Informa October 2011

A BUSINESS MAGAZINE OF THAI – ITALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OCTOBER 2011

It’s an Italian thing How Italy made its way to the heart of Thailand

Photo by Piyapat Chieovanich

Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce PRESIDENT Mr. Lino Geretto – LGV Engineering Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 255 8717 Fax: +66 2 255 8716 Email: info@lgveng.com

President's Message

VICE PRESIDENTS Mr. Giacomo Mauri – River of East-West Harmony Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 81 814 5160 Email: gmauri11@gmail.com

Lino Geretto President Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce

Mr. Sawang Pracharktam – Thai Optical Group Plc. Tel: +66 2 440 0506-8 Fax: +66 2 440 0509 Email: sawang@thaiopticalgroup.com HONORARY TREASURER Mr. Chakrit Benedetti - Italasia Electro Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 261 7990-9 Fax: +66 2 261 8700 E-mail: italasia19@hotmail.com HONORARY SECRETARY Ms. Tiziana Sucharitkul – Tilleke & Gibbins International Ltd. Tel: +66 2 653 5555 Fax: +66 2 653 5678 Email: tiziana.s@tillekeandgibbins.com DIRECTORS Mr. Federico Cardini – F. Infinity Chalon Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 207 8614 Fax: +66 2 207 2626 Email: fc@teakwoodburma.com Mr. Giancarlo De Santis – G.DS Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 391 4456-7 Fax: +66 2 391 0524 Email: info@gdscompany.com Fr. Giovanni Contarin – Camillian Hospital Tel: +66 2 185 1444 Fax: +66 2 185 1403 Email: cg_camillian@csloxinfo.com Mr. Luca Vianelli – MDA Consulting SEA Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 652 2447 Fax: +66 2 652 2448 Email: lvianelli@mda.it Asia Cement Public Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 641 5600 fax: +66 2 641 5680 Email: m.bracci@acc.co.th Mr. Pichai Chiratiwat – Central Trading Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 229 7000 Fax: +66 2 367 5445-6 Email: pichai@cmg.co.th Mr. Pierre Nicou – Eurofood – The Commercial Company of Siam Ltd. Tel: +66 2 261 0245 Fax: +66 2 261 0243 Email: pierre@eurofoodthai.com Mr. Rene Okanovic – Berli Jucker Public Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 367 1092 Fax: +66 2 381 4541 E-mail: rene.okanovic@bjc.co.th, rene.okanovic@thaiscandic.com Mr. Renzo Ambrosini – Impero Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 664 4491 Fax: +66 2 258 1159 Email: info@giustorestaurant.com Mr. Romeo Romei – Quick Pack Pacific Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 367 1092 Fax: +66 2 531 6425 Email: romeo@quickpackpacific.com SECRETARY GENERAL Mr. Sandro Zanello Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce.

1126/2 Vanit Building II, Room 1601B 16th Floor, New Petchburi Rd., Makkasan, Rajdhevee, Bangkok Tel: +66 2 253 9909, +66 2 255 8695 Fax: +66 2 253 9896 E-mail: secretarygeneral@thaitch.org

The Informa is the bi-monthly magazine of the Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce, covering all business activities and social news of interest to the members of the Thai-Italian community and others active in the expanding Thai-Italian bilateral relations.

EDITOR: Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce Tel: +66 2 253 9909 Fax: +66 2 253 9896 E-mail: info@thaitch.org EDITORIAL COMMITTEE: Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce President: Mr. Lino Geretto Chairman: Mr. Giacomo Mauri Directors: Mr. Chakrit Benedetti Mr. Pichai Chitathiwat Mr. Rene Okanovic Mr. Sawang Pracharktham Secretary General: Mr. Sandro Zanello Italian Embassy Representative: Mr. Ubaldo Ciavaglioli Italian Trade Commission Representative: Mr. Vincenzo Calì Dante Alighieri Association Representative: Mrs. Jane Puranananda Scand-Media Representative: Mr. Gregers Moller TICC Staff: Ms. Sukanya Kerngfak: Marketing Executive Ms. Viola Saltini: Fellowship Researcher Mr. Christopher Sella: Fellowship Researcher Mr. Stephen Johnson Farrell: English Editor PUBLISHER: Scand-Media Corp., Ltd. 4/41 Moo 3, Thanyakarn Village, Ramintra Soi 14, BKK 10230 Tel: +66 2 943 7166-8 Fax: +66 2 943 7169 Design: Disraporn Yatprom / Email: disraporn@scandmedia.com ADVERTISING CONTACT: Mr. Finn Balslev, Marketing Director Scand-Media Corp., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 943 7166 Ext: 151 Fax: +66 2 943 7169 Mobile: +66 81 866 2577 Email: finn@scandmedia.com - www.scandmedia.com Ms. Sukanya Kerngfak, Marketing Executive Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce Tel: +66 2 253 9909, +66 2 255 8695 Ext: 103 Fax: +66 2 253 9896 E-mail: pr@thaitch.org – www.thaitch.org

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Dear TICC Members and Friends,

O

ver the past two months, the Thai Italian Chamber of Commerce (TICC) has implemented a series of initiatives punctuated by a number of intriguing events in association with both the public and private sectors.

In particular, on September 19, 2011, TICC signed an important Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Bioagricoop of Italy and the Queen Sirikit Department of Sericulture of Thailand for future cooperation, wherein it is agreed to strengthen the economic cooperation between the EU and Thailand by supporting Small and Medium Sized Thai Enterprises (SMEs) operating in the silk sector. This cooperation will strengthen Thai SME’s capacity to formulate self control systems and attain prescribed standards for EU Certification.

The MOU was signed at the Head Office of the Queen Sirikit Department of Sericulture.

Another initiative taken by TICC was the organization of the Young Professional Networking Meeting on October 6. This event, attended by over 240 enthusiastic participants, was organized in conjunction with the Franco-Thai Chamber of Commerce to celebrate our past accomplishments.

On November 3, Aperitivo Italiano, a networking event dedicated to TICC Members, friends and young entrepreneurs, was held at the Italian Reataurant, Il Tartufo. Needless to say, these social gatherings provide great opportunities for new friendships and business relationships.

I would also like to extend a word of gratitude to all those who have been working towards the expansion of our Membership base. In the last month, TICC has achieved unprecedented record of over 150 members! Thank you.

I would next like to say a few words about a new event scheduled for December 15 at Swissotel Nai Lert Park, i.e. “The Bridge of Hope: A Special Christmas for Children in Need”. The event, organized by TICC, is a fund-raising initiative aimed to provide financial support to the Camillian Home.

