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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Dear Members
I hope you have all had an enjoyable Easter and Songkran break and are gradually drying out. It was nice to see that people were able to set aside demonstrations and politics for a few days to relax and enjoy themselves. Business activity has been light this month partly due to the Songkran holidays and also to the ongoing demonstrations. There will be no update from the JFCCT since the JFCCT President’s meeting will not be taking place until later in the month.
Although Bangkok residents have, in recent year, become used to the frustrations of the ongoing social and political unrest, there are clear signs that their patience is wearing thin. The violent clashes that lead to so many deaths before Songkran have severely damaged the progress and recovery Thailand has been making over the past few months. Our hearts go out to the families of those who were killed and we wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured. Above all else we hope that a peaceful resolution to the current impasse is reached soon not just for business interests but for the Thai people.
It is pleasing to see that the government has pledged B5bn to assist small and medium size tourism businesses. They are the most vulnerable and are less likely to have reserves to help them work through this difficult time. In some ways the volcanic ash cloud over Europe may have provided an unexpected windfall to Bangkok hotels since the stranded travellers will need somewhere to stay.
At our last NZ Chamber committee meeting we discussed ways to “freshen up” our Corporate Knights networking events to provide greater networking opportunities for our members. As a result, we are investigating collaboration opportunities with other Chambers and organisations.
Following on from the successful SME breakfast meeting in March which was hosted by Bangkok Bank, the combined NZ, Australian and British Chamber SME committees are planning the next event. The next event will be a luncheon and is tentatively set for the 18th May. The format will be a panel of experienced guest speakers talking about running a successful SME in Thailand from different perspectives. Based on feedback from the first breakfast meeting, a future topic will be “recruitment”.
Last month I mentioned the ANZAC day memorial services that are being held at Kanchanaburi on Sunday 25th April. So just a reminder that the early dawn service is being held at Hellfire Pass at 5.30am and then, later in the morning at 10.00am a memorial service is being held at the Allied War Cemetery in Kanchanaburi at which the NZ Chamber will be laying a wreath.
This month we are taking advantage of the presence of Scott Campbell from New Zealand company Milton Optimal to be the guest speaker at a joint NZTCC AustCham luncheon meeting on 29th April. Please note that due to the possible continuation of protests in the area around Chidlom next week, the venue will be changed; there will be an update as soon as the new venue has been booked.
Many thanks to Paul Gamble from MBMG who are our Corporate Knight sponsor this month. MBMG have been very good supporters of the Chamber and have provided some excellent speakers for luncheon meetings. We look forward to your company at the luncheon and our networking evening on 29th.
Kind regards,
Nikki Cox
President
UPCOMING CHAMBER NETWORKING EVENTS
Corporate Knight Networking Event
Thursday, 29th February 2010 6.30pm
@ Sheraton Grande
Kindly sponsored by
About MBMG Group
Dedicated to protecting and growing our clients’ hard earned assets
MBMG was established in Thailand in 1995 as a professional advisory, giving advice to both individuals and companies based in Asia.
As MBMG Group is not authorized to provide financial or investment advice in Thailand, we have an exclusive arrangement with two multi-award winning and top-ranked global portfolio managers – Scott Campbell and Martin Gray of MitonOptimal Guernsey (MOG).
As part of this unique service, the MBMG Group can offer both corporate and individual clients unequalled access to recommendations from both of these portfolio winning managers. Their funds have outperformed the MSCI world index by as much as 240% over the last ten years, thus demonstrating their ability to actively manage your money and so achieve higher returns in both bull and bear markets
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Global, Local and Home Economies in 2010
Thur, 29th April 2010 12:00 - 14:00
Joint NZTCC/AustCham Luncheon
Cost: Baht 750 for NZTCC & AustCham members, Baht 950 non-members
Location: Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit
BTS: Asoke
Guest Speaker
SCOTT CAMPBELL – CEO, Miton Optimal
Scott will talk about his role as Portfolio Manager of the MBMG Portfolios and how he selects the right asset classes at the right time. He will share with us what investment decisions he has made this year to maximise his portfolios as well as his successful Core Diversified Fund.
