INFORMA

A BUSINESS MAGAZINE OF THAI – ITALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DECEMBER 2010

H.M. King Bhumibol in Italy THE ROYAL VISIT IN ITALY DURING 28 SEPTEMBER – 1 OCTOBER 1960

PRo-GIs Final Seminar

Photo by Dario Pignatelli

Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce

President's Message

PRESIDENT Mr. Ekkamon Hutasingh - Tesoro Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 719 5416-7 Fax: +66 2 719 5415 E-mail: tesoroth@truemail.co.th VICE PRESIDENTS Mr. Lino Geretto - LGV Engineering Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 255 8717-8 Fax: +66 2 255 8716 E-mail: info@lgveng.com

Mr. Ekkamon Hutasingh President Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce

Mr. Luca Vianelli - MDA Consulting SEA Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 652 2447 Fax: +66 2 652 2448 E-mail: lvianelli@mda.it DIRECTOR & 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 DIRECTOR & HONORARY SECRETARY Mr. Yongyudh Teeravithayapinyo - Jewelry Network Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 664 8358 Fax: +66 2 664 8373 E-mail: yyudh@koola.com DIRECTORS Mr. Chayaporn Phronprapha - Italsiam Motors Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 612 4400 Fax: +66 2 612 4411 E-mail: chayaporn@italsiammotors.com Mr. Gianmaria Zanotti - Zanotti (Thailand) Ltd. Tel: +66 2 636 0002 Fax: +66 2 636 0221 E-mail: zanotti@loxinfo.co.th Mr. Giuseppe Zigrino - K+Z Corporation Ltd. Tel: +66 34 381 313 Fax: +66 34 381 717 E-mail: sales@kzcorp.com Mr. Mario Bracci - Asia Cement Public Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 641 5600 Fax: +66 2 641 5680 E-mail: m.bracci@acc.co.th Mr. Nino Jotikasthira - Turismo Asia Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 245 1551 Fax: +66 2 246 3993 E-mail: nino.j@turismoasia.com Mr. Pichai Chirathiwat - Central Trading Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 229 7000 Fax: +66 2 367 5445-6 E-mail: pichai@cmg.co.th Mr. Pierre Nicou - EUROFOOD - The Commercial Company of Siam Ltd. Tel: +66 2 261 0245 Fax: +66 2 261 0243 E-mail: pierre@eurofoodthai.com

Dear Friends,

D

ecember holds a very special place for the Thai people as it is the month in which His Majesty the King’s birthday falls.

For the first time, INFORMA was granted authorization from the Royal Secretariat Office to use His Majesty’s picture on our front cover and to feature a special article regarding His Majesty’s royal visit to Italy which took place over fifty years ago.

Since we are dedicating this special issue of the magazine to His Majesty the King, reports on (i) the Secretary General’s and my participation at the Global Conference for Italian Chambers of Commerce abroad in Parma, Italy (23 – 27 October 2010), and (ii) the various Assocamerestero projects such as the “Made in Italy” campaign, and the Asia, Australia, and South Africa Regional Program will be featured in the February 2011 issue.

Ms. Tiziana Sucharitkul - Tilleke & Gibbins International Ltd. Tel: +66 2 653 5555 Fax: +66 2 653 5678 E-mail: tiziana.s@tillekeandgibbins.com

As for our recent activities, note that last October marked the end of our three year European project – “PRo-GIs: Intellectual Property Right Extension & Geographical Indications Protection for the Benefit of EU-Thai Trade”. We have also been granted another European project that will soon be implemented, entitled “SCRIPT” - Self Control and third party ceRtIfication; knowledge and application of key procedures to implement voluntary and regulated requirements of the EU single market and building trust on Thai ProducTs and services with cultural identity.

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

Since this issue is the last for 2010 and also the last issue under the responsibility of the current Board of Directors, I, as President of the TICC, would like to thank all TICC members, Directors and staff for your precious contributions during the past 2 years.

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. Romeo Romei - Quick Pack Pacific Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 2 998 9101-3 Fax: + 66 2 531 6425 E-mail: romeo@quickpackpacific.com

Happy 83rd Birthday to His Majesty the King!

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. Ekkamon Hutasingh Directors: Mr. Nino Jotikasthira Mr. Romeo Romei Mr. Giuseppe Zigrino Secretary General: Mr. Sandro Zanello Italian Embassy Representative: Ms. Somsri Pobpipugtra Italian Trade Commission Representative: Mr. Vincenzo Calì Dante Alighieri Association Representative: Mr. Giacomo Mauri Scand-Media Representative: Mr. Gregers Moller TICC Staff: Ms. Nalina Sutakul: Membership Executive Ms. Sukanya Kerngfak: Marketing Executive Mr. Richard Darren Bartlett: 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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And with the end of the year approaching, may I, together with all the TICC Directors and staff, wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a very cheerful, successful and happy new year.

Buon Natale and Felice Anno Nuovo!

Ekkamon Hutasingh President

Contents 8

King Bhumibol in Italy

The Royal visit in Italy during 28 September – 1 October 1960

11

Italian Festival

13

Italian Hospitality Brand

15

Competitiveness 2010

16

PRo-GIs Final Seminar

18

TICC events

8

The exhibition Tribute to Fenoglio and Pavese

for 1000 Italian Restaurants around theWorld

Comparisons between Thailand and Italy

11

For every good story that ends, another one begins‌

16

20

Logistics as a Source of Growth

22

The Two Royal Visits the Vatican

24

Thai Polo & Equesttrian Club

29

Member Area

Investments and Scenarios for Logistics in Thailand

Situated in Pattaya on the Gulf of Thailand

18

24 5

COVER STORY

King Bhumibol in Italy The Royal visit in Italy during 28 September – 1 October 1960

The history of ancient civilization appearing everywhere in Rome, the capital of Italy, is historic evidence illustrating glorious past of Rome. It is a thousandyears-old ancient city where His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit had visited in 1960 as both countries, Italy and Thailand, had good relationship for centuries.

The mayor of Rome shaking King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s hands at the presence of President Gronchi along with the lined up guards of honor and several citizens in the background.

The King of Thailand and the President of the Italian Republic while crossing the Quirinale’s courtyard

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n 1960, King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit embarked on 14 state visits, upon being invited by the respective heads of state, included the president of the Republic of Italy. Despite the brief 4-day stay in Rome, this visit is considered significant for the longestablished friendly relations between Italy and Thailand, which furtherly developed in this period. The two monarchs' state visit took place after momentous changes in the political and administrative systems of both countries. In 1932, in Thailand, a pacific revolution heralded the birth of a democratic state, and 1946 marked the foundation of the Italian Republic.

Looking in detail at the ceremonies and the reception's protocol, the government of the Italian Republic mostly followed the ceremonial and etiquette used when HM King Chulalongkorn was received in the then Kingdom of Italy, in 1897. As for the Italians' behavior, it does not differ much from the image described in the documents of that previous occasion. A huge crowd gathered waiting to see the monarchs with both great interest and admiration, as certified by those documents and the images printed on newspapers and broadcast by television at the time.

In fact, prior to the arrival of the two monarchs in Rome, the Italian press and broadcast media had dedicated extensive coverage to news and information on the monarchs' biography, on Thailand, and on the commercial and industrial opportunities, included information on the existing relations between the two countries.

