BeLuThai News€¦ · with the “Loy Kratong Festival” In Thai “Loy” means “to float”...
Transcript of BeLuThai News€¦ · with the “Loy Kratong Festival” In Thai “Loy” means “to float”...
Dear Members and Friends,
This is my first newsletter to you.
It has been a flying start with the Belgian Beer evening
at the Pullman Hotel with over 60 friends present.
A good opportunity for me to meet many of you. I am
sure, I will have the opportunity to meet all you at
some of our upcoming events.
As your new Executive Director, I would like to inform
you about my goals.
In the first place, I would like to continue to build the
BeLuThai on the excellent work Ann Peenen has done.
Grow the membership with Belgian and Luxembourg
companies in Thailand and also work hard on bringing
Thai companies with business connections to Belgium
and Luxembourg on board.
Expand our business services, organizing interesting
events and company visits are also high on the agenda.
We are pleased to announce that BeLuThai is co-
organizing the Economic Forum as part of the events
organized to celebrate the Thai-Belgian Friendship.
This Forum will take place on November 4 at the
Assumption University and you and your business
friends are all invited to attend. More information will
follow.
At the high tea following the Forum, we are honored
with the presence of Princess Marie-Esmeralda of
Belgium.
I sincerely look forward to working with all you and
developing BeLuThai further.
Best regards,
Philip Coates
Executive Director
Newsletter October 2015
2015
BeLuThai News
This newsletter at a glance:
Upcoming and Past Events
New members
Member news
Business News Thailand
Belgian-Luxembourg/Thai Chamber of Commerce
36/31 P.S.Tower 11th Floor, Sukhumvit 21 Road,
Klongtoey-Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110 Email: [email protected]
Tel: +66 (0) 2 664 2944 Website: www.beluthai.org
Friday, October 16th: Eastern Seaboard
Networking Event@ Pattaya
Wednesday, October 21st: Myanmar Business Talk
Wednesday, November 4th: Thai-Belgian
Economic Forum
Wednesday, November 18th: Northern
Hemisphere Networking
Friday, November 20th: Eastern Seaboard
Networking Event@ Pattaya
Friday, December 18th: Eastern Seaboard
Networking Event@ Pattaya, hosted by BeLuThai
Joint Chambers Lunch Talk: ASEAN'S Mid-Year
Economic Review 2015
July 23rd, 2015
BeLuThai members were cordially invited you to a Joint
Chambers Lunch Talk: ASEAN'S Mid-Year Economic
Review 2015: "ASEAN Economic Community (AEC):
Illusion or Reality?" hosted by the European
Association for Business and Commerce (EABC) at
Renaissance Hotel Bangkok.
BeLuThai Untapped Series #1: "How to find, hire and
keep top talent in Thailand"
June 17th, 2015
Gerrit Bouckaert, Country Manager of Robert Walters
Thailand gave a talk on key market findings on talent
and useful tips to adjust talent acquisition strategy and
talent management approach. The event was followed
by a warm networking in Wishbeer Home Bar, a newly
opened café run by BeLuThai member.
Past Events
Upcoming Events
BeLuThai Newsletter October 2015 Page 2
Welcome Back Beer 2015
September 2nd, 2015
Upon welcoming members back to work from holidays, the Welcome Back 2015 was also an opportunity to
welcome BeLuThai’s new Executive Director, Philip Coates. Special thanks goes to Brewberry and PDI Pagaeng
for sponsoring the Beer and food in that special night.
BeLuThai Newsletter October 2015 Page 3
Past Events
Corporate member:
Full Advantage Co., Ltd.
Full Advantage Co., Ltd. is a regional Project Developer
and Consulting Company in the field of Energy and
Environment. There are three main business activities:
Advisory and Consulting, Business/Project
Development and Climate Change Activities.
Individual members:
Ann Peenen
Anneke Leysen
Energy Minister awards Cofely Thailand with the
Excellent ESCO Award for the 3rd consecutive
year
For the 3rd year in a row, Cofely Thailand has won the
Excellent ESCO Award, an initiative from the
Department of Alternative Energy Development and
Representative:
Ludovic Lacrosse
Efficiency, in collaboration with
The Institute of Industrial Energy.
