ScandAsia May 2018

MAY 2018 Business

Finnish China winter sports delegation

Community

In Danish grandfather’s footsteps

Human Resources

Swedish Career Fair China

International Nordic Days in Hanoi and Jakarta

Lars Svensson,

Ikea Southeast Asia Sustainability in business theme

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May 2018

ScandAsia Stories

30 In Danish grandfather’s footsteps 36 The only “farang” in town 41 Anders Wall scholarship 42 Nordic Days in Hanoi and Jakarta

15

Mr Jens Helmersson Founder of QuizRR

10 Sustainability in Business

ScandAsia Business

23 Finnish China winter sports delegation Finland stakes a upcoming Winter Olympics

24 Singapore air transport delegation

Mr Eric Hallin

29

30

Re-elected as TSCC President

Visited Arlanda, Swedavia

28 NordCham Phippines Awards Night

36

Companies celebrated in Manila

40 Swedish Career Fair

Employer branding in China

35

Ms Shengsheng Bi

41

New ED for NBAS in China

42

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Editorial

Be the good example

Y

ou could very well be the first person from your Nordic nation that some of your Asian business partners have ever worked with. You may even be the only Nordic person.

That gives you a responsibility to be a good representative of the best from your nation.

You can be a hero simply by stating firmly that “We don’t believe in corruption where I come from”. No need to dwell on the fact, that over the years, some corrupt cases have actually been revealed also back in squeaking clean Scandinavia.

The same goes for sustainable business practices, the theme of this issue of ScandAsia.

When it comes to conducting business on an ethical foundation, you have an excellent oppor tunity to be the good example. You are more than yourself - you are responsible for forming the opinion of the Asian people, that you do business with, about what it means to do sustainable business in the broadest sense.

The way you work with your staff, the way you work with your customers, the way you work with your suppliers, they way you work with the authorities - it can all be used to demonstrate, how we as Nordic businessmen and -women want to conduct business in an ethically sustainable way.

Of course we must first and foremost be profitable in order to be a good example. But we must also be living examples, that we don’t believe profit maximization at any cost is sustainable. We should lead the fight for sustainability as we lead the fight against poverty because it is morally the right choice and also because it makes good economic sense.

ScandAsia is a printed magazine and online media covering the people and businesses of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland living and working in China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

Who should subscribe:

ScandAsia subscribers are typically Nordic expats and companies from the Nordic countries living in and active in Asia.

Another group of subscribers are Nordic people living in the Nordic countries who subscribe to ScandAsia for personal or business reasons. We also have many Asian subscribers, who for a wide range of rea-

6 ScandAsia • May 2018

Lifting the meaning and purpose of what you do up to a higher level will also make yourself a happier person.

We should set good examples and remain true to our Nordic values. Promoting trust, openness, gender equality, socio-economic equality and sustainability. Action, not just talk, will help transplant the very same values, that has benefited our societies for so many years, to your particular Asian business environment.

There is a quote that is often attributed to Mahatma Gandhi: “You must be the change you want to see in the world.”

In fact, Gandhi never said anything like it. But that doesn’t make it less good advice, does it?

sons are following the activities of the Nordic expats and companies via a subscription to ScandAsia.

The ScandAsia magazine is produced every month and distributed to all print version subscribers via postal services and to all eMagazine subscribers via email. Subscribing to the eMagazine is FREE - simply sign up on the ScandAsia.com website.

Become a ScandAsia user/ get free digital ScandAsia magazine or paid subscription via

www.scandasia.com!

Gregers Moller Editor in Chief

Publisher : ScandAsia Publishing Co., Ltd. 211 Soi Prasert Manukitch 29 Prasert Manukitch Road Bangkok 10230, Thailand Tel. +66 2 943 7166-8 Fax: +66 2 943 7169 E-mail: news@scandasia.com Editor-in-Chief : Gregers A.W. Møller gregers@scandmedia.com Managing Editor: Joakim Persson Joakim@scandmedia.com

Advertising : Finn Balslev finn@scandmedia.com Frank Leong frank@scandasia.com Graphic Designer : Peerapol Meesuwan Peerapol@scandmedia.com Production Manager: Sopida Yatprom Printing : Siam Print Co., Ltd.

Coastes-Generic_192mmW x 135mmH.pdf

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May 2018 • ScandAsia 7

Opinion

Have I been helpful for someone?

This summer, Lars Ryderstad, the Vicar at the Swedish Church in Bangkok since 2013, will return to Sweden. His assignment in Thailand has come to an end. ScandAsia has asked Lars Ryderstad to reflect on his time here as “our” vicar.

I

t is a sunny Sunday morning and I am sitting here at Scandinavian Bakery in the hear t of Vientiane, Laos. I arrived late yesterday evening. I am now looking forward to meetings planned for the next couple of days.

From the speaker I hear John Lennon’s song ‘Imagine’ played instrumental.

Right now, I can feel a moment of gold in all the simplicity. Just me, the song and my thoughts. What have my past 5 years as a priest in Southeast Asia and Bangkok brought? Have I been helpful for someone?

In one way I often walk in loneliness.

In another way I have the benefit of meeting so many people from all kinds of environments and surroundings.

I have been sitting in TukTuks on bumpy roads in Phnom Penh with sand and dust in my eyes on my way to ceremonies or to visit an imprisoned person. One imprisoned person that I 8 ScandAsia • May 2018

visited in Sihanoukville didn`t even have enough water for the day.

I have been sitting by the bed in hospitals. I have been visiting people in their homes. Sometimes beautiful homes, at other times very basic homes in all their simplicity. Sometimes, I have even visited people without any home at all, living in homelessness.

Sometimes I have shared a moment of desperation and vulnerability just by holding the hand of the person, I am visiting. Just beeing there next to them for a while.

But there have also been happier moments. I have for instance had the pleasure of being part of the beautiful Christmas celebrations in Christ Church in Bangkok which is such an enjoyable occasion.

Times of sorrow and times of happiness - just like in our lives.

I have understood that God has a need for us, our hands, our thoughts and our will.

We are often told that we should not look back too much, but sometimes it`s important to do just that because it can be easier to understand your life today.

John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ is long finished but the song got me in the mood to rest in what has been and to feel gratitude for all the times I have been able to share with so many of you.

To rest in what has happened more than thinking of what did not happen.

The truth is that often we don`t even know when or where we have been helpful for somebody else.

The most important thing is that we, all of us, are here in our lives to support

each other in different ways. Helping each other when the need arises and take a walk beside someone on the road of life.

That`s the purpose and commission.

--Now it`s quiet and peaceful again here at Scandinavian Bakery.

I had a little talk with an old friend who came to my table. He is originally from the United States. He has several times joined the Christmas ceremonies here in Vientiane where he used to play Silent Night with his trumpet. We had a talk about life and about what`s happening around the world these days.

I`m glad that I met him, I don`t know if we will ever se each other again, but you never know.

Now it`s time for a cup of coffee and a Danish Wienerbrød. After all, it is Sunday.

Thanks for all the meetings I have had with you. I will carry them inside me. Some part of me will always be here wherever my steps will lead me.

This summer I will go back to Sweden, to my family, wife, children and grandchildren.

God Bless You! Lars Ryderstad

If you would like to share your thoughts and insights on this page contact Managing editor, joakim@scandmedia.com

Subscribe to ScandAsia magazine!

H

aving read this edition most likely you do not want to miss out on ScandAsia’s forthcoming editions of the new regional monthly magazine, with its editorial news and features paired with our clients’ relevant content!

Under ‘Nordic News and Business Promotion in Asia’ the magazine’s core mix consists in: Business & Trade, Human resources, Products & Services, Community, Lifestyle, International relations, Destination themes and other themes.

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ScandAsia serves all Nordic people and the prospects and customers of Nordic brands and services within Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and China. As a matchmaker we also serve all sectors and businesses, both B2B and B2C, looking to reach their targets in Asia including our core readers and beyond. Asians interested in the Nordic business solutions and partnerships, Scandinavian lifestyle and culture etc. and people in Asia doing business with Scandinavians are also part of our readership and most welcome!

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May 2018 • ScandAsia 9

Sustainability in business theme

Sustainability in business

S

candAsia, in this special theme, puts the spotlight on sustainability in business. Learn from how Ikea’s retail are in the process of integrating sustainability into their everyday business as an institutionalised, natural part.

How can brands ensure that their code of conduct actually is being lived up to by all its suppliers? Quizz RR has a successful method to assist brands and suppliers concerning, in particular, rights and responsibilities and worker engagement within the textile and food industries. Finally, SMEs better pay attention, because they are also obliged to follow the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Companies when it comes to human rights and Responsible Business Conduct! Norwegian advisor Gunelie Winum is our guide to the most important international standards and guidelines.

Building IKEA Southeast Asia’s integrated sustainability efforts: Lars Svensson In his most recent role with IKEA Mr Lars Svensson is on a mission to make sure his current sustainability role will no longer be needed once his task is completed.

