OCT 2014
China
New Swedish priest in China ScandAsia.dk
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WHAT IF...
T AUGU5S 201 G
IN BOARD IONS AT APPLIC EN OP
Geovania prepares for the 2014 Initiative for Peace conference
…MAKING THE PEACE SIGN REALLY MEANT SOMETHING? Can students have an impact on world peace? At UWCSEA we believe they can and our Initiative for Peace (IfP) gives them a chance to do just that. Through IfP, our students design and deliver a week-long conference for young people from opposing sides in an area of conflict. That’s how Geovania from Timor Leste first got to know UWCSEA in Singapore. A week of peer-led activities helped her explore the conflict in her country from different points of view, by working with other young people from across the divide to vision a better future for their country.
return to Timor Leste to help rebuild her country with her fellow citizens, whatever their background or history. Now that’s a true sign of peace. What if your child joins UWCSEA? Come and talk to us while we’re in Hong Kong 24–26 October or Shanghai 27–29 October. Visit www.uwcsea. edu.sg to find out more.
IfP also inspired her to apply for a UWCSEA scholarship to complete an IB Diploma. After university, she plans to 221ADV-1415
Coming Events
Business Person & Entrepreneur of the Year 2014 When:Saturday, October 25th 2014, 18.00 Where:Grand Hyatt @ Jin Mao Tower, 88 Century Avenue, Pudong, Shanghai, China Cost: - DCC Members: RMB 750, - Non-Members: RMB 1,200 - Full Table (10 Seats): Members: RMB 7,000, Non-Members: RMB 11,000 - Half Table (5 Seats): Members: RMB 3,500 Non-Members: RMB 5,500
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Espoo Mayor, business delegation visiting Shanghai
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Mayor of the City of Espoo and Business Delegation visits Shanghai in November. FBCS will arrange a reception on Thursday evening the 27th November. Detailed info to follow soon. The City of Espoo has established a strong relationship with the City of Shanghai. The two cities have had a twinning agreement for 16 years. Cooperation between Espoo and Shanghai has grown into a close partnership over the years, and the two cities now collaborate in matters relating
to culture and education as well as services for the elderly.There are also plans to increase cooperation relating to the business sector in the future.
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4 ScandAsia.China • October 2014
Sponsored Business Breakfast: How to facilitate a successful succession of western expatriates to Chinese leaders in Western companies.What is needed for Chinese Managers to be successful in western
companies, and what can western CEOs, General Managers do to support. Jan Bostr?m, senior executive consultant, founder of the leadership company Gaia Leadership, will conduct the workshop.
News Brief
China, Denmark pledge closer cooperation
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hinese President Xi Jinping met with Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt in Beijing on September 9 and both leaders pledged to boost bilateral cooperation. During their meeting at the Great Hall of the People, Xi welcomed Thorning-Schmidt to China to attend the 2014 New Leaders Meeting of World Economic Forum, also known as Summer Davos forum. As China is moving ahead on a new path of industrialization, IT technology, urbanization and modern agriculture, Denmark can use its expertise and technical advantages to expand the areas of cooperation with China, Xi said. Thorning-Schmidt said the Denmark-China relationship is better than ever and said that Denmark will continue to take part in China’s economic and social development and boost cooperation with China on trade, new Call 43technical 88 77innovation, 77 to find more about our energy, water+352 resources, socialout management and sustainable development.
Norwegian salmon is safe to eat despite China’s ban
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he Norwegian Seafood Council would like to reassure the public that Norwegian salmon is safe and healthy to eat. The Chinese Government has alerted a full stop in import of whole Norwegian salmon with effect from September 10th 2014, due to concerns that a certain fish illness could affect Chinese aquaculture. The reason was never due to food safety or concerns for the consumers. There is no change in the safety or healthiness of Norwegian salmon. The ISA virus, which have been subject to some media attention inChina in recent days, is solely a fish illness, and cannot be transferred to humans. Also: Fish illnesses are not transferrable to humans or related to human sicknesses, on which there have been several misunderstandings in Chinese media over the last few days.
