President Obama Visits Thailand

Transcription

VOLUME 6/2012
THIS EDITION’S FEATURES: Small-Medium Size Enterprises
Making CoffeeWORKS P. 10
50 Years of Raja’s Fashions P. 14
Banking for SMEs: Standard Chartered Offers ‘Simplicity’ P. 16
Examination of Myanmar’s New Foreign Investment Law P. 26
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St. Andrews
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THAI-AMERICAN BUSINESS
I S S N - T- A 0 1 2 5 - 0 1 9 1
CONTEN T S
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2 • C o v e r i n g N o v e m b e r - D e c e m b e r
10
10Making CoffeeWORKS
14 50 Years of Raja’s Fashions
16 Banking for SMEs: Standard
Chartered Offers ‘Simplicity’
18How to Maximize Your Brand on a
Minimal Budget
35
20 Business Travel Pivots To Asia
24 New Labor Regulation Provides
Protections for Domestic Workers
26 Examination of Myanmar’s New
Foreign Investment Law
28 President Obama Visits Thailand
32 AMCHAM Recognizes Top Corporate
Social Responsibility Programs
35 AMCHAM 2012 Committee/Chapter/
Council Reports
46 AMCHAM Lao Chapter: Ambassador’s
Breakfast Meeting
46 AMCHAM Phuket Chapter: Doing
Business in Thailand Seminar in
Phuket
47Myanmar Business Summit
REGULAR FEATURES
6
30
44
48
50
58
62
65
66
4
President’s Remarks
Amcham Thailand Charitable Foundation
Amcham Executive Director’s Remarks
AMCHAM Member Happenings
AMCHAM Events Roundup
AMCHAM Committee Updates
AMCHAM Welcomes New Members
AMCHAM Affinity Program
AMCHAM Membership: Not Just for Americans
48
Cover Photo: President Barack Obama meets with King Bhumibol Adulyadej of the Kingdom of Thailand, at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand.
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REMARKS
Small-Medium SizePRESIDENT’S
Enterprises
Dear AMCHAM Members,
AMCHAM BOARD OF GOVERNORS 2012
Honorary President
Kristie A. Kenney,
U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand
President
Joe Mannix, United Airlines
Thai-American Business
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
Vice Presidents
John Atanas, Esso (Thailand)
Pierre Breber,
Chevron Thailand Exploration & Production
Matt Bradley, Ford Motor Company
Treasurer
Janice Van Ekeren, Bank of Ayudhya
Secretary
Daleen Richmond, Agrisource Company
Governors
Darren Buckley, Citibank
Michael Diamente, Dana Spicer (Thailand)
Douglas Harter de Weese, Vektor Telematics
Pornlert Lattanan, General Electric
David Lyman, Tilleke & Gibbins
Jeff Nygaard, Seagate Technology
Milind Pant,
YUM Restaurant International (Thailand)
Vorapong Vorasuntharosoth,
Dow Chemical Thailand
Thai-American Business is published bi-monthly
by The American Chamber Of Commerce In Thailand
with offices at: 7th Floor, GPF Witthayu Tower A
93/1 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330
Tel: +66 (0)2 254-1041 Fax: +66 (0)2 251-1605
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.amchamthailand.com
Editorial Advisory Board:
Judy Benn, Harold Vickery, Jr.
Communications Director & Editor: Patrick Brown
Artwork & Layout: Phaisan Nangnoi
Production: Scand-Media Corp., Ltd
Tel.: +66 (0)2 943-7166/8, Fax: +66 (0)2 943-7169
Any opinions expressed in articles in this magazine
do not necessarily reflect the views of the Chamber.
6
T-AB Magazine welcomes story and photo
contributions from AMCHAM members. Articles may
be reproduced with acknowledgement, except for
those taken from other sources.
2012 is now behind us and 2013 begins
much differently than the year that has
just past. Twelve months ago, Thailand
was beginning its recovery from its
worst flood in 70 years. But the country
persevered and, remarkably, 2012 was
a positive year for many businesses
operating in Thailand. According to the
World Bank, Thailand’s economic growth
for 2012 is expected to be near five
percent.
It was also a year of growth at the
Chamber. Company membership reached 700 for the first time – closing
the year at a record 714 company members. The Chamber also hosted
all its signature events in 2012, including the USA Fair, the Government
Appreciation Dinner and the Student Scholarship visit. One or more of
these events had been cancelled over the past few years due to natural
disasters or political disturbances, so it was nice to be able to finish the
year accomplishing (and, in many instances exceeding) our 2012 goals.
For 2012, the primary objectives of the Chamber were as follows:
1. Advocacy for a Competitive Thailand: Help increase Thailand’s
competitiveness globally and within the region;
2.Membership Services: Strive to ensure that all members are treated
fairly and equally and that all members services, programs and benefits
are of high quality and add-value to our members;
3. Promote CSR and Community Investment: Provide events and
demonstrate CSR best practices, which assist and encourage member
companies to invest in their employees and communities.
Highlights of the Chamber’s accomplishments in each of these areas
included:
ADVOCACY FOR A COMPETITIVE THAILAND
• Hosted a successful Government Appreciation Dinner in August
• Committee advocacy activities focused on:
-Customs & Excise
-Corporate Tax
- Auto Industry Attractiveness
- Infrastructure development in Eastern Seaboard
- Flood issues, including transparency and fairness
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES
• Held 277 meetings, programs and events;
• Conducted a Membership Satisfaction survey, which showed nearly
95 percent of members are satisfied with the Chamber’s services and
activities;
• Continued Corporate Partnership Packages to help companies in
budgeting to support the Chamber;
• Hosted the USA Fair in April, which attracted over 100,000 visitors;
• Continued to support Eastern Seaboard members and the Greater
Phuket Chapter;
• Established a Lao Chapter;
• Hosted a number of Myanmar events, including a one day summit and
established a Myanmar Task Force.
PROMOTE CSR AND COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
• Delivered the 2012 CSR Recognition Program with over 300 attendees
and 34 (vs. 27 in 2012) companies recognized (see page 32 for more
information);
• Donated Baht one million to match donations to the Adopt-a-School
program, which was used to help restore and repair flooded schools;
Continued on page 8
column
PRESIDENT’S REMARKS
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
• Produced, with USAID, Save the Children and the
Chamber’s corporate partners, an educational disaster
relief coloring book for distribution to school children;
• Funded 150 Thai student scholarship at Thai universities;
• Hosted a very successful AMCHAM Fedex Career Camp
for 42 scholarship students;
• Completed 22 Adopt-a-School projects;
• Supported 18 School Teachers for the 2011-2012 school
year through the Teacher Fellowship program;
• Total funding for all ATCF projects in 2012 totaled Baht
10.5 million.
In addition to the success listed above, the Chamber also had
a very successful financial year. Although the 2012 figures
are not finalized, it appears the Chamber will be able to
make a substantial donation to the ATCF and to continue in
2013 to invest in new member services.
All of the above would not have been accomplished without
the hard work and dedication of the Chamber’s 2012 Board
of Governors and Committee Leaders. Thousands of hours of
work (all volunteer) from the Chamber leadership team went
into supporting the Chamber’s many events and activities. A
review of each Committee’s year can be seen on pages 35 43 in this issue of T-AB.
I would like to add a personal thank you to the 2012
Board of Governors and Committee Leadership for their
contributions to the Chamber and the American business
community. Thank you also to the hard-working Chamber
staff that helped support the leadership team.
It was a honor to serve as the Chamber’s 2012 President
and I have many fond memories of my tenure, not least was
the opportunity to have dinner with President Obama and
Prime Minister Yingluck during the President’s historic visit
to Thailand on November 18. After completing four years
on the Board of Governors, I must now step off the Board,
although through the Chamber’s by-laws, I will remain an
ex-officio officer and continue to be active in supporting the
2013 Board. My congratulations to Matt Bradley of Ford,
who will be the Chamber’s 2013 President. I wish him and
the 2013 Board of Governors great success in continuing the
fine efforts of the Chamber in its mission to promote U.S.
business in Thailand.
My best wishes for a successful and prosperous 2013 to all
Chamber members and I look forward to seeing you at the
AMCHAM Installation Ball on February 9th.
Best regards.
Joe Mannix
AMCHAM President
Matt Bradley, Ford Motor Company,
Elected AMCHAM President for 2013
T
he American Chamber of
Commerce in Thailand
(AMCHAM) is pleased
to announce that Matt Bradley,
President of Ford ASEAN, has been
elected the AMCHAM President for
2013.
Before coming to Thailand in
2012, Mr. Bradley served as Vice
President, Sales and Service,
for Ford Asia Pacific and Africa,
based in Shanghai, China, a
position he held for two years.
Bradley has been with Ford for
23 years in roles of increasing
responsibility in marketing,
strategy, sales and service,
including positions in the United
States and Asia.
Mr. Bradley joined AMCHAM
Thailand in 2012 and was soon
appointed to the Chamber’s Board
of Governors.
“It will be an honor to serve in this
role, on behalf of American business
in Thailand, and I’m excited about
helping to drive the momentum of
2012 forward,” stated Mr. Bradley.
“As we celebrate 180 years of ThaiUS relations in 2013, AMCHAM
will continue to advocate as a
collective voice for American
businesses, to serve our growing
8
He has lived and worked in
Shanghai, Detroit, Boston, New
York and Memphis. Bradley is a
native of Boston and received a
Bachelor’s degree in Economics
from Boston College in 1988.
member base, and to promote and
support programs and initiatives that
improve the lives of Thai society and
its people,” he added.
He and his wife Jennifer have
three sons, Ryan, Kevin, and
Sean.
features
Small-Medium Size Enterprises
Making CoffeeWORKS
An interview with Dale Lee, co-owner and co-founder of CoffeeWORKS
C
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
hildhood friends Dale Lee and
Andrew Stotz followed a path
very similar to other American
entrepreneurs: schooled in industry
tradition, they recognized an emerging
market and launched a start-up. They just
did it a little further from home.
The business partners have achieved
a great deal since 1995. With a new
factory and a growing portfolio located
in the world’s most robust economic
region, the founders are confident they
can build CoffeeWORKS into one of
Asia’s leading coffee roasting businesses.
Why CoffeeWORKS?
Opportunity is the simple answer.
Opportunity and the certainty of youth.
Shortly after graduating high school in
1983, I took a job as a coffee technician
for a small coffee distributor called
‘Bunn-O-Matic,’ commercial coffee
brewers throughout Akron, Cleveland,
and Columbus, Ohio. Bunn-O-Matic
brewers are the big decanter coffee
brewers that you often see in [American]
cafeterias and diners.
At this stage, I had no serious love of
coffee – I was only drinking 4-5 cups per
day at this point – or any entrepreneurial
ambition. This was just a job for making
some money.
But I really enjoyed the work and was
lucky enough to work directly under
the Italian-American owner named Jim
Zuccala, who was very much, both
physically and attitudinally, like Alec
Baldwin’s character ‘Blake’ in the movie
version of Glengarry Glen Ross.
It was a tough-love relationship. He
pushed the hell out of me. I was
expected to cold call, which at the
time terrified me, install and repair
equipment, make route deliveries and
route sales. I learned a tremendous
amount from Jim about coffee, but
equally about sales, and running a small
business.
I did this for three years and when I left,
I had all this knowledge and experience
10
CoffeeWORKS founders and owners Andrew Stotz and Dale Lee
that later would prove to be invaluable
for running CoffeeWORKS.
Go West, Young Man
In the late 80s, I moved to the west coast
and went to work in the coffee industry.
I was bored with my job and life in
Ohio and wanted a change. Andrew
[CoffeeWORKS co-founder and coowner Andrew Stotz], was already in
southern California, telling me about
how great it was working and living
on the west coast. So, I packed all my
earthly possessions into my small pickup truck and drove out west... best thing
I ever did.
California was such a great education
for a couple of guys from Ohio.
Andrew and I both studied at California
universities – Andrew at Cal State,
Long Beach working on his MBA; I
enrolled at Long Beach City College
and eventually transferred to California
State University Los Angles where I
majored in Japanese language and
minored in economics. The schools
helped introduce us to a diverse
group of people and were part of our
introduction to the Asian culture.
And this was the time when the
specialty coffee market was emerging.
Many people believe the [U.S.] coffee
shop culture began in Seattle, but
While in school, I supervised the night
loading crews for the route distribution
of First Choice Services Coffee. Our
coffee roasting suppliers were well
known Los Angeles roasters such as
Gavina Coffee, Apffels Coffee, and
Lingle Bros. Coffee, which was owned
by Ted Lingle’s family. Ted Lingle helped
start and run the Specialty Coffee
Association of America (SCAA), which
today is one of the coffee industry’s most
influential trade associations.
While Andrew was getting his MBA
in finance at Cal State Long Beach,
he worked for Pepsi as a loading
supervisor at Pepsi’s Buena Park
bottling and canning facility, which
at that time was one of Pepsi’s largest
bottling facilities in the world. While
there, Andrew had the opportunity to
study with other Pepsi management
under Dr. W. Edwards Deming [a
1950s quality control specialist who
is widely regarded as the man who
first championed and spread statistical
process control to businesses, first in
Japan and then globally]. We devoured
Deming’s book “Out of the Crisis” and
Deming’s philosophies have long been
an important influence in our thinking.
We were lucky really. Neither Andrew
nor I moved to California to prepare
ourselves to join this nascent coffee
movement, we were just there at the
right time.
Making CoffeeWORKS
What brought me to Thailand was to cofound CoffeeWORKS. It was very, very
singular for me in that way.
In L.A., we had a large circle of friends
in Asian communities, including many
Thai friends, one of whose family owned
one of the very first Thai restaurants in
Long Beach. Andrew and I spent many
evenings with them and their Thai cooks
after they closed the restaurant. Our Thai
friendships and their culture appealed
to us.
Andrew was the first to move to
Thailand. I visited in 1992 and
immediately recognized an opportunity.
I’m coming from this exciting coffee
culture on the [U.S.] west coast and
I move to this exploding market in
Bangkok, yet not really much was here
yet in the area of fresh coffee. So I
decided that we [with Andrew] should
start CoffeeWORKS.
Using the Treaty of Amity [and Economic
Relations], we registered the company
throughout 1995-1996, without any
local partners. We’re both 30 years old
and very ‘gung-ho.’ Our feeling was,
we knew the coffee business as well
as anyone, so why would we need
partners. I’m glad we registered under
the Amity Treaty, because we were able
to keep all our shares, but I’m sure we
made mistakes that could probably have
been prevented had we found a Thai
partner. And there turned out to be many
mistakes.
prepare me for building well functioning
teams in Thailand. We had to work very
hard, and still do, to build strong and
effective teams in our business.
Another mistake, in fact, turned out
to be our timing--or failure to read the
economic winds--because by the time
we started sales in late 1996, we were
just around the corner from the 1997
Baht devaluation and severe economic
meltdown that followed. It almost ended
it for us. Andrew and I slept on cots in
our factory for six months during that
time. Fortunately, we persisted and
eventually succeeded.
Arrival of Major Coffee
Chains
It was fantastic. We were waiting for
the major chains to arrive. Even back in
California, in the late-80s/early 90s, I
believed that the coffee shop culture was
going to be a wave that broke all over
the world.
The Business Model
Our core business would become and
still is, coffee roasting. In practice this
means, importing select raw coffee
beans from around the world, and
purchasing locally grown Thai Arabica
coffees from the Northern provinces. We
bring all of these raw materials together
and create our various blends and roasts.
The blends are profiled for specific
customers, such as office canteens to
high-end specialty espresso blends like
what we roast and supply for Dean &
DeLuca’s espresso bars here in Asia.
In our early days, this was done in a
small shop-house factory in Bangmod
near Rama 2. One of our early
customers was Thailand’s first western
style coffee chain called Coffee World.
Today, we roast and supply the coffee for
many brands of coffee shop chains and
independent coffee shops.
Establishing a Start-Up and
Surviving Crisis
One of our biggest challenges was HR.
I underestimated the resources needed
to build effective teams, while trying to
start and grow our business. Like many
small start-ups, extra resources are in
very short supply…like zero.
The fact that I was immersed in the Thai
community in Los Angeles was indeed
helpful, but nowhere near sufficient to
The arrival of Starbucks and other major
chains immediately stimulated Thailand’s
coffee market. And though we weren’t
the first coffee roaster in Thailand, we
were well placed to serve the new coffee
shop market.
Local businesspeople wanted in on the
fresh coffee business, but they needed
local support, such as a local roaster.
We were willing and able to help.
And we had the added advantage of
being technically familiar with how the
product was produced and how the
large chains operated.
The American Chamber Of Commerce In Thailand
it was really the whole west coast,
especially San Francisco and Los
Angeles. When I arrived in L.A., some
of the early U.S. chains, such as Peet’s
[Peet’s Coffee & Tea], Pasqua Coffee,
Diedrich Coffee, and Starbucks,
already had a few shops. There was this
growing appreciation, and a growing
market, for quality coffee compared to
what was universally available at that
time.
Success is also about the
“Boring” Stuff
I have a technical knowledge of coffee,
espresso machines, and roasting systems. I
like the craft of sales and I like to pass on
my sales enthusiasm with our sales force.
Over the years, we have built a team of
like-minded coffee professionals that help
our customers achieve their specific goals.
These are the “fun” parts of my work.
However, for me a key recipe of success
is what some might find boring, like a
fantastic accounting system, financial
reports, or statistical based quality
control analysis. For example, I get
excited about inventory conversion
period and sales-to-assets data too!
I credit Andrew for inspiring this enthusiasm for finance. Andrew likes to say
11
features
volume commitments from the buyer
to support the quite extensive R&D and
supply chain creation/maintenance we
undertake for these blends.
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
that he sees himself as being something
like a language interpreter. He takes the
raw numbers of accounting and presents
them to management in a way that is
meaningful and easy-to-understand,
which is perfect for non-finance guys
like me.
Additionally we have a wide range of
exceptional coffee blends and single
origin roasts on our regular menu that
we supply to many 4-5 star hotels such
as the Ritz Carlton Phulay Bay, Krabi,
Paresa Resort in Phuket, and the new W
Bangkok, to name a few.
As mentioned earlier, I think one reason
Andrew is an excellent finance man is
because he started in operations. This
gives him a unique way of looking at
finance and how a non-finance person
might think about or respond to a piece
of financial data…plus Andrew is just
super smart.
It is my sincere belief that without
this diverse skill set between Andrew
and myself, we would likely not have
survived the grim statistics of most new
businesses.
Challenges Ahead
A lot of people ask me about growing
competition, which is happening, but
I don’t think competition is our biggest
challenge. Thailand is a growing coffee
market and we all have our own areas of
strength.
Success for me is about executing around
one’s passion and unique strengths.
As we grow and expand our presence,
as long as we don’t allow ourselves to
get diverted from our core strengths,
and keep things simple, I think we can
reduce complexity and thereby reduce
challenges. “Less is more,” so to speak.
I see red tape as a challenge going
forward. We recently moved into a
new factory and the move took us from
one province to another. This move
and the fact that we’re an importer and
a production facility meant we had
to devote a large amount of time and
energy to deal with regulations. I think
it could be less. But, compared to 17
years ago, things have improved. Back in
the 90s, when we started, to get an FDA
(license) for coffee you’d think we were
dealing with nuclear material. But, with
each subsequent Thai government the
FDA process has improved.
Besides the coffee roasting, we also have
a significant espresso machine importing, sales, and service business with the
equipment brands I mentioned earlier.
Some of the automated versions of these
machines cost more than compact cars.
CoffeeWORKS Today
Where we’re at today, we thought
we’d be five years after we started--I
think I would categorize that under the
‘certainty-of-youth’ effect. But today
we’re in a great place. This past year, in
2012, we grew our roasted coffee sales
by 33% year-on-year. I think 2013 will
be equally positive for our sales growth.
We strive to be the most advanced
knowledge-based coffee roaster in
S.E. Asia. Although I apply my coffee
industry experience to that effort,
over the years we have built a team
of like-minded coffee professionals
that help our customers achieve their
specific goals to help make their coffee
programs/offerings successful.
We do all of our work now out of our
new Samutprakarn factory, including
roasting and grinding for filter blends, for
packaging and shipment to our B-to-B
customers that include 3, 4, & 5-star hotels, and finally corporate clients [office
coffee service].
For large coffee shops and quick service
restaurant chain customers, I often create
“private label” blends and roasts, which
is to say a coffee blend ‘recipe’ and
roasting profile that is reserved for their
brand/operations. This requires large
This past year, in 2012, we grew
our roasted coffee sales by 33% yearon-year. I think 2013 will be equally
positive for our sales growth.
