MAY 2013
I believe you can fly
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Opinion
Invest in your child
K Your FREE ScandAsia Magazine in Thailand ScandAsia is the only magazine that covers all the Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish residents in Thailand. We also publish a ScandAsia magazine in China, Singapore and the rest of South East Asia.
Please sign up for your own FREE copy: www.scandasia.com Publisher : 211 Soi Prasert Manukitch 29 Prasert Manukitch Road Chorakae Bua, Lad Prao Bangkok 10230, Thailand Tel. +66 2 943 7166-8, Fax: +66 2 943 7169 E-mail: news@scandasia.com Editor-in-Chief : Gregers A.W. Møller gregers@scandmedia.com Assistant Editor: Wachiraporn Janrut wachiraporn@scandmedia.com
ids whose parents set up a saving plan to help pay for their education have a higher tendency to graduate from university than kids without this incentive. You can argue that poor parents cannot afford such a saving plan and that the rich kids would go to university anyway simply because that’s what is expected of them in the wealthy environment, they come from. That may well be. But I would still argue, that you should consider setting up an educational saving together with your child or children.. Not with a focus on the amount but on the word “together”. Most parents don’t talk about the financial situation of the family with their children. They may feel ashamed of the amount of income; they may not want to reveal the size of their personal credit card loans. They feel the children should be free from worries how precarious their financial situation actually is. Or they have other reasons, like being afraid that talking with the kids about money would suddenly turn into a fight with their spouse. But talking about their money and how to grow that is a different story. So start there. The easiest way is to simply open a savings account with a joint signature so that both you and your child have to sign to withdraw the funds. Then set up a piggy bank box in a shared area of your home. When you give you child pocket money, agree on part of it to go into the piggy bank. By the end of each month, you go to the bank together and empty the piggy bank and watch the numbers grow on the bank account. Do not pay your child for doing household chores. Some things should be done around the house because they need to be done and that’s what being part of a family means. Find other things to pay your kids for, or give them an allowance for the sake of giving them an allowance, not in return for cleaning their room or helping with the dishes. Do not let the driving force be the dream of an iPad or smart clothes. The saving is for education and can be spent on educational expenses only. Accept that the child sees it as your responsibility to pay for school fees, but would be OK if you take a loan in the mutual fund if you pay it back in monthly installments with handsome interest. Very educational. As the child gets older and the funds grow up too, you can talk about investing them in a managed fund or buy safe shares, like shares in well established banks. It doesn’t get much safer. When should you start? Well, I once heard this great advice: Hold up a $1 bill and a $100 bill. If your kid knows which one he wants, it’s time. And keep in mind, when it comes to investing in your child, while the amount of money is of course important - the time you spend with them managing that money might be the smartest part of your investment.
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Gregers Moller is the Editor-in-Chief of ScandAsia and the founder of the Scand-Media Group. He has lived in Thailand since 1988.
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Coming Events
The Phantom of the Opera Date: 7 May – 9 June 2013, 7.30pm Location: Muangthai Rachadalai Theatre Here is good news for musical lovers! The world renowned musical from Broadway “The Phantom of the Opera” will come to Bangkok and perform at Muangthai Rachadalai Theatre in May and June. “The Phantom of the Opera” tells the story of a disfigured musical genius known only as ‘The Phantom’ who haunts the depths of the Paris Opera House. Mesmerised by the talents and beauty of a young soprano – Christine, the Phantom lures her as his protégé and falls fiercely in love with her. Unaware of Christine’s love for Raoul, The Phantom’s obsession sets the scene for a dramatic turn of events where jealously, madness and passions collide. Ticket prices range from THB 1,500 to THB 5,500 per person. For reservations, visit www.thaiticketmajor.com
Nordic Viking Fest 2013 Date: Saturday, 11 May 2013, Boarding Time: 2pm Location: Nordic Viking Fest on the Chao Phrya River & The Admiral’s pub on Sukhumvit 29 Organised by Scandinavian Society Siam and The Admiral’s Bangkok, the event will gather the Vikings for a fun day out starting with a boat trip along the Chao Phrya River with drinks and entertainments on board. The boat will land at the pier of Asiatique where the Vikings will get on a local transportation to The Admiral’s pub for some old Nordic Mead and live music. The Viking dinner will start at 6pm at Admiral’s boat deck. The whole party – Viking Decorated Boat and Restaurant, Viking Outfit, Viking Food, Live Music, Fun and Games – comes at the extremely low price of THB 1,900 per ticket for members of the Scandinavian Society Siam and THB 2,300 per ticket for non-members. Email your reservation to treasurer@sss.or.th asap as the boat size permits only 70 Vikings.
