ScandAsia June 2019

June 2019

SWEA

- and the

BUSINESS

Prince Daniel of Sweden visited Singapore

COMMUNITY

Amazing DABS Gala Dinner

INTERNATIONAL

Digital life in Asia and the Nordic countries

woman

behind it all

LIFESTYLE

Why don’t you take better care of yourself?

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June 2019

ScandAsia Stories

36 17 May celebrations accross South East Asia

8 Prince Daniel in Singapore 11 Ericsson and Viettel successfully tested 5G in Vietnam 26 Josie Lee: Take better care of yourself!

26 The Best & Worst Countries for Digital Life Abroad

14 Agneta Nilsson SWEA’s founder

16

12 Malay-Swedish Royal wedding

18

10 Amazing DABS Gala Dinner

20

22 Uggly Duckling in HK: Finger-licking Good!

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21

Internet control and surveillance When I moved to Thailand in 1988, life was in many ways different from today.

I often tell changing journalists working with me at ScandAsia how we at that time delivered stories to the newspaper Berlingske Tidende in Copenhagen that I worked for. I would dial up a modem in Copenhagen and at the speed of 28 bps the article would be transferred to the newspapers computer.

As for photos, we put them in en envelope, went to the airport and found the SAS captain that would later that evening fly to Copenhagen. Next morning, a messenger from the newspaper would be waiting for him to take it over.

Fast forward to today.

In this issue of ScandAsia, we publish a Digital Life Abroad Report, produced by InterNations. The report attempts to identify the best and worst countries to live a connected life.

Nordic expat cannot be surprised to see Denmark, Finland and Norway among the top 10 countries in the survey. The surprise is actually: Why is Sweden not there?

One factor which seems not to have entered the evaluation is the degree to which the authorities are using the brave new world of connectivity to monitor and control the population.

China’s success with erecting a firewall around “their” people is seen by some regimes as an enviable achievement. It makes it possible for businesses to communicate with the outside world, while Western opinions and democratic ideals cannot easily penetrate and create domestic idological pollution.

The wide spread idea, that the Great Firewall will eventually crumble like the Berlin wall and that Western freedom and democracy are inevitable and that the free flow of information over the Internet will eventually usher in a new era is a product of a mistaken post-Cold War consensus.

As much as I feel empowered as a journalist by the Internet, I am equally horrified by the way it has become accepted as a legitimate tool for control, and surveillance.

We have to correct this. But how?

There are also few surprises which of our host countries in South East Asia that have come out at the bottom of the list.

Myanmar - no surprise there.

China - clearly it is the frustration of not beeing able to use Google as search engine and connect to the world through social media services like FaceBook.

Philippines and Indonesia are also at the bottom. Here, the dissatisfaction is explained with the problems of getting high speed internet for home use and the difficulties in paying without cash at hand.

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.

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We also have many Asian subscribers, who for a wide range of reasons are following the

6 6 ScandAsia ScandAsia •• June June 2019 2019

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News Brief

Prince Daniel of Sweden visited Singapore Photos: Embassy of Sweden in Singapore’s Facebook page

P

rince Daniel of Sweden took a trip to Singapore together with a delegation from Prince Daniel’s Fellowship around May 21-23, 2019.

The purpose was to provide Prince Daniel and his delegation with an insight of the Singapore’s business operation along with a focus of start-up companies and innovation.

The visiting program star ted with a meeting with representatives from Grab Singapore, Temasek, DBS Bank, Health Promotion Board, and Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).

Later, Prince Daniel and the delegation went to visit Port of Singapore Authority (PSA)–one of the world’s largest port and logistics services providers

and Nanyang Technological University (NTU), located in Jurong West. Then, the representatives from NTU gave their honorable guests from Sweden a tour to the research centers on the campus and introduced them to the

university’s works on innovation, startups and entrepreneurship.

After that, the delegation met with Singapore’s Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Marcus Wallenberg, Chairman of IVA (Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences) who gave an insightful information on how to boost Nordic innovation and entrepreneurship in Singapore.

The group also attended the event hosted by Nordic Innovation House Singapore. The event brought together over 45 Swedish corporate, star tup and growth company representatives to learn about business experiences in Southeast Asia from insightful panelists: Magnus Grimeland, Matti Junila, Nima Karimi and Lisa Enckell.

Prince Daniel’s Fellowship is a longterm program launched in 2013 in collaboration with the Royal Science Academy (IVA). The program committed to motivate young entrepreneurs by mentoring and supporting them to grow their ambition in businesses.

Source: Embassy of Sweden in Singapore

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News Brief

Amazing DABS Gala Dinner Photo: DABS’s website

D

anish Business Association Singapore (DABS) held its Annual DABS Gala Dinner on Saturday the 11th of May at Sheraton, 39 Scotts Rd, Singapore.

“Thank you all – sponsors, guests and entertainers – for an absolutely amazing DABS Gala.Without all of our sponsors – big and small – an amazing event like this would not be possible,” DABS committee wrote on their website.

The party of the year started at 7 pm and ended at 3 am next morning. It was attended by all the guests dressed up in their best Red-Carpet outfits.

Aside from Champagne, wine and dinner, DABS also celebrated with a concert by GASBOX, a Danish Band performing music by the legendary Danish singer Kim Larsen and his Gasolin band - so close to the original that if you close your eyes, you may be in doubt for a moment if you are listening to the real thing.

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The Danish Business Association of Singapore was founded in1983 and officially registered a later year by a group of Danish businessmen. DABS aims to contribute to and facilitate their members' success and business development with their experiences and knowledge of operating business

in Asia. But the social activities of the association has always been important as well.

Check out all photos from the party at DABS’s website: https://www.dabs -singapore.com/gallery

News Brief

Ericsson and Viettel successfully tested 5G in Vietnam

V

iettel, Vietnam's largest mobile network provider and Sweden’s Ericsson successfully established the first call using fifth generation (5G) technology in Vietnam.

As a part of Viettel’s 5G technical testing program, the call enables network connection speed to reach its peak at 1.5 to 1.7Gbps, beyond the theoretical speed limit of the 4G LTE network and equal to that of commercial fiber optic cable.

Taking place on May 10, the 5G launching ceremony set Vietnam as one of the earliest countries to successfully test a 5G network, after the US, Australia, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

According to Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Information and Communication, the 5G technology was expected to advance Vietnam to be one of the forefront countries in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Also, he

added that the 5G will be available in commercial operation in 2020 making Vietnam one of the first countries to deploy the latest network.

“One of the applications in the first phase of 5G is smart factories. Viettel and other network providers must experiment to cover 5G in all hi-tech zones, national innovation centres and smart factories by 2020,” the Minister added.