“Relations between Thailand and Italy are based on the reciprocal willingness to develop relationships of economic and commercial collaboration, for which favourable perspectives exist also in the field of industrial and technical initiatives. After all, the cordiality of relations and the collaboration between the two countries are a long-established tradition” On 28th September 1960, the president of the Italian Republic, Giovanni Gronchi and Mrs. Carla Gronchi arrived at Rome airport in Ciampino at 11 o' clock, in wait of their state guests. In that moment, the national aerial formations – sent by the Italian government to meet the royal guests right at the Italian border – reached the Rome airport, followed shortly by the airplane under the Royal Standard of Thailand, received with a 21-gun salute. The two monarchs were welcomed by the Italian President and his wife, together with other high state dignitaries, with full honours.

The President of the Republic, on behalf of the Italian people, declared himself highly glad that Their Majesties the King and the Queen had accepted the invitation to come to Italy on a state visit.

“Relations between our two countries have always been excellent: but contacts established by means of official visits are useful to strengthen bonds between countries and facilitate their development, too”.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in his turn, showed his joy to be in Rome, and pointed out that Italy, in spite of the havoc wreaked by the war, had managed to develop the country admirably, both in the economic and the industrial fields.

Besides the high dignitaries, the Italian and Thai mass media – together with those from other European countries - were present, all of them waiting to follow the royal visit, and among the Italians there was also the Thai citizens living in Italy.

“When Their Majesties arrived, where the Thai colony had gathered, everybody hailed them at the top of their voices, Thai flags in the hands of almost all. The two monarchs greeted them with a gracious smile. Among Thais in Rome, beside students, there were also around 20 novices and monks. When Their Majesties left, the Thais screamed their wishes with enormous joy; after the monarchs had left, some of them found themselves with a cough, as the screams at the top of their voices took their toll...”

Along the way from the airport to the Quirinale palace, where the Italian president had arranged the residence for his royal hosts, the motorcade, in full pomp, was no less festive than those in other European countries. Musical bands performed for the royal motorcade at 9 stages. Along the route, around 5,000 corazzieri escorted the royal motorcade; those on a horse wore a helmet decorated with feathers.

“The day in which His Majesty paid his official visit to Italy, arriving at Rome airport, the mayor and other high officials of the city honored their august guests according to the city traditions. Along the ancient monuments were numerous people who awaited the arrival of the two monarchs” Rome was a location of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Head Office under United Nation. It aimed to develop food standards and nutrition as well as reduce the number of poor people who lack of sufficient food in the world.

Since B.E. 2494, FAO had moved its head office to Rome and His Majesty the King was the first king visiting the head

The royal couple among the crowd and journalists Photo by Archivio Storico LUCE

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COVER STORY

H.M. the King and H.M. the Queen among Thai students in Rome, Year 1960. TICC President also in this picture.

office of FAO as shown in the guest book with real signature of His Majesty the King.

At present time, the guest book is kept in David Rubin Library, built to dignify to the founder of Agricultural International Institution. Moreover, data base and important books are also retained here. This library is acknowledged as one of the best data source of food and agriculture in the world.

Dr. B.R. Sen, a director of FAO at that time, praised His Majesty the King that his visit to FAO indicated that the King always paid attention to his people in the country where most of them were farmers. Besides, the King replied that FAO was a special and significant organization in the world because human needed to have food to be healthy.

Therefore, this organization played important role for human living and it always help many countries all the time. A Thai room built at the head office of FAO since B.E. 2498 was another evidence showing the good relationship between FAO and Thailand. The King’s footprints visiting FAO at that time was another important step of international development between FAO and Thailand since then.

During the brief stay in Italy, the Italian press and television followed with utmost interest the news regarding the two monarchs.

Indeed, before the arrival of Their Majesties King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit, the Italian press had already given the details of the visit's schedule. Probably due to this too, there really was a great number of people, who were present anywhere the two mon-

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During the state reception at the Quirinale Palace, Her Majesty the Queen was accompanied

by President Gronchi, President of the Italian Republic, and His Majesty the King was accompanied by Mrs. Gronchi. archs went. So it was from the beginning of the visit until the end of their stay in Italy.

Today, the images of the royal visit can still be found on newspapers' pages and on TV

video clips from that time. The images remind us of the friendly relations between Thailand and Italy, together with the atmosphere of Rome's Dolce Vita.

EMBASSY OF ITALY

Italian Festival Contemporary art exhibition "Tribute to Fenoglio and Pavese" This year’s Italian Festival has spread over several months and has brought to Bangkok a great variety of events. It is a great honor and pleasure to bring to the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre the exhibition "Tribute to Fenoglio and Pavese" as the Festival’s final event. It will offer to a vast public a taste of the Italian trans-avant-garde art while giving them a chance to approach the literary works of two of the most renowned Italian writers of the second part of the XX century, Beppe Fenoglio and Cesare Pavese.

Tribute to Fenoglio

Tribute to Pavese

by Sandro Chia

by Mimmo Paladino

P

Source by the Embassy of Italy to Thailand

2 pannelli Copertine.indd 2

ublished for the first time in 1954 Ruin is clearly the work of Fenoglio, in which the theme is peasant life in the Langhe in all its richness. This theme is not new to the author, as he has already dealt with this territory in previous novels. The book narrates the history of Agostino and, through his eyes, the vicissitude of his family, the Braida, poor peasants of the Langhe at the beginning of the twentieth century, whose life is marked by hunger, and hard work on the cruel earth.

In Ruin the author casts a miserable shadow from which it is impossible to escape and he guides the destiny of the characters.

Ruin portrays the inhabitants of the Langhe region moving in a closed world, a microcosm whose horizons are limited. The everyday vicissitudes is a primary element in the novel: the characters are constantly racing in a solitary confinement and they seem to be without a voice. The hunger, the misery, the greed, the mourning, the atmospheric adversities and sterility of the land decides for them.

In the paintings the viewer keeps discovering new images that evokes and recalls many of the chapters of the novel.

Chia's paintings illustrating the Ruin are finely detailed, and wonderfully inventive and as technically accomplished as his previous works consolidating his reputation as one of the most infl uential painters of his generation. These works are not only instructive but also they convey the subtext project of Fenoglio by creating the atmosphere, the colour, the language and perhaps the destiny of the characters in the novel. CHIA opens a fissure in the world described in the novel through which the characters could escape the pressure of oblivion and on the other side pour themselves into a new existence.

15/11/10 18.35

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T

he novel takes place after the Second World War, when the narrator returns from America, where he has made a fortune, to Santo Stefano Belbo, the village (in the Langhe, the north part of the Region Piedmont) where he grew up, in a quest to reunite himself with the landscape of his childhood and peasant roots. Through the memories of Anguilla and his childhood friend Nuto the novel explores episodes in the lives of three women from Anguilla’s past.

Pavese registers their absence. Presence exists mainly in memory. The novel in the tradition of other realist works narrates the lives of ordinary common people. Every character, every action is significant but it never gets in the way of the central mystery.

Mimmo PALADINO rises to the challenge of illustrating this book and with his artistic authority brings his own unique interpretation and invention. He uses many visual jests and quotes and tries, as a general principle, to convey the author’s distinctive voice to the images represented in the novel. He reaches the inquisitive strata of unsolved emotions, the expectant, the apprehensive and the faintly cynical characters to go beyond the novel. He intelligently discovers the characters depicted in the writing of The Moon and the Bonfires. The paintings and drawings preserve the value and despair of the novel; the pungency of the harshness and darkness: the ugly hidden truth in this novel. This is the first time that PALADINO represents the whole range of Pavese's world thanks to Papiro Art Editions and he does it with integrity.

It is an artistic work of remarkable texture and atmosphere which perhaps brings more soul than accuracy in his portrayal of humiliation and suffering.