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WEALTH PLANNING
You know where to go. We know how to guide you there. Moving abroad can be very complicated. There are many things to consider, including the requirements of the different regulatory regimes to which cross-border wealth planning is subject. Let us guide you through the legislative labyrinth, and help you avoid unnecessary, time-consuming paperwork, as well as any unwelcome (and often expensive) surprises along the way. No matter where life takes you, Nordea’s in-house wealth-planners and their external network of experts can ensure that you are well prepared to meet the challenges that moving abroad brings. Visit us at www.nordea.lu/WP , call +65 6597 1084 or e-mail kim.nielsen@nordea.sg
Making it possible 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).
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14/08/2014 12:04 October 2014 • ScandAsia.China 5 August 2014 • ScandAsia.China
News Brief
Legoland ready to build amusement parks in China
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he owner of Legoland, Merlin Entertainments, wants to build up to 5 LEGO themed amusement parks in China. The Legoland parks get a lot of the honor for Merlin Entertainments 15 percent revenue growth, and according to Danish news site EPN, Merlin Entertainment plans to open at least one new Legoland every third year, possibly even faster. “We are focusing on Asia. We think there is room for a Legoland in Korea and 3 maybe 5 in China,” CEO of Merlin Entertainments, Nick Varney tells EPN. The LEGO Movie that was released earlier this year has several times been named as one of the main reasons for LEGO’s current revenue growth, and in the 6 Legoland’s they see the same effect. “The film has increased the revenue in Legoland parks and the sale of LEGO. It is obviously very satisfying and we are happy to hear that more LEGO movies are on their way,” Nick Varney tells EPN.
Financially-ailing NEVS cuts 1/3 of Saab Cars workforce
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wedish auto maker Saab, which is trying to resolve serious financial difficulties by attracting new investors, said September 24 it was cutting 200 jobs, more than one third of its workforce. National Electric Vehicle Sweden (Nevs), the Chinese-owned company created to buy Saab in June 2012 after it filed for bankruptcy, said in a statement the decision was “due to lack of work”.
Swedish Parliament to probe defense tech transfer to China
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weden’s Defense Ministry and other leading defense and technology organizations will be under the spotlight this week as a parliamentary committee probes whether a research cooperation initiative could have led to the sale of sophisticated aerodynamic modeling software to China. 6 ScandAsia.China • October 2014
Lapland-style Santa theme park to open in China
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new Christmas-themed attraction is being developed in the Chinese city of Chengdu. SantaPark Ltd, which operates what is marketed as the “official home of Santa Claus” in Lapland, has teamed up with Finnish attraction specialist Lappset Group and a local Chinese developer to create a Christmas-themed attraction in the capital of Sichuan province.
News Brief
New railway route to speed up Finland-China transport
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innish logistics services provider Nurminen Logistics has signed a letter of intent to build a railway across the Asian continent, which will shorten the cargo passage between Finland and China, local media reported on September 10. The letter was signed late last month with UTLC, a joint venture of the Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus state railways, to open a new railway route to China, news service Good News from Finland said in a report.
Norway says no to Chinese radar on Svalbard proposed radar mainly funded by the Chinese that was to
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study the polar atmosphere and solar winds, will not be built at Svalbard. After an overall assessment from the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research it is decided that Norway will not approve the construction of a new radar with a 50 meter span on Svalbard, national Norwegian broadcaster NRK reports. The project was proposed by China through the international research organization EISCAT.
Novozymes eyes China’s agro-biotech market
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enmark-based biotechnology giant Novozymes is anticipating huge demand for its microbial products that improve crop yields in China, the world’s largest producer and consumer of agricultural goods, a top company official said on September 11. The company has already started field trials for its microbial technology in China and expects to commercialize the technology soon, said Peder Holk Nielsen, chief executive officer of the Danish company, which specializes in industrial enzymes. The company has also teamed up with the world’s largest seed company Monsanto Co and formed a $300 million strategic alliance to jointly develop and commercialize microbial technology worldwide.
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October 2014 • ScandAsia.China 7
New Swedish priest in China
After 21 years serving as a priest in Kalmar the almost 30 year old dream of living and working in Asia caught up with Anders Johansson and his wife Kerstin Johansson. by Lasse Henriksen
In China the church will have to be largely reliable on volunteers. ”When you operate a church over such vast distances the community becomes more important. We want to have regular services every month and then depending on who is in the congregation and who attends the services, we will see what people need and what we can do,” Anders Johansson says.
