NOV 2018 Business
Finnish digital, energy Thailand delegation
Community
New Swedish Ambassador in Singapore
State visit
Their Majesties of Norway visited China
Sustainability Sweden at Food’s Future Summit Hong Kong
Senior living/ Ageing in Asia theme
November 2018
ScandAsia Community
30
HE Minister Mika Lintilä
37 Nordic joint National Day in Jakarta 38 Crayfish parties in Bangkok and Hong Kong 42 Annual Norwegian Seafood Gala Kuala Lumpur
Led Finnish digital, energy business delegation
12 Senior Living/ Ageing in Asia theme
ScandAsia Business
24 Nordic Innovation House Soft-launched in Singapore
37 34
Niclas Kvarnström Sweden’s new ambassador to Singapore
27 Danish Business Minister in Singapore
Resulted in deals and partnerships
38
28 Danish-Swedish AAK
New customer centre opened in Singapore
29 Ramboll
Acquired Singaporean Smart Mobility company
40
HM King Harald V of Norway State visit to China
42
2018
From Nov. 24. - Dec.24. Stable Lodge’s CHRISTMAS LUNCH Scandinavian buffet w/warm & cold cuts BHT. 795.-Net.
Traditional X-mas dinner from 7pm. Pickled Salmon,Roasted Duck /Pork and Rice Pudding BHT. 1200.- Net. Children 1/2 price Ticket Available for sale at the reception.
Stable Lodge’s Famous CHRISTMAS LUNCH BHT. 895.-Net. Please book your table, limited space.
New Year Buffet Dinner 7pm. to midnight BHT. 950.- Net. Live Music
Editorial
Senior living in Asia
S
candinavian senior s moving to Asia will find themselves moving to societies that are struggling with their own population growing older at a much faster pace than back in the Nordic countries. Asian countries are all facing deep social, economic and political implications because of this demographic change. There will be fewer young people to support the growing numbers of older persons. This will strain Asia’s fledgling social security systems, infrastructure and the provision of health-care services to name just a few problems. The list of challenges is long: • Breakdown of traditional family structure and values • Less family members available to care for the aged • Inability to allow older persons to remain in their own home as they age • Increase in older persons affected by dementia • Neglect, abuse and violence against older persons (physical, psychological, emotional, financial) by family members or at care institutions • Increased health care cost, borne by older persons, their families, and society • Lack of social protection measures, including health insurance and sustainable pension systems
There are already many initiatives across the region aiming at building sustainable and prosperous ageing societies under taken by a wide range of actor s – governments, local governments, NGOs, academia, private sector, older persons themselves and other citizens of all ages – and they are implemented at various levels of society in various scales. Scandinavian seniors moving to Asia could be actively engaged in these initiatives and contribute positively if their newly adopted Asian home countries would wake up and realize what a huge contribution these seniors could be for their societies. Stop treating these senior expats like working age expats with demands of work permits and visa runs. Give them instead special status and encourage them to work in charity, teach their occupationals skills, and engage in a whole range of similar activities beneficial to society. To limit their permitted activity to sit and drink beer while pestering them with income level documentation is a silly waste of resources.
A fundamental problem is, that currently the image of ageing is mostly negative and governments across the regions only see old people as a burden. This attitude must be changed to a positive one in recognition of the wisdom, dignity, productivity and other important contributions of older persons. Older persons can make social, cultural, economic and political contributions to society in multiple ways, as carers and educators of younger generations, keepers of traditions, leaders of communities, role models, and so on.
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 • November 2018
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
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News brief
Finnish visit to Nokia Shanghai Bell
T
eam Finland led by Consul General Jan Wahlberg on 10 October visited the R&D Center at Nokia Shanghai Bell to discuss future cooperation. This Shanghai lab plays a unique role in building Nokia’s research eco-system in China by establishing extensive cooper ation between Chinese customers and top universities in China for national key projects and consortium. Nokia Shanghai Bell is a joint venture between Nokia and China Huaxin, integrating Alcatel-Lucent Shanghai Bell Co. Ltd and Nokia’s China business.The joint venture, which
star ted its operation in July 2017, is Nokia’s exclusive platform in China for the continued development of new technologies such as IP routing, optical, fixed and next-generation 5G. The facility is located in Jinqiao, east of Shanghai, and is ranked as a top 10 enterprise research center in China. Nokia’s research and development staff in China is altogether around 10 000 people in six different locations. They work as an integral part of the global Nokia R&D team. The research team is dedicated to pioneering research in a vast array of technologies including: Wireless
access and fixed access technology; 5G, advanced multiple antenna technologies; Device to device communication; Cloud RAN; Green radio; Small cell technology; TDD specific technologies; LTE-A/beyond broadcast/multicast; Cellular based machine to machine; Software-defined converged access network; Next generation PON; and RoF-based fronthaul Sources: Nokia Shanghai Bell, Consulate General of finland in Shanghai
Swedish Professor speaker at Vietnam conferences
I
n connection to the release IPCC special repor t of Global Warming of 1.5 °C the Embassy of Sweden in Hanoi has had the pleasure to have Prof. Gustav Mar tinsson from Royal Institute of Technology visiting Vietnam. Martinsson was a keynote speaker at both the UNDP’s workshop on Climate resilience and Low carbon development at Melia Hotel and VNUUEB’s Conference on Green Finance. The Swedish embassy reported that the professor talked about the role of the financial sector in climate change mitigation; more specifically, how we should think when formulating new policies to create incentives for private
8 ScandAsia • November 2018
investments and allocation of capital into green and sustainable technology. Martinsson also addressed the elephant in the room, that subsidies to fossil fuel sector currently is between $300 billion to $5 trillion per year globally: “We should be taxing dirty production and subsidizing clean,” Gustav Mar tinsson had said. To strengthen his ar guments, Martinsson shared some examples of Swedish political reforms on climate and emphasized the need for structural solutions to the structural issues of climate change. Source: Embassy of Sweden in Hanoi
ALE S FOR
Within the Scandinavian Village, Bangsaen Chonburi, a nice and well maintained apartment is for sale. The apartment has 2 rooms and is 84 sqm with a 17 sqm terrace, facing south. The kitchen and living room is one big room and the second room is a large bedroom with a walk-in closet, with direct access to a large bathroom. The owner must be from Scandinavia +50. The price is Baht Mill. 3.65
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For more information please contact Torben Lund at e-mail: kandt43@gmail.com or MOB: +45 21204380 or Skype: phuket43
211 Soi Prasert - Manukitch 29, Chorakaebua, Ladprao, Bangkok 10230, Thailand Tel: +66 2943 7166-8 Fax: +66 2943 7169 E-mail: patcharee.scandmedia@gmail.com suchaya.scandmedia@gmail.com
November 2018 • ScandAsia 9
News brief
Finland’s Energy, Environment minister visited Nanjing
F
inland’s Minister for Environment, Energy and Housing of the Republic of Finland Kimmo Tiilikainen visited Nanjing on 14-15 September, as part of an During the visit, he attended a tour of the Station for Obser ving Regional Processes of the Earth System (SORPES) at Nanjing University and visited Jiangsu Environment Protection Depar tment. Minister Tiilikainen also
took part in the signing ceremony of the agreement of Sino-Finnish Center between Pes-Architects and South New Town. The day culminated in a meeting with Mayor of Nanjing Mr. Lan Shaoming. Source: Consulate General of Finland in Shanghai
Finnish innovative feminine hygiene brand’s Thailand launch
L
unette from Finland has launched its eco-friendly,innovative feminine hygiene in Thailand. In the end of September 2018 the Embassy of Finland in Bangkok visited the Finnish product, the Lunette menstrual cup, at the Beyond Beauty Asean in Bangkok. Lunette’s menstr ual cup is a
comfor table safe, odorless and ecofr iendly alter native to absorbent pads and tampons. Lunette believes in bringing education, oppor tunities, and intelligent period care solutions for every menstruating person on the planet. Source: Embassy of Finland in Bangkok
Nordics joined World Cleanup Day Jakarta
A
t the annual World Cleanup Day 2018 in September, taking place simultaneously in a number of places around the world, the Embassy of Finland in Jakarta joined in. Together with their Nordic colleagues and Raffles Jakarta, the Finnish embassy joined this important initiative to raise awareness of the global waste problem. “Ever ybody can contr ibute to making their neighbourhoods safer and healthier places to live - one piece of trash at a time!” wrote the Embassy of Finland in Jakarta, sharing a sneak peek of what it looked like. Source: Embassy of Finland in Jakarta
10 ScandAsia • November 2018
News brief
Norwegian Embassy’s new team’s first visit to Ho Chi Minh City
N
orwegian Ambassador designate to Vietnam Grete Løchen and Deputy Head of Mission Jan Wilhelm Grythe have made their first visit to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. During the vist, the Ambassador designate and Deputy Head of Mission had a successful meeting with the Norwegian Honorary Consulate, Arild Haugan. They also met with the Norwegian
Mission Alliance who gave a presentation about their work in Vietnam. In the evening, Ambassador designate Grete Løchen had a reception with the Norwegian business community. The Norwegian Embassy is looking forward to working closely with the Norwegian businesses and enhancing the business cooperation between Norway and Vietnam in the years to come, writes the Embassy on their official facebook page.