The Camillian Home, a registered non-profit children's charity, operates on behalf of the St. Camillus Foundation of Thailand in the area of Lat Krabang, Bangkok, and helps children with disabilities and HIV AIDS so that they can lead a normal life as far as possible. We earnestly hope that you will join us in this noble endeavor.

Finally, I would like to inform our Members about the upcoming 20th World Convention Meeting of all Italian Chambers abroad to be held in Naples (Italy) at the end of October 2011. The meeting will primarily revolve around the issue of the economic crisis and ways to overcome it. It is not news that almost all countries have drastically reduced their allocation of funds for their overseas missions. The Italian Chambers abroad are no exception. It is therefore imperative to discuss the issue adopt a unanimous policy in this respect and keep the chambers sufficiently well financed. We will keep you updated on the outcome of the meeting through our INFORMA Magazine.

Thank you again for your continued support for the Chamber.

Arrivederci, Lino Geretto

Contents 8

Welcome to Energy Efficiency in Thailand Interview with Barbara Orlandini,

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It’s an Italian thing:

13

Bridge of Hope:

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The Logistics Business in Thailand

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Dante Alighieri Association

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Economic Focus

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MOU among TICC-QSDS-Bioagricoop

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TICC Events

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Fairs and Upcoming Events

25

8

How Italy made its way to the heart of Thailand

The Camillian Centre in Rayong

Interview with Nicola Genovese, General Manager at Savino del Bene in Thailand

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Italian Journalist Puts Southeast Asia on the Map

The Rating Speaks: Italy and Thailand

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16

Member Area Welcome new members

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INTERVIEW

Welcome to Energy Efficiency in United Nations official Barbara Orlandini talks about energy efficiency in Thailand The paradigm of development speeds up for greener globalisation, and Thailand lines up with other ASEAN countries to adopt energy-efficient practices and technologies.

The dynamism of the Asia Pacific has meant many human development gains have been made to match the targets set by the UN Millennium Development Goals.

Ms. Barbara Orlandini during the interview

H

owever, rapid population growth, fast economic development, and urbanisation have led to increased energy needs and a corresponding increase in greenhouse gases emissions.

As Chief of the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office, Barbara Orlandini has supervised international development activities in Thailand since 2005.

After a period of residence in the 1990s in the south of Thailand, Ms. Orlandini specialised in the area of development at the UniversitĂ degli Studi di Firenze and the School of Oriental and African Studies in London.

It would lead her to the position of UN Coordination Specialist in Cambodia and her present role in the UN reform process, which has been enacted in the last decade to improve UN policies at the country level.

She has supported the international agencies of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) to ensure national challenges are dealt with in synergy and coherence to the main directories from New York.

Two innovative UN projects in the field of energy efficiency have recently taken off and are set to revolutionise finances and institutions in the country, opening up opportunities for commerce and industry.

Q: In the pre-election campaigns there have been calls for investments in the energy sector. With these pleas in mind, how does the energy sector in Thailand look like?

A: Thailand has just graduated as an upper middle-income country and moving up the ladder of development, it faces new environmental challenges.

According to the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE), final energy consumption has grown about two-fold in the last 20 years, and it is predicted to double again by 2020.

For this reason, Thailand has elaborated policies aimed at increasing energy conservation and efficiency, also setting for itself ambitious targets in terms of reducing energy consumption.

Its 20-year Energy Conservation Program aims at reducing by 20% final energy consumption from the businesses as usual trend, when compared to the statistic reports of 2010.

Of course, the national plan has come with practical measures for improving energy efficiency in both the industrial and commercial sectors.

It is this plan that has now the economic support and backing of two UN programs.

Q: The first UN project concerns industrial energy consumption. How will it affect Thailand?

A: The Industrial Energy Efficiency project

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comes from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), which promotes sustainable industrial development for poverty reduction and inclusive globalisation.

The project will give a significant stimulus to low-emission industry in a country where industry remains the 3rd greenhouse gases (GHG) emitter.

The preparatory phase was partially funded by the Italian government and has an estimated Global Environmental Facility (GEF) budget of 3.62 million USD over 5 years.

Starting from mid-2011, an innovative System Optimisation approach will be introduced to reduce energy consumption, whereas newly-established ISO 50001 Energy Management Standards will help keep track of energy uses.

In other words, energy-efficient (EE) measures will be institutionalised, improving industrial management and practices while boosting investments in the sector.

UNIDO has a number of national partners that include DEDE, the Department of Industrial Promotion (DIP), the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI), the Department of Industrial Works (DIW), the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand, and CIMB Thai Bank Public Company LTD. Such institutional compliance will have a positive spill-over effect on industrial performances, which will be supported with the

INTERVIEW

Thailand

Highly populated South-East Asia is dependent on innovative new energy sources to mitigate the climate change problem.

training and expertise provided to entrepreneurs, consultants, and government officers.

Meanwhile, energy efficiency will means saving on energy bills, hence reduced manufacturing costs, and more competitive products.

Last but not least, energy efficiency will open opportunities for private investment, and eventually benefit entrepreneurs, equipment suppliers, distributors and energy service companies.

Q: What does the other project encompass?

A: The second project falls under the jurisdiction of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), which has a broader and cross-sectorial mandate.

Indeed, it deals with climate change and environmental sustainability from the perspective of management and institutional issues. The project itself has been geared towards the commercial sector, a label which designates office and retail buildings, hotels, hospitals, convention centres, and private educational institutes.

The commercial sector is one of the main actors producing GHG emissions, and actually is the fastest growing end-use one in the country.

Despite that, it is often forgotten to the advantage of the industrial and transport sectors, hence the obvious emergency for the UNDP to deal with commercial buildings.

The project will be active from 2012 until 2015, therefore the predicted budget

still needs to be formed out, but I can safely say the main counterpart will again be the DEDE. Q: What policies will it entail and how will it affect energy management in Thailand?

A: The facility will first give access to upto-date knowledge on energy efficiency: this means it will increase awareness of EE practices and technologies for both new and existing buildings.

The second component looks at establishing effective policy measures and concise action plans at the national and subnational levels.

In fact, there are sometimes problems when it comes down to translating national frameworks into real-action plans.

The last component tries and demonstrates EE measurement technologies in the commercial-building sector.

Seven among public and private sites have already expressed their interest in collaborating with the project: they are Tesco Lotus, the Ministry of Public Health, Centara Hotels and Resorts, Katina Hotel in Phuket, Samrong General Hospital, Lamphun Hospital, and the Provincial Electricity Authority.

