Voyageur Magazine - October 2012

OCTOBER 2012

A publication of the Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Corporate

10 / 2012

Partnership

Premier Sponsors

Executive Sponsors

Calendar

Calendar of events: 2012/2013 TCCC Executives Patron:

His Excellence Ambassador of Canada

Officers:

President – Peter van Haren Vice President – Derek van Pelt Vice President – John Casella Secretary – Dr. Tim Cornwall Treasurer – Michael Howard

Executive Board: Ali Fancy Derek van Pelt John Casella John Stevens Neil Chiu Michael Howard Peter van Haren Ron Livingston Scott Coates Sranyoo Chanate Dr. Tim Cornwall Todd Switzer

Embassy Representative: Ping Kitnikone

Advisors:

Sean Brady Don Lavoie Geoff McIntyre Michael White Picharn Sukparangsee Raymond Bodemer Sam Cohen Surachit Chanovan

Executive Director: Randy Shockley

Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce 139 Pan Road, Sethiwan Tower 9th floor, Bangkok 10500 Tel: +66(0) 2266-6085-6 Fax: +66(0) 2266-6087 Email: tccc@loxinfo.co.th Website: www.tccc.or.th

TCCC

WHEN: Tuesday, December 4, 2012; 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm WHAT: Canuck Christmas Fest WHERE: Bistro 33 Restaurant - 22 Sukhumvit Soi 33 PRICE: Join us for the Chamber’s last scheduled event of 2012. Spend a “very cool” Bangkok evening in Bistro 33’s beautiful gardens enjoying an “All You Can Eat” Christmas buffet, live music, raffle and door prizes.

Price with free flowing beer, wine, sparkling wine and house pouring drinks: Early Bird Price until November 30 - 1,800 baht; Standard Price – 2,000 baht.

Price without free flowing drinks, the Early Bird Price is 1,100 baht; Standard Price – 1,300 baht.

Kids 12 & Under – 600 baht.

Upcoming events in the region:

CCBA

Hong Kong: http://www.cancham.org WHEN: Monday, November 19, 2012, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM WHAT: McGill Hong Kong Alumni Leadership Series: Hong Kong as a Leading International Wealth Management Center: Opportunities and Challenges WHERE: 27/F Salao Nobre de Camoes, Club Lusitano, 16 Ice House St, Central PRICE: Members HK$ 325/ Non Members HK$425 (including set lunch) WHEN: Wednesday, November 21, 2012, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm WHAT: China Inc. Under New Management -Implications for large, medium and small companies WHERE: The HK Bankers Club, 43-44th floor, Gloucester Tower The Landmark, Central PRICE: HK$450 for members, HK$500 for non-members WHEN: Thursday, November 22, 2012, 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm WHAT: China Outbound Investment - Will China Buy up the World?

WHERE: The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, 1301 Kinwick Centre, 32 Hollywood Road, Central PRICE: HK$150 for members, HK$250 for non-members

The Voyageur is the monthly magazine of the Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce, covering all Thai-Canadian business, legal and social news of interest to the members and others who are active in expanding Thai-Canadian bilateral trade.

Editor: Randy Shockley, Executive Director, Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce Publisher: Scandinavian Publishing Co., Ltd. 211 Soi Prasert-Manukitch 29, Prasert-Manukitch Rd., Chorakeabua, Ladprao Bangkok 10230 Tel: +66(0) 2943-7166-8 Fax: +66(0) 2943-7169 Design: Disraporn Yatprom Email: disraporn@scandmedia.com Advertising Contact: Mr. Finn Balslev, Marketing Director Scandinavian Publishing Co., Ltd. Tel: +66(0) 2943-7166 ext.116 or 08-1866-2577 Email: finn@scandmedia.com

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TCCC News

Maple Leaf Ball 2012

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Four Seasons Bangkok Saturday, October 6, 2012

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nce again, the Maple Leaf Ball lived up to its reputation as Bangkok’s premier Canadian social event. This year’s ball was held at the beautiful Four Seasons Bangkok ballroom. Given the high risk of monsoon rains, we elected early to move all activities in doors. Arriving guests were promptly treated to champagne, coffee and Key Lime martinis or wine as they took time to look over the event’s Silent Auction offerings.

The TCCC thanks Khun Sukanya Rattanavadee for creating the auction area’s floral arrangements and Daniele & Don Lavoie for their detailed preparation of the auction displays. The success of the Silent Auction is always in great hands with this trio.

