ScandAsia China - April 2014

APR 2014

China

Theme:

International Schools ScandAsia.dk

ScandAsia.fi

ScandAsia.no

ScandAsia.se

Coming Events

Swedish Chamber Shanghai: China’s Pollution, Contamination and Food Scandals: How they are Altering Consumer Behaviour

Your FREE ScandAsia Magazine in China ScandAsia is the only magazine that covers all the Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, and Swedish residents in China.

We also publish a ScandAsia magazine in Thailand, Singapore and the rest of South East Asia.

Please sign up for your own FREE copy: www.scandasia.com

Date: Time: Price: Agenda:

Venue: Address:

Thursday, April 17, 2014 19:00-20:30 RMB 200 18:40-19:00 Registration 19:00-19:30 Drinks and finger food 19:30-20:30 Presentation and Q&A Le Royal Meridien, Shanghai / Hotel Entrance: Corner of JiuJiang RD. And GuiZhou RD. Near Central YuNan RD.

On April 17, SweCham Shanghai, arranges for a seminar on China’s Pollution, Contamination and Food Scandals: How they are Altering Consumer Behaviour.

China’s poor environmental and quality control record has become a large burden on Chinese consumers’ lives, driving more to look to trusted premium and imported products. Western food and beverage segments have fared particularly well, but many other B2C and B2B categories are also benefiting from it. Mark Tanner discusses the key trends in this area, how Western brands are capitalizing on it, and some of the pitfalls to be wary of.

Mark Tanner is the Founder and Managing Director of Shanghai-based China Skinny, one of China’s fastest-growing marketing and research agencies. He has been working in the Internet and mobile marketing field since 1998 in China, Europe, North America and Australia.

Viking Cup Shanghai coming up

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 Managing Editor: Thana Poopat thana@scandmedia.com Advertising : Finn Balslev finn@scandmedia.com Piyanan Kalikanon piyanan@scandmedia.com Nattapat Maesang nattapat@scandmedia.com Graphic Designer : Supphathada Numamnuay supphathada@scandmedia.com Distribution : Wanvisa Rattanaburi wanvisa@scandmedia.com Printing : Advance Printing Services Co., Ltd.

Daily news and features here: www.scandasia.com

This year, the Annual pan-Asia Nordic Football tournament Viking Cup is set to take place in Shanghai from Thursday 17th to Sunday 20th April 2014.

The tournament which is fought with great enthusiasm from all teams is also a friendly gettogether with not least the beer drinking contest one of the highlights.

The hosting team, Shanghai Vikings, are tough guys on the turf. Last year, the team won the SIFL Championship – a tournament for foreign football clubs in Shanghai. This year, bad luck for the team is, that they are set to play the match Shanghai Lions vs Shanghai Marlins FC on Sunday 20 April, if hangovers permits.

Last year, KL Vikings were the hosts for Viking Cup 2013. According to legend, the teams managed to drink 5,070 Carlsberg beers, 120 bottles of hard liquor and 150 bottles of wine.

“This is an absolut(e) record. Well done everybody! And please seek help…,” the Bangkok Vikings’ facebook entry adds.

The Bangkok Vikings have had a special outfit made for the event. The words “Happy Ending” decorates the butt of the shorts.

Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China – Spring Party 2014 The 2014 Swedish Chamber of Commerce Spring Party, takes place on Friday, April 25, at Radisson Blu Hotel, Beijing Grand Ball Room.

The evening will be filled with great food and drinks, The SweCham award Ceremony and entertainment.

Sign up for the event at www.swedishchamber.com.cn

Past Events

FinnCham event with famous Shoe-designer

T

he first FinnCham Young Professionals Networking Event of the year, in Hong Kong, took place on February 27, at Blck Brd. The famous Finnish Shoe-designer, Minna Parikka, gave a businesspresentation, followed by networking and a few beverages for the young chamber members.

Women’s Month draws to an end with Women’s Festival in Guangzhou

T

he final event of Women’s Month, co-organised between the US, British, and Norwegian Consulates, was an interactive half-day festival, encouraging discussions about women’s rights in China and around the world.

The final event of Women’s Month in Guangzhou took place on March 29th, set out as a half-day festival at Hong Fangzi community center. The US, British, and Norwegian consulates set up an interactive arena with different activity stations. After a welcoming speech from US Consulate’s Julia Hozakowska, Flora Huang from the Xinghai Conservatory of Music opened the festival with a beautiful rendition of ‘Let It Go’ from the popular Disney film ‘Frozen’. Participants were then encouraged to circulate and attend the various activity stations.

One of the stations included a group of students from the sex and gender forum of Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou. They have written their own version of the Vagina Monologues from scratch, increasing its relevance for a Chinese audience. Their rendition of the Vagina Monologues encouraged active participation and interaction between the viewers and the actors. This resulted in an engaging and dynamic discussion about current gender issues in China.

An art station was set up in the neighbouring room, where participants could paint whatever came to mind, on a large canvas spread out on the floor. The creativity flowed, with people making use of their hands and feet, in addition to the paintbrushes supplied, to create beautiful works of art.

At the final station, you could find film screenings, followed by discussions. ‘Kick like a Girl’ told the story of a girls’ football team in the US, who entered the boys’ league after dominating in both their own, and older girls’ football leagues. It made for an interesting viewing where these girls’ football skills were equally good, if not better, than the boys, despite being of the opposite sex. This displayed a different view of girls in sports, and created a lot of interest whilst initiating new discussions.

Women’s month was made up of several exciting and interesting events, including BSR’s ‘The Power of Investing in Women’s Workers’, Women’s Mentoring Event, and finally the Women’s Festival. As March is coming to an end, it can be concluded as a successful month. Dedicated to International Women’s Day, it created awareness and debate about women’s empowerment and women’s rights in our current society.

April 2014 • ScandAsia.China 3

News Brief

Danish-Chinese “Memorandum of Understanding” on pig production

T

he Rongchang People’s Government and the Royal Danish Embassy signed a Memorandom of Understanding in Chongqing the 27th of February regarding Economic and Technical Cooperation on Pig Production.

The MoU was signed at the Royal Danish Consulate General in Chongqing.

The intention of the MoU is to enhance cooperation between Rongchang and Denmark within areas such as pig breeding, farm management, slurry management, meat processing, educa-tion and training, animal welfare and food safety.

