APRIL 2010

A publication of the Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce

04 / 2010

Congratulations to TCCC's New Executive Board

L-R: Dr. Tim Cornwall Returning Secretary & Director, Mr. Derek Van Pelt New Director, Mr. Neil Chiu Returning Director, Ms. Sukanya Rattanavadee Returning Director, Mr. John Casella New President & Returning Director, Mr. Ron Livingston Retiring President & Returning Director, H. E. Mr. Ron Hoffmann Ambassador of Canada to Thailand, Mr. Thomas Christiansen GM of Grand Millennium Sukhumvit, Mr. Kobsak Duangdee Returning Director, Mr.Sranyoo Chanate New Vice President & Returning Director, Mr. Michael Howard New Treasurer & Director, and Mr. Ali Fancy New Board Vice President & Returning Director. Directors Not Shown: Mr. Niccolo Sozzi Returning Director and Mr. John Stevens New Director.

(See page 3)

Corporate Partnership
Premier Sponsors

Executive Sponsors

Calendar

Calendar of events:
WHEN: WHAT: 2010/2011 TCCC Executives
His Excellency Ambassador Ron Hoffmann President John Casella Vice President Sranyoo Chanate Vice President Ali Fancy Secretary Dr. Tim Cornwall Treasurer Michael Howard John Casella Sranyoo Chanate Neil Chiu Dr. Tim Cornwall Kobsak Duangdee Ali Fancy Michael Howard Ron Livingston Sukanya Rattanavadee Niccolo Sozzi John Stevens Derek Van Pelt

TCCC

Tuesday, April 13 Friday, April 16, 2010 Songkran National Holiday Wednesday, April 21, 2010; 6:30 pm 8:30 pm Canuck Connections Q Bar Bangkok, 34 Sukhumvit Soi 11 200 baht members; 400 baht non members

Patron:

WHEN: WHAT: WHERE: PRICE:

Upcoming events in the region:

VIETNAM: www.canchamvietnam.org WHEN: Thursday, April 1, 2010 WHAT: CanCham Pancakes n Maple Syrup Breakfast WHERE: Jaspas Restaurant, 33 Dong Khoi, Ho Chi Mihn City PRICE: 200,000 VND for members, 250,000 VND for non-members

CCBA

Executive Board:

SINGAPORE: www.cancham.org.sg WHEN: Saturday, April 17, 2010 WHAT: The Maple Leaf Ball 2010 WHERE: The Fairmonth Hotel, The Stamford Ballroom, 80 Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189560 PRICE: $180 for members, $220 for non-members. Corporate table for 10, $1700 HONG KONG: www.cancham.org WHEN: Monday, April 19, 2010 WHAT: Information Design: Information Structure Business Communication Writing Workshop WHERE: Council Chamber 4th Floor, Duke of Windsor Building, 15 Hennessy Road, Wanchai PRICE: Member companies HK$3,090, non-member companies HK$3,290

Embassy Representative:
Greg Goldhawk

Raymond Bodemer Sam Cohen Surachit Chanovan Don Lavoie Luc Mtivier

Advisors:

(Cover Story)

Executive Director:
Randy Shockley

THAI- CANADIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:

Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce

139 Pan Road, Sethiwan Tower 9th floor, Bangkok 10500 Tel: +66(0) 2266-6085-6 Fax: +66(0) 2266-6087 Email: tccc@loxinfo.co.th Website: www.tccc.or.th

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

n March 10, 2010, the Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce (TCCC) held its 20th Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Grand Millennium Sukhumvit to elect a new Executive Board for the 2010/2011 term. H. E. Mr. Ron Hoffmann, Ambassador of Canada to Thailand, served as the Chambers featured speaker during the AGM luncheon. Welcoming the Canadian Ambassador and the new TCCC Executive Board is Mr. Thomas Christiansen, the Grand Millenniums new General Manager.
Cover Photo (Left to Right): 1. Dr. Tim Cornwall - Managing Consultant, Speech Work Consultancy Co. Ltd. (Returning Board Secretary & Director) 2. Mr. Derek Van Pelt - MD, Siam Wheels Co., Ltd. (New Director) 3. Mr. Neil Chiu GM, Allied Pickfords Thailand (Returning Director) 4. Ms. Sukanya Rattanavadee - GM, Thaiphum Skylights Co., Ltd, GSA of Air Canada in Thailand (Returning Director) 5. Mr. John Casella Director, Baker Tilly (Thailand) Limited (New Board President & Returning Director) 6. Mr. Ron Livingston President & CEO, International Environmental Management Co., Ltd. (Retiring Board President & Returning Director; Ron continues as Thailand Board of Trade Director) 7. H. E. Mr. Ron Hoffmann, Ambassador of Canada to Thailand 8. Mr. Thomas Christiansen, General Manager of Grand Millennium Sukhumvit 9. Mr. Kobsak Duangdee, VP & Country Manager, The Bank of Nova Scotia - Thailand (Returning Director) 10. Mr. Sranyoo Chanate - CEO, Kluaynanthai (New Board Vice President & Returning Director) 11. Mr. Michael Howard - Partner, KPMG (New Director & Treasurer) 12. Mr. Ali Fancy - General Manager, Jelly Belly Candy Co. Thailand (New Board Vice President & Returning Director) TCCC Directors Not Shown 13. Mr. Niccolo Sozzi - Head of Global Marketing, Canadoil Group (Returning Director) 14. Mr. John Stevens - Group Managing Director, Point of View (POV) Media Group Co., Ltd (New Director)

