e-UPDATE, 7 November 2016

GTCC e-UPDATE: 7 November 2016

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Upcoming GTCC Events Register now for our upcoming events: 11.11.201 GTCC HR Seminar II: Future-Fit Performance Management 6 System with APM

Thailand Economic Factsheet

15.11.201 GTCC Breakfast Talk: ASEAN Headquarters in Thailand 6 Ways to Save Personal and Corporate Income Tax 25.11.201 Joint Chamber Luncheon for Prime Minister General Prayuth 6 Chan-o-cha's Address 01.12.201 GTCC Business Luncheon: Sustainable Buildings - innovative 6 Architecture and Engineering 14.12.201 GTCC Young Professionals Network Evening x HotelQuickly 6

Joint Chamber Luncheon: Prime Minister's Address - 25 November 2016

Update Magazine

Joint Chamber Luncheon for Prime Minister's Address by H.E. Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-o-cha Topic: "Open for Business: The Next Chapter in Thailand's Competitiveness" Date: Friday, 25 November 2016 Time: 11.00-15.30 hrs.

Venue: The Grand Ballroom, Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok (Map) The session will be conducted in Thai with simultaneous interpretation provided (Headset ) Admission Fee: THB 2,675 for GTCC members /THB 2,996 for nonmembers For more information and registration, please CLICK HERE

Economy

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

Preferred Benefits

Thai CEOs have faith in economy: survey Most Thai business leaders are confident in consumers’ purchasing power and are also buoyant about other economic conditions, with most eyeing an improved business performance this year compared to 2015, according to the Krungthep Turakij 100 CEOs Survey.(The Nation, 07/11/2016) More CCI dips for first time in 4 months The Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) in October shrank for the first time in four months, as consumers were concerned about low crop prices especially for rice, increasing fuel prices, a high cost of living, and flooding, according to a survey by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

(The Nation, 04/11/2016) More Export surge spurs outlook optimism Boosted by rising exports for a second straight month in September, the Thai National Shippers' Council (TNSC) has raised its forecast to between zero growth and a 0.8% contraction this year from its earlier-projected 2% contraction. It also predicted exports will grow 0-1% next year. (Bangkok

TP Technical Panels is offering GTCC members 50% Discount on GPS Tracking Service plus complimentary consultation of fraud of fuel from company vehicles.

Post, 02/11/2016) More Corporate loan demand grows Business loan demand increased in the third quarter, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), but demand for consumer loans fell as consumer confidence remained weak, reported a Bank of Thailand survey.The survey was carried out in 27 banks and 23 non-bank financial institutions, covering 99.2% of total credit in the financial system.(Bangkok Post, 01/11/2016) More 10-month inflation positive as October CPI rises 0.34% As domestic fuel prices have risen, inflation in the first 10 months moved into positive territory at 0.06 per cent, ensuring that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) will grow within the Commerce Ministry’s projection for the whole year by 0-1 per cent. (The Nation, 02/11/2016) More Gloomy outlook leads to cuts in MPI, industrial GDP The Office of Industrial Economics (OIE) is revising down the country's manufacturing production index (MPI) and industrial GDP as the global economic outlook remains poor. (Bangkok Post, 01/11/2016) More Thailand seeks to boost health of medical tourism segment The Ministry of Public Health unveiled a new series of packages as part of the “Visit Thailand Enhance Your Healthy Life” programme aimed at increasing medical and wellness tourism arrivals. Under the new initiative, overseas visitors will be able to undergo standard health checks at up to 70 internationally certified hospitals and clinics, combining a regular medical assessment with their vacation. The government is also looking at shifting its promotional efforts towards newer markets, such as China, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, to take advantage of the growing affluence in those countries and the rising demand for professional health care.

(Oxford Business Group, 19/10/2016) More

Companies & Industrial Sectors Organisers postpone events until after 100-day mourning Although the government will allow entertainment activities to resume after the 30-day national mourning period ends, more than 80 per cent of entertainment-based marketing and show-businesses events planned for the final quarter of the year have been postponed to February or March, according to the Event Management Association. (The Nation, 07/11/2016) More TOT’s 3G-2.1GHz service goes national State telecom agency TOT has expanded its 3G-2.1 gigahertz broadband service coverage from greater Bangkok to nationwide by roaming with the 3G-2.1GHz nationwide network of Advanced Wireless Network (AWN) of Advanced Info Service (AIS).(The Nation, 07/11/2016) More eBay revamp aims to woo millennials EBay Marketing (Thailand), the local arm of the US-based e-commerce giant, will give its brand a fresh look in a bid to attract younger customers.

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

CPI

Consumer Price Index

CLMV

Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam

CP

Charoen Pokphand

CSR

Corporate Social Responsibility

FTI

Federation of Thai Industries

GDP

Gross domestic product

IPO

Initial public offering

MPI

Manufacturing production index

MoU

Memorandum of Understanding

The move is to adapt to the millennial market and increase brand awareness among the younger-generation consumers. e-Bay Thailand will continue focusing on exports by small and medium-sized and individual operators. Gems and jewellery, auto accessories and home and garden products are among the top three export products. (Bangkok Post, 07/11/2016) More

NPL

Non-performing loan

OIE

Office of Industrial Economics

Poll: Thais wary of e-payment Whether paying with contactless cards or mobile wallets, Thais prioritise security over convenience and are more likely to use contactless payment methods when they know strong security measures are in in place, according to a recent survey by Visa. (Bangkok Post, 05/11/2016) More