The signing shows the Danish support of China’s “Go-West”-policy. With the signing of the MoU both sides hope to be able to increase the

Sino-Danish cooperation within pig production.

Pig production is an area where Danish companies have been leading for many years. It is the hope that Danish companies can introduce their knowhow and expertise to their Chinese part-ners in Rongchang.

Rongchang brands itself as the Animal Husbandry Science and Technology City of China.

The Rongchang Pig species is one of the world’s major eight pig breeds and one of China’s three biggest pig species. Rongchang is quickly becoming one of China’s largest cultivation and export bases of piglets. The area annually produces 135,000 sow herds, 908,600 slaughtered pigs and 2 million piglets.

Finland deepens cooperation with China

HK Chinese billionaire to bid for Swedish electricity grid

S

peaking highly on bilateral relationship with China, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto on 27 February expected more cooperation with the Asian powerhouse.

Niinisto told Yu Qingtai, the new Chinese Ambassador to Finland, that he hoped the two countries will strengthen cooperation on innovation and energy efficiency, particularly on environmental affairs.

Finland has joined a project named Beautiful Beijing in an effort to help find solutions to the air quality problem with the help of Finnish clean technology and environmental expertise.

The president welcomed Yu, who replaced former Ambassador Huang Xing, and wished Yu would play an important role in deepening bilateral cooperation in all fields.

On his part, Yu expressed his gratitude and pledged to help build up the brand new partnership between the two countries.

Yu arrived in Helsinki together with his wife Sun Liping in early February.

In April last year, Niinisto paid a visit to China. He and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping jointly announced the upgrading of the two countries’ relations to a future-oriented new cooperative partnership.

Finnish, Chinese presidents pledge closer ties

4 ScandAsia.China • April 2014

C

B

loomberg reported in March that Fortum’s sale of its Swedish electricity grid is drawing interest from bidders including billionaire Li Ka-Shing’s Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Ltd and Canadian pension investor Borealis Infrastructure Management.

The deal may be valued at 4 billion euros ($5.54 billion) to 5 billion euros, according to people familiar with the process.

Cheung Kong Infrastructure, a Hong Kong-based company controlled by Asia’s richest man, already owns power and water networks in the U.K. and Australia.

hinese President Xi Jinping met with his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto in the Netherlands on 23 March, and the two leaders pledged to boost bilateral cooperation.

It was the second meeting between the two presidents in a year. In April last year, Niinisto visited China and the two presidents agreed to develop a new type of cooperative partnership between the two countries.

During the meeting, Xi said China-Finland cooperation on investment, environmental protection, innovation and urbanization has achieved new results over the past year, among which are the “Beautiful Beijing” environmental protection project, and the FinChi Innovation Center.

Xi said he hopes the two sides will speed up negotiations on a new political document and blueprint for their cooperation in various areas in a more effective manner.

He also called for joint efforts for next year’s Helsinki Festival, at which China will be the principal guest country.

Xi said China stands ready to work together with Finland, an important member of the European Union (EU), to boost China-Europe cooperation.

Hailing the smooth cooperation between the two countries, Niinisto said the Finnish side wishes to sign a political document with China as soon as possible and constantly push forward the bilateral relationship.

Finland welcomes China’s participation in the North Pole affairs and is willing to cooperate with the Chinese side in this regard, noted the Finnish leader.

News Brief

Danish envoy lauds China’s more open policy-making process Danish Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen at the embassy’s press conference.

Photo: Embassy of Denmark in Beijing

China’s hybrid rice researcher nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

Y

uan Longping, father of China’s hybrid rice, has been nominated for the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, according to the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten.nor_cn_yuan Yuan, an 84-year-old academic from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, started developing hybrid rice in the 1960s, and produced the world’s first varieties of hybrid rice in 1974.

Thanks to his and other researchers’ achievements, China’s total rice output has increased significantly since then.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee said it has received 278 nominations this year, the highest number ever. The previous record of 259 was in 2013.

C

ommenting on the ongoing parliamentary and the ruling party committee meetings, Danish Ambassador to China Friis Arne Peterson said on Monday 10 March at the Embassy of Denmark that he saw increased openness as well as people’s ability to discuss the government policy of China.

“Ten years ago or twenty years ago, China did not have this kind of openness and press communication strategy for increasing the awareness of the government policies as of today, so I think that’s a progress in China.” He said.

The that Peterson refers to are the ongoing second sessions of the 12th National People’s Congress (NPC) and the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

As a foreign observer, Peterson pointed out that China has made impressive economic gains in the last 35 years because of opening up and reform, but it has come at a high price: growing income inequality, some bad habits like corruption, and a growth model that is not sustainable which leads to polluted soil, air and water.

Find one Private Banking advisor, then make sure he knows many specialists

Wealth management today involves much more than selecting the best stocks and bonds. At Nordea Private Banking, we offer you an experienced personal advisor and a comprehensive overview of your wealth based on thorough research and rigorous analysis. One private banker, many specialists – making it possible.

Contact Nordea in Singapore on +65 6597 1082, or e-mail jonas.bergqvist@nordea.sg

Jonas Bergqvist, Private Banker

Nordea Bank S.A, Singapore Branch is part of Nordea Group, the leading financial services group in the Nordic and Baltic Sea regions. Some products and services may, due to local regulations, not be available to individuals resident in certain countries and their availability may depend, among other things, on the investment risk profile of persons in receipt of this publication or on any legislation to which they are subject. Nothing in this publication should be construed as an offer, or the solicitation of an offer, to purchase, subscribe to or sell any investment or product, or to engage in any other transaction or provide any kind of financial or banking service in any jurisdiction where Nordea Bank S.A., Singapore Branch or any of its affiliates do not have the necessary licence. Published by Nordea Bank S.A., R.C.S. Luxembourg No. B 14.157 on behalf of Nordea Bank S.A., Singapore Branch, 3 Anson Rd #20-01, Springleaf Tower, Singapore 079909. www.nordeaprivatebanking.com subject to the supervision of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (www.mas.gov.sg).

AD_ScandAsiaThailand_Jonas_192x135_eng NEW.indd 1

27/02/2014 14:26 April 2014 • ScandAsia.China 5

Danish thinking helps millions of Asian urban poor Top: Somsook is ACHR secretary-general, whose work benefits millions of urban poor in Asia.

