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HRH Princess Maha Chakri
Sirindhorn Graciously Presides over the Grand Opening Ceremony of the Asian University of
Science and Technology.
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn officially opened
the new Asian University of Science and Technology on March 5th. On arrival she was
greeted by HE Anand Panyarachun, Chairman of the University Council, the Governor of
Chonburi, the Director General of Region 2 Court of Justice and other dignitaries. A short
address was delivered by the President and Vice-Chancellor of the University, Dr Viphandh
Roengpithya and the Princess then unveiled a plaque in commemoration of the occasion.
Princess Sirindhorn toured the University buildings and exhibitions prepared by the
students and staff of the University. The ceremony was concluded by the planting of a
paduak tree in the central courtyard of the University.
 HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn plants a tree
in the central courtyard to commemorate the opening of the University.
This brand new university is located at Km 21 on Route 331, about 20 km
from Pattaya City. It is 17 km inland from Jomtien Beach and its Academic Buildings,
Student Residences and Sports Complex are situated on the side of a hill with attractive
views towards Jomtien and the Yannasankawararam Monastery. It admitted its first students
in August last year and they are currently nearing the end of their first year of studies.
The Asian UST is an international university offering high quality
instruction in the English language and is accredited by the Ministry of University
Affairs. The Eastern Seaboard of Thailand is a rapidly developing industrial area and the
university’s central location near Pattaya is ideal to serve and support this
community. The university has close links with Imperial College of Science, Technology and
Medicine in London, which is one of the world’s leading universities. Imperial
College has formally agreed to give support for academic programmes and degree validation.
Key members of the University Council, besides HE Anand Panyarachun, include Lord Brian
Flowers, former Vice-Chancellor of University of London and former Rector of Imperial
College and Sir Ronald Oxburgh, the present Rector of Imperial College. The vision of the
University is to build world-class science, technology and business management degrees,
comparable with those of Imperial College.
Undergraduate degree programmes are offered in two Faculties,
Engineering and Business Management, leading to B Eng and BBA degrees. An MBA programme
for students with a first degree is offered by the Faculty of Business. Pattaya and the
Eastern Seaboard should find a unique institution on its doorstep.
It is expected that graduates of the University will be at an advantage
over those of many other universities in Southeast Asia. Students come to the university
fluent in their native language. After graduation they will be fluent in advanced
technical English as well, which will help them in the job market and also serve their new
employers well.
The University is aware that many young undergraduates will not have
had much exposure to English and the Interfaculty Department of Continuing Studies
carefully tests the level of English proficiency of new students. English courses are
given before the start of the year for those students with weak English and then continue
throughout the first year of study for all students. Students learn to listen, read, write
and give presentations. These courses are conducted in parallel with their Degree courses
in Engineering or Business Management. Here, too, it is hoped that students will be at an
advantage. At the Asian UST lecturers are normally employed on a full time basis (not
always the case in Thailand) and their lectures are supported by Study Groups and
Tutorials. This interactive style of teaching will help students to graduate with the
highest possible standards.
Students are admitted after an entrance test and an interview. Students
who do exceptionally well in the tests may compete for partial and full Scholarships. The
Asian UST hopes to welcome many students from Pattaya and the South-Eastern Seaboard.
(If readers would like more information on the University they may contact Khun
Juthamas, (038)-754-450 Ext 2824, to arrange a visit to the campus or for enrolment
information.)
Pattaya Mail awarded “Best
of the East”
Pattaya Mail was awarded "Outstanding Newspaper of
the East" from the Eastern Mass Media Association at a gala awards presentation
ceremony held in Saen Sukh last week.
 Pratheep Malhotra (left), Managing Director of
Pattaya Mail, and Kittisak Khamthong (right), Editor, proudly receive the awards from
Sen-Sukh Mayor Somchai Khumpleum (center).
Pattaya Mail received the award for its awareness and presentation of
social and economic issues, creative writing and presentation, and its positive impact on
the community.
Pratheep Malhotra, Managing Director of Pattaya Mail, also received an
award for "Most Creative News Presentation", as well as for promoting tourism
and contributions to society.
 Mr. Her Wen Song, Director of the News Division of
the Officer of Economics and Trade of Taipei, presents the Most Outstanding Community
Development award to Mr. Somchai Khumpleum, Mayor of Saen-Sukh Municipality.
Kittisak Khamthong, Editor of Pattaya Mail, also received tremendous
recognition, winning the "Reporter of the Year" award.
