Tony Malhotra, Deputy
Managing Director Pattaya Mail Publishing Co., Ltd., chats with Craig
Muldoon Senior Consultant PFS international.
The AmCham-AustCham-BCCT Eastern Seaboard Networking
Evening was held at the spacious 17th floor lounge of the Hilton Pattaya on
March 16.
The idea of having joint chambers networking events seems
to be the norm recently and we found out the reason for this from David
Cummin, director of BCCT and chairman of the Eastern Seaboard BCCT Group. He
said, “Early this year heads of the various chambers got together and
decided to organize joint events, because we thought that instead of holding
individual events, sometimes the dates even clashing, it would be better to
have one together where there would be a large turnout to make it
worthwhile.
“This evening there are more than a 100 people from the 3
chambers ensuring better organization and effective networking in a pleasant
atmosphere thus lifting the profile of all concerned.
Joe Cox, Dence International
Security Services poses for a photo with John Hamilton, director of WMS
Waste Management Siam Ltd.
“We are actually thinking of holding an ‘All Chambers’
networking sometime soon, whereby the Germans, French, Irish and the New
Zealanders could also join in. That would be a grand affair with attendance
of at least 200 people.”
Sponsor for the evening, David Nardone, president and CEO
of Hemaraj Land and Development PCL spoke on a more serious note of the
future of industry in Thailand.
David introduced his company saying, “Hemaraj develops
and operates six industrial estates, located mostly on the Eastern Seaboard
of Thailand, covering 31,350 rai or 13,000 acres. Our 475 distinct customers
including 167 automotive with 717 land or factory contracts have invested
more than US$22 billion. They employ over 80,000 people, thus contributing
directly to the industrial strength of Thailand.
David R. Nardone, president &
CEO of Hemaraj Land and Development PCL, with Anthony Nafte, senior
economist of CLSA Limited.
“The investment climate in Thailand is very strong. In
2011 even after the interruption caused by the floods, it has continued to
be strong. We see a large influx Japanese investment. The Asia Pacific
region is a growth market and people want to be a part of that. We have seen
a strong continuation for the last six months.”
Asked whether he thought the Japanese companies who were
affected by the floods in the north of Bangkok would move to the Eastern
Seaboard area, David said, “Maybe a little bit of that, but this isn’t
really the core part of the business, it’s the fundamental choice of whether
they want to be in Thailand. They have high costs and currency problems in
Japan and they want to participate in the growth markets, which is right
here.
Bruce Hoppe, vice president
Materials & Quality of Emerson Electric (Thailand) Ltd with Judy Benn,
executive director of The American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand.
“The automotive market has always been based in the
Eastern Seaboard, we have 250 automotive factories and we will see a
continued increase in 2012.
“Confidence in Thailand is strong. Thailand has the
benefit of the free trades agreements with many countries in the region and
Thailand is a strong production base … we will see a lot more investments
here. We expect a big influx of companies relocating their factories to
Thailand this year. 2012 will be a very good year.”
Looking around the room at the happy people of many
nationalities from the various chambers, mingling and introducing themselves
and their businesses to each other, it was obvious that the joint chambers
networking concept is catching on and will be the business events to look
forward to every month.
(l-r) Peter Malhotra, MD
Pattaya Mail, Nattanicha Benjabut, Joe Barker-Bennett, Terry Adams, Rod
Baltzley, Peta Ruiter and Sunday Dhaninrat.
Graham Macdonald, CEO of
MBMG, Simon Matthews, country manager Thailand of Manpower (Thailand ) with
David Cumming, GM of Amari Orchid Resort & Tower and Head of the BCCT
Eastern Seaboard Group.
Ken Brookes, KA Shin
Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd with Jean-Jacques Despert, industrial
projects development manager of Geodis Wilson Thai Ltd.
Members of the 3 chambers of
commerce in Thailand mingled with each other creating an atmosphere of
friendship and cooperation.