Business Council (MDBC) initiated more interactions with members in December through online platforms during the past year. The Executive Director Trine Tveen Nielsen invited corporate and SME members to online oneon-one meetings to learn much more about their company and its expertise, successes and challenges. On 11 December 2020, Trine Tveen Nielsen had an online meeting with Peter Jakobsen, founder and CEO of Aumada Energy & Technologies (M) Sdn. Bhd. During the meeting many exciting topics were addressed such as the value of a strong network and belonging to a community to access important knowledge and contacts (especially during the pandemic). Also topics like the Danish strong values in the form of Green Tech and the flat hierarchy that characterizes Danish and Scandinavian work ethics were discussed. Both are values that Aumada Energy & Technologies (M) Sdn. Bhd stands for. On 14 December 2020, Rasmus Møller Mar tensen, Managing
Director of AVK Valves Manufacturing Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. met online with Executive Director Trine Tveen Nielsen. Trine Tveen Nielsen says, “Rasmus took me on a very informative journey, not only through the history of AVK Valves, but also through Malaysia’s water infrastructure, where I was explained the importance of using long-lasting quality elements. It is fascinating how high quality valves and hydrants ultimately creates the most long-lasting water supplies” “We are pleased to have AVK Valves as a member of the Malaysian Danish Business Community, and support their honorable mission of ensuring the water quality throughout 8 SEA Markets in Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Brunei, Thailand, Myanmar, Maldives and Sri Lanka!” Most Danes remember Sunquick from their childhood, warm summer days and fun times. But do you know that since the launch of the Sunquick Concentrate in 1966, today the brand is present in more than 70 countries on five continents, and is also produced in Malaysia in Penang?
On 15 December 2020 Trine Tveen Nielsen, Executive Director of Malaysian Danish Chamber of Commerce met online with Troels Møller Overby, General Manager of Barkath CO-RO Manufacturing Sdn Bhd. Sunquick has been marketed in Malaysia for the last 35 years. Barkath Co-Ro has been a member of the Malaysian Danish Business Community for several years, which benefits to other members, as the company generously sponsors beverages at several events. January 2021 • ScandAsia 15
News brief
Helsinki Times launches new Chinese language edition
The Chinese edition of the Helsinki Times can be online.
H
elsinki Times will from now on be published in Chinese language in addition to English. The new edition launched 1 Januar y 2021 has been in the planning for more than a year but was delayed due to the global pandemic. China was one of the top five countries of origin of tourism to Finland with a 15% increase in 2019 and the target group for the Chinese edition of Helsinki Times are people interested in Finland and Finish news. Expats, investors, migrants and tourists. Alexis Kouros, Editor in Chief of The Helsinki Times says, “Our mission has been to inform the nonFinnish speakers globally and locally on news about Finland. English lan16 ScandAsia • January 2021
guage serves that purpose well, but has its limits. Mandarin Chinese is the world’s most spoken language with 1.1 billion speakers. Alexis Kouros says the number of Chinese tourists visiting Finland is certainly going to increase after the pandemic is over and that Chinese tourists soon will be the largest language group visiting Finland. The signing of the EU-China trade agreement will also bring more investor interest to the EU and Finland from China. The number of students and immigrants from China is steadily increasing as well. The Chinese edition of Helsinki Times is launched in collaboration with JimmyQ ltd. JimmyQ has several news articles about Finland
in Chinese on the social media platform WeChat with thousands of readers and the WeChat channel will officially be rebranded as Helsinki Times. Helsinki Times is the first and only independent English language newspaper publishing news about and from Finland. Established in early 2007 with a weekly newspaper in print and daily updates of news online. The print edition was discontinued in 2015 but the online edition has continued serving the international community interested in Finland and Helsinki Times has over 370k readers per month. The Chinese edition of the Helsinki Times can be online.
Swedish brothers built heated Thai Beach Bar as traveling is still restricted
News brief
Chang is important, ”says Joel, who enjoys a Thai beer. Private Photo
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he Anderson brothers Hugo, 30, and Joel, 32, who live in Väring, Skövde, usually spend a few months a year in Thailand and have visited South East Asia on several occasions. As the pandemic continued to restrict all travel and the borders to Thailand remained closed, the brothers decided to turn their storage shed into their very own heated Thai Beach Bar. In an inter view with Skövde Nyheter Joel Anderson explains, “We built a sauna at my house. And then we realized that we would rather sit on a sandy beach in 40 degrees and drink beer than in a 80 degrees hot sauna.” The Beach Bar took three days to decorate and is furnished with
chairs, folding tables and decorated with fairy lights. The Thai Bar even has a sun which is a heat lamp and a disco ball. According to the brothers, there is still a very important detail missing that travelers would expect to see in any Thai business and that is a picture of the Thai King. The brothers say that the Thai Beach Bar will have to make do until they are able to visit the country again. They are very comfor table there however, so for now they would rather stay home and enjoy the Thailand they build for themselves in Sweden. Hugo Anderson says sunbathing is possible if you just move the table and the plan is to install a sound system which
will play the sounds of waves. In the basement of the shed, the brothers have also built a pool and say that it is perfect with a cold dip in the pool after a day on the beach. Hugo says, “Our parents think it’s a little strange but our friends think it’s fun. They get it.”
