e-UPDATE, 21 December 2016

GTCC e-UPDATE: 21 December 2016

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Upcoming GTCC Events Register now for our upcoming events: 12.01.2017 Joint Chambers Chiang Mai Networking 20.01.2017 Eastern Seaboard Networking by SATCC 27.01.2017 GTCC Breakfast Talk with Respondek “Pitfalls in International Contracts – And how to avoid them” 27.01.2017 GTCC Icebreaker Networking 1/2017: Welcome Back New Year 04.02.2017 SHOM 2017 Charity Dinner: Music for A Better World

Thailand Economic Factsheet

Update Magazine

Economy SME Bank’s 11-month net jumps 27.72% The SME Development Bank registered a 27.72-per-cent surge in net profit to Bt1.59 billion for the first 11 months of this year, which it attributes to the quality of loans and management of non-performing loans as targeted. (The Nation, 21/12/2016) More Regulators aim for payment security The Bank of Thailand has joined forces with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to tighten the security of mobile banking services in preparation for the launch of PromptPay's consumer-toconsumer (C2C) service next year. (Bangkok Post, 21/12/2016) More Foreigners may get more investment chances The government is considering liberalising more service businesses for foreign investment including telecommunication, financial services and those that the Board of Investment (BoI) is seeking to attract,such as related to innovation and advanced technology. (Bangkok Post, 19/12/2016) More S&P notes Kingdom’s strong fundamentals amid political uncertainty S&P Global Ratings has affirmed its “BBB+” long-term and “A-2” short-term foreign currency sovereign credit ratings, and its “A-” long-term and “A-2” shortterm local currency ratings on the Kingdom of Thailand. (The Nation, 14/12/2016) More Ministry to implement "Agoda style" networking for SMEs and start-ups The Commerce Ministry plans to use the model of hotel-booking website “Agoda” to help develop businesses in Thailand. (The Nation, 13/12/2016) More

Q4/2016: INDUSTRY 4.0 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

Preferred Benefits

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

iCamp Thailand is offering GTCC members a 10% discount for camp programmes from now until 12 March. Get the kids unplugged this school break, and let them live, learn, play with the best!

GTAI News Thailand baut Nahrungsmittelindustrie aus Thailands Nahrungsmittelindustrie will mit neuen Initiativen und innovativen Produkten expandieren und sich stärker auf dem Weltmarkt etablieren.

Wegbereitend wurde hierzu das Supercluster "Food Innopolis" im Zusammenschluss von Forschung, Privatindustrie und öffentlichen Einrichtungen ins Leben gerufen. Das staatlich geförderte globale Marketinglabel "Kitchen of the World" erwies sich als Erfolg und dürfte sich vor allem in den Sparten Halal und Functional Food kräftig weiter entwickeln. (GTAI, Bangkok, 16/12/2016) More Wirtschaftsausblick Winter 2016/17 - Thailand Bangkok (GTAI) - Thailands Wirtschaft steuert wieder auf stärkeres Wachstum zu. Ausschlaggebend sind massive Investitionen in die Verkehrsinfrastruktur, ein blühender Tourismus und die Erwartung zunehmender privater Investitionen.

Die Investitionsförderung konzentriert sich auf zehn Industriecluster mit dem regionalen Schwerpunkt im Eastern Seaboard. Gesunde Fundamentaldaten und die wachsende Integration mit den Nachbarländern tragen wesentlich zur Verbesserung des Geschäftsklimas bei. (GTAI, Bangkok, 14/12/2016) More Thailand will Luftfahrtindustrie ausbauen Thailand hat die Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrie zu einem der zehn prioritären Cluster der zukünftigen Entwicklungsstrategie ausgewählt. Der Board of Investment (BOI) unterstützt neue ausländische Engagements in der Fertigung wie auch in diversen Dienstleistungen mit entsprechenden fiskalischen Anreizen. Die Initiative basiert auf der zunehmenden Perzeption der AsienPazifik-Region als dem dynamischsten Luftraum der Welt und der rasant gewachsenen Bedeutung des Landes als Aviation Hub. (GTAI, Bangkok, 14/12/2016) More Produktmärkte in Thailand 2017 Thailands exportorientierte Wirtschaft versucht sich mit dem Fokus auf zehn Clustern mit hoher Wettbewerbsfähigkeit und vielversprechendem Zukunftspotential breiter aufzustellen. Regional bildet hierbei der Eastern Economic Seaboard einen Schwerpunkt mit einer starken Präsenz im Automobilbau, der Elektronik und der Petrochemie. Prädestiniert für einen höheren Wachstumspfad sind weiterhin Roboter, Medizintechnik, Biochemie, Nahrungsmittel und Digitalökonomie. (GTAI, Bangkok, 12/12/2016) More