The Voyageur is the monthly magazine of the Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce, covering all Thai-Canadian business, legal and social news of interest to the members and others who are active in expanding Thai-Canadian bilateral trade. Editor: Randy Shockley, Executive Director, Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce Publisher: Scand-Media Corp., Ltd. 4/41-2 Moo 3, Thanyakarn Village, Ramintra Soi 14, Bangkok 10230 Tel: +66(0) 2943-7166-8 Fax: +66(0) 2943-7169 Design: Disraporn Yatprom Email: disraporn@scandmedia.com Advertising Contact: Mr. Finn Balslev, Marketing Director Scand-Media Corp., Ltd. Tel: +66(0) 2943-7166 ext.151 or 08-1866-2577 Email: finn@scandmedia.com

April 2010

Chamber Activities

12th Annual Maple Leaf Cup

Bangkok Golf Club, Friday, February 12, 2010
The 12th Maple Leaf Cup Golf Tournament was recently held at the beautifully maintained Bangkok Golf Club. Located in suburban Bangkok, this course is always a favorite with the chamber given its close proximity to town, supportive Canadian management and challenging play. The TCCC was honored to have H. E. Mr. Ron Hoffmann, Canadas Ambassador to Thailand and his Embassy Team of Take A Mulligan, to lead the tournaments tee-off at 11:01 AM.
or 2010, the Chamber continued to utilize the 4-Person Scramble which is an ideal format for social golf events as it allows golfers of all abilities to play and enjoy the game without demanding perfection. This years competition was keenly contested by 18 teams as noted by the extremely close scores. Finishing 1st in this years tournament with a net score of 50.3 was Team SNC Lavalin which included Sivilay Manisy, Kirk Klug, Visarut Maltree Yuenyong and Phisit Onma. Congratulations to the SNC Lavalin Team for playing an excellent round of golf and challenging this years field of players. Rounding out the tournaments top 3 finishing teams were Teams International Environmental Management (IEM) and Team Deloitte who finished in 2nd and 3rd with net scores of 50.9 and 51.9, respectively. The Chamber also thanks Mr. Mohamad El-Hoss, MD of Royal Eastern Beverage Company and Mr. Zoltan Kosa, MD of Sante Fe Relocation for serving as the events beer sponsors. Many players appreciated the ice cold King Fisher Premium Beer that was conveniently served between holes 6 & 7 and 11& 12. We also wish to thank Mr. Doug Hood for taking time away from the Doug Hood Golf School to provide professional advice and fairway coaching to the tournaments many players. Im sure Dougs quick refresher courses throughout the day saved many a player from an errant shot. While were on the subject of errant shots, the 2010 tournaments mulligan donation to the Chambers rural up-country Development Assistance Program or DAP Fund, totaled 16,500 baht versus 12,000 baht in 2009. On the behalf of the Chamber, we sincerely thank all players for their occasional bad shot(s) and generous contributions to the DAP Fund. By the way, the increased mulligan contribution comes from the increased year-over-year player participation and not from a drop in the quality of play! The 2010 tournament offered many fabulous recognition prizes for The Good, The Bad & The Ugly shots including: Nearest to the Pin, Nearest to the Pin off Tee, Longest Drive in the Fairway, Longest Putt and Nearest to Fairway Marker (or Target) Off the Tee. Special recognition drawings were also conducted for: In the Greenside Bunker, In the Water on a Fairway Shot, In the Left Bunker off Tee, Tee Shot in the Water and many, many more bad & ugly shots. A consistent and important ingredient of success for every golf tournament is the level of support provided by the chambers members, sponsors & prize donors and 2010 was certainly no exception to the rule. The TCCC says thank you to all of its major sponsors of the 20th Annual Maple Leaf Cup Golf Tournament.
See on page 10