January 2021 • ScandAsia 17
Christmas service for the brave in Bangkok
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nly some forty members of the Nordic community in Thailand participated this year in the Scandinavian Christmas Service in Christ Church in Bangkok. The news of a second wave of Covid-19 cases had kept most of the usually well over 200 members away this year. The service was conducted by Danish pastor Christa Lund Herum, while the speech was held by her Swedish colleague Erik Stenberg-Roos. The gospel which is usually read in all four Nordic languages, was this year read only in two languages - in Danish by Consul Alice Skov and in Swedish by Ambassador Jon Grรถndahl. The smaller numbers meant that the after-servicegathering with aebleskiver and red wine became more intimate.
18 ScandAsia โ ข January 2021
January 2021 • ScandAsia 19
The Nordic countries have operated land based salmon and trout farms long before it became an option to establish salmon farming in the open ocean.
Nordic Aqua Partners to establish China’s first salmon farming facility
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ordic Aqua Par tners A/S is about to establish China’s first land based salmon farm. The Nordic countries have been building land based salmon and trout farms long before it became an option to establish salmon farming in the open ocean. Nordic Aqua Par tners A/S is headquar tered in Denmark but owns a subsidiary in Ningbo, China, thorugh which Nordic Aqua Partners A/S has invested in the construction of the large aquaculture facility located south of the Chinese million-strong city of Ningbo in Zhejiang which began in spring this year. The company Nordic Aqua Par tners A/S was 20 ScandAsia • January 2021
founded by Danish Ole Jørgensen and Norwegian Ove Nodland in 2016, with address in Ole Jørgensen company domicile (formerly Ribe Maskinfabrik now AH Industries) and the two Scandinavians have since patiently worked on the project to establish a large land-based aquaculture facility for farming salmon in China. The people of China have a love for salmon, preferably Norwegian and Faroese salmon that needs to be imported but in the future Ole Jørgensen and Ove Nodland plans to provide the giant Chinese market with live and local farmed salmon. It is the world’s first salmon farming facility in China and with the country being the world’s largest fish market, the potential is gigantic.
Ole Jørgensen have long been a pioneer and were amongst the first Danes to start doing business in China almost 20 years ago. He has now used his experience and network to pave the way for the salmon project in China. Norwegian Ove Nodland, who lives in China is originally the man behind the idea of farming salmon in China and through his connections with the local government in his town of residence Ningbo, China he has helped make the project happen. The project is also based on efforts from the Chinese central government in Beijing. Nordic Aqua Partners has also put together a strong team of excellence with, among others, Ragnar Joensen, longtime front figure at the world leading salmon producer Marine Harvest, as chairman of the board. Ragnar Joensen has spoken about the large potential of the Chinese project and said, amongst other things, in a press release: “The prospects for land-based farmed salmon in China are far-reaching, and we are all very excited and optimistic about being the first engine in the world’s largest fish market and for Nordic Aqua Partners’ potential. With the amazing support of our staff, investors, banking syndicate, Chinese government and advisers, we are finally in the process of writing history. Now the company is ready to realize a fantastic project in China, and in less than three years we will supply really fresh high quality and tasty salmon in the Chinese market”. Ole Jørgensen expects it will take around three years before the first salmon can be caught and packed
for the Chinese consumers. The project will begin other parts of its establishment including training of the employees in spring next year and the first step of the project is estimated at 4,000 tons of salmon annually in 2023. This will happen with a supply of a so-called RAS system, which is a fully recycled farming system without wastewater discharge supplied by the significant shareholders in Nordic Aqua Partners, Norwegian equipment supplier Akva Group and Nutreco, Dutch large producer of animal feed and fish feed. The steps ahead of 2023 with the next construction phase will yield 8,000 tons in 2027 and the long-term target is 40,000 tons on the same property. In the longer run, Nordic Aqua Partners sees further opportunities for facilities near other parts of China, and with an already existing agreement with a buyer, the potential is a billion-dollar business in the giant Chinese market. Nordic Aqua Partners now faces the challenges of being the first ever to succeed in raising salmon in a landbased Chinese facility. As salmon being a predatory fish, there are key factors to be aware of, one of them being not to expose the salmon to stress in the facility pools because this will prevent the fish from eating. However, Ole Jørgensen is optimistic and says, “A team has been set up with very large capacities, which are those all over the world who know the most about salmon farming. They see a very clear potential, and I am optimistic.”
An illustration of what the new salmon farming facility in China will look like. January 2021 • ScandAsia 21
Mika Jokela - a hardy Finn in Hong Kong Colin Rampton interviews the Finnish bussiness entrepreneur in Hong Kong, Mika Jokela
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By Colin Rampton erhaps it is a generalisation to say that Finnish folk are a resilient race, but my recent interview with the friendly and eloquent Hong Kong-based, Mika Jokela did little to dispel that assumption. Apart from scuba diving and kite boarding, Mika includes ice-swimming amongst his hobbies. Yes, when he is in his homeland during the winter, Mika and his teenage sons head for the nearest frozen lake or seashore and plunge in! This may not be everyone’s idea of fun, but it is exhilarating enough, according to Mika. 22 ScandAsia • January 2021
I had the pleasure of interviewing Mika recently, albeit remotely during these unusual times. He is a longterm Hongkonger, having arrived, young and single, during the final months of the City’s colonial period in early 1997. Twenty-four years, a wife, two sons and a wealth of business experience later, he has no plans to leave, despite having to adapt considerably to the recent Covidrelated restrictions.
