Thai-Danish Trade News - March 2004

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ANNffiHfl Roval Danish Embassv tssN 0859-1229

Thai-Danish Trade News is published and distributed 10 selected Thai and Scandinavian business executives and olticials with an interest in Thai-Danish relations by Danish-Thai Chamber of Commerce, Royal Danish Embassy and Scand-Media Corp., Ltd.

Danish-Thai Chamber ot Commerce 1402/2 141h Fl-, Glas Haus 25 Road, North Klongtoe, Wattana, Bangkok 10110 Tel : (66) 0 2661 7762 Fax: (66) 0 2661 7764-5 E-mail: contact @ dancham or-th 1 Sukhumvit

Tom Sorensen

Presrdent Danrsh-Thai Chamber of Commerce

President l\4r Tom Sorensen

Executive Recruitment Director Grant Thornton Tel : +66 2 654 3330 Fax: +66 2 654 3339 Email : president@dancham-or th Legal Advisor Mr- Santhapat Periera Tilleke & Gibbins International Ltd Tel: +66 2263 7700 Fax +66 2263 7710 santhapat@tillekeandgibbins com

Treasurer

Mr Soren Presmann l\,4anaging Director Presmann (Thailand) Co, Ltd Tel : +66 2962 1151 Fax: +66 2962 1152 Email: soren @ presmann.co.th

Foreign Chambers' Coordinating Committee [.4r. Peter Emil Fomhild Executive Vice President Berli Jucker Public Co, ltd Tel: +66 2367 1111 Fax: +66 2367 1000 E-mail: bjc@ berlijucker co th

l\,4r-

Members Michel Deleurarr

Managing Director l,4aersk Bangkok Branch Tel : + 66 2752 9000, 2752 9999 Fax: + 66 2752 97BO-1 E-mail: thamkt@ maersk com

Media lMr Jorgen Ib Hedes (Committee Chairperson) Senior Executive Vice President Sun Paratech Co, Ltd Tel: +66 35 221 O1O-8,221 663-4 Fax: +66 35 221 666,221 O19 E-mail: Jloorings@ access inet co-th

Mr Allan Jensen Managing Director APV (Thailand) Co , LtdTel : +66 2367 5341-6 Fax: +66 2367 5019 Email: ajensen@apv,co uk l\,4r Bent B Hanserl General Area [,4anager

)(ponCard International (Thailand) Ltd

Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce elieve it or not but representatives of the 26 foreign Chambers of Commerce and Business Associations have over the last year been discussing the future of JFCCT, as this umbrella organization is widely known.

Questions were raised if JFCCT had any role to play in a community where bilateral cooperation is clearly higher on the agenda than multilateral interests.

The 8 - 10 Free Trade Agreements currently being worked on by the Government is just one example All foreign chambers are legal entities under the Thai law and

are established

in

accordance with the ChamberAct of 1966 The purpose of the chambers is to promote the interests of their members, encourage trade and investment between Thailand and their respective country. As an organization with some 8,000 members, including the largest investors and chambers in Thailand Germany, UK, US and Japan, the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce carry a lot of weight and responsibility when speaking with the media and the Thai official sysrem.

For five years JFCCT has been under the same capable leadership of Peter van Haren, a former President of the Thai-Canadian Chamber. Such has been the success of the JFCCT that the group of foreign chambers is today recognized as an important group that represents some of the biggest corporate tax payers in the country and a group that has invested enormous amounts of money into the counrry.

'fel:66 2636 7890 Fd:66 2636 6699 Email: beh@th xponcard com

Events h,,lL Henrik Friis (Committee Chairperson) Regional Director DISA (Thailand) Co Ltd ')c| +66 271 4 3989 Fax: +66, 2714 3983 E-mail: disath @disa co-th l\,4r Morten B Jensen Deputy l\4anaging Director ECCO (Thailand) Co., Lrd. f66 35 716 60.1 Fax: +66 35 716 615-6

:l:

Mr Vitoon Lefort l\4anaging Director VL Intertrade Co-, Ltd t::i: t662541 6043-7 Fax: +662541 5786 E mail: likeit@likeit dk

The thousands of JFCCT members are considered important ambassadors to the cause of putting Thailand on the world's investment map JFCCT is also a body the actively works for and with its host and the people of Thailand in creating a better and safer working environment, in increasing social welfare through company benef its, sharing of new technology, educational initiatives. And the list goes on ano on.

You will be pleased to learn that the Presidents of the foreign chambers have agreed to maintain the name Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce. The Presidents have also agreed to continue working as one body when pursuing issues that are of global nature and in the interest of its members.

That is also you.

Royal Danish Embassy l-lonrmercial Section 1 0 Soi Attakarn Prasit Sathorn Tai Bangkok 10500 Thailand (66) 0 2343 1100 Faxi (66) 0 2213 1752 i\,4s Tine Hylleberg Commercial Counsellor

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0saphic Production & Marketing Scand-[4edia Corp Ltd 12 N4oo 3, Ramintra Soi 14, Bangkok 10230 0 2943 7166-8 Fax: (66) 0 2943 7169 166) --firal : scandmedia@scandmedia

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EDIIORIAL PHOTOS BY

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AGM discussion about Chamber break-up The dialogue with the members at this year's Annual General Meeting in the Danish Thai

Chamber of Commerce centered on a Droposal from Mr. Stig Vagt-Andersen. Mr. Vagt Andersen reouested that the board should call for an extraordinary general meeting if current efforts to negotiate a continuation of the

shared office arrangement with the Thai Swedish Chamber of Commerce and Thai Norwegian Chamber of Commerce should fail.

The proposal was seconded by Mr. Poul Weber, but atter some discussion it ended up being merely a recommendation to the board "to do its utmost" to continue the current ad-

ministrative arrangement between the three Scandinavian Chambers.

The Annual General Meeting took place 2OO4 at the Royal Danish Em-

on March 3,

bassy in Bangkok. The members elected two new members to the Board of Directors, Mr. Michel Deleuran of Maersk and Mr. Morten B. Jensen of Ecco Shoes

Mr. Prasansak Suwanpotipra of Danfoss and Mr. Kristian Strand of Nokia left the board.

Reelected to the board were Mr. Allan Jensen of APV and Mr. Soren Presmann of Presmann (Thailand).

After the meeting, which was chaired by HE Mr. Ulrik Helweg-Larsen, most members joined a delicious dinner on the lawn behind the ambassador's residence.

Tbp right:

Mr. Stig Vagt-Andersen proposed

measures to ensure that the currenl

ffice sharing

arrangement with the th,o other Scandinavian chambers remained in place.

Top left: Chamber President, Mr. Tbm Sorensen, gave a thorough review of the Chamber b activities in the past year including a briefing about the tallts with the Thai-Swedish Chamber of Commerce and Thai Norwegian Chamber of Commerce.

Aboutfifty members managed to participate in the AGM which started half an hour earlier than

first

announced.

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Danish business tri p to Cambodia Royal Danish Embassy in Jhe I Bangkok will lead the first ever Danish Business delegation

to Cambodia on May 17 and 18, 2004. Danish Ambassador Ulrik

Helweg-Larsen will himself be leading the delegation together with Commercial Counsellor Tine Hylleberg.

The trip will give participants first hand information on the developments, opportunities and

challenges of doing business in Cambodia following recent discussions with representatives of the Cambodian business commu-

nity and high-level public sector officials. ln the recent discussions the

embassy has been advised to take a closer look especially at the

agriculture, agro-industry, tourism and infrastructure sectors, which are considered of special interest to foreign business activity.

"Since the early 90s the governments of Cambodia have pursued a liberal and open foreign trade policy, and special efforts have been made to attract foreign investors. The business climate has improved considerably, and Cambodia of today certainly offers opportunities both to exporters, importers and potential inves-

tors in various sectors," says Ambassador Ulrik HelwegLarsen.

Beside the group from Thai-

land, Danish business people from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and India are expected to join the business delegation, which willfocus on where Cambodia is going, what business opportunities arise from its movement, how WTO membership affects business opportunities, and where the road leads from there.

The tentative programme in-

cludes briefings by Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, International Finance Corporation, Asian Development Bank, Cambodian Ministries of Finance and Commerce, as well as meetings with Mekong Private Sector Development Facility and Council for the Development of Cambodia. Networking functions will be arranged and a half-day matchmaking session will be organized for interested participants.