The purpose is to reward leading
Energy Service Companies (ESCO)
for their successful
implementation of energy
efficiency performance
contracts, demonstrating
outstanding benefits for their
clients and the country.
Cofely puts Energy Efficiency at the heart of its
business by offering a unique combination of expertise
closely geared to companies and local authorities’
needs, promoting rational use of energy and respect
for the environment.
The award was presented by Thailand’s Minister of
Energy, Mr. Narongchai Akrasanee,
at the Queen Sirikit National
Convention Center.
New Members
Members’ news…
BeLuThai Newsletter October 2015 Page 4
PDI to receive multiple awards
Shortlisted for outstanding sustainability performance by the Stock Exchange of Thailand
Padaeng Industry Public Company Limited (PDI) headed by Mr. Francis Vanbellen, Managing Director discussed its sustainability performance with the Sustainability Awards 2015 commission, at the Stock Exchange of Thailand on August 26, 2015. In October 2015 PDI will be proclaimed by SET as one of 50 listed companies, recognized for their outstanding sustainability performance in areas covering economy, society and environment and recommended for investors.
PDI already received the CSR Recognition Awards for two consecutive years from SET for “Rising
Star” in 2013 and
“Most improved CSR” in 2014.
EGAT trophy for achieving electricity saving target
On August 5th, 2015, Padaeng Industry Public Company Limited (PDI) received the Demand Response (DR) project trophy together with 1 million Baht, from EGAT (the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand). PDI’s Tak Plant had significantly reduced its electricity consumption during the month of April, without causing any impact to its operations.
Outstanding occupational safety and health award, for the 8th consecutive year
Padaeng Industry Public Company Limited or PDI, the Tak plant and he Mae Sod mine in the Tak province, have achieved the awards for outstanding occupational safety and health at work in 2015 for the eighth consecutive year from the Ministry of Labor. Mr. Manoch Jaroonvuthitham, Executive Vice President - Tak Operations, received the award from General Surasak Karnjanarat, Labor Minister, during the 29th National Safety Week.
Members’ news…
BeLuThai Newsletter October 2015 Page 5
It gives us great pleasure to inform you that as of the
4th August 2015, the Grand Millennium Sukhumvit
Bangkok has joined Accor’s upscale portfolio under the
Pullman brand and be known as Pullman Bangkok
Grande Sukhumvit.
Located in the heart of Sukhumvit and Bangkok’s
vibrant city centre, the stylish Pullman Bangkok Grande
Sukhumvit provides upscale services adapted for the
sophisticated traveller. Access to Bangkok’s transport
hubs and the city’s must see sights are all on your
doorstep. A striking, sail-shaped, glass façade
punctuates the central Sukhumvit skyline, where
business and high-end leisure meet.
High end audio and visual equipment and well-planned
interiors make the 2 ballrooms and 9 meeting rooms
the perfect venue for meetings, conferences, special
events and wedding banquets. Spread over 2,000
square meters, the facilities are supported by a team
of dedicated professionals who pay attention to the
little things that matter to ensure that your event runs
smoothly.
High Season Launch at Sunsuri Phuket
with the “Loy Kratong Festival”
In Thai “Loy” means “to float” and
“Krathong” stands for “a circular
floating object with decoration of
banana leaves, flowers, a candle
and incense sticks”. Mainly couples
look forward to going out and
launch their Krathongs together
while pondering about their
romantic future by the direction the
Krathongs float. This festival is also
good for strengthening
relationships within families.
Celebrate Loy Krathong at Sunsuri Phuket with a
delicious Thai dinner and Classic Thai music. Then
proceed to Nai Harn Lake escorted by a Long Drum and
float your Krathong on the lake among the local
population to celebrate the festival.