15/11/10 18.35

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PARTNER

Doing Business in Italy In Italy, the majority of international businesses is located in the north and tends to be more attuned to the business culture in the UK and the USA.One simple example is in the response time to emails.

In business you are used to instant replies, at most a day’s wait.

Source by Business e via Italy

T

his may well happen if you are dealing with an ‘internationally savvy’ Italian company. But many businesses may wait several days to reply, prefer to call you instead or even not reply at all. If you do receive an email it may be very formally worded, more like a business letter. Bizarrely, many companies have a tremendous love of faxes and you will often be asked if you can fax a document rather than email it!

The Italian tendency towards caution can result in lots of photocopies and faxes of various official documents. Stamping things with various marks and numbers is also popular.

Everyone is terrified of making a mistake with documentation (which may result in a fine from the authorities), so the byword is ‘if in doubt ask for copies of everything’. The Italian reputation for burdensome bureaucracy is well deserved

Why Invest in Italy?

Business e via Italy (BEV). The company's bilingual website www.businesseviaitaly. com has two aims: to help Italian companies reach out to foreign investors and to give advice and information to businesses and private individuals wanting to do business with Italian companies or set up in Italy. The man behind BEV is Swedish businessman Ben Radomski.

Frustrated by the time it took to find the information he was looking for to help him move to Milan from the UK and set up business there, Radomski felt he had to do something about it.

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The ‘made in Italy’ brand is one of the most iconic in the world. From pasta to Prada, Ferrari to Fellini, Brunello to Benetton the country is outrageously over-endowed with world class talent in many diverse fields. Little wonder then that an investment in Italy is one made as much with heart as with head.

But investments have one aim. To make the investor a good return. Therefore, however romantic the proposal - and let’s face it, owning a vineyard in Chianti does have a certain cachet about it – the bottom line is that the financial side must make sense.

Let us examine the advantages Italy has for potential investors and the status of the country internationally.

Key Facts

• Italy is well placed geographically. Its strategic position in the Mediterranean gives it easy access to southern, central and northern Europe. One reason why it was so fought over in the past! Economically speaking that gives you access to about 700 million consumers in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

• Italy’s economic strength lies in its wide diversity of small and medium sized family owned firms staffed by top quality, qualified professionals in areas that you may not at first associate with the country. It is among the top three countries in the world for robotic and noninvasive surgery, for example. Precision machinery, chemicals, nanotechnology and electronic goods are among its top exports.

• The country was ranked sixth best country to live in out of forty in the Country Brand Index 2009. It came fourth in Forbes Best Retirement Havens 2009. Italian culture and dining are singled out for particular praise on both indexes.

• Italy is the fifth most visited country in the world according to the World Tourism Rankings with 42.7 million tourist arrivals in 2008. In the Conde Nast Travel Awards 2009, the Italian cities of Florence, Rome and Venice took the top three places in the European category.

The hospitality industry is big business.

• Italy reformed its corporate law in 2003 and is keen to make things simpler for international investors. The rate of corporation tax is now 27.5 % (compared with 21% for small businesses in the UK and a main rate of 28%) and with 60 million consumers in the Italian domestic market and the 4th largest GDP in Europe (over € 1.7 trillion in 2008) there are countless opportunities for businesses, particularly in sectors such as solar energy, logistics and ICT. • Italy’s infrastructure in terms of road, rail and shipping is well established and the country ranks highly in Europe in terms of its communication network. It is the second largest EU country in terms of maritime passenger and freight transport, for example and has the second longest road network, with France taking the number one position.

TICC PROJECT

Italian Hospitality Brand for 1000 Italian Restaurants around theWorld When people speak of Italy, many associate it with culture and scenic beauty, as well as good wine and food. It is a heritage history, tradition and local links which must be protected from those who “imitate” it without the right and, above all, without protecting the original nature and authenticity.

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he project “Italian Hospitality, Italian restaurants around the world”, guided by Unioncamere with the operational support of the National Institute for Tourist Research (ISNART) with the involvement of the Italian Chambers of Commerce Abroad, Co-ordinated by Assocamerestero, has grown out of this. In addition, the contribution of sector associations, in particular FIPE, CIA, Coldiretti, Confagricolutura and Federalimentari has been essential, just as the collaboration given by the foreign, Economic Development, and Cultural Heritage and Tourism Ministries and ENIT has been important.

The Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce is proud to have played an active role in the Italian Hospitality project, nominating, after a meticulous selection and a scrupulous examination, fourteen restaurants, located in Bangkok, Hua Hin and Pukhet. The candidates are Beccofino, La Capannina Enoteca Italiana, Gianni Ristorante, Giusto, La Bottega di Luca, La Grappa, La Scala, Mamma Mia, Opera Restaurant, Opus Wine Bar, Rossini’s Sheraton, Spasso and Zanotti.

The aim of the projects is to let those dreaming of a trip of Italy “Taste” the most genuine flavors of the country, thus promoting the areas and the Italian way of life overall.

How? Through the most incisive ambassadors of taste, i.e., Italian restaurants abroad, which now have the chance to certify their Italian nature and the quality of the products

offered with a genuine label. The experience of the Chambers system matured in Italy through the “Italian Hospitality” brand, set up in 1997 to guarantee the quality of service in tourist-hospitality companies, is at the base of the project.

Just a few months after the start of the enterprise, there are already several dozen “certified” structures around the world – from London to Singapore, via Prague, Barcelona, Mexico city, Caracas, Dubai and Chicago.

This is also the result of the diligent collaboration of the Italian Chambers of Commerce Abroad in 45 different countries, which have steadfastly joined the basic “philosophy” of the event- believing that the culture of food has become a symbol of Italian Hospitality and should be defended, protected and promoted, particularly at a time when the faking of Italian Style has become a pressing problem, and Italy is the country most concerned by the food fakes.

10 Golden Rules

Italian restaurants abroad, the most incisive ambassadors of taste and palate, have the opportunity to certify their Italian nature and the quality of the products offered to customers with a Registered Domination of Origin (RDO) stamp.

The “Ten Commandments”, i.e., the essential requirements for the assessment (and the possible certification) of the restaurant

are as follows: 1) the presence in the restaurant of at least one person who can speak to clients in Italian; 2) an interior that includes one or more typical Italian items (painting, pictures, accessories, design items); 3) menu entries written in a correct Italian language; 4) at least 50% of the menu must consist of Italian dishes and recipes; 5) the description of at least five Italian recipes has to be reported in the menu; 6) the wine list has to include at leas 20% of Italian DOP or IGP labels (in any case no less than five types of wine); 7) Italian extra- virgin olive oil has to be customers’ disposal; 8) the chef must be qualified (through a certification or proven experience) for the preparation of typical Italian dishes; 9) the restaurateur agrees to promote Italian designations of protected origin; 10) the presentation of a list containing all the Italian DOP and IGP enogastronomic products which are used in the restaurant.

PDO and PGI: Italy leads Europe with 203 specialties

Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) products are the synonym of taste, authenticity and gaminess. The legal protection brands attributes by the European Union indicate excellent products whose features are linked to the area of origin. Area means a geographical environment, i. e., natural factors (climate, mountainous terrain, water, etc.) combined with cultural and human components (production methods, refined over the years, all the peasant and craftsman knowledge, and precious traditions, etc).

(E’ Italia, Luglio-Agosto 2010, n. LXIV)

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ECONOMIC FOCUS

ASEAN Economic Community Toward economic integration in Southeast Asia There are still 4 years left for the implementation of an ASEAN Economic Community. Here is a brief insight on the major challenges ahead for its full implementation, for the public and for the private sectors.