Mr. Phadungsak Tantrawarasiln, President of the Eastern Mass Media
Association, was instrumental in organizing the event on March 5th, which was also
attended by the Chonburi Media Association, the Chonburi News Center, the Chonburi United
News Center, the Pattaya Media Association, the Reporters Association and the Rayong Media
Association.
 Mr. Siri Siricharoen Assistant Head of the
Chonburi Administrative Council presents the Outstanding Public Relations award to
Mr.Rewat Phonlookin, Member of the Banglamung Council.
Somchai Khunpleum, or Kamnan Poh, attended the meeting as the
Coordinator of the News Media of Thailand. Mr. Somchai, Mayor of Saen Sukh Municipality,
was awarded for "Most Outstanding Community Developer". Mr. Wen Song, Director
of the News Division of the Officer of Economics and Trade of Taipei, traveled from Taiwan
to present the award. Mayor Somchai gave Mr. Song a souvenir of Thailand as a thank you.
Others receiving awards included Chanyuth Hengtrakul, Owner and
Operator of Sophon Cable TV, Pattaya’s locally owned cable station, for
"Outstanding Cable TV" and "Most Creative Presentation of News".
Awards for "Outstanding Supporters of the Media" were
presented to the Thai Oil Refinery (ESSO), the Bangpakong Electricity Generating
Authority, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, and the Administrative Office
of Chonburi.
Local and District officials, administrators and civil servants were awarded for
"Outstanding Contributions to Society". Mr. Rewat Phonlookin, Member of the
Provincial Council for Banglamung, accepted this award for his outstanding public
relations skills.
Associate of Ullrich found dead
Succumbed to heart problems
Hans Walter Schonfelder, 54, a German associate of Wolfgang Ullrich,
died in his sleep at his home in Pliemsukh Villa, South Pattaya, on March 6th.
Schonfelder’s wife, Nang Khomjit, told police that Schonfelder had
a history of heart problems. On the morning of his death, she called police after she was
unable to wake him.
 Hans Walter Schonfelder, 54, a German associate of
Wolfgang Ullrich, died in his sleep at his home on March 6th.
Pol. Capt. Chawin Muchayamanand, Pattaya Police Officer on duty, took
the call and sent officers to the scene. Officers found no signs of wounds or foul play.
An oxygen tank was sitting beside his bed.
Ms Khomjit told police that she had lived with Schonfelder for over 7
years. She said that he had a glass boutique called Tour Tech, which is located near the
Bavaria House in Central Pattaya.
Ms Khomjit also told police that until the time of his death, Hans
worked for Wolfgang Ullrich as a translator. He also took care of Ullrich’s
condominium.
Ms. Khomjit continued, saying that her husband had been suffering from
a heart problem for a very long time. He had been to Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok for
treatment for quite a period. Not long ago, Ms. Khomjit accompanied her husband to
Memorial Hospital in Pattaya to purchase an oxygen tank to have in the house in case of
emergency.
Schonfelder had just arrived back in Thailand two days earlier, on the
4th of March.
Initial police reports state that Schonfelder died of a heart attack. However, his body
was sent to the Police Hospital in Bangkok for autopsy.
Pattaya goes environmental
Bikes offered for public use
Leave your car keys in your pocket, jump on a bicycle
and enjoy a healthier life, so says organizers of Pattaya’s new Bike Station project.
 Mr. Nirand
Watanasartsathorn (2nd right), Pattaya City Manager opens the Bike Station inaugural
program.
The Bike Station is a joint project of Pattaya City and the Bicycle
Association of Pattaya. The program encourages tourists and residents to abandon their
Mercedes Benz’s and other fashionable automobiles to ride bikes.
Ten bicycles will be left at the various Bike Stations in Pattaya for
people to use. The program will be gradually expanded.
As a side effect, it is hoped this project will also lower noise and
air pollution.
Mr. Nirand Watanasartsathorn, Pattaya City Manager, presided at the Bike Station
opening ceremony on February 28. Police Lt. Colonel Suphaset Chokechai, Commander of the
Tourist Police for Pattaya, was also present. Mr. Khamphon Tangekachai completed the
complement of luminaries in his aegis as the head of the ‘Bicycles for Health’
program.
Gambling den raid hits 21
On February 25, Police Lt. Colonel Prachote Khanha,
Deputy Commander of the Crime Suppression Division of the Banglamung Police Department,
along with a squad of 10 officers, raided a gambling den at an unnumbered house in back of
Yansangvararam Temple.