Bottom: Failure by governments to provide adequate housing for urban poor is commonplace.

The result is squatters and slums. Šwww.t-pageant.com

6 ScandAsia.China • April 2014

Asian Coalition for Housing Rights (ACHR) helps poor people in over 100 cities in Thailand and 18 other countries around Asia achievie better housing. Secretary General Somsook Boonyabancha credits the inspiration she got during one year in Denmark.

By Thana Poopat

Building communities is supposed to be the foundation of any wellfunctioning, livable city.

Studying in Denmark gave me a deeper and broader understanding of housing development beyond the designing, construction and financial aspects.

A

one-year professional training course on housing and urbanisation at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts’ School of Architecture in Copenhagen in 1979 offered Somsook Boonyabancha a much-needed break from her hectic work at the National Housing Authority in Bangkok.

It also opened up a whole world of new ideas. Among other things, Danish social housing, cooperative housing movement and egalitarianism stood out as the kind of concepts that resonated with her youthful idealism. Thirty-five years on, these Danish ways of thinking continue to influence her immensely important job as head of an international advocacy group for urban poor’s housing rights.

“The Danish social and cooperative housing, a people-driven movement supported by local governments, was the spark that got me interested in what possible solutions were available to deal with housing problems in a wealthy, egalitarian and pragmatic society like Denmark,” Somsook said.

As a conscientious foreign scholarship student, Somsook’s first reaction when encountering any good idea afforded by the opportunity to study abroad was how she might adapt them to address the complex socio-economic problems associated with housing issues in Thailand.

The stark contrast between beautiful, wellplanned cities and towns of Denmark and urban

©Danida Fellowship Centre

sprawls in developing countries, like Thailand, was not lost on Somsook.

What government planners forget “The problem with Thai government planners in social housing back then was they kept constructing buildings without giving much thought to human factors, socio-economic elements. Little has changed,” she said.

“Building communities is supposed to be the foundation of any well-functioning, livable city. Studying in Denmark gave me a deeper and broader understanding of housing development beyond the designing, construction and financial aspects.”

“In Thailand, we make it all about pricing.

People buy whatever is on offer at the price they can afford. And then the urban poor are left out.”

ACHR a platform of professionals Today, Somsook’s organization, Asian Coalition for Housing Rights (ACHR), is helping poor people in over 100 cities in Thailand and 18 other countries around Asia to achieve decent housing not only as physical structures for shelter. Human elements, such as access to employment and government services, must also be taken into consideration, she said.

ACHR is a platform of professionals, communities and regional organisations working together on housing issues in Asia.

“Urban poor are at the lowest rung of the socio-economic ladder in most societies,” Somsook said. “There are a lot of urban poor in Asia. Utter failure by governments to provide adequate housing for urban poor is commonplace. Then you have squatters and slums.”

Somsook said most Asian countries continue to offer no systematic approach to provide social housing that enable people to live with dignity and a certain measure of equality.

Activistic route to social justice But building a just and egalitarian society takes time. In the mean time, Somsook has taken more or less activistic route to improve social justice.

“These urban poor are part of essential labour force but their income is not enough to buy their own place to live in. Not many Asian countries do well like Singapore, Japan. Taiwan, Hong Kong.”

Faced with apparently insurmountable housing problems and budgetary constraints, Somsook said she continued to draw inspirations from her time in Denmark. “We try to help urban poor to solve their own problems through participatory process. People-driven approach.

What is remarkable about Somsook’s many achievements is cost effectiveness of Asian Coalition for Housing Rights. One of her major achievements was the Baan Munkong [Secure Home] Project 2003-2005 with at a budget of only US$10 million to upgrade communities in 300 towns and cities around Thailand.

“Our emphasis is not so much on physical structures but more about strengthening of communities by giving security (rights to live where they do), livelihood (being close to their jobs), access to childcare. It’s about self-help, self-determination and a self-managed solution.”

We take proactive approach – not just protesting. We are open to option either to stay put or move elsewhere, depending on people’s decision and circumstances.

The egalitarian society of Denmark made a lasting impression.

“Denmark is one of the wealthiest countries in the world but the Danes are not extravagant.

Homes and apartments are not big. People are politically active who believe in social justice and look out for one another.”

Pay more attention to community Somsook said thanks to scholarship from the government of Denmark that enabled her to acquire knowledge that she could use to advance her career working for the betterment of people in Thailand and other Asian countries.

“It was an extraordinary experience. Denmark and other Scandinavian countries could do a lot more in this regard, providing training courses to students and professionals from Third World countries.

“What I learned and what policymakers and architects from developing countries in Asia should have the opportunity to learn from Denmark and Scandinavian countries is we should pay more attention to community aspects of housing.”

“That housing policies and housing projects should bring people together, and then we should also build a system that people share. Denmark offers this vision.”

“Denmark should not be too humble in spreading good designs, good thinkings in housing and urbanization,” Somsook said. “Denmark and its international development agency, Danida, should play a more active role in creating intellectual learning space.”

“People from countries around the world can learn from the Danish society. I changed significantly. My world view changed, I began to look at my profession as an architect differently and I realized that I can change the society for the better. That I learned in Denmark.”

Somsook (left), three former fellows studying architecture who met in Denmark 1978-80 recently reunite with one of their teachers in Copenhagen.

April 2014 • ScandAsia.China 7

The first kilometer is the hardest hl and Joakim Ekenda recently Wej Supaporn lfilling completed a fu weden to journey from S ycle.

Thailand on bic tops, Over mountain s and snow, rt e s e d h g u ro th en thousand more than fifte e saddle. th in rs te e m o il k uritzen

By Kristian Kruger La

T

he idea of cycling through numerous countries, while experiencing distinct and different cultures as bicycle globetrotters, would perhaps be thrilling to many. But also scary and overwhelming. Joakim Ekendahl and his girlfriend Wej Supaporn, decided to actually do it, instead of letting the idea remain a fantasy.

“When you go from Sweden to Thailand by plane, you have a drink, watch a movie, perhaps sleep some hours, and suddenly your plane is landing, and you have just missed half of the world,” Joakim says. He and Wej decided back in 2012 it was time to experience that half.

