Informa september 2013 oct 30

A BUSINESS MAGAZINE OF THAI – ITALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SEPTEMBER 2013

Films, Fashion and Lifestyle Two Countries Same Passions

“La Felicità è Donare” International Legal Counsellors Thailand Ltd. 18th Floor, Sathorn City Tower 175 South Sathorn Road Tungmahamek, Sathorn Bangkok 10120, THAILAND Tel. (66 2) 679-6005, Fax. (66 2) 679-6041 www.ilct.co.th e-mail: mallikam@ilct.co.th or law@ilct.co.th

President's Message

Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce PRESIDENT Mr. Giacomo Mauri – River of East-West Harmony Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 81 814 5160 Email: gmauri11@gmail.com VICE PRESIDENTS Ms. Tiziana Sucharitkul – Tilleke & Gibbins International Ltd. Tel: +66 2 653 5555 Fax: +66 2 653 5678 Email: tiziana.s@tillekeandgibbins.com Mr. Paolo Tavolato – TMF (Thailand) Ltd. Tel: +66 2 613 4900 Fax: +66 2 613 4999 Email: thailand@tmf-group.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

Giacomo Mauri President Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce

DIRECTORS Fr. Giovanni Contarin – Camillian Hospital Tel: +66 2 185 1444 Fax: +66 2 185 1403 Email: cg_camillian@csloxinfo.com Mr. Sawang Pracharktam – Thai Optical Group Plc. Tel: +66 2 440 0506-8 Fax: +66 2 440 0509 Email: sawang@thaiopticalgroup.com Mr. Yongyudh Teeravithayapinyo – Jewelry Network Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 610 9378-9 Fax: +66 2 610 9379 Email: yyudh@koola.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. Pierre Nicou – Eurofood – The Commercial Company of Siam Ltd. Tel: +66 2 261 0245 Fax: +66 2 261 0243 Email: pierre@eurofoodthai.com Mr. Luca Vianelli – MDA Consulting SEA Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 652 2447 Fax: +66 2 652 2448 Email: lvianelli@mda.it Mr. Romeo Romei – Quick Pack Pacific Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 367 1092 Fax: +66 2 531 6425 Email: romeo@quickpackpacific.com Mr. Federico Cardini – F. Infinity Chalon Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 207 8614 Fax: +66 2 207 2626 Email: fc@teakwoodburma.com Dr. Francesco Pensato – WorldPharma Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 7 6 263 923 Fax: +66 7 6 367 153 Email: phuket@thaitch.org Mr. Andrea Gallucci – DIGITHAI Software Group Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 610 3925 Email: info@digithaigroup.com Mr. Sandro Zanello – Savino Del Bene (Thailand) Ltd. Tel: +66 2 714 3700-3 Fax: +66 2 714 3515 Email: sandro@sdb.co.th SECRETARY GENERAL Mr. Giovanni Quaratesi 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 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 ThaiItalian bilateral relations.

EDITOR: Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce Tel: +66 2 255 8695 Fax: +66 2 253 9896 E-mail: info@thaitch.org EDITORIAL COMMITTEE: Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce Chairman: Mr. Sandro Zanello Directors: Mr. Giacomo Mauri Mr. Sawang Pracharktham Secretary General: Mr. Giovanni Quaratesi Italian Embassy Representative: Ms. Somsri Pobpipugtra Scand-Media Representative: Mr. Gregers Moller TICC Staff: Mr. Michele Tomea Trade Manager Ms. Karittha Sopitthip Marketing and Pr Executive Ms. Siriwan Sanchumchuen Membership Executive Ms. Wijit Wijit Sanboriboonsuk Accounting Executive PUBLISHER: Scand-Media Corp., Ltd. 211 Soi Prasert-Manukitch, Prasert-Manukitch Road, Chorakaebua, Ladprao, Bangkok 10230 Tel: +66 2 943 7166-8 Fax: +66 2 943 7169 Design: Disraporn Yatprom / Email: disraporn@scandmedia.com ADVERTISING CONTACT: Advertising Contact: Ms. Karittha Sopitthip (Miù) Marketing and Pr Executive Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce Tel: +66 2 255 8695 Ext: 103 Fax: +66 2 253 9896 E-mail: pr@thaitch.org www.thaitch.org Mr. Finn Balslev, Marketing Director Scand-Media Corp., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 943 7166 Ext: 116 Fax: +66 2 943 7169 Mobile: +66 81 866 2577 Email: finn@scandmedia.com - www.scandmedia.com

Dear Members, As the rainy season is coming to an end, clouds are covering Thailand’s sky. However, it is always the right season to seek new business opportunities and participate in the interesting events that are offered by the Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce (TICC).

This issue of Informa Magazine is focused on cinema and fashion, highlighted in two interviews: one with Mr Phairoj Tewinburanuwong, marketing manager of GTH, the largest film producer in Thailand, and a second interview with Thai director Mr Paween Purijitpanya and Italian director Ms Donatella Botti. Also, TICC is proud to have supported again this year the MovieMov Italian Film Festival 2013, organized by the Italian Embassy and Playtown Roma Association. A lot of people attended the opening ceremony and the film screenings set a good basis for further diffusion of Italian Cinema in Thailand.

In addition, Italy is becoming more and more famous in Thailand for its fashion products.

In this Informa issue, you will find fascinating the article from Accademia Italiana, a TICC member, about a new interaction between young Thai designers and Italian fashion.

With the aim to promote high quality Italian food&beverage products, TICC has brought to Thailand Ospitalità Italiana, a worldwide annual project that rewards restaurants for being “Genuine Italian”. The winning restaurants were awarded the Ospitalità Italiana certification, which makes them the ambassadors of Italian cuisine in Thailand. I am pleased to say that the award ceremony was a great success, with a large number of people in attendance of the Bangkok and Phuket final ceremonies and extensive reporting by the press. In the wake of these results, TICC has already started working for the next edition in 2014.

While Italy is better recognised for Food and Fashion, industrial machinery and mechanical equipments represent a much larger percentage of Italian exports to Thailand. These exports capitalize on a high level of scientific knowledge as highlighted by Mr. Speronello in the seminar “Italian Space Activities: COSMO-SkyMed for the user community”, which was organized by the Embassy of Italy in Bangkok with the support of other organizations. You will find an article on this subject in Informa.

I hope you will find these articles interesting and informative and I look forward to seeing you at the next TICC events that will take place in the following months.

Arrivederci, Giacomo Mauri

Contents 6 8 9

Thailand: The Movie The development of the cinema industry in fast growing Thailand

MOVIEMOV Italian Film Festival: an Italian perspective Exclusive interview with Ms Donatella Botti, movie producer for Biancafilm

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MOVIEMOV Italian Film Festival: a Thai perspective Exclusive interview with Paween Purijitpanya, Thai Film Director and movie producer for GTH

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Marketing Evolution: Advertising in Movies

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The Embassy of Italy

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Business Opportunity

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Legal Issue

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TICC Events

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TICC Events

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TICC Events

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TICC Events

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Members Area

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TICC Fairs & Upcoming Events

Exclusive interview with Mr Phairoj Tewinburanuwong (Roger), director of Marketing and Communications GTH Tai Hub Co. Ltd

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The Italian Embassy’s space projects in Thailand

Accademia Italiana for Thailand & Central Group

9 Private Use of Musical Works and Collecting Societies in Thailand

MOVIEMOV

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Ospitalità Italiana in Bangkok: The Final Award Ceremony of the 2012/2013 edition

Vote for Ospitalità Italiana in Thailand

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BUSINESS FOCUS

Thailand: The Movie

The development of the cinema industry in fast growing Thailand

An overview of the cinema industry in Thailand and its fast growing development, reflecting the developing and modernization of the Country and its people’s habits.