Thailand Travel and Dive Expo 2013 Date: 16 – 19 May 2012, 10am – 8pm Location: Queen Sirikit National Convention Center Organised by NCC Exhibition, the 3-day event will feature exhibitions from various diving and travel businesses. The products and services at the expo will include diving equipment, diving schools and agencies, hotels and resorts near popular diving sites, diving suit and swimsuit, photography and video, boat rental services, advanced diving equipment, travel agencies and also products from other adventure sports such as hiking and rock climbing equipment. For more information, contact 02 203 4221-4 or visit www.thailanddiveexpo.com
The Dodos Day Fest Date: Saturday, 18 May 2013 Location: Centre Point Studio, Sukhumvit 105 (Soi LaSalle) American indie rock band “The Dodos” will perform in Bangkok at “Super sweet Live! presents The Dodos Day Fest” on May 18. Consisting of Meric Long (vocals, guitar) and Logan Kroeber (drums, percussion), The Dodos are known for using an alternate instrumental approach. The band has released four albums including Beware of the Maniacs(2006), Visiter(2008), Time to Die(2009), and No Colour(2011). The festival’s lineup includes DokMai-Baan, Before Champ, Bear-garden, Basement Tape and the Dodos. Ticket is THB 1,000 (one drink) in advance; THB 1,200 per person on the door. For more information, visit www.supersweetlive.com
Danish craft beer month Date: Throughout May 2013 Location: Beer Vault, Four Points by Sheraton, Sukhumvit 15 Hopsession presents ‘Danish Craft Beer Month’ in May, featuring craft beers from Skovlyst and Noerrebro breweries, at Beer Vault. Guests can enjoy Scandinavian specialties and a ‘Buy One Get One Free’ deal on all Danish craft beers! BeerVault offers a great range of international and local beers including 97 bottled beers and 6 beers on tap, as well as a few handcrafted beer cocktails. It is open daily from 3pm to midnight. For more information, visit www.beervaultbangkok.com
4 ScandAsia.Thailand • May 2013
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY SCANDINAVIAN SOCIETY
Past Events
Norwegian Minister Luncheon By Anders Holm Nielsen
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n 8 April 2013, the Norwegian Minister of Trade, Trond Giske, ended a week long Asia tour designed to strengthen bilateral relations. As a part of this venture, the Minister spoke at a luncheon hosted by The Thai-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce and the European ASEAN Business Centre (EABC). The topic of the luncheon was “Better or cheaper: what’s the right way forward?” The event was held at the Westin Grande Sukhumvit Bangkok. Trond Giske had arranged meetings in the hours before the luncheon and in a mix of a hectic schedule and heavy Bangkok traffic, the guest of honor was half an hour late. However, food was on the table, glasses were full and nobody seemed to mind a long lunch break. When the Minister of Trade arrived and took the floor, he started with a small anecdote about the long history between Thailand and Norway. Giske then stressed that openness equals competitiveness. He encouraged Thailand to stay open and inviting, stating that this has been the key to Norway’s success. Giske also said that Norway’s social welfare and flexicurity system contributed to the success of the country. “In Norway, we have high welfare and free school systems. This means that talent and qualifications lead you forward and not your means and economy. Safe people are braver, pursue ideas and create innovation.” He backed this model by referring to The Economist that recently published an article going worldwide; stating that being born in Scandinavia would give you the best opportunities. Lastly, the Norwegian Minister of Trade once again emphasized the importance of staying open. “By inviting foreign business it is a win-win situation. Countries can develop competitiveness and investors will see a profit,” he said. The Norwegian Minister of Trade, Trond Giske, started his tour of Asia on March 21. Giske visited Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, India, and Thailand and had political discussions and met representatives of Norwegian companies that have established themselves in Asia.
Continuity in Scandinavian Society Siam
By Gregers Moller
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obert Kronberg, Chairman of Scandinavian Society Siam, was reelected as Chairman for a second term at the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 23 April. Four of the current board members will also continue on the new board, Claus Gundersen, Christina Hammarlund, Lars Andersson and Flemming Winther Nielsen. Outgoing Norwegian member of the board, Atle Roger Mydland, was replaced by Knut Hauslo, longstanding member and husband of former Chairman of the Society Anne Marie Hauslo. The last member of the board to replace outgoing member and former Chairman Anita Falk became Thordur Adalsteinsson from Iceland. The re-election of Robert Kronberg as Chairman marks the end of a turbulent few years in the Scandinavian Society Siam with a shaky economy and an unclear mission. As for the economy, the Annual General Meeting applauded long and heartfelt the success of Treasurer Claus Gundersen in bringing the financial situation of the Society under full control. Regarding the mission, the success of the Heritage Section over the past two years marks most visibly the departure from the purely partying activities that was the main contribution of the Society for many years. But Robert Kronberg highlighted also two major structural developments that had taken place over the year. First of all, the registration of the Scandinavian Society Siam as an Association under Thai law, which was almost complete. And secondly the initiative of the Danish Seamen’s Church and Church Abroad to establish a Danish Church in Thailand which would pave the way for the purchase of a building to be the Danish Church in Bangkok which could also be a Clubhouse of the Scandinavian Society Siam - plus possible more related Nordic tenants. The AGM also honored Dennis Christensen with a reward as Golfer of the Year, motivated by Erik Dahsltrom on behalf of the Golf Section of the Scandinavian Society Siam. 6 ScandAsia.Thailand • May 2013
Vibeke Lyssand Leirvåg Conselvan, the newly elected President of the Thai-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce thanks the Minister for his time.
Past Events
Nordic Young Professionals’ Exclusive Night
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ore than 60 Nordic Young Professionals (NYPs) and friends joined Nordic Young Professional’s exclusive Night out at St. Regis’s beautiful wine bar ‘Decanter’ on 15 March 2013. Among the companies representing at this event were Allied Pickfords, Atkinson Stuart, Easykart, DZ Card, Hilton Hotels, National Geographic, Pacific Rim Rich Group, Pandora and Visit Beyond. The delicious buffet offered several tasty dishes such as chicken breast in spicy banana marmalade and grilled beetroot with roasted pumpkin and much more. St. Regis Bangkok was the generous sponsor of lucky draws.