Deputy Head of Mission, Jan Wilhelm Grythe (left), met with the Norwegian Honorary Consulate, Arild Haugan (right). Photo: Norwegian Embassy in Hanoi
Speak Dating EU event held in Hong Kong
T
he 5th annual ‘Speak Dating’ event in celebration of the EU Day of Languages was held on 26 September 2018 at the Hong Kong Festival Walk shopping mall. The event was an opportunity for locals to get to know the languages and cultures of EU member states – and win prizes after some successful speak dating.
Finland was represented, and the queue to their table was long throughout the event. There was a lot of interest for Finland and our language, and visitors got to try rolling their R’s with words such as “ruska”, “ruisleipä” and “Räikkönen”. Source: Consulate General of Finland in Hong Kong and Macau
The Nordic missions met Malaysia’s Minister of Education
T
he Nordic embassies in Kuala Lumpur have met with Malaysia’s Minister for Education. “Inspiring exchanges during Nordic meeting with HE Minister of Education YB Dr Maszlee Malik on sustainability, innovation, challenges to fostering of independent mind-set, integration, increasing exchanges between the Nordics and Malaysia, etc. We are deeply appreciative to YB for taking time to see us and to my esteemed Danish colleague Ambassador Jesper Cahr for hosting us” reported Sweden’s Ambassador Dag Juhlin-Dannfeldt. November 2018 • ScandAsia 11
Senior living/Ageing in Asia theme
Senior Scandinavian’s dream living in Thailand
12 ScandAsia • November 2018
In the outskirts of small town Bangsaen, on Thailand’s Eastern Seaboard, lies a truly special senior living project called Scandinavian Village. As in the name, it is dedicated to Scandinavian people only. And after 15 plus years in operation this residential living community is really thriving. A visit is really an eye-opener about how this senior living project has become a true success and the factors why that is the case. A Dane, a Norwegian and a Swede who reside there explain why they have chosen this as long-stay home away from home, and what makes it so unique. Text and photos: Joakim Persson
I
nitiated in 2002 the project won approval as the first ever BOI (Board of Investment) facility of its kind for people over 50 years old in Thailand to attract foreign investors. It was promoted and sold to Scandinavian individuals under the ‘long-stay tourism’ category. Being under BOI gives buyers, who shareholders, permission to be 100 per cent foreign in Thailand. An expansion of the 96 units that were built was halted right in time before the global financial downturn in 2008. Thereafter the members have taken over the project. A Thai management team is employed for services and upkeep, where the Scandinavian owners are themselves heavily involved in the maintenance, arranging activities and the sales work.
This retirement community stands out even internationally. But the good thing is that some units are also available for sale year by year, allowing for more Scandinavians to become owners. This is also one of the indicators behind this project’s success story.
B
o Oskarsson, the youngest owner in terms of years as member among the three Scandinavians in charge of re-sales, describes it as a kind of Shangri-La: “God’s place on earth.” And in par ticular Bo highlights the special weather zone Bangsaen is situated in: “One of the reasons why the founder decided to build here is that you have a micro climate between the airport and Pattaya. We say that the
November 2018 • ScandAsia 13
China winds pass through, reducing humidity and preventing it from getting extremely hot. That’s a very good climate for us Scandinavians and I think we are noticing tremendous difference in humidity here compared to in Phuket and Hua Hin.” Earlier, along with his wife Bo used visit Hua Hin for five weeks in the festive season, where they stayed in gated communities. “But we got fed up; it was very far to everything, and downtown we thought there were too many tourists. So we said: ‘We are done with Thailand now. Let’s explore another place’. That was until we found Scandinavian Village. We bought within 48 hours of coming here.” Some residents had invited them to come and try it out: “That is usually how it happens, for more than 60 per cent of the buyers.” “There is no other Scandinavian Village in Asia, certainly not in Thailand! There are many condominiums and many gated communities but if you are 50 plus and where the owners speak a Scandinavian language and it is all based on active living and an inclusive society it cannot be found elsewhere,” states Bo and continues: “If you’re an active person, and a senior citizen wanting the most exclusive – then you belong here.” “Many other retirees have also bought a home in Thailand but they do not live in gated communities. There you get separated; we lived in five different such in Hua Hin and did not speak to one neighbour even once! You 14 ScandAsia • November 2018
have no natural meeting points, and you must arrange transpor tation yourself. There may be a few Swedish villages where they have a pool and try to run a restaurant. That does not compare to the unity we have here; you do not get that unless you gather around activities, and agree around how things should be. We do that here, and it should be top quality. And it’s better now than ever!” Bo thinks in terms of the standard and upkeep. Bangsaen is also a destination forThais in the surroundings and Bangkok – being the closest beach resort for those to visit. “They travel here, invading this destination on Saturdays and Sundays. Therefore there are hardly any other foreign tourists; there is no place for them here - this is the destination for Bangkok people!” “You don’t have tourist hotels and charter here; you must go to Jomtien and Pattaya for that. It’s nice to have an exclusive university city with high level of cultural status,” thinks Bo.
R
oald Nystad from Norway and Mogens Hansen from Denmark, the other sales representatives, also agree on keeping mass tourism at bay. All three have just arrived from Scandinavia in mid-October. However, being among Scandinavians, and only those, is essential. “It’s nice to come here and be able to speak one’s own language. And we can understand each other. After ten years in Hong Kong and Malaysia, where you had all your
friends speaking English it was a bit tiring compared to speaking one’s mother tongue. That is a big advantage here to make one feel at home,” thinks Mogens Hansen. “We found an ad in a golf magazine in Denmark and we saw an opportunity to get away from the dark winters, which become tiresome. And we thought that we could try a test living trip, which was back in 2015. And then we bought. One could notice at once that it was a really nice atmosphere in the community. We felt very welcomed, be it Norwegians or Swedes.” “The overwhelming group of people were Swedes and they were very welcoming,” adds his wife Birgitte Lindblad. “We have people coming from Jomtien beach saying: ‘We live in a so called Scandinavian house but you do not have activity groups like here; you do not have any unity’.The same goes for Mae Phim, which was supposed to be only for Scandinavians but as soon as one loosens the concept one does not get the same unity. Here we are rigid about these things,” says Bo. “The only place in the world with something similar is the retiree villages in Florida, but those can consist in up to 10 000 or even more houses. That’s an entirely different concept to here with just under 100 apartments. We are like one big family here,” says Roald Nystad. “It’s a very important aspect at Scandinavian Village. And we have much more social life here in Thailand than back in Norway. That comes from that we live close to each other, are very relaxed most of us and have common interests,
enjoying many fantastic experiences together.” In addition the extended family of each apar tment owner is also important – and welcome. Roald brings his family to Thailand every summer even, instead of going on summer vacation in Scandinavia. “I’ve been here every summer for twelve years.We come from Bergen and there rainfall is probably 3000 millimetres during a year. Then it is great to come to Thailand.” Bo adds that they then get guaranteed good weather, highest standard of living, and with complete service – all for themselves in the summer. But Roald’s extended family, as many others’, also visits during the festive season. And there are overnight bedrooms available on the premises for these extra guests. He has lived at Scandinavian Village in three different units. “So we have also been par t of buying and selling apartments within the same area.” “We had started off with about 100 Sq m, was offered to buy a 350 Sq m penthouse which we had for eight years, and then, getting a bit older we had less need for large space and moved to 80 Sq m – and are still living here! And that indicates that one has very few negative things to say concerning either Scandinavian Village or Thailand. Thailand is phenomenal, and the people amazing; caring and friendly – very positive!” adds Roald.