Le Dang Dung, Viettel Group’s acting chairman and general director, likewise, affirmed that Viettel is ready to mastering and deploying this modern technology in Vietnam as Viettel previously took a charge in installing 4G LTE-M and NB-IoT which were the fundamental innovation for developing 5G in terms of transmission infrastructure.

problems. Viettel also builds the largest and most sophisticated network security team in Viet Nam to protect the safety of users on the internet,” he affirmed.

The 5G test came a month after the launching ceremony of Vietnam’s first Internet of things (IoT) Innovation Hub which was the joint work between Ericsson and Vietnam’s government. The centre was established to provide the platform for star tup companies as well as organizations involved in education and research to promote IoT technology in Vietnam in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0).

Source: Vietnam News Agency

“Viettel is ready to apply ar tificial intelligence solutions to solve social June 2019 • ScandAsia 11

Royal Malay-Swedish wedding Malaysian prince Dr Tengku Muhammad Faiz Petra weds his Swedish sweetheart Sofie Louise Johansson in an elegant and intimate ceremony

By Manta Klangboonkrong

A

rguably the most-anticipated royal events in Malaysia, the wedding of Dr Tengku Muhammad Faiz Petra Crown Prince of Kelantan and his Swedish sweetheart Sofie Louise Johansson, took place at Istana Balai Besar on April 19, among close friends and families.

The couple’s marriage was solemnized

by Datuk Aria Diraja cum Kelantan Syariah Court Chief Judge Datuk Daud Mohamad at 8.35pm, followed by a lavish yet understated royal wedding reception attended by 300 guests who were members of the Kelantan royal family and the couple’s close friends, including the bride’s families who flew in from Sweden and Sweden’s ambassador Dag Juhlin-Dannfelt

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The venue of the royal wedding was the ancient palace of Istana Balai Besar, built in the 1840s as the sultan of Kelantan’s official residence. The bride and groom made an elegance appearance in stunning outfits: the bride in full-length pale-yellow dress with high neck, long sleeves and lace covers with glistening tiara to match and the groom in Malaysian festive clothing for the ceremony. Following the ceremony, a wedding dinner was held in the palace where huge flower arch was assembled at the end of the table in the same yellow and white flowers as the first lady’s bridal bouquet.

The couple met in London when 33-year-old Johansson, who has a degree in English and sociology, was working as an au pair, and the prince, now 45, was a student of history at the London School of Economics and Political Science and University College London.

The Crown Prince has become the latest Malaysian royal to marry a non-Malay. In November last year the Crown

Prince’s brother, Sultan Muhammad, 49, made headlines when he married former Miss Moscow and glamour model, Oksana Voevodina, 25. Sultan Muhammad abdicated his seat on the throne three months prior, shor tly after reports of the marriage emerged.

It is customary for Malaysias nine hereditary state rulers take turns ruling as King for five-year terms.

It is also Malaysian tradition for royals to be of Islamic faith. So far, no official information has released whether Louise Johansson will become a Muslim.

However, the couple assumed royal duties soon after the nuptial, as a few days later they made the first public appearance together by having breakfast in town, followed by a visit the next day to the house of a cancer-stricken teenager. They spent 45 minutes with Hakim Danial, 17, who has been suffering from cancer for three years.

(Sources: The Star, South China Morning Post, Utusan Malaysia and Strait Times)

Superson’s creative director and managing partner Antti Toivonen and External Senior Advisor Martin Roll

Finnish Superson launched its first Asia office in Singapore

S

uperson, a Helsinki-based marketing communications agency, has opened its first office in Singapore to expand its operation across Asia. Superson Singapore will be directed by Antti Toivonen, Superson’s creative director and managing partner.

Superson also appointed Martin Roll as External Senior Advisor to the company on a global level. Living in Singapore for the past 20 years, Martin Roll is a CEO of Martin Roll Company that has been serving several clients across the region and in 30 countries.

According to Toivonen, the reason making Singapore the best destination for Superson came from world’s economic shift that focus more on the East than the West. “Markets like London and New York are already close to a saturation point,” he stated.

Danish artist Marianne Klerk’s first exhibition in Penang

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anish artist Marianne Klerk will have her solo show for the first time in Penang, Malaysia. Entitled “House Dialogues in our space”, Klerk’s exhibition will be showcased for free at Ome by Spacebar Coffee, in Georgetown, Penang.

Thye exhibition will last for three weeks from Friday 14th June daily except Thursdays from 8am to 6pm until the 8th July.

Marianne Klerk was Born in Denmark but she’s spent years living in France and Thailand, giving her a significant inspiration on her visual expression style..

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SWEA’s founder

SWEA - and the

woman behind it all

Around the world, SWEOR celebrated the 40 year anniversary of SWEA in May this year.

By Agneta de Bekassy

S

WEA International must be the world’s biggest women organization today. What once star ted in Mother SWEA, Agneta Nilsson’s garage in Los Angeles 1979, with a few Swedish women gathering together, has today become an organization with more than 7000 members all over the world. Chapter after chapter has popped up and all belong to the “mother” SWEA International. SWEA International is a nonprofit organization and it’s amazing to see how many women there are contributing to make SWEA what it is today.

Agneta Nilsson is the driving spirit, has always been and will always be. So, who is this extraordinary woman?

Agneta Nilsson grew up in Sweden, where she attended Schar tau Trade and Economic School and the Stockholm School of Economics.

At an age of 21, she travelled to New York on a scholarship and after that year, she and some Swedish friends 14 ScandAsia • June 2019

went to California. This led to, that she and one of the friends, ended up starting their own business in Beverly Hills; making bikinis.

At that time it was not allowed to wear bikini in public, so they sold to women with private pools and some small boutiques.

The beginning of SWEA Agneta met her husband Gunnar Nilsson in Los Angeles and got married to him in Stockholm 1963 and after the wedding they returned to Los Angeles.

Gunnar was working for SAS and it made it easy for Agneta to stay in touch with Sweden and her Swedish friends.

She had Swedish papers and lots of Swedish guests, but still, she sometimes longed for her country and its culture.

Agneta and Gunnar had children and when they were grown up, Agneta had time for her interests.

In the end of the 70s, she and a friend hosted a Christmas Fair in Los Angeles. It was SWEA Los Angeles first Christmas bazaar and became a big success.Today it’s a huge annual fair that many look forward to attending. At the first bazaar approximately 80 people showed up and Agneta and her friend sold SWEA memberships to almost every visiting Swedish woman. This is how SWEA was founded.

