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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Editors Note: Cris Dunning will compose his last President's message this month, stepping down from the role of President after 4 years. In this time he has led the Chamber with real enthusiasm, and dedicated a lot of time and effort in helping the Chamber evolve and develop. As this has taken a lot of his personal time, we could not but wonder what he might be doing with this time after he steps down. To show you what he might be doing (according to his strong views on the state of NZ rugby anyway) this month we have included an alternative photo of Cris helping out some other needy people.
 Dear Member
With our AGM in the spotlight this month it is a reminder just how quickly the last 12 months have passed. Although 2009 hasn’t always been an easy year we trust you have enjoyed being part of a progressive and active Chamber.
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While talking AGM’s we are again grateful to RSM Thailand for sponsoring this event and the networking function afterwards. Gareth Hughes and Mark Butters have been regular sponsors of this combined event for several years now and their continuing support is very much valued by the Chamber.
Last month I mentioned I will be standing down as President and as this is my last newsletter I would like to take the opportunity of saying how much I have enjoyed my time with this position over the last four online pokies years. In particular it has been extremely satisfying to have worked with such a capable and focussed committee and collectively I believe we have made excellent progress in developing and implementing new initiatives which have been of direct benefit to our membership.
Some of the key areas are the improved IT infrastructure which has enabled us to enjoy a much more efficient communications and information platform with our members, sustained support of our networking and business functions, and the development of our CSR initiatives with the three under-privileged schools in Kanchanaburi province. This year the committee developed its own business plan to help us establish and manage strategies for 2009 Chamber year and I believe the results of this approach are quite apparent.
So special thanks to all on the committee for the valuable contributions that have been made on behalf of the Chamber over recent years. Thank you as well to the new candidates who have made themselves available for election to the new committee this year as this can absorb a lot of personal time and effort.
We trust you will be able to come along and attend the AGM and then join us afterward at the RSM sponsored networking function.
Thank you kindly for your support over recent years
Cris Dunning
President
OCTOBER CHAMBER NETWORKING EVENTS
Fourteenth Annual General Meeting
Thursday, 29th October 2009 @ 5.00pm
Rossini’s Restaurant, 1st Floor,
Sheraton Grande followed by
Corporate Knight Networking Event
Thursday, 29th OCTOBER 2009 @ 6.30pm
Kindly sponsored by
RSM Thailand is a member firm of RSM International, the 7th largest worldwide organization of independent accounting and consulting firms. RSM is represented by affiliate independent members in 72 countries and brings together the talents of over 30,000 individuals in over 730 offices worldwide.
The core member firms of RSM International are RSM McGladrey (USA), RSM Bentley Jennison (United Kingdom), RSM Richter (Canada), RSM Bird Cameron (Australia), RSM Chio Lim (Singapore), and RSM Nelson Wheeler (Hong Kong)
RSM Thailand is a full service accounting and consulting firm serving the needs of the middle market and owner managed entrepreneurial businesses. We provide innovative solutions to business problems, integrity and a personal commitment to our clients in:
- Audit and Assurance Services
- Accounting and Tax Compliance
- Corporate Tax Consulting Services
- Corporate Restructuring & Due Diligence Services
- Payroll Services
- Corporate Secretarial Services
- Work Permits & Visas Services
- Business Advisory and Legal services
- Executive Recruitment Services
- Outplacement Services
RSM Advisory (Thailand) Limited
26th Floor, Sathorn City Tower
175 South Sathorn Road
Thungmahamek
Bangkok 10120
T: +66 (0) 2670 9002-6
F: +66 (0) 2670 9027-8
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www.rsmthailand.com
Other Events
NZ Society Christmas Party
28th November @ Rose Garden
 The NZ Society is holding a family Christmas Party and Dinner at the Rose Garden.
The Rose Garden is a beautiful property about 45 minutes outside of Bangkok with large grounds and hotel accommodation.
KIWI CORNER
Some recent Kiwi Snippets and Kiwis in the news:
Iconic Kiwi Brand Turns 100
One of the country’s most recognised retail brands turned 100 on October 1 with Farmers celebrating a century of trading in New Zealand.Its first sale was for a roll of wire netting.
Founded as a mail order business in Auckland in 1909,
Farmers is New Zealand owned and managed and has experienced the full range of ups and downs during its 100 years – two world wars, a depression, Australian ownership and a resurgence in popularity in a new century. (Editors note: Interesting that the writer included Australian ownership right up there with world wars and the depression.)
Kiwis stop to smell the flowers
New Zealanders prefer the smell of freshly baked bread, flowers and coffee to the smell of their partner, according to the inaugural Air Wick Science of Smell Survey released recently.
