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July 2016 Issue 25

 



 "This month we thank and farewell three Board members who have recently resigned due to a combination of overseas moves, or change in employment. Josh Hyland has served as Vice President of AustCham for 2 ½ years and will be taking a short break from the Board as he transitions to new employment, we hope to see Josh return shortly. Panita Vongkusolkit has served on the Board for 18 months playing a significant role in Alumni, CSR and major events such as the 2016 AustCham Ball. Panita will head overseas to complete her MBA. Finally, Karouna Sunthorn, who joined the Board 5 months ago is now returning to Australia. The Board thanks these Directors for their respective contributions and wishes them luck with their studies and new employment. 

The departure of three Directors creates vacancies on the many Chamber sub-Committees chaired by the Board. The Board urges interested members who are willing to contribute a small amount of time to consider joining one of these sub-Committees. A full list of the various Chamber sub-Committees can be found in the Member News Section of today’s eAdvance. Serving on a sub-Committee is just one way in which members can make the most of their membership. You also have the opportunity to share your business experience by submitting an article for publishing in eAdvance. Please contact me if you would like to discuss publishing opportunities, or the Chair of one of the Sub-Committee if you would like to participate in their discussions and activities. 

Advocacy Update 

Chamber and BOI Discussions:  This month Brenton Mauriello met with BOI representatives to discuss issues currently being faced by the business community. As a Chamber with a large number of service sector and SME representatives, AustCham is well placed to work with the Thai Government on their current business priorities. Specific areas discussed this month included; changes to the number of employees for SME start-ups, improvements to work permit processes, proposed improvements at airport entry/exit processing (enabling use of the E gates), and opportunities to purchase land under restricted circumstances. 

Chamber look into new Immigration documentation: You may have recently been required to complete the new ‘Foreign National Information’ form being issued by Thai Immigration Centres as part of visa renewal and routine 90 day reporting. We are interested in understanding how this form (which asks for a range of personal details such as places frequented and social media used) is being administered across the country. Over the next week we will be issuing a short 2-3 minute electronic survey which asks for your feedback. This will be a collaborative project with the BCCT to determine if there is an issue for our Chambers to follow-up. In the meantime, keep an eye out for the email inviting you to share your recent Immigration experience."


   

Alex Cullum

Executive Director


     
 
 

 

Why Thailand? Opportunities for Australian businesses (Brisbane) (Adelaide) (Sydney)

 
 

 

Travelling back to Australia? Starting on 1 August the BOI will host a rolling series of seminars in Australia. AustCham members are welcome to attend these events. The Keynote Address will be delivered by Miss Duangjai Asawachintachit, Deputy Secretary-General, Thailand Board of Investment on the opportunities for Australian businesses in Thailand and additional speakers include H.E. Mr. Chirachai Punkrasin, Ambassador Extraordinaire and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Thailand to Australia and other dignitaries representing the specific states.

1 August (Brisbane) Register here

3 August (Adelaide) Register here

5 August (Sydney) Register here

 
         

 

Australia Update: Roundtable discussion prior to Sundowners with Andrew Park, the newly appointed Thai Honorary Consul to Queensland

 
 

 

Mr Andrew Park has recently been appointed by the Thai Government as Honorary Consult to Queensland. Andrew will host a roundtable discussion prior to August Sundowners to update members and interested guests on the opening of the new Thai Consulate in Brisbane and the emerging trade relationship between Thailand and Queensland. The opening of the new Consulate comes at a time when investment ties between Thailand and Queensland are growing. Tourism, energy and agribusiness sectors have been a particular focus with the recent visit of a Queensland agribusiness delegation to Thailand and the construction of a new $550m Dusit Thani Golf Resort southwest of Brisbane just two examples of strengthening business relations.

Read more
 
         

 

All Chambers Sundowners

 
 

 

The biggest international business networking event on the Bangkok calendar is here! AustCham is delighted to invite members of all foreign chambers and business associations in Thailand to join All Chambers Sundowners at the Novotel Sukhumvit 20, one of the newest premier hotels in Bangkok and centrally located in the Sukhumvit business district. Held annually, this event provides a great opportunity for business representatives of all nationalities to meet and network.

Register


 
         

 

AWS training program in Bangkok, August

 
 

 

Interested in learning more about water stewardship? AWS will offer 2 and 3-day training programs in Bangkok the week of the 15th of August (date & venue TBC). The programs are intended for people implementing water stewardship at a site or working with implementers.

Register
 
         

 

Multi Chambers Travel & Tourism Evening Panel Discussion organised by BCCT

 
 

 

AustCham in collaboration with the American, British, Belgium-Luxembourg, Canadian, French, German, Irish, Netherlands, Singapore, South African and Swiss Chambers of Commerce cordially invites you to a Multi Chambers Travel & Tourism Evening Panel Discussion organised by BCCT.