12
We are the Thailand importer/distributor
for the world’s market-share leader of
Italian made espresso coffee machines,
CIMBALI of Milan, Italy that incidentally
just celebrated their 100-year anniversary in 2012. As a career coffee man,
I’m thrilled to be associated with such
a venerable brand of the global coffee
industry. CIMBALI has long been recognized as a leader of espresso machine
innovation and really an ambassador of
espresso culture to the world.
This past year we also became the
Thailand sales and service partner for
the commercial coffee machine systems
division of Melitta in Germany. Melitta
is a strong brand of fully automated
espresso-cappuccino-coffee machines
well adopted throughout many
global brands of hotels, quick service
restaurants, airport lounges, etc.
There are quite a few other equipment
brands we represent in the Thai
market including Coffee Queen from
Sweden and Solis from Switzerland,
so I won’t go into all of their details
here. I should also mention though
that CoffeeWORKS is the sole Thailand
importer and distributor of Cafetto
brand espresso and coffee machine
cleaning products for both traditional
and superautomatic espresso machines.
Cafetto is part of the Australian cleaning
products company called Dominant
Australia Pty. Ltd.
Coffee roasting, coffee blends R&D,
espresso machine sales/service, and
equipment cleaning products mean
today it’s busy around here.
To learn more about CoffeeWORKS visit:
www.mycoffeeworks.com
features
50 Years of Raja’s Fashions
Article and accompanying interview questions provided by: Andrew Dubinsky
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
Q
Charitable Work
Business Begins in Ubon
Raja Gulati (the current Raja’s father)
moved to Ubon-Ratchatani Province
when he was only two years old
from India’s Punjab region, which
is now part of Pakistan. During the
1960s and the Vietnam War era, an
American Air Force base in UbonRatchatani Province provided a
steady stream of servicemen looking
for quality tailoring work.
Most American GIs went to an
established local Chinese tailor, but
that Chinese tailor did not speak
English, and increasing demand for
tailoring encouraged Raja to open his
own tailor shop in 1963. The shop
was originally called Raja’s “Wolf
Pack” tailor, taken from the nickname
for the U.S. Air Force’s 8th Tactical
Fighter Wing.
A Growing Business in
Bangkok
When the Vietnam War ended and
the U.S. Air Force left Udorn in
1975, some officers from Joint U.S.
Military Advisory Group (JUSMAG)
JUSMAG encouraged Raja to open
a store in Bangkok. Renamed ‘Raja’s
Fashions,’ the Gulati family catered
mostly to diplomats and expatriates,
particularly from the JUSMAG.
Raja’s (the second) son, Bobby, joined
the family business in 1984. Now,
Raja works with both his son and
14
family offers an experience that no
others can match. They strive to get
to know each one of their customers
and make them feel at ease. They
cater to clients from different cultures
and from different regions of the
world. They will not just make you
a suit; they promise a personal
relationship.
uality. Value. Service. These are
three qualities that the Gulati
family has promised customers
for almost 50 years. A member of the
Gulati family will greet every customer
entering their store with a cold towel
and a cold drink, a practice Raja
Gulati, Sr. implemented from the first
day he opened the business. Thailand
may have changed, but family patriarch
Raja Gulati guarantees that his family’s
shop will continue his father’s tradition
of providing personal service for each
patron.
Bobby Gulati preparing suit for Bubba Watson,
winner of The Masters golf championship in 2012.
daughter at their current location near
Sukhumvit Soi 8.
The Gulatis have seen some changes
in the tailoring business over the
years. Besides increasing fabric and
labor prices, the garment district
on Samphaeng Street has nearly
disappeared. Today the shop has
agents and importers that can procure
silks and other garments from Europe.
Manmade fibers used to be standard,
and suit jackets had four pockets.
“People used to dress like drivers,”
Bobby Gulati jokes, referring to the
number of pockets in the jackets.
“Nowadays, men are dressing in
more natural fibers like cotton and
wool.”
Charitable work has been a mainstay
of Raja’s Fashions. Raja and his son
Bobby have made a point to give
back to the Thai province that helped
their father/grandfather establish the
family business.
They began their philanthropic
endeavors eight years ago when
AMCHAM Thailand offered to match
the first Baht 500,000 the Gulatis
would donate. Although they thought
this amount of money would be
difficult to raise, the Gulatis were
able to raise it all in one day. Since
that day, they have never looked
back.
Funds collected at Raja’s Fashions’
annual golf tournament have helped
build and improve nine schools
in Ubon-Ratchatani Province. The
tradition will continue on January
23, 2013, when Raja’s Fashions
host their 21st Annual Charity Golf
Tournament.
Over the last few decades, the growth
and change in clientele has been
gradual. At first, new business derived
from word of mouth. In recent years
customers have become savvier, as
the Internet has allowed them to
become more knowledgeable about
clothing.
Today, Raja’s Fashions is known
throughout the world as a provider
of quality tailoring. They have been
featured in Esquire magazine, the
Washington Post and many other
publications. The shop recently
moved to a new location at 160/1
Sukhumvit between Soi 6 and Soi
8. They promise that they will make
you dress sharp, look sharp, and feel
sharp.
Customers now come to Bangkok
already knowing what they want and
what tailor they want to make their
clothing. This is where the Gulati
Andrew Dubinsky is a U.S. licensed
lawyer, and an occasional contributor
to T-AB magazine. He can be
contacted at: [email protected].
Raja’s Customers
An interview with Raja and Bobby Gulati,
Owners of Raja’s Fashions
How has your clientele changed
over the years?
but our focus always remains on
customers in the shop.
[Clientele] went from street talk
and telephone to Internet. Now we
get a more diverse clientele and
a more knowledgeable clientele.
The customer today is well aware
of trends and options. Before, the
customer depended upon us for
advice. But today, it is often the
customer is more aware of fashion
and their wants.
You’ve focused so much effort on
charity work. Why did you choose
Ubon-Ratchatani province?
Ubon province was where our
family first settled in Thailand,
and we wanted to give back to
the community that gave us an
opportunity. My grandfather came
to the area with nearly nothing.
Ubon gave him an opportunity to be
successful in business.
Your customers have an eye for
fashion now?
The younger generation is very
interested in looking good at
work. Europeans are more fashion
conscious than Americans; Americans
dress more conservatively.
Do you feel like your competition
has adapted as well as you have?
We are our biggest competitor.
Customers nowadays are more alert if
they’ve been to a different store and
are aware that they have many more
choices. At Raja’s we let customers
pick their fabrics and styles, but
we can help narrow down their
decisions based on their profession
and where they live because we
understand styles and weather
patterns all over the world. We
incessantly check the weather around
the world and keep up on fashion
from big companies like Hugo Boss
and Armani.
What has been your biggest
challenge in adapting to a changing
business climate?
It has been keeping up [Raja’s]
ideology. It has been keeping up our
business’s reputation. We focus so
much on remembering our clients
and knowing about their lives so
that they can have the best possible
And you chose to build schools in
the province?
Bobby and Raja Gulati, owners of Raja’s Fashions
experience and walk away with the
perfect clothes for their lifestyle.
Over time, as you continue
to grow, do you ever see your
business expanding into several
stores?
No. We only want one shop so
we can maintain our standards for
the customer’s experience. When
someone comes into our store, they
will always be greeted by a member
of our family. Our family will always
take care of the customer. How can
we continue to do that if we are
spread out all over Bangkok?
Has the Internet changed your
marketing approach?
The Internet has forced us to be
better. Now, the whole world knows
about you so you have to be perfect.
However, we will always remain a
bespoke tailor shop. We will always
serve our customers in person to
ensure the highest quality. My son
is learning international finance so
we can continue to serve our repeat
international customers better,
We felt that if you can build a school
you can help the most people. For
example, if a school stands for thirty
years, it may help educate 10,000
students.
“That’s Mike. He works with computers and lives in the Washington, DC, area. This is his third time here.”
I’m sitting in Raja’s Fashions with Bobby Gulati drinking a cold glass of water. Two walls are lined with
different patterns of fabrics. Tables in the middle of the room are covered with literally hundreds of different
fabric squares. The other two walls are covered in photographs of famous clients and letters from satisfied
clients from around the world. Bobby can tell some biographical fact about every customer in the room. A
little skeptical, I confirm each fact between questions about the business.
Do these schools make UbonRatchatani feel like it is still home?
Yes, absolutely. When we return to
Ubon, we still see old friends, 40
years on. We’ll see friends in the
same small shops that were once our
neighbors.
In all your time in business and
all the charity work that you have
done, have any success stories
stood out as particularly notable?
Raja’s donates clothing to different
places in need. We have donated to
an orphanage in Pattaya. One day
a man came in who was very quiet
and did not really want to tell us how
he heard about us. It turns out, he
was a child at that orphanage and
remembered the Raja’s label on some
donated clothes. When he grew up
and became successful, he wanted to
return the gift and came to Raja’s for
his clothing. You never know whose
life you’ll touch.
15
features
Banking for SMEs: Standard
Chartered Offers ‘Simplicity’
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
Article and accompanying interview questions provided by: Patrick Brown
S
tandard Chartered is now
offering ‘Simplicity’ banking
for Thailand’s Small and
Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs).
This program will attempt to service
the country’s large SME business
sector by offering a banking product
designed for small and medium sized
businesses.
their collateral. This is the highest limit
ratio ever to be launched in Thailand.
The program hopes to distinguish itself
by combining the bank’s personalized
consumer banking services with their
corporate banking incentives.
Is the title ‘Simplicity’
deserved?
Standard Chartered’s Consumer Banking
unit will operate the ‘Simplicity’
program.
“Like in many countries, SMEs in
Thailand contribute about 80% of
employment and are the backbone of
our (Thailand’s) economy. However,
this segment has always been
underserved and under-banked in
terms of working capital to support
their business expansion needs.” said
Mr. Ramky Subramanian, Standard
Chartered’s Head of Consumer Banking
in Thailand. The Simplicity program
will provide the capital and the proper
service SMEs require and deserve.
‘A Value Proposition’
To address capital needs, Standard
Chartered is offering a ‘5-times Trade
Working Capital’ program, where SMEs
can obtain a trade limit up to five times
Given that Thailand is a key trade
partner across the world, many SMEs are
involved in import and export. A high
loan limit can help offset the significant
fluctuations in an SME’s trade financing
requirements.
As with Standard Chartered’s consumer
banking, the Simplicity program will
offer service guarantees. For example,
customers are promised service within
eight minutes of entering or calling the
bank and the review of business loans
is guaranteed within days (e.g. the
‘Business Installment Loan 3-day’ and
‘Trade Working Capital Loan 5-day.’)
A Global Financial Network
Standard Chartered has 1,200 emerging
market branches, of which 900 are in
Asia, 200 are in the Middle East and the
remainder are in Africa. It has a presence
in nine ASEAN member countries,
with 115-120 branches in the region,
including 27 in Thailand.
The worldwide financial network
is meant to appeal to Thailand’s
importance as an emerging market and
export center in the ASEAN region.
From the corporate banking program,
Standard Chartered has taken their robust
internet banking platform and tailored
it to the needs of SMEs. ‘Straight2Bank,’
promises SMEs the ability to better manage their banking and trade transactions
in a simple and secure environment.
“We set an ambitious goal to be a
leading international bank for SME
business the next few years, doubling
our portfolio. Thailand is a key market to
support that goal,” said Christopher Dalo,
Standard Chartered’s global head of sales
management and customer offerings.
Relationship Manager
The Growth of SME Banking
Each SME entering the Simplicity
program will receive an industry specific
‘relationship manager.’
Standard Chartered expects SME
business growth of 10-12% per year over
the next several years in its key markets
in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
In theory, these managers will provide
an expertise that SMEs often lack due to
Like in many countries, SMEs in Thailand
contribute about 80% of employment . . .
However, this segment has always been
underserved and underbanked in terms of
working capital to support their business
expansion needs.” Ramky Subramanian, Standard
Chartered’s Head of Consumer Banking
16
capital restraints by liaising with product
specialists within Standard Chartered
and providing industry specific advice,
such as arranging refinancing loan
schemes from the Bank of Thailand or a
fixed guarantee from the Small Industry
Credit Guarantee Corporation.
SME Banking is a significant business for
Consumer Banks of Standard Chartered,
representing 20% of revenue. Last year,
SME income was up 14% year-on-year.
In Thailand’s hyper-competitive banking
market, a program that offers a long-term
relationship of growth, serves the customer
and Standard Chartered very well.
Patrick Brown is the Communications
Director at AMCHAM Thailand.
He can be contacted at:
[email protected].
An interview with Ramky Subramanian, Standard
Chartered’s Head of Consumer Banking in Thailand
Why did Standard Chartered launch the
‘Simplicity’ SME program in Thailand?
While many economic sectors are
experiencing a period of slow growth,
the SME segment is growing at twice the
rate of Thailand’s GDP growth. Yet, this
segment has been underserved. Standard
Chartered’s ‘Simplicity’ program has
been designed for SMEs. It has been a
big success in our other markets and we
hope it will succeed in Thailand.
Standard Chartered can help owners
manage both accounts. Each account
requires a particular money management
approach. They can’t be treated the same
and never, never should they be treated
as one pool of finances.
What defines the ‘Simplicity’ program?
It starts with customer service. The days
of the product push are gone. You need
to establish a personal relationship to win
the customer and to keep their business.
In consumer banking, Standard
Chartered guarantees service to the
customer within eight minutes. We
guarantee to service a credit card
application within 48 hours. Simplicity
will add these service guarantees, such
as processing loan applications within
three days. This is quick. And especially
important to SMEs, who are less
capitalized than large business.
This approach will protect the business
owner and the person who happens to
own a business.
How will the AEC 2015 integration
effect banking for SMEs?
Mr. Ramky Subramanian, Standard Chartered’s
Head of Consumer Banking in Thailand
of our corporate banking program into
Simplicity, primarily by offering SMEs
access to Priority Banking, which was
previously reserved for larger companies.
And access to these services will be
simplified and in many cases expedited
by our Relationship Managers. The
Relationship Managers are the key to
Standard Chartereds’ customer service
model. Managers are industry specific,
meaning they have an expertise in
certain industries and will be assigned to
the customers of that industry.
Priority Banking is designed to service an
organization’s capital needs completely.
For example, the program offers an
above market deposit interest rate of
1.75 percent; a 360 degree awards
program for credit cards and balances.
We also control costs for transaction
fees for internet banking and off-shore
foreign exchange.
The operation of SMEs is often a one-person process. This has its advantages, such
as a quicker decision making. But back-up
is sometimes lacking. The Relationship
Manger, someone who has been with the
customer since the opening of the account,
with an understanding of the business they
are in and of the company they are, can
support the decision maker by providing
needed expertise and reliable advice.
And there is access to Standard Chartereds
global network. Many of Thailand’s SMEs
are import/export focused. Standard
Chartered has the ability to serve a
customer’s needs in Hong Kong, the
Middle East, Singapore, Africa. We are a
global institution with a strong network
that is very beneficial to clients.
The Relationship Manager is a financial
consultant, but without extra costs or risks.
How does the Simplicity banking compare with your MNC banking program?
We have incorporated many elements
In what ways do the needs of Thai
SMEs differ from those of larger
corporations?
As I alluded to earlier, the owners
or lead officers of an SMEs are often
counted upon to solve all problems.
Many of these issues may not even be
business related, but may effect business.
SMEs are typically domestically
focused, but Thailand is an export
focused country and the AEC will only
reinforce this model by securing a
larger market.
For example, separating personal and
business finances are much more
important to running a successful SME
than a multi-national. There must be a
firm wall separating the two streams of
money (business and personal). When
an SME leader is unable to regulate the
two, business security and personal
security are at risk.
The benefits of a regional open
architecture can be seen by looking at
travel and tourism trends. Regionally, the
travel movement has gone up multifold
over the past decade.
If natural market forces are allowed
to play-out, with the free movement
of goods and services, Thai SMEs will
benefit. Standard Chartered is well
positioned to assist, due to our presence
across ASEAN and Asia.
How does the program benefit
Standard Chartered?
SMEs contribute over 40% of Thailand’s
GDP. This is a robust and a continuing
economic sector. Standard Chartered’s
Consumer Bank would like SME banking
to be 25% of our total consumer
banking revenue.
By definition, Standard Chartered is
a consumer bank. When you serve
SMEs you are serving a business and an
individual. And this is good for the bank
to have a source for both sides of the
balance sheet – deposits and loans.
17
reports
special updateS
How to Maximize Your
Brand on a Minimal Budget
Marketing tips for SMEs from Brand Now
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
Written by: Pacharee Pantoomano-Pfirsch
F
or many SMEs, marketing and public
relations take a backseat to administration and sales. But a big financial
investment is not needed to launch your
campaign. ‘Below the line’ tactics can be
just as effective as traditional marketing
approaches.
Take Richard Branson for example, he
regularly leverages personal publicity to
get his companies noticed.
published and ask how you can help
contribute to their publication. When
there are articles that pertain to your
area of expertise, you can send in a short
statement offering more information or
sharing a point of view. By doing so, the
editor and reporter will regard you as
a specialist and they will likely keep in
touch with you should they want more
expert advice on the subject.
Events and Exhibitions
If you’re looking for new and low-cost
ways to make your company shine, below
are some ideas on how to maximize your
brand on a minimal budget.
Media Relations
A cost effective way to reach your target
audience is via media relations. The way
to connect with the media is via press
conferences, media briefings, interviews,
press/photo releases and content
contributions to the media.
If it’s the first time you’re interfacing with
the media, your first step should be to
establish a relationship. One of the best
ways to do this is to become a credible
expert, a person the media can turn to
for answers.
To identify the media outlets you should
look at your target customer profile and
identify the media sources they regularly
use. This could range from online
e-magazines to printed publications.
Next, narrow your scope to the media
outlets that have the greatest reach.
Then, make friends with the editorial
team. Study the type of news being
Organizing a function and participating
in an exhibition is another great way to
connect and engage with your target
audience. You may choose to host an
event to launch your company, celebrate
an anniversary, stage a product demonstration, or simply hold a customer thank
you party. As part of the planning, you
and your team will want to set a goal that
you want to achieve by doing the event.
Setting a key performance indicator
(KPI) is a way of ensuring the investment
generates a return to the company. For
example, the customer thank you party
could be part of the plan to increase
customer satisfaction. A product
demonstration event should generate a
set number of leads for the sales team to
follow-up. The focus of most events is
creating an experience you’d like to give
your target audience from the moment
they encounter your team and try your
product or services.
Guy Kawasaki, a well-known venture
capitalist and former high profile Apple
marketer, touched on the subject in his
book Enchantment: The Art of Changing
Hearts, Minds, and Actions. Kawasaki
If it’s the first time you’re interfacing with the media,
your first step should be to establish a relationship.
One of the best ways to do this is to become a credible
expert who the media can turn to for answers.”
18
talks about the three pillars that enchant
customers, which are: (1) likability; (2)
trustworthiness; and (3) a great product
and service. Take these into consideration when planning an event.
Partnerships
Forming a marketing partnership is
another effective way to reach your
audience. The first step is identifying
a co-promotion partner. The ideal
partner would be a non-competing
company that targets the same market
and has a product or service which is a
complement to your own. They could
refer business to you and vice versa.
You could bundle special deals for your
target audience on seasonal offers.
Another type of partnership is a
marketing alliance that creates a halo
effect. Brand names are often judged by
the company they keep. Some famous
co-brandings are Intel/Microsoft, Ferrari/
Acer, and BMW/James Bond movies.
You and your partner(s) may also set-up
KPI to measure the effectiveness of
your collaboration. These KPIs could
range from measuring market share,
number of referrals generated, customer
conversion, and/or message recall.
With smaller budgets, SMEs have to be
more creative with their marketing and
PR budget. Below the line tactics could
be just as effective as above the line. A
shining example of this is the Gangnam
Style music video that’s gone viral. In
December 2012, it has garnered more
than one billion viewers on youtube.
com. That’s plenty of “oppa” for Psy the
singer!
Pacharee Pantoomano-Pfirsch is a
Marketing Consultant at Brand Now,
a boutique marketing and PR agency
helping clients to communicate their
brand. She can be contacted at:
[email protected]
Eric Kenso Ward, ISB Class of 1979
International School Bangkok
Bringing out the superhero in
each of us since 1951.
www.isb.ac.th
reports
special updateS
Business Travel Pivots To Asia
Written by: Welf J. Ebeling
Business travel spending, or BTS,
for any given country is inclusive of
all spending on business travel by
individuals traveling within the country
or originating in the country and going
to another country.