Glossary ACD

Asia Cooperation Dialogue

AEC

Asean Economic Community

AIS

Advanced Info Service

APG

Asia Pacific Gateway

AWN

Advanced Wireless Network

BBL

Bangkok Bank

BCP

Bangchak Petroleum Plc

BOI

Board of Investment

BOT

Bank of Thailand

CCI

Consumer Confidence Index

CPI

Consumer Price Index

CLMV

Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam

CPF

Charoen Pokphand Foods

CSR

Corporate Social Responsibility

EGCO

Electricity Generating Plc

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

PHEV

Hybrid electric vehicles

R&D

Research and Development

SCG

Siam Cement Group

SME

Small and medium-sized enterprises

TAT

Tourism Authority of Thailand

TNSC

Thai National Shippers' Council

TOP

Thai Oil Plc

TOT

Telephone Organization of Thailand

WTTC

World Travel and Tourism Council

Companies & Industrial Sectors Golden Land plans 21 launches for 2017 Golden Land Property Development Plc (GOLD) plans to launch 21 new housing projects worth a combined 21 billion baht next year, aiming to have 18 billion baht in presales, a growth of 28% from 2016. (Bangkok Post, 21/12/2016) More Green space adding value for built space As the real-estate industry has grown since 2000, Bangkok has experienced greater density of development. As incomes rise, people care more about the environment, and as a result the demand for green space increases. Buyers and tenants are also paying more attention to the environmental efficiency of property. Residential purchasers are becoming more concerned about energy efficiency, while a growing number of local and multinational tenants demand office buildings with environmental certification. (The Nation, 21/12/2016) More High hopes as mega-airport project near Phuket gets tentative name A transporation mega-project north of Phuket under development by Bangkok Airways has been tentatively named the Phang Nga-Andaman International Airport. (The Nation, 21/12/2016) More Fintech firms help spur mutual funds The surge in mobile internet users and online brokers offering mutual fund investments is set to encourage investors, especially millennials, to go online.

(Bangkok Post, 19/12/2016) More Institute: Thailand can be "Top 5" food exporter The National Food Institute (NFI) says it plans to push Thailand to be among the top five food exporters within the next 20 years, with value rising to 6 trillion baht. (Bangkok Post, 19/12/2016) More CIMBT launches first 7-Eleven sub-branch CIMB Thai Bank (CIMBT) is pushing deeper into consumer banking by opening its first sub-branch at 7-Eleven to better reach retail customers. The small bank aims to open 20-30 such sub-branches at 7-Eleven convenience stores next year in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. (Bangkok Post, 16/12/2016) More SSI wins nod for rehab plan The Central Bankruptcy Court yesterday approved the debt rehabilitation plan for Sahaviriya Steel Industries Plc (SSI), the country's largest hot-rolled steelmaker, allowing it to move forward with a capital restructuring and capital boosting plan. (Bangkok Post, 16/12/2016) More CAT Telecom expands with Asia Pacific Gateway system To respond to higher Internet traffic in the Asia-Pacific region, CAT Telecom recently joined the Asia Pacific Gateway (APG) submarine cable system. It is expected that demand for international bandwidth for Thailand will increase over the next three years from 3 terabits per second to 15-20Tbps. Thus the CAT

Internet Gateway will be the first in Thailand to expand its bandwidth with 100gigabit-per-second technology. (The Nation, 15/12/2016) More Fox files legal action against BBL FOX Networks Group Asia has filed legal actions in Hong Kong and Bangkok against Bangkok Bank for alleged failure to honour two bank guarantees securing payments for distribution of its channels in Thailand by GMM Grammy and CTH.(The Nation, 15/12/2016) More

GTCC Business & Study Trip to Germany

AIS putting B40bn into 4G expansion The country's largest mobile operator, Advanced Info Service (AIS), plans to spend at least 40 billion baht for network expansion in order to maintain its lead in a nearly stagnant market. (Bangkok Post, 14/12/2016) More Peach to debut Bangkok route Japanese budget airline Peach will descend into Bangkok from Okinawa in February as part of its expansion into Southeast Asia. (Bangkok Post, 14/12/2016) More

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

Thai Oil set to call for facility bids Thai Oil Plc (TOP), the country's biggest oil refiner, is expected to finalise its facility construction bidding document and release it to potential bidders by the first quarter of next year. (Bangkok Post, 13/12/2016) More

CLICK HERE for information on HANNOVER MESSE 2017

KTB aims to give struggling clients boost to help economy Krungthai Bank has vowed to act as a leader in empowering its debt restructuring and assets management to help troubled clients in all sectors in the hope that this will help return the country’s economic activities to normal. (The Nation, 13/12/2016) More SCG seeks to raise Laos investment Siam Cement Group (SCG), the country's biggest cement producer,is now focusing on plans to increase investment in Laos in order to expand its customer base. Laos will be central to its plans for further expansion into the region.