Register
 
         

 

Breakfast Briefing with Australia's Senior Treasury Representative, South East Asia

 
 

 

AustCham invites members and guests to attend a Breakfast Briefing with Shaun Anthony, the senior South East Asian based Australian Treasury Department representative. Shaun is currently serving as the Treasury Minister Counsellor in Jakarta with responsibility for Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Shaun will be providing a brief summary of current issues in the Australian economy, government policy priorities and what developments the Australian Government is watching in South East Asia.

Register
 
         

 

The Coffee Club 2016 Grand Final Family Day

 
 

 

AustCham and the Thailand Tigers Australian Football Club are excited to announce the 2016 AFL Grand Final in Bangkok - the largest event of its kind outside of Australia and this year to be held at the Amari Watergate Bangkok on Saturday, 1st October 2016.

Register
 
         
 

 

 

A new (Aus.) financial year, what to expect… by MMT

 
   
   

Last month’s article was written two days after the BREXIT vote, there were two take-outs from that article.

Read more
 
         

 

Vacationing Thais Spend More Time on Smartphones Than Any Other Nationality: Survey

 
   
   

The study revealed that Thai vacationers sadly spend more time checking out their phones than seeing sights when they travel. Apparently, they spend only two hours per day doing tourist activities, such as hanging out on the beach and a whopping four hours per day staring at their smartphone.

Read more
 
         

 

Meet Graham, a 'human' designed to survive a car crash

 
   
   

An unusual human sculpture, named Graham, has been created by renowned Melbourne artist Patricia Piccinini in collaboration with a leading trauma surgeon and crash investigation expert.

Read more
 
         

 

Strengthening Road Safety in Thailand

 
   
   

Thailand has the second highest road traffic fatality rate in the world at 36.2 per 100 000 with an annual estimate of over 24 000 deaths or 66 deaths every day.

Read more
 
         
 
 

 

BoI Urged To Review Policy on Privileges

 
         
   

The Finance Ministry has suggested that the Board of Investment (BoI) grant investment privileges on a project basis instead of its current practice of approving one privilege for several projects for a single company.

Read more
 
     

 

ASEAN Tourism Ministers to launch Tourism Skills Standards

 
         
   

The standardisation of skills required in ASEAN’s tourism industry will take a big step forward at a unique conference in August. Government ministers from around ASEAN will join with tourism industry stakeholders to launch the Mutual Recognition Arrangement for Tourism Professionals (MRA-TP) at the international conference on MRA-TP in Jakarta, 8-9 August.

Read more

 
         

 

Australian Embassy To Conduct A Consular Outreach Visit To Chiang Mai

 
         
   

The Consular Section of the Australian Embassy in Bangkok will undertake consular outreach visits in Chiang Mai on Friday 19 August 2016, Friday 14 October 2016 and Friday 9 December 2016.

Read more

 
         

 

Welfare Dependency in Australia Is Historically Low

 
         
   

Upon being named the new assistant minister for social services and multicultural affairs, ACT senator Zed Seselja told the media that welfare dependency was a significant issue and a major drain on the budget.

Read more

 
         
 

 

AustCham sub-Committees 2016

 
   
   

The AustCham Board is structured into a range of sub-Committees who oversight Chamber activities and sector specific issues. Member involvement in the sub-Committees is encouraged and interested members should contact the individual sub-Committees via email boardofdirectors@austchamthailand.com

Read more
 
         
 
 

ASEAN Today July 2016

Why negotiation skills are essential for business with Asia

This is how the world's major currencies got their names
     
 
 
 

 

 

Promotions for AustCham members

Discover a variety of promotions and good deals from AustCham members.

Click here
 
         

 

 

New Member - Bluewater Group (Asia) Co., Ltd

Bluewater Group (Asia) Co., Ltd is a team of professionals that does outsourcing works mainly for the Australian Market. Our roles includes Hydraulic (Sanitary) Designs and Drafting works for medium to high density Housing projects, Researching, Back-tester & Analyst for stock trading, Hydraulic (Sanitary) Estimation and Tendering, Web Designs and Web Content Specialist and other client requirements.

Read more
 

 

 

New Member - Rachna Khanijou (Individual Member)

To view her profile, please click at read more

Read more
 
         
 
 


Stars & Stripes Sundowners, 6 July 2016, Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel








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Eastern Seaboard Sundowners, 15 July 2016, Courtyard by Marriot South Pattaya








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Editorial contributions to Advance Magazine are welcome.
Please direct queries and/or submit content to yata@austchamthailand.com



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