By Narciso Podda For more information on the AEC: http://www.asean.org/18757.htm Or you can see the full AEC blueprint at: http://www.asean.org/5187-10.pdf

ASEAN GDP and Population 2008 - 2015 Source: International Monetary Fund

3,000

620

2,000

600 580

1,500

560

1,000

540

2008

2009

2010

2011

GDP GDP left axis in billions USD $

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660 640

2,500

2012

2013

2014

2015

Population Population right axis in millions

I

n December 1997, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) envisaged “a stable, prosperous and highly competitive ASEAN economic region in which there is a free flow of goods, services, investment and freer flow of capital, equitable economic development and reduced poverty and socioeconomic disparities” by the year 2020; this statement of purpose became known as “Vision 2020”. During the 12th Summit in January 2007, ASEAN’s leaders agreed to accelerate the establishment of an ASEAN economic community (AEC) by 2015, and signed the AEC blueprint in November of the same year. The four main objectives of the AEC are: a) a single market and production base; b) a highly competitive economic region; (c) a region of equitable economic development; (d) a region fully integrated into the global economy.

At present there is uncertainty as to the possibility of achieving the AEC as described in the blueprint, with a free flow of goods, services, and investment, as well as a freer flow of capital and skilled labor by 2015. It must be remembered that ASEAN is comprised of developed countries (Singapore, Brunei) alongside developing ones (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand) and the less developed CLMV (Cambodia, Lao, Myanmar, Vietnam). These countries are different politically as well as economically, and all are wary of sacrificing their sovereignty to a larger, international organ.

In addition, the region is very linguistically diverse. Although English is the official ASEAN language, fluency remains low, hindering the ability of member states to communicate efficiently. Furthermore, different religions and cultural backgrounds also stand as significant obstacles to full integration. Still another problem lies in the nature of ASEAN itself. ASEAN is a loose organization with non-binding decisions and no real power over members. Historically, this has caused the slow implementation of many projects.

In this particular case, the blueprint is like a roadmap to direct member countries toward the AEC goal, through customizable guidelines and a scheduled timeframe. It states that concerned ministers of member countries should take the necessary measures to implement the AEC by 2015. But while it is easy to set goals and give directions to follow, the actual achievement of these goals is a different matter, especially in such a diverse environment.

The prospects are not all negative, however. Unlike in the past, today there exists at least one international body ASEAN can learn from: the European Union.

ASEAN countries are at present the world’s fastest growing economies, and the movement toward the AEC is likely to foster even more economic growth. In 2009, ASEAN countries had a combined population of 592 million and a GDP of USD 1,492 billion. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated that by 2015 these figures could increase to 645 million and USD 2,692 billion, respectively. The AEC will surely offer many opportunities to those companies operating in the region. But where there are opportunities there are also challenges, risks and uncertainties, for small-medium enterprises (SMEs) in particular.

These companies should keep in mind that freer movement of capital will generate higher competition in the market. SMEs should be able to adapt to a more challenging environment, and constantly look for an increase in efficiency and productivity.

Bigger companies’ decisions will be influenced as well, both in good and bad ways.

For example, PTT Co Ltd. sees the AEC as a good opportunity for the development of biofuel; the region has a great potential for this product and the AEC can guarantee the achievement of the right economies of scale.

How about Thailand? Thai workers still lack of some knowledge, and human development should be considered one of the main focus points. The country should also fight corruption, as well as reduce business costs and restrictions. Thailand will be advantaged by its strategic position (a link between many other members), and therefore authorities should consistently focus on the improvement of its infrastructure (ports, rail and road system).

As we stand at the threshold of 2011, there are still 4 years left. In order to realize the dream of the AEC there is a need for stronger cooperation between public and private sectors, both within member nations and internationally. As in Europe, the harmonization process between countries is also important, and less developed members (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam) should make a particular effort to catch up with the others. There are major challenges ahead. Both companies and governments should identify them and make the right decisions for the AEC to be one of the key players in the region and in the future world economy.

ECONOMIC FOCUS

Competitiveness 2010 Comparisons between Thailand and Italy

I

taly and Thailand both benefit from their large market size, but inefficient government bureaucracies are among the most problematic factors of doing business in both countries. These are the common results for Italy and Thailand that emerged from the Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) 2010-2011, a publication released annually by the World Economic Forum (WEF). The report is based on 12 indicators that provide an overall picture on the competitiveness of 139 countries and economies. According to the report, Thailand is the 38th most competitive country, coming in 4th among ASEAN nations, after Singapore (2), Malaysia (26) and Brunei (28). Italy meanwhile ranked 48th, one of the last among developed nations (7th among G8 members, 12th among G20’s and 20th among EU27 countries). At the bottom of the page is a graph showing the results for Thailand and Italy.

Social unrest and political instability are among the causes for Thailand’s bad performance in the last years; since 2006 the country has fallen 10 places in the overall ranking (30 places in the index of public institutions). As in Italy, corruption is a negative factor that contributes to the low placement on the institution index; in Italy this indicator is lowered also by organized crime and the perceived lack of independence within the juridical system. Moreover, high tax rates and strict tax regulations are among the main four factors that hinder business efficiency in Italy.

However, there are other factors that drive competitiveness in these two countries.

In particular, as has already been noted, Thailand like Italy benefits from big domestic and export markets, which allow them to

reach high economies of scale.

Thailand is considered to have a better functioning goods market and a more developed infrastructure than Italy. Moreover, while Italy suffers from a labor market seen as rigid and restrictive, the efficiency of Thailand’s labor market is considered to be one of the country’s most important competitiveness drivers. Similar results can be seen in the financial markets, with the Italian market regarded as not sufficiently developed to enhance business opportunities, and the Thai market thought to be above average for a developing country.

On the other hand, Italy is in a better position than Thailand in other areas. In particular Italy has more highly developed healthcare and education systems, which contribute to a workforce better prepared for technological innovations, new processes of production and new products. Indeed, the lack of an educated workforce is considered the 5th most problematic factor of doing business in Thailand.

As it moves toward a higher level of development, Thailand needs to focus its attention on enhancing technological readiness and innovation through the improvement of its secondary and tertiary education system.

Meanwhile, Italy should reduce bureaucracy, facilitate access to financing and develop its infrastructure system.

By Narciso Podda Source: GCR 2010-2011 For more information on the results and on the WEF you can visit www.weforum.org

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TICC PROJECT

PRo-GIs Final Seminar For every good story that ends, another one begins…

All of them witnessed the relevance of the project as well as further support of Bioagricoop, Thai Italian Chamber of Commerce and co-financed by the European Union.

By Giovanni Galanti

A

mong Thai authorities, Mrs. Pajchima Tanasanti, Director General of Department of Intellectual property, Ministry of Commerce had the chance to renew the DIP commitment to further support in relation to the development of quality products in Thailand, including a more appropriate and extensive utilization of geographical indications and a more intensive employment of Intellectual Property rights.

Afterwards, Mr. Antonio Berenguer, Head of the Trade and Economic Affairs, Delegation of the European Union to Thailand underlined the strategic and positive role that geographical indications always played and still play for the European rural sector, for farmers with their organizations and also restated the strong conviction that negotiations at WTO must go in the direction to recognize, valorize and protect GIs products worldwide.

This is not an easy task!

Nevertheless, the production side shows absolutely encouraging statistics: the estimated value with an amount over USS 50 billion (Giovannucci et al, 2009), keeps on rising worldwide in a context where the European Union is acting like the principal market with more than 6000 geographical indications currently protected.