The survey of 1,000 New Zealanders, reveals fascinating insights into Kiwi’s most loved and hated smells around the home.
Kiwi women would rather wake up to the smell of fresh laundry than their partner. However, Kiwi men were found to be much more sentimental, with twice as many men preferring the scent of their partner compared to females.
Backpackers urged to 'Go All The Way'
Tourism New Zealand is targeting the youth and backpacker market with a new campaign urging them to 'Go All The Way' … to New Zealand.
Tourism NZ Chief Executive George Hickton said younger travellers and backpackers had continued to travel during the economic downturn, showing their resilience as a sector.
According to the International Visitor Survey, New Zealand welcomed 183,100 backpackers - those defined as spending over 30 per cent of their stay in backpacker accommodation - in the year to June 2009, up 4 per cent.
Kiwi discovered in outer space
Kiwis have always shone on the global stage, now we're making our mark in the outer reaches of space.
An astrophotographer has captured the outline of New Zealand's national icon in the centre of the Milky Way galaxy. The image - 26,000 light years away - was snapped by experienced photographer Fraser Gunn.
TWO NEW BUSINESS REPORTS RELEASED
World Economic Forum - World Competitiveness Report
 The Global Competitiveness Report’s competitiveness ranking is based on the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), developed for the World Economic Forum by Sala-i-Martin and introduced in 2004. The GCI is based on 12 pillars of competitiveness, providing a comprehensive picture of the competitiveness landscape in countries around the world at all stages of development.
New Zealand (20th) advances four ranks and joins the top 20. It is the only country within the top 20 to improve its score year on year (4.9 to 5.0), an increase attributable to a number of small improvements across the board.The country maintains or improves its rank- ing in no less than 85 indicators out of the 113 that compose the GCI. Public institutions are assessed very well, placing New Zealand in 5th position worldwide, behind only Singapore and three Nordic countries.The incidence of corruption is minimal and for private institutions New Zealand is rated second to none. You can see the full report here for download or on-line viewing
Doing Business Report
 The project that produces this report aims to provide objective measures of business regulations and their enforcement across 183 economies and selected cities at the subnational and regional level.
A set of regulations affecting 10 stages of a business’s life are measured: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, employing workers, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and closing a business. Both New Zealand and Thailand fared well in this report, with New Zealand ranked no 2 and Thailand no 12.The web site has a huge number of reports by area, country etc, and can be accessed HERE
KEA 2010 WORLD CLASS NEW ZEALAND AWARDS
Nominations are now open for the 2010 World Class New Zealand Awards.
Awards are made in eight categories, along with a Supreme Award winner who may be appointed from outside these categories:
* New Thinking
* Friend of New Zealand
* Biotechnology
* Creative Industries
* Finance, Investment & Business Services
* Information & Communications Technology
* Manufacturing
* Research, Science, Technology & Academia
Nominees are evaluated against five main criteria, with a focus on
promoting New Zealand internationally, building global connections, and facilitating the exchange of information, knowledge and skills from and about the country.
Nominations close 15 October 2009.
The Awards will be presented at a gala dinner in Auckland on 24 March 2010.
Find out more
CHAMBER UPDATES
September Corporate Knight Photos
A small selection - check the web site for some more...
We would like to welcome the following members to the Chamber .
Xtend Life Natural Products (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
 Representative: Mr Warren Matthews
Business Type: Heath Products
Bamrung Suvicha Apisakdi Law Associates
 Representative: Mr Joseph Gumbel
Business Type: Law Firm
Project Solutions Co., Ltd.
 Representative: Mr Richard Rains
Business Type: Construction Services
The Business Research Specialists Co., Ltd.
 Representative: Mr Ellis Moate
Business Type: Market Research
Annual Membership Reminder
Invoices have been sent out in early September for 2010 membership which were due by end of September. If you haven't as yet received an invoice please contact Julie Littlejohn at
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Suan Plus Immigration is No More!
That's right folks, Suan Plus immigration is now CLOSED. It has been relocated to Building B at the new government offices complex at Chaeng Wattana soi 7. It is a bit of a pain to get to but the driving instructions from downtown are:
Take the top deck of the Vibhavadi Expressway towards Don Muang and exit at Chaeng Wattana. There are two Chaeng Wattana exits - take the second which is Chaeng Wattana Pak Kret. After leaving the expressway, get over to the lefthand lane and go past TOT, Thailand Post and eventually come to CAT offices; Soi 7 is beside the CAT offices. Immigration is inside the the large "upside down pyramid" building at the end of the soi (not the first one).
There are buses that go out there but we don't have that information right now. If anyone has some detailed information on this, let us know so we can share it with our members.
For you tech savvy readers click here for a google maps link
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Chamber News 
NEW ZEALAND THAI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 