Entrepreneurial experience
Mika is the owner of Altcoe Limited, a Hong Kong based company which specializes in providing professional services for ICT and high-tech companies. Altcoe also manages investments for mainly European start-up companies with a special focus in the APAC region. Up until recently, Mika travelled extensively within the region, and it was not uncommon for him to fly to 3 or 4 countries in as many weeks. His clients certainly appreciated face to face meetings but mostly they have adapted to the challenges faced by the current restrictions. Mika certainly misses his business trips, which were often combined with a visit to his house in Bangkok. But he is nothing if not adaptable, and he remains cheerful: “I am optimistic about the future and my mind set has always been that I try not to worry too much about the things I cannot change but try to make the best out of all situations.”
Early Days
I am optimistic about the future and my mind set has always been that I try not to worry too much about the things I cannot change but try to make the best out of all situations.
Mika was born and grew up in the southern city of Turku, where his parents still live. He had an enjoyable childhood and fondly remembers spending the long holidays roaming with his cousins in the countryside in the South Ostrobothnia area. This is from where his parents originated, and his grandmother lived. Mika has always loved being active and in the outdoors. In his youth, he played football and spent lots of time fishing. He even did a parachuting course! Later, while studying at the Turku University of Applied Science, Mika worked par t-time for the Finnish Government’s National Road Administration, planning new roads, and conducting environmental research. After graduating in 1996 with a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering, he realized he wanted to broaden his horizons and embarked upon another course which included a six-month overseas placement with a Hong Kong company. Mika soon found himself in the challenging position of working on the construction of a municipal waste collection plan in the Chinese town of Shilou in Panyu District. This is in Guangdong Province which neighbours Hong Kong. He stood out somewhat as one of very few Europeans in the town at that time.
Staying in Asia
Life in the Far East suited Mika and he accepted a permanent job at the end of the training period. With his base in Hong Kong, he travelled extensively within Guangdong Province, and worked on a variety of projects and gained experience in different aspects of business. During 1999, after contact with members of Finnish ICT delegations to Hong Kong, Mika became more interested in the ICT field, and began to study part time at Hong Kong’s Open University. This led to the award of Master of Electronic Commerce and the prospect of branching out on his own.
Life Changes
Mika’s life in fact changed in more ways than one during this period. He married his air-stewardess girlfriend Luck, started his own business (Cretum Limited (Hong Kong)) and the couple’s first son Samut was born. At this time Hong Kong unfortunately experienced the lethal SARS epidemic, and Luck decided it was safer to stay in Bangkok with the young baby and extended family support. (She was born in Thailand from Chinese parents and is multi-lingual and very well-travelled.) Mika kept Hong Kong as his base and concentrated on building up the business. January 2021 • ScandAsia 23
I am used to living in a city by the sea and Hong Kong is unique. It is the only big city I have experienced, where, from busy city life in half an hour you can find yourself in nature, with no other people around.
24 ScandAsia • January 2021
The following years were hectic - commuting between Hong Kong and Bangkok, flying extensively for meetings, expanding his business acumen, and establishing a family home in Thailand. In 2006 the couple’s second son Sky was born. Cretum Limited was in good shape, with an office in Central, several employees and numerous contacts and consultants when, in 2012, Mika accepted an offer to sell to a Japanese company. A short while later, Altcoe Limited came into existence. At Altcoe, Mika uses freelance consultants based upon project requirements. Up until the recent flying restrictions he continued to build up his airmiles flying to meet clients around the APAC area. He took regular trips to Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia,The Philippines and of course Thailand. For the time being though, he has adapted and relies upon ‘remote’ communication.
Hong Kong
Mika speaks highly of Hong Kong. He felt at ease from his early days and admires the business culture found in the City. “As for running your own business, HK is an excellent place, everything works so well, people are very business oriented and you can get so many things done in one day.” He also appreciates Hong Kong’s superb location and the ease of moving around: “I am used to living in a city by the sea and Hong Kong is unique. It is the only big city I have experienced, where, from busy city life in half an hour you can find yourself in nature, with no other people around.” As well as his ‘extreme’ sports Mika has more mundane ways of maintaining his fitness - hiking the Hong Kong hills and regular visits to the gym.
Finnish Roots
Mika is proud of his roots and regularly visits his homeland, flying to see his parents whenever possible. He has become more appreciative of Finland’s cleanliness and pure air and is still amazed by the extreme changes that the seasons bring. Although he is happy living in Asia there are a few things he misses from Finland such as locally resourced fresh fish and meat, regular visits to the sauna and of course his family and friends. Both Samut and Sky are trilingual, speaking English Thai and Finnish. Mika makes a point of speaking to his boys in his native tongue in order that they can communicate with his parents and relatives. As his parents have become older, regular contact with their grandchildren has become more of a priority. Mika and his family are truly international. Samut was studying in Australia but is now back in Thailand. In January 2020 Sky left the family home in Bangkok to study 9th grade in New Zealand. The family are used to travelling and the boys have done so since their earliest days. When the flying restrictions have subsided, Mika and family will inevitably head to Finland for a holiday, and if it is winter this intrepid Finn and his sons will surely head for a frozen lake! To discover more about Mika’s company, please visit www.altcoe.com Ice swimming is not as rare as you might think and there are up to 150,000 Finns who regularly participate. Most swims are under a minute long and are followed by a sweat in the sauna. Benefits include improved blood circulation, a boost in the immune system, an acceleration of calories burned and an increase in the release of ‘feel-good’ hormones. Perhaps it is another factor which has contributed to Finland being regularly rated “The Happiest Country in the World.” January 2021 • ScandAsia 25
Bergslagens Organic Gin is a handcrafted gin produced by Bergslagens Distillery on a small scale. Oslo Gin is a tribute to the world’s smallest metropolis.