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8/29/11 1:57 PM May 2013 • ScandAsia.Thailand 7
Past Events
DanCham Annual Easter Lunch
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n Friday 5 April 2013, DanCham hosted its annual Easter Lunch at Admirals Pub & Restaurant, gathering over 80 guests including its members and friends. Danes and other nationalities jointly created a feeling of the traditional Danish Easter celebration. After a brief session of networking, Mrs. Hanh Ngoc Nguyen, Executive Director of DanCham, greeted everyone and mentioned her appreciation to the main sponsors of the event, Ecco and Pandora, for yet again supporting DanCham’s annual activity. One of the most central features of Danish Easter celebration is, of course, the traditional Danish food. Traditional Danish dishes and ‘snaps’ were available for guests to enjoy. Finally, the lucky draw of the Easter Lunch was hosted by Mrs. Hanh Ngoc Nguyen who thanked all the sponsors of essential gifts. More than 10 Lucky winners left the party with prizes. On this occasion following organisations were represented: Asian Oasis Co, Bangkok Mould Consultant, Caretex Asia, DanThai Machinery, ECCO (Thailand), Firexpress, Grand Millennium Sukhumvit, JH-Fashion Group, JJ-Lapp Cable (Thailand), Jyske bank (Schweiz), Kvik Asia, LawPlus Ltd., Micro Matic Thailand Nordana Project & Chartering (Thailand), Nordic Finance Group Pacific Rim Rich Group Co, Pandora, Presmann (Thailand)., Pulmentum, Royal Copenhagen (Thailand), Scandinavian Airlines System, Securidane, SKOV ASIA LTD, SOS International, Thai-Swedish Chamber of Commerce, Tilleke & Gibbins International, Vestergaard Company, Visit Beyond (Former Jysk Travel) and Weiss-Rohlig (Thailand).
Duo exhibition opening at La Lanta Art Gallery By Sippachai Kunnuwong
T
he opening of a new exhibition at La Lanta Art Gallery on Sukhumvit 31 road, held on the evening of 30 March 2013, was taken by surprise when the curator presented a birthday cake to Thailand’s national artist Sumet Jumsai na Ayudhya – one of the artists behind the works on display – who turned 74 on the same day. The duo exhibition “Parallel” showcases sensational paintings by Sumet and Bangkok-based Danish painter Elizabeth Romhild whose distinctive styles and gender traits were met in parallel via their self-expression on canvas. Sumet’s “structural” and “masculine” attributes were shown in the paintings of the racing cars – from the Formula One to Maserati – and some of the Thai islands whereas Elizabeth uses feminism figures to tell her emotions. A series of ladies in bold colours and affectionate hues – who go by the names of Aiko, Abella, Cybelle and etc – were head-cropped allowing only the eyes to speak their fears, sorrows and charms. Elizabeth stated in an opening remark that the eyes give the truest impression than any organs in human body: “Eyes don’t lie.” Staring at the two genres back and forth, one couldn’t help but to feel a little bit confused: sad seductive women and race cars don’t actually go well together. But once the impressive colours simmer in, what’s left for all to see are the fusing emotions that have been transcended from its creators. Nearly 50 Bangkok’s art elites and diplomats, including the Danish Ambassador Mikael Hemniti Winther and his wife, attended the opening marked by former premier Anundhra Punyarachun. 8 ScandAsia.Thailand • May 2013
It’s not only 400 years of beautiful canals IT’S AMSTERDAM klm.co.th/amsterdam2013
Past Events
SEB Insight Seminar in Bangkok By Gregers Moller
S
EB Private Banking hosted on Thursday 18 April an evening seminar in banking where Mr. Sean Yokota, SEB’s new Head of Asia Strategy, shared the three major themes that in his opinion will dominate the next 6 to 12 months. Mr. Sean Yokota first spoke about the fast recovery in Asia and China and what danger signs to watch out for if this development was about to be derailed. Secondly he briefed about the Japanese Yen and the problems it will foreseeable create domestically and in the rest of Asia as the currency continues to weaken even further. Thirdly, he focused on Thailand’s surprisingly strong performance given the political turmoil in recent years. The expert speaker of the evening was introduced by Mr. Fredrik Lager, General Manager, SEB Private Banking Singapore, who at first had a hard time pulling the crowd away from the delicious buffet and take their seats. But after the speech, the audience seemed more eager to ask questions to Mr. Yokota than get back to the buffet. The seminar took place at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit and was attended by some fifty members of all the three Nordic Chambers of Commerce.
10 ScandAsia.Thailand • May 2013
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News Brief
anish toy company Lego has donated 80 kilos of toy bricks to poor school children in Thailand. The many boxes of Lego bricks were received in the beginning of April by the 140 pupils of the school and they are now part of classes with the motto “playing and learning”, Danish media reports. The blocks are part of a project where travel agency Spies has built a library in Khao Sok, 200 kilometers from Phuket. ”Since we started the project many have decided to help,” said Torben Andersen, head of communications of at Spies. He was in Khao Sok when the many boxes of bricks were delivered. ”Together with companies like Lego we have created an exciting project. The school and library mean that the children will have the opportunity to learn English,” he said. Spies has also donated computers and books for the school and library. According to Torben Andersen, learning English will help give the children a future. ”Tourism in Thailand is growing rapidly these years. That also means that in the future there will be a demand for young people who can help the country’s many tourists. At the same time it is important that the children have the opportunity to go to school.” He said that seeing the kids’ reactions when opening the boxes of Lego was a touching experience.