Joakim Ekendahl and Wej Supaporn are in the mid forties, and was living in Gothenburg, Sweden, up until their bicycle journey. They became a couple almost twenty years ago, when Joakim worked a few years in Bangkok. They moved to Sweden, where Wej worked as a librarian and Joakim worked for different companies commuting week in and week out, through most of Sweden. But not anymore. Enough was enough. Time to see the world. Joakim quit his job, while Wej took a longtime leave from the library.

“We both like bicycling and traveling long distances, so why not do this,” Joakim says.

The overwhelming hospitality The couple has biked through all types of weather and natural scenery in countries such as Poland, Georgia, Romania, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China, spending nine months on and off the saddle. That may seem physically gruelling, but the challenge was much more a mental one.

“It becomes a meditative state of mind. Everything else but you and your legs moving the 8 ScandAsia.China • April 2014

bike is excluded, while you are in a deserted part of Kazakhstan and there is no real civilization the next 500 km,” Joakim explains. Of course it was not in anyway a downside that both him and Wej are experienced bikers with long distances under their belt, before this one.

The potential fighting and couple-arguing, that to some might seem inevitable during a trip like this, was never a real issue.

“When you are on your bike, you do not have time to do that much talking anyway,” Wej says. Although they both agree, that Joakims spirit were a bit more up and down.

“Perhaps, I am a little bit more stable,” she says. “Joakim is the one with the Visa Run and the route on his mind.”

Every country they passed on the way had a unique culture to offer in terms of food and customs, but most of them had an essential element in common.

“It was really an overwhelming hospitality we meet. Especially the Islamic countries. In Turkey, for instance, it was sometimes even hard in a polite way to say no to whatever people were offering,” Joakim recalls with a smile.

Snowstorm in Hungary The couple slept in every kind of accommodation possible from welcoming sleepovers, hotels and a tent put up by the Caspian Sea or in a cave in the deserts of Uzbekistan. Quite a hot experience cycling through the deserts, Joakim recalls.

“Sort of hell on earth. 47 degrees in the shade. No trees anywhere.”

Luckily they had a trick for keeping the ever important water cold, or cool at least for some time. They soaked a sock with water and covered

it around the bottle, so the water kept cold until the sock had dried up. Apparently a trick that is used på cyclists everywhere.

Even though the desert was like cycling in a big heated oven, the most extreme weather they experienced was in Central Europe, in March during the winter.

“In Hungary, they brought the army tanks out to clear the snow, but luckily for us, we had the big wind in our over backs, just cruising besides each other, “ Joakim says. So most of the road from Hungary to Slovakia was a nice rest for hard working legs on the pedals.

A human skull in China The list of funny, bizarre or baffling moments during the couples nine months long adventure is long.

In Uzbekistan, there is not a single ATM machine, and people usually trade money on the black market. The currency has minimal value, so carrying a standard wallet is out of the question.

“We exchanged 300 dollars, and the stack of money was this high,” Joakim recollects, while demonstrating the length of his forearm. Every little coffee shop had a money counting machine, the ones you normally only see in banks.

But the most surreal moment happened, while they were in the northern part of China.

Having just spend a comfortable night on a three star hotel, a rare occasion, they hopped on the bikes in morning to continue the journey. It was a dust storm, and Joakims pedal was cranked, so they had to stop and put up their tent, before planned. Unfortunately the ground was a hard as a rock, so the spikes for the tent could not go in.

Joakim decided to walk a few hundred meters in search of some softer ground, and found a nice

spot on top of a hill.

“Then I looked a few meters to the right, and there was a human skeleton! Just below a pile of gravel. A skull and a leg that was coming up from the ground, “ Joakim recalls. A Lucky Luke type of scenery, not exactly the thing you get to see along the pavements of Gothenburg.

Just let go, and do it Even though the couple experienced moments of absurdity during the bicycle road trip, it is the warmth and kindness of all the different people, they met along the way, that comes to mind.

“People are nice! The only danger we met was the road, “ Joakim says. When they tell their story, they are often asked about the potential aspect of luring danger. Especially from Thai people.

They seem to be afraid of the unknown.

“I would like to encourage the Thai people to travel abroad more, independently. And perhaps inspire the employers to let their workers get some time off to restore energy, “ Wej says. The allowed annual leave from work is usually only up to ten days in a row.

“The decision to go is so significant, “ Wej underlines. Joakim easily agrees with his girlfriend and cyclist companion.

“Just let GO, it will work out,.leave the comfort zone. Once you have done it, it works out from then. The hardest kilometer is the first one.

There is no headwind or uphill as hard as the obstacle of getting it done, making the decision to actually do it.

Hopefully Joakim Ekendahl and Wej Supaporn´s story can work as inspiration for adventurous people flirting with the idea of cycling out and across parts of the globe.

April 2014 • ScandAsia.China 9

10 ScandAsia.China • April 2014

Your School T

o decide on something as important as your child’s education and well-being might be the toughest part about moving to another country.

Choosing a new school when moving has become increasingly difficult for parents.

There are more and more schools established all the time, and each institution has its own unique philosophy and attributes. Comparing what they offer with the needs of your child is no simple task.

Most parents probably start out by asking other parents of their own nationality which school they have chosen and why. Then you find out they have chosen different schools and for different reasons and you are back to square one.

There is probably no way around making your own inquiry into each available option.

Local vs International First choice is if you are looking for a local school or an international school? In most countries in Asia, a local school is an option - although certainly a more challenging option for your child. If you child is mixed Scandinavian - Asian this may, however, not be so frightening a prospect. And mostly it will have an economic silver lining as local private schools are less costly compared to international schools.

However, physical punishment has not been abolished in many Asian school systems, so take this into consideration. Talk to the school how they administer physical punishment and ask if they can make an exception for your child if you are not comfortable with this.

If you go for the International school, consider that international students grow up and evolve in a cultural environment that is vastly different to that of your own. Known as Third Culture Kids (TCKs), they often develop a very different attitude to many issues compared to their former friends back home. If you are uncomfortable with this prospect you may prefer to look into the option of choosing a local school or a boarding school back home.

Once this is said, most expat families decide to go for the international school, at least through primary school up to grade 9, where other options may come into play. At this point, not only boarding schools in Scandinavia but also boarding school in Asia may be considered.

A few suggestions So now you have the table filled with brochures of different schools and wonder what to look for.

Here are a few suggestions to help you make up your mind: First: How far away is the school from your home?