 More strange gambling apparati confiscated by
police.
The arrest was very difficult as the house was inaccessible by car and
officers had to walk over one kilometer to reach it.
The gamblers had lookouts along the way, which passed the word on to
gamblers. Reaching the house, police rushed in and managed to arrest 21 men and women
gambling. Nineteen others managed to escape. All had apparently migrated from Rayong.
Officers confiscated gambling materials and 109 baht in cash.
Mr. Tao Vichaiwong, 62, admitted to being the owner of the house.
Big C holds fire safety workshop
Curriculum included bomb procedures
Officials from Pattaya’s fire department, along with ballistics
experts, held a workshop in the parking lot of Big C Shopping Center on Pattaya Second
Road. The workshop instructed employees in the proper procedures in case of fire, or if
bombs were found in the shopping center.
Ballistic experts demonstrated measures which need be taken when bombs
are discovered. They also instructed employees how to protect against bombs being placed.
 Firefighters instruct employees of Big C on the
proper procedures for extinguishing fire.
The head of the Pattaya Fire Department gave instruction on fire-safety
and prevention. The employees learned how to use extinguishers and various other equipment
to help prevent and stop fires.
Big C considers the safety of their paying customers of paramount
importance.
Other workshops are being planned at various shopping centers throughout Pattaya.
Chonburi Province to levy hotel
room fee
Hoteliers protest, say
taxes too high already
The Chonburi Administrative Council, Mr. Sansak Ngarmphiches, Head of
the Parliamentary Committee on Tourism, and Mr. Pinyo Tantaviset, Head of the
Administrative Organization of Chonburi, met with hotel owners last week to discuss a 3%
surcharge on hotel rooms to generate revenue for the province. The Ministry of the
Interior drafted the proposal in 1998.
Members of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association and the Thai
Hoteliers of the Eastern Seaboard sent representatives to this meeting. Members of many
other associations were also present.
The various tourism associations pointed out that they already had to
pay many different taxes to the central and provincial governments.
They told officials there was a ‘hostel tax’, a ‘sign
tax’, an ‘income tax’ and VAT of 10%. They felt this was a heavy burden and
adding 3% to it would be unreasonable.
They reminded officials that Thai hotel owners pay the highest amount
of taxes in the Asia-Pacific area.
They said that the tourist would suffer most from these taxes, and that
it could have an adverse effect on tourism in the future.
Mr. Pinyo said that 45 provinces had already agreed with the 3%
‘hostel’ tax. He continued, saying that as Chonburi had over 40,000 hotels, the
highest number of any province in the country, the committee understood the problem and
wished to consult with the owners.
He said if the owners felt that this would cause a genuine problem, the
government committee would meet again to discuss the matter.
He then told the hotel owners about the complex system they would be
using to calculate the taxes.
Mr. Pinyo said that there would be a tax of 3 baht per room from 30% of
the total number of rooms, but whether the collection of these taxes could be delayed he
did not know.
He said he would try to conclude the matter as soon as possible.
Ms. Chareonsri Suriyachai, Secretary of the Thai Hotels of the Eastern
Seaboard said that the economic problems were bad and the government did not even have a
budget for helping the province’s development.
She said that if the three percent surcharge were to be evenly distributed between the
hotels of the nation, that would be a good thing, as it could help tourism. But she did
not see how this could be done.
Recyclers stage protest
Demand leniency in Pattaya City’s campaign to “get tough on
littering”
A group of over 50 recyclers gathered in front of
Pattaya City Hall last week to protest the city’s "get tough on littering"
campaign.
The recyclers, who make their living by collecting old bottles, plastic
bags and discarded paper, gathered to meet with Pattaya City Manager Niran
Wantanasartsathorn and involved officials.
Police had arrested a few of the recyclers in the past week and
confiscated their carts, in which they put their recyclables.
The protesters complained that a clean Pattaya will cause them to lose
their income, and the 5,000 baht fine the police are charging them for their impounded
vehicles is too high.
 Removable grates used in the drainage system in
Pattaya can retrieve a good price when sold as scrap.
The City Manager asked for one of the group to act as representative.
Mr. Samai Sukhsumekh was chosen and told officials that recyclers caused no one any
problems or annoyance. Instead, they were doing a valuable service by cleaning up Pattaya,
which is more than the city government has done, despite endless promises and expensive
campaigns.
He said they did honest work that most people who carelessly discard
garbage would disdain with turned up noses. Mr. Samai said that recyclers only made from
80-100 baht a day, which was a subsistence level income.