Since the Pro-Gis kick off meeting in September 2010, outstanding achievements have been earned in the development of GIs in Thailand. The project itself as well as the engagement of a multi-actor stall of stakeholders contributed to the results which include: the registration of 12 new GIs

The audience's attention during the seminar

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Doi Chaang Coffee, Doi Tung Coffee, two of the products have been submitted to EU registration products in Thailand, (there are 35 products registered as GIs in Thailand in June 2010 – source DIP), 10 products being subject to a third party inspection and a control system in 2010 comparing to the only 4 in 2008 (this is an essential condition to be registered in EU as such), 3 EU products have been submitted to EU registration in the last 25 months including Doi Chaang Coffee, Doi Tung Coffee and Khao Hom Mali Thung Kula Rong-Hai rice which is already under publication, several producer associations have been created to properly lodge and manage geographical indication products, the preparation of a first formal research study called “Geographical Indications: outlook on the European and Thai systems and overview

TICC PROJECT

Mr. Antonio Berenguer, Head of the Trade and Economic Affairs, Delegation of the European Union to Thailand

Mr. Marco Midolo, Counsellor of the Embassy of Italy gives the opening speech.

Mrs. Pajchima Tanasanti, Director General of Department of Intellectual Property, Ministry of Commerce of EU gatekeepers perceptions towards GI fruit and coffee products proceeding from Thailand”. The study is now available in both English and a Thai version as a free download on the project website.

Pro-Gis project was formally closed, some complementary initiatives took the baton such as ECAP III: ASEAN Project on the protection of Intellectual Property rights supporting IP and Gis at ASEAN lever and WIPO Project on Intellectual Property products and products Branding for the business development in developing countries and least-developed countries (LDCs) Furthermore, new projects are in the pipeline.

Bioagricoop along with the Thai Italian Chamber of Commerce and Franco Thai Chamber of Commerce are in the negotiating phase and is expected to launch a new project in early 2011: “SCRIPT: Self Control and third party ceRtIfication; knowledge and application of the key procedure to implement voluntary and regulated requirements of the EU single market and building trust on Thai Products and services with cultural identity”

TICC's President, Mr. Ekkamon Hutasingh's speech.

PRo GIs Final Seminar, a Succesful Conclusion

The Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce (TICC) is proud to have played an active role in the realization of the European Project for the certification of Thai products’ export, concluded with the Final seminar, which took place on October 6th 2010, in the Pimarnman Room of the prestigious Four Season Hotel venue of Bangkok, with the participation of more than a hundred stakeholders.

TICC would like to thank the Intellectual Property Department and Bioagriccop for the contribution in the realization of the European Project and for the success of the Pro-Gis Final Seminar. The objectives of this collaboration between Italian and Thai organizations were explained through the speeches of Mr. Ekkamon Hutasingh – President of TICC, Mr. Marco Midolo, Counsellor of Italian Embassy in Thailand, Mr. Antonio Berenguer, head of trade and Economic affairs of European Delegation in Thailand, Mr. Riccardo Cozzo - President of Bioagricert, Mr. Giovanni Galanti - Project Director from Bioagricoop, Stephane Passeri

- Project Director from ECAP, Mrs. Pachima Tanasanti - Director General from the Thai Intellectual Property Department and Ms. Rungsaran Wongprawmas - Hortocultural and Agrifood Marketing Researcher.

The project points at giving concrete solutions to most urgent needs by transferring EU competencies and know-how not yet available in Thailand. The main purposes of this project are to contribute the strength of GIs’ food trade flows between EU and Thailand, to improve protection (EC Reg. 50/2006) and also to increase the value of Thai GIs. Project website collect the most interesting moments of our project and we kindly suggest you to take a look for further details.

The report and details of the seminar are available and downloadable on the Pro-Gis web site, as well as presentations of speeches, www.progis.info.

For every good story that ends, another one begins …

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TICC EVENTS

TICC Business Luncheon

T

he Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce has been proud to hold the Joint Chambers Lunch Talk, in collaboration with Tilleke & Gibbins, Danish-Thai and Swiss-Thai Chambers of Commerce on Wednesday, November 17th 2010.

The Business Luncheon, named IP 359°: Protection and Enforceability of IP Law in Thailand, took place at the Cove Confernce Room, at Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel, Bangkok.

Thanks to Mr. Suebsiri Taweepon from Tilleke & Gibbins, who works every day to protect the intellectual property rights, all guests of Business Luncheon had the chance to deepen the field of Intellectual Property and counterfeiting in Thailand, through an overview of copyright, patent, trademark, and trade secret laws, as well as the government’s extensive efforts to align Thailand’s legal framework with international best practices.

Get-Together: Business Networking at British Club

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e are proud to announce that even in this occasion our now Get-Together received its great amount of success and general appreciation. This time the venue chosen to host has been the prestigious British Club, very suggestive environment carefully perfected in all details. The peculiarity of this October’s event was the collaboration with the Danish-Thai Chamber of Commerce, as a result we may confirm that has been a positive achievement because of the stream of several participants. We both worked to offer people a selection of Italian wines along with a wide range of cheeses coming from both countries, all this was made complete by a pleasant variety of finger-foods and drinks. Apart from the many members and non-members, the event also appeared among the guests some important personalities represented for instance by the former Consul of Pattaya Paolo Battaglini.

A special thank for the evening’s outcome is due to the sponsors involved that is Foodditalia and Arla for the respective supply of Italian and Danish selection of cheeses, GDS for the delicious wines, Air Berlin for the ticket to Europe’s lucky draw and Carraro caffe’

by Biggi for the tasty coffee.

The 19th World Convention of Italian Chambers of Commerce Abroad

T

he 19th World Convention of Italian Chambers of Commerce Abroad (CCIE) hold in Parma from October 23rd to 27th in October 2010 offered the opportunity to discuss in various sessions with several debates on promotional strategies and way to assistance for companies that allow them to transfer the value of their production to the consumers, who are looking for quality, safety and reliability and opportunity for internationalization for local businesses.

The event has been organized by the Parma Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Fiera di Parma and about 73 Italian Chambers of Commerce abroad joined this event, with 150 delegates, local and national authorities and business representatives – altogether some 500 attendees. Mr. Ferruccio

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Dardanello, president of Unioncamere, Mr. Augusto Strianese, president of Assocamerestero, Mr. Pietro Celi director general of the promotion of the international trade, Minister for Economic Development, Mr. Giancarlo Lanna, director general of SIMEST, Mr. Andrea Zanlari, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Parma and Mr. Adolfo D’Urso Deputy Minister for Economic Development were the honorable speaker of this high profile convention.

The TICC president, Mr. Ekkamon Hutasingh and the secretary general Mr. Sandro Zanello attended this important seminar in Parma establishing new business relations with the Italian Chamber of Commerce abroad, Italian chambers and companies interested to invest and trade in Thailand.

LEGAL CORNER

Continual Evolution of Thai IP Law Thailand’s intellectual property (IP) system offers a variety of robust forms of protection for IP owners. But this was not always the case. Just 15 years ago, IP owners in Thailand had many fewer options available to them in defending their rights. In order to understand Thailand’s IP system today, it is worthwhile to reflect on how these new forms of protection came into being.

The Author

Suebsiri Taweepon Attorney-at-Law Suebsiri Taweepon is an attorney-at-law in the intellectual property group at Tilleke & Gibbins, Thailand’s largest independent multiservice law firm. He can be contacted at suebsiri.t@tillekeandgibbins.com.

Legislative Changes

A major driving force for many changes in Thai IP laws was Thailand’s entry into the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) in 1995, which mandates that each member country comply with certain global standards of IP protection.