The meetings with relevant government bodies and private sector representatives are expected to benefit the delegates in terms of contacts, as well as getting a view on the opportunities and obstacles as seen by the insiders.

Georg Jensen of Thailand I

Once again Georg Jensen is expanding its company in Chiang Mai. In March it will move into a brand new factory, built by its own company. Behind the success ts a young manager, who doesnl believe the original ambitions were high

The Danish silverware

manufacturer opened its new plant on March 16.

Story by Lasse Norgaard Translation by Peter Alim

/-\ \r;f

enough

riginally the assignment was

One of the reasons for this

to build a workshop with 28

success is, that even though there are many big silverfactories in the

employees within three years, af-

ter which the project would be

area, the workers have stayed

evaluated. But goals have been

with Georg Jensen.

reached quicker than expected in

"We try to create an attractive

northern Thailand. Today, four

environment to work in, both on

and a half years after Georg

grounds of decency and because

Jensen moved part of its production to Chiang Mai, there arc 22O employees working in rented facilities, and this month the many workers moved into a brand new factory across the street. A factory built by the company itself.

we obviously want to keep good workers. And from the looks of our

incredibly low replacement rate, we seem to succeed."

Among the benefits of Georg

Jensen, he mentions that the wage is quite reasonable, the employees get a free uniform, food and insurance, a five-day

The factory covers 4,300 sq.m. and can accommodate at least 450 employees. lt was officially opened March 16.

The factory is appropriately

situated on Sankamphaeng

Road, the world longest street

As with other Danish companies,

with factories, workshops and

who move part of their production abroad, Georg Jensen was aware that both work relations

other shoos. lt is furthermore a street that will soon be embellished with beautiful trees along

the roadside, honouring Prime Minister Thaksin, who is from Sankamphaeng, 15 km outside Chiang Mai

Behind the massive exoansion of Georg Jensen's activities we find an unusual managerwho, in spite of being only 36, can celebrate his 20th anniversary in the company.

Morten Bjerg-Ch ristensen f irst came to Thailand in August 1998.

Later in January 2001 he moved here. In April same year the Georg Jensen workshop was opened,

employing 6 gold- and silversmiths, an assistant and a cleaner.

to move out here, but I think

standard eoual to the Danish

wrong impression of what goes on out here, which to some extend is probably our own fault.

ones.

"But that turned out not to be a problem," says Bjerg-Christensen, who praises his workers for their flexibility and their ability to

quickly learn how to produce jewellery in the particular Danish design.

During the summer of 2000, the factory had to 48 employees, and since then, an average of ten

more smiths have been hired each month.

And what has been the result of that in Denmark?

"Before that we had taken

"ln the same period we've had to let workers go, but not as many as we have created here.

So the collective production has been expanded"

versmith craftsmanship. Finally

Morten Bjerg-Christensen is

the choice was between Thailand and Mexico. Thailand won because of their infrastructure and political stability. And later Chiang Mai beat Bangkok among others

aware of the fact that the issues of moving and downsizing are sensitive areas, and in addition does not deny that the expansion is among others a result of the lower costs of labour in Thailand.

"But on the positive side we create jobs here. lt is nice, things are going so well," he says.

managing director.

The first products were good.

I

and quality would be scrutinized, and that products had to be of a

serious consideration as to where to expand. One of the criteria was of course, that there had to be a long-standing tradition of fine sil-

because we believe the labour here is more reliable," says the

working week and are paid overtime for weekend work.

Strangely the Georg Jensen employees back in Denmark are not too eager to relocate to the factory in Chiang Mai. "l realise that it must be hard people back home may have the

Maybe we just haven't been good enough at explaining how nice it is out here."

On the other hand, Morten Bjerg-Christensen did not need persuasion. He one day went to the managing director in Denmark and said that if he was being considered he was both ready and motivated for the job in Thailand.

"And that surprised him, as he had in fact considered me, but had however heard I wasn't interested in moving to Thailand."

Next year Morten Bjerg-Christensen is moving back to Denmark with his wife Karin, and their three small daughters. Beforethat happens though, the job as managing director will be given to a Thai person recently appointed.

And for his replacement Morten Bjerg-Christensen will be handing over not a workshop with 28 em-

ployees, but a big productive company and a brand new factory with space for more than 450 workers,

No more Carlsberg in Thailand

By Ghrister Nilsson

fnai loint venture CarlsJne I berg Brewery fihailand), set up by Carlsberg and Thai

whisky tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, announced Friday, February 13 that it has stopped all production of the Danish beer, reports Thai press.

This is the latest move in a drawn out conflict between the Thais and the Danes, which

began when Carlsberg Asia Pte Ltd, a joint venture between Carlsberg and Chang Beverages Pte Ltd in Singa-

pore, dropped the Chang's representatives from its board of directors in June 2003 citing that the joint venture did not develop according to expectations. Chang protested and asked for Londonbased arbitration in September.

In a related move Danbrew

confirmed to Scand-Media that they would finish their activities at

Beer Chang's Kamphaengpet brewery in 3-4 months time.

Danbrew, a brewery project consulting firm and a subsidiary of Carlsberg, Iost its bid for an ex-

tension project at

the

Kamphangpet brewery to a Ger-

man group Krones/Steinecker.

Danbrew has been working for Beer Chang since the Thai brewery began production in the early 1990's.

Afew comments were also received from the parent company in Denmark on the latest events.

"We terminated the license contract with Carlsberg Brewery Thailand because they had not paid royalties for 2002," said Carlsberg's Public Affairs Director Margrethe Skov.

"As the brewery in spite of a reminder in May 2003 still did not pay us we terminated the contract in August 2003."

To the question of re-entering

In a relaled move Danbrew conJirmed that they wouldfinish their activities at Beer Changb Kamp hengpae t b rew ew (p ictured above) in three tofour months time

Thailand, Margrethe Skov said Carlsberg was looking into the possibilities of how to continue to service the Thai market.

18,000 km 'tuk-tuk' ride from Thailand to Denmark Over the next 7 months, Michael B. Pedersen of Jysk Rejsebureau in Bangkok will drive a Thai

'tuk-tuk' all the way over 18,000 kilometers from Bangkok to Aarhus through tropical forests, mountains and deserts passing 15 countries on the trail.

By Jesper Kiby Denborg

sights in the middle of nowhere.

The journey itself - and not the destinations - will be the adventure."

On the journey, the tuk{uk will drive trough 15 countries, and the

participants have many plans for the trip. "ln Thailand we plan to see the bridge over River Kwai, dive outside Phuket, climb at the rocks above the beaches at Krabi and

maybe take a one-day-trip to Burma from Ranong. And in Malaysia we hope to drive at Sepang' s Formel 1-track south of Kuala Lumpur and visit Taman Nagara

National Park among other

It's a 10 year old dream which

I will come true: To drive one of

things. When we hit Singapore, our only goals are to drink a Singapore Sling and get the tuk-tuk

the polluting, noisy and funny-

on a container ship to India. From

looking tuk tuks all the way from Thailand to Denmark.

"We have big expectations to

here we will continue through Nepal, Pakistan, lran, Turkey,

the trip," Michael B. Pedersen says.

He has travelled around in Asia, lran and Turkey for six years and now works as a travel con-

sultant in Jysk Rejsebureau in Aarhus in Denmark.

"We believe that we can experience a lot of things, which ordinary travellers wbn't. When we arrive in this crazy vehicle, we will meet the locals in a new, downto-earth way where you can't help smiling. The big adventures are

often between the big tourist

10

Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and Germany to Denmark," tells Michael B. Pedersen.

The tuk{uk should have left Bangkok February the 'l st, but the

paper work lasted much longer than expected before the participants could get the right permissions. That's why the tuk-tuk didn' t leave Bangkok before February

the 8th. Michael B. Pedersen doesn't think the delay will have any influence on the expected arrival to Denmark Septemberthe 1

st.

"Seven days doesn't matter

much in comoarison to the scheduled seven months. We plan to

Aarhus in 1984 and has had a seruice office in Bangkok since

drive 100 km. per day, and that

1987. Since year 2000 the travel agency has had its own hotel with 58 rooms, a service office, a bar

seems reasonable," says Michael B. Pedersen.