The SWEA setup The purpose and goals of SWEA are many. SWEA International is the head organization and has a president, a vice president and 7 board-presidents. There are 3 regions in Europe, 3 in the US and 3 in Asia. All of them have annual meetings. The board of directors comes from different parts of the world.

SWEA International has 2 part time consultants; administrating manager and office manager.

SWEA International gives out 3 scholarships annual of 10.000 US$ each. SWEA International has also donated 250.000 sek to the Swedish National Museum.

Every year SWEA International chooses a woman to be “The Swedish Woman of the Year” and every summer there is a “Sweden dinner “in a city in Sweden. This year it will take place in Stockholm.

Lately “SWEA Global” has been added. If you don’t have a SWEA chapter around the corner, but still want to be a member of one, you can do so.

“SWEA Professionals” started a few years ago and focus more on the younger and working generation. Here you organize meetings with companies, does visits to factories, invites interesting speakers etc. Lately some chapters have star ted “SWEA Care”, there they help and assist elderly people with e.g. driving them and giving a helping hand when needed.

How do you become a member in SWEA? You must be 18 years old and speak and understand the Swedish language well.

Agneta loves to promote Sweden and she is proud of her country. She has been chosen the “Swedish-American of the year” in 2006 among many other awards.

Now SWEOR around the world are looking forward to the next coming celebrations, but first they will meet in Stockholm for the “Summer dinner” and in Dubai in November for the World meeting.

Agneta Nilsson has received two medals from HM King Carl XVI Gustaf - one in 1982 and another in 1997 - for starting up SWEA. As a special honor, the artist Inger Hodgson has painted a portrait of her, which is included in the collection on Gripsholms Slott.

If you are not already a SWEA, don’t hesitate. Join a chapter close to you, it is great fun!

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Community

Celebrating

SWEA 40 Years in Bangkok

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n May 10th, SWEA Bangkok celebrated the 40th anniversary with a well-organized and very fun evening at Pullman Hotel Asoke.

About 90 people, SWEOR, partners and foreign guests, celebrated throughout the night, sponsored by Swedish companies etc.

Absolut Vodka had a central place on every table and ABBA sang everyone into a dancing mood.

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SWEA in Singapore threw a beach party Photos: LenaW Photography

I

n Singapore, the 40 Year Anniversary of SWEA was celebrated with a beach party at Bikini Bar on Sentosa Island. During the evening, a newly composed SWEA song was sung for the first time. On the FaceBook page and Instagram, SWEA Singapore wrote:

“Grattis SWEA 40 år önskar SWEA Singapore!

TACK till alla er som firade SWEA 40 år tillsammans med oss! Vilken fest det blev!”

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Community

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Community

SWEA Kuala Lumpur celebrated on a rooftop SWEA in Kuala Lumpur celebrated the 40 year anniversary on the top of the world - on a rooftop in KL.

SWEA Melbourne went on wine trip SWEA Melbourne celebrated at Yarra Valley, visiting 4 vineyards in the wine district.

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SWEA Beijing at Duck de Chine Beijing chapter celebrated at restaurant Duck de Chine i Wanfuijang. Mingel on the terrace in summer temperatur before a 13 dishes Chinese menu dinner. Lot’s of speeches

and singing. Eventually, the dinner was rounded up with Swedish chocolate balls - egg-white whipped with sugar and dipped in melted chocolate.

SWEA Japan got 10 years older - in 1 year Last year, SWEA Japan celebrated its 30 year anniversary.

Now, only one year later, SWEA got 10 years older, joked SWEA’s chairwoman in Japan, Lida Orstadius in her welcome speech to the 40 Year Anniversary.The party was held in a well decorated premises in Roppongi. The guests were SWEOR and their spouses who all enjoyed excellent Swedish food with bubbly.

After mingling with 70 & 80’s music in the background, the participants joined team competitions. The atmosphere was high and the willingness to fight strong when the price promised was cheese snacks.The SWEA chapter in Japan loves to have a good time and is already looking forward to the next anniversary in 9 and10 years respectively.

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Finger-licking good!

The Ugly Duckling, Hong Kong’s latest addition to the Scandinavian dining scene, offers hearty dishes at reasonable prices.

By Manta Klangboonkrong

O

pened earlier in March in Kwun Tong district of Hong Kong, The Ugly Duckling quickly became a sanctuary for Danes and Nordic away from home that crave for authentic tastes from motherlands. With its extensive menu comprising international menu with deep roots in the Danish cuisine, the restaurant accommodates up to 60 guests at a time with catering services for up to 250 guests. Danish co-owner Poul Sondergaard gave us some insight of what the eatery has to offer.

How did you come up with the name Ugly Duckling?

Well, it came to me that many people in Asia like for instance Hello Kitty and as I needed to find a name that was outstanding compared to all existing places in Hong Kong. I choose The Ugly Duckling, which is also a fairy tale story by H. C. Andersen that is very famous all over the world. Also my restaurant is decorated with many different kind, colors and shapes of ducks, catching the eye when people walk by.

We even have a special birthday duck, in case some come here to celebrate their birthday then they get a b-day duck with them home!

Tell us more about the food?

Food here is good quality and reasonably priced. We only June 2019 • ScandAsia 23

use imported meat, mainly from Denmark and Australia.

Most “accessories” are homemade like beetroot, pickled cucumber, remoulade, red cabbage, mayonnaise, meatballs, Danish potato salad and so on – anything we can make we make our self. We also will start to sell Open Danish Sandwiches quite soon (smørebrød).

I have just 1-2 weeks ago found the right recipe to make Danish rye bread that is very alike what you can get in Denmark and it took me two weeks to develop. I baked rye bread every day until I had the perfect match.

The first month after the opening one of my friends, who is a chef from Denmark helped me set it all up, created the menu and trained local, which are two chefs from the Philippines and two chefs from Hong Kong. I also sometimes take

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part of the kitchen, I’m not a chef but I know how the food served should look like and more importantly taste like.

What are the signature dishes that we should not miss?

Definitely our newly launched hotdog with red sausage from Denmark, our rib-sandwich, Danish potato salad, bib roast with caramel potatoes and brown gravy, chocolate biscuit (kikse kage) and Apple Trifle (æble kage). Our hottest selling item is the meatball with Danish potato salad.

How is The Ugly Duckling different from other Scandinavian restaurants in Hong Kong?

came around 2.30pm, supposed to leave around 7pm, but they ended up staying until 9.30pm, eating all Danish dishes specially catered to them and of course followed by all the Carlsberg they want. They had a great day and evening and really enjoyed the Danish atmosphere and food. I “kicked” them out with hotdogs in their hands!

