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The next best thing to an ABBA reunion Date : Tuesday 30 September 2014 / Wednesday 1October 2014. Time : 7.30 PM Venue : Main Hall, Thailand Cultural Center Ticket price : 3,000 / 2,500 / 2,000 / 1,500 / 800 Baht Booking : http://www.thaiticketmajor.com / ICP2014/08-the-worlds-greatest-abba-show.php?la=en
Your FREE ScandAsia Magazine in Thailand ScandAsia is the only magazine that covers all the Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish residents in Thailand. We also publish a ScandAsia magazine in China, Singapore and the rest of South East Asia.
Please sign up for your own FREE copy: www.scandasia.com Publisher : 211 Soi Prasert Manukitch 29 Prasert Manukitch Road Chorakae Bua, Lad Prao Bangkok 10230, Thailand Tel. +66 2 943 7166-8, Fax: +66 2 943 7169 E-mail: news@scandasia.com Editor-in-Chief : Gregers A.W. Møller gregers@scandmedia.com Managing Editor: Thana Poopat thana@scandmedia.com Advertising : Finn Balslev finn@scandmedia.com Piyanan Kalikanon piyanan@scandmedia.com Nattapat Maesang nattapat@scandmedia.com Graphic Designer : Peerapol Meesuwan Peerapol@scandmedia.com Printing : Siamprint Co., Ltd.
Daily news and features here: www.scandasia.com
The ARRIVAL FROM SWEDEN Duration : Part I: 45 mins, Part II: 45 mins Intermission : 20 mins http://www.themusicofabba.com Presenting the ABBA legacy in Bangkok is The Arrival, from Sweden. Ever since its inception in 1995, this troupe of musicians and singers has toured over 50 nations and appeared in several TV and radio shows all over the world including 30 sold out concerts in North America since 2005.This show tours theworld together with ABBA’s original musicians and is the closest you ever will get to see ABBA in action.
Danish Dance troupe descends on Bangkok Date : Thursday 9 October 2014. Time : 7.30 PM Venue : Main Hall, Thailand Cultural Center Ticket price : 2,000 / 1,600 / 1,200 / 1,000 / 800 Baht Booking : http://www.thaiticketmajor.com / ICP2014/11-black-diamond.php?la=en DANISH DANCE THEATRE Choreographer / Artistic Director : Tim Rushton Supported by Embassy of Denmark, PANDORA and DZ Card Duration : Part I : 45 mins, Part II: 35 mins Intermission : 20 mins www.danishdance.com One of Northern Europe’s leading contemporary dance companies, Danish Dance Theatre is the largest and the foremost contemporary dance company in Denmark. Since 2001, Tim Rushton (MBE) has been the company’s Artistic Director, and has successfully continued Danish Dance Theatre’s vision of combining the classical arts with the modern. Comprising international dancers from all over the world, its repertoire ranges from large stage productions to more intimate ones and open-air events such as Copenhagen Summer Dance at the Copenhagen Police Headquarters and Louisiana Dance at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. The company also tours extensively both nationally and internationally. With ‘Black Diamond’Tim Rushton returns to the abstract universe, focusing on the aesthetics and form. The scenography and lighting serve as the central elements in this full-evening work in two acts. In the first act, a diamond-shaped wall forms a massive black structure. The shiny surface reflects onto the dark stage. The choreography is tight and stringent, organized as a multi-faceted powerful organism that dominates the space. The second act’s sparkling white diamond-like wall contrasts with the dark scenography of the first act. Here, silvery white diamonds form the background for a universe in which nuances and colours become brilliant and bright.
News Brief
Ekornes buys IMG, factories in Thailand, VN for 150 million NOK
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elling his company is probably going to provide Nils Gunnar Hjellegjerde with a rather significant plus on his bank account. Hjellegjerde is the CEO of Internasjonal Møbel Gruppe (IMG) an upholstered furniture company that has been sold to its competitor Ekornes. The sale of IMG was finalized Monday the 4th of August. According to Norwegian newspaper Finansavisen, Ekornes paid 400 million NOK for IMG. Being the main shareholder Nils Gunnar Hjellegjerde is estimated to walk away from the deal with at least 150 million NOK. Hjellegjerde is from Norway but has lived in Thailand about 10 years. Between 2005 and 2007 he was the president of the Thai Norwegian Chamber of Commerce. While IMG has its marketing office located in Norway the factories are located in Thailand and Vietnam. As a part of the contract with Ekornes he has agreed to act as a consultant for the next three years, helping with product- and marketing development.
Telenor’s Q2 revenue grew in Malaysia, fell 11 % in Thailand
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elenor Group posted a modest 1.6 per cent growth in second quar ter organic revenue, to NOK26.8 billion ($4.3 billion), but was still able to revise upwards its full-year EBITDA guidance as mobile operations in Norway, Sweden, Bangladesh and Pakistan each delivered solid results. “On the back of strong performance so far this year and our estimates for the remainder of 2014, we now expect an EBITDA margin above
last year while our revenue outlook remains at low single digit organic growth,” said Jon Fredrik Baksaas, Telenor CEO. EBITDA margin was 35.1 per cent for the first half of the year, eclipsing last year’s 34.5 per cent. Telenor also had a strong showing in India and Malaysia, although Denmark and Thailand remain “challenging”.
