ScandAsia Singapore October 2013

OCT 2013

Singapore

DNB Bank’s new head of Asia

will continue the safe ride

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OctoberScandAsia.se 2013 • ScandAsia.Singapore 1

Just like Einstein, I like Physics best of all.

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Important message!

This October issue of ScandAsia will be the last magazine you will receive from us - unless you follow a few simple steps outlined below to avoid interruption: Please go to www.scandasia.com and click on Sign Up > New Member and register again.

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Please sign up for your own FREE copy: www.scandasia.com Publisher : 211 Soi Prasert Manukitch 29 Prasert Manukitch Road Chorakae Bua, Lad Prao Bangkok 10230, Thailand Tel. +66 2 943 7166-8, Fax: +66 2 943 7169 E-mail: news@scandasia.com Editor-in-Chief : Gregers A.W. Møller gregers@scandmedia.com Assistant Editor: Wachiraporn Janrut wachiraporn@scandmedia.com Advertising : Frank Leong frank@scandmedia.com Finn Balslev finn@scandmedia.com Piyanan Kalikanon piyanan@scandmedia.com Nattapat Maesang nattapat@scandmedia.com Graphic Designer : Supphathada Numamnuay supphathada@scandmedia.com Distribution : Wanvisa Rattanaburi wanvisa@scandmedia.com Printing : Advance Printing Services Co., Ltd.

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The good news is, that once you are registered in the new system, you can control your own data, incl. upgrading or downgrading the services that you want to receive from us: • ScandAsia printed magazine • ScandAsia Weekly Newsletter • ScandMail special offers • ScandAsia online magazine We are upgrading because our old label list system was created before the time when everything became interactive. It was more like an excel sheet to which only we in the office had access. Meanwhile, more and more people signed up in a separate system for our e-services.

In the new combined membership registration system, your details are securely stored with our service provider Constant Contact and fully under your own control. If you go home five month over the summer, you can for instance via the Internet log in and put the magazine on hold, but keep receiving the emails, and then activate your subscription again yourself, when you are back in Asia.

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Coming Events Singapore Jewellery & Gem Fair 2013 Date: 12 – 15 October 2013 Location: The Sands Expo and Convention Center, Marina Bay Sands Organised by UBM Asia, Singapore Jewellery & Gem Fair will be the Southeast Asia regional jewellery hub featuring exhibitions of fine jewellery, diamonds, precious gemstones, pearls, semi-precious gemstones, silver and other jewellery from around the world.

For more information, visit www.ubm.com

ITB Asia Date: 23 – 25 October 2013 Location: Suntec Singapore The annual 3-day B2B trade show and convention, ITB Asia, will be held for the fifth time in Singapore this year. The event will feature the full range of travel products, services and goods from international exhibitors of all sectors of the travel-value chain. It offers a platform for Asia Pacific’s travel companies to meet with top international buyers from MICE, Leisure and Corporate Travel markets.

The event is organised by Messe Berlin (Singapore) Pte Ltd and supported by the Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau. Messe Berlin has been organising the well-known ITB Berlin, the world’s leading travel trade show, which takes place annually in March in German for over 45 years.

For more information, visit www.itb-asia.com

Singapore Biennale 2013: If The World Changed Date: 26 October 2013 to 16 February 2014 Organised by Singapore Art Museum, the fourth edition of Singapore’s premier contemporary art exhibition, Singapore Biennale 2013 (SB 2013) returns with the theme “If The World Changed” focusing on the Southeast Asian history and exhibiting arts responding to questions like “How has the world changed for Southeast Asia?” and “What kind of world you want to live in?”

SB2013 will take place across a number of active art spaces in the Bras Basah-Bugis precinct. The precinct is filled with rich cultural institutions and icons which SB 2013 will partner with. At the same time, SB 2013 hopes to inject cultural vibrancy into the area.

For more information, visit www.singaporebiennale.org

OneRepublic Live in Singapore

Singapore Writers’ Festival 2013

Date: 29 October 2013, Doors open 8.00p.m.

Location: The Coliseum, Hard Rock Hotel, Singapore Resorts World, Sentosa

Date: 1-10 November 2013 Location: Seminar room, National Museum of Singapore

As part of the band’s Native Tour, OneRepublic will be back to perform in Singapore on Thursday, October 29. Formed in 2003, the American rock band first made its name from “Apologize” in its debut album “Dreaming Out Loud”. The band is known for hits such as Stop and Stare, All the Right Moves, Secrets, Marchin On and Good Life.

The band’s third album “Native” and the latest single “If I Lose Myself” were also well-received by the fans.

6 ScandAsia.Singapore • October 2013

Inaugurated in 1986, the Singapore Writers Festival is one of Asia’s premier literary events. Organised by the National Arts Council (Singapore), the festival holds the slogan “Read the books, meet the authors” promoting new and emerging Asian writers to an international audience as well as presenting the world major literary talents to Singaporeans.

Among the long list of authors to be featured at the festival this year are Catherine Breillat, Cyril Wong, Natalie Hennedige, and Ryan Gattis.

For more information, visit www.singaporewritersfestival.com

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Past Events

Two ambassadors welcomed Danes to Singapore Both the Danish Ambassador to Singapore and the Singaporean ambassador to Denmark attended the open house event hosted by the Danish Seamen’s Church on Saturday 14 September.

By Sine Neuchs Thomsen

A

s often before, when the Danish Church in Singapore hosts events, the white tent had been raised in the garden. On Saturday 14 September the occasion was to welcome newcomers and already residing Danes to Singapore after the summer break.

Danish Ambassador to Singapore Berit Basse, was the first to wish everybody welcome, saying that she was happy to see so many attendees.

Singapore’s Ambassador to Denmark, Mr. A. Selverajah, then held a speech where he accentuated the two countries’ common interests and mentioned a list of areas, where Singapore can learn from Denmark, counting the approach to lifelong learning and the Danish people’s level of happiness that recently has been announced to be the highest in the world.

The event also offered an opportunity for the guests to meet Danish Elementary School, German European School, Singapore Women’s Association, The Danish Business Association (DABS), the Danish Embassy and of course the staff of the Danish Seamen’s Church.

The event was the first of its type and was followed by a barbecue get together later in the evening. The event was well visited and likely to be repeated next year.

“The church is a good place to start” For a Danish couple the event at the Danish Seamen’s Church was their first step to build up a network in Singapore.

Klaus Roswall and Martin Bruun Larsen have been in Singapore for less than a month and they are just about to build up their life as expats in the city. The couple moved there because Martin had a new job as purchasing manager for Asia Pacific

8 ScandAsia.Singapore • October 2013

in Compass Group, which provides catering for drilling platforms, hospitals etc.