For further information or reservation, please contact:
Tel: +66 76 336 400
www.sunsuri-phuket.com
Members’ news…
BeLuThai Newsletter October 2015 Page 6
Solvay inaugurates South-East
Asia’s largest sodium
bicarbonate plant
Solvay, the Brussels-based chemical giant, has
inaugurated Southeast Asia's largest sodium
bicarbonate plant in Thailand as the first step in its plan
to aggressively expand in Asia. H.E. Marc Michielsen,
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium in Thailand,
recently presided over the open ceremony of Solvay’s
largest sodium bicarbonate plant in South-East Asia at
Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, Rayong province.
Investing € 20 million (about 800 million Baht) in this
plant, Solvay aimed to meet growing demand for high-
quality products, in healthcare, food and other
consumer goods markets throughout Asia with an
annual production capacity of 100,000 tons. The open
ceremony was joined by numerous honorable guests,
representatives from Thailand governor authorities,
companies and business partners.
Plaza Athenee Bangkok, A Royal Meridien
Hotel Successfully Orchestrates a Surge in
Funds for UNICEF Children’s Programs
Bangkok 2015, UNICEF Charity Auction and Fun for
Funds Bowling Competition organized by Plaza
Athénée Bangkok, A Royal Méridien Hotel has resulted
a total funds raised of THB 1,189,000. These funds will
go to support UNICEF’S children’s education program.
For more than 17 years, Plaza Athénée Bangkok, A
Royal Méridien Hotel’s parent company, Starwood
Hotels & Resorts, with help of its guests and associates
around the world have raised more than USD 30
million for UNICEF. Funds raised through ‘UNICEF
Check Out for Children’ and ‘Run for Children’ go
towards UNICEF’s Education Program to ensure every
child around the world can access quality education
through various initiatives to improve school facilities,
train teachers and supply school equipment as well as
campaigning to ensure children stay at school.
The initiatives of UNICEF Charity Auction and Fun for
Funds Bowling Competition received resoundingly
supports from both the Thai community and
philanthropists around the globe. 45 Starwood hotels
and resorts have contributed highly desirable
accommodation prizes for the fund raising auction. The
highest bidders for each lot in the auction won well-
priced stays in luxury hotels in some of the world’s
most exciting destinations, including: Vienna, Austria;
Angkor, Cambodia; Tokyo, Japan; Samui Island,
Thailand, and several more.
Members’ news…
BeLuThai Newsletter October 2015 Page 7
The Thai-Belgian
Friendship Celebrations
This project, which is a series of
events, will take place early
November 2015.
The aim of the project is to emphasize the long lasting
good relationship between Thailand and Belgium, the
friendship between the Royal Family of Thailand and
the Royal Family of Belgium, as well as to help the
society with a charity aspect.
The main events will be:
- The Exhibition of the Royal Visits, 1st to 8th
November, with the opening ceremony
honored by the presence of HRH Princess
Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, Siam Paragon,
Lifestyle Hall.
- The Thai-Belgian Friendship Commemorative
Brooches Charity Gala Dinner, honored by the
presence of HRH Princess Marie-Esmeralda of
Belgium and HRH Princess Saomsawali, on the
3rd of November at Plaza Athenee Bangkok.
- The Economic Forum, organized in
collaboration with Beluthai at Assumption
University, Martin de Tours School of
Management and Economics, ABAC
Suvarnabhumi Campus, on the 4th of
November.
- The Economic Forum will end with a High Tea,
followed by the Leaders' Dinner, presided over
by HRH Princess Marie-Esmeralda.
- The Leaders' Dinner, on the 4th of November,
at Assumption Universtity, Suvarnabhumi
Campus, in the presence of HRH Princess
Esmeralda.
- The Thai-Belgian Bridge Chocolate Exhibition,
5th to 8th November, at Siam Paragon, second
floor. The opening of the exhibition will be
attended by HRH Princess Marie-Esmeralda.
- The Royal Portraits Cocktail Party, 9th of
November at Plaza Athenee Bangkok.
Besides these events, the Thai-Belgian Friendship will
also be highly visible, thanks to the wrapping of one
BTS Skytrain. The Skytrain will run around Bangkok,
with its Thai-Belgian colors and the logos of the
partners of the project, the whole month of November.