The Ugly Duckling is at the ground level of Hung To Centre on How Ming Road, Hong Kong.

Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/mS6NzCC8DJyB4zf46

There are no other restaurants that make food like we do.

Only one close is FINDS (stands for Finland, Iceland, Norway, Denmark & Sweden), but we are the only one sticking mostly to our Danish roots. I can see many of the customers coming now, after having opened since March 14, is repeatedly coming. I would estimate 40-50% every day is repeat customers. The rest just heard about us and come to try.

Anything else besides food that you offer?

We’d like to make it homey and welcome for the guests. But of course, if they’d like privacy or time alone with their company, we also comply. Just recently we have had the Danish Viking Football team here for lunch/dinner last Saturday, they June 2019 • ScandAsia 25

26 ScandAsia • June 2019

better care of yourself!

Take

How different are we Scandinavian women, compared to Asian women, when it comes to spoiling yourself and treating your body with SPA visits?

On a very hot and humid morning, I sat down to talk to the Korean lady Mrs. Josefine Lee, nick named Josie. Josie is the owner of Amaranth, a Korean Spa located on Sukhumvit soi 19. Josie was born in Busan, the second biggest city in Korea, with approximately 7 million inhabitants. Here she went to school and university. Her major topic was biology.

As a young girl, Josie had many dreams; like becoming a soldier, an archeologist, a fashion or jewelry designer, but at the same time, she showed a great interest in biology and a healthy lifestyle.

I was curious to find out how she happened to settle in Bangkok. She told me she arrived in the city of angels in 1996, to study gemology and she ended up with a certificate as gemologist and also started trading during her studies. Korea is today, but not at that time, famous for its cosmetics. She started to trade in cosmetics and began to import Korean cosmetic brands to Thailand in 1999 when she also opened her own SPA. In fact, Josie was the first one to officially get FDA licenses for importing Korean cosmetics. Her first SPA was located in ThongLoh and opened 2000.

In 2001 she got married to a Swede, whom she had met in Bangkok. She had already met this Nordic, blue eyed man in 1997, but it took until 2001 until they were married at the Swedish church, which was located on Sukhumvit Soi 33 at that time. Today the church is not there anymore, which many of us Swedes think is sad. There were always a lot of things going on, Pea soup evenings in the garden, St. Lucia celebrations and much more.

Scandinavians are not taking enough time to treat themselves the way a woman should, if she wants to age well.

I wanted to know if she had ever lived in Sweden during her marriage and she said she spent a year in Gothenburg June 2019 • ScandAsia 27

(Göteborg) in 2008 to 2009. During this period, she tried to adjust to the Swedish lifestyle and she had to travel back and forth looking after her business in Bangkok. She tried to study and learn Swedish also. I forgot to ask if she still remembers the Swedish language. Every language is easy to forget when you don’t practice regularly.

What did you like or dislike in Sweden I also asked. “I liked the springtime very much, the fresh air, the vegetation and the Swedish food. There was especially one restaurant in Göteborg, a bit outside by the river called “Sjömagasinet” and the food there was always delicious and the ambiance very nice”. I told Josie that this restaurant still exists and serving fabulous food even today. She also said it was a pleasure to do outdoor sports and activities, as there is so much less traffic than in Bangkok and many lovely walking districts.

Another important thing she told me was her meeting and getting to know GOD during her time in Sweden.

Now I wanted to know in which way Scandinavians are different to Asians in manners and behaviors and Josie busted out, “The Swedes are so rational compared to e.g. us Koreans. We are much more emotional and I think I can here speak for the Thai people too. I had to adjust to the Swedish lifestyle. Swedish women e.g. are very independent and busy.

They are not taking much time to treat themselves the way a woman should, if she wants to age well.”

Here I had to agree, we Scandinavians are not frequently SPA visitors, (there might be a few) and we seldom find time for a body treatment once a week, even if we would love too. In our case, it also has to do with the cost. In Asia, treatments are much less expensive than in Europe.

Do you have a lot of Scandinavians coming to your SPA I wanted to know? “Well, not really. I have many French customers, Americans and plenty of Asians, but I wish I had more Scandinavians as so many are living in Bangkok and surroundings.” My advice to the European women is to take advantage of the relatively inexpensive prices we offer and come more often. It’s important to invest in your body if you want to age beautifully and who doesn’t?”

Which treatment is your favorite I asked? “Oh, I love everything we do at Amaranth.We have many different treatments and I do alternately once a week. Our facial treatments include; hot stone oil body massage and facial massage. So it is total care in one course. That is really good for your skin”. I have noticed that Korean women do have a very glossy, clear and clean skin, so I’m sure the treatments help.

What can we do at home to improve on our skin? “There are three basic products you always should use;Toner, Lotion and Serum.” By the way, I used to have workshops at the Korean embassy, teaching women how to do treatments at home and I still do that for organizations and groups.You can just book me”, she says with a smile.

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In Sweden, in contrast, we use to refer to our “inner beauty”, but why not a combination of inner and outside beauty Josie asks? Right she is…..

Are many men visiting your SPA? “Yes, more and more men are coming and many come as couple also”.That is true, as a couple just walked in during our conversation ordering facial and ultrasound treatments.

Many men have skin problems like dryness, acne or scars etc. We do a lot for them to improve on their skin. What about Botox I wanted to know. “Botox can lift, but it doesn’t make your skin healthy and shiny”. Men are more concerned about their look than you might believe Josie whispers, and I believe her. I know quite a few men who do Botox and other skin treatments. Men have become vainer today than in earlier times.

My last question to Josie is one of my favorites; if you could choose one person in the world to give a treatment, who would that, be?

Here she had to think for a while, but came up with the actress Whoppy Goldberg.

Interview “I think it would be so exciting to see how she would behave and react to my treatments.” This actress has a great sense of humor, so it would probably be a treatment with a lot of laughing.

I also added the question, “Who would you like to have a very private dinner with”?

A big laugh from Josie, “why not Kim Jong-Un, the North Korean leader? That would be a most interesting dinner I think” Josie says with a bright, beautiful smile.

With those words I remind you, women and men, take care of your body, eat healthy food and get lots of exercise and don’t assume a younger and shiny look comes from nothing, go ahead and book. It’s never too late.

June 2019 • ScandAsia 29

Living in Asia

Best Worst

The & Countries for Digital Life Abroad • Estonia, Finland, Norway, Denmark, New Zealand, Israel, Canada, Singapore, the Netherlands, and the USA are the best countries for digital life abroad.

• Myanmar, China, Egypt, India, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Peru,Turkey, and Uganda are the countries where expats are the least satisfied with their digital life.

