Issue 11 February 2010

Transcription

1 Issue 11 February 2010 Mr Paul Somm, President SwissThai Industrial Estate, Praschuabkhirikhan; Dr Niti Meyer, President SwissThai Chamber of Commerce; H.E. Mrs Christine Schraner-Burgener, Ambassador of Switzerland to Thailand; Dr Sethaput Sutthiwart-narueput, Managing Director/Office of Chief Economist, Siam Commercial Bank PCL; Mr Nophadol Siwabutr, Nestle (Thailand) Ltd., Director; Mr Nandor Von der Luehe, Chairman Joint Foreign Chamber of Commerce Thailand, Director President s message STCC BOARD ELECTION CUSTOMS CLINIC SWISS SCHOOL S NEW NURSERY MEMBER PROFILE: DB SCHENKER

2 02 Swiss Thai Chamber of Commerce February 2010 STCC President s message Delivered at the STCC AGM Your Excellency Ambassador Schraner-Burgener, Dear Members, Honored Guests, I am pleased and honored to stand once again before you at the AGM of the Swiss Thai Chamber of Commerce. In my opinion, 2009 was a year of tentative and slow recovery for both the Thai and the world economy. The worst did not happen the meltdown did not occur and although the path to full recovery remains a steep and difficult one, there are encouraging signs, as you will hear later from our guest speaker during the dinner. Dr Niti Meyer President Mr Bruno Odermatt Vice President Dr Rolf Ammelburg Director Mr Christof Gasser Director Mr Thomas Gerber Executive Director Mr Stefan Kuhn Director, Membership Mr Andreas Leutenegger Treasurer Mr Daniel Reinle Director, Stamm Mr Brian Sinclair-Thompson Executive Director Mr Nophadol Siwabutr Director Mr Thomas Von Aesch Director, SMEs & Newsletter Mr Nandor von der Luehe Director Mr Dhira Yoonaidharma Director, Legal SwissThai NEWSLETTER Mr Reid Nixon, Editor reid@veritasgraphics.com On the local political scene, the unrest during the Songkran holidays in April was a test to the government s ability to stay in power. Although the demonstrations were dissolved successfully, political tensions remain high and with no easy solution in sight. This situation, as well as some legal uncertainties such as the Map Tha Phut court ruling and interpretation of the Foreign Business Act, have somewhat affected Thailand s competitiveness as an investment destination. However, the genuinely positive efforts of organizations such as the Ministry of Finance, BOI, Ministry of Commerce, Board of Trade, and, not least, the foreign chambers of commerce have helped to ensure that Thailand remains on the radar of foreign investors. Turning to our chamber s activities, we have begun in this past year to emphasize joint activities with other foreign chambers in order to attract more attendance and to make it worthwhile for important speakers to make their presentations. Specifically, our events for 2009 were as follows: Date Event Speaker and subject Jan. 29, 2009 AGM H.E. Alongkorn Polaboot, Deputy Minister of Commerce Trade Relations between Thailand and Switzerland Feb. 23, 2009 JFCCT joint H.E. Abhisit Vejjajiva, Prime Minister event luncheon Thailand s Economy Mar. 27, 2009 Excursion Factory visit to Siam City Cement And Geocycle in Saraburi, Dinner at Granmonte Vineyard Apr. 24, 2009 Luncheon Procedures for obtaining Swiss Business Visa, Mr Olafsson and Mr Walker, Swiss Embassy May. 16, 2009 Golf Tournament Annual STCC Golf Tournament, Pattaya organized by Messrs Bruno Odermatt and Stefan Kuhn May. 20, 2009 Luncheon, joint Dr Ekkehard Wiek on investments SEA and SSB Swiss and German Chambers June. 12, 2009 JFCCT joint event Mr Kiat Sitthi-amorn, luncheon Thailand Trade Representative Foreign Business Act Aug. 22, 2009 Excursion Airport Link Railway, Courtesy Siemens and Swiss Air Lines (continued on Page 3)

