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Thai-German Institute - a mover in developing local SMEs, conference told
Suchada Tupchai
A conference organised by the Thai-German Institute on
June 30 focused on the changes taking part in Thailand’s industrial
development and the role that German companies are playing in this,
particularly in the SME sector.
 HE
Andreas von Stechow, German Ambassador, makes a speech.
Amongst those participating were Chakramon
Phasukhavanich, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Industry, German
Ambassador Andreas von Stechow, director of GTZ Juergen Koch, and Dr Paul
Strunk, executive director of the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce.
Delegates were welcomed by Walter Kretschmar and Narong
Warongkriengkrai, German director and Thai director respectively of the
Thai-German Institute, and Narong Rattana, TGI advisor.
 Dr
Paul Strunk, executive director of the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce.
“TGI, along with the Asia Pacific Committee of German
Business and the Federation of German Industries is enhancing the
development of the industrial sector by furthering technology transfer in
the manufacturing industries to improve standards that make locally made
products able to compete with the European market,” said industry
secretary Chakramon, who went on to congratulate TGI for their valuable
assistance in helping to build up the SME sector in Thailand.
“The image of Thai-made products has improved, as has
the quality, but products from the SME sector still need improving if they
are to meet the required standards in the large and tough European market
place.” Chakramon, added that without the guidance of TGI, Thai SMEs would
find it more difficult to develop strong products and services.
An exhibition of products made by local companies benefiting from German
technology transfer was featured at the event.
Chakramon
Phasukhavanich, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Industry speaks on
the importance of cooperation.
Juergen
Koch, director of GTZ, makes his presentation.
Group
photo (l-r): Walter Kretschmar, German director of TGI, Assoc Prof Narong
Warongkriengkrai, Thai director of TGI, Narong Rattana, TGI advisor, HE
Andreas von Stechow, German Ambassador, Chakramon Phasukhavanich, permanent
secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Dr Paul Strunk, executive director of
the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce, Juergen Koch, director of GTZ and
Padetpi Meekun-jam, senior expert on technology and management.
Walter
Kretschmar, German director of TGI presents an example of the need for good
cooperation.
50 police officers promoted for outstanding service
Boonlua Chatree
Fifty Pattaya police officers have been promoted for
their outstanding service and leadership skills, the event being marked by a
ceremony conducted in the Rak Winai building at Pattaya police station on
June 28.
Fifty
Pattaya police officers were recognized for their outstanding service and
leadership skills.
Seven police lance corporals were promoted to the rank of
corporal, and 43 sergeants became petty officers first class. Five
policewomen were amongst those promoted.
Presiding over the ceremony was Pattaya police superintendent Police
Colonel Somnuk Changate, along with Police Lieutenant Colonel Natthasit
Boonnuam, deputy superintendent and crime suppression department head, and
Police Lieutenant Colonel Chanapat Nawalak, deputy superintendent in charge
of the criminal investigation department. The assistant abbot of
Chaiyamongkhol Temple gave his blessings to the assembly.
Buriraya Samui tipped
to be a Renaissance
Jeremy Colson, TTG Asia
Marriott’s Renaissance brand is due to make its first
appearance in Thailand by the end of the year.
A source close to Amarin Plaza Hotels told TTG Daily News
it had taken over the Buriraya Resort on Samui and had awarded a management
contract to Marriott. “The property will be renamed Renaissance Koh Samui
Resort & Spa, probably in November,” the source said.
The Buriraya, which opened less than a year ago, has its
own 150m beachfront and is located on a 2.3 hectare site at Lamai Beach
about 15 minutes by car from Chaweng Beach. It has 45 rooms and 33 villas
each with its own plunge pool.
Other hotels owned by Amarin are the JW Marriott Bangkok
and the Grand Hyatt Bangkok. The company also owns a building near the Four
Seasons Bangkok, which is being converted to a Marriott Courtyard, and has a
site on Naka Island off Phuket.
The source revealed that Amarin was doing due diligence
on a plot in Pattaya. “We are very positive about Pattaya. We are looking
at two plots at the moment, and we will definitely be proceeding with one of
them, but it’s too early to give details,” the source said.
Malaysian tourists return
in small numbers
Tourists from Malaysia have started to come back in small
numbers, according to Somsak Thepsutin, tourism and sports minister.
Somsak will open a friendship football between Thailand
and Malaysia in the southern border province of Narathiwat as part of the
government’s policy to resort to sport as peace-building measure for the
restive south.
The minister said small numbers of Malaysian tourists
started to arrive at Sadao checkpoint of Songkhla province. Tourist arrival
rates from Malaysia have contracted from January until May when violent
attacks occurred on a daily basis.
The football match at the provincial stadium on Friday is
between the Malaysian team of officials and businessmen led by the vice
minister for rural development, and the Thai team comprising of officials
and pop stars led by Minister Somsak. One of the purposes of this friendly
match is to promote tourism.
Abdulhaji Awaesumae, chairman of Narathiwat Provincial
Tourism Association said in 2004, 1.4 million Malaysians visited the three
border provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, generating a revenue
turnover of Bt4 billion per year. He hoped the Friday football match would
help to revive tourism in the area. (TNA)
Investment continues in southern Thailand
A luxury marina is being built on Phuket’s eastern
seaboard in Phang Nga Bay, with the official opening of its first phase
planned for early December. The entire project is due for completion in
2007.