PPV

Passenger pickup vehicles

R&D

Research and Development

Haier eyeing Thailand as regional hub Haier Group, the Chinese home appliance giant, is considering using Thailand as its manufacturing and export hub for Asia-Pacific, attracted by the country's logistics and production capability. (Bangkok Post, 04/11/2016) More

SRT

State of Railway of Thailand

TCMC

Thailand Carpet Manufacturing Plc

TNSC

Thai National Shippers' Council

TOT

Telephone Organization of Thailand

WTTC

World Travel and Tourism Council

Alibaba’s Ant Financial Services invests in CP’s Ascend Money Alibaba’S financial affiliate Ant Financial Services has made a strategic investment in Thailand’s payment service provider Ascend Money, a subsidiary of Thailand’s Charoen Pokphand Group Co Ltd, as a key step for the payment company to expand its overseas footprints.(Shanghai Daily, 01/11/2016) More SAIC Motor-CP breaks ground on 2nd plant Despite gloomy economic conditions, Chinese-Thai joint venture SAIC Motor-CP Co has begun construction of its second assembly plant at Hemaraj Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate 2 in Chon Buri province.

(Bangkok Post, 01/11/2016) More BoI eases up on aviation cluster rule The Board of Investment (BoI) has expanded its promotional areas for aviation clusters in an effort to make it more attractive to investors.

(Bangkok Post, 01/11/2016) More Big injection seen as 1st-car scheme ends The closure of the first-car buyer scheme is expected to inject up to Bt33 billion into the economy over the next two years. (The Nation, 01/11/2016) More

Thailand and ASEAN Business News Malindo Air to launch Phuket route Malindo Air is strengthening its coverage in Thailand with the inauguration of regular flights from Kuala Lumpur to Phuket on 10 November. The

BIOFACH INDIA

Date: November 10-12, 2016 More information: biofachindia.com

airline, 51% owned by the National Aerospace & Defence Industries Sdn Bhd of Malaysia and 49% by Indonesia's Lion Group, will operate four weekly flights on the new route. (Bangkok Post, 07/11/2016) More “Doing Business 2017” : Thailand ranks third in ASEAN and world’s 46th Thailand was ranked the world's 46th best destination for ease of doing business, and third in ASEAN countries, according to "Doing Business 2017". The survey by World Bank’s publication was conducted from a total of 190 countries worldwide. Four economies in the East Asia and Pacific region rank among the top 10 economies globally in the Doing Business rankings. The top-ranked economies are New Zealand (at 1), followed by Singapore (2), Hong Kong, China (4) and the Republic of Korea (5). In the ASEAN group, Singapore tops the ranking, followed by Malaysia and Thailand. (Thailand Business News, 31/10/2016) More

reTHINK Travelling Conference: "CFRP – Recycling and Sustainability“

- 16 November 2016 @JEC Asia, Singapore - 18 November 2016 @KMITL, Thailand - 21 November 2016 @UCSI, Malaysia reTHINK is a Travelling Conference with focus on the topic CFRP - Recycling and Sustainability. The Conference comprises three individual one-day events taking place in the Southeast-Asian countries Thailand, Malaysia & Singapour.

Green Technology Government determined "cautiously" to push electric vehicle industry A senior Board of Investment official yesterday reaffirmed the government’s intention to develop an electric-vehicle (EV) industry in Thailand, though Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday asked involved authorities to move forward cautiously to protect the existing automobile industry. (The Nation, 02/11/2016) More Getting the green light on electric cars There are roughly 1.3 million electric cars on the roads worldwide, but with fears batteries will flatten in traffic or flooding will lead to lasting damage, Thai drivers have been slow on the uptake. This could be about to change.

The government has launched a plan to boost the number of electric vehicles to 1.2 million in the next two decades, with a focus on industrial adoption and the first charging stations to start rolling out by the end of this year. (Bangkok Post, 30/10/2016) More PDI’s flagship solar farm project in Japan starts up Padaeng Industry (PDI) has completed the construction of the Nanao solar farm, PDI Asia Solar’s first investment in Japan. PDI says the investment marks substantial progress in its makeover to the sustainable green business. The Nanao solar farm with capacity of 2.27 megawatts began commercial operation early this month. Construction of a second project, the 10.5MW Nogata solar farm, has begun, and is scheduled for commercial operation in the second quarter of next year. The solar-farm projects in Japan mark milestones for PDI in reaching its sustainable green business goals, managing director Francis Vanbellen said yesterday. (The Nation, 28/10/2016) More

>>> More information

Press conference to mark Germany’s joint participation in the Grand Metalex

Date: Wednesday, 23 November 2016 Time: 2.00 p.m.

Venue: German Pavilion at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) We are keen to inform you what German manufacturers can offer their customers in Thailand, and accordingly invite you most cordially on behalf of the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) as well as of the VDW (German Machine Tool Builders’ Association) to this informative conference.

Bilateral Business German engineering benefiting from Asia's growth German firms are closely tied to Asia and are making good money in the region's fast-growing economies. This year's Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business is taking place Hong Kong. (Deutsche Welle, 03/11/2016) More Festival of the Germans 26 November 2016 Deutsch / English

Contact Person

Member News Sukhothai Bangkok appointed new GM The Sukhothai Bangkok appointed Mr. Thomas Schmitt-Glaeser as the hotel's new General Manager. Mr. Schmitt-Glaeser, from Berlin, Germany, has experienced leading positions at top hotels, including the luxury fivestar Kempinski Hotel Adlon, Berlin and Kempinski Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten in Munich. He has joined the Sukothai Bangkok since 1 October 2016. More

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

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