November 2018 • ScandAsia 15
Fr. left: Mogens Hansen, Bo Oskarsson and Roald Nystad Mogens and his wife agree: “We have travelled to many places and we can say that Thais stand out as being friendly, nice and considerate.They always meet you with a big smile; absolutely fantastic!” Like the absolute majority of the members they spend between 5- 6 months in Thailand. Back in Denmark they have a summer house to go home to. “We have little to do there in the wintertime and it’s dark and boring but fantastic in the summer. And since we have moved here we get to have a ‘second summer’, where we enjoy playing golf etc.” “We have our own time count here, which is when our men and ladies senior golf tour starts, which is in mid October until end of March. We are happy every year when we will return to Thailand.”
F
urther proof of how much the members appreciate their senior living in this community is the fact that a few who have lost their spouse have stayed on. They wanted to sell but decided to stay. It turned out that they got so lonely at home, while at Scandinavian Village they have a fantastic life together with other people who take care of them, explained Roald. “The best example we are using in our sales work is the lady who planned to sell and us telling her to hold it a bit and see how things would feel first. And she returned to meet a hundred people welcoming her back with a hug. And
16 ScandAsia • November 2018
she said: ‘I have more friends here. Nobody said hello when I lived in my condo in Stockholm!’ So she didn’t sell. And we have many such examples. This is like a summer camp; we are missing our summer friends when we are not here, we have grown together as a big gang!” the Swede fills in. It is also a homogeneous group, with most people having had some interesting work career, such as worked abroad etc. They even hold presentations to each other about their experiences. Out of the on average ten units being resold every year 60 per cent are sold by themselves to or via their network “So we are getting queries continuously and the unique thing we offer is that one can come here and test live. And this is thanks to the co-owners who are not here renting out their apartments.” In an inter view you do of course highlight all the positive things but it is entirely natural because there are no negative things here! Only that the Thai currency has changed, up 35 per cent so now costing a four th of what it costs in Norway compared to a sixth! We still get a lot for our Scandinavian money in Thailand. Here we can live as kings!” ends Roald.
Paradise for active Scandinavians 50+ Sun, light and pleasant climate. Year round. Great service, nice people and lots of activities. In addition, good golf. A real paradise is found south of Bangkok!
O
utside, it was dark, cold and boring. Robert found the website www.scandinavianvillage. net. There was painted the image of a life in paradise up. Not very credible, Roberts wife Anne thought. But Robert got more information. It increased their interest and they decided to test the information against reality. Three weeks later Robert and Anne came to Scandinavian Village in Thailand. In a university town Bangsaen on the coast a little hour south of Bangkok lies Scandinavian Village. Members - which owns the facility and must speak a Scandinavian language and be at least 50 years old – have in the last 15 years created an existence, which encompasses all kinds of service, social life and activities; everything that frequent travelers and quality-conscious northerners may wish.
Some live there almost all year round, but the majority of the owners enjoy the dark winter months from October to April. And they call it their paradise! Here you are tempted to live an active life with exercise in many different shapes. In addition to Thailand’s probably longest pool (130m) there is a well-equipped fitness center and many exercise activities. For golfers there are a dozen good golf courses nearby, with special deals that provide low rates green fee. There are also bridge, tennis, bowling in a nearby center, boule, darts, etc as well as many social and cultural activities. Everything that makes a nice life for the owners in Scandinavian Village. Finally, we should not forget to mention that SV has its own restaurant and there are also many good restaurants in the town. Rober t and Anne discovered that reality for once exceeded their expectations. Scandinavian Village is truly an oasis for fun activities and friendly socializing in a nice climate. And it is also easy to get to beautiful islands or the world city Bangkok, and to other par ts of Asia, says Anne. For Rober t the golf was the big positive surprise: ”It’s great easily to get to fantastic golf courses and play with nice friends as often as you like” says Rober t. The fact that there is also so many other things to do is an extra plus. A week after their first meeting with Scandinavian Village and its owners, Rober t and Anne decided to buy an apar tment. - We look forward to escape from the dark and cold Nor th to be able to enjoy sun, light, warmth and an active life with nice people. Simply to live a life in paradise! Come and experience Scandinavian Village and experience that everything we’re talking about is up to your expectations. We offer accommodation in an apartment for up to 3 weeks. Please visit our website www.scandinavianvillage.net for more information and for booking of a test holiday. November 2018 • ScandAsia 17
Health problems as we grow older
18 ScandAsia • November 2018
Bumrungrad International is the first Asian Joint Commission International accredited, multi-specialty hospital located in the heart of Bangkok, Thailand. Founded in 1980, it is one of the largest private hospitals in Southeast Asia, with 580 beds and over 39 specialty centers. Bumrungrad International offers state-of-the-art diagnostic, therapeutic and intensive care facilities in a one-stop medical center. www.bumrungrad.com November 2018 • ScandAsia 19
Welcome to our community. Here is the place... to Celebrate your GOLDEN MOMENT of happiness & fun Jin Wellbeing County is a brandnew lifestyle living
option that allows retired residents to live life to the fullest in permanent accommodation space that is the first of its kind in Thailand.
As residential accommodation which caters to all lifestyles for the next generation of elderly persons who are still valuable members of society, Jin Wellbeing County offers an understanding-based care approach that enables you to live your life as you wish. As you enter the next chapter of your life, you can place your trust in us at the first and most fulfilling residential home in Thailand.
Jin Residence > Active Living Active Living‌ Are you looking for an alternative model of living in which to spend your retirement days? Do you yearn for a tight-knit community which still offers you the chance to make lots of new friends? Somewhere with a diverse range of activities to infuse some energy into your life? A place with an emphasis on improving your current quality of life? If this sounds like the kind of place where you’d love to spend your golden years, then Jin Wellbeing County may be the right place you have been looking for. We have all these to offer, and so much more.
Jin Wellbeing County has developed a residential complex which allows you to be you, without getting left behind in the modern age. Our holistically
20 ScandAsia • November 2018
integrated approach to health and care-giving means that you can be confident in maintaining a healthy body and healthy mind while in our care. There is no need to worry about security as you will be surrounded by a kind and loving community, with a selection of enjoyable activities created especially for you. We aim to meet each and every one of your lifestyle needs, all in one place.