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n fast developing Thailand, the middle class is growing, both in terms of people and spending patterns. Many consumer habits are spreading, above all in Bangkok, which nowadays is a world-class metropolis. New forms of entertainment have acquired an important role in the last years. Among them, cinemas, which are often located in shopping malls, are extremely important venues for recreation. They are not only places to watch movies but, especially in Bangkok, tend to be multiplex facilities, offering many other forms of entertainment such as restaurants, shops, bowling, and karaoke.

The most promoted movies in Thai cinemas are usually first-run Hollywood features, which are played on more than one screen at the same cinema and tend to dominate the box-office scene too. Sometimes it happens that movies produced by the Thai film industry outpace Hollywood films at the box office. For instance Pee Mak Prakanong has been the most played movie for five weeks and has so far established the 2013 record for ticket revenues, more than double the most successful Hollywood movie, Iron Man 31. That is because a burgeoning Thai film industry exists and makes dozens of films each year, which, due the quality of actors, good studios, and special effects, is able to increase its fame among local audiences.

Films from other Asian countries, such as Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong, are popular as well.

Regarding the screens, the two major players in the movie-theater business are Major Cineplex Group (more than 400 screens with the brands Major Cineplex, EGV, Paragon Cineplex, and many others) and SF Group (more than 230 screens). This duo represents a great portion

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of the market share in the industry (around 80%). There are some smaller chains including Apex, Thana Cineplex, Major Hollywood, and UMG. Local players such as Vista Cinema in Chiang Mai and the Coliseum chain in Southern Thailand complete the scenario.

In total, there are around 8002 screens in Thailand and about 700 in Bangkok. The offer of theaters is increasing and it is justified by the ticket sales rise, which is expected to be around 25-30% percent this year in Thailand.

Players in the sector are confident regarding the possibilities of expansion in the further future. To support their statement, they use South Korea as an example, because the number of screens is as high as 2,000 with a smaller population (50 million people in 20123). Nowadays the volume of movie tickets sold in Thailand is less than 50 million annually, while in South Korea the number is 200 million. Consequently, there is room for the theatre industry in Thailand to grow in the next five to seven years.

Most Thai cinemas have very comfortable seating, digital sound, and crystal clear viewing, making them competitive with top cinemas worldwide. Comparing ticket prices with those in Western countries, it is possible to understand the great cost advantage Thai cinemas have. For instance, a ticket for a current Hollywood blockbuster at a leading Bangkok cinema costs around 150 Baht (less than $5 US), while the same at a provincial cinema costs even less. To watch the same movie in New York City, it will cost at least $10 US and in the West End of London probably around $20 US. Around 250 titles are launched every year in Thailand and 70% of them come

BUSINESS FOCUS

from Hollywood productions. There are only a few European films released in Thailand, mainly from independent theaters such as House RCA and Apex Lido (both located in Bangkok). Moreover, people looking for a regular supply of foreign films are often satisfied by the Alliance Français and Goethe Institute in Bangkok. Now Italian cinema is also increasingly attractive and is generating interest in Thailand. In July the 3rd edition of the MovieMov Italian Film Festival was held. This is an itinerant festival created in 2010 thanks to the Italian Ministry of Culture and Playtown Association, in collaboration with the Italian Embassy and the support of the Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce. Its primary aim is to promote Italian Cinema abroad, both culturally and commercially, and it is succeeding since every year the attendance increases and the interest by the media augments (estimates say 6,000 people attended the festival).

In addition to regular cinemas, Thailand has its own IMAX cinemas (three in Bangkok).

IMAX is a set of movie projection standards and format, created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation, which has the capacity to display and record images of better resolution and greater size than conventional theaters systems. Considering the whole world, there are 738 IMAX theatres in 53 countries4.

Talking about genres, the films that are most appreciated by Thais, which often make box office hits, are comedies (above all romantic comedies) and horror films. Thai films released abroad are usually horror and action films, with also some romantic comedies in smaller numbers. The main foreign markets are Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, and India. Of European countries, horror films are sold to Germany, Italy, UK, Portugal, France, Poland, and Spain, but they had not been as successful as they are in Thailand.

This is due to the difficulty of adaptation, which

Thailand, which not only has been the highest grossing film ever in China (earning around $230 million) but has also brought real value to Thailand. Indeed the movie is helping in moving millions of Chinese toward Thailand, people who might otherwise not have made the decision to travel there. In 2013, 3.3 million Chinese are expected to visit the land of smiles, that’s a 1 million presence increase compared to 20127.

To conclude, the film (and TV) industry in Thailand contributed $2.2 billion to the GDP and employed 86,600 people in 2011 (the most recent year for which data is available)8, constituting a key sector for the country and deserving great attention by the global cinema community.

Sources: 1,6 www.boxofficemojo.com 2 www.nationmultimedia.com 3 www.tradingeconomics.com 4 www.imax.com 5,7,8 www.asiancorrespondent.com involve cultural aspects more than commercial issues.

An important trend for Thailand Cinema is the increasing number of foreign movies shot in the nation. Last year 636 international productions were shot in Thailand, constituting a 45% increase compared to the previous year5. These figures were possible thanks to many specific policies and infrastructures implemented exclusively to attract movie players from abroad.

Hangover 2 (2011) is an example of a movie shot in Thailand which was extremely successful all over the world, being the 4th most viewed movie in 2011, with 467.5 million USD in revenues at the box office6. It also proved that foreign movies shot in Thailand can have a positive effect on the tourism flow from abroad.

The best example is the Chinese movie Lost in

Alessandro B i z z a r r o is a master degree student in International Management at Bocconi University of Milan and has obtained a bachelor degree in Business Economics from the same university. He speaks Italian, English and French and is also attending CEMS, the International Management master.

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INTERVIEW

MOVIEMOV Italian Film Festival: an Italian perspective Exclusive interview with Donatella Botti, movie producer for Biancafilm.

TICC had the pleasure to interview Ms Donatella Botti, producer for the movie production company Biancafilm, about her experience at MovieMov and future prospects of collaboration between the Italian and Thai cinema industries.

Have you enjoyed the MovieMov Italian film festival?

A: Yes, I really liked it. It has been an interesting experience for me. Above all, I enjoyed the opportunity to see the reaction to Italian movies by an audience which is really different from the Italian one from a cultural point of view.

What did you like the most about the event?

A: The opportunity to meet the Thai audience.

I was impressed by their enthusiasm about our movies. I was glad to be there.

Which is the movie you preferred the most among those participating and why?

A: I really appreciated the Ettore Scola retrospective. It gave me the possibility to watch over again many masterpieces of Italian cinema, which are still a source of inspiration for many directors and producers even in modern days.

Do you think is it easy for a Thai person to understand the messages and metaphors presented in an Italian movie?

A: To reply to this question I can refer to my personal experience. The response to the movie I produced, Viaggio Sola, has been similar here in Thailand in comparison to other places in which the movie had been previously been launched.

Which are the main difficulties of the cinema industry in Italy right now?

A: The Italian cinema is experiencing many financial issues. So, for sure financing is the main difficulty. Then, there are also some issues related to the film genres.

Do you have the desire to release your movies in Thailand on a larger scale?

What do you know about the movie industry in Thailand?

A: I had not studied Thai cinema before my departure for Bangkok, but I will try to do that!

Is there a particular Thai director or actor you know and like and from which you can get inspiration?

A: Unfortunately I do not have enough knowledge about Thai cinema to answer.

really know. I think more research is needed to answer this properly. The cinema industry is a very peculiar business which requires a lot of studies and knowledge about the market and the culture to be effective.

Has there been a possibility to network and create new business contacts upon which to build future relationships?

A: I met only a few directors. It’s a pity that the award which gives the possibility to launch movies on a national scale will be assigned only from next year’s event. It would have certainly been a great occasion to meet more people working in the Thai cinema industry.

What are your suggestions to improve MovieMov in the years to come?

A: I would say inviting some distributors to the event and organizing business to business meetings in order to get to know each other better.

I see opportunities to do something together.

Had you studied something about Thai cinema before participating at the festival?

Which are your favorite Italian directors?