An old dream
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nders Johansson, the new Swedish priest in China and Hong Kong is a bit of a spor ts nut, he is an eager cyclist, a crosscountry skier, and when it comes to football he is a loyal supporter Kalmar FF and Arsenal.Together with his wife Kerstin Johansson, who will help with the administration, Anders is ready to take on the challenge of serving Swedish expatriates using the Swedish church in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing to build a strong spirit of community, while commuting the almost 2000 kilometers between the cities. Anders Johansson comes directly from a position as priest in the Kalmar Cathedral, where he had 10 employees working for the church. In Hong Kong it is just him and his wife and even though the cathedral has been exchanged with 8 ScandAsia.China • October 2014
borrowed premises, Anders is looking forward to the challenges and simplicity that comes with the new job. ”You can relax in a big organization were you have funds, staff and a location. Here we have to be creative in another way. We want to make the church a meeting point for people, it should be a place where they feel free to come and share their life’s burden when it is not easy,” Anders says and adds that the church should be a place with space for people going through both good and bad times. But insuring that the church can fulfill its role in the Swedish community will be a challenge, in addition to the absence of employees the commuting between the three cities will make Anders’ priesthood very different from the one he had in Sweden.
Anders and Kerstin shocked their friends when they told them that they were leaving for Hong Kong. Some admired the couple’s decision while other thought they were crazy to leave jobs, friends and family in Sweden. One of their closest friends even missed a night of sleep upon the receiving the news. But what might have seem like an impulsive decision to friends and family was not born of a midlife crisis, but an invitation the couple received after 8 months of volunteering in India in the 1980’s. After volunteering in Goa, India 1986 and 1987 the couple was invited to work for a Christian center in Hong Kong, back then the couple declined since they were still studying, but the dream of working and living in Asia was born and the wish to work abroad followed them through the years. ”Since we had been talking about working abroad for so many years, we did not want to look back on all this talk and say, alright we did not do it,” Anders says before Kerstin cuts in ”and we looked at it and said, okay, what is the worst thing that can happen. Worst case scenario would be finding out that this isn’t something for us, but if that is the case we can always move back when our contract has ended.”
Letting go of the dog and 3 trucks packed with furniture and clothes Selling their SAAB and 150 square meter home of 14 years, was not the toughest part about leaving, as Kerstin puts it, there are lots of cars and houses in Sweden. Putting their dog Tussen, a chihuahuapapillon mix, up for adoption was the hardest part for the family. Though they will miss being around friends and family, the couple are confident that the friendships can survive and hope that mov-
You can relax in a big organisation were you have funds, staff and a location. Here we have to be creative in another way. We want to make the church a meeting point for people, it should be a place where they feel free to come and share their life’s burden when it is not easy.
ing abroad will be an opportunity to evolve on a personal level. “We do not do this to start afresh, we still have our friends and family, it is a way to take a break from ordinary life in Sweden, we see it more like a chance to reevaluate what is important to us,” Anders says. The family have stored 40 cubic meters of belongings in Sweden and have donated 3 lorries full of furniture and clothes for charity. All the family brought with them to Hong Kong was 3 suitcases and 5 cardboard boxes with essentials like sports equipment, games and family photos.
The decision Kerstin and Anders have three children, two sons, who already left home to study in Canada and work in Sydney, and a 17 year old daughter Hanna, who moved with them to Hong Kong and had the final saying in whether the family should move or not. ”I was actually sitting with my application the night before the submission deadline, wondering if I should apply or not, when Hanna and one of my sons told me to just send it in and see what happens, it’s not that dangerous,” Anders says and adds that they would not have moved if Hanna wasn’t in on the idea. Hanna was doing her first year at a gymnasium in Sweden, when her parents asked her if she wanted to move to Hong Kong, she accepted the idea and was excited about the possibility of improving her English skills. She is now enrolled at Delia School of Canada in Hong Kong and will finish her last 2 1/2 years of secondary school there. About a month after Anders had sent the job application he was offered the job with Kerstin working an administrative part-time position, after a night of talking it through the couple decided to take job and move to Hong Kong. ”We have been attracted to Asia, and I do not believe there will ever be a perfect moment to move abroad. Maybe it would have been better if Hanna had finished her school and so on, but then something else would probably have come up,” Kerstin says.