To that end, the majority of Thailand’s IP laws have either been enacted or amended in the last 15 years.

In response to joining TRIPs, the following key laws were amended: • Trademark Act. In 2000, the Trademark Act was amended to more sufficiently respond to economic circumstances and to facilitate economic expansion, including increasing trade and rapidly developing domestic industry. An important new form of protection for configurative design as three-dimensional mark was included in the amended Act. • Patent Act. Due to amendments to the Patent Act in 1999, patents now enjoy protection for 20 years, instead of 15 years under previous legislation. Additionally, Thailand now recognizes “petty patents” (called “utility patents” in some jurisdictions) for inventions that, while novel, do not meet the requirement of an inventive step.

• Copyright Act. Rather than being amended, Thailand’s Copyright Act was originally drafted in 1994 with the intention of complying with TRIPs requirements.

Therefore, it met international standards from the outset.

In addition to these amended laws, Thailand enacted several laws for the first time, following entry into TRIPs: • Plant Varieties Act (enacted in 1999) • Protection of Layout-Designs of Integrated Circuits Act (enacted in 2000) • Trade Secrets Act (enacted in 2002) • Geographical Indications Act (enacted in 2003)

Specialized IP Court Tilleke & Gibbins International Ltd. Tilleke & Gibbins is the largest independent multiservice law firm in Thailand with offices in Bangkok and Phuket, as well as in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The firm and its affiliates presently employ 100 lawyers, consultants, and paralegals and 245 support personnel committed to providing clients with high-quality legal advice and services.

Another major evolution in the protection of IP rights in Thailand was the establishment of the Intellectual Property and International Trade (IP&IT) Court in 1997. The IP&IT Court is a court of first instance for IP cases, after which cases may be appealed directly to the Supreme Court. The establishment of a specialized court to handle IP matters inevitably leads to the result that the judges who hear IP cases have an increased level of expertise in IP matters, which ensures more equitable resolutions to IP cases and a

more robust system of protection of IP rights in Thailand.

Patent Cooperation Treaty

In August 2008, Thailand officially became a member of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property—a mandatory step for joining the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). The PCT came into force in Thailand on December 24, 2009 and has lead to many changes in foreign patent application practice. Thailand is a receiving country, meaning that most of the patent applicants are from abroad. Thus there have been dramatic changes in the number of foreign patent applications in Thailand since the PCT has come into force.

Looking Ahead

According to the sources at the Department of Intellectual Property, Thailand’s core IP laws—the Trademark Act, the Patent Act, and the Copyright Act—are in the process of being redrafted. However, the content of the most current proposed amendments to the three statutes has not yet been disclosed to the public.

Clearly, IP laws significantly depend on international trade and changes in technology. Thai IP practitioners in both the private and the public sector expect to see even more dramatic changes once all the new drafts came into force in the near future, such as limitations on liability of internet service providers, expanding the protection of nontraditional trademarks, and many others.

Continual Evolution of Thai IP Law 1994: Copyright Act 1995: TRIPs Agreement 1997: IP&IT Court 1999: Patent Act 1999: Plant Varieties Act 2000: Trademark Act 2000: Protection of Layout-Designs of Integrated Circuits Act 2002: Trade Secrets Act 2003: Geographical Indications Act 2005: Recordation of Well-Known Trademark 2008: Paris Convention 2009: Patent Cooperation Treaty

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BUSINESS FOCUS

Logistics as a Source of Growth Investments and Scenarios for Logistics in Thailand Thailand, and in general SouthEast Asian countries, are relying on International Trade and Logistics as sources of growth for future development.

The main objectives are: to strengthen links with Indochina and to create a Free Trade Area within ASEAN.

The Author

Goffredo Zarrella goffredo85@gmail.com Goffredo Zarrella was born in Avellino, Italy in 1985. In 2008 he graduated in Business Administration and he is currently completing his Master’s Degree in Management at Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi in Milano. In 2010 he attended the Professional Master in International Business at Fundaçao Getulio Vargas in San Paolo (Brazil), and he is now working on a report on Thailand Logistics for the Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce in Bangkok. His main areas of interest are ISCM, Corporate Finance and Business Entrepreneurship.

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W

ithout international trade few nations could maintain an adequate standard of living. Relying only on domestic resources, countries would have a limited number of available products and scarcity would prevail. Global trade makes available a huge variety of valuable resources, from Persian Gulf Oil to Brazilian coffee and Chinese labor. Trade facilitates the distribution of goods produced in different parts of the world and fuels the global market. As a result, wealth and prosperity increasingly derive from specialization and diversification of economic activities: production costs are lowered, productivity rises and the surplus generated may be transferred or exchanged for goods that would be too costly to produce internally or that are simply not available. International trade lowers the total cost of world production, consumers can buy more goods from the wages they earn, and global standards of living increase.

Recent studies provide substantial evidence of the existence of a direct connection between improvements in logistics and the increase in exports. Hummels (1999), by comparing sales of similar products, estimates that exporters with one percent lower shipping costs have a plus 5-8 per cent of market share. Meanwhile Fink (2001) argues that the liberalization of port services and the regulation of shipping could reduce shipping costs by about one third. And Frankel and Romer (1999) show that countries that are more connected to world markets and are well integrated globally have more wealth, as an increase of one percent of the relationship import-export/PIL per person increases at least 0.5 percent of individual income.

Finally, Redding and Venables (2002) reported that over 70 percent of the variation among countries of income per capita can be explained by looking at geographical access to the global market; access to a coastline tends to increase the income of nations by 20 percent, and even within the same country, inland areas show consistently lower levels of income than coastal regions.

Southeast Asia has been one of world's most dynamic regions, with strong growth in recent decades. During 1990-2007, the region's GDP grew by 5.5% annually, compared to 2.9% worldwide (World Bank).

High levels of investment in physical and human capital, export-oriented economic policies and, especially after the Asian financial crisis of 1997-1998, structural reforms have driven this economic performance.

Looking at its position in Southeast Asia one cannot fail to note the geopolitical importance of Thailand. It borders with all

countries in the region. In addition, China, with whom Thailand already has significant business relations, is just to the north. To the south is the Strait of Malacca, one of the most important sea routes on earth , through which approximately 30% of world trade passes.

Not surprisingly, international trade has played a significant role in Thailand's rapid economic development over the past three decades. In particular, exports and imports in the last ten years have accounted for more than 80% of the GDP, a figure well above the world average (Table 1).

Table 1 Thailand Year

Trade

GDP

Trade/Gdp

2000

122,725

130,740

0.94

2003

142,640

156,147

0.91

2006

207,228

259,164

0.80

2009

263,979

286,266

0.92

Average

89%

Source: UNCOMTRADE

Millions US Dollars

However, the Thai logistics system is still at an early stage of development. Most logistics work in the country is focused on the physical distribution of goods and services.

However, because of increasing global competition, Thailand needs a more integrated approach to logistics management. The Thai government, therefore, is encouraging companies, especially SMEs, to invest in integrated logistics, but at the same time, is also looking to improve the efficiency of the supply chain for products distribution.

BUSINESS FOCUS

Recently, the Thai government has placed considerable emphasis on strengthening the economy and integrating with the global market.

It is trying to develop a robust infrastructure to reduce logistics costs and, in particular, cost factors that in Thailand are around 16 per cent of GDP, far higher than the 5-6% average of developed countries.