O

ver the last years, it has become impossible to imagine a world without digital communication, especially for globally mobile expats: staying in touch with loved ones at home, mastering the administrative challenges in a new country, or working remotely as a digital nomad — the digital needs of expats are extremely diverse.

In its first Digital Life Abroad Report, InterNations, the world’s largest expat community, identifies the best and worst countries to live a connected life. The results, which are based on the annual Expat Insider survey, reveal that Estonia, Finland, Norway, Denmark, and New Zealand excel at offering a digital environment. Expats in these countries are very satisfied with their unrestricted access to online services and the possibility to pay without cash almost anywhere.

At the other end of the scale, Myanmar, China, Egypt, India, and the Philippines are rated the worst countries for digital life. Expats in these countries struggle with a lack of government services online, difficult access to high-speed internet at home, or even restrictions in their use of online services.

Interestingly, the worst-rated destination in the world, Myanmar, also holds a surprise: it ranks first for the ease of getting a local phone number.

Top 10 Countries for Digital Life Abroad 1. Estonia

Being featured in the Expat Insider survey for the first time, Estonia comes in 1st place out of 68 countries in terms of 30 ScandAsia • June 2019

digital life. The country is rated best in the world for both unrestricted access to online services (e.g. social media) and the availability of administrative or government services online. In fact, 96% of expats judge the access to online services favorably (vs. 80% globally), with 86% saying it could not be any better (vs. 58% globally). Another 94% are impressed with the availability of administrative or government services online (vs. 55% globally), with 70% giving it the best possible rating (vs. 23% globally).These excellent results help the country compensate its low rankings in terms of available leisure options (51st) and travel opportunities (65th): all in all, Estonia comes in a good 21st place out of 68 countries for its general quality of life.

2. Finland

Paying without cash seems to be no issue at all in Finland, which comes first in the world for this factor. Nearly all expats in the country (96%) are satisfied with the ease of cashless payments (vs. 78% globally).They are also happy with the ease of getting high-speed internet at home (96% vs. 75% globally), the availability of administrative or government services online (88% vs. 55% globally), and the unrestricted access to online services such as social media (94% vs. 80% globally). Interestingly, it does not seem to be that easy to get a local mobile phone number in Finland (9% negative ratings vs. 7% globally), with the country ranking 44th out of 68 destinations for this factor.

3. Norway

Similarly to Finland, Norway ranks among the top 10 countries for most rating factors regarding digital life, but it drops drastically to 50th place for the ease of getting a local mobile number. In fact, just 84% of expats find this easy (vs.

86% globally), making Norway the worst-ranking among the

top 10 countries for this factor. On the other end of the scale, nearly all expats (97%) are happy with the level of unrestricted access to online services in Norway, compared to 80% globally. The same is true for high speed internet access at home (95% positive ratings vs. 75% globally) and paying without cash. The latter is considered easy by 97% of expats, which is 19 percentage points more than the global average (78%).

4. Denmark

An excellent 4th place in terms of digital life helps Denmark to make up for its bottom 10 positions for leisure options (64th out of 68 countries) and personal happiness (66th): it comes in 24th place for quality of life overall. The Nordic country ranks 2nd worldwide for the ease of cashless payments (97% satisfied vs. 78% globally), only beaten by Finland. Additionally, nine in ten expats living in Denmark (90%) rate the availability of administrative or government online services positively (vs. 55% globally), while over half (57%) even claim that it is very good (vs. just 23% globally). Only getting a local mobile phone number does not seem to be all that easy in Denmark (46th out of 68 countries), with 6% stating to be unhappy with this factor (about the same as the global average of 7%).

5. New Zealand

New Zealand’s generally high ratings for the local quality of life (11th worldwide) are further consolidated by the Digital Life subcategory: Nearly all expats (98%) say that it is easy to get a local mobile number (vs. 86% globally), which is the highest share in the world. What is more, 99% of expats are happy with the ease of cashless payments (vs. 78% globally), with 77% even saying it could not be any better (vs. 48% globally). When it comes to the availability of government

services online, another 91% agree that the access is good (vs. 55% globally). However, New Zealand just ranks a mediocre 35th out of 68 countries in terms of getting access to high-speed internet at home: about four in five (79%) agree that getting high speed internet access at home is easy, which is only slightly above the global average (75%).

6. Israel

Israel makes it into the top 10 countries in terms of quality of life for the first time, thanks to the new Digital Life subcategory, which has helped it to climb up the ranks.The country receives its best ratings for the unrestricted access to online services such as social media and the ease of getting a local mobile phone number (3rd worldwide for both). In fact, nearly all expats (95%) rate their access to online services positively (vs. 80% globally), and 84% say it could not be any better (vs. 58% globally). Similarly, 94% find it easy to get a mobile number (vs. 86% globally), and 80% think this could not be any easier (vs. 58% globally). Expats in Israel are not nearly as satisfied with the availability of administrative or government services online; however, the country still ranks a good 21st out of 68, with 67% positive ratings for this factor (vs. 55% globally).

7. Canada

With regard to digital life, Canada receives its best ratings for the availability of administrative or government services online (ranking 8th out of 68 destinations) and the ease of cashless payments (10th). More than nine in ten expats (94%) find the latter easy, compared to 78% globally. Moreover, expats in Canada are happy with the unrestricted access to online services such as social media (11th) and the ease of getting high-speed internet at home (12th). Close to nine in ten respondents (89%) are happy with the latter (vs.

June 2019 • ScandAsia 31

75% globally), but the “very high costs of internet” are mentioned as a downside of life in Canada by a German expat.

Only getting a local mobile phone number does not seem to be all that easy in Canada (38th); however, the share of expats who are satisfied with this factor is still slightly above the global average (89% vs. 86% globally).

8. Singapore

Singapore shows an interesting mix of excellent and rather average rankings in terms of digital life. The country ranks 21st out of 68 countries for cashless payments, 29th for the ease of getting a local mobile phone number, and 45th for unrestricted access to online services. Although the latter result places Singapore in the bottom half worldwide, 83% of expats still rate this factor positively, three percentage points above the global average (80%). On the other hand, Singapore receives great ratings for the ease of getting high-speed internet at home (8th) and the availability of administration or government services online. For the latter, Singapore even ranks 2nd worldwide, beaten only by Estonia. More than nine in ten expats (93%) are happy with this factor (vs. 94% in Estonia and 55% globally), and 60% say it could not be any better (vs. 23% globally).