A village in the metropolis Even though Hong Kong is a large city, the Swed-
ish community is very small and in some ways Anders’ new job can be compared to the one of a village priest. In Hong Kong and Shanghai the Swedish community only consists of a couple of thousand individuals, while there were 50.000 potential churchgoers in Kalmar. ”When we come here as a family, we come as the priest family. Like Lennart Hamark, the former Swedish priest in China, told me: “You are living in a big city but within this city there are many smaller cities, one of those small cities is the Swedish community,” Anders says. Even though Anders has been a priest for 21 years, moving to Hong Kong is a whole new and different chapter of his priesthood, but challenges and new experiences is what he is seeking. ”We have been talking for several years, about doing something different, maybe moving to Stockholm, just do something to make some sort of change. Our trip to Asia in 1986 made us grow, we learned so much, we changed as persons because of the experiences we had, so I think it is also curiosity to learn new things, the challenges and then of course our craving for adventure is also part of the equation,” Anders says.
Getting Christianity down-to-earth Anders looks at Christianity as a way to reflect on your daily choices and way of life, and in that sense Christianity becomes a ”down-to-earth” thing that has a direct effect on your life and actions. ”Through Jesus the Christian God becomes a human figure, not just a guy in the sky, but a man that shows what it means to be a true human. For me, being a Christian is to find out what Christianity means in everyday life and what Jesus is showing me in the ordinary life I live,” he says, and adds that some might be confident in their faith and some might be in doubt, but that this is a good thing, cause then people can talk to each other and learn from one another. ”My religion is rooted in the confidence, that God is greater than me, I don’t have to save the world, that is up to God. I think this makes me relaxed and allows me to be open toward other peoples interpretation of Christianity,” Anders Johansson says. If everything goes as planned the church’s activities will start at the end of October. Like
former priest Lennart Hamark, Anders is going to Shanghai and Beijing on a monthly basis to do services and prepare young Swedish expats for their confirmation.
There is something about Asia The family is now in Hong Kong and are ready to settle in. Their first impressions are good, the combination of lush mountains and skyscrapers suits the family well, with opportunities for trekking, as Anders puts it ”If it had only shopping malls I would probably die down here”. The family appreciates the cultural diversity of Hong Kong and are ready to venture into the unknown, undeterred by bureaucracy or daily challenges. ”In Sweden everything is very effective, here in Asia it is not always the case, at times it can be frustrating, but sometimes when the systems are not flexible the population learn to be.”
Fact Box • Anders is 51, born in Uppsala and became ordained in 1993 by the age of 30. He has been a priest in Kalmar ever since. • Even thoughAnders’father was a priest,Anders did not feel like he grew up in a priest-family, none of his siblings became priests and before Anders chose to become one, he considered becoming a teacher. • Anders has completed Vasaloppet 3 times, and when in Sweden he watches Kalmar FF on the stadium. • Anders has been married to Kerstin for 30 years in May. • Kerstin is a teacher of 1st to 7th graders and got a leave of absence from her job in Kalmar. • The couple has 3 children: • Simon who is 24 and works as a volunteer for Svenskakyrkan in Sydney. • Rasmus who is 21 and studies economy in Canada. • Hanna who is 17 and has left her Swedish Gymnasium to attend to Delia School of Canada in Hong Kong. October 2014 • ScandAsia.China 9
A brighter future
for immigrant children in Sabah plantations In 1991 Torben Venning and a group of Danish teachers launched a modest project to provide basic education for 70 children of immigrant plantation workers in Sabah, Malaysia. Since then the number of children enrolled in their schools has risen to 13000. By Kristian KrĂźger Lauritzen
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n the eastern par t of Malaysia, in Sabah, Borneo, oil palm plantations covers a massive swathes of land in the region, and these companies are the biggest employers. Most of the plantation workers are immigrants, and under strict Malaysian laws, no immigrant workers are allowed to have a family or bring up children while being employed in the country. Such unrealistic and unenforceable restriction results in a lot of immigrant children being born on Malaysian soil without official documentation regarding their nationality. Only children born to Malaysian citizens can be enrolled in state schools, leaving a huge number of children without access to education. Since 1991 the NGO, Humana Child Aid Society, has been providing basic education for a growing number of immigrant children, the majority of which are from Indonesia. Starting out with seed funds from a Dutch NGO, Humana has grown by leaps and bounds. Today the organization has become more or less self-financed. 51-year-old Dane, Torben Venning, Executive Director of Humana Child Aid Society, was one of founders of the school projects back in 1991. “We were a small group of Danes, most of us teachers by profession, who came out here. We soon found out that all those children running around were not going to school. It seemed obvious to us what needed to be done. But with an estimated 50000 immigrant children outside 10 ScandAsia.China • October 2014
We were a small group of Danes, most of us teachers by profession, who came out here. We soon found out that all those children running around were not going to school. It seemed obvious to us what needed to be done.