Construction of its factory in Laos will soon be finished and could begin commercial operation in the first quarter of next year. (Bangkok Post, 12/12/2016) More

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

The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany is seeking architects and engineers on a fee based contract. Bidding documents (for companies and individuals) can be requested by 30 December 2016. For more information please >> CLICK HERE

BMWi promotes start ups on 58 German fairs in 2017

Thailand and ASEAN AEC benefits ignored by many actors Thailand has yet to make the best use of benefits bestowed by the Asean Economic Community (AEC), which have been available for almost a year, says the Thailand Development and Research Institute (TDRI).(Bangkok Post, 20/12/2016) More More Thai investment for Myanmar

The Board of Investment (BOI) expects to open an overseas office in Yangon early next year, as part of its strategy to promote Thai investment in Myanmar and the rest of ASEAN. According to the BOI, under training by its Thai Overseas Investment Services Centre launched in 2011, most of the participating businesspeople who actually put money overseas picked Vietnam or Myanmar as their investment destination. The areas of interest are textiles and agricultural processing. (The Nation, 19/12/2016) More Cambodia: Rail link to Thailand on schedule Cambodia and Thailand will be linked by railway by the end of 2016 as planned, but some sections of track from Phnom Penh to Banteay Meanchey province remain unrepaired. (Bangkok Post, 13/12/2016) More

Green Technology Egco kicks off latest wind farm Electricity Generating Plc (Egco) said its latest 80-megawatt wind farm in Chaiyaphum province has started commercial operation, helping to generate more revenue for the company as well as support renewable energy. (Bangkok Post, 20/12/2016) More Ethanol makers to ink cassava deal Ethanol makers have agreed to buy 10,000 tonnes of cassava root a day from farmers at 1.9 baht a kilogramme in a bid to raise farm income and stabilise fresh cassava prices. (Bangkok Post, 17/12/2016) More Power producer Ratch moving into LNG Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Plc (RATCH), Thailand's largest private power producer, plans to diversify into liquefied natural gas (LNG). Ratch posted a 37% rise in net profit in the first nine months of 2016, largely from additional capacity at a coal-fired power plant in Laos. It recently sealed a deal worth A$258 million (6.82 billion baht) to develop a 180-megawatt wind farm in Australia's Mount Emerald through its subsidiary, Ratch-Australia Corporation Ltd (RAC). (Bangkok Post, 16/12/2016) More Plug-ins added in BOI’s EV package The Board of Investment will include plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in the new electric-vehicle promotional package that will be unveiled shortly, according to Industry Minister Atchaka Sibunruang.(The Nation, 08/12/2016) More

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)

Chiang Mai World Fair 2017: 27-29 January 2017

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

Career Day 2017

RIS Swiss Section Deutschsprachige Schule Bangkok (Minburi) is currently looking for professionals who are willing to participate at its "Career Day 2017" event. The event is planned for Thursday, 2 February 2017 at 10.00 - 12.00 a.m. For more information please CLICK HERE

9th Annual THAI.GER Supporters Charity Tournament 2017

Bilateral Business Mercedes to expand factory Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Thailand, a local production arm of the German carmaker, will expand its facilities in Samut Prakan to serve future demand and prepare for electric vehicles in the long run. (Bangkok Post, 21/12/2016) More

When: 28.01.2017, 10am-10pm (FREE ENTRANCE! incl. Evening Program) Where: Ruamrudee International School - Swiss Section For more information and registration visit: www.thaigersupportersbangkok.com/Home/

Contact Person

Chadaphan Maliphan

CSR Project launches 10 innovative model communities for CSR Outing Tourism targeting corporate customers Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), collaborated with 9 partners to organise the Village To The World Project to launch 10 innovative model communities with CSR Outing Tourism and invited organizations and private companies with CSR budgets to bring employees to experience the ways of life of people in rural communities and to engage in CSR activities. (Travel Daily News Asia, 20/12/216) More

Member News WELCOME TO GTCC COMMUNITY! New Applications Approved in December Board Meeting

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

Eastin Grand Hotel (BTS Assets Co., Ltd.) Chamber Representative Suwanich Kanjanakunya Pattana Golf Club & Resort (Pattana Sport Club Co., Ltd) Chamber Representatives Rujirapun Juangroongruangkit and Thomas Tapken Weiss-Rohig (Thailand) Ltd. Chamber Representatives Chetsadaporn Duangkaew and Nuttapon Phonpinyo Wisdom Guardian Intellectual Property Consulting Chamber Representatives Poondej Krairit and Paul Brailsford

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