There were many fantastic gifts donated to the 2012 Silent Auction, including: •

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VIA Rail Canada’s trip of a lifetime…a return 12 day luxury rail journey from Vancouver to Halifax. This trip was valued at $10,000 and offered “Sleeping Touring Class” with cabin for two.

A BlackBerry Porsche Design P’9811 device provided by RIM. Four Seasons Resort Koh Samuii – Two night villa stay for 2 Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok – 2 nights in the Explore Suite by Jim Thompson Tours "R" Us sponsored trips included: o Indigo Pearl Phuket - Two night stay o Air Asia - Two Domestic & International Air tickets o Chaophaya Cruise - Dinner for two o Pimalai Resort & Spa – Koh Lanta 2 night stay with round trip transfer from Krabi, plus two Thai Airways round trip tickets (Bangkok to Krabi).

Maple hard wood flooring for one room complements of Thai Hardwoods Carved antique teakwood deity from Myanmar provided by Natee International Law Office Ltd. Canadian Ice Diamond creations by Utopia Jewellery Ltd.

After enjoying the cocktail reception, our guests then transitioned to the ballroom where Santa Claus (TCCC VP & Ball MC, Derek van Pelt) TCCC VP, John Casella, TCCC VP and the Embassy of Canada Counsellor (Commercial), Khun Ping Kitnikone provided brief opening remarks prior to the playing of anthems.

Along with wine, the evening’s dinner menu offered a traditional Thanksgiving meal served family style at each table, including a beautifully roasted whole Turkey. We thank the Four Seasons Bangkok for the excellent

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meal preparation, as well as Bistro 33 for supporting wine sales and a free flowing supply of Bloody Caesars.

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The ball offered other activities & events including a trivia contest, raffle draw and a lucky draw that offered a Grand Prize of two economy round-trip tickets from Bangkok to Toronto via Etihad Airways. Mr. Kirk Albrow, General Manger of Etihad Airways, handled the presentation of the Etihad tickets to this years’ winner. We also conducted an additional lucky draw for a 3 day / 2 night stay at the Anantara Koh Samui Resort & Spa. This year’s band selection was without question a great choice. Featured for the first time ever at a Chamber event was the all girl “Unicorn Band” who keep the house rocking all night with back support provided

by Q Bar’s DJ Denis.

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A post event hit was the Maple Leaf Ball’s “After Party” held by Q Bar on their new 2nd floor patio bar. Who said our guests were all dressed up with nowhere to go? From midnight on, Q Bar is definitely the place to be!

1. Pierre Santoni, Senior Director, Domestic and International Sales, VIA Rail Canada was one of the Lucky Draw winners of an 8-Pack of Moosehead.

2. Khun Ping Kitnikone, Counsellor (Commercial) - Embassy of Canada, providing opening remarks.

3. Santa (Derek van Pelt) serving as MC 4. Guests stand for the playing of anthems 5. Kirk Albrow, General Manger of Etihad Airways, presents the Lucky Draw’s grand prize 6. Santa conducting the Raffle Draw 7. Just one of many tables that deployed a little technology to meet the challenges of this year’s trivia game 8. We thank Khun Fern ( R ) and her team for their role in supporting the ‘Raffle Draw’ 9. A few happy winners from this year’s trivia game 10. Pierre Santoni of Canada’s VIA Rail carving up some turkey at this year’s ball. We thank Via Rail for contributing a $10,000, 12 day return travel trip (Vancouver to Halifax) to this year’s Silent Auction.

11. Khun Vanida Kasemsri, Owner of Tours “R” Us, was one of our most gracious “Silent Auction” supporters 12. Santa wasted no time in dressing down for a great Thanksgiving dinner 13. Ball guests checking out the 2012 Silent Auction 14. Etihad Airways provided the grand prize for the Lucky Draw; prize was 2 round trip tickets Bangkok to Toronto.

15. The Unicorn Band performing at this year’s event 16. This year’s Silent Auction winner of the BlackBerry Porsche Design P’9811 device.