Text and photos: Joakim Persson Lars Svensson at the rooftop parking of LEED-certified Ikea Bang Yai, Thailand 10 ScandAsia • May 2018

“W

e are on a five year mission to integrate sustainability into our everyday business and also securing that the sustainability function ceases to exist.”

In his role regarding both sustainability and corporate communication, Lars Svensson is spearheading this to become an integral and natural part across IKEA Southeast Asia.

It may come as a surprise to some but also on the retail side of the business Ikea currently still has many things to do.

“You can look at the Ikea supply chain doing a lot of good work in this part of the world. On the front side, where we meet the customers, we can play a larger role than we have done historically. So in 2013 we began our work in implementing the same code of conduct for the suppliers of products and services to our stores,” Lars told a Nordic responsible business seminar in Bangkok.

“Ikea has a fairly complete value chain; all the way from forest down to meeting with the consumers and to the home delivery. It started off from the beginning looking at how we could save as much as possible. Saving on resources means a lower environmental impact. And the objective of that was to achieve as low prices as possible.”

Then, after a couple of incidents generating a lot of publicity, it’s also also about the risk aspect from reputational control, to actually take a large responsibility to secure that Ikea by their actions have a positive impact - on the community, in the society and also on the environment in order to drive towards securing their long term vision to create a better everyday life for the many people.

“It’s a moving target. And it has to do with what the customers are expecting, government regulations and what the prospect is for you as a company to build the right decisions from the long-term perspective too,” Lars continued.

Also, it is about sending a signal that this is a way they can improve and create a better life for more people – Ikea’s vision. “And we know for a fact, and find partners and ways of doing business in a new way, that it also helps develop our business and over time generates increased productivity.

So it also makes good business sense. That is sort of the essence of an integrated sustainability; we do it because it is the right thing for the business, for people and for the planet,” says Lars.

May 2018 • ScandAsia 11

“The first thing we have done is to remove the store sustainability managers. The minute you have someone dedicated the tendency can be that you refer to a department or an individual with the responsibility, while you do not have to take the responsibility yourself. But if you want to make it a natural part of your business then everyone needs to feel and have that ownership,” he explains.

“So, that function is now owned jointly by the store management team and the store manager. And that is of course a challenge when you go through that transition.

So how do you continue to drive it with a larger group, and having that sense of ownership? You only secure that by answering also internally to the respective departments: What’s in it for me? It needs to make business sense too; representing a true standing from a policy point of view clearly defined in our values, and, long-term wise, protecting the integrity of the brand and generating a sustainable business,” he continues.

T

he role for Lars is to keep it going and ensure that the ownership transfer continues to evolve, and also that it gets institutionalised in a way that it’s a natural part of the business.

When he was offered a regional sustainability role it meant that this was also endorsed by the owners and

12 ScandAsia • May 2018

management team. “Creating this position for sustainability in the management team is sending a strong signal internally in the organisation.”

“I say: ‘We don’t have a low price manager in Ikea. In order to get to have a low price on our products and create affordability the cost consciousness goes through the whole organisation, through our DNA.’ And that’s what we want also sustainability to be; an integrated part of our everyday job, a natural part of everyone’s responsibility. Sustainability is not a function. It is a way of doing business.”

“In our Ikea Southeast Asia report for 2017 we made sure that, be it Ikea or any of the shopping centres, every function, one way or the other, mentioned the sustainability issue - integrated into the messaging.”

“You make a commitment and talk about how you want to conduct your business in totality and make the ownership resting with business decision makers who knows and understands their business.”

That is the formula for long-term change that has an impact on how one does business on everyday level.

B

ut out in reality things are not given. Ikea faces the same challenges as many SMEs with suppliers when it comes to achieving and following compliance in a country like Thailand. “It depends a lot on your supply

The minute you have someone dedicated the tendency can be that you refer to a department or an individual with the responsibility

channel and chain, working with them on what they are willing to do. So you need to find suppliers that you can develop a par tnership with. This may increase the cost potentially in the beginning. So then you need to be fair also in the discussion with your supplier. It requires collaboration and a joint journey which we cannot do on our own.”

When constructing new stores and shopping centres, recently Ikea Bang Yai in Thailand, and in rebuilding IPC Shopping Center in Kuala Lumpur, Ikea made it par t of the conditions with the main contractors that they had to follow its supply standards.

Ikea has policies on maximum work hours, safety, waste management, and to follow decent labour standards; including when it comes to the security guards, the products in the Ikea food stores, cleaning services etc.

Within constr uction Lar s thinks they have done remarkably well and have come very far up to now. “I’d say it’s an area we can be extremely proud of, and going absolutely against what is the norm in the industry in a way because no one else does it the way we do it. This we will apply also when we build a new shopping centre or stores in Malaysia for example.”

May 2018 • ScandAsia 13

Ikea faces the same challenges as many SMEs with suppliers when it comes to achieving and following compliance in a country like Thailand

He says Southeast Asia, which is challenging enough with migrant workers and regarding the amount of working hours etc. becomes even more complex when adding an industry like construction on top of that.

“This is then managed and run by our project leaders and our heads of construction that works within our organisation as well as putting up those demands. It is a good example of distributed ownership. We have seen the interest also from other parts of the Ikea world when it comes to how we are working here; construction is tricky in any part of the world” he adds.

The new Ikea store in Bangkok, their largest to date in SEA, is also Thailand’s first retail outlet that meets some of the world’s highest standards for sustainability, LEED Platinum (as certified building standard). Similarly MyTown Shopping Centre in Kuala Lumpur was built according to LEED standard, has solar panels on the roof, collects rain water etc.

“That means the requirements are fulfilled both on the construction when it comes to insulation, building material and different types of energy savings measures and also how the store is operated afterwards. Every time we build a new project the last one should be the standard and we try to go further from there.”

L

Car parking roofs with solar panels on top, Ikea Bang Yai in Thailand

14 ScandAsia • May 2018

ars also informs that ‘Caring for people & planet’ is a renewed value now made part of Ikea’s identity and value base that they simultaneously communicate, share and also live with their co-workers.

The ’People & Planet Positive Strategy’ also focuses on inspiring and enabling customers, who are now able to discover in special showrooms and throughout the store how affordable small changes with home furnishing solutions can help them to live a more sustainable life (save energy and water, reduce waste, live more healthily and save money).

“We want to inspire people to think of ways of saving also through the products they buy. Families who try this save 20 per cent straight away - from simple measures. And it’s real money. And that’s what in it for them,” says Lars and adds: “We wanted to find a way of inspiring those who’s not having it as a top-of-mind priority and give them a reason to consider it.”

“And the way we can do it - and part of the reason why people come to us – is to show them how much money they actually can save through some of the choices in the products they buy from us and some of the habits they can change, without compromising on their comfort, their style, but with very affordable solutions.”

Lars finds his task very stimulating. “The role combined with the strength of the IKEA brand also shows a consistency between what we say and how we work. That makes it very attractive and you have integrity in what you do. The work and way of working our organisation do is recognised by a lot of organisations and people as well so it is easy to find ways of collaborating and being listened to also when it comes to government work and when you are entering into a new market too,” he concludes.

Sustainability in business theme

QuizRR: digital tools to safeguard rights & responsibilities and worker engagement

Quizz RR founders Jens Helmersson and Sofie Nordstrรถm

QuizRR is a Swedish-founded start-up (in Hong Kong and Stockholm) that has come up with a successful method to assist brands and suppliers concerning, in particular, rights and responsibilities and worker engagement within the textile and food industries.

By Joakim Persson May 2018 โ ข ScandAsia 15

We assist in creating transparency and help the providers in being able to show that they have undergone training

G

lobal brands and companies engaging in emerging markets often struggle to comply with international conventions and national regulations on employment rights and sustainability standards. Workers in factories are often not aware of their rights and responsibilities.

Human rights are being violated. Retail brands in for example Scandinavia are being accused of not taking their responsibility for their supply chain.

With this reality QuizzRR’s digital training kit of movies and quiz games appears to be godsend for those using it, so far in Bangladesh and China.

Its two Swedish founders, Jens Helmersson and Sofie Nordström,had,from their own experiences inAsia,discovered a great opportunity to be able to help many middle-sized companies to actually fully take their responsibility.

“First and foremost the buyers – they might have one sustainability manager sitting somewhere in Sweden, having a hundred or so suppliers all over Asia or the whole world. How can you ensure that all those factories take responsibility?

How can you ensure that their code of conduct actually is being lived up to? The suppliers have signed up to that they will train all their workers. But they have not had the tools helping them to do the training in a good way. And the providers have not been able to show pro-actively towards buyers that they do indeed take responsibility. So, we have created a tool that helps suppliers to train their employees in a good and flexible way and that also help

16 ScandAsia • May 2018

them to summarise and share all data. That is also precisely what global purchasing from buyers wants to have,” begins Jens Helmersson.

There is also a business incentive; in that the suppliers get an opportunity to show the existing buyers, but also for potential new buyers, that they indeed take responsibility.

