ScandAsia South East Asia - April 2016 by Scandinavian Publishing Co., Ltd.

APR 2016

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Malaysia Norway Business Council AGM Where: Norwegian Ambassador’s residence, 23 Linkungan U-Thant, Kuala Lumpur When: 7 April, 7 pm Theme:

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

The AGM for the year ending the 31 December 2015 will be held on Thursday the 7th of April 7pm at the Norwegian Ambassador’s residence, 23 Linkungan U-Thant. The AGM is strictly for members who have paid their annual subscription fee for 2016 and their spouses. It is not a Water Hole and no guests are permitted.

Viking Fest 2016 Ho Chi Minh City Where: Binh Quoi 2 Tourist Village, Làng Du Lịch Bình Quới, Ho Chi Minh City When: 23 april 2016, 16:00 - 21:00 Nordic Chamber of Commerce invites to the annual Viking Fest. More details on: nordcham.com

We also publish a ScandAsia magazine in China, Thailand, and Singapore.

Please sign up for your own FREE copy: www. scandasia.com Publisher : 211 Soi Prasert Manukitch 29 Prasert Manukitch Road Chorakae Bua, Lad Prao Bangkok 10230, Thailand Tel. +66 2 943 7166-8, Fax: +66 2 943 7169 E-mail: news@scandasia.com Editor-in-Chief : Gregers A.W. Møller gregers@scandmedia.com Assistant Editor: Joakim Persson Joakim@scandmedia.com Advertising : Finn Balslev finn@scandmedia.com Graphic Designer : Peerapol Meesuwan Peerapol@scandmedia.com Distribution : Wanvisa Rattanaburi wanvisa@scandmedia.com

SWEA: Fredagsfika för alla svenskar i Kuala Lumpur Where: Coffe Bean, Pavillion, Kuala Lumpur When: 6 May, 10:30 – 12:00

Den första fredagen varje månad ses vi på Coffee Bean i Pavilion plan 3, (i gången på utsidan av Pavilion) klockan 10.30 för att dricka kaffe och umgås med andra svenskar. Du behöver inte vara medlem i Swea. Ingen föranmälan behövs.

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Malaysia Norway Business Council Water Hole Networking Where: Norwegian Ambassador’s residence, 23 Linkungan U-Thant When: Thursday 2nd of June 7pm Members are most welcome to bring their guests. More information will be provided closer to the event.

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News Brief

Danish Energy Saving Award presented in Vietnam

n 25 February Denmark’s Ambassador Charlotte Laursen inVietnam visited Kim Lan Village and awarded two ceramic enterprises for their successful investment in new gas firing kilns, which enable them to both save energy and reduce CO2 emission significantly. It’s the first time this Energy Saving Award has been presented, and hopefully not the last, writes the Embassy of Denmark, Hanoi. The Energy Saving Award is an initiative of the Green Investment Facility, which is a Fund to stimulate energy efficiency investments by Vietnamese small and medium enterprises established in 2015 by the Embassy of Denmark in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry & Trade of Vietnam. The Green Investment Facility (GIF), up and running since Februar y 2015, suppor ts investments in energy efficiency measures in small and medium sized businesses in the ceramics, food preparation and brick production sectors. These are all sectors with great energy efficiency potential

New Chairman of Danish Vietnamese Association

generational change took place at the General Assembly of The Danish Vietnamese Association (DVA) on 13 March, where 72 year old Jørgen Prag was succeeded as chairman by 35 year old Jonas WS Andersen. Jørgen Prag stepped down after almost 20 years of chairing DVA. ”It is quite a responsibility to take over – especially from such a well-liked chairman as Jørgen Prag, Jonas admits. But I really look forward to working closely together with the board and our volunteers.” The DVA promotes friendship between the people of Denmark and Vietnam through charitable work and development projects as well as through the promotion of Vietnamese culture in Denmark. ”We all work on a voluntary basis. We are completely dependent on our active members’ voluntary efforts.Thus, one goal is to make our association more accessible and attractive to people who wants to make a difference and who shares our love for the Vietnamese people, Jonas continues. If anybody out there feels inspired, do not hesitate to contact us!” Jonas WS Andersen has a degree in International Development. He used to work for one year in Vietnam from 2009-2010 and has for the last three years been the Editor-in-Chief of DVA’s magazine Vietnam Ajour. New Chairman of the Shelter Collection Presently, the DVA runs two charity collections, a childrens’ rights project in Ho Chi Minh City and produces four magazines a year in Danish with news from Vietnam. At the General Assembly, DVAs charity The Shelter Collection also got a new chairman in the 30 year old Loan Tran, succeeding the collection’s founder, Ole Riis. Loan Tran is of Vietnamese descent but grew up in Denmark. She is presently living and working in Danang, Vietnam.

4 ScandAsia.South East Asia • April 2016

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April 2016 • ScandAsia.South East Asia 5

News Brief

Copenhagen Zoo and Malaysia strengthens collaboration further

n 12 February 2016, Copenhagen Zoo and Depar tment of Wildlife and National Parks Jabatan Perhilitan Semenanjung Malaysia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen and further develop their collaboration on wildlife protection that has been on-going since 1998. The cooperation includes a tapir conservation programme to protect the wild tapirs in Peninsular Malaysia. This involves wildlife experts studying the protected species in Krau Wildlife Reserve, Taman Negara in Pahang, and in Sungai Dusun as well as the development of Malaysian Tapir Conservation Action Plan (MATCAP). It is possible to see the endangered tapirs in Copenhagen Zoo and Malaysia’s National Zoo, Zoo Negara, in Kuala Lumpur. Danish-owned United Plantations in Malaysia also runs conservation of jungle reserves and wildlife sanctuaries as well as promotes green corridors.To date, United Plantations has set aside more than 5,000 hectares of land for conservation purposes representing approximately 10% of our total planted area in order to encourage biodiversity and wildlife on our estates. In Indonesia UP has set aside approximately 35% of its land concession for the purpose of conservation. Riparian reserves are maintained to preserve flora and fauna, provide wildlife corridors, ensure water quality and prevent erosion. In order to develop effective conservation strategies, United Plantations needs the assistance of experts in these fields and has established a series of collaborations and partnerships. One such partner is Copenhagen Zoo. Since 2007, UP has been engaging CPH Zoo’s Senior Research and Programme Coordinator (South East Asia Conservation Programme), Dr. Carl Traeholt as its External Environmental Advisor to provide Management with recommendations and views pertaining to its development in Indonesia with special emphasis on enhancing sustainability, biodiversity and conservation. This included reviewing the High Conservation Value Forest Assessments (later changed to High Conservation Value) undertaken for our properties and providing proposals in terms of further raising the bar of sustainable practices within the palm oil industry. Sources: Embassy of Denmark in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; United Plantations