17. This year’s ball also received support from Bangkok’s many embassies

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TCCC News Our annual, Maple Leaf Ball is only possible with the strong support of the Chamber’s members, friends and our steadfast sponsors. In closing, we provide special recognition to following sponsors of the 2012 Maple Leaf Ball:

Gold Sponsors:

Silver Sponsors:

Bronze Sponsors:

Gift & Prize Donors: • Air Asia • Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa • Arlani Design Group • Bangkok Golf Club • BlackBerry - Research in Motion (RIM) • Canadian Ice Diamond • Chaopphaya Cruise • Crepes & Company • Face Bangkok - Sukhumvit 38 • Foodland Supermarket Co., Ltd. • Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok • Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui • Genesis Skin Klinik • Grand Millennium Sukhumvit • Indigo Pearl Hotel Phuket • Jim Thompson • NHD Leather

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• Nattee International Law Office Ltd. • Neil’s Tavern Restaurant & Bake Shoppe • Patong Paragon Resort & Spa • Raja’s Fashions • Rajawongse Clothier • Savvy Jewelry Co., Ltd. • Shahbaz Carpets Trading Co., Ltd. • Shangri-La Hotel • Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit • Smiling Albino Ltd. • T & D Handmade Crystal • TCCC • Thai Airways • Thai Hardwoods • Utopia Jewellery

TCCC News

ARGO…The Movie Was Fake,

The Mission Was Real !

T

he TCCC recently held a benefit screening of Argo for the People Eye Care Foundation. The film previewed at the Toronto International Film Festival in September; it’s a dramatization of the 1980 joint Canadian & USA secret operation to extract six American diplomatic personnel out of revolutionary Iran.

Peter van Haren, TCCC’s President said, “We thank Major Cineplex and Jim Patterson for donating the theatre for a great evening event. In total, we raised 30,000 baht for the Chamber’s ‘I for an Eye’ charity, which will fund cataract operations during the Chamber’s January 2013 mission to northern Thailand.”

Background On 4 November 1979, the American embassy in Iran was invaded by Iranian revolutionaries and several Americans were taken hostage in retaliation for America's support of the recently deposed Shah (he fled to the US to receive medical treatment for cancer).

Most of the embassy staff is taken hostage, but six evade capture and hide in the home of Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor (played

by Victor Garber).

The CIA is eventually ordered to get them out of the country. With few options, exfiltration expert Tony Mendez devises a daring plan to create a phony Canadian film project operating in Iran as a ploy to smuggle out the Americans as production crew members.

The film is directed and stars Ben Affleck as Tony Mendez and features Bryan Cranston of “Breaking Bad” as Mendez’s CIA boss, Jack O’Donnell. Alan Arkin and John Goodman play the Hollywood producer, Lester Siegel, and make-up artist, John Chambers, who help them pull off the caper.

Together they set up a phoney film studio and successfully establish the pretence of developing Argo, a "science fantasy" in the style of Star Wars, to lend credibility to the cover story. Meanwhile, the escapees grow frantic inside the ambassador's residence.

Shredded documentation from the US embassy is being reassembled, providing the revolutionaries with evidence that there are embassy personnel unaccounted for.

Posing as a producer for Argo, Mendez enters Iran and links up with the six escapees, providing them with fake Canadian passports and extensive information about their fake identities to help them convincingly bluff their way through security at the airport. Although they are afraid to trust Mendez's scheme, they reluctantly agree to go along with it, knowing that Mendez is risking his own life too, and convinced that it is their only option.

A "scouting" visit to the bazaar to maintain their cover story takes a bad turn, but Mendez gets them away from the hostile crowd.

Mendez is informed that the operation has been cancelled, to avoid conflicting with a planned military rescue of the hostages.

He pushes ahead nevertheless, forcing O'Donnell to hastily demand his superiors reactivate logistical support. At the airport there is tension as the escapees' flight reservations are only confirmed at the last minute and a call to the supposed studio in Hollywood at first goes unanswered. The group boards the plane, which takes off as revolutionaries who have uncovered the ruse try to stop them.

To protect the hostages remaining in Tehran from further retaliation, all US involvement in the caper is suppressed, giving full credit to the Canadian government and its ambassador (who fled Iran with his wife under their own credentials as the operation was underway; their Iranian housekeeper, who had known about the Americans, escapes to Iraq). Mendez is awarded the Intelligence Star, but due to the classified nature of the mission, he would not be able to keep the medal until the details were made public in 1997. All the hostages are later freed on January 20, 1981. The film ends with Jimmy Carter giving a speech about the Crisis and the Canadian Caper, with screenshots from the film being contrasted with images of the actual people and events during the crisis.