Jin Residence > Assisted Living At the first moment you realize that you need life assistance, whether that help is temporary or on a long-term basis, make sure it comes from someone who truly cares. We are happy to provide answers and information regarding various programs to help you carry out the necessary tasks to lead a much higher quality of life than before. Jin Wellbeing County has designed structure and treatment programs to respond to the specific needs of the elderly population. Our specialized treatment ensures that our patients are able to live their daily lives seamlessly and free from worry. For example, we have nursing assistants on hand to help with various life aspects, such as washing, dressing, medication, diet, and sleep. All is undertaken to provide the utmost convenience and comfort for your day-to-day living. We have specifically created numerous services with the elderly in mind. This means that our resident patients can feel extremely safe, residing in a kind and caring environment, similar to the one they experience at home with their caring family.
Wellness Institute HOLISTIC THERAPIES Good health begins with how we take care of ourselves on the inside, as it is the first step to ensure great health on the outside as well. In other words, we have to consider our physical and mental wellbeing altogether. A number of therapeutic sciences are currently being utilized together. This is more commonly referred to as “Holistic Therapy”. As the benefits become more widely understood and accepted, an increasing number of people are turning to this unique form of therapeutic concept. When used in conjunction with modern medical treatments, holistic therapy can offer patients the best chance of making complete recovery from illness.
patients receive the care and attention they need to improve their quality of life. We are fully prepared to offer our services to the ones you love with understanding, safety, and kindness in mind. Think of us as your family. The hospital consists of the following departments:
Thonburi Burana Hospital Thonburi Burana Hospital is a part of Thonburi Healthcare Group (THG) network. This Rehabilitation Hospital is a leading center for geriatric health care in Thailand, providing a complete range of geriatric health care services. The hospital specializes in the care, treatment, and rehabilitation of elderly patients with a focus on the promotion of good health and prevention of illness, both the short-term and long-term. The hospital is staffed with dedicated and highly experienced teams of doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and multidisciplinary professionals with expertise in various fields of geriatric care and supported by a full range of medical equipment. Always on hand to provide prompt assistance when required, our medical personnel is committed to implementing and maintaining international standard care within the hospital to ensure that all
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Calll : 092-496-9359 www.jinwellbeing.com November 2018 • ScandAsia 21
Good health
starts from the gut
Adjunct Professor Gwee Kok Ann shares some useful insights on caring for the gut and the importance of choosing the right probiotics supplement.
1. What are the symptoms of poor gut health?
Symptoms of poor gut health typically include crampy abdominal pain, diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, belching and changes in bowel habits. Poor gut health can be caused by reaction to cer tain food, anxiety and stress, gastrointestinal infection and use of antibiotics.
2. Why is gut health important in relation to general wellbeing?
There is now better appreciation
22 ScandAsia • November 2018
that the gut is not just an organ for digestion but that what and how we eat have an impact on our overall well-being. In fact, 70-80% of the immune system resides in the intestine . Therefore, maintaining a good gut health also helps to promote vitality and stronger immunity.
3. Can probiotics promote good gut health?
Probiotics are ‘good’ bacteria that can help fight inflammation and reduce gut sensitivity while improving mental health. It is impor tant to note that
not all fermented foods contain live organisms. Therefore, only probiotic products with scientific evidence can be safely accepted to manage one’s gut health. For a detailed read on the interview, visit https://scandasia.com/ good-health-star ts-from-the-gut/
Shunji Matsuo’s Makeover Magic in 2018
T
he Shunji Matsuo’s Makeover Magic show is a special annual fashion event by the late celebrity hairstylist Shunji Matsuo, providing glamorous makeovers for senior “golden girls” – aged 60 years and above – who then took to the runway for the hair shows in Singapore and Japan. 9 October marked Matsuo’s first death anniversary. Shunji Matsuo Hair Salon honoured their late founder’s wish to keep the tradition alive and organized the show once again. Seniors and cancer patients were encouraged to embrace life in the most positive way, while showing that colour and beauty does not fade even when one ages or suffers from illness. Singapore Grand champions of Goldwell Trendzoom and Shiseido
Beauty Innovator Lai Mei Jen, who is also the first Singaporean to be session stylist at New York Fashion week, styled hair for the seniors participating in this year’s Makeover Magic. Matsuo brought to Singapore over 40 years of international hairstyling experience gained from working in the major fashion capitals of Japan, Europe and the United States. His creative hairstyles were featured on the top fashion runways of leading fashion designers and have also graced the covers and fashion spreads of top US fashion magazines. In Singapore, Mr Matsuo made his mark on the hairstyling scene with the opening of hair salons and expanded the chain to 8 salons around the region in Singapore and Myanmar.
November 2018 • ScandAsia 23
Business
Nordic Innovation House for Southeast Asia soft-launched
T
By Joakim Persson he much-anticipated Nordic Innovation House (NIH) was soft-launched in Singapore on 13 September in front of a sizeable business and start-up community, with representatives from the country missions in involved. The NIH will bring together the Nordic and Singaporean ecosystems for tech scale-up’s. It is co-funded by and established in cooperation with Nordic Innovation NIH is a Nordic organization working to promote cross-border trade and innovation and is funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers, which is the official inter-governmental body for cooperation in the Nordic region. First launched in Silicon Valley in 2014 and in New York in 2017, the NIH in Singapore is a soft-landing, community and resource centre as well as a networking hub for Nordic tech scale-up’s seeking to speed up their market growth in South East Asia and expanding their network.
24 ScandAsia • November 2018
Speaking on behalf of all the Nordic ambassadors Finland’s Ambassador to Singapore H.E. Paula Parviainen said that the Nordic collaboration goes way back before the EU was created, and that the Nordic countries share their common values, with societies and economies built on the same model “We do find more and more ways to collaborate and Singapore is a great launch pad for star t-ups and our companies and this event proves that there has been a need for something like this.” “Singapore has a vibrant ecosystem to suppor t enterprises and I congratulate Singapore government and agencies for doing so much to support the eco-system and to make things possible here,” she continued. “The joint Nordic cooperation will bring together the Nordic and Singaporean ecosystem for start-ups and growth companies as well.”
Singapore has a vibrant ecosystem to support enterprises and I congratulate Singapore government and agencies for doing so much to support the eco-system and to make things possible here. “In Singapore the Nordic Innovation House is not first of all a physical place; it is to create a community, network and the way for working together and to find par tner collaborators and investors here, and to look the Singapore markets in Asia. It is for Nordic tech start-ups who seek to speed up their market growth in Southeast Asia and expanding their networks,” the Finnish ambassador added. Mr Svein Berg, Managing Director for Nordic Innovation said: “We were here a year ago and had a meeting with the Nordic business community. They told us: ‘If you are setting up a Nordic innovation house here in Singapore that will be of great value for us!’ Today we are doing it.” “Nordic Innovation House is about bringing people, organisation and companies together and I think that the time now is important than ever. We are though this bringing the Nordic companies to Singapore and Asia but we also hope that the Nordic Innovation House can also bring Singapore and Asian companies to a larger extent to the Nordics,” he continued. “Cooperation is also about cooperating with all the partners here in Singapore where Nordic Innovation House is an open concept ; we would like to cooperate with the chambers of commerce and with other initiatives from the Nordics like Antler, nHack etc. and this is part of the strength – we are smaller individually but together we are much stronger.” Singapore’s representative, Mr Ted Tan, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Singapore then showcased how NIH will be part of their initiative to establish crossborder collaborations. Enterprise Singapore is a merger of International Enterprise (IE) Singapore and Spring Singapore into a single agency where start-ups and SMEs looking for new growth markets and innovations can seek funding. Asia, Ted Tan said, serves as market for both Nordic and Singaporean companies in Asia. “And the world has shifted investment interest into the region – this is the century of the Asia Pacific.” “Singapore is an ideal launch pad, for the Nordic startup community to scale up in the region and recently the National University of Singapore’s entrepreneurship arm signed two MOUs with maritime companies Wärtsilä and Wilhelmsen at Pier 71.” November 2018 • ScandAsia 25
Finland Ambassador to Singapore, H.E. Paula Parviainen
Emil Akander, Business Sweden in Singapore
As part of a panel, ‘Closing the Gap between Southeast Asia and the Nordics’, Ms Marie-Claire Maxwell, Head of Technology and Start-Up Lead, Region Asia Pacific, Business Sweden shared her enthusiasm: “It’s a dream come true to see the Nordic Innovation House expanding globally because from an entrepreneurial point of view it’s so impor tant that we suppor t them. Whether they are in Silicon Valley, Singapore or Shenzhen they need their feet on the ground to connect with the networks - to the capital and to local entrepreneurs and to fantastic initiatives such as Antler and NHack.” “So, I think this will give us a great opportunity to support, from a government perspective and a Nordic perspective and to really foster a lot of new initiatives going back and forth. We hope to see talent and the best Unicorns from here as well in the Nordics,” she added. NIH Singapore, to be fully operational in Q1 2019, is also part of a global network of innovation: “It is building on the huge success in Silicon Valley, spreading to New York and now with two houses out here; first out in Singapore covering Southeast-Asia, followed by the Greater Bay out
of Hong Kong/Shenzhen later this year. I think it shows the importance of the area opening up two houses in the same region. “I am looking forward to seeing an even stronger Nordic community here but also a stronger bridge with Southeast Asia, where we believe Singapore is the best place for Nordic scale-ups to scale for SEA.” The Nordic Innovation House Singapore is in collaboration between Business Sweden, the Swedish Embassy, Innovation Norway, the Finnish Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iceland. Initial activities in 2018 include Nordic delegations to and targeted outreach at EduTech Asia, Singapore International Energy Week and the Singapore FinTech Festival. The soft launch took place in partnership with Antler and nHack Ventures. The formal operations of the Nordic Innovation House is planned to commence in Q1 2019.