9. Netherlands

Expats in the Netherlands can expect to be pleased with digital life if they are looking for unrestricted access to online services such as social media (8th out of 68) and a good availability of administrative or government services online (10th). “Everything can be done online”, an expat from Germany comments. In fact, 83% of respondents are happy with the availability of administrative or government services online, compared to 55% globally. The Netherlands receive its worst — though still above-average — ratings for the ease of getting a local mobile phone number (24th out of 68) and paying without cash (20th). While 90% of respondents do agree that it is easy to pay with something other than cash in the Netherlands (vs. 78% globally), this is the second-worst ranking among the top 10 countries for digital life, after Singapore (21st).

10. United States of America

Coming in a low 47th place out of 68 countries regarding the general quality of life, the USA receives its best ratings within this index for its digital life. Expats in the USA are most satisfied with the ease of cashless payments (8th), as nearly all respondents (95%) rate this favorably (vs. 78% globally). Close to three-quarters (74%) even agree that paying without cash could not be any easier in the USA (vs.

48% globally). Expats are also very satisfied with the ease of getting high-speed internet access at home (90% happy vs.

75% globally). However, this is not the case when it comes to getting a local mobile phone number (31st): This factor has the lowest ranking within the Digital Life subcategory.

Nonetheless, 91% of expats still say that it is easy to get a local number (vs. 86% globally), with one expat from Sweden highlighting “how easy it is to get a local phone number anywhere” in the USA. 32 ScandAsia • June 2019

Bottom 10 Countries for Digital Life 68. Myanmar

Ranking last worldwide in terms of digital life, it seems like Myanmar is still a long way from becoming a digital society.

The country is the world’s worst-rated destination to pay without cash and to get access to high-speed internet at home. In fact, 74% of expats find making cashless payments in Myanmar difficult, which is 61 percentage points more than the global average (13%) and double the share in Argentina (37%), the second-worst destination for this factor.

Similarly, 58% of expats in Myanmar are unhappy with their access to high-speed internet at home, which is the highest share worldwide and close to four times the global average (16%). However, Myanmar also holds a surprise:The country ranks first worldwide for the ease of getting a local mobile phone number. Nearly all expats (96%) find this easy, compared to 86% globally, and 80% even say it is very easy (vs.

58% globally).

67. China

Coming in 57th place in the Quality of Life Index overall, China performs worst when it comes to digital life.The poor performance is one of the reasons for its further drop in the rankings: China is by far the worst country for unrestricted access to social media, with 83% being unsatisfied, which is over eight times the global average (10%) and 37 percentage points higher than the share in Saudi Arabia (46%), the destination with the second-worst ranking. Over half the expats in China (52%) even say that it could not be any worse (vs. 3% globally), and a US American respondent names the “government control of media and internet” as one of the worst things about life in China. While expats are also extremely unsatisfied with the access to high-speed internet at home (38% negative ratings vs. 16% globally), the ease of getting a local mobile phone number (14% vs. 7% globally), and the availability of administrative or government services online (52% vs. 26% globally), China ranks a good 17th out of 68 for cashless payments: 89% say paying without cash is no problem (vs. 78% globally), and 72% even think it could not be any easier in China (vs. 48% globally).

66. Egypt

Almost seven in ten expats in Egypt (69%) are unsatisfied with the availability of administrative or government services online (vs. 26% globally), which is the highest share worldwide (together with Myanmar). Digital life in Egypt is made even harder due to the slow internet speed, with close to half the expats (47%) finding it hard to get access to highspeed internet at home (vs. 16% globally). A US American expat lists the “internet at home” as one of the worst things about living in Egypt. What is more, expats are unhappy with the ease of paying without cash (35% negative ratings vs. 13% globally) and the access to online services such as social media (19% negative ratings vs. 10% globally). Only getting a local mobile phone number seems to be fairly easy in Egypt (39th out of 68 countries; 89% positive ratings vs.

86% globally).

Feature

65. India

When it comes to getting a local mobile phone number, India is the world’s most difficult country to live in. Almost two in five expats (37%) find this hard, which is more than five times the global average (7%) and 13 percentage points more than in Japan (24%), the country with the secondworst ranking. “Administration is terrible,” an expat from Sweden complains. “You have to fill in hundreds of forms for getting a local prepaid cellphone number.” Administrative procedures do not get any easier with a lack of government services online (64th out of 68). Almost three in five expats living in India (59%) say they are unsatisfied with the services on offer, which is more than double the global average (26%). Expats in India also struggle with a lack of high-speed internet at home: almost three in ten (28%) are unsatisfied with their internet speed, which is twelve percentage points above the worldwide average (16%)

64. Philippines

Expats not having access to high-speed internet at home is one of the biggest reasons for the Philippines’ ranking among the bottom 10 destinations for digital life. Close to half the expats (49%) state that they are unsatisfied with their internet speed (vs.16% globally), with only Myanmar (58%) ranking worse. “The internet speed is slow”, bemoans an expat from Indonesia. What is more, almost half the respondents (48%) are unhappy with the availability of government services online, which is 22 percentage points above the global average (26%). Expats also seem to struggle to pay without cash as over a third (34%) say it is difficult, compared to just 13% worldwide. Only getting a local mobile phone number

does not seem to be an issue: Ranking the country 27th out of 68 in this respect, 90% say that this is easy (vs. 86% globally). More than seven in ten (72%) even say that it could not be any easier (vs. 58% globally).

63. Saudi Arabia

Having always ranked in the bottom 10 of the Quality of Life Index, the addition of the Digital Life subcategory is one of the reasons for Saudi Arabia dropping another eight places (59th out of 65 in 2017 vs. 67th out of 68 in 2018). The country comes in second-to-last place worldwide in terms of unrestricted access to online services such as social media, only ahead of China. In fact, close to half the expats in Saudi Arabia (46%) are unhappy with this factor, compared to 10% globally, or as an Indian expat states: “There is no freedom and too much restriction.” Close to one in five expats (16%) even say it could not be any worse, which is more than five times the global average (3%). Only administrative or government services seem to be easily available online (27th out of 68), with 55% of respondents stating that they are satisfied, exactly the same share as the global average.

Lastly, expats in Saudi Arabia seem to struggle to get a local mobile phone number (21% negative ratings vs. 7% globally) as well as access to high-speed internet at home (25% negative ratings vs. 16% globally).

62. Indonesia

Indonesia is another country among the bottom 10 which appears to be lacking in online administrative or government services. Over three in five expats (61%) are unhappy with the services available, ranking the country 66th in the June 2019 • ScandAsia 33

world for this factor (vs. 26% globally), only ahead of Myanmar and Egypt (69% negative ratings). Indonesia also comes in a low 61st place for both the access to high-speed internet at home (30% negative ratings vs. 16% globally) and the unrestricted access to online services such as social media (20% negative ratings vs. 10% globally). Lastly, the country appears to be a long way from becoming a cashless society, as one-fifth of expats (20%) say it is difficult to pay without cash, seven percentage points more than the global average (13%).