The Real Facts Chris Terrio wrote the screenplay for the film based on the 2007 Wired article "How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans from Tehran" by Joshuah Bearman. The film claims that both New Zealand and British diplomats turned away the six Americans on the run in Tehran. In fact, diplomats from New Zealand proved quite helpful; one drove the Americans to the airport. The British also hosted the Americans initially, but the location wasn't safe and the Canadian embassy was viewed as the better location. British diplomats also assisted other Americans beyond the six. Bob Anders, the U.S. consular agent played in the film by Tate Donovan, commented that

in actual fact “They put their lives on the line for us. We were all at risk. I hope no one in Britain will be offended by what's said in the film. The British were good to us and we're forever grateful." Affleck is quoted as saying to the Sunday Telegraph: "I struggled with this long and hard, because it casts Britain and New Zealand in a way that is not totally fair. But I was setting up a situation where you needed to get a sense that these six people had nowhere else to go. It does not mean to diminish anyone."

All six Americans are depicted as longterm house guests of the Canadian ambassador, but only two actually stayed with him.

The other four lived with another Canadian diplomat. The film depicts a dramatic lastminute cancellation of the mission by the Carter administration and a bureaucratic knife-fight in which Mendez boldly declares he will proceed with the mission anyway.

In fact, Carter did delay authorization, but only for 30 minutes. The film depicts a tense scene at the airport before the final departure, due to zealous Iranian guards. In reality, the flight was delayed rather mundanely due to a mechanical problem. Airport security and customs was not a challenge. As Tony Mendez later wrote, "The Iranian official at the checkpoint could not have cared less."

Finally, the chase scene at the end is a total fabrication. (Background: Wikipedia)

Canada-Asia Agenda -- No. 31 Extending Censorship Controls in Southeast Asia The internet has become a powerful tool for information, association and expression for a growing audience in Southeast Asia, but this may be curtailed as governments hone in to extend controls over cyberspace. In examining trends and concerns relating to freedom of expression and access to information in the context of Southeast Asia, Kieran Bergmann contends that as Canada engages more deeply with countries from the region, it should maintain a strong voice on internet freedom amid an overarching trend pointing towards more censorship, regulation, and control of the Internet in Southeast Asia.

We invite your comments through our website on any aspect of the publication.

For more news and articles on Canada's involvement in Asia, visit the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada website www. asiapacific.ca. You can also join us on Facebook and Twitter.

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TCCC News

An Open Letter To Our Members From The TCCC Executive Board I for an Eye

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very month, a dedicated group of 5 eye doctors and 25 nurses from various hospitals around Bangkok pack their bags and medical equipment and head off to spend a weekend at a rural government hospital somewhere in Thailand – it may be Maelao Hospital in Chiangmai Province, or Langu Hospital in Satun Province, or one of many others.

Their mission – to bring sight back to local people that suffer from cataract conditions and cannot afford to pay for the operation.

After screening prospective patients in the hospital, the doctors and nurses perform 120 to 150 cataract operations, extracting the cataract and implanting intraocular lenses. Every month, they bring sight back to 100 to 120 patients. They charge nothing for their services - it is “their pleasure”.

The aegis for this extraordinary gesture of philanthropy is the People Eye Care Foundation, founded in 1987 under the name of the Rajavithi Eye Foundation. The PECF receives donations to cover the costs of the lenses and surgical supplies and monitors the activities of the ‘Eye Missions’.

The PECF has now attracted the attention of the TCCC. The TCCC Executive Board has recently agreed to honor the Chamber’s ongoing commitment to the Thai community by throwing its support behind the PECF. The goal is to raise 600,000 Baht by the end of 2012, equivalent to the costs of lenses and supplies of one monthly mission of 120 operations (5,000 Baht per operation). In a recent meeting with Dr. Somsran Watanachote, founder of PECF, we made the commitment to reach that goal and agreed that the mission scheduled for January, 2013, to Thatum Hospital, Surin Province, would be ‘officially’ designated the ‘TCCC Eye Mission’.