Denmark and Vietnam inks Joint Action Plan 2016

ith new Vietnam-Danish activities ready a Joint Action Plan was signed on 23 February by Director General of Europe Department Le Dung and Denmark’s Ambassador Charlotte Laursen. This action plans aims at strengthening the bilateral cooperation and is part of the Comprehensive Partnership Agreement. It focuses on new activities to be implemented in 2016 within politics and diplomacy, trade and investment, green growth and climate, education and research as well as culture. Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh expected that Danish Ambassador to Vietnam Charlotte Laursen will contribute to enhancing Vietnam-Denmark Comprehensive Par tnership at his reception for the newlyappointed Ambassador on February 25. Hailing the active development in the two nations’ Comprehensive Partnership, the Deputy PM confirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to the effective relationship and cooperation with Denmark. The 2016 action plan, he said, is filled with crucial and realistic activities in such areas as politics, economics, environment, educationtraining and culture. On behalf of the Vietnamese Government, Deputy PM Minh thanked Denmark for its Official Development Assistance for Vietnam, proposing the Ambassador closely cooperate with the Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities 6 ScandAsia.South East Asia • April 2016

to deepen the bilateral relations in all fields, especially in the context that the two sides will celebrate the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. Ambassador Charlotte Laursen said that the Danish Government hopes to strengthen the effective cooperation with Vietnam, one of the 10 prioritized par tners in Denmark’s Growth Strategy. She committed to coordinating with the Vietnamese Ministr y of Foreign Affairs and functional agencies to boost up effective cooperation in fields of adaption to climate

change, environment, energy, education and green growth. Denmark will accelerate the connection between the two sides’ businesses to take full advantage of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement. Two-way trade turnover between the two countries attained US$500 million in 2015. Currently, as many as 130 Danish businesses are operating in Vietnam. Sources: Embassy of Denmark in Vietnam, VGP online newspaper of the government

News Brief

Finnish trade delegation visits Vietnam

n 6–11 March 2016 Finlandäs Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Lenita Toivakka lead a Team Finland business delegation to Vietnam. Visiting both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the companies in the delegation represented education, cleantech and ICT. Finland is known to be a dynamic society with par ticular exper tise in technology and innovations. The country´s Cleantech and ICT solutions are global top-notch programmes. Finland is also recognised as being one of

the countries investing most heavily in research, development, innovation and education, an investment the country takes pride in and that has brought tangible results. “Both Finland and Vietnam aim at developing their commercial and economic relations. The visit offered an excellent opportunity for us to showcase leading-edge Finnish expertise in several sectors on the rapidly developing Vietnamese market of over 94 million consumers,” Minister Toivakka said. High-level meetings took place and networking events were arranged, in which Finnish companies could promote their business contacts and projects in Vietnam.The Minister and her delegation members met both Vietnamese ministers and representatives of other state institutions and the city management of Ho Chi Minh. Vietnam’s Minister of Industr y and Trade of Việt Nam Vũ Huy Hoàng hosted the Finnish delegation. In Ho Chi Minh, Minister Toivakka held a speech on education and innovation at the University of Ton Duc Thang. She also visited a waste treatment complex in the Binh Duong province, that has been built using Finnish

development cooperation funds. Vietnam has developed fast and is now a lower middle income countr y. Its economic growth is stable, and last year its GDP accelerated to 6.7 per cent. The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations were completed in December. There is much untapped potential in the trade between Finland and Vietnam, and the new FTA supports the growth of our trade. Thanks to the decades of development cooperation, the Vietnamese consider Finland a reliable partner, and Finnish expertise has a particularly good name in the country. The Team Finland delegation helped Finnish companies boosting their trade with Vietnam. Bilateral trade has been growing steadily during the last few years, expanding by more than 30 per cent in 2015 compared to the previous year. Finland wants to expand and deepen the cooperation with Vietnam also in the coming years, after the bilateral development cooperation has gradually been phased down.

April 2016 • ScandAsia.South East Asia 7

News Brief

Fibertex Personal Care invests further in Malaysia

ibertex Personal Care, the Danish supplier of nonwovens for different applications in diapers, feminine hygiene and incontinence care products, has announced further production investment in Malaysia. The nonwoven giant is in 2016 establishing yet another production line there to service the growing Asian hygiene market. The investment amounts to DKK 400 million and will expand the company’s capacity in Asia by more than 20%. The expansion of the plant facilities in Malaysia is done in order to comply with the growth in the Asian market: “Fibertex Personal Care holds a very strong position in the Asian market, which we will now be strengthening with the new investment. In 2002 we were one of the first global manufacturers to establish in Asia and this we still benefit from today where we are among the three largest in the region and for example the absolute biggest non-Japanese supplier to Japan,” says Mikael Staal Axelsen, Group CEO of Fibertex Personal Care. The main products are spunbond and spunmelt, which are produced as fabrics sold by the meter and used as important applications in diapers, feminine hygiene and incontinence care products. Fibertex Personal Care belongs among the leading suppliers by virtue of its high level of service, innovation and quality, which i.a. has led to various supplier awards from Procter & Gamble, Ontex and Kimberley Clark. Moreover, there are clear signs that the timing of the investment in the Asian market is right; while the consumption of hygiene products in the West only shows a moderate increase of 1-2% it 8 ScandAsia.South East Asia • April 2016