Q: What does the future hold for Thailand in the energy sector?

A: There is a growing awareness that Thailand has to change the way it has been using energy supplies. When compared to Italy,

the latter has a series of established financial incentives that promote renewable energies and energy efficiency; in this sense, it has more experience and history.

For example, if I want to restructure an old building and adopt green and costefficient technologies, Italy guarantees some fiscal privileges, but this is something new in Thailand.

Thai national imports of energy resources also remain considerable, and this means depending on other countries.

From an environmental and energy-security perspective, the government is aware it needs to tap into renewable energies and EE practices.

This represents renewed opportunities for private investment in Thailand; the challenge will be translating this high-agenda goal into visible and sustainable policies.

DID YOU KNOW? According to the International Energy Agency, improved energy efficiency in buildings, industrial processes and transportation could reduce the world's energy needs in 2050 by one third. This would lead to less harmful greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy independence, as it could lead to reduced levels of foreign fuel import for many countries of the world.

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COVER STORY

It’s an Italian thing: How Italy made We take a look at history and see how Made in Italy is taking on a new No matter how far one travels from Italy, he is bound to find that Italian people and Italian products are associated with a long-standing reputation for artistic flair, tasty cuisine and enjoyable lifestyle. It is natural to assume that Italy’s exports would mainly consists of consumer products directly related to this image, for example, elegant designer clothes, delicious food products, and fast sport cars. Thailand should be no exception.

One hundred years later, the “Made in Italy’ label still conveys a positive message in Thailand

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owever, reality is different. Trade statistics show that more than 50% of Italian exports to Thailand are not consumer products. They are industrial products, such as industrial machinery, chemical, medical and electrical equipment, and construction materials. Consumer products - mainly household appliances, jewelry and furniture - account for only 20% of Italian exports to Thailand.

How does the “Made in Italy” label help industrial and intermediate product exports to Thailand? Does it have any significance in these segments of the Thai market? These questions are hard to answer, but there are some general considerations that can be helpful.

Few people are a aware that business relations be between Thailand and Italy It go back a long time. In fact, Italian skills and techno nology have been se seen in a very favvorable light for o over a century in Th Thailand. In 1897 and 190 1907 King Rama V took two important trips to Europ Europe, both times starting with w landings in Italy, follow followed by extensive stays. During these stays, the King admired tthe efforts of the

Savoy royal family to create new monuments, impressive palaces, and architectural works aimed at enhancing the national spirit of the recently created Italian kingdom and the personal status of the Savoy monarchs.

Recognizing that Siam - as Thailand was then called - needed a similar effort to enhance its status among nations and resist colonial threats, King Rama V arranged to employ numerous Italian architects, engineers, and artists of excellent reputation - individually selected by the Savoy royal bureaucracy to construct or reconstruct a large number of princely palaces, public buildings, great monuments, and tree-lined boulevards. In Bangkok, these include the Ananda Samakhom throne hall, the Government Building (Villa Norasingh), the Hua Lompong station, and the tree-lined Ratchdamnoen Boulevards.

The Italians employed technologies that were state of the art at that time. For instance, for the Ananda Samakhom, the Italian engineers used ferro-concrete, introduced in Europe only a few years earlier, to keep the imposing structure as light as possible, and erected it on concrete caissons that floated on the marshy soil instead of sinking into it.

The Ananda Samakhom also boasts the first electric lights in Thailand, in a wonderful interaction of these “exotic” lights with the Italian frescos of the ceilings.

One hundred years later, the “Made in Italy’ label still conveys a positive message Continued on page 12

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COVER STORY

its way to the heart of Thailand relevance on the Thai market

Brand: Ducati Sector: motorcycles Interview with Mr. Apichat Leenutaphong Managing Director Ducatisti Co., Ltd.

Where does Ducati fit in the market, and how is it perceived as a brand?

Ducati has positioned its brand as a luxury one, boasting a unique design and high performance. In this sense we can say Ducati has leveraged its Italian origin to produce a very high profile brand, that in the eyes of customers has the same value as others like Ferrari or Porsche. What is really remarkable about this brand is that despite this high perceived value, quality and reputation, the price level of many models is still relatively affordable. In fact, next year Ducati will launch a new model to extend its penetration in the market through an aggressive price placement. For the Thai customer Ducati really is the embodiment of great value for money.

How well does the Thai market know Italian motorcycles?

Italian brands are quite simply a dream for local customers, and are as a result quite popular, having a standing of a status symbol.

However, we believe that Ducati definitely is the strongest brand among all motorbike manufacturers and not only: probably it is even better known to the mind of the local customer than other Italian brands like Lamborghini and Maserati.

Brand: Boffi and B&B Italia Sector: home furnishing Interview with Mr. Badipol Chutrakul General Manager Leafy Co., Ltd.

Where does Italian furniture as a whole stand within the Thai market in terms of consumer awareness and presence?

Italian products as well as furniture are very well positioned: most of well-established Italian brands are already present here in Bangkok and the interest in Italian products in Thailand, especially in home furnishing and appliances businesses, has increased dramatically in the past years. Nonetheless, the consumers still associate the words “Made in Italy” with unaffordable prices: I believe it is a misinterpretation of the term. I would like to emphasize that “Made in Italy” is a seal of quality and I strongly believe that our products, although the prices might be higher, are value for money.

Considering the product, does the average customer buying Boffi and B&B Italia buy just the intrinsic quality of the product or knows its origin and associates thus a certain added value?

I believe that all our clients who bought Boffi and B&B Italia products are well aware of the process the products have undertaken before turning into the finished products, and the research and development out into their production before they hit market.

Clients often associate our products with design at first but they would later on realize that functionality stands behind all the savvy design: we always create cutting edge design with functionality in mind.

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COVER STORY in Thailand, not only in fashionable consumer goods - where the Italian image of artistic excellence plays very well - but also in the fields of technological and industrial products, likely due in part to the lingering memory of the unique Italian contributions that started one hundred years ago and continued through the 20th century. Although fully recognized only by a small minority of well-educated Thais, these contributions latently support a favorable attitude toward the Made in Italy in all market segments.

Going back to consumer products, we have interviewed three members of our Chamber of Commerce that are local distributors of Italian brands to understand their customers’ attitude on the “Made in Italy”. Our interviewees explain that the Italian brands enjoy a good awareness and image. Also, the more educated consumers go beyond the stylish design and appreciate functionality aspects, for instance in furniture. However, Made in Italy prices are a problem. While some customers view a high price tag as assurance of high quality, many are deterred from looking further into the product. As explained by Mr.Vincenzo Cali, head of Italian Trade Commission office in Bangkok, “The biggest obstacle Made in Italy encounters is the price level: import costs place it on a level inevitably higher than local competitors’.”