the Malaysian school system, it was fair to say that there were a lot to be done,” he recalled. Torben Venning has a BA in anthropology from Denmark, and had taught for many years at independent schools. When Humana Child Aid Society star ted out almost twenty five years ago with local NGO counterparts in Lahad Datu in the eastern part of Sabah, they were able to enroll some 70 immigrant children to their network of schools. Today there are more than 13000 receiving education in 135 learning centres in Sabah. “We began teaching the children without any formal permission. After some time, Malaysia’s Ministry of Education heard about our activities, and an official delegation came for inspection. That turned out well, they recognized the benefits, and we got the green light to carry on with our school network offering a full curriculum, “ Torben Venning said.
Strict immigrant labour rules From a Scandinavian perspective, it would seem obvious that every child, regardless of nationality, should have access to schooling. In Malaysia, it is a different story. In a multicultural country such as this, there are millions of illegal and legal immigrants, particularly from poorer neighbouring countries, like Indonesia and the Philippines. In an effort to keep the number of immigrants at manageable level, the government issued strict rules on non-Malaysians. “When you are an immigrant plantation worker in Malaysia, the official rules forbid you to marry and/or have children. Of course the reality is that these people are getting married and are having children - which is basically what people do, “ Torben Venning stressed. The plantation workers typically lives in longhouses located inside the oil palm plantations in village settings, with the majority from Sulawesi, Indonesia. Without access to school the children are likely to become child labourers at an early age. The Malaysian government officially acknowledges the need for school under the principle “Education for All”, but leaves it solely to NGO’s to provide schooling for non-Malaysians.
Humana Child Aid Society presently have more than 300 teachers employed in addition to 109 teachers sent by the Indonesian Government. In-house training and learning by doing, are essential part of the teaching staff recruitment and skill development. Teachers don’t really need to have a degree in education,Torben Venning stressed. “It is important that the ones we hire, have their heart in the right place. Usually they are people who lives in the rural areas, struggling to find work. So we hire some of them, provide them with training, and often they end up becoming very dedicated and great teachers.”
Social responsibility From 1991 to 1999 the schools was funded by Dutch NGO, Humana People to People. That organisation closed down in 1999, so the Sabah school project adopted the name Humana. At that time an essential donation came through a request to the Danish Embassy in Malaysia. “We had asked them, if there were any possibility for financial support from DANIDA(Danish International Development Agency) or anything similar, but the average income in Malaysia is too high to qualify as international aid recipient. Luckily the Danish Ambassador forwarded our funding request to the Finnish Embassy, which had available budget allocated for a project like ours, “ Torben Venning said. The Finnish Embassy were the main donors for the following nine years. In 2012 Humana Child Aid Society received from the EU a donation of 600000 euros to be spent over three years. Humana also receives financial support from Danish businesses such as ØK(East Asiatic Company) and Maersk. Also UNICEF has provided important support and cooperation. In 2013 the Finnish Embassy ceased funding. As of today it is mostly the plantation companies that pay for the day-to-day running of the schools. At long last, they have realised the need for corporate social responsibility. “Good plantation workers are sought after. And as is turns out, the ones that are reliable are also the ones with a family. They are not going anywhere because employment gives them the
financial security they need. So the plantation companies have learned that the schools are not only about charity, but basically is part of good management.”
