BCCT Link Magazine - Issue 2 2016

Magazine of the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand Issue 2 2016

Education in Thailand

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Terms and conditions: These fares are subject to change without prior notice. British Airways reserve the right withdraw the offer without prior notice. Offer valid for departures from Bangkok between 1 May 2016 and 31 March 2017. Fares are inclusive of taxes and fuel surcharges and exclusive of services fees. Proof of valid student identity is required at the time of booking. Ticket validity: 12 months. Fare valid for travel to London and high fare applicable to other UK destinations via London. UK destinations: London, Aberdeen, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle and Jersey. Double baggage allowance is applicable on British Airways flights only. This offer is available for students under the age of 30. Tickets must originate and be issued in Thailand. Other terms and conditions apply.

Contents BCCT

Board of Directors 2016

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CHAIRMAN Simon Matthews ManpowerGroup Thailand T: 02 2634 7273 matthews@manpower.th.com VICE CHAIRMEN Simon Landy Colliers International Thailand T: 02 656 7000 simon.landy@colliers.com Christopher Thatcher Anglo-Thai Legal Co., Ltd. T: 081 803 7377 christhatcher1@gmail.com

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DIRECTORS Ali Adam Arcadia (Thailand) Co., Ltd. T: 02 108 1822 ali@arcadia-engineering.com Mark Bowling Savills (Thailand) Limited T: 02 636 0300 MWBowling@savills.co.th Billy Chomsakorn British Airways PLC T: 001 80044 15906 billy.chomsakorn@ba.com

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Viriya (Boyd) Chongphaisal GlaxoSmithKline (Thailand) Limited T: 02 659 3000 viriya.x.chongphaisal@gsk.com John Christie Ek-Chai Distribution System Co., Ltd. T: 02 797 9000 john.christie@th.tesco.com David Cumming ONYX Hospitality Group (Amari Watergate Bangkok) T: 02 653 9000 david.cumming@amari.com Stephen Frost Bangkok International Associates Ltd T: 02 231 6201/6455 sfrost@bia.co.th Somporn Leelasestaporn BT Siam Ltd. T: 02 126 8006 somporn.leelasestaporn@bt.com Carl Sellick Lucy Electric (Thailand) Limited T: 033 684 333 Carl.Sellick@lucyelectric.com

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This Edition

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Brighton College set to open in Bangkok

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Big Data makes huge impact

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Kelvin Tan HSBC T: 02 614 4000 kelvin.tan@hsbc.co.th

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Academic links

Ambitious steps at Regents School in Pattaya

Hugh Vanijprabha Rolls-Royce (Thailand) Ltd. T: 02 263 0500 Hugh.Vanijprabha@Rolls-Royce.com

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HONORARY TREASURER John Sim PKF Tax and Consulting Services (Thailand) Ltd. T: 02 108 1591-96 john.sim@pkf.com

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The Link

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Demand rises for international education in northern Thailand Full steam ahead for NIST students

Arts and sport can boost academic performances Tammarine serves an ace at Bangkok Prep

Delivery Areas

Contents Issue 2/2016 The Link is published by the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand.

Advertising enquiries: Greg Watkins Email: greg@bccthai.com Editor: Dale Lawrence Email: dalelawrence2008@gmail.com Front cover design: GSBI

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Production: Scand-Media Corp., Ltd The views expressed by individual authors are not necessarily those of the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand or of the publisher. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand is strictly prohibited.

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By the Numbers

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Executive Director’s Message

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News from the IPR SME Help Desk: Making your mark British Chamber of Commerce Thailand 7th Floor, 208 Wireless Road Bangkok 10330, Thailand Tel: 02-651 5350/3 Fax: 02-651 5354 Website: www.bccthai.com Email: greg@bccthai.com Greg Watkins, Executive Director

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Chairman’s Message

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Chamber News: Overseas Business Network initiative supports BCCT

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BCCT 70th Anniversary: Weathering the Thai storms of the 70s

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Member News

Comings and Goings Final Word

Chairman’s Message

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ime does fly as I write this issue of The Link. We now have reached the month of June and the last five months have been very active for the Chamber. Financially, we continue to be in a strong position and we continue to look at how may invest back in order to add value to your membership.

Simon Matthews Sustaining Partners

Sustaining Partners

I was very pleased with the number of members that took up the offer to receive vouchers for timely payments of the membership fees and that they are being used to attend the variety of events that the Chamber hosts each month.

The Overseas Business Network is meeting its targets and whilst there is still some uncertainty with regard to the future of funding from the UK government we are in a strong position and continue to deliver quality work.

An excellent example is the ‘Taste of Britain’ campaign that took place with great success earlier this year in 91 Central Food Retail/Tops stores. This campaign, which featured more than 3,000 UK products, resulted in an increase in sales of some 40 percent compared to last year. Our sincere thanks to British Airways and to The Landmark Hotel for sponsoring the fantastic prize of a four-day trip to London, won by Khun Siroj Sukprem.

Simon Landy represented the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand in the United Kingdom during the recent Board of Trade/Thai Chamber of Commerce mission that was able supported by 10 Thai companies.

The BCCT events 70th anniversary celebrations remain on track with a number of key events yet to take place including the Thai-UK 2016 exhibition at BITEC (7 - 10 September); the International Business Awards and Dinner in October and the always-popular annual Christmas Luncheon on 15th December.

Other events are being planned so do, please, check the BCCT events calendar on our website for the latest details.

Finally, I know that many of our member companies are hosting events to coincide with the Euro 2016 football championships in France (1- June to 10 July). With three home nations represented (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) these events have been providing excellent opportunities to network and to support your home country.

Finally, I wish you safe travels during the upcoming summer holiday season and, as ever, I look forward to seeing you soon.

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Executive Director’s Message

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am typing this message on a train to Manchester at the start of a UK roadshow that also takes in Doncaster, Birmingham, London, The International Festival of Business in Liverpool and Kidderminster - the latter in support of British Government Trade Envoy for Thailand Mark Garnier MP in his constituency.

Greg watkins Airline Partner

Supporting Partners

I will be presenting and meeting on a 1-2-1 basis more than 100 representatives of British SMEs highlighting the many opportunities for them in the Thai marketplace.

This will generate some leads for BCCT’s Business Services team which has now taken over virtually all the SME support from UK Trade & Investment in Bangkok under the Overseas Business Network initiative (OBNi). An article in this issue of Link magazine provides some background information on the OBNI and describes how BCCT members are benefitting from the initiative.

Since my last message BCCT hosted a very successful Life and Style Garden Party in the British Ambassador’s garden and the Taste of Britain food and drink promotion with Central Food Retail/Tops that exceeded all expectations. The 2016 Taste of Britain promotion, supported by BCCT and UKTI, took place on 9 to 29 March in 91 stores nationwide - including seven branches of Central Food Hall, 45 branches of Tops markets in Bangkok, 37 branches of Tops markets upcountry and two Tops ‘superstores’. Compared to the 2015 promotion a 40 percent increase in sales was achieved, totalling THB 18,887,829.10 (£378,000). Many new British products were introduced to Thailand such as Fairfields Farm Crisps, Geeta’s pickles and chutneys, and Mellow Yellow dressings.

BCCT’s 70th Anniversary activities step up a gear on 1 July with the official launch of the BCCT International Business Awards. BCCT is working with Big Chilli to take the magazine’s established Expat Entrepreneur Awards and create a larger event covering more categories of excellence. The seven categories are: Outstanding Company, Most Innovative Company, Outstanding Small Company (30 employees or less), Most Promising New Business (3 years old or less), Expat Entrepreneur, Thai Entrepreneur and Young Professional (aged 30 years or younger).

Judges will assess four main criteria: performance, creativity/innovation, contribution to the Thai economy and level of staff participation/involvement. Any and all nationalities are very welcome to participate and/or nominate companies and individuals.

BCCT currently has significant reserves. Over many years the BCCT Board has considered how best to use these reserves in order to benefit members. This year, as a 70th Anniversary benefit, BCCT provided THB 3,600 (about £70) in events vouchers to members that renewed membership for 2016 by 31st March. A total of 419 BCCT members qualified for the vouchers. Other ideas about how best to use the Chamber’s reserves to benefit members will be very welcome.

BCCT’s charity activity has two key strands. BCCT organises the grand raffle at the Annual Ploenchit Fair organised by the British Community in Thailand Foundation for the Needy (BCTFN). BCTFN supports more than 20 charity projects across Thailand with annual allocations totalling about THB 5 million. I also represent BCCT as Vice President of BCTFN. BCCT has its own much smaller charity budget comprising funds collected from the raffle at each Annual Christmas Luncheon. With these funds, BCCT supports charities focussing on children and/or education. The BCCT board is working with the British Embassy to develop a British charity project as part of BCCT’s 70th Anniversary celebrations and you are invited to propose projects for support. Please contact me for further details.

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BCCT has produced a range of 70th anniversary promotional items, such as pins and pens, as ‘giveaways’ for members at events. Mugs and fold-away umbrellas are also available at very competitive prices. Please look out for these at BCCT events.

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100% Yellow

11% Cyan

100% Magenta

65% Black

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I would like to take this opportunity to welcome new British Ambassador Brian Davidson and new Deputy Ambassador Margaret Tongue to Thailand. We wish them much success in their new postings and we look forward to them meeting BCCT members in the coming months. At the end of June we bid farewell to Deputy Director of Trade & Investment Ben Raby. Ben has been a major factor in BCCT’s success with the OBNi since its inception more than three years ago. His positive and pragmatic support will be missed.

BRIGHTON COLLEGE BANGKOK

Britain’s top school is now in Bangkok.

Sister of Brighton College, ranked number 1 of all 9,000 mixed schools (educating both boys and girls) in the UK, Brighton College Bangkok will offer its exceptional and innovative curriculum to pupils between two and 18 years of age.

For more information please contact our Admissions Team.

+66 (0)2 136 7898 admissions@brightoncollegebangkok.com brightoncollegebangkok.com instagram.com/brightoncollegebangkok @BrightonBangkok Krungthep Kreetha 15/1, Srinakarin-Rama 9, Bangkok

Inspiration | Innovation | Excellence

cover story

Brighton College set to open in Bangkok David Tongue is the founding Headmaster of Brighton College Bangkok, the sister school of Brighton College – one of the UK’s leading independent (private) school. He recently relocated to Bangkok with his family from the UAE where he was Headmaster of another Brighton College in Abu Dhabi. Under his leadership the school achieved three outstanding inspection reports, became the highest ranked school in the country and achieved the best GCSE results of any international school in the region. David Tongue shared his views with The Link on why British independent education has such a prestigious international reputation.

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ritish independent education is rightly revered throughout the world for providing its pupils with the highest possible calibre of education. Pupils privileged enough to receive a Brighton education go on to study at the leading universities and, as a result, are disproportionately represented in challenging, rewarding and elite fields.

and many more to universities in both the UK and the US that appear in the top 20 global rankings.

Indeed, the Brighton alumni seemingly have choices that are elusive to many and find themselves at the pinnacle of professions as diverse as law, politics, medicine and journalism.

Much of the impetus for this comes from having the highest possible expectations for all our pupils. Many schools will place a ceiling – consciously or otherwise – on what they expect children to achieve. They will look at their curriculum or examination syllabus, decide the skills and knowledge base they would like their pupils to develop, and once they have met these targets they will consider their task to be completed.

This year in excess of 40 pupils from across the Brighton College family of schools went on to study at Oxbridge

At Brighton College our expectations for each and every child are constantly revised on a monthly, weekly

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and even a daily basis to ensure the highest levels of academic progress – even for those children who are consistently excelling in all areas of the curriculum.

This requires us to know our pupils incredibly well. The average size of private schools is much lower than other British schools, many of which have now ballooned in size to over 1,600 or even 2,000 pupils.

In schools such as this it is easy for pupils to get lost in the system, for a lack of personalisation to exist and for children to be treated as a single uniform body. At Brighton College, smaller class sizes allow teachers throughout the school to know each

cover story child’s strengths and talents, to get the best out of them and to fill them with the ambition they need to succeed.

High expectations and academic rigour require talented and inspirational teachers who can develop independence in their pupils by consistently challenging them in a comfortable, safe, supportive and nurturing environment.

At Brighton College Bangkok we have appointed exceptional teachers who have flourished in our sister schools or other world-renowned British independent schools. We have also appointed teachers who have excelled in fields outside education. These are ambitious and highly professional teachers who are able to inspire their pupils, to teach them to be independent and to urge them to think and to question, to lead and to innovate.

The very best independent schools will focus on educating the whole child through a rich programme of co-curricular activities encompassing a plethora of academic interests, cultural pursuits, sports, music and the dramatic arts. Brighton College goes a step further than this by providing children with a balanced life in school as we believe that children learn best when they are happy.

Our greatest academic successes in the UK and overseas - including gaining the highest A Level results ever achieved in Great Britain - have come during a period where we have asked our parents to stop using private tutors for their children after school (a practice we had never actively encouraged) and where we have focused on providing a lower quantity of higher quality prep or homework.

Stressed and overworked pupils do not tend to excel and many leading independent schools are now taking Brighton’s lead in this area. In short, happiness is the prerequisite to success.

The notion of providing pupils with a balanced life in school is further enhanced through the House System - a

uniquely British independent school creation.

Our House System reaches into all areas of pupils’ academic and pastoral lives within the College and, indeed, beyond through linked Houses in our network of sister schools. This provides children with a supportive family within the College, nurturing them to become the very best version of themselves.

Perhaps the greatest differentiator, however, is in the curriculum that is tailored to the children. The independent nature of private schools means that they have been buffered from many of the externally imposed curriculum initiatives that have often resulted in eroded standards.

This has allowed them to focus on extending the curriculum to ensure that pupils are best prepared for the next stage of their education and a future that we cannot yet predict.

Brighton College has developed an international reputation for innovation, from being the first school to have a dedicated science laboratory and the first school to have a gymnasium, to more recent innovations such as the teaching of entrepreneurship, compulsory Mandarin, the developing a highly innovative well-

being programme and, not least, by creating our own unique, integrated humanities subject ‘The Story of our Land’.

This bespoke course combines elements of history, geography, economics, sociology, politics and philosophy in a context that is both fresh and relevant to the lives of our pupils. This innovative content is in the ‘DNA’ of our curriculum. Furthermore, the expectations placed on our teachers are high, extremely high, since for Brighton College pupils creative and inspiring lessons are the norm.

Indeed, a combined focus on high expectations, traditional academic rigour, an innovative curriculum and a balanced life for pupils epitomises the very best of British independent education and ensures all pupils become highly literate, numerate, articulate, self-assured and fully prepared not only for entrance into the leading universities and professions but to embrace any challenges that the future may bring.

Brighton College Bangkok opens its Pre-Prep School for pupils aged 2-9 in September 2016 with the Prep and Senior Schools following in September 2017.

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Academic links Justin Moseley has been providing vital links between UK universities and independent schools in Thailand for the past 20 years. As Managing Director of Consortium UK, Justin is well placed to assess the challenges and opportunities facing students in Thailand seeking to further their education in the United Kingdom.

Q1: Links between Thailand and UK universities stretch back to the beginning of the 20th century. How special is the relationship today between British academic establishments and Thai society?

Thailand and the UK are linked in many ways. Both have long and interesting histories with Royal Families leading the way. Other native English speaking countries just do not have the same historical links that Thailand has with the UK, and a student from Thailand, just like those first sent there by King Chulalongkorn, will gain from the many fine institutions that make up the UK education system.

Many international businesses and professional organisations, whose head offices are often outside Britain, have direct links with UK universities because of their continued excellence. Most Formula One Grand Prix motor racing teams, such as McLaren, Red Bull, Renault, Mercedes-Benz and Williams, are located in the UK, and they all have close links with the most modern university research laboratories and programmes. For example, students from the University of Bath can benefit from work placements at McLaren and Williams F1 Teams, L’Oreal and Nike, and the University of Warwick has close associations with Airbus and Jaguar/Land Rover.

The UK education system is a combination of the best traditions and modern life. Some UK universities and schools are among the oldest in the world; others are some of the newest and most forward thinking – there is no better example of this than the University of Warwick, which has achieved so much in just 50 years. UK educational institutions provide globally recognised qualifications of the highest academic and practical standards.

One of the things that I enjoy from assisting so many Thai students over the years is seeing them return from the UK and use what they have gained to further their own careers and businesses here. Education in the UK has typically given them the chance to be more creative individually and develop their own ideas and this reflects on Thai society in general. The UK is recognised and respected as the founder of so many things

Justin Moseley, centre, on campus at the University of Bath.

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Q3: Over the past 20 years you have fostered good relations between schools in Thailand and many British universities. In the face of this increased competition, are more universities now seeking an active presence in this market?

In the early 1990s, few UK universities bothered much about the Thai market, relying mostly on China and elsewhere for international students, but that changed in the late 1990s and by the early 2000s Thailand was seen as a market with much potential, with a rise in the number of UK universities actively seeking recruitment. Whilst we have seen Harrow, Shrewsbury, Bromsgrove and recently Brighton College successfully open international schools in Bangkok, we still have not yet seen a UK university open a campus.

Q4: Is there a Thailand equivalent of the ‘milk run’, where UK universities ‘pitch’ to potential undergraduates?

Q2: The UK now faces intense competition for overseas students from universities in the US, Australia, Canada and continental Europe as well as across north east and south east Asia. What are the key benefits that you, as an expert in this field, are now highlighting to schools, parents and students in Thailand?

The UK is perceived as having high quality education that is scrutinised and maintained by British government legislation, so even universities that are ranked lower in the league tables are likely to have reasonable standards. Top institutions in the USA such as Harvard or MIT are of course absolute top quality, but the same may not be so true of some less well-known institutions. Master’s degrees in the UK are usually for a year, whereas those in the USA are typically two years’ duration, a far less attractive proposition in terms of cost and lost earning potential. The UK is also well-placed for students to explore the varied cultures and history of Europe (some UK university bachelor’s degrees may include a period of study at a leading European university).