BoConcept opens its first furniture store in Thailand
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he Danish furniture chain BoConcept has opened the first store in Thailand at Bangkok’s Siam Paragon shopping mall. BoConcept, headquartered in Herning, Denmark, is a Danish designer and manufacturer of sleek modern design furniture, with an emphasis on fashion and functionality. It has approximately 300 stores around the world. BoConcept Thailand is operated by Index Living Mall Co., Ltd., a major player in Thailand’s furniture retail business.
4 ScandAsia.Thailand • September 2014
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September 2014 • ScandAsia.Thailand 5
News Brief
Thai tourists on a shopping spree in Denmark
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hai visitors in Denmark have overtaken the Chinese when it comes to the consumption of luxury goods. According to Berlingske Business, Thai visitors spend an average of 6.627 kroner in shops during their stay, almost 2000 kroner more than the Chinese average of 4.652 kroner. The numbers are derived from VAT refunds provided by the tax-refund service Global Blue. The large difference between the budget of Thai and Chinese shoppers is partly due to a significant decrease in the amount of money spent by the Chinese. According to Stine Juelner Global Blue’s country manager in Denmark, this behavior is most likely connected to the firm administration of Xi Jinping. “The Chinese officials do not use as much money as they used to when they travel to places like Copenhagen, and our data paints the same picture in other large European cities,” Stine Juelner says, and adds that China is trying to regulate the Chinese consumption of luxury goods in foreign countries through a new national tourist-legislation.
New Danish MD takes helm at TETRA PAK Thailand
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etra Pak (Thailand) Limited announces the appointment of Henrik Hauggaard as the new Managing Director effective 1 July 2014. Henrik takes over from Rusty Kekuewa, who has relinquished his roles on 30 June 2014. As the new Managing Director, Henrik is responsible for Tetra Pak’s business operations in Thailand and Myanmar. He is also appointed as a Regional Leader Sales Management, South Asia, East Asia, and Oceania covering 19 countries. “Thailand is one of the most impor tant markets for Tetra Pak. We have a strong team working closely with customers, suppliers, and stakeholders to strengthen Tetra Pak Thailand’s leadership in food processing and packaging technology. I am very pleased to be assigned to this new role and to this wonderful country that is full of cultural experiences and broaden opportunities. Our commitment to protect what’s good and to making food safe and available everywhere will remain the same or even stronger. I am excited to work with the team and to use my expertise in various markets for the benefit of our customers at the most,” Henrik says. Henrik is Danish, and began his career in Tetra Pak in 1984. Since then he has taken many successful roles in the company, including Chief Representative in the Beijing office of Tetra Pak China, Managing Director in Indonesia, India, and Turkey as well as Regional Leader Sales Management Greater Middle East. 6 ScandAsia.Thailand • September 2014
Before coming to Thailand, Henrik’s latest role was Vice President Sales Management Commercial Operations based in Tetra Pak’s central office in Lausanne, Switzerland where he helped create business opportunities by ensuring
delivery of competitive products and services to customers, through engaged people and world class processes.
News Brief
Thailand mulls Saab ‘Remote Tower’ air traffic control
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enior Thai government officials have visited Sweden to observe Saab ‘Remote Tower’ air traffic control system as part of assessment before deciding whether the technology would be suitable for Thailand, according to a senior Saab official. Mike Wakefield, Regional Business Development Director Asia-Pacific at Saab AB, said the system was designed with airports with relatively low air traffic in mind.These airports are now individually controlled by traditional air traffic control systems. The ‘Remote Tower’ technology enables centralisation of air traffic control from major control centres, such as Suvarnabhumi and Hatyai, Wakefield said. Saab AB said earlier the company is seeing increasing acceptance of the remote tower concept, which combines the ATC functions of remote or multiple smaller airports and heliports at one centrally located remote tower center (RTC). Cameras and sensors installed at the airports feed imagery and information to controllers at the RTC, where it is streamed live on LCD displays. A Saab system configuration consists of fixed cameras, pan/tilt/ zoom optical and infrared cameras, a signal light gun to direct pilots and an acoustic sensor.
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Making it possible Nordea Bank S.A, Singapore Branch is part of Nordea Group, the leading financial services group in the Nordic and Baltic Sea regions. Some products and services may, due to local regulations, not be available to individuals resident in certain countries and their availability may depend, among other things, on the investment risk profile of persons in receipt of this publication or on any legislation to which they are subject. Nothing in this publication should be construed as an offer, or the solicitation of an offer, to purchase, subscribe to or sell any investment or product, or to engage in any other transaction or provide any kind of financial or banking service in any jurisdiction where Nordea Bank S.A., Singapore Branch or any of its affiliates do not have the necessary licence. Published by Nordea Bank S.A., R.C.S. Luxembourg No. B 14.157 on behalf of Nordea Bank S.A., Singapore Branch, 3 Anson Rd #20-01, Springleaf Tower, Singapore 079909. www.nordeaprivatebanking.com subject to the supervision of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (www.mas.gov.sg).
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September 2014 • ScandAsia.Thailand 7
News Brief
Thailand Expat Guide 2014 – Out Now!