Current Travel Market
Since the turn of the millennium,
global spending on business travel
(BTS) has grown at an annual rate
of 4.5 percent. In 2011, world BTS
totaled U.S.$1.02 trillion.
Global business travel continues to be
dominated by traffic in Asia Pacific,
Western Europe and North America. In
2011 these three regions combined to
make up 89 percent of total spending
on business travel around the globe – a
combined total of U.S.$908 billion.
In the near future, developing markets
will account for much of BTS growth,
especially Asian markets. High fliers
like China and India will continue to
add mass to their total level of BTS,
while countries like Canada, Italy,
Japan and the U.S. will struggle to
maintain their current size.
624
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512
45
57
398
361
319
286
270
*A
Australia,
t li Bangladesh,
B
l d h China,
Chi
Hong
H
Kong,
K
India,
I di IIndonesia,
d
i JJapan, M
Malaysia,
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i New
N
Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand,
Vietnam
© 2012 GBTA Foundation. All rights reserved.
China: BTS leader by 2016
Over the past decade the Asia Pacific
region has become the largest business
travel region in the world, comprising
35 percent of global business travel.
Since 2000, business travel spending in
the Asia Pacific region has grown 7.5
percent annually, more than doubling
in size, reaching U.S.$361 billion in
2011. The lion’s share of the business
travel activity (almost two-thirds) in the
Asia Pacific region comes from China
and Japan.
China’s double digit growth rate over
the last decade has translated into
significant growth in business travel
spending. China’s BTS has grown from
U.S.$32 billion in 2000 to U.S.$173
Collectively, GBTA’s 6,000-plus members manage over $340
billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures
annually. GBTA provides its network of 17,000 business and
government travel and meetings managers, as well as travel
service providers, with networking events, news, education
and professional development, research, and advocacy.
20
243
182
164
144
142
137
203
3
Forecast
163
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
With its research sponsor, VISA Inc.,
the Global Business Travel Association
Foundation has been tracking global
business activities since 2009. The
result is a comprehensive study of
business travel spending that covers 75
countries over a 15 year period, and
includes a rolling five year projection
that currently extends to 2016.
Business Travel Spending and Forecast
Asia Pacific
USD (billions)
T
he Global Business Travel
Association (GBTA) is the world’s
premier business travel and
meetings organization.
2
billion in 2011; a compound annual
growth rate of 16.6 percent.
In 2006, China surpassed Japan to become the second largest business travel
market in the world and is set to take the
top spot from the U.S. as early as 2014.
Although China’s growth is expected to
slow due to a weaker economy, BTS is
still expected to grow as incomes rise
and domestic consumption fuels the
next wave of growth.
Current projections forecast China’s
average per annum growth at 16.1 percent, which would bring their BTS to an
estimated U.S.$365.8 billion by 2016.
Japan, which is still the world’s third largest business travel market, has struggled
with two decades of slow economic
growth that have eroded its share of the
market. Business travel spending is expected to advance only 2.4 percent annually, on average, over the next five years.
India’s Growth
In many ways, India’s growth rate is
comparable with that of China ten
years ago, which at that time had a
reports
special updateS
similar volume and developed at an
equal compounded annual growth rate.
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
India’s BTS growth rate has been
among the world’s greatest over the
past decade, doubling since 2006.
Despite significant economic and
political problems, India’s current
business travel spending of U.S.$20.8
billion will more than double to
U.S.$44 billion by 2016.
Agriculture provided the highest level
of business travel spending in India
in 2011, followed by transportation
services, construction, utilities and food
processing and services. Of all of these
sectors, BTS is projected to grow the
fastest in transportation services as India
continues to modernize its infrastructure.
The Asian Tigers
Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore
and Taiwan continue to increase their
relevancy as business travel spenders.
In aggregate, the Asian Tigers spent
U.S.$42 billion on business travel in
2011, which accounted for 11 percent
of BTS spending in the region.
We expect spending growth to remain
in the five percent to seven percent
range over the next five years, further
increasing BTS share.
Thailand’s Business Travel
Market
Thailand is an export-dependent
economy, with exports accounting for
more than two-thirds of its gross domestic product (GDP) and this is reflected
in the business travel spending development over the past ten years. From 2000
through 2005, Thai BTS only grew 2.6
percent on average annually. This was
largely caused by a 14 percent drop in
2002, which was the worst export year
for Thailand in the past decade.
As Thailand’s position as a regional
business hub started to grow, so did
BTS, nearly doubling between 2005
and 2011 and growing U.S.$3.3 billion
to U.S.$6.4 billion.
Based on current economic forecast,
Thailand’s BTS is expected to grow 9.4
percent annually and reach U.S.$9.5
billion by 2016.
The key industries that are driving
Thailand’s business travel spending
are: food processing and services;
22
Business traveler passing through Suvarnabhumi Airport
agriculture; rubber and plastics;
utilities; transportation services and
non-metallic mineral products. The
sectors that account for a much smaller
volume of spending, but show potential
for further BTS growth are: education;
real estate; social and personal
services; and transportation equipment.
Bottom-line Considerations
By 2016, annual business travel
spending in the Asia Pacific is expected
to reach U.S.$624 billion, accounting
for an astounding 43 percent of the
world’s BTS spending. It is therefore
fair to say that the role of the corporate
travel manager in the Asia Pacific
region will become a crucial position
that can significantly influence the
profitability of their company.
Despite this data, the role of the
corporate travel manager is still
undervalued or outright unknown.
Most local companies don’t even have
an in-house travel manager and leave
the negotiation of travel programs
to their secretaries or procurement
managers. Multinational companies
often have travel policy decided at their
global headquarters which in turn rely
heavily on the negotiations by their
local travel staff or employ the services
of a travel management company.
In June 2012, GBTA opened its
regional office for the Asia Pacific
region in Bangkok.
It is our mission to provide corporate
buyers in the region with the necessary
education, research data and networking
opportunities to control their company’s
travel costs in a more effective manner
and at the same time look after the
wellbeing of their corporate travelers.
We encourage all companies and
individuals to take advantage of our
knowledge and resources.
Welf J. Ebeling is the Regional Director
– Asia at the Global Business Travel
Association (GBTA). Mr. Ebeling can be
contacted at: [email protected].
reports
special updateS
New Labor Regulation Provides
Protections for Domestic Workers
Written by: Pimvimol (June) Vipamaneerut
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
T
he Minister of Labor has issued a
new Ministerial Regulation under
the Labor Protection Act, which
extends certain protections to domestic
workers (i.e. housemaids and nannies).
The Ministerial Regulation came into
force on November 9, 2012.
This article provides an overview of the
new regulation and guidance to employers of domestic workers in Thailand to
ensure that they are compliant with the
new regulation.
Holiday and weekly leave
A domestic worker is entitled to at least
one day per week as his or her weekly
holiday. The interval between each
weekly holiday must not exceed six days.
The law requires employers to inform
their domestic workers of the annual
holidays for the year, at the beginning
of the year. A housemaid is entitled to at
least 13 traditional holidays per year, one
of which must include National Labor
Day (May 1). Traditional holidays must be
fixed by the employer in accordance with
annual government holidays, and religious or local customary holidays. Should
a traditional holiday fall on a weekly
holiday, the succeeding working day must
be treated as a substitute holiday.
Annual Holidays
A domestic worker is entitled to annual
holidays of at least six working days
per year, after having worked continuously for one full year. These annual
holidays shall be fixed in advance by the
employer or fixed as agreed between
the employer and the housemaid. In
subsequent years, the employer may fix
annual holidays for a domestic worker,
of more than six working days. The employer and the housemaid may agree to
accumulate and/or postpone the annual
holidays, to be taken together with those
in a subsequent year. For a domestic
worker who has worked for less than
one full year, the employer may fix annual holidays, on a pro rata basis.
24
Sick Leave
A domestic worker is entitled to leave for
days as he or she is actually ill. However, the law provides only 30 days of
paid sick leave per year. If the housemaid takes sick leave for three or more
consecutive working days, the employer
may require the housemaid to produce a
medical certificate, issued by a first-class
licensed physician or a government
clinic. If the domestic worker cannot
produce such a medical certificate, the
domestic worker must provide an explanation to the employer.
Holiday Work and Holiday
Work Pay
An employer may not order a domestic
worker to work on a weekly holiday, traditional holiday, or annual holiday, without the domestic worker’s prior consent,
except where work is of a continuous or
urgent nature, or it is otherwise necessary.
When the employer asks the domestic worker to work on holidays, the
housemaid is entitled to holiday work
pay, which is equal to two times his or
her normal wage rate, for the number of
such hours worked.
Resignation and Payment
upon Resignation
When a domestic worker resigns, the
employer is obligated to pay:
• Wages and holiday work pay, if any
• Payment of wages for accumulated
annual holidays
Termination of Employment
and Payment upon Termination
When a domestic worker is terminated,
the employer is obligated to pay wages,
holiday work pay, and payment of wages
for accumulated annual holidays, within
three days from the date of termination
of employment. If the termination is for
cause for reasons specified in the law,
the employer is only required to pay for
accumulated annual holidays from past
years. If, however, the termination is without cause, the employer must also pay for
prorated annual holidays for the year in
which the housemaid is terminated.
Domestic Workers Who Are
Children
The law does not allow the employment
of housemaids under 15 years of age. In
addition, for employment of those who are
at least 15 years of age, but less than 18
years of age, an employer is not allowed
to demand any security deposit, nor is the
employer allowed to pay the wages of such
employee to any other person.
Penalties
Any employer who fails to meet the
above requirements may be subject to
fines up to Baht 100,000 and/or up to
six months in prison. In addition, in the
case of failure to pay wages and holiday
pay by the deadlines, the employer is
obligated to pay interest to the employee during the period of default, at
the rate of 15 percent per year. If the
employer intentionally refuses payment
without reasonable cause, then, at the
expiration of seven days from the due
date, the employer can be made to pay
an additional amount to the employee
at the rate of 15 percent of the amount
outstanding, for every seven-day period.
Applicability Regardless of
Nationality
Nearly all employees working in
Thailand, regardless of their nationality
or terms of employment, are protected
under Thai labor law. Thus, employers
of domestic workers from neighboring
countries and overseas must also comply
with these important requirements.
Pimvimol (June) Vipamaneerut is a
partner in the corporate and commercial
department at Tilleke & Gibbins,
a leading regional law firm with over
100 lawyers in Bangkok, Hanoi,
and Ho Chi Minh City. She can be contacted at: [email protected].
reports
special updateS
Examination of Myanmar’s
New Foreign Investment Law
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
Written by: Clive J. Cook and Dr. Saw Yu Win
M
yanmar’s long awaited new
Foreign Investment Law
(“FIL”) came into effect on
November 2nd with a number of
amendments suggested by President
Thein Sein being incorporated in the
version passed into law.
The FIL clarifies some issues for
investors and creates new incentives
for investment in Myanmar. Yet,
it also extends the powers and
remit of the Myanmar Investment
Commission (“MIC”), whose task
is to approve and oversee foreign
investment.
The FIL establishes the framework
under which investors in Myanmar
will operate for the foreseeable
future. Potential investors will
have to study carefully both new
broad-based categories of restricted
investments that could apply to
many businesses and extended
investor duties. Still, the FIL does
allow flexibility regarding the level
of participation by a foreign investor
in joint ventures and is significantly
more liberal than the 1988 Foreign
Investment Law with respect to the
lease of land.
Investors must also keep a close
eye on further developments. The
Ministry of National Planning and
Economic Development (“NPED”)
will issue relevant rules and
procedures within 90 days after the
FIL came into effect (late January
2013). Investors planning to make
an application to the MIC before the
new rules are issued will need to
consider carefully their approach.
The content of these rules and how
they are applied, together with the
list of businesses to which the Law
will apply, will largely determine
the extent to which the FIL truly
facilitates foreign investment in
Myanmar. In the meantime, existing
procedural rules remain in effect.
26
Scope of the FIL and Some
Key Issues
The FIL brings about a fundamental
change in permissible business
activity. Previously, unless a certain
business activity was specified under
the State Owned Economic Enterprises
Law, investors enjoyed the choice to
invest under the old FIL regime (and
so benefited from tax incentives and
concessions) or form a company or
branch outside the old FIL regime
without those benefits. In practice,
however, this latter choice was limited
to particular service industries. Now,
the MIC will mandate that the FIL
regime apply to certain businesses.
In addition, the FIL lays out broad
based categories of restricted
investment that are designed to
address various issues, such as
environmental conservation and
preservation of traditional customs and
culture.
The FIL appears to grant the NPED
authority to designate categories of
business that will be reserved for
investment by Myanmar entities or
citizens only, making these categories
restricted investments. However, the
FIL also allows the MIC to approve
foreign investment in all restricted
investment categories if the investment
is for the benefit of the nation and its
citizens.
How this will be interpreted, and
what additional requirements may
be imposed upon those attempting
to make restricted investments, will
only become clear as the FIL is
implemented.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Key benefits of FIL to investors
• All tax incentives under the old
FIL continue to be available, plus
a longer income tax holiday of
five years, with the possibility of
•
•
extension by the MIC if the business
is successful
An exemption or relief from
commercial tax on exported goods
Scope for the MIC to grant further
relief or exemptions for busineses
in remote areas or if the business
has, for example, created new
technology, acheived productivity
gains, or improved product quality
A grant of leasehold interests of
up to 50 years (possibly longer for
investments in remote areas) with
the potential to extend for two
further periods of 10 years each and
the abillity to mortgage leasehold
interests with the permission of the
MIC
The ability to transfer invested
capital and net profits in the
business at prevailing exchange
rates and hold foreign currency
accounts at designated Myanmar
banks
Flexibility for knowledge-based
businesses regarding the FIL
requirement that businesses
employ an increasing proportion of
Myanmar citizens over a six year
period (going from to 25% to 75%
in two-year intervals)
No equity requirement for the level
of investment by foreign investors
and flexibility so that even for
restricted investments, a business
may be 100% owned by a foreign
investor but where there is a joint
venture involving a restricted
investment, the MIC will establish
rules as to the ratio of foreign to
Myanmar holdings
Freedom to negotiate the
application of foreign law and
foreign arbitration to investments,
although this may not apply to
contracts for the sale and purchase
of goods and may be difficult in
practice to achieve
A wider choice of Myanmar
insurance providers, as investors
must take out prescribed insurance
Investors may now transfer
investments to foreign investors as
well as Myanmar entities/citizens
but only with the approval of the MIC
Other key issues
The MIC may establish minimum
capital investment requirements in
certain sectors and for restricted
investments. These must also be
approved by the local Parliament
where the investment is located.
Helpfully, the FIL lays down a
timescale for MIC response to an
investment proposal. Within 15 days
after “necessary scrutiny,” the MIC may
make a response to the investor, either
accepting or rejecting the proposal.
Thereafter, the FIL requires the MIC
to issue a permit within 90 days of
acceptance of an investment proposal.
The areas in which foreign investors
will be permitted to invest without
MIC approval, remain to be
determined. Notably, any increase in
investment or expansion of business
activities must be approved by the MIC
and investors may not realize all or
even part of their investments without
MIC approval. Thus, the FIL preserves
strict MIC control over entry and exit
for foreign investors and as the FIL
is implemented it may become clear
that the MIC has extended its control
over foreign investment in Myanmar.
Certainly the FIL grants the MIC
significant discretionary powers.
Conclusion
The FIL brings new benefits to
investors and clarifies the basic
investment regime. Yet it also
potentially increases the scope of
investment activities that are restricted
and enhances the authority of the MIC.
How effective the FIL will be in
practice depends largely on the
detailed rules expected to be published
by the NPED at the end of January and
how they are implemented.
Clive J. Cook is a Senior Consultant
and Dr. Saw Yu Win is a Senior
Myanmar Lawyer at the law firm Baker
& McKenzie. They can be contacted
at: [email protected],
[email protected] or at
+66 (0)2 636-2000.
The Myanmar government has a clear
policy of upskilling its workforce,
which is reflected in the FIL by
requirements to conduct employee
training to help acheive the Myanmarcitizen quotas mentioned above.
Additionally, foreign and Myanmar
employees of comparable skill levels
must be treated equally, which may
cause difficulties in recruiting skilled
foreign staff to work in Myanmar. The
FIL also introduces a requirement
for foreign staff in an MIC approved
venture to obtain a work permit in
addition to a stay permit.
The FIL gives the MIC extensive
powers to apply wide ranging
sanctions to those investors who
violate laws, regulations, or the
conditions of a permit, including the
power to “blacklist” such investors.
27
special updateS
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
reports
President Obama, with Secretary of State Clinton and Ambassador Kristie Kenney, left, meet with King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Bangkok. President Obama presented an
album containing photos of the King with U.S. Presidents and First Ladies dating back to President Eisenhower. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
On November 18, President Barack Obama made an official visit to Thailand as part of a tour of
several Southeast Asian countries. The President’s tour included stops in Cambodia and the first visit
of any U.S. President to Myanmar. In Thailand, the President met with His Majesty the King Bhumibol
Adulyadej and joined Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the government house in Bangkok for
an official reception. The AMCHAM Board of Governors were among a select group of 75 attendees
at the Royal Thai Government’s official dinner for President Obama.
President Barack Obama talks with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck
Shinawatra before departing the Government House in Bangkok,
Thailand. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
28
President Obama and Prime Minister Yingluck toast during dinner at the Government
House. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton looks on at right. (Official White
House Photo by Pete Souza)
180 Years of Partnership
Visits to Thailand by U.S. Heads of State in the
past include:
• Lyndon Johnson in 1966 and 1967
• Richard Nixon in 1969
• Bill Clinton in 1996
• George W. Bush in 2003 and 2008
President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton tour the
Wat Pho Royal Monastery with Chaokun Suthee Thammanuwat. (Official White
President Barack Obama greets the children of U.S. embassy staff during a
reception at the Chulalongkorn University Sports Center in Bangkok. (Official
White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra greet young performers during a dinner at the Government House in Bangkok. (Official White
President Obama’s visit is part of an overall effort
by the U.S. to renew its focus on the long history
of partnership and cooperation between the U.S.
and Thailand. The visit took place nearly 180
years after diplomatic relations between the two
countries first began as part of the 1833 Treaty of
Amity and Commerce.
29
reports
AMCHAM THAILAND CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
Public Charitable Organization Number 632 of the Notiﬁcation of the Ministry of Finance
The AMCHAM Thailand Charitable Foundation (ATCF) supports education in Thailand through its Adopt-a-School and Student Scholarship
Programs. Donations provide playgrounds, water tanks and ﬁltration systems, libraries, computers and capital repairs to schools in rural
Thailand and scholarships for needy Thai university students. Donations to the Foundation are deductible for Thailand tax purposes,
and we can facilitate U.S. tax deductions for U.S. citizens.
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
FedEx delivers Christmas gifts to Sithipayagorn School
On December 16, 2012, over 100 FedEx Express volunteers and Santa brought gifts and funds for a new playground to
Sithipayagorn School, Amphur Wang Noi, Ayudhaya. FedEx Express donated Baht 60,000—and received an AMCHAM
matching grant of Baht 60,000—to provide safe equipment for the school’s kindergarten playground. The FedEx
volunteers spent their afternoon engaging the students in activities and games. The visit concluded with Santa
distributing school bags and other school supplies to students.
Playground ribbon cutting. Pictured are (from left) a local official,
Gunyarat Muangsong (school headmistress), David Carden (FedEx
Express Managing Director), Judy Benn (AMCHAM Executive Director),
and Pirom Nunthawong (OBEC District Director).
Sithipayagorn School and the FedEx Express team
Ron Hensley Memorial Playground Dedication
On December 3, 2012, friends of the late Ron Hensley gathered at Wat Marnwichai Municapal School to dedicate the
Ron Hensley Memorial Playground. This playground was made possible by a Baht 259,156 contribution from individual
donations and an AMCHAM matching grant. The individuals donors were: Edward Corcoran, John Evans, Dennis Meseroll,
Chic Chicarelli, David Nardone, Nigel Oakins, Tom Payne, George Hooker, Joe Feinsten, Ken and Ann White, Vorapong
Vorasuntharosoth, Greg Corrigan, Gerald Kania, James Ferry, Herm Rowland Sr. and Herm Rowland Jr., Mike Bianco, Craig
Blacklock, Peter Fischback, Jim Schneider, Charles and Shannon Blocker, James Yarbrough and Paul Robere.