And they can then see that: ‘It can actually generate more business; either more stable business with my existing buyers or to entice new ones.’

“The promise has already been there since a long time but there have not been opportunities always for providers to live up to the promises. Many suppliers signed up to the code of conduct requirements in order to get to deliver.Then, it’s not always the case that this is being followed in the way brands want,“ says the Swede who has himself worked with sourcing for two Swedish brands; the giant H&M as well as Indiska.

J

ens and Sofie have extensive experience from the clothing industry and risk management in global supply chains, corporate responsibility and development of educational technology.

“We assist in creating transparency and help the providers in being able to show that they have undergone training.This has become a very important part for us after we started the first tool – to secure code of conduct for businesses, from which also our name derives; Quiz in Rights and Responsibilities,” says Jens.

When working for a big company, he explains, one has a mandate to say that one will work only with those factories that show they want to take shared responsibility – which then agree to try it; undergoing training of workers about work safety and work place dialogue. Movies that Sofie had made were used by H&M for that at factories in Bangladesh.

Six months into it Jens noted that it had not led to any of the problems the suppliers had feared. “It actually had the opposite effect; we could see that it lowered staff turnover.

We also noticed that factories got to know about problems faster than they previously did. And employees felt more satisfied and that they were listened to in the workplace, it also led to them returning to work after holiday breaks.”

“It was very satisfying to experience that - because many claim that sustainability costs money. I felt after gaining those insights that this was a business case as such – an opportunity for companies to create safety and stability and that generates better business.”

Few companies have the resources that big brands possess. “When working at Indiska, and when talking to other purchasing managers, I understood quite soon that the resources are simply not there to take the same type of responsibility. Other larger companies are unique in the sense that they can dedicate large resources to this matter.”

Then, Sofie told him: ‘I would like to take my ability to make inspiring movies to more companies; I would like to help more workers.’

Jens also felt strongly for these questions: “I feel that what

we did for H&M in Bangladesh back then, and that they have been working on during a very long period, has been setting new standards on many issues. And I always felt that it was in the interest of the owners of the company, a human aspect just as important as the business aspect.”

“And when I grew up it was always a natural part that when doing business one conducts it in a responsible and respectful manner towards others. So perhaps that is more why I ended up in this industry together with Sofie,” he reflects.

Together the two then set out on developing their start-up concept. We came up with the solution to make movies with local actors and in local languages, and also to combine that with a quiz game that enables to measure the knowledge of the person playing and that this knowledge can be summarised and shown online for the factory to see, while at the same time sharing that data with the buyers. There, all stakeholders have a transparent way to see that a factory has undergone training, which creates a safety between buyer and producer that you do not have today.”

“I had felt at Indiska a lack of tools helping either me as a buyer or the suppliers. So, we have then assisted to ensure that the suppliers have a good tool in their factory.They work via tablets, they watch movies, play a quiz game and we collect everything and measure all data. On our portal both buyers and suppliers can meet - a safety for the buyer,” explains Jens.

May 2018 • ScandAsia 17

They understand that there is an enormous risk in being scrutinised by media and a branding risk factor today

“I feel that the key in our tool, aside the measurability and IT structure, is the movies and the way in which we train factories today. That makes us unique and is also why many factory owners and especially workers are so happy over this training.”

After launching in China, it was introduced also in Bangladesh and for each country local legislation as well as tonality is taken into consideration.

“We approach the brands and tell them that we have a solution that will enable them to get better insights about their providers and help them be able to measure that they in fact take responsibility for workers’ rights and duties in the factories that they use.”

“Many companies in the Nordics start to feel that it is growing into being part of their core business, as they understand that there is an enormous risk in being scrutinised by media and a branding risk factor today, and that one needs to find ways to safeguard factories and act in the proper way towards them.“ It is also about going away from audits:“Brands increasingly see the need to start educating instead, both workers and management in factories, to get better knowledge and dialogue. That in turn will long-term also lead to other positive changes at the factory, also a functioning dialogue and finding better ways to retain staff. Good quality and productivity benefit not only the factory but also the buyers.”

“We have already trained over 40 000 people and it makes me feel very good to know that these are people who 18 ScandAsia • May 2018

did not previously know their rights.To start a company from nothing to today’s 18 employees and be on two markets and expanding continuously requires a lot of effort and energy!

Then one needs to have some results like that to really keep going.”

Q

uizRR also realised quite soon that there were many more needs. “Our second solution is work place dialogue, which helps workers in factories to understand what it means and how to go about it.”

QuizzRR also has a wage management solution for China.

Next up is a rights and responsibility solution for Thailand together with some larger food companies in Sweden, Norway and Denmark and Finland.

“We are now developing this together with the companies – which is how we have gone about developing all our tools, because then we get everything included that they feel needs to be safeguarded, based in turn on what customers demand from them. Also, many employees at these brands are very good at these issues, so we can also get help in securing that we really get in relevant content for the tool.”

Sustainability in business theme

Responsible Business Conduct expert Gunelie Winum All businesses, including SMEs, are obliged to follow in particular the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Companies, when it comes to human rights and corporate social responsibility, or responsible business conduct.

By Joakim Persson

G

unelie Winum is Senior Advisor at the Norwegian company Responsible Business Advisor s (RBA). She has 15 year s of experience within corporate social responsibility (CSR), including guidance and strategic advice to companies at risk, as well as training of companies and their suppliers. She has trained over 2000 suppliers around Asia on how to implement the policies set

by Nordic and other international companies.

At a Bangkok-held Nordic Corporate Social Responsibility workshop she presented the requirements and expectations of the international framework UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, OECD Guidelines for Multinational Companies, the United Nations Global Compact and Sustainable Development Goals.

Gunelie explained that, compared to CSR, Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) is the more progressive term, and also what is referred to in a lot of international standards.

“RBC means incorporating responsibility in their business operations. Conducted correctly, RBC is good for the own business, for the supply chain stakeholders; involving both management and the workers, and it´s good for local people and the environment. The difference with the term RBC is that it’s an effort to really specify that this concerns the core business activities.”

For instance, the term ‘materiality’ is important in RBC: “If you are in oil and gas, building schools is not related to the core business. How you affect the local community would be a concern. Your environmental potential damages would be a concern, including if your production pollutes the water, affecting the local fishermen.

Then you would be infringing on their human rights and would be obliged to do something about it.”

Non-related RBC risks being nothing else than CSR activities that amounts to so called ‘green-washing’. “The best way to avoid green-washing is to question: will the May 2018 • ScandAsia 19

I fully understand international standards can seem daunting to SMEs

action create actual and sustained positive impact for people and/or the planet?” Gunelie told ScandAsia.

“RBC is also an umbrella concept, which concerns the supply chain, working and environmental conditions, corruption etc. a lot of elements.”

The international guidelines, standards and frameworks for RBC guide the work performed by the RBA advisory.

“There is a tremendous amount of guidelines, frameworks and cer tification schemes. The OECD Guidelines is an important one, and it’s not only for multinationals; it also applies to SMEs in OECD countries.”

OECD has also come with sectors standards and guidelines (garment and footwear, for instance).

“Many of the challenges and good practice in the garment and footwear sector guidance is also relevant to other sectors, for instance how a company´s own purchasing practices impact on working conditions in the local supply chain.”

Then, there are the core ILO conventions. “The elements that you put in your supplier code of conduct come from conventions and recommendations from the ILO, set by global employers’ trade unions and governments. There are close to 200 of them on different aspects of labour, and a lot of recommendations in addition.”

It’s up to each and ever y countr y to ratify those conventions, and by doing that they are obliged to include it in their internal labour law. However, there are four elements that are highlighted by the ILO as the most important conventions to work with. Forced labour, child 20 ScandAsia • May 2018

labour, discrimination and right to organize and bargain collectively.

“It means that even if a country hasn’t ratified them, it is still obliged to follow those as an ILO member country.

Gunelie recommends companies to have an on-going process: “Do it step by step and as a continuous process– you are never done with whether you are violating human rights or not.”

“A company is expected to review all human rights. The declaration for human rights is the basis document and then you will have to review existing strategies, documents, supplier code of conduct, CSR strategy, and also your business strategies. Are our documents capturing all human rights? Yes, or no?”

“It is also recommended that you should establish a committee – that can be by the board or by the management. Also, say for a Swedish company you would have a committee in the headquarters but a sub-committee in the sourcing country, and that you hold regular meetings.”

“As for assessing whether you as a company have an adverse impact on human rights due to your production, and on the whole supply chain, you do that by conducting desk analysis and via consultations with potentially affected groups. And it’s not easy to assess how your business affects these; not only our business but your suppliers’ business. It’s quite a delicate task. It’s not for nothing that both the OECD guidelines and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights recommend that you should also use external expertise in this work, precisely because it’s quite

complicated when you get down to it,” she explained.

