GOLDENOPPORTUNITIES

Preface

Large amounts of companies seize the opportunities in Thailand. Located in the heart of Asia, Thailand lends itself as the gateway into South-East Asia, China, and even Australia and New Zealand. With over 67 million inhabitants, it is one of the largest economies in South-East Asia. Costs of labor are low, the population’s spending power increases, and the Thai Board of Investments pursues an active stimulation policy, making Thailand a prosperous site for com-panies from all over the world.

During the past months a group of 24 carefully selected students has put all its effort into gaining insight into a wide variety of promising sectors in the Thai economy. During this research stage we have enjoyed the support of several major institutions like RSM Erasmus University, the Netherlands-Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Thailand and the Royal Thai Embassy in the Netherlands. All these factors have helped us to become the strong and professional team we aspire to be.

Like our predecessors – under the name of International Business Study – have done for the last 25 years, Erasmus Consultancy Project Thailand 2013 is ready to offer you its services. We look forward to serve you Thailand’s unre-vealed golden opportunities with professional, tailor-made research on a non-profi t basis. We sincerely hope that this brochure will convince you of Thailand’s potential.

Sincerely yours,

Marleen VerweijChairman Erasmus Consultancy ProjectThailand 2013

Bangkok is usually referred to as “Krung Thep” by the Thai people, which means

City of Angels

“We are more than satisfi ed by the research performed by the ECP team for the Home Healthcare Markets in Chile and Argentina. The detailed reports they send to us, the professionalism showed on it and the positive comments we received from some of our interviewed customers overfulfi lled our expectations. For sure we will use their data and their recommendations to plan our future strategy in these territories. I hope to have the opportunity to work together again with them in the future.”

Javier M. A. LibréHealthcare Senior Manager Philips Healthcare - Latin America

Philips Healthcare (ECP 2010 Chile)

What is ECP?

Erasmus Consultancy Project is a project of STAR, Study Associa-tion of RSM Erasmus University. Every year, ECP offers companies and non-profi t orga-nizations tailor-made contract research in an emerging market.

The participating organizations will be provided with high-quality re-search on which they can make well considerd decisions. The Erasmus Consultancy Project has over 25 years experience in performing re-search for Dutch companies in emerging markets. The destination this year will be Thailand, an emerging market with golden opportunities.

Our servicesWhether your company is considering expanding to Thailand or are allready established there, ECP can provide you with unique business solutions. Our multi-faceted research services and market insights tailored to your specifi c needs will help you put the market opportuni-ties in Thailand into perspective and will consult you in what actions need to be taken.

ECP offers various kinds of consultancy services concerning invest-ment opportunities. In cooperation with your company, we compose tailor-made research. We are able to research anything from a compet-titor analysis to commercial activities. The possibilities are unlimited.

These are some of the services we offer:• Market research• Entering strategy analysis • Value chain analysis• Feasability analysis• Supplyer analysis

Project profi leThe ECP research will be carried out by a select group of 24 (interna-tional) Business Administration and Master students of the RSM Eras-mus University. The group consists of both international and Dutch students. The project itself runs from October 2012 until October 2013 and consists of three stages:

General researchStarting in October, a preliminary general research of the coun-try is conducted. The aim of this research is gaining insight into the Thai market by analysing interesting sectors. This will be our base knowledge and will be used in further research.

Contract researchIn this phase com-panies are offerd tailor- made contract research. After a non- comittal con-tract, we will provide your company with a research proposal. Once this proposal is accepted we will conduct desk re-search for several months, followed by three weeks of fi eld research in Thailand.

Reporting stageIn September and October the research will be fi nalized and we will present our recommendations to your company.

“Thailand continues to be in the top 20 Countries in the Ease of Doing Business”

The World Bank: October 23, 2012

Hybris AG (ECP 2011, Brazil)

“When I decided to engage the ECP STAR team to do a research in Brazil, I was not sure of what exactly to expect. I had a very good impression, had very good feedback from the references provided, but was not sure about what results they would be able to show. Very quickly the team showed that they can deliver real business results, fi rst

by quickly identifying the main players relevant for my company and then by actively engaging them. The team was able not only to map the competitive landscape in Brazil, but also to get very precise information on what the mar-ket expects of a new entrant as well as to open many doors at potential partners, potential customers and industry

infl uencers. I wholeheartedly recommend working with ECP STAR.”

Daniel Couto, PMP, MBA Regional Manager South America / Director Consulting EMEA

Why Thailand?

Thailand is an emergingmarket that offers uni-que business opportuni-ties to companies pre-pared to take a serious interest in this dynamic market.Traditionally, the Netherlands has been one of the most impor-tant trading partners ofThailand, with recipro-cal trade ever increa-sing.

Thailand has always been an attractive investment country due to its relatively low labor costs, fl exible labor laws and an ac-tive stimulation policy from the Thai Board of Investments. The country has a well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise economy and welcomes foreign investment.Thailand is one of the fastest growth markets in Asia. Its econo-my is greatly emerging, with an expected GDP growth of 7.5% in 2013 according to IMF. Thailand is the second largest economy in the ten-nation ASEAN. It is an export dependent economy, with exports accounting for almost 70% of the GDP. According to the World Bank, Thailand ranks 20th in the world when it co-mes to trading across borders.