61. Peru

Expats in Peru seem to struggle with the lack of administrative or government services online: Close to half (49%) are unsatisfied with the services provided, which is 23 percentage points more than the global average (26%). A US American expat specifically mentions that “dealing with the government” can be difficult in Peru. Paying without cash (26% negative ratings vs. 13% globally) and getting access to high-speed internet at home (29% negative ratings vs. 16% globally) also appear to be tricky in the South American country. In fact, Peru ranks among the bottom 10 countries for all three factors mentioned so far. On the other hand, 86% of expats are satisfied with the unrestricted access to online services such as social media (vs.

80% globally). Among the bottom 10 countries, this is the best performance, but worldwide Peru still ranks just 46th out of 68 destinations.

60.Turkey

Turkey has lost 14 ranks in the Quality of Life Index within one year (from 39th out of 65 countries in 2017 to 53rd out of 68 in 2018). This is partly due to the addition of the Digital Life subcategory, where it ranks among the world’s worst countries. Expats seem to be particularly unsatisfied with their unrestricted access to online services such as social media: Close to half (45%) rate this negatively, which is over four times the global average (10%). A French expat even names “media control” as one of the things he dislikes most about life in Turkey. Receiving a local mobile phone number appears to be difficult, too, as one in five expats (20%) struggles to get one. This is almost three times the global average (7%).The country receives its best ratings for the ease of paying without cash, coming in an average 34th place out of 68 destinations.

59. Uganda

Ranking among the worst countries in the world for digital life, Uganda receives its lowest ratings for getting access to high-speed internet at home (65th out of 68 countries) and paying without cash (61st): close to two in five expats in the country (39%) are unsatisfied with the first factor (vs. 16% globally), while a third (33%) rate cashless payment opportunities negatively (vs. 13% globally). In fact, twelve percent even say it is very difficult to pay without cash in Uganda; only five other countries worldwide have higher percentages in this regard (Germany, Argentina, Egypt, Japan, and Myanmar). On the bright side, Uganda ranks among the top 34 ScandAsia • June 2019

10 countries regarding how easy it is to get a local mobile phone number (8th) — nearly all expats (97%) say that this is not an issue.

FACTBOX About the Digital Life Abroad Report The Digital Life Abroad Report is an addition to the annually published Expat Insider survey by InterNations. The topical report is based on the Digital Life subcategory, which was added to the Expat Insider survey for the first time in 2018.

The subcategory is part of the Quality of Life Index, which covers five other subcategories, including Leisure Options, Health & Well-Being, and Travel & Transportation.

To identify the best and worst countries for digital life, survey respondents were asked to rate their satisfaction with the following factors on a scale from one to seven: the unrestricted access to online services such as social media, the availability of government/administrative services online, the ease of getting a local mobile phone number, the ease of paying without cash, and the ease of getting access to high-speed internet at home.

For a country to be featured in the Expat Insider 2018 survey and subsequently in the Digital Life Abroad Report, a sample size of at least 75 survey participants per destination was necessary. In 2018, 68 met this requirement, with a total of 18,135 expatriates taking part in the survey, representing 178 nationalities and living in 187 countries or territories.

Panda Day in Beijng

News Brief

T

he Royal Danish Embassy in China hosted “Panda Day” event on May 10, 2019 at the Royal Danish Embassy to celebrate the successful landing of China’s two pandas arriving at their new home in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The celebration was opened by welcome speech from Ambassador A. Carsten Damsgaard followed by the speech from Dai Guangcui, Director General of international cooperation department.The keynote speakers also included Zhang Zhihe, Director General from Chengdu panda breeding base who shared to the participants about the preparation to welcome two giant pandas in Denmark.

Prior to the celebration in China, Copenhagen Zoo, the panda's new residence, organized a formal launching day a month ago on April 4 in Copenhagen where the royal guests, Queen Margrethe and Crown Princess Mary as well as the honor guests from Denmark and China attended to welcome the two giant pandas namely six-yearold Xing'er (male) and five-year-old Mao Sun (female).

Bengt Holst, scientific director of the Copenhagen Zoo, said since having two pandas in the zoo, the number

of visitors has noticeably climbed up from 120,000 last year to more than 200,000 this year.

"The pandas are well-received, and

the Danish people will be excited for many years from now. The pandas are doing pretty well. It's as if they have been there for serval years already," said Holst.

The new enclosed residence designed to look like Yin-Yang symbol, helped its new habitants to feel more private and comfortable in public space so that the pandas would not feel stressed when they saw unfamiliar faces of the zoo visitors.

"The good thing is that they don't look as if they notice the visitors. Actually, they don't care about the number of visitors whether there are only five or 50. It doesn't bother them, which is really good," Holst added.

June 2019 • ScandAsia 35

Feature

Norwegian National Day More than 200 years ago, Norway got their own constitution that was signed on the 17th of May in 1814. In order to commemorate the significance of their independence from Denmark as a free nation, the Norwegians in Asia as joined the biggest annual social gatherings of the Norwegians worldwide with flags, parades, food, games and speeches.

By Nilobon Bantoey Photos from the Bangkok celebration by Nilobon Bantoey Photos from other citiies: FaceBook pages of the Royal Norwegian Embassies

Bangkok Norwegians in Thailand celebrated this year the most meaningful days of their homeland at Royal Norwegian Embassy residence located at Sukhumvit, Bangkok on May 17, 2019.

The venue was decorated with Norwegian flags and attended by about 100 guests both Thai and Norwegian who came to the event with their families, spouses and friends.

Among the attendees were Finnish Ambassador Satu Suikkari-Klevenand accompanied by her husband and their daughter.

At the celebration, the opening speech was delivered by a member of the 17 May Committee of Nordmannsforbundet, Odd Asle Johannessen, who shared his memories of the May 17 celebration and underlined the importance of this day.

Kjersti Rødsmoen, Norway’s Ambassador to Thailand also gave her speech to welcome all participants and thanks the staffs who worked their best for this event.

36 ScandAsia • June 2019

The Ambassador then led the assembly in singing the Norwegian national anthem, “Ja, vi elsker dette landet” and started the traditional parade.

Walking up and down the road in Sukhumvit 38 Alley, the guests were swinging their flags along with the marching song performed by Official Big Band from Royal Thai Army Band Department.

Most of the participants chose not to dress in traditional costume due to the dangerously hot weather of Thailand.