It was an advice from a friend, also expat, in Toronto, who made the couple decide to visit the Church.

“Our friend Kurt told us, that it is a good way to meet people, when you are abroad,” Klaus Roswall says.

“It is a big step for us to move out here and we did not know anybody in Singapore before we came here, so we want to build up a network, and the church seems to be a good place to start,” he adds.

Martin agrees. “I am quite sure I will come back here,” he says, adding that he is already planning to attend the Tuesday morning coffee in the church in the week to come.

“We had a nice day here. It was positive and great to meet people, especially those from the Embassy who gave a casual talk on which situations they will be helpful,” Martin says.

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Past Events

New Norwegian kitchen leader but the Scandinavian menu remains traditional The new staff at the Norwegian Church in Singapore have already taken up their positions. The head of the kitchen promises that good traditional Norwegian food will stay on the menu.

By Sine Neuchs Thomsen

T

he ticking clock on the wall shows that there is still 38 minutes left. At 12.00 on September 12, the Thursday lunch has to be ready for the residing Norwegians in Singapore to dig into the rich buffet table with good traditional Norwegian food. ”Husmandskost” as the new kitchen leader Steinar Dale Wessman prefers to call it.

In the busy kitchen, every corner is used for chopping or preparing the lunch. Lettuce, leeks, and leftovers from the Sunday’s barbecue are nicely decorated on dishes making the time to the lunch seem endless. Even the priest herself is chopping vegetables to help finish the lunch in time. Still, somebody finds time to offer the reporter, who is probably standing in the wrong spot no matter where she is standing, a cup of coffee and of course free flow of homemade traditional waffles.

This is indeed a little piece of Norway appearing on top of the hill at Pasir Panjang Road in the South West end of the city of Singapore.

The address is the same as when it opened in 1955, but this summer the staff has changed.

Among them is the new kitchen chef Steinar Dale Wessman, who back in Norway was a high school teacher from the city of Kristiansand in Norway.

On the big terrace a couple of guests are already sitting, waiting for the lunch to be served.

“It is a very nice way to meet people, have a good talk and have some good food for lunch,” one of the guests says. He adds that he does not come every Thursday, but ”often”.

Traditionally, the food served at the lunch is as Norwegian as possible and today’s menu is no exception. “Stuffed cabbage leafs, coalfish and

10 ScandAsia.Singapore • October 2013

potatosalad”.

“It is a retro meal from the 1970s,” Steinar Dale Wessmann explains.

“It is not like it is written anywhere, but we want to keep the tradition and cook traditional Norwegian food for the Torsdagslunsj,” Steinar says.

“After just a couple of weeks in his new job, he is still dealing with what might be one of the biggest concerns of a chef. Will there be enough food?

“It is always hard to tell. We can be everything between 30-80 guests, so here in the beginning I will still have to learn how much food to cook from time to time,” This Thursday around 45 people have found their way to the hilltop, where the church is located. And just as the peace of eating fills up the room, a group of women come down the stairs from the 1st floor to join the lunch.

“They are here for the lunch every Thursday,” the priest Eva Marie Jansvik, explains.

“We give the lunch and in return they help produce the Christmas stuff for this year’s Christmas Bazaar,” she adds.

Filling the room with laughter and lively small talk the women from upstairs contribute to the good atmosphere in the church. The amount of food now seems more reasonable.

As the captain should always be be the last man to leave a sinking ship, Steinar is the last one to fill his plate with food. No need to worry, today’s amount of food is more than sufficient.

“What is left over from today, we can use on Sunday for the barbeque,” he says, apparently already planning in advance for the menu on the following Sunday.

Past Events Four new staff members It is not only in the kitchen there are new faces to be seen. All in all, four new members have been added to the staff. Meet them below:

Steinar Dale Wessman is as

Eva Kristin Dale Wessman is as

mentioned the new kitchen leader. Except from having the main responsibility for shopping, preparing and cooking the two weekly get-together meals in the church: the Thursday lunch and the Sunday Barbeque, Steinar will also act as host to events taking place in the church.

the name indicates married to Steinar.

She will take care of the Sunday school for the children when she finishes her maternity leave with their three month old son Edvard. She will also lead a session for mothers and children where they will sing good old Norwegian songs.

Steinar has a big interest in both cooking and eating food, so for him his new job is a good possibility to absorb into the knowledge of cooking.

She said: “I am looking forward in general to be present in the church and talk to the different people coming here and hearing their experiences.”

For the little family it has been a wish for a long time to work abroad.

“It was a coincidence that we ended up in Singapore, but so far we are very happy to be here,” Eva Kristin Dale Wessman added.

Steinar and Eva Kristin also has a 3-year old daughter Emma.

ScandAsia did not have the chance to meet the other new couple in the church staff, so the details about them are from the website of the Norwegian Church.

Øystein Tønnessen is responsible

Helene Hostad Tønnessen is

for the music in the church. He plays to the church service and conduct the church’s choir.

married to Øystein Tønnessen and together they have the 1,5 year-old daughter Ella. Helene’s main activity in the church will be the Tuesday forum and play group, but she will also take part in the information work to be done.

She comes from Kløfta 35 km northeast of Oslo and used to work as adviser for the director of culture in the city of Kristiansand.

Besides the music Øystein will take care of the church’s website, Facebook-page, the weekly newsletter and the magazine Kvarten. He is furthermore the contact person for the shipping companies and the person to organize ship visits to the Norwegian seamen. He is originally from Lista in the Southern part of Norway.

October 2013 • ScandAsia.Singapore 11

Past Events

NBAS holds its annual boat trip in Singapore

By Sine Neuchs Thomsen

O

n Friday 13 September NBAS held its annual boat trip in Singapore, gathering more than 160 participants.

The vessel, the replica of the famous Ming Dynasty Imperial, Cheng Ho, as usual framed the event that was a 3-hour boat trip in the harbor of Singapore including a buffet dinner.

The atmosphere at the boat was very pleasant, and NBAS was in general happy with the event, Head of Secretariat Kjersti Thorvildsen tells.

The age group of the boat trip participants has gone down the last couple years, she adds: “It means more and more young people are attending, which of course is very nice.”

The main purpose with the boat trip was to welcome new Norwegians and NBAS members to Singapore, and the chilled air on the boat’s deck in combination with good food and beverages seemed to be a good place to start.

The boat trip has been a permanent part of NBAS’ calendar since before 1996, and the association intends to continue the tradition.