"Michael and I will be on the tuk{uk all the way from Bangkok to Aarhus, but on the way there will be one to two other oarticipants from joining us on shorter

or longer distances," tells Tina Helen Pedersen. She will write

and 2 dormitories on Charoen Krung Road - close to the General Post Office.

There are always 3 to 5 service guides working in Bangkok, and that is a success, tells Mogens Jacobsen, who owns Jysk

and take photos along the route, and their exoeriences can be followed at www.tuktuk.dk.

"Peoole are more than welcome to contact us through the website, if they can recommend some good sights or others," Tina continues, who underline that one of the hopes forthe trip is to meet Danes who lives in other countries.

Rejsebureau.

"From January last year to the same month this year we have

Jysk Rejsebureau's tuk{uk

many travellers going to Malaysia. Laos. Cambodia and Viet-

differs a little from the ordinary ones in Bangkok's streets. lt runs on benzin instead of gas, and this makes the engine sound more or less like a car. The soecial tuktuk sound is only vaguely recognisable. And then it is possibly the only tuk-tuk with seatbelts.

Jysk Rejsebureau has just got

got an increase of 64 percent more travellers to Bangkok. Now almost half of our 24,000 travellers per year have Bangkok as their destination. And more than 60 percent of Jysk Rejsebureau' s costumers travel to Asia. Be-

sides Thailand, we also have

nam."

Almost all the customers come from Denmark, but a few Norwegians have started to buy their journeys at Jyske Rejsebureau as well. Jysk Rejsebureau has five divisions in Denmark and

live service offices in Asia. Be-

Guinness' Book of Records'ap-

sides the one in Bangkok they are

proval to padicipate for "the longest journey by auto-rickshaw", so if everything goes well, the tuktuk journey will could be find in a future edition of the book.

placed in Kathmandu, Delhi,

Jysk Rejsebureau started

in

Hanoi and Bali.

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OId Danish graves r who Gares? ground is swampy and Tn" I soft. The old cemetery on the banks of the Chaopraya River is only a feet or two above the wa-

ter level of the majestic river

Peder Jorgensen at the grave

of

Jenny Nielsenfrom Aalborg - founder of the Neilson Hays Library in

Bangkok. Her grave is one of the few better kept graves at the cemelery.

whose glittering waters flow by

A Coming Together of Exp ertise...

-

next to the cemetery.

To scare any snakes away we have brought a stick. Hitting the ground left and right in front of us we walk carefully through the tall grass between the gravestones.

Now and then we stop to read the inscription.

"Fzdt i Nakskov 1 868 - Dod i Bangkok 1 884" one reads - born

in Nakskov in Denmark in 1868, died in Bangkok in 1884.

Peder Jorgensen makes a note in his indispensable little black notebook.

"My guess is that he was one of the many young seamen who came here looking for fortune and adventure only to find their untimely death in the malaria in-

fested swamps of Siam at that

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himself spent their active adult lives in Siam.

"lt's an embarrassment the way we mistreat our heritage," he says, pointing to a wooden cross who has been left to rotten awav on one of the graves.

The Christian orotestant cemetery was given to the foreigners during the reign of Rama 4 and apart the many British graves, most of the other foreigners buried here are Danes, Noruvegians

and Swedes as well as some other European nationals.

It seems that the Scandinavian Society Siam was at some time in charge of maintaining the

notes.

tained by some of the staff of The East Asiatic Company which had its sawmill next to the graveyard.

But for many years no Scandinavian support has been given to maintain the cultural heritage and evidence of the major Danish involvement in the development of Thailand.

Gregers Moller

For orty year, f

5i6rau

mostly unknown Danes who like

time," he says.

"Only sixteen years old," he

Peder

Jorgensen was a Danish missionary and head of a local school for

lotng

dence of the many known and

poor children in

Ubon

Ratchathani orovince.

Now, that he has retired and moved back to Denmark with his wife Ruth, Peder Jogensen has made it his hobby to collect evi-

cemetery. The duty was main-

Dane bri ngs moonlight to Ghiang Mai art scene anish reporter Lasse l-) lJ Norgaard who has been based in Chiang Mai for the past two years, has opened a new art gallery La Luna Gallery together with two local partners.

"The idea behind La Luna Gallery is to promote artfromAsia

and the Pacific. and simultaneously to encourage and sup-

Mai artists. Jittiwut On and Wanna

and at the same time feature in-

Kumsombat," he says about the opening of the gallery.

"Not everybody can afford a painting, but we all like to deco-

ternational posters and framed photographs from the region,"

rate our walls with something

running this gallery are Chiang Mai resident Sommai Lumdual and an expat in Yangon, Joanna

beautiful. So we have agreed with some of the artists to make posters and cards of their paintings,

Lasse Norgaard says.

Joining Lasse Norgaard in

Maclean.

port the local contemporary and abstract art scene," says Lasse Norgaard.

"We will feature art from ThaF land as well as a number of other

countries in the region to give customers- Thais, tourists and

expats

-

a greater variety to

choose from," Lasse Norgaard adds.

The new 220 sq.m. gallery located amid many famous restaurants along the Ping River on Charoenraj Road was officially opened on March 14.

According to Lasse Norgaard, La Luna Gallery will not focus on solo-exhibitions, but will carry art from many artists representing a

wide variety of styles and techniques.

"lt will be a place where you have a good chance of finding a painting you like, if you are looking for colourful contemporary or abstract Asian art."

Lasse Norgaard remarks that La Luna Gallery will however occasionally promote one artist or a group of artists working on one theme.

"At the opening, for instance, we will feature the most famous Vietnamese lacquer-painter Trinh Tuan as well as some paintings and prints from two young Chiang

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GPV Asia capabilities: Mechanic production: Shearing, CNC punching, CNC Laser cutting, CNC bending, Stamping, Welding, CNC Machining, CNC Turning, CMM measuring, Powder painting, Printing, Electrical wiring and Full assembly of products.

Electronic production: Cable & Wire configuration, Wire harnish, Electronic assembly with automatic SMT line, Autoinsertion and manual lines, lC and FunctionTest, Complete Electronic and Electro-mechanic assembly.

R&D department with mechanic and electronic engineers.

Asta (Thailand) Co., Ltd. 297 Moo 4,Bangpoo Industrial Estate, Soi 6 Sukhumvit Road, Phraksa, Muang Dis. Samutprakam 10280, Thailand Tel. +66 (0) 27 09 25 5O Fax +66 (0) 27 09 25 64 E-mail: jar@ gpv-asia.co.th

Homepage: www.gpv-group.com

Vi har Danmarks bedste priser og biludvalg til dig som udlandsdansker.

Ring, fax eller e-mail og fA et godt tilbud pA din feriebil i Danmark.

Av i s

R e se ruati o n s C e

Telefon: Telefax: E- m a i I:

+tlli

nte

r

3i126 80 80

+tl5?il26ffi8l reseruation@avi s, d k

At thr star i Michel Deleuran is the man behind the rudder of Maersk in Thailand. In a rare insight he presents the Thai activities of the discrete Danish shipping giant.

By Knud Brix

E helm

of the white

n Thai land flI

inging phones, ticking faxes and hum-

I ming computers

mix with voices in many

different languages. The 41st floor at the Empire Tower on South Sathorn Road is seething with activity.

The large open-plan office is the head of shipping activities of Maersk Bangkok Branch, where more than 100 staff members arranges shipment of goods from Thailand to destinations all over the globe.

In the left wing of the exclusive premises, Michel Deuleran is situated. The Managing Director of Maersk Bangkok Branch resides in a large, but not lavishly furnished office, cut off from the hectic activity outside. "l have worked in an open-plan office before, and profoundly liked it. You are really close to the activities and your associates, and that creates a very direct way of communication. But a regular office also has its virtues," says Deleuran with a wry smile and makes a gesture towards the full-sized windows, revealing a breathtaking panoramic view of the Bangkok skyline, shrouded in pale grey fog.

The 43-year-old Managing Director with the firm handshake and attentive but friendly eyes has agreed to an interview about the Maersk group's activities in Thailand, a rare occasion in the predominantly discrete shipping giant.

ciencies are at their optimum. We imple-

'The year 2003 was a satisfactory year

charter brokering besides being agent for the A.P. Msller owned company Safmarine.