Panthip Hensley (center) officially opens
the playground.
30
From left: (standing) Paul Robere, Jim Yarborough, Charles Students enjoying the new playground
Chicarelli, Herm Rowland Jr., Joe Feinstein, Craig Blacklock;
(seated) Panthip Hensley, Sirima Munphet and David
Nardone, Mingkwan Evans, Mrs. and Mr. Peter Fischbach.
Alert Little Mole: ATCF Supports Disaster Risk
Reduction Education Book for Thai Children
O
The coloring book was created in
response to the devastating flood in
2011 and is designed to increase
awareness among young children of
the causes of natural disasters. The
book provides simple risk reduction
lessons.
The ATCF, Save the Children and The
United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) partnered to
create the book. Ten-thousand copies of
the book are being distributed to Thai
public schools across the country, notably
in provinces prone to recurring floods.
During the meeting ATCF briefed
the Honorable Sombat Suwanpitak,
Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry
of Education and other Ministry of
Education representatives about the
books distribution progress and the
ATCF’ other educational programs in
Thailand, such as the Adopt-A-School
program.
ATCF thanks the Ministry of Education
and the Corporate Supporters who
made the book possible: Chevron,
Bangkok Patana School Foundation,
Esso (Thailand), Mazars (Thailand),
New International School of Thailand,
Seagate Technology (Thailand), W.R.
Grace (Thailand) and Yum Restaurants
International (Thailand).
n November 19, the
AMCHAM Charitable
Foundation (ATCF) was
warmly received at the Ministry of
Education for the donation of 3,000
“Alert Little Mole” coloring books with
crayons.
Festive Holiday Eggnog Party Funds for Mercy Centre
AMCHAM celebrated the annual
Festive Holiday Eggnog Party on
December 6 (see pages 52-53)
and collected Baht 78,340 and
toys for donation to the Human
Development Foundation’s Mercy
Centre.
Since 2007, AMCHAM‘s holiday party
has raised Baht 400,030 for the Mercy
Centre.
AMCHAM presents a check for Baht 78,340 to Father Joe and Khun Paveena of the Mercy Centre.
The Mercy Centre was founded in
1972 by Father Joe Maier and Sister
Maria Chantavarodom to provide
education support for children
of poor neighborhoods. Today
the Centre is part of the Human
Development Foundation under the
Royal Patronage of HRH Princess
Srirasmi and provides education and
quality of life assistance to over 6,000
children and over 5,000 adults.
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special updates
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
reports
U.S. Ambassador Kenney (seated, center right) and AMCHAM President Joe Mannix (seated, center left) with representatives from the 34 companies who
received an AMCHAM Thailand CSR ACE Recognition.
AMCHAM Recognizes Top Corporate
Social Responsibility Programs
O
To qualify for an ACE recognition, a
firm’s CSR program must receive highmarks in four categories: (1) Attention to
business objectives and societal needs;
(2) Creation of long-term economic and
social gains; (3) Communication and
sharing of best practices; (4) Program
sustainability.
“Corporate Social Responsibility truly
reflects how American companies
set the ‘standard’ when it comes to
creation of long-term economic gain,
labor practices and support of local
communities,” remarked Ambassador
Kenney. “American companies bring
innovative products and services to
markets across the globe, yet never
overlook the importance of the
32
giving season, a holiday that celebrates
civility, cooperation and perseverance.
n November 21, AMCHAM
honored 34 member companies that carried-out exemplary
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
programs in 2012. The honorees were
presented with ACE recognitions, an appreciation presented by U.S. Ambassador
Kristie Kenney and AMCHAM President
Joe Mannix on behalf of the AMCHAM
Corporate Social Responsibility Excellence Recognition Program (ACE).
This year’s ACE recognitions were presented at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel,
Ballroom, where attendees enjoyed a
traditional Thanksgiving turkey feast.
Citibank representatives Darren Buckley and N.
Rajashekaran
See the following two pages for the 34
award recipients. Special designations
were given to firms that have received
the ACE award for three straight years
(Silver Award), firms with excellence in
creativity and innovation (U.S. Embassy
Creative Partnerships), and for Small and
Medium Sized Business (SMEs).
community in which they operate. We
are here today to applaud those efforts.”
AMCHAM President Joe Mannix
congratulated “our 34 member
companies whose principled business
and community practices benefited their
employees, business partners and the
people of Thailand. For the sixth year,
we honor those who have made positive
contributions to Thai society.”
Each year, AMCHAM honors their ACE
recipients during the American Thanks-
Ford Motor Company representatives Florina
Vistal (left) and Yukontorn Wisadkasin (right)
with U.S. Ambassador Kenney (center)
focusing on education, the environment,
and community well-being.
AIA Thailand
For over 75 years, AIA Thailand has been
closely identified with community work
benefitting children, youth, seniors, and
needy families. They emphasize education, health, sports, and a range of community needs.
Chevron Thailand Exploration &
Production
(Creative Partnership and Silver Award)
Chevron Thailand Exploration & Production’s CSR programs focus on 4 E’s:
Education, Economic Development, Environment & Energy Conservation, and
Employee engagement. The company
sponsors petroleum engineering and geosciences education to benefit Thailand’s
petroleum industry.
Citibank
(Silver Award)
In 2012, Citibank commemorated its
200th anniversary through ten community
service events in “Citi Global Community
Day.” Citi encourages employees, their
families and friends to actively leverage
their professional skills and experience
by volunteering their time to develop the
communities where they live and work.
Coca-Cola
Coca has partnered with Namthip Bottling to deliver a new-eco crush bottle that
helps consumers to directly participate in
the green movement every day and “Live
Positively.”
Dow Chemical
In Thailand, Dow’s ‘Community Success
Program’ has contributed to the society in
general and specific and communities, by
Esso
(Silver Award)
Esso’s CSR programs support local economies and communities, while improving
the local business environment. The company’s employees volunteer to teach English, build homes and support toy libraries
at rural schools.
FedEx
(Creative Partnership)
Fed Ex is committed to supporting the local communities they serve through strategic investment in four core areas: Education; Emergency and Disaster Relief;
Child Pedestrian Safety; and Environmental Sustainability.
Ford Motor Company
Ford’s ‘Driving Skills for Life’ program is
helping to address the serious issue of
road safety and fuel efficient driving in
Thailand. Since 2008, more than 6,000
licensed drivers have participated.
Foster Wheeler
Foster Wheeler’s overall CSR theme is
“Partnering for Life.” Its employees provide mentoring on safety awareness and
on improving the quality of life in rural
communities through sustainable development.
Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok
(Silver Award)
Four Seasons is committed to conserving
natural resources and supporting communities where it operates. Four Seasons has
organized the Cancer Care Fun Run for
General Motors and Chevrolet Sales
GM and Chevrolet Sales Thailand’s CSR
program focuses on four areas: Education;
Health and Human Services; the Environment and Energy; and Community Development. We build automotive technology
labs for vocational institutions around
Thailand.
GIaxoSmithKline
(Silver Award)
GSK’s global “Access to Medicines”
initiative reflects their belief that all
people, including the underprivileged, should have equal access to
quality medicines and healthcare services appropriate to their needs.
Google (Thailand)
During the 2011 flood and the 2012 recovery efforts, Google partnered with
several organizations to offer a seminar
series on how NGOs can use Google’s
platform for communications, organization, and information sharing.
Central Food Retail Company
Central Food’s “Go Green” incentives promotes the use of reusable bags; the company’s “Happy Farmer” program teaches
modern business techniques; proceeds from
“Joy Wine” benefit children in 30 slum communities through Father Joe’s Mercy Center.
DuPont Thailand
DuPont has a ‘Sustainable Community
Development Program’ in Rayong province to enhance the quality of life of Map
Ta Phut and Ban Chang communities in a
sustainable way.
17 years, which raises funds for cancer
research at Chulalongkorn Hospital under
the Thai Red Cross.
Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok
Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok’s “Elephants of Hope” program raises money
selling elephant dolls and key chains to
hotel guests and employees, with the
proceeds donated to Bangkruay Kindergarten School to rebuild and refurbish
school facilities.
Hanesbrands Inc.
Hanesbrands believes that doing the right
thing is the basis for a successful business. In Thailand, employees conduct
home visits for the elderly, support school
renovations and participate in reforestation programs.
33
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special updateS
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
Hemaraj Land And Development
Public Company Limited
(Silver Award)
Hemaraj is committed to contributing to
the development of communities near
their industrial estates in Rayong, Chonburi and Saraburi provinces.
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited
HSBC’s CSR strategy focuses on
education and environment. Their ‘Green
Library’ is an energy efficient public
library that serves as a knowledge center
and educational model.
McThai Co., Ltd.
McThai’s CSR program includes:
• Good Food – offering nutritional
choices;
• Good People – providing a caring
work environment;, and
• Good Neighbor – promoting
environmentally efficient
restaurants and supply chains.
Microsoft (Thailand) Limited
Microsoft Thailand’s CSR them is: “We
Make 70 Million Lives Better.” Its signature program is the ‘Building Employability Through Technology and Entrepreneurship Resources,’ or BETTER, which
has built the capacities of over 35,000
workers and entrepreneurs through training on ICT, skills development and entrepreneurship.
Minor International Public co., Ltd.
Minor’s CSR theme is: “Unlock
Impossibility.” Their CSR projects focus
on “People Development,” including
Minor Corporate University and Minor
Sustainable Leadership program. Minor’s
Creative Partnership Program includes
initiatives with business partners,
communities, government and media.
34
MSD (Thailand) Ltd.
MSD is driving interest and knowledge in
science through the MSD ‘In-Step’ program. INSTEP has built the capacities of
over 150 teachers and rolled out inquirybased science curriculum to over 10,000
secondary school students in Phang-nga
province. Based on this success, the Ministry of Education has rolled out the model to seven additional provinces.
Santa Fe Relocation Services
(Silver Award)
Santa Fe’s CSR Theme is: “Respect Everyone, Care for the Environment and
Support Local Communities.” Santa Fe
donates unwanted furniture, clothing,
and toys. And for each relocation service, Santa Fe donates US$10 to Cancer
Research.
Philip Morris
(Silver Award)
In 2012, Philip Morris launched the ‘Farming For Life’ charitable program which focuses on supporting the educational needs
of tobacco farming communities with
scholarships and educational materials.
SAS Software
(Silver Award)
SAS Software is committed to delivering
online curriculum resources to increase
student learning and teacher effectiveness at no cost. They aim to continually
provide ‘The Power to Know’ to Thai
society.
Prem Tinsulanonda International School
(SME)
PTIS employees and students aim to act as
compassionate, knowledgeable and principled global citizens. They work with community members to construct classrooms,
create safe spaces for children to play, and
build capacity for speaking English.
Procter & Gamble Trading
P&G’s ‘Live, Learn, and Thrive’ program
focuses on helping needy children. P&G
programs help children’s health, education,
and life skills through external partnerships.
Project Solutions International
(SME)
PSI employees provide quality services
resulting in client and community relationships that carry over from one project
to the next.
PTT Global Chemical
PTT Global Chemical’s overall CSR
Theme is: ‘Shaping Social Sustainability.’
It’s signature Project is preserving the biodiversity at Huai Ma Haat Mountain in
Rayong. PTT is also launching Thailand’s
first Phyto-chemistry learning center.
Seagate Technology
Seagate’s CSR Theme is “Capacity to
Care”. Key Projects include:
• Science and Technology Camp
• Disaster Risk Reduction Training
• The Save our Sea project; and
• School renovation by the Seagate
Volunteer club
Standard Chartered Bank
Standard Chartered’s ‘Sustainability’ program supports their ‘Here for Good’ promise. It addresses pressing issues in the communities in which their Bank operates.
Tour de Asia
(Creative Partnership and SME)
Tour de Asia operates charity bicycle
rides, in as much of a sustainable and environmentally friendly way as possible, in
support Operation Smile Thailand.
Yum Restaurants International
Yum believes that everyone has the potential to make a difference. The company places great emphasis on employee
coaching programs and growing the capabilities of every Yum associate.
AMCHAM 2012 Committee/
Chapter/Council Reports
O
n December 4, 2012,
AMCHAM’s committees,
chapters and council
leaders, the Board of Governors, and
the AMCHAM staff met at the Four
Seasons Hotel to hear year-end reports
from each committee and share
ideas on best practices for committee
leadership in 2013.
Below are the 2012 reports from each
committee, chapters and council.
Auto Council
Council Leaders: Matt Bradley,
Ford Motor Company; Antonio Zara,
General Motors; David Nardone,
Hemaraj Land And Development;
Thomas Chambers, Continental; Philip
Cook, Thai Summit Harness
Mission: Provide a forum for
discussion and development of
“one voice” positions on key issues
affecting the auto industry and to
advocate and advance strategic issues
with key policy makers and relevant
government agencies.
Accomplishments: The Council
identified three priority strategic
issues (enumerated hereunder) for
advocacy in 2012. The Policy, Labor
and Infrastructure Working Groups,
with guidance and support from
the Council Leaders, proceeded
to formulate its position points
and sustained engagement with
appropriate government agencies to
move forward the Council advocacy.
1) Restructuring of the automotive
excise tax structure to a simple,
transparent and technology neutral
system: The Council issued a
position letter to the Ministry of
Finance and Ministry of Industry
supporting the re-structuring of
2012 AMCHAM Leadership
the auto excise tax structure to a
simple, transparent, technology
neutral and based on CO2
emission. The letter puts forward
specific recommendations related
to this proposed system.
2) Building the supply of skilled labor:
The Council, through the Labor
Working Group, regularly attends
government meetings related to the
formulation by government of the
Skills Development Strategy. The
Council issued to the Chairman of
the Sub-Committee Labor Strategy
of the Ministry of Labor a letter
with recommendations to each
of the five strategies outlined,
including advice to focus on entry
level (unskilled) labor shortage,
which is an immediate and urgent
industry issue.
3) Expansion of critical road networks
in the Eastern Seaboard area:
Priority road networks have been
identified, with a regular monitor
35
reports
special updateS
of their status in connection to
project phase, budget approval,
construction timeline and
approving government entities.
Follow-ups are made both at the
local and national government
levels.
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
The Council’s major challenge in
2012 was that the frequent changes
in government officials require a reintroduction of Auto Council members
and issues.
Business Economics
Committee Leaders: Teera Phutrakul,
JTFP; Peggy Creveling, Creveling &
Creveling; Ken White, Pacific Siam
Strategic Consulting
Board Liaison: Pornlert Lattanan,
General Electric
Mission: Provide Committee
members with an opportunity to
meet with government and industry
sector leaders in an interactive
communications environment. The
Committee’s monthly speakers focus
on issues related to government
economic and investment policies,
analysis of macro-economic trends,
and review of developments in key
industrial and services sectors.
Accomplishments: The Committee
held 10 monthly morning meetings
in 2012, focusing on topics including
economic policies and investment
outlooks for capital and financial
markets. Topics included:
• The impact of last year’s floods on
the insurance sector;
• Readiness of Thai businesses for
the upcoming Asian Economic
Community (AEC) in 2015;
• Outlook for the Stock Exchange of
Thailand (SET);
• Updates on personal income tax ;
• Real estate outlook for 2012 and
beyond;
• An overview of foreign banks in
Thailand;
• The U.S. Embassy’s Political
Counselor provided an overview of
the Embassy’s work with the Royal
Thai Government.
The Committees annual State of the
Economy seminar was held in May
with Khun Wiwan Tharahirunchote,
Head of Kasikorn Research Institute
36
and Khun Suranand Vejjajiva,
Secretary General to the Prime
Minister as speakers.
Charitable Foundation
Committee Leaders: Jonathan Fryer,
Mazars; Lasia Casil, Knight Frank
Board Liaison: Jan Van Ekeren, Bank
of Ayudhya
Mission: Support education initiatives
in Thailand and contribute to the
improvement of Thailand’s social
infrastructure via charitable and civic
projects.
The Committee facilitates the
AMCHAM Thailand Charitable
Foundation (ATCF), which provides
an effective vehicle for AMCHAM
members to act on their corporate
social responsibility (CSR) objectives
and to enhance the local settings in
which they operate. The Committee
supports the three main programs of
ATCF: Student Scholarships; Adopt-aSchool; and Teacher Fellowships.
Accomplishments: In 2012, the
Committee, with assistance from many
AMCHAM Committees, AMCHAM
members, sponsors, and many, many
other volunteers, raised over Baht
seven million for the ATCF. Many
thanks to all donors!
The Committee, with the assistance of
the Student Scholarship Subcommittee
and Khun Sheree, used these sums in
2012 to achieve the following:
• Award 150 university scholarships
to needy and qualified Thai
students at 22 institutions of
higher education throughout the
country;
• Matched Baht one million in Adopta-School donations earmarked for
flooded schools;
• Completed 11 Adopt-a-School
projects;
• Administer 21 ongoing Adopt-aSchool projects;
• Provided 17 teachers to
understaffed primary schools; and
• Published 10,000 colouring
books in a joint program between
AMCHAM, USAID and Save the
Children, as part of a disaster risk
reduction education program
for young children focusing on
flooding.
One of the highlights of the year was
the FedEx Career Camp. Fifty-three
final year scholarship students came
together in Bangkok for a three day
program to prepare the students for
their future careers. The feedback
from the students and everyone
involved in the Career Camp was
once again extremely positive.
Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR)
Committee Leaders: Richard
Bernhard, Kenan Institute Asia; Alex
Mavro, Sasin
Board Liaison: David Lyman, Tilleke
& Gibbins
Mission: Serve as rallying point
and resource center for AMCHAM
members who are either developing or
improving their CSR strategies.
Accomplishments: The AMCHAM
CSR Excellence Recognition: The sixth
annual AMCHAM CSR Excellence
(ACE) Recognition program has
become one of AMHCAM”s signature
annual events.
ACE recognition helps to identify
AMCHAM member best practices
by understanding the linkages
between business operations and
society so as to conduct business
in a way that creates both longterm economic and social value.
This year, ACE included the first
Silver level recognition for 14 firms
exhibiting excellence in CSR over
a three year period and a creative
partnership designation was initiated
in partnership with the U.S. Embassy
to recognize 14 firms with innovative
and creative business practices in
the spirit of the Thai – U.S. Creative
Partnership. Finally, an SME category
was added in order to increase
participation by AMCHAM SME
members.
This year, we set records for number
of applicants (51), number of
firms commended for their CSR
excellence (34), and number of
participants to join the annual
AMCHAM Thanksgiving Day
recognition lunch.
Also, the Committee shared best
practices of members and from
industry experts.
Customs & Excise
Committee Leaders: David Carden,
FedEx; Kittipong Jangkamonlkulchai,
Bryan Cave; Paul Sumner,
PricewaterhouseCoopers; Florina
Vistal, Ford Motor Company
continued to hold well attended
monthly meetings. Major
achievements in 2012 include:
• Influencing the passage of the draft
Customs Act: After nine years of
discussions, with significant time
investment by the Committee
members, two draft laws that were
forwarded to Cabinet, passed
by Cabinet and forwarded to
Parliament, were not acted on
and were sent back to Customs
for further study. The Penalty
amendments and The Rewards
reforms have been agreed on
by multiple stakeholders, but
not endorsed by key decision
makers in the Thai government.
The Committee has requested the
new government to fast track the
changes, and the Finance Minister
has indicated that this reform is
important to the new government.
• Expanding Advocacy: Successfully
reached out to other Chambers
and welcomed their attendance at
meetings. Also engaged with the
Board of Trade, the Thai Federation
of Industries, the Thai Chamber
of Commerce, The Thai Trade
Representative Office, the U.S.
Embassy, the U.S.-ASEAN Business
Council and the European ASEAN
Business Centre.
• Engaging other authorities: The
Committee continued to engage
with the Excise Department, who
are reconsidering the draft Excise
Act after strong representations
were made by AMCHAM and
others on the impact of the new
law. The Committee worked with
Eastern Seaboard
Committee Leaders: Ramesh
Ramanathan, Visteon; David Nardone,
Hemaraj Land And Development
Mission: Provide a visible AMCHAM
presence in the Eastern Seaboard,
which is the home location for
members in the fields of automotive
and manufacturing and other
industries.
The Committee also advocates
on issues impacting AMCAM
members, such as infrastructure,
labor, transportation and logistics,
government policy, automotive policy.
Accomplishments: The Eastern
Seaboard Committee was formed
in 2012 to provide services
formally provided by the disbanded
Manufacturing Committee. In 2012,
these services to AMCHAM members
included:
• Joining with the British and
Australian Chambers to hold
monthly networking evenings,
with rotating Chambers hosting.