The lingonberries, juniper, coriander seeds and lemon peel bring a sweet, herbal citrus aroma to the gin.
Export to Asia saved Nordic Gin House during the pandemic The Danish company Nordic Gin House has aligned with new global partners in China, Singapore, Vietnam and Myanmar in the midst of the pandemic, to secure export opportunities and save the company from closing down.
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“We are actually coming out with a nice result for 2020,” says Jakob Vallentin. Foto: Sophus Zarrs Soelberg 26 ScandAsia • January 2021
n order for the small company Nordic Gin House from the little town Hørsholm north of Copenhagen to survive during Covid-19 restrictions that for a while closed the doors to the company’s existing markets, Jabob Vallentin, founder and managing director of Nordic Gin House knew they had to adjust at record speed and find new potential markets for export of their world renown Gin. In an interview with the Danish media Sjaellandske Nyheder, Jacob Vellentin says: “In February, we started looking at the corona map. We wanted to see where we could do something for our little company. We already had dialogue with several European markets, but when looking at the tsunami of infection that had already hit Italy and Spain, we began to think that it could be a wrong decision. If people ended up in lock-down, we would not be able to sell our products.
København Klassisk Gin carries one of the highest levels of juniper berries in the world delivering flavour the original way.
Jakob Vallentin, owner of Nordic Gin House. Photo: Sophus Zarrs Soelberg The corona pandemic came as a potential disaster for the company with closed borders, empty airports and no nightlife or social gatherings as the company makes a living from supplying the same airports and nightlife with gin – both in Denmark and abroad. Jakob Vallentin says, “The sale was gone.” Jacob Vallentin considered putting the company on hold but then he made a realization that has since kept the company afloat. Jabob Vallentin says, “I realized that corona spreads like some kind of flu. The thought became that when it is summer in Sidney, for example, there is probably less corona, and then we have an opportunity to sell products there.That’s how we got the new marketing going and now we can keep our noses above water so to speak. Nordic Gin House managed to take its portfolio of Scandinavian gins to another level after aligning with new global partners and the company now sells to China,
Stuðlaberg Gin, is a Icelandic made London Dry Gin. With the finest ingredients, the pure Icelandic water and years in the making. Singapore, Vietnam, Myanmar, and the company scouts Thailand and Malaysia in early 2021. Jakob Vallentin says, “It is really exciting to move so far away from Hørsholm, Denmark. We are lucky that Nordic products are popular in these markets. When we present the products to partners in Asia, we are exotic because we come from the Nordic countries and tell a special story. Nordic Gin House has just sent ten pallets of mixed products from Nordic Gin House to China. “We are actually coming out with a nice result for 2020,” says Jakob Vallentin. Foto: Sophus Zarrs Soelberg Nordic Gin House was established in 2018 and in March the company won a gold medal for its »Copenhagen Classic Gin« for the World Spirits Award 2020 competition, which included 25 nations. 107 distilleries from all over the world had sent their best gin to Austria, where the competition took place. The company sells a total of five unique Nordic gins and the customers have mainly been specialty shops, luxury supermarkets, restaurateurs, bars, cocktail clubs, and in earlier times also airports. Source: Sjaellandske Nyheder Singapore Louis Tan +65 9839 7633 spirits@cornerstonewines.com www.cornerstonewines.com China Carter Han +86 (10) 8855 6332 +86 131 6135 3619 carter@just-mart.com http://www.just-mart.com/ January 2021 • ScandAsia 27
News brief
Danish expert questions value of new Chinese face recognition tool for pigs
The snout, eyes and ears of a pig are as individually different as a human face. It is now being used for monitoring in Chinese pig farms. Stock Photo. Photo: Annelene Petersen
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ccording to The Guardian, Pig farming in China has taken another step to streamline operations in order to save costs, shor ten breeding times and even improve pig welfare. The new tool is face recognition technology for pigs. Danish agriculture experts do, however, not see the same potential in the new technology. Professor Jan Tind Sørensen, head of the section for Welfare at the Department of Animal Science at Aarhus University said however, that the technology most likely has greater prospects in cattle than in pigs because its very limited what can be done for individual pigs. “I doubt that individual facial recognition of a pig will have a greater market value,” Professor Jan Tind Sørensen says. 28 ScandAsia • January 2021
“There is very little that can be done individually for the pigs and piglets. But in agriculture, all kinds of digital solutions are generally worked on a lot and research is in full swing – also at our department,” he adds. China is the world’s largest exporter of pork and is expected to increase production next year by nine percent. Half of all pigs in the world are believed to live in China, but recent years have been very turbulent for pig producers in China because African swine fever has ended the life of around 40 percent of the country’s pigs. Attempts are now being made to make up for this loss by developing and refining digital pig production to an even greater degree. Each individual pig, like humans