Scott Campbell is CEO of International Fund Management company Miton Optimal and winner of the S&P award for fund management. Scott has been portfolio manager for MBMG client portfolios for over ten years; with his fund management team managing the high performing MBMG multi-asset portfolios Iridium and Osmium.
Scott Campbell is a New Zealander who began his investment career with AMP Group in 1989 before becoming the Managing Director of Appleton International in 1997. In 2002, he established Optimal Fund Management in Guernsey and was based in South Africa. He has had responsibility for managing portfolios for institutional clients, in addition to his fund management role.
In 2005, Optimal Fund Management merged with Miton Investments and Scott became Joint Managing Director, whilst continuing his role as fund manager. Following the merger with iimia and then Midas Capital Ltd, Scott became a main Board Director of Midas Capital International and continues to manage the Core Diversified fund. In 2010, Scott returned to his original company Miton Optimal.
To book please click on the following button
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Beachhead Programme
Fri, 14th May 2010
The Beachheads Programme - Global Connections
The Chairman and Advisors of New Zealand Trade & Enterprise SEA Beachheads Advisory will gather in Manila on 14 May 2010 to discuss the progress of participating firms in the beachhead programme, as well as hear presentations from new or potential participants of their plans and activities for the region. Advisory board members will be visiting Manila from Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. The Board will also meet in Bangkok later in the year. We will keep you posted.
Designed to assist New Zealand companies with the potential for high growth the Beachhead programme connects participating companies to an international network of advisors who can provide detailed insights into doing business in specific international markets, and who can provide valuable contacts that can plug companies into the right partners and potential customers.
This year New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE) is also excited to welcome Khun Yong Areecharoenlert to the SEA Beachhead Advisory Board. Khun Yong Areecharoenlert is the President and Chairman of Thai listed company, Pakfood Public Company Limited. Pakfood employs about 600 staff and its core activities are the manufacturing and distribution of frozen foods such as prawns, crayfish and sea water shrimps. Pakfood exports products to the US, Japan, Australia and Europe.
As of today, more than a hundred NZ firms from the biotech, education, food & beverage, info-communication technologies, creative and services, specialised manufacturing and wood based industries are in the beachhead programme.
For more information about New Zealand Trade & Enterprise’ beachhead programme, please refer to the following URL:
www.nzte.govt.nz/beachheads
KIWI CORNER
Some recent Kiwi Snippets and Kiwis in the news:
Some (Volcanic) Clouds Have a Silver Lining
There’s a silver lining to the grey volcanic cloud descending on Europe for one New Zealand business. Marlborough salmon farmer NZ King Salmon has this week had a huge increase in orders from international customers following the eruption of Iceland’s Mt Eyjafjallajokull.
NZ King Salmon CEO Grant Rosewarne says customers in Dubai, Bangkok, Singapore, Osaka and Tokyo have all upped their orders substantially. “Dubai’s order is 100 times the norm while orders from Bangkok are 10 times and the others have all doubled but it’s early days in the US and we are waiting to see what comes out of there,” Mr Rosewarne says.
Dan Carter Swings to New Heights
Rugby star Dan Carter faced his fears and did it anyway when he launched himself off the world’s highest swing in Queenstown today (Friday March 26) – not once, but twice.
The 28-year-old All Blacks and Crusaders first five-eighth took full advantage of a flying visit to the adventure capital of the world to get the ultimate adrenalin rush by leaping from the 134m Nevis Bungy, he then did the nearby Nevis Arc twice – once forwards and once backwards – a full throttle 70m freefall on a 120m-long rope in the middle of a remote Central Otago valley.
Bungy New Zealand CEO Michelle Trapski said “We love the All Blacks, they’re Kiwi legends and we were stoked to help Dan get the biggest high velocity thrill going." “Hopefully he’ll take that high speed energy rush and convert it into wins at the Rugby World Cup.”
Wellington Tops in NZ Quality of Life
Wellington boasts better quality of life than any other New Zealand city, according to a new survey.
Wellington had the highest quality of life score among the main cities, with 68 per cent.