Eager to learn Torben Venning sees it as quite an exceptional situation, that a private foreign organization gets the opportunity to implement school project in Malaysia. “Our project played an important role in putting a spotlight on the problem that these children exist. Now there is a general understanding that they also deserve education,” he stressed. Since 2011 Humana Child Aid Society has opened up 32 new learning centres for more than 3000 immigrant students and continues to expand. For the immigrant children, the schools, the time they spent in classes provide them with a structure in their lives, and a better future when they grow up. Torben Venning recounted with a smile how visiting teacher-groups from Denmark told him that they were very envious, when they saw how dedicated the children are at the learning centres. There are still immigrant children who are still deprived of schooling in Sabah. Humana Child Aid Society are striving to reach out to as many of them as possible, to make the noble concept of “Education for All” a reality. October 2014 • ScandAsia.China 11
Visit Laos...
By Morten Krogsholm
before it’s too late
Everything closes at midnight. A sense of calmness settles around you. Gastronomic experiences awaits you and commercialization is on the verge of happening. Welcome to Vientiane, Laos.
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o many it is known as one of the most chilled-out places on earth. It has a undescribable vibe to it that is so far removed from the hectic everyday life. If you wish to experience this along with its unique selection of cuisines from all over the world, it might be time to pack your suitcase and get to Laos before big businesses move in and change the scenery.
Simply cosy It is all about the vibe. Everything in Vientiane seems to run on a different set of tracks than in the rest of the world - smooth, calm and easygoing. On arriving from the hustle and bustle of the city life, you be struck by the down-tempo vibe that embraces you and you might end up dwelling in it. The Laotian people are friendly and seem to have a lot less mercenary attitude than in some other Asian countries where everything turns into haggling over prices. And surprisingly enough, a lot of people in Vientiane speak English or at least understand what you are trying to communicate. Walking down the streets, it is common to see TukTuk drivers enjoying a bit of relaxation in a hammock that they put up in the back of their vehicles and you instinctively settle in and adopt their laid-back way of life. If you can withstand the heat, it is possible to get anywhere in Vientiane on foot due to its modest size of approximately four square kilometers and a population of just around 800.000. But the compactness of the place also means that there are limited opportunities for 12 ScandAsia.China • October 2014
sightseeing and activities, relatively speaking. Because Vientiane offers both rich cultural experience and creature comforts, with street vendors keen on catering to your every needs for every budget. If you are a big fan of architecture, Laos can offer that as well, such as Pha That Luang, the most impor tant Laotian Buddhist monument, which was originally built in 1566 and restored in the 1930. You will also stumble upon different official government buildings, which always feature big name plates in gold letters both in French and Laotian. The streets are narrow and you will find yourself walking as much on the road as on the pavement as street vendors display and sell their ware right on the pavement, forcing pedestrians on to the road surface. On top of that, it is worth mentioning that traffic is not as bad in Vientiane as in many other Asian cities, so you do not have to fear for your life at all times. And making your way around the narrow streets on foot also
offers added advantage as might actually lead you to some treasured items that may not be available anywhere else in the world. Like in the bookstores, which are a good place to go bargainhunting if you are looking for that special present for yourself or a bookworm friend. First or second editions of some famous books, which would be a complete nightmare to find elsewhere - not to mention the exorbitant price tags to match.These things might just be hidden around the corner somewhere in Vientiane. All of this might be a result of Laos being one the poorest countries and therefore it is in many ways underdeveloped. But you could easily misread the relaxed atmosphere as absence of development, which is not the case.
Under development Vientiane will not turn into Times Square any time soon and probably never will, so you still have time to experience the calm and uniqueness of Vientiane. But you should hurry up. Though being underdeveloped, there are new developments in Laos and the capital Vientiane, that are transforming them into a more modern, westernized look and perhaps also the rhythm of life. For a long period of time, both the capital city and the country have been free of international brands and their franchises, with only Beer Lao being the sole key player as the nation pride, and every shop owner dreaming of having the signature yellow and green Beer Lao logo to be associated with their business. The lack of international franchises has left Laos in the company of few Asian countries without McDonald, KFC and Burger King, among others - which is not altogether a bad thing. But times are changing. Globalization and commercialization have now established a beachhead with chains, such as Swensen ice-cream parlor, The Pizza Company and Dairy Queen, popping up around the city and standing out because of its strict guidelines in regards to the decoration of these modern fastfood outlets. A quick look at McDonald website
also indicates that they are monitoring the market closely with the intention to penetrate the market in the near future. Even the signature morning market, Talat Sao, has had its commercial makeover, going from being a traditional open street market to having a modern shopping mall in one corner and enclosing a part of the traditional market. That resulted in a clash of cultures and some would say an eyesore as the shops inside the extension, which looks very like modern, western architecture, seem not to have fully adapted to its new environment. It looks like the developer simply transplanted traditional street shops inside the new extension as none of the shops seem to have put any effort into decoration of their businesses to fit the modern decors. That why the new center has no shopping mall feel to it. This ongoing modernization in Vientiane and Laos in general suggests that the country is fast becoming a hotspot for foreign investment and it is said that Chinese entrepreneurs are the main driving force, backed by availability of cash and cheap loans.