In contrast, the USA, Canada and Australia are relatively isolated and thus have less diversity in travel options. In addition, and perhaps more importantly, the UK offers a far longer historical background for students to explore, something which I hope will make students become keener to encourage the preservation of old buildings and traditional environments in Thailand. EU funding has meant that some European universities have been able to provide full (or very significant) funding, an understandable attraction, but a major problem with this can be that, whilst English is the studying language, communication and adapting to living outside the study environment can be quite stressful.

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Because of the rise in the number of good quality international schools in Thailand that offer A-Level and IB programmes (or the right mix of AP/SAT opportunities), there is potential for the number of Thai students gaining direct entry to undergraduate courses in the UK to increase. For many years now, I have been organising visits

by UK university staff to the leading international schools, and many university staff conduct their own visits.

Q5: What are the most popular courses now preferred by Thai students winning places at UK universities?

Business-related areas (management, finance, marketing, economics, etc.) continue to be the most popular choices, particularly so for master’s degree studies, but areas such as law and logistics are also in demand. It saddens me sometimes when I see a student with, for example, a bachelor’s degree in engineering or science, decide to ditch all that knowledge and change to finance for a master’s degree with a view to developing a career in that field. I would argue that specialising in a particular area of engineering or science might end up being more lucrative (and maybe more environmentally useful) than just using the mathematical skills in the field of finance.

Q6: The command of English amongst Thai students varies enormously. Is poor English a barrier to some students that might otherwise elect to continue their education in the United Kingdom?

I do not have the most recent data, but I do know that the average IELTS score recorded by Thai students fell between 2010 and 2013, and this would seem to be consistent with the current situation. Many otherwise academically well qualified Thai students are constantly seeking the easiest English language entry options, and it is sad to see some just not being able to reach the required level.

Justin Moseley may be reached at justin@consortiumuk.net.

4F, Times Square, 246 Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok 10110 Tel: +66 (0) 2 653 2384

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Demand rises for international education in northern Thailand

By Daniel Maxwell

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hile Bangkok remains the centre of Thailand’s buoyant international education sector with as many as 150 international schools located in and around the capital, demand for high quality English language education is driving the sector’s growth throughout the country with regional hubs such as Phuket and Chiang Mai experiencing significant growth.

may be attributed to the growing aspirations of the region’s middle classes, the perceived inadequacies of the national education systems, the opening of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), in which English is recognised as the economic bloc’s official language, and more recently, demand from AsiaPacific students opting to learn at international schools in Thailand.

The growth of the international education sector in northern Thailand

Of the international programmes on offer, schools providing a British-

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based curriculum are proving to be among the most popular, possibly as a result of the association with world renowned academic institutions such as Cambridge University and the fact that IGCSEs and A Level qualifications are accepted by top universities across the world.

In response to the ever growing demand from expatriates and local families Varee Chiangmai International School in northern Thailand is opening new early years

and primary schools this year to complement the secondary school that opened in 2010. Founder and director of Varee School Ajarn Varee Patravanich, who opened her first kindergarten in 1978, decided to expand the international school to empower more students with a world-class standard of education and support the growing number of local and foreign parents who realise the need for 21st century learners to receive a fully international education.

Varee Chiangmai International School is located close to the city centre and is well-equipped with the latest educational resources, led by a team of dedicated educators and fully accredited by Cambridge International Examinations and the UK-based Education Development Trust. The school’s international curriculum is based on the British education system from early years to sixth form, offering Cambridge

International Examinations in the form of IGCSEs at Year 11 and A Levels at Year 13.

In line with the school’s vision of providing ‘an education beyond tomorrow’ the educators at Varee International strive to empower students with an education which will prepare them to succeed in the increasingly challenging environment of the 21st century.

Educational programmes at Varee International focus upon developing higher order thinking skills and positive habits to ensure students mature to be healthy young adults with good social skills and strong academics.

Set on 20 acres of land, Varee Chiangmai International School provides a spacious environment with ample space for students to take part in sports and other extracurricular activities. The excellent facil-

ities at Varee International support the delivery of an innovative education, utilising state-of-the-art facilities such as multi-media computer labs, science laboratories, library, smart boards in all classrooms and sporting facilities that include a 50 metre swimming pool.

Daniel Maxwell is Head of English at Varee Chiangmai School.

For families looking for educational alternatives to Bangkok’s international schools, a visit to a top quality institution in northern Thailand is strongly advised.

For more information about Varee Chiangmai International School, visit the school’s website, or email international@varee.ac.th www.international.varee.ac.th

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Full steam ahead for NIST students

By Jared Kuruzovich

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he arts are under attack… again. Faced with faltering economies, ballooning deficits and stagnant job markets, governments around the world have again begun proposing budget cuts and education reforms, all targeted toward eliminating music, visual art and drama in schools.

In the United States hundreds of Boston students have staged protests against cuts to humanities classes and resources. The austerity philosophy in the United Kingdom has led to a steady erosion of arts in the public sector. In Japan over 25 universities will downsize or entirely jettison their liberal arts programmes.

Worldwide, the arts have been labelled superfluous while vocational education and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) take centre stage. The claimed rationale? To solve the crises we face we must prepare students with the technical competencies they need to contribute to the workforce. Yet this belief fundamentally overlooks the contributions of arts and humanities in education and, in fact, completely disregards what employers themselves seek in new hires.

The calls for STEM-based education largely arise from the perception that the sciences produce necessary skills, whereas the humanities merely develop an appreciation for the arts.

This is categorically wrong.

The collective research into the impact of the arts consistently demonstrates a strong positive correllation with higher academic performance in all subjects, greater student engagement and increased problem-

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solving skills (Dwyer, 2011, p. 16).

Far beyond benefiting individual students this influence can ‘spill over into instrumental and public values, such as the development of social capital and economic growth’ (Fuqua, 2008, p. 36).

Even scientists recognise the central importance of the arts in their field.

Professor of Neurosurgery Rex Jung argues that ‘even though creativity is innate, it needs to be cultivated’, a sentiment echoed by many other mathematicians, scientists and researchers (Ossola, 2014).

The humanities provide a means to nurture the creative modes of thinking that can be applied in the sciences, whether through music, drama or visual art. Offering these opportunities as early as possible is critical, as ‘without the time to do this as children, learning how to do it later in life may be more difficult’ (Ossola, 2014).

More importantly, allowing children to experiment and explore through art encourages the development of other key skills including communication, risk-taking, leadership and collaboration.

A young child who steps foot on a stage, having memorised dozens of lines of dialogue, will naturally begin to develop greater confidence and mastery of language as well as the ability to work with others.

Cranston and Kusanovich (2014), albeit in the context of adult learning, even demonstrate that drama can enhance ethical leadership - a trait sorely lacking in those who contributed to the global financial crises of the past decade.

Developing these soft skills not only makes sense from an intuitive standpoint but also an economic one. A large survey of employers indicated

that ‘skills such as oral communication, critical thinking, creativity and teamwork trump basic knowledge and skills, such as reading comprehension and mathematics, for career success’ (McNutt, 2014).

The annual National Association of Colleges and Employers report consistently reinforces these findings, providing an almost identical list annually. The bottom line, reinforced through years of data, is that ‘employers also want new hires to have technical knowledge related to the job, but that’s not nearly as important as good teamwork, decisionmaking and communication skills, and the ability to plan and prioritise work’ (Adams, 2014).

The cultivation of the arts to encourage the development of these soft skills simply isn’t present in many schools.

While public education continues to falter in this respect, international education has taken a lead in developing programmes and facilities that blend the sciences and humanities.

Schools in Thailand such as International School Bangkok (ISB), Bangkok Patana School (BPS) and NIST International School (NIST) create enrichment programmes that specifically target the development of soft skills, often combined with a service element to cultivate ethical awareness and action.

In March 2016, ISB hosted the Tournament of Minds - a group competition that requires students to blend science, maths and the performing

arts in solving challenges. BPS students regularly take part in the annual Readers’ Theatre competition in which they must perform a dramatic reading of a children’s book.

NIST recently launched its MakerSpace, a creative area where elementary students can freely tinker and experiment. The school’s musical theatre teachers write and score their own productions and provide students with the opportunity to be involved throughout the process.

Through arts programmes such as these, and many more, international schools are taking a lead in systematically enhancing student learning in all areas - including STEM. The strength of their academic results and graduates suggests that they’re on the right track, and perhaps gov-

ernments and administrators around the globe should take note.

David Edwards penned an article for The Atlantic that says it all: “American schools are training kids for a world that doesn’t exist”. His compelling argument backs the approach international schools are taking and his final words are a call to action.

‘The time is now to support the role of learning in the pursuit of discovery and to embrace the powerful agency of culture”’(Edwards, 2014).

He falls short only in one respect: the issue is not confined to American schools. As a global society we must acknowledge that STEM alone will not develop the creative thinkers we need to bring our economies back on track, nor will it provide employers with the thoughtful, conscientious workers they desperately seek.

STEAM is what we need: a little more fire, passion and creativity through the inclusion of the arts.

Jared Kuruzovich oversees communications and marketing at NIST International School in Bangkok. Connect with him online at kuruzovich.com.

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From concept to creation

By Linda Belonje

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onderful things happen when 15 and 16 year olds take on a challenge that interests them. Students realise that when they set their mind to it, they can do so much more than they thought. They delve deep into research and understand that some information out there is more useful than others. They learn numerous valuable skills and learn much more about themselves.

The Personal Project is a significant capstone project celebrating the final year of the IB Middle Years Programme. Students choose to create something or achieve something in an area in which they are passionate. They choose their own topic. The important part of the Personal Project is actually the process: starting with an idea, refining it into a goal, planning, doing research, carrying out the work and reflecting on it all.

This year’s projects at KIS International School in Bangkok have included a wide spectrum of interests including designing a humanoid robot, making a flowboard, learning to play the violin, creating an album with piano music composed by the student, creating an i-book about the development of surgery, investigating applications of nanotechnology, examining how people’s eyes change with different emotions, and designing a space suit.

Throughout the Personal Project students hone their research, selfmanagement, thinking, communication and social skills. Once the project is complete the students share their product and learning experiences in an exhibition.

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Visitors have the opportunity to ask the students questions and learn about their journey. Students gain confidence in presenting and welcome the feedback given by others.

The final part of the Personal Project programme is the writing of a report.

Many students use the Personal Project to find out if certain fields of study or careers would be suitable for them. One KIS student for example created an architectural model of an environmentally friendly house, enabling him to have a glimpse of the kind of work an architect would do, not just by creating the house but also by speaking with experts in the field and using software that architects use.

Another student wanted to use the project as an opportunity to do something creative and artistic before embarking on a career in sciences. She chose to create a large work of mosaic art.

Annette Lillethun, from Norway told me that ‘although the person-

al project was challenging, we all showed persistence and excitement through the process which can be seen in the variety of final products we created this year’.

Though the project requires a lot of work, students appreciate the opportunity to do (within reason) what they like to do, share it with others, and then be graded on it. One KIS student summarised it perfectly: ‘inspire yourself and inspire others’.

Linda Belonje is Director of Marketing and Development at KIS. KIS International School 999/124 Kesinee Ville, Pracha-Utit Road Huay Kwang, Bangkok 10320.

Tel: (+662) 274-3444 Ext 4116 Fax: (+662) 274-3452 Email: linda@kis.ac.th Web: www.kis.ac.th

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Big Data makes huge impact

By Kerry Laws

B

ig Data is everywhere. As well as the presence of Big Data in professional strategies, your Google, Amazon, and Facebook accounts now make suggestions based on the purchases you’ve made and the things you like.

Thanks to Big Data, you’re beginning to see articles, suggestions and advertisements that are tailored to your individual tastes, improving your client and customer experiences online.

What if the education system did the same for your child by looking at their likes and dislikes to tailor their learning and to find an approach that suits them best?

Now that Big Data is being rolled out into schools, your child has the chance to receive individual, personalised learning. By collating data that indicates raw attainment and aptitude, teachers are now able to hone in on each student in specific detail.

But Bromsgrove International School Thailand is different. They have added a third pool of information to this data: attitude.

laboration to dissect and analyse this data. Students showing low scores are worked with closely by the pastoral team to ensure that they are happy, safe and confident in school and within themselves. The data is used to create classroom strategies that improve self- regard and work ethic, as well as giving staff an all-round view of each student to create individual learning plans.

Your child’s likes and dislikes would be taken into account alongside their academic performance over years of collected data. Even attitudes towards teachers and peers are acknowledged, as a factor in their ability to learn.

Pastoral staff work closely with the school counsellor to support tutors as they attempt to achieve the schoolwide objective of the Mona Lisa effect - a trademark vision that has been nurtured by Deputy Head Matthew Savage.

It doesn’t just come down to grades and academic achievements; children need to be nurtured through their education, treated as individuals with different perspectives on their daily experience.

‘Every single student should experience a learning journey which feels like it is looking right at them, like it has been designed specifically for them.’

The academic and pastoral teams at Bromsgrove are working in col-

Students are benefiting from staff who are applying a well-informed approach to their interactions, receiving

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extra encouragement and attention where they need it, and extended learning where they are excelling.

Classrooms are changing to accommodate every child’s needs, while improving learning styles and selfconfidence.

As their knowledge increases and they are nearing the end of their high school education, Big Data can be used to predict exam results and highlight any areas that need attention, giving your child the best possible chance of success.

The future of education is changing, focusing on what works in a case by case process, so that every child is supported from a 360 degree view.

Big Data is making a big difference at Bromsgrove.

Kerry Laws may be contacted at Bromsgrove International School, Minburi, Bangkok.

Tel: +66 (0) 2 989 4873 Email: enquiries@bromsgrove.ac.th

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NIST tackles poverty issues with microcredit bank scheme P

overty and the cycle it perpetuates through generations represent an age-old problem that many view as a constant in life.

A group of students and teachers at NIST don’t believe that a solution is so unfathomable and they are tackling the issue head-on through the NIST Microcredit Bank (NMB).

Created as a student-run service group with the aim of supporting all members of the NIST community, the NMB offers debt relief, business loans and scholarships for the children of the school’s support staff.

This is the fourth year that the NMB has provided scholarships to children of support staff and also represents the largest number granted thus far: 33 in total.

Based on the work of Mohammed Yunus, winner of a Nobel Peace Prize for his pioneering work in microfinance, the NMB initially focused on providing small business loans with very little interest to support staff at NIST who sought to open their own businesses.

This focus gradually shifted to providing education-based debt relief through scholarships for the children of those staff members, aligning to NIST’s belief in the transformative power of learning and contemporary research in sustainable economic and social development through education as opposed to simple philanthropy.

Though basic schooling for all children in Thailand is free in principle extraneous costs, even in small public schools, put it out of reach of thou-

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sands of families - particularly those with several children. In the words of the microcredit bank members ‘it is unacceptable to be students of an academic institution that permits those who support our education to struggle to afford an education for their own’.

They view caring for all members of the NIST community as a fundamental responsibility, one that will ultimately allow families to be enriched through education.

The benefits of these scholarships greatly help to alleviate the burden of the costs associated with schooling in Thailand, enabling families to afford the best education they can provide without the financial sacrifice that usually comes with it.

Driven by the success of their work, the NMB continually seeks to raise funds through various school events and regularly receives donations from NIST staff, the NIST ParentTeacher Association (NIPTA), par-

ent groups, student-run groups and the student body itself. More importantly, the students recognise that monetary donations ultimately have a limited scope.

The group meets weekly to find ways to connect and bring the focus back to the community and their role in its continued growth.

Looking to the future, the microcredit bank is continually looking to improve and identify ways to further engage staff, students and parents.

In the meantime they aim to enrich the lives and livelihoods of all members of the NIST community through their unique work, which represents a first among international schools in Thailand.

Head of School James MacDonald captured this passion best as he spoke to this year’s scholarship recipients.

“Even though you may attend other schools, NIST is also your school, and you are an important part of the community here”, he said.

Theatre with a New Approach Step into any school theatre around the world and you’ll likely see productions of Grease, The Wizard of Oz and other classics.

What you won’t usually encounter is a group of talented educators who write, script and direct completely original musicals. NIST International School is fortunate to have exactly that in Mad Musicals, two teachers with a passion for musical theatre: Mark Bourgeois and Craig Chambers. Supported by audio technician Surasak Kerdsin and experienced band arranger Daniel Riley, the duo has captivated the community by developing multiple productions over the past five years.

The music and humor of the shows in that time has fostered great enthusiasm among the young students, and nearly 250 now choose to take to the stage to sing, dance and act together. Original productions of this scale are rarely seen in schools, and the students have even electrified audiences of over 1,000 at performances for regional education conferences. Beyond NIST, the musicals have also been performed overseas at schools in Australia, New Zealand and Vietnam over the past year.

Children immediately connect with the differing stories: vampires, zombies and witches in Creepytown, superheroes saving the earth in Supernova, and the space crew drifting

among aliens in Lost in Space. But their true value lies in the creative journey. Students take part in a collaborative, creative process with the writers as they explore songs in class, develop their own ideas for choreography, and create character profiles. This inclusive approach fosters a passion for the arts, and many students dedicate time after school to work on the shows.

Following the traditional theatre model, auditions take place for students who would like solo roles, but all students who want to be involved can take part. Mad Musicals’ shows traditionally have 20 or more gender-flexible roles and a large chorus of four groups, each with its own personality to allow students to play a part, grow into their roles and express themselves with imagination. In line with NIST’s community focus, the musicals also involve parents, who help create the costumes, apply makeup and coordinate preparations for performances.

Music and the arts are frequently criticized as unnecessary, and are unfortunately too often the first to be cut in schools. Mad Musicals proves just how wrong that is, showing that studentsand the entire community—can thrive and flourish when given the opportunity to imagine, collaborate and create. Isn’t that what we want for all of our children?

Visit NIST at nist.ac.th and Mad Musicals at madmusicals.wordpress.com.

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Ambitious steps at Regents School in Pattaya T he biggest international school on Thailand’s eastern seaboard is continuing to develop in response to increased popularity with almost 1,200 students enrolled for 2016.

The extensive sports facilities have been enhanced by the opening of all-weather multi-sports pitch that provides a top quality playing surface for pupils of all ages. It expands options for after-school and weekend activities such as the popular Saturday sports academy and also provides a fitness and conditioning surface for students joining as part of the school’s new golf scholarship programme. The all-weather pitch is the latest project in Regents’ big investment in facilities. A learner pool has also been opened as part of the school’s mission to encourage pupils to develop a life-long love of sport.