And thus, the “I for an Eye” campaign has been born and with this letter, we are now appealing for your support. But - you are not alone! The Executive Board has approved a plan to match members’ donations on a 2 for 1 basis. As an example, a member’s donation of, say, 10,000 Baht would be matched by 20,000 Baht from the chamber, using funds of the TCCC’s operating budget and other available resources, to aggregate 30,000 Baht. If just 20 of us will donate 10,000 Baht each, when added to the Chamber’s matching monies, we will reach our target, and each of us will the quiet satisfaction of knowing that because of our act of generosity, the sight of 6 brave souls, living somewhere in Surin Province, has been restored.

What a wonderful proposition…

How to donate: 1) By Bank transfer: Bank Account Number: 018-1-13396-1 Account Type: Current Account Beneficiary Name: Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce Name of Bank: Kasikorn Bank, Patpong Branch Bank Address: 42 G Floor, Songsermprakanpai Building, Surawong Road, Kwang Sashay Khet Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 2) By Credit Card: See Fax Credit Card Payment Form 3) By Cheque payable to: “Thai – Canadian Chamber of Commerce” 4) By Cash at TCCC Office All donations are eligible for tax deduction.

In advance, we thank you for your kind support in helping to return sight to local people who cannot afford cataract surgery.

Sincerely, The TCCC Executive Board

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TCCC News

The Pintsman connects Canucks

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great place to experience the “world of beer” in Bangkok is The Pintsman. A new pub, located in the basement of the United Centre on Silom Road, it opened its doors in January of this year and besides its wide variety of alcoholic beverages it also has a good range of culinary delights and varied musical theme nights five times a week. This September it also hosted the TCCC’s monthly Canuck Connections night.

On draught The Pintsman carries beers from Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Thailand, Japan and Denmark. Bottled beers come from the same countries as well as Mexico, Spain, Australia and Laos. Brands include Kilkenny, Guinness, Carlsberg and Asahi. There’s “Happy Hour” prices every day from 11am-7pm.

There are lunch specials every day designed by Mexican-Native American chef Marc Gomez. The “Business Set” lunch goes for Bt240; the “Thai set” goes for Bt190, both include a starter, a main and dessert. A la carte selections that come highly recommended are the Australian braised short ribs, and the Thai burger with spicy cabbage salad, cilantro mayo, cheese and mango. As General Manager Eddie Grant describes the latter, “it’s like taking a bite out of Thailand.”

Eddie also raves about the coq au vin entree, featuring chicken legs and thighs braised in Burgundy sauce with mushrooms, potato puree and a petite salad. And Eddie says Chef Marc’s Bolognaise sauce in the Fettuccine Bolognese entree is the most authentic he has ever tasted; the dish comes with beef ragout, fettuccine, parmesan cheese and parsley.

The pub has a video wall and for Canuck Connections night, TCCC’s Executive Director Randy Shockley organized footage of well-known Canadian landmarks for all to enjoy. In attendance were past and present TCCC presidents including Peter van Haren, John Casella, Sean Brady, and Sam Cohen along with current board members such as Todd Switzer, Derek van Pelt, Neil Chiu, and Ali Fancy. There was a snack buffet featuring mini-burgers, and chilli for TCCC members to munch on. And there was also a raffle with lucky winners taking home six-packs of Moosehead, bottles of Konelzmann wine (red and white) and a night’s stay at an Oakwood studio apartment.

Music on tap at The Pintsman includes Thai rockabilly on Stray Cat Fridays featuring Trix “O” Treat (www.bangkokswiong.com).

On Tuesdays, there’s Acoustic Souls featuring Linn Rassa and Krit Pannawa. Ladies night on Thursdays sees women who check-in on Facebook getting three free Stoli cocktails and one shot of Patron XO. And the pub also stages snooker contests on a regular basis.

The owners of The Pintsman, the 2thebigmango group, also run Dine in the Dark, an avant garde eatery in the Ascot Sathorn Bangkok, created by created by Ben Baskins. You eat entirely in the dark, and the staff is blind; when you arrive you are guided to your table in the dark and given a choice of Vegetarian, Western or Thai menus. A staff member is assigned to your table to assist you if need be, all the staff come from the Bangkok School of the Blind and have good English language skills. www.thepintsman.com (open 11am-1am daily) http://www.facebook.com/DineintheDark, 02-676-6676 (open for dinner, you need to book a table in advance)

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Member Profile

The Mazars Difference Mazars is an international, integrated and independent organisation specializing in audit, advisory, accounting, tax and legal services.

Mazars operates in 69 countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean - with more than 13,000 professionals.

M

azars is a major force on the international scene, offering a more personalized alternative for companies seeking a complete range of services.