The annual boat trip was jointly hosted by The Royal Norwegian Embassy and Norwegian Business Association, Singapore.

12 ScandAsia.Singapore • October 2013

News Brief

Embassy of Denmark now handles visa applications to all Scandinavian countries

T

he Embassy of Denmark in Singapore is handling all visa applications to Scandinavia. From 2 September 2013, the visa application process for Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden has been outsourced to VFS Global.

In order to provide better service and shorter processing time, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has entered into an outsourcing agreement with VFS Global, Singapore.

VFS Global from 2 September 2013 has been handling biometric collection, document control and fee collection on behalf of the Embassy.

Denmark Visa Application Centre in Singapore: 79, Anson Road, #15-02 Singapore 079906 Helpline phone number: +65 62260915 (in operation from 2 September 2013) Helpline email contact: info.dnsin@vfshelpline.com (in operation from 2 September 2013) For more information, please visit www.vfsglobal.com/Denmark/Singapore During the first week of operation, staff members from the Embassy were present at the centre. If you experience any difficulties, you can contact the Embassy of Denmark at e-mail sinamb@um.dk

Singaporean youth named H&M among most influential brands

C

onsumers from Singapore’s Generation Y aged 18-28 picked the Swedish apparel retailer H&M as one of their most preferred brands. Other multinational companies such as Coca-Cola and Din Tai Fung were among the chosen brands as well as some local companies that were featured in the research, Campaign Asia reported.

The “Insight to Gen Y’s Buying Behavior & Their Preferred Brands” study was based on interviews with more than 1,000 respondents in the first quarter of 2013 and online shopping statistics where fashion-related items accounted for four out of the top five items frequently bought online. The measured categories were food and beverages, FMCG (Fast moving consumer goods), fashion and accessories.

H&M is a highly popular brand in Singapore. In 2013, H&M opened three new shops in the city state.

October 2013 • ScandAsia.Singapore 13

News Brief

Meet the new Swedish Ambassador to Singapore

T Mr. Rupert Schlegelmilch, Director, Services and Investment, Intellectual Property and Public Procurement, DG Trade, being the Chief Negotiator for the European Union side; and Mr Keith Tan, being the Chief Negotiator for the Singapore Government side

The EUSingapore Free Trade Agreement in progress

O

n September 20, the EU and Singapore released the text of comprehensive free trade agreement (EUSFTA).

Singapore is the EU’s largest trading partner in ASEAN and EU Singapore’s second largest.

The EUSFTA is the first EU deal with a Southeast Asian economy and is seen to have the potential to open the door to Free Trade Agreements with other ASEAN-members as well.

The draft agreement is currently being translated into all EU languages and will then be submitted to the European Commission.

he Swedish government has recently appointed Håkan Jevrell as new Ambassador to Singapore.

According to the Embassy’s website, Mr. Jevrell’s previous positions have included Districh Prosecutor at Västerort local public prosecution office in Stockholm, deputy head of coordination at the Prime Minister’s office coordination and State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence between 2007 and 2012. His way is probably not the most usual way to an ambassador position, says the new ambassador.

“It is not the ordinary Swedish diplomatic way of becoming the ambassador. I used to be a prosecutor, and then things have gotten into politics,” Håkan Jevrell tells.

He also tells that his impression of Singapore so far is great and he already noticed the weather to be “a bit warmer than in Sweden”.

“It is great to be here. I like when thing happens and it truly does in Singapore,” he adds.

Related to the Embassy’s work in Singapore, he says that it will continue the good and solid work the Embassy is already providing and also strengthen the countries’ mutual interests.

Håkan Jevrell is the new Swedish Ambassador to Singapore

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14 ScandAsia.Singapore • October 2013

News Brief

Denmark’s Noma founder gives Nordic twist to Singaporean food

C

laus Meyer, co-founder of Denmark’s famous Noma restaurant, became a star chef by using local and seasonal Nordic produce. His new Copenhagen restaurant Nam Nam turns that concept on its head with street food from equatorial Singapore.

Nam Nam samples the cuisines of the different ethnic communities that live in Singapore – Chinese, Malay and Indian – and its menu reads like a selection from a food court in the city-state: roti prata pancakes, laksa soup, beef rendang stew, char siu barbecued pork and chili crab.

Nam Nam uses local vegetables from Meyer’s gardens and Danish freerange pork, but it imports all the key ingredients like sambal sauces, chilis and pandan leaves from Asia.

He said Nam Nam is a statement about his love for ethnic food, but most of all it was his way of helping his Danish-Singaporean friends and business partners Michael and Tin Pang Larsen, who had to close their restaurant a few years ago.

“I have had some of the best moments in my culinary life at their table, and it would be unjust if this food were not accessible anymore,” he said.

With a new location in central Copenhagen, sleek interior design and, most of all, the Meyer brand that is a magnet for foodies world-wide, oneyear old Nam Nam is thriving. Night after night, it is packed with a hip Danish crowd as well as some of Copenhagen’s many culinary tourists.

Singapore food stall owner Wee Liang Lian, in Copenhagen as part of a Singapore street food festival organised by Meyer, said one cannot compare the Nam Nam cuisine with the Singapore original, but he has found the EastWest fusion very appealing.

Singapore-based Newkia wants to bring Nokia back

O

n the day Microsoft acquired Nokia’s device business, Thomas Zilliacus, who worked for 15 years at Nokia, and for seven years as the Asia-Pacific CEO of the company, founded a new company called Newkia, CNET Asia reported.

That might be good news for those Nokia-fans who want to know what a future Nokia smartphone could look like.

According to ZDNet, Zilliacus’ vision is to make a Nokia-like Android phone, and already one year ago he tried to buy out Nokia with his company Mobile FutureWorks without luck because he could not raise enough funds, he revealed. His plan is now to hire Nokia employees who have expressed interest in developing for Android. He already has some exstaff on board, and wants to hire more.

“What Newkia wants to do is to use Nokia know-how, technology, and design to build the world’s best smartphones, but running on Android,” he said to ZDNet. In the interview, he noted how Nokia missed opportunities because it was arrogant, due to its dominant position in the market at that time. He gave an example of a Nokia prototype that looked like the iPhone, developed four years before the first Apple iPhone. This product was never launched because the company thought the market would not be interested.

October 2013 • ScandAsia.Singapore 15

16 ScandAsia.Singapore • October 2013

DNB Bank’s new head of Asia

will continue the safe ride After eight years in Shanghai the Norwegian Vidar Andersen is taking over the position as Head of Asia for DNB Bank based in Singapore. He replaces Erik Borgen, who has served the bank for 34 years.