“The production map is still very non-transparent. Subcontracting still goes on. It is so easy to be fooled and there is no way to have full overview of everything but it is good that we have come this far as we have. But we [advisors] are still needed to engage companies in a better world.”

“Our company, RBA, has a network of Southeast Asia partners with expertise in various areas, which we contract depending on the client’s needs; for instance social auditors to inspect labour conditions, health and safety experts, environmental experts etc. We quality-assure the local experts and ensure that the actions are in line with international standards.”

“I fully understand international standards can seem daunting to SMEs. They are however obliged to follow those, such as those OECD Guidelines (OECD created a communication problem by referring to multinational companies in their title, but then stating here and there that it also applies to SMEs...!).”

“I have worked a lot with SMEs, and find they have several advantages; a main one being that they have longterm trade relationships which create trust; essential for sustained improvements. I also perceive SMEs to have a stronger culture of common-sense, with which one can come far.”

“RBA tailor-make the advice to each company’s needs.

We´re not a consultancy doing the job for them, but guide and enable them to do the job themselves..”

Gunelie has also performed in-depth social dialogue

training in Vietnam factories - with great results. “We can even prove that there is a business case for social dialogue: when management start dialoguing with workers they get a lot of constructive input which will also help their pure business KPIs. There is a very strong link between business KPIs and labour standards in factories. Same goes with child labour: we can prove that there is a business case for no child labour.”

She confirmed that human rights and labour issues if of highest risk in developing and emerging countries. “In many of such countries, legislation is OK and even strong on paper.

Enforcing the legislation is more challenging, which has many reasons: Weak labour inspectorates and that governments neglect their own legislation in their attempt to attracting foreign investments (for example - by setting up free trade zones where workers are prevented from organizing).”

“On the micro-level, producers are challenged by what is termed as ’the race to the bottom’. Globalized trade makes it easy for a company to switch to a cheaper producer. This is particularly an issue in labour-intensive production like textile.”

“Most SEA countries have the whole range of factories - from the very best to very poor.”

Other rampant problems are weak enforcement of legislation paired with corruption. “What companies can do is to have strong anti-corruption policies and procedures in place and be patient, for instance expect that a needed license might take months or even years longer to obtain.”

May 2018 • ScandAsia 21

Business

ScandAsia premiered new destination theme

I

n February ScandAsia launched its new destination theme format, with comprehensive coverage about the Malaysian state of Penang as the first destination to be featured. This new theme concept por trays, and showcases a destination – be it a state or a region – both from a business and lifestyle angle. ScandAsia digs deeper and finds about business and trade, Nordic business presence and also meet with Nordic locals. The idea is to offer exposure to the destination and businesses, and present how it is to live, work, run a business and invest there.

Penang is a well-known trading hub going back centuries, as well as a globally established manufacturing centre. At the same time it is a big culture and leisure destination, so in that sense it was the optimal one to star t with! ScandAsia talked to Invest Penang, Nordic businesses, an expat family, and por trayed its incredibly diverse and rich heritage and lifestyle – a state, but also an island, truly in transition.

The theme concept is one of many new ingredients as par t of the, from

Januar y 2018, regional ScandAsia for mat (11 magazines annually), digitally (to our global readership) and print-distributed through the coverage area (Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and China.

“This destination format is an excellent way for ScandAsia to dig deeper and really go beyond the welltrodden path, to present the various aspects, opportunities and attractions of a place more in-depth,” says Managing editor Joakim Persson. “We anticipate many exciting destinations to por tray going forward and Penang showed that there is lot to tell. Going places is really an eye-opener, and to me personally Penang is really a favourite thanks to its unique mixture.”

The revamped magazine’s core mix also consists in: Business & Trade, Human resources, Products & Services, Community, Lifestyle and International relations, and other themes (in 2018 ‘Banking, Financing & Investment’, ‘Sustainability in Business’ etc.)

In addition to following ScandAsia. com, as a magazine reader you can stay well informed and kept abreast of key developments. You get served

Fr. left: Marketing manager Finn Balslev, Managing editor Joakim Persson; Production Manager Sopida Yatprom, Editor-In-Chief Gregers Moller; journalist Henrik Vinther.

22 ScandAsia • May 2018

first-hand related and relevant news, information, invitations, advice, and mar keting offer s – educating and inspiring content over all!

“We are happy to be able to introduce a new concept for our ScandAsia platform. We are now focused more on the digital side and so we are tr ying to produce the best possible e-Magazine in which adver tisements are clickable and linkable. Our ScandAsia print magazine also continues, which means that advertisements will be inser ted in both the digital and the print edition.

We are also building our ScandAsia. com website traffic, which at present has approx. 80.000 visitor s per month. The website is a perfect tool to promote products and ser vices towards mainly Scandinavian Expats in the whole South-East Asian region,” says Marketing manager Finn Balslev.

“Most definitely adver tisers can take advantage of the new reach without paying extra and especially if their company was one with a regional presence, Frank Leong, Mar keting director in Singapore.

“With traveling between countries being more frequent as the world globalizes, industries such as hospitality, proper ty, education can benefit greatly from the exposure around the region.”

“No longer will they be held back by the limitations of paper distribution, instead they have the potential to be read by anyone on desktops, smar tphones, tablets, etc.,” Frank comments on the e-magazine, which was enhanced with the launch of the new regional ScandAsia.

ScandAsia serves all Nordic people and the prospects and customers of Nordic brands and ser vices within Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and China.

As a matchmaker it also ser ves all sectors and businesses, both B2B and B2C, looking to reach their targets in Asia including our core readers and beyond.

Business

Finnish delegation China winter sport development

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uring 26 – 30 March Team Finland business delegation visited Beijing and Harbin with Mr Sampo Terho, Minister for European Affairs, Culture and Sport, to discover new business opportunities in China’s winter sport development.

China is currently developing its Winter Sports Culture as the Olympic host cities Beijing and Zhangjiakou are preparing for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Before the 2022 games China has decided to take this momentum and fur ther develop winter spor t activities to the masses targeting 300 million citizens. This offers enormous business opportunities for companies in several sectors throughout China. To achieve these ambitious goals, China needs to develop infrastructure of the winter spor t facilities as well as the existing sport education. Also consumer products come into the picture when engaging new spor t enthusiasts to winter sports.

To succeed in the highly competitive market, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and the Ministry of Education have set up a cluster called ‘Finnish Winter Spor t Expor ts’. This cluster coordinates all governmental level effor ts regarding winter spor ts development in China, and will open several offices with local staff in strategic key locations around China.

During the visit Opening the first Finnish Winter Spor t cluster Satellite Office in Harbin, the Winter Capital of China was opened.

Within spor ts the delegation met the Chinese Spor t Federations and different Spor t Bureaus to gain better understanding how and where the Finnish offering could benefit the Chinese sport system. Within consumer products participants learned more on distribution channels and how Finnish products can obtain more market share in Beijing and Harbin.

Also within construction there are projects ready for implementation, with the Olympic tendering process about to start. The delegation discussed the content and timelines of the projects, as well as the plans and opportunities opened by the Sino-Finnish Winter Sport Theme Year 2019 collaboration with The General Administration of Spor ts of China Spor t events led by Minister Terho.

Finnish Winter Spor t Expor ts will fully leverage the 2019 Winter Sport Theme Year between Finland and China by series of targeted events. Together with the Ministr y of Education, also new collaboration projects engaging Finnish and Chinese will be created.

The Finnish Winter Spor t Expor ts cluster actively evaluates and generates winter sport related business leads for

the member companies.

On 26 March the Finnish Business Council Beijing Board of Directors was also happy to meet with the visiting Finnish Minister of Sports and Culture Mr. Sampo Terho at Ambassador’s Residence.

In addition to winter sports themes, the Finnish minister’s visit to China had a strong cultural and audio-visual emphasis. On 27 March he met with the Chinese Minister for culture, Deputy Minister Zhang Hong.

In addition to the minister and ambassador, the president of China Film Co-Production Corporation (CFC), Miao Xiao Tian, was a guest.

Furthermore, there was a large number of Chinese Directors and producers in addition to the Finnish delegation.

Co-production agreements for film and television production and cultural exchanges between countries were discussed.

Sources: Embassy of Finland in Beijing, Finnish Business Council Beijing

May 2018 • ScandAsia 23

Business

New Board for Finnish Business Council Singapore

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n 6 March the Finnish Business Council Singapore held its Annual General Meeting, where its new FBC Board was elected as follows: • Chairman Mr. Janne Lautanala (Wärtsilä) • Deputy Chairman Ms. Riikka Loisamo (Yuen Law) • Treasurer MS. Kirsi Heikkilä-Zenone (AaltoEE) • Secretary Mr. Waltter Kulvik (Individual member) • Member Ms. Anna Ratala (PineCone A.R.) • Alternate member Mr. Juha Hautala (KONE) • Alternate member Mr. John Fong (S P Jain School) • Alternate member Ms. Leena Ollitervo (Nokia) • Alternate member Mr. Corrado Lillelund Forcellati (Nordea)

Singapore delegation visited Stockholm Arlanda, Swedavia

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delegation with representatives from organisations such as Singapore Airlines, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and Changi Airport have visited Swedavia to learn more about the airpor t’s work to reduce its climate impact, with bio aviation fuel being a key factor.