Finally there is Maersk Logistics, which main business areas are supply chain management, forwarding and groupage, airfreight, warehouse and other local services. There is a multitude of nationalities represented in Maersk Group Thailand, though the majority naturally are Thais. This comes from Maersk s global strategy to use local management and rotating international management.

'We want our staff to know, that there is

for us. lt is too early to say anything particular about 2004 yet, but it wouldn't surprise me if it turned out to be better. The Thai economy

no limit to the height of their career, if they show the right abilities and spirit. Therefore we have staff with many different nationali-

is improving and prognoses are positive."

ties. But naturally Thais have a special knowledge of the culture and language that is useful," explains Michel Deleuran, and adds that he in general finds Thailand a good country business wise.

"We have a very good co-operation with

mented the outsourcing in the last quarter of 2003, and so far it has worked out smooth," explains Michel Deleuran who underlines that

this decision of outsourcing was made centrally within Maersk.

The transport sector has always been a good place to take the pulse of a country's economy, and Michel Deleuran makes no secret of the fact that he is quite confident about the future.

In general lines Deleuran sketches the profile and activities of the Maersk Bangkok Branch, but when it comes to talking revenues, market shares and other key figures, the Managing Director is shut like a clam.

"l can only say that we, like many other places in the world, are a major operator in transportation and logistic services," says the modest Managing Director. Because a major operator they are. In fact Maersk Sealand is

the largest liner shipping company in the world. In Thailand the group has been present since 1949, and today the Bangkok Branch consists of four atfiliate companies, with combined more than 600 employees.

Since Michel Deleuran took over the helm of the Bangkok Branch from his predecessor, Peter S. Linnemann 10 month ago, he has effectuated earlier planned changes as well as newly planned structural alterations.

Selected documentation regarding shipments and production in Thailand has been moved to India. This means that global customers wishing to ship from Thailand now can

send their instructions to Mumbai, using a wide range of e-commerce tools and channels.

"The idea is to outsource processes to places where expertise, prolitability and effi-

Maersk Bangkok branch has offices in Songkhla, Laem Chabang and a 3rd party agent in Phuket.

At the port of Laem Chabang Maersk owns 35 percent of a container terminal, where the Maersk Sealand vessels berth. A weekly direct route from Thailand via Taiwan services Japan to North America. Maersk

the Thai authorities. Of course some of the procedures are unique, and lots of papers must be signed when you do transactions, but

Sealand's largest carriers, the 350 meter long

generally I do not find Thailand as bureau-

S-class is too big to enter Laem Chabang habour though. This means that some freight

cratic as many people say."

must be re-shipped elsewhere such as in Singapore or Malaysia.

'The Laem Chabang harbour has some limitations, and we are continuously evaluating new possibilities of ports and shipping," says Michel Deleuran, who does not wish to comment the evaluation in detail.

Maersk Group Thailand also comprises Siam Shoreside Services, a companyfounded in 1983, operating an off dock in Lat Krabang, and terminal operations, trucking services and equipment maintenance and repair.

Then there is the Bangkok Marine Company, which has operated as a shipbroker and liner agent since 1973. lt also does cargo,

Personally Michel Deleuran also likes Thailand. He had visited the kingdom many times before he moved to Bangkok with his family to fulfil the post as country manager.

'There is a visible polarization in Bangkok, but even though there is no social safety net, the Thais have a good way of taking care

of each other. I like the Thai mentality," says Deleuran who has been posted to numerous places, since he started his career within the

A.P Moller group 21 years ago.

Michel Deleuran looks forward to several

years in Thailand before he will be placed in another position in the A.P Moller group, and a different country manager will take over the helm of the white star in Thailand.

15

*

There are more than I00 million undetected mines around the world, Every year 2.5 million nevv

Iandmines are put out, and onlY around 100,000 is removed again.

Here the "Thale Cress" is tesled in a greenhouse at Riso National Laboratory in Denmark.

Danish mine sniffi ng Plant

By Knud Brix

I t sounds almost too good to be I true. You plant a little green olant that turns red when it detects landmines. But nevertheless

it's the simple truth behind the revolutionary new invention from the scientist of the small Danish biotechnology firm Aresa.

The invention is based on the

small plant Thale Cress. lt has

around 100.000 is removed

been genetically modified bY the company's scientists so that the leaves will turn red, if the roots touch landmines or unexPloded ordnance. Therefore the Plant can possibly revolutionise the hunt for the more than 100 million undetected mines around the world.

Every year 2.5 million new landmines are put out, and onlY

agarn.

The Thale Cress Plant is fullYgrown in four to eight weeks and is seeded like crops, and further-

more self-pollinating. Therefore the small plantwill also be quicker and cheaper than existing methods of mine detection. "ln time we may contribute to clear land in large scale Project much faster than possible todaY, and reduce the number of PeoPle getting injured or killed bY landmines," says CEO of Aresa, PhD Simon @stergaard, who founded Aresa in June 2001 along with two other scientist friends.

Three years, a lot of testing

and hard work later, they now have the patent of the Plant, and the world sensation maY very well

become an economical adventure for the Aresa as well.

Scientist, politicians and the

we will see the plant in use withln the next few years," says Profe!' sor John Mundy, DePaftment of Plant Physiology, UniversitY of Copenhagen, who has served at adviser on the Project.

Aresa's invention can be of lm' mense potentialto clearing minea in South East Asia where coun' tries like Lao, Burma, Malayslt and also Thailand are infectecl with landmines. Worst off is Cam' bodia with more than 10,000,000 mrnes.

"South East Asia is, unfortu' nately you might add, a markod

with great potential for us,

In

some areas with rain forest or ex. tremely dense vegetation, Plantl will have to be cut down befora our oroduct can be used, like wlth existing methods. But before wa put our product on the market, wa set up in the region the Plant mud be developed so it's also the moll

Biotech industry are keePing a close eye at the development ol the plant.

'This is a pioneering examPle of how we will see geneticallY

secure method," exPlaln!

engineered plants aPPlied for hu-

manitarian and environmental purposes in the tuture, with the

laboratories in Copenhagen, and in the near future the skills of " Thale Cress" will be tested in real

right recourses spent in the final development, I do not doubt that

lields on Sri Lanka.

Sebastian Arnstedt from Aresa.

Currently the Plant is behg tested in mine-infected soil from Tanzania, in Aresa's greenhouef

life, when it is Plante.d in mlnl

The leaves of Thale Cress will turn red, ifthe roots touches landmines or unexploded ordnance. In lhe right hand corner of the picture the plant grows in TNT infested soil from Tanzania. Mthin the next three years the scientists ofAresa hope that their plant will be on the marked, revolutionising the mine detecting

industry.

t6

"The Asian mentality is nol to sit around and discuss long

economical reports. They strike while the iron is hot. For instance the idea with the Printing City arose only three years dgo, and today we are ready to launch a billion Bath project," says Benny Thomsen, the Danish director and member of the board in the company behind the project.

Building Thailand's Pri nting City Sinsakhon Printing City is the Thai printing industry's answer to Silicon Valley. Benny Thomsen is director in Charoen Aksorn, the group behind the project.

We caught up with him to learn more about the ideas and visions behind the new city.

By Knud Brix

witt oe the first of its kind in It I Thailand. In fact the Sinsakhon

t n

Printing City will be the first of its kind in the world - an industrial community that combines every aspect of the printing business, from pre-press to final product.

Customers, competitors, suppliers and workers will live next door to each other and enjoy synergy effects and tax reduction.

The idea behind the project sprung from talking to our customers and printing companies, that didn't have the possibility of ex-

tomers. In 2006 the plot will be fully developed, and the city will arise from what is now a flooded field 30 kilometers west of Bangkok.

Apart f rom pre-press, printing, post-press, graphical and packag-

ing companies, the city will also include warehouses, an educa-

as well," says Benny who will travel to DUsseldod in May, to pro-

arose only three years ago, and today we are ready to launch a

mote the project at the gigantic

billion Bath project," explains

printing fair Drupa.

Benny Thomsen, who grew up in Aalborg where he was educated as a printer. Later he did a master's degree in graphics and economy at the graphical college of Copenhagen.