New psych ward meets a need for quality treatment By Lasse Henriksen
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hailand Expat Guide 2014 is the second edition of the popular booklet. Packed with practical and useful information, the guide remains an indispensable primer for newcomers and a versatile tool for long-term residents who live and work in Thailand. TEXPAT2014_for web Like its predecessor, Thailand Expat Guide 2014, intended as a help for people from Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland who have decided to spend their time in this part of the world. It explains and sheds light on practical issues and enables its readers to get the most out of their stay. The booklet includes a comprehensive directory of Danish, Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish companies in Thailand and businesses linked to the Nordic communities in Thailand. Thailand Expat Guide 2014 was brought to you by ScandAsia Publishing Co., Ltd., the publisher of ScandAsia Magazine.
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efore the opening of Bangkok Hospitals first mental department, Bangkok Mental Health Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (BMRC), only a few places have been offering high-end treatment of mental patients in Thailand. According to director of the BMRC Apisamai Srirangson, the 17 beds in private facilities throughout the country are dwarfed by the 7000 in public institutions. A lack of private beds is one of the reasons why representatives from 6 different embassies attended the opening. Consular officer Einar Davis from the Norwegian embassy thinks there is a significant need for high quality psychiatric treatments in Thailand. “A lot of the treatment facilities in Thailand are almost comparable to Scandinavian psychiatry in the 60’s. This is the first time quality treatments are available in Bangkok” Einar Davis says.
New season kicked off at youthful networking event in Bangkok By Lasse Henriksen
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heap drinks and free sandwiches. Yesterday the 14th of August around 60 young or young at heart business types, embassy officials and interns in Bangkok gathered to Nordic Young Professionals’ (NYP) networking event. As the name suggests there was an overweight of Scandinavians, but nationalities from most of the globe were represented. More established expatriates had a chance to welcome the new interns, trainees and business persons to Thailand. According to their facebook profile NYP’s goal is to create a platform were young professionals can meet. The mission was accomplished, a lot of newly printed business cards changed hands on this evening. ScandAsias reporter got cards from entrepreneurs engaged in everything from golfing to sex toys. NYP is a part of the Danish-Thai Chamber of Commerce, who was the main organizer of the event, that was supported by a long list of other chambers.
8 ScandAsia.Thailand • September 2014
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September 2014 • ScandAsia.Thailand 9
Coming up:
Crayfish Party 2014... by Lasse Henriksen
Plenty of seats at this year’s Crayfish Party in Bangkok
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he Crayfish Party is expanding in 2014, hoping to include more guest in this festive Swedish tradition. Last year the annual Crayfish Party in Bangkok sold out a week in advance. This year Scandinavian Siam Society will be upgrading to maximum capacity in an effort to avoid having to turn down potential guests. According to Savija Korslund, a board member of the Scandinavian Siam Society, Rembrandt Hotel has assured that there will be room for up to 350 guests at this year’s crayfish party. In comparison, the party last year sold out at 150. But the number of chairs and tables is not the only concern. Since the crayfish is flown in from Sweden the logistics has to be dealt with in advance. “We need to order the crayfish a long time before the par ty, at this point we have ordered enough crayfish for 200 guests,” Savija Korslund says.The sooner people buy the ticket the 10 ScandAsia.Thailand • September 2014
easier it is to reserve extra crayfish and eventually more people can join the party.
More than just crayfish As tradition has it, snaps and other alcoholic beverages will be plentiful and Peter Driscoll and the Cruisers are hired to set the mood and perform rock’n’roll classics from the 50’s and 60’s. Of course the menu will cover more than just crayfish and includes two different kinds of salmon, salads, a variety of Swedish bread, a selection of Scandinavian cheeses and last but not least a station with four desserts. A free stay in a luxur y hotel or a cubic meter in a shipping container to Scandinavia. Traditionally the Crayfish Party features a lucky draw, where sponsored gifts are awarded to lucky guests.This year will not be the exception, by the 13th two major sponsors had already confirmed that they will be contributing to the draw.
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September 2014 • ScandAsia.Thailand 11
&
Birgit Sarah Carlstedt, the present Consul of Denmark to Thailand, visits the grave of Denmark’s first ever Consul to Thailand, Carl Frederik Christian Købke at the Protestant Cemetery in Bangkok. Consul Købke must have witnessed a funeral for the unknown as described at the beginning of this article.
Dead Unwanted Ten percent of the Danes who die in Thailand end up being cremated at a random Buddhist monastery, having their ashes scattered into an unknown grave. According to the Danish Consul this can be avoided.
12 ScandAsia.Thailand • September 2014
By Lasse Henriksen
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hopped up and fed to the vultures. That’s what Norwegian explorer Car l Bock saw happening to bodies of people without money for a proper funeral back in the late 19th century ‘s Thailand. Today the fate of the bodies nobody wants might not face the same indignity of 150 years ago. But just the thought of ending up unceremoniously disposed of could be unsettling to some, and, according to Birgit Sarah Carlstedt, the Consul at the Royal Danish Embassy, one out of ten Danes who die in Thailand actually end up as unclaimed bodies. So even though this destiny might seem distant, failure to make preparation could mean more than a few expatriates end up getting cremated and having their ashes scattered in the river or put into an unknown grave. Flying back to Scandinavia as a corpse is considerably more expensive than flying home alive. The cost of sending a body home is around 35.000 DKK. It includes embalming, a metal coffin and all the necessar y documents. Just sending an urn, containing ashes, home is approximately 11.000 DKK, and once the remains have arrived there will still be a funeral to pay for. The family at home may not be able to pay for expenses this high. And some might not have savings to spare. A lot of people have not made arrangements before they die, this is one of the reasons why so many Danes end up as unwanted when they are dead.