Norwegian National Day's celebration was all about the children because it consisted not only the children's parade and games but also a platform for the children to express their voices regarding current issue around the world.

The youth speaker for the 2019 celebration was Ida Suikkari-Kleven, daughter of the Finnish Ambassador. She gave a speech concerning environmental pollution worldwide and highlighted the power of youth in finding a solution to this matter.

Later, the guests enjoyed having ice cream, hot dogs, waffles and playing outdoor games with the children.

June 2019 • ScandAsia 37

Kuala Lumpur In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the event was likewise held at the Ambassador’s residence. The guests were having a wonderful moment with children’s parade, games, speeches, and of course delicious food!

“We would like to thank the 17 of May Committee for organizing a fantastic event – and for the many sponsors that made it all possible,” Royal Norwegian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur wrote on its official Facebook page.

Hanoi In Hanoi, Vietnam, the event took place during the blazing summer heat. Still, the Norwegian expats celebrated the day with the same traditional activities as elsewhere across the region including a parade, tomato race, skiing, sack race, waffles, ice cream and, of course, Norwegian sausages defrosted in a Norwegian unique way.

38 ScandAsia • June 2019

Feature Yangon In Myanmar, Norwegian Day’s celebration focused on the importance of Norway’s first Constitution as well as the significant role of the children for the world. The children were encouraged to dress up in traditional costumes and join in the parade along with the music.

Royal Norwegian Embassy in Yangon wrote on its Facebook page, “we would like to thank the children from ISM, Felix, and all of our guests for joining us and to create a little Norway in the middle of Yangon.”

The assembly was led by a group of children from the International school of Myanmar (ISM) in singing the national anthems of both Norway and Myanmar.

The representative of the youth this year was the 15-yearold Felix, who gave a speech underlining the importance of inclusion of all people in improving the environment and referring the vital quote from Greta Tunberg on climate change that called for the adults from over the world to show their leadership in solving the environmental challenge.

Singapore In Singapore, the reception of Norwegian National Day 2019 was more special than previous years because it was held the same day with the celebration of 50th Anniversary of Norwegian Embassy in Singapore.

The two events took place on Wednesday, May 15 at Asian Civilisation Museum in Singapore. More than 100 guests were having an amazing night and enjoyed their time with wine, dinner, traditional dessert and a giant cake!

June 2019 • ScandAsia 39

“Plogging Event” at Bangsaen Beach

By Nilobon Bantoey Photos: Thai-Swedish Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page

O

n May 25, 2019, Thai-Swedish Chamber of Commerce (TSCC) successfully organized “Plogging Event”

40 ScandAsia • June 2019

where almost 400 kilograms of trash were collected at Bangsaen Beach, one of the popular destinations located in Chonburi province of Thailand.

Plogging is a newish fitness craze initiated in Sweden. It is a combination of

jogging and plocka upp or “to pick up” in English. So, all you need to do during the plogging is jogging or walking and quickly stopping to pick up trash as you go.

As a par t of their 30th anniversary

celebration, TSCC hosted the plogging event with the suppor t from other Nordic chambers in Thailand: DanishThai Chamber, Thai-Norwegian Chamber and Thai-Finnish Chamber as well as TSCC member companies namely Fitness24Seven and Munkfors who took part as sponsors of this event.

They were also supported by ReReef, De LaLita and Glow Pattaya.

“We wanted to organize the events relating to global issues such as plastic pollution,” said TSCC’s Executive Director Pojanath Bhatanacharoen. “We chose Plogging as this allows for anyone to join, be it Thai-Swedish companies or the general public.”

At the event, there were around 120 participants who came in with their families and friends and also came in as a group from organizations such as the Nordic Embassies and United Nations. Among the notable guests were Swedish Ambassador Staffan Herrström, Danish Ambassador Uffe Wolffhechel as well as the Mayor of Saen Suk Narongchai Khunpluem.

nicipalities and the Sea Rescue White Shark team who assisted in facilitating the event. The Ambassador Staffan made the opening speech and thanked all the participants who had in mind a good intention to help improve the environment.

The Ambassador of Sweden to Thailand Staffan Herrström gave an opening speech at TSCC’s “Plogging Event” The Mayor of Saen Suk Narongchai Khunpluem gave a welcoming speech at TSCC’s “Plogging Event” (Photo: Thai-Swedish Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page) “TSCC was really pleased to see that the par ticipants were not only the members from TSCC but also from the general public and we saw that Thai people are very keen on saving the environment.” TSCC’s Executive Director Pojanath concluded.

Visit TSCC’s Facebook page to see all photos from the event!

The activity started by the welcoming speech from the mayor Narongchai emphasizing the joint effort of local authorities including Saen Suk muJune 2019 • ScandAsia 41

News Brief

Bangkok’s International Coaching Week

By Agneta de Bekassy

W

ho doesn’t want to go from good to great? On Apr il 30 Residents of Bangkok got the chance to empower themselves with wisdoms, tips and how-to in life from 10 experienced speakers at the recent International Coaching Week Bangkok by The Bangkok Coaching Circle at The Hive Thonglor.

This event was to help people come together around the topic of coaching and proved to be one of the most fun get-togethers in the coaching industry in Bangkok. Among the powerful speakers were Alessandra C. Marazzi, Claudia Regina Pires Gomes, Hansoul Fabienne, Isabel Valle, Martine Chaillet and Anna Frummerin, the current president of SWEA, who shed light on the transformational coaching and how to explore one’s inner self to break the pattern and really take control of his or her life. In essence, Anna was pointing the direction for us to go from just being good to becoming great.

According to Anna, the process starts with exploring yourself to determined

42 ScandAsia • June 2019

and finally appreciation. She said, once you have gone through these four steps, you will likely be able to unleash your potential that you might have not been aware of before. And hence, you move forward from your good self, to the better, and ultimately the best version of yourself.

With humor and positivity, Anna shared with the audience her personal experiences and journeys of how she has successfully adopted this method to become who she is today – a wife, mother, SWEA president and a driven businesswoman. Anna is an Associated Coach (ACC) cer tified by the International Coach Federation (ICF).

why you have different behaviors in different situations and what factors drive you to behave differently. And there are four further steps, which are awareness, understanding, accepting

On the business side, she has recently taken the role of CEO at ANA (A New Approach), an International coaching and consultancy firm with services that include sales and marketing, organization development and human resources, expat transitions, market research as well as medical coaching and consulting.

To find out more, please visit https:// www.anaconsult./com

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June 2019 • ScandAsia 43

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Contact us at singapore@seb.sg 44 ScandAsia • June 2019

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