Before spending time looking through school courses, you need to make sure the school is not too far away. Bear in mind that in most big cities, it is the traveling time between your home and the school that matters. How long will it take for your child to get to school and home afterwards?

How will your child be going there?

Especially in cities like Bangkok, you will be challenged by some of the heaviest rush hour traffic in the world.

Fifth: Does the school have qualified personnel?

This is not as obvious as you may think. The school is most likely private and qualifications for employment are not as strict as for schools back home. What educational degree do they hold?

How long have they been teaching at the school?

What kind of teaching methods do they prefer?

Are they involved in planning and evaluating the curriculum? Will they be giving special attention to each child’s problems or personal needs?

Second: What reputation does the school have?

Talk to people as much as possible. This is where your first intuition comes handy. Don’t listen to opinions expressed by people who have no children at the school themselves - parents are quick to seek confirmation of their own choice by adopting opinions about the competing schools.

The age of the school is no sure indication either. Nothing guarantees that the reputation of a hundred year old school is better than a one year old school.

Sixth: What do the current students think of the school?

If it’s possible, talk to some of the existing students. Are they happy there? Do they look motivated to learn? How will the school help your child get started? Do they assign so-called “buddies” (another student from the same country) for new students? Most schools have established student organizations to provide service to students at a personal level. Here, students can get help about studying, working, individual needs and so on.

Third: How are the courses at the school?

The school’s courses and programs will most likely be listed in the school’s information packages. They will talk about British Curriculum and American Curriculum and - what most Scandinavians these days go for - the IB curriculum.

This is important as you will most likely have to relocate again in a few years.

Find out if the native language and culture of your child is taught as optional learning. It is important for your child to keep his or her ties to your cultural background. It is also important for you.

Ask questions about the tests and exams which are offered and used as evaluation method.

If your child is already a secondary school student, ask how well the graduating students do in getting accepted into major universities both in your current country, back home and elsewhere overseas.

Fourth: What other activities can the school offer your child?

Besides the fundamental course works, what kind of arts, sports, community service does the school offer? Are there proper facilities to support those activities?

It seems that schools almost compete with each other when it comes to sports, thus many schools will have gymnasiums and sport complexes, which are either new or remodeled. But maybe your child is more into other activities computer programming, performing arts?

Most schools offer after-school/weekend programs as well as field trips and community services. You should be able to freely pick the activities that best suit your child.

Seventh: How is the relationship between the school and the parents?

You will obviously not be able to monitor your child in school. The teacher will have to be your eyes and ears. You must be notified of your child’s functionality regardless of grade, and regardless of whether it includes bad behavior or progress your child has made. Make sure that you can get informed as often as possible. You may join a parents’ volunteer program if available.

Some schools may offer activities for the whole family as well.

Watch your child!

Never mind how diligent you do your homework - and maybe the above list is a bit excessive you will never be able to foresee if your child will thrive at the school.

It is therefore important that you make a habit of spending more time than you used to at home talking to your child about how school was today. What they did in class, and what they did outside. Let her or him tell about their new friends. Listen.

All may initially sound fine and uncomplicated, but that may just be a honeymoon period. This is the most important step of them all. If your child develops in any way you find disturbing or even develops signs of discomfort with going to school, you should think twice before you tell your child that “this is life - it is not always pleasant!”.

A change of school at the right time might be the single most important decision to make to put the future of your child on the right track!

April 2014 • ScandAsia.China 11

Stenhus

visited by Chinese Ambassador

C

hinese Ambassador to Denmark H.E. Mr. Liu Biwei celebrated the Chinese New Year at the Danish boarding school Stenhus Kostskole, which has pioneered teaching Chinese as a foreign language in Denmark.

The mayor of the city of Holbaek, Mr. Soren Kjaersgaard likewise joined the celebrations.

Knud Erik Schack Madsen, Principal at Stenhus Kostskole received the dignitaries at the school with a welcome speech in which he pointed out that Denmark was the first western country to recognize the new Chinese state in 1950 and that the two Stenhus schools were the first schools in

Denmark to start teaching Chinese. Today both Denmark and the two Stenhus schools have a long tradition in cooperation with China.

“Students at Stenhus not only learn Chinese language and culture, they have also visited the two friendship schools in Tianjin and Sheu and received guest from these schools in Denmark,” said Knud Erik Schack Madsen, paying respect also to Copenhagen Business Confucius Institute and the Chinese Embassy which has helped facilitate these visits.

“We also cooperate in badminton and in the future hopefully in basketball,” the Principal added.

The Principal then revealed that the city of

Holbæk was seeking a friendship community in China and added that he hoped that the Chinese embassy would help with that.

“Holbæk wants to cooperate in culture, business, tourism, education and sports with China. Holbæk wants to be a center for cooperation between China and Denmark,” he said.

Later in the spring this wish has come true and it now seems Holbaek will become sister city of Quangzhou in southern China.

Finally, the Mayor and the Ambassador joined in a new year wish for a continuing and deepening friendship between Stenhus, Holbæk and China.

Mother-language schooling for Danish children in Guangzhou

K

atrine Amtkjær Nielsen, a teacher with ten years of experience, is offering mother language teaching to Danish children in Guangzhou.

She has recently moved to this southern Chinese city from Shanghai, where she had been an integral part of the team behind “Den Danske Skole”, that offers mother-language teaching to students from the age from 6 to 16.

The location for the classes depend on where the majority of Danish children, who want to participate, are living. Katrine Amkjær Nielsen is flexible as to what daytime hours, the classes have to take place, depending on the children’s school schedules and other extracurricular activities.

The school-materials are all approved by the Danish Ministry of Education.

Teaching 1st to 4th graders is primarily based on “Stavevejen” and “Skrivevejen” plus a focus on spelling-rules, reading tempo and understanding.

Classes for 5th to 9th graders are based on particular texts on the same subjects as the younger grades, while adding analysis of literature and interpretation.

Continuous tests on different aspects will be an important part of classes for all ages.

The fee depends on the number of students participating. One student is 225 rmb per hour, but the price drops depending on the number of students in the class.