looks quite different in Asia. A growing number of people in the Southeast Asian countries, China and India are earning an income that enables them to focus more on personal hygiene. This results in an Asian market growing about 10% each year. Currently Fibertex Personal Care has a total of seven production lines, and the eighth and new line will become number five in Malaysia. However, as there is no space for further expansions at the existing site in Nilai, so Fibertex Personal Care will establish a new site about 25 km south of the existing one. The new site can accommodate four or five lines, hence future expansions have already been taken into consideration. “At the new site we will have even more focus on value-added products and the improvement of existing products. The consumers and thereby the industry require hygiene products that are lighter, softer and with finer structures, and we have reached an advanced stage in the processing improvement race which becomes more and more predominant in our business,” says Mikael Staal Axelsen. The new production line will be fully operational by mid-2017. Commenting on receiving the prestigious Global Supplier of the Year Award Peter Andersen, CEO Fibertex Personal Care Malaysia commented that it “is extremely important for us. It drives us to constantly improving ourselves. By working across plants, we successfully use our presence in different regions and knowledge from different markets to create value added solutions

for our customers. Receiving the Award together with Innowo Print demonstrate some of the improvements already gained from our efforts.” The Malaysian factory was established by Fibertex Personal Care in 2002, which turned out to be the perfect time for establishing the company in the South East Asian market. Today, the Danish company is among the top three in the region, and Fibertex Personal Care is the largest non-Japanese supplier to the Japanese market, thanks to a unique exper tise and a wide selection of the so-called spunbond and spunmelt nonwoven products of a very high quality. The nonwoven end product is used in the production of diapers, feminine hygiene products, incontinence products and different products for medical purposes. Fibertex Personal Care’s new ultra-modern spunbond line in Malaysia has been up and running since November 2011 and in April 2012 the company also announced investment ($55 million) in a state-of-the-art production line in Malaysia to be in operation within two years, reaching a total capacity of 70,000 tons.

News Brief

Successful Norway Maritime Conference in Cebu

he first Norway Maritime Conference concluded on 29 January 2016 in Cebu, Philippines, leaving more than 200 delegates, amongst them several leaders in the maritime industry, with valuable insights on the future of the industry as a whole, reports the Royal Norwegian Embassy, Manila. During the welcome reception, Philippines Norway Business Council Vice-President Jannicke Steen stressed that Norway and the Philippines share strong maritime relations. “It is now time to strengthen this bond. With the many complex challenges, many shipping companies need to think differently and innovatively, and to meet and exchange ideas and thoughts – that’s the purpose why we are gathered here today,” said Ms. Steen. Norway Maritime Conference was a unique oppor tunity to gather high-level industr y practitioners to dig deeper into the increasingly complex maritime challenges while sharing knowledge and developing strategies to address them. Discussions revolved around issues on the training and competence of Filipino seafarers and position of the Philippines as the manning capital of the world. “The Philippines shall maintain its position as the manning capital of the world - not only to promote our country’s own self-interest, but also to do our share in ensuring continued efficiency, safety, and environmental sustainability while moving global commerce. A commitment to work strictly within globally set and agreed parameters of quality comes with this,” said Maritime Industry Authority Administrator Dr. Maximo Mejia, Jr.

Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Erik Førner in his remarks said that the maritime sector remains the cornerstone of the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Norway. He noted that there are challenges facing the industry and Filipino seafarers as competition from other states are clearly taking up. Ambassador Førner, however, expressed optimism that relevant bodies in the Philippines are addressing these issues as important reforms have been initiated. One of the highlights of the Conference was the hard talk sessions with the moderator and previous BBC news anchor Ms. Nisha Pillai. Mr. Vidar Andersen, Head of Asia for DNB, gave his economic perspectives and business outlook on the maritime industry vis-à-vis the largest economies in Asia such as China, India and the ASEAN. Grieg Star Chair Ms. Elisabeth Grieg shared some insights during her hard talk on how to deal with business uncertainties in the industry. “Don’t lose sight of your integrity and principles during difficult times,” said Ms. Grieg. Norway Maritime Conference also had three panel discussions with topics such as “How Stormy is the Future”, “Is Technology the Saviour” and “Competent People makes the Difference”. Notable panel speakers, such as Norwegian Shipowners’ Association CEO Sturla Henriksen, Norwegian Maritime Authority Director General Olav Akselsen, Nor-Shipping Director Birigit Liodden, Philippine Transmarine Carriers CEO Gerardo Borromeo, and Thome Group CEO Olav Nortun, were amongst those sharing their opinions and views. With a wide range of expert speakers and

participants, the Ballroom at Shangri-La Mactan, the venue of the conference, became one giant dynamic conversation platform. One delegate commented: “There’s something distinctive about this conference compared to other seminars. I like the fact that the delegates ask questions rather than giving self-serving speeches.” With the comprehensive presentation of topics and thought-provoking discourses, the delegates appreciated that timeliness and relevance of the conference. One delegate said: “The conference is very educational. The topics are very relevant and push us to look to new ways to improve the maritime industry.” “The conference gives us information about the challenges in the industry. It’s a great calling not to be laid back but to move forward,” added another delegate. Government leaders, regulators, ship owners, manning agencies, maritime training professionals, educational institutions, and other interest groups attended the conference. The Royal Norwegian Embassy – Manila, Norwegian Maritime Foundation of the Philippines and Philippines Norway Business Council were the organizers of the conference. Currently, there are more than 25,000 Filipino seafarers on board Norwegian owned or controlled vessels at any time, which benefit both nations. Thousands of Filipino seafarers receive decent work and training while Norwegian companies employ a world-class workforce for their ships around the world.

April 2016 • ScandAsia.South East Asia 9

the “king of hoteliers and hotelier to kings”. He managed The Ritz in Paris and the Carlton Hotel in London, among others. Later he opened a la carte restaurants known as Ritz-Carlton on board the Hamburg-Amerika Line ocean liners SS Amerika in 1905 and SS Imperator in 1913. Recently YTL Hotels announced they will establish a Ritz-Carlton also on the resort island Koh Samui in Thailand, the country where the first ever Ritz-Carlton Reserve also opened. By late 2015 the new rooms that stood ready at the Kuala Lumpur property, showcased a significantly enhanced level of design and luxurious comfort. Guests will, eventually at both the hotels, be able to experience the finest of luxurious hospitality à la 2016, where at The RitzCarlton brand this translates into a hotel stay that “enlivens the senses, instills well-being, and fulfills even the unexpressed wishes and needs” of guests.

Social media impact

Puttin’ on the Ritz At the centre of five-star rejuvenation, Anna Olsson takes us behind the scenes of the glamour of the world of upscale hotels By Joakim Persson

rs Anna Olsson of Sweden has had a prominent management position working for two of YTL Hotels’ international fivestar establishments in downtown Kuala Lumpur – The Ritz-Carlton and Marriott. In her capacity there she had the pleasure of engaging with and hosting the Nordic community when it comes to larger events arranged by the respective missions and business associations (in particular Sweden); such as the annual Nordic Christmas Gala and Nobel-themed dinners. She was also getting to par take in major upgrades as well as the transformation, especially due to digital media, the industry is undergoing. Talking to Anna, while the renovation of The Ritz-Carlton-branded property was still in full swing, ScandAsia shares more insights from how working life is like in her role as Marketing and Sales Manager for a team of 35 and two hotels. 10 ScandAsia.South East Asia • April 2016

Hotel legend César Ritz The ongoing renovation of The Ritz-Carlton, to be followed by Marriott, was for Anna her biggest milestone since arriving to Kuala Lumpur. The Ritz-Carlton, which opened back in December 1997, had until recently now not been refurbished – which is quite a long time in the lifecycle of hotels, and in particular when so much has evolved within the sector in recent years. The Ritz-Carlton brand as such is on the march in terms of representing only exceptional luxury hotels and rapid expansion, while The RitzCarlton Hotel Company is quite young (1983) in its current form. The first hotel of the company opened in Europe only in year 2000. The Ritz-Carlton pedigree goes back to the very early days of hotel luxury: A Swiss (where else!) hotelier with the name of César Ritz was well known in the hotel industry for offering redefined luxury accommodation in Europe, as

Anna, with background from F&B but preferring sales and marketing, knows her fair share of what this kind of hospitality luxury really means. Dubai and its (and the world’s first) seven star hotel Burj Al Arab – that is where she worked before coming over to Kuala Lumpur (with a stint at the Phuket flagship design hotel Indigo Pearl in between). Much thought of course goes into the designing of all aspects of a hotel on this scale today, in order to deliver on the brand promises and to be able to also surpass guests’ expectations. For The Ritz-Carlton this has to translate into providing exceptional service and genuine care to their guests across the globe. The brand’s motto says:‘We are Ladies and Gentlemen serving Ladies and Gentlemen” exemplified in the anticipatory service provided by all staff members. And this is no mean feat in 2016. “Things are completely different today, it’s like day and night,” says Anna, as she compares with only five years back in time. “But it’s fascinating also. When our general manager came back from the most recent RitzCarlton GM conference, the beacon had been innovation; concerning trends, social media, applications, technology etc. How can one learn, first of all, and understand and be in the forefront and up-to-date with all these trends?! That’s not easy today. Things are happening fast, and this evolvement of the industry will continue, so one must embrace that.” Just take the crucial PR and brand reputation topic, where Anna says that social media plays a very important role for the hospitality industry. “Only five years ago it wasn’t that important; whereas everything you do now in a hotel will be all over the Internet minutes later – be it good or bad feedback – and one cannot control it. One must therefore have a completely different PR and marketing approach, and engage in dialogues with these guests online.” “It must be integrated within the hotel’s departments too, as it affects everything,” Anna adds.“One must talk to operation. If a guest talk to a staff member in the restaurant, and let’s say this servant happens to be seen as impolite, that will then result in a negative recommendation online. So it’s just not us within sales and marketing –

but every single person in the hotel team having some kind of touch point with guests becomes a kind of front person for the hotel and must be aware of that. And yes, you are an ambassador for the brand, and one must educate everyone on this within all levels of the hotel staff.” The guest satisfaction level is today measured across the board and includes online reviews – in addition to the post-stay questionnaire sent to guests and obtained onsite. “Reviews on social media are taken into consideration. They will pull from social media platforms as well; what rating you are getting on Tripadvisor and so on – which then becomes your KPI:s as the hotel that we get from our corporate office.”

The guest perspective Anna also participated actively in the refurbishment with her insights. “My role is to meet, together with the GM, with the designers and the brand designer. So we meet together with the owner, as a mood board of the branding; what they want Ritz-Carlton to look like.” “Then I comment from the perspective of the guest, looking back at our sales, what I believe could work and how it can match; we might need to consider more or less meeting rooms, restaurants etc.,” she continues. “And then, especially as we will get an inventory of 88 suites, we must think about how we will be able to sell that. And there will be many families, and from a brand perspective we then have what is the ‘Ritz Kids’ and must implement that. When it comes to Club Lounge – what do we have to do there, and how many rooms should be club lounge rooms? So, on that level I get involved.” “And it’s a lot about technology as well: what is it that today’s guest wants to have in a hotel. We have received a lot of feedback to go back to and look at in this regard. We have to follow what are the trends; of which one is about that everything is about mobile, hi-tech and fast internet.” “Our hotels are very much business-driven. And then one must look at what the market will look like for the coming 12-24 months. With oil prices down and a lot of cost-cutting in companies one must look at other industries that are doing better – a bit of campaign-thinking. Many companies have cut down on meetings.” One has to be more active and compete with other destinations with similar attractions in the region and work closely with governments, says Anna.

a new way of thinking; in looking at what can one do to approach this target group in a completely new way.” They can of course also tap into brand followers. “For sure, both are very strong brands in people’s minds, and if they have had a good experience in a JW Marriott or in a Ritz-Carlton they of course think about that when selecting a stay. And we also have loyalty cards, helping as well.” Last, how about timeless hospitality traditions, where one can sense a “revival”? “I absolutely believe in the traditions. I think that all the service elements – the classic – will remain. People want to be recognised and have service and pampering – that is why they go on holiday. And especially today in the fast-paced society, when they have a holiday they feel:

‘Somebody must take care of me.’ And I also think that the classic is a bit trendy, but I think that style will remain, and you have waves what is seen as modern and out of date, respectively, within hotels, and one can be out there and set trends.” “But as for social media etc. things will become more and more digital, no matter the rest, because for the Millennials this is their ordinary life. The same goes for working with that generation. One cannot tell them that it is not allowed to use one’s mobile phone the whole day! Because everything is integrated; they do social media and all the work at the same time.” Footnote: Anna Olsson has left Malaysia, returning to Dubai and a role at the Kempinski-branded five store hotel Emirates Palace.

Status symbol The new 2-3 bedroom suites at The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur, Anna thinks, can also attract young affluent travellers. “I think so, and it’s also a status symbol for the newly rich. Looking at the price point also has impact: in the old times the parents decided whereas now it’s the children deciding what to do, where to go and how they want things to be. So that works for us in that we can then offer a twobedroom suite which is 176 square metres with en-suite for both the parents and their children, coming with a large living room and kitchenette. And it won’t cost much more than booking two rooms they would need anyhow. So here we have April 2016 • ScandAsia.South East Asia 11

The A350

heralds Finnair’s next expansive chapter The largest investment up to now for the Finnish flagship carrier positions its competitiveness for many years to come By Joakim Persson

ome 30 May 2016 five years will have passed since Finnair launched its direct connection to Singapore, and as this date is approaching the Nordic airline has already embarked on its perhaps most pivotal chapter up to now: the introduction on long-haul routes of the next-gen airplane Airbus A350 XWB. Finnair’s Singapore team are eagerly awaiting the Airbus 350 to be delivered for traffic also on this key route, further connecting Southeast Asia, and linked destinations beyond, with Europe, via its Helsinki hub. The fact that Finnair’s very first A350 was put into traffic on an Asian route – Shanghai – speaks volumes about the impor tance of the Asian network for Finnair, with this plane as the challenger in terms of “tapping traffic demand between Europe and Asia”. The first Airbus A350 delivered (as first European customer) to Finnair entered into 12 ScandAsia.South East Asia • April 2016

long-haul service in November last year, followed by Beijing, Bangkok and with Hong Kong and Singapore next after that. “We intend to double our Asian traffic by 2020, and increase our cargo capacity up to 50% by 2020. Our strategy is based on growing markets in Asia and this has not changed. Besides opening new routes there, our latest product offering are the Airbus A350s to our long haul routes,” begins Nick Naung Naung, Country Sales Manager Greater Singapore (including Malaysia and Indonesia). “These aircrafts will be the backbone of our strategy; unrivalled cost- and fuel efficiency, customer comfort and capacity increase all in one package. This aircraft will enable growth both in our passenger as well as in cargo traffic.” The extra wide body of the A350 provides the additional cargo capacity. The company has ordered a total of 19 A350’s, making it the biggest investment in

Finnair’s history. As for the Singapore route, it is already doing well, prior to the A350 launch. “Our report card has seen good year-onyear growth for the past years. The route has been very busy with good load factors averaging 85% all year round, with the majority of the contribution coming from Finland, Australia and Singapore passengers. We indeed also carr y other Europeans across the network from/to Singapore and are increasingly seeing traffic from Malaysia and Indonesia feeding into this route as well. For the Bangkok route, the majority of contribution comes from Finland and Scandinavia, especially during winter season, and a wide mix of Europeans from across the continent during the rest of the season,” Mr Nick details. “Winter has been one of the peak periods for Finnair’s traffic to Europe or vice versa and that’s why we operate double daily flights to Bangkok during this period. In addition, we have seasonal

flights from Helsinki to Phuket and Krabi during the winter period to cater for holiday makers from Finland and Scandinavia.” Feed traffic from partner airlines has also expanded recently. “We recently entered code share cooperation with Singapore-based Jetstar Asia, for having a wider network across Asia and Australia; such as Phuket, Ho Chi Minh, Perth and Darwin via Singapore. In addition, we have cooperation with Malaysia Airlines, Garuda Indonesia and Bangkok Airways to feed to Malaysia, Indonesia and some parts of Indochina.” According to Finnair’s CEO Pekka Vauramo the growth of their long-haul capacity will also create a need for increased feeder traffic capacity between Helsinki and our European destinations. “Our roll-out of A350 aircraft saw us move to a new phase of growth. It is the future of flying and will give our passengers a completely new and enhanced travel experience.”

2016 is seeing fierce competition on price on long haul flights, where all major airlines are taking part. Lower fuel price is the driving force. The fall in fuel prices, which began slightly over a year ago, continued in 2015, reported the CEO in February. “Never theless, its impact is not yet fully reflected in our result due to our hedging policy. For this reason, we estimate that our fuel costs will decline further in the coming quarters in spite of increasing traffic volume, which will support our performance in 2016. Our goal is profitable growth, which requires not only revenue growth through the introduction of new routes, but also a constant focus on developing our services in a cost-efficient manner,” he said. “We are heading in the right direction, and we will now look to accelerate our profitable growth. We hit a new record in the number of passengers: more than 10 million passengers flew with us in 2015. Despite of the demand outlook

for passenger and cargo traffic in Finnair’s main markets involving renewed uncertainty, Finnair estimates that, in 2016, its capacity and revenue will grow,” he forecasted. Direct sales is also increasing, which benefits both the airline and its customers. “As you know direct bookings are direct customers and it is less expensive than going through the third par ty or other channels,” comments Nick. “Our direct sales are one third of our total channel sales, while individual, groups and corporate businesses making up the rest.” The online travel agent market continues to grow, contributing a “sizeable amount”. “The Corporate Programme also enables direct bookings online, or they can also use their travel agencies.” Introducing the A350, customised by Finnair, further Nick highlights: “Most airlines will also have the A350 very soon so we want to stand out from the rest by having a unique Nordic experience. In a nutshell, as you go on board, you are welcomed by these clouds inside the cabin, with mood LED lighting, which gives you a kind of the clear Nordic sky. And our interior cabin comes with our award-winning Finnish design; giving you a very spacious feeling. And the uniqueness of the A350 is the advanced air filtering system, which every 2-3 minutes changes the cabin air. This is a really good, unique product of this aircraft and that really relates to our offering of a Nordic experience; having fresh air in the Nordic.” The cabin air will be closer to the sea level air pressure – with a positive result. “Especially on long-haul, passengers do not feel tired. My colleagues who flew with the plane gave awesome feedback, saying that they still feel fresh after the flight. The light ambience can also change to suit the time of day, with 24 different combinations, it should be added. Other key components in the plane are: The Nordic Sky entertainment system (uniquely branded channels including the best programmes from the BBC, the National Geographic Channel and the Discovery Channel) that is also a central part of the cabin’s interior design, displaying on the screen the ambient mood lighting in harmony with the cabin; a quieter flight than on previous aircraft, thanks to new Rolls Royce engines that reduce noise both inside and outside the airplane; and the on-board Wi-Fi portal service. In addition to the landmark introduction of the new Airbus, Finnair is preparing for a launch of ‘Stopover Finland’. “Visit Finland and Finpro will launch the Stopover Finland product this spring and Finnair is the main partner in this initiative. Stay tuned!” Also, every customer will have noticed Finnair as the official airline of Santa Claus. “We send Santa Claus on his World Tour to different Finnair destinations (mainly in Asia) each year. Singapore and Southeast Asia in general has been showing growing interest for Lapland holidays, especially with our Singapore-Helsinki direct flights,” explains Nick. To broaden the offer to explore Finland stopover packages from 5 hours to 5 days will be offered to Finnair’s travellers.

April 2016 • ScandAsia.South East Asia 13

Finnish health sector

on Malaysia and Singapore tour

ed by Päivi Sillanaukee, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Team Finland arranged a FinlandCare delegation trip to Malaysia (for the very first time) and Singapore, introducing Finnish health know-how. The programme during the visit on 27 February – 1 March 2016 consisted of meetings with the Health ministries in both countries as well as other official meetings with high-level decision makers. Additional tailor-made sectorial meetings also took place. The focus of the trip was on senior care solutions and active ageing more broadly, preventive health care, occupational health care, health technology solutions and health sector training. Main sectors of interest were: Home care, elderly care and rehabilitation; Active ageing and health promotion; Prevention and early diagnosis of diseases (for example cancer screening); Occupational healthcare processes; eHealth solutions and technologies for the sectors above; and Further education in healthcare. “The goal of the visit is to open new doors 14 ScandAsia.South East Asia • April 2016

and to promote Finnish business in the area. We also want to strengthen existing customer relationships and contacts,” said Meria Heikelä, Director of the FinlandCare program. Southeast Asia is currently the world’s fastest growing market, with a health sector that has been identified as having great business potential. Seven internationalizing Finnish companies par ticipated in the delegation to Malaysia. Currently 50 Finnish companies are operating in Malaysia – and there is still space for more. Malaysia is a prospering and prosperous country, and politically very stable, according to Matti Pullinen, Finland’s ambassador in Malaysia. “There has been promising development in the health sector and it is clear that investments in the sector will continue.There should definitely be space for Finnish know-how in Malaysia,” Pullinen told the delegation. From a visit to the Pantai hospital chain’s hospital in Kuala Lumpur the companies in the delegation gained valuable knowledge about the hospital’s purchasing process and about the vast differences between public and private hospitals in the country, according to Meria Heikelä.

Cooperation between the ministries and personal contacts are impor tant for expor t promotion in South-East Asia. Päivi Sillanaukee, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, has worked tirelessly for the delegation, and her readiness to throw herself into different situations has been admirable. If she hasn’t been wearing a neck muscle strength rehabilitation helmet tested by Formula 1 drivers, then she has been testing Finnish products designed for the rehabilitating senior citizens, writes Maria Arruda. “Finnish health know-how is valued around the world due to our high-level research, comprehensive registers and biobanks, among other things. Finland is ahead of other countries in terms of ageing and we have innovative solutions for different challenges that have so far not been addressed elsewhere,” said Sillanaukee. “In hot and humid countries the big hospital chains could benefit especially from the air purification technology offered by Genano, Medanta’s anti-bacterial clothes and, for example, the training for nurses provided by Metropolia,” she said.

Finnish health know-how is valued around the world due to our high-level research, comprehensive registers and biobanks, among other things. Finland is ahead of other countries in terms of ageing and we have innovative solutions for different challenges that have so far not been addressed elsewhere

Rehab of seniors in Southeast Asia In Malaysia there is a readiness to invest in good care for the elderly. The delegation included several companies with services for senior care and rehabilitation. One of these is HUR which offers exercise equipment and training concepts for seniors. “Immediately after the first meeting we agreed on an important follow-up meeting. If we reach a deal with Iskander, this would be a great reference for us concerning the rehabilitation of seniors. We have exactly the right solutions for training seniors so that they can live independently and energetically as long as possible,” said HUR’s CEO Lena Karjaluoto. HUR is currently internationalizing strongly. Its main export countries are Japan, United States, Singapore and China. HUR has six subsidiaries and active resellers in 30 countries. In Malaysia, Karjaluoto had a positive “problem” to deal with – whether to follow the delegation program or to go and negotiate about a major deal. After the Malaysia trip we can understand better how to use funding solutions to support the growing, internationalizing and competitive

companies that are at the core of Finnvera’s strategy, says Laura Strandberg in Kuala Lumpur.

Funding for internationalization FinlandCare and Finnvera work closely together for the internationalization of Finnish companies. Laura Strandberg, Finnvera’s Finance Manager, believes in the business opportunities offered by Southeast Asia. “Growth and investing in internationalization cost money. Few companies have the opportunity or can afford to fund their internationalization from cash funds. A growth leap often requires external funding and this is where Finnvera has a role to play,” said Strandberg in Malaysia. “We fund company investments; working capital needs and expor t deals together with the banks. The bank market is now tighter and they need someone to share the risk. There are signs of a brighter future but investments are still being made very carefully. We constitute a growth partner for companies, similar to FinlandCare.” Strandberg emphasized funding, as part of building the company’s growth plan is important from the beginning. The worst case is when a

company is “afraid” of clinching a deal because it does not have the possibility to deliver. Funding should be seen as a resource in the same way as people. “In Team Finland, the cooperation takes place most productively in the practical work. That’s why we are here in Malaysia. There are few markets where it is possible to reach more than 5 per cent growth like here, and Malaysia also features in the plans of many of our client companies. Health services are one of the areas with the most potential. Delegations in one focus sector also serve the international growth of other sectors and companies.” The delegation included the following companies: Commit, Genano, Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences / Metropolia Creative Opportunities (MCreO), HUR, MariCare, Medanta, Ruissalo Foundation and Saga Palvelut. Participants also include representatives from Finpro, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Finnvera, Aalto University and Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Sources: Maria Arruda, FinlandCare, Finpro, Malaysian-Finnish Business Council April 2016 • ScandAsia.South East Asia 15

Carlsberg inaugurates new canning line in Hue

ne of the worlds front figures in beer brewing, Danish Carlsberg, opened a new canning line in Hue, Vietnam in January 2016. Carlsberg Vietnam’s (CBVN) Hue Brewery is located in Phu Bai Industry Zone, Huong Thuy Ward. Among the distinguished guests in attendance were: Mr Lê Trường Lưu – Secretary General of the Party of Thua Thien Hue, Mr. Nguyễn Văn Cao – Chairman of Thua Thien Hue’s People Committee, Ms. Charlotte Laursen - Danish Ambassador, Mr. Tayfun Uner - CEO of Carlsberg Vietnam, and local Government Officials in Hue. At the same event, the company also announces that its Huda Gold (a sub-premium brand of Huda) received the Silver Medal of 2015 World Beer Championships in the US for the second time, with a score of 88/100 and marked “Highly Recommended” by industry experts for its outstanding and consistent quality. Huda Gold was granted this award the first time in 2013. “Congratulations to CarlsbergVietnam on this important investment as well as the prestigious Silver Medal that Huda Gold proudly achieved. It is a testimony to the Danish origins of Carlsberg and in line with its 168 year history to bring the best of modern technology to Vietnam, and it confirms the long-term interest of Carlsberg to the development of Vietnam in general and the Central Region in particular.This new investment is also a testimony to the important and continuous support of the local authorities to Carlsberg here in Hue. I would like to express my gratitude to the Hue People’s Committee for this, and hope that this close cooperation will continue to the mutual 16 ScandAsia.South East Asia • April 2016

benefit of Carlsberg Vietnam, the people of Hue and the consumers in the Central Region,” the Ambassador said in her speech. “Once again, the Silver Medal of Huda Gold demonstrates its consistent and high quality over the years. From the very beginning of our journey in Vietnam, all Huda brands including Huda and Huda Gold have brewed with key ingredients impor ted from Europe, Danish modern technology and high quality materials certified by local authorized organizations. We are really proud of this wonderful achievement, and do believe that Central people will be also proud as Huda Gold is the only beer brand in Vietnam winning this prestigious award” added Mr. Tayfun Uner, CEO of Carlsberg Vietnam. Mr. Nguyen Van Cao, Chairman of Thua Thien Hue’s People Committee praised CBVN for its contribution to provincial revenue and believed that the company will have a greater support to the growth of Hue with the new canning line, and continued: “On this occasion, I also would like to congratulate Huda Gold for winning such a prestigious award. I do believe that this is a pride not only of CBVN but also of all people living in the Central especially Hue as Huda, which is a beer brand representing the culture, tradition, lives and people of the Central, once again its consistent and high quality is confirmed internationally.” The new canning line with a total investment of almost 6,4 mil EUR is imported from Germany has production capacity of 60,000 cans per hour, or more than 50,000 cartons of 24 cans per day, which is 25% faster than the current canning line which had been in operation since 2011. This

new canning line will be also extended into our recently launched brewery tour so that visitors will have a greater opportunity to explore our perfect brewing process of CBVN. “The inauguration of this new canning line is a vivid testimony on Carlsberg’s continuous investment for its further sustainable growth in Vietnam. I strongly believe that the new canning line will significantly suppor t us to continue brewing consistently high quality Huda and Huda Gold to consumers, as well as satisfying increasing demand of consumers in Central, stated Mr. Tayfun Uner. 2015 is another successful year of CBVN with total volume increased 6% versus last year despite of a challenging environment this year. Besides the good business results, as a responsible business, CBVN is committed to continue its contribution to the social and economic development of Central, especially Hue in 2016, through increased tax contribution to build schools, hospital and roads to improve living standard for Hue people; as well as social and cultural activities such as being a diamond sponsor for Hue Festival 2016. Carlsberg is one of the first Danish multinational companies to enter Vietnam and made its first investment in 1993. For the first 20 years, Carlsberg managed its Vietnamese operations through Carlsberg Indochina. In 2012, a fully dedicated Carlsberg Vietnam organization was established with 3 offices and breweries in the North, Central and South of Vietnam. Carlsberg Vietnam’s brands include Carlsberg, Huda Gold, Huda and Halida.

