David Cumming, general manager
of Amari Orchid Pattaya, and Simon Landy, chairman of the British Chamber of
Commerce Thailand.
Dr. Iain Corness
Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome addressed an interested
group of ex-pats at a special dinner in the Amari Orchid Resort, organized
by the Eastern Seaboard section of the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand
(BCCT). To expand on the opportunity, the Australian Chamber of Commerce
(AustCham), the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) and the Automotive
Focus Group (AFG) were also invited, with the AFG group comprising of Uli
Kaiser, president and two past presidents, George Strampp and Mike Diamente,
plus several rank and file.
Itthiphol was assisted by Saksit Potisit, spokesman and
advisor to the mayor of Pattaya, who expounded on the forthcoming projects
proposed by City Hall. Of particular interest were the 13 strategies, as
areas where emphasis would be brought to bear affecting Pattaya and living
in Pattaya.
These included increasing public safety with a new 24
hour watch organization, increased efforts towards stopping drug
distribution, more awareness on sanitation and environment, flood mitigation
plans, lowering the suburban barriers and good governance including
transparency and public participation.
A lively Q&A session at the end of the dinner was handled
very well by Itthiphol, deflecting calls for a bypass road from the Pattaya
Progress Association and dodging remarks about dolphins up blue poles.
The consensus amongst the farang community present was
that Mayor Itthiphol has done a good job in raising awareness of Pattaya as
an entity, and although foreigners do not have the right to vote in Thai
elections, they would be quite happy to see him in City Hall for another
four year term.
David Cumming, general
manager of Amari Orchid Pattaya, chats with Glenn Liddell, chief operating
officer of ISS Security Services Co., Ltd.
Neil Farrell, business
development manager for Elastomer Products (Thailand) Ltd. gets friendly
with Ampawan Kuhasak, senior sales manager of Amari Orchid Pattaya.
Peter Malhotra (left),
managing director of Pattaya Mail, poses for a photo with Saksit Potisit,
spokesman for City Hall.
(L to R) Saksit Potisit,
spokesman for City Hall; Uli Kaiser, Automotive Manufacturing Solutions; and
George T. Strampp, managing partner of Automotive Manufacturing Solutions.
Karan Khanijou (left), vice
president in charge of investment sales for Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, chats
with Saksit Potisit, spokesman for City Hall.
Ampawan Kuhasak, senior sales
manager at Amari Orchid Pattaya, and Supisa Williamson, studio manager at
Karma Sound Studios brighten the evening.
Amari staff Meha Limlertrat
and Piyada Thala provide excellent service.
Uli Kaiser from Automotive
Manufacturing Solutions poses a question for Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome.
(L to R) David Cumming,
general manager Amari Orchid Pattaya, and Simon Landy, chairman of the
British Chamber of Commerce Thailand, present Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome with
a gift of appreciation for taking time to address the chambers.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome
receives a question from George T. Strampp, managing partner of Automotive
Manufacturing Solutions.
Karan Khanijou, vice
president in charge of investment sales for Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels; sits
with Kanokratch and David Bell, managing director of Ra-Kahng Associates
Limited.
Dr. Iain Corness tries some of
the fruity deserts.
(L to R) Chris Thatcher, a
British Chamber of Commerce Thailand director; Anutra Sinchaipanich,
director at Caterpillar (Thailand) Co. Ltd.; Alex Tovsen, Ralf Skoropa, and
Simon Landy, BCCT chairman prepare for a sumptuous meal.
When the event was done, many
of the guests posed for a group photo with the mayor and City Hall
spokesman.
