CHAMBER ACTIVITIES

H2Uppp Southeast Asia Conference on Green H2 and PtX

Thailand is in the transition toward its goals to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2065. Green hydrogen is a future energy source that could help Thailand meet the energy demand and reach the net-zero emissions goal.

GTCC organised a conference on Green Hydrogen in cooperation with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in the framework of the H2-Uppp programme. It aims to ramp up the market for green hydrogen (GH2) and Power-to-X (PtX) applications in Thailand under the support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

The conference took place on 5 October at the Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park. More than 180 attendants comprising relevant partners and stakeholders were welcomed by Dr. Poonpat Leesombatpiboon, Executive Director of International Affairs Division (OPS), Ministry of Energy (MoEN), and Mr. Johannes Kerner, Counsellor Economic and Commercial Affairs; German Embassy in Thailand. Keynote speech was delivered by Mr. Tarik El-Laboudy, Deputy Head of Division, Climate and Energy Cooperation with Asia, BMWK, followed by insights of several experts from The Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO), MoEN; GIZ; and Det Norske Veritas (DNV).

The participants also gained first-hand knowledge from discussions and presentations given by the industry’s key players from the PTT Pcl.; Industrial Gas Co., Ltd. (BIG); Siemens Energy Ltd; Energy Research and Development Institute (ERDI); Chiang Mai University; Kasikornbank PCL; NOW GmbH; Siemens Mobility Limited; NEUMAN & ESSER Verwaltungs- u. Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH; Agora; EGAT, MAN Energy Solutions Malaysia ES Sdn. Bhd; Norske Veritas (DNV); thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions (Thailand) Ltd.; Siemens Energy Ltd.; and Enapter Co., Ltd. The discussions were wrapped up by Mr. Martin Venzky-Stalling, Senior Advisor, CMU Science & Technology Park.

GTCC AFTERWORK Briefing with SC Asset

GTCC AFTERWORK Briefing at The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon on 11 October 2023 featured interesting information and insights into the property market and investment in Thailand. We are grateful to Mr. Awirut Imoun, Business Strategist at SC Asset Corporation Public Co., Ltd. for unlocking lucrative real estate investment prospects & tax advantages for our participants at the event.

GTCC AFTERWORK Networking October

After the briefing, GTCC AFTERWORK networking session on Thailand's second highest skyscraper was filled with a marvelous vibe of people gathering with their business contacts and friends. We would like to thank all the guests for joining us; our Event Partners: Miskawaan Health Group, SC Asset and UNHCR for the generous support; and Venue Partner: The Standard Bangkok Mahanakhon for the stylish setting and great F&B arrangements.

GTCC Oktoberfest 2023

GTCC organised one of the signature events “GTCC Oktoberfest 2023” on 20-21 October 2023. The Oktoberfest’s long-standing tradition of beer keg tapping was performed by German Ambassador Dr. Ernst Reichel, Governor of Bangkok Khun Chadchart Sittipunt, and GTCC President on the first day. For the second day, the Oktoberfest was opened by Mr. Hans-Ulrich Südbeck, Deputy Chief of Mission at the German Embassy Bangkok, together with GTCC President. Highlights of the GTCC Oktoberfest included a live band from Germany “O'zapft” performing in the original atmosphere with wooden Festzelt-benches, a wide range of delicious German feasts, and the genuine Paulaner Oktoberfest Beer as well as an after-party with live DJs.

We appreciate the great support from Diamond Partners: B.Grimm and Schaeffler Manufacturing; Gold Partners: BMW Group Thailand, DACHSER, LUTHER, Munich RE; Silver Partners: BASF, Bosch, Leschaco, Isegrim-X, Litigoal, Thaivivat Insurance, and Wissen & Co; In-kind Partner: Bumrungrad International Hospital; Venue Partner: Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit and; Beverage Partner: Paulaner by Flow Inter.

Study trip to Germany on “Germany EV Ecosystem”

GTCC had been organising a study trip to Germany "Germany EV Ecosystem" during 21 – 28 October 2023, in cooperation with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ). The study trip was organised within the framework of "Thai-German Energy Dialogue (TGED)", initiated by The Thai Ministry of Energy (MoEN) and the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) to promote the exchange of best practices and supports business collaborations for mutual benefit in the fields of the energy transition (Energiewende).

The Thai delegates started their activities on 23 October 2023 with a site visit to TÜV SÜD, which provides testing and certification of EV charging infrastructure, including charging stations, connectors and electrical components. In the afternoon, they explored the BMW Group plant Munich. The plant combines engineering excellence and innovative power, producing the fully electric BMW i4. By 2023, at least half of all cars from the Munich plant will be electrified.