(L) Ambassador Ron Hoffmann, (C) Winning Team SNC Lavalin , (R) Ron Livingston, TCCC President

2nd Place Team - IEM

3rd Place Team - Deloitte

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Chamber Activities

Golf Tournament
Team Air Canada Team Deloitte Team IEM

Team Indy, Indy & Indy Team Flying Farangs Team SNC Lavalin Team Canadoil

Team Tilleke & Gibbins Team Thai CanAm Cuppers

Team Levco Team Royal Bank of Canada

Team Les Procheurs Team Independents

Team Old Timers (Canadian Embassy) Two Amigos

Trophies on Display

Check in time at the 2010 Maple Leaf Golf Tournament

Larry and Zoltan with the Santa Fe staff

April 2010

Air Canadas representatives

Visit the 17th floor of the River West Wing in the Empire Tower complex on South Sathorn Road, and you will find the bright, familiar Air Canada logo staring back at you. Thats the home of Thaiphum Skylights, Co., Ltd: Air Canadas representative in Thailand, as well as Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.

he company was founded in March of 2003 by the management team of Regale International Travel Co., Ltd. Its senior officers are former airline executives with years of experience in marketing and sales, ticketing and reservations, and operating inbound and outbound tours. As the General Sales Agent for Air Canada in Thailand, the companys primary mission is to promote and sell Air Canadas products and services as well as Air Canadas network of travel agents in the region. Since Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, Thai Phum Skylight taps into the 21 members of that network arranging connecting flights from Thailand to Hong Kong, Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul and Shanghai where passengers can then fly directly to Canada. Why should people fly with Air Canada? Its convenient, reliable and good value for the money, says Pongsak Sonthisombat the companys Marketing Manager. The company services about 4,000 passengers a year, about 33% of the market share. Pongsak says Cathay has about 25% and the rest is split between China Airlines, Eva Airlines and Korean Airlines. A third of Thaiphums customers are Canadian, and the rest are Thai but 90% of its bookings are to Canada. Khun Pongsak says there are three types of Thais traveling to Canada; business people, tourists and students. The primary business destination is Toronto and student destinations vary depending on the college or university chosen, but Thai tourists favour

B777 Economy Class

Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Montreal. You can find Thaiphum Skylights by searching the Air Canada website, and the Canadian embassy and TCCC also sends potential customers their way. Thaiphum has been very active in the Chamber sponsoring the golf and bowling tournaments, charity events and the Thanksgiving Day Ball. How does Pongsak try to promote Canada? Thais love nature, so we try to promote places like Niagara Falls and the Columbia Ice Fields. In Vancouver, we sell the Asian influence and Montreal and Quebec the old cities. We also promote Canada as a unique and different place to visit.

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Chamber Activities

in Thailand & the region

Featured air craft is a B777-300 ER

B777 ExecutiveFirst you only have a one-hour stopover in Hong Kong for your Vancouver flight and an hourand-a-half layover for your Toronto flight. It can also fly you on United Airlines, THAI or All Nippon to Tokyo, where after another short wait (1 & hrs) you can connect to either Vancouver or Toronto again. Then theres a connecting flight on Asiana to Seoul with a two-hour wait before you can board a flight to Vancouver. So thats five ways of getting to either Vancouver or Toronto in one day with a maximum wait of two hours and as little as one hour for some flights. In addition to Vancouver and Toronto flights, from 28 March 2010, Air Canada will operate three new direct flights a week from Tokyo to Calgary, making the Albertan city the 3rd international gateway on the Pacific route after Vancouver and Toronto. Pongsak also points out the rewards Star Alliance members can gain when traveling on

B777 ExecutiveFirst Thaiphums competitive edge is that while other airlines may offer cheaper flights, you can be stuck waiting around a terminal for hours on end, which results in you spending more money on terminal food, a short stay at an airport hotel or just countless items in duty free and other shops. So while, at first, it may seem like you are saving money, when you factor in the amount of money wasted during your wait for your connecting flight the savings become negligible. Moreover Air Canada has flights from Hong Kong to Vancouver and Toronto daily. And Pongsak and his team can arrange it so that after you leave Bangkok on THAI Airways member airlines and that Air Canada has a fine fleet of 777s. Aside from its work with Air Canada, Thaiphum Skylight now offers cruises with Costa Cruise and its newly set up division Arcadia Cruise Center offers all sorts of travelrelated packages to cruise around the world. Whatever products it promotes, Thaiphum Skylight strives for excellence in offering its customers reliable and quality service. Tel. 02-670-0400 E-mail: info@tpsl.co.th Bangkok's Air Canada staff is ready to assist you April 2010