(One from the past and one from the present). And what about your favorite Hollywood director?

A: From the past, Vittorio De Sica. Among the present directors, Matteo Garrone. And, among the Hollywood directors, my favorite is Alexander Payne.

Would you like to shoot a movie in Thailand? Did you know that there is a structured network organized by the government for foreigners who want to shoot here?

A: For sure it is an interesting idea and I would like to do a movie here. However, we will need the right plot which can take place in Thailand.

To what extent are festival/events important for the promotion of movies? Is there any evidence of a link between the participation in some events and a blockbuster performance of the movie?

A: Regarding the most important festivals worldwide, such as Cannes, Berlin, or Toronto, I think so. About the Italian national festivals, I think Mr. Mereghetti (an important Italian cinema critic) is right in saying that in Italy we miss an environment, an industry, and a market able to sustain the efforts of the Venice Film Festival in being a real springboard for Italian cinema as a whole. Nowadays Italian cinema only experiences its moment of glory 15 days per year.

Do you think there are more opportunities for Thai movies in Italy or for Italian movies in Thailand?

A: I think the opportunities for Thai movies in Italy are limited, due to the small size of the Italian audience. I am not sure about the future, but nowadays I don’t think there is much room for them. I think there are more possibilities for Italian movies here in Thailand.

A: Definitely.

Would it be easier to export an Italian movie to the US or to Thailand? Probably the US culture is more similar to ours but there is also more competition.

A: The two countries are so different that I don’t

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INTERVIEW

MOVIEMOV Italian Film Festival: a Thai perspective Exclusive interview with Paween Purijitpanya, Thai Film Director and movie producer for GTH. TICC had the pleasure to ask famous Thai Film Director and producer for the movie production company GTH, Mr Paween Purijitpanya, to review his participation in this year’s MovieMov. Mr Purijitpanya also shared his thoughts on the emerging cinema opportunities between Italy and Thailand.

of people who are interested in Italian movies and they would like to find a way to see these movies. So in the future I think there will be greater opportunities for the movie market. I was pleased to observe that at Moviemov there was a great participation by students who study in this area.

Are there other countries which organize film festivals in Thailand?

Yes, the French Film Festival is a very popular one. For example in Thai art houses you can always find French films. I think to promote these kinds of movies word of mouth has been more successful. After you see a good movie you feel like inviting your friends. European films are popular for some groups of people.

Have you enjoyed the MovieMovie Italian film festival?

I was very grateful to participate to the Italian film festival this year. MovieMov has listened to requests and in response it has brought a selection of Italy's biggest recent box office hits, including the opening night selection of a film with famous protagonists and director. I embraced some incredible stories and topical themes that yield a fascinating perspective on Italy and the inimitable style of Italian life. This film festival helps movie lovers who want to be a participant in the cinema. Unfortunately I was only able to be there for the first day, the grand opening, and the last day, for the screening of my film “Body”.

For European films, how could a film festival like this one be improved next time?

Thai people are accustomed to Hollywood films. Movies from Europe are quite new for Thai people. So, the Film Festivals are great opportunities to push European films to Thais. A great potential exists, so they should probably cultivate it. For example, I work for a radio station. I am always proud to present how cinema works. When I talked about the Moviemov Italian Film Festival, there were many people who asked me more information and wanted to join the event. I think it was a good initial event to get Thai people used to European films which, in general, have different contents and are based on a different culture compared to Thai films. Sometimes it is difficult to understand the sense of a film, also due to language barriers since European countries make films in their own languages. These elements should be taken into account.

Have you ever studied Italian cinema?

Yes, I have watched a few Italian films such as Cinema Paradiso and Malena, filmed by Giuseppe Tornatore. Not too many anyway, only the classics.

Do you have a favorite Italian director?

Giuseppe Tornatore is my favorite! I love how he presents his films.

What about the relation between movies and tourism?

Would you like to make a movie in Italy?

Of course yes! Italy is a beautiful country. One movie by our company has been filmed in Italy.

The name of the film is Following Mr. Galileo.

We shot in three countries: England, France, and Italy. It was also released internationally.

However I’ve noticed that the Thai horror genre is more popular in the international market.

Are events like film festivals important to promote movies? Do you think it is important to participate in any one particular film event? And does it make that film more successful?

It’s really important. It can help make a lot of people interested and willing to invest in the movie business. It is also important to share knowledge. It would be nice to meet other directors from other countries for a joint venture work. Now we are working with a company from Hong Kong. I think people who come to a promotion event are those who pay more attention to each film. Maybe after they see a particular film, they can give good or bad personal opinions, which are also essential critiques. Those are all very important things for directors like me. The film critiques can sometimes be used to improve; not only on one hand to impress the audience but on the other hand even to create a closer relationship with them.

Do you think there is an opportunity for Thai movies in Italy and Italian movies in Thailand?

Yes, and not only for theaters. If you have a good story to tell and show, no matter how or where, it can be a great opportunity! For example, again, I have just talked about The Great Beauty on my radio hour and after that I got messages asking for more details about that movie. That shows us there are quite a lot

Yes, have you seen The Beach? That film made a Thai beach a more popular tourist destination. And recently a Hollywood production company has chosen Thailand to register a film and it has just launched. They chose to show the dark side of Thailand. These days the market has Chinese films growing up, too. There are five films in progress in Thailand right now.

Do you think movies are a good way to advertise a product? What kinds of categories of products are most effectively marketed by film placement?

Yes, I think every product can be placed in a movie. For example, if I would like to narrate a love story, an Italian restaurant is the best place to show how a good romantic dinner could be! Nowadays Thai people live in the instant.

Consequently the slow movement of a couple in a restaurant would be good. However the way products can be presented is up to each movie. In our company we have a marketing department to take care of products in our movies. The make studies to decide. For instance, if you are working to focus on a teenager audience, you will also want to present products which are closer to them, like clothing. In my last movie I displayed a camera. And I put in use special functions of the camera to give greater value to that product in the story. So, personally, it depends on the story as to how I can support a product without becoming real commercial advertising.

Do you think Italian companies can place their products in the Thai movie market?

Yes, as you saw in the grand opening of Moviemov, there was a Vespa motorcycle. You can imagine many movies where a Vespa can be used as a main product. Anyway, it depends on each film, if the film talks about middleclass Continued on page 11

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INTERVIEW

Marketing Evolution: Advertising In Movies Exclusive interview with Mr Phairoj Tewinburanuwong (Roger), director of Marketing and Communications GTH Tai Hub Co. Ltd. What is the relationship between cinema and advertising? TICC Intern, Alessandro Bizzaro, discusses the topic with Mr Phairoj Tewinburanuwong, director of Marketing and communications GTH Tai Hub Co. Ltd.

school, university, and so on) and we should be aware of that in order to be effective. Pepsi is a great partner for us. They take part in so many movies in order to gain visibility and acquire market share among teenagers. Also many actors do testimonials of those products that appear in movies with them. Finally, special coupons and vouchers are created for those who watch a film at a cinema and want to buy the product later on.

To what extent are commercials important in GTH movies?

Do you think that Italian companies that would like to enter the Thai market should use cinema as a means of advertisement?

GTH is a studio which produces and creates movies for the market. We make around four movies a year. A movie starts from the ideas of the directors, who want to express a message or tell a story, so it is not about the advertising.

You cannot create a movie just for the products.

However commercials have a very important role in movies.

companies which are interested in participating in movies. If there is a potential match, my job is to tell them about those opportunities. There are also cases in which companies know about a movie and ask me to participate, but there isn’t always a match. When this happens, I put them on a waiting list and contact them as soon as a new opportunity appears.

What is the main task of the marketing director of a movie producing firm?

Does the contrary also happen, which is that you decide the brands to be used in the movie?

My job is to understand the potential categories of products which can be advertised in a movie. For example, when I know a certain story has something related to cars, I contact vehicle producers and I try to find one which one matches with the character of the movie.