The steady growth of an affluent middle class in Thailand has pushed an increasing share of the population toward demand for imports of high quality products - in spite of the price level - and, indirectly, toward machinery and materials to locally produce increasingly higher quality goods. With a long history of commercial relations and a favorable consumer attitude, “Made in Italy” brands have good opportunities in the Thai market, but challenges also lie ahead. In Mr. Cali’s words, “Variety and volume of Italian products in the market have room for improvement. Furthermore, what Made in Italy needs is a strong two-tiered promotional effort, one tier carried out by individual firms, the other, more general, by institutions to promote the Made in Italy as a whole.” With appropriate attention to the challenges and hard work, such positive attitudes can make for commercial success stories. The following interviews give us additional insights on how the Italian products are perceived in the market.

By Viola Saltini, Christopher Sella and Giacomo Mauri

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Brand: Ariston Sector: home appliances Interview with Mr. Yam Churng Meng Managing Director KitchenArt (Thailand) Co., Ltd. What is the general perception of Italian products in your field, and what is the effect of Italian branding on pricing policies?

In this sector Italian products certainly enjoy a very good reputation, meeting the likings of that customer segment looking for high quality and design, all guaranteed by an exclusive brand. As a result Italian products, in our case Ariston, are in the position to command a price premium, which the consumer is ready to pay being also aware of the origin of the product. In terms of profitability, selling Italian products, which usually are situated in high-end segments, enables more stable returns barely susceptible to price wars.

If we compare Ariston to other brands with a similar quality, does the consumer recognize its value or you notice a gap between what the product offers and what the consumers perceive?

Despite the large mass of home appliances being produced by the competitors in China and other parts of Asia like Thailand, we are of the opinion that Ariston products designed and manufactured in Italy will

The oven "Luce" : New Balance to maximize Touch and Feel “ LUCE”.

retain a significant market segment amid this densely populated market. Being a more knowledge based economy with more access to information, consumers can immediately understand differences in quality and design and thus appreciate Ariston’s value proposition. We can say that distributing Ariston products has been one of the main contributors, together with after sales service and commitment to customers, of our success both here and in Indonesia.

When did you start your activity and how come you were interested in Italian products?

Our success story with Italian products started more than 10 years ago when we became the exclusive distributor in Indonesia for Ariston. 3 years ago we incorporated in Thailand too and again became official distributors. As you can see, Italian products are part of our company’s history: they have been our favorite because, with no exception, they all exude an air of state of the art design and quality. In our business, besides being technologically advanced, we need our products to be aesthetically outstanding and refined. And the only country known for its design heritage would have to be Italy, undoubtedly.

REVIEW

The Bridge of Hope The Camillian Centre in Rayong The Mission The Camillian missionaries came to Thailand in the early 1950’s to provide poor people with medical treatment. With the same spirit of “caring for the sick as a mother cares for her sick child” the Camillian missionaries are still a presence in Thailand and are still dedicated to caring and serving the sick.

In 1995, the Camillian Social Centre was established in the Province of Rayong by Father Giovanni Contarin, an Italian priest.

The Center was built to provide shelter and care to homeless, indigent, and rejected People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).

Special emphasis was placed on women and children, as they were the most vulnerable members of the society.

The Camillian Social Center is a charitable institution and is operated on behalf of the St. Camillus Foundation of Thailand.

It is based in the district of Huae Pong and supports and manages seven projects in the Southeast of Thailand.

All the projects comply with the latest HIV/AIDS strategy outlined by the World Health Organization. The projects are part of an integrated approach that links prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and support to people living with HIV/AIDS. The Thai government recognizes the Camillian Social Center in Rayong (CSC) as a leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The CSC cooperates with the Ministry of Social Work and the hospitals operating in the region.

Facts & Figures In the last 16 years of activity, the Center has provided palliative assistance to 1,753 persons: of these, 765 people have died.

During the same period, the Center provided help and cures to 135 children; several died, others have gone through a positive physical and morale rehabilitation (including prevention) and were integrated into wider families. 61 of these children are staying in 3 different centers of the same Institution: their

conditions have improved so tremendously that almost all of them attend public schools.

Of the total (1,753), 76 are foreigners – mainly from neighboring Countries – but also abandoned and extremely poor Caucasians.

878 adults have gone through a complete rehabilitation program and are now part of society: besides medical and morale help, the Camillian Center has provided to the majority of these emarginated some kind of support and funding to start new activities in an independent way.

Il Giardino dell’ Eden (Garden of Eden) is another beautiful reality created by Fr. Giovanni four years ago: today 45 homeless people live here, working and living a simple life, besides helping others.

The Camillian Centre staff is dedicated to sharing their knowledge for the prevention of HIV/AIDS throughout the Province of Rayong. Over the past two and a half years the prevention program has been presented in: 62 schools reaching 119 teachers and 4,207 students; 114 factories reaching 2,349 employees; 11 communities reaching 348 local people; and 16 Government & NGOs reaching 606 people.

Indeed, containing the spreading of the virus is all about prevention and sexual education: and much is owed to these Charitable Institutions and Non-Profit Organizations. There is no doubt that people like Fr. Giovanni and other volunteers are in fact the mechanism that makes this whole complicated engine run.

Volunteers are an important factor in providing a loving and caring environment for the people living with HIV/AIDS. Love and care for the weak and the poor are definitely the motivation that drives these persons to offer their lives unselfishly: they are not remunerated and often they are confronted with stringent needs of providing daily resources for their children, such as medications, food, education and shelter to the ever growing community.

Fr. Giovanni has already cast some very

solid foundation, but now he needs to bridge the gap and build the real span. He deserves our honest and heartfelt support. The ThaiItalian Chamber of Commerce is ready – like many other donors – to provide its contribution to the Camillian cause. Amongst other initiatives, TICC will organize a Christmas Charity Gala Dinner on December 15 at the Swissotel Nai Lert Park in collaboration with the Italian Embassy: all members and sympathizers are invited to attend this noble happening.

We are confident that all our friends and readers will contribute in some way to help Fr. Giovanni in building this “humanitarian infrastructure”: the Bridge of Hope.

In the year 2008 a new chapter started.

Joining the existing Center in Rayong, a new special place was opened for children living with HIV/AIDS and disabilities: the Camillian Home.