The delegation also made a visit to Stockholm Arlanda Airport’s fuel depot to see how storage and refuelling with bio aviation fuel work in practice.

State-owned Swedavia is a world

24 ScandAsia • May 2018

leader in developing climate-smar t airpor ts and has won international recognition for its investment in bio aviation fuel. Over the past couple of decades, the air transport industry has made major progress in reducing fossil carbon dioxide emissions, and in 40 years air travel has become 70 per cent more fuel-efficient. Since 2016, Swedavia buys bio aviation fuel each year corresponding to the fuel consumed by its employees on some 10,000 annual flights for business purposes. Bio aviation

fuel is indeed key to the long-term sustainability of air travel, and Swedavia’s vision is for Swedish domestic air travel to be fossil-free by as early as 2030.

There was great interest in how Swedavia works to create greater demand for bio aviation fuel so that the supply will increase over time and reduce production costs. Other matters discussed were what the supply chain looks like and what society’s attitude is to bio aviation fuel. The delegation also made a study visit to Stockholm Arlanda’s fuel depot to see how storage and refuelling with bio aviation fuel work.

“It has been an interesting visit, with a great many experiences exchanged concerning how we as players can work to reduce the environmental impact of the air transport industry. It is primarily emissions that need to be reduced, not flying, with bio aviation fuel and technological advances being key factors in this development. We are naturally proud of the international attention we have attracted for our environmental work, with our climate target being zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2020,” says Lena Wennberg, Sustainability and Environmental Manager at Swedavia.

Business

From Asia to South Sweden with KLM: launches Växjö route in May

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n May 2018 KLM Royal Dutch Airlines continues to expand its medium haul network, with scheduled services to Växjö in south Sweden. KLM will operate a daily flight to Växjö in an Embraer 175 with 88 seats. This brings the total number of European destinations KLM operates directly from Amsterdam to 89.

From Southeast Asia, KLM flies

from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Denpasar, Bangkok or Manila to Växjo via Amsterdam. The planes from Southeast Asia are the wide body Boeing 777-300. ”Nor th Europe is a strong and attractive region where KLM already operates a unique network. We are proud to be the first major international airline to launch daily flights to Vaxjo,

the hometown of IKEA,” said Barry ter Voert, Senior Vice President Europe.

Located in the south of Sweden, Växjö is the capital city of the Kronoberg region. It has an entrepreneurial climate, a renowned univer sity and is the hometown of Ikea. Växjö gives access to nature and outdoor activities and has an excellent reputation for gastronomy.

How can you make your money work while you enjoy life?

Michael Kaj Blom Michael.Blom@nordea.sg www.nordeaprivatebanking.com Nordea Bank S.A, Singapore Branch is part of Nordea Group, the leading financial services group in the Nordic and Baltic Sea regions. Some products and services may, due to local regulations, not be available to individuals resident in certain countries and their availability may depend, among other things, on the investment risk profile of persons in receipt of this publication or on any legislation to which they are subject. Nothing in this publication should be construed as an offer, or the solicitation of an offer, to purchase, subscribe to or sell any investment or product, or to engage in any other transaction or provide any kind of financial or banking service in any jurisdiction where Nordea Bank S.A., Singapore Branch or any of its affiliates do not have the necessary license. Published by Nordea Bank S.A., R.C.S. Luxembourg No. B 14.157 on behalf of Nordea Bank S.A., Singapore Branch, 138 Market street Capita Green #09-03 Singapore 048946. www.nordeaprivatebanking.com subject to the supervision of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (www.mas.gov.sg).

May 2018 • ScandAsia 25

Business

Nokia launched Singapore Cloud Collaboration Hub

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n 9 April Nokia strengthened their cloud and data center services with the official launch of the first Nokia Cloud Collaboration Hub in Asia. Based in Singapore, the hub is an execution center where multivendor cloud ser vices from strategy, design, execution and delivery are provided.

The launch was also the opening of their expanded regional headquarters, where over 150 guests including Nokia employees, key customers and government bodies, were represented.

The center was officially opened by Guest of Honor Dr. Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information, Singapore; and Sandeep Girotra, head of Asia Pacific and Japan, Nokia.

It is one of three hubs in the world, with the other two located in Texas, US, and Reading, UK, offering innovative tooling and automation, as well as DevOps-based cloud development and delivery.

The Nokia Cloud Collaboration Hubs include a multivendor lab set-up with cloud services experts co-located to help operators visualize, develop and execute their plans. The global network of hubs reflects the growth of Nokia’s por tfolio of services and capabilities to address the increasing demands of operators looking to accelerate their transition to the cloud.

The Cloud Collaboration Hubs are supported by a network of cloud delivery centers for industrialized infrastructure staging and delivery. The cloud delivery centers incorporate comprehensive build and test automation frameworks to ensure accelerated data center delivery for customers.

One of the biggest challenges for operators in creating cloud services is the availability of ready and worldclass cloud development engineers and accessibility to a global ecosystem of cloud development partners. This often hinders the ability of operators to rapidly launch new cloud services in a dynamic market where they are competing 26 ScandAsia • May 2018

against traditional competitors and new digital players.

The strong par tner ecosystem linked to the hubs enables Nokia to provide best-in-class, open-source cloud solutions and instant cloud development skillsets to meet digital service provider needs. Communications ser vice providers in the region can now tap into Nokia’s expertise to develop valueadded services to improve customer experiences and help businesses grow new revenue streams.

“With the launch of the Cloud Collaboration Hub in Singapore, we will help operators in Asia Pacific and Japan select the right transformation strategy and build their revenue drivers and business cases for cloud-based solutions. This will accelerate operators’ moves towards becoming digital service

providers at a crucial moment when technology is undergoing a paradigm shift, anchored by trends such as 5G, the Internet of things and the Cloud,” said Sandeep Girotra.

“The Cloud Collaboration Hub is an important development for Nokia’s data center services. It offers our customers a full life-cycle view, with a focus on design, reference modeling, build, automated supply chain as well as onsite integration and commissioning. Customers in Asia Pacific and Japan can now look forward to developing and executing custombuilt cloud strategies with a faster time to market,” said Thomas Schneider, head of Services for Asia Pacific and Japan at Nokia.

Sources: Embassy of Finland in Singapore, Nokia

16th AEM-EU Trade Commissioner Consultation in Singapore

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h e 1 6 t h A E M - E U Tr a d e Commissioner Consultation took place on 2 March cochaired by Sweden’s Cecilia Malmström, the EU Trade Commissioner and and Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang, Chair of ASEAN in 2018.

The annual consultations were expected to fur ther deliberate on the next steps towards the possible resumption of the Asean-EU Free Trade Agreement. The consultation would also note the implementation of this agreement negotiations’ work programme 2017-2018, stock-take ASEAN-EU relations as well as update and exchange views on the recent global and regional economic developments.

The Ministers and Cecilia Malmström also met with the representatives of Asean-EU Business Council who updated on activities and initiatives undertaken by the Business Council in enhancing the economic cooperation in the two regions.

The Commissioner also delivered a keynote speech at the EU-Asean Business Summit, involving representatives of European business in the region.

The EU and Singapore completed the negotiations for a comprehensive free trade agreement on 17 October 2014. The initialled agreement needs now to be formally approved by the

European Commission and then agreed upon by the Council of Ministers and ratified by the European Parliament.

In 2015, the EU sought an opinion of the European Court of Justice to clarify the EU competence to sign and ratify the free trade agreement with Singapore.

The Court delivered its opinion on the division of competences in May 2017.

Following the opinion, a debate with the Council and the European Parliament on the best architecture for EU trade agreements and investment protection agreements is ongoing.

Singapore is by far the EU's largest commercial partner in Asean, accounting for slightly under one-third of EU-Asean trade in goods and services, and roughly two-thirds of investments between the two regions. Over 10,000 EU companies are established in Singapore and use it as a hub to serve the whole Pacific Rim. The EU is actively engaged with the South East Asian region. Negotiations for a region-to-region FTA with ASEAN were launched in 2007 and paused in 2009 to give way to bilateral FTAs negotiations, conceived as building blocks towards a future region-to-region agreement.

Negotiations with Singapore and Malaysia were launched in 2010, with Vietnam in June 2012, with Thailand in March 2013, with the Philippines in December 2015 and with Indonesia in

Business

July 2016. Negotiations of an investment protection agreement are also under way with Myanmar (Burma). The European Commission finalised negotiations of a bilateral FTA with Singapore in October 2014 and with Vietnam in December 2015.

At the regional level the par ties are undertaking a stocktaking exercise to explore the prospects towards the resumption of region-to-region negotiations.