I can guess that the approach of advertising in movies is quite different from traditional advertising.

When the product is advertised in a movie, the way to present it has to be very different from a normal advertisement. In the movies we cannot present the functions and the benefits in a direct way. So, we present the products in a realistic context. And consequently sometimes we have to adapt some scenes in order to show the real utilization of products.

Could you give an example of how you adapt the presence of a product in a movie in order to make it more realistic?

For example, in the movie Hello Strangers, MasterCard wanted to be the sponsor but the movie was recorded in Korea and in Korea MasterCard credit cards are issued by local financial institutions like a bank or Samsung.

So, in the story, to be realistic, it is not possible to have a MasterCard without a Korean brand name included. But, since MasterCard strongly wanted to be part of the film, we created a scene, at the beginning of the film, with the actor at a Bangkok airport using a MasterCard.

Yes, it happens and in this case the choices are driven by the director. For example in the movie Seven Something the director chose Adidas for the clothes of the athletes and so I contacted Adidas and I offered them the sponsorship of our movie. Of course, they immediately accepted (he laughs…). This is not the only case. It often happens when there are strong scenes. By strong I mean those scenes which are the best usage environment for a product, as was the marathon for Adidas.

Which kind of products do you think advertising in a movie is most effective for?

It depends on the type of movie. Here in Thailand, since the main target group for movies is the teenager and young adults group, because of their lifestyle they have a lot of time to go to the cinema, my company studies which products are commonly more attractive to them. However this group is not homogeneous, there are many groups of teenagers (secondary

I think this is for sure a great instrument. However, I still don’t know which kind of products are available as I have very few contacts with Italian firms. Only Vespa asked to participate in some movies. So far, we haven’t had a match but for sure there will be opportunities in the next films.

Talking about motorbikes, Ducati is also a great company.

In our movies, we often have Japanese manufacturers such as Yamaha and Honda but we have never had Ducati. Here in Thailand, Ducati is perceived as very cool, but in a higher segment than the Japanese bikes. However if there is the possibility to have a good match, we would be pleased to have Ducati as a partner. Moreover, there are some special events in the cinema industry to give awards to actors and directors, in which special prizes from sponsors are given to the winners. A Ducati motorcycle would be the perfect prize for those events.

And what about Italian fashion? Do you have contacts in this industry?

We mainly work with Thai distributors of foreign clothes in the movie sector. It is a good

How did MasterCard know about this movie?

We have a list of contacts, a database of

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INTERVIEW

Exclusive interview with Donatella Botti, movie producer for Biancafilm.

Continued from page 8

In your opinion, can cinema be a vehicle to drive tourism? In Thailand there has been the famous case of Lost in Thailand which contributed significantly to the growth of Chinese tourism in Thailand. Is there any evidence of similar cases in Europe? sector for us. There are many clothes brands which would like to join. Many brands such as Dior and Alexander McQueen offer suits and dresses for celebrities at special events, such as the national film awards. Of course the best advertising is when the celebrity wins the award, acquiring more visibility. We haven’t received any offer from Italian brands yet. However, because of the importance of Italian fashion, there will surely be many opportunities for them if they are interested.

And not only classic fashion brands come to my mind. I am thinking also about sunglasses such as Ray Ban (they belong to Luxottica Group S.p.A.), I would be pleased to have the opportunity to use their products in our movies. I know there are also many Italian restaurants in Thailand.

Do you know that we have many contacts among the Italian restaurants? We have also organized an important event called

“Ospitalita’ Italiana” to certify genuine Italian restaurants worldwide. So, if you want to have some contacts...

I think some of them would be great locations as a venue for some movies’ stories.

Which future projects would you like to share with us?

Now I am working on a business opportunity with a new mall, the Central Embassy at Chit Lom, which is under construction. There will be many brand names in the mall and we are planning to make some movies there in which the city lifestyle of actors and actress will be presented. So, for the brands present in that mall (also Italian brands) which are interested, we invite them to join us.

What is the main difficulty in making sponsorship contracts with European players?

For brands whose decision makers are in Europe, usually it is difficult to sign contracts because the procedures tend to be long. From our experience, making business with companies which have subsidiaries or branches here is easier. I think that the intermediation of a Chamber can be really helpful to this extent.

To sum up, which are the main opportunities according to you?

From my point of view, there are many opportunities for clothes, watches, sunglasses, and motorbike brands, because usually those are categories which can be very effective in capturing the attention of audiences in movies.

But they are not the only ones.

A: For sure it can be. Cinema can help drive tourism toward some destinations. I am thinking of the Ozpetek case. Ozpetek, through his movies, has been able to attract more tourism to some destinations where he shot his movies, for example to Puglia.

Are movies a good means to advertise products? Which categories of products are advertized most effectively?

A: My opinion is that product placements showing brands in the cinema industry does not enough strength to advertise a product in an effective way. Television is probably still more effective as a media tool to advertise and sponsor, due to its broader audience and repetitiveness.

Do you think that movies could be a proper way for a Thai company to enter the Italian market?

A: Perhaps it is not the best way to enter the market, due to the limited size of the audience.

Nonetheless, more studies are probably required to be sure about this.

Some critics say that the Thai cinema industry runs the risk of creating a bubble.

Has Italy ever experienced a cinema bubble? What are the means to sustain growth in the long term?

A: I don’t have enough knowledge about the Thai cinema industry to answer accurately.

But, from my experience, I can say that if they invest in quality, they will overcome possible difficulties in the long term.

So, to conclude, which are the ingredients to sustain long term growth in the industry?

A: The industry needs to receive more support from the government. Then, Italian movies should be promoted to a larger extent both in Italian theaters and abroad, through more focused investments. Italian cinema is one of the best expressions of our culture and I think Italian people would be proud if our movies obtained greater success abroad!

Exclusive interview with Paween Purijitpanya, Thai Film Director and movie producer for GTH. Continued from page 9 social life, the products should not be too expensive. Products should blend into the story.

From this point of view, using local Asian products is more convenient as they better blend into the main story than European products which have more value and are more expensive: cars and motorcycles are good examples for that.

Do you see the Thai movie market continuing to grow steadily in the long term?

I think so, yes. Our latest film won at the box office! And it is still selling in many countries.

I think it is up to each story. A cool story is always interesting.

Do you study in order to understand how the market is going?

We have a department who collects the new trends from the internet: the comments, the percentile of interest, and then they work with these statistics in order to help us understand what is trending in the film market and also how to promote films to the customer.

But for the creative part, we know that we have to tell a story about the people, especially Thai people, about a real thing. We don’t like to make a surreal story about aliens or some totally unbelievable story. But spirits and ghosts are still a part of our culture. Many Thais believe that they exist.

Which is the last thought you want to share with us?

Italian movies are great but unfortunately so far they do little to advertise and push them to Thai people. I’m very impressed with Italian movies so if you can hold this festival often and organize more activities it is a great way to let people know about Italian movies!

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THE EMBASSY OF ITALY

The Embassy of Italy The Italian Embassy’s space projects in Thailand

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hailand’s Minister of Science and Technology, H.E. Piraphan Palusuk, together with the President of the Italian Space Agency (ASI) Dr. Enrico Saggese and GISDTA Executive Director, Dr. Anond Snidvongs, witnessed the opening of the seminar “Italian Space Activities: COSMO-SkyMed for the user community”, organized the Embassy of Italy in Bangkok, in cooperation with Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISDTA) and supported by e-Geos, Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio. Discussions were introduced by the Ambassador of Italy in Bangkok, H.E. Michelangelo Pipan.

The event has been held at the Space Krenovation Park in Sri Racha (Chonburi), the Thai futuristic centre for space observation aimed at becoming a regional hub in the space sector and where a receiving station of the Italian satellites “Cosmo Sky’Med” is operating since 2012.