April 2010

Member Profile
(Continued from page 4)

GOLD SPONSORS 1. Air Canada 2. Canadoil 3. Early Learning Center (ELC) 4. LEVCO & Quality Control Services Ltd. SILVER SPONSORS 1. Bangkok Hospital 2. BNH Hospital 3. Deloitte 4. Manulife 5. SNC Lavalin 6. Thanachart Bank HOLE SPONSORS 1. Amari Emerald Cove Resort, Koh Chang 2. Amari Orchid Resort & Tower Pattaya 3. Bangkok Golf Club 4. Dusit 2 Hotel, Chaing Mai 5. Dusit Thai - Pattaya 6. Four Seasons Hotel 7. Indigo Pearl Hotel 8. King Fisher Premium Beer 9. LEVCO 10. Royal Bank of Canada 11. Sante Fe Relocation CREATIVE SPONSOR: Business Missions Asia & Innovasia Thank you for the great graphics in 2010! We also extend a special thank you to all of the great companies who so generously contributed prizes to this years tournament. Please take time to remember the below companies throughout the year and endeavor to return the favor of your support: ALL PRIZE & PRODUCT DONORS (listed in alphabetical order) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. Amari Emerald Cove Resort, Koh Chang Amari Orchid Resort & Tower Pattaya Bangkok Golf Club Bangkok Hotel Lotus - Sukhumvit Bourbon Street Restaurant Crepes & Co. Restaurant Doug Hood Golf School Dusit 2 Hotel, Chaing Mai Dusit Thai - Pattaya Four Seasons Hotel Holiday Inn Silom Bangkok Indigo Pearl Hotel Kingfisher Premium Beer LEVCO Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square Oasis Spa Chaing Mai Rajas Fashions Rajawongse Clothier Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Sante Fe Relocation Wilding Golf

12th Annual Maple Leaf Cup Golf Tournament

Bangkok Golf Club, Friday, February 12, 2010
Continued from page 4-5

1 2

3 4

5 6

8 9

10

Again, we thank all of the TCCC members and friends of the chamber for your support of the 2010 Maple Leaf Cup Golf Tournament. We look forward to seeing each of you at the TCCCs 2011 tournament!

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

The big easy at play A beautiful day on the course It must have been a long drive Feeling like a winner Team POV at work Good shot! Lining up the big putt Heading home on 18th tee It felt like a good chip Ron playing through the buffet line

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Canuck Connections. Meet the New Board Night

he 2010 Canuck Connections Meet the New Board Night on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 proved to be a very popular networking night with 78 TCCC members & friends of the chamber in attendance. The TCCC offers a special thank you to corporate member, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit for hosting this annual event at BarSu where its great ambience and food always makes this an excellent evening to stay out late with business associates and friends. We also wish to thank one of the chambers newest members, Siam Wheels, for serving as the events wine sponsor.

Mr. Ron Livingston, TCCCs Retiring President is presented with a recognition plaque by H.E. Mr. Ron Hoffmann, Canadas Ambassador to Thailand. Mr. Livingston served as TCCCs President for 2006, 2007, 2008, & 2009. New TCCC Board members & Ambassador Ron Hoffmann (far right) enjoying the Meet the New Board Night at Sheraton Grandes BarSu

April 2010

11

Business News

1st ASIA-PACIFIC CANCHAM FORUM

The largest Canadian Business Event in AsiaPacific takes place June 2 4, 2010, Shanghai, China.

he Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai welcomes you and your company to participate in the first AsiaPacific CanCham Forum which will be held in Shanghai, China from June 2 to 4, 2010. The forum will open a new chapter on Canada China business relations by exhibiting Canada as a world leader in the practice and promotion of sustainable business initiatives. Canadian chambers and their respective members from 16 countries in the AsiaPacific region will unite in Shanghai to promote Canadas leadership in the development of sustainable business trends. The forum will also bring tremendous information and networking value to participants who will have the opportunity to meet influential executives from the AsiaPacific as well as Chinese business leaders and pundits. Asia Pacific CanCham Forum is formed with the following countries where CanCham exists: Australia Canada China Hong Kong, China Macau, China Indonesia Japan Republic of Korea Malaysia Mexico New Zealand Peru The Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam

REASONS FOR YOUR COMPANY TO PARTICIPATE

ITINERARY FRAMEWORK

Gain valuable business information on AsiaPacific markets other than your own Meet the right people who can help expand your business in AsiaPacific Meet Canadian businesses in other Asia Pacific countries Get to know the Chinese market Participate in the 2010 World Expo Grow your business in the asiapacific region