for example, has a unique distinctive feature in the head, and if you have sufficiently smart technology, it can be used for individual recognition and monitoring of the individual pig. When the individual pig is constantly identified and monitored, it’s possible to tailor the feeding, detect irregularities such as disease or decreased appetite ver y early and monitor the pigs heart rate and temperature. According to local farmers the new technologies have reduced the cost of pig farming by 30-50 percent but for the time being the modern digitalization is so expensive that only the largest pig producers can par ticipate and not the individual Chinese farmer. Source: BT
News brief
Why does Norway import its own pork intestines back from China
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orwegians love sausages. So much in fact that each Norwegian consumes an average of about 100 sausages a year, which is amongst the highest in the world. But if local sausage producers want to use Norwegian natural casings for the sausages they make they have to impor t them from China, because all intestines from domestic Norwegian animals are expor ted frozen out of the country as “raw” goods. Astr id Regine Nässlander made the discovery before Christmas when she started the production of her own Christmas sausages made from local moose meat, but was unable to find local natural Norwegian sausage casing. After some research she was told that all natural casings used to make sausages in Norway are imported from China. Astrid Regine Nässlander says it is
completely incomprehensible and continues, “I do not understand why. I almost do not know if I want to know”. The explanation is not as complicated as the paradox itself however and it is all about quality and economy explains Morten Eriksen, daily leader of the company Notim, which has supplied natural casing to sausage producers in Norway for the past 20 years. Intestine production is both an expensive and labor-intensive production and with Norway being such a small market it’s simply not possible for it to be profitable. According to Notim, Norway is also one of the most demanding markets in the world when it comes to the quality of natural casings and the meat stuffing used in sausage production in Norway traditionally
Sausage producers in Norway must use imported intestines as sausage casings. Astrid Nässlander says it’s completely incomprehensible. Photo: Synnøve Sunddby Fallmyr/ NRK
has a relatively high water content, so even the slightest defect in the intestines will be visible in the sausage production. At the same time, it is impor tant to note that these are traditional recipes that are well incorporated into Norwegian food traditions, so it is not just about finances, but also about the consumer’s expectations of how a sausage should be and should look. Morten Eriksen says that much of the processing of natural casings takes place in China, which is where much of the knowledge and experience in the industry lies. January 2021 • ScandAsia 29
News brief
China’s communist Government has deployed regulatory agencies and implemented strict measures towards cryptocurrencies in recent years which have affected mining operations in China.
Report indicates Chinese Bitcoin miners migrate to Nordic countries
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hinese miners are migrating from China to the Nordic Region says a new repor t from China’s Blocktrain&Bitcon news (8tbc) suppor ted by statements from the head of operations at Genesis Mining, the largest cloud mining company on the market. Chinese bitcoin miners have been concentrated in China, but miners have star ted to gradually migrate to Nordic countries like Sweden and Norway, says Lyke Aru, financial columnist from 8btc. Luke Aru’s report says that Chinese operations are attracted to eco-friendly green energy in the Nordic region as well as the benefits from countries like Sweden and Norway in contrast to China. Bitcoin mining is a computerized process with three main functions which includes issuing new Bitcoins, confirming transactions and ensuring the Bitcoin network remains secure. Miners achieve this 30 ScandAsia • January 2021
by solving a computational problem which allows them to chain together blocks of transactions. Lyke Aru explains that bitcoin miners in China used to enjoy the lack of regulations and extremely cheap electricity prices in China but that deployment of regulatory agencies and strict measures towards cryptocurrencies have been implemented by China’s communist Government in recent years and this have affected mining operations in China. Philip Salter, head of operations at Genesis Mining has verified Lyke Aru’s statements in regard to Chinese miners moving to the Nordics. Philip Salter emphasized that China’s miner migration is one of the biggest developments in the bitcoin industry right now and said that the movement is due to miners seeking out financial safety and political stability. Philip Salter explained, “There
Bitcoin miners are seeking out financial safety and political stability in the Nordic countries - and a clean environment, says Philip Salter, Genesis Mining.