The Royal Phuket Marina, costing about US$150 million (6
billion baht), will offer 350 berths and 400 luxury villas, penthouses and
condominiums. An official statement reports it will include a
“Fisherman’s Wharf-style waterfront” with F&B outlets lining a
250m boardwalk. Binatone digital cordless phones founder, Gulu Lalvani, is
behind the project.
A retail and entertainment complex is part of the
development plans, as are a “five-star boutique hotel, luxury Ayurvedic
spa ... and state-of-the-art fitness facilities”.
Meanwhile, Evason Phuket Resort is hosting the
international-standard Phuket Race Week from July 12 to 17. Evason Phuket
general manger, Alasdair Junor, said, “We need to move forward and
re-establish Phuket as the premier Thai vacation destination.” The race
week culminates in a four-day regatta, which 32 boats have entered so far.
(TTG Asia)
Thai Sky Airlines opens Hong Kong office
Thailand-based low-cost carrier Thai Sky Airlines has set
up an office in Hong Kong, the airline’s first base outside Bangkok.
The carrier launched its first flight between Bangkok and
Hong Kong earlier this year. Starting July 15, it will serve four flights
between Bangkok and Hong Kong weekly.
General manager, Freeman So, said: “We see tremendous
business opportunities and room for growth in the Asian region, especially
in Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong and mainland China. With the booming
economy and growing affluence of regional travellers, we expect the aviation
market pie to expand for both business and leisure travellers.”
Though positioned as a budget carrier, it enhances its
competitiveness by offering a full range of services such as hot meals,
newspapers and magazines and reserved seating. (TTG Asia)
Japan opens door fully to Chinese groups
Japan has agreed from July 25, to grant visas to all
Chinese visitors on group tours instead of just those from designated areas
on the mainland.
Only groups of Chinese citizens from eight provinces and
municipalities including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong are allowed to
travel to Japan now.
The agreement was reached between Mr Shao Qiwei, chairman
of the China National Tourism Administration, and Mr Kazuo Kitagawa,
Japan’s Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister.
Mr Shao said this marks a new era of bilateral tourism
exchange and co-operation between the two countries.
Japan had initially offered in January to relax the visa
rules for the duration of the 2005 World Exposition from March 25 to
September 25, but China insisted the expanded arrangement on a permanent
basis.
The agreement has come at the time when the Sino-Japan
ties are at a historical low. It is hoped that it would help enhance
understanding between the people of the two nations and improve souring
bilateral relations. (TTG Asia)
Govt seeks direct purchase
of CTX bomb scanners
The Thai government is seeking a direct contract with
US-based GE-Invision Company on the purchase of CTX 9000 bomb detectors for
Bangkok’s new international airport, known as the Suvarnabhumi Airport,
Suriya Jungrungreangkit, transport minister announced on Thursday.
Suriya told journalists that the new deal was initially
concluded during his meeting with executives of GE-Invision at the Conrad
Hotel here on July 6.
Under the new contract, partly amended from the old deal
with GE-Invision, New Bangkok International Airport Co., Ltd, a Thai
state-run firm, will be GE-Invision’s trading party, instead of the ITO
group.
The change complies with a US Justice Department
condition, stating that the procurement of the CTX 9000 bomb scanners must
be done between GE-Invision and a Thai government agency, as the devices
involve national security.
Suriya said, however, that the ITO group would still be
obliged to be responsible for all payments of the procurement to
GE-Invision, including all shipment costs.
“The ITO group can either pay the procurement costs
itself, or continue to assign its dealer, Patriot Business Consultant Co.,
to do so on its behalf,” he noted.
The transport minister said that the government’s
budget for the CTX 9000 bomb scanners would remain unchanged.
“Given the new amended deal with mutual benefits
between GE-Invision and the Thai government, I believe that the CTX 9000
detectors should be shipped to the Suvarnabhumi Airport within this month.
This will enable the government to open the new Bangkok international
airport on September 28 as earlier scheduled,” he disclosed.
The Thai government’s procurement of the CTX 9000 bomb
scanners through the ITO group has been tainted by a corruption scandal,
becoming a front-page story for local press for months, after the US
Securities and Exchange Commission (US-SEC) suggested that the deal might be
inflated from its real cost by around Bt3.0 billion.
The scandal has also shaken Suriya’s seat at the
Transport portfolio although he has escaped a no confidence motion recently
lodged by the opposition in the House of Representatives. (TNA)
Taiwan gives Phuket the green light
Jeremy Colson, TTG Asia
Taiwan has lifted its travel advisory warning against
travel to Phuket, paving the way for the reinstatement of flights by its
national carrier to the beleaguered destination.
A spokesman for Taiwan-based China Airlines said the
lifting of the advisory would go some way to restoring demand for flights to
Phuket, and could lead to the reinstatement of flights before November.
“We will continue to monitor demand.”
The withdrawal of the advisory was triggered by a request
from Thailand’s foreign ministry to review the situation. A source close
to the ministry told TTG Daily News similar representation had been made to
other governments posting negative advisories on Phuket. “We are informing
foreign embassies that infrastructure is much improved and that tourists can
be confident that they will be safe in Phuket.”
Meanwhile, an earthquake that hit Sumatra last week
caused panic in Phuket after Thailand’s Disaster Warning Centre said a
tsunami was “probably” on the way. Local government told residents about
the perceived danger, leading to panic and confusion until the warning was
scaled down an hour later.
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