Death is just the beginning Finding out who is to decide where your final resting place will be, is just the beginning of the legal trouble concerning death in Thailand. The question of inheritance is no less tricky, to say the least. Different rules apply in different countries, and who will inherit what depends on your marital status, which address you are registered to and if you have written a will. The rest of this article can usefully be read as a guide to spare people you left behind from possible trouble and dispute, if not also expensive legal battle, if and when you die in Thailand.
We recommend writing a will, so that everybody will know the last wishes of the diseased.
We have been contacted by children of Danish expatriates saying ‘But listen you have to do something, our parent is Danish, aren’t you the Danish embassy? It’s OUR parent’ but we cannot help..
Registration, documentation, certification Most of the Danes who die in Thailand are men, old men, mainly above 60. Birgit Sarah Carlstedt said a lot of them have not prepared anything regarding their eventual deaths. The lack of preparation, combined with the fact that they have died in Thailand,is making an often complex situation even more chaotic. “In Denmark there is a clear rule as to who is your next of kin all the way to the most distant relative. In Thailand the married partner gets it all, and that is the end of it. If you are not married but just living as a couple, the one left behind has no rights. It does not matter if you have lived together 25, 30 or even 40 years, if there is no marriage cer tificate the par tner is left with no rights at all,” Birgit Sarah Carlstedt said. If you want your par tner to inherit your possessions, her advice is to get married and to register your marriage in both countries. If the marriage is not registered in your home country,
your closest relative in that country might be called in court instead of your spouse. When death occurs in Thailand the most important document for a spouse is the death certificate. It is used to get the corpse from the hospital, money from bank accounts and to get the diseased erased from the house registration book.The Thai death certificate can only be used in Scandinavia when translated and both the Embassy and Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs have certified it.
Write a will If you want to avoid a conflict between a Thai-spouse and the family at home, the best thing you can do is to write a will. It is your own will and you can choose exactly who and what to include. Birgit Sarah Carlstedt stressed that
you should make sure to cover the essentials before you start rewarding pets for their loyal companionship. “We recommend writing a will, so that ever ybody will know the last wishes of the deceased. Where the person wants to be buried and who is going to inherit what,” she added that a will trumps the default rights of a spouse. To make sure your will is valid in Thailand, you should have it translated and cer tified by the Thai Foreign Ministry.
The rights of a relative If you are registered with a permanent residence in Denmark, the Danish law of inheritance will apply. If your permanent address is in Thailand, Thai rules will apply. This means that if you have assets in both countries, and your permanent address is in Thailand, the inheritance will be distributed according to Thai rules and vice versa. Sometimes scenarios like this can be troubling to the family at home. ”We have been contacted by children of Danish expatriates saying ‘But listen you have to do something, our parent is Danish, aren’t you the Danish embassy? It’s OUR parent,’ but we cannot help, and we cannot take sides in a case. The only thing we can do is to encourage the children to contact the Thai spouse and find a solution.” Birgit Sarah Carlstedt said. If the spouse and the family at home fail to work out their differences, a lawyer might be necessary. According to Birgit Sarah Carlstedt this is not as straight forward as it may sound. “It is not that simple, because a Danish lawyer cannot practise in Thailand and a Thai lawyer cannot operate in Denmark. So you have to find lawyers that can cooperate,” she added that the Danish Embassy will help by providing a list of lawyers in Thailand who are capable of handling such a case. September 2014 • ScandAsia.Thailand 13
Scandinavians
in
prison By Thana Poopat
Thai prisons use group confinement, no beds, inmates have access to mattress and a little space per head. In this photo from a mass cell in Langsuan, the wardens show ScandAsia Editor Gregers Moller and two journalists from Denmark a typical blanket with personal details of an inmate.
Nordic citizens are a tiny minority among 16,000 foreign inmates in Thai prisons
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here are a small number of citizens of Nordic countries among some 16,000 foreign inmates in Thai prisons, according to Thailand’s Department of Corrections. As of August 2014, nine Swedes, four Danes, three Icelanders, three Norwegians and two Finns were being incarcerated pending trials or ser ving their sentences, said Manuch Sroypetch of Foreign Affairs sub-bureau, Department of Corrections. “Generally speaking, inmates from Scandinavia and Finland are well behaved,” Manuch said. Most of the Nordic citizens in Thai prisons were accused of or convicted for criminal offences, including possession of illicit drugs and credit card frauds. A few are standing trial for violent crimes, such as murder or sexual assault. According to the Corrections Department’s latest statistics, there are about 300,000 inmates in 143 prisons throughout the country. Overcrowding is among problems that the Corrections Department has been struggling to contain. Thai prisons use group confinement, no beds, inmates have access to mattress and not much space per person.