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Business
Danish Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs Singapore visit resulted in deals, partnerships By Jonas Boje Andersen
The Danish Minister of Business along with the Danish Ambassador and members from the Board Leadership Society of Denmark at Singapore’s Stock Exchange. Photo: Jonas Boje Andersen
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ith the visit recently to Singapore by the Danish Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, Rasmus Jar lov, new par tner ships entered between Danish and Singaporean universities focusing on Clean Technology and Board Leadership. A collaboration between Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) took place at the ECO-campus at NTU. The topic was Smart Cities – which both Denmark and Singapore are leading within – and how to improve citizen’s liveability through sustainable business solutions. At the event, solutions in the clean-tech sector supported by the universities were displayed. One of these solutions, that is about to be launched in a collaboration between the universities, is a sludge treatment machine. This machine will use sludge – covering everything from toilet waste to wastewater from breweries – and use it to produce energy that will replace the conventional energy used in for example air-condition systems.
The Minister from Denmark also paid a visit to Singapore’s Stock Exchange, where the International Board of Directors’ Program and the International “Logistic Executive MBA” Education was launched.This is a collaboration between The National University of Singapore (NUS) and Copenhagen Business School (CBS). Comprehensive bilateral deals between the two countries were signed in the maritime innovation sector and in the fintech sectors, two sectors in which both countries stand strong. The first concrete deal was made between the innovation environments Block 71 from Singapore, represented by NUS Enterprise, and Pier 47 from Copenhagen, represented by Rainmaking. The intentions of of this collaboration is to move digitalization and innovation into the maritime sector, thereby moving the sector away from a traditional rust belt industry. A move that has great appeal for two of the world’s largest maritime nations.
November 2018 • ScandAsia 27
Business
Kristian T. Sørensen, Founding Partner of Norfico, speaking at the signing of the new DanSing FinTech Bridge. Photo: Jonas Boje Andersen. “Modern ports are more efficient than they were 20 years ago, but there is still much that can be done. We need to continue to innovate,” the Danish Minister expressed.
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n the financial district in Singapore the Minister met with several Danish and Singaporean business men and women from fintech companies.
On the agenda was the launch of the “DanSing FinTech Bridge” that aims to bring Danish and Singaporean startups closer together. One of the collaborators was Norfico, a Danish bureau that offers fintech counselling. One of the founding partners in the company, Michael Rugaard, explained that it’s about attracting companies and individual talents to Denmark and exporting solutions and knowledge the opposite way. “I have no doubt that Danish fintech companies will actively seek to make use of the new DanSing FinTech Bridge because, as I know them, they have a very international mindset and it’s natural for them to look after customers and markets in many places around the world,” he said. Still, Mr. Rugaard believed that most of the traffic on such a fintech bridge will be directed towards Singapore and not so much the other way: “It is my feeling that Asian startup companies often do not have a European, let alone a Nordic strategy, and this is because, first and foremost, they already have significant opportunities in the very large markets that are far closer to their home base. And maybe there are also cultural barriers that may arise. For tunately, we know that the Danish Embassy will make an active effort to create interest in DanSing in Singapore.”
Danish-Swedish AAK has opened customer centre in Singapore
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he Danish-Swedish company AAK has opened a new Customer Innovation Center in Singapore to strengthen its capabilities in the Southeast Asian market. With the new Customer Innovation Center, AKK wishes to expand the company’s customer’s product development in the Southeast Asian, according to Banking Business. “With this investment, we are dedicated to support our existing regional customers and give them access to AAK’s global solutions as well as build new customer relations to further support our growth in Southeast Asia,” said Torben Friis Lange, President Asia in AAK. The center will focus on applications within baker y, ice cream, dair y and special nutrition. It is located at Biopolis, a complex that houses research laboratories of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies as well as public sector research institutes. 28 ScandAsia • November 2018
Torben Friis Lange, President Asia AAK Photo: AAK AAK, formerly known as AarhusKarlshamn, produces value-adding vegetable oils and fats. AAK has 20 different production facilities and sales offices in more than 25 countries, sales in more than 100 countries, and more than 3,000 employees. The headquar ter is located in Malmö, Sweden.
Business
Ramboll acquired Singaporean Smart Mobility company
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amboll (a leading engineering, design and consultancy company founded in Denmark) has acquired Vertix Asia-Pacific Pte Ltd. (Vertix), a transport consultancy specialised in master planning, ITS solutions, and pedestrian modelling and simulation. Vertix, with its 15 technical consultants, has over the last eight years worked on more than 500 projects in Singapore and South East Asia such as the Singapore to Malaysia HSR and RTS links, Tuas Port development and Mandai Resorts.
Future of mobility systems – digital and connected
Digitalisation, electrification and connectivity will play an increasing role in creating sustainable mobility systems of the future. “With Vertix, Ramboll is acquiring world-class consultants with unique insights from Singapore which is considered among the most technically advanced cities in the world. The acquisition complements Ramboll’s Scandinavian grounded tradition for integrated and lowcarbon systems and makes it possible for Ramboll to bring the best of both worlds to our clients” said Jukka-Pekka Pitkänen, Global Division Director Smart Mobility, Ramboll. There is a need to reform the way we plan, use and own urban mobility systems and assets. Urbanisation and population growths are stressing our transpor t systems causing externalities such as air pollution, congestion, accidents and climate change. Innovative technologies can help mitigate some of the issues, however, equally important
are policies and organisation within the transport sector. Mobility solutions focused on the needs of people is a key lever for achieving liveable cities, there is a need to shift focus from infrastructure to accessibility, calling for a more integrated approach for solving today’s mobility challenges. “We have worked together with Ramboll on multiple projects in the intersection between urban planning, buildings and mobility and know from experience that we are a good fit,” said Nick Fellows, Managing Director, Vertix. “Together we will be able to offer a full range of smart mobility services and have sufficient resources to take on very large and complex projects.”