The survey, conducted by ShapeNZ, covered 1066 respondents and had a margin of error of 3 per cent.
In a press release, the Business Council for Sustainable Development said the results seemed to be linked to household size and income level, so could reflect the impact of the recession.
Kiwi Freestyle Skier Crowned World Champion
New Zealand freestyle skier Jossi Wells has been crowned the Association of Freeskiing Professionals' 2009-10 world champion with two competitions still to be held.
Wells, 19, has already accumulated enough points in the three disciplines - slopestyle, halfpipe and big air - to claim the title before Jon Olsson Invitational and WSSF Superpipe events are staged.
"It feels pretty amazing," said Wanaka-based Wells, who was heading to Sweden to compete in the Jon Olsson Invitational starting on April 17.
Wells' ability to perform solidly in each discipline, rather than specialise, saw him succeed American allrounder Simon Dumont as overall champion.
KEA Launches Major NZ 2011 Initiative
 Kea launched its Pass It On campaign at a media conference in Auckland recently.
From now until Rugby World Cup 2011, Pass It On gives you the opportunity to win some great Kiwi prizes, while promoting the best of New Zealand to the rest of the world. Nearly NZ$300,000 of prizes are up for grabs, including "money can’t buy" travel experiences to New Zealand.
Pass It On will promote the best of New Zealand as global interest in the country peaks over the next 18 months. With over 25,000 members in 180+ countries, the Kea network has a crucial role to play in this campaign.
Please visit www.passiton.co.nz to start sharing the best of New Zealand with the rest of the world.
NZ COMPANY TO MAKE PERSONAL JET PACKS
Martin Aircraft Company, in Christchurch, New Zealand, aims to make 500 packs a year which will sell for around £50,000.
The 200 horsepower dual-propeller packs are the brainchild of inventor Glenn Martin who unveiled his machine for the first time in July last year.
Because it weighs less than 254 pounds (115kg) the jet pack does not require a pilot's licence. It is capable of travelling 30 miles in 30 minutes on a full tank of fuel.
And recent tests have seen the newest model reach heights of up to 2,400 metres and top speeds of 60mph.
But only now has sufficient investment been found for the company to begin production of the craft, which will also begin at an undisclosed site outside New Zealand.
Martin Aircraft Company chief executive Richard Lauder said the pack could be perfect for the emergency services, private users and even the military.
He said: "This could be life-saving stuff. "For us this is an excellent commercial step. "
Mr Lauder would not identify the partner other than to say it was an international aircraft company.
The aircraft company would have a controlling 51 per cent stake. Both Mr Lauder and jet pack inventor Glenn Martin would be directors of the new company
CONNECTING RESEARCH WITH THE WORLD
 The University of Canterbury has officially launched its new Research & Innovation (R&I) unit which supports all stages of research and innovation development, from initial funding through to commercialisation.
R&I's Director, Dr Nigel Johnson, says the unit has assumed responsibility for services previously provided by the Research & Consultancy unit and UC's commercialisation company Canterprise, which were integrated following an extensive review of research and commercialisation systems at the University.
"We aim to maximise the quantity and quality of UC’s research, to identify the great new ideas emerging from that research, and then develop and transfer as many of those ideas as we can to those who can use or benefit from them. Our priority is to maximise the beneficial impact of the University’s research, but of course we will be seeking a fair return for the University’s intellectual property," he says.
"R&I’s catchphrase is 'Connecting UC’s research with the world' because we provide the systems and services for the interface between the University’s research capabilities and activities and the external world, from research grant processes, solving industry problems via consultancies, to transferring new intellectual property into the market, and the detailed reporting of our research capabilities and outputs.
"R&I is the bridge between the academic researcher, their research funders and the potential users of their research. Building on UC’s already strong research reputation, our goal is to enhance the contribution that UC’s research makes to New Zealand and our global community."