Lenient rules for family visits Foreign inmates are treated no differently from their Thai counterparts. “But for humanitarian reasons, foreign inmates may be allowed more generous family visitation as their families have to travel a long way at great expenses to see them,” Manuch said. In most cases, the family will be allowed to see the inmates in a private room that can receive 10 relatives under 14 ScandAsia.Thailand • September 2014
supervision of corrections officials. “Family members may be allowed to see the inmate everyday during their stay in Thailand. Normally Thai inmates are allowed family visit once or twice a week.” Inmates have access to library services, taped TV news – not up-to-date programming for security reasons. Letters are censored by prison officials. But inmates have the right to lodge complaints which must be sealed if those complaints are addressed to relevant authorities, such as Office of the Ombudsman or National Human Rights Commission of Thailand.
Transfer back home Manuch Sroypetch explained that Nordic prisoners, like other foreign inmates, can look forward to being transferred back to their respective home countries after having served a minimum of onethird of their sentences in Thailand, or four years - whichever is the shorter. Embassy officials from Nordic countries are in regular contact with Thai authorities in ensuring general wellbeing of their citizens and in safeguarding their rights to apply for transfer back to their home countries.
At present, there are no pending transfer requests from Nordic citizens in Thai prisons. Thailand’s Department of Corrections is keen on prisoner transfer because of language barrier that makes communication difficult. Besides, skill training on offer used as rehabilitative measure may not be relevant when inmates leave prison and go back to their home country. Thailand has signed bilateral prisoner transfer treaties with Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland, along with 31 other countries.To date, 15 Swedes, three Danes, and one Norwegian have been repatriated to serve the remainder of their sentences in their countries of origin thanks to the prisoner transfer treaties. Under the arrangement, a foreign inmate who qualifies for prisoner transfer has to first give consent, then the relevant authorities in the receiving country will be asked to decide whether to take the prisoner. Next, applications and supporting documents will be submitted to Thailand’s Committee for Consideration of the Transfer of Prisoners, chaired by the Permanent Secretary for Justice, which will decide whether to grant the prisoner transfer request. In case in which a foreign prisoner is required to pay a fine, make restitution of property, or pay compensation for the cost of damages according to a Court’s judgement in a criminal case or according to the order of a competent authority, then the foreign prisoner shall be required to make full payment of the fine, restitution of the property, or compensation for the damages before the Committee shall issue the order approving the transfer. Depending on the provisions of the governing treaty, prisoners who are convicted of certain types of crimes (an offense against the person of the Monarch, the Queen, or the Monarch’s son or daughter, an offense against national security from within the Kingdom or outside the Kingdom; or an offense against the laws governing national art treasures) or who have less than a year of time remaining on their sentences - are not eligible for transfer.
Requirement for prisoner transfer • The inmate has already served one-third of the sentence. For example, for a sentence of 9 years, the inmate can apply for transfer after having served three years. • But if the inmate was sentenced to 20 years in prison, he or she will be eligible for transfer request after having served 4 years. That is because the Legislation Procedure for Cooperation Between States in the Execution of Penal Sentences Act B.E. 2527 (1984) says the foreign prisoner must have served a minimum of one-third of period of imprisonment, or four years, whichever is the shorter. • The inmate must have more than one year left to serve in order to qualify.
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September 2014 • ScandAsia.Thailand 15
After nearly two years on Koh Chang, Swedish hotelier Jonas Sjöstedt has relocated to the hustle and bustle of Pattaya. But still within the Centara Group. By Joakim Persson
Hotelier Jonas Sjöstedt is
Back in Civilisation
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he Swedish hotelier Jonas Sjöstedt who is enjoying a successful career with Centara Hotels & Resorts in Thailand has been, more or less, on a jungle trip for nearly two years, as the job brought him on new adventures to the island of Koh Chang - a very big contrast to the tourist throng that is Patong, Phuket, where he was previously posted. This national park island stint lasted until early 2014 when he again changed hotel posting, and this time to an even more hectic and large tourist metropolis than Phuket: Pattaya. “It was straight back into civilisation from having been out in the jungle almost for two years,” Jonas summarizes the contrast. And also comparing with Phuket he thinks that this feels like Patong but fifty times its size.
Going back in time But first he looks back at the move from city-like Patong and the opening of the first ever Centra mid-market hotel, to a garden resort sprawling over 40 rai on the much more remote and sea16 ScandAsia.Thailand • September 2014
sonal tourist island Koh Chang.The posting posed new challenges and moving to a far more tranquil setting of the kind that Phuket also once used to be able to offer. “Koh Chang was quite cosy; a bit of a paradise island where one could go somewhere and be on one’s own, so it felt like going back in time,” he reflects. By moving from one island which Jonas had made his home, initially seasonal since 1998 and then permanently, to another, he has learned that Thailand’s resort islands can mean very different things. Pace of development is one: for good and for bad Koh Chang is much less developed and more untouched compared to Phuket’s ever increasing population, hotels and tourist numbers. In fact most of the island remains dense, mountainous jungle as part of the national park.
Remoteness a challenge With city facilities lacking, and its remoteness, mean that the elephant island is much less appealing to the average Thai as a career within hospitality.