Ramboll is strengthening its platform in Singapore
Ramboll is already active in the Smar t Mobility domain with a successful track record in delivering smart mobility solutions in the Nordics. “The acquisition is an important step in strengthening Ramboll’s footprint in the region and in realising our strategy of becoming the leading consultant for smar t cities. We are not just acquiring cutting edge know-how but also growing our platform for addressing the fast-growing South East Asian market” according to Leonard Ng, Country Market Director, Ramboll. With approximately 1,250 international engineers, scientists and professionals in the Middle East and Asia, they specialises in buildings, transport, oil & gas services, energy, water and environment & health consultancy services. November 2018 • ScandAsia 29
Business
Finland held digital, energy business delegation to Thailand
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he much anticipated visit of a Finnish minister delegation to Thailand on 20-22 August saw no less than 18 companies, small and large, from Finland in attendance. The business delegation represented ‘Smart Energy’ and various other productions and solutions within the digital economy. Team Finland, the organiser, hosted an evening reception on 21 August, where Finland’s Ambassador to Thailand H.E. Satu Suikkari-Kleven as well as the Finnish Minister for Economic Affairs H.E. Mika Lintilä held welcome speeches. “Thailand is one of the Asian countries that Finnish people know the best. Tourism has brought us here for years and years but increasingly also because of business connections. There is a dynamic and versatile Finnish business community here in Thailand. Together with local partners Finnish companies have boosted the economic cooperation for years. I am happy to be accompanied here this week by a great group of Finnish companies, of different size and of great excellence,” began Mika Lintilä who is the responsible minister for investments and export. “For us Thailand is one of the connecting countries in the Southeast Asian region. I see enormous growth potential in our relationship. New partnerships should be created for instance within the digital world and sustainable energy.” “Digital transformation is one of the most significant changes in many years, and affects the whole society but 30 ScandAsia • November 2018
also provides many opportunities. But the transformation also needs energy at times of scarcity of resources,” he continued. “Data is the raw material of today. In fact we expect to benefit from the wide range of new digital services, products as well as from data management. We have followed with great interest the Thailand 4.0 plan to make this country a leader in digital economy in the Asean region. And I see this as a major opportunity for Finnish companies as well. In energy we must look for possibilities in making profit from waste and looking at the compliance life-cycle solutions in energy markets.” The minister said that excellent steps have already been taken in partnership between Finnish and Thai companies. “The economic situation in Finland is currently very positive. A clear reason for the positive news lies behind the innovative attitude of the whole society. Finland is an export country and free trade is important for us to flourish in the economy. We believe there is much potential in enhancing trade between EU and Thailand.” At the reception the Finland ambassador also introduced all par ticipating Finnish companies on stage, after which business networking followed. TheThai-Finnish Digital Day was arranged in collaboration with Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) and Smart City Alliance. H.E. Dr Pichet Durongkaveroj, Minister
H.E. Dr Pichet Durongkaveroj, Minister of Digital Economy and Society
Finnish Minister for Economic Affairs H.E. Mika Lintilä
Finland’s Ambassador to Thailand H.E. Satu Suikkari-Kleven
of Digital Economy and Society presented the Thailand 4.0 initiative and on-going smart city projects. On the Digital Agenda 2018 is fur thermore ‘Digital manpower’, under which 1 million citizens will get digital literacy training. This also focuses in digital professionals. “It’s a very important step where the Thai government work closely with companies, trying to ensure that what we train, and educate people in will be very useful for the future.” Furthermore, under Digital Tech Development a Digital Park is being established on 300 acres in Sri Racha, to include an IoT Institute and Consortium within the EEC (Eastern Economic Corridor), where the private sector is invited to invest and develop the park and join collaborations for innovation. “We are aware that digital technique is also ver y important. Digital training is one of the new steps of the Thai government where we will focus in the EEC area.” “Smart city is another thing that is very important. In Thailand we think that eventually there should be a smart city in one form or the other in all 77 provinces. But in the first step, about 7 provinces is part of the pilot scheme to be smart,” said Dr Pichet. Smart City projects are also established for Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen and Phuket. Smart Cities include Smart Transit, Smart Energy, Smart Tourism and Smart City.
Cyber security is another pillar on Thailand’s digital agenda consisting in a National Cyber Security Committee, a National Cyber Security Agency, six ‘Critical Information Infrastructures’, as well as the ASEAN-Japan Cyber Security Capacity Building Center. Then there is the Digital government pillar, including big data and the ease of doing business in the country. At the Thai-Finnish Digital Day Eija Tynkkynen from Business Finland also gave a brief introduction to Finland as a successful digital nation. Ten companies then held short presentations of their products and services. Participating companies were: Airbus Defence and Space Oy (advanced communication and collaboration solutions), BC Platforms (genomic data management solutions for healthcare), CS Control Software Oy (control software for automation), Evolta Oy (electronic building permitting processes), Mediconsult (health information systems), Mirasys Oy/Mirasys Thailand (video management solutions), Nokia Solutions and Networks (technology for communication) and Satel Oy (independent radio networking technology).
November 2018 • ScandAsia 31
Business
Nordic Chambers of Commerce support anti-corruption in Thailand
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he four Nordic Chambers of Commerce in Thailand have jointly signed a memorandum of understanding with Thailand’s Private Sector Collective Action Coalition against Cor r uption(C AC) on 11 October 2018. The signing took place at the sideline of the C AC’s 9th annual National Conference “Disrupting Corruption” at Dusit Thani Hotel in Bangkok. “The Danish-Thai Chamber of Commerce fully suppor ts the CAC initiative to change Thailand corruption situation and strongly believes in free market with fair competition. It will take generations to change the mindset, but it has to star t somewhere,” said Dr. Supareak Charlie Chomchan, President of Danish-Thai Chamber of Commerce. Private companies join the CAC voluntarily and a total of 921 private firms have signed up, 332 of which have been cer tified for putting in
place anti-corruption policies and high compliance standards in accordance with the CAC criteria. Signatory companies are required to get CAC certification within 18 months. The CAC only certifies that companies have put in place anti-corruption policy and compliance standard not behaviors of corporate personals.
C AC aims pr imar ily to br ing effective anti-corruption policies and mechanisms into implementation by business entities. It focuses specifically on the private sector and works closely with the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand. CAC was founded in 2010.
Nordic Coder: new Swedish company in Ho Chi Minh City
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mbassy of Sweden in Hanoi, has met with Yen Le, CEO and Cofounder of Nordic Coder, a brand new Swedish company in HCMC , reports the embassy. Nordic Coder provides online and offline courses for coding students, to help bridge the gap between university studies and employment. “Always a great inspiration to meet Swedish businesses in dynamic Ho Chi Minh City!” reported the Embassy of Sweden in Hanoi Source: Embassy of Sweden in Hanoi
32 ScandAsia • November 2018
Sweden at Food’s Future Summit Hong Kong
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n 21-22 September the Food’s Future Summit 2018 took place, with a spotlight on Sweden.There, participants got to learn more about how this Nordic country’s transformative policies, products and practices in devising advanced and progressive solutions for a sustainable future in the world of food. By 2050, the global population will have grown by a third. However, we may only be able to feed half of 2050’s population at current food production rates. We may even run out of fish by 2048. It’s not just quantity — environment and sustainability problems also threaten the global supply of food and nutrition. Thus, the topics at the summit were based on the following key questions: What will we be eating in the future? How will our dining experience change? How do we create a sustainable food cycle?