Free financial advice available for Danish companies
n order to make it easier for Danish companies to get an overview of the information about the available sources of financing, the Danish Trade Council has recently appointed a Regional Financial Advisor. The regional advisor will provide advice to Danish companies in Southeast Asia, Danish exporters with an interest in the region, Danish companies with local suppliers or partners etc. The service is free of charge. Senior Commercial Officer Nippon Mukdasathien from the Embassy in Bangkok will undertake this new responsibility by assisting Danish companies in establishing the possibilities for financing from Danish financial institutions, public as well as private, and in combination with local sources of funding. The purpose of the Embassy’s new advisor role is to strengthen Danish companies’ knowledge of and access to export and investment financing which includes equity funding, loans, guarantee schemes, support, etc. For more information, please contact Nippon Mukdasathien at email nipmuk@um.dk, cc: bkkamb@um.dk or telephone +66 (0) 2343 1122
Jewelry entrepreneur selected as new president of NorCham
V
ibeke Lyssand Leirvåg Conselvan – chief designer, owner and creator of Bangkok-based jewelry brand Felicia Design - was elected as the new President of Thai-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce. The former president Axel Blom resigned after six years as President for the Norwegian Chamber. “I want the Chamber to be a forum where people can meet and openly discuss issues they encounter in Thailand. I will work for an increased number of members to the Chamber and I hope to see more members attending our events,” Conselvan said at the Chamber’s Annual General Meeting on March 19. “I think it is important for the business community in Thailand to have an organisation that can create relationships among businesses and between businesses and the community.” Conselvan moved to Thailand more than 25 years ago, and is running Felicia Design in Bangkok. She has been a member of TNCC´s board since 2006 and has been an active board member. Board member Niels Henrik Hansen, General Manager in SAS also resigned from the board. Other changes in the Chamber include the appointment of a new Executive Director Thitikul Opdal. Thitikul is of Thai origin and has been living several years in Norway and spending the previous 4 years in Thailand. She holds a bachelor in Business and Administration from Thammasat University in Thailand, majoring in Accounting and Auditing, and has 15 years working and managing experience in Business and Administration in Thailand, Singapore and Norway. Since NorCham’s incumbent Executive Director Kristine Hasle is planning her move back to Norway, Thitikul will start her new job on May 1. The Thai-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce also express its gratitude towards the former president Blom for his 6-year service: “He has been a dedicated president, and made the Thai-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce a small, but solid chamber.” 12 ScandAsia.Thailand • May 2013
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Danish Lego donates bricks to Thai children
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Thai-Danish movie nominated as best movie at Cannes
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he lineup for this year’s Cannes Film Festival was announced on 18 April 2013. Competing for best movie is “Only God Forgives”, the movie filmed in Bangkok and directed by Danish Nicolas Winding Refn. Staring is Ryan Gosling who also had the leading role in Refn’s last movie “Drive”. Only God Forgives is a stylish crime drama featuring Gosling as Julian, a former U.S. citizen who now lives in exile in Bangkok (following a crime he committed some ten years earlier). Julian quietly runs a Thai boxing club as a cover for a major drugs operation – which is linked to a powerful criminal organization headed by his mother Jenna (Kristin Scott Thomas) – but must use his fighting skills outside the ring after his family crosses paths with a dangerous foe: a cop named Chang, otherwise known as ‘The Angel of Vengeance.’ Refn, who took the Cannes Best Director prize in 2011 for the movie “Drive”, filmed “Only God Forgives” in Bangkok in 2011.
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News Brief
Ethanol ED95 Public Bus Line opens in Bangkok
O Royal Thai Air Force welcomes three more Gripen fighters
n Friday April 5 2013, Ambassador Klas Molin took part in the opening ceremony of the project “Ethanol ED95 Public Bus Line”. Presided over by Thai Minister for Energy Mr Pongsak Raktapongpaisal, the opening ceremony took place at King Monkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) from 8.30 a.m. – 12.00 p.m. The project is in collaboration with several public and private sector partners, particularly Scania of Sweden. KMUTT is launching a pilot “Ethanol ED95 Public Bus Line” between KMUTT and Krungthonburi BTS station during April 5 –June 20 2013. The opening is an opportunity to help stimulate awareness in green and clean technology on the part of the students, staff and the public. The ethanol bus has already been tested on public bus route 21 during 2011 – 2012. The aim is to reduce diesel usage by large transport buses and promote the use of ED95 ethanol produced from domestic raw materials such as sugar cane and cassava.
By Wachiraporn Janrut
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oyal Thai Air Force received another batch of three Gripen 39C fighters from Swedish Saab. The acceptance ceremony, presided over by the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force, Air Chief Marshall Prachin Changtong, took place at Wing 7 division in Suratthani province on Friday 5th April 2013 in presence of the press and notables from the Air Force In 2008, Royal Thai Air Force has ordered 12 Gripen fighter aircrafts from Saab. The single-engine Gripen is a multi-role fighter with a maximum speed of 1,372 miles per hour at altitude and a combat radius of 432 miles. The order is divided into two phases. The first phase was complete when six Gripen 39C/D fighters were delivered in February 2011. The second phase includes six Gripen 39C fighters plus one Saab 340 airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft. For this batch of delivery, Swedish pilots flew the three Gripen fighters from Linkoping, Sweden. The Royal Air Force reveals that the last batch of three Gripen 39C is expected to be delivered in September this year. Royal Thai Air Force is the first air force in Southeast Asia to have JAS 39 Gripen base. At the moment, Gripen sales are from six countries including Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom, Chez Republic, Hungary and South Africa. And many countries are showing interest in Saab’s Gripen.
Energy Minister Pongsak Ruktapongpisal filling up a public bus with ED95, an ethanol based fuel for adapted diesel engines.
Electrolux opens new – largest in Asia – refrigeration plant in Rayong
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lectrolux recently celebrated the opening of a new, state-of-the-art refrigeration plant which is the largest one in Asia Pacific, marking the third and largest expansion of its operations in Thailand among hundreds of highly esteemed guests at its new refrigeration plant in Rayong. At the opening, Ms. Gunilla Nordstrom, President and CEO of Electrolux Major Appliances Asia Pacific said the multi-million dollar investment highlighted the company’s continuing commitment to Thailand. Among the guests attending were Mr. Tom Bell, General Manager, Rayong Manufacturing Facility, Electrolux Thailand, Mr. Ian Faggotter, Senior Vice President Manufacturing Asia Pacific, His Excellency Klas Molin, the Ambassador of Sweden to Thailand, Ms. Gunilla Nordstrom, President and CEO of Electrolux Major Appliances Asia Pacific, Mr. Sutti Manokitjarunman, General Manager, Electrolux Thailand and Mr.Suresh Balan, President Electrolux Major Appliances, East Asia.
(From left) Mr. Tom Bell, Mr. Ian Faggotter, His Excellency Klas Molin, Ms Gunilla Nordstrom, Mr. Sutti Manokitjarunman, and Mr.Suresh Balan at the completion of the official ceremony 14 ScandAsia.Thailand • May 2013
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I believe you can fly Olle Hager, a former flight instructor for the Scandinavian Airlines, tells of his career route that has put him on-board to three countries and eventually landed him in Nakhon Panom, Thailand. By Sippachai Kunnuwong
16 ScandAsia.Thailand • May 2013
Currently, there are 60 students at IAC. All are trained in a programme by the THAI Airways to find young replacements for the highly-experienced pilots brain-drain. Many of them went to work for other international airlines in exchange for a higher pay-rate.
“Y
ou can get pretty dizzy because there are so many things to remember but once you’re flying, it’s like playing a video game,” Olle Hager says to me as he fixes a series of controls on a flight simulator – the mock-up cockpit he uses for training the student pilots at the International Aviation College (IAC) in Nakhon Panom. Ready. Set. I pull the control lever up and the aircraft alleviates a little bit. But it feels surreal as if we are really taking off. The sound of engines boosting speed and a rising view of the local landscapes shown on screen upfront helps to pull the trick. Of course, this is not the real aircraft but everything that goes behind the pilot seat, where I now sit, has to be as precise as in real-life or we might end up crashing in the animated rice fields below. Olle Hager, the 47-year-old flight instructor from Gothenburg, Sweden takes all his students through 10 hours of training on this simulator. And through many more hours of real flying sessions at the airport nearby. This is what he loves to do, to teach people how to fly. The former substitute teacher - who also at one time had a temporary job at a gas station - discovered his current career path while serving his military service in 1987 where he was an aircraft mechanic for 11 months. “I was fueling petrol for the aircraft and doing maintenance work. But it woke my interest in flying. I would never have got into aviation without my military time.” After his stint ended, he went to apply for a flying license in Sweden but there was a lack of instructors. “Sometimes I had to wait for two weeks before having someone to fly with,” he recalls. Eventually, he decided to pursue the license in the U.S. instead. He stayed in Pheonix, Arisona for 18 months and completed the course. However upon his return to Sweden, Hagen did not get the job right away. The made-inAmerica license was not valid in Europe. “Therefore I had to work with other things but eventually they started a course that I could apply for. After I passed that I’ve never been unemployed.” Hager has been a flight instructor for the last thirteen years. Half of these were spent at the Norwegian Aviation College in Bardufoss and another year at Svensk Pilotutbildning in Gothenburg – both supplied trainings for the Scandinavian Airlines – before he took the job in Nakhon Panom five years ago. During the time of working for the Scandinavian Airlines, he was given a privilege of dis-
counted tickets to Thailand. Prior to his stay in Nakhon Panom, he had come here on vacations nearly 30 times. Hagen’s journey to an aviation career in Thailand was just a matter of luck. “In 2008, when I was working in Sweden and my aircraft was going under maintenance, I called a flight school in southern Norway and asked to work there for one week.” That’s where he met Svein Utvaer, a student pilot who told him of an opening slot for instructors at IAC, a compartment of Nakhon Panom University. He wasted no time to apply for the application. “After that, I had a little vacation in Thailand and I came up [to Nakhon Panom] for a job interview. On same day I got the job.” On the day I interview Olle, Utvaer was having a job interview for an aviation school in Bangkok. But Hager believes it was more of a formality. “He more or less got the job. He just had to meet the boss.” Sitting on Hagen’s car front seat amid the summer heat, I can’t help to begin the interview with the most mundane question ever: “How do you like the hot weather?” Surprisingly, the soft-spoken instructor doesn’t mind it because “I get to spend much more time outdoor,” he explains. In a freezing cold region, people often socialise in their homes in front of the TVs, “but here, you’re sitting in the restaurant or in bars.” “I think I spend much more time with people here than I do back home. It’s a good thing.” Driving on the road leading to Nakhon Panom Airport, Hagen takes a left turn to where a huge green roof warehouse is located. The place
is used for storing the training aircraft. Four young pilots who just landed on the runway wave at us and ‘wai’ Hagen as he walks closer. “You look quite different today,” one of his student pilots says, adding as an explanation to me that the instructor usually prefers his casual wears rather than his uniforms. Currently, there are 60 students at IAC. All are trained in a programme by the THAI Airways to find young replacements for the highly-experienced pilots brain-drain. Many of them went to work for other international airlines in exchange for a higher pay-rate. “Aviation is increasing quite a lot in this region – much more than in Europe or America. There’s a lot of demand for pilots in Indonesia and Malaysia.” These countries have a hard time finding pilots which mean that Hagen students might have “quite a chance to get a job in aviation quickly.” Each week, Hagen leads 5 students in private lessons on the simulator – a test drive preparing the students how to handle the many complications (bad weather, engine failures and etc) they might face on-board in real flights. “When they’re flying with me, the instruction is done in English. All the manuals, check lists to everything we’ve worked with when they communicate to the Air Traffic Control. It’s good for the students to be more exposed to the language.” Since most of his students here are Thais, would it be a good chance for Scandinavians who live in the region to learn how to fly with him too? “They can, but, at the moment, I would not recommend them to come here for a complete course because what they get is a Thai license. It is not valid in Europe.”
May 2013 • ScandAsia.Thailand 17
A key career among 34.000 colleagues Around Carsten Dencker Nielsen and ‘The Company’
18 ScandAsia.Thailand • May 2013
A key career among 34.000 colleagues
Carsten’s first assignment was to Mombassa in 1962 where he should sell fertilizer to shrewd Greek and Armenian traders.
By Flemming Winther Nielsen Photos by Disraporn Yatprom
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here Oriental Avenue ends by the Chao Phraya river bank you have the old impressive EAC Bangkok Headquarters to the left. Behind a high wall to the right you find the even more impressive Oriental Hotel, once owned by Andersen & Co. The avenue is not wide here by the pier, maybe only 10 meters, but well - Avenue. Here, in 1984, the 100 years jubilee of the company’s presence in Siam/Thailand was celebrated with a real grand party, more than 2000 guests and HRH the Crown Prince of Thailand as the guest of honour. EAC Thailand was in good shape and running very well. On this occasion, the wall between the hotel and the Avenue was demolished thereby providing direct access between hotel and the EAC Headquarters. The guests could freely circulate between the two establishments - an arena was created for the occasion. Host was the Managing Director of EAC (Thailand) Ltd. Bangkok, Carsten Dencker Nielsen. Afterwards the wall was restored of course, but a little door in the wall was made. To this door only a few people had the key! Meanwhile this was also the last grand ball in the history of EAC, Thailand; the dark clouds were hastily gathering around the whole company – The Octopus. Carsten Dencker Nielsen, former first year Trainee of EAC and former Managing Director of the same company and I are, on 28th March 2013, sitting in the elegant lobby of the Oriental Hotel. Mr. Dencker Nielsen is not so happy about this location for the interview,
Carsten Dencker Nielsen relaxed and composed in front of the old part of the Oriental Hotel, spring 2013. but Authors lounge is fully booked, a grand wedding is taking place. The lounge is filled with Air force officers, many of them, in uniform and with shining sabers by their sides. I have the impression that Carsten is seriously considering if he could request to have their function moved to somewhere else, but finally he doesn’t.
Esprit de corps The trainee period in EAC was three years for Middle school graduastes and two years for High dchool graduates. The absolute majority came with their ‘Middle school examination’ (10 years). Each and every year, 120 young men, no women, were accepted, but during the two-three years period of apprenticeship around 70 % left: “Some of them didn’t like the smell in the bakery, others left because of the heavy burden of work including evening classes Monday to Thursday”. After school some of those who stayed on sometimes went to ‘Hviids Vinstue’ after evening class. Not very popular among the ordinary guests in their ØK jackets and
20 ScandAsia.Thailand • May 2013
ties: “but we showed them that we could drink just as many beers; we already felt as being a part of ‘The Company’, part of that ØK ‘spirit’” - and the young men would show up in the office the next morning at eight, all of them. The offices were rooms with long tables, four work stations on the left side, four on the right. Nearest the door sat the two youngest trainees opposite each other, then second years, third years and by the window the head of office and his deputy. There was an absolute sense of hierarchy and pecking order among the trainees; “It was my first but very important achievement to move from first year to second year – the department head did not necessarily show any pedagogical interest”. At five pm they could get tickets for the canteen, dinner and evening school. So, almost all waking hours, six days a week, focused on The Company during these sensitive years; that must have had a severe impact on the mindset, the way of thinking: company first, I suppose. The more
‘symbiotic’ a relationship is the less you are inclined to think individually and if need be critically. There must also have been established very close links in the groups of peers from the same year. But “we were meanwhile somehow spiritually groomed to be sent overseas after the apprentice; that was the goal in front of us”. I’m much interested in ‘company culture’ as key component in the decision making process. It is difficult here, Carsten mention the company Spirit again – and we cannot get closer than I have tried and Spirits slip away between your fingers, seeking hide in the nearest holy tree.
Sink or swim After having completed the three year of apprenticeship, the military service called but Carsten, like his colleagues destined for overseas service, was still enrolled as an EAC’s employee. Thereafter an intensive course in business economics and off he went. With a little exaggeration you may say that after a most guided education the young hopes of the company were thrown directly into the water: Sink or swim. Carsten was sent to Mombasa 1962. Here our young man’s first assignment was to sell fertilizer to shrewd Greek and Armenian traders! I have met those grey bearded gentlemen in the souks of Zambia and Sudan and don’t envy a young fellow of 22 that job. An interesting personal aspect here, regarding the placements, is that the company rule: ‘No marriage the first four years abroad’ was still in force. As so often: Tradition overruled changes of time and new perspectives of life. I first learned about
A frequent duty and pleasure of Carsten Dencker Nielsen is to receive foreign business people and members of the diplomatic corps at Asia House like this Indonesian Business Forum & Delegation that visited Denmark in October 2012. Photo: Hasse Ferrold.
this rule in notes from a job interview, where H.N. Andersen himself joined in; this was as early as 1908, taking place in the old headquarters on India Quay, now Asia House. In Africa the young man could soon forget the traders; more appreciating people came around, a new assignment. A German donor wanted to examine whether the Christian communities in Tanzania would benefit from having print shops. The 13 dioceses were all placed in hilly areas. In a little old Cessna, Carsten visited the 13 bishops, interviewed them and made decisions. The final report was then delivered by him to the first African Cardinal residing near Lake Victoria. An experience which has made a lasting impression on Carsten. This also introduced him to ‘Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG,’ the world market leader in printing machines and equipment. Thereby he was almost brought back to his childhood smell of printing ink. Carstens father was for many years’ a typographer and factor at ‘Berlingske Tidende’, a leading Danish daily.
Up the ladder From Kenya, East Africa it was then Nigeria in 1967, where he was in charge of EAC’s graphic business in West Africa. The long lasting cooperation with Heidelberg became most lucrative for both parties. EAC started to establish Printing and graphic schools. This continued in Indonesia and finally Japan in 1972. In 1977 Carsten was then called to Thailand, as Managing Director and troubleshooter because of serious staff controverses. From this point the whole EAC and his
It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent but the one most responsive to change.
own formal and informal positions got more and more interwoven as a web. Internally he is said to have been quite a tough man and a no-nonsense leader of the now Thai Ltd. registered company. He returned to EAC-Copenhagen in 1986 and after the catastrophic year of 1991/92 he was appointed Managing Director for the Group. Later in 1992 Michael Fiorini joined EAC from A.P. Moeller-Maersk, (the first external ever) and became Spokesman of the Management Board. Fiorini and Carsten were faced with the necessity of selling assets including some of the ‘Crown Jevels’ and at the same time to get the core of the company business, especially in Asia, back on its feet; but the collapse in 1997 of the Asian economies starting in Thailand in July of that year was the final blow to that strategy. The bits and pieces then left of EAC sat up camp in Singapore, but Carsten didn’t want to go abroad again and eventually retired in year 2000. In 1999 he was appointed Consul General for Thailand in Denmark and made his domicile in Asia House, now an independent foundation. The house has grown in importance over the years. We will return to that in another article.
22 ScandAsia.Thailand • May 2013
Back to the company culture So back to the lobby at Oriental: As can be seen we started to talk newer EAC history, but for reasons mentioned, only at surface level, here is not the time and the space either. A full scale research on The Company is on its way, we must wait for that. But I have two final company culture questions that I cannot let go of, although I have doubts how concrete the answers will be: “In many articles it has been argued that only EAC generalists from the stable in Holbergsgade were appointed to positions where a specialist might have been a better solution?”. Carsten is not in agreement: “Always the best man for the job, look for example at the forestry industry and the graphic business” And it must at least be agreed that the teak concessions from the beginning were managed by professionals, starting with Mr. Fenger and Mr. Jagd. But how the appointments in the company in general matched the ever growing complexity in the manufacturing sector I am not sure, especially after the IT revolution. My final question was also about decision making. Again from so
many sources it is claimed that the leadership of EAC for many years was not capable of changing the course of the ship, although losses grew. To this Carsten stated that the time for the great Trading Companies belonged to a different era and he then came up with a Charles Darwin quotation: ‘It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent but the one most responsive to change’. After more than three hours we say goodbye to each other. Also to Lise, Carstens wife, who had patiently waited nearby the last hour. To grandson Oscar. To Carsten, at 72 still going strong. Just outside on the landing a richly decorated Rolls is waiting – to carry the newly wedded young naval officer and his wife to the moon and the stars, - these conquerors of the future.
Next: Asia House In a coming issue of this magazine Carsten and I shall deal with with the role and function of the house on India Quay. The house is becoming important as a platform for strengthening of the relations between Asia and Denmark, both regarding cultural issues and business. The house is owned by the EAC Foundation and also a place for Asian business research.