is a very impor tant strategic shift away from mining in China to mining in western countries like Sweden as Bitcoin investors become more public and want more stability and critical safety”. Source: Bitcoin.com
News brief
Suspected kidnapper of Norwegian national in 2015 arrested in Manila on Christmas Eve
Kjartan Sekkingstad boarding an airplane at an airport following his release in the town of Jolo, Sulu province, on Sept 18, 2016. The kidnappers had by then beheaded his two fellow Canadian hostages. PHOTO: EPA
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he key suspect in the 2015 kidnapping of Norwegian Kjar tan Sekkingstad, was arrested in Manila, Philippines on Christmas Eve according to The Philippine National Police (PNP). Kjartan Sekkingstad was manager of Holiday Ocean View resort in Samal Island when he and four other hostages were kidnapped in a raid five years ago. The others were Canadian John Ridsdel and Robert Hall and Hall’s Fillipina girlfriend Marines Flor. Local militant and terror faction Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) later owned up to the abductions. After the kidnapping, the hostages were transferred from Samal Island to Sulu and while in the process of negotiation of the multi million US dollars hefty ransom de-
manded by the kidnappers, the two Canadians were beheaded. Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and Filipina Marines Flor were spared and later released by the kidnappers in 2016. The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported the arrest of suspect Jehan Aklul alias Khalid Akhalul/ Abu Khalid as he was captured at a rental unit in San Miguel, Manila. A joint police-militar y intelligence team conducted the operation that led to Aklul’s arrest and repor ted that Aklul is the subject of a warrant of arrest issued by the regional trial cour t (RTC), for the crime of kidnapping with homicide in criminal case No. CrC 113-2016. Sekkingstad, then aged 56, was abducted in September 2015 from the high-end Philippine tourist resor t which he managed and was
taken to Jolo by the Abu Sayyaf. In late April 2016, the severed head of Canadian hostage John Ridsdel, 68, was found in southern Sulu province. In June 2016, the other Canadian, Robert Hall, was beheaded. After his release in September that year, Sekkingstad recalled at a press conference the horror as he could hear his friends being beheaded. Source: Manila Bullitin
January 2021 • ScandAsia 31
News brief
No entry to Philippines until 15 January 2021
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he Philippines introduced the day before New Years Eve 2020 new travel restrictions as followed: Effective from 30 December 2010 until 15 Januar y 2021, as a precaution to the possible entry of the new variant of the COVID-19 virus into the country,The Philippine Authorities has banned all incoming passengers with flights originating or transiting or have travelled within the last 14 days from the following countries: 1. United Kingdom 2. Switzerland 3. France
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4. Israel 5. Sweden 6. Ireland 7. Japan 8. South Africa 9. Denmark 10. Spain 11. Singapore 12. Canada 13. Iceland 14. Italy 15. Hong Kong 16. Australia 17. Germany 18. Netherlands 19. South Korea 20. Lebanon
For some reason, Norway Iceland and Finland are not on the list. Philippine passport holders are exempt from this regulation. They will be subjected to strict 14 day quarantine regardless of their RTPCR test results upon arrival. Travelers are recommended to contact their airline or travel agent or the Philippine Embassy/Consulate in the countr y of their travel origin for more information.
News brief
EU pays Finland to export to China
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inland has been given almost EUR 3 million by the European Union to help finance a project aimed at promoting the expor t of pork and poultr y meat to the Chinese market. Premium products that are widely popular in Chinese cuisine. The campaign will focus on the safety, traceability and good taste of high-quality pork and poultry meat responsibly produced in the EU and Finland targeting Chinese retail and food service customers in both international and local companies in the four major cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Zhengzhou and Chongqing in China.
Funding applicant Ruokatieto Yhdistys ry, Finnish non-governmental, non-profit inter-trade association that promotes food production and food culture in Finland, will also carry out the project together with its two member companies HKScan, Finnish manufacturer of meat foods and products and Atria, Finnish food industry company, which both currently export pork to China. HKScan’s Juha Ruohola, EVP, Export, import and meat balance says, “It is great to continue the well-done expor t promotion work in China with EU funding. Warmest thanks to the par tners who contributed
to the success of the project. The expor t promotion suppor t now granted will help us increase the sales and awareness of our products in the very demanding Chinese market.” Atria was the first Finnish company to secure a license for the export of pork products to China in 2017. HKScan and Zhejiang Qinglian Food have since 2018 commercialized, sold and marketed Finnish HK Rypsiporsas (Omega-3 Pork) products in the local market in China through the commercial enterprise Nordic Lotus Food Inc.
Danish funds to SME’s in Myanmar
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he Embassy of Denmark in Myanmar has since 2017 provided MMK 14.6 billion worth of grants to over 450 Myanmar SMEs to implement responsible business projects through the
Responsible Business Fund (RBF). Responsible Business Fund will open a new grant cycle in January 2021 and any Myanmar small and medium enterprise (SME) with a responsible business concept can
apply. To learn more about this opportunity, please continue to read here: https://www.facebook.com/ FCGRBF January 2021 • ScandAsia 33
News brief
MKI Norway to invests 1.8 USD in edutainment production in Cambodia
The signing ceremony taking place between Dr. Naron of MoEYS and Ms Olsen. 2nd from left is Manu Ranjan of WING. Photo supplied
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K International Investment and Development Co., L t d . o f N o r w ay ( M K I Norway) is investing $1.8 million for 3-year educational-enter tainment programmes exclusively developed for Cambodia. Educational enter tainment or edutainment is media designed to educate through entertainment and the programmes will help to improve the general knowledge among the Cambodian population aged 12 years old and over with no or limited opportunity for advanced education.The project will be focusing on various topics such as health, nutrition, natural science, technology, economics, finance, medicine, geography and history. Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS) 34 ScandAsia • January 2021
signed a Memorandum of Understanding on their par tnership between Minister of MoEYS, Dr. Hang Chuon Naron and Ms. Mary K. Evjen Olson, Founder and Managing Director of MKI Media AS Norway on 29 December. According to a joint press release, under the MoU, both sides will join hands in developing educational contents, producing and distributing a total of 72 audio visuals in an entertaining form during the next three years, between 2021 and 2023. “We are pleased to par tner with MKI, an expert media content production and investment company to provide our citizens with more diverse video programmes designed for non-stressful and fun learning experiences in various sub-
jects, said Dr Naron at the signing ceremony. The produced programmes will be available free of charge on various social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube, in addition to the ministry’s E-Learning Digital TV channel that has already more than 3 million followers. The Royal Group´s Wing, the leading mobile money and electronic payments service provider in Cambodia headed by Mr. Manu Rajan, is also part of the project as one of the key corporate sponsors. Source: Khmertimes
News brief
H&M reduces plastic waste with new sustainable packaging solutions