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After the address of President of ASI, Dr. Saggese, representatives of the Ministries of Defense of the two countries contributed to the discussion which focused on satellite earth observation from the user’s perspective, in front of an audience of Government officials, academics and students from Kasetsart University and King Monkut’s University of Technology–North Bangkok.

Space cooperation between Italy and Thailand is developing steadily, after two Memorandums of Understanding in the last three years. The MoU between the two Ministries of Defense of September 2011 was followed by the Memorandum signed by ASI and GISTDA in Naples in October 2012 that paved the way to the unprecedented visit to Thailand by President of ASI Saggese. The “Cosmo Sky’Med” receiving station at the Space Krenovation Park is the most telling sign of this growing cooperation, but many other

future activities are being discussed. In this sense the role of the Italian space related industry is crucial. Telespazio/eGeos and Thales Alenia Space are among the world leading companies in space technology and the quality of their production is renowned worldwide.

The Embassy of Italy, in the framework of the “diplomazia per la crescita” (diplomacy for growth, among the main priorities in the foreign policy of the Italian Government), promotes and supports the Italian industrial system, in particular concerning the relationship with local Authorities.

The positive spill-over of this field of cooperation is not merely commercial. Earth observation is indeed of crucial importance in such diverse fields as crises prevention and management, monitoring of crops, maritime security, etc. In consideration of the level of technology involved, research and education as well as cultural collaboration between Italy and Thailand will profit from the further development of the already ongoing initiatives.

Italy was the third Country in history to launch in the outer space an object, after the United States and Russia The scientific knowledge by the Public and Private sector is an asset that Italy can rely upon for building even closer ties with Thailand.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Accademia Italiana for Thailand & Central Group Central Group of Companies and Accademia Italiana launch together a collaboration to showcase the design potential of Thai silk and hill tribe cotton at the official press conference on “Accademia Italiana for Thailand & Central Group”.

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ware of the value of Thai silk and hill tribe textiles which are considered one of the country’s cultural heritages and need to be conserved, Central Group of Companies and Tiang Chirathivat Foundation collaborated with Accademia Italiana Fashion & Design Institute Bangkok campus in a project that flood-damaged silk fabrics and hill tribe cotton woven textiles- products of the Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit (SUPPORT) will be given a new look and turned into fashion ensembles by the Institute’s young fashion design students. The finished products will be distributed at La Rinascente, a leading department store in Italy under Central Group of Companies’ management.

Central Group of Companies and Accademia Italiana launched together a collaboration to showcase the design potential of Thai silk and hill tribe cotton at the official press conference on “Accademia Italiana for Thailand & Central Group” on Friday 9th August at @ Zense, 17th floor, CentralWorld.

Sudhitham Chirathivat, Executive Director of Central Group Co. Ltd., said that the Tiang Chirathivat Foundation has the objective to develop Thai society sustainably, including developing professions related to Thai arts and culture. This collaboration aims to promote and support Thai textiles in the international fashion industry through the skills of young designers from internationally recognized fashion institute.

“This most recent project, in which Central Group of Companies and Tiang Chirathivat Foundation join hands with Accademia Italiana Fashion & Design Institute from Italy, is a platform for Thailand to showcase and promote Thai textiles, our heritage in the international arena. The silk of HM the Queen’s Foundation used in this collaboration is the flood-damaged flood from the Great Flood in 2011. The silk has been restored and is now still usable.

With the creativity of the new generation of designers, the silk can be turned into fashionable outfits, and 10 pieces that pass to the final round will be produced and distributed at La Rinascente, an upscale department store in Italy managed by Central Group. This will help promote Thailand’s cultural heritage on the global stage.”

Mr. Vincenzo Giubba, President of Accademia Italiana, said that the Institute plays

an important role in this project by supporting designs using the flood-affected silk fabrics to create contemporary fashion pieces. This is quite a challenge for new designers.

“Bangkok is an important reference point in the Orient because here there is potential that can give an innovative contribution to international design, here the young people are greatly motivated and there is a huge interest in this field and in the applied arts. Young designers in Thailand can help the Thai industry to grow and to acquire a primary role on the worldwide scene” The Accademia Italiana Bangkok campus was established in 2007, and it is the only fashion institute in Southeast Asia to be accredited by Accademia Italiana in Italy and Degree validated and awarded by prestigious European Universities. The objective of the Institute is to share design-related knowledge from Italy with the rest of the world. At present, design has reached a phenomenal point, and

this is due to each designer’s creativity.

“Our institute is delighted to be a part of this project, and there will be a contest for our students to create new design using the flood-damaged silk from HM the Queen’s Foundation to create contemporary fashion items that blend Thai heritage with modern design harmoniously”. All the designs will be presented in the final runway show before the end of the academic year in May 2014. From 20 contestants, only 10 will make it to the final round, and these 10 designs will be produced and distributed at a leading department store in Italy, which is an influential country for the fashion industry.

The collaboration is an important step in promoting Thai heritage and local know-how on the global stage, taking Thai silk to the international level.

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LEGAL ISSUE

Private Use of Musical Works and The Lawyer Corner: Understanding Thailand’s Law An overview of the legal issues regarding copyright and ownership

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o you have just downloaded Miley Cyrus’s newest hit from the iTunes Store or bought Maroon 5’s latest single at your favorite CD store and you’re now planning to share your appreciation of these musical wonders by uploading them on a file-sharing website or by playing them at your restaurant (if you ever happen to own one)? The next thing you know, the record label serves a notice on you to kindly (sort of) ask you to stop spreading your love for these wonderful tunes or else you’ll find yourself in court where you’ll possibly have to defend both criminal charges and claims for damages and now you’re wondering what went wrong.

Well, as innocuous as they may seem, such activities are in fact deemed as copyright infringements under Thai law according to the Copyright Act B.E. 2537, which subjects any infringer to both criminal punishment and civil liability!

Copyright vs. Ownership It should be noted upfront that copyright and ownership are different sets of rights. Copyright is a right granted to the creator of an original work for a limited time period. Copyright, therefore, remains with the creator and it is not confined to the transmitted medium. However, ownership is somewhat different since it attaches only to the physical object on which the copyrighted work is transmitted, e.g., a CD or a VHS (still remember that?). For example, when a person buys a copyrighted CD, he or she essentially owns a physical CD and the right to listen to the CD for his or her own personal entertainment only and this right does not extend to sharing the CD online or playing the CD out loud in public for commercial gains.

The exclusive right of reproduction, adaptation, communication to the public always remains with the owner of the copyrighted work since it does not attach to the CD.

Exclusive right of the owner Copyright law mainly grants copyright owners the exclusive right to make copies of their work (That’s why it’s called copyright, duh.), make changes to their work, distribute or perform to the public, or authorize another person to use their work. So let’s say if a person (yes, you) wants to copy, record, play or perform a piece of music created by someone else, that

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person will have to receive permission from the copyright owner before doing so. However, once a copyrighted work passes into the public domain, e.g., when the copyright expires after 50 years following the death of the creator of the copyrighted work, you will be able to copy, mix, perform and do whatever you want with it to your heart’s content.

Private use Nevertheless, a person is not always in need of obtaining permission every time he or she wishes to use copyrighted music. If the music is used only for personal entertainment, a license is not required, e.g., playing music at a family gathering or making a copy of your favorite singer’s CD for your private use.

Where to get a license?

So you now know that in order to use recorded music for purposes other than personal use you would need a license. But where exactly can you get this coveted license? Frankly, it is

very difficult to track down the creator of the musical works of which you need a license, but it is even more difficult for the copyright holders to give license to mass users individually. For these reasons, collecting societies were created.

What is a Collecting Society?

First established in France in 1850, a collecting society is an organization created to engage in collective right management and represent the interest of copyright owners. Systems and regulations of the collecting society vary from one country to another due to the differences in legislation, history, culture and policies. When the copyright owners become members of the collecting society, the collecting society would then have authorities to license the owners’ copyrighted works, collect royalties from users of such copyrighted works and distribute royalties to the copyright owners who are members of the society. Collecting societies normally sell non-exclusive blanket licenses, which cover permission to use any copyrighted music controlled by them under one license for a certain time period.

