Sponsored by the Government of Japan

INFORMATION NOTE FOR PARTICIPANTS

2nd OECD-Asia Regional Seminar on Insurance Statistics: Enhancing Transparency and Monitoring of Insurance Markets

[postponed due to floods, originally scheduled on 20-21 October 2011]

RESCHEDULED: 26-27 January 2012

Bangkok,

Following the postponement in October 2011 due to the flooding situation in Bangkok, of the second OECD- Asia Regional Seminar on Insurance Statistics: Enhancing Transparency and Monitoring of Insurance Markets, the rescheduled event will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, on 26-27 January 2012. The seminar is co- hosted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Office of Insurance Commission Thailand (OIC), with sponsorship by the Government of Japan.

The event will begin on Thursday 26th January 2012 at 9am and end on Friday 27th January 2012 at 5.30pm.

Registration

Please note that participation is by invitation only. Delegates must register for this conference. To do so, please send your registration form (attached to your invitation letter) as soon as possible and no later than Monday 9 January 2012, to: Ms. Morven Alexander, OECD, email: [email protected];

Enquiries

For issues regarding the agenda: Mr. Jean-Marc Salou, OECD: Tel.: 33 (0) 1 45 24 91 10 ; email : [email protected]

For logistical matters: OECD: Ms. Morven Alexander: Tel : 33 (0)1 45 24 88 36, email : [email protected] Ms. Angelique Servin: Tel: 33 (0)1 45 24 79 80 ; email [email protected] OIC: Ms. Chamanun Netrabukkana: Tel: +662 513 6763, email: [email protected] Mr. Songpol Rushchano: Tel +662 515 3999 Ext. 3303, email: [email protected]

1 Entry visa for Thailand and Insurance

Participants are strongly advised to contact their local Thai embassy or consulate to verify if they require a visa to enter Thailand. The addresses and contact numbers of the Foreign Missions accredited to Thailand can be found on the following website: http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2637.php

Registered participants who require an official invitation letter for visa purposes should contact the Office of Insurance Commission (OIC), Thailand, by 9 January 2012 at the latest: Ms. Chamanun Netrabukkana Mr. Songpol Rushchano email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Tel: +662 5156763 Tel: +662 5153999 Ext. 3303 Fax: +662 5153950 Fax: +662 5153950

Participants are advised to have adequate medical and travel insurance to cover their visit to Thailand.

Venue

The seminar will be held at:

Sofitel Centara Grand Bangkok (Ladprao) 1695 Phaholyothin Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900 Thailand (Conference room: Vibhavadee Ballroom A, Lobby Level) Tel: +662 541 1234 Ext. 4210; Fax. +662 5411089 Email: [email protected] and [email protected] Website: http://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/scgb/scgb_default.asp

Accommodation and hotel room bookings

We have obtained a negotiated rate at the venue hotel, Sofitel Centara Grand Bangkok (Ladprao), where a block booking has been made for registered participants of this conference:

Sofitel Centara Grand Bangkok (Ladprao) 1695 Phaholyothin Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand Tel: +66 2 541 1234 ext. 4210; Fax: +66 2 541 1089 Email: [email protected] and [email protected] Website: http://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/scgb/scgb_default.asp

Registered participants should make their room reservations by means of the Hotel Reservation Form (attached to your invitation letter), by 18 January 2012 at the latest. After this date, the group booking made for the seminar participants will be released and reservations thereafter will be of a different rate and subject to availability.

Important note: Neither OECD nor OIC Thailand can be responsible for any costs associated with participants’ hotel rooms. Each participant is responsible for the reservation and payment of his/her hotel room and all incidental charges by his/her personal credit card.

2 Sofitel Centara Grand Bangkok negotiated room prices and cancellation policy:

Basic room type: “Deluxe”. Other room categories available (see details on reservation form).

Deluxe Single THB 4,000 net/room/night Deluxe Twin THB 4,300 net/room/night

The above rates are inclusive of 7% vat and 10% service charge, and entitle guests to the following privileges: - Complimentary buffet breakfast - Complimentary 24-hours in-room broadband internet access (for one user only, a second user will be charged at THB 500 net/room/night, special price reduced from usual rate of THB 789 net/room/night). - Complimentary daily newspaper - Complimentary welcome fruits and flowers - Complimentary shuttle bus services to the city centre, Sky-Train Mor-Chit Station

Please note Terms and Conditions: - All reservations must be accompanied by guest’s credit card to guarantee booking - Check-in time is 2.00pm. To guarantee early check-in, please book one night before. - Check-out time is 12.00 noon. Extended use of room until 6.00pm on day of departure is subject to half- day’s rate. Thereafter, a full day’s room rate is applicable - Cancellation made less than 72 hours prior to arrival or failure to check-in (no-show) on your scheduled arrival day will result in a cancellation penalty equivalent to one night’s room and tax, which will be charged by the hotel to the credit card provided to guarantee the reservation.

Meals and Social Events

Lunch: Lunch for all participants will be provided on both days of the conference.

Evening: If an evening event will be held, this will be confirmed as soon as possible.

Spouses/partners The organizers regret that no programme can be arranged for spouses/partners.

Dress Code Dress code during the conference will be business attire.

Working Language

The official language of the seminar will be English. The seminar documentation will be in English.

3 Documentation and website

If you have been asked to contribute a paper or presentation to the conference or wish to submit any relevant background materials, please send your material, by Monday 9 January 2012 at the latest. to: Ms. Morven Alexander, email [email protected];

Please note that unless advised otherwise by presenters, all presentations will be posted on the OECD website.

The documentation will be posted as it becomes available, at the following link: http://www.oecd.org/document/35/0,3746,en_2649_33761_48349411_1_1_1_1,00.html

Registered participants will receive a set of documents upon arrival at the conference.

Airport transfers

Please book via the Sofitel Hotel Reservation Form (attached to your invitation letter) if the hotel‟s limousine or van is required:

Transportation by Hotel Limousine, Sofitel Centara Grand Bangkok (Ladprao) From Suvarnabhumi Airport to Hotel: THB 1,800 net / car / one way From Hotel to Suvarnabhumi Airport: THB 1,800 net / car / one way

Transportation by Hotel VAN From Suvarnabhumi Airport to Hotel: THB 2,300 net / car / one way From Hotel to Suvarnabhumi Airport: THB 2,300 net / car / one way

Other transportation from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport:

Distance from hotel Sofitel Centara Grand Bangkok (Ladprao): 38 km Travel time by road is approximately 35-40 minutes.

Taxis - A properly licensed taxi in Bangkok is recognisable by the yellow-and-black number plates and the 'Taxi-meter' sign on top of the vehicle. Airport taxis can be found outside the terminal building on the 1st floor. Fare: starting at 35 Baht. Estimated taxi fare to from the airport to the Hotel Sofitel Centara Grand Bangkok (Ladprao): THB 550 net including the expressway fee one way.

Airport limousine transfer service is available 24 hours a day for an additional fee, please contact the counters located in the Baggage Reclaim Hall and Passenger Arrival Hall on the 2nd floor.

Airport Express bus operates between 05.00-24.00 daily. The Airport Express Bus Counter located at door 8 on the 1st floor of the Passenger building. Cost is 150 Baht per person/one way.

Airport Rail Link starts from Suvannabhumi Airport to city area. City Line‟s fare starts from 15 Baht up to 45 Baht, while the Express fare is a flat rate of 150 baht.

BTS sky train and MRT subway - For another choice of transportation, there is the BTS sky train (www.bts.co.th) and MRT subway (www.bangkokmetro.co.th).

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Map of area, showing Hotel Sofitel Centara Grand Bangkok (Ladprao):

5 PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Currency: The unit of currency is the Baht. The current exchange rate is about 30 baht to 1 USD. The baht note demoninations are 20 baht, 50 baht, 100 baht, 500 baht, and 1,000 baht. Coins are 25 stang, 50 stang, 1 baht, 2 baht, 5 baht, and 10 baht (100 stang = 1 baht). Major credit cards are widely accepted in most business establishments except for taxis and small shops.

Climate: Thailand is a warm and rather humid tropical country with monsoonal climate. Temperatures are highest in March and April with average temperature of 28 degree Celsius to 38 degrees Celsius and humidity averaging between 82.8 percent and 73 percent

Electricity: 220 volts 50 cycles throughout the country

Insurance and Medical Cover Conference organizers do not take responsibility for medical, travel or life insurance, and participants are advised to hold valid international personal insurance policies.

Water and Food Travellers should not drink tap water.

Medical Care Brand name pharmaceuticals are readily available, though some may be „pirated' copies (it is impossible to distinguish them and therefore visitors should carry important pharmaceuticals with them).

Malaria and Dengue Fever While prevalent in border areas, malaria is not a concern in Bangkok. However, precautions should be taken against mosquito bites to prevent against the risk of dengue fever.

Safety Bangkok is Thailand's capital city and main business and manufacturing centre. With a population of approximately 11.5m, the city is crowded and polluted. The notoriously difficult city-centre travel has improved somewhat with the introduction of the BTS Skytrain and a new metro system. Crime levels are not particularly high, though petty crime can be a problem, particularly in tourist areas, such as around Patpong. Tourist Police patrols monitor most nightlife locations.

Emergency numbers: AMBULANCE: 191 TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND: 1672 TOURIST POLICE: 1155 EMERGENCY POLICE: 191 HIGHWAY POLICE: 1193 FIRE: 199

Tourist Board of Thailand Website: http://thai.tourismthailand.org/fi_en/home/

6 GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THAILAND

Fast Facts

 Country: Thailand  Location: east bank of the Mae Nam Chao Phraya River and close to the Gulf of Thailand  Status: capital city of Thailand (Thai: Krung Thep Maha Nakhon)  Area: approximately 600 square miles / 1,553 square kilometres  Population: approximately seven million  Language: Thai  Currency: Thailand Baht (THB)  World time zones: UTC / GMT +7 hours  Country dialing code: +66  Telephone area code: 02  Religion: mainly Buddhists, remainder includes Muslims and Christians  Average daily Bangkok January temperature: 31°C / 88°F  Average daily Bangkok July temperature: 35°C / 95°F  The monsoon season, which runs from June to October, brings torrential rains.

A Brief

The word "Thai" means free, and therefore Thailand means the "land of the free". Previously the country was well-known to the world as "siam" and only on May 11, 1949 did an official proclamation changed the name of the country into "Prathet Thai" or "Thailand" by which it has since come to be known throughout the world.

In childhood, our school textbooks told us that our ancestors had their roots in Southern China where they originated some 4,500 years ago. Under pressure from China, they moved southward through Burma down to the Indo-Chinese peninsula, the "Thai Noi" then established their capital in Sukhothai, the northern province of Thailand.

Now there are conflicting opinions and theories about the origin of the Thais since the discovery of many instruments and artifacts at the village of Ban Chiang in Nong Han District of the northeastern province of Udon Thani. The theory about the origin of the has now changed, it appears that the Thais might have first settled down here in Thailand and later scattered to various parts of Asia, even to some parts of China.

The controversy over the origin of the Thais shows no sign of definite conclusion as many more theories have been put forward and some even go further to say that the Thais were originally of Austronesian rather than Mongoloid. What the outcome of the dispute may be, by the 13th century the Thais had already settled down within the Southeast Asian mainland with Sukhothai as the "first kingdom". The Sukhothai era marked a period of great cultural development. Under King Ramkhamhaeng the Great who ruled from 1275 to 1315, the land of Sukhothai was thriving. There were fish in the water and rice in the fields. Due to the kingdom's prosperity, it is regarded as a "golden age" in the Thai history.

Then in the 1350, a new led by King Ramathibodi I (Uthong) established a new capital at Ayutthaya, and in 1378 during the reign of King Borommaracha I, Sukhothai was subdued to become a tributary state of Ayutthaya. The survived several wars with Burma before falling to the invading Burmese in 1767.

Following this defeat, the Thais led by King retreated south and established another capital at Thon Buri. On his death in 1782, the King was succeeