e-UPDATE, 06 December 2016

GTCC e-UPDATE: 06 December 2016

If you have trouble viewing this in email, please click here

Upcoming GTCC Events Register now for our upcoming events: 14.12.2016 GTCC Young Professionals Network Evening x Heroleads 15.12.2016 Networking Evening: GTCC Stammtisch Bangkok 2016 16.12.2016 Joint Eastern Seaboard Christmas Networking 27.01.2017 GTCC Breakfast Talk with Respondek “Pitfalls in International Contracts – And how to avoid them”

Thailand Economic Factsheet

Economy Economy grows at slower rate of 3.2% in Q3 as public debt rises Thai economy recorded a slower growth rate of 3.2 per cent in the third quarter as the country’s outstanding public debt increased slightly amid a large drop in treasury reserves due to revenue shortfalls and higher public expenses. (The Nation, 22/11/2016) More

Update Magazine

Consumer prices record major jump Consumer prices in November rose at the fastest pace in 23 months, driven by higher costs for food, oil, tobacco and alcoholic drinks. (Bangkok Post, 02/12/2016) More State units plan big investments to fuel economy State enterprises plan to invest Bt369.87 billion in the current fiscal year to boost economic growth. Disbursements by the 45 state enterprises surged 25.2 per cent year on year to Bt16.68 billion last month, driven by PTT, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) and Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat). (The Nation, 25/11/2016) More

Q4/2016: INDUSTRY 4.0

GTAI News Branche kompakt: Thailand soll Medical Hub für die Region werden Thailands Markt für Medizintechnik wird 2016 auf 1,4 Mrd. US$ geschätzt. Im Jahr 2017 soll er rund 10% zulegen. Die privaten Krankenhausketten expandieren kräftig. Unternehmen profitieren von der Zollfreiheit für Maschinenimporte und einer Entlastung von der Einkommenssteuer. Der Import von Medizintechnik zog 2015 um 13% auf 938 Mio. US$ an und dürfte auch langfristig auf hohem Niveau bleiben. "Made in Germany" ist stark in der Elektrodiagnostik und bei sonstigen Apparaten und Instrumenten.(GTAI, 31/11/2016) More

Feature: Thai-German Industry 4.0 Symposium; The German Ambassador’s Speech; “Thailand 4.0” focusing on ten cluster promoting the Digital Economy; Thailand as a dynamic market for automation, robotics and the transformation to Industry 4.0; A Reality at Bosch; Meeting the Challenges of the Fourth Industrail Revolution; Reaping the Rewards of Digitalisation;GTDEE follow-up conference looking to the future // Business Brief // Chamber Activities // GTDEE Insights // GTCC Gala Night 2016 // Trade Fairs // Members' Corner

German-ASEAN Business Council Quarterly Newsletter

- December 2016 - September 2016

Companies & Industrial Sectors Bosch backs Thai 4.0 push The government's Thailand 4.0 initiative has provided a tremendous business opportunity for German Bosch Group to roll out its smart solutions to all key industries, the chief of the company said. “We welcome and are happy with Thailand’s direction to transform into a digital economy,” Joseph Hong, managing director of Bosch in Thailand, told The Nation. (The Nation, 28/11/2016) More UPS expands to match govt initiatives Global logistics services provider UPS plans to expand its express service and brand in Thailand to cash in on the government’s policy to promote initiatives in industry and infrastructure. (The Nation, 30/11/2016) More Aapico leaning on research SET-listed auto parts maker Aapico Hitech Plc (AH) is hopeful that its new research and development unit in Ayutthaya will help raise profit margins and competitiveness in the long term. (Bangkok Post, 25/11/2016) More DHL launches e-commerce services DHL Express Thailand aims to capitalise on its growing e-commerce business by providing logistics services through a recently launched e-commerce website, onenow.com, for Thai small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

(Bangkok Post, 25/11/2016) More Tesco stays committed to Kingdom Tesco Group has reaffirmed its commitment to investing in Thailand, which is recognised as one of its strategically important markets and the company’s largest outside the United Kingdom. Since the start of its 2016 fiscal year in March, Tesco had opened 54 retail stores by August, of which four were Tesco Lotus hypermarkets, four Talad, and the remaining 46 Express stores. (The Nation, 24/11/2016) More Insurance firms to control state officials' health insurance The finance minister has agreed to let insurance firms provide health coverage for state officials, in a move to control soaring costs. Coverage would apply to services at public hospitals only. At present, the government pays 68 billion baht a year for about 20 million health care claims by state officials and their families. The government is seeking ways to cap health care spending, which has risen to about 2 billion bath a year. (Bangkok Post, 24/11/2016) More ThaiBev invests Bt4 bn to keep growth Thai Beverage (ThaiBev) has earmarked Bt4 billion for investment to improve existing facilities and expand its distribution-centre network during the company’s current fiscal year, in order to maintain business momentum at an

Preferred Benefits

Swap your existing insurance contract to GLOBAL SOLIDOR Insurance Broker Co., Ltd. and get 7.5% discount on your next premium payment.

Glossary ACD

Asia Cooperation Dialogue

AEC

Asean Economic Community

AIS

Advanced Info Service

AWN

Advanced Wireless Network

BBL

Bangkok Bank

BCP

Bangchak Petroleum Plc

BOI

Board of Investment

BOT

Bank of Thailand

CCI

Consumer Confidence Index

annual growth rate of 14.8 per cent until 2020. (The Nation, 23/11/2016) More

Thailand and ASEAN GMS nations back investment boost The region's transportation network stands to get an investment boost after the The 21st Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Ministerial Conference decided on a new investment plan on 1 December 2016. Six ministers from GMS countries -- China, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar -- endorsed an additional 14 investment projects on infrastructure and development for the second phase of its Regional Investment Framework. (Bangkok Post, 02/12/2016) More

Green Technology Warning on ethanol shortage Mismanagement among ethanol factories and a delay in molasses production this year is likely to cause an ethanol shortage this month, for the first time in several years, according to the Energy Business Department. (Bangkok Post, 02/12/2016) More Infrastructure fund at Superblock, Renewable power to hit 2,000MW by 2018 SET-listed Superblock Plc (SUPER) will set up an infrastructure fund worth 1218 billion baht. The company also plans to list wholly owned Super Solar Energy (SSE) on the Stock Exchange of Thailand next year in order to raise funds to refinance massive capital investment over the next several years.

(Bangkok Post, 28/11/2016) More

CPI

Consumer Price Index

CLMV

Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam

CPF

Charoen Pokphand Foods

CSR

Corporate Social Responsibility

FTI

Federation of Thai Industries

GDP

Gross domestic product

GTB

Getabec PLC.

IPO

Initial public offering

MPI

Manufacturing production index

MoU

Memorandum of Understanding

NPL

Non-performing loan

OIE

Office of Industrial Economics

PPV

Passenger pickup vehicles

R&D

Research and Development

SME

Small and medium-sized enterprises

TCMC

Thailand Carpet Manufacturing Plc

TNSC

Thai National Shippers' Council

TOT

Telephone Organization of Thailand

WTTC

World Travel and Tourism Council

GTCC Business & Study Trip to Germany

Bilateral Business SRT plans high-speed rail talks with Malaysia Thailand is preparing to sit for talks with Malaysia to discuss an ambitious initiative to build a new high-speed train system linking Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. The planned meeting follows interest expressed earlier by the Malaysian transport minister, which drew an enthusiastic response from Thai transport officials who are thinking about an alternative to planes, appropriate train routes and the number of prospective passengers. (Bangkok Post, 24/11/2016) More TCEB offers incentives to meet in Thailand Thailand Convention and Exhibitions Bureau has launched “Thailand CONNECT Your Vibrant Journey to Business Success” campaign targeting Europe’s meeting planners. The campaign aims to attract more business events from Europe to Thailand. It was officially launched at IBTM World, Barcelona 2016, late last month, to international MICE delegates and media representatives. (TTR Weekly, 06/12/2016) More Drone-driven rice programme begins to reap rewards A solution to lift Thai rice farmers out of a low-income trap has edged closer to reality with a German-Thai rice programme that showed "great promise" in the Northeast, the heartland of jasmine rice. In Ubon Ratchathani province with 4.2 million rai under "khao hom mali" (jasmine rice) cultivation, farmers at the pilot project in Baan Bua Thein said at the weekend that they have reduced costs for planting by 20 per cent while raising yields by another 20 per cent. (World Grain, 21/11/2016) More

CSR Evonik hosts awards ceremony in Thailand Evonik Industries recently hosted an award ceremony at the Residence of the German Ambassador in Thailand’s capital Bangkok. Evonik used the event to present the “Evonik Road Safety Award” to the Department of Rural Roads, Thailand (DRR). This is in recognition for the DRR’s contributions to road safety

"Integrated Industry/Industrial Automation/Smart Factory" by visiting HANNOVER MESSE 2017 and Exclusive Site Visits 22-30 April 2017 (9 days 6 nights).

CLICK HERE for information on HANNOVER MESSE 2017 CLICK HERE for the program CLICK HERE for the application form For more information and registration, please contact Ms. Kamolchanok Nantaburom at Tel: 02 670 0600 ext. 4004 or Email: kamolchanok@gtcc.org by Friday 10 March 2017.

BMWi promotes start ups on 58 German fairs in 2017

The German trade fair organizers plan, on current status, the participation of young and innovative companies on 58 international trade fairs in Germany in 2017; the exhibitors on respective common booths are financially supported by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy. >> Read More (in German)

in Thailand, especially in rural areas. (World Highways, 25/11/2016) More Chiang Mai World Fair 2017: 27-29 January 2017

Member News Christmas market and celebration at RIS Swiss Section RIS Swiss Section – German-speaking School Bangkok invites everyone to celebrate Christmas on the campus of the RIS Swiss Section – Germanspeaking School Bangkok on Wednesday, 14 December 2016. Children of all ages can enjoy the various activities during the Christmas workshops in the afternoon. In the evening a delicious Christmas buffet will be presented and various Christmas performances and shows will delightfully entertain our guests. More

Have you followed us on Social Media?

A joint venture between the Governor and Diplomatic Missions based in Chiang Mai to strengthen links between the people of Chiang Mai and Northern Region and the world community.

About the fair >> CLICK HERE For interested sponsors and exhibitors >> CLICK HERE or contact: Khun Waraporn Boonsala (Tu) Event Sales Manager Chiang Mai World Fair 2017 Tel. 089-960-8442 Email: cmwf17@gmail.com

Click here to unsubscribe this GTCC e-UPDATE Contact Person

Chadaphan Maliphan Publication and Communication Manager Tel: +66 2 670 0600 ext 2005 Email: chadaphan@gtcc.org

25th Floor, Empire Tower 3, 1 South Sathorn Road, Sathorn, Bangkok 10120, Thailand Tel.: +66(0) 2670 0600 Fax: +66(0) 2670 0601 http://thailand.ahk.de e-mail: gtcc@gtcc.org Deutsche Bank AG Bonn (BLZ 380 700 59) Nr. 0647669 Bangkok Bank Ltd. Bangkok A/C 118-301859-5