The preparation of the Thai-Belgian Friendship
Celebrations has been a real team effort, with many
people and companies joining hands to make it happen
successfully.
While the Chao Phya Abhai Raja Siammanukulkij is the
official organizer, nothing could have been done
without the numerous partners who came, not only
with support, but also suggestions and ideas to make
these celebrations unforgettable.
November will be a very special month, during which
the Friendship between Thailand and Belgium will be
the main theme. But the project is also about
emphasizing the everlasting good relationship in doing
business between Thai and Belgian companies.
ABAC University has been selected as the venue of the
Forum because of its strong bonds with the Belgian
Monarchy.
King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola visited this
marvelous, and sometimes surprising, university,
which made it the best possible venue for such an
event.
We hope that many members of Beluthai will join the
Economic Forum in order to share this exceptional
moment together.
Members’ news…
BeLuThai Newsletter October 2015 Page 8
Politics
Wissanu outlines timeline set for lead-up to 2017
general election The next general election is expected
to be held by June 2017, after formation of a new
constitution drafting committee (CDC) early next
month, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam
said. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha said the new
draft charter should be based on the previous one
rejected by the National Reform Council (NRC).
Foreign chambers see continued political stability
after charter rejection The foreign business
community in Thailand has expressed optimism that
political stability will continue despite the National
Reform Council's rejection of the constitution draft.
Stanley Kang, chairman of the Joint Foreign Chambers
of Commerce in Thailand, said the chambers believed
that there was no immediate cause of concern
regarding the Kingdom's political situation.
Investment
Finance Ministry weighs incentives The finance
ministry’s incentives will be provided to industries
considered essential to driving the country into a new
S-shaped growth curve and steering the Thai economy
through its slowdown, Mr Apisak said, adding that the
proposed privileges would be separate from those
provided by the Board of Investment. Tax and non-tax
incentives for investment in high-potential industries
will be finalised.
Finance Ministry mulls infrastructure fund options
The Finance Ministry plans to use an infrastructure
fund to finance capital-intensive infrastructure
investments. There are two alternatives for the
proposed fund-raising through infrastructure funds -
setting up a fund for each project or launching only one
fund into which all the projects are pooled, Finance
Minister He said the advantage of pooling all the
projects into one infrastructure fund was that its size
would be large enough to attract foreign investors. The
Finance Ministry is working out the details of the
infrastructure fund, Mr Apisak said. To make the
infrastructure fund appealing to long-term investors,
the Finance Ministry may need to seek supportive
measures such as rating the fund to pave the way for
investment by insurance companies.
Trade
Prajin airs doubts over 4G auction Deputy Prime
Minister Prajin Juntong has voiced strong opposition to
the telecom regulator's original plan to auction 25
megahertz of bandwidth on the 1800-MHz spectrum,
saying it may not maximise benefits for the industry.
His concern signals a strong inclination to sell 30 MHz
on the 1800-MHz spectrum at the 4G auction
scheduled for Nov 11. But ACM Prajin said he
supported the National Broadcasting and
Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) in
proceeding with the 1800-MHz auction in November
and the 900-MHz auction on Dec 15.
Ministry promises digital economy roadmap soon The
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Ministry plans to introduce a national digital economy
master plan by year-end for use as a framework in
developing the digital economy. The ICT minister is also
joining with the Federation of Thai Industries and Intel
Microelectronics (Thailand) to provide free
entrepreneurship courses. These will be aimed at
increasing the number of entrepreneurs and
encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs) to use digital technology to conduct their
business.
Ministry sets six strategies to spur exports The
Commerce Ministry has unveiled six strategies to
support sustainable export growth. The strategies
focus on cross-border trade, creating industrial
clusters, prioritising markets for roadshow missions
and solving trade obstacles, increasing human-
resource efficiency, increasing trade fairs' efficiency,
and reaping the benefits from the rise of e-commerce.