Following the successful launch of the award-winning Summit in 2017, the organiser put up a bigger and more impactful event in 2018, expanded to two-full days in order to bring more change-makers, experts and conscious consumer s to delve into the key innovations, trends and issues in the culinary world. The food summit wor ked with the Consulate General of Sweden to feature this amazing country’s innovative approach, championed by both private and public sectors, to devise solutions to a sustainable food’s future. The goals of the summit are to: inspire and initiate change within the world of food: recognise future-forward businesses; champion individuals behind critical causes; and empower consumers to make better-informed decisions about what they eat. Helena Storm, Consul-General, Consulate General of Sweden to Hong
Business
Kong and Macau, gave here opening remarks on behalf of Sweden. In addition, movers and shakers from Sweden shared lessons, examples and policies showing how the Nordic country is helping design our planet’s future of food in the session ‘How Sweden Designs Our Food’s Future’. These were: Prof. Lar s Montelius, Director General, The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laborator y; Annika Grälls, Project Manager, Alfred Nobel Science Park, Founder of Food Tech; Johan Jörgensen, Founder and Partner, Sweden Foodtech; and Tommy Leung, founder and MD of GAFELL, a start-up with Swedish origins producing delicious ready meals in Hong Kong. Professor Montelius also joined another Swede, Björn Segerblomon, on the Future of Food Safety panel, exploring how technological advances can ensure that our food is really what it claims to be on the label. Living in Hong Kong for nearly 20 years, Björn is engaged in board, advisor y and project assignments related to food safety, focusing on Hong Kong, Asia and Scandinavia. Sources: Food’s Future Summit, Consulate General of Sweden in Hong Kong
November 2018 • ScandAsia 33
Community
Niclas Kvarnstrรถm:
Debuts as Ambassador in Singapore By Joakim Persson
There are changes at the Embassy of Sweden in Singapore. A new ambassador has arrived and the embassy relocated to a new address in November. On 27 September HE Mr Niclas Kvarnstrรถm presented his credentials as the new Head of the Swedish Mission in Singapore to President Halimah Yacob. Photo by: Kristian Pohl 34 ScandAsia โ ข November 2018
Singapore is a fantastic place where to be based in order to understand what’s happening in Asia
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iclas Kvarnström arrived to Singapore along with his wife and four children, to the debut as a Swedish ambassador family. His most recent role was as Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The first impression of Mr Kvarnström is that he is an easy-going, open and modern diplomat, while also highly educated and experienced both within the corporate world as well as in his work for the Swedish state. And on his own first impressions of Singapore the Ambassador comments: “What an incredible pulse there is at this embassy! And when I look ahead it will be at full speed from start until the end of the year. And it is important then to take a step back and look at what we should focus our work on, what is best for Sweden. I think this embassy consists in very experienced colleagues with great talent so I feel comfortable in that we have found our way to that. But it is a topic to constantly evaluate.” “My second thought is on a more personal level, where my time here will be a large experiment in combining being an ambassador with being the father of four kids, and a Swedish such!” he says jokingly. His family’s children are aged 11, 9, 5 and 4. “It’s an active home and so far everything has gone well with schools etc. All in our family are positive. It’s a nice place to arrive to, with friendly people, tasty food, well-organised society and where the schools are good. And we have nice colleagues and a large Swedish community, so it feels good!”
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urning to his role as ambassador and the role of a mission such as Sweden’s in Singapore in a fastchanging world Niclas Kvarnström replies: “One example is the Team Sweden work; we have a local employee who has been working for 40 years and another next year that will have worked for the same long time, which is quite incredible! And when listening to them how things
used to be previously about Sweden promotion it was done differently. And I would say that today we maximise our impact much more and it’s a much larger part of our mission; this concerns the trade promotion but also the interaction with our Swedish Chamber of Commerce and Business Sweden in a structural way. That’s a big change.” “And in a globalised world the wealth in a country like Sweden is incredibly strongly linked to how we position ourselves internationally. Sweden is to a large extent export-driven, which requires new demands on diplomats and other Sweden representatives to be effective, and think of our tax payers and our government in ensuring that we are using our resources in a way that maximises the benefit for the country,” the ambassador continues. In a previous role Niclas Kvarnström was the Campaign Manager for Sweden’s successful candidature to the United Nations Security Council for the period 2017-18. “I would describe that as a gigantic Swedish promotion effort where all parts of the machinery contributed with their fair share – all Swedish ambassadors out on the field, all employees in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, our UN delegation in New York etc. and of course my own staff. In conclusion it is a matter of fact that Sweden enjoys high trust internationally, it is proof of that it is seen as a trustworthy country.” From having worked for two years with Eastern Europe and Central Asia, which he describes as much closer to the EU and to Sweden, and “with another dynamic compared to the one out in Asia”, the new Head of the Swedish Singapore mission is now shifting his focus further east. Niclas has also been there before: he served at the Embassy of Sweden in Beijing and is also a sinologist. And as advisor to the Wallenberg family he also travelled “extremely” to nearly all countries in Asia in order to promote business connections.
November 2018 • ScandAsia 35
Photo: Niclas Kvarnström, Twitter
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s for Southeast Asia he thinks he has gained a good introduction. “And this will be a different thing – to be here on site. It always takes a long time in Asia to build a network, and create contacts and that is something I have large respect for. One must take a longterm perspective.” “In my current assignment, if there is anything thing that is a key component it is the business as well as Sweden promotion. And there is a very high degree of activities and we have many clever stakeholders. We have an active chamber of commerce, and, as I understand, close to 400 Swedish companies and a community of 2500 Swedes and that in a country that is extremely dynamic and active, so there are a lot of strings to pull.” In addition the ambassador wants to highlight something he says he has been asked to do, which is to think regionally. “That concerns both the political side, e.g. utilising Singapore as a viewpoint to the region and building a networking with clever think thanks and contacts in Singapore in order to follow trends and development that takes a broader perspective than just looking at the City State as such. And the same goes for business promotion, since a large chunk of the Swedish companies also have some form of regional office. So it’s very important for me to work with my colleagues in the region.” Sweden’s new ambassador emphasises the need to take 36 ScandAsia • November 2018
a helicopter view: “It’s important for all countries, including in Europe that want to be in the forefront, whether it concerns business, research or knowhow around political development, to focus more than what they have done on Asia. And Singapore is a fantastic place where to be based in order to understand what’s happening in Asia. And not least to find dialogues partners being experts on it. That concerns both business and politics.” “I want us to be focused on what is of most interest for Sweden – as we have limited resources. Of course we should always be ambitions and attentive; it’s about listening to the companies and the actors we interact with, so that we use the competence we have in the right way,” he adds. “And another part that is very important is the contactbuilding; to ensure we have those contacts – the embassy and our colleagues – enabling us to be able to assist these companies and players regionally.” Looking a bit into the future he also confirms that the Sweden-Southeast Asia Business Summit will return in 2019: “And it will be fully regional so it won’t be dominated by representatives from one par ticular country but the purpose will be to try to join together regional players. And we are very satisfied by the impact we have had from the two previous ones.”
Community
Nordic Night in Jakarta: embassies celebrated joint National Day 2018
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he Embassies of the Nordic countries Denmar k, Finland, Norway and Sweden jointly celebrated their National days for the four th consecutive year on Thursday 18 October in Jakarta – this time in an evening atmosphere. The Nordic countr ies are on the forefront of renewable energy, sustainable waste management, Co2neutral transpor tation and green cities. With this in mind, the embassies highlighted issues around environment and their vision for a more sustainable living. “The Nordics come from four individual countries: Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark, but we share a common vision for the planet”, says Ambassador of Denmar k, Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen. In conjunction with the green mission from the Nordics, the four Embassies arranged a successful Nordic Roadshow to promote sustainable solutions in Indonesia earlier this year.