H&M Group introduces new sustainable packaging solutions. Photo H&M Group
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&M Group, Swedish intercontinental clothingretail company, introduces new sustainable packaging solutions. At the company’s distribution centers in China, Russia, The Netherlands and Australia millions of packages have already been sent to customers as part of a test for more sustainable packaging solutions. The new packaging solution is a multi-brand paper packaging system that is reusable and recyclable. H&M
Group is motivated to become a fully circular organization with an aim to reduce the risk of creating waste and once the packages are open, the bags are recyclable. With online shopping increasing worldwide, plastic waste is increasing as well. And due to the pandemic taking over this year, it is safe to say that e-commerce has changed forever. While online orders are increasing as a general global trend, so is the packaging waste. Most of it
being plastic that ends up in landfills or in the ocean, having an extremely negative impact on our planet.” The new packaging solution will also allow group’s brands on the branding label to be more relevant with messaging, while the bags have a cleaner and nicer look. “We are introducing a type of packaging that is better for both the customer and the environment,” says Hanna Lumikero, service owner and responsible for the new packaging system at H&M Group. “It has yet to be improved [..] but we are creating a huge impact by replacing the outer plastic with a paper solution. This is a small step on a long journey.” The new packaging solutions has already been introduced to customers at COS, ARKET, Monki and Weekday and the H&M brand has started to implement it in selected markets. This will reach an ever bigger group of customers all around the world during the upcoming months. Source: FIBRE2FASHION.COM
Nordic countries are in the lead in the Europe Sustainable Development Report 2020
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he Nordics achieved top rankings once again – Finland (1), Sweden (2), Denmark (3), Norway (5), Iceland (11). This time, in the Europe Sustainable Development Repor t (ESDR) 2020 for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ESDR repor t was prepared by teams of independent exper ts at the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP). For more details, continue reading here: https://eu-dashboards. sdgindex.org/rankings January 2021 • ScandAsia 35
News brief
Alfa Laval secures order for wastewater treatment in Singapore
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he Swedish company Alfa Laval, global provider of specialized products and solutions for heavy industr y, heat transfer, centrifugal separation and fluid handling, has secured an order
with a value of approximately SEK 75 million to supply decanters to a wastewater treatment plant in Singapore. The order was booked in the Decanters unit of the Food & Water
Alfa Laval Test & Innovation Centre for Decanters. Photo: AlfaLavalAB Facebook
Division and delivery is scheduled for 2022. The order contains Alfa Laval decanters which will be used for dewatering and thickening of domestic and industrial sludge in the water reclamation plant. Nish Patel, President of the Food & Water Division says “We have a broad range of reliable and efficient products for cleaning and treating wastewater. Efficient treatment concentrates the sludge and enables reclamation of clean water for re-use. It is a good solution both for our customers and the environment,” Alfa Laval’s technologies are dedicated to purifying, refining, and reusing materials, promoting more responsible use of natural resources. They contribute to improved energy efficiency and heat recovery, better water treatment, and reduced emissions.
Swedish government funds solar energy project in Cambodia
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he Swedish government has provided funding for a pilot project for a solar energy micro grid launched by The Ministry of Mines and Energy and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Cambodia. The solar energy micro grid have been set up in three villages within two communes on a remote island of Kampong Chhnang province’s Boribor district to provide energy for a total of 140 homes and businesses. The villages have previously not had any electricity aside from small diesel fuel generators. Despite the fact that the project is relatively small in scale given
36 ScandAsia • January 2021
that it only provides power to 140 households at a total cost of $30$40,000, the project is a welcome development because it supported the government’s strategy to promote rural electricity in Cambodia. According to an energy ministry report, Cambodia has provided electricity to more than 97 percent of all villages across the country. The ministry had previously announced a goal to provide electricity to 100 per cent of all villages by 2021 or 2022. Source: Phnom Phen Post
A remote island in Kampong Chhnang province where a solar energy micro grid has been installed. Ministry of Mines and Energy – Photo Phnom Penh Post
News brief
Finnwatch to ensure human rights for women textile workers in Asia
The corona crisis should be an eye-opener for the entire textile industry, says Finnwatch. Photo: EPA-EFE / All Over Press
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omen wor ker s at clothing factories in Asia are par ticular ly hard hit during the corona pandemic. Finnish Finnwatch is now looking for a corporate team both at home and at EU level to ensure that human rights are observed in the production chains of the clothing industry in Asia. The pandemic has had a negative effect on the world economy and while consumers may choose to shop locally and support domestic business, millions of women have been affected by the pandemic in factories in Asia, where the majority of our clothing is made. According to the Customs investigation, Vietnam is number six on the list of countries responsible for the clothes that Finland imports. The textile workers’ employment conditions have never been optimal and the industry has long had a reputation for poor working conditions, discrimination, violence, harassment, gender pay gaps or absolute poverty for the textile workers with approximately 80% being women. The textile industry is now, on top of that, one of the worst affected by the globally economic consequences of the pandemic and this means that these women lose their job and wages when produc-
tion stops. Several stores have been forced to close their doors during company shutdowns and due to reduced demand for goods, several retailers have demanded a discounted price or completely inhibited orders. Christian Viegelahn, an economist at the International Labor Organization’s ILO office in Thailand confirms in an interview with Swedish Yle that the industry and especially the women in it have been hit hard. He says, “We see signs that the pandemic has led to increased violence against women.” Women in the clothing factories in Asia are also under-represented in trade union movements as a large number of workers work illegally and a major concern caused by the crisis is that the proportion of unpaid work risks increasing. Ear lier this fall, the Clean Clothes Campaign, an international network for workers in the textile industry, reported that textile workers lost nearly $ 6 billion in wages during the first three months of the pandemic. According to Christian Viegeland the key to success now is dialogue between all par ties and governments, unions and brands should now work together for a change. ILO believes that the recent crisis can be an opportunity for fun-
damental reforms in the industr y. It is about solving structural problems in the business model. Brands could invest in making production chains more resilient, sustainable and people-centered. The industry also needs to do more to improve basic elements such as logistics, communication, electricity supply. Finnwatch agrees with ILO and states that human rights are not the responsibility of the consumers. The corona crisis should be an eyeopener for the entire industry.