By SIne Neuchs Thomsen Photos by Rasmus Taun Vidar with his wife and 8 months-old son

V

idar Andersen hardly had the chance to get to know his new country. After moving to Singapore in mid August and officially taking on his new responsibilities on September 1 he has been nothing but busy. Business trips to China and India have filled up his calendar, and though he is convinced that the level of being out of time is related to “how it is to get a new job in a new country”, it is not like he will get bored in the nearest time to come. Already next week he is off again, this time to Europe.

Head of Asia is the title of his new role in the Norwegian DNB Bank, which specialises in shipping, offshore and energy financing in addition to service their Nordic clients in Asia. Based in Singapore he is going to be responsible for the bank’s operations across Asia. He already has long and well repudiated experience with the bank. After eight “fascinating” years in China, Vidar Andersen and his wife eyed the chance to move further.

“Mainly we decided to move here because of the job. My new role here is very exciting and offers me a greater area of responsibility, and also a chance to try out new unknown areas,” the busy Norwegian explains. With that said he does not hesitate to mention, that it also in a personal view seemed to be a good time to move on.

“There is some sort of limit for how long you can stay in a country, where you cannot imagine yourself staying forever. That time had come for us, and so Singapore seemed to be a good place to raise our son,” Vidar Andersen says. The couple had their first child eight months ago.

“Furthermore, Singapore is the centre in the

region which gives us the chance to go explore the area in the weekends. It is going to be a big experience personally,” he believes. It also relates to the fact, that we had a son eight months ago. In terms of that, Singapore offers many great opportunities,” Vidar Andersen adds.

Will not change the strategy For the tall red-haired Norwegian the new job will be more diverse than it used to be in China.

Even though China is a big multifarious country the system and the culture is relatively the same, he explains. He expects his new job to be considerably more diverse, as each country in Asia has its own system and rules for running business and banks.

That does mean that his entrance to the bank will cause any bigger changes in the way the bank operates.

“First of all DNB Bank shall continue doing well. But the strategy of the bank has been more or less the same for 20 years, we are long-term and relationship oriented. So I did not come here because I am going to change anything radically compared to what we are used to do in DNB Bank,” he stresses.

And if DNB Bank looks different in a couple of years, it will “be more related with the change of the world than with me,” he says.

“Globally the financial sector is not the same after the bank crises in 2008-2009. With an increased focus on control and regulation of banks, you can no longer put up a five year to come strategy and then follow that blindly for years to come. As a bank you must be flexible and adapt-

able because the world is constantly changing,” he says.

100 new colleagues In Singapore Vidar Andersen also has a task getting to know his almost 100 new colleagues but that does not scare him “When you come to a new place, the first couple of weeks a lot of things will seem unknown; the office, the city. It will take a little time to find my own way, but in a short while all the unknown things will become familiar,” he says.

Eased by many years of experience from being expatriates the shift to what some will call “Asia for beginners”, the life in Singapore might not become such a big deal for the little family. Vidar Andersen also used to work and live in New York.

Even though it has been a long time since he lived in Norway, he still thinks of opportunity to come back one day. Being abroad means missing out on many things counting family and friends, and as the true Norwegian he is, of course skiing.

Luckily he found a new way to spend his holidays that allows him to explore a whole other world.

“Diving is probably my biggest interest out here, and is has that advantage that you can continue diving no matter what your age is. I really like the way you can escape from the world, while exploring another one so different,” he tells.

To escape the current world on land might become an issue later on, but right now Vidar Andersen seems to be incredibly excited about his new job. And before the next moment has passed he is off to his next appointment.

October 2013 • ScandAsia.Singapore 17

Danish Supplementary School in Singapore

The Danish Supplementary School has recently launched weekly Danish language lessons Tirsdagsundervisningen for Danish students to learn their mother tongue. ScandAsia talks to the school board, parents and students.

By Ika Forssell

I

t is Tuesday afternoon, and the Danish language becomes more prominent than usual at Overseas Family School in Singapore (OFS). The Danish Supplementary School has its weekly lessons, the so called “Tirsdagsundervisningen”, and Danish children and parents gather quickly and efficiently at the Middle School courtyard before the kids head into their designated classrooms.

School organization and funding The school board consists of a group of very able and enthusiastic women. I had the opportunity to meet a few of them this afternoon. On the

1

18 ScandAsia.Singapore • October 2013

2

picture you can see, from left to right, Jette Breum, vice chairman, Rikke Paulsen, librarian, Gry Gølnitz Thomsen, chairman, and Kirsten Newbigging, treasurer. (photo 1) The school is fully financed by its members’ tuition fees, which surprisingly are not particularly high.

There is no financial support provided by the Danish government. All of the posts on the Board of Directors are voluntary and only the teachers are paid for their work. Furthermore, some money is spent on new books that are added to the library once in a while. Initially, the school received some sponsorship from Danish companies to buy books for the library, and many books have been donated to the

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school by Danish families. OFS is generous enough to lend the teaching space free of charge.

History The idea about a Danish school was initially hatched by five enthusiastic parents in 2008, and the school opened its doors at OFS in Singapore in 2009. Today it offers years 0 to 9 and preschool as well as private tuition and lessons for adults. At the moment there are around 90 students enrolled at the Danish School. In addition, about 10 adults take lessons as well as a varying number of private students. The number of teachers is 9. So far, there has been no problem filling the teaching positions with willing and qualified people. Certified Danish educators who are living in Singapore are naturally prioritized for the teaching jobs, but any remaining vacancies are open for anyone who loves to work with children. After having spent a couple of years as an assistant teacher, they may well be ready to take on a position as a teacher.

A popular school among the students Students at DSS come from several different schools around Singapore, and just about five minutes before the classes start, a busload of students arrives from Canadian International School.

The CIS parents have joined forces and organized a weekly bus, taking turns acting as a “bus auntie”.