To persuade companies to settle, firms that move their activi-

ties to the new city are exempt from corporate taxes for eight years. lmported machinery and

tional centre and exhibition halls.

materials used to produce goods

After working with Danida in

Staff from the companies can settle in the nearby housing es-

for export are funhermore exempt

Kenya and Tanzania for many

from customs and VAT. This is in cooperation with the Thai government, who wishes to move some of the heavy industry away from Bangkok.

years, Thomsen came to Thailand

tate where malls, post offices and even a golf course are being built.

Benny Thomsen stresses that the place of the city was important, forthe printing companies to be attracted to move into the premtses.

"We wanted a piece of land that was not too expensive, but

The Charoen Aksorn group will also move some of the industrial conglomerate's own activities

to Printing City. The group

is

owned by a Thai family, and has

still close to Bangkok and with

a

excellent transportation possibilities. The choice fell on a 900 rai. or 1.44 million sq.m. plot of land,

ing business, including a paper business that sells more than 15.000 ton of paper a month. A

with a nearby canal that can be used to carry goods to Bangkok

second-hand machine business imports printing machines from

Harbour."

Europe, and sell them in Thailand.

It also includes a condom factory

The Charoen Aksorn Group develops the land and sells the plots to the individual companies

who build the factories themselves.

variety of companies in the print-

that produces more than 500 million condoms annually. Last year

the total turnover was 6 billion bath, and the group employed

panding within Bangkok. We

"We already sold more than

thought, why not unite allthe companies in one big community, ex-

80 percent of the land in advance

Benny Thomsen is the only

with a down payment of 20 percent. This assures us, that the p.[oject will actually be realized," explains Benny Thomsen.

foreigner in the company, and he mostly focuses on controlling the purchase of paper, machines

Benny Thomsen, and virtual picture of the City in a co-

around 850 people.

the

i

From being involved in the

is directoi,"'ai Board in the the Charoen Aksorn Group, the company behind the projeg.,qle month ago he cutthe

attrqct Print-'

the group is the *rnents. The Asian to sit around

is not

long strike

Printing City, along-

mayors and cus-

the idea- with the'

ctv

in 1987 as a factory manager of the Danish credit card manufacturer DZ-Cards. He later changed to the Charoen Aksorn where he worked until, he in 1997 went to Bhutan, to work at a Danida supported printing house. In 2000 he came back to Bangkok and reclaimed the managing position in the group.

The energetic director lives in Bangkok with his Thai wife, who is a marketing director in a French company. He has three grown-up children who live in Denmark.

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS

Making friends is the easiest thing

By Jesper Kiby Denborg

"She was from Australia and she is my best friend now", says

ofthe oldest, one ofthe An" \vf biggest and one of the inter-

Karma, who laterhas been "buddy" for a Danish girl, who also has become a best friend. "l think the people at interna-

national schools with most Scandinavian students.

With 55 different nationalities among the 2000 students, Bang-

kok Patana School

-

Patana

means "develooment" in Thai - is the school in Thailand serving the largest number of expatriate families. The diversity feels as a big plus for the foreign students.

"No one is different, because

we are all different", one of the Danish students. Karma Bertelsen, says.

Karma is 13 years old and is attending Year 8 in Secondary School. Karma herself is a fine example of the multi-ethnic world, you find at Bangkok Patana. Her Danish father works at Nestle in

Thailand and is in charge of all the national factories. while her mother is Indian and previously has lived in Spain. The Bertelsen family is on that account trilingual with Danish, Spanish and English spoken at home.

Karma lived in Denmark until she was six months old and has since lived in six different countries, the past2112 years in Thailand, where she has studied at Bangkok Patana.

It is not unusual with the many school changes, because the par-

ents get jobs in new countries.

Out of Patana's 2000 students, 2OO-250 students leave Patana every year on account of that, and a little higher number begin in the school of the same reason.

"After a while you get used to move around, and the other students at Patana are very friendly.

Already at my second school day it felt normal to be here". Karma says, who explains that new students get a "buddy" with a similar

background, which show you around and take care of you.

tional schools are more open.

I

went to my cousin's school in Denmark once, but it was really hard to fit in. The students there stayed in small groups and weren' t open to others", Karma tells. She thinks making friends is the easi-

est thing at Patana, while the school work is the most difficult.

"The educational level is really high compared with e.g. the Danish folkeskole, so you have to spend a lot of time on doing your homework and get help from your parents", Karma says.

International schools have a

strong tradition for prioritizing sport, and Patana is no exception.

tional dances, make national

D ani s h- Indian Karm a B ertels en

dishes and are dressed up following their own national traditions.

The aim is to give the students a broader perspective on the many nationalities in the world. And for Karmathere are several possibili-

(left) together with another Scandinavian, 14 year-old Helena Sandesj 6 from Sweden. Altogethe r there are 54 Scandinavian studenls at Bangkok Patana School.

ties for joining the international oay.

"One year lwas representing

the Danes, and the other Spain", tells Karma with a smile. However, so far she hasn't represented lndia.

The school has expanded by leasing a neighbouring area and

now has four football fields, 12 tennis coufts and two swimming pools - plus a splat pool for the nursery children. Besides ditfer-

Bangkok Patana School

ent extra sport possibilities, Patana offers music, art and drama on an after-school basis.

The focus on sports suits Karma great.

"l swim at school and has been at tournaments overseas.

Other international schools,

a a a a a

I

have been at, also have competitions, but here at Patana there

a

.

is more competitiveness", Karma

explains.

Once a year Bangkok Patana

School has an international day, where all the students represent their own nationality in different ways. Each group

l\

dance tradi-

.

Contact details: 2/38 Soi La Salle. Sukhumvit 105 Phra Khanong, Bangkok 1026-0 Tel:

d,,

ri\.'

Facilities: Extensive, purpose-built 108-rai (17 hectare) campus with full technology, sports, library performing and creative arts facilities.

Number of student* 2o2o Percentage of Thai students: 20% Number of Scandinavian students: 54 Number of Danish students: 17 Curriculum: UK National Curriculum, IGCSE/GCSE, lB Year of Establishment: 1957 Owner and operator: License owner is the Department of Technical and Economic Cooperation of Thai Government.

School is a Not-For-Profit Foundation with a Board of Trustees.

Tuition fees/year: 29O,37O THB (nursery) to 451 ,630 THB (senior students)

PATA

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INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS

Popular new sports centre

By Jesper Kiby Denborg

three years, while her father works at the Danish embassy.

New The discipline is stricterat I lnternational School in Thai-

Besides half a year in Africa, this is her first time studying abroad. ln Denmark she attended a small public school in Humlebek north of Copenhagen.

Amalie still remember her f irst day at NIST: "lt was really hard in the beginning. Everything was new, and I did not understand what people said to me, because my English was not that good. But very quick you get used to the language and the new surroundings. As many others non-native English speakers I followed a special English class in the beginning, and after a while, when my English had improved, I was able to follow the ordinary class."

The students at NIST reoresent more than 50 nationalities, and the staff comes from more than 20 nationalities. Also Amalie' s f riends come all over the world: "My lriends are my friends. don't really notice where they are from - it doesn't matter."

Amalie has an older brother at Year 11 and a younger sister at Year 2 also attending NIST, and

land (NIST) than at the Danish public "folkeskole". That is one of

the lessons, the Danish student Amalie Gasseholm, has learned. .At NIST you are been given after-school detentions if you are late, or if you haven't done your

homework.

ln

Denmark the

teacher would just complain at the worst. And then there are much more examinations here and from an earlier age", Amalie explains.

She adds there is no doubt in her mind, that the stricter discipline is a good thing: "We learn a lot more here.

There is more pressure with longer school hours and more

homework, but I am sure it is bet-

ter, and that it will help me later

on," Amalie says. The longer school days results in longer holidays - mostly spend in Denmark - which she orefers too. And the

compulsory school uniform makes it easier to dress in the mornrng.

Amalie Gasseholm is 14 years old and attends Year 10 at NIST. She has been in Bangkok and at NIST alMOSI

I

a brother who graduated from NIST last year. After a gap year

he will soon start at university in Denmark.

While her

brother at Year 11 gets individual Danish lessons at NIST, Amalie has a Danish teacher educating her in her house once a week.

When Amalie is not at school, she enjoys going around in Bangkok, although it is very different from the idyllic Humlebek: "Thai people are friendlier, but I don't like the city is so polluted.

It can be hard to find way around, but I just take a taxi, if I get lost.

And then everything is so cheep here. I shop a lot", Amalie says

with a big smile.

She thinks of Bangkok as her home, but it will not last forever.

This summerthe family will move

back to Denmark. In Denmark Amalie will continue to follow the lB programme at an international school.

"But it will be hard to leave Thailand and all my friends here.

I try not to think about it," Amalie says.

New International School

of Thailand (NIST) Facilities: 22 rai of land just off Sukhumvit Road in the heart of Bangkok, including 80 classrooms, gymnasia, resource

o a a a o

centre, auditorium, information technology laboratories, science, technology, art, music and drama facilities.

Number of students: 1270 Percentage of Thai students:281" Number of Scandinavian students: 38 Number of Danish students: 8 Curriculum: Fully international and independent of any one

country's education system. International Baccalaureate (Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma programmes) and

.

o

IGSCE. Year ol Establishment: 1992 Owner and operator: The school is a non-profit foundation and is governed by the Council of Trustees of the Foundation for International Education (FlE). The Council of Trustees votes to select 9 voting members to form the Executive Committee. also known as the School Board, which acts on behall of the Foundation to look after the long-term interests of the school.

Tuition fees per year: 216,400 THB (early years) to 423,800 THB (year 13 students)

Contact details: 36 Sukhumvit Soi 15, Wattana, Bangkok 10110 Tel:02 6512065 Faxi 02 253 3800 Website: www.nist.ac.th Email: admissions @ nist.ac.th

A truly international education Th" New International School I of Thailand offers a truly international education to culturally diverse students aged 5 to 18.

NIST is independent of national systems, but incorporates the best in education frorn around

the world. 'We strive to achieve the academic excellence, attitudes and skills that will a.llow success in lifelong education.

For further inforrnation call NIST on 02-651 2065 or visit our website at www.nist.ac.th

New International School of Thailand Est. 1992 . United Nations - related . Accredited by ECIS & NEASC 56 Sukhumvit Soi 15.'Wattana.Bangkok 10110.Thailand. Ph: (+662) 6512065. Fax: (+662) 2533800.email: nist@nist.ac.th

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS

Enthusiastic teachers Compared to Danish schools

By Jesper Kiby Denborg

there were more exams, and all

Teachers who brino out

I

the

best in you and help you

realise your potential.

That is one ofthe advantages of going to Harrow International School in Bangkok according to Lea Gammelgaard Jensen, a former student at Harrow.

She was 16 years old when she moved to Bangkok, and from year 2000 to 2OO2 she studied at A-level at Harrow.

"Teachers in Denmark have a terrible reputation amongst young people, because for the most part they are burnt out and boring. My teachers at Harrow were different from the teachers I had in Denmark. Simply put, they rarely had a day-off from illness; they made us think for ourselves; they were

enthusiastic about the materiel taught and excellent at explaining it. Moreover, they liked us a

lot as students and as human beings. I am very grateful for getting the opportunity to go to a

school like Harrow, because it was stimulating, and every essay was a challenge", Lea says and adds a story about the higher discipline at Harrow.

"The thing that surprised me

of them were written exams.

"That means you really have to learn the curriculum, because you cannot charm a teacher into giving you a good grade. We got termly grades from each of our

teachers and a following statement about our progress. They were useful because they would sometimes provide an incentive to work harder and other times remove some unnecessary worries," Lea says with a smile.

Lea found Harrow very international with the teachers mainly from the UK and the students ori-

marily from Asia. In her class there were Chinese, Japanese, German, English and Thai stu-

Denmark all of their life has the danger of becoming too ignorant, because they have never experienced the warmth and hospitality

of other cultures, e.g. the way Thais, greet foreigners with."

Lea's British mother currently works in Denmark in the Department of Social Welfare. Her Danish father works as a Senior Ad-

more in common. There was a

visor for the Danish Consultant Carl Bro lnternational. He currently works in Vietnam, but in a month he will start a project in

tendency for people with common cultural backgrounds to stick together, and that is fine as long as you don't exclude others. Thais and Chinese too - are very different from Danish people, with the main difference lying in communication. Danish people are very direct, whilstThai don't even have "yes" or "no" in their language.

South Africa.

Lea is today 20 years old and lives in Copenhagen. She has lived most of her life in Denmark and has attended a private school and the Danish folkeskole there.

After she ended her secondary education at Harrow, Lea had a gap year, and last September she started at BAin Politics atThe

dents.

"My closest friends I had were

English, because we simply had

-

"Compared to Danish schools there are more exams, and

cannot charm a teacher into giving you a good grade, " says Lea Gammelgaard Jensen.

University of Warwick north of London. She left Warwick this February and is now applying for Roskilde University in Denmark. "l don't think education should be done alone in a room twenty four hours a day, that's why the

group oriented work-form at Roskilde University appeals to me", Lea explains and tells she would like to become a lournalist.

"And I want to establish my own consultancy-business in about ten years time when I have the necessary know-how."

There are so many differences

the most was that if the teacher would have to attend to some-

and yet the Danes and Thais still manage to have good links with each other. That is amazing", she says.

Lea couldn't help feeling rootless now and then, butthere were so many invaluable benefits to experiencing foreign cultures that it didn't matter;

thing for ten minutes during a les-

son everyone would remain seated in the classroom and only whisper to each other! In Den-

mark there would be absolute chaos!" The size of classes is also

smaller at Harrow. When Lea attended Harrow, they were eight students at maximum in a class.

"Anybody who has lived in

Harrow International School moved to a new, spacious and

purpose-built campus close to the Bangkok Inlernational Airport (Don Muang) in the autumn last year

Harrow International School, Bangkok .

Facilities: Full modern school facilities. Associate Member

. . . . . . . o

ECIS. Number of students: 950 Percentage ofThai students:70% Number of Scandinavian students: 3 Number of Danish students: 0 Curriculum: UK. Exams: IGCSE, A/S and A LEVEL. Year of Establishment: 1998 Owner and ooefator: Harrow Asia Ltd. Tuition fees/year: approximately 400,000 Baht.

Gontact details:

a

i

all of

them are written exams so you

il t-l-.1

185/45 Soi Kosumruamjai 7 Sikan, Dgl.Muang, Bangkok 10210

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS

Expanding into secondary scho to open a secondary school".

By Jesper Kiby Denborg

first which catches the

Tn" I eye, when you arrive at KIS lnternational School. is the

building's soft, round forms and the planets marked in the Pavement. The fairytale castle-look

continues after entering the school. Each floor has its sPecial

The discussions went on about a year ago, and at that time there were only five students at Grade 5. After the decision has been made, this number has more than doubled, and KIS are getting many applicants.

As an authorized lB-school, KIS gives families an internation-

ship- and tree-shaped holes in the

ally-recognised programme of learning. At the moment the

doors.

school follows lB's Primary Years

colour and element showed

bY

But the fairytale won't stop here. The castle is growing, tells Sally Holloway, the head of the school: "Until this year, KIS had been exclusively a primary school, and we expected to continue serving that niche without going anY fur-

ther. But the parent's grouP wanted KIS to be a full-scale school, and after discussions with the board we ended up deciding

Programme (PYP). The school has a double class system with team teaching, and the layout of the school is built with this in mind.

The students are not seated in rows fronting a blackboard, but

are situated in groups around small tables with easy access to "the sister class" and comPuters etc.

The classes workwith themes which integrate the different sub-

KIS International School

a a

o o a O

a

Facilities: Located on 16 rais in the city centre, KIS' expanding, purpose-built campus will include the current 4-storey primary school and separate secondary school buildings, a full-sized swimming pool, soccer pitch, tennis courts, auditorium and lots of green areas. KIS expects student enrolment of around 750 students. The school currently otfers Pre-Kindergarden to Grade 6 classes for students aged 212 years old, but will expand to Grade 7 in August 2004.

The current plan is to open a new grade level every year' with the first G12 graduating class set for the 2009-10 academic year.

Number of students: 230 Percentage of Thai students: 65% Thai, with the remaining students representing 1 8 different nationalities.

Number of Scandinavian students: 0 Curriculum: International Baccalaureate (lB World School) Year of Establishment: 1998 Owner and operator: Privately owned Tuition fees/year: 234,000 THB (Pre-Kindergarten) 248,100 THB (Kindergarten 1 - Grade 5) 291,000 THB (Grade 6 and above)

ject areas.

