The Australian Thai Connection

Australian or Thai business executive speakers

Thai Trade by Manote

There is an excellent business networking opportunity for any Eastern Seaboard or Bangkok based Australian C.E.O.’s, or Thai business executive who will be in Australia on Monday February 26.

The Australia-Thailand Business Council (ATBC) (NSW Branch) is holding a luncheon briefing on Monday 26 February in Sydney, Australia on the new Thai Government as it affects the business and political environment in Thailand.

Paul Tighe (outgoing Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Thailand) is one speaker and the ATBC would like to hear from another speaker from the Australian-Thai business sector. The address is to be on the topic of, “The New Thai Government’s Predicted Affect on the Thai Business and Political Environment”.

No travel expenses or fees are offered but this venue is an opportunity to expand an Australian network. Contact Kathy Lindsay, executive director, Australian Thai Chamber of Commerce, for further information. Tel. 66 2 210 0216-8, fax: 66 2 675 6696, e-mail: [email protected]

Malaysia-Thailand business opportunities

The Malaysian Trade, Investment and Tourism Mission led by the Hon. Dato’ Seri Rafidah Aziz, Minister of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia will be visiting Bangkok from 10-13 March 2001.

In conjunction with the visit, the Embassy of Malaysia in cooperation with the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking and the Thai-Malaysian Association will be organizing a seminar entitled “Malaysia-Thailand Business Opportunities” at the Grand Ballroom, Shangri-La Hotel on 12 March 2001 from 09.30hrs - 12.00 hrs. The seminar will be followed by a lunch hosted by the Minister of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia and individual business meetings between Thai and Malaysian companies.

The seminar will provide an excellent opportunity for Thai private sector businessmen to learn directly from the minister about the latest economic developments, trade, investment and tourism opportunities available in Malaysia as well as seek clarification on issues of interests. AFTA and the other regional economic integration programmes such as the ASEAN Investment Area and ASEAN Industrial Cooperation Programmes have opened up opportunities for the business sector in both countries.

At the same time a delegation of leading Malaysian businessmen will be present during the seminar to establish contacts and discuss business opportunities with Thai businessmen. The Malaysian businessmen or captains of companies will be representing various sectors, namely automotive, rubber products, footwear, chemicals, plastics, pharmaceutical, furniture, iron and steel and services sector (construction, banking, health care and hotels).

Participation in the seminar is free and open to all businessmen and women. There will be simultaneous interpretation in Thai. Appointments for individual business meeting can be arranged with the respective Malaysian businessmen. For further information contact: Embassy of Malaysia, Mr. P. Ravidran, tel. 662 679 2217/679 2190-9 ext., 2304/2305, fax: 02 679 2200 Mrs Araya, email: [email protected] Mrs. Rahimah

The Thai baht

(For overseas readers: The current baht value is approximately: US $1 = 42.65 baht)

The Internet connects abroad

Air Canada was the first (visionary) airline to provide email in flight, with passengers connecting to their Internet providers via satellite dial-up lines; Cathay Pacific will be the next airline to hook up to the Tenzing.com service. What a bonus for busy business executives. One wonders if the e-connection is provided to economy travellers also.

Whereas it has been reported that environmentally aware Rupert Murdoch, the media giant, never an Internet enthusiast, began pulling staff from the online News Interactive, including “The Australian”, to return to natural resources usage (pulp paper) journalism.

Thaitrade is a column on current developments in the commerce and industrial, finance, education and service sectors of the Eastern Seaboard, including seminars, services and business developments and opportunities both in the Eastern Seaboard, Bangkok and abroad. Email: [email protected] or fax Thaitrade on 66-38-231675

PEC Manufacturing (Thailand) Ltd. recently purchased 17 rai of land from Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate (Rayong), developed by Hemaraj Land and Development PLC. The new Pacific Engineering Corp. (Japan) factory will produce components of display CRT, molds & dies, and fuses for automotive. Seen exchanging the contract are from PEC Manufacturing (Thailand) Ltd. executive vice president Takahisa Ogawa (right) and Hemaraj senior vice president Vivat Jiratikarnsakul (left).