Business News in Thailand
BeLuThai Newsletter October 2015 Page 9
1. To drive cross-border trade and expand exports to
nearby countries with strong economic growth such as
China and India. All involved government agencies and
private enterprises will be linked to support the
expansion of international trade.
2. To set up business or industry clusters to support
trade in goods as well as by-products and services.
3. To prioritise roadshow missions to promote trade
and investment overseas, as well as urgently solve
trade obstacles and negotiate free-trade pacts.
4. To improve human-resource efficiency by
encouraging Thai trade officers overseas to be real
marketers.
5. To enhance the efficiency of trade fairs to reach
targeted consumers in each market.
6. To benefit from the popularity of e-commerce by
promoting Thai export products and support small and
medium-sized enterprises.
Energy
PTT board OKs wave of new postings National oil and
gas firm PTT Plc has appointed new senior executives
to replace those retiring at the end of the year.
Nuttachat Charuchinda, chief operating officer for
upstream petroleum and gas business, will be replaced
by Pitipan Tepartimargorn, senior executive vice-
president for human resources.
Surong Bulakul, chief operating officer for
infrastructure, will be replaced by Chavalit Punthong,
senior executive vice-president for oil business.
Auttapol Rerkpibook, senior executive vice-president
for sustainability management and project
engineering, will take Mr Chavalit's old post.
Charcrie Buranakanonda, senior executive vice-
president for gas business, will be replaced by
Noppadol Pinsupa, president of Global Power Synergy
Plc (GPSC), a power business arm of PTT.
Sarakorn Kulatham, senior executive vice-president for
petrochemicals and refining business, will be replaced
by Chansin Treenuchagron, senior executive vice-
president for corporate strategy.
The post vacated by Mr Chansin will be filled by Sriwan
Eamrungroj, currently executive vice-president for
marketing, commercial and supply at PTT Global
Chemical Plc.
The open chief executive slot at PTT Exploration and
Production Plc (PTTEP) — Tevin Vongvanich left to take
the reins of the parent firm — will be filled by Somporn
Vongvuthipornchai, executive vice-president for
strategy and business development.
AEC
Thai hub for AEC operators suggested THAILAND can
be a hub within the Asean Economic Community (AEC)
for retailers and other business operators from the
Philippines and other Asean member countries to set
up regional headquarters and better penetrate the
market on a regional scale, especially in CLMV
(Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam) markets,
according to experts. Samie Lim, chairman emeritus of
the Philippine Retailers Association, said retailing was
now the region's leading revenue generator in the
tourism sector, overtaking the contributions from
airlines and hotels.
Taxation
Stimulus 2 draws positive response The Federation of
Thai industries (FTI) has welcomed the Bt206-billion
second phase of the Council of Economic Ministers'
economic stimulus package, which is aimed at
supporting small and medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs). He believes it could increase SMEs' liquidity
and boost the number of new start-ups. The package
also includes tax measures to cut SMEs' corporate
income tax from 15 per cent to 10 per cent for those
with a net profit of Bt300,000 to Bt3 million for two
accounting periods, while SMEs which have to pay 20
per cent will have the rate cut to 10 per cent for the
same period.
Business News in Thailand
BeLuThai Newsletter October 2015 Page 10
More information, please click here.
BoI offers more tax exemption In another bid to boost the economy, the Board of Investment (BoI) has
increased corporate income tax exemptions by up to two years for investment projects that can begin
operations by the end of 2017. Secretary-General of the BoI, said the investment board agreed to introduce
measures to hasten investment projects and stimulate economic growth by offering additional tax exemptions
to investors who submitted projects between January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2016 and can commence
production or service provisioning by the end of 2017. Hiranya said the measures approved by the BoI could be
implemented shortly and could be adjusted when the new BoI law comes into effect.
@The Nation - @ Bangkok Post - @ Prachachart Thurakij -@ Bangkok Biz News
The Business News Section in this newsletter is brought to you in cooperation with our Premium Member Solvay
Asia Pacific Co., Ltd.
BeLuThai Newsletter October 2015 Page 11
Business News in Thailand