For more information on the Centers you can visit www.camillianhomelatkrabang.org and www.camillianrayong.org

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BUSINESS FOCUS

Logistics Business in Thailand Interview with Mr. Nicola Genovese, Savino del Bene (Thailand)

By Viola Saltini and Gabriele Amatucci

Thailand is a country with a strong manufacturing sector, resulting in a high export volume. The Thai logistics business has rapidly developed in support of the export volume growth, helped by the strategic geographic position of Thaliand.

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ituated in the heart of South-East Asia, Bangkok is only 6 hours flight distance from Tokyo, 5 from Dubai, 1 and a half from Singapore, therefore offering great space for growth for freight forwarding companies who want to develop their business in the ASEAN markets.

Nicola Genovese, General Manager at Savino del Bene in Thailand, analyzed this sector and its current situation in occasion of a meeting with Sandro Zanello – Secretary General at the Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce – highlighting the advantages of doing business in Thailand and explaining future developments in commercial relations between Italy and Thailand.

After a few work experiences in this sector in London and Singapore, Nicola has been working in Bangkok for the last 4 years. He manages the commercial office for Savino del Bene Thailand with positive results, although remembering the tough times during the first period: “when I entered the company, the office was located in a small street in On Nut, with a limited number of employees; surely this was not appropriate for the challenges that SdB Group was facing at the time, considering the importance of a company like Savino del Bene, already leader in the shipment sector in Italy and Europe.

Today, after a hard reorganization, we operate with 2 offices, a modern one in Ekkamai Road – a strategic location to reach the airport and the port – with 20 employees, and one at the Suvarnabhum Airport. We are growing so rapidly that in a few months time we will broaden both our offices and our human resources”. Genovese adds “we must say that in the last few years Thailand has grown somehow in the shadow of Singapore and Malaysia. Lately, this tendency has changed and it is now clear that countries

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like Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia will play a key role - in this business as well as in others - in the years to come”.

Nicola states that quite often Italians don’t recognize Thailand’s potential: “Sometimes even my colleagues are surprised to hear that today Thailand has to its disposal 120 ports, of which 8 are international, – and 28 commercial airports, all of which are at about an hour flight distance from Bangkok.

In 2010 the registered transit of passenger was around 50 million and freight was of about 3 million tons on international routes”.

He also adds “although our flag carrier Alitalia doesn’t fly to Bangkok, Thai Airways has direct flights to Rome and Milan, with strong ties with Lufthansa, Turkish Arilines e Austrain Airlines, so it’s safe to say that Thailand has become an important business partner for Italy”.

Nicola thinks Italy’s entry in the SouthEast Asian market was a bit late compared

Savino del Bene (Thailand) Team

to other countries, as it started to gain interest in this area only in the last 10 years. “We suffer strong competition of German, French and British companies, which preceded us in understanding Thailand’s high potential.

We are most certainly not inferior to them, but our propensity towards USA and South America meant a delay in Italian presence in the ASEAN region. It is harder for us to penetrate the market today than it was for our European competitors in the ’90”.

Savino del Bene is an Italian company that is about to be listed on the Stock Exchange. It was founded in the beginning of 1900 in Florence and the company has been dealing with shipments and logistics ever since its first days, focusing mostly on the American market. Today it has 125 offices and more than 2600 employees worldwide.

As Nicola says “being part of a company of such dimensions allows you to have an aggressive price policy which is competitive

BUSINESS FOCUS

on various markets. In the shipment sector and mostly in the South-East Asian area, in order to get an important contract with the clients it is necessary to be able to ensure low prices. It is a dynamic sector with a high client turnover, so the key to success is to gain client loyalty by always delivering an excellent and custom-made service”.

The relations between Italy and Thailand, as far as exchange is concerned, are constantly growing, as reported in the data below (See Table 1 and Table 2) “Food & beverage, fashion, machinery and kitchenware are still the main exports from Italy to Thailand”, he also adds. In particular, the food sector is growing, since companies that did not deal in Italian products up until now have started to include them in their range of products. The only negative trend is the building materials sector, since Italian products cannot compete with Chinese ones in terms of price, therefore becoming a luxury product meant only for a niche market.

Anyway, generally speaking, Italian exports in Thailand are on a good level, especially for products for which know-how and design still make a difference, like machinery and kitchenware”.

Above all, Savino del Bene’s objective is to deliver a high quality service, this is rightfully highlithed by Nicola Genovese when he speaks about the investments in human resources.

“A big investment was made concerning my staff, I looked for highly qualified people, who speak English correctly, who are professional and dedicated to their job; also, for the most part they are university graduates”.

However Genovese admits there were some difficulties at the beginning during the selection of personnel. Thais have a tendency to

switch jobs if they encounter a problem, and it is difficult for foreigners to understand the local workers’ needs as well as the dynamics of the job market - since it is highly variable; these factors have a great impact in the consolidation and organization of a business in this area, so I’m not exaggerating when I say that for a newly established company with 15-20 employees will take about 2 years before they have a completely functional and operative office capable of supporting growth”.

Nicola admits he was really lucky: “I was able to create a good team spirit in our office thanks to mutual trust built in time with my staff; there are some girls who have been working with me for about 4 years now, and we grew up together professionally, others are new to the office but have fitted in perfectly and are giving a great boost to the office”.

Making the most of Nicola’s experience in South-East Asia, comparing work environments and methods that he encountered first in Singapore and then in Bangkok. He states that “the first big difference I noticed in the business field is work rhythms: Singapore is quite similar to the Western countries in terms of job culture so, of course rhythms also follow this trend; as far as skills, I did not come across any significant difference between the two populations, as I found qualified personnel in both cases. The huge difference is their approach: my colleagues strictly followed standard procedures in Singapore, so they didn’t really try to meet the clients’ requests and therefore delivered a less satisfactory service to the single client. In Thailand, I noticed some kind of humility concerning the job, meaning a higher flexibility towards clients’ needs and expectations, and I must

Table 1 Exports from Thailand to Italy (Mil $) 2010

2010 (Jan-Jun)

2011 (Jan - Jun)

1,708.21

878.91

1,031.21

Growth Rate (%) 2010

2010 (Jan-Jun)

2011 (Jan - Jun)

29.95%

35.85%

17.33%

Table 2 Imports in Thailand from Italy (Mil $) 2010

2010 (Jan-Jun)

2011 (Jan-Jun)

1,458.91

759.61

1,062.69

2010

2010 (Jan-Jun)

2011 (Jan-Jun)

2.29%

12.57 %

39.90%

Growth Rate (%)

Nicola Genovese, General Manager at Savino del Bene in Thailand, say adapting procedures to the clients’ different requests is crucial for a company that provides services”.