Besides the trade negotiation the EU cooperates closely with the whole Asean region. Cooperation between the two regions is framed by a biannual Asean-EU Trade and Investment Work Programme, which is articulated along the following activities: an EU-Asean dialogue, which includes discussions on trade and investment issues at ministerial and senior economic officials levels; bi-regional exper t dialogue groups; cooperation activities; and regular organisation by business of ASEANEU Business Summits (an established meeting point since 2011 designed to be a platform for business leaders, thought-leaders and policy makers to interact and debate the key business and trade issues of the day).

Sources: European Commission, Embassy of Sweden in Singapore, EU-Asean Business Council May 2018 • ScandAsia 27

Business

NordCham Philippines Awards Night 2018

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ordic Chamber of Commerce the Philippines congratulations to the winners and finalists at the NordCham Philippines Awards Night 2018, held at Fairmont Makati in Manila on 21 March.

CSR Company of the Year, co-presented

by KMC Savills, Inc.: Winner: Abojeb Company Finalist: H&M Philippines Finalist Nokia Technology Center Philippines Careers 28 ScandAsia • May 2018

Growth company of the Year, copresented by Regus: Winner: ISS Facility Services Finalist: Global Process Manager Inc. Finalist: Tema Design Philippines Inc. Outstanding Employer of the Year, copresented by BDO Unibank Winner: Osm Maritime Services Inc Finalist: Grundfos Finalist: Kone Philippines SME Company of the Year, co-presented

by Ayala Corporation:

Winner: Tema Design Philippines Inc. Finalist: Global Process Manager Inc. Finalist: MultiMind Inter national Philippines NordCham, in par tnership with the EU-Philippines Business Network and Philippines Norway Business Council, would like to thank all participants at the gala night, as well as their partners and sponsors.

Source: Nordic Chamber of Commerce the Philippines

Business

Thai-Swedish Chamber of Commerce AGM: four new board members

By Joakim Persson

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nders Frummerin representing D i a k r i t ; J i r aya C h a n c h o n , previous TSCC Executive Director ; Nicklas Moberg, General Manager Oakwood Sukhumvit Suites; and Rober t Björ klund from Saab Group, were the four new nominated Board members that were unanimously elected by a very well attended the Thai-Swedish Chamber of Commerce’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2018.

Remaining in the Board are also Anette Andersson, Christer Nilsson, Daniel Lindgren, Eric Hallin, Jan Eriksson, Kamlarp Sirikittiwatn, Lars Andersson and Lars Svensson.

Dan-Åke Enstedt (Saab Group), Birgitta Leveen Deckmark (Diakrit), Marcus Kr ussell (Kr ussell), Sutti Manokitjarunman (Electrolux) and Thongchai Watanasoponwong (Axis Communications) resigned from the board at this AGM held at Radisson Blu Plaza Bangkok hotel on 28 March.

Mr Eric Hallin were re-elected by the new Board as the TSCC President for 2018.

Before this, the new Executive Director, Katarina Ekelund presented the AGM with the activities report. It showed that during 2017 TSCC held

eight own seminars and networking events; with on average 55 participants.

The Christmas Luncheon stood out with 87 attendants. In 2018 TSCC also introduced its ‘Business Talk & Networking’ concept, which started off on 5 October when Nordea Private Banking Singapore and Business Sweden held presentations at the Landmark Hotel.

On 9 November, also held on Radisson Blu Plaza Bangkok hotel, another very well visited such event took place, sponsored by Vicker y & Worachai law firm and SEA Asia IPR SEM Helpdesk, where member and other guest also got to learn about DEPA, Office of the digital economy, whose representative announced new support for start-ups in Thailand.

When presenting the financial report Vice President Mr Jan Eriksson said that TSCC is evaluating its ways of making income.

“Due to decline in profit TSCC needs to take steps to improve overall results,” commented Mr Eriksson, while also telling the AGM: “We had the usual ups and downs before, but now we only have ups, and seem to be doing pretty O.K.”

2017 was a year with good cost control but seeing slight decline in income.

TSCC maintain that membership fees should cover staff costs. Total revenue was just over 3 million Baht.

Following the AGM TSCC and its partners hosted the Dinner for attending members and guests, where the former Editor in Chief of Post Publishing and Editor of the Bangkok Post, Mr Pichai Chuensuksawadi, honoured the ThaiSwedish Chamber of Commerce with a speech to give his take on the status of Thailand’s governance and politics.

This made the experienced as well as relative newcomers to Thailand (such as the students from Jönköping) to listen attentively.

Commenting on Thailand’s new Charter Mr Pichai said it was taking the country back to 1980s, perhaps even further.

“Elections does not make Thailand democratic!” Mr Pichai exclaimed. “But you can voice your concerns – at least than under the current situation.”

T h a i l a n d ’s p r o b l e m s r e m a i n unsolved: “You have to star t again – with transparency and accountability!” concluded the former editor in chief and editor.

May 2018 • ScandAsia 29

Community

In his grandfather’s footsteps Mads and Terry Rahbek traveled in March and April around Thailand and Malaysia to rediscover the places which Mads’ adventurous Grandfather has described in four books that he wrote about his travels among indigenous tribes in Bandong today Surat Thani - before the First World War.

By Gregers Moller and Terry Rahbek-Nielsen Apart from being an adventurer and a planter, Olaf Ascanius was also a captivating writer. He wrote four books on his travels among indigenous people in the area.

30 ScandAsia • May 2018

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round 110 years ago, Mads Rahbek’s Danish Grandfather, Olaf Ascanius, explored the jungle inland from Bandong - today Surat Thani. He arrived in 1909 and spent the next 7 years exploring the jungle and negotiating with tribal elders for elephants and access to teak and rubber. In this capacity he was crisscrossing the land and hills north east, south and west of the Phum Duang river going inland from Surat Thani.

Olaf also set up the sawmill in Bandon for the EAC, based on the teak concessions and deals, he negotiated for the EAC. In 1916 Olaf returned to Denmark, married, and with his bride Karen came back to Malaysia where the couple stayed until 1927. In Malaysia Olaf was manager of Teluk Merbau Plantation.

Olaf ’s son Erik Ascanius followed in his father’s footsteps and began working for the East Asiatic Company from 1951 to 1961 as manager of Padang Maya rubber plantation. He was accompanied by his wife Ulla and during their stay in Malaysia, Mads Rahbek Ascanius was born in Penang in 1956 as the couple’s third child. His older brother was also born in Malaysia – only their older sister was born back in Denmark before their parents moved to Malaysia.

Mads and Terry Rahbek also enjoyed exploring Thailand during their research.

May 2018 • ScandAsia 31

We started our search for Teluk Merbau with the hope, but not the surety, that there still was something of it to find

Mads has continued the family tradition of living a globalized life. His wife Terry is a Canadian and the couple live in Canada today.

But the most adventurous of the family was without a doubt Mads’ Grandfather Olaf Ascanius. His books were widely read and he traveled around Denmark giving speeches about his time in the jungle and on theTeluk Merbau plantation.

This was the first place, that Mads and Terry tried to find during their research - and what an adventure!

Teluk Merbau: Wow!

Mads Rahbek on the stairs of old EAC Headquaters in Bangkok 32 ScandAsia • May 2018

“We started our search for Teluk Merbau with the hope, but not the surety, that there still was something of it to find,” Terry wrote back to friends in Canada and family in Denmark.

“We knew the plantation had been located near a place called Port Dickson, and our internet searches revealed an active business called Teluk Merbau Plantation Limited in the general area. It seemed a good place to start, so we contacted the business by email several times, but received no response. We also found a few variations of the name, Teluk Merbau, in the general area.”

Since Port Dickson and our various possibilities were only 90 minutes or so south of Kuala Lumpur, the couple decided to just head out and find what existed that they could locate.

“Google Maps took us to a small town called Sungai

Mr. Lim, right, who saved the day by bringing Mads and Terry to the Teluk Merbau plantation where they were allowed in to see the basically unchanged - house that Olaf Ascanius had lived in.

Pelek. The Teluk Merbau Plantation LImited was near the town and we assumed it to be the remnants of what had been the plantation. Since we’d come on a Saturday and the business was closed, we took ourselves for a little walk down a paved road among the palm trees.”

“The place was rather sad. We came across a few none-too-well-kept houses, passed a barking mother dog, and encountered a lot of garbage dumped at the side of the roadway. Marauding monkeys were all around the area, probably feeding on breadfruit that seemed to be everywhere, chattering in gangs, and transporting plastic bags retrieved from the garbage piles. It was sad to find that such an important place in the family history was now so sad and neglected.”

“Back at our rental car, a nice young woman stopped to ask if we needed help with directions. Her English was very good and we explained our quest and said we hoped to find the remains of the plantation and the house Oluf and Asta once lived in. Mads remembered a photo of a big house on stilts and a circular drive in front of it.”

“Our friend made some calls and eventually had us follow her into Sungai Pelek to meet someone who might know about the history of the area. She wondered if we had papers proving our family ownership of the property, and it took a little explaining to clarify that we did not own the land or the house. We were not on that kind of search.”