Business OpportunitiesThailand’s growth is especially interesting for Dutch companies as the Netherlands has always had a prosperous economic re-lationship with the country: the Thai export to the Netherlands in 2010 accounted for €2.8 billion while imports reached €806 million during the same year.

Interesting SectorsOur general research showed numerous sectors in Thailand with potential for foreign investments. The ones listed below are among the most promising:

• Animation Software • Clinical Trials• Consumer Electronics • Distribution Logistics• Food Processing• Medical Tourism • Mobile App Development • Renewable Energy• Shipbuilding• Tourism and Recreation• Water Management• Yachting Industry

Thailand has many competitive advantages, one of the most important is its strategic location at the heart of Asia, thereby lending itself as a gateway into the ASEAN and Asia-Pacifi c mar-kets. Furthermore, its relatively sophisticated business environ-ment, backed up by advantageous governmental support, ma-king Thailand a leading country for Foreign Direct Investment.

“In the fi rst eight months of 2012, Dutch invest-ments in Thailand have grown with 250 percent”

The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs

Koninklijke Zeelandia B.V.(ECP 2012, South Korea)

“It was my pleasure to work with the consultants of the Study Association Rotterdam (STAR) of the Erasmus Univer-sity Rotterdam on a research project aimed on the identifi cation of a business partner for Zeelandia on the S. Korean market. In the short time of 3 months the students have been able to rank potential partners and present a shortlist of 7 companies interested in a cooperation with Zeelandia while at the same time providing valuable information about the S. Korean market for bakery products. We are impressed by the good communication and by the speedy repor-

ting and quality of the research results. The study has proofed to be valuable for our company.”

Jef SnijdersDirector Asia Pacifi c of Koninklijke Zeelandia B.V.

Why academic research by ECP?

We provide you with high quality research at both a practical and academic level. Because of the na-ture of the project, ECP gives you access to va-luable and unique infor-mation on which to base successful business de-cisions.

Objective viewUnbiased research is guaranteed throughout the project as ECP has no personal interest in any particular business or political area.

Accessible priceIn comparison to professional consultants, ECP offers an excellent price-quality ratio. This is mainly due to the non-profi t basis the pro-ject is conducted on.

Professional supportThe quality of the research will be guaranteed by academic feedback from the expertise provided by professionals of the RSM Erasmus Uni-versity. Members of the teaching staff, called mentors, provide input of knowledge, network and experience in the process. Two mentors will accompany the group during the research trip. The project is also supported by an extensive Board of Recommendation and a number of High Counsellors.

Access to informationECP has access to a vast number of information resources, including databases, experts, information from our professional support group and information provided by ECP contacts. In addition, ECP will obtain unique information and local knowledge during the fi eld research in July. Furthermore ECP has the time, skill and resources to review the large amounts of information available.

The people behind ECP

CommitteeMarleen VerweijChairman

Waling KoningTreasurer

Ralph PijlsComissioner of Research

Bob VerbakelComissioner of Commercial Relations

Mathijs van der KnaapCommissioner of Marketing

Maaike GerritseProgramme Coordinator

ConsultantsSinan Al-MansourEmely de AndradeBastiaan BoelhouwerKarin BongersBojan BrkicJulia HagemannLorenz HercherMark de KoffRoderik KustersCaroline MassartEsther PlagmeijerEvelien PostGurbe ScheenstraManon StratenAnja UgedahlArie van WeeldenSabine ZagersLeonie de Zeeuw

Professors:Vlado Kysucky Jatinder Sidhu

Board of Recommendation

Giljam AarninkManaging PartnerErnst & Young Accountants

Ahmed AboutalebMayor Rotterdam

Harry BrouwerChief Executive Offi cerUnilever Deutchland GmbH

Alexander HagemannChief Executive Offi cerSchaffner Holding AG

Theo HaldersVice President NXP Semiconductors Thailand

Frans van HoutenChief Executive Offi cer Philips N.V.

Pieter JongstraChief Executive Offi cerErnst & Young Netherlands

Henk-Cor van der KwastDeputy Head of MissionNTCC

Erik van der MeijdenChief Executive Offi cerExact Holding N.V.

Jan NooitgedagtChief Financial Offi cerAEGON N.V.

Henk SchmidtRector Magnifi cusErasmus University Rotterdam

Robert SwaakChief Executive Offi cerPricewaterhouse Coopers

Steef van der VeldeDean and ProfessorRSM

Jaqueline ZuidwegManaging DirectorZuidweg & Partners

ContactPostal AddressSTAR Study Association RSM Erasmus UniversityRoom T04-53Postbox 17383000 DR Rotterdam

Visiting AddressRoom T5-53Burgemeester Oudlaan 503062 PA Rotterdam

T: +31 (0) 10 408 24 85E: ecp@rsmstar.nlW: www.ecpresearch.nl