They visited P3 Group and Porsche Zuffenhausen Plant on 24 October 2023. At the P3 Group, the delegates were provided with an insightful briefing on electric mobility, technologies, production and players of charging infrastructure. As for the delegates’ site visit to the Porsche plant, they had an exclusive exchange on topics of EV and EV batteries before taking a guided tour through Porsche’s sports car production, exploring the company’s tradition and modernity, including the new Porsche Production 4.0 - smart, lean and green.

On 25 October 2023 they continued their activities in Stuttgart, visiting two sites: 1) Stuttgart Airport to explore the EV charging infrastructure with a focus on the airport’s special features and 2) Robert Bosch to learn about the company’s fuel cells productions and tour the Bosch Feuerbach museum.

GTCC AFTERWORK Briefing with Samitivej Hospital

GTCC AFTERWORK Briefing with Samitivej Hospital on “Heart Health for Active People” took place on 9 November 2023 at The Sukhothai Bangkok. The topic was discussed by our Speaker Mr. Norasak Suvachittanont, Sport Cardiologist at Samitivej Hospital, while the participants were given an opportunity to check their heart health through the hospital’s high-tech Vo2 Max body test.

GTCC AFTERWORK Networking “Tri-Nation Edition”

This year GTCC included our “Tri-Nation” event in GTCC AFTERWORK, in which was organised on 9 November 2023. We were pleased to welcome about 150 guests from the Austrian, German and Swiss business community including guests of honor German Ambassador Dr. Ernst Reichel, Austrian Ambassador Mag. Wilhelm Donko, and Swiss Ambassador Pedro Zwahlen.

We greatly appreciate the generous support from our Event Partners: DACHSER, LUTHER, Mazars in Thailand and Samitivej Hospital; Food & Beverage Partners: KCG Corporation and Paulaner by Flow Inter; and our Venue Partner: The Sukhothai Bangkok. Thanks to Advantage Austria and the Swiss-Thai Chamber of Commerce for co-hosting the event.

GTCC YP Network Evening: “Sport Day”

GTCC organised a new edition of GTCC Young Professionals Network Evening , “Sport Day”, on 3 November 2023 at Topgolf Megacity, our Venue Partner. About 35 participants enjoyed playing creative golf competitions together and networking in a casual ambiance.

GTCC Webinar with Mazars “New tax rules on foreign income”

GTCC Webinar with Mazars in Thailand on “New tax rules on foreign income” took place on 14 November 2023 with the participation of about 60 people. Thanks our speaker Mr. Martin Liebenow, Tax Director / Head of German Desk of Mazars in Thailand, for sharing his insights into the new regulations and advice.

JFCCT Presidents’ Council Luncheon hosted by GTCC

GTCC hosted a JFCCT Presidents' Council Luncheon Meeting at The Sukhothai Bangkok on 15 November 2023 with the participation of GTCC President Mr. Michael

GTCC Executive Briefing & Networking with STR

About 60 businesspeople from various industries especially hospitality join GTCC Executive Briefing & Networking with STR on “Hospitality industry trends andoutlook in Thailand and APAC” on 21 November 2023 at the Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit. They were welcomed by Mr. Oliver Schnatz, GTCC Vice President and Cluster General Manager at The Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit, with his opening remarks. The informative briefing was followed by a lively networking session.

Thank you Mr. Jesper Palmqvistm, Senior Director of STR Asia Pacific, for sharing the perspectives on trends and outlook in the hospitality industry in Thailand and APAC. Also thanks all participants for the interests.

GTCC Deputy Executive Director’s mission to Germany

GTCC Deputy Executive Director Mr. Marius Mehner had been on a mission in Germany during 20-22 November 2023. He gave insights and advice on the current market development and business opportunities in Thailand, also promoting International Hydrogen Ramp-Up Programme "H2Uppp" and the H2-ASEAN Regional Snapshot” at the Internationaler Beratungstag (International Consulting Day) organised by IHK Region Stuttgart on 20th of November, the Internationaler Beratungstag organised by IHK Frankfurt am Main on 22nd of November and the Trade & Connect organised by IHK für München und Oberbayern on 23rd of November.

NRW goes South East Asia

Eight delegates from North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) had visited Thailand during 22 November – 25 November 2023, as part of their delegation trip “NRW goes South East Asia: Vietnam and Thailand”. Supported by NRW.Global Business GmbH, the federal state-owned foreign trade promotion agency, the delegation trip aimed to provide insights into Thailand's political, legal, and industrial landscape, as well as to establish network with contacts of companies from NRW actively operating in Thailand.