“Our friend introduced us to Mr. Lim a local businessman

who immediately understood and asked if we were looking for the place of Andersen, the Old Dane? It took us a moment to understand he did not mean Oluf Andersen Ascanius. Rather, he meant the ‘old Dane’ Hans Anton Andersen, the founder and owner of the Danish East Asiatic Company. He would have been Oluf ’s big boss. He would have been the owner of Teluk Merbau.”

“Bless him, Mr. Lim said the Telek Merbau plantation house was still standing and he could take us there. We were thrilled.The house is in good repair and pretty much as it was when Oluf and Asta left it in 1928. It now commands a kingdom of only 6 acres of land, but does have its own tennis court and pool, and some enormous trees (some mango) that are definitely from Oluf ’s time. we took as many pictures of the exterior as we could through the metal fencing and wondered aloud if it would be possible to go inside.”

“Luck was on our side again! Norman and Anna and their teenaged son live in the house now. Norman is the property manager who now works for the company that currently owns Teluk. Norman and Anna graciously allowed us into their home. They told us that as the house is a heritage house, not a lot has changed. Stone tiles with stars still pave the front entrance area, and the polished teak flooring is original, as are many of the light fixtures, the

May 2018 • ScandAsia 33

In the book we would like to show the places he described in his books as well as in the many speeches and slideshows that he held all over Denmark after his return. Ideally, paired with a photo from today, standing at the same spot

dining room bar, the bannister and the large upstairs deck.” “ Mr. Lim also took us on a drive around the original Teluk Merbau proper ty. The original plantation lands seemed to be endless. Lim told us that the Teluk Merbau plantation was the catalyst for the town’s existence. It provided employment for local Malay people, attracted thousands of workers from India, and provided business oppor tunities for the industrious Chinese population who settled there. Originally focussed on rubber and coconut, the town grew up around the plantation. Bordered by the Selangor River and (Badang Landing) the Malay Gold Coast, the plantation covered a space of 20 square kilometers in total.”

“Wow! We said that word so many times yesterday afternoon. When you hear about something for years, but can’t really put it alongside anything actually familiar, and when you see only the occasional old black and white photo to offer a small sense of what it was, experiencing that entity in the flesh can be just a little overwhelming.

How is it possible to adequately describe the size of the enormous tree that stands to the right hand side of the house, or the one at the front with the great, thick branches? What does it feel like to walk into your grandparent’s home 100 years after they first moved into it, and 40 years after they both have died? What is it like to touch the trunk of a tree planted by your grandfather - a 34 ScandAsia • May 2018

A selfie with the Teluk Merbau sign. What a day!

tree that now is the size of the house its planter lived in?

And when you drive the circumference of the lush, rich land your grandfather once cared for, ‘wow’ is about all there is to say.”

“Wow!” Terry ends her letter that day.

Penang revisited

Of course the hospital in Penang, where Mads was born, was on the long list of places that Terry and Mads planned to visit during this trip. They managed to be there on the very same day on 24 April, that Mads was born!

“We have decided it is time to translate the four books that Mads’ Grandfather write so they can have a wider audience not least out here in Asia,” says Terry.

“In the book we would like to show the places he described in his books as well as in the many speeches and slideshows that he held all over Denmark after his return.

Ideally, paired with a photo from today, standing at the same spot,” Mads adds.

When the books are ready to be marketed, ScandAsia readers will be informed of the opportunity to obtain a copy. The 2 other books mentioned above can be bought here: http://scandshop.in.th/shop/categor y/scandmediabooks/

New ED for Norwegian Business Association China

S

hengsheng Bi (Bibi) has joined Norwegian Business Association China as the new executive director. Bibi will report directly to the Board of Directors and is responsible for the daily operation of our association.

“Bibi is very excited about her new job and is eager to get to know as many members of NBA as possible!” stated the association.

Bibi has worked in Scandinavian companies since graduating from

News brief

college with increasing responsibility and authority in each of her roles. BiBi has lived 11 years in Denmark, and she speaks fluent Danish. She pursed her Master Degree in Finance at Aarhus School of Business and her Bachelor Degree is in International Business Administration from the Au-IBT- Aarhus University.

Norwegian Business Association China

Denmark’s ambassador met Singapore SMU students

“G

reat pleasure to meet excited and inquisitive students from SMU,” writes the Embassy of Denmark, Singapore.

Denmark’s Ambassador to Singapore Dorte Bech Vizard, held a presentation in early March about Danish culture and

lifestyle for 25 students from Singapore Management University.

This group of students left for Denmark end of April.

Source: Embassy of Denmark, Singapore

Danish diploma and award to Singaporean

A

t a reception hosted by the Danish Ambassador to Singapore on 8 March, Leonard Ng Keok Poh was recognized for his outstanding effor ts in promoting Danish products and services abroad.

The award ceremony took place in the shadow of the recent passing of His Royal Highness Prince Henrik, who was commemorated with one minute of silence. For more than 50 years, His Royal Highness devoted much of his time to promote Danish exports, and

the award to Leonard Ng Keok Poh was one of the last under His Royal Highness Prince Henrik’s chairmanship of the jury.

Mr. Leonard Ng Keok Poh, Partner in Ramboll Studio Dreiseitl and Country Director for Ramboll in Singapore, receives The Diploma of the Danish Export Association & His Royal Highness the late Prince Henrik of Denmark’s Medal of Honour.

Source: Embassy of Denmark, Singapore May 2018 • ScandAsia 35

Lifestyle

The only farang in town

By Henrik Vinther / Photos: Jan Mouritsen 36 ScandAsia • May 2018

I

f you drive 70 miles east of Udon Thani on the highway, you will see a small bridge leading away from the road.

Crossing that bridge will lead you down a narrow concrete road and the further you go, passing rice fields, small villages and numerous temples, the more decayed the road becomes.

Continue on that road for about thirty minutes and you will see a large, beige house on the right and on the porch sits a small but largely built man. His name is Jens, and he is the only farang [foreigner in Thai language] nearby.

“And that’s just the way I like it,” he says.

We had 31 registered gangs in our district that we were told to stop by any means necessary

Military police

By the time Jens Sommer – later to add Chanthasook to his name - first set his feet on Thai ground ten years ago he had fought gangs in the seventies, crashed more cars than any other police officer in his district, been shot at in Cypern as a UN soldier and gone from a family man with his own company to living on the streets in the winters of Denmark.

And now he has a small lobster farm in the most rural of areas in Thailand.

But the story begins in Kgs. Lyngby in a grey, “boring” apartment complex on Chr. X’s Allé, where he grew up. He had an atheist father and a very religious mother and, as he says, “I was pretty much just chasing after my mother.”

Come 18, every boy in Denmark must show up at the military to pick a number. Low number and you’re in for a year, high number and you’re free to go. Jens got a low one.

“I really didn’t want be in the military; exhaustion and torture wasn’t a part of my life,” he says and adds: “But unfortunately I’d mentioned that I wanted to join the police

when I was done, and before I knew it, I was part of the military police.”

So for four years his job was to make sure that the rest of the recruits didn’t cause too much chaos when they were going home for the weekend – breaking up fights and trying to keep at least minimum amount of order needed for the military.

In a quiet war zone

After his time ensuring military order Jens volunteered as a UN soldier in Cyprus, in a time when the Greeks and the Turks were largely at peace.

May 2018 • ScandAsia 37

Nine days after he arrived in Thailand, they were married in a traditional Buddhist wedding

“Most of the violence was bar fights, but we did experience one shooting. When that happens, you go vertical pretty fast,” he says and laughs.“It was a good time though and I kind of learned that I liked that, so when I came back, I applied for the police academy.”

And with that, one of the more tense parts of Jens’ life begins.The life in the police force in one of Zealands hardest areas, the outskirts of Copenhagen.

Lobsters

Jens picks up a small lobster in a shed behind his house in Thailand. He studies it for a while before showing it to the curious crowd. The rain pours outside and the ground is just as wet as the tubs containing the lobsters. Everyone is soaked from the small walk between his house and the shed in the backyard.

“This one’s pregnant,” he says, holding a visibly larger redclaw lobster in front of him. As he puts it back into the tub, it sprints into a small, grey pipe, its small legs popping manically, almost like Bambi on ice.

“It’s just a hobby. I got the remains of a friend’s farm after they kept dying on him. For now they seem to be healthy, but if I can get the right lobsters to breed, I might be able to produce enough to sell locally.”

The rough guys

“We had 31 registered gangs in our district that we were told to stop by any means necessary. So we did,” he says with a subtle smile. “Outside of Copenhagen there are not a lot of 38 ScandAsia • May 2018

people meddling in what you do. In the city they always had the press breathing down their neck.”

And Jens has a very relaxed attitude towards what would be labeled as police brutality today.

“It wasn’t unusual that we gave a guy a small beating rather than arresting him, but our district was also the kind that the top tried to keep in the background until it got really serious.