The events attracted between 80 to
140 paying attendees, who were
business focused.
• Attracting people from Bangkok
to Eastern Seaboard events each
quarter by providing special
activities prior to networking
events. These activities included:
- Visit and tour of Dow Chemical
Map Ta Phut plant
- Visit and tour of Gheco One 660
MW coal power plant in Map Ta
Phut
- Tour of new Ford manufacturing
plant in Eastern Seaboard
Energy & Environment
Committee Leaders: Mongkolnimit
Auacherdkul, Esso (Thailand); Pairoj
Kaweeyanun, Chevron Thailand E&P
Board Liaison: John Atanas, Esso
(Thailand)
Mission: Provide a forum for
AMCHAM member companies to
discuss current issues related to the
energy business in Thailand, and
actively advocate for energy related
policies/ laws/ regulations that increase
competitiveness and promote free
market concept for the energy sector.
The Committee also strives to build
capability among energy member
companies while promoting good
partnership across all Committees.
first came together to develop an
advocacy strategy/plan on the increase
of strategic petroleum reserves to
industry as proposed by the Ministry
of Energy. The Committee continued
to work with other Committees
(Manufacturing, Food & Agriculture,
Business Economics and etc.) to
organize monthly sessions to meet
key objectives, which included
joining with the Business Economics
Committee to organize the 2012
Outlook of Thai Economy presented by
the Bank of Thailand.
Other highlights included:
• Update Power Development Plan
(PDP) by the Electricity Generating
Authority of Thailand (EGAT).
• Organized, with the Eastern
Seaboard Committee, a tour of the
Dow’s world class facilities with
state of the art technology and
clean coal fire power plant.
• With the Transportation and
Logistics Committee and OSAC, the
Committee organized the Maritime
Security Issues in Asia OSAC.
• With the Food and Agriculture and
Business Economics Committees
hosted a discussion on AEC 2015…
Threats or Opportunities.
• The Committee wrapped up the
year with the Outlook of Energy…a
view to 2040, delivered by a
representative from ExxonMobil.
Board Liaison: Vorapong
Vorasuntharosoth, Dow Chemical
Mission: Build a long term,
constructive dialogue with the
Customs and Excise Departments
in order to effectively communicate
AMCHAM members’ customs and
excise priorities; advocated for
practical and transparent customs and
excise laws and regulations.
AMCHAM Auto Council members
on a common position relating to
customs and excise tax reform.
Food & Agri-Business
Committee Leaders: Nathan
Christoff, Litehouse; George Fuller,
Asia Food Solutions; Alan Adcock,
Tilleke & Gibbins
Board Liaison: Dee Richmond,
Agrisource
Mission: Represent the interests of
AMCHAM member organizations
in the areas of food, agriculture and
agri-business. The Committee also
promotes dialogue between the
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reports
special updateS
American food, agriculture and agribusiness community, Thai public and
private sector decision makers and the
Royal Thai Government.
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held the following events to
accomplish its above listed mission:
• Food Security: briefings on the
subject of Thai agricultural policies
and Nathan Inc.’s project to assess
agricultural productivity and trade
in ASEAN for USAID.
• Thai Food laws: a briefing on the
recent and ongoing changes in the
Thai Food Law.
• Food Production and Safety: a
briefing on international and private
food standards, safety and auditing
procedures.
• Marketing and Trade: a briefing
on brand building in Thailand;
a presentation on investment
opportunities in the agricultural
sector in Myanmar; a briefing
on Thailand’s various trade
agreements.
• A joint meeting with the Energy
and the Business and Economics
Committees on threats and
opportunities posed by the ASEAN
Economic Community.
Greater Phuket Chapter
Chapter Leaders: Bill Barnett, C9
Hotelworks; John Magee, The Phuket
Gazette
Board Liaison: Mike Diamente
Mission: Be a leading advocate for
business on Phuket Island and add
value to AMCHAM by providing a
series of high profile events, which
provide quality content, networking
opportunities and media coverage.
Accomplishments: The Chapter
participated in six significant events in
2012: (1) co-organizer of the inaugural
Thailand Tourism Forum 2012 in
Bangkok; (2) Phuket Design Evolution
Workshop; (3) Sports Tourism and
Destination Marketing Event with Phuket
PR Network; (4) Best Green Tourism
Practices Seminar: (5) Culture and
Heritage Event with Phuket PR Network;
(6) Doing Business in Thailand Legal
Forum with AMCHAM Legal Committee.
In 2012, the Committee partnered with
internal and external organizations
38
in order to reach a wider audience.
This includes AMCHAM’s Travel and
Tourism and Legal Committee’s,
Phuket’s PR Network and the CSR
Group, SEEK.
Healthcare
Committee Leaders: Paul Russell,
Tilleke & Gibbins; Kenneth Mays,
Bumrungrad Hospital; Dr. Thavirap
Tantiwongse, GlaxoSmithKline; Kittima
Sriwatanakul, MSD
General Electric
Mission: Help AMCHAM members to
succeed in Thailand’s healthcare sector
and support collaboration between
U.S. and Thai firms with an interest in
healthcare issues.
held three successful symposiums
on issues relevant to the healthcare
sector, drawing good audiences who
engaged in lively discussions with the
symposium speakers.
The key lessons from these events
were as follows:
• Panel discussions are an effective
way of engaging audiences.
However, preparation and rehearsal
with panelists are essential to ensure
coherent and useful discussion.
• Joint symposiums with other
Committees are an effective way
of developing useful discussion
topics and bringing together good
audiences.
Human Resources
Committee Leaders: Tom Payne,
Assessment Associates InternationalAsia; Katherine Aphaivongs, Cigna
Global Health Benefits
Activities include: informing HR
departments regarding new trends
in human resource management;
compilation, analysis and reporting
of the AMCHAM Compensation
& Benefits survey; conducting the
AMCHAM C&B annual report to
assist members with budgeting and
business planning; partnering with
the legal committee to do an annual
labor environment update; every other
year, we schedule an HR Trade Fair to
introduce leading edge products to the
HR community. This one day event is
typically scheduled in May.
provided two of three signature annual
events in 2012. The Annual Labor Environment Update, co-hosted with the
Legal Committee, attracted 56 attendees. The Annual Compensation and
Benefits survey report was modified to
attract more participation, and name
changed to Compensation Change
Intentions Survey. The event attracted
97 attendees. Unfortunately, the HR
Vendor Fair was cancelled in 2012.
In addition to the major events, the
Committee held six meetings, with
local and international guest speakers
and co-hosted events with both the
SME and the Healthcare Committees.
Events about employee wellness and
engagement were favorites and we
anticipate having these presented
again in 2013.
Information & Communications
Technology (ICT)
Committee Leaders: David Aldridge,
Freewill Solutions; Carl Rubin, Thai-Fi
Board Liaison: Jeff Nygaard, Seagate
Technologies
Board Liaison: Jeff Nygaard, Seagate
Technologies
Mission: Address issues of
infrastructure, legislation, intellectual
property rights, business climate
and human resources related
to information technology and
telecommunications in Thailand.
Mission: Provide analysis and updates
on HR trends, labor and employee
relations, compensation and benefits
for Chamber members. The Committee
promotes understanding of labor
practices and policies and acts as a
forum for transferring information
between member firms and the Thai
and the U.S. Governments.
Accomplishments:
• Programs: The Committee hosted or
co-hosted six programs covering a
wide range of topics ranging from
updates in the telecoms industry
to presentations from global ICT
industry leaders.
• Education: Provided an article to
T-AB Magazine’s November issue,
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39
reports
special updateS
entitled “The Hidden Value of the
3G Auction.”
• Advocacy: Addressed Thailand’s
ICT sector competitiveness foreign
dominance regulations in the
telecommunications sector.
Independence Day picnic
Committee Leader: Tom Whitcraft,
RMA Asia
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
Board Liaison: Douglas de Weese,
Vektor GPS
Mission:
1) Provide a day of family
entertainment celebrating the
American 4th of July holiday.
2) Raise money for the AMCHAM
Charitable Foundation (ATCF).
Accomplishments: On July 7,
2012, the annual Independence
Day (I-Day) party was held at KIS
International School. More than 2,000
people attended the event and more
than Baht 700,000 was raised for
AMCHAM charities. Both attendance
and revenues were up 10% from the
previous year.
I-Day 2012 included many highlights,
which included:
• Six bands covering a wide range of
American music;
• Eight vendors offering American
and international cuisine and
beverages;
• The Big Chili Cook-off, with 20
contestants;
• AMCHAM company members
provided a range of entertainment
and educational activities for
children;
• Six months of planning from 20+
volunteer committee members and
70+ volunteers on the day of the
event; and
• A speech from U.S. Ambassador
Kristie Kenney.
Lao Chapter
Committee Leaders: Chris Manley,
RMA Lao; Hetal Patal, Emerging
Markets Consulting; Rick Reece,
Village Focus International; Mark
Jerome, KPMG
General Electric
40
Mission: Conduct activities that
facilitate the investment and growth of
U.S. businesses in the Lao PDR, thus
contributing to the overall development
of local communities and Lao PDR.
To accomplish the above mission,
the Lao Chapter will carry-out the
following activities:
1) Represent existing U.S. business
interests in Laos;
2) Promote and support new direct
U.S. investment in Laos;
3) Provide opportunities for U.S. businesses/organizations to network
and do business with other companies in Laos and in the region;
4) Work closely with other chambers-particularly the Lao National
Chamber of Commerce--and the
Lao Government to grow U.S.
investment in Laos;
5) Liaise with the U.S. Embassy to
help Chapter members better
understand U.S. government policy
and initiatives in Laos; and
6) And last, but not least, give back to
the Lao communities in which we
live.
Accomplishments: The Lao Chapter of
the American Chamber of Commerce in
Thailand was officially approved by the
Lao Government on July 25, 2012. With
approval of the Lao Government and
the Board of Governors of AMCHAM
Thailand we officially launched the
AMCHAM Lao Chapter on September
19, 2012, with 20 founding members.
AMCHAM Lao organized several
member activities in 2012, including:
two speaker events; networking
events with other foreign chambers;
and, a breakfast meeting with U.S.
Ambassador to Laos, Karen Stewart.
Legal
Committee Leaders: Doug Mancill,
PriceSanond; John Fotiadis, Atherton
Company; Christopher Knight, Everett
Knight; Michael Ramirez, Tilleke &
Gibbins
Board Liaison: David Lymann, Tilleke
& Gibbins
Mission: Provide an effective forum
to discuss legal and law-related
policy matters related to doing
business in Thailand as well as U.S.
and international legal developments
affecting U.S. companies and
individuals residing in Thailand. The
Committee is also active in advocacy
work on behalf of the American
business community in Thailand.
Accomplishments: The Legal
Committee was very active in 2012,
activities included: addressed the
fundamentals that U.S. businesses should
consider in their Myanmar strategies;
held sessions on the fundamental “top
10 legal issues” businesspersons need
to consider when doing business in
Thailand; looked at the use of computer
forensics in Thai legal matters, and the
difficulties associated with the use of
“private” criminal proceedings to settle
what would typically be considered
a civil matter. The Committee also
addressed U.S. and international law
issues relevant to individuals and
corporations conducting business in
Thailand that included a session on the
AEC and the TPP.
In keeping with our goal of working
with our Committees and Chapters, we
held our annual labor law round-up
with the HR and SME Committees and
the Phuket Chapter.
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) is a
critical issue for members and falls
under the Legal Committee. In 2012,
the Committee served the Chamber in
three IPR areas: 1) provided information to AMCHAM members on important IPR developments; 2) IPR advocacy with the Thai Government, and
3) IPR advocacy with the U.S. Government. The Committee addressed
these issues by the following methods:
participating in joint Committee meetings; organizing a roundtable discussion between AMCHAM members
and Thailand’s Director General of
the Intellectual Property Department;
briefing visiting U.S. officials throughout the year on IPR issues.
We also have been involved in
advocacy work in trying to reduce the
red tape surrounding routine company
formation in Thailand and generally
making Thailand a more attractive
investment destination.
In the future, the Committee will
increase advocacy work that focuses
on laws which affect the business
environment in Thailand, particularly
by emphasizing the role of the Rule
of Law in making Thailand a more
attractive investment destination. We
intend to focus on panel discussions
rather than having solo speakers. To the
extent practical, we want to continue
the trend of having expert speakers
resident outside of Thailand speak at
committee sessions about international
and U.S. law developments relevant to
businesses in Thailand, such as ASEAN
and the TPP. We also want to continue
to reach out to other committees about
joint programs.
Committee Leaders: Ken Lambert,
Xulu Group Marketing & Management;
Abhijeet Ray, Lebua Hotels & Resorts;
Jeremy Hine, Lowe
Board Liaison: Milind Pant, YUM
Restaurant International
Mission: The Marketing Committee
provides the AMCHAM community
with a series of presentations
highlighting many aspects of
contemporary integrated marketing
practices. Speakers are carefully
chosen to add value and provide
practical advice on real world of
marketing in Thailand.
Committee organized eight events that
attracted over 500 attendees.
Professional Women
Committee Leaders: Jane
Puranananda, Dej-Udom & Associates;
Karen Hochhauser, APM Group
Agrisource
Mission: Provide an opportunity for
career women to meet and discuss
the special challenges and issues that
affect their work and lifestyle. Meetings
are intended to give members special
insights on a wide range of social,
business and personal topics.
Accomplishments: Once again, the
Committee provided a diverse agenda
of events focusing on a wide range of
business and social topics. Meetings
started in January with a thought
provoking talk by Judith Cefkin of
the U.S. Embassy, who talked about
“Leadership and Crisis Management.”
Other staff from the U.S. Embassy
who participated in Committee events
included Consul General Susie Pratt
AMCHAM’s Board of Governor Jan
van Ekeren shared the story of her
career and how, like a bingo game,
one never knows what will turn up
as the next move. Sarah Rooney
gave a fascinating presentation about
her book “30 Heritage Buildings of
Yangon,” discussing the challenges of
keeping heritage buildings in view of
modernization. We were guests of The
Jim Thompson Restaurant & Bar to learn
how the food business has become a
new enterprise for the silk company, and
members enjoyed an evening at Elena
Karoumpi’s Olive Café to learn about the
challenges of starting a small business.
PWC also joined forces with other
AMCHAM Committees. With the
Marketing Committee, a presentation
from Brenda Bence speaking on
“Smarter Branding without Breaking
the Bank” was held. And with the
Healthcare Committee, Dr. Wanviput
Sanphasitvong and Committee co-chair
Karen Hochhauser discussed “How to
Stay Healthy, Energetic and Effective.”
We will end the year with our annual
networking get together at the home of
AMCHAM Executive Director Judy Benn.
relevance to our constituency; and
• Conducted a joint conference with
the Energy and Transport & Logistics
Committees on topics of mutual
interest.
The major challenge in 2012 was the
terrorist activity in Bangkok, which led
to the requirement for an additional
round of briefings through OSAC.
Small - Medium Size
Enterprises (Sme)
Committee Leaders: Doug MacLean,
T & N Technologies; Doug Harrison,
Bourbon Street; Chuck Kathrein,
Mustang Technologies; Kevin Windfield,
Manhattan Asset Management
Agrisource
Mission: Provide AMCHAM SME
members with relevant and topical
speakers, events and joint committee
meetings.
delivered 10 meetings that provided
practical and helpful advice for SMEs
operating in Thailand.
Highlights from 2012 were:
Security
Committee Leaders: Matthew Quin,
Chevron; Henry Beeeber, AES
Board Liaison: Joe Mannix, United
Airlines
Mission: Share information on
regional safety and security issues with
AMCHAM members. The Committee
develops partnerships with the U.S. State
Department’s Overseas Security Advisory
Council (OSAC) to further security
awareness. The Committee strives to hold
at least one quarterly meeting to discuss
general security information pertaining to
Thailand and the region and to advance
safety and security corporate standards.
Accomplishments:
• Successfully restructured
Committee in 2012;
• Met goal of holding a quarterly
Committee meeting, with a high
rate of attendance;
• Integrated with the OSAC to run
joint activities with an impressive
list of speakers on topics of
Marketing
and Public Affairs Officer Kristin
Kneedler.
• “Fortunate Events and Decisions”
by Rob Rosenstein CEO of AGODA
• “What is Assistance Company” with
International SOS
• “The Foreign Corrupt Practice
Act and its impact on business in
Thailand” by T&G
• “New U.S. Taxes for SME
Companies” by KPMG
• “SME Banking” by Krungsri (our 3rd
year in a row)
• “Factoring and Letters of Credit
for SME’s along with Credit
Cards, Overdraft, LTF RMF, Profit
Insurance” presented by COFACE
• “Legal Disasters in Thailand for
SME’s” presented by Michael Doyal
• “Healthcare and Obamacare for
SME’s and what to look out for in
2013”
Sports
Committee Leader: Kevin Windfield,
Manhattan Asset Management
Mission: For AMCHAM Members and
their guests to have fun and to have
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fun giving to the AMCHAM Charitable
Foundation (ATCF).
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The Committee organizes four
events each year: two charity golf
tournaments held in May and
November (around U.S. holidays
Memorial Day and Thanksgiving) and
two charity bowling events held in
September and March.
Accomplishments: The 2012
Memorial Day and Thanksgiving
Charity Golf Tournaments raised
over Baht 835,240 for the ATCF. The
Committee also raised over Baht
310,997 from the charity bowling
tournaments for the ATCF. Combined,
the Sports Committee events
contributed Baht 1,146,237 in 2012,
an all-time high!
We will continue in 2013 with the
Spring and Fall Bowling and Memorial
Day and Thanksgiving Golf. We are
always exploring new ways to raise
money for the ATCF and to bring
further joy and value to AMCHAM
members.
The sports committee has now donated
to the AMCHAM Charitable Foundation
over Baht 5,400,000 since 2007.
Tax
Committee Leaders: John Andes,
KPMG; Greg Lamont, PwC; Bayani
Lauraya, Baker Tilly; Peetinuch “Tong”
Utaiwan, General Electric
Board Liaison: John Atanas, Esso
(Thailand)
Mission: Inform AMCHAM members
of tax issues which may affect them;
advocate sound and competitive tax
policy; and, engage in dialogue with
governmental authorities to promote
the Tax committee’s mission
Accomplishments: The Tax
Committee presented jointly with the
SME Committee on Thai and U.S. tax
issues affecting AMCHAM members, in
particular: changes to the Thai tax rate;
post-flood tax issues; changes to U.S.
information reporting of investments in
foreign assets; and the impact of FATCA
to financial institutions, businesses and
individuals.
The Tax Committee met with
the Revenue Department twice,
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including one meeting with the
Director General of the Revenue. The
meetings were to discuss the Thai
Regional Operating Headquarters
(ROH), and, in particular, to discuss
issues raised by AMCHAM regarding
the constraints that make the Thai
ROH not as competitive as similar
regimes in ASEAN countries, and
recommendations to make the ROH
more attractive to investors. Other
tax competitive issues were raised
at the meeting with the Revenue
Department.
Members of the Committee met with
trade delegations to discuss Thai tax
matters affecting foreign investors and
opportunities to seek tax incentives.
Transportation and
Logistics (TLC)
Committee Leaders: Dennis
Berkompas, PB Agencies; Ian
Hamilton, Ticon Logistics Park
Board Liaison: Doug de Weese,
Vektor GPS
Mission: Update Committee members
on the issues affecting all modes of
supply chain transport within the
Kingdom of Thailand. In addition,
with global trade being a major
engine running the Thai economy,
the Committee keeps up to date
on global transport and logistics
initiatives and issues that may impact
any segment of the supply/transport
chain, including periodic updating of
customs (Thai/U.S./global) processing
and governmental (Thai/U.S./global)
regulations.
Committee provided:
• Private and public sector
development updates;
• Joint meetings and networking
opportunities; and
• On-site visits.
2012 highlights included: speakers
from Ford, Diageo Moet Hennesy
and McThai (McDonald’s Thailand); a
presentation from the Deputy Minister
of Transport (and now the new
Minister of Transport); joint meetings
with AMCHAM’s Security-OSAC and
Energy Committees. In November, we
had our second annual joint meeting
with the British Chamber of Commerce
Transportation Committee. Speakers
from Meinhardt and The Halcrow
Group spoke about the State Railway
of Thailand, the MRT and the BTS.