Principal Iain Blaikie said, “My aim is always to be the best and these new premium facilities will enable our students to compete and succeed at the very highest levels. We are see-

ing the excellence to which we aspire breaking through at all levels and in so many ways. We are steadily attracting more and more top students to our outstanding campus.

“Our academic results have improved year on year and, to complete the Bright Futures agenda, we are look-

ing forward to some excellent new additions to the school’s Senior Leadership team. Michael Seaton joins us from Brighton College to head up the Secondary School and new Primary School leader Grant Gillies arrives from Edinburgh where his school has been awarded the accolade of ‘Scotland’s Most Creative School’.”

Learning days Bromsgrove International School has launched a programme of cross-curricular learning days centred around three main themes: Global Development, Inspiration and Enterprise.

Cross-curricular Learning Days see the school’s ‘formal’ curriculum set aside in favour of collaborative learning, extended project work and team work on various projects.

During a recent cross curricular day, primary school students developed their literacy skills by creating, marketing and selling their own e-books, designed to educate their readers about cultures around the world.

Secondary school students at Bromsgrove showed their enterprise skills and raised money to support the Baan Nokkamin Foundation.

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Bromsgrove’s rising golf star Khun Tanapat Pichaikool (Peng) has been offered a scholarship at Mississippi State University in the USA. Peng (pictured centre) is set to depart Bangkok at the end of 2016. This is a fantastic achievement and, although we will be very sad to see Peng leave us in December, we are extremely excited for the next step in his journey. This scholarship is a rare one and clearly reflects Peng’s sporting prowess in the field of Golf.

UNIVERSITY OF LONDON

THAILAND TEACHING SUPPORT CENTRE University of London

Thailand Teaching Support Centre launches UOL – LSE courses officially in Thailand Assoc. Prof. Dr. Virachai Techavijit recently presided over the Grand Open Day at University of London (UOL) – LSE Thailand Teaching Support Centre at Regent's International College-Bangkok.

Professor Dr. Kriengsak Chareonwongsak, PhD from Oxford University and senior fellow of Harvard University, was appointed as Academic Dean, for the University of London programmes at the UOL-LSE Centre here in Bangkok. The two popular academic programmes, International Foundation Programme (IFP) and BSc (Hons) Programme in Economics, Management, Finance and Social Science (led by LSE), were presented by three top officials from UOL–LSE: Mr. Chris Jenney (University of London), Mr. John Ferra (London School of Economics), Mr. Chris New (University of London). After studying for 3 years and passing all LSE exams here in Bangkok, students will receive UOL degree at the graduation ceremony in London. Students may study the second year courses in London too.

Mr. Nitin Dutta, Mr. Chris Jenney, Mr. John Ferra, Dr. Virachai Techavijit, Dr. Kriengsak Chareonwongsak, Mr. Chris New, Mr. Warren Stanwarth

Ms. Susan, Ms. Kwanshanok - Dr. Virachai Mrs. Thiphavan Techavijit, Mrs. Alison – Ms. Emma – Mr. Peter Hogan

Dr. Kanyarat Sanoran, Dr. Roongkiat Ratanabanchuan, Dr. Akarin Paiboonpanich

For more information, please read and watch the clips at www.ricbkk.com/UniversityofLondon/openday The formal launch of UOL – LSE Programme in Thailand, which was held at the British Ambassador’s Residence earlier on 2 February 2016, can be viewed at www.ricbkk.com/UniversityofLondon On line application is available on the website or call 089 313 2222, 081 255 7572

Dr. Duangdao Mahakitsiri, Dr. Orawan Ratanatraiphob, Mrs. Cholticha Mahakitsiri, Dr. Virachai - Mrs. Thiphavan Techavijit, Dr. Virachanee Promsoonthorn, Mr. Suwat Benjathamtorn, Mr. Kanet Techavijit

ู Kittisrikangwan, Dr. Chayodom Sabhasri, Row 2 (standing): Dr. Virachai Techavijit, Mr. Paiboon Mr. Chartsiri Sophonpanich, Mr. Prìnn Panitchpakdi, Mr. Nitin Dutta, Dr. Kriengsak Chareonwongsak

Row 1 (sitting): Dr. Nattha Komolvadhin, Mr. John Ferra, Mr. Chris Jenney, Mr. Chris New, Ms. Napavong Sanidwongs na Ayudhaya

Mr. Gareth Knight, Mr. Corrado D'Urso

Assoc. Prof . Dr. Virachai Techavijit, Founder and Executive Chairman of University of London Thailand Teaching Support Centre, has formed a steering committee to advise on the visionary direction and operational policy of the Centre. Eight highly prominent scholars and practioners in the country on the Steering Committee are: 1. Prof Dr. Kriengsak Chareonwongsak (Committee Chairman) 2. Assoc.Prof. Dr. Chayodom Sabhasri, Economics Past Dean at Chulalongkorn University.

3. Assoc . Prof. Dr. Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Director of Inst of Securities and Intl Studies, Chulalongkorn University 4. Dr. Nattha Komolvadhin, Thai PBS News Editor/Anchor 5. Khun Paiboon Kittisrikangwan, Deputy Governor of Bank Of Thailand 6. Khun Chartsiri Sophonpanich, President of Bangkok Bank 7. Khun Napavong Sanidwongs na Ayudhaya, Chairwoman of LSE alumni Association 8. Khun Prìnn Panitchpakdi, CLSA-Thailand-Country Head

Mr. Chartsiri Sophonpanich, Ms. Kwanshanok -

์

Mrs. Thiphavan Techavijit, Dr. Chayodom Sabhasri

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Digital platform helps school selection process G

rade 11 students at Berkeley International School (BIS) have been responding to a challenge set by the school to create projects that contribute to the local community.

Samantha Ballesteros and Jennifer Gehrmann teamed up to pursue a fundraising project designed to provide disadvantaged families’ children (supported by the Dream of a Future charity) with education scholarships.

They decided to pursue this project after a field trip to the Klong Toey slums and seeing at first-hand the violence and poverty that many families must face on a regular basis. At the Samrong slum, located

near the school, Sami and Jenny were able to meet families who

Governors and staff at Shrewsbury International School Group attended a ceremony to mark the driving of the first pile at the new City Campus in Bangkok’s Rama IX district. School Governors Chali Sophonpanich and David Roberts were accompanied by Principal Stephen Holroyd, Vice Principals Amanda Dennison and Steve Allen, and School Manager Dr. Jirayuth Mahattanakul.

would directly benefit from their fundraising efforts.

These are hard-working families who often cannot afford the travel and uniform costs needed to keep their children in school. A family scholarship of THB 8,000 is often enough to keep one child in school for an entire year.

To raise enough money for at least two scholarships, Sami and Jenny organised a five kilometre sponsored event with participants running, walking, biking and skating in Benjakitti Park Bangkok with a registration fee of THB 150 per entrant. More than THB 38,000 was raised and there are hopes that this can become an annual event in the BIS calendar.

The students are continuing with their fund-raising efforts by seeking individuals and companies keen to support a worthy charitable cause.

E-mail info@berkeley.ac.th for more details.

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Students in tune for Shrewsbury royal visit H

RH Princess Soamsawali was special guest of honour at Shrewsbury International School for a special performance of the Colours of Spring Concert.

A total of 56 Shrewsbury students performed piano and string pieces before the crowd of 400 in the school’s Khunying Sumanee Memorial Hall, showcasing a repertoire which included H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s original compositions as well as classical pieces from composers such as Shostakovich and Rachmaninoff.

Year 12 violinist Tytan Teepprasan, who performed with the Senior

for a royal family member before, so it is a real honour’.

On a similar note, Year 8 student Palinee Maskati, who performed a Tango dance with her sister Dew (Year 13), said, “It’s an amazing experience to perform before HRH Princess Soamsawali. I feel honoured to have been chosen for this dance.”

Chamber String Ensemble and the Allegro Chamber Orchestra, commented that ‘all of us have been involved in many different concerts but they were different from this one. I’m not sure if any of us have performed

A charitable donation of THB 600,000, presented to the Princess at the beginning of the performance, will help to support The Friend in Need Volunteers Association of the Thai Red Cross and other causes chosen by the Princess.

Do you want your children to fly higher?

Equipping students with the skills, passion for learning, and character to succeed at university and in the world beyond.

Shrewsbury International School: The journey starts here.

We are now accepting applications into Years 7 - 9 for August 2016. A limited number of places are available.

Please call Kiran 02 675 1888 ext. 1404 or email to admissions@shrewsbury.ac.th.

Exceptional People • Outstanding Opportunities • Academic Excellence www.shrewsbury.ac.th The Link

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Arts and sport can boost academic performances S tudents that enjoy an education rich in the arts achieve higher academic results than those who do not. Similarly, research shows that a strong programme of sports is linked to more than just the benefits of physical activity and fitness – increasing self-esteem, mental alertness and better concentration in class. That’s the view of experts at St Andrews Sukhumvit 107 school in Bangkok.

Recognising the importance of a well-rounded education on intellectual performance and personal development, St. Andrews Sukhumvit 107 is expanding its campus with new state-of-the-art facilities to maximise pupil potential across the arts, sports and academic subjects.

Athletes at the school will soon be training in new sports facilities including a full NBA-sized basketball arena, an eight lane 25 metre swim-

ming pool and a floodlit football stadium that has been awarded a FIFA® Quality Field Certificate.

The school has also opened a 200 seat theatre to develop students’ performances, self-expression and

directing skills through full scale musical productions. Additional dedicated space for art, dance and music at Sukhumvit 107’s new Hockney Building will extend more opportunities for students’ creativity to grow.

Faldo tees off at BIS B

During the visit, Sir Nick also confirmed Phuket’s first-ever Faldo Series – Thailand Championship South to be hosted by Laguna Golf Phuket in early September 2016.

ritish golf legend Sir Nick Faldo, six-time major winner and Laguna Golf Ambassador, was guest of honour at the opening of the British International School, Phuket’s Golf Centre. This specialist training area for aspiring golfers sits within the BISP campus.

Sir Nick told staff, parents and pupil that the most important part of sport is commitment and being able to visualise your success. Sir Nick opened the BISP Golf Centre by hitting several chip shots. He is a huge advocate for junior golf development, having created his Faldo Series in 1996 to give opportunity to young people 30

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through golf and to help identify and nurture the next generation of champions. The Faldo Series now stretches over 30 countries worldwide and benefits more than 7,000 young golfers each year.

Open to golfers aged 12-21 years, the winners of each age group will qualify for the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final hosted by Sir Nick Faldo, which will be held in Laguna Golf Lang Co, Central Vietnam in March 2017.

For more information about the BISP Golf Academy, please contact Director Jeff LaMantia at jlamantia@bisphuket.ac.th or visit bisphuket.ac.th/golf.

St. Andrews

BIGGER & BETTER With 4 world-class schools in Thailand offering the English National Curriculum, IGCSE and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, St. Andrews International Schools offer your child a world of opportunity in education.

4 Convenient Locations Dusit Campus

Sukhumvit 107

Sathorn

Green Valley

Ages 2 - 11 253/1 Sawankhaloke Road, Dusit, Bangkok 10300

Ages 2 - 18 7 Sukhumvit 107 Road, Bangna, Bangkok 10260

Ages 2 - 11 9 Sathorn Soi 4, North Sathorn, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500

Ages 2 - 18 Moo 7, Banchang-Makham Koo Road, Banchang, Rayong 21130

Tel: +66 (0) 2668 6231 E: dusit@standrews-schools.com W: www.standrewsdusit.com

Tel: +66 (0) 2393 3883 E: sukhumvit@standrews-schools.com W: www.standrewssukhumvit.com

Tel: +66 (0) 2632 1995 E: sathorn@standrews-schools.com W: www.standrewssathorn.com

Tel: +66 (0) 3803 0701 E: greenvalley@standrews-schools.com W: www.standrewsgreenvalley.com

St. Andrews International School Dusit• Sukhumvit 107 • Sathorn • Green Valley

Book your personal tour www.standrews-schools.com

Shrewsbury pupils prepare for Oxbridge studies S tudents from Shrewsbury International School have achieved impressive successes in the global race for Higher Education places with several securing offers from some of the world’s most selective universities. Oxford, Cambridge and London-based Imperial College, London School of Economics (LSE) and King’s College all feature prominently in the list of UK establishments selecting Shrewsbury pupils.

Yale, Berkeley, Chicago, UCLA, Duke, Brown and Williams stand out as some of the best-known American-based universities that are set to welcome students from Shrewsbury International School.

Whilst UK and USA universities remain the most popular choices Shrewsbury’s class of 2016 has also secured offers that could see them studying in Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Ireland and Italy

later this year. Indeed, with offers from over 150 different institutions, the larger picture is one of incredible variety, both in terms of the range of destinations, and the fields of study that Shrewsbury students will pursue.

Around one quarter of students will continue into medical and engineering related disciplines. An increasing number of students are now also choosing more flexible majors that allow them to explore a wider range of academic interests.

Slamming in style with champion poet Harry Baker

U

K poetry slam champion Harry Baker visited Bangkok Patana School for a week of workshops and performances with students. A highlight of Harry’s visit was the inaugural Slam Poetry Interschool Competition which saw students from NIST, Shrewsbury and Bangkok Patana competing to take the title.

Year 7 students at Bangkok Patana School worked with Harry Baker on perfecting their poetry writing techniques in preparation for the inaugu32

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ral Slam Poetry Interschool Competition which saw students from NIST, Shrewsbury and Bangkok Patana competing to take the title.

The Competition was the culmination of a unit studying poetry in Year 7 with students writing and performing original slam poems in their classes and then their year group in order to be chosen to represent the school in this new event. Overall winner was Tara-Bee Stephenson from Bangkok Patana School who took the crown with her poem ‘I’m Fine’.

BANGKOK PATANA SCHOOL CLASS OF 2016 185 27 CANADA

USA

Celebrates Global

184 UK THE NETHERLANDS

6 2 BELGIUM

3

SWITZERLAND

1

1 SOUTH KOREA

ITALY

JAPAN

5

8

3

HONG KONG

2

THAILAND

PHILIPPINES

1

GRADUATING STUDENTS HAVE RECEIVED

SINGAPORE

426 OFFERS

1 AUSTRALIA

COUNTRIES NUMBER OF OFFERS

From 272 Selective universities and colleges (Data correct as of 04.05/16. Southern hemisphere application process has not yet commenced)

in the Top 25 of The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2015-16

USA Universities

UK Universities

Carnegie Mellon University

Imperial College London

Johns Hopkins University

London School of Economics and Political Science

Northwestern University University of California, Berkeley University of California, Los Angeles University of Chicago

University of Edinburgh University College London

University of Michigan

Rest of the World

University of Pennyslvania

University of Toronto, Canada

To find out how our learning programmes and outstanding teaching staff can help your child fulfil their potential from 2 to 18 years of age, please contact us at admissions@patana.ac.th 643 Lasalle Road, Bangna, Bangkok | T: +66 (0) 2785 2200 Bangkok Patana School is an IB World School, accredited by CIS and NEASC

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Students inspired by work of former statesman R espected activist and former statesman Khun Mechai Viravaidya has been addressing senior students at Shrewsbury International School in Bangkok. Khun Mechai’s address, entitled ‘New Dawn in Rural Thai Education’, was followed by a question and answer session with the school’s six form students.

Although internationally renowned for his work in family planning policy and AIDS awareness, Khun Mechai now spearheads the Bamboo School education programme.

Located near the border with Cambodia the Bamboo School provides a sustainable education to students from Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

Described by Khun Mechai as a ‘lifelong centre’ the school’s approach provides a significant departure from the traditional schooling model and the rote learning methods adopted in many other Thai schools.

The extent of student empowerment extends to involvement in teacher

recruitment and selection, and participation in operational committees. Efforts are now underway to replicate the model in other countries such as Myanmar.

a very inspirational speaker and he has his own flair and humour with everything he says. It was a real honour to meet him and to bring him to Shrewsbury School.”

Deputy Head Girl Bobbi Kimble, who initiated and coordinated Khun Mechai’s visit, said, “Khun Mechai is

Students at Shrewsbury have been invited to take on volunteer roles at the Bamboo School.

Assoc. Professor Dr. Virachai Techavijit (centre) presided over a Grand Open Day for the University of London (UOL) – LSE Thailand Teaching Support Centre at Regent’s School. The two popular programmes, EMFSS degrees and IFP, were presented by top officials from UOL – LSE Chris Jenney, John Ferra and Chris New from OOL-LSE. The seminar, mediated by Professor Dr. Kriengsak Chareonwongsak - the Centre’s Academic Deanwas attended by students, parents and academic counsellors.

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Tammarine serves an ace at Bangkok Prep T ammarine Tanasugarn, Thailand’s highest ranking female tennis player, was the guest speaker at Bangkok Prep Sports Awards ceremony held in June. Tammarine reflected upon her time as an athlete and the perseverance it takes to overcome challenges. “Defeat is very normal, you will win and sometimes you will lose, your resilience will be tested all the time”, she said.

The school’s awards ceremony is held annually to recognise outstanding student athletes who have represented the school in various inter school sports leagues and competitions such as FOBISIA (The Federation of British International Schools in Asia) and TISAC (Thailand International Schools Activity Conference). Throughout the school year, students represent Bangkok Prep in international competitions as well such as U.S Kids Golf Thailand Championship; IMG Junior World Championship; Summer Sailing Regatta; Future Cup Junior

Sailing competition; ITF Jr Tennis Championship Ipoh; Thailand National Junior Tennis Championship; Bangkok 9s Rugby League competition and the Thailand National Age Group Swimming Championships.

“Sports are an essential part of a balanced education. At Bangkok Prep

we create opportunities for children to fulfil their full potential in and outside the classroom. Sports foster friendships, help relief stress and contribute to a healthy lifestyle in general which we value very much at our school”, explained Ms Valerie Thomas-Peter, Head of School at Bangkok Prep.

Traill celebrates Golden Jubilee with major basketball championship T raill International School cohosted, with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the PE department of Thailand, the first ever NCAA Pacific Rim Basketball tournament. The event, which marked the beginning of the School’s Golden Jubilee year, was the largest school basketball tournament ever held in Thailand. It attracted 22 teams from schools and clubs in Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan, Japan and

Iran. The tournament was held in the Thai-Japanese stadium in Bangkok.

Traill International School won the U16 tournament. Batang Gilas Philipinas national team won the U19 tournament and the coveted Anthony Traill Cup, named after the founder of Traill International School. Antony Traill was a successful Olympic Games athletics coach for Great Britain and Thailand.

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News from the IPR SME Help Desk

Making your mark T

hailand is the second largest economy in south-east Asia after Indonesia, acting as an ‘anchor economy’ for the neighbouring developing economies of Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia. Heavily export-dependent, with more than two-thirds of GDP generated by exported products, Thailand exports over EUR 93.5 billion worth of goods and services annually, over EUR 17 billion of which go to EU countries.

Thailand is the EU’s third largest trading partner in the ASEAN region and is Thailand’s third largest trading partner overall (after Japan and China). In March 2013, negotiations were launched for an EU-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in order to better facilitate trade and regulate intellectual property and fair competition.

Prominent Thai industrial sectors include, electric appliances, components, computer components and vehicles.

Thailand is a signatory to both the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and has acceded to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreement on the Trade Related Aspects of International Property Rights (TRIPs).

In addition, Thailand is currently overhauling its major IP laws with particular focus upon the Trademark Act and the Copyright Act. In March 2013 Thailand launched the National IPR Centre of Enforcement (NICE) as a coordinating enforcement body and has had a dedicated Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court (CIPITC) since 1997. This being said, disturbance caused by the

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recent military coup in 2014 has slowed legislative development and enforcement practices are also still somewhat lacking.

However, Thailand’s current legislation meets the criteria necessary under its international obligations and there is a comprehensive framework in place for registration of all major IPRs which EU SMEs should take advantage of when seeking to do business in the country.

Defining trade marks A trade mark is a sign used in trade to distinguish the goods and services of one trader from those of another. Trade marks can take the

form of pictures, names, words, letters, figures, a composition of colours or, indeed, a combination of these elements. Whilst the primary function of a trade mark is as a badge of origin they can also, as a result of consistently good products or services gain status as an indicator of quality or through advertising, become a status symbol symbolising a certain quality of life or style.

Registration of a trade mark provides the rights holder with an exclusive right to exploit that mark within the geographic territory in which it has been registered, whether this be for direct commercial use or for licensing activities.

News from the IPR SME Help Desk Trade marks in Thailand Along with the regular styles of trade mark mentioned in the previous section, it is also possible to register three-dimensional signs as trade marks in Thailand. However, this is a relatively new development and very few applications have actually been accepted for registration at time of writing.

Thailand is a party to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property and, as such, applicants who have filed for trade marks in other party states may claim a right of priority if applying in Thailand within six months of this original application. Where the applicant cannot claim priority, it is important to apply before market entry as Thailand operates a strict ‘first-to-file’ system and there are still widespread issues of ‘bad faith’ registrations and ‘trade mark squatting’.

or the priority date where this has been claimed. Trade marks can be extended indefinitely for consecutive 10 year periods, subject to the timely application for renewals.

Registering a trade mark in Thailand Any individual or corporation can file a trade mark registration in Thailand, either through a local qualified trade mark agency or by themselves where their domicile/head office is in Thailand, or they have real business operations/dealings in Thailand. All application forms and required documents must be submitted in Thai, or accompanied by a Thai translation.

At present, official fees are calculated per product/service designated, and

not by ‘class’ (i.e. the product categories or industry sectors in which applicants choose to register). Currently these fees amount to approximately EUR 12 per product/service at time of filing, with a further EUR 7 payable at time of registration. The fee structure is under review so SMEs are advised to visit the Department of Intellectual Property’s (DIP) website for more information on fees.

Applications can be submitted either to the DIP at the Ministry of Commerce, or through the online registration system found on the DIP website. The documents and information required are as follows: • One electronic sample of the mark in black and white or in colour (max 5cmx5cm)

There are amendments in progress which will alter the Trademark Act to allow for recognition of sound and scent marks. This new draft also suggests changes to streamline the examination procedure, and a revision of the current fee structure. Other amendments in this draft include: • Thailand’s compliance with the Madrid Protocol by 2015 • Allowance for multiple-class applications • Introduction of a six-month expiry grace period for trade mark renewals • Shortening the maximum number of days for oppositions and responses to official actions from 90 days to 60 days • Increased government fees • Ensuring that trade marks provide protection against ‘refilling’ practices The registration process for trade marks in Thailand typically takes between 12 and 18 months. Once registered, trade mark protection lasts for 10 years from the filing date,

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• Full name, address, country, and occupation of the applicant • Description of the services and goods to be designated • Notarized power of attorney, where the application is made through an agent • Country, date, and number of the priority trade mark application, where claiming ‘right of priority’ • Certified copy of the priority application and translation into Thai, where claiming ‘right of priority’ • Date of first use of trade mark (if any at time of application) Once the application is submitted, the registrar will send a letter to notify the applicant of the result of the examination within 12-18 months.

Once the mark has been accepted by the registrar, it will be published for a 90 day period for third party opposition. If no opposition is submitted in this time, the mark proceeds to registration and the certificate of registration is issued.

Enforcement There are three main avenues for IP enforcement available in China, as well as a system of customs control which we will discuss in more detail in a future Helpdesk article. In many cases however, private mediation via legal professionals can be an effective first line of defence and should be considered as a viable option.

In the event of infringement SMEs are encouraged to seek advice and support from legal professionals as to the current domestic administrative/ judicial policy and the chances of success of different actions. SMEs are of course also welcome to contact the Helpdesk for free advice on how best to react to infringements and find the right lawyer to deal with your case.

Administrative actions Due to a lack of resources and proper training in administrative enforce-

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ment agencies, coupled with weak punishments imposed on confirmed infringers, administrative measures are generally seen to be ineffective in Thailand. The system also suffers from leaks and corruption which undermines raid actions and investigative procedures.

The Thai government has committed to improve its administrative enforcement agencies with a focus upon large-scale infringers and dangerous goods, primarily in ‘priority areas’ such as MBK and Pantip Plaza in Bangkok; Patong, Kata and Karon beaches in Phuket and the Walking Street in Pattaya. It is unclear where improvements will be made and how this will affect the system as a whole however.

Civil litigation is rarely used for IP cases in Thailand due to difficulties in proving ‘actual damages’, the lack of a formal discovery process, and the delays common in prosecuting cases.

In addition, the Thai judiciary is still inexperienced in dealing with IP issues and case outcomes can be unpredictable.

Civil courts can in theory grant injunctions and awards of damages, however, difficulties in proving ‘emergency’ make injunctions rare

and damages are still very low by international standards, often not covering the costs of bringing the action to court in the first place.

Criminal prosecution Criminal prosecution is generally considered to be the most cost-effective enforcement mechanism available to IP rights holders in Thailand.

However, search warrants are difficult to obtain and, as with administrative actions, leaks and corruption in the police force can render them fruitless.

The Thai judiciary has also been reluctant to impose harsh penalties on infringers, and as such there is little deterrent provided by even high profile criminal actions. Penalties for trade mark infringement for example can include a maximum fine of approximately EUR 10,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to 4 years. Fines rarely reach the maximum threshold however, and most sentences are reduced or suspended, especially for first-time offenders.

For more information on how to protect and enforce your trade marks in Thailand, contact our Helpdesk experts for free, in-depth advice, tailored to the needs of your business.

The ASEAN IPR SME Helpdesk is a European Union co-funded project that provides free, practical, business advice relating to ASEAN IPR to European SMEs. To learn about any aspect of intellectual property rights in Southeast Asia, visit our online portal at www. asean-iprhelpdesk.eu. For free expert advice on ASEAN IPR for your business, e-mail your questions to: question@asean-iprhelpdesk.eu.

You will receive a reply from one of the Helpdesk experts within three working days.

EABC launches business position paper T

he European Association for Business and Commerce (EABC) launched its 2016 European Business Position Paper a compilation of recommendations derived from the European business community in Thailand. It is intended to help Thailand to overcome economic challenges, promote the country as a more attractive trading partner and investment destination and to support Thailand’s establishment beyond ASEAN. The EABC Business Position Paper contains trade advocacy information and recommendations to seek change from the Thai government from the unified work of EABCs ten working groups, namely: • • • • • • • • • •

Automotive Cross Sectoral Issues (CSI) Energy and Energy Efficiency Food and Beverages Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Insurance Rail and Road Infrastructure Transport and Logistics

EABC Executives, together with representatives of Working Groups, joined EABC President Rolf-Dieter Daniel in making a courtesy visit to Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Somkid Jatusripitak.The EABC delegation, representing the interests of European Community members in Thailand, exchanged views on various trade and investment issues.

The Advocacy Working Groups represent the interests of EABC member companies and aim to influence government policies for the European business community as a whole. EABC members have many opportunities to engage in dialogues and discussions with the Thai Government. The EABC act as repre-

BCCT plans Triumph visit BCCT members are being offered an exciting opportunity to visit the Triumph Motorcycles factory at the Amata Nakorn Industrial Estate, Chonburi.

The visit takes place on Thursday 7 July with transport departing from the Chamber’s office on Wireless Road Bangkok at 11.30 hrs. Members may use their own transport but are still required to book online via the BCCT website. The cost is THB 600 per person including transport, snacks and beverages on the bus. Triumph Motorcycles (Thailand) Limited is a wholly-owned UK company that operates three factories in Amata Nakorn Industrial Estate, Chonburi. Triumph’s first factory in Thailand was opened in May 2002 for the manufacture of motorcycle components. The company employs about one thousand staff in Thailand.

Programme: 13.15 hrs – Arrive at Triumph Motorcycles 13.30 hrs – Presentation and factory tour 15.45 hrs – Depart for BCCT office, Bangkok

sentative of European businesses in Thailand and put forward policy recommendations on key issues of concern among European business with relevant Thai authorities.

EABC 2016 Business Position Paper may be downloaded at www.eabcthailand.eu.

To become EABC member, please contact 026700624 Ext. 107 SPECIAL OFFER: THE LINK readers can claim a special offer for EABC membership application. To redeem this exclusive offer, please send an email to members@eabc-thailand. eu quoting a promotion code THELINK02.

Covering every option in school insurance

By Jerome Kelly

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chools are not legally responsible for personal effects and other property belonging to students at school. So when your son or daughter has their new iPad stolen at school, or an expensive musical instrument is left on the school bus and never seen again, it’s you who has to pay for a replacement.

Students these days have all manner of personal belongings and they can add up to a tidy sum. So while it is possible to add insurance cover to your household insurance policy for loss or damage to your son’s property at school, and in transit between home and school, many insurance companies refuse to provide this option. Fortunately help is at hand.

It is possible for schools themselves to run easily administered schemes, whereby parents can pay a term premium to obtain cover against loss (including theft) or damage to a student’s property. This would typically include: • All types of personal effects, but excluding cash • Items such as laptops, cameras and watches • Musical instruments • Sports equipment and clothing • Study materials and books You must remain aware that mobile phones and smartphones would normally be excluded from this type of insurance for the simple reason that to insure such items the annual premium rate would be ridiculously high (in the UK the current rate is 8% – 10% of the replacement cost of the phone).

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The amount of insurance cover would typically be up to THB 300,000 for any one claim and THB 100,000 for any one item. There would usually be an excess to avoid small claims and this would be around THB 2,000. How much would it cost to obtain this insurance? For a school to arrange this type of scheme there would need to be a minimum level of take-up for the insurance company to provide the cover.

Assuming a school with 1,000 students had a take-up rate of 25 percent, meaning 250 students have the insurance cover, the premium rate would be in the region of THB 1,000 per student per term. Obviously the premium would vary depending upon the take-up rate.

Having personal effects insurance is something you and the Headmas-

ter might want to think about very carefully before your son loses his brand new iPad, again. To obtain more details, contact your insurance broker.

Jerome Kelly is CEO of LawtonAsia Insurance Brokers Ltd. 5th floor, M Thai Tower, All Seasons Place 87 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330. jerome@lawtonasia.co.th www.lawtonasia.com T: +66 2654 1150 #105 F: +66 2654 1151 M: +66 89 779 6592

Thailand formulates further tax changes

By Stephen Frost

I

n April 2016, the government announced proposals to change personal income tax rates and allowances. These proposals are summarised below.

Personal income tax allowances

Personal income tax rate bands

During the past eight months or so, the government has approved wideranging plans to reduce personal and corporate income tax, increase allowances against gross income, re-

The current and proposed new income tax rate bands are as shown in figure 1.

Certain allowances against gross income are also proposed to be changed as shown in figure 2.

Figure 1: Current taxable income Proposed taxable (Baht per year) income (Baht per year)

Tax rate (%)

0-150,000

0-150,000

Nil

150,001-300,000

150,001-300,000

5%

300,001-500,000

300,001-500,000

10%

500,001-750,000

500,001-750,000

15%

750,001-1,000,000

750,001-1,000,000

20%

1,000,001-2,000,000

1,000,001-2,000,000

25%

2,000,001-4,000,000

2,000,001-5,000,000

30%

4,000,0001 plus

5,000,0001 plus

35%

Allowance

Current allowance (per year)

Proposed new allowance (per year)

Personal allowance

30,000 Baht

60,000 Baht

Expenditure allowance

40% of annual income up to maximum allowance of 60,000 Baht

50% of annual income up to maximum allowance of 100,000 Baht

Child allowance

15,000 Baht per child, but limited to three children, plus an educational allowance of 2,000 Baht for each child educated in Thailand

30,000 Baht per child. No limit on number of children.

Educational allowance abolished

Figure 2:

duce Land Department fees to register transfers of property, awarding income tax relief for purchasers of low valued property, bringing into force inheritance tax and a revised gift tax, and a conditional tax amnesty for corporate taxpayers.

The revision of House and Land Tax is still under consideration. But one wonders why the top personal tax rate band remains at 35 percent, which is high compared to other Asian countries. An amnesty for personal income tax payers for past non-payment could also be considered. Changing the period for VAT returns from one month to one quarter would reduce accounting costs for companies.

Regarding VAT, the government hopes that the personal tax reductions outlined above, and corporate tax reductions, will increase public spending and therefore swell government receipts. However, there is another view, namely that VAT at seven percent is now unduly low and one wonders for how much longer this rate can be maintained when Revenue Department income is being reduced in other areas.

Stephen Frost, Bangkok International Associates Ltd. Bangkok International Associates is a general corporate and commercial law firm. For further information, please contact Stephen Frost by email at sfrost@bia.co.th or telephone (66) 2 231 6201/6455.

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Importance of taking cover

By Simon Boyle

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eriodically, stories appear in the local and international press about expats across Asia in urgent need of medical care but can’t afford to foot the bill. A recent story of the struggles of a British expatriate is an example. Following surgery to remove a toe in a hospital in Koh Samui, metal left in the wound caused a serious infection which threatened John’s life. Without insurance, John soon ran out of money for treatment and his son Joe is currently fundraising on gofundme.com to pay his medical expenses and hopefully get him well enough to fly back to the UK for further treatment.

It’s not just a desperately sad story but also a salutary tale on why it’s not a good idea to skip on health insurance, however healthy you believe yourself to be. John no doubt thought himself in robust health when he moved overseas. Maybe he even had some savings which he thought would easily cover any medical expenses he might incur.

He probably never imagined himself having to have a toe removed, let alone facing the life-threatening nightmare which followed his surgery. It’s a scenario which no-one could have anticipated. Unfortunately there are a million other unpredictable scenarios which could happen to any of us at any time.

get cancer, have a brain haemorrhage or are involved in a car accident?

Secondly, health insurance will give you access to the best facilities and care on offer both where you live and, in most cases, wherever you travel. I don’t know what went wrong in this case and would not speculate on the standard of hospital care received by this particular individual. However I do know that if I were to get ill, I would want access to the best hospitals in the country which rival those anywhere in the world. In addition, when it comes to my health I’d rather have the peace of mind of access to English-speaking staff to avoid any communication issues regarding my treatment.

The fact that you don’t have a crystal ball to tell you what is going to happen in the future is reason enough to take out health insurance. Quite simply, if you don’t have it you are taking an unnecessary risk.

Generally that will mean paying top dollar. Unless you’re extremely wealthy the cost of a hospital bed alone can quickly mount up not to mention every consultant visit, x ray, scan, bandage, tablet and meal. All costs which could be avoided by having suitable insurance.

Generally expatriates in any country are not eligible for state-provided healthcare and without insurance every visit to the doctor, hospital stay or treatment will have to come out of your own pocket. That might be fine if you only visit the doctor once or twice a year but what happens if you

Don’t just take my word for it. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has produced a booklet for all those contemplating a life abroad called ‘Going to Live Abroad’: The FCO advises that ‘it is highly recommended to get health insurance to cover private medical and dental treatment,

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and medical repatriation to the UK’.

The good news is that a medical insurance policy needn’t break the bank.

At Infinity we work with all the major insurance providers and are tied to none so we can research suitable policies for you and your family and help you select the best one taking into account both price and the level of cover appropriate for your needs.

We can also talk you through all the issues you need to consider when taking out a policy such as the pros and cons of a local policy versus an international one and whether you would benefit from add-ons such as travel insurance.

If you’d like the peace of mind that whatever happens to you or your family health-wise you won’t have to dip into your savings, or even resort to crowdfunding to meet the bills then contact me for more details.

Simon Boyle is a Consultant at Infinity Solutions. Email: simon.boyle@ infinitysolutions.com

BCCT 70th Anniversary

Weathering the Thai storms of the 70s T

he seventies was a decade of many disruptions and upheavals for Thailand, both economically and politically, and those living here at that time were witnesses to remarkable social and industrial changes.

A poor rice harvest in 1972, coupled with the over exporting of existing rice stocks, created a domestic shortfall that sparked social dissatisfaction and unrest. This led to coups, a protest by students with tragic consequences and a succession of government leaders struggling to cope with both domestic and international challenges.

Meanwhile, members of the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand were adjusting to the seemingly never-ending struggle for power and supremacy by using the good offices of the BCCT to exchange information and ideas about such as issues as labour relations and rates of pay across a broad range of business sectors. These talks added weight and substance to the Chamber’s Cost of Living surveys. Indeed, it was in this decade that the entire basis upon which the survey was established was revised to reflect changing lifestyles – becoming the yardstick by which many in the expatriate community assessed the annual increase in living costs in Thailand.

The Chamber acted as one of the key players in putting forward the interests of foreign companies to the Thai government in response to the Alien Business Law that was considered to be restrictive and a potential threat to foreign investment. Although ministers paid little heed to the views of BCCT members it did, importantly, establish a new channel of communication that has remained open to this day.

Former BCCT Chairman Nigel Overy recalls that ‘when I first became Chairman in 1972, the Chamber was an entirely incestuous situation with no advice given to members except the cost of living index. By my second Chairmanship in 1979, Thailand had settled down considerably and the Chamber had started to expand its services’.

In 1973, standing sub-committees were established in order to provide a consistent supply of information regarding vital sectors of the Thai economy such as Finance and Taxation, Shipping, Aviation, Personnel and Labour Relations, Insurance and Chamber Functions.

The appointment in 1977 of an Executive Director, Mrs. Bobbie Lawson, was further evidence of the Chamber’s commitment to represent more ably the interests of British business.

Ties between the BCCT and the British Embassy became closer in the middle of this decade. The Chamber, having been invited to comment upon the Embassy’s Commercial Section, produced a less than complementary report on the lack of promotion of Thai trade to Britain. Unfortunately, the report was sent directly to Ambassador Sir David Cole without prior editing or final review. As a result BCCT Chairman Michael Perry and the report’s author Nigel Overy received a diplomatic rap on the knuckles and reminded firmly that Foreign Office policy stated that the single aim for a British Embassy was to promote UK exports.

“The informal network of British Chambers of Commerce in the trading capitals of the world has contributed greatly over the years to the growth and strength of British overseas trade and investments,” Sir Michael Perry said later.

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Foreign investors eye Thailand opportunities

K

night Frank Thailand expects to see a slow recovery in industrial land sales and demand in factory space. A recent statement from Knight Frank observes that ‘given the state of the economy, recent data has shown some positive signs of improvement. Thanks to efficient infrastructure in Thailand, including transportation and public utilities, Thailand remains the prime destination for foreign investors due to its central geographical location in the region, affording good connectivity to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Malaysia’.

The company does warn of risks that investors should heed such as political uncertainty. The incentives policy announced by Thailand’s BOI is expected to yield encouraging results,

Marcus Burtenshaw, Executive Director and Head of Commercial Agency, Knight Frank Thailand said, “We expect to see continued growth in 2016 specifically from new investment in the electronics, auto parts, food and renewable energy sectors.

While Japanese investment remains subdued, we are starting to see increased activity from European and increasingly, Chinese firms.”

Marcus Burtenshaw

as the government aims to facilitate further industrial growth.

The latest research data published by Knight Frank Thailand states that, at the end of 2015, the total supply of Serviced Industrial Land Plot (SILP) was 151,194 rai, increasing by 4,033 rai or 2.7 percent from the previous year. On average, since 2011, the SILP supply has been constantly increasing by two to eight percent yearly, coveting new sites and the expansion of existing industrial estates.

Mazars merges with Chinese audit firm

M

professionals to Mazars’ existing global team of 16,000, creating a full-service firm with the ability to support clients in 77 countries.

This latest deal follows mergers in Germany, Australia, Mozambique and Cyprus in 2015 and adds 1,800

Philippe Castagnac, CEO of Mazars and Chairman of the Executive Board, said, “After the integration of an important German structure in 2015 this operation in China is not only a significant boost to Mazars’ presence and capacities but also an undertaking for additional development within one of the world’s leading economies.”

azars, the integrated and independent international organisation specialising in audit, accountancy, tax, legal, and consulting services, is strengthening its international position by merging with Chinese audit firm ZhongShen ZhongHuan. Mazars currently operates offices in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Hongkong.

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Rob Hurenkamp, Managing Partner of Mazars in Thailand, said, “This opportunity will allow the firm to better support Chinese companies seeking to invest in Thailand and in the other way round.”

Last year Mazars Thailand reported revenue growth of 31.9 percent compared to the previous year, consisting of 18.2 percent assessed as organic growth and 13.7 percent resulting from foreign exchange differences.

Member News

Total office stock increases in Bangkok’s CBD

T

otal office stock in Q1 2016 in Bangkok’s Central Business District grew to 1.8 million sq.m, according to figures published

by DTZ Debenham Tie Leung (Thailand). The newest completion is the Metropolis building, close to BTS SkyTrain Phrom Phong station on Sukhumvit road, that offers 13,900 sq.m. DTZ also estimates that there is

77,596 sq.m of office space under construction that is scheduled for completion in 2017/18 including Gaysorn Office Tower II and the Singha Complex.

DTZ also reports that some tenants are relocating to non-CBD locations and this is starting to have a marginal effect on vacancy rates within the CBD with the overall vacancy

rate increasing to 10.2 percent in Q1 2016. The current average rent for grade A offices in the CBD reached a new high of THB783 per sq.m per month in Q1 2016, representing an increase of one percent q-o-q.

DTZ states that some prime grade A buildings have much higher asking rents, with the highest being up to THB 1,300 per sq.m per month.

Chartered course for Peter M BMG Group’s Peter Emblin (pictured right) has been appointed as the 45th Chartered Director of the Thai Institute of Directors (IOD).

An IOD Chartered Director is a person who is dedicated to developing the knowledge and skills required to perform the duties of a director, especially in the area of corporate governance, is sufficiently broad-based, capable of maintaining strong independence and upholding a high standard of integrity and business ethics in performing the duties of a director

in line with international best practices recognised by IOD.

MBMG co-founder Paul Gambles said, “Since arriving in Thailand in 1992, Peter Emblin has developed a reputation for competence and integrity that is unmatched. The Thai IoD was founded in 1999 and Peter has been extremely supportive of its work, promoting good governance practices in Thai companies. Congratulations to Peter in reaching this milestone and being only the fifth non-Thai national to reach this high standard.”

Miss Wiboonlasana Ruamraksa, Director-General of the Internal Trade Department, visited Tesco Lotus to promote the range of cooked items costing 19 Baht. The stores have reduced the price of some items from 25 Baht to help lower living costs for Thai customers. Choices include fried rice, garlic chicken with rice and fried egg, chicken with basil and rice. Tesco Lotus has pledged to peg the prices of cooked meals throughout 2016.

Sathaporn Poovijitvaraporn, Trading Manager, Tesco Lotus (2nd from left) is pictured with Miss Wiboonlasana Ruamraksa (second from right) and Mr. Sukiet Kittitammachote, Senior Government Relations Manager at Tesco Lotus ( far right).

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Ophir Energy banks on support from HSBC T

he move leveraged HSBC’s global cash management capabilities and extensive banking network to give Ophir Energy the support required to set up a regional business presence under the terms of the Thai Government’s international headquarters (IHQ) programme.

Krisda Phatcharoen (pictured), Head of Commercial Banking at HSBC Thailand said, “Ophir Energy is one of our showcases among multinational companies seeking to set up IHQs in Thailand. Foreign conglomerates are increasingly looking to Thailand as a base for Asian headquarters operations due to its strategic location and high potential growth. It’s a trend we expect to continue.”

Ophir Energy is a leading UK-based international oil and gas exploration and production company. Its affiliate, Ophir Asia Services Ltd., has been established to operate an IHQ business in Thailand serving the Ophir Group’s affiliates and subsidiaries.

Ophir has two producing assets in Thailand. It has a one hundred percent operated interest in the Bualuang oil field in the Gulf of Thailand and a 9.5 percent interest in the Sinphuhorm gas field, located onshore in north east Thailand.

Miss Ai Chen Lim, Head of Global Payments and Cash Management at HSBC Thailand said, “Ophir will gain from streamlining and operational efficiencies while also benefiting from the full service banking facilities provided by HSBC’s global network with solutions shaped to suit customer needs, process and technology consultancy from specialised cash management practitioners. In addition to the potential of expatriate management, the company 48

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also gains advantage of enhanced skills of Thai staff, minimised paperwork, optimal resources allocation and improved banking operations.”

expertise, we believe that we can strengthen the robustness of our financial position to maximise operational efficiency.”

Dr John Francis Bell, Director – Asia at Ophir Asia Services said, “Given our concrete and long-standing relationship we chose HSBC to support us in managing our cash management for the IHQ. With HSBC’s

Ophir Energy owns a portfolio of assets in Africa and Asia and is listed on the London Stock Exchange (FTSE 250) with a market capitalisation of approximately USD750million (as of 30 May 2016).

Member News

Office leasing market continues to expand J

‘much of the increase in vacancy is being driven by negative net absorption in non-prime grade buildings, particularly those that have limited or no access to mass transit which continues to be a major relocation driver for tenants’.

LL is reporting buoyant leasing activity in the Bangkok office market despite continuing economic uncertainties for the nation as a whole.

Miss Yupa Sathienpabayut, Director of Office Leasing at JLL, said “Recent large leasing transactions in Bangkok are concentrated in prime office buildings, despite higher rents. Many of these transactions are relocations which are contributing to rising vacancies in non-prime grade buildings.”

According to JLL’s Thailand Property Intelligence Centre the average vacancy level for all grade office space across Bangkok increased to 9.4 percent in the first quarter of

Miss Yupa Sathienpabayut

this year from nine percent at the end of 2015. The Centre states that

“To retain or increase competitiveness, landlords of non-prime grade buildings have become more flexible when negotiating lease terms with existing and prospective tenants,” added Miss Sathienpabayut. “Some of them offer more incentives such as more parking spaces, an increase in a fixed cap rate on renewal and/ or longer rent-free periods for new tenants. However, very few of them have adopted a rental reduction strategy at this point.”

Standard Chartered Bank (Thai), Krungsri (Bank of Ayudhya PCL) and TMB as Joint Lead Underwriters received the ‘Frontier Markets Issue of the Year’ at the International Financing Review Asia annual awards. The award recognises the outstanding achievement and success of the debentures of EDL-Generation Public Company, Laos PDR’s first overseas corporate bond. The awards ceremony was held in Hong Kong.

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Asia Pacific cities dominate luxury retail sector T he so-called ‘prime’ and ‘super prime’ condominium markets in Bangkok have been commanding the spotlight, according to experts at Knight Frank Thailand.

Accounting for less than five percent of the total Bangkok condominium supply, these segments have been enjoying ‘relatively good sales due to great locations in the heart of Bangkok which afford convenience for transportation, ease of access to facilities and amenities and tranquil city surroundings’.

Selling prices of new projects in these categories increased sharply.

Prices of super prime units jumped from THB 310,450 per square metre at the end of 2014 to THB 338,930

per square metre in 2014 to THB 253,917 per square metre.

Frank Khan (pictured left), Executive Director, Head of Residential at Knight Frank Thailand said that demand of super prime and prime condominium is mainly in the Sukhumvit area near Thonglor BTS and Sois 37 to 39 as well as Rajadamri, Langsuan and Wireless roads. He expects that the new emerging area for super prime and prime condominium is at riverside locations such as Charoen Nakorn.

per square metre in 2015, whereas the selling price of prime condos increased from THB 237,988

According to Knight Frank Thailand Research approximately 1,096 units were sold in 2015 under these two categories.

Ramada Plaza community support

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eneral Manager Klaus Sennik (centre) welcomes Sgt. Chamnan Tintampol from the Royal Thai Army (Royal Guard section) to the Ramada Plaza Bangkok Menam Riverside hotel. The hotel is working with the Royal Thai Army and Bangkalam District to support a local resident whose house was completely destroyed by fire. The hotel is funding the cost of building materials with construction labour being provided by the Army and the local district authority.

Klaus Sennik said, “We have always been proud to support those in need in our local community. This commitment began when the hotel opened 30 years ago and is now an integral part of the Wyndham Hotel Group’s global CSR programme.”

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Member News

Jobs boost for Thais at Tesco Lotus T esco Lotus has confirmed plans for investment in Thailand this year ‘to better serve customers in Thailand and keep prices permanently low through the challenging economy’. The company states that customers will benefit from new store openings, shops improvements and lower prices.

CEO John Christie (pictured right) said, “We had a very strong performance in 2015, despite the challenging economic situation in Thailand.

We saw a healthy growth in sales, market share and customer numbers as a result of our firm focus on our customers. We remain very much committed to Thailand, our customers and growing our business in order to better serve Thailand’s shoppers.

“With the economy continuing to be challenging it’s more important than ever for Tesco Lotus to keep

prices low for our customers, especially the products that matter the most to customers such as baby formula, diapers and fresh food. Apart from helping our customers save on their costs of living every day, we are

making significant contributions to Thailand’s economy through more than 3,000 new job creations. Our performance and plans also means more growth opportunities for our suppliers,” he added.

Whizdom 101 named best mixed-use development

W

hizdom 101 reinforced the success of developing Thailand’s first innovative mixed-use project under “The Great Good Place” concept, which provides an ideal balance between the homeplace, workplace, and social places, after being named “Best Mixed-use Development Thailand” by Asia Pacific Property Awards 2016-2017 – an honorable platform for property developments in the whole region, certifying excellency and international approval for Whizdom 101.

Mr. Suttha Ruengchaipaiboon (Left) – Executive Vice President of MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation, on behalf of Whizdom 101, received the “Best Mixed-use Development Thailand” award from Mr. Stuart Shield (Right) – Chief Executive Officer of international Property Awards at the Shangrila Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Link

Issue 2/2016

51

Member News

Asia Pacific cities dominate luxury retail sector

B

angkok is ranked eighteenth in terms of international retailer attractiveness according to the Destination Retail 2016 report published by real estate consultants JLL. The report also reveals that Asia boasts five of the world’s 10 most appealing destinations for international retailers.

fashion-conscious consumers is rising fast. Boosted by rising income levels and growing tourism numbers from across the world, Bangkok has attracted many international brands’.

The JLL report includes, for the first time, a global ranking of 140 cities as judged by their appeal to crossborder retailers. Hong Kong is second only to London in its popularity with Shanghai, Singapore, Beijing and Tokyo also making the top 10 listing.

Although the Ratchaprasong ‘golden mile’ remains the heart of Bangkok’s retail market the recently completed EmQuartier, Central Westgate and Central Festival East Ville, all located outside the city centre, are providing new attractive opportunities to international retailers. Bangkok’s retail landscape continues to diversify, with renovations at Siam Discovery.

The reports adds that ‘Bangkok’s reputation as a shopping hotspot for

“Hong Kong remains Asia’s leading luxury shopping destination with

52

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Issue 2/2016

many retailers using it as a springboard for expansion into mainland China,” says James Assersohn, Director of Retail for Asia Pacific at JLL. “While there has been a noticeable slowdown in luxury sales in the city due to China’s slowing economy and the government’s anti-corruption crackdown, Hong Kong continues to attract many high-spending Chinese tourists. More broadly, the dominance of Asian cities in the index highlights the attractiveness of the region to retailers, thanks to its burgeoning middle classes and growing levels of affluence.”

Member News

Sports league seeks new school partners T he Greater Bangkok Athletic Conference (GBAC) is continuing with its goal of offering top class competitive sports for international school students. The league is for both boys and girls ranging in ages from seven to 18. Formed three years, there are now eight full member schools in GBAC and the league has been growing steadily over the years.

Current members are Anglo Singapore, Australian School, Berkeley, Garden, New Sathorn, Satit Prasernmit IP, St. Andrews Dusit and Trinity Sports played by the GBAC league throughout the international school year include football, volleyball, basketball, badminton, and swimming as well as track and field events. Tennis and volleyball have recently been added.

Current member schools have between 200 and 500 students. The league is open to all schools with primary and/or secondary levels.

The prerequisites for joining the league are simple. All schools should be able to field teams for both boys and girls in different age groups for all sports. Schools with the facilities to host events are also an added bonus for the league. Members must commit to playing in a league system in every sport and take part in competitive tournaments at the end of each season.

For further information about your school becoming a member of this prestigious league and offering the best in sports for all your students please contact either: mistrunk@ berkeley.ac.th or llwilson@berkeley. ac.th

dusitD2 hotel set for Dubai launch Thailand-based hospitality group Dusit International is set to launch its dusitD2 brand in the United Arab Emirates this July. The new dusitD2 Kenz Dubai, located in the TECOM district of Dubai, is designed to care for business and leisure travellers. The hotel site adjacent to Dubai Internet City Metro Station with major leisure and business destinations such as the World Trade Centre, Marina and the Dubai Mall within easy reach.

The hotel offers 237 guestrooms and suites augmented by Dusit’s signature Thai service.

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Issue 2/2016

53

Dataconsult

Chamber Events

committed to building a similar installation from Kunming to Vientiane. Quite how to link Vientiane with Nakhon Ratchasima is not clear, but bullock cart services are abundant in the Northeast.

By the Numbers

Chris Bruton Director, Dataconsult Ltd.

W

ith that incredible precision which belies all reality the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts Thailand’s GDP growth rate for 2016 at 2.989 percent, and for 2017 at 3.223 percent. Thailand’s Fiscal Policy Office views GDP growth outlook less precisely in the range of 3.0 to 3.6 percent for 2016, or an average of 3.3 percent. Consensus analysts opinions forecast to 3.0 percent, while the Bank of Thailand has lowered its aspirations from 3.5 percent to 3.1 percent. On the other hand, the World Bank has raised its hopes from 2.0 percent to 2.5 percent.

Few engines are firing in Thailand’s growth machine. Tourism still looks good, although we are strong on the budget tourist side and a bit short of high-flyers. Personal consumption remains depressed, not least because of substantial household debt in excess of 80 percent of GDP. Investment is supposed to come to the rescue, especially those juicy mega-projects that have been taking off for more than a decade. These projects have so far fizzled out before reaching their targets.

The mass transit projects seem to be pressing ahead in an attempt to ease if not eradicate traffic gridlock, but the intercity high speed dreams could yet transform into mirages. The Thailand military government is committed to building a (sort of) high-speed track from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, while the Chinese government is equally

high tech industries. Japanese investors want it all to happen fast, with themselves in the driving seat, rather than conceding space to the Chinese. But anguish over indifferent quality of labour and the shortcomings of the education system that ought to provide it cause continuing frustrations.

The main hope for growth remains the Mekong Region wonderlands, which the transport links are supposed to access, creating a Thailand hub. The prospects do look promising, but Thailand seems now to be exporting its investment capital across borders, and along with it, the future potential for domestic growth. Meanwhile the search continues for innovation, value-added, and

The IMF GDP forecasts through 2021 put Thailand at the bottom of developing ASEAN performance. Average GDP growth through 2021 is forecast as only half or less of neighbour country performance. This situation needs to be reversed. Otherwise the hub will become a fringe, and others will take the lead.

Economic Projections for 2016 2014

205

Average Economic Growth of Major Trading Partners (percent y-o-y)

3.63

Dubai Crude Oil Price (USD/bbl)

96.4

Export price in U.S. dollar (percent y-o-y) Import price in U.S. dollar (percent y-o-y)

2016 f Average

Range

3.51

3.49

3.19 to 3.79

51.6

35.0

32.0 to 38.0

-1.0

-2.3

-1.7

-2.3 to -1.1

-1.9

-10.8

-4.5

-5.1 to -3.9

Exchange Rate (Baht per U.S. dollar)

32.5

34.3

35.5

34.90 to 36.10

Repurchase Rate (Policy Rate) at year-end (percent y-o-y)

2.0

1.5

1.5

1.2 to 1.8

Fiscal-Year Public Expenditure (Trillion Baht)

2.94

3.17

3.38

3.34 to 3.42

Number of International tourists (million persons)

24.8

29.9

33.8

33.2 to 34.4

0.8

2.8

3.3

3.0 to 3.6

0.6

2.1

2.1

1.8 to 2.4

2.1

2.2

3.2

2.9 to 3.5

Major Assumptions Exogenous Variables

Policy Variables

Projections Economic Growth Rate (percent y-o-y) Real Consumption Growth (percent y-o-y) - Real Private Consumption - Real Public Consumption Real Investment Growth (percent y-o-y) - Real Private Investment

-1.0

-2.0

3.0

2.7 to 3.3

- Real Public Investment

-7.3

29.8

8.9

8.6 to 9.2

Export Volume of Goods and Services (percent y-o-y)

0.2

0.1

3.2

2.9 to 3.5

Import Volume of Goods and Services (percent y-o-y)

-5.3

-0.4

0.4

0.1 to 0.7

Trade Balance (billion U.S. dollar)

24.6

34.6

41.1

40.8 to 41.4

- Export Value of Goods in U.S. dollar (percent y-o-y)

-0.3

-5.6

-0.7

-1.0 to -0.4

- Import Value of Goods in U.S. dollar (percent y-o-y)

-8.5

-11.3

-4.5

-4.8 to -4.2

15.4

31.6

38.5

38.2 to 38.8

Current Account (billion U.S. dollar)

3.8

8.0

9.7

9.4 to 10.0

Headline Inflation (percent y-o-y)

- Percentage of GDP

1.9

-0.9

0.3

0.0 to 0.6

Core Inflation (percent y-o-y) Unemployment Rate (percentage of total labor force)

1.6 0.7

1.1 0.9

0.8 0.8

0.5 to 1.1 0.7 to 0.9

Source: Fiscal Policy Office, Ministry of Finance

Gross Domestic Product at current price (total value) (countries ranked by 2016 size) Country China India Indonesia Thailand Philippines Malaysia Singapore Vietnam Myanmar Cambodia Lao Brunei

2010 6,005.25 1,708.46 755.256 340.924 199.591 255.024 236.42 112.771 49.541 11.232 6.842 13.707

2011 7,442.03 1,822.99 892.59 370.608 224.143 297.961 275.37 134.598 59.977 12.818 8.062 18.525

2012 8,471.36 1,828.98 919.002 397.291 250.092 314.443 289.941 155.565 59.731 14.057 9.4 19.047

2013 9,518.58 1,863.21 914.552 419.889 271.928 323.342 302.246 170.565 60.134 15.244 10.788 18.092

2014 10,430.71 2,042.56 890.597 404.32 284.777 338.108 306.357 185.897 65.751 16.778 11.69 17.104

2015 10,982.83 2,090.71 858.953 395.288 291.965 296.219 292.734 191.454 66.983 18.155 12.503 11.786

(US$ billion)

2016 11,383.03 2,288.72 936.955 409.724 310.312 309.262 294.56 201.361 74.012 19.476 13.359 9.097

2017 12,263.43 2,487.94 1,024.00 428.756 345.308 344.848 304.097 217.838 81.968 21.015 14.235 10.103

2018 13,338.23 2,724.76 1,109.96 442.822 384.011 383.815 313.439 236.708 90.569 22.835 15.28 11.482

2017 7.705 7.494 7.386 6.954 6.2 6.2 6.199 5.3 4.8 3.223 2.159 3.036

2018 7.759 7.598 7.441 6.958 6 6.2 6.301 5.5 4.8 3.116 2.465 7.884

Gross Domestic Product at constant prices (growth) (countries ranked by 2016 size) Country Myanmar India Lao Cambodia China Vietnam Philippines Indonesia Malaysia Thailand Singapore Brunei

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2010 5.345 10.26 8.131 5.963 10.606 6.423 7.632 6.378 7.528 7.507 15.24 2.652

2011 5.591 6.638 8.04 7.07 9.457 6.24 3.66 6.17 5.294 0.834 6.208 3.744

Issue 2/2016

2012 7.333 5.619 7.898 7.313 7.7 5.247 6.684 6.03 5.473 7.231 3.67 0.913

2013 8.428 6.639 7.968 7.428 7.7 5.422 7.055 5.557 4.713 2.702 4.675 -2.125

2014 8.7 7.244 7.421 7.072 7.3 5.984 6.132 5.024 5.993 0.818 3.26 -2.344

2015 7.031 7.336 7.01 6.922 6.9 6.679 5.806 4.794 4.952 2.82 2.008 -0.208

2019 14,605.29 3,006.95 1,193.19 462.752 427.777 427.791 324.659 257.193 99.651 24.796 16.406 13.911

2020 16,144.04 3,315.36 1,291.66 484.613 476.652 477.885 336.686 279.003 109.561 26.946 17.648 15.609

2021 17,762.01 3,660.21 1,427.88 509.61 527.798 531.298 347.317 302.01 120.764 29.21 18.953 16.926

(Percentage change year-on-year) 2016 8.64 7.454 7.395 6.967 6.49 6.3 6 4.9 4.4 2.989 1.773 -2.025

2019 7.63 7.69 7.301 6.901 6 6.2 6.402 5.8 4.9 3.098 2.663 12.791

2020 7.659 7.68 7.319 6.937 6 6.2 6.5 6 5 3.06 2.787 8.88

2021 7.667 7.787 7.311 6.731 6 6.2 6.502 6 5 2.967 2.845 6.847

Gross Domestic Product per capita (countries ranked by 2016 size) Country Singapore Brunei Malaysia China Thailand Indonesia Philippines Vietnam Lao India Myanmar Cambodia

2010 46,569.40 35,437.22 8,920.47 4,478.49 5,062.68 3,178.13 2,155.41 1,297.23 1,069.75 1,429.60 996.632 781.912

2011 53,122.37 47,092.30 10,252.58 5,523.46 5,479.29 3,688.53 2,363.88 1,532.31 1,236.24 1,497.40 1,196.92 877.635

2012 54,577.80 47,640.77 10,652.70 6,256.36 5,846.34 3,744.53 2,591.36 1,752.62 1,414.46 1,471.43 1,181.92 945.702

2013 55,979.76 44,540.15 10,808.58 6,995.25 6,147.99 3,675.58 2,769.53 1,901.70 1,593.59 1,479.50 1,179.58 1,010.39

2014 56,009.54 41,524.79 11,050.00 7,625.79 5,889.02 3,531.80 2,843.54 2,048.95 1,694.54 1,600.85 1,278.71 1,095.62

(Current prices US$) 2015 52,887.77 28,236.64 9,556.77 7,989.72 5,742.28 3,362.36 2,858.14 2,088.34 1,778.71 1,617.31 1,291.96 1,168.04

2016 52,755.14 21,496.76 9,810.80 8,239.89 5,939.65 3,620.36 2,978.18 2,173.65 1,865.07 1,747.49 1,416.39 1,234.55

2017 54,052.85 23,556.88 10,756.83 8,833.28 6,205.35 3,905.64 3,249.07 2,327.16 1,950.31 1,874.94 1,557.00 1,312.42

2018 55,253.36 26,428.59 11,772.20 9,559.92 6,400.80 4,178.86 3,542.39 2,502.55 2,054.35 2,026.74 1,708.22 1,404.98

2019 56,766.89 31,622.21 12,901.70 10,416.28 6,682.26 4,434.22 3,868.75 2,690.97 2,164.70 2,207.61 1,866.89 1,503.09

2020 58,452.14 35,056.34 14,171.54 11,456.74 6,992.46 4,738.22 4,226.24 2,888.92 2,285.15 2,402.43 2,039.41 1,609.28

2015 85,253.24 79,586.96 26,314.80 16,097.35 14,107.43 11,125.92 7,254.20 6,161.62 6,024.35 5,468.76 5,309.41 3,487.46

2016 86,853.69 77,661.86 27,278.20 16,706.32 15,095.21 11,633.41 7,612.58 6,598.97 6,399.67 5,952.63 5,650.58 3,711.32

2017 89,276.25 80,048.65 28,497.68 17,454.06 16,171.99 12,258.79 8,035.34 7,098.05 6,818.89 6,451.46 6,036.96 3,964.73

2018 92,568.68 86,987.58 29,964.41 18,341.15 17,404.89 13,026.11 8,544.70 7,691.71 7,312.61 7,043.53 6,494.85 4,263.00

2019 96,283.91 98,973.68 31,569.93 19,295.62 18,751.54 13,895.45 9,104.58 8,350.96 7,850.33 7,691.47 6,985.77 4,586.13

2020 100,308.95 108,684.77 33,272.33 20,283.74 20,189.72 14,841.54 9,703.99 9,060.17 8,422.32 8,398.67 7,510.29 4,932.31

2015 11.48 4.932 6.363 2.104 1.225 1.409 1.441 5.3 0.631 -0.523 -0.9 -0.448

2016 9.587 5.294 4.311 3.131 2.108 1.998 1.8 1.533 1.299 0.241 0.218 0.2

2017 8.2 5.325 4.472 2.882 2.841 3.417 2 2.3 2.3 1.318 2.028 0.1

2018 7.45 5.535 4.4 3 3.025 3.472 2.2 2.7 2.9 1.9 1.8 0

2019 6.95 5.332 4.3 3 2.918 3.537 2.6 3.1 3.4 1.9 2.1 0.1

2014 98.46 66.354 63.708 55.548 55.574 41.12 43.568 36.404 33.419 29.729 24.695 2.307

2015 98.24 67.201 64.288 59.294 57.405 43.9 43.108 37.13 33.577 32.043 27.25 3.086

2016 98.236 66.498 64.121 62.421 55.828 46.756 43.737 35.705 33.427 32.011 27.565 3.912

2017 97.926 65.558 66.109 64.824 54.963 49.319 44.489 33.786 33.007 32.235 28.395 3.517

2018 96.916 64.304 67.715 66.428 53.603 51.228 45.286 31.949 32.346 32.808 29.309 3.076

2019 95.731 62.917 69.267 67.587 51.977 52.395 45.865 30.201 31.573 33.403 29.919 2.535

2014 17.358 3.813 3.778 2.106 4.276 5.019 -1.308 -3.09 27.752 -12.112 -5.601 -23.184

2015 19.663 8.809 2.876 2.67 2.941 1.444 -1.254 -2.068 7.817 -11.247 -8.872 -23.235

2016 21.164 7.953 2.613 2.604 2.336 0.562 -1.506 -2.59 -6.896 -8.301 -8.381 -20.957

2017 20.494 5.743 2.445 2.06 1.921 0.193 -2.082 -2.846 0.714 -7.958 -8.04 -19.817

2018 19.792 4.089 2.229 1.45 1.831 0.306 -2.154 -3.032 7.52 -7.468 -7.705 -17.729

2019 19.191 2.817 2.035 0.936 1.663 0.516 -2.322 -2.994 16.912 -7.068 -8.328 -16.019

2014 1,367.82 1,275.92 252.165 100.149 90.728 68.657 51.419 30.598 15.313 6.898 5.47 0.412

2015 1,374.62 1,292.71 255.462 102.152 91.678 68.838 51.846 30.996 15.543 7.029 5.535 0.417

2016 1,381.45 1,309.71 258.802 104.195 92.637 68.981 52.254 31.523 15.776 7.163 5.584 0.423

2017 1,388.32 1,326.94 262.185 106.279 93.607 69.095 52.645 32.059 16.013 7.299 5.626 0.429

2018 1,395.22 1,344.40 265.613 108.405 94.587 69.182 53.019 32.604 16.253 7.438 5.673 0.434

2019 1,402.16 1,362.09 269.086 110.573 95.577 69.251 53.378 33.158 16.497 7.579 5.719 0.44

GDP Purchasing-power-parity per capita (countries ranked by 2016 size) Country Singapore Brunei Malaysia Thailand China Indonesia Philippines India Vietnam Myanmar Lao Cambodia

2010 70,598.04 79,302.82 20,335.81 13,181.29 9,156.88 8,432.70 5,550.36 4,445.17 4,395.52 3,678.78 3,719.08 2,462.23

2011 74,949.24 82,567.71 21,498.37 13,505.89 10,180.86 8,973.56 5,734.77 4,749.19 4,716.98 3,932.90 4,022.07 2,646.49

2012 77,213.52 83,492.21 22,736.32 14,680.37 11,111.60 9,554.34 6,121.66 5,003.37 5,003.44 4,262.68 4,336.88 2,841.96

2013 80,821.00 81,741.78 23,874.47 15,246.20 12,102.56 10,109.94 6,546.75 5,352.10 5,305.17 4,656.55 4,671.68 3,056.97

2014 83,733.08 80,014.69 25,147.00 15,541.56 13,130.87 10,649.05 6,923.89 5,758.32 5,649.65 5,100.76 5,005.71 3,277.75

(Current US$)

Inflation: average consumer prices (countries ranked by 2016 size) Country Myanmar India Indonesia Malaysia Cambodia Philippines China Lao Vietnam Singapore Thailand Brunei

2010 8.222 9.497 5.14 1.72 3.997 3.784 3.3 5.984 9.21 2.823 3.28 0.216

2011 2.766 9.544 5.344 3.174 5.478 4.718 5.4 7.581 18.669 5.248 3.809 0.142

2012 2.829 9.936 3.981 1.664 2.925 3.171 2.646 4.259 9.103 4.576 3.015 0.108

2013 5.711 9.437 6.413 2.105 2.955 2.933 2.624 6.371 6.595 2.359 2.185 0.382

2014 5.908 5.927 6.395 3.143 3.852 4.174 1.988 5.5 4.085 1.025 1.895 -0.174

2010 97.035 67.458 62.095 48.084 51.94 35.113 39.859 43.462 29.367 49.609 24.525 1.113

2011 100.979 68.844 56.902 46.717 52.636 35.299 39.137 41.412 30.298 46.041 23.106 2.129

2012 105.498 67.703 62.191 48.527 54.552 36.931 41.946 40.609 32.051 40.095 22.96 2.101

2013 102.488 66.235 60.127 52.418 55.894 39.452 42.247 39.245 33.258 32.786 24.847 2.209

2010 23.663 2.94 3.597 3.96 10.082 -3.792 -2.813 0.702 41.021 -6.847 -1.098 -18.783

2011 21.993 2.402 2.519 1.829 10.894 0.173 -4.287 0.189 32.792 -10.166 -1.842 -18.353

2012 17.167 -0.377 2.779 2.543 5.166 5.957 -4.82 -2.657 29.788 -11.003 -4.002 -29.262

2013 17.894 -1.231 4.186 1.557 3.483 4.553 -1.739 -3.183 20.892 -12.332 -4.917 -28.947

2013 1,360.72 1,259.35 248.818 98.185 89.691 68.297 50.979 29.915 15.087 6.77 5.399 0.406

2021 6.375 4.919 4 3 0.249 3.5 3 3.1 4 1.9 2.5 0

2020 94.294 61.505 70.232 68.402 50.111 53.12 45.888 28.616 30.503 33.858 30.409 2.258

2021 92.858 60.089 70.781 68.969 48.076 53.836 45.586 27.257 29.717 34.334 30.9 2.068

(Percentage of GDP)

Population ASEAN+2 (countries ranked by 2016 size) Country 2010 2011 2012 China 1,340.91 1,347.35 1,354.04 India 1,195.06 1,217.44 1,243.00 Indonesia 237.641 241.991 245.425 Philippines 92.6 94.82 96.51 Vietnam 86.933 87.84 88.762 Thailand 67.341 67.638 67.956 Myanmar 49.708 50.11 50.537 Malaysia 28.589 29.062 29.518 Cambodia 14.365 14.605 14.864 Lao 6.396 6.521 6.646 Singapore 5.077 5.184 5.312 Brunei 0.387 0.393 0.4 Source: World Economic Outlook Database, April 2016

2020 6.6 5.027 4.1 3 3.165 3.454 3 3.3 3.8 1.9 2.3 0.1

(Percentage of GDP)

Current Account Balance (countries ranked by 2016 size) Country Singapore Thailand Philippines China Malaysia Vietnam India Indonesia Brunei Cambodia Myanmar Lao

2021 104,537.49 117,139.30 35,058.47 21,302.78 21,733.21 15,848.40 10,340.64 9,837.16 9,065.01 9,172.52 8,071.73 5,293.16

(Percentage change year-on-year)

General Government Gross Debt (countries ranked by 2016 size) Country Singapore India Lao Vietnam Malaysia China Thailand Philippines Cambodia Myanmar Indonesia Brunei

2021 59,869.88 37,573.49 15,492.14 12,542.59 7,348.88 5,170.31 4,587.96 3,105.41 2,408.26 2,617.87 2,234.29 1,718.68

2020 18.649 2.006 1.808 0.661 1.554 0.586 -2.48 -3.017 19.613 -6.66 -8.287 -14.635

2021 18.045 1.366 1.622 0.526 1.594 0.893 -2.586 -3.048 19.018 -5.9 -7.265 -14.433

(Million persons)

The Link

2020 1,409.13 1,380.01 272.604 112.784 96.577 69.305 53.722 33.721 16.744 7.723 5.76 0.445

2021 1,416.14 1,398.16 276.168 115.04 97.253 69.345 54.05 34.295 16.995 7.87 5.801 0.45

Issue 2/2016

55

Chamber News

Overseas Business Network initiative supports BCCT A

cademic research confirms that exporting companies are more productive than nonexporters. They achieve stronger financial performance and are more likely to stay in business.

Doing business overseas can lead directly to growth, improvements in efficiency levels and ideas for new products and services. Once a company has started to export to a new market this tends to increase confidence and ambition, leading to further growth.

Findings from surveys of UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) trade clients show: • 85% said exporting led to a ‘level of growth not otherwise possible’ • 87% said exporting had significantly improved their profile or credibility • 78% said exporting had given them exposure to new ideas • 73% said exporting had increased the commercial lifespan of products or services The Overseas Business Network Initiative (OBNi) was launched by UKTI in 2012 in order to stimulate the development of business-tobusiness support networks, the lack of which was identified as a market failure in the UK economy’s global footprint.

At a corporate level UKTI has two overarching trade promotion roles: i) Boost the number of UK firms exporting and the value of UK exports

56

The Link

Issue 2/2016

ii) Provide affordable advice and trade support services to UK companies. In support of these roles the objectives of the OBNi are to: • Increase the range and volume of affordable business support available to UK Exporters in target markets • Create a more flexible and cost efficient model for delivering trade support services than that which was already in place • Involve the private sector more fully in the delivery of the 2020 export drive through promoting the more intangible benefits of a cohesive UK business community overseas After much discussion at board level and with the UKTI Bangkok team, BCCT fully engaged in the OBNi in 2013. To support British SMEs is consistent with BCCT’s mission

statement, namely to ‘serve the needs and promote the development of British business in Thailand and as ‘Partners in Progress’ contribute directly to Thailand’s economic advancement’.

More than this, engagement in the OBNi was seen as a means of enhancing member value.

BCCT is considered by UKTI to be one of the most successful of all their OBNi partners worldwide. Under the OBNi, BCCT’s principal task is to undertake the bespoke business support for British SMEs that was previously undertaken by the UKTI team at the British Embassy in Bangkok.

BCCT’s Business Services’ team provides initial market/sector research, advice on market access, introductions to potential customers or

Chamber News

representatives, bespoke event organisation and tailored meeting programmes.

The Business Services Team provides additional services and benefits to BCCT members and is also helping to expand membership. The separate roles of the Business Services team and the mainstream BCCT team overlap and complement each other.

Members are seeing an increased level of activity from the Chamber as a whole, accompanied by new opportunities and benefits: - Members in services industries such as law, accounting, advertising, real estate and publishing should benefit from accessing new entrants to the Thailand market - Follow-up work could fall to BCCT member service companies such as legal (drawing up or checking agency or joint venture contracts); real estate (locating office, industrial or residential space); publishing (printing new corporate brochures etc.)

- Member access to the British Business Centre (BBC) for meetings, conference calls, press events, product launches, internal training and hot-desking - BCCT’s new Business Services

available to ALL members - BCCT is more directly involved as a player in Thai-UK relations and thus better placed to help members with advocacy and lobbying issues - Each UK company commissioning work under this project is required to join BCCT under the ‘Headstart’ initiative - thereby increasing membership and contributing directly to BCCT income BCCT members already seeing the benefit of the OBNI in the following sectors with more than 100 members contacted to date as a direct result of BCCT’s active engagement with the OBNi. Other benefits include: Hotels UK SMEs visiting Thailand have access to corporate room rates offered

by BCCT hotel members.

Professional Services When a UK SME seeks legal advice, the Business Services team sends a list of BCCT member lawyers with a recommendation that the UK SME sends to each a specification for the

work required. Responses may then be judged on merit.

Healthcare This is a specific example of a referral in a specific sector whereby the UK SME was referred to member healthcare companies as an alternative route to market for a new healthcare supplement.

Food & Drink The annual ‘Taste of Britain’ promotion with Tops supermarkets (Central Food Retail) across Thailand is another specific sector example. BCCT members in Thailand actively engage in the promotion to boost sales growth for products such as Twinings Tea (imported by DKSH) and Ahmad Tea (imported by Etemad).

Logistics The Business Services team sent a list of BCCT members that are Freight Clearing Agents to a Chamber of Commerce in the UK in response to a request.

So far more than 100 members have been contacted as a result of BCCT’s engagement with the OBNi.

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Chamber Events

BCCT Boardroom Briefing

Joint Luncheon

8 March 2016

15 March 2016

Khun Teera Phutrakul, Chairman of the Thai Financial Planners Association, addressed BCCT members and non-members on “Corporate Governance – Thai Style” on Tuesday 8 March at the British Business Centre.

Associate Professor Naraporn Chan-o-cha, Vice Chair of the Distance Learning Foundation and wife of the Prime Minister, was guest speaker at a luncheon hosted by the BCCT, AMCHAM) and AustChamat Pullman Grande Sukhumvit.

Khun Teera Phutrakul

Pictured from left: Blackmores Country Manager Pussadee Suchitchon; BCCT Vice Chairman Chris Thatcher; ManpowerGroup Country Manager & BCCT Chairman Simon Matthews; Associate Professor Narapon Chan-o-cha; AMCHAM Executive Director Judy Benn; Bank of Ayudhya Chief Operating Officer Janice Van Ekeren; MBMG Advisor & AustCham Treasurer Peter Emblin

BCCT Boardroom Briefing

BCCT P&I Boardroom Briefing

16 March 2016

21 March 2016

BCCT Boardroom Briefing on “How to Tell Stories and Win Business” was held at the British Business Centre. Neil Stoneham, Managing Director of Voxtree, shared interesting stories about well-known brands and offered tips on storytelling for marketing.

On Monday 21 March, BCCT Property & Infrastructure Boardroom Briefing covered the topic “Myanmar Property Update and what to expect with the New Government”.

Tony Picon, Managing Director of Colliers International Myanmar, was guest speaker.

Neil Stoneham

Tony Picon

Thank you to our sponsors.

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Chamber Events

Two-Day Thai Language Workshop

BCCT-MBMG Insights

24 & 25 March 2016

29 March 2016

BCCT Two-Day Thai Language Workshop on “SpeakPro Presentation Skills” was held Thursday 24 to Friday 25 March at Sivatel. Pachara (Billy) Yongjiranon (pictured fourth from right), Corporate Trainer & Presentation Coach at SpeakPro Training, facilitated this workshop.

Paul Gambles, Managing Director of MBMG Investment Advisory, was guest speaker for BCCT-MBMG Insights on “UK Budget 2016” held at the British Business Centre on Tuesday 29 March.

Workshop delegates give presenter Pachara (Billy) Yongjiranon a vote of approval.

Paul Gambles

Joint Chambers Networking

Farewell for British Ambassador

30 March 2016

7 April 2016

The Joint Chambers Travel & Tourism Networking Evening was successfully hosted by the British, American, German, Netherlands, South African and Swiss Chambers of Commerce on Wednesday 30 March at Oriental Residence Bangkok.

BCCT Farewell Reception for British Ambassador H.E. Mark Kent was held at the British Business Centre. H.E. Mark Kent served as British Ambassador to Thailand from 2012 to 2016.

BCCT Vice Chairman Chris Thatcher (far left) welcomed BCCT members and guests.

Pictured from left: The BigChilli Managing Director Colin Hastings; BCTFN President Carolyn Tarrant; H.E. Mark Kent; ManpowerGroup Country Manager/BCCT Chairman Simon Matthews; Boots Retail (Thailand) Managing Director Dean Thompson

Thank you to our sponsors.

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Chamber Events

BCCT Boardroom Briefing

Third Thursday Networking

20 April 2016

21 April 2016

Dr. Sucharit Koontanakulvong, Associate Professor at Faculty of Engineering Chulalongkorn University, Water Resources Engineering Department and Water Resources System Research Unit, addressed the issue “Bangkok is Sinking – A Challenge or Crisis?” at the British Business Centre.

Pullman Bangkok Grande Sukhumvit kindly hosted BCCT Third Thursday Networking Evening at InBLU.

Pictured from left: SASIN Deputy Director for Alumni and Corporate Relations Khun Gong Rungswang; Dr. Sucharit Koontanakulvong; BCCT Vice-Chairman Chris Thatcher

Pictured from left: BCCT Chairman Simon Matthews; Pullman Bangkok Grande Sukhumvit Executive Assistant Manager Sophia Altamirano; Pullman Bangkok Grande Sukhumvit Director of Catering Worachat Yotapol

Joint Chambers ESB Networking

BCCT Boardroom Briefing

22 April 2016

25 April 2016

BCCT hosted the Joint Chambers Eastern Seaboard Networking Evening at Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya. This event was kindly sponsored by ISS Facility Services, Brighton College International School Bangkok and Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya.

BCCT Boardroom Briefing on Change Management was held on Monday 25 April at the British Business Centre.

Andy Skowronski (pictured standing), author of “The Road to Transformation” and Director of A & C Associates Ltd, was guest speaker for the event.

BCCT Vice Chairman Chris Thatcher (centre left) thanked sponsors’ representatives during this every successful event.

Andy Skowronski makes his presentation.

Thank you to our sponsors.

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Chamber Events

Sales Training Workshop

Thai Language Workshop

27 April 2016

29 April 2016

John Wagner (pictured standing), Chairman of John Wagner Training, facilitated BCCT Sales Training Workshop and Presentation on Wednesday 27 April and Tuesday 10 May at the British Business Centre.

On Friday 29 April, Pachara (Billy) Yongjiranon (pictured), Corporate Trainer & Presentation Coach at SpeakPro Training, facilitated BCCT Half-Day Thai Language Workshop on “SpeakPro Telesales Skills”. This workshop was fully booked and attended by more than 30 BCCT members.

The session with John Wagner was well attended.

Corporate Trainer Pachara (Billy) Yongjiranon.

Joint Chambers Panel Discussion

BCCT-MBMG Insights

12 May 2016

18 May 2016

BCCT in cooperation with BeluThai, CanCham, FTCC, NTCC, STCC and SATCC held the Joint Chambers Travel & Tourism Evening Panel Discussion on “Revenue Performance: driving rate in a saturated market” at Radisson Blu Plaza Bangkok on Thursday 12 May hosted by BCCT.

Khun Korn Chatikavanij, former Finance Minister, was guest speaker at BCCT-MBMG Insights “Tinkering and Tapering: Are Policymakers Getting it Right?” on Wednesday 18 May at The Conrad Bangkok.

Bangkok hoteliers were well represented for the panel discussion that covered a number of issues and opportunities.

Pictured from left: Khun Korn Chatikavanij; MBMG Managing Director Graham Macdonald; BCCT Vice Chairman Chris Thatcher; MBMG Co-founder Paul Gambles

Thank you to our sponsors.

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Chamber Events

BCCT Boardroom Briefing

Multi Chambers T3+1 Networking

24 May 2016

26 May 2016

Chief Investment Officer of CIMB-Principal Asset Management, Khun Win Phromphaet was guest speaker for BCCT Boardroom Briefing on “Investment Outlook 2016 and Retirement Savings Plan in Thailand” at the British Business Centre.

The event was organised by BCCT in collaboration with EABC, Franco, Finnish, Irish, Netherlands, Singapore, South-African and Swiss Thai Chambers of Commerce at Ramada Plaza Bangkok Menam Riverside. Over 150 guests enjoyed food and drinks on the waterfront terrace.

Khun Win Phromphaet gives presentation to BCCT members.

Pictured from left: Clive Butcher, Highfield Equity Co., Ltd; Klaus Sennik, Ramada Plaza Bangkok Menam Riverside; David Cumming, Amari Watergate Bangkok; Simon Matthews, ManpowerGroup Thailand

Multi Chambers Luncheon 1 June 2016 BCCT in collaboration with the American, Australian, Belgium-Luxembourg, Canadian, Finnish, French, Irish, Netherlands, Norwegian, Singapore, South African and Swiss Chambers of Commerce held the Multi Chambers Luncheon on “How the Tourism Market will Develop in 2016” with guest speaker Khun Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports.

Pictured from left: AMCHAM President Emeritus Darren Buckley; BCCT Chairman Simon Matthews; Australian Ambassador H.E. Paul Robilliard; AMCHAM Travel & Tourism Co-Chair Charles Blocker; Khun Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul; BCCT Travel & Tourism Chairman David Cumming; NTCC Executive Director Hans van den Born; BCCT Vice Chairman Chris Thatcher

Thank you to our sponsors.

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Britain in South East Asia (BiSEA) Fax: 603-2163-1781 Email: britcham@bmcc.org.my Website: www.bmcc.org.my Chairman: Andrew Sill General Manager: Nik Tasha Nik Kamaruddin Cambodia British Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia British Chamber of Commerce, Cambodia (BritCham) Office: British Embassy, #27-29 Street 75, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Tel: 855-1232-3121 E-mail: executivedirector@ britchamcambodia.org Website: www.britchamcambodia.org Chairman: David Tibbott Executive Director: Olivia Widen

Indonesia British Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia Wisma Metropolitan 1, 15th Floor, Jl. Jend, Sudirman Kav 29-31 Jakarta, Indonesia 12920 Tel: 62-21-522-9453 Fax: 62-21-527-9135 Email: chriswren@britcham.or.id Website: www.britcham.or.id Chairman: Adrian Short Executive Director: Chris Wren

Malaysia British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce E04C1, 4th Floor East Block Wisma Selangor Dredging 142-B Jalan Ampang 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: 603-2163-1784 /1786

MYANMAR British Chamber of Commerce Myanmar Hintha Business Centre Floor 3, 608 Merchant Street (corner of Merchant & 31st) Pabedan Township Yangon, Myanmar Email: stephanie@ britishchambermyanmar.com President: Peter Beynon FCA Executive Director: Stephanie Ashmore

Philippines British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines c/o The British Embassy Manila 120 Upper McKinley Road McKinley hill, Taguig City 1634 Metro Manila, Philippines Tel: 632-858-2255/858-2372/ 858-2373 Fax: 632-858-2390 Email: chairman@bccphil.com Website: www.bccphil.com Chairman: Chris Nelson

Singapore British Chamber of Commerce in Singapore 138 Cecil Street, #11-01 Cecil Court Singapore 069538 Tel: 65-6222-3552 Fax: 65-6222-3556 Email: info@britcham.org.sg Website: www.britcham.org.sg President: Mr. Bicky Bhangu Executive Director: Brigitte Holtschneider

Thailand British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) 7th Floor, 208 Wireless Rd., Lumpini Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 Tel: 66-2651-5350-3 Fax: 66-2651-5354 Email: greg@bccthai.com Website: www.bccthai.com Chairman: Simon Matthews Executive Director: Greg Watkins

Vietnam British Business Group Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City G/F 25 Le Duan Blvd, District 1 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Tel: 84-8-3829-8430 Fax: 84-8-3822-5172 Email: info@bbgv.org Website: www.bbgv.org Hanoi 193B Ba Trien, Hai Ba Trung District Hanoi, Vietnam Tel: 84 4 6674 0945 Chairman: Kenneth M Atkinson Executive Director: Erik Issue Adair2/2016 63 The Link

Comings and Goings The British Chamber of Commerce Thailand welcomes the following new members:

ACTATEK Pte Ltd. 2 Soi Laphrao 101 Yaek 30 Laphrao Road, Klong Jan Bangkapi, Bangkok 10240 Tel: +66 2370 1351 Fax: +66 2370 1352 Email: aloysius@actatekthai.co.th Website: www.actatek.com

Business Year, The D.S. Tower 2 No. 714, Soi 39 Sukhumvit Bangkok 10110 Email: gulay@thebusinessyear.com Website: www.thebusinessyear.com

Representatives: Mr. Aloysius Loy - Managing Director Background: ACTAtek Ltd. is the developer & manufacturer of security, access control / time attendance systems. Our customers include many Fortune 500 names. We have offices in Canada, UK, Singapore & HK; with worldwide distributors.

Altro APAC Pty Ltd. 3 St Andrews Court, Rowville Victoria 3178 Tel: +61 3 9764 5666 Fax: +61 3 9764 5655 Website: www.asf.com.au Representatives: Mr. Tim Attard - Vice President, Business Development Asia Background: Altro are a third generation owned British company manufacturing slip resistant vinyl, and hygienic call cladding for the commercial construction market.

Bangkok Global Law Offices Limited Rajanakarn Building, 20th Floor South Sathorn Road, Yannawa, Sathorn, Bangkok 10120 Tel: +66 2676 6663 Fax: +66 2676 6188 Email: picharn@globallaw.com Website: www.bgloballaw.com Representatives: Mr. Picharn Sukparangsee - Partner Ms. Supranee Lawang - Office Manager

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Representatives: Ms. Gulay Sultan Background: The Business Year (TBY) is a leading research firm and publisher of annual economic resources on national economies. Present in over 25 countries, TBY provides first-hand access to the people and ideas shaping business and policy throughout the world. Each countryspecific edition contains a comprehensive range of interviews and analysis, offering an inside look at doing business in the world’s most dynamic economies.

TBY’s interviewees, readers, and partners comprise an international network of thought-leaders who are helping to define the future of the global economy.

In Thailand, our goal is to reflect the business character of the country, create a networking platform for leading business players, and provide a “who’s who” of the local economy. Likewise, through our extensive research and sector-wide analysis, TBY’s aim is to understand the key, emerging investment opportunities throughout the Kingdom, and relay them to our targeted, investor-based, international readership.