It is able to offer flexible tailored solutions for multinational firms, large national firms as well as Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Mazars is a founding member of Praxity, an international alliance of independent accounting firms. The global alliance gives access to the skills and expertise of a further 15,000 professionals, which gives it additional capacity and allows it to service clients to the same strict quality standards across five continents.

In Asia, Mazars provides services to clients in Australia, Greater China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Caledonia, Pakistan, The Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Where Mazars does not have an established office it works together with the Praxity participants to deliver the highest quality service to its clients.

In 2008, Mazars merged with the Double Impact Group in Thailand. This combined the benefits of an integrated global partnership with the entrepreneurial drive of the Double Impact Group, which was founded in Bangkok in 1999 by Bruce Darrington. “Based on listening closely to our clients and offering a fresh reading of their problems, the Mazars range of services is designed to give companies the assurance of recognised technical and regulatory expertise together with the added-value of a partner who can advise them effectively on improving their global performance,” says Michael Howard, the Managing Director of the company’s Audit Practice, who joined the firm in December of last year.

In Bangkok, Mazars currently employs over 125 professionals, divided between two operating entities, Mazars (Thailand) Ltd. and Mazars Ltd. - and it is growing fast. The firm provides accounting, audit, tax, legal, litigation and business advisory services to

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international clients and locally registered owner-managed businesses. A key feature of the practice is the multinational composition of its senior consultants, including British, Canadian, Dutch, Japanese, Australian and Thai nationals. This international reality is embedded in one of the key values of the firm, cultural diversity. “We all come from different places, cultures and disciplines. We each have our own unique personality and perspective,” says Michael. “But we share certain traits that mark us out from our competitors – a Mazars ethos, a Mazars DNA.” To live up to its values Mazars is organising Mazariades to bring together “Mazarians” from across the world. These Mazariades take place over three days of competitions

You make all the

difference

and discussions and give organisers the opportunity to honour the best talents in the group, the individuals who will be the international leaders of tomorrow. Mazars Thailand normally sends two to four of its most talented staff to this international event.

Another key Mazars value is the drive for technical excellence and continuous development. From an acknowledged audit expert in France and then in Europe, Mazars evolved into as international provider of specialist business services for listed and unlisted companies of every size. The approach is designed to respond to the specific issues facing each client in their particular market, and to offer effective solutions that deliver real added value. By supporting clients in their business development and helping them successfully manage change, the firm aims to make Mazars the most sensible choice for its clients moving forward. “We are constantly on the lookout for ways of adapting and expanding our services to even more closely respond to the needs of our customers,” says Michael.

“A great example of innovative new products is our offering of ‘human rights auditing’. We

could be employed by a Western manufacturing company - which outsources some of its manufacturing to developing countries - to go to the manufacturing facility in question and see if the company complies with human rights standards in its practices with regards to say the use of child labour.”

A complete range of services to help clients develop their business is viewed as very important for Mazars. Whether for key accounts, the public sector or privately-owned SMEs, the service offering revolves around a spectrum of services addressing every link in the corporate value chain. Clients benefit from experienced teams who have constant access to the insights and skills lent by Mazars professionals operating in other parts of the world. This “one-team” concept, guides the professional approach from day-to-day; a single, unified team serving markets across the world.

In the service industry human resources are the most important assets. Mazars has put policies in place designed to attract, retain and develop talents that Mazars needs now, and in the future. To this effect, the employer branding and the relations with well-known universities in Thailand and overseas contribute to the firm’s ambition to be an employer of choice. An important part of employer branding is the commitment to develop talents.

Developing talent is about providing people with the means to enrich their technical and soft skills through local or international training. To facilitate this training Mazars University was created; it is currently in the process of obtaining an official accreditation as a university and will offer (E)MBA programs for Mazars’ talents and external students.

More on Michael Howard – Managing Director - Audit Michael Howard is responsible for the operations of the company’s audit department and directs the provision of audit and due diligence services. He was previously a partner with KPMG in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos and with Grant Thornton in Vietnam.

His experience includes serving international clients across all major business sectors.

Outside the accounting profession, his experience includes diplomatic service, corporate finance/mergers and acquisition, strategic consulting and contract management. He is the current treasurer and long- time member of the TCCC’s Executive Board.

For more information on Mazars worldwide, please visit: www.mazars.co.th