Treat your tastebuds As a small land-locked country, Laos has to import many things, from groceries to meat used for cooking - but the Laotians obviously know how to cook. The country was a French protectorate in the late 19th Century and it seems as if the proud French food culture and tradition has rubbed off on the Laotian people who accepted it whole-heartedly. The small capital of Vientiane offers a humon-
gous selection of cuisines from all over the world and in contradiction to experience you might have of western food in Southeast Asia the food prepared in Laos is nothing less than excellent rendition, which does justice to the original. Culinary adventure is definitely a must-do if you visit Vientiane as you get a surreal experience of finding yourself in a mini version of Europe. Another upside is that the food, to a cer tain extent, is affordable, though food is actually more expensive in Laos than in most other Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand. This goes for street food as well. One thing that is very cheap
and very good is their sandwiches. Fresh veggies and French baguettes are used and it will only cost you around 20.000 Lation Kip, which is just around 2 Euros. If you have money to spend, you should immerse yourself in one of the many gastronomic experiences the capital serves up. You will be greeted by a wide selection of pizzas made in real wood-fired pizza ovens and though pizza is Italian and many of the pizza places around town are French or Italian, one of the more popular ones is a Swedish pizza bakery, which serves a pizza with banana as topping. At 20 Euros you can get a tasty and tender buffalo steak with a creamy mushroom sauce and pommes. And should you opt for even more lavish feast, you may try out some french delicacies - a tenderloin steak with foie gras and truffle sauce can be had just around the corner. The local Laotians dishes are also wor th tasting as they bear slight resemblance to the food found in other Asian kitchens. They neither ver y spicy nor salty, Laotian cuisine is more influenced by herbs than spices, and there is, of course, the sticky rice. Some Laotians even refer to themselves as the descendants of sticky rice - Luk Khao Niaow. So to sum it all up; If you feel like you could need a break and chill out, while getting A+ food without breaking your bank account and experience a country that has not yet been overrun by modern western chain stores and franchises - a trip to Laos might be a perfect fit for your wellearned vacation
October 2014 • ScandAsia.China 13
Scandinavian
Bakery
By Morten Krogsholm
A retiring baker, a homecoming son and his Swedish Pizza... the Wissmars are not expanding but not for want of trying.
Circumstances have changed so much during the last decade that he no longer sees it as a viable project. “You need funds to set up new outlets in other countries. We don’t have the means to do that on our own, so we would need to lend from a bank. Unfortunately there are others who can do this at much lower interest rates, such as the Chinese who can borrow money for investment in a foreign country at a 0 percent interest rate,” Sune said by way of explaining why he had to let go of the dreams of expansion. No sooner than the dreams has been dashed, Wismars Bakery, located right next to the fountain, Nam Phou, is also downsizing. “We’ve sold part of the property to a local bank, and I’m actually quite satisfied with that. Nam Phou used to be a great location for business, but somehow someone got the fountain renovated in a way, that in my opinion, destroyed its beauty and the attractive surroundings completely,” said Sune, showing me an old postcard of how it used to look.