Mr. Sami continued, saying most of the recyclers had families and
children to support and as the city was not interested in collecting the trash, why
shouldn’t the recyclers be allowed to make a bit of money and help keep the city
clean at the same time?
He continued, saying that one could say that they worked for the city
for free and as they were paid by the amount of trash they collected, they were much more
efficient than the various companies contracted by the city. He cited the resident’s
complaints about the poor trash collection system. He told officials if recyclers were not
allowed to work, the problem of trash would only increase, as everyone knew that the
efforts by the officials would probably come to naught.
The City Manager responded by saying that the Pattaya City Council had
held a meeting to discuss this issue. He said the problem was not with the recycling
itself, but with the method. People who look for recyclables empty trash cans and left the
trash on the streets.
He said that saleable aluminum trash cans and manhole covers were also
disappearing at an alarming rate.
He said he understood recyclers problems but their were laws against
going through trash cans and he must uphold them.
He told the group that the penalty was a fine of not more than 10,000
baht or one year in prison.
The recyclers were ordered to cease and desist immediately.
The protesting group became very irate and said they would be back.
Romanian Ambassador promoting
economic ties with Chonburi
Invites local dignitaries to visit
Romania
His Excellency Dr. Ioan Voicu, Ambassador of Romania to Thailand,
visited Chonburi on March 3 to promote trade and economic cooperation between Chonburi and
Romania.
Mr. Virawat Aunathanya, President of the Chonburi Chamber of Commerce,
and Mr. Niyom Julasarekul, President of the Industrial Council of Chonburi, gave him an
optimistic welcome.
 His Excellency Dr. Ioan Voicu, Ambassador of
Romania to Thailand (seated 2nd right), met with a delegation of Chonburi business people
to promote trade and economic cooperation between Chonburi and Romania.
Dr. Voicu began promoting commercial relations between Thailand and
Romania on his first visit to Chonburi in 1998 when he met with Governor Sujarit
Pajchimanan.
Dr. Voicu also hopes to pursue cultural exchanges between his Balkan
country and Chonburi.
The Ambassador invited a group of Chonburi businesspeople to visit
Romania to see what the beautiful and ancient country has to offer them in the industrial
and commerce sector. Dr. Voicu feels that this will give merchants in Chonburi confidence
and encourage close working relationships with Romania on projects of mutual advantage.
Dr. Voicu suggested the beginning of August as the ideal time. Aside
from seeing the country’s various industries, visitors will have a chance to view a
total eclipse of the sun taking place at that time.
There are more than 20 significant industrial items which Romania has
and produces in great abundance, and which would be of use to resource-depleted Thailand.
The Romanian government hopes to sponsor a joint "trade exchange
exhibition" with Thailand. This would be a permanent feature and new products will be
added as they are developed or come into general use.
The only problem anticipated is the current state of Thailand’s
economy, meaning buying power is down. Dr. Voicu is optimistic, though, that
Thailand’s economy will make a speedy recovery.
The tax treaties that Romania has with Thailand will make commerce
between the two countries even more attractive.
Mr. Virawat, President of the Chamber of Commerce, told the group that
itineraries would be made up for the trip to Romania.
Mr. Virawat said that the Romanian market was ready for Thai
televisions and electronic goods. Viable agricultural goods ready for export are
Rambutans, Durian and Mangosteens, which would promote a good balance of trade between the
two countries.
Thailand has already had a trade imbalance with Romania for 4 years now
and tourism from Romania to Thailand could help.
When the group travels to Romania, a trade agreement will hopefully be signed and
by-lines for commercial co-operation be worked out.
U.S. mission surpasses all
expectations
Last month’s Board of Investment (BOI) mission to
the United States, led by Deputy Secretary General Chackchai Panichapat, proved more
successful than expected, as leading American companies in several sectors expressed
interest in investing in Thailand. In addition, many companies reported they had already
conducted preliminary feasibility studies, which concluded that Thailand was one of the
highest rated locations, due to low production cost, investment incentives, and political
stability.
During the seven city mission, Mr. Chackchai participated in two
seminars and conducted individual meetings with more than 20 companies in the automotive
parts and components, electronics, energy, and aerospace industries.
Mr. Chackchai reported that, despite the economic crisis, many
companies were bullish about Thailand, especially auto parts companies, which consider
Thailand to be the automotive center in Southeast Asia.