Thus, finding enough qualified staff, on an already highly competitive labour market within the Thai tourism industry, poses a big challenge for operators on Koh Chang. Thais view the island as less appealing, the Swedish general manager learned. “For Thais with university degree it’s no high status to come and work on an island.” “And when you want to run a four-star resort you must also offer four-star service. In order to have that you need great staff, and in order to attract them over to this island one must increase salaries and incentives. And at the end guests must pay so all in all it does not match well. It was very challenging to find staff actually. I noticed one had to work hard to entice quality staff to come there.” It takes Thais away from their comfort zones and air-conditioned city hotels and shopping malls out into the constant tropical heat, where one is exposed much more to the elements. Koh Chang so far offers no shopping centres and none of the fast food restaurants and other conveniences that Thailand’s urban areas can offer.
Overseeing the rebranding of the property into a four-star Centara Koh Chang Tropicana Resort, and the management takeover by Centara Hotels & Resorts in late 2012, also posed new challenges and where he could very much further his experience. “The first nine months felt rather like nine years,” he jokes. “I got my first grey hairs there. But it was enormously fun and eventful years on Koh Chang, I must say.The environment was quite a contrast from my previous hotel where we only had a few plants on the rooftop.” It is a well-known hotel since over ten years and one of the largest resorts on the island. Its tropical garden with some 150 differents plants and trees spreads over the vast area. The other significant difference with the elephant island is the pace, and that includes how businesses operate: less attentive and with absolutely no rush. Enter Centara Hotels & Resorts with its guest followers and branding guidelines that GM Jonas had to implement.
“It was a large challenge, especially regarding staff, and getting them to follow our direction.” For Jonas it’s the second hotel where he has been able to take part in the rebranding of a hotel. He first joined Centara when they bought and took over the former Jiva Resort, a Scandinavian favourite on Kata Beach, Phuket. “Centara’s strong side here after entering the Koh Chang resort was to upgrade the resort and do more for families. We changed from twin bed to two double beds, so families with two small children can stay in the same room. We upgraded all the facilities for children with a new kids club and adventure playground and installed a waterslide to the large splash pool. The whole activities programme was also expanded to have something on offer every hour throughout the day. Then we have also upgraded and renovated, aside on-going upgrades of the rooms, also our restaurant and kitchen and started many buffet- and theme events.” Jonas was also proud of being able to present dishes from the resort’s very own organic chef ’s garden. Furthermore the spa was upgraded into the own Spa Cenvaree, which is Centara Hotels & Resort’s own spa brand. Guests to the resort have Swedes and Danes ranking 4 and 5 respectively during high season, while Russians take the top spot. Many Thais, who are strong brands followers, come for weekends.
Happening place With the move to Pattaya the contrast could not be more striking: from a chef ’s garden on
very verdant premises and a laidback mode to a fast-paced Eastern Seaboard seaside city with an amazing growth path. Recently married to a Thai lady his wife is especially happy to be back in a happening place while a new, bigger challenge keeps Jonas busy, now as the GM for two hotels: Centara Pattaya Hotel and Nova Hotel & Spa Pattaya, Centara Boutique Collection. “Normally a general manager spends two years in each hotel, because once you’ve been in the hotel and done your thing for two years, someone new must almost come with new energy and different thinking. It was the right stage for me to move on - we had just finished the second peak season, and it was time to plan the next renovation, so that was a good moment to hand over.” “This position is a good step forward for me coming to two operations is a large challenge in itself.” “Then, I arrived in the middle of the latest Thailand crisis. We were supposed to have 90 per cent occupancy but were then down significantly.” As for Pattaya itself he thinks it consists in much more than he had anticipated. “When I first came to Thailand in 1998, one could hardly dare to mention it. One has often pictured for oneself the worst scenario - of which I have seen none so far.” Instead Jonas paints a picture of nice beaches to find at close distance and a wealth of things on offer in terms of lifestyle and dining. “I like it so far, coming back into the game. And fun to be able to have more choices, and good
restaurants, and go shopping with a choice of more than one colour for clothes.” “Pattaya is the new Miami; city and beach and with walking distance between everything. And low prices,” he adds - 15-20 per cent lower than Phuket, he compares. “For me it feels almost like Pattaya have more opportunity to expand than Phuket.There are still new up-and-coming areas and it is increasingly becoming connected with Bangkok.” “We are not as child-friendly as the previous resort I worked in, but we have both Family studio rooms and also a small child pool. For families who prefer to stay close to the beach Centara have in Pattaya Thailand’s first theme Resort - Centara Grand Mirage Resort. An outstanding Resort with “The lost world” concept with its own water slides, lazy rivers, mega big pool area and the Resort is located on the Beach.” “But those Nordic people who want to come to Pattaya for the first time and get an affordable stay and get a good rate can contact me to get on our list for resident rates and promotions etc. We have a good location, and are new and with fresh rooms, a pool with swim up pool bar, separate child pool, free wi-fi, 24 hours dining and spa - plus me!” “Also, our spa in Centara Nova Hotel is unique in the way that it is the only Dead Sea Salt Spa in Pattaya.We import salt from the Dead Sea and use for special signature treatments. It is an experience of a lifetime!” Jonas sells his offer. September 2014 • ScandAsia.Thailand 17
He was a part of Nordea’s private banking branch in Singapore even before they opened their doors for business in 2013. Now Kim Nielsen has been promoted to lead it.
ScandAsia.Thailand • September 18 ScandAsia.Singapore • September2014 2014
investments, while they have a local bank for their retail needs. Nordea offers you to work with an experienced advisor, who shares your language and culture.We are recognized as a very safe bank, and for fair and transparent pricing. Further the right time zone makes co-operation easier, and we are happy to arrange face to face meetings.