Savino del Bene’s trend shows a constant growth, in 2010 there was an increase of 25% in the total turnover compared to 2009, and the first 6 months of 2011 show a growth of 30% compared to the first 6 of 2010.

Savino del Bene, through years of experience all over the world, has established itself as a point of reference for many other companies in the sector. We take pride in having them as our member, an Italian company that started in Firenze is now about to be listed in the Stock Exchange and now owns offices around the globe.

Savino del Bene (Thailand) , established in Bangkok for 10 years, provides all kind of freight and logistics services air, sea, trucking, warehouse and customs clearance.

Products & Services Savino Del Bene (Thailand) is a freight forwarding company which provides all kinds of air, Sea and Road transportation services. Main services are Europe/Med, China, West America, East America, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, Middle/South America, Japan, Korea, Middle East and Red Sea, Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Africa, East Africa, Russia/Far East, The main goal is to offer a high quality service with the least amount of benefit because we believe that the customer satisfaction is close a relationship between high quality service and minimum of charge.

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DANTE ALIGHIERI

Italian Journalist Puts Southeast Asia on the Map According to Alessandro Ursic, an Italian journalist based in Bangkok, the growing importance of Asia has not been fully understood by the Italian media.

Southeast Asia is only given marginal space by an Italian press that still looks at this part of the world through exotic stereotypes often based on ideas such as those found in Tiziano Terzani’s books.

B

ut the growing importance of the region, as living standards improve in an interconnected world, makes for a dynamic and exciting place for a journalist to work.

This concept was one of the main points expressed by Ursic, a freelance writer based in Bangkok since 2008. He spoke to 35 members of the Dante Alighieri Society at a dinner held on June 22 at the Italian restaurant Bacco, in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit Soi 53. The talk quickly evolved into a collective conversation, often revolving around Thai politics as the July 3 elections were drawing near.

“In an increasingly globalized world, Italy is paradoxically becoming more provincial, and its media and politicians contribute to that”, mentioned Ursic, noting that the country has been economically stagnant for the last 15 years. “The number of newspaper pages dedicated to foreign affairs is decreasing, and the rising power of

Due to the turmoil of the last five years, Thai politics has found some space in the Italian news agenda.

China is the dominant issue when Italians look to Asia. In this view, Southeast Asia is on the outskirts of the continent”, he added.

The geographical distance and the superficial knowledge of the area - often among editors - mean that a story or piece of news has more chance of being reported if the article easily fits into the stereotypes associated with each country: “An article on Myanmar without Aung San Suu Kyi in it has little chance of being published.

Thailand means Buddhism, tourism, sex. Cambodia is only known for the Khmer Rouge and pedophiles. Malaysia and Indonesia, short of ideological politics and rarely visited by Italian tourists, are often ignored altogether”, said Ursic.

Due to the turmoil of the last five years, Thai politics has found some space in the Italian news agenda, although it is largely ignored again when violence subsides. “For a journalist, the challenge is to explain the issues at stake in a country where lese majeste laws prevent any open debate about the royal family and succession.

Muffled formulas need to be used, but it’s still possible to convey the broader message”, said Ursic. “And the underlying forces that caused the instability of the last years are still there: that makes Thailand’s political and social divisions a story that is not over yet”.

Dante Alighieri Association The Dante Alighieri sponsors Italian language courses and social and cultural events. Membership is open to the general public. For more information please call 081 633 8184 or email: dantebangkok@hotmail.com

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ECONOMIC FOCUS

The Rating Speaks: Italy and Thailand Bel Paese downgraded. The Land of Smiles' outlook keeps improving Politics - the people and institutions charged with solving societal problems are actually the biggest obstacles to development in Italy and Thailand, according to the rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P). Italy's “fragile governing coalition and policy differences within parliament will likely continue to limit the government's ability to respond decisively to the challenging domestic and external macroeconomic environment”, while Thailand’s “prolonged political uncertainties hinder infrastructure investments”.

At the end of the article we’ll take a quick look at what a rating agency is, what a rating is, and why it is important to have a good evaluation. But for now, let’s concentrate our attention on the heart of the matter. Here is a quick look at what one of the biggest rating agencies, S&P, thinks about both Italy and Thailand, according to its latest reports.

Italy: Since most market watchers were anticipating Moody’s Investors Service’s decision over Italian credit-worthiness (a decision that finally came on the 4th of October, with an expected downgrade), S&P’s September 19th decision to lower its unsolicited longand short-term sovereign credit ratings on Italy from 'A+/A-1+' to 'A/A-1' came as a shock. The outlook is negative, meaning that Italy’s rating may be lowered further over the intermediate term.

Motivating the decision, according to S&P, were: “Italy's weakening economic growth prospects”, and the opinions regarding the Italian political situation stated above.

Further slowing the pace of Italy’s economic activity are a weaker external demand (because of deteriorating economic conditions globally), upward pressure on funding costs in both the public and private sectors (because of the higher risk associated), and the new government austerity measures (introduced to lower the debt and budget deficit).

Some rough numbers about Italy: with a debt at 121% of GDP in 2011, Italy has the third highest indebtedness level among developed countries (after Japan and

Greece), according to the latest estimates from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Projections for 2016 put this figure around 114%. On the positive side, Italy’s budget deficit is fairly modest (4.1% of GDP), and the country actually runs a primary budget surplus of 0.6% of GDP. Italy’s borrowing costs rose dramatically recently, with the benchmark 10-year bond reaching as high as 6.397% the 5th of August, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The spread, the premium investors demand to hold Italian security over equivalent-maturity German bunds, reached a euro-era record close of 398 basis points the 21st of September (one basis point is equivalent to 0.01%).

Thailand: S&P’s rating stands at BBB+/A-2 (foreign) and A-/A-2 (local). The outlook was changed from negative to stable on the 9th of December 2010, meaning that the rating is not likely to change over the intermediate term. Therefore, prospects are improving.

Among Thailand’s main strengths are the fact that the country is a significant net external creditor and that government indebtedness is modest. However, the near-constant political upheaval of the past several years have offset these positives somewhat.

Even if the new Puea Thai-led government took office with a vast majority, the rating agency believes that true political reconciliation “would take time and effort

from all parties involved”. All of this continues to hinder infrastructure investments. Also important to note are the government’s proposed economic policies, such as the 50% minimum wage increase to THB300 per day and its impact on companies’ business. The “effectiveness and the implication of such a policy is unclear”, says S&P. In general, “the stable rating outlook reflects our view that, despite the political uncertainties and the unstable policy environment of the government, there has been little damage to the real economy and the government's fiscal position”.