Change Works Ltd. 10/125 Soi Krungthep Krita 7, Hua Mak, Bang Kapi Bangkok 10240 Tel: +66 90 974 6989 Email: info@changeworksltd.com Website: www.changeworksltd.com

Representatives: Mr. Paul Marks - Managing Director Mrs. Nat Campion - Senior Executive Consultant Background: Change Works was originally founded in Bangkok by its Managing Director, Mr. Paul Marks, and has grown to become a leading provider of professional training and coaching solutions. Change Works brings measurable business results to organisations by enhancing employee performance in various soft skills such as leadership, management, communication skills, sales and customer service and team development.

Change Works focuses its solutions upon • Increasing greater employee engagement • Boosting moral and self-esteem Reducing turnover • Improving productivity • Driving up sales/revenue Increasing high performance Change Works provides organisational development solutions, assessments, training and coaching to multinational and local businesses across South East Asia covering a wide spectrum of industries including Banking and Finance, Construction, Consumer products, Government, Hotel, Food and Beverage, NGO, Technology, and Retail.

CIMB-Principal Asset Management Company Limited 44 CIMB THAI Bank Building 16th Floor, Langsuan Road Lumpini, Pathumwan Bangkok 10330 Tel: +66 2018-3449 Fax: +66 2657-3067 Website: www.cimb-principal.co.th

Representatives: Mr. Jumpon Saimala - Chief Executive Officer Mrs. Pajaree Punyashthiti - Executive Vice President

Background: CIMB-Principal Asset Management Company Limited is subsidiary of CIMB-Principal Asset Management Berhad Malaysia, offering total asset management solutions for Mutual Fund, Provident Fund, Private Fund and Property Fund & REITs services to retail and institutional clients.

CIMB-Principal Asset Management Company Limited was founded in 1994 under the former name BT Asset Management, owned by BankThai Public Company Limited. In 2008, ‘CIMB Bank Berhad’ became the largest shareholder in BankThai and completed the registration of its new name to “CIMB Thai Bank Public Company Limited”. Within the same year, ‘CIMB-Principal Asset Management’ under CIMB Investment Banking – one of CIMB Group’s affiliated companies, had acquired 99.99% shares of BT Asset Management.

Under the new management team from CIMB-Principal Asset Management, the company adopted and implemented total asset management solutions provided by its joint venture partner Principal Financial Group (PFG). This includes incorporating PFG’s investment philosophy and processes, new technology platform and investment know-how. The company has been providing investment solution to clients under the name of ‘CIMB-Principal Asset Management Company Limited’ since 2008.

Shareholding Structure: Principal Financial Group was among the first to make available a target date fund series and currently the largest mutual fund provider of active multi-managed target date choice and the fourth largest provider of target date lifecycle funds in USA. Target-date funds in USA are increasingly popular in workplace retirement plans, where they are often the default option for new employees. A 2014 study found that 15% of all 401(k) assets were invested in target-date funds.

Then CIMB-Principal Asset Management Company Limited has adopted this Target Date concept and introduced to Provident Fund members in Thailand.

Ian Cunningham, Mr. (individual member) Von Napa Condo, Sukhumvit 38 Klongton, Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110 Email: ian@firstselect.org

Ian Grant, Mr. (individual member) 49/95, Kubon 41, Kubon Road, Klongsamwa, Bangkok 10510 Tel: 66897802728 Email: iankgrant@yahoo.com

Fax: +66 26207879 Email: marciano@mbkg.co.th Website: www.mbkg.co.th

Killyfast Food Solutions Ltd 17 Taylorstown Road, Toome bridge, Antrim BT41 3PU Tel: 44 (0) 287 965 9455 Email: info@jhocking.de, sales@kfs-ltd.com

Representatives: Mr. Marciano Birjmohun - Senior Consultant, Credit Division

Representatives: Mr. Ivan Bond - Owner Mr. John Hocking - Country Manager Background: Killyfast Food Solutions was set up in 2006 by husband and wife team Ivan and Roberta Bond.

As a team they have over 50 years experience in the food industry. As the name suggests it was created to help customers find solutions to sourcing raw materials for food manufacturing and processing.

The company developed over the years and as well as sourcing raw materials and ingredients, they now advise companies in their sales and marketing roles to ensure that they achieve the best products for their potential markets.

As they are located in Northern Ireland they can source products both from the United Kingdom and Ireland as both counties are rightly proud of their food products.

We are starting now to export to Asia Thailand live and frozen seafood, Oysters, Scampi, Scallops, Razor Clam, Salmon etc, etc.

Background: As part of the MBK Group, MBKGuarantee are the first public listed Thai company that offers THB property finance to Foreigners. Offering flexible, foreigner friendly finance solutions with clients either living in Thailand or overseas, with no work permit or residence requirement.

Micro Focus 3 Harbourfront Place, #13-02/04, Harbourfront Tower 2, 099254 Tel: +65 6510 4226 Fax: +65 6274 5184 Email: frederic.ho@microfocus.com Website: www.microfocus.com Representatives: Mr. Frederic Ho - Regional Director (ASEAN) Ms. Julia Tan - Marketing Manager (APAC)

Pullman Bangkok Grande Sukhumvit 30 Sukhumvit 21 (Asoke) Road Klongtoeynua, Wattana Bangkok 10110 Tel: +66 2204 4000 Fax: +66 2204 4133 Email: info@pullmanbangkokgrandesukhumvit.com Website: www.pullmanbangkokgrandesukhumvit.com

John Hocking will be working with us in Asia to develop the market for these items.

MBK Guarantee Company Limited 444, 12th Floor. MBK Tower Phayathai Road, Pathumwan Bangkok 10330 Tel: +66 875302528

Representatives: Mr. Philippe Le Bourhis - General Manager Ms. Sophia Altamirano - Executive Assistant Manager Background: Located in the heart of Sukhumvit and Bangkok’s vibrant city centre, the stylish The Link

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Pullman Bangkok Grande Sukhumvit provides upscale services adapted for the sophisticated traveller. Access to Bangkok’s transport hubs and the city’s must see sights are all on your doorstep.

Rosemont Pharmaceuticals Ltd Rosemont House Yorkdale Industrial Park, Braithwaite Street Leeds LS11 9XE Representatives: Mr. Mark Vallance - International Sales Development Manager

Sendit (Thailand) Co., Ltd. 75/30, Richmond Office Building (Level 12), Soi Sukhumvit 26 Khlong Tan, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110 Tel: +66 2017-0324 Website: www.sendit.asia

Representatives: Mr. Mark Cleaver - CEO Ms. Prim Leelawutharak - Marketing & Business Development Background: Established in 2015, SendIt is the first startup incubator funded by Ascend Group focusing on on-demand delivery service in Thailand. SendIt develops website and mobile applications to connect ‘Mr.Send’, our reliable and well-trained messengers with customers who want to send parcels, documents, invoice, corporate billing or any other item that needs to be sent.

We are committed to creating a platform that will make delivery service in Thailand more reliable, fast, cost-effective and corporate-friendly from large corporations to one time customers. We are also a channel for messengers who want to have a great business opportunity to reach new customers and make extra income.

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Siam Inter Auction Co., Ltd. 434, Ramkhamhaeng Road, Saphansoong District, Bangkok 10240 Tel: +66 2119 7111 Fax: +66 2119 7100 Email: info@siaproperty.com Website: www.siaproperty.com

Representatives: Mr. Guy Wanakulthan - Managing Director Ms. Natrin Wanakultham - Assistant Vice President Background: Siam Inter Auction Co., Ltd was established in 2004. We are a comprehensive auction company, which holds an auctioneer and agent licenses specializing in automobiles, real estate and agricultural machinery. In addition, we auction a wide variety of other items, including boats, industrial equipment and miscellaneous goods. We auction both new and used property. Our auction facilities have been developed to draw professional sellers and buyers together.

The result of developing our expertise and implementing strategic plan for a one stop service to meet the business’s growing needs and success, Siam Inter Auction is now launching SIA Property Consulting. This new service offers professional real estate brokerage, commercial property auctions, property consulting and tenancy management for individuals, corporations and investors, including proactive marketing and sales through online and offline channels and a direct sales model that meet the eligibility requirements for clients and partners.

SIA Property Consulting is a property agency and consultancy based in Thailand specializing in the central business districts of Bangkok and other metropolitan areas in Phuket, Chiang Mai and Hua Hin. We offer a comprehensive range of services for both individual and corporate clients. We also provide services to many corporations, developers, entrepreneurs, government entities and financial institutions nationwide. We are proud to be the authorized agent of Krung Thai Bank and other developers and has secured the rights to manage and expose their exclusive properties and products locally, regionally and globally through our sale and marketing ac-

tivities. We also distribute in conjunction with select international agent partners from the property sectors in Asia and Europe to offer a wide range of luxury condos, apartments, penthouses, villas, houses and offices available for rent and for sales across the globe.

We are driven by the desire to deliver real estate solutions and reliable services to ensure that we satisfy customers’ needs for excellent locations, excellent value, consistently high build quality and capital appreciation, while minimising risk. We deliver customised services and solutions by actively advising, implementing and managing on behalf of developers, landlords, tenants and investors through every stage of the real estate process.

Our services are simply categorised to serve different real estate needs.

Siam Real Estate Phuket Co., Ltd. 2/42 Moo 4, Viset Rd., T. Rawai, A. Muang Phuket 83130 Tel: +66 7628 8908 Fax: +66 7638 3646 Email: info@siamrealestate.com Website: www.siamrealestate.com Representatives: Mr. Richard Paul Lusted - CEO Mr. Patrick Kevin lyall Lusted - Director Background: Thailand Real estate agents, property brokers, consultants covering Bangkok real estate / Phuket real estate / Pattaya real estate / Hua Hin real estate / Koh Samui real estate / Krabi real estate.

Look no further for Thailand property and real estate with over 4,000 property listings, new property developments, houses, villas, condos, apartments, land plots and long term and holiday villa rentals in Phuket, Bangkok, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Koh Samui and Krabi.

Slim Smart Solution Co., Ltd. The 19th@Chidlom Building 3 Floor, Soi Chidlom, Pathumwan Bangkok 10330 Tel: +66 2250-7680 Email: info@slimsmartwellness.com Website: www.slimsmartwellness.com

Representatives: Ms. Panisuda Siriwan - Managing Director Mr. Alex Brito - Wellness Operational Manager

WaMSKi 1 Chorlegh Grange Alderley Edge, Cheshire SK9 7GL Tel: +44 7768 448009 Email: wam@wamski.com Website: www.wamski.com Representatives: Mr. Wayne A Mellor - Chairman

Background: GinAlex lead clients to an Innovative Lifestyle with age being no limit.

Innovative Lifestyle is a unique concept in health services. Alex, a Health Specialist and Gina, a Lifestyle Coach combine their skills with passion and positive energy to motivate and inspire people to modify their lives, helping them become healthier, more active and more fulfilled.

The concept combines futuristic nutrition, sport medicine rehabilitation, personalized training using high tech equipment, and lifestyle coaching. Every client has a personalized program prepared for them depending on their requirements, goals, available time and budget.

Mission: Lead people to an Innovative Lifestyle offering help and alternatives for a more active, longer, healthier life where preventable bodily degeneration is reversed and curtailed.

TNS (Thailand) Ltd. 15th floor, Rajanakarn Building, 3 South Sathorn Road, Yannawa, Sathorn Bangkok 10120 Tel: +66 26407188 Website: www.tnsglobal.com Representatives: Ms. Arpapat Boonrod - Managing Director Ms. Suvimon Anantapong - Administrative Manager Background: Servicing clients in Thailand for over two decades, TNS Research International is a global market insight and information group, delivering innovative thinking and excellent service across a network of over 75 countries. Working in partnership with clients, TNS Research International provides high-quality information, analysis and insight that improve understanding of consumer behaviour.

Kantar Worldpanel in Thailand is the country’s largest syndicated household panel, measuring an extensive list of Fast Moving Consumer Goods commodity groups and answering the ‘who, what, where and why’ questions in sales and marketing.

23. Pennwell Corporation 24. Power System Services Limited 25. Repucom 26. Royal Bank of Scotland N.V. Bangkok Branch, The 27. Ruamrudee International School 28. Senzati Limited 29. Siam@Siam Design Hotels & Resorts 30. Suretank (Thailand) Company Limited 31. TICON Industrial Connection PCL 32. Vectair Systems Ltd 33. Venda Software Development Ltd 34. ZincOx (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Change of company representatives

Winters International School Finder 15 Berwick Courtyard, Berwick St Leonard Wiltshire Sp3 5UA Tel: +44 (0) 330 333 4294 Email: es@wintersschoolfinder.com Website: www.wintersschoolfinder.com

Representatives: Ms. Elaine Stallard - CEO Background: Moving your family to a new country is a stressful experience, and finding the right school is one of the biggest challenges.

Winter’s gives parents a directory of English-speaking schools of unequalled depth and range, and a wealth of other tools and resources to help you choose the right school for your child.

1. Amari Pattaya, changed from Mr. Brendan Daly, to Mr. Robert Rijnders 2. AstraZeneca (Thailand) Ltd, changed from Mr. Jonathan Walker, to Ms. Inge Kusuma 3. Infobip (Thailand) Limited, changed from Mr. Ivan Rozic, to Mr. Chula Permthong 4. Penspen Services Limited, changed from Mr. Robert Avery, to Mr. Rob Richards 5. PZ Cussons (Thailand) Ltd., changed from Mr. Rob Spence, to Mr. Giannis Bouras 6. Soneva Kiri Resort & Residences, changed from Mr. Graham Grant, to Mr. Andrew Abram 7. Thailand Privilege Card Co., Ltd. , changed from Ms. Sureerat Chatchaleamkit , to Mr. Kiattiphong Jumpasod 8. Wallem Shipping (Thailand) Ltd. , changed from Mr. Bill Wilcox, to Mr. Denzyl Allwright Change of company name

Resignations & Cancellations 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

AIMS PI (Thailand) Limited Antares Consulting Limited Barclays Capital Securities (Thailand) Ltd Caterpillar Leasing (Thailand) Limited Chuchawal-Royal Haskoning Ltd. Colin Jarvis (individual member) Computer Project Management Consultants Ltd. 8. deVere & Partners 9. DGS Research & Intelligence Co., Ltd. 10. Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai, The 11. Fastrak Services Limited 12. Felsted School 13. Forbears Freedom Wealth Management Co., Ltd. 14. Grayling (Thailand) Co.,Ltd. 15. Harrow College 16. HSBC Singapore 17. Laurie P Smith, Mr. (individual member) 18. MOG Industry Training 19. Montpelier (Thailand) Ltd. 20. NSF Asia-Pacific Co.,Ltd. 21. OGAS Solutions (Thailand) Co., Ltd. 22. Pacific 2000 Recruitment Co Ltd

1. Broadgate Investment Advisory Securities (Thailand) Limited, changed to Broadgate Mutual Fund Brokerage Securities (Thailand) Ltd. 2. Legists Ltd., The, changed to Offices of N&K Ltd. Change of company address 1. Bamboo Labs Co., Ltd. No. 152, 2nd Floor, Kian Gwan House 3, Wireless Road, Lumpini, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330 2. G4S Secure Solutions (Thailand) Limited Floor 11th, Charn Issara Tower II New Petchburi Road, Bangkapi, Huaykwang, Bangkok 10310 T: +66 (0) 2020 2495 3. Siam S & Grace Co., Ltd. 46/9 (Soi Sukhumvit 49) Sukhumvit Road, Klongton Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110

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FINAL WORD

Blown off course

By Dale Lawrence

S

pare a thought for the windswept inhabitants of St Helena. This volcanic tropical island in the south Atlantic sits about 1,200 miles west of the African continent and is part of the British Overseas Territory of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha.

boost tourism, create employment and prevent population decline.

Former British Airways pilot Brian Heywood reportedly told UK Prime Minister David Cameron and Andrew Mitchell about the windshear problem at St Helena. In a letter to the St Helena Independent newspaper Brian Heywood wrote ‘if an airport is built on the edge of a near-vertical 1,000ft cliff, the prevailing wind is bound to cause problems’. Brian Heywood’s comments appear to be backed up by the video recording of the first test flight by Comair, a British Airways subsidiary in South Africa, that shows the 737-800 airline aborting its first attempt at landing.

Imagine the excitement of the island’s five thousand or so residents when they heard that the UK’s government spendthrift Department for International Development (DFID) would be funding the cost of an airstrip that would provide islanders with longoverdue air connectivity to nearby continents and boosting the island’s hopes for long-term tourism development.

This £250 million infrastructure development on St Helena was signed off in 2010 by Secretary of State Andrew Mitchell (regarded by many as an outstanding Minister before resigning over the ‘plebgate’ affair) and the project was described at that time as ‘one of the biggest single government investments ever made in a UK overseas territory’.

Alas, the hopes of St Helenians have been blown off course with the new runway closed indefinitely to large commercial traffic because of problems association with turbulence and windshear on final approach.

velop its tourism industry and become financially self-sufficient’.

I have been unable to locate any explanation from DFID regarding feasibility studies on windshear for a cliff-top landing strip before committing a large wad of UK taxpayers’ cash to this undoubtedly worthy scheme.

St Helena is only accessible by sea and the long-serving eponymous Royal Mail ship is due for retirement. Plans to operate connections with London and Johannesburg were designed to

One wonders what Napoleon Bonaparte would have made of it all. Bony was imprisoned on St Helena after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

He was billeted with the Balcombe family whose descendants settled in Melbourne, Australia and the ignominy of his exile was softened to some degree by a daily allowance of 17 bottles of wine (excluding Champagne) for him and his staff. He died on the island in 1821 in the wake of considerable political turbulence in Europe – but blissfully unaware of the issues of windshear.

The landing strip was due to be opened this summer and the relevant certification was awarded to St Helena airport in May 2016. However, pilots landing at the new airport reported major windshear problems, prompting a suspension of planned commercial services.

The new airport is part of the UK’s government’s strategy to reduce the island’s dependency on state aid. A DFID spokeswoman stated that ‘we are helping St Helena overcome the challenge of being one of the most remote island communities in the world so it can de-

The views and opinions expressed on this page by Editor Dale Lawrence are entirely personal and do not reflect official BCCT policy.

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The Link

Issue 2/2016