Questions can be addressed at amtkjær79@gmail.com or on the phone 13641712143 12 ScandAsia.China • April 2014

Design Challenge at

KIS Land

By Darryl Anderson, MYP Humanities Teacher, MYP Coordinator KIS International School Bangkok, Thailand

I

For more information contact Linda Belonje Director of Marketing and Development KIS International School, Bangkok, Thailand Email: linda@kis.ac.th l Tel: +66 (0)22743444 l www.kis.ac.th

magine a Middle School where the curriculum involved designing airplanes, catapults, remotecontrol cars, Rube Goldberg Machines and water rockets. Sounds like a budding engineer’s dream! However it’s not just the engineering skills that are needed to be successful, but also marketing, creativity and collaboration.

Every year at KIS International School, MYP students take part in an interdisciplinary, cross-grade level event known as Design Cycle Challenge Week.

For five days each year, students put away their schoolbooks, group themselves into teams of 4-6 students and are given a challenging task.

It started back in 2006 when students utilized their knowledge from different subjects to design and create battery-operated racing cars. In 2008, students not only investigated the math and science of catapults, but also the historical context behind the different uses and types of catapults. Then they pitched the design of their catapults to a panel of Medieval Lords (roleplaying teachers) seeking protection for their castles.

The next year, KISLAND was born, a mythical independent empire that unfortunately had a coastline littered with rubbish. Environmental engineering experts (our KIS students) were called in to design boats made from recycled materials. The next year, with KISLAND’s rising economy and population, bridges were soon needed, so the Ministry of Transportation put out a call for engineering-minded students to create sturdy bridges made from popsicle sticks. Following KISLAND’s increasing development, the next year cars were required, and finally planes made from light-weight balsa wood.

KIS Students are known for thinking outside of the box. After all, the name of our school stands for Knowledge, Inspiration, and Spirit. KIS students are smart, but they’re also motivated and truly inventive.

Following the Design Cycle, they investigate the context of the challenge, create different designs, test out their plans, evaluate their success, and every day, start the whole cycle again. In addition, they use their critical thinking skills to create persuasive explanations that “sell their product” in the form of short video or written advertisements.

The Design Cycle Challenge week is truly a challenge. Students need to collaborate with other students they may have never worked with before, and also come up with a product that’s successful, creative and unique. This year the challenge was even greater as students had to create a Rube Goldberg machine that connected to others. You can check out the different teams’ products, video journals and final design reports at http://kisdcc2013.weebly. com/ A video of the final machine can be found on KIS’s Youtube channel (KISBangkok) or http://y2u.be/ Hjxi5waA08Q April 2014 • ScandAsia.China 13

International School of Bergen

I

nternational School of Bergen (ISB) is situated on the west coast of Norway and offers an English language learning environment to students between the ages of 3 and 16. Our mission is to provide an internationally accredited education serving the business and Bergen communities.

The educational programme of the International School of Bergen (ISB) has been developed to help prepare its students for a successful future. ISB is accredited by the Council of International Schools and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges in addition to being authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization to offer their Primary Years and Middle Years programmes.

Our students and staff All teachers hold university degrees and appropriate teaching qualifications. Classes are small, and with students and staff representing more than thirty different nationalities, we pride ourselves in having a welcoming and including community.

ISB was founded in 1975, giving us nearly 40 years of experience as an educational institution.

International School of Bergen Vilhelm Bjerknesvei 15, 5081 Bergen, Norway Tel: +4755306330 l E-mail: post@isob.no l www.isob.no

International Baccalaureate

- an alternative to the Danish ‘Studentereksamen’ • internationally recognized • gives admission to universities all over the world • taught in English You can stay at Nyborg Gymnasium’s boarding school.

Contact us for more information about the programme and the boarding school.

Deadline for applications: 15th of March

Nyborg Gymnasium & Kostskole Skolebakken 13, DK-5800 Nyborg, tlf +45 65 31 02 17 post@nyborg-gym.dk, www.nyborg-gym.dk

ENGELSKSPRÅKLIG PRIVATSKOLE FOR BARN OG UNGDOM MELLOM 3 OG 16 • • • • • •

Få elever i hver klasse Trygt læringsmiljø med god individuell oppfølging God kontakt med foreldre Internasjonalt godkjente og utfordrende læreplaner Utmerkede resultater i internasjonale og norske nasjonalprøver Sentral beliggenhet med bybanestopp rett utenfor døren Contact us for more information: www.isob.no eller post@isob.no

14 ScandAsia.China • April 2014

Nyborg Gymnasium has stx, hf, IB and boarding school

A

Danish upper-secondary school environment with an international agenda.

Nyborg Gymnasium addresses the growing internationalisation with programmes, study streams and a boarding school, which makes the ‘international’ the order of the day.

The students at Nyborg Gymnasium have an eye open onto the world, and they are fully capable of exploring this in school. This happens, for example, if they are students in the study stream Going Global, stay at the boarding school with other young people from all over the world, or if they are students in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, where all subjects are taught in English.

Over recent years Nyborg Gymnasium has expanded and rebuilt school facilities to ensure that the framework for the tuition is updated and inspiring. The latest addition to the school is a new building for the sciences, and a special ‘language’ zone. At the boarding school the students have their own rooms, a strong community, and a kitchen, with focus on organic cooking, providing the meals of the day.

Nyborg Gymnasium ….en route to the world

Herlufsholm Skole – The best of both worlds

H

erlufsholm is the oldest and largest boarding school in Denmark. Herlufsholm is located approximately 100 km south of Copenhagen in a beautiful and historic environment with buildings ranging from an 10th Century monastery to new and modern sports and science facilities. During the school year Herlufsholm buzzes with activity with 620 students from all over the world ranging from 12-19 years old.

Many families choose Her-

lufsholm because of its combination of international education and Danish culture. Many international students have one or more parents who aresomehow connected to Denmark, and Herlufsholm is an opportunity for students to explore their heritage, become more familiar with Danish culture, improve Danish language skills, and establish a Danish network.

The educational experience at Herlufsholm is founded a Danish ap-

proach to education with both international curriculums (IGCSE and IB) and the Danish national curriculum.

The youngest international students, 14-16 year olds, take the International Prep with an IGCSE based curriculum. International Preparation class sets the bar high for academic learning, maturity, while providing students with the skills needed for starting in the International Baccalaureate Diploma program, which is designed for 16-19 year olds.