Travel & Tourism
Committee Leaders: Charles Blocker,
Zinc InVision Hospitality; Francis
Zimmerman, Anantara Hotels Resorts
Thailand
Board Liaison: Joe Mannix, United
Airlines
Mission: Promote the travel and
tourism markets of Thailand and the
U.S. by facilitating communication and
developing business between Thailand’s
private and public sector, and within the
AMCHAM community of businesses.
The Committee discusses travel
trends and issues within and affecting
the airline, hotel, tour companies,
convention, exhibition, business travel
and the tourism industries.
Our goal is to enhance Thailand’s
overall tourist and travel experience
by helping it to maintain a competitive
advantage relative to neighboring
alternative destinations in S.E. Asia.
The Committee has members from
approximately 70+ AMCHAM
companies and targets to meet on the
first Thursday each month at 5 pm
in the AMCHAM office and at hotel
locations depending upon the topic,
speaker and availability.
Accomplishments: Finally, 2012
was the first stable year since 2007
for the tourism industry in Thailand.
As a result, the pace of recovery
strengthened throughout the year and it
is forecasted that visitor arrivals to the
Kingdom in 2012 will set new records.
The Committee had another active
year, staging nine individual or joint
committee events with a broad scope
of topics including BOI Guidelines for
the Tourism Industry, a hotel security
update, an interesting presentation
by the Director of Strategic Planning
of the Tourism Authority of Thailand
and their Tactics, Trends and Targets
leading up to 2015, Medical Tourism
Strategy and a Global Business Travel
Outlook report presented by the
Regional Director of the GBTA.
Undoubtedly the highlight of the year
was the staging, in conjunction with
the Greater Phuket Chapter, the 1st
annual Thai Tourism forum. The event
was held in early February with over
300 attendees. Planning is already
in the works for the 2nd Annual TTF
that will take place on January 31,
2013.
Young Professionals
Committee Leaders: Laurie Colyer,
Bumrungrad Hospital; Peter Moore,
Dow Corning (Thailand); Michael
Parham, Cranes and Equipment Asia
Board Liaison: Doug de Weese,
Vektor GPS
Mission: Provide social and business
networking opportunities for the young
Events are held on the first Thursday
of each month and are promoted to
more than 3,000 people in Bangkok,
including AMCHAM and nonmembers. Networking events are often
hosted by newly-opened venues and
introduce attendees to restaurants and
other social venues that they might not
otherwise know about.
Accomplishments: 2012 was an
amazing year for YPC. The Committee
is on track to meet our goal of raising
Baht 250,000 for ATCF’s Adopt–ASchool program. YPC event attendance
averaged over 150 people and
attendees were introduced to many of
Bangkok’s newest and most exciting
restaurants and night spots.
An “open invite” policy allowed
non-AMCHAM members to attend
YPC nights. The initiative enriched our
events by attracting a diverse group
of young professionals who hail from
both the expat and Thai communities.
YPC continued to expand beyond
our regular monthly events and
actively promoted joint events with
other social networking Chambers.
In March, we coordinated the first
ever All Chambers Young Professional
Networking, which attracted over 800
business professionals and raised over
Baht 76,000 for underprivileged flood
affected schools.
YPC increasingly promoted events
through social media channels, such
as FaceBook, Google+, and LinkedIn.
The YPC events also played a key role
in connecting with Thai alumni’s as
part of our strategy to reach out to
young leaders in Thailand.
In June 2012, YPC held our sixth
annual YPC Adopt-A-School
Dedication at Jarusorn Bumroong
School in the Pathumthani Province.
With the Baht 171,250 raised from
2011 events and an AMCHAM
matching grant of 100,000, the
school was able to purchase water
filtration systems and install a new
library.
2013 APCAC Spring Conference
The TTC has continued to work closely
and foster strong relationships with
the leading tourism organizations of
Thailand namely the TAT, TCEB and
TICA. Looking forward, we hope to
focus on greater advocacy with the
Ministry of Tourism in 2013.
and young at heart, while raising
money to support the AMCHAM
Charitable Foundation’s (ATCF) AdoptA-School program.
A 2020 Vision for US-Asia Partnership
2013 APCAC Spring Conference
March 21-22, 2013
Grand Hyatt Taipei
For the first time in 20 years, the annual APCAC conference will take place in Taipei. AmCham
Taipei is delighted to play host to this important event, and invites your participation.
Please join senior-level executives and other dignitaries from Taiwan and throughout the
region, as well as the United States, for networking and in-depth discussion of key issues facing
the multinational business community. The gala dinner on March 21, held jointly with Hsieh
Nien Fan, will feature a keynote address by President Ma Ying-jeou.
Panel discussions will cover such topics as green energy, industry, and buildings; how FTAs
and RTAs are changing the economic landscape; healthcare industry for the 21st century;
realigning regional supply chains; and protection of innovation and creativity in the new era.
For more information and to make your reservation, go to the dedicated website:
http://www.apcac2013taipei.com/
Don’t miss this special opportunity!
43
column
AMCHAM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REMARKS
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
Dear AMCHAM Members,
Happy New Years! 2012 was an outstanding
year for the Chamber as we reached a record
number of members and held an all-time
high number of events. We enter 2013 in
full-swing and are planning for a great year.
MEMBERSHIP DUES PAYABLE AND
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP
2013 dues invoices were mailed in
November and are payable by the end of
January. If you have not received your dues
invoice, please contact Khun Lek at Lek@
amchamthailand.com. We are very pleased
that for the 12th year in row we have not
had to raise annual dues nor are we decreasing the number of monthly luncheon
coupons (despite an increase in hotel meal
prices!). This is primarily due to strong Corporate Partnership support, so next time you
see a Corporate Partner, please thank them.
To date, we have 25 Corporate Partners for
2013, an increase of five companies compared to last year. We are pleased that 19 of
the 20 Partners from 2012 renewed their Partnership contracts, which speaks highly of the
value they are receiving. In addition, we welcome six new Partners: Platinum – McThai
and Philip Morris; Gold – General Motors
and PepsiCo; Silver – Property Care Services
and YUM Restaurant International. You can
see all the Member Companies participating
in the 2013 program below. There is still time
to be a part of this prestigious program. We
will be producing many of the Chamber’s
annual media content with the Corporate
Partners logos by the end of January, so if
you wish to be included in the Partnership
Program, please contact Sheree at Sheree@
amchamthailand.com as soon as possible.
2013 INSTALLATION BALL
On February 9th, at the Dusit Thani Bangkok, AMCHAM will hold our social event
of the year, the Annual Installation Ball. This
year’s theme is “Mardi Gras” and we are
planning a fabulous evening of dining, wining, dancing and fun. The Installation Ball is
AMCHAM’s traditional event to install and
recognize the 2013 Board of Governors,
who will all be in attendance and gearing up to tackle 2013. Already, nearly 400
people have made reservations to attend, so
it is likely that we will sell-out, as the hotel
ballroom can only accommodate 500 people! Remember, tables are assigned based
on a first reservation, first payment system,
so don’t delay in making your reservation
and making your payment. We are happy to
arrange seating for singles and couples.
The Installation Ball also serves as the
primary fundraising activity for the AMCHAM Thailand Charitable Foundation and
the Chamber hopes to raise a minimum
of Baht two million. These funds will be
used to finance the Chamber’s 180 student
scholarships – a special recognition of the
180th anniversary of U.S.-Thai relations.
We kindly ask for your support in securing items for the silent auction that will be
held in conjunction with the Ball. A list of
prizes received to date can be found on the
AMCHAM website under the tab: “Events.”
For more information on how you can support this important activity, please contact
Sheree at [email protected].
USA FAIR 2013
We are starting to plan for USA Fair 2013,
which is scheduled to be held May 31 June 2 at CentralWorld. This annual event
promotes U.S. products, services, education and travel. More details on sponsorship and exhibition space will be forthcoming in the next couple of weeks, but
please mark the date, particularly if your
company plans to participate in the largest
annual event of promoting U.S. business.
NEW MEMBER PACKETS AND AFFINITY
PROGRAM
A reminder about AMCHAM’s new Member Packets and Affinity Program, which
offers free marketing space for AMCHAM
member companies.
New Member Packets: The Chamber
welcomes over 500 new member representatives each year, from either new
companies joining the Chamber or change
in existing company representatives. The
Chamber sends out to new representatives
a new member package, which introduces
them to the services and benefits of the
Chamber. Member companies have the
opportunity to include in the new members
packets a voucher, discount coupon or
promotional material, introducing the new
member to try their product or services.
Affinity Program: The Chamber provides
space on the AMCHAM website and
bi-monthly magazine to allow Member
Companies to offer all members a discount
or special promotion.
Both of these programs are offered at no
charge, but we do have limited space.
Please contact Khun Dee at [email protected] for more information
on how you can participate in this.
COMMITTEE PARTICIPATION
The Chamber’s Committees are often
referred to as the “heart and soul” of the
Chamber. Of the 277 events, programs and
meetings hosted by the Chamber in 2012,
over 80 percent of them were arranged
directly by the Committees. The Committee
Leadership teams work very hard behind
the scenes to help identify speakers and
programs that bring value to their Committees. I would like to offer my deepest thanks
and appreciation to the 2012 Committee
Leadership team for all their support and
thank those members who have stepped up
to help run the Committees for 2013.
I encourage everyone to get involved in
at least one Committee for 2013. Every
Committee needs members who are willing to support the Committee Leadership
and to help provide ideas for programs
and speakers. Make a New Year Resolution to identify at least one Committee
that you will participate in this year. If you
want ideas and introductions, please feel
free to contact me.
I look forward to seeing you soon at the
next AMCHAM event!
Best wishes for 2013.
Judy Benn
Executive Director
Thank You to AMCHAM’s 2013 Corporate Partners to date
Platinum Sponsors:
44
Gold Sponsors:
Silver Sponsors:
2013 AMCHAM Installation Ball
“mardi gras”
Let the Good Times Roll
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Dusit Thani Hotel
6.00pm-1.00am
Enjoy champagne, drinks,
a five-course dinner,
dancing and entertainment
Tickets: Baht 4,000 per person
Black Tie or Theme
Support the AMCHAM Thailand
Charitable Foundation with a purchase
at the Silent and Live Auctions
SPONSORSHIPS NOW AVAILABLE
• Platinum: Baht 150,000
• Gold: Baht 100,000
• Silver: Baht 75,000
Platinum Sponsors:
Gold Sponsors:
Silver Sponsors:
For more information, please contact [email protected]
reports
special updateS
AMCHAM Lao Chapter
Ambassador’s Breakfast Meeting
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
On November 16, in Vientiane, U.S. Ambassador Karen Stewart hosted a breakfast meeting at her official
residence. Ten AMCHAM members joined the meeting to discuss topics on U.S. policy in Lao, new Lao
PDR laws and the potential impact of those laws to U.S. investment in Lao.
Steve Parker on Lao’s
WTO Accession
On October 22, Steve Parker from
Nathan Associates delivered a
presentation to the Lao Chapter about
Lao PDR’s WTO Accession and its impact
on business in Laos.
AMCHAM Phuket Chapter
Doing Business in Thailand Seminar in Phuket
AMCHAM Thailand’s Legal Committee,
which provided a wealth of valuable
advice to expat business operators, as
well as those considering conducting
business in Thailand.
From left: Jerold Kippen, Olaf Duensing, Michael Ramirez and Douglas Mancill
On November 29, the AMCHAM Legal Committee and
Greater Phuket Chapter held a joint seminar titled “Doing
Business in Thailand” at The Royal Phuket Marina, Phuket. The
evening featured three informative presentations, courtesy of
46
The first speaker, Douglas Mancill, shed light on some of
the restrictions and risks associated with Thailand’s Foreign
Business Act (FBA) and the Treaty of Amity and Commerce,
the long-running bilateral agreement between the USA
and Thailand. The next speaker, Michael Ramirez, a senior
consultant for the Tilleke & Gibbins Dispute Resolution
Group, discussed trends in anti-corruption laws. Finally, Olaf
Duensing, co-founder of the legal advisory and services
firm Duensing Kippen Ltd, highlighted the importance of
including an arbitration clause in business contracts.
Following the presentations the Royal Phuket Marina
sponsored a reception for the event attendees.
Myanmar Business Summit
On November 14, 2012, 100 attendees
from across the region participated
in the Myanmar Business Summit in
Yangon. The one-day summit was jointly
organized by AMCHAM Thailand and
AmCham Singapore.
The event, concluded with networking
session at the Sedona Hotel in Yangon.
AMCHAM thanks Chevron, KPMG,
Tractus and the U.S. Commercial Service
for helping to make AMCHAM’s first
Myanmar event a very successful one.
Business Round
Table Panelist
(from left): Jim
Finch, DFDL;
Olaf Nicolai,
KPMG; Dennis
Messeroll,
Tractus; Girish
Wadwa, MegaLife Sciences
Delegation
from the
U.S. Embassy
Rangoon:
Deputy Chief of
Mission, Virginia
Murray; Machut
Shishak, First
Secretary
(Economic) and
Commercial
Officer Mike
McGee (not
pictured)
Khaing Win from Consilium Ltd. and Ye
Myat Thu from Alpha Info-Tech Co.
The event brought together companies
and persons operating in or considering
doing business in Myanmar. The summit
began with a briefing from the U.S.
Embassy Rangoon and was followed
by a networking lunch and a business
round table discussion. Myanmar
topics discussed included: operating a
business in Myanmar; the country’s new
investment law; tax laws; manufacturing
capacity; and opportunities and
challenges in the pharma industry.
AMCHAM Myanmar Task Force Launched
On December 11, in the AMCHAM Ford Boardroom, a meeting
of 20 invited Chamber members met and officially launched the
AMCHAM Myanmar Task Force. The first meeting was used to review
Myanmar’s Foreign Investment Law (MFIL) and discuss upcoming
activities for 2013. The Task Force will be chaired by William
Koetzel, Chevron and Dennis Messroll, Tractus. If you or your
company is operating in or will be operating in Myanmar in 2013,
and you would like to join the Task Force, please email AMCHAM
Executive Director Judy Benn at: [email protected].
Peter Dove from Imagine Myanmar and Greg
Laing from Imagine Thailand
Darren and Kevin Murphy from Jones Day
47
reports
members’ activities
AMCHAM Member Happenings
Jan Van Ekeren
named CEO
of BAY
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
Bank of Ayudhya has appointed
Janice Van Ekeren as Chief
Executive Officer and Philip Tan
Chen Chong as President.
Jan previously held the position as
Bank of Ayudhya’s Chief Financial
Officer since 2007 and has been an
active member of AMCHAM since
2008. In 2012, Jan was elected to
AMCHAM’s Board of Governors
and is also active in AMCHAM’s
Charitable Foundation (ATCF).
WD focuses on Thailand’s
router market
ThaiNamthip expanding
Coca-Cola sales to Laos
Western Digital Corporation (WD), the world’s leading
maker of hard-disk drives, is set to ramp up marketing over
the next few months to build its brand in Thailand as a
maker of digital lifestyle products.
ThaiNamthip Co, one of Coca-Cola Co’s bottlers
in Thailand, has reached a partnership agreement
to sell Coca-Cola beverages. The joint venture,
called Laos Coca-Cola Bottling Co., has been setup with PT Construction Company.
WD’s new routers are designed to serve a consumer’s
digital lifestyle that requires multiple internet-connected
devices such as internet TV, smartphones, tablets and game
consoles “The company is ready to allocate its marketing
budget to communicate to Thai consumers that WD is no
longer just a disk drive maker, but also offers products that
serve a connected life,” said Amy Tan, a senior manager for
WD in Asean.
Laos Coca-Cola Bottling will distribute Coke,
Fanta, Sprite, Minute Maid and Namthip bottled
water supplied by ThaiNamthip’s plants in
Thailand. Laos Coca-Cola Bottling will begin
construction of its plant in Vientiane next year.
The new plant will hire about 70 locals and also
create at least 500 jobs when it starts operating in
2014, Pornwut said.
A Review of an United Airlines
Boeing 787 Dreamliner
AIA Thailand Appoints CBRE as Principal
Agent for Office Developments in Bangkok
The New York Times recently reviewed one of United’s new
Boeing 787 Dreamliner and even the toilers were praised:
“Airplane bathrooms are hardly conversation starters, and
if they are, it’s generally not a conversation one wants to
continue. But I had just boarded the Dreamliner — Boeing’s
new 787 that is outshining its ancestors with roomier
overhead bins, larger windows, power for smartphones, a
quieter cabin, more humid air and, as it turns out, a toilet
that’s a crowd pleaser.”
AIA Thailand announces the appointment of CBRE Thailand as the principal
agent for leasing grade A office spaces in the AIA Capital Center and AIA
Sathorn Tower, its first large-scale real estate projects in Thailand with a total
of 92,500 square metre lettable area.
“We are very excited about the projects because they are our first ever real
estate developments that feature office and retail components and located in
Bangkok’s prime business areas, potentially setting a footstep for AIA to grow
further and beyond our core business in life insurance,” commented Mr. Ron
van Oijen, AIA Thailand’s CEO in a contract signing ceremony.
Senor Pico Grand Opening at
Rembrandt Hotel
3G Licenses Issued to
AIS and DTAC
AMCHAM members Advanced Info Service (AIS),
and Total Access Communication (DTAC), along with
True Corp, collected their 3G operating licenses from
the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications
Commission on December 11, 2012. Earlier in
the year, the three companies won slots on the
2.1-gigahertz spectrum, which will enable, for the first
time, the proper employment of 3G mobile services in
Thailand. You can read more about the importance of
the 2.1-gigahertz spectrum in T-AB Vol. 5, 2012.
Nai Lert Park Hotel
Bangkok Donate to
Make-A-Wish
AMCHAM members help celebrate the grand re-opening of the award-winning Mexican
restaurant Senor Pico at the Rembrandt Hotel on December 14.
48
The Nai Lert Park Hotel Bangkok recently donated
Baht one million to the Make-a-Wish Foundation,
Thailand. AMCHAM Executive Director Judy Benn
accepted the donation on behalf of the Make-aWish Foundation. Senator Bhilaibhan Sampatisiri,
Chairwoman of the Nailert Park Hotel, presented the
check on behalf of the hotel.
Ford and Chevrolet at Thailand
International Motor Expo
Chevrolet executives Martin Apfel and Antonio Zara unveil the Chevrolet Sonic
Ford and Chevrolet showed-off their diverse product lines and latest innovations at
the 29th Thailand International Motor Expo, held on November 29 to December 10
at the Muang Thong Thani Impact Arena.
Chevrolet’s impressive product portfolio displayed at the event included the Cruze,
Captiva, Aveo CNG, Trailblazer, the all new Sonic, and Chevrolet’s biggest seller,
the Colorado. Consumers were also excited about the custom designed Chevrolet
Sonic vehicles on display with decals from Manchester United and Liverpool FC.
Ford Motor Company launched two new models at the Motor Expo, including the
all-new Ford Ranger 2.5L petrol variant and the Australian-built, seven-seat all-new
Ford Territory 2.7L premium SUV. Ford made the decision to launch the all-new
Territory in Thailand, following its display at the Bangkok International Motor Show
in March, 2012 and an overwhelming customer reception and response.
The Motor Expo opened with “The Thai Auto 2 Million Celebration: The New
Dimension Drives The World.” The event highlighted a milestone for the Thai
automotive industry of reaching annual production of more than two million
automobiles for the first time in its 50-year history.
Sasin Holds AEC Seminar at The Royal
Thai Embassy, Yangon, Myanmar
On November 16, 2012, Professor Toemsakdi Krishnamra, Director of Sasin
Graduate Institute of Business Administration of Chulalongkorn University, led
a team from Sasin to hold a seminar on “ASEAN Business Opportunities in the
AEC Era” at The Royal Thai Embassy, Yangon, Myanmar.
The Sasin team was welcomed by H.E. Mr. Pisanu Suvanajata, Ambassador of
the Kingdom of Thailand to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. H.E. Mr. U
Htay Aung, Union Minister for Hotels and Tourism, Republic of the Union of
Myanmar, gave the opening remarks at the event and Dr. Maung Maung Lay,
Vice President, The Republic of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers
of Commerce and Industry (U.M.F.C.C.I.) participated in a panel discussion.
Emirates begins Dubai
to Phuket flights
In December, Emirates Air began offering
a daily Dubai to Phuket non-stop flight.
Early success has the airline already
considering adding a second daily flight.
Phuket is the airline’s 128th destination
and the service will boost the island’s
international flight capacity.