On April 27, 2010 the Thai government approved a plan to commit 5,500 million USD to the improvement of railway transport in an effort to increase the capacity, safety and punctuality of the service. This is part of a series of measures intended to allow Thailand to become a major commercial hub linking Southeast Asia with China and surrounding areas. China in particular has, in the last decade, become a major trading partner, with an increase of over 400% in the value of Sino-Thai trade (Table 2).

Table 2 Singapore World Trade Year

Amount

2000

272,351

2003

296,227

9%

2006

510,520

72%

2009

515,617

1%

2000-2009 Source: UNCOMTRADE

Growth

investments from other parts of the world.

In this region road transportation has proved to be the most appropriate and efficient means of connection within the inland areas in different countries, although some areas lack adequate internal communications networks for connections with the main seaports and cities. In addition, Laos and southern China have no access to the sea.

Therefore given these conditions and relying on an extensive highway system (a 190,000 km network of communication), Thailand has seen its business increase exponentially, pushing toward the levels of Singapore, the main regional actor in the field of international trade (Tables 3 and 4).

Table 3 South-East Asia Trade Year

Thailand

Singapore

TH/SG

2000

14,241

59,335

24%

2003

20,014

79,707

25%

2006

36,775

126,193

29%

2009

43,891

122,398

36%

Source: UNCOMTRADE

89% Millions US Dollars

Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia are countries with a similar culture, an abundance of natural resources and strong economic growth potential that attract

Millions US Dollars

Table 4 Exports to Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar Year

Thailand

2000

2,073

1,004

2003

2,854

1,183

2006

6,127

1,834

2009

9,446

Source: UNCOMTRADE

Singapore

2,818 Millions US Dollars

An important initiative for strengthening Thai commerce is the “Trade and Logistics Development Master Plan” approved by the Council of Ministers in February 2007. The objective of this project is to create a worldclass logistics system to support Thailand as a regional trade hub for Indochina. In June 2010 the National Logistics Committee chaired by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has designated five government agencies to deal with each sector of the five-point strategic plan: • Business Logistics Improvement • Transport and Logistics Network Optimization • Logistics Service Internationalization • Trade Facilitation Enhancement • Capacity Building Particularly worthy of note is the “Thailand Single Window” project (NSW), an action plan for the development of a platform for exchange of data between different government agencies and trade for the simplification of import/export documentation, with the final objective of joining the ASEAN Single Window in 2015.This plan will eliminate unnecessary transactional costs by increasing the competitiveness of the enterprises.

But ASEAN Single Window is not the only regional project on the program. In 2009, ASEAN leaders designed the "Master Plan on Enhancing Connectivity", a proposal to improve communications within the region at the physical and institutional levels, as well as for ordinary citizens. With the plan, ASEAN leaders have committed to build the ASEAN community by 2015 in an effort to cooperate more effectively on security as well as economic and cultural policies. According to the framework of the plan there are four major goals: first, to build a single market and production base, focusing in particular on the movement of goods, services, capital and labor within ASEAN. The second objective is to initiate cooperation in food and agriculture, which are critical activities for ASEAN members. The third is the creation of a community characterized by the balanced development of highly competitive economies through fair policies and economic innovation. The fourth and final objective on the agenda is for ASEAN nations to achieve full integration with the global market.

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DANTE ALIGHIERI

The Two Royal Visits to the Vatican Two remarkable Thai royal visits to the Vatican have left their mark on history. The first visit took place on June 4, 1897, when King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) included the Vatican and a meeting with Pope Leo XIII on his tour of Europe. The second visit of Thai royals followed over sixty years later when a young King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) and his beautiful Queen Sirikit visited Rome and the Vatican on October 1, 1960. Last May members of the Dante Alighieri Association of Bangkok on their trip “Italy in the Footsteps of King Chulalongkorn” were able to tour the Vatican and learn more about these significant events.

I

n fact, the relationship between Siam and the Vatican goes back centuries. The first indirect contact was the result of a strange political arrangement. In 1494 Pope Alexander VI divided the world (as it was known to European explorers) between Spain and Portugal, the two leading powers of the time. As a result of the Treaty of Tordesillas, the Portuguese were to dominate Southeast Asia and play an important part in the

who in 1841 was appointed to Siam. He became a close friend with King Rama IV and according to his son who became Rama V (known to foreigners as King Chulalongkorn) this friendship was of lasting importance.

In fact, after King Chulalongkorn visited the Pope Leo XIII, he wrote a long letter about the visit and even mentioned that during his father’s reign their had been renewed contact with the Pope’s predecessors.

The Vatican, year 1960

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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development of the Kingdom of Siam. The first Catholic missionaries travelled to Ayutthaya with the Portuguese and over time they played major roles in language, education, politics, defense and architecture.

Official contact with the Vatican came much later when the Kingdom of Siam received a letter from the Vatican from Pope Clement IX which was sent with a French ecclesiastical mission in 1673. Following this the relationship between the Catholic missionaries and the Siamese deteriorated as foreign powers battled to control the region. When Ayutthaya was destroyed by the Burmese in 1767, all the foreigners including missionaries abandoned the city.

With the founding of Bangkok as the new capital of Siam, foreign religious communities returned to the Kingdom. Among their clergy was Bishop Jean-Baptiste Pallegoix,

H.M. King Bhumibol and H.M. Queen Sirikit with Pope John XXIII at the Vatican, year 1960

DANTE ALIGHIERI

Pope Leo XIII received King Rama V in 1897

King Rama V, the first Asian Monarch to meet a Pope

King Chulalongkorn’s visit with the Pope was especially important because if was the first time that a non-Christian monarch had been received by a Pope. However, there is an usual aspect to the story.

The King Chulalongkorn was a close friend of the rulers of Italy, the House of Savoy, who at the time were considered by the Pope to be his enemy, because a few years earlier the Italian army, under the orders of the Savoy King’s government, had taken by force all the territory in Italy under Papal rule, except for a tiny portion of Rome know as the Vatican State.

Thus, according King Chulalongkorn’s letter to Queen Saowapha, it was the Thai Ambassador to Rome who arranged the audience.

However, before the King visited the Pope he had lunch with King Umberto I and his wife Queen Margherita to gain their support for the visit. The King says that the Pope was very pleased to meet him and that he was delighted to met the Pope who had a reputation for being virtuous. Pope Leo was known for diplomatic skills, despite his poor relations with the Italian monarchy.

Times and the political situation were very different when King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit paid a royal visit to Pope John XXIII in 1960. His Majesty the King was in his early thirties at the time. This was part of an extended tour he and Her Majesty the Queen made overseas to the USA and Europe. The Thai royal couple charmed the public and received a great deal of attention wherever they went. Her Majesty was especially admired for her beauty and style. When she accompanied the King to visit the Pope she was attired in a long black dress and wore a black veil kept in place with a bejeweled crown. The sophistication and elegance of the couple helped raise Thailand’s image during a period when the world was focused on the conflict in Southeast Asia.

Rome was the final destination during the Dante Alighieri tour of Italy and the Vatican was a highlight. The visit including seeing the Sistine Chapel and wandering through St. Peter’s. For the travelers from Thailand one of the most interesting features of the Vatican was to observe the throngs of ecclesiastics and other visitors from around the world who are drawn to this famous destination. Of course, taking a photo in front of the famous Swiss Guards was a must! Even King Chulalongkorn mentions the guards in his letter to the Queen noting that they were waiting on the steps to greet his

entourage. And, the Swiss Guards, in very similar uniforms, were there again to greet a Thai King, His Majesty King Bhumibol, 63 years later!

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24/7 Assistance

Lunch or Dinner at Offshore!