It was a lot of fun…”

And during his time in the force he got the nickname ‘The Car Wrecker’ because of his tendency to – well – wreck cars.

In his 22 years of service he totally crashed five cars: “Like one time when we were chasing a guy on a fixed scooter through some rape fields, which by the way is not good for the underbody at all. But I wasn’t aware that the field had a hidden well inside of it. We had to be picked up by another patrol,” he says.

The only farang

As the years progressed, things seemed to decline for Jens. He briefly owned and operated a small printing company in his cellar, away from the action-filled life of the Force. Unfor tunately he quit his job at the police almost simultaneously with the last crisis of the printing press – the one that cost most typographers their jobs, including Jens.

“I survived two bankruptcies but the third one cost me my house, my car and after a while my family.”

The divorce was followed by several unstable years on and off the streets of Copenhagen, earning a few bucks as a

taxi-driver while surfing from home to home.

“I told myself I would never re-marry after the divorce, but a friend of mine advised me to go on one of those datingsites for Thai women. At first it was all fun and games, but on 8 March 2008, a messaged ticked in.”

It wasn’t more than three lines: “Hi Jens, my name is Nonglak. I am 37 years old and I live in Thailand, I love your profile. Love and kisses. Nonglak,” A couple of pictures were included.

“That was all she needed, I was sold. It wasn’t long before I proposed to her on Skype, by mail and by phone and she said yes every time. Naturally I was a bit skeptic at first, but as an old police I know how to ask questions and Thais are generally not that good at English, so I could ask the same questions phrased differently. And the answers were always the same.”

Nine days after he arrived in Thailand, they were married in a traditional Buddhist wedding. They build a large house in Jew’s village, where they still live.

And today, if you manage to find the right exit on the highway from Udon Thani, you’ll see a white man sitting on a porch in a village with a big smile on his face. Local children drive by, waving and giggling. Once in a while a monk will come to the house for some food.

That’s Jens Chanthasook Sommer, and he’s the only farang in town.

May 2018 • ScandAsia 39

Human resources

Swedish employer branding in China

By Joakim Persson

T

he annual Swedish Career Fair was held in China in April, arranged by the Young Professionals of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce China. The fair took place in Shanghai on 7 April and in Beijing on 14 April.

The chamber reported on the Shanghai part as follows: “A great day filled with interesting seminars, networking and successful matches between exhibitors and job seeking candidates.”

The Swedish Career Fair is a platform in which talented young professionals can meet with company representatives to exchange ideas and opportunities.

There, students and graduates had a chance to meet “the companies of their dreams” and browse among available jobs and learn about their respective recruitment.

This year, the fair focused on the Future of Sweden in all respects. From technical, social to organizational development, Sweden is a world-known brand when it comes to pushing boundaries and exploring new territory.

“First and foremost the fair targets recently graduated students; both international and local Chinese. Earlier it has been overwhelmingly international students but the trend is that the demand for Chinese students has been increasing.

40 ScandAsia • May 2018

Therefore we collaborate with local universities, EF and Nordic Centre in order to reach the right target groups,” Sofia Norén from the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China told ScandAsia prior to the event.

“There are other international job fairs but none focusing on Swedish or Nordic companies in the same way as Swedish Career Fair China.”

“The theme for 2018, Future Sweden, highlights Swedish companies’ innovative sides and future job opportunities.

We live in a fast-changing world where both job titles and working methods are rapidly changing. There has therefore been strong demand attracting students from within tech, engineering and fin-tech,” she continued.

“Swedish companies have previous year s shown great appreciation for the fair both regarding successful recruitment and as a good oppor tunity for employer branding. I find it incredibly joyful and impor tant to showcase Swedish companies’ innovative sides and what opportunities there are.”

Photos: Swedish Chamber of Commerce, China

Denmark’s Kota Kinabalu consul awarded Order of Dannebrog

D

enmark has two Royal Orders of Chivalry: The Order of the Elephant, and The Order of

Dannebrog. Both got their first written statutes on 1 December 1693. At any given time, the ruling monarch heads

News brief

the orders.

The decoration was given to Mr. Anders Møller by H.M Queen Margrethe II of Denmark on her 78th birthday. He receives a Breast Star with Grand Cross.

Source: Embassy of Denmark in Kuala Lumpur Denmark’s Kota Kinabalu consul awarded Order of Dannebrog Denmark has two Royal Orders of Chivalry:The Order of the Elephant, and The Order of Dannebrog. Both got their first written statutes on 1 December 1693. At any given time, the ruling monarch heads the orders.

The decoration was given to Mr. Anders Møller by H.M Queen Margrethe II of Denmark on her 78th birthday. He receives a Breast Star with Grand Cross.

Next Swedish Anders Wall scholar to China: Carl Johansson

T

he Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China has announced the next Anders Wall scholar winner. Carl Johansson, will from April 2018 spend a year working at the SwedCham office in Shanghai, reports the chamber.

Carl is a young entrepreneur from Lidköping, Sweden, with a strong interest in art. He is very much looking forward to settling in in Shanghai and starting his internship with the chamber.

The SEK 200,000 scholarship was awarded at a ceremony in Stockholm on 9 March.

Car l has studied Economics at Lund University, and graduated with a major in Business Law in 2016. After his graduation, Carl worked in his family business, Cupola, providing solutions for fire safety. The previous summer, he and his father together founded the Investment Firm Tranquility Capital.

He has also previously run his own e-commerce business, and worked in

the London start-up scene.

“We wanted to implement our competences to more successful enterprises.” Carl says. “This comes with new challenges but also diversifies risks associated with a broader portfolio.”

Through their business, Carl’s family have been in trade with China for over 10 years, and Carl’s interest for the country has steadily increased, with him falling in love with Shanghai on a visit in 2016.

“China is a very interesting country.

The people, the art, and the architecture speak to me,” say Carl, who has a strong interest in art, with a special taste for modern expressionism.

He believes that the paradigm shift we now see, where China wants to lead and the US taking a step back, will lead to an increased opening of the market, and increased trade between China and Sweden. He hopes to get an insight into the work of the Swedish Chamber of

Commerce, and also contribute to the chamber with his own competences.

“I look forward to build strong networks with interesting people, and perhaps also find business opportunities on my own” Carl says.

The scholarship founded by Anders Wall himself, is in 2018 celebrating its 10th year of funding young hardworking Swedish professionals to work for a year at the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai.

Source: Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China

May 2018 • ScandAsia 41

News brief

Nordic Day Hanoi seminar

O

n the occasion the Nordic Day Celebration on 23 March the Nordic Embassies in Hanoi (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden) together with the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics organised a seminar on “The Socio-Economic Nordic Model - Achievements and Experiences”, writes the Embassy of Sweden, Hanoi.

Renowned speaker s from the Nordic region together with over 100 Vietnamese scholars, researchers, policy-makers, opinion leaders and other stakeholders representing the

Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, key ministries, institutions, business associations and civil society organisations attended the meeting to discuss and draw experiences and lessons learned from the Nordic region.

The Nordic countries, consisting of Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland are currently upheld as a model for good governance around the world.

Through their presentations at the Seminar, four Nordic speakers provided the audience with an overview of the Region’s history, shared experience on how the Nordic countries have worked

together and trusted each other to become what they are today, and one of the distinctive features for the Nordic region’s labour market: social dialogue.

Speaking at the seminar, Swedish A m b a s s a d o r Pe r e r i c H ö g b e r g e m p h a s i ze d o n i n n ov a t i o n a n d sustainability where the Nordic strives to be a pioneer in the development of production methods that are clean, sustainable and use resources efficiently.

“Goods and ser vices must not damage the environment or health at any point in the cycle – from source to sea.We are world leaders in innovations, working together to find new, smar t and bio-economic solutions. Also, transparency and access to information always have been key for Nordic success,” said Ambassador Högberg.

The Nordics have had the oldest and most diverse forms of regional political collaboration for the past six decades. It is not by chance that a region with only 26 million people, which wouldn’t even make it into the top 50 of countries ranked by population, is one of the most integrated regions and the world’s 11th largest economy with a total GDP of 1416 billion USD.

Nordic Day held in Jakarta

O

n Nordic Day 23 March the respective Nordic embassies in Indonesia arranged a joint

event.

Collaboration between countries is key to achieve prosperous societies.The Nordic countries have collaborated for a long time and since 1971 they have a Nordic Ministers Council where we work together on mutually beneficial cross border issues, promoting cultural exchanges, togetherness, equality, sustainability and innovation! The Nordic way is a legacy from the Nordic countries – Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and Denmark.

Since 2015, the Nordic Embassies have a joint National Day celebration.

This year, in order to increase stronger 42 ScandAsia • May 2018

collaborations between the Nordic countries, they will be conducting a NordicWay roadshow, visiting four different cities in Indonesia - Surabaya,

Yogyakarta, Bandung and Jakarta. The roadshow will be announced later.

Source: Embassy of Sweden in Jakarta

May 2018 • ScandAsia 43

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