Sommerskole på Herlufsholm ogofdrenge please use doc. in- for folderpiger instead txt

i alderen 13-15 år

Tilbring 2 sjove og spændende uger i sommerferien på Danmarks ældste kostskole i selskab med 13-15 årige fra hele verden.

Programmet byder på niveauinddelt danskundervisning, sportslige og kreative aktiviteter samt ekskursioner og oplevelser. Lær om Danmark, mød nye venner og nyd de enestående, historiske og smukke rammer som Herlufsholm Skole kan tilbyde.

SOMMERSKOLE 2014 18. JUL. - 1. AUG.

Læs mere om vores sommerskole på www.herlufsholm.dk Herlufsholm Skole og Gods • Herlufsholm Allé 170 • 4700 Næstved • DK • Tlf. (+45) 55 75 35 00 • Fax (+45) 55 75 35 14 • sommerskole@herlufsholm.dk • Find os også på Facebook

Stenhus Kostskole Sports College Stenhus Kostskole Boarding School and Gymnasium is the right place if interested in sports, the Sports College is based on both ambitious training and education and all students are receiving customized training programs.

Different options of college Football College Coaches at the Football College are the former major league players Morten Hamm and Morten Rutkjær.They both have UEFA A coach license and coaches at Northwest FC Sports College (elementary education). Both have worked with various Danish football elite teams.

• Football College from 8th to 10th class (boys) Students live at Stenhus Boarding School where education and training are combined in a professional and ambitious environment.

• Football College at Stenhus High School (boys and girls) Students live at Stenhus Boarding School and study at the high school.

Basketball College Coaches are Trine Tims and Jesper Sørensen who are both former national team players and now coaches at Stenhus Basketball College. Trine Tims was between Nov 2007 and Dec 2009 the coach of the women's national team in basketball.

• Basketball College (boys and girls and high school students only) Students live at Stenhus Boarding School and study at the high school.

Badminton College Christian Møller Madsen, former elite player, is one of the coaches at the Badminton College.

• Badminton College (boys and girls and high school students only) Students live at Stenhus Boarding School and study at the high school.

Stenhus Kostskole DK-4300 Holbæk Phone: +45 59 43 02 69 E-mail: admin@stenhus.dk Website: www.stenhus.dk

April 2014 • ScandAsia.China 15

No rumble in the Out in the jungle approximately 50 kilometers from Vientiane lies Ban Lao Pako. Far from any semblance of civilization, the resort offers unique experiences and wildlife adventures. Most modern distractions are removed, except for taste sensations at the restaurant.

By Morten Krogsholm

F

ed up with bullshit. That’s how Swedish Chris Kridakorn-Odbratt describes his move from Thailand to the jungle of Laos. He had actually been looking for a place in Thailand to set up a resort, but then he got a tip that he should consider Laos as land prices were much more affordable. And so he did as he took a long boat ride one day and stumbled upon the Ban Lao Pako. He fell in love with the place and saw its great potential. A potential that he has yet to fully realize.

Back to the roots It was a cultural center for nearly 2000 years ago. The place was unspoiled. Nature in its purest form overlooking the Nam Ngum River.

Through time it has to some degree been destroyed, then rebuilt, then destroyed and rebuilt again.

Mostly built from local materials, using farmed wood, utilizing local traditional building techniques, the Ban Lao Pako was the first eco-lodge to ever open in Laos. You might think that the “Lao” in Ban Lao Pako has something to do with Laos - well, you’d be wrong. It actually means forest, and this is what Chris is trying to bring back. Recreating the forest and the original jungle, and also offering traditional jungle activities, such as the the steam sauna, where the staff will collect differ-

ent herbs from around the jungle, among others, eucalyptus, tamarind, lime leaves, basil. If it gets too hot for you, there is a small dipping pool with natural cold spring water.

Chris Kridakorn-Odbratt hopes that he would be able to recreate an idyllic Ban Lao Pako of millennia ago.

At Ban Lao Pako, everything must be as green as possible and any harm to the environment must be minimized. This seems to be the mantra behind Chris Kridakorn-Odbratt’s jungle resort. Being a resort with bungalows where guests can stay means that some services need to be provided. Among amenities is hot shower.

“I researched every possible solution for getting electricity to

16 ScandAsia.China • April 2014

the resort without relying on the national grid. Unfortunately money is tight and, at the moment, prices of solar energy are sky high, not to mention the short life batteries for power storage. All these brought me to my knees,” said Chris, adding how he then decided to pay workers to lay electric wires all the way to his resort. Wind energy was not a viable option either, as there is nearly never enough wind around the area, or in Laos in general.

Respect nature and the locals “Look at that building,” Chris asked me and points at a building made of wood, which looks quite ramshackled, “It is fairly new. A couple

of years old. Termites did that to it,” he said and explained how he could have got rid of all of the termites if he had resorted to pesticides.

“Sure if I used pesticides the life of a bungalow and every one of the wooden structures would be extended, but it would also kill all of the nature in the surroundings, so pesticides is a no-go,” said Chris, emphasizing his respect for the environment.

As Chris’ ambition is to restore the forest to its former glory, he has to make it a point not to tamper with the ecological balance.

Chris is determined to plant trees around Ban Lao Pako, many of them were there long before the resort was even built.

For many of the wildfire excursions on offer, small fees will be charged. In almost every case, such fees go to the locals who have committed to nurture and take good care of the jungle.

“Ban Lao Pako runs its own development program for the surrounding villages. We are helping them to raise their living standard, without harming the natural forest, with activities, such as vegetable farming, improving local schools etc.

As a guest, you can be part of this by Besides a riverside view the resort also offers jungle bungalows

Our kitchen will, without a doubt, be the most modern in Laos. I’ve brought in equipment that people here have never heard of.

Food and nature is Chris’ passions.

At Ban Lao Pako he combines both.

taking one of our tours,” said Chris.

Located so far out in the jungle, there is always something which needs fixing or improving. Instead of hiring Chinese or Thais, Chris always works with local workers.

“Many advised me against hiring local workers. And I really do not know why. I have been quite satisfied with the work they have done for me, and I also feel a great deal of responsibility,” said Chris Kridakorn-Odbratt, adding how he wants to give back to the people and to help Laos.

“I have moved here, I run a resort here, so why not use the local workforce too?” Chris asked but admitted that there are some things, which he needs to import from other countries.