I catch one of the students rushing to his lesson

5

accompanied by his mom and little sister for a comment. Erik is in Danish class 1, and although he would much rather play sports, he thinks it is reasonable to come to the Danish school once a week. It’s Erik’s third year at the school already, since he started already in pre-school. It will soon be time for little sister to join too. (Photo 4) Another student, who came a little early for class this afternoon, is Julia, who is in class 2. She goes to Chatsworth International School and has been in Singapore 3 years. Julia is very happy with her weekly lesson at the Danish school. “It’s fun to meet my Danish friends here every Tuesday”, she says. (Photo 5) 4th-graders Albert, from OFS, and Mattias, from UWC, enjoy meeting each other and their other Danish class mates on Tuesdays. Albert, who has been in Singapore for six years, thinks it is a very good idea to stay up to date with his mother tongue. In case his family will move back to Denmark it will definitely come in handy. (Photo 6) While the lessons are going on, many parents gather in the OFS cafeteria to chat. I meet Louise and her daughter, Josephine, who is waiting for her lesson in grade 6 to begin. Since the older classes start an hour later, and the younger sister, Maise, is in grade 1, Louise spends two hours at OFS. The time is well spent, though, as the two sisters take the opportunity to do their homework while waiting for each other. Maise, who started Danish school when the family came to Singapore in January this year, loves Tuesdays, be-

6

cause she gets to speak Danish. (Photo 2)

The library Librarian Rikke Paulsen talks to me a little bit about how the library works. All the books are stored in large plastic boxes, which in turn are stored in a cabinet near the Middle School gathering area. Rikke takes out the boxes for the students to browse and borrow. This is mainly done before and after the classes, but every once in a while a teacher might bring out the class to borrow books or use the library for teaching purpose. The books are listed in a file, and Rikke registers each loan by writing down the names. It’s a simple system, and it works well, but the Board is looking into improving it in the future. (Photo 3)

Not only language When living abroad, it may be difficult to keep up with all traditions that your home culture practices. The Danish school not only aims at teaching its students to read and write the Danish language, but also to gain an understanding for the Danish culture and its traditions. They communicate with the Danish church and the embassy to make sure that the Danish community does not miss out on any important festivity or event.

One such important tradition is Fastelavn, which is held at the Danish church in February and involves a fun carnival with dress-up costumes. The school plans to organize a Christmas event this December.

October 2013 • ScandAsia.Singapore 19

Mynewsdesk In 2008 Swedish based Mynewsdesk became part of the reputable NHST Media Group Asia based in Singapore.

Mynewsdesk has turned out to be the energetic and fast growing little sister, who gives the old journalistic flagship a needed view into the future of the media world.

By Sine Neuchs Thomsen

20 ScandAsia.Singapore • October 2013

helps us understand the future T he demand for the all-in-one package of PR the way Mynewsdesk is providing it seems to be growing fast. Not only in Scandinavia where Mynewsdesk has already a very strong presence but also in Asia where the copy mentality in fast becoming a thing of the past, and the market instead starts focusing on branding their own products in a global perspective. And that is where it gets interesting for Mynewsdesk.

The concept of Mynewsdesk is to give journalists and other news consumers the possibility to subscribe exactly the news they want in their mailbox and on their news page. At the same time Mynewsdesk offer their customers, which typically would be big brands wanting to enter a certain market, guidance in how to get their subscribers to read and follow up on their stories.

It is basically PR work, but Mynewsdesk wants to be updated on the latest trends in how people consume news and that is what they do by expanding globally.

“We are working on making Mynewsdesk a global player in many different ways and it is an important goal for us,” Managing Director of NHST Media Group Asia, Leonard Opitz Stornes, says.

“We are looking to the market in Japan and Korea, because they have strong global brands such as Samsung and Toshiba. Companies like that can benefit from utilizing Mynewsdesk on the global market,” he adds.

All-in-one PR package The way Mynewsdesk is set up makes it possible for the company to guide their clients through the market so they can fit their news to their receivers preference as exact as possible.

“We are a one-stop shop for PR,” Stornes explains.

“Mynewsdesk can manage all the PR activity from one platform, so it eases the process of sending out press releases and offers more diversity on social media activities,” he adds.

In addition Mynewsdesk are monitoring statistics, which makes it possible for them to see, in what geographical regions and in what industry sectors their clients have readers, the Norwegian tells.

Not outplaying traditional PR Though the way of making PR for Mynewsdesk is if not revolutionary for the constantly changing

world of communication at least it is adding to the level of targeting marketing.

“We help our clients and guide them along and give them instructions how to do their press releases better, so in the end they will be able to do it on their own,” Stornes says.

“Our philosophy is that content is everything.

If you have good content, you have to utilize it,” he adds.

The Mynewsdesk-way of doing PR is not replacing traditional PR, Stornes believes.

“It is the future in terms of how companies can effectively leverage on communication with the market. It does not mean it is the end of traditionally PR. It is not like a competition to the existing but more like a supplement to make it more effective. Mynewsdesk should not be seen as a threat to traditional PR, more like a supplement,” he says.

Fresh air to an old business Not only is Mynewsdesk covering a certain need for a more concrete and targeted PR for businesses working to enter a specific market.

Mynewsdesk has also been an advantage for the old tradition-bound NHST group it selves.

“By having Mynewsdesk in the group we can develop a better understanding of how the future of digital, PR and media are developing. It helps us to better understand what the world looks like,” the Norwegian adds.

“Because NHST is a traditionally and old firm, we saw into the future to have a company that looks into the social media, so we can learn and better understand the future,” Stornes explains, adding the digitalisation as an area where NHST has taken advantage from having Mynewsdesk under its wings.

More influence to the social media consumers “Both bloggers and Facebook-followers will have more influence on the digital area, that means it is important for us to try to see the trends and how they are moving. We try to go forward and capitalize on bringing our knowledge to our customers,” Leonard Stornes tells, adding that the company recently made a survey showing how journalists are picking up stories and what their preferences are in terms of PR. “What makes you want to follow up on a

certain story and what makes you not want it?

That is the knowledge we can bring to our customers,” stressing that exactly that knowledge is important because the readers and their behavior are changing in the years to come.

“Now many of our readers are decision makers and owners and they are in their 40s and 50s. But the future businesses are run by young people who less and less get their news from the printed paper,” he says, meaning that the way Mynewsdesk is spreading news for companies has a strong appeal to especially young people.

To have Mynewsdesk in the group has also changed the revenue sources, Stornes explains.

So far it comes from advertisements and circulation from the printed versions, but because the readership habits are changing we are increasingly developing our digital offering. At the same time also improving the paper product as we operate in niche markets and are market leaders within core industry segments and have a very loyal readership and customer base.

Stornes himself arrived in Singapore in 1995 to built up the NHST business which until that time was run from Norway. But Stornes believed in the potential of Singapore and Singapore became the first step into the Asian market, where the NHST group today besides from the four offices in the Riverwalk building in Singapore counts offices in China, Hong Kong and India and a total of 70 employees in the Asia section.

NHST publish newspapers and online services for the oil and gas, shipping, seafood and renewable industry, counting e.g. Upstream, TradeWinds, Intrafish and Recharge plus the Norwegian business daily Dagens Naeringsliv.