Collecting Societies in Thailand There are now a number of collecting societies in Thailand which are set up in the form of private limited companies and partnerships and there is an online database where you can check which collecting

LEGAL ISSUE

Collecting Societies in Thailand societies you should contact to get a license (http://www.ipthailand.go.th/ipthailand/ index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_ view&gid=201&Itemid=684). Nevertheless, since there is no specific law regulating collecting societies, the collecting societies need only carry on their business under the general supervision of the Central Commission on Prices of Merchandise and Services under the Prices of Merchandise and Services Act B.E. 2542 where they are only required to notify the Central Commission on Prices of Merchandise and Services of the details of royalty collection before starting to collect royalties from users.

Due to the fact that there is no government agency that has direct and full control over collecting societies, a large numbers of collecting societies have been set up to administer collective rights and each of them has set different terms and conditions with respect to royalty collection, which gives rise to a plethora of problems. During the past few years, users of musical works have been complaining that the royalty collection has been unjust and repetitive since some composers have transferred their rights with respect to a piece of work to more than one collecting society at a time. Besides, many users who were charged with copyright infringement have been forced by the representative of a number of collecting societies to pay money in exchange of the societies withdrawing lawsuits. Furthermore, it has been reported that the collecting societies have been

taking advantage of many songwriters by forcing them to enter into unfair contracts where the collecting societies would unconscionably seize their copyrights. There have also been instances where the collecting societies did not distribute a fair amount of royalties to the copyright owners or the royalties were paid late without any compensation provided.

Due to the problems mentioned above, the draft Copyright Fee Collection Act has been proposed to the Thai parliament to create an effective and fair royalty collection system in Thailand. The said Act is being considered by the Thai parliament and the collecting society system in Thailand is now, therefore, a work still in progress.

International Legal Counsellors Thailand Ltd. 175 Sathorn City Tower, 18th Floor Thungmahamek, Sathorn, Bangkok 10120 Tel: 02-679-6005 Fax: 02-679-6041 Mrs. Ratinuch Kawnachaimongkol; Email: ratinuchk@ilct.co.th Mr. Karinevidch Olivero; Email: karinevidcho@ilct.co.th Ms. Warittha Ratanacharee; Email: waritthar@ilct.co.th

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MOVIEMOV

MOVIEMOV From the 24th to the 28th July, the 2013 edition of the MOVIEMOV Italian Film Festival took place at SF Cinema in Central World, Bangkok.

MOVIEMOV

is a traveling festival originated in 2010 from an idea of Sen. Goffredo Bettini, organized by Playtown and the Embassy of Italy in Thailand with the support of the Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce. The Festival aims to build a platform for the cultural and commercial promotion of the new Italian cinema abroad, especially in the booming Asian market so rich of new opportunities yet unexplored by Italian art and film industry.

This year the Festival hosted 18 movies, divided into 3 sections: Italian Showcase, which selected 8 of the finest examples of contemporary Italian Cinema, Italian Classic Retrospective dedicated to Ettore Scola, one of the fathers of Italian comedy and Thai Showcase, screening 3 horror movies from Thai directors.

The Opening Ceremony, held on the 24th July, on invitation only, was a great success, with more than 1000 people participating at the Thai première of Paolo Sorrentino’s last work, “La Grande Bellezza”, preceded by a mouthwatering buffet of Italian food and wine, organized by Chefs from Hotel Muse Bangkok Langsnan.

All the movies presented during the Festival were free-entry and screened, whether possible, with the original Italian subbing; the movies had English and Thai subtitles, in order to be understood by the entire audience.

The third edition of the MOVIEMOV drew more than 6000 guests during the 4 days of projections, witnessing the growing interest of Thai people towards Italian art and culture.

The TICC was proud to support once again MOVIEMOV Italian Film Festival. This year we could see more Italian brands involved in this project, such as Vespa, Segafredo and S. Pellegrino, making it a wide-ranging event, addressed to all the lovers of Italian art, culture and lifestyle.

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MOVIEMOV

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TICC EVENTS

Ospitalità Italiana in Bangkok: The Final Award T

he Final Award Ceremony of the 2012/2013 edition of the Ospitalità Italiana program was held on the 26th of June 2013, at Crowne Plaza Hotel Lumpini Park, Bangkok. It was the perfect ending to one long year of efforts to support Italian food culture in Thailand.

Ospitalità Italiana is a worldwide project, involving more than 40 Countries and 65 Chambers of Commerce, which certifies only the “authentic” Italian restaurants abroad.

The very aim of the project, however, goes beyond the simple celebration of Italian food. Ospitalità Italiana wants to support all those Italian entrepreneurs that invest time and resources to promote the image of Italy in the World through one of its most recognizable features: Italian cuisine.

As a matter of fact, Italian restaurants are widespread all over the world and are often the first door to Italy for many people, thus representing a sort of “ambassador” of Italian culture and tradition abroad.

It is very important, therefore, that this experience is truly Italian. Since Italian cuisine is highly copied, the Project is meant to protect customers as well, helping them to identify genuine Italian restaurants from restaurants which offer little or no Italian experience at all.

The Thai Italian Chamber of Commerce (TICC) is proud to have organized once again this new edition of the Ospitalità Italiana, since it is promoting a real and modern image of Italy in Thailand, along with creating business opportunities between the two Countries, TICC’s main goal.

The Final Award Ceremony was a success, a unique event of its kind in Bangkok, with more than 200 people participating. We cannot wait to organize the next one.

The dinner was on invitation only, with guests selected among F&B operators, TICC members and friends. Guests had the unique opportunity to taste, in a unique venue, top quality Italian dishes, prepared with genuine Italian ingredients, like pork belly from Tuscany and cheese and pepper pasta with Atlantic scallops, cooked right before their eyes by 7 of the 9 awarded chefs. Guests could try as well some drinks imported directly from Italy, like Italian wine, Menabrea beer and Aperol, used to prepare the Italian signature cocktail “Spritz”.

The evening was opened by a press conference by TICC President, Mr. Giacomo Mauri, introducing the structure and activities of the Thai Italian Chamber of Commerce as well as the results achieved by the Ospitalità Italiana program during the past editions.

This event would not have been possible without the contribution of many sponsors: San Pellegrino and Auricchio, sponsors of the entire project, Agnesi, Aroy Italy, Ci Gusta, East-West Trading & Agencies, Eurofood, FoodItalia, Foodgallery, Italasia, Menabrea, Oliva Trade, Quick Pack Pacific, Thailand Restaurant News and Turkish Airlines, sponsors of the evening.

Moreover, all the sponsors were present at the event, thus allowing the guests to get in touch with the products and the importers, who, despite some trade restrictions, continue their fundamental role in promoting Italian F&B products in Thailand.

Obviously, the highlight of the event was the final award ceremony, when TICC representatives gave the Ospitalità Italiana plates to the awarded restaurants: Biscotti, Gians, La Buca, La Tavola, L’Ulivo, Medici, Pasta Pasta, Sole Mio and Ugolini Restaurant.

The Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce continues its efforts to support all those activities and initiatives aimed at promoting Italy’s image abroad and to create new business opportunities between Italy and Thailand. For the F&B sector TICC has created the first Database of Italian DOP e IGP products present in Thailand, which will be followed soon by a Database of Italian certified wines.

TICC will soon start again with a new edition of Ospitalità Italiana 2013/2014; if you would like to join the project please contact us.

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TICC EVENTS

Ceremony of the 2012/2013 edition

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TICC EVENTS

Vote for Ospitalità Italiana in Thailand An interesting initiative carried out by all the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the world, gives customers the opportunity to vote their favourite Italian restaurant.

When you think about Italy, your main thought will go, as well as to the natural beauties and historical cities of the Mediterranean Country, to the quality and variety of its cuisine, a huge heritage coming from centuries of history, tradition and territory ties.