Settling in Singapore
Meet
With quite a few languages in the household, Kim Nielsen and his wife were pleased to send their daughter to the English speaking Stamford American International School. “My wife’s native language is French and mine is Danish, and we used to communicate inbetween in German. Our daughter was taught Swiss-German, so all in all it was a little chaotic,” Kim Nielsen says. The modest size of Singapore might make you think that it is explored in a matter of days. But according to Kim Nielsen Singapore still surprises him with many extra layers, when he digs a little deeper. “My wife and I recently went to a performance at Star Theatre, which I did not know about. I was
the new leader
of Nordea’s Private Banking Singapore branch
I
n less than two years Kim Nielsen went from senior account manager to being head of Nordea’s Private Banking operation in Asia. But Kim Nielsen is not a rookie when it comes to international banking. Before moving to Singapore he spend 8 years working with banks in Switzerland, where he lived with his wife and his now five year old daughter. Two years ago, when Kim Nielsen and his family were considering leaving Europe, his wife had already quit her job to take care of their daughter. So when Nordea decided to open their branch in Singapore Kim Nielsen was immediately interested, and his wife was equally keen on the challenge. “I must admit that it was not an easy decision to leave Switzerland, as I love both the beauty of the country and the very pleasant mentality of its people. It has a spectacular nature, fresh air, and a blessed geographic location,” Kim Nielsen says. In the end, new challenges beat the Swiss nature and the family ended up in Singapore, where they are hoping to stay for many years to come, even though they will still miss doing outdoor activities and watching the seasons change.
Banking is all about people It is not the first time Kim Nielsen works for Nordea,
as a matter of fact he started his career in the early 90’s working for Unibank, a Danish bank that later turned into Nordea. He stayed with Nordea for 10 years before moving to Switzerland. According to Kim Nielsen he likes to plan ahead and have a long term view on things, asked about his best skills he refers to the people around him. “My friends characterize me as ‘trustworthy and hard-working’. In the past that has shown to be a good skill, when you are responsible for others people’s money” One of the challenges Kim Nielsen faces, is not to forget his clients in a time where the banks spend an increased amount of their time and resources on figuring out how to cope with new and stricter regulations. “Obviously there is no way around being fully compliant with all regulations today, but banks should not forget that we are a service-provider, and our aim is to make sure that our clients are affected as less as possible. This is what I believe in,” Kim Nielsen says. The majority of Nordea’s Singapore Branch customers are Nordic nationals or have relations to the Nordic countries. It is a private bank and clients typically use it for long term savings and
surprised to find a super-modern theatre, seating thousands, and which outdoor architecture seemed like a space ship,” Kim Nielsen says and adds that he would like to discover more of Singapore.
Easy tiger Most banks see a rapid growth in Asia, and the same applies to Nordea. But their strategy will not be to pursue the fastest possible growth. “We will occupy more space and make up a larger team in 5 years time, but it is important to keep focus and control the growth. Part of that includes to say no thank you to opportunities,” Kim Nielsen says. While Kim Nielsen believes Nordea has a benefit by providing advisors who shares the language and culture with Scandinavians and that they are available for face-to-face meetings. He knows there is competition and he sees other banks taking an approach similar to Nordea’s. “Personally I believe that the Nordic way of Private Banking will get a strong foothold in Asia, and I believe that all banks who focus on competence, wealth management and client service will stand the best chance to win market share,” Kim Nielsen says. September 2014 • ScandAsia.Thailand 19
Wake up to
Rayong
By Gregers Moller
For the next weekend retreat, you should go to VIP Chain Resort and Sea Sand Sun Resort in Rayong. With prices starting from only 1000 baht per night, it could be your most affordable weekend of the year – and the start of a good business. The province
Jens Brøchner Nielsen, the Danish CEO of VIP Real Estate Co., Ltd.,
I
nvesting in a vacation home in Rayong is in many ways a more attractive proposition than what you will find elsewhere along Thailand’s long coast line. Rayong is close to Bangkok, it has more natural attractions than most other coastal provinces and you will find fewer other foreign tourists.
The distance Rayong is only a 2-hours away from Bangkok.A public minivan will cost you only 160 baht and even if you take a taxi straight to the beach in Rayong, you will seldom be charged more than 2600 Baht. Once the high speed train gets built - a dream today, yes, but eventually it will come true - it will only take you 1 hour and cost 360 baht to reach Rayong. 20 ScandAsia.Thailand • September 2014
Rayong is the second most popular tourist destination in Thailand. So how come it doesn’t feel crowded with tourists? Because most of the tourists are Thai people! Rayong also has a bigger original population than other popular destinations. In combination of the two, you probably have the answer to why the people of Rayong are more friendly towards foreigners and why the level of prices here is more like in the Thai countryside.
Mae Ramphung Beach Jens Brøchner Nielsen, the Danish CEO of VIP Real Estate Co., Ltd., identified early on the attractions of Rayong and picked the longest beach of the province, Mae Ramphung Beach, as the place to built his two resorts, VIP Chain Resort and Sea Sand Sun Resort. “We have been building, selling and running vacation homes and apartments in this area for close to ten years,” says Jens Brøchner Nielsen who personally appreciates the way the traditional Thai culture is a way of life in this province “We are growing steadily both in terms of vacation homes and rentals and will soon need to built more houses to follow the demand,” he says.
