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New German Ambassador joins Consulate Day in Pattaya
Elfi Seitz
German Consulate Day held on September 26 at the Amari
Orchid Resort was honored by the presence of newly appointed German
Ambassador His Excellency Dr Christoph Bruemmel, and his wife Antje.
 H.E.
Dr Christoph Bruemmel (left) speaks to a couple of German residents.
The Ambassador said that he wished to introduce himself
to his many fellow countrymen in and around Pattaya. The atmosphere at the
gathering was very informal and relaxed, and the German community was
delighted to meet Ambassador Bruemmel, saying they really felt they could
talk to him.
Austrian Consul Rudi Hofer and staff of the German Embassy informed the
German residents of the various services provided by the embassy.
New showcase
for SMEs a success
Elfi Seitz
The first exhibition party of small and medium sized
companies (SMEs) in and around Pattaya was held on 24 September at the second
floor of Pattaya Bazaar.
Organizers were the ABC Group of Companies, the ABC Business
Club and Star Event Production.
Helmut
Buchberger and his team welcomes visitors to the fair.
Helmut Buchberger, managing director of ABC Group and
initiator of this exhibition party said in his opening address, “We are
looking for opportunities to connect the local community, expats and Thais
alike, who are living and investing in this country. We believe, by doing this
in a party style atmosphere, this target might be reached easier.
“There are many small and medium size companies and
businesses not only in Pattaya but all over the Kingdom and its neighboring
countries who appreciate an opportunity to show their products and services.“
Buchberger said that Pattaya was going to be the ideal venue for the
International Services and Products Exhibition, which will be held in March next
year.
Conservation teams gather to clean up the ocean floor
Vimolrat Singnikorn
September 25 was designated Thai Sea Conservation Day, and
representatives of the Marine and Coastal Resources Department, Ministry of
Natural Resources and Environment, gathered at Bali Hai Pier in South Pattaya to
meet the teams organized to clean up the ocean floor in the vicinity.
All gather
for a group picture before sending their teams off to clean up the sea.
Suwat Singhapat, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and
Environment presided over the official opening together with Sansak Ngampiches,
advisor to the Deputy Minister of Interior.
The clean up was a joint effort between official departments
and private organizations. On the same day there was a seminar on conserving
Thailand’s ocean waters, conducted by Dr Maitree Duangsawat, director general
of the Marine and Coastal Resources department, and held at Siam Bayshore Resort
and Spa Hotel.
Dr Maitree said the department has an ongoing program to educate the Thai
people in sea conservation methods and practices. Apart from the beach and sea
it is also working with Pattaya City, TAT and diving clubs led by Marine Dice Co
Ltd and other concerned organizations to clean the seabed.
Portable toilet is just the thing when you’re on the go
Suchada Tupchai
A portable toilet that weighs only 90 kg, needs no exterior
plumbing, and which is easily transportable has been introduced to Pattaya at a
product launch that had former deputy minister for public health Sansak
Ngampiches as the guest of honor.
Santsak
Ngampiches admires one of the portable toilets.
Made in Europe, the toilet is distributed in Thailand by
Portable Toilets Asia Co Ltd (PTA), whose marketing manager Thamrong Santi said
that Pattaya organizes many outdoor events attended by large crowds of people,
therefore temporary toilet facilities are a necessity.
The unit he said is easy to install. There is no need for any
digging or connecting of tubes. The installation can be a fixed or temporary
one, and it is easy to move. This makes the toilet suitable for public parks,
sports fields, beaches and construction sites. They are also ideal for temporary
use at special events such as concerts, rallies and open markets.
Thamrong said that different models are available, with pedestal or squatting
facilities, and there is also a VIP model. Customers can rent or buy and the
company also provides a service in hygiene and health matters.
Bartercard Pattaya continues to grow
First ever Pattaya expo part of the steady building process
Sunday September 25 saw the Pattaya brokerage of Bartercard,
further establish its track record as a viable, growing member network with the
organizing of its first-ever Pattaya Mini-Expo at the Pattaya Hill Resort.
Laurie
Muir presents a member with her Gold Bartercard.
A Bartercard representative reported that fifty exhibitors
and an estimated 1,000 Bartercard member business owners and their guests passed
through, completing more than 400 transactions and selling out goods and
services worth more than 5 million bath in a five-hour trading period. In
addition, at least 11 major supply contracts were negotiated.
Bartercard operates a structured trading system that helps
its members to save cash while providing interest free lines of credit and
guaranteeing new customers. Pattaya Brokerage Manager Laurie Muir declared the
day a great success, and promised that this was just the tip of the iceberg,
with more mini-expos, business development, and trading opportunities in the
pipeline.