tiane to ask if he could come back to Laos and help him out. “Daniel went to school here when we moved here and Daniel fell in love with the country and the people. His knowledge of the local language is of course also a huge advantage in terms of living and working here. He is a very valuable asset to our company,” Sune said, adding that his twin brothers were doing just fine in Sweden. “Daniel came here and started helping out in the bakery. Even since he was back, he was always on the lookout for a good pizza, but he couldn’t find any that satisfied his tastebuds. So he decided that he would open a bakery that serves pizzas with a Sweden slant,” he told me. Before my interview with Sune Wissmar I had walked by one of Daniel’s pizza outlets in Vientiane and I was quite intrigued as the sign that reads “Swedish Pizza & Baking”. Never before had I heard of “Swedish Pizza”, so I simply had to ask Sune what a Swedish pizza is and what makes it unique. He explained to me how many Italians had travelled to Sweden in the 70’s to work and many of them had set up pizzerias in Sweden. Their proud tradition of making pizzas had rubbed off on the Swedes, who then proceeded to modify it to suit their taste. “Today in Stockholm I would estimate that there are probably around 10.000 pizzerias. Only 500 of those make bad pizzas. The rest of them are churning out quality pizzas that meet high standards,” he said. But the Swedish variety of pizza have also been modified to fit the tastebuds of the people of Laos. “Our pizzas are less salty than what you would have in Sweden, Laotians do not like their food as salty as we from the western part of the world do,” Daniel Wissmar said. To begin with, the pizzas are mainly sold to backpackers and expats and as time went by and rumours began to spread about the good pizza, the Laotians joined the crowd and now make up a big share of the clientele.The pizzerias also bake specialities, like the Selma that Swedes eats during Shrovetide, which is also Daniel’s favorite. The growing popularity of the pizza-places have also earned its entry in The Lonely Planet.
Swedish pizza
A new generation
D
reams of expansion are put away and the Scandinavian Bakery is downsizing. Swedish Pizzas and a homecoming son will now determine the future of the Wissmar family’s business in Laos and Southeast Asia. When ScandAsia last talked with Sune Wismar, nearly a decade ago, plans for expanding the Scandinavian Baker y to other par ts of Southeast Asia were so meticulously laid out as if they were just about to come true.Those dreams have now been shelved and new ones have been conjured up.
Different circumstances
Daniel, one of his children, nearly completed a business degree when he phoned Sune in Vien14 ScandAsia.China • October 2014
Throughout my talk with Sune Wissmar, he kept reminding me that the company is now being
run by Daniel. It’s the son and his pizzas that represent the future of this family business. Sune Wissmar described himself as being semi-retired though he hasn’t left Vientiane. Sune continues to take 12-hour trips to and from Bangkok to bring in the ingredients for the family’s bakeries while dropping by the office every now and then. But he promised to go back to Sweden and retire there with his wife, but said that that will happen the day Daniel kicks him out on to the curb. It is not hard to understand why it is difficult to let go of something that has been the labor of love and a passion of one’s life for over thirty years. “I’ve been here for so long that I’m one of the grand oldtimers. It seems like yesterday people came to me for advice about setting up businesses here and what to and what not to do. But those times are over,” Sune said. He described how his role had changed and how his son has grown to become a full partner and is now taking the lead. Sune Wissmar has complete faith in his son’s ability to bring the family business to the next level, but at the moment he is quite satisfied with sticking around. “We’ve grown to employ over 100 employees and with that the burden to hold regular staff meetings and the responsibility to keep your employees satisfied. On top of that, we also have to compete for competent staff members, which are not easy to find these days,” Sune said, glancing at the office where Daniel was poring over accounting tasks. Whether the Swedish Pizza will remain an obscure specialty only to be found in Laos or whether it will travel across the borders to conquer other Southeast Asian markets, only time will tell. One thing is for certain - Daniel is now fully in charge while Sune is counting down towards a happy retirement back in Sweden.
Smoked Bacon with Apples and Onions By Anders Holm Nielsen
This traditional recipe from Denmark makes a hearty lunch or a tasty Sunday evening dinner.
Ingredients (Serves 4) • 4 tablespoons butter • 1 pound sliced back bacon • 2 large onions •3 medium apples cut in wedges • Black pepper • Preparation Melt 2 tablespoons butter. Add bacon and fry until lightly browned. Remove bacon and drain on paper towel. Add remaining butter and fry onions until soft and transparent. Add apples; cover pan and simmer 7 to 10 minutes. When apples are cooked, put bacon back in and simmer about 5 minutes. Grind pepper over top.
October 2014 • ScandAsia.China 15
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