Ford executives Matt Bradley and Yukontorn Wisadkos alongside the Ford Territory
PepsiCo unveils Baht
18.4 billion plan for
Thai investment
PepsiCo announced a huge investment of
Baht 18.4 billion in the Thai market over the
next three years in order to strengthen the
company’s leading position in the country
and drive future growth. The company
will terminate its conventional system of
returnable glass bottles, for which there
is a declining market trend, and replace
them with multi-range and multi-size nonreturnable PET (polyethylene terephthalate)
bottles and cans, which are seen as growth
packaging categories.
If you would like to submit a company story for T-AB Magazine, please contact Patrick at: [email protected]
49
activities
events roundup
Turkey Day ChariTEE Golf Tournament
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
AMCHAM’s Turkey Day Charity Golf Tournament brought together over 120 golfers at the Bangpakong Riverside
Country Club on November 23. The participants helped raise over Baht 482,000 for the AMCHAM Thailand Charitable
Foundation. Thank you to the Sports Committee, the event sponsors and everyone who participated.
Team Esso with assistance from the Bangpakong Riverside caddies
Team Chevron
Team APM Group
Tee off on the 18th hole
The stylish John Atanas
Team Manhattan Asset Management
Team Corndogs
50
Team Bank of Ayudhya
AMCHAM thanks the ChariTEE Golf Tournament
Event Sponsors and Prize Donors
Team Stergenics, 2nd place Championship Flight Winners Professional Flight Team Fenix
Championship Flight winners Team Dow
Team American School Bangkok, 2nd place Professional Flight
‘Turkey Flight’ winners team Automated Precision
Winning Teams
Professional Flight
1.Fenix
2.ASB
3. Lawton Asia Team A
Championship Flight
1. Dow Chemical
2. Stergenics
3. US Embassy
Weekender Flight
1. Lawton Asia Team B
2. Ford Motor Company
3. Golf Bud Team
Turkey Flight
Automated Precision
51
activities
events roundup
Festive Holiday Eggnog Party
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
AMCHAM celebrated the annual Festive Holiday Eggnog Party on December 8 at
the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok and raised Baht 78,340 for donation to the Human
Development Foundation’s Mercy Centre. Each year, AMCHAM organizes the Eggnog
party to thank its members for their support. The party includes Christmas foods, gifts
and of course plenty of Minor International eggnog. And, Santa Claus was on-hand to
take gift requests from future members. In keeping with the holiday spirit, AMCHAM
members bring cash donations for the HDF Mercy Centre. Since 2007, this annual
tradition has raised Baht 400,030 for the Mercy Centre. The Four Seasons Hotel
Bangkok, the traditional venue of AMCHAM’s Festive Eggnog Party, is a luxury fivestar hotel offering a true Bangkok experience.
Paul Weber, Mark Whitcraft, Alex Mavro and Stan Bailey
Giles Anslow-Wilson, Sheree Tanpensuk and
Jonathan Fryer
52
Khun Cherry, Paul Grimes, Judy Benn, Carl Rubin and Jane Purananda
The Rose Marie Academy Arts and Crafts area was once
again well received by the Chamber’s future members
Kevin Sypolt and Janice van Ekeran, Martin and Carol Apfel
The Rose-Marie Academy team
Ed Cooper and Father Joe
Therese Beauvais and Richard Bernhard
Ken Lambert a ‘Best Holiday Tie’ contestant
The Nygaard Family
Santa with Maggie and Judy Benn
The Sayess Family
Santa with a friend
The Heinecke Family
The Matlack Family
The Modlin Family
The Blocker Family
53
activities
events roundup
November Social Networking Night
at Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
On November 14, the Imperial Queens Park Hotel hosted AMCHAM’s November Social
Networking Night. Chamber members and guests enjoyed a great night of good company and
the fabulous view from the hotel’s rooftop. The hotel is centrally located on Sukhumvit Road
and stands aside a luxurious shopping complex and beautiful Benjasiri Park.
Patcharaporn Kaewcharoenporn, Mark Rowley, Narumon Rodsiravoraphat and
Giles Anslow-Wilson
Doug de Weese, Katherine Aphaivongs and Dean Kelly
Spa Promotion of January – March 2013
2 hours at THB 1,999 net
3 hours at THB 2,799 net
IMPERIAL SPA
The Imperial Spa Buffet Promotion
runs everyday during the month of
Enjoy selections of our spa treatments and
relax in the most tranquil ambiance of Imperial Spa
January – March 2013
on the 9th floor of
The Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel.
Come and experience our spa
FACIAL TREATMENT
BODY EXFOLIATION
BODY COCOON
(Scrub & Wrap)
Rose Bouquet
Oriental Herbal Tonic
Harmony Extreme
Vitality
THAI (Black Sticky Rice)
(anti oxidant &moisture)
THAI (Black Sticky Rice)
(anti oxidant &moisture)
Purity (Lemongrass)
(Detoxify &Drainage)
Purity (Lemongrass)
(Detoxify &Drainage)
60 mins
Meditation
(Balancing & Calming)
Meditation
(Balancing & Calming)
Energy
(Energizing & Revitalizing)
Energy
(Energizing & Revitalizing)
30 minutes
60 minutes
BODY MASSAGE
SPA TRADITIONS
Imperial Massage
Occidental Massage
Thai Massage
Back & Shoulder
Sport Massage
Foot Massage
30 or 60 minutes
Thai Herbal Steam
30 minutes
from your treatment.
60 minutes
Remark
• The special promotion package cannot be used in conjunction with other promotions and discounts
• The package is available at Imperial spa, at The Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel only
• Advance reservation is recommended
54
buffet and maximize benefits
Please contact Imperial Spa at 02 261 9000 ext 5115 or 5120
9th floor, Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel.
199 Sukhumvit 22, Bangkok BTS : Phrompong Station
www.imperial-spa.com
AMCHAM November Monthly Luncheon
with Ford Chairman Bill Ford
On November 29, at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel, Bill Ford spoke to AMCHAM members and guests about the future of
the transportation ecosystem – an intelligent, connected network of transportation modes and infrastructure to ensure
personal mobility will continue in the 21st century. Following his talk, Mr. Ford answered several questions about Ford
Motor Company and the auto industry. AMCHAM thanks Mr. Ford and Ford Motor Company for making this event possible.
Darren Buckley, Matt Bradley, Dave Westernman, John Attanas, Pierre Breber, Bill Ford, Judith Cefkin, David Nardone, Chatri Sophonpanich and Judy Benn
Bill Ford meets
Ford parts
suppliers,
Michael
Diamente from
Dana Spicer
and Ramesh
Ramanathan from
Visteon
Bill Ford, Chairman, Ford Motor Company
Kevin Windfield, Dave Carden and Jan Van Ekren
Francis Zimmerman and Mark Kujawa
David Nardone and John Evans
55
activities
Jazzy Festive Season Luncheon
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
On December 12, Plaza Athénée Bangkok, A Royal Méridien Hotel, over 300 AMCHAM members and friends enjoyed a live
performance of holiday jazz classics at AMCHAM’s final luncheon of 2012 and were provided a review of the Chamber’s 2012
activities by outgoing AMCHAM President Joe Mannix. AMCHAM thanks Mr. Mannix for his sound and loyal service in 2012 and
wish him and all our members a happy 2013. Featuring over 5,600 square meters and 28 unique venues of flexible event and
meeting space, the Plaza Athénée provides a magnificent venue for personalized meetings and conferences in Bangkok.
AMCHAM President Joe Mannix addresses over 300 members and guests
Certificates of Appreciation received by 2012 AMCHAM Board Members
Pornlert Lattanan, Michael Diamente, Dee Richmond, Darren Buckley, Joe
Mannix, Vorapong Vorasuntharosoth and Doug de Weese.
Team Agrisource
Team Apico
Joint Chambers Eastern Seaboard Networking
On December 7, the Amari Orchid Pattaya hosted the American, Australian and British Chambers for an Eastern
Seaboard Festive Holiday Networking Event. The Amari provided an abundant offering of holiday foods and cocktails,
singing and dancing and concluded with a fireworks display. AMCHAM thanks the Amari for a wonderful evening.
Children from the Mercy Center Pattaya provided a holiday performance
56
Chamber and Hotel Leadership: Mark Carrol (Australian Chamber), David
Nardone (AMCHAM), David Cumming (Amari Orchid), Judy Benn (AMCHAM),
Greg Watkins (British Chamber) and Simon Matthews (British Chamber).
2nd Annual - Thailand Tourism Forum 2013
Brand Thailand remains a dynamic destination on both the regional and global tourism map. Greater flexibility and efficiencies
presented with the advent of AEC 2015 need to be leveraged by both business and government players. Thailand Tourism
Forum – 2013 (TTF) is the country’s report card on the state of the industry.
A forum of recognized leading hospitality leaders and experts gather to discuss what challenges, and issues lay ahead. This
is a unique opportunity to look beyond the numbers at how tourism performance can impact an entire country.
Date Thursday, 31 January 2013
Venue InterContinental Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers American Chamber of Commerce – Thailand (AMCHAM)
Travel and Tourism Committee and Greater Phuket Chapter (AMCHAM)
C9 Hotelworks
Registration Attendance is free. To sign up go to www.amchamthailand.com or contact Sheree Tanpensuk by email
[email protected] or telephone 02-254-1041 ext. 212.
Event Schedule
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Registration and Refreshments
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Thailand Tourism Forum 2013
Opening Remarks & Thailand Tourism Scoreboard
Bill Barnett, Managing Director, C9 Hotelworks
Thailand Hotel Leaders Summit
Robert V. R Hecker, Managing Director, Horwath HTL (Moderator)
Chanin Donavanik, CEO, Dusit International
Dillip Rajakarier, CEO, Minor Hotel Group
Clarence Tan, COO, Asia Australasia, InterContinental Hotels Group
Peter Henley, President & CEO, Onyx Hospitality & Hotels
Hotel Market Recap 2012 – Major & Secondary Thai Destinations
Jonas Ogren, Area Director – Asia, STR Global
Investment and Hotel Transaction Market Update
Mike Batchelor, Managing Director, Investment Sales, Jones Lang LaSalle –
Hotels & Hospitality Group
Hotel Entrepreneurs – Developing New Thai Brands
David Keen, CEO, QUO Global (Moderator)
Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, Managing Director, Sukosol Hotels
Anchalika Kijkanakorn, Managing Director, Akaryn Hospitality Management
Waew Tirawan Pangsrivongse, Group Director Kasemkij Group
Five Viewpoints on Thailand’s Airports | Will They Enable or Hold
Back the Country’s Tourism Growth?
John Koldowski, Special Advisor, Strategic Intelligence Centre, PATA
Thailand Tourism: Readiness for ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2015
Charles Blocker, Director, Zinc-InVision Hospitality
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Networking Cocktails – with compliments of InterContinental Hotels
CO MMUNICATIO NS
activities
AMCHAM COMMITTEE UPDATES
2012 AMCHAM Committee Leadership
The following members devote their time to support the Chamber’s efforts
to make Thailand a better place for companies to do business.
Contact [email protected] for more information.
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
Automotive Council
- Philip Cook, Thai Summit
Harness PCL
- Tom Chambers, Continental
Automotive
- David Nardone, Hemeraj
- Antonio Zara, General Motors
Business Economics
- Peggy Creveling, Creveling &
Creveling
- Teera Phutrakul, JTFP
- Ken White, Pacific Siam
Stragegic Consulting
Charitable Foundation
- Jonathan Fryer, Mazars
- Lasia Casil, Knight Frank
Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR)
- Richard Bernhard,
Kenan Institute
- Alex Mavro, Sasin
Customs & Excise
- David Carden, FedEx
- Kittipong Jangkamolkulchai,
Bryan Cave
- Paul Sumner,
PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Florina Vistal, Ford
EASTERN SEABOARD
- David Nardone, Hemeraj
- Ramesh Ramanathan, Visteon
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
- Mongkolnimit Auacherdkul,
Esso
- Pairoj Kaweeyanun, Chevron
- Alan Adcock, Tilleke & Gibbins
- Nathan Christoff, Litehouse
- George Fuller, Asia Food
Solutions
GREATER PHUKET
- Bill Barnett, C9 HotelWorks
Healthcare
- Kenneth Mays, Bumrungrad
Hospital
- Kittima Sriwatanakul, Merck
- Paul Russell, Tilleke & Gibbins
- Dr. Thavirap Tantiwongse,
GlaxoSmithKline
Human Resources
- Katherine Aphaivongs, Cigna
Global Health Benefits
- Tom Payne,
Assessment Associate
International
Information &
Communications
Technology (ICT)
- David Aldridge,
Freewill Solutions
- Carl Rubin, Thai-Fi
- Siripat Patrangul, RIM
Independence Day
Picnic
- Tom Whitcraft, RMA
Legal
- John Fotiadis, Atherton
- Christopher Knight,
Everett Knight
- Douglas Mancill,
PriceSanond
- Michael Ramirez,
Tilleke & Gibbins
Marketing
- Jeremy Hine, Lowe
- Ken Lambert, Xulu
Professional Women
- Karen Hochhauser, APM
- Jane Puranananda, Dej Udom
SECURITY
- Henny Beeber, AES Group
- Matthew Quin, Chevron
Small-Medium Size
Enterprises (SME)
- Doug Harrison, Texxan
- Douglass MacLean,
T&N Technologies
Sports
- Michael Moir, Fenix Apparel
- Edward Strauss, Grant Thornton
- Kevin Windfield,
Manhattan Asset
Management
Tax
- John Andes, KPMG
- Greg Lamont,
Pricewaterhouse Coopers
- Peetinuch Utaiwan,
General Electric
Transportation &
Logistics (TLC)
- Dennis Berkompas, PB
Agencies
- Ian Hamilton, Ticon
Travel & Tourism
- Charles Blocker, Zinc
Invision
- Francis Zimmerman,
Anantara Riverside Resort
Young
Professionals
- Laurie Colyer,
Bumrungrad Hospital
- Peter Moore,
Dow Corning
- Michael Parnham,
Cranes & Equipment
Committee Meetings: November and December 2012
Transportation & Logistics (TLC)
On November 7, 2012, the committee met at the JW Marriott Bangkok
to hear a presentation entitled “McLogistics – a complex supply chain
explained,” delivered by Hester Chew, Chairman of the Executive
Committee & Chief Executive, McThai Company Limited. Pictured are
(from left) Ian Hamilton (committee leader), Hester Chew (speaker) and
Dennis Berkompas (committee leader).
58
Young Professionals
On November 9, 2012, more than 60 AMCHAM members and
friends gathered at Flow House Bangkok for another successful
social networking night. The event raised over Baht 14,000 for
the AMCHAM Thailand Charitable Foundation’s Adopt-a-School
program. Pictured are (from left) Peggy Creveling (lucky draw
winner) and Peter Moore (committee leader).
Joint Healthcare, Human Resources and SME
On November 12, 2012, the committees met at the Centara Grand & Bangkok
Convention Centre at CentralWorld to hear a presentation entitled “Medical
Hub Strategy,” delivered by Mr. Josef Woodman, author of Patients Beyond
Borders. Pictured are (from left) Francis Zimmerman (committee leader),
Kenneth Mays (committee leader), Josef Woodman (speaker) and Charles
Blocker (committee leader).
On November 13, 2012, the committees met at the Westin Grande
Sukhumvit to hear a presentation entitled “Health Insurance & Obamacare,”
delivered by Ms. Katherine Aphaivongs, Director, Cigna Global Health
Benefits. Pictured are (back row) Douglas Harrison (fourth from left,
committee leader), Katherine Aphaivongs (fourth from right, speaker),
Kevin Windfield (third from right), Peter Fischbach (second from right),
Dee Richmond (far right, Board of Governor).
Travel & Tourism
Joint Chambers Transportation & Logistics Committees
Energy & Environment
On November 19, 2012, at Grand Hyatt Erawan the committee welcomed
guest speaker Mr. Welf Ebeling, Regional Director-Asia, Global Business
Travel Association, who presented the “Global Business Travel Outlook
Report 2012 – 2016.” Pictured are (from left) Charles Blocker (committee
leader), Welf Ebeling (speaker) and Francis Zimmerman (committee leader).
On November 20, 2012, AMCHAM’s and BCCT’s ICT committees met at The
Crown Plaza Bangkok to hear a presentation delivered by Dr. Chula Sukmanop,
Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP), Abigail Evans, Meinhardt, and Ali Adam, Halcrow Group. Pictured are (from left) James Pitchon, Dr.
Chula Sukmanop (speaker), Abigail Evans (speaker), Ali Adam (speaker) and
Dennis Berkompas (committee leader).
Joint Healthcare and Travel & Tourism
On November 19, 2012, the committee met at the Grand Millennium
Sukhumvit Hotel, Bangkok to hear the presentation “Update of the Thai
Food Act,” delivered by Malee Kirawongsy, Food and Drug Technical Officer
of the Thai FDA. Pictured are (from left) Dee Richmond (Board of Governor),
Malee Kirawongsy (speaker) and Alan Adcock (committee leader).
On November 20, 2012, the committee met at the JW Marriott Bangkok hotel
to hear the presentation “Outlook for Energy: A View to 2040,” delivered by
David Reed. Mr. Reed is a Senior Energy Advisor for the Corporate Strategic
Planning Department of Exxon Mobil Corporation. Pictured are (from left)
Pairoj Kaweeyanun (committee leader) David Reed (speaker), John Atanas
(Board of Governor) and Mongkolnimit Auacherdkul (committee leader).
59
AMCHAM COMMITTEE UPDATES
Business Economics
Joint Chambers ICT Committees
On November 27, 2012, the committee met at the AMCHAM Ford Boardroom
for the presentation “The Future Role of Foreign Banks in Thailand,” delivered
by Matthew Lobner, Chief Executive Officer Thailand, Hong Kong and Shanghai
Banking Corporation Limited. Pictured are (from left) Teera Phutrakul (committee
leader), Matthew Lobner (speaker) and Kenneth White (committee leader).
On November 29, AMCHAM’s, AustCham’s and BCCT’s ICT committees met at the
Sofitel So Bangkok to hear presentations by: Ariya Banomyong, Google (Thailand);
Andrew McBean, Grant Thornton; and Haresh Khoobchandani, Microsoft
Thailand. Pictured are (from left) Jeff Nygaard (AMCHAM Governor), Andrew
McBean (speaker), Haresh Khoobchandani (speaker), Ariya Banomyong (speaker),
Christ Thatcher (BCCT Director) and Leigh Scott-Kemmis (AustCham Treasurer).
Human Resources
Marketing
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
activities
On November 29, 2012, the committee met at Landmark Hotel to hear
a presentation entitled “Psychometric Testing Best Practices,” delivered
by Dr. Ron Page, President, AAI-Assessments. Pictured are Katherine
Aphaivongs (sixth from left, committee leader), Thomas Payne (seventh
from left, committee leader) and Ron Page (eight from left, speaker).
On December 11, 2012, the committee met at The Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit
hotel to hear presentations by: Santi Suwanvalaikorn, McCann; Supachai
Toemtechatpong, McCann; Eric Yeo, Lowe; Clinton Manson, JWT Bangkok.
Pictured are (from left) Jeremy Hine (committee leader), Abhijeet Ray
(committee leader), Temsiri Sujaritchant (translator), Clinton Manson (speaker),
Eric Yeo (speaker), Santi Suwanvalaikorn (speaker), Supachai Toemtechatpong
(speaker), and Kenneth Lambert (committee leader).
‘Doing Business in Cambodia’ Presentation
with U.S. Ambassador William Todd
Tax
60
On December 11, 2012, the committee met at the AMCHAM Ford
Boardroom for the presentation “Individual Year-End Tax Planning
& Updates,” delivered by Mr. Greg Lamont, a U.S. tax partner with
PricewaterhouseCoopers. Pictured are (from left) John Andes
(committee leader) and Greg Lamont (speaker).
On November 30, at Plaza Athenee Hotel AMCHAM hosted a special
luncheon that provided Chamber members the opportunity to
hear from and speak with U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia William
Todd about ‘Doing Business in Cambodia.’ Pictured are (from left)
AMCHAM Governor Pierre Breber and Ambassador Todd.
For more information about the USA Fair 2013, including partnership and exhibiting
information, please contact AMCHAM Executive Director Judy Benn at:
[email protected] or AMCHAM Communications Director Patrick
Brown at: [email protected]
column
AMCHAM NEW MEMBERS
AMCHAM Welcomes New Members
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
Brink’s Global Technology Limited
Brink’s Global Technology (BGT) is
responsible for developing, implementing
and supporting technology solutions that
enable best-in-class service to Brink’s
organisations and customers. Established in
2011, BGT is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Brink’s Inc., United States (NYSE: BCO).