At the moment NHST is working on a strategy for Mynewsdesk to enter the market in Thailand as well. Everything is pretty much in the process of consideration, but according to Leonard Opitz Stornes, the entrance to the Thai market could be through the tourism and travel segments as we here have many existing core clients globally and build the business within other industries in Thailand step by step.

“Hopefully we will have a Thai version of Mynewsdesk where the main Thai brands can better communicate within their own country, and also get the global companies to communicate with the Thai brands”.

October 2013 • ScandAsia.Singapore 21

Aiming for the best Air France and KLM’s new Commercial Director, Mr. Matthieu Tetaud, has recently moved to Singapore. He shares with ScandAsia the airline’s vision and talks about its expansion in Scandinavia.

By Wachiraporn Janrut

A

IR FRANCE and KLM, the FrenchDutch airline group, on 1 August 2013 welcomed Mr. Matthieu Tetaud as its new Commercial Director for Air France and KLM Singapore, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand.

“We cannot only be good - we have to be among the best,” says Matthieu when asked about his new role. “That’s the vision that our CEO is pushing, which I aim to bring it to the team here especially for the corporate segment. My experience at the headquarters will help make it happen here.”

Extensive experience Originally from France, Matthieu joined Air France in New York in 2003 as Business Analyst where he worked with all the departments to develop new IT applications for the airlines in the US, Mexico and Canada. In 2005, he moved back to France to manage a project for the sales and service centre there. Matthieu enjoyed his first experience in managing a team to deliver customer service. And later on, his responsibility extended to include managing Air France and KLM’s sales and service centres worldwide.

In 2009, Matthieu felt the need to be even closer to customers so he decided to work as Global Account Manager, where he managed a portfolio of Top Global Corporate Accounts for AFKL and also Delta Airlines and Alitalia. The job gave him strong sales & marketing experience as

22 ScandAsia.Singapore • October 2013

well as allowing him to work on partnerships with other airlines. With his extensive experience, in 2012 he joined the Asia Pacific management team of Air France and KLM where he was responsible for the performances of Japan, Korea, and South Pacific routes.

“Air France and KLM offers a unique travel experience, while respecting the cultures, the environment and the people of the country where we have the chance to land our aircrafts,” Matthieu says.

Expanding the network in Scandinavia In April this year, KLM expanded its footprint in Scandinavia by adding Alesund in Norway to its network, serving a total of seven KLM destinations in Norway. Currently, the airline’s network covers seven destinations in Sweden, nine destinations in Finland and three destinations in Denmark.

“Travelling to the destinations in Scandinavia through the award-winning Amsterdam Schiphol airport is easy. Our major strengths are a strong network and two efficient hubs; one in Paris and one in Amsterdam,” says Matthieu.

With its sleek design and friendly efficient service, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is regularly voted the best airport in Europe. It is a major transport hub with a variety of shops, services and entertainments. The famous airport annex of the Rijksmuseum houses art from the Dutch Golden Age, including paintings by some of the most famous Dutch Masters. Also, the airport is only

15km from central Amsterdam, which is accessible by train in less than 20 minutes.

“The addition of Alesund to the network further strengthens KLM’s position in Norway,” says Matthieu.

Moving to Singapore To take up the new position, Matthieu moved to Singapore with his Spanish wife and two young daughters in the middle of July 2013.

“The team and people here are very welcoming. I plan to get to know them more, and then meet as many customers as possible to better understand their needs. I also try to eat local food, participate in local activities and attend business platforms to understand the people and the business dynamics here,” says Matthieu.

Based on the east coast of Singapore, Matthieu says that his location is close to East Coast Park and the sea, which is convenient for the family to enjoy outdoor activities. The Tetaud family seems to be well-adapted and enjoys living in Singapore.

“The weather here reminds me of summer holidays in Europe. My wife plans to enjoy many social activities here, and my daughters just love the swimming pools,” says Matthieu.

Matthieu also plans to explore other destinations in the region. One of the destinations he is keen to travel to is Bali. “It’s a bonus that we have a daily KLM flight between Singapore and Bali. I’m a surfer so that’s like the holy grail for me,” he says.

Every corner of the planet is within your reach Together with our partners, we can fly you to just about any destination without any hassle.

So instead of piecing your journey together on your own, choose KLM and we’ll take you straight there. Visit klm.sg for more information.

October 2013 • ScandAsia.Singapore 23

SKAGEN DENMARK Boosting Danish Design in Asia

Beyond a sleek minimalist look, Danish design encompasses a mindset, a philosophy which adds new dimensions to the general perception of design worldwide.

With its distinctive Danish design, SKAGEN DENMARK aims to be a leading lifestyle brand, inspiring the global community.

By Wachiraporn Janrut

24 ScandAsia.Singapore • October 2013

F

or over 24 years, Skagen Denmark has been a lifestyle brand offering engaging, elegant and superbly designed accessories to its customers at accessible prices.

Since 2003, Skagen Denmark has been available in major retailers across Asia Pacific. Today, the brand’s products ranging from watches to jewellery are sold in more than 1,600 retailers in Asia.

“We are currently working on expanding our

sales network to 2,000 retailers in Asia in 2014,” says Anita Jensen, Skagen Denmark’s Brand Director for the Asia Pacific Region, based in Hong Kong.

Born and raised in Naestved in Denmark, Anita has been working for Skagen Denmark since 2003.

“I love Danish design and feel very privileged to work with Skagen Denmark. The past 10 years has been a truly inspiring journey for me,” she tells ScandAsia.

About Skagen “Skagen” takes its name from an old fishing village located at the Northern tip of Denmark. For many centuries, many artists have travelled to Skagen to experience and find inspiration from the stunning natural light, beautiful nature and unparalleled blue sky. Additionally, the town is full of fascinating contrasts, such as the cozy traditional yellow houses with red tile roofs located just around the corner from world class modern architecture.

Skagen Denmark Many people might not know that the logo of Skagen Demark is a symbol of ‘Kattegat’ and ‘Skagerrak’ – the two seas meeting at Skagen. The striking blue colour in Skagen comes from the salt crystals thrown into the air at the meeting point of the seas.

“With our anchor solidly planted in Skagen, our scope of inspiration is not only the beach and the sea in Skagen, but also the whole village of Skagen and its rich history and texture, as well as its duality as a remote fishing village and an international cultural epicenter,” says Anita.

“Moreover, our scope includes how Skagen Denmark is part of Denmark and how this society has spawned the institution that we know as Danish Design,” she adds.