Thailand’s debt as a percent of GDP will be 43% overall for 2011, according to the latest estimates from the IMF, and by 2016 it will have increased slightly to 47.1%.

Real GDP growth will be 3.5% at year-end, inflation 4%, and unemployment will stay at very low levels.

Info: what is a rating agency? A rating agency is a company that assigns scores (credit ratings) on the credit-worthiness of issuers of a specific debt instrument, that is, on their ability to pay back loans. This helps to provide a standardized unit of measurement for the credit risk of different securities, ratings that help the market evaluate the interest rates (cost of borrowing) to be applied.

In Standard and Poor’s (S&P) system, the highest credit rating is “AAA”, followed by “AA”, “A”, “BBB” and so on, ending with “D”. A plus (+) or minus (-) sign may be shown to indicate relative standing within the major rating categories. The lower the credit rating, the riskier the debt instrument, and thus, generally, the higher the interest rate applied, because of higher remuneration asked from investors to support the risk.

by Narciso Podda narcisopodda @ hotmail.it

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BUSINESS FOCUS

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TICC EVENTS

Risotto Competition at Swissotel Nai Lert Park

M

r. Lino Geretto, TICC president and Mr. Pierre Nicou, General Manager of Eurofood and TICC Director joined the Risotto Competition on Wednesday 21th September 2011, organized by the Commercial Company of Siam (Eurofood), importer of Riso Gallo brand in Thailand organized the Best risotto competition which took place at the Swissotel Nai Lert Park.

13 Thai chefs from the most prestigious Mediterranean restaurants were competing for the 1rst prize and a return trip to Italy, including a week training at the ICIF cooking school. The winner is Mr. Khwanchai Luangsirithanya from Spasso restaurant, Grand Hyatt Erawan. The chefs from Gianni restaurant and Hyde and Seek came second and third. It was a great day for the promotion of the risotto rice in Thailand.

The jury, surrounded by the participants: from left to right: Alejandro Titiunik, export manager of Riso Gallo, chef Susie Niklad, Mr. Pierre Nicou, Khun Naphalai Areesorn, editor of Thailand Tatler magazine and Mr. Lino Geretto

MOU Among TICC – QSDS – Bioagricoop

O

(From L-R) Mr. Giovanni Galanti, Mr. Pairoj Limprana and Mr. Lino Geretto signed the MOU.

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n Monday 19th of September 2011 The Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce signed an important MOU for future collaboration with Bioagricoop Scrl and the Queen Sirikit Department of Sericulture of Thailand. This MOU aims at strengthening the economic cooperation between EU and Thailand by supporting small and medium sized Thai enterprises in the silk sector, in order to help them increase their capacity to apply self control systems and reach standards for EU Certification.

A representative for each organization signed the agreement: Mr. Pairoj Limchamroon, Director General of the Queen Sirikit Department of Sericulture, Mr. Lino Geretto, President of the Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce, and Mr. Giovanni Galanti, Projects Director of Bioagricoop Scrl.

TICC is very proud of this collaboration and is certain that outstanding results will be reached during the project, and that they will last also after it has ended.

TICC EVENTS

Field Visit for GOTS Project in Petchabun and Khonkaen Province

TICC-FTCC-GTCC Breakfast Seminar

O

T

n 9th -10th August 2011 Mr. Sandro Zanello (TICC Secretary General), Mr. Giovanni Galanti (SCRIPT EU Project Director), Ms. Siriporn Boonchoo, agricultural expert (special expertise) and Ms. Nisanart Chuethong, agricultural expert (Operation) from Queen Sirikit Center of Sericulture visited three silk producers in Petchabun and Khonkaen Province.

This visit is the first step to select the pilot group for the GOTS certification; three companies have been monitored in this phase: Chula Thai Silk Co., Ltd. (Petchabun province), Mulberry Learning Cooperative Group (Khonkaen province) and Baan Koom Kuk-Kho (Khonkaen province).

ICC in cooperation with the Franco-Thai and German-Thai Chambers of Commerce organized “Improving Productivity in Services and Manufacturing in Thailand� breakfast talk on October 5th, 2011 at the Sukhothai Hotel in Bangkok. Guest speaker Gorpin Phadungratna from Consulting Positions talked about the productivity challenges Thai companies face as labor costs increase. She gave her view on how companies often need to review their management skills and control systems in order to unlock improvements in productivity and higher profits. At the end of the presentation the audience engaged the speaker with numerous questions.

Thanks to the speaker, to our fellow Chambers and to the Sukhothai Hotel for the great breakfast and service.

Young Proffesionals Event

O

n Thursday 6 October, the Italian-French Young Professionals networking event was held at Bed Supperclub. More than 200 guests enjoyed the Italian prosecco Sette Cascine, finger food, snacks and groovy Music by DJ Andrea. Special thanks to Italasia Trading, Food Ditalia, the Commercial of Siam (Euro food) and Bed Supperclub for their great support.

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“East Meets West” Timeless Furniture Absolutely Fabulous has everything you need in your house - from the bedroom, living room, dinning room to the study room.

W

alking into Absolutely Fabulous is like walking into someone’s home. There is a nice, warm and welcoming atmosphere created by the beautiful furniture in the shop which is all made of natural materials like teak wood, leather and other materials.

Paveena Angsuvat McLean has been the sole owner and creator of Absolutely Fabulous (Thailand) for the past four years.

The contemporary style of the furniture is her selection.

“First of all, quality is important, because good furniture will stay with you for a lifetime,” Paveena says.

“We show and explain our customers how to take care of the furniture so that they will always be proud to have it with them.”

Eco-friendly Wood All of the wooden furniture is made from old reclaimed teak and certified plantation teak, so shoppers can rest assured that their products not only look great, but also contribute towards preserving the planet.

To ensure durability, the wood has been kiln dried and is assembled using a floating panel technique which reduces the risk of splitting or cracking when the humidity and temperature changes.

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The surface of the wooden furniture is an important part of the look and feel. One special final touch is known as Indonesian umbalao. This no-chemicals treatment ensures that the natural patina is maintained and it accentuates the texture and natural beauty of the teak - you can see and feel the natural grain of the wood.

Some furniture is also build using old, reclaimed wood. The charm of old wood is that even if you bought the same design as another customer - no two pieces will ever have the exact same look, each one has its own scars, patterns.

The furniture on the fourth floor has been created by a Dutch designer and is perfect for people who have modern and adventurous tastes. The look of these pieces is strong, striking and unique, while the furniture is also practical.