This woman works in a clothing factory in Myanmar, where several clothing factories have had to close due to the corona pandemic. Photo: EPA-EFE / All Over Press Anu Kultalahti, researcher at Finnwatch says, “The pandemic has led to discoveries regarding weaknesses in the global production chains, and the biggest threat would be that we do not learn anything from this and do not change anything. It is not the consumer’s responsibility to ensure that human rights are observed in the production chains. The responsibility lies with the companies and in the different countries, and could be regulated through international legislation. The legislation would ensure that all countries are legally bound to comply with human rights, and this could increase transparency in the industry. Anu Kultalahti says, “The preconditions for such a law are now being investigated by the ministries, and with such an EU proposal is expected to be ready by next year.” Source: Swedish Yle
News brief
Danish singer Maximillian teams up with Filipino Moira for 2021 update of ‘Beautiful Scars’
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he 20 year old Danish rising star Maximilian released a new version of his 2019 viral hit ‘Beautiful Scars” in cooperation with 27 year old Filipino singersongwriter Moira Dela Torre. The updated version released on New Year’s Day is a duet be-
tween the two hitmakers and the original song was a smash hit in the Philippines, reaching triple-platinum status there, and with over 45 million streams on Spotify in 2020 alone. The motivation came from wanting to show appreciation for all the love and support Maximilian re-
ceived in 2020 from the Philippines and through MCA Music, Maximilian was introduced to Moira. Maximilian has described Moiras voice as “like one of an angle” and explained “We sent recordings back and forth until we were satisfied with the finished product,” It was super fun! She’s such a sweet person and I’m super stoked we made this collaboration!” The original song ‘Beautiful Scars’ is about self-love and the updated version is Moira’s first international collaboration. Moira says that it is an honor working with Maximilian and credits her loyal fans for being the reason doors like this opens up for her.
Denmark, Finland and Norway praised for robust economic safety nets during the pandemic
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hree Nordic nations,Denmark, Finland and Norway, are placed well as countr ies with a robust economic safety in new repor t ‘The World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report Special Edition 2020’. The World Economic Forum talks in general terms about the nations it believes have best coped in economic terms with the pandemic. The newly released repor t does not include Global Competitiveness Index rankings this year as they were suspended because of the pandemic but the repor t says “Countries with robust economic safety nets, such as Denmark, Finland, Norway, Austria, Luxembourg and Switzerland, were well placed to
38 ScandAsia • January 2021
Three Nordic nations placed well in newly released report. Image by Monicore from Pixabay support those who could not work”. “Countries with advanced digital economies and digital skills, robust social safety nets, and previous experience dealing with epidemics have better managed the impact of the pandemic on their economies and citizens,” the report says.
Finland was also, amongst other countries, placed similarly as a countr y with a strong financial system that could more easily provide credit to smaller businesses to prevent insolvency. Other countries included Singapore, the US and the United Arab Emirates.
News brief
The food truck Kao Thai by Chef Polla brings Thai food to you in Denmark
P
ornkanok Kiattichaikorn (Polla) from Thailand has combined her dream of cooking with the desire to meet people with her new food truck ‘Kao Thai by Chef Polla’ that drives around the Triangle Region of Denmark: Kolding – Fredericia – Vejle. With all the travel restrictions currently in place combined with new Covid-19 restrictions in Denmark, the Danish people can not go anywhere at the moment. Neither to Thailand nor to a restaurant. But Pornkanok Kiattichaikorn who lives in Middelfart in Denmark has a solution that fixes both problems and that can satisfy all craving for exotic food.
As a newly trained chef, Polla and her Danish husband Stig Petersen have invested in a Food Truck from where she serves classic Thai food. Her selection is adapted to Danish taste buds and less spicy than classic Thai food in Thailand, but some customers who are regular travelers to Thailand prefer their food spicy and that is possible too. She serves a variety of meat options, rice and noodles and prices are between DKK 45 to DKK 100. Polla has made a fixed timetable available on her Facebook page, Kao Thai by Chef Polla, to make it easy and convenient for customers to know where ‘Kao Thai by Chef Polla’ will be on what days.
The interest in the local community have been fantastic as some small towns only have one other option for take away food and together with stores and the local customer associations Polla plans her route every 14th day.
January 2021 • ScandAsia 39