Have a look at 10.5 pct per year Jens Brøchner Nielsen suggests readers of ScandAsia
to take a weekend out to visit either Sea Sand Sun Resort or VIP Chain Resort to enjoy the area and at the same time see if this could be a pleasurable investment for them.With prices starting from only 1000 baht per night and it could be your most affordable weekend of the year – and the start of a good business. “Our concept is simple. A private customer invests in a vacation home that we will then rent out, when they are not staying here,” Jens Brøchner Nielsen explains. ”The rental income is shared between us and the owner and to reduce the owner’s risk we also offer a buy-back guarantee. Even with a reduced risk, buyer will have a guaranteed return or saving up of the investment of for instance 10.5 percent per year.” “It is a minimal exposure investment that starts at 925.000 Baht for a nice, newly renovated vacation home in an already settled village only 300 meters from the sea. Another option could be a two room house with a large roof terrace for less than 2,8 mill. Baht.” “What ever your budget and your individual considerations for the investment we are likely to have a home that fits what you are looking for. Come and enjoy a weekend to find out more – or check the websites vipreal.info or 123-thai.com or check out youtube: welcome to vip chain resort.
FOR ALL YOUR R E L O C AT I O N NEEDS Call: 089 923 9120 Erik@BluFoxRelocation.com
OUR SERVICES INCLUDE International Relocation
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Thailand | Singapore
BluFox Relocation (Thailand)
Unit 348-9, 4th Floor, 145 Racquet Club, Bldg III, Sukhumvit Soi 49/9 Klongton Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
September 2014 โ ข ScandAsia.Thailand 21
มุมภาษาไทย
l
mum pha:să: thai
l
Thai Language Corner
Thai Close to Heart By Klavs Johansen (thai@maprao.dk)
T
he word ใจ / jai / is very central to the Thai language, and, as such, the subject of at least one book. Hence, we do not hesitate to follow several requests and make it the subject of this month’s Thai language column. While rarely used alone, ใจ / jai / translates into heart or mind and with this underlying meaning is used in numerous compounds, describing some property of the heart, personal trait, or state of mind. Most of these compounds have, as we shall see, obvious translations. ใจ / jai / may start the compound or it may end it. Indeed, in some cases, both combinations may be possible with the same match, resulting in different meanings.The latter are illustrated with the following examples. For ease of understanding, we start by giving the meaning of the match: ดี / di: / ~ good, ใจดี / jai di: / ~ to be kind (good-hearted), ดีใจ / di: jai / ~ to be glad, pleased (feeling good). เสีย / sĭa / ~ to be ruined, to be wasted, lost, ใจเสีย / jai sĭa / ~ to be disheartened, เสียใจ / sĭa jai / ~ to feel sorry. น้อย / nór:i / ~ little, small, ใจน้อย / jai nór:i / ~ overly sensitive, touchy (’small heart’), น้อยใจ / nór:i jai / ~ feeling hurt, neglected. Other combinations exist with ใจ / jai / in front only: ดำ� / dam / ~ black, ใจดำ� / jai dam / ~ mean (’black heart’). ร้อน / rór:n / ~ hot, ใจร้อน / jai rór:n / ~ impetuous (hot-tempered). กว้าง / kwâ:ng / ~ wide, broad, ใจกว้าง / jai kwâ:ng / ~ broad-minded, generous. หาย / hă:i / ~ to disappear, ใจหาย / jai hă:i / ~ to be shocked. 22 ScandAsia.Thailand • September 2014
Examples ending in ใจ / jai / include: จริง / jing / ~ true, real, จริงใจ / jing jai / ~ sincere, honest. หนัก / nàk / ~ heavy, หนักใจ / nàk jai / ~ worried (heavy-hearted). กำ�ลัง / kamlang / ~ power, กำ�ลังใจ / kamlang jai / ~ spirit (will-power). น้ำ� / ná:m / ~ water, น้ำ�ใจ / ná:m jai / ~ good will, thoughtfulness. แน่ / nâe: / ~ to be sure, แน่ใจ / nâe: jai / ~ certain. เข้า / khâo / ~ to enter, เข้าใจ / khâo jai / ~ to understand (’enter the heart’). While there might be a tendency that compounds starting with ใจ / jai / names a personal trait and compounds ending in ใจ / jai / names a feeling, apparently no general rule can be deducted, as several of the examples testify. Should you know of one anyway, please do write to me on thai@maprao.dk. By the way, as mentioned initially, the word, ใจ / jai / ~ heart, is mainly used in compounds like our examples above. When referring to the actual organ of the body, the appropriate term is หัวใจ / hŭa jai /. Finally, it may be noted that – despite all this talk of heart – the Thais do not get broken-hearted, but rather ‘broken-chested’ as we have: อก / òk / ~ chest, หัก / hàk / ~ to break, อกหัก / òk hàk / ~ broken heart. This is not the only case, though, where อก / òk / is used figuratively, just like ใจ / jai /, to express a state of mind.
โชคดีนะครับ / chô:k di: ná’ khráp / ~ good luck!
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