Home Away From Home Most of Absolutely Fabulous’ customers are expats, and the furniture and accessories here are ideal for those who want to start a new life in Thailand.

Absolutely Fabulous is a great place to shop. First of all for quality furniture, but also all the many household accessories, that

We show and explain our customers how to take care of the furniture so that they will always be proud to have it with them.

Paveena Angsuvat McLean Absolutely Fabulous (Thailand)

creates a home: baskets, floor mats, table lamps, mirrors, etc. The store offers free delivery and an excellent after care service.

To check out Absolutely Fabulous’ furniture and fine home accessories pay a visit to the store located at 142/40-41 Sathorn Soi 12, North Sathorn Road. or visit the website www.absolutelyfabulousthailand.com Email: p.mclean@clear.net.nz phone number 02 635 2040

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TICC FAIR & UPCOMING EVENT

International Trade Fairs in Italy (October - December 2011) Exhibitions In Italy

Detail

Date

Venue/Website

51˚ Salone Nautico Internazionale

International Boats Exhibition

1 – 9 Oct.

Genova / www.genoaboatshow.com

Eicma

International Motorcicle Exhibition

8 – 13 Oct.

Milano / www.eicma.it

Smau

Computer and New Technology Exhibition 19 – 21 Oct.

Milano / www.smau.it

"Motor Show"

International Aumobile Exhibition

Bologna / www.motorshow.it

3 – 11 Dec.

International Trade Fairs in Thailand (October - December 2011) Exhibitions In Thailand

Detail

Date

Venue/Website

In-Cosmetics Asia

Mission showcase cutting-edge innovation in Asia

2 – 4 Nov.

BITEC

Commart Comtech Thailand 2011

Exhibition of IT Products & Solutions for SMEs & Professional Consumer

2 – 6 Nov.

QSNCC

Thailand Bestbuys 2011

Extensive consumer exhibition for gifts, souvenirs, and brand name products

2 – 12 Dec.

QSNCC

Furniture World 2011

Exhibition of furniture and decoration

17 – 125 Dec.

QSNCC

Upcoming Events October - December 2011 Date

Event

Location

5th Wed.

Breakfast Talk

Sukhotai Hotel

6th Fri.

Young Professional

Bed Supperclub

24th Mon.

Substitution of Chulalongkorn

TICC office Close

28th Fri.

October- Robert Walters European Chamber Corporate Golf

Best Ocean Golf Club, Bangkok

Get Together Event

Il Tartufo Restaurant

5th Mon.

King's Birthday

TICC office Close

12th Mon.

Substitution for Costitution Day

TICC office Close

15th Thu.

Gala Dinner

Swissotel Nai Lert Park

25th Sun.

Christmas

31th Sat.

New Year's Eve

October

November 3 Thu December

TICC Italian Pavillion at Thaifex 2012

T

hai-Italian Chamber of Commerce is organizing the ThaiFex 2012.

From 23rd to 27th May 2012 companies distributing Italian food and beverage products can show and advertise them in a special Italian Pavilion. It is a great occasion to participate at a unique international fair and to have the exclusive benefits and services that only TICC can offer. For more information please visit www.thaitch.org/thaifex2012 or contact Mr. Elia Righetti trade@ thaitch.org

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INFORMA Distribution Request: T request free To copies of INFORMA magazine for distribution in your hotel, restaurant, or company, please send an e-mail to M Ms. Sukanya Kerngfak (TICC Marketing/PR Executive) at pr@thaitch.org.

MEMBER AREA

Welcome New Members Casa Monica Co., Ltd. (Salvatore Restaurant) Mr. Salvatore Cossu 15/7 Rasada Rd., Talad Yai, Muang, Phuket Tel: (+66) 76 225 5958 Fax: (+66) 76 225 598 Website: www.salvatorestaurant.com E-mai: info@salvatorestaurant.com Sector: Italian Restaurant

Aroy Italy Co., ltd.

Mr. Francesco Amatori (Head Director) 42/103-104 Moo 9, Nongprue, Banglamung, Chonburi 20150 Tel: (+66) 38 423 055 Fax: (+66) 38 423 056 Website: www.aroyitaly.com E-mail: f.amatori@aroyitaly.com Sector: Import instant food

The Garden of Eden in collaboration with Superatom Dr. Carlo Filippo Ciambrelli (Project Coordinator) 66/22 Moo 3, Nongbua District, Baankai, Rayong 21120 Tel: 081-8626954 Fax: 038433301 E-mail: Carlossecretgarden@yahoo.com Website: www.puisuperatom.com

KIS International School Linda Belonje (Marketing and Development Manager) 999/124 Kesinee Ville, Pracha-Uthit Rd., Huaykwang, BKK 10320 Tel: (+66) 2 274 3444 Fax: (+66) 2 2743452 Website: www.kis.ac.th E-mail: info@kis.ac.th Sector: International school

Prealba (M&M Ristorante Pizzaria) Mrs. Margherita Ferremi (Director) 98/16 Moo 1, Rawai, Muang, Phuket 83130 Tel: (+66) 81 569 0244 Email: mmfcossi@hotmail.com Sector: Sell foods and drinks

Rajdamri Lodging Limited Mr. Andreas Oberoi (General Manager) The St. Regis Bangkok 159 Rajadamri Rd., Pathumwan, BKK 10330 Tel: (+66) 2 207 7777 Fax: (+66) 2 207 7839 Website: www.stregis.com/bangkok E-mail: events.bangkok@stregis.com Sector: Hotel

Il Tartufo Co., Ltd. Mr. Thammapol Juntarajit (Restaurant Supervisor) Sukhumvit Branch: 64 Sukhumvit Soi 51, Klongton Nua, Wattana, BKK 10110 Tel: (+66) 2 259 3569 Fax: (+66) 2 259 9877 The Avenue Chaengwattana Branch: 104/42 The Avenue Chaengwattana, Room B202,Thungsonghong, Laksi BKK 10210 Tel: (+66) 2 574 1774 Fax :(+66) 2 574 1445 Website: www.iltartufobangkok.com Email: sukhumvit@iltartufobangkok.com Sector: Italian restaurant

Kim Chua Group Co., Ltd. Praetip Roddon (Brand Manager) 3059, 3059/1-3, Sukhumvit Rd., Bangjak, Prakanong, BKK 10260 Tel: (+66) 2 332 8040-7 Fax: (+66) 2 331 6891 Website: www.kimchuagroup.com E-mail: praetip@kimchuagroup.com Sector: Food Service industry

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