Modern kitchen

people here have never heard of,” said Chris and told me how he had had an Michelin chef stay at the resort who told him to call as soon as the kitchen was done, because he wanted to be the first Michelin chef ever to cook in Laos.

Having run a cooking school in Thailand for Thai cuisine, Chris now dreams of doing the same at the Ban Lao Pako, but this time for Lao cuisine. Meanwhile, you are still able to get excellent food at Ban Lao Pako while you stay there. Their menu consists of both traditional Lao food and European cuisine - and unlike many other places in Asia - they actually know how to do justice to European cooking. I myself had the pleasure of sampling traditional Ital-

ian meatballs in tomato sauce and the classic German wiener schnitzel, and I must admit that it was some of the best food I have had in a long time. I might add that it was not in the least bit expensive.

Unplugged and unwind There is only Wi-Fi around in the bar area. The bungalows are stripped of TVs, radios and other distractions.

“Though people come here to disconnect, I know that a lot of them still have an urge to be able to check their e-mails, Facebook, news from their home country and other stuff, so I have set up a little Wi-Fi hotspot,” said Chris. There is plenty of fun activities to do when you stay at the resort. Among them

is trekking where you can encounter some really exotic animals. You can go tubing in the river, which is located right next to the resort, Or, do as Chris said: Do nothing or just lean back, relax and read a book.

Prices vary from 220.000 to 390.000 KIP (US$28-50) per night, and you get a 50 % discount after the first three nights.

If you are in need of escaping the workaday existence or expanding your horizon or maybe seeing exotic wildlife, while being fed excellent food and nice cocktails, Ban Lao Pako ticks all the boxes.

Ban Lao Pako creates the perfect settings for a unique get-away

Food is really Chris KridakornOdbratt’s passion. The past couple of decades of his life had revolved around food. Having runned a professionally-accredited Thai cooking school on the beaches of Bang Saen in Thailand, Chris’ passion for food obviously extends to teaching others how to cook as well.

“Our kitchen will, without a doubt, be the most modern in Laos. I’ve brought in equipment that Taking care of the nature is a big part of the maintenance at the resort.

April 2014 • ScandAsia.China 17

Mr Private Banking in Luxembourg retires J Jhon Mortensen (62) will end of April 2014 retire from his positions as CEO of Nordea Bank S.A. His interesting career also brought him to Singapore, where he was the head of the branch for several years.

18 ScandAsia.China • April 2014

hon Mortensen (62) will end of April 2014 retire from his positions as CEO of Nordea Bank S.A. Before joining the Luxembourg subsidiary in 1991 Mr. Mortensen worked for the London subsidiary of Nordea and later headed the banks’ branch in Singapore. Founded in 1976, Nordea Bank S.A. is the largest Nordic bank in Luxembourg and Switzerland, serving an international clientele in 120 countries throughout the world.

“To accomplish growth and stability for the bank we have focused on our clients. We would like the clients we have now to still be our clients in 20 years’ time – and we would like to welcome their children as clients of Nordea, too,” says Mortensen.

An increasing number of individuals are becoming more globalized, working and doing business abroad, sometimes in several countries. These individuals have more complex needs with regards to banking and international wealth management.

In Luxembourg, Switzerland and Singapore Nordea has assembled a broad team of experts in wealth management and wealth planning specialised to provide the services requested by these globalised individuals.

“The days when Private Banking clients simply required investment advice are long gone. Now, an increasingly complex legal and regulatory environment has obliged providers of financial products

and services to take a comprehensive advisory approach that also includes taxation, inheritanceand succession-planning, as well as insurance and real estate,” says Mortensen.

“As a good example of this Nordea is one of the few banks who can provide tax reports for all relevant countries to assist clients in the preparation of their periodic tax declarations to the authorities. Nordea’s tax report facilitates the completion of tax returns, even for complex account structures, and provides a clear tax overview for clients and their advisors”, says Mortensen.

The Nordea Group has a very strong capital base and benefits from an excellent credit rating (AA-), and is the leading financial services provider in the Nordic area. For six consecutive years, Nordea was named the best provider of private banking services in the Nordic & Baltic region by the international financial magazine Euromoney.

Nordea is among the ten largest universal banks in Europe in terms of total market capitalisation.

Thorben Sander (40) will from 1 May 2014 succeed Mortensen to safeguard and continue the business development of the 23 years under Mortensen’s management, developing best-in-class clients’ services and offerings. Thorben Sander has since 2010 been head of Investment Advice & Brokerage in Nordea.

Leverpostej Pork Liver Pâté

Leverpostej - pork liver pâté - is a delicious spread for open sandwiches and a ‘must’ in any Easter Lunch Buffet.

A

lthough usually eaten with Danish rye bread, leverpostej or pork liver pâté can also be spread on any cracker of you choice.

Tweaking the recipe to fit personal taste can make it better and especially more personal when served.

This amazing dish is great at any lunch - and an Easter Lunch or Christmas lunch wiothout it is unthinkable. It is also great as topping on cocktail cannapes.

Ingredients •1 lb pork liver •10 ounces pork fat •1 medium onion •1/4 cup flour •1/4 cup light cream •2 eggs, lightly beaten •2 teaspoons salt •1 teaspoon pepper •1/4 teaspoon allspice

Directions • Put the liver, fat and onion through a meat chopper at least 3 times or use a food processor.

• The mixture should be quite fine in the texture. Mix in the flour, cream, eggs, salt, pepper and all spice.

• Spoon the mixture into a buttered loaf pan.

• Put it in a pan of water and bake for an hour. Set the temperature at medium, around 350 F. equivalent 180 C. • If the pate is browning too quickly place a piece of foil loosely over it.

Serve it with fried mushrooms, bacon bits, and red beets or cucumber pickles on Danish rye bread or french bread.

April 2014 • ScandAsia.China 19

When it’s time to do business, we’re exceptionally open.

Every business has a different story and a different goal. We understand that.

Over many years in this market of unique opportunities, we’ve developed the local knowledge, resources and connections needed to turn ambitions into reality. That’s why we’re one of the most well-established northern European banks in the region. For corporates, financial institutions and private banking clients, we’re ready to listen and cater to your needs – in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and New Delhi.

Welcome to contact us at Tel: +65 63 57 08 95 singapore@sebprivatebanking.com.sg www.sebgroup.com/privatebanking