BRIEFING

On the first day, GTCC hosted a briefing to NRW delegation at Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel. GTCC Executive Director Dr. Roland Wein, Deputy Chief of Mission at German Embassy Bangkok Mr. Hans-Ulrich Südbeck and Director Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos of Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI) Mr. Thomas Hundt gave a comprehensive overview of Thailand's political landscape, economic development and German businesses in Thailand.

After the briefing, a business reception was arranged for the delegates to meet with NRW companies in Thailand for further networking and collaboration.

VISITING MERCEDES-BENZ BATTERY PRODUCTION SITE, METALEX AND COVESTRO (THAILAND)

The delegates, together with GTCC Executive Director, visited Thonburi Energy Storage Manufacturing (TESM), Mercedes-Benz on 23 November and Covestro Thailand in the Industrial Estate Map Ta Phut on 24 November. Thanks to Mr. Mark Berger, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Thailand, and Dr. Timo Slawinski, Managing Director of Covestro (Thailand) and Site Manager Map Ta Phut for the warm welcome.

At TESM in Samut Prakan, the delegates were provided with a comprehensive overview of Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant (TAAP) as well as TESM. During the tour, they gained first-hand experience in the advanced battery production (PHEV and EB4) and the automotive production line.

The delegation also visited METALEX, No. 1 Machine Tools & Metalworking Exhibition Serving ASEAN, at BITEC, Bangkok on 23 November 2023, to explore new machine tools, metalworking solutions, and many other metalworking technologies.

GTCC Member Exclusive Site Visit to Rhenus Thailand Warehouse

More than 30 GTCC members joined GTCC site visit on 23 November 2023 to Rhenus Thailand Warehouse, Bangna-Trad KM.19, exploring its advanced storage systems and high-quality inventory management and solutions. We appreciate the warm welcome by Mr. Timo Herbst, General ManagerBusiness Development; Mr. Mark Scheepers, Director of Warehousing Solutions Thailand; Khun Piyapong Pratumpitak, General Manager - Business Development CL; Khun Sunai Imhun, General Manager - Warehouse Operations; Khun Pakpoom Chaokaweepong, General Manager, Operations Excellence & Implementations SEAPAC; and the team.

GTCC x Rhenus Logistics Beer Tasting

The site visit was followed by “GTCC x Rhenus Logistics Beer Tasting” at the Le Meridien Bangkok where 40 guests were welcomed. The event connected people from various industries including NRW delegates, while enjoying different beer styles and varieties. We are grateful to our Event Partner Rhenus Logistics and Beverage Partners: Paulaner by Flow Inter and Bavarian Craft Co., Ltd. for the wonderful support.

Third business round table on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)

GTCC organised the third Business Round Table on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): A business development talk by Hydrogen Ramp-Up Programme “H2Uppp” on 23 November 2023, in collaboration with GIZ Thailand, with support from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

Serving as an exclusive platform for discussion on important aspects in SAF market development in Thailand with objectives to facilitate discussions and dialogue for the establishment of publicprivate partnerships (PPPs) in the field of SAF, the roundtable was attended by key players from Thailand's leading companies in SAF industry.

GTCC Seminar with SAP on CBAM

GTCC organised a seminar on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) with SAP Indochina to discuss the CBAM’s impacts on Thailand on 28 November 2023 welcoming about 60 participants from multiple industries. The event started with a welcome address by Khun Kulwipa Piyawattanametha, Managing Director, SAP Indochina, followed by special remarks by Hans-Ulrich Südbeck, Deputy Chief of Mission, German Embassy Bangkok; Mr. Petros Sourmelis, Minister Counsellor, Head of Trade and Economic Section, Delegation of the European Union to Thailand; and Khun Worakan Kosolpisitkul, Executive Director, Investment Promotion Division, Board of Investment (BOI).

Highlights of the event included two panel discussions on “CBAM's global impacts on Thailand's trade competitiveness and its implications” and “How Thai organizations prepare for CBAM” by representatives from the Department of International Trade Promotion; Thailand Board of Investment (BOI); the Department of Climate Change, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; Charoen Pokphand Foods PLC (CPF); Creagy Company Limited; Southeast Asia and SAP Indochina.

GTCC Partners and Customers Appreciation Event

GTCC organised an exclusive event to express our gratitude to them and celebrate the successful cooperation together 28 November 2023 at The Peninsula Bangkok. We look forward to our the continued support and fruitful collaboration in 2024!

The German Embassy in Bangkok, with support of GTCC, organised the Thai-German “Climate Talk” conference on 7 December 2023 at the Eastin Grand Hotel Phayathai in Bangkok. The conference began with welcoming remarks by H.E. Dr. Ernst Reichel, German Ambassador to Thailand, followed by a keynote speech by Dr. Kannika Thampanishvong, Section Head at the Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research, Bank of Thailand.