“We are delighted that four prominent business-people and entrepreneurs have agreed to serve on our newly formed Technology Transfer Committee. These external advisors will guide the transfer of new intellectual property arising from UC’s research. “
The committee members are Bill Lee, R&I’s Commercial Advisor; Dennis Chapman, director and chief designer for Enatel Ltd - a Christchurch-based company which designs and manufactures standby power solutions; Elizabeth Hopkins, a former CEO of Wool Equities Ltd; and Bruce Gordon, a member of the Group Leadership Team at PGG Wrightson.
Dr Johnson is an internationally recognised expert in the management of textile research and commercialisation. In the past four years he has held a number of senior positions at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), one of the largest and most diverse research organisations in the world with 6300 staff and a budget of A$1 billion. year.
NEW MODEL FOR R&D REQUIRED IN AGRI-FOOD
A collaborative effort from worldwide research institutes is required to attain world food security, the Riddet agri-food summit was told.
Dr Aalt Dijkhuizen, president and chairman of the executive board at Wageningen University and Research Centre in the Netherlands, told the summit the world faced a food crisis. “There will be an increasing demand for food, especially animal protein,” Dr Dijkhuizen said. “The challenge is to lift production and improve the quality of food while lessening the environmental impact.”
Wageningen UR was formed in 1998 and encompasses two academic institutions and nine research institutes. The research hub was focused on research across the food production chain, with governance dictated by the area of research, irrespective of the institution. “This means there are shorter reporting lines, meeting is easier and there is full commitment from everyone involved,” he said. Last year Wageningen UR developed a formal collaboration with Massey University and the Riddet Institute.
Dr Dijkhuizen was the keynote speaker at the summit, hosted by the Riddet Institute, a Centre of Research Excellence based at Massey University. The summit brought together leaders from across the agri-food sector to discuss Positioning New Zealand’s Research and Education Resources.
The Prime Minister’s chief science adviser, Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, echoed the sentiment that collaboration was the key to success in the sector. Sir Peter said New Zealand would never be able to produce enough to grow the economy through commodity exports, and needed to focus on what international markets wanted “In Asia, that is food that is proven to be healthy, whether it be an aid to cognition in infants, or whether it aids the fight against obesity and diabetes in adults.”
He said the contestable model for research funding in New Zealand had to be changed, and this was starting to happen in the past 18 months. “But we need a national strategy for research and development funding that looks beyond the electoral cycle,” he said. “Also, international links are required to take our ideas to market. It is better to own 50 per cent of something big than 100 per cent of something small.”
Other speakers at the summit included Agriculture Minister David Carter and Research, Science and Technology Minister Dr Wayne Mapp. Dr Mapp said next month's Budget would outline some of the changes that would be made to funding research and development.
Professional Engineers Institute chief executive Dr Andrew Cleland, Zespri chief executive Lain Jager, Massey University Chancellor Dr Russ Ballard and the Riddet Institute’s principal scientist Dr Mike Boland also spoke.
Riddet Institute co-director Professor Paul Moughan said, “New Zealand is unprepared for the new opportunities in world agri-food but I think the summit highlighted some of the urgency required to address this and I am heartened by the attendance of many key influencers in the sector and the openness of the debate. There seemed to be a desire from participants that the Riddet Institute should keep the dialogue going.”
CHAMBER UPDATES
We would like to welcome the following new members to the Chamber
KrungThai AXA Life Insurance Co., Ltd
Representative: Mr David Korunic, Chief Finance Officer
Business Type: Life Insurance
 The Westin Grande Sukhumvit Hotel
Representative:Ms Trixie Scully, Director Sales & Marketing
Business Type: Hotel
Sutlet Group Co., Ltd
Representative: Mr Colin Barlett, Managing Director
Business Type: Business Support
 Jotun Thailand Limited
Representative: Mr Eric Mallace, Managing Director
Business Type: Paint Manufacturer
 LMG Pacific Healthcare
Representative: Mr Tom Thomson, General Manager
Business Type: Medical Insurance
 Cyprus Accounting Solution Co., Ltd. (CAS)
Chamber Representative: Khun Kantamas Chong
Business Type: Business Services
As analternate way of communicating with you we have also created a group on Facebook and will include major events. Check us out and become a fan! We would appreciate being given any feedback you might have.
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