3 February 2010 Swiss Thai Chamber of Commerce (continued from Page 2) Sep. 24, 2009 Joint event with BENELUX and Italian Chambers luncheon Nov. 12, 2009 STAMM, dinner M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra, Bangkok Governor Bangkok s Competitiveness H.E. Christine Schraner Burgener, Swiss Ambassador Human Rights in the Business Environment As in previous years, in 2009, the Stamm, our monthly networking dinner ably organized by our Stamm father Mr. Daniel Reinle, provided the social glue to keep our members in contact with each other. The Amari Atrium s outstanding efforts to create varied and delicious menus each month for the price of 500 baht has to be one of the best deals in town. This year, we will also try to schedule some events immediately prior to the Stamm dinner as a convenience to our members and to attract a larger audience. During 2009, the monthly STCC Newsletter, SwissThai, has become a reality. News of chamber events, member profiles, embassy news, and other interesting items appear in every issue, and the newsletter provides an opportunity for members to advertise their companies products and services. Expect the contents to improve even further in (continued on Page 4) 03

4 04 Swiss Thai Chamber of Commerce February 2010 STCC President s message (continued from Page 3) Due to unforeseen circumstances, Mrs Petra Reichelt-Morstedt, the Chamber s former secretary, resigned in March We would like to thank Mrs Reichelt-Morstedt for her dedication and enthusiasm. The chamber subsequently appointed Khun Ploenta Charoenmanop as its new secretary. Khun Ploenta works out of the office of TRINA Management (Thailand), Ltd. and is supervised by our Executive Director, Mr. Thomas Gerber. I am confident that this change represents a permanent and positive solution to the issue of the chamber secretariat. During the year, Mr Claude Scheffer resigned from the Board of Directors due to a transfer to Phuket. Mr Philip Baechtold has decided to step down as director and not to seek re-election due to other commitments. I wish to thank both gentlemen for their valuable contributions. During the year, Mr Christof Gasser attended our board meetings as observer and participated very actively in the chamber s activities. Mr Gasser is the CEO of ETA (Thailand), Ltd., a producer and exporter of watch parts. He has previously served on our board of directors and is standing for election. Furthermore, Mr Thomas von Aesch, President of Southeast Asia Link Co. Ltd., an importer and distributor of technical adhesives, is ready to serve on the STCC s board of directors. I can highly recommend both gentlemen and am certain that they will contribute greatly to the work of the STCC. During the past year, we were pleased to welcome H.E. Mrs Christine Schraner- Burgener as the Swiss Ambassador to Thailand. From the outset Mrs Schraner- Burgener has shown a keen interest in the activities of our chamber. Meanwhile, the support and cooperation of Mr Lukas Gasser, Minister Counsellor, and of all the Swiss embassy officers and staff has been excellent. We are very grateful for your assistance and encouragement; thank you, sincerely, for your efforts. As mentioned previously, our chamber has been trying to promote and protect its members interests, not only on its own but increasingly in cooperation with other foreign Chambers. The Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce of Thailand (JFCCT) is, undoubtedly, the most visible and effective umbrella organization to interact with the Thai authorities and business organizations. We are fortunate that our very own Past President, Mr. Nandor von der Luehe, is the Chairman of the JFCCT, and it is a privilege to have him here with us today and to hear from him about the JFCCT s objectives and achievements. Niti Meyer, President, Swiss Thai Chamber of Commerce

5 February 2010 Swiss Thai Chamber of Commerce 05 stcc board election Dear Members, At the AGM on Thursday, 28th January 2010, the following members were elected to the Board: Dr Niti Meyer, Novatech President Mr Bruno Odermatt, ThaiSri Insurance Vice President Dr Rolf Ammelburg, Roche (Thailand) Director Mr Christof Gasser, ETA (Thailand) Co. Ltd. Director Mr Thomas Gerber, Trina Management Executive Director Mr Stefan Kuhn, Gateinfo Director, Membership Mr Andreas Leutenegger, Siam City Cement Director, Treasurer Mr Daniel Reinle, Siemens Director, Stamm Mr Brian Sinclair-Thompson, Swiss Airlines Executive Director Mr Nophadol Siwabutr, Nestle (Thailand) Ltd. Director Mr Thomas Von Aesch, Southeast Asia Link Co., Ltd. Director, SMEs and Newsletter Mr Nandor Von der Luehe, Metropolitan Jewelry Director Mr Dhira Yoonaidhama, Hutter & Dhira Director, Legal Matters

6 06 Swiss Thai Chamber of Commerce February 2010 EMBASSY NEWS Aviation agreement signed between the Swiss Federal Council and the Thai Government On 18 January 2010 in Bangkok, H. E. Mrs Christine Schraner-Burgener, the Swiss Ambassador for the Swiss Federal Council and Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya for the Thai government signed an aviation agreement. This agreement is a successful conclusion after a long period of negotiations and regulates all passenger and air cargo transport services between and beyond the two countries. The agreement also assures that Swiss Air Lines after a majority takeover by Lufthansa can continue to service Thailand with direct flights. The agreement is also a symbol of the very good relationship between the two nations and will certainly have a positive impact on Swiss-Thai economic and trade relations, in general. H.E. Mrs Christine Schraner-Burgener, and Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya The only German speaking school in Bangkok for children from 2 to 20 years of age.