How to pick a school

ow do you pick the perfect school for your children, when you move to another country? It might not be as easy as it sounds. During the years, more and more schools are established, and each institution offers different courses and has different ways of teaching. Many parents use social platforms like Facebook to get advices from other parents. But there will probably be no way around making your own inquiry into each avaible option.

Local v s international Are you looking for a local or an international school? In most countries in Asia, it is possible to sign your child into a local school – but it can be a challenge, if your child does not have Asian roots. Local schools provide your child with a local environment and another benefit is that most of the local schools are more affordable than the international schools. One thing to be aware of though, is that psysical punishment has not been abolished in many Asian school systems. If you go for an international school, consider that international students grow up in an environment that is much different to that of your own. Known as Third Culture Kids (TCKs), they often develop a different attitude. Once this is said, many expat families decide to go for the international school – at least through primary school up to grade 9.

A few suggestions As said before, many parents seek advices from other parents. But in the end, it is your choice and only you know what needs your child has.

April 2016 • ScandAsia.South East Asia 17

First: Observe Visit the schools you are interested in during a regular school day. Ask to observe teachers in class so you can get a feel for how the adults treat the children, parents and one another. You don’t have to be an expert to get a good sense of what is — or is not — happening in a classroom when you visit.

Second: Distance Make sure the school is not too far away from your home. Have in mind that in most big cities, it is travelling time between your house and the school that matters. Will you be driving your child to school yourself or how will your child be going there? Especially in cities like Bangkok, the traffic is hectic and you can easily use hours stuck between cars, taxies and tuk-tuks.

Third: Reputation Use your network in the city. Ask as many as possible, what their experience with this school is. Do not listen to people, who have no children at the school themselves.

Fourth: Courses The school’s courses and programs will most likely be listed in the school’s informations packages or on their website. They will talk about

British Curriculum and American Curriculum and what most Scandinavians go for these days is the IB Curriculum. The IB Curriculum is an educational programme managed by the International Baccalaureate for students aged 3 to 12. Students are required to learn a second language during the programme.

Fifth: Supplementary courses More and more parents find it important that their children are receiving lessons in their mother language. On some of the international schools, the different Scandinavian communities have organized mother tounge language lessons as a supplementary course. It depends on your child. Many children already have a long day in school with lessons in Thai, English and other courses.

Stay involved As a parent you might wish there were some secret education-analyst methodology. No matter how hard you do your homework, stay involved with your child’s everyday life. Is your child happy and motivated or tired and introver ted? Talk with your child about how school is and spend more time together in the beginning. First period will probably be as exhausting for your child as for you – starting up your lives in a completely different country.

International School of Bergen

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 ISB has been developed to help prepare its students for a successful future. The school 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 teacher s hold univer sity degrees and appropriate teaching qualifications. Classes are small. With students and staff representing

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

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 For mer informasjon: www.isob.no eller post@isob.no

18 ScandAsia.South East Asia • April 2016

more than thirty different nationalities, we pride ourselves in having a welcoming and including community. ISB was founded in 1975, giving us 40 years of experience as an educational institution. International School of Bergen Vilhelm Bjerknesvei 15, 5081 Bergen, Norway Phone: +4755306330 Website: www.isob.no || E-mail: post@isob.no

From Concept to Creation:

The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme Personal Project

onderful things happen when 15 and 16 year olds take on a challenge that interests them. Students realize that when they set their mind to it, they can do so much more than they thought. They delve deep into research and understand that some information out there is more useful than others. They learn numerous valuable skills and learn much more about themselves. The Personal Project is a significant capstone project celebrating the final year of the IB Middle Years Programme. Students choose to create something, or achieve something in an area they are passionate about. They choose their own topic. The important part of the Personal Project is actually the process: star ting with an idea, refining it into a goal, planning, doing research, carrying out the work and reflecting on it all. This year’s projects at KIS International School in Bangkok included a wide spectrum of interests including designing a humanoid robot, making a flowboard, learning to play the violin, creating an album with piano music composed by the student, creating an Ibook about the

development of surgery, investigating applications of nanotechnology, examining how people’s eyes change with different emotions, and designing a space suit. Throughout the Personal Project students hone their research, self-management, thinking, communication and social skills. Once the project is complete the students share their product and learning experiences in an exhibition. Visitors have the opportunity to ask the students questions and learn about their journey. Students gain confidence in presenting and welcome the feedback given by others. The final par t of the personal project is writing a report. Many of the students use the personal project to find out if certain fields of study or careers would be suitable for them. One KIS student for example created an architectural model of an environmentally friendly house, enabling him to have a glimpse of the kind of work an architect would do, not just by creating the house but also by speaking with experts in the field and using software that architects use. Another student wanted to use the project as an opportunity to do something creative and

artistic before embarking on a career in sciences. She chose to create a large work of mosaic art. Annette Lillethun, from Norway, says of her Personal Project: “Although the personal project was challenging, we all showed persistence and excitement through the process which can be seen in the variety of final products we created this year”. Though the project requires a lot of work, students appreciate the opportunity to do (within reason) what they like to do, share it with others, and then be graded on it. As one KIS student said of the project :”Inspire yourself and inspire others”.

This year’s KIS Personal Project presentations can be found on Youtube: Group 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f656l4PhZww Group 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ5FPB40jmA Group 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZQkPMc5iB4

KIS International School is a full IB school in Bangkok, Thailand. www.kis.ac.th, admissions@kis.ac.th, tel +662 2743444. April 2016 • ScandAsia.South East Asia 19