Climate change was included in the agenda. “We value clean nature, and we want to contribute here as well. Nordic and Indonesian companies are working on a waste-to-energy plant that would turn one third of Jakarta’s waste into electricity”, says Ambassador-designate of Finland, Jari Sinkari. “Climate Change affects everyone and we must all contribute to stop its progress. in Sweden, most public transpor tation is running on Biogas and most household’s waste is recycled. Waste management is becoming a business in itself. We produce energy from processing waste”, Ambassadordesignate of Sweden, Marina Berg adds. Ocean is also one of the global concerns when it comes to environment issues. And the Nordics have established cooperation with Indonesia in promoting sustainability and green values. “The current situation for the ocean is quite worrisome. We are therefore
very happy that Indonesia is a close cooperating partner in our efforts to ensure a sustainable ocean for future generations”, the Ambassador of Norway, Vegard Kaale comments. The Nordic governments are frontrunners when it comes to inclusive sustainable economic growth, and over the years the Nordic Region has become an economic power house. Through cooperation with the Indonesian government, the Embassies of the Nordic countries hope to be able to involve and engage more Indonesian companies and people to encourage investments in creative, sustainable and innovative solutions. In the lounge area of the National Days celebration Nordic companies s h ow c a s e d t h e i r p r o d u c t s a n d innovations from interior design to smart solutions in urban planning. Source: Embassy of Finland in Jakarta
November 2018 • ScandAsia 37
Community
Crayfish, snaps at Bangkok Scandinavian Crayfish party By Lærke Weensgaard
“L
et there be crayfish!” With those word, lots of crayfish ar r ived at the annual Scandinavian Society Siam’s Crayfish party in Bangkok. 120 Danes, Swedes, Norwegians, Finns and Icelanders had gathered together to spend their Saturday evening with friends, crayfish and snaps at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Ballroom on 22 September 2018. Before the delicious dinner, people had a chance to catch up with friends or make new ones over a welcome drink. Once at the dinner tables, the guest put on pointy hats and the mandator y apron to prevent strains from the crayfish. Besides crayfish from Thailand, also wine, snaps, and other dishes were served.
SwedCham Hong Kong Crayfish Party 2018
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n F r i d ay 1 4 S e p t e m b e r the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong held its Annual Crayfish Party. The mandator y delicious crayfish were ser ved, this year generously sponsored by IKEA, along with a range of different traditional Swedish pies and salads, and of course an open bar. Swedish snaps also came along with the crayfish consumed, and of course with good old snaps songs! To top off the event there was a wonderful mix of tunes from the DJ! There was also extra surprise in the form of an exciting lucky draw with one SAS Plus flight ticket on the new midnight flight to Scandinavia, plus fantastic pr ices from Daniel Wellington. 38 ScandAsia • November 2018
Different funny Scandinavian song accompanied the dinner in a competition about finding the best singing table. As tradition has it, the Crayfish Party featured a lucky draw. The luckiest guest won an open return ticket to Scandinavia, which was sponsored by KLM. Other sponsors at the party were Black Mountain and KIS international school. When the lucky winner s had collected their prizes, Danny California’s Blues Allstars Band invited the guests to the dancefloor. In only two years time, the Bangkok Crayfish Party can celebrate its 100 year anniversary.
NordCham Philippines Crayfish Party 2018
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he 2018 edition of the NordCham Philippines Crayfish Par ty was held at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila on 8 September. The par ty extravaganza was filled with amazing food, drinks and enter tainment, with about 1000 guests dancing the night away “Thank you to ever yone who par ticipated and purchased raffle tickets and items at the Auction of this CrayfishParty Manila. Proceeds will be donated to Chosen Children Village for a good cause,” stated NordCham Philippines, sending a special thanks to the participation of their many partners and sponsors, with Volvo Philippines as Official Car Par tner, Turkish Airlines as Airline Partner, as well as Nordea, Cricket Lighters, NNIT Philippines as Gold Sponsors, and Pacific Cross Philippines, SN | Aboitiz and Jotun as Silver Sponsors etc. Source: Nordic Chamber of Commerce Philippines
November 2018 • ScandAsia 39
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Norway’s official State Visit to China
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M King Harald and HM Queen Sonja of Norway’s State Visit to China took place during 11-19 October and included a Norwegian Business Delegation. Their Majesties visited Dunhuang in Gansu Province, West China (for its remar kable commitment and investment in solar ener gy) followed by Beijing and Shanghai The royal couple visited a kindergar ten, where students from Norwegian univer sity ‘Høgskolen Høgskulen på Vestlandet’ have been deployed and learned about education for sustainability, to great pleasure for young and old. Their Majesties also attended the opening of a seminar on early childhood education and research between Høgskulen på Vestlandet Univeristy and Beijing 40 ScandAsia • November 2018
Normal University. This project is part of the long-term cooperation between kindergarten research and education. Their Majesties were met with pomp and splendour when they met President Xi Jinping in the People’s Great Hall, Beijing. The Norway-China Business Summit 2018 was held in Beijing themed ‘Pioneer ing sustainable solutions. King Harald V and Gu Shengzu, Vice Chairman of China’s top political advisory body addressed the opening ceremony. With the theme ‘Pioneering Sustainable Solutions’ the business delegation held a seminar in Beijing, including the plenary session followed by panel discussion: ‘Towards a sustainable, digital future?’. Parallel sessions then followed on various topics
such as: China-Norway Green Smar t City Forum, China-Norway Offshore Wind Summit, and New technologies & innovation -Startups and scaleups. Gu Shengzu noted that China attaches great impor tance to the relations with Norway. Gu expected that both sides can continue to build up mutual trust and give more impetus to the traditional friendship and practical cooperation. The economic and trade cooper ation between China and Norway is complementary, mutuallybeneficial and win-win. China is willing to share market and development benefits with Norway, jointly promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and ensure the development of digital economy and cyber security. Near ly 1,000 delegates from
governments, chambers of commerce and industr y and entrepreneurs of both countries attended the summit, which was co-hosted by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and Innovation Norway. Chairperson of CCPIT Gao Yan attended and addressed the opening ceremony. Witnessed by Chinese president Xi Jinping and King of Norway Har ald V, CCPIT and Innovation Norway signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU). Their Majesties the King and Queen also hosted a friendship evening, bringing together Norwegian and Chinese guests. In his speech at this ‘Sino-Norwegian friendship dinner’ at the Phoenix Centre in Beijing the King described the State Visit so far as a truly cultural journey – which would also be
the theme for the evening event, he invited. “Throughout the histor y of both our nations, we have shared a close relationship with the sea. For both our peoples, the oceans have inspired curiosity and courage. They have given us valuable resources that have helped to drive our economies. Being out at sea can also help us to see things from a broader perspective. And, not least, can bring us great peace of mind. We hope you will see, hear, taste and perhaps even feel the ocean this evening,” said King Harald. In Shanghai the theme was ‘An ocean of oppor tunities’. A Seminar progr amme was held, also there with a plenary session followed by a panel discussion. There were parallel sessions that included: Green shipping,
digitalization and autonomy; China – Norway cooperation on LNG; and Plastic waste and marine littering etc. As part of the Norwegian Business Delegation to China the Norwegian Seafood Council in collaboration with Innovation Norway welcomed to a parallel session on ‘Prosperous Seafood Trade Between Norway and China’. The seafood session was part of the business program “Pioneering Ocean Opportunities” in Shanghai. The Shanghai delegation ended with the ‘Seafood from Norway’ dinner organised in cooperation with the Norwegian Seafood Council. Sources: Kongehuset, China Council for the Promotion Of International Trade (CCPIT), Embassy of Norway in China
November 2018 • ScandAsia 41
Community
Annual Norwegian Seafood Gala held in Kuala Lumpur
O
n Friday 12 October the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur hosted its annual Norwegian Seafood Gala Dinner. This year was a special dinner since they also celebrated 50 years of NorwegianMalaysian diplomatic relations. The Embassy was honoured to welcome Minister of Foreign Affairs YB Dato Saifuddin Abdullah as the guest of honour. The guests were ser ved fantastic seafood flown in from Norway, made by Norwegian and Malaysian chiefs, under the guidance of the renowned chef Frank Næsheim. The Embassy congratulates Jon Erik Steenslid (Norwegian Seafood Council) on winning this year’s MNBC Special Recognition Award. Source: Royal Norwegian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur
42 ScandAsia • November 2018
November 2018 • ScandAsia 43
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