7 February 2010 Swiss Thai Chamber of Commerce 07 STCC MEMBER NEWS WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS Corporate Members Pattaya Foreigner Service Co., Ltd., Banglamung, Chonburi, [Realestate, Legal Service, Immigration Services] Rep: Mr Pascal Zollinger Ceva Logistics (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Bangkok [Freight Management and Contract Logistics] Reps: Mr Pang Russell and Mr Jaap Bruining Individual Members Mrs Claudia Bieri Mr Thomas Kurzweg [ Did you have changes among your delegates? Please send all updates to secretary@swissthai.com ] Membership Fees In February, you will receive invoices for the STCC membership fee. Please assure that your company will pay this within one month and do not forget to send us a copy of the payment record, as the banks are still NOT ABLE TO TELL US who made the transfer!!! STCC CALENDAR Thursday, 11 February 2010: Stamm at Amari Atrium Hotel, 18:00. Wednesday, 24 February 2010: Joint Networking Event with British Chamber: Subject, date and location to be confirmed. Wednesday, 3 March 2010: Joint Lunch with Netherlands & other chambers: BOI Director General. Date and location to be confirmed. Thursday, 11 March 2010: Stamm at Amari Atrium Hotel, 18:00.

8 08 Swiss Thai Chamber of Commerce February 2010 CUSTOMS CLINIC Deputy Finance Minister Pradit begins rollout of Customs Dept. reforms and opens Customs Clinic Deputy Finance Minister Mr. Pradit Phataraprasit, who oversees the Customs Department, together with Director-General of the Customs Department Mr. Wisut Srisuphan, today officially opened the Customs Clinic, established as part of the deputy minister s reforms to make the Customs Department a trade facilitator, at the Customs Department s 120th Year Building. The new Clinic will help assist importers on issues related to customs and also provide advance rulings on classifications and valuation. Mr. Pradit said, The Customs Clinic that we are officially launching today represents the first step in the plan to reform the Customs Department, which will see the Department transform its role from being only a collector of duties to becoming one that helps facilitate trade. With over 70% of Thailand s GDP generated by foreign trade, the Customs Department can do a lot to help businesses operate more efficiently and help Thailand become a more competitive manufacturing base, as well as helping to accelerate economic recovery. He said, The reforms and the Customs Clinic are a result of a partnership between businesses and the Customs Department to jointly tackle problems. Through the Customs Clinic, the Customs Department will confirm to businesses how a particular product will be classified and how its duty will be calculated prior to the product being ordered or arriving at Customs. This will make it easier for businesses to estimate the costs of the machinery and goods that they import and to plan their business better. Importers will also be informed of all the documents or permits needed for their imports. Mr. Wisut Srisuphan, Director-General of the Customs Department, said, The Customs Clinic was operated on a trial basis in August, and we have already received 171 queries from businesses. The most frequently asked topic is about Customs formalities, followed by Customs tariffs, prices and forbidden items. As many as 145 queries have been answered by Customs Clinic officers and experts. The Customs Clinic provides more than 40 experts to answer queries from businesses. For most general topics, responses are provided immediately, or at the latest within three days. For more technical queries, the Customs Clinic will coordinate with relevant agencies and revert with a reply within five days. For queries related to customs tariff classifications or price calculation methods, the clinic will provide the answer within 60 days. Mr. Somboon Juersathienrattana, Executive Director, Thai Garment Export Co., Ltd. said, The Customs Clinic is what businessmen have been waiting for, for a long time. It s certainly going to be a lot easier for us to do business if we are able to know in advance about the classification of items we would like to import, as well as the calculation method for their price and duty. These are vital pieces of information for a business to function efficiently, and I am glad that that this service is now being provided. Mr. Pradit added that, The next big things in the customs reform program include the amendment of the Customs Law and the implementation of several procedural improvements that are being accelerated for implementation within They are necessary to make Thailand strong economically and to improve the competitiveness of local businesses, which will benefit foreign trade in the long term and speed up economic recovery in the short term. The Customs Clinic can be reached via three channels: telephone at or to customs_clinic@customs.go.th or at the Customs Department and Customs Offices in Bangkok at Bangkok Port, Laem Chabang Port, Lat Krabang, Suvarnabhumi Airport, as well as other customs offices and checkpoints from 08.30am-16.30pm.