Anita Jensen Skagen Denmark’s Brand Director for the Asia Pacific Region

Less is more

Danish design Danish design is a style of functional design and architecture that was developed in the mid-20th century. Focusing on the ideas of simplicity and functionalism, Danish design’s key element is the genuine interest in the users of a product and its functionality. The characteristics developed are user-friendliness, respect for materials, simplicity, and a desire to achieve a certain honesty and simple beauty.

“We strive to inspire our global community, showing the utmost hospitality, warmth, and respect to all,” says Anita. “Caring is the ultimate competitive advantage.”

To achieve its goal of becoming a leading lifestyle brand, Skagen Denmark continuously launches new distinctive design classics with an emphasis on unique Danish expression.

For its Fall Winter 2013 collections, Skagen Denmark offers pure aesthetics with a global influence. Anita reveals that consumers can expect the colours to be clean, the unadorned palette reflecting the simplicity and imperfection of nature.

“We are conscious of when to use colour and when to hold back. We want to reflect the Danish design with the mindset that less is more,” says Anita. “The brand will move closer to being a lifestyle brand with leathers and possibly home goods in the future. We want our fans to see us as the curator of Danish design in an array of categories.”

Skagen Denmark & Fossil Group In 2012 the Fossil Group, the S&P 500 company based in Dallas, Texas, saw a big business oppor-

tunity and acquired Skagen Denmark. For Skagen Denmark, it meant that the brand could increase its presence and expand into more markets.

“We now have access to 400 more retail locations and 13,000 employees supporting the brand venture. Next year we will reveal to the public what we have been working on in the past year. It’s a very exciting brand journey,” says Anita.

2014 will also be a big year for Skagen Denmark as it will mark the brand’s presence of 25 years.

The company plans to celebrate its 25th birthday in grand style.

“It’ll be a big celebration featuring lots of new concepts,” says Anita with excitement. “Highly anticipated, the event will have something to wow consumers all around the world.”

Skagen Perspektiv Launched in April this year, Skagen Perspektiv is a new lifestyle collection of men’s and women’s timepieces featuring an uncomplicated, minimalist design in a sophisticated style. Inspired by elements in nature, this collection presents more daring colours, distinctive materials and new evolution in Danish design.

For men, Skagen Perspektiv introduces durable genuine leather bands in an earthtone palette of stark black, soft gray, classic brown and natural green. Keeping with a sleek urban feel, watch dials are encased in a 42mm diameter matte black case with matching black faces and indicators.

For ladies, Skagen Perspektiv introduces high-quality genuine leather straps in pebble gray, dark brown, camel and burgundy. A slim case design in polished silver, ion-plated gold or rose-gold features a 34mm case diameter and 7mm depth with reflective glass dials in silver, rose-gold and gold, lending an air of clean sophistication.

October 2013 • ScandAsia.Singapore 25

Danish entrepreneur shows Thailand how to dress

Martin Toft Sørensen aims to build the biggest fashion platform in Thailand through WearYouWant.com, which currently offers over 900 fashion brands to the Thai market.

By Anders Holm Nielsen

S

ome 15 years ago, when Martin Toft Sørensen was still a young boy, his father owned a clothing shop in the hometown of Odense. Every once in a while Martin would travel to Italy with his father to look at new products. Today, far away from Odense, Martin runs one of Thailand’s biggest online fashion platforms and is bringing good taste to the Thais.

Danish Martin Toft Sørensen has become a major influence on what the average Thai decides to wear, as he is currently building one of the biggest fashion platforms in the country. WearYouWant.com offers more than 900 different brands, while plans of bringing the site regional are already in the works.

“What makes us unique is that we sign individual shops, which often don’t have an online presence. That way, shops don’t have to hire anyone to create a site, maintain or promote it. We connect our traffic with their products.” Martin explains.

The future looks bright for WearYouWant as the platform recently came in at number 11 on Tech in Asia’s “24 startups in Asia that caught our eye” list. Furthermore, WearYouWant.com has teamed up with a number of major Thai banks, and tele-companies to increase the brand awareness and more aggressively try to conquer market shares.

Inspired by a Danish platform While Martin was bottled on good taste back in Denmark, he explains that it was not a specific wish to target fashion, but a combined interest in fashion and inspiration from the growing Danish platform called Miinto that set him off. That inspiration and a virtually untapped market in online fashion gave the Danish entrepreneur an idea.

He partnered up with Julien Chalté, a French programmer and entrepreneur, whom he met in Bangkok while working at Visit Beyond, a Danish travel agency. To Martin, the partnership with Julien is essential.

“I believe it’s important to team up with partners, who have some qualifications that you don’t possess yourself. It’s a perfect match with me and Julien - me in charge of sales and business development and Julien who in charge of all the technical aspects.”

Scoping young talents Not only big brands that Martin and Julien are after, but the website also features small and upcoming designers which are a big part of the 26 ScandAsia.Singapore • October 2013

platform. However, Martin says that it can be a challenge in both scoping young trendsetters and convincing them, as well as their parents, to get on the WearYouWant-train.

“We have a lot of young designers, some under 18, but the family is often behind the business, so we actually have to sell the whole idea to the parents. It can be quite a challenge to explain the 50-year-old father who doesn’t know a thing about e-commerce, that his daughter should pay 15,000 baht upfront to have her brands on our site.”

However, Martin and Julien have managed to create a hype with young designers and buyers by using a large number of celebs, mainly from the popular Thai soap operas or what is called by locals ‘Lakhon’. The actors and actresses are used as models and are regularly brought to their photo-studio, where they are photographed and video recorded wearing new items.

As explained on the website that it offers “a unique possibility to have a look inside the celebs’ wardrobes”, the Thai visitors can see what is trending with their favorite stars by visiting the celeb bar or “Dara” on the site. For instance, actress and TV-host Apple Sisangien was recently interviewed about her favourite colours, latest buys and her idea of the best dressed man.

In the near future, Martin says, the company will launch the design of their new blog. This will bring a new dimension to the way they present and cooperate with the Thai celebs.

The Road to Thailand The road to Thailand and his own Bangkok business was a winding one for Martin. He had been back and forth in Thailand on several occasions, first as a backpacker, then as a student at the University of Ramkhamhaeng, and finally as an employee at Visit Beyond, a Danish travel company.

During his studies at Ramkhamhaeng he met a girl named Jureerat.

When he came back to Thailand to work at Visit Beyond, the two started dating, and in March 2011 Martin and Jureerat married. With a marriage and an expanding business to take care of, Martin feels at home in Thailand, and the support from family has made it easy to adjust.