From Grade 6, which started August last year, the students follow the Middle Years Programme

Sally Holloway, lhe head of KIS International School, surrounded hy some ofthe students. The students come from I 9 different nationalities.

(MYP). The MYP is subjectbased, a significant change from

the primary years.

'The lB programme helps us keeping the direction in focus, so we can adopt changes with them in mind", says Sally Holloway with the growth in mind.

KIS is closely affiliated with Washington International School (WlS) in the US capital, and this also includes Sally Holloway herself. "l worked there as a teacher in eight years, before I started at KIS in 1998 - simultaneous with the school's establishment. Be-

lore that I worked in a Public school in UK, but the school couldn't celebrate diversity and was ruled by the government -

very frustrating. So it was such a relief to change to first WIS and now KlS, where someone is listening to your ideas, and where diversity is in focus", tells Sally Holloway.

She adds that this also include the staff, which nationalities keeps balanced so no nationality is dominant.

The students come from 19 ditferent nationalities. In the beginning 95 per cent were Thais, now the number is 65 Per cent, and half of the new students are non-Thais.

KIS has just been granted lull accreditation from the Council of

International Schools (ClS) ae one of only three schools in Thalland. "lt is a long process to get ac' credited. A lot of documentation is needed, and a CIS team visited our school in November last

year. That was a very intense week. CIS look at every aspect of the school, but recognizes international schools are very different. But you got to be who you say you are", tells Sally HollowaY, which got the accreditation in January.

The school was formerlY named Kesinee International School, and it is located in the Kesinee Ville community, which combines the qualities of green

and quiet surroundings with a short distance to the city. And when the subway opens in August, the school's location will seem even more central.

Some

parts of lhe new campus will

be ready for the 2004-05 school year (August 2004). KIS'secondarY

will move into the new secondary school building in the 2005-06 academic year.

students

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS

Dulwich International .

School

Facilities: Fully networked campus, including all classrooms and boarding houses: state-of-the-art computing facilities with multimedia computers; well-resourced Science laboratories; fullyequipped Design & Technology unit; specialist Music department with practice rooms; large art studio and photography laboratory; extensive library and resource centre; multi-purpose Auditorium; ESL and learning support units; Olympic-size swimming pool; 25 m training pool; tennis centre under construction; 1600 sq.m. in-

o . o . o . . .

door sports hall; extensive playing fields.

Number of students: 800 Percentage ofThai students:50% Number of Scandinavian students: 14 Number of Danish students: 0 Curriculum: DIC delivers a British and International curriculum to children of all nations from 1 8 months to 18 years, f rom pre-school to pre-university, with external examinations being offered in lB' IGCSE, GCSE, ABRSM and ClT. Year of Establishment: 1996 Owner and operator: Dr. Arthit Ourairat. Close working relationship with Dulwich College, London.

Tuition fees per year: 180,000 THB (early years) to 374,4OOTHB (year 1 3 students)

Contact details: 59 Moo 2, Thepkassatri Road, Koh KaeW Muang, Phuket 83200 Iel: 02 512 0466-7. 076 238 7 11 -20 Fax: 02 51 2 0468, 076 238 750 Email: info @dulwich.ac.th, gdewey@ dulwich.ac.th Website: www.dulwich.ac.th

British education at one of Asia's finest day and boarding schools

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26

Garden International School o . .

. . . . '. . .

Facilities: Two-campus school.

Eastern Seaboard Campus (Rayong): Caters to students from age 2 to age 18 (lB-level). Full boarding facilities.

Bangkok Campus: Caters to students from age 2 (Early Years) to age 10 (Year 5). Opening new Year 6 in August 2004. Planning to expand to secondary education and open Years 7, 8 and 9 in newly converted buildings in August 2005 with Years 1 0 and 11 leading to IGCSE to follow.

Number of students: Rayong: 229. Bangkok: 173.

Percentageof Thai students: Rayong:Approx' 40"/"'Bangkok 38% Number of Scandinavian students: Rayong: 5: Bangkok 0 Numberof Danish students: Rayong:5: Bangkok 0 Curriculum: British Yearof Establishment: Rayong: 1994. Bangkok 1999 Owner and operator: Mbf Eastern Star International Ltd. Tuition fees per year: 126,000 THB (Early Years) to 1 90'800 THB (Primary 5). GIS Rayong: 25% discount for Thai nationals.

Contact details: Eastern Seaboard Campus (RaYong): 188124Moo 4, Pala-Bangchang Road Tambol Pala, Amphur Ban Chang, Rayong 21130 Tel: 038 880 360-3 Fax: 038 630 735 Email: gisrayon @ loxinfo.co.th Website: wwwgisthailand.net

Bangkok Gampus:

2llYenAkart Soi 2, Bangkok 10120 Tel: 02 240 1307. 02 249 1 880 Fax: 02 249 1943 E-mail: gisbkk@ pacific.net.th Website: www. gisthailand.net

BOARDING SCHOOLS IN DENMARK

Sending the kids home to send their-children to boarding

ln such a historical environment tradition is bound to play an important role: e.g. morning assembly in the church.

The school cherishes its old

schools in Denmark.

This makes it possible for the children to maintain the roots to

traditions but ensures that they are adapted to modern times.

Herlufsholm is a modern school

their home country with well-

where the combination of the best

known friends, surroundings and school systems. This is especially the case, if the parents moves around working in different countries.

It is still possible to be taught in English and follow an international curriculum, if the children study at a school offering International Baccalaureate (lB).

of the old and the new orovides the pupils with a unique background not found at any other

By Jesper Kiby Denborg

l\ /l any Danish

parents working

I V I in foreion countries choose

Herlufsholm Kostskole Herlufsholm offers possibly the most comprehensive educational

programme in Denmark to boys and girls from their sixth year of schooling up until their schoolleaving examinations.

Herlufsholm is one of only Jour Danish schools offering the lnternational Baccalaureate (lB).

This is a two-year course at the level of the two last classes in the Senior school; all teaching takes place in English and the final examination is the same for pupils all over the world. Thus an IB examination gives access to further

education at universities worldwide.

In preparation for the lB, Herlufsholm offers a PrelB, corresponding to the first "gymnasium" class, maths line, of the senior school except that all teaching is in English.

Herlufsholm, established in 1565, was formerly a boarding school for boys only. Day pupils were admitted in 1966, and girls as both boarders and day pupils in 1985.

The present buildings from 1870 stand on the site of the origi-

nal monastery. The school premises contain various other build-

ings several hundred years old.

All are fully modernised and blend

harmoniously with the many entirely new buildings housing edu-

cational units, administration,

school.

Contact details: Herlufsholm Al16 170 DK-4700 Nestved Tel: +45 5575 3500 Fax'. +45 55 75 35 14 Website: www.herlufsholm.dk Email: rektorkontor@ herlufsholm.dk

Bagsvard Kostskole og Gymnasium Bagsverd Kostskole og Gymnasium has boarding school, Danish folkeskole from Grade 1 to 10 and Gymnasium. The school has 800 pupils. The boarding school, named Haraldsgave, is located in

beautiful surroundings close to Bagsverd Ss. The school is located twenty minutes away from the centre of Copenhagen.

The gymnasium values qual-

ity high by prioritizing small classes and many possibilities for subjects in small teams. Besides the educational time, there are many activities in the leisure time trips, annual school comedy, music, art and sports etc.

-

The boarding students at Haraldsgave come from homes in

Denmark and in many other places in the world where their parents live and work. Most of the boarders are between the ages 14 to 19. The many international boarding students help giving the

school an international atmospnere.

Life at a boarding school is not quite the same as living at home, but the main purpose lor the staff, who all have teacher training, is to treat each individual student as an individual in his or

her own right. This is accomplished by providing each student

sports hall, schoolyards, etc.

27

-l BOARDING SCHOOLS IN DENMARK sium with 850 pupils is located

with the possibilities for growth and development in lhe safe framework of "responsible freedom". The boarding school in-

next to Stenhus Kostskole.

Stenhus Kostskole offers a con-

tinued school progress from Grade 6 until 3.9 (Gymnasium)

spector and his assistant inspector live on the oremises and at all

and 2.HF.

times the boarding school stu-

The boarding school has

dents may contact one of the staff.

space for 50 pupils and accepts boys as well as girls, who are able

To supervise and support each boarding school student's

to follow ordinary education.