As the former National Sales Director of the Bartercard
system in Australia, Muir sees enormous opportunities in Pattaya. “The
operations here are unlike any of Bartercard’s other 100 plus brokerages
around the world and make Pattaya a dream destination. With attractions, pubs,
bars, restaurants, hotels, cars, numerous services, and even internet time
available on barter, it’s possible for a visitor to come and stay in Pattaya
without spending cash on anything other than his airfare.”
“In Pattaya, as everywhere, astute business owners are
always looking for intelligent ways to save cash and increase margins. We help
them do both, and this is particularly important for the small and medium sized
businesses that form the majority of our members,” he added.
He also noted that several of their members in Pattaya have
begun to develop overseas sales, adding, “several firms have opened lucrative
export markets for themselves, as Bartercard members from other countries are
now coming here to find sources for Thailand’s high-quality giftware and
handicrafts, all on barter.”
Bartercard (Thailand) Ltd recently announced that its Pattaya franchise had
been so successful in assisting local business owners, that it has more than
doubled its business clients to over 300 in less than one year. Sales volume has
also been steadily increasing as the network continues to expand outward. Muir
adds that, “we expect that over the next 12 months we will see the network
grow by another 50% as more Thai-owned businesses join up, and with the addition
of cars and real estate into the product mix, we expect that Bartercard will
become a very significant force in the Pattaya area.”
Pattaya will rock to new music festival
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
A rock festival will be held in Pattaya later this month with
the intention of developing a regular event for tourists and earning the city a
reputation as a center of rock music for fans young and old.
City hall along with the Music Association of Pattaya and TAT
Central Region 3 announced that Pattaya - Best of Music 2005 “Rock Around”
will be held from October 21-23 at the Laan Pho public park in Naklua.
Participants
pose for a photo after the press conference.
Amongst those taking part in the presentation were Mayor
Niran Wattanasartsathorn, who chaired the event, Deputy Mayor Wirawat Khakhai,
Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhaya, director of TAT Central Region 3, Thanet
Suphornsahatrangsi, head of the Business Association and Tourism Authority of
Pattaya, Natthasit Wijitrawikrom of the board of directors of the Hotel
Association of Thailand East, and Music Association director Chutiphon Kamonnat.
At stake no less is the aim to make Pattaya a prime
destination for lovers of rock music, new and old. Jazz was established here
first and Hua Hin has now succeeded in that musical genre. The way, the
organizers believe, is now open for rock music.
Pattaya and the TAT are providing a budget of 3.6 million
baht for preparing the three days and expect visitors to spend about 22.5
million baht.
Chutiphon said this would be another way to attract more
tourists to Pattaya, especially as rock stars old and new will take to the
stage, together with more than 40 different bands.
Artists like Overdrive, Beatle Nuts, Gen X and Lam Morrison will play on the
same stage as new lights in the rock business such as Hioko, 70’s, Peter Corb,
4gotten, and Big & The Super Band, all guaranteeing first-class rock music.
Multiple celebrations at Casa Pascal
Pattaya Mail Reporters
Last Sunday marked the return of the ever-popular Sunday
Brunches at the Casa Pascal restaurant of Kim and Pascal Schnyder. For the first
Sunday of the new Brunch Season, the restaurant was well filled, showing that
the Pattaya ‘foodies’ had been waiting for the event since last March, when
the last Brunches were held. Miss Terry Diner of the Pattaya Mail was also
present, and the review can be read on the Dining Out page of this issue.
Pascal
Schnyder presents Som and Dr. Iain Corness gifts to wish them well on their
multiple celebrations.
Whilst many people were happy to celebrate the Sunday Brunch
alone, it was a triple celebration for Dr. Iain and his wife Som. Firstly they
celebrated the arrival three weeks ago of their new baby boy, Evan Corness,
secondly they celebrated Som’s birthday which fell on that Sunday, complete
with champagne and cake, and finally they celebrated Dr. Iain’s release from
hospital, after a hopefully short illness.
Doc lets out
a sight of relief, as Som unwraps her birthday gift and declares, ‘It’s
beautiful’.
Somchai Khunplome celebrates his 68 birthday
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Early last Friday morning hundreds of people began turning up
on the doorstep of well-known political and business figure, Somchai Khunplome,
aka Kamnan Poh, the mayor of Saensuk municipality in Bangsaen.
Somchai celebrated his 68th birthday with numerous Pattaya, provincial and
national political figures and business leaders turning up to wish the popular
kamnan a happy birthday.
Khun Satil
spoonfeeds Kamnan Poh with a slice of his birthday cake.
Chanyuth
Hengtrakul MP for Chonburi presents a caricature of the kamnan to the birthday
boy.
Mayor Niran
wattanasartsathorn presents a birthday gift to Kamnan Poh.
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