“There has been a big support from family and friends back home. They often come to visit me, so I am fortunate that I have a whiff of Denmark flown in every now and then,” he says and explains that Bangkok has all he needs.

“You can have everything you want in Bangkok. You can live in the middle of everything surrounded by open and friendly Thais. And just a few hours away you can kick back in Hua Hin or go chilling in Koh Samet.”

Working with the Thais Although things are promising at the moment, starting WearYouWant was not without complications. Things run differently in Thailand and takes a bit longer, Martin explains. Especially the recruitment was a challenge.

“Getting a Thai to work at a startup sometimes takes a great deal of persuasion. When potential candidates said they were interested, they sometimes didn’t show up to the job-interview.

When new employees were hired, they sometimes didn’t show up on the first working day, and sometimes they would be here for a week and then quit without leaving a message. Recruiting can really be a challenge. Most likely one of the biggest we have faced so far.”

Even maintaining the workforce can be difficult, and having a Thai onboard is the key to success, Martin says.

“Having a Thai in charge of human resources is a good idea. Especially at first, it can be hard for a Thai to tell his foreign boss if there is a problem.

They are more honest with each other and they have more restraints to us, at least at first.”

With startup issues being out of the way, and 20 trusted employees on the payroll, Martin is optimistic when it comes to brainchild WearYouWant, and the plans are big. There is a large untapped market with almost 70 million Thais, and it is expected that online sales will make up for five percent of all shopping by 2015 compared to the current 1 percent. Thais are gaining trust in online shopping and the market is promising. WearYouWant is not yet profitable but is expected to break even early 2014.

WearYouWant goes regional In order to reach its goals, WearYouWant has allied itself with DMP and AVG, two VC’s operating in SEA, yet Martin and Julien still call the shots. ”Our investors care mostly about growth in orders and exploring our different marketing channels. To them it is important that the model has regional potential and that we understand how to operate it.”

Despite the success in Thailand, Martin, Julien and WearYouWant are headed abroad to secure growth.

“It is essential that we expand to other markets such as Malaysia or the Philippines, depending on which countries suit our business model the best, and where we have other business connections. Potentially during the first quarter of 2014, we will make our move to other countries.”

With a marriage and a successful business to take care of, Martin seems rooted in Thailand, but still hesitates to calling it a definitive goodbye to Denmark. ”When you settle down and start your own business, it becomes less likely that you return home. This is not a final farewell to Denmark, but it means that I am here on a long term. The business takes a lot of time and energy, and I expect to spend at least three to four years on WearYouWant. It’s hard to say where I end up after that, but I’m sure there will be plenty of new adventures to explore.”

WearYouWant offers to display the products of a brand on their website in exchange for 15,000 baht upfront and 20-30 percent of the online sales.

When a purchase is made on the site, the shop is informed and then sends the product directly to the consumer. This allows WearYouWant to have an enormous range of products without actually having anything in stock.

October 2013 • ScandAsia.Singapore 27

Tourists are running from Samed Island Despite the fact that only a small part of Ao Phrao Beach on the western side of Samed island was affected from the oil spill in July, the tourists have cancelled their bookings all over the island.

By Sine Neuchs Thomsen

T

he empty bungalows are lying side by side. Here and there you see a few Thai tourists who have taken the tour from Bangkok to enjoy a long weekend - this weekend it is in celebration of the Queen’s birthday.

Usually it is a more mixed audience, that book bungalows and beach houses at this time of the season, and even though it is low season, it is lower than it used to be on a long weekend, explains manager at Viking Holiday resort Nathapant Phimchan.

“One week before the oil spill happened, we had many bookings but over night all the tourists cancelled their bookings. 100 percent cancellaClean and white Wai beach

28 ScandAsia.Singapore • October 2013

tion,” he says and points at the book, where now all the reservations are crossed over.

Last year and previous year they had plenty of bookings in long weekends like the one just ended, the manager tells.

He adds that he has spoken to his colleagues from the other beach resorts along the east coast and they have the same problem.

“Especially the Scandinavian tourist cancel their bookings. They have seen the news and think that the oil affects the whole island, but that is not the situation here,” he says.

All along the eastern side of Samed Island there are no problems to see from the oil at all.

The sun reflects everywhere in the white sand

Manager Nathapant Phimchan shows on a map, that the oil affected area is on the opposite side of the island.

The staff at the Viking Holiday Resort is waiting for the tourists to come back to Samed Island so they again will have work to do. where there is not the least track of oil to see.

On a map over the island, Nathapant Phimchan points out the affected area on the opposite side of the island, from where his resort is, and that is the only place where the oil has caused trouble.

Another resort manager at the east coast estimates that the oil problem has cut 50 percent of their bookings.

Back at the Viking Holiday Resort, manager Nathapant Phimchan tells that the tourists even have cancelled their bookings several months ahead.

“We have no bookings on our bungalows from now and until October,” he says and puts his hands on his forehead before he adds: “This is a big problem for us.”

October 2013 • ScandAsia.Singapore 29

Medium

Homemade bounty bars

By Sine Neuchs Thomsen Evil

Ingredients • 15 oz milk cooking chocolate • 3 cups shredded coconut • 1 cup sweetened condensed milk

Directions • Mix coconut and sweetened condensed milk to make a thick and sticky paste.

Shape the paste to the wished size. If you use your hands, make them a little wet before, so the paste will not stick on your hands.

• After shaping the bars put them in the freezer for at least 20 minutes. It will make it easier to dip them in chocolate.

Are you done?

W

hen you have completed the above puzzles, please send your solution by fax to +66 2 943 7169 or scan and email to puzzles@ scandasia.com. We will make a lucky draw among the correct answers. Five lucky winners will receive a ScandAsia polo shirt.

Name:

___________________________________________________

Age: ________________________

Mobile:

___________________

Address:

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

Email:

__________________________________________________

Deadline for submitting your solution is 15 November 2013 30 ScandAsia.Singapore • October 2013

• Meanwhile you melt 2/3 of the chocolate (avoid contact with water and steam whilst melting). Add the remaining 1/3 chocolate and keep stirring until it is fully melted. This process is called tempering chocolate which allows the chocolate to have a glossy texture and the right “crack”.

• Now you can start dipping. Use two forks and roll the coconut rectangle to cover all sides with chocolate. Lift the bar from the chocolate and place it on a baking sheet covered with baking paper. Put it back in the freezer and the chocolate will get “shocked” and get stiff.

• Your homemade bounty bars will keep fresh in up to five days in an air tight container.

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