The automotive industry in the United States has annual sales of
US$531.4 billion, with the after market accounting for the largest portion, approximately
US$150 billion. In the United States, after market services, such as replacement parts and
preventative maintenance, are generally performed at retail outlets instead of through
dealers.
This consumer behavior presents opportunities for parts and component
manufacturers to produce parts to service the replacement equipment market (REM). The BOI
mission, therefore, met with executives from companies such as Textron, Federal-Mogul, The
Budd Company, and New Venture Gear, and invited these major auto parts manufacturers to
consider establishing a production base in Thailand, which is home to the three largest
auto assemblers in the world - General Motors, Ford and Toyota.
The electronics industry was the second industry targeted by the
mission and Mr. Chackchai visited many leading American manufacturers, including IBM,
Seagate Technology, Intel, AMD, Hutchinson Technology, IMS, and Selectron, and also
conducted a seminar in Santa Clara, California.
The BOI mission also visited Houston, Texas, where they participated in
a seminar on investment opportunities in Thailand. Mr. Chackchai, who was honored by being
named an honorary Texan by former governor Ann Richards, also met with individual energy
companies, such as El Paso Energy and National Oilwell, and was warmly welcomed back by
his fellow Texans.
The American aerospace industry was the final focus of the mission and
Mr. Chackchai visited an industry leader and, as a result, the company will send a
delegation to Thailand to explore the possibility of establishing a maintenance center for
jet engine parts.
As a result of the mission, many companies indicated they would send
staff to Thailand in 1999 to study the investment climate in greater detail. In addition
to green field investment, U.S. companies expressed interest in the possibility of either
establishing partnerships with Thai companies or acquiring assets of Thai businesses
through merger and acquisition, which is viewed as an inexpensive mode of market entry.
The mission discussed the capabilities of the BOI M&A Unit, which was established in
1998, to provide this service.
Just the job, Jobs & Adverts
and Pattaya Mail join forces
Leading the way in the field of online Internet
recruitment in Thailand, Jobs & Adverts (Asia) has once again stolen the march on its
rivals by linking up with Pattaya Mail, the dominant English language newspaper in Pattaya
and Eastern Seaboard.
Employing a philosophy of quality service and guaranteed results, Jobs
& Averts (Asia) has already secured a major share of the Thai Internet recruitment
market, with such ‘blue-chip’ companies as BMW, Grammy Entertainment, and Coca
Cola jumping onto the J & A bandwagon and utilizing its services to fill crucial
openings, with dynamic and perfectly suited candidates.
The popularity of the service among job seekers also shows no sign of
waning, with over 32,000 active Thai and Expatriate job seekers visiting the Thai job web
site each month. And with the current boom in the number of new Internet accounts in
Thailand this figure is sure to rise still further.
Far from being solely a job listings site, the Jobs & Adverts web
page offers the complete recruitment service. The content is designed to guide the
employer and job seeker through the minefield that is the recruitment process. With
helpful articles and interviews with many prominent members of the Thai business
community, the site has something for everyone.
Pioneering services under the umbrella of the user-friendly Premium
Service, have been heralded by both sides of the process as major advances in the field of
recruitment.
As part of the Service employers can peruse a frequently updated
database of over 7,000 high quality resumes, and can contact the candidate of their choice
simply by leaving a brief message in a specially created personal mailbox.
Aside from offering the widest possible exposure for each resume, the
Premium Service allows the job seeker to define his/her search by creating a detailed
search profile. Any positions that match the applicant’s set criteria are forwarded
to the respective mailbox, thus alleviating the need to plough through the job listings on
the web site, although this is always encouraged.
The recent link up with Pattaya Mail will come as a relief to those job
seekers who like to peruse the classified section over breakfast.
Jobs & Adverts managing director, Andrew Norman emphasized the
importance of the alliance... "We are delighted to be able to link up with such a
highly respected publication as Pattaya Mail. We see our partnership as the ideal means to
broaden the exposure of job listings for the benefit of both employers and job
seekers."
Jobs & Adverts (Asia) has been able to build on the success of its
German parent company Jobs & Adverts GmbH, which aside from being the market leader in
Germany also oversees highly successful subsidiaries throughout Europe and North America.
Our web site can be found at: www.jobsadverts.co.th
For more information about Jobs & Adverts’ services please contact: Jason
Butler, Jobs & Adverts (Asia) Ltd., Tel: 663 4621-6, Fax: 663 4620, Email: [email protected]
Copyright 1998 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected]
Created by Andy Gombaz, assisted by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek. |
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