June 2 Arrival Day / Opening Ceremony in the evening June 3 Expo Day / East China Briefing in the evening June 4 CanCham Business Day / Closing Ceremony in the evening

PARTICIPATION COST

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS BUSINESS + LEISURE

Business match-making sessions: meet Canadian businesses from other Asia Pacific countries, Chinese businesses, industrial associations and government officials Industryspecific information seminars: understand the Chinese market while exploring business opportunities 2010 World Expo Tour: visit Canadian pavilions such as Canada Pavilion, Espace Montreal and BC Pavilion and other landmark pavilions including the China Pavilion Shanghai Architectural Tour: show you around in Shanghai through a tour of Canadian designed buildings Opening and closing receptions: big networking parties with Canadian beer

RMB 5500/USD 805 for each CanCham member with accommodation RMB 2500/USD 370 for each CanCham member without accommodation RMB 6000/USD 878 each nonmember with accommodation RMB 3000/USD 440 for each nonmember without accommodation

COST PER PERSON INCLUDES

Admission to the seminars, business matchmaking sessions, opening and closing ceremony 2 dinners and 1 lunch 3 nights 5star hotel accommodation (breakfast included) Oneday pass to the 2010 World Expo Transportation Guided architectural tour of Shanghai

CONTACT US

For more information, please contact Yasmine Tsai at yasmine@cancham.asia at CANCHAM in Shanghai, China. See tccc website at : www.tccc.or.th

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April 2010

13

Social News

A Week in the Life of

When you have worked in the education field for almost 2 decades you would think that you would have seen just about everything. Brilliant students, 12 year olds that can write this article better than I can. Yep, I have seen it. Passionate teachers, individuals that pour their heart and soul into the children that become a part of their lives. Yep, I have seen it. Real leaders, men and women that actually walk the talk. Yep, I have seen it (they really are out there).

International School Bangkok

ut I have not seen what I witnessed during International School Bangkoks (ISB) recent International Week. Sure, I have seen International Weeks over the years, but not like this one. No, this one involved approximately 200 parent volunteers, a friendly army, that after months of planning, gave our elementary school students a week of learning, a week of adventure, a week of hope that culminated in a day that was simply beyond reproach. ISBs friendly army developed a plan of attack that would involve our elementary school classrooms being transformed in the wee hours of the night. Yes, these kind hearted parents transported stockpiles of country memorabilia from their homes to our campus, down hallways and up flights of stairs. 5:00 pm, 6:00 pm, 7:00 pm, 8:00 pm - Grade 2, Room # 215 was completely overhauled to become Ireland; Grade 4, Room #219 - close your eyes, now open - Trinidad & Tobago. Grade 5, Room #230 - say hello to Papua New Guinea. And so it went, the friendly army, at school, at night, turning our classrooms into destinations near and far for the children of ISB. The sun rises, breakfast is eaten, teeth are brushed. ISBs elementary students travel to school by bike, by bus, or even on foot each wearing their national costume. School bells ring. Students are crawling out of their skin with excitement as they line up for the Parade of Nations. Class after class weave through ISBs hallways while proud parents, and even grandparents, take photographs of these treasures, these children that are experiencing a moment in time that is truly priceless. The parade continues towards the schools Chevron Theatre where our International Assembly will take place. Waving, smiling from ear-to-ear, these tiny student ambassadors

pass our Middle School Band who are on the parade route playing with pride, in awe at what is passing before them. The International Assembly brings cheers and even tears as students read poetry that was written to the theme of Its a Small World. Student performances, videos, dancing. No stone is left unturned. But the friendly army has more. Students catch their breath, teachers drink coffee and parents check their camera battery readings as the participants all regroup back in their homerooms. Passports now in hand, ISBs students depart and arrive at the immigration booth of the first country on their itinerary. Canada, Serbia, India - parent volunteers stamp each students passport and welcome them into their country. Classrooms that once had rows of desks and shelves filled with books, now have the sights, sounds and smells of the many countries that make up ISBs student body, part of what makes it such an incredible school. The Netherlands, Switzerland, Thailand, the U.S., they are all there. Classroom after classroom, immigration stamp after immigration stamp, our students listen to presentations given by teams of our parent volunteers who, like our students, are also dressed in their national costumes. Activities and experiences indigenous to each culture that is represented, our students experience a day like no other - all made possible by that friendly army. This was a day, a week, the likes of which I have never seen before. And if one of our brilliant 12 year olds does not take my job within the ensuing months, I hope to be here next year to see what our friendly army will give the very fortunate students of International School Bangkok.
By Tony Arnold Director of Marketing, International School Bangkok

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