TICC FAIR & UPCOMING EVENT

International Trade Fairs in Italy ( December 2010 – February 2011) Exhibitions In Thailand

Detail

Date

Venue/Website

MOTOR SHOW

International Cars and Bikes Exhibition

4- 12 Dec 2010

Bologna www.motorshow.it

AF - L’ARTIGIANATO IN FIERA

15th Craftsmanship International Market Exhibition

4- 12 Dec 2010

Rho (Milano) www.artigianoinfiera.com

MACEF

House International Fair

27/30 Jan 2011

Bologna www.macef.it

PARMA’S FURNITURE FAIR

Exhibition of furniture, furnishings, 30 Jan/7 Feb 2011 home accessories and lighting accessories

Parma www.salonedelmobilediparma.it

International Trade Fairs in Thailand ( December 2010 – March 2011 ) Exhibitions In Thailand

Detail

Date

Venue/Website

18-26 Dec 2010

Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok www.furnitureworld2010.com

FURNITURE WORLD 2010

Furniture, Decoration and Household facilities

INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL EXHIBITION

Stock & Financial Markets, Financial Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, 29-30 Jan 2011 Services for private and legal persons Krung Thep, Bangkok

THAILAND INDUSTRIAL FAIR

Brand Industrial Event for Industrial Sector

10-13 Feb 2011

Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Center, Bangkok www.thailandindustrialfair.com

BANGKOK GEMS & JEWELRY FAIR

47th Fair for Gems & Jewelry, Gold & Silver Productions

25 Feb -1 Mar 2011

IMPACT Challenger, Popular Road Banmai Sub-district Pakkred District, Bangkok www.bangkokgemsfair.com

Upcoming Events December 2010 – February 2011 Date

Event

Location

16 Thu.

GET TOGETHER - CHRISTMAS PARTY

INVERSUS Italian Restaurant

24 Fri./31Fri.

OFFICE CLOSE

TICC

3 Mon.

OFFICE CLOSE

TICC

12 Wed.

WINE APPRECIATION COURSE (FIRST LEVEL)

Giusto Wine Bar

18 Thu

BUSINESS LUNCHEON IN COLLABORATION WITH FTCC AND DTCC

Conrad Hotel

21 Fri.

TICC’S NEW WEBSITE

27 Thu.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

28 Fri.

MEMBERSHIP CARD (MFM)

December

January

To Be Confirmed

February 7 -11

ROAD SHOW IN ITALY

Different Cities

23 Wed.

AWARD CEREMONY OSPITALITÀ ITALIANA

To Be Confirmed

The Thai – Italian Chamber of Commerce will introduce from January 2011 a Membership Card; called “MEMBERS for MEMBERS”. All the members showing the card will enjoy benefits from other members’ activity such as Hotels, Restaurants, Airlines and etc. We need support from everyone in order to have a wider range of discounts and be successful; if you would like to offer a discount to all the others member, please contact Mr. Elia Righetti (trade@thaitch.org) for all the information.

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MEMBER AREA

Welcome New Members The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok Mr. Charles Jack (General Manager) 259 Sukhumvit Road, Klongtoey Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110 Tel. (02) 207 8000 Fax. (02) 651 1080 E-mail: bangkok@westin.com Website: www.westin.com/bangkok Sector: 5-star contemporary hotel

Inversus Limited Partnership Mr. Thanasak Subhirankul (CEO) 93-95 K Village Building, Suite B102, B202 Sukhumvit 26, Klongtun, Klongtoei Bangkok 10110 Tel.&Fax. (02) 665 6377 E-mail: thanasak@ngg-co.com Sector: Italian restaurant

Pullman Bangkok King Power Hotel Mr. Marc Begassat (General Manager) 8/2 Rangnam Road, Thanon-Phayathai Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400 Tel. 02 680 9999 Fax.02 680 9998 E-mail: hotel@pullmanbangkokkingpower. com Website: www.pullmanbangkokkingpower. com Sector: City upscale hotel in the heart of Bangkok

Hansar Hotel Mr. Somboon Chayavichitsilp (Chairman) 3 Soi Mahadlekluang 2, Rajdamri Rd. Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 Tel. 02 209 1234 Fax. 02 251 9376 E-mail: boonchaya@gmail.com Website: www.hansarbangkok.com Sector: the luxury boutique hotel in Bangkok

River of East-West Harmony Co., Ltd. Mr. Giacomo Mauri (Managing Director) Room 1808-1809 Empire Tower 195 South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120 Tel. (081) 814 5160 E-mail: gmauri11@gmail.com Sector: Residential real estate, renovation and rental GLOBAL-FINDINGS.COM® (THAILAND) LTD Mr. Simone Callai (Managing Director) 919/584 46th floor, Jewelry Trade Center Building Silom Road, Silom, Bangkok 10500 Chiem Cosmetic Packaging Co., Ltd. Tel. (02) 630 0630 Fax. (02) 630 0990 E-mail: info@global-findings.com 23/3 Moo 3 Yaicha Website: www.global-findings.com Sampran, Nakhonpathom 73110 Sector: Manufacturer and distributor of Tel. 034 325 605 precious metal findings, beads and chains Fax. 034 326 800 for the jewelry industry Consulting, E-mail: chiemcosmetic@gmail.com know-how, plants and machinery for jewelry Website: www.chiemcosmetic.com manufacturers Sector: Cosmetic packaging for export

Distribution Request of INFORMA: To request free copies of the INFORMA for distribution in your hotels, restaurants, or companies, please send an e-mail request to Ms. Sukanya Kerngfak (TICC Marketing/PR Executive) at pr@thaitch.org.

Fast-Track VISA interview booking: A service of TICC for TICC members Are you traveling to Italy soon on a business trip? Are you a TICC member and a Thai citizen? Do you know that TICC could assist you with the business VISA interview booking? What you need to do is to e-mail us the following (membership@ thaitch.org) at least 15 days prior to your departure date: * VISA application form * A 2-inch recent passport-style photo * A passport or travel document valid for at least three months after VISA expiry date * Return-trip booking or ticket or proof of available means of personal transport * Local documents demonstrating status as financial-commercial operator (e.g. business license, Chamber of Commerce certificate, etc.) * Travel agency indicating scheduled business contacts * Letter of invitation from an Italian company “Lettera di invito per affari” (This is a form in Italian, to be filled out by the Italian company who invites the applicant. TICC will provide you with this form. The applicant may bring the completed form with him/her on the interview day.) * Purpose of the trip to Italy and period of stay in Italy * Proof of economic means of support * Health insurance Plus, the VISA fee of 2,880 baht – to be paid to the Italian Embassy As soon as we receive all the required documents from you, the TICC staff will forward your request to the Visa Section of the Italian Embassy and inform you of the interview date.

Please note that this service has been arranged especially for TICC members and for business visa type only.

ITALIAN WINE APPRECIATION COURSE IN 2011 TICC is really proud to introduce the Italian Wine Appreciation Course, organized

by Giusto’s in collaboration with the Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce starting on Wednesday 12th January 2010 (5 weekly lessons totally). The session will be led by Mr. Giulio Saverino, Giusto’s sommelier, who is extremely well qualified to talk about Italian wine and is also a member of the Italian Sommelier Association.

The aim of this course is to introduce the main regional IGT, DOC and DOCG’s wine to Italian, Thai and International participants, through tasting, visual and olfactory techniques, from beginner to master, in a casual environment.

If you are interested in this TICC activity please contact us : pr@thaitch.org

29

Long Live the King

Miramare Castle, Trieste, Italy

Cover

Long Live The King - Thai Commodities Co., Ltd -

Long Live the King