With aims to contribute to ongoing debates on climate issues among the broad public in Thailand, the conference comprised an insightful panel discussion titled “Climate TalksPerspectives on Climate Change,” by representatives from Move Forward Party, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand Clean Air Network, Amata U., Nithi Foods Co., Ltd., Media Agency: Today. This was followed by interactive workshop sessions covering three topics:

• “Green Hydrogen - Clean and climate-friendly energy solution” led by representatives from GIZ Thailand, Enapter, and Bangkok Industrial Gas Co., Ltd.

• “E-Mobility - The road to zero emissions” led by representatives from EGAT and UN-ESCAP.

• “Mitigation and adaptation of agriculture” led by representatives from GIZ Thailand, Kasetsart University, Olam (Thailand), and Suan Lahu Co., Ltd.

The conference concluded with a reception for the participants to establish the network of people working in relation to the environmental and climate protection.

Exchanging experience on green hydrogen at Export Initiative Environmental Protection workshop

Export Initiative Environmental Protection (EXI): an experience exchange and workshop for think-tanks on Green Hydrogen took place in Berlin during 29 November - 1 December 2023 with the participation of GTCC Sustainability Manager Mr. Nupat Khusribanchong. The event showcased AHK project scouting results and pipeline projects from stakeholders worldwide, with the first day dedicated to workshops and knowledge exchange among participants from AHKs in New Zealand, Chile, Thailand, Ghana, Rio de Janeiro, and the Philippines.

Day 2 featured a NOW GmbH networking event under the Exportinitiative environmental protection, where representative from AHKs share information on market potential of green hydrogen and fuel cell technologies for decentralized #EnergySupply projects in their respective countries. They emphasized the importance of open dialogue with German technology providers and highlighted the crucial role of

AHKs in project collaboration. The event underscored the need for suitable conditions for these technologies and demonstrated how collaborations can contribute to global sustainability goals. Day 3 focused on exciting insights into hydrogen applications at BEN-Tec GmbH in Höxter.

GTCC Executive Director in Germany with Hydrogen Dialogue Delegation

GTCC Executive Director along with the Hydrogen Dialogue delegation from Thailand joined the Hydrogen Dialogue 2023 Summit & Expo on 5 December 2023 at NürnbergMesse, engaging in discussions with key decision-makers and gaining crucial insights on current key topics within the context of the German Hydrogen boom.

They visited Bosch Plant in Stuttgart on the next day, exploring Bosch’s Hydrogen production. We would to thank Mr. Sebastian Budischin, VP, Head of Venture Building and Strategy, Stationary Solid Oxide Fuel Cells; Mr. Carsten Horn, Product Manager SOFC Bosch; and Mr. Satid Malairodsiri, Senior Manager (Customer Chief Engineering ASEAN region) at Robert Bosch (Thailand) for the warm welcome.

Year-end appreciation dinner

GTCC hosted a special year-end dinner on 13 December 2023 to extend heartfelt appreciation to our President, Vice President, Honorary Secretary, Board members, and Honorary members, for their exceptional support and contributions to the success of the GTCC throughout the year. The dinner took place at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit.

AHK Training Week at DIHK

GTCC Deputy Executive Director Mr. Marius Mehner had been participating in insightful workshops in Berlin organised by the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) during 13-15 December 2023. He exchanged with project partners and colleagues from various German Chambers of Commerce abroad (AHKs), enriching AHK's work in the future and elevates project services. The workshops also explored ways to enhance project preparation and ensure successful execution.

AHK ASEAN Strategy Workshop

GTCC Executive Director participated in the AHK ASEAN Strategy Workshop in Jakarta from 10 to 12 December 2023. Together with Executive Directors and representatives from other German Chambers of Commerce (AHKs) in ASEAN, they discussed the election of AHK ASEAN spokesperson and joint activities in 2024, among other important topics.

GTCC AFTERWORK Christmas Edition

GTCC celebrated the Christmas seasons 2023 together with GTCC members, guests and friends in a grand ambiance of Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel on 14 December 2023. Highlights of the event included participants dressed in red and/or green, delicious German-inspired festive food and drinks, freshly made traditional Glühwein and the German Christmas cake Dresdner Christstollen.

We highly appreciate the great support from our Event Partners: Adepro, Bumrungrad, Luther; Beverage Partner: Paulaner by Flow Inter; and Venue Partner: Sindhorn Kempinsiki Hotel.

This year also marked the grand prize of Bangkok-Munich return ticket supported by Lufthansa with the “Munich Package”. There were also attractive prizes sponsored by Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit, SO/Bangkok and The Sukhothai Bangkok Hotel.