Designate: Thunyavit Phetpraw,
General Manager
Alternate: Watcharachai Matuphan,
Application Development Manager
Website: www.brinksglobal.com
Campanella and Associates Recruitment
Company Limited
Smart Search delivers executive search
solutions tailored for global organizations
committed to the Greater Thailand market.
We commit to securing the “best-fit”
executive talent to lead and maneuver
global businesses in the constantly
changing dynamics of South East Asia.
Since 2008, Smart Search has been
developing our reputation as a reliable and
trusted business partner to multinational
companies with strategic developments
in Thailand. In contrast to the nature of
larger executive search firms, our niche is
our ability to deliver customized search
solutions with a realistic yet creative
approach and personal touch.
Our brand value is not hyped through
marketing schemes but determined by
the substance of our achievements and
accountability. Valuing the importance
of business acumen and emotional
intelligence, we strive to help clients
understand their human capital, compete
more effectively, and grow exponentially.
Designate: Santi Campanella, Director
Alternate: Chayada Udomkun,
Office Manager
Website: www.ssrecruitment.com
Bangkok and continues to be overseen by
its London Global Head Office.
design, outstanding and peerless
standards.
Throughout Southeast Asia, Europe,
USA, the Middle East and Africa, Curtis
Fords has served clients worldwide with
a melting pot of needs, preferences
and interests from individuals seeking
the perfect home to multi-national
investors in market anticipation and
capital optimization. With a fortified,
unquestionable track record, Curtis
Fords has remained true to being the link
and the scale balancing the interests of
property owners – property seekers.
KU DÉ TA has one purpose – to bring
together like-minded patrons, international
travelers and opinion-leaders, where they
can interact, exchange ideas, and be
part of a lifestyle revolution. The venue
offers versatile stylish functions spaces,
restaurants with modern fine and casual
dining, a stylish gallery and aviary as well
as private meetings and lounges to cater
your company wish-list, whether it’s a
private event, business dinner, product
launch, or social networking, KU DÉ TA
Bangkok is a one-stop shop for all your
event needs.
Curtis Fords Real Estate Consultancy:
• Property Investment
• Long & Short-term Leases
• Real Estate Development
• Sales & Purchase
• Securitization
• Real Estate Finance
Designate: Florean Laurean,
Managing Director
Website: www.CurtisFords.com
Curtis Fords’ Thailand installation was
initiated 15 years ago in the heartbeat of
62
Designate: Justin Dunne,
Director-Club and Bar Operations
Alternate: Dean Kelly,
Head of Events, External
Websites: www.kudeta.com
Intertek Testing Services (Thailand) Ltd.
Intertek is a global leader in testing,
inspection and certification of products,
commodities and systems. We offer
customers an unparalleled advantage
through applying our broad technical
expertise to fulfill their individual needs.
Our range of services for quality helps
customers, such as manufacturers, retailers,
governments and traders advance their
reputation and master the complexities of the
global marketplace. Our advisory services
help customers deal with increasingly
complex regulation and social issues.
Designate: Arno Zimmer, General Manager
Alternate: Yaowalak Supawiratbancha,
Business Development Manager
Website: www.intertek.com
KU DÉ TA (Thailand Co., LTD.)
Curtis Fords
Products and services: Lifestyle
Entertainment, Restaurants F&B, Events
Organization, Private Events, Art
Exhibition and Social Networking.
KU DÉ TA, a new high end, lifestyle
destination set to redefine dining and
entertainment experiences in Bangkok;
located in the heart of Sathorn business
district, complete with cutting-edge
McWalden & Bailey
McWalden & Bailey was expanded to
Thailand in 2005 and continues to be
steered by its UK Global HQ.
Cumulative multi-jurisdictional legal
knowledge and a solid background in
Thailand’s legal arena completed by a
handpicked team of choice advocates and
foreign legal experts wielding significant
expertise & experience empowers
McWalden & Bailey’s International Law
& Consultancy practice with a grand
wealth of resources in yielding to this
rapid commercial era - equipping clients
with measured strategies for meeting the
expectations of the Thai market.
Whilst a full-fledged law firm, MB also
offers comprehensive Accounting & Taxrelated services and places parallel focus
on services for individual needs such as
immigration and family matters.
MB’s key practice areas include:
• Corporate Commercial, Business &
Investment
• Property & Conveyancing
• Employment Law
• Immigration & Family Law
• Intellectual Property
• Dispute Resolution
• Tax & Accounting
• Overseas Visas
McWalden & Bailey is truly an exclusively
tailored one stop solution provider.
Designate: Florean Laurean,
Managing Director
Website: www.McWaldenBailey.com
Mercure Phuket Deevana
MERCURE PHUKET DEEVANA
All the elements of a perfect island holiday
in the heart of Patong Beach. A fantastic
location – steps away from world-famous
Patong beach, shopping bazaars and
Phuket’s bustling nightlife. Mercure Phuket
Deevana brings its distinctive style and
contemporary lightness to the otherwise
down-to-earth Patong. With 249 tastefully
appointed rooms and suites, celestial spa
treatments, offbeat dining experience,
astronomical-themed leisure activities
and hi-tech meeting facilities, the hotel is
a highlight in itself – and a must-stay for
individuals, couples, families and business
travelers on vacation in Phuket.
MERCURE KRABI DEEVANA
Mercure Krabi Deevana offers chic
accommodation in contemporary low-rise
buildings located as a short distances from
Ao Nang Beach, with 213 stylish rooms
and suites, each with private balcony. The
brand new resort features an exceptional
restaurant and bars, three large outdoor
swimming pools, a kid’s pool, a restful
and rejuvenating spa, and outstanding
meeting and events facilities. Mercure
Krabi Deevana is close to Krabi’s beautiful
islands and beaches, as well as seafood
restaurants, fascinating local markets,
vibrant nightlife, and much more.
Designate: Veeranat Limprasutr,
Executive General Manager
Alternate: Sorawish Bunrathirun,
Cluster Director of Sales
Website: www.mercurephuketdeevana.com
T.C.C. Technology Co., Ltd. (TCCT) is a
member of TCC Group, one of the largest
conglomerates in Thailand. TCCT is the
first and the only certified SAP Hosting
Partner in Thailand and is also Microsoft
certified partner, offering the best-in-class
cloud-based solutions and services via the
strong collaboration with various global
partners. TCCT offers commercial managed
hosting and infrastructure solutions
designed to meet increasing demands from
organizations looking to outsource their
information technology requirements.
TCCT operates not only highly secured
multiple world-class Enterprise Data
Centers in downtown Bangkok and the
city’s eastern suburbs, but also manages
to cover Industrial and International Data
Centers in Asia via its Asia Data Center
Alliance (ADCA) network.
Designate: Kosit Suksinga,
Managing Director
Alternate: Waleeporn Sayasit,
Marketing Director
Website: www.tcc-technology.com
Visa Southeast Asia
Visa is a global payments technology
company that connects consumers,
businesses, banks and governments in more
than 200 countries and territories, enabling
them to use electronic payments instead
of cash and checks. Visa has built one of
the world’s most advanced processing
networks. It’s capable of handling more
than 20,000 transactions per second,
with reliability, convenience and security,
including fraud protection for consumers
and guaranteed payment for merchants.
Visa does not issue cards, extend credit
or set rates and fees for consumers.
Visa’s innovations, however, enable its
bank customers to offer consumers more
choices: Pay now with debit, ahead of time
with prepaid or later with credit products.
Governments around the world have
switched to electronic payments instead
of checks for benefits payments and
purchasing in order to increase efficiency
and lower costs, saving taxpayers money.
Visa is giving more people in more places
access to electronic payments. From
Designate: Jeff Paine, Executive Director
Website: www.visa.com
ASSOCIATE CORPORATE
ANZ Bank (Lao) Limited
ANZ began operating as ANZ Vientiane
Commercial Bank Ltd. in September
2007 with the purchase of a majority
shareholding in the Vientiane Commercial
Bank Ltd., a privately owned bank that had
been operating in Laos for 14 years.
ANZ moved to 100% ownership in August
2010.
ANZ is a public listed company
whose world headquarters are situated
in Melbourne, Australia. ANZ was
established over 170 years ago and is
one of the top 50 banks in the world
as measured by sales, profit, assets and
market value. It has assets worth U.S.$347
billion and its net profit in 2007 was in
excess of U.S.$4.1 billion.
MB’s international presence throughout the
key business hubs of Europe, USA, Hong
Kong and Southeast Asia is measured to
anticipate and is well catered for both the
needs of multi-national corporations on
one hand and of individuals on the other.
T.C.C. Technology Company Limited
the world’s major cities to remote areas
without banks, people are increasingly
relying on electronic payments along with
mobile technology to use their money
any time, make purchases online, transfer
funds across borders and access basic
financial services. All of which makes their
lives easier and grows economies.
ANZ operates in Asia through wholly
owned ANZ businesses in 12 countries,
and has eight partnerships in seven
countries. ANZ also has operations in 13
countries in the Pacific.
ANZ has an AA credit rating (Standard &
Poor’s, 2007).
Representative: Troy Noskoff,
Head of Retail Banking (Laos)
Representative: Abdul Lathief,
Chief Executive Officer
Website: www.anz.com/laos
DFDL (Lao) Sale Co., Ltd.
DFDL was established in Lao PDR in 1994
as the first officially authorized foreign legal
and tax consultancy. Licensed by the Lao
authorities as legal and tax advisers, our
Firm is permitted to advise foreign investors
and international organizations on all
aspects of Lao law. Our foreign and Laotian
63
column
AMCHAM NEW MEMBERS
Vo l u m e 6 / 2 0 1 2
advisers are fully committed to providing
international-standard services coupled
with an in-depth knowledge of the local
environment. Our clients include major
international and Asian foreign investors
participating in foreign direct investment
in Lao PDR, including large international
financial institutions. We have been
involved in most major projects in Lao PDR
since the office opened over 18 years ago,
including virtually all large hydro-electricity
and mining projects as well as the first
thermal power project in Lao PDR.
Since 1994 DFDL has expanded its
presence in Asia and now has over
120 lawyers in offices and practices
in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia,
Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and
Vietnam. The firm’s vision is to build a
leading integrated international law firm
that offers investors a unique combination
of international-standard, on the ground
experience in the frontier markets of Asia,
with technical excellence across our core
areas of expertise.
Representative: Danyel Thomson,
Senior Legal Adviser
Representative: Vinay Ahuja,
Senior Legal Adviser
Website: www.dfdl.com
ECC International, LLC
ECC International, LLC (ECCI) is a wholly
owned subsidiary of ECC, an employeeowned business founded in 1985. ECCI
provides high quality, comprehensive, and
competitive design-build, construction,
environmental remediation, engineering
and design management, energy, and
military munitions response services to
our clients. Supported by nearly 500
professionals located in 14 offices around
the globe, ECCI has demonstrated the
technical and managerial breadth and
expertise to complete a variety of largescale, concurrent projects worldwide.
As an award-winning constructor, ECCI’s
multi-disciplined resources and varied
portfolio positions us to handle the
complex and diverse design-build and
construction needs of our clients. We use
state-of-the-art technology, and our experts
are highly trained and well-versed in the
latest industry trends, such as Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) certifications.
Together with our clients, we’re
constructing state-of-the-art military
facilities, rebuilding war-torn regions,
64
building capacity in underdeveloped
nations, remediating the environment,
and revitalizing communities after natural
disasters. For more information, please
visit www.ecc.net.
Never Compromising Safety.
Representative: Darren Smith,
Senior Project Manager
Representative: David Bluestein,
Business Development
Website: www.ecc.net
Milliman Private Limited
Milliman is among the world’s largest
providers of actuarial and related products
and services. Founded in 1947, Milliman
is an independent firm with offices in
major cities around the globe. We are
owned and managed by principals—
senior consultants whose selection is
based on their technical, professional and
business achievements.
Through consulting practices in employee
benefits, healthcare, investment, life
insurance and financial services, and
property and casualty insurance, Milliman
serves the full spectrum of business, financial,
government, union, education, and nonprofit
organizations. In addition to our consulting
actuaries, Milliman’s body of professionals
includes numerous other specialists, ranging
from clinicians to economists.
Despite our impressive growth over the
past six decades, we still operate according
to the guiding principles of our founders,
Wendell Milliman and Stuart Robertson.
We retain their rigorous standards of
professional excellence, peer review
and objectivity. We remain committed to
developing innovative tools and products
and providing expert solutions. And we
continue to earn our clients’ trust by keeping
our focus fixed on their business objectives.
Representative: Danny Quant, ActuaryHead of Development Benefits Consulting
Website: www.milliman.com
Thai Institute of Directors Association
The Thai Institute of Directors Association
(IOD) is a leading organization dedicated
to improving director professionalism
and corporate governance in Thailand.
Founded in 1999, two years following
the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the IOD
has been at the forefront of promoting
good governance practices in the Thai
companies. Through its various activities,
the IOD had helped develop professional
standard of directorship, and provided
best practice guidelines for company
directors to perform their duties effectively
up to the international standards. It is the
IOD belief that with effective directors,
the company will be guided in the way
that it can be managed and operated
effectively, hence, resulting in shareholder
value and sustainable growth of the Thai
economy.
The IOD is a not-for-profit, membership
organization, established with support
from Thailand capital market core
institutions namely, the Securities and
Exchange Commission, The Stock
Exchange of Thailand, The Bank of
Thailand, and the Foundation for Capital
Market Development Fund, as well as
international organization such as the
World Bank. Today, the IOD is accepted
domestically and internationally for its
leading role in corporate governance,
and has been cited as one of the most
successful professional bodies in the
national and international forums.
Representative: Bandid Nijathaworn,
CEO & President
Representative: Siriporn Wutthigul,
Senior Manager-Member
Website: www.thai-iod.com
MEMBER CHANGES:
COMPANY NAME CHANGES
The Associated Merchandising
Corporation is now:
Target Sourcing Services Corporation
COMPANY ADDRESS CHANGES
Lihn’s Golf Guide (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
relocated to:
199/12 Chicha Castle
Sukhumvit Soi 31
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
MSNA LTD.
relocated to:
65/62 Chamnan Phenjati Business
Center Building, 6th Floor
Rama 9 Road, Huaykwang
Bangkok 10320
AMCHAM Affinity Program
The Following Fine Establishments Offer Discounts or Incentives to AMCHAM Members
American School of Bangkok
- 50% off registration fees
- 10% off first year’s tuition
Execshirts
30% discount off
listed prices
Anantara Bangkok
Riverside Resort & Spa
20% discount for dinner
(only) at Trader Vic’s, Benihana
and Manohra Cruises
(gold menu)
Bourbon Street
10% discount on food at
Bourbon St. (Located on
Sukhumvit Soi 63 - Ekamai Road,
near BTS Ekkamai Station)
Global Union Express
- 5% discount on Thai’s Royal
Orchid Holidays at regular price
- 4% discount from all international IATA published fares
ex Bangkok including RTW
Holiday Inn Silom Bangkok
25% discount on food &
beverage at The Brasserie,
Tandoor, Orchid Lounge
and Hari’s Bar
Robere and Associates
15% off all training programs
Tahitian Noni International
- Annual membership
fee waived
- Purchase products at
discounted member
pricing
- Free shipping on orders
of Baht 6,000 or more
Vektor Telematics
15% discount on products
and one free month of
service for using GPS to track
commercial vehicles
Chiva-Som
International Health
Resorts
Niranlada Medi-Spa
Complimentary facial
consultation and
skin analysis with
20% discount on skin
rejuvenation treatments
• Laser skin rejuvenation
• Skin tightening and
refining
• Scar and acne
treatment
• Hyperpigmentation
and sun spots
• Dilated veins and facial
redness
• Laser hair removal
• Face and neck lift with
Mini Thread Lift
• Cellulite reduction
• Lypolysis and
recontouring
• Laser blepharoplasty
• VISIATM 3-D facial
imaging
Raja’s Fashion
Buy One Suit,
Get One Shirt Free
The Neilson Hays Library
Sign up for a 12 month
membership and get 15
months; Sign up for a 6 month
membership and get 9 months;
Receive a free “eco-friendly”
NHL bag (worth 300 baht)
Tour de Thailand
- Discounts for
multiple riders
- 50% off all bike rentals
CoffeeWORKS
20% off all La Cimbali
espresso machines
Le Club Plaza
- Special price of Baht 5,999
net for Le Club Plaza or
- Baht 6,999 net for Le Club
Plaza with Wine Ambassador Club status
BNH Hospital
- 10% discount on medications
- 20% discount on ward
rooms
Crowne Plaza Lumpini
20% discount on food only
This can be applied in any
restaurants
LMG Insurance
15% discount on motor and
other insurance
President Park Group
Visit our websites,
Get 10% discounts on
BEST AVAILABLE RATES:
www.presidentpalacehotel.
com;
www.presidentsolitaire.com;
www.grandpresident.com;
www.royalpresident.com;
www.presidentpark.com;
Promo Code: AMCHAM
(Please encode when making a room reservations)
*Discount cannot coincide
with other promotions
More discounts in our
outlets:
• 10% discount on our
Food & Beverage outlets
• 15% discount at Ananda
Spa @ President Solitaire
Hotel & Spa, Soi 11
Sukhumvit, Bangkok
Sinclair Paint
Discount of 25% (before
VAT) on all paint products
for decorative and
architectural purposes
Rose Marie Academy
One year free tuition to the
Saturday English Program for
dependents (4-14 years) of
employees of AMCHAM
member companies
Cascade Club
- 10% discount on Individual
Membership
- Baht 3,000 discount on Gold
Membership
Creatus
5% discount on goods
when paying with cash
For out-patients: 10%
discount for medicine,
laboratory work, X-rays
for self-pay (Except
vaccination, CT, MRI,
ultrasound, dental,
special devices, special
medication, no discount
on insurance and
doctor’s fee.)
For in-patients: 10%
discount for room
charges, medicine,
laboratory work, X-rays
for self-pay (Except
vaccination, CT, MRI,
ultrasound, dental,
special devices, special
medication, no discount
on insurance and
doctor’s fee.)
The above conditions
could be used at Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital
and Samitivej Srinakarin
Hospital.
Your Promotion
Here!
Sunrise Tacos
10% discount
The Duke’s
10% discount
For information
on participating
in the Affinity
Program contact
Khun Kittie at: kittie@
amchamthailand.com
Restrictions apply. Member must present AMCHAM membership
card to receive discounts. Offer is subject to change or termination;
new offers, changes and terminations will be announced in T-AB
Magazine and on the AMCHAM website. If you have not yet received
your AMCHAM membership card, please contact the AMCHAM
office. For details and restrictions on these offers please visit: www.
amchamthailand.com
65
AMCHAM Membership:
Not Just for Americans
Tour group inside Gheco-One plant – a U.S.$1.3 billion 660 MW coal independent power plant.
Benefits of AMCHAM Membership
Advocacy
Through its committees and the Board of Governors,
AMCHAM works to address matters affecting members’
ability to do business in Thailand. Join with other
AMCHAM members experiencing similar issues, create
position papers and other advocacy pieces and engage
Thai and U.S. government officials under the banner
of AMCHAM. The AMCHAM Board of Governors is
committed to creating synergy amongst stakeholders and
connecting industry and government.
Member Services
Network and make business contacts with representatives
of AMCHAM’s 700 member companies. Attend
presentations by prominent U.S. and Thai speakers,
monthly membership luncheons and social networking
events, golf and bowling tournaments and the annual
Installation Ball. Participate in over 20 AMCHAM
AMCHAM briefed students from Florida International University (FIU)
about doing business in Thailand and South East Asia on December 14, in
AMCHAM’s Ford Boardroom.
committees covering various sectors. Membership
privileges also include up to ten coupons for AMCHAM
monthly luncheons and, subject to certain conditions,
expedited appointments for U.S. business visa interviews.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Give back to the community where you live and do
business by donating to the AMCHAM Thailand
Charitable Foundation. Direct your donation to needy
Thai public schools, scholarships for Thai university
students and/or fellowships for teachers.
For more information on these and the many other benefits of
AMCHAM membership, contact Khun Orn at: orn@amchamthailand.
com, call +66 (0) 2254-1041, or visit the AMCHAM website at:
www.amchamthailand.com and click on Join AMCHAM.
FedEx Express brought gifts and funds for a new playground to
Sithipayagorn School, Amphur Wang Noi, Ayudhaya.

President Obama Visits Thailand

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