Boarders and older students live in single-rooms, and 7 boarding school inspectors are attached to the school; two of them living on the oremises.

Stenhus Kostskole was established in 1906 and is located 2 km from Holbek and 60 km west of Copenhagen with a beautiful view to Holbek fjord. There is access to big green areas with many possibilities for outdoor activities.

professional and social develop-

ment, the staff of the boarding school and the teachers of the day school cooperate closely.

Contact details: Aldershvilevej 138 DK-2880 Bagsverd Tel: +45 4498 0065

Fax: +45 4498 0322 Website: www.bagkost.dk Email: bk@bagkost.dk

Stenhus Kostskole

Contact details:

Stenhus Kostskole has its own

Website: www.stenhus.dk

boarding school with space for45 boarders and 320 day pupils from Grade 6 to'10. Stenhus Gvmna-

www.stenh us-kostskole.dk

Stenhusvej 20A, DK-4300

Holbek Tel: +45 5943 0269 Fax: +45 5943 7811

-

Email: admin@stenhus.dk

SLr4/4//z Katfujele ofJr'rlz, lrn4ldel/et lil

6.-/0. l/ednz 4t ttJ rr/"t4',atJrrn4/hl

Indbyder til gode leereAr og mange nye kammeratskaber

i et trygt og inspirerende mi1j0 tuet

pi bide hovedstadens rige kulturliv

og den dejlige nordsjtellandske natur.

Vi tilbyder . dansk grundskole med afsluttende 9. og 10

klasses prpver,

. dansk studentereksamen, .International Baccalaureate (LB.) i samarbejde med C I.S.

Stenhus Kostskole er en bogl ig skole, som Orlsker at give elevetne gn-rndlaeggende kundskabet'or ferdigheder', der krin neclvirke til at

Vi optager kostelever pi alle klassetrin fra 6. klasse til og med 3.g.

N.B. Vores to kokke er medlemmer af EURO-TOQUES!

udvikle den enkelte elevs cvner og anla:g optimalt Stenhus Kostskole tilbyder bl. a.:

rundvisning og en samtale om dine @nsker og dr@mme om

. data og tysk fra 6. klasse . valgfag og niveaudelte fag 8.-10. klasse herundet fransk og sport & fritid . edb integreret i de enkelte fag efter behov ved brug af internet . en intemational 10. klasse

fremtiden......

. skitur, kanotur, overlevelsestur, Stenhus-Games, it'sfest m m.

Ring, fax eller

bes@g vores hjemmeside

Vi glader os til

www.bagkost.dk

at h6re fra den store verden og sender gerne

vores materiale, ligesom du og din familie altid er velkomne

Med venlig hilsen

til

en

Besdg vores hjemmeside: www.stenhus dk / www stcnhus-kostskdc dk

Helle Thune rektor e-mail: bk@bagkost dk www.bagkost.dk Aldershvilevej 138, 2880 Bagsvard, rlf. +45 44 98 00 65, fax +45 44 98 03 22

28

Stenhus Kostskoie, Stenhusvej 20, 4300 Holbzek

Tlf. +45 5943 0269 - Fax. +,15 5943

'1811 -

E-mail: admin@stenhus.dk

Herlufsholm Kostskole

- en dansk skole

med international og akademisk atmosfrere

opmenr.

Contact details: Skolebakken 13 DK-5800 Nyborg Tel: +45 653'1 0217 Herlufsholm Skole er mere end en uddannelsesinstitution.

Vi bestreber os pA at vare en skole, der gor en forskel for eleveme - pA alle livets omrAder - bAde nu og i fremtiden :

1PA det akademiske og intellektuelle omrAde 1 Pl det ekstrascolere omrAde

a

-

D

=

CD -

z, =

(5 (5

PA

det dannelsesmessige omrAde

det gsr en forskel!

Nyborg Gymnasium er en moderne kostskole. Her bor du i dejlige omgivelser midt i Danmark samtidig med, at du tager en dansk studenter- eller hf-eksamen eller den internationale studentereksamen, I

nternational Baccalaureate (l B).

Skolen legger vegt pA gode og tette kontakter mellem elever, lerere og anrigt personale: pA kostafdelingen i form af elevdemokrati, pA skolen bl.a. i form af et tat samarbejde om den enkelte klasse.

KorcrAxr os sA suuoEn vI INFoRMATIoNSMATERIALE OM KOSTSKOLEN OG VORES UDDANNELSER. Brszc os pA srolrx rr,ttn pA TNTERNETTET:

-

www.herlufrholm.dk

Arlig opholdsbetaling 5.OOO - 31.OOO kr., afhengig af foraldreindkomst og alder.

Vi sender gerne yderligere oplysninger og ansogningsskema.

Hrnrursxorm Grundlegt 1565

nyporg-gym @fyns-amt.dk www.nyborg-gym.dk 4700 Nestved www.herlufsholm.dk

Kostskolen ved bro og

balt

Skolens kontor: Tlf. 55 75 35 00 . Fax 55 75 35 14 e-mail: rektorkontor@herluf sholm. dk Rektor orivat: Tlf. 55 75 35 25 . Fax 55 75 35 26

First Danish journalist trainee to work on Chamber media ate February this year, a Dan ish journalism student arrived in Bangkok to start his 6-month

I l-

internship with Bangkok-based Danish news agency Scand-Media Corp., Ltd.

Knud Brix, the 23-year-old sophomore from Danish School of Journalism in Aarhus, jumped started with a report on the bird flu's direct impact on Henning So rensens'chicken farm in Buriram, a story published in this issue of Thai-Danish Trade News as well as in Danish newspaper Bosen back home in Denmark.

Although his stories will occasionally appearto readers in Den-

ROYAL DANISH EMBASSY Commercial Section 10 Soi Attakarn Prasit Sathorn Tai, Bangkok Tel: (66 2) 343-1100 Fax: (66 2) 213-1752 HE Ulrik Helweg-Larsen

mark, his lirst priority working at

Scand-Media will be to cover news and events in Thailand for Thai-Danish Trade News.

After one month in the job, Knud Brix says he is happy working in Bangkok. "l have chances to meet and make friends with Danes living here as well as to get to know many nice Thai people."

Knud Brix will be covering Chamber's events and news in Thailand until the end of July, before spending his next 12-month internship period in other countries he has yet to determine.

Ambassador Ms. Tine Hylleberg Commercial Counsellor ROYAL THAI EMBASSY Norgesmindevej 18 DK-2100 Copenhagen 0 Denmark Tel:39 62 50 10 Fax: 39 62 50 59 HE Adisak Panupong

One of Knud Brix'main responsibilities at ScandMedia is to cover news and events in Thailand for Thai-

Ambassador

Danish Trade News.

Mr. Prasittidei Vichitsorasatra

Counsellor SCANDINAVIAN SOCIETY SIAM G.P.O Box Bangkok 1 0501

SAS contact numbers changed Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) has changed its contact numbers for Bangkok as the ofice had switched to new digital telephone lines. The new contact numbers for SAS sales center are: tel 0 226458200 and fax 0 2665 2900.

The Bangkok office at the same time upgraded its telephone system to the latest version of Ericsson MD110, which has a number of built-in facilities, such as direct dial-in, voice rnail, etc" SAS also decided to close its Bangkok ofiice on Saturdays in addition to public holidays and Sundays, effective since January 1. The airporl office can still however be reached on days with flight ooeration.

For more information, please visit SAS website: www.scandinavian.net

Tel: (66 1) 811-8128 Fax: (66 2) 661-5937 Mr. Hakan Alm Chairman

DANISH-THAI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 140212 14lh Fl., Glas Haus 1 Sukhumvit 25 Road,

Bangkok 10110 Tel: (66 2) 661-7762 Fax: (66 2) 661-7764-5 Email: contact @ dancham.or.th Mr. John Svengren Executive Director

BECOME A MEMBER OF THE DANISH-THAI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. fax the coupon Company name:

Danish-Thai Ghamber of Commerce 14021214th Fl., Glas Haus 1 Sukhumvit 25 Road, North Klongtoey, Wattana, Bangkok 101 10 Tel.: (66) O26617762

Address:

Telephone:

Fill in this

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coupon to receive further information and

a

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