Thailand adopts policy design lab concept from Finland
Future Innovative Thailand Institute (FIT) has been established earlier this year under Khuang Aphaiwong Foundation with the aim to study problems and challenges that Thailand faces and encourage participation from all sectors to design strategies for the country’s development for a sustainable economy and equality in the society. By Wachiraporn Janrut
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ed by Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Asean secretary-general and the chairman of FIT, “Policy Design Lab” workshop was held on 18-22 March 2013. The launch of the Policy Design Lab took place at Sukosol Hotels on Si Ayuthaya Road on 18 March 2013 in presence of Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, Khun Apirak Kosayodhin and academics from various sectors including Mr. Marco Steinberg from Finnish Innovation Fund, an independent public foundation working to promote the economic prosperity and future success for Finland. At the opening event, Dr. Surin stressed that all sectors are parts of Thailand’s development for positive changes that the project aims for in 2020. The director of Strategic Design at Finnish Innovation Fund, Marco Steinberg, then talked about Finland’s social problem solving process through “Helsinki Design Lab” and gave examples using case studies in Finland. Policy Design Lab model has been applied by many countries in Europe such as Finland (Helsinki Design Lab), Denmark (Mindlab) and England (SIX: Social Innovation Exchange, Nesta). The policy design lab was set as a platform 24 ScandAsia.Thailand • May 2013
for participants from all sectors to share ideas and discuss the country’s challenges in order to develop a national framework and strategies for FIT’s Thailand Blueprint 2020 project. According to The Nation, Abhisit said in February that the party will base its future policies on this blueprint. During the five-day seminar, the policy design lab workshop focused on three major subjects including Learning and Education, Sustainable Economy and Responsive Governance. Participants were from both Thailand and abroad. On 22 March 2013, the public seminar on Thailand Blueprint 2020 was held at Bangkok Arts and Culture Center. The two panels of discussions at the event included “ASEAN 2020: Our good common future” and “Social Innovation and Public Policy: the missing link?”. Guest speakers at the first panel of discussion: “ASEAN 2020: Our good common future” included Dr. Surin Pitsuwan; Simon Tay, Singapore, Chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs; Dr. Mely Cabellero Anthony, the Philippines, Former Director of External Relations, ASEAN Secretariat; Bryan Boyer, USA, Finnish Innovation Fund; Dr. Tang Siew Mun, Malaysia, Director- Institute of Strategic and Inter-
national Studies; Dr. Termsak Chalermpalanupap, Thailand, Former Director of Political and Security Cooperation, ASEAN Secretariat. The moderator of the two discussions was Dr. Somkiat Ornvimol. During the first panel of discussion, guest speakers discussed their countries’ challenges, strengths, visions for 2020 with ASEAN opening up, and views on Thailand’s capacity and predicament. Mr. Bryan Boyer from Finnish Innovation Fund presented how the concept works in Finland with illustrations from case studies. Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and Mr. Marco Steinberg, Director of Strategic Design at Finnish Innovation Fund, were guest speakers at the second panel discussion “Social Innovation and Public Policy: the missing link?” Abhisit believes that the country’s main missing links include lack of trust, lack of connection between different parts of society, and deliberation. He aims to increase the country’s GDP. The policy design lab workshop on 18-22 March was the first of many to come. FIT encourages all sectors to get involved with design thinking for social innovation and systemic change in society.
Medium
Burning Love
This traditional Danish meal was a very popular amongst poor Danish farmers for the simple reason that it is cheap, quick to make and very satisfying.
(Brændende Kærlighed)
By Anders Holm Nielsen
Ingredients: (Serves 4) • ½ kilo potatoes • 2 onions • 2 teaspoons chives or parsley • Salt • Pepper • 2 tablespoons Danish butter • ½ pound Danish Bacon
Evil
Preparation • Peal or scrub potatoes, and boil them for 20-25 minutes in unsalted water or until tender enough to mash. • Cut bacon in small cubes. • Fry bacon on frying pan, and place on platter with paper towel when done. • Chop onions, and fry them in the bacon grease. • Mash the potatoes and mix with butter and salt. • Serve the mashed potatoes with a mix of onions and bacon on top. • Sprinkle the dish with chives or parsley before serving. Tip: To make this Danish dish even better, serve with pickled beets on the side.
Are you done?
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hen you have completed the above puzzles, please send your solution by fax to +66 2 943 7169 or scan and email to puzzles@ scandasia.com. We will make a lucky draw among the correct answers. Five lucky winners will receive a ScandAsia polo shirt. Name:
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Fruit salad with custard
Address:
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• 1 pineapple (cut in chunks) • 6 bananas, sliced • 6 apples, diced (Whatever fruits you fancy and have by hand will do just fine) • 3 tbsp. flour • 6 egg yolks • 1 1/2 cup. sugar • 3 tbsp. butter • 2.5 deciliters whipped cream (38 percent)
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Preparation
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Email:
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Age: ________________________
Mobile:
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Deadline for submitting your solution is 15 June 2013 26 ScandAsia.Thailand • May 2013
• Mix juice of pineapple and flour into a paste. • Add egg yolks and beat in sugar. • Melt butter and add to mixture. • Cook, stirring CONSTANTLY, until thickened. • Cool and add whipped cream. • Mix fruit and some of the custard at serving time.