9 February 2010 Swiss Thai Chamber of Commerce 09 SWISS SCHOOL New Toddler group Arrives The Swiss School Bangkok is happy to let you know about the newly opened section, the nursery called LERNZWERGE. It caters for children of all nationalities between the age of 18 months and three years. Class size in this age group is kept small. There is a maximum of 10 children, with an experienced German-speaking teacher and a German-speaking Thai assistant. In an exceptional and caring environment, children can make their first experiences away from home and practice the handling of the German language in a playful way. The nursery also provides an excellent preparation for the later education at the Swiss School, with German and English as main languages of instruction. Play, experimentation, and hands-on activities are a major part of each child s day. Structured and free play are crucial to learning. Play activities include all aspects of creative work drawing, painting, printing, building, singing, making music, dancing, etc. The daily routine is very important, and each morning, there is a time for morning circle, snack, garden activities, sharing books, singing, and rhyming in English language. If you wish to get further information, please contact Mrs Alexandra Laule at Alexandra.laule@dssb.org or visit our website:

10 10 Swiss Thai Chamber of Commerce February 2010 MEMBER PROFILE DB SCHENKER Corporate Office: 3388/54-61, 63, Sirinrat Building, 16th 19th Floor, Rama IV Road, Klongton, Klongtoey, Bangkok Tel: +66 (0) Fax: +66 (0) info.thailand@dbschenker.com Website: Senior Management Managing Director: Mr Victor Lim Chairman/Vice President: Mr John Quarmby Director, Airfreight: Mr Suchet Chayanurak Director Projects & PM Ocean: Mr Andreas Grob Director Finance and Admin: Mrs Saowapa Suebphanwong Manager Household Removals: Mr Marcel Grotz Manager Exhibitions and Events: Ms Permduan Sookphan General Manager, Sales: Mrs Becky Chhatrasen General Manager, Logistics: Mr Eric Lim Chamber Representatives Mr John Quarmby Business Activities: Household Removals Freight Forwarding Integrated Logistics Company Profile: Schenker is one of the world s leading providers of integrated international Transport and Logistics services. We support international trade by offering land, air and ocean transport, together with all associated services, including customs brokerage, warehouse-based value-added services, packing, logistics planning and supply chain management. Founded in 1872 in Vienna by Gottfried Schenker and, since 2002, a part of Deutsche Bahn Logistics, DB Schenker covers the entire world with 90,000 employees at 1,800 locations in key markets in 150 countries. We have 9 branch offices in Switzerland. Schenker s first delegation office in Bangkok was opened in 1966, and in 1974, we registered as Schenker (Thai) Ltd. As of 2009, the company has 980 employees and 350 trucks in 12 locations around Thailand and neighboring regions. The New Logistics Powerhouse Schenker is: No. 1 in European land transport No. 2 in worldwide air freight No. 3 in worldwide ocean freight No. 6 in global contract logistics No. 1 in European rail freight transport No. 3 in integrated heavyweight freight in North America Our range of offered services has changed and grown to match the demands of the ever-more sophisticated Thai economy. We have developed into a full-service logistics service provider, certified to all international standards, and handling everything from trucking to customs clearance, from household removals to industrial projects, from supply chain and distribution management to international exhibitions. Products or Services: Ocean Freight LCL & FCL, Import & Export Airfreight Import & Export Customs Clearance Exhibitions and Events Household Removals and Packing International Trucking Logistics and Supply Chain Management International Projects Services Mr Marcel Grotz

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12 Not just TODAY...but also TOMORROW... we help Thai people to improve their quality of life. Over the years, and across many projects, Nestlé Group Thailand has shown its care and commitment to help the Thai community achieve a better quality of life. Nestlé Group Thailand continues to initiate and maintain projects that help sustain the independence and pride of the community. Healthy Thai Kids Project is aimed at educating Thai children on nutrition and health. New Life after Tsunami Project creates new opportunities and hope for the victims. Coffee Development Project increases the productivity of coffee plantations. Many more projects are being put in place to help under-privileged people enjoy a better life. Our strategy is to build a firm future path for the community, enabling citizens to live independently and happily.