With the aim of protecting this part of utmost importance of the Italian culture “Ospitalità Italiana, Ristoranti Italiani nel mondo” was established. This certification sets out the authentic Italian restaurants around the world, making them the ambassadors of Italian cuisine abroad.

The Project is also meant to protect customers, helping them to identify genuine Italian restaurants from the Italian-sounding ones. There is a list of requirements, named decalogo, a restaurant must comply with in order to obtain the certification. The ten rules are identity and distinctiveness (does the restaurant look Italian?), reception (can the staff speak Italian?), mise en place (is it of Italian design?), kitchen (is it visible to the clients?), menu (is it written, also, in proper Italian?), gastronomic proposal (does the restaurant offer a large variety of original Italian dishes?), wine list (does the restaurant offer a wide selection of original Italian wines?), extra-virgin oil (does the restaurant use Italian extra-virgin oil?), experience and competence (is the chef Italian or trained in Italy?), DOP and IGP products (does the restaurant offer Italian certified products?) How can a customer know if a restaurant is really Italian or not? The answer is by the “Ospitalità Italiana” seal. However, the same customer could also ask a natural question: among the Italian restaurants, which one is the best? The aim of the competition “Premio Ospitalità Italiana” is to answer this second question. The challenge is open to all the Italian restaurants abroad in more than 60 countries , which have already been awarded with the “Ospitalità Italiana” seal. The competition is divided by geographical area: the Italian restaurants in Thailand will compete first with the Italian restaurants in China, China-Hong Kong, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan and Australia, and then with the winners from the rest of the world. How does the competition work?

From now till 28 February 2014 customers can vote Italian “Ospitalità Italiana” certified restaurants ranging from 1 (very bad) to 10 (excellent). Expressing the vote is very easy: you just need to insert the restaurant’s code in the following webpage: http://www.premiospitalita.it/rim/en/index.php and vote. The restaurants which have been awarded so far with the “Ospitalità Italiana” seal and therefore can participate at the competition in Thailand are 29, and you can find them listed beneath this article, with their code in brackets. Moreover, there will be a wonderful surprise for the luckiest voting customers: 5 fantastic trips to Italy for 2 people will be drawn among the voters, to discover the historical and artistic beauties of the Mediterranean Country and its gastronomic treasures.

At the end of the voting period, the list of the top restaurants chosen by the customers will be published on the site http://www.premiospitalita. it/, and the first one will be awarded as the best Italian restaurant in the world during an official gala dinner in Italy in the presence of the local press and important guests from the whole food&beverage sector.

In addition to the winner, the first 5 restaurants from each geographical area will be invited to the ceremony, so, is your favourite Italian restaurant in Thailand certified with the “Ospitalità Italiana” seal? Next time you pay it a visit, do not forget to cast your vote!

A new group of restaurants in Thailand is being selected right now to join the “Ospitalità Italiana” 2013/2014 edition. For more information just contact the Thai Italian Chamber of Commerce in Bangkok (http:// www.thaitch.org/).

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OI Thailand Restaurants Codes: http://www.10q.it RESTAURANT

CODE

La Grappa Enoteca Italiana Capannina Rossini-Sheraton Beccofino Restaurant and Grill Opus Wine Bar La Bottega Bangkok Gianni Ristorante Mamma mia!

Giusto L’Opera Restaurant and Pizzeria Spasso-Hyatt Zanotti Il Ristorante Italiano La Scala L’Ulivo Medici kitchen & bar Sole Mio La Buca Biscotti La Tavola & Wine Bar Ugolini Ristorante Italiano Gian’s Pasta Pasta Da Maurizio Acqua M&M’s Pizzeria Spaghetteria Salvatore DaVinci

666 667 668 669 670 671 672 673 674 675 676 685 687 725 1808 1809 1811 1812 1813 1814 1827 1829 1830 1850 1851 1852 1853 1855

TICC EVENTS

TICC and DTCC Aperitivo Italiano-Get together @ L’Opera

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n June 20th, the Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Danish-Thai Chamber of Commerce organized a Get Together event at L’Opera Italian Restaurant. The evening was a perfect occasion to taste Danish Liquorice and Beer, provided by Scanproducts and Wishbeer, as well as strengthening the relationships between the two Chamber’s networks, while enjoying gourmet dishes prepared by Chef Marco.

Joint Chambers Breakfast Talk: Myanmar in transition: Business opportunities and threats

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n September 24, the Joint Chambers Breakfast Talk organized by the FrancoThai Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Netherlands Chamber of Commerce took place at the Sukhothai Bangkok Hotel.

More than 100 participants had the opportunity to hear from speakers including the Ambassador of Myanmar to Thailand, the Economic Attache of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar in Thailand and the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Parami Energy.

Bangkok -Thailand ''Les Annees Folles'' Joint Chambers Networking Cocktail

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n August 29, TICC in collaboration with FTCC and GTCC organized the special Joint Chambers Networking Cocktail “Les Années Folles” that took place at Le Derriere restaurant, Qbar. This was a good opportunity for the over 110 guests from different companies representatives and businesspersons to meet and exchange contacts in a relaxed environment.

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TICC EVENTS

EU Project: SCRIPT Final seminar

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n June 12 2013 the final seminar of the EU project SCRIPT was held at Pullman Hotel, Bangkok: the seminar was very successful, attracting more than 80 companies and agencies representatives from Thailand.

implementation of self control and third party certification procedures inspired by EU approach. The EU contributed 80% of the project’s total budget of 500,000 EUR (approximately 22 million THB).

The SCRIPT project, started in May 2011, has been a successful experience for both Thai companies and their European counterparts, as the certification is now capturing the attention of more and more Thai organic producers.

The project was organized thanks to the cooperation of Bioagricoop, Thai Italian Chamber of Commerce (TICC) and French Thai Chamber of Commerce (FTCC) and was aimed at increasing Thai Trade potential through the correct

7 Thai companies (5 cosmetics and 2 silk) selected by the SCRIPT received their Certifications, a tangible result and recognition of nearly 2 years of efforts.

Moreover, the SCRIPT surely represents a good example of EU-Thailand cooperation, leading towards a strengthening of the relationship between the two countries.

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MEMBERS AREA

D&D BUSINESS LANGUAGE SERVICES CO., LTD. Michele Del Genio Supervisor of Translation department 21/21 M. 9 Soi Khaotalo, Nong Prue, Banglamung, Chonburi 20150 Mobile: +66 895099113 Website: www.linguathai.com Email: info@linguathai.com Company Background Established on 25 October 2007, D&D is the first Italian Language Center in Pattaya since 2013 D&D included in the official list of translators of the Italian Embassy in Bangkok.

Products& Service - Translations& Practice Agency.

- Quick& Accurate translations, language courses(Thai, English, Italian), visa service for Italy and --- Thailand, marriage in Thailand, Italian citizenship for children and adults, government certifications, tax exemption for Italian retired residents in Thailand, etc.

Fact& Figures Year Established: 2007 Registered Capital: 2,00,000 baht Annual Turnover: 1,500,000 baht Total Employers: 5

FLOW WINE BAR CO., LTD. Restaurant Name-LEO&MAS Massimo Marcato Chef/Manager 94 Thaweewong RD, Pathong, Kathu, Phuket 83150 Tel:+66 076-340292 MB:+66 870847690 Email: info@leoandmas.com Website: www.leoandmas.com 24

Products&Services: Restaurant, Bar, Wine Bar, Pizzeria Italian Quality Products, Local Fresh Seafood, Imported Meat, Home Made Dessert And Italian Ice Cream Facts & Figures Year Established: 2012(October) Registered Capital: 6,000,000 BAHT Total Employees: 12

experience behind maximizing the potential of the assets entrusted to us.

Facts & Figures Year Established: 5 April 2005 Registered Capital: THB100 million Annual Turnover: THB1.35 million Total Employees: 196

GB CONSULTING (PHUKET) CO., LTD. A. MENARINI (THAILAND) LTD. Mr. Mark Brown Managing Director Mrs Wanwisa Nararattanachote PA to Managing Director 63 Athenee Tower, 33rd Floor Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 Tel: 02 696 8500 Fax: 02 6568799 E-mail: mbrown@menariniapac.com Website: www.menariniapac.com Company Background Menarini Asia-Pacific, a fully owned member of the Menarini Group, improves the lives of patients in AsiaPacific by commercializing differentiated pharmaceutical and OTC brands.

This is done through proven brand marketing and sales know-how, strong exper tise across a number of key therapeutic categories and deep experience in all major Asia-Pacific markets. Comprehensive functional capabilities provide rapid market access delivered by a passionate team of sales and marketing professionals.

With over 3,300 employees in 13 key markets in Asia-Pacific, Menarini Asia-Pacific operates across the commercial value chain from regulatory approval and product launch to lifecycle management. Partnering is an integral component of Menarini Asia-Pacific business model. We collaborate closely through long-term relationships with selected partners in developing effective strategies and putting our extensive

Mr. Giacomo Brunco General Manager & Owner 128/60 M.5, T. Ratsada, A. Mueang Phuket, Phuket Tel: 0875157064 Fax: 076620507 E-mail: Info@gbconsultingphuket.It, Website: www.gbconsultingphuket.It 36/F CRC Tower, All Seasons Place, 87/2 Wireless Road, Phatumwan, Bangkok, 10330 Company Background Our company of fers suppor t and assistance to those who, for any reason, want to operate in Thailand, for temporary or long periods. Through our large range of services we provide our clients consultancy in investments, tax and legal, bureaucratic issues, visa and legal translations, allowing them to avoid the problems that could arise because of the lack of knowledge of Thailand’s laws. This is possible thanks to the great knowledge and competence of our staff that, under the direction of Mr. Giacomo Brunco, can give you a prompt and accurate answer to any problem and need. Through GB Consulting Co.Ltd, services and consultancy in Thailand, you can surely accomplish the desired result, without wasting time and money. Our office is located inside the All Season Place, the same building where the Italian Embassy in Bangkok stays. If you wish to fix an appointment, just only for information, do not hesitate to contact us.

MEMBERS AREA Products & Services - Accounting - Law firm - Litigation - Real estate - Visas and consular services Facts & Figures Year Established: 2010 Registered Capital: 2,000,000 BAHT Total Employees: 8

secured through a network of exclusive distributors and retailers, i.e. China, Hong Kong, India, Cambodia, Vietnam and Singapore.

of the machines and equipments for Beverage bottle making and Filling line together with after sales service and spare parts support.

Products & Services Hand –made Murano blow glass, lights, chandeliers, mirrors, objects and bijoux

Facts & Figures Year Established: 1980 Registered Capital: € 5,160,000 Annual Turnover: Average € 1.300 Million Total Employees: > 1000

Facts & Figures Year Established: 2012 Registered Capital: 2,000,000 BAHT Total Employees: 8

SIAM FLOURISH ENGINEERING CO., LTD.

ARTE DI MURANO ASIA PACIFIC CO., LTD. Mr. Francesco Brancaccio Managing Director Ms. Suveera Bhandhukravi Brancaccio Executive Director 29, Bangkok Business Center Bldg., 11th Fl., Room 1103, Sukhumvit 63 (Ekamai) Rd., Klongton Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110 Tel: 02 3911628 Fax: 02 3911628 E-mail: info@artedimurano-asiapacific.com www.artedimurano-asiapacific.com Company Background Arte di Murano Asia Pacific Co., Ltd., is the regional office of Arte di Murano s.r.l.

Italy, established in February 2012, is based in Bangkok Thailand and oversees the development of the entire Asia Pacific Region. We provide support to the markets in the area of Sales, Marketing, Training and Business development. In the second year of operation we have

S.I.P.A. SOCIETA INDUSTRIALIZZAZIONE PROGETTAZIONE E AUTOMAZIONE S.P.A. Weera Eiamrattanawong SIPA Thailand Branch Director 571 MSC Building, Unit 0304, 3rd Floor, Sukhumvit 71 Rd, Klongton Nue, Wattana, Bangkok 10110 E-mail: sipa@zoppas.com Website: www.sipa.it Company Background Sipa is the machineries manufacturer from Italy, with 1,100 employees and is the company under ZOPPAS INDUSTRIES GROUP, having 5 factories and 17 offices in operation world-wide. Bangkok Branch office is the base to cover the South East Asia Area.

Products & Services Sipa manufacture and supply a turn-key

Bangkok Office: 11 floor 219/36 Sukhumvit 21 Rd. (Asoke) Klong Toey North, Wattana, Bangkok, 10110 Bowin factory Location: 269/126 Moo 6 Bo-Win, Sriracha, Chonburi 20230 Phone: 038-345027 Mobile: +66 82 – 7161560, +66 82 – 7161316 Website: www.siamflourish.com Email: siamflourish9@hotmail.com sales@siamflourish.com Company Background By applying our collective imagination and sincerity to the work, we aim to become the market leaders in providing the complete solution to all the construction and industrial plant related problems.

We would constantly strive to become the “Number One …professional organization” which will cater to all the construction and plant supplies, all over Thailand. We are committed to see the satisfaction of the customers.

Just show your MEMBERS for MEMBERS card to any of the companies that participate in the program.

Every TICC Member can benefit from the special discounts and extra services offered. This is just another great reason to become a TICC member!

Please find below the list of companies participating to the TICC Membership Card program at www.thaitch.org 25

TICC FAIRS-UPCOMING EVENTS

International Trade Fairs in Italy Exhibitions In Italy

Detail

Date

Venue/Website

MACEF

Fiera Milano

5 – 8 September 2013

Fiera Milano www.macef.it

Palakiss Vicenza - Italy

Jewels

7 – 11 September 2013

Vicenza (Italy) www.palakisstore.com

77th Fiera Del Levante

Mediterranean Products

14 – 22 September 2013

Bari, Italy www.fieradellevante.it

Host

Fiera Milano

18 – 22 October 2013

Fiera Milano www.host.fieramilano.it

In 2013, take your golden opportunity to display and trade your products and services in the TICC supported fairs: 3 MACEF (5-8 Sep 2013) 3 Host (18-22 October 2013) For more information and Special conditions for BUYERS and EXHIBITORS through TICC, please contact Elia Righetti Trade and EU Project Manager at trade@thaitch.org or 02 255 8695 Ext. 104

International Trade Fairs in Thailand Exhibitions in Thailand

Detail

Date

Venue/Website

Made In Thailand 2013 (MIT 2013)

Products Made in Thailand

June 2013

Challenger 1, IMPACT, Bangkok www.madeinthailandfair.com

52nd Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair

Jewels

Trade: 6 – 9 September Public: 10 September

Challenger Hall 1-3, IMPACT, Bangkok, www.bangkokgemsfair.com

Phuket International Boat Show (PIMEX)

Marine Industry

9-12 January 2014

Phuket, Thailand www.phuketboatshow.com

Upcoming Events September – December 2013 Date

Event

Location

4–7

Thailand International Logistics Fair (TILOG 2013)

BITEC, Bangkok

6 – 10

52nd Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair

IMPACT, Bangkok

24

A Seminar in preparation to the Business Delegation to Myanmar

Sukhothai Hotel, Bangkok

24

Joint Chambers Networking Event "Cheese and Wine Tasting"

Renaissance Hotel, Bangkok

28

TICC Aperitivo Italiano - Get together in Phuket

Leo&Mas Ristorante Italiano e Pizzeria, Phuket

Oktoberfest - All nations night

Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok

The Bridge of Hope 2013 Christmas Charity Dinner

The Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel, Bangkok

September

October

November 2 December 19

26

Colin says -

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1/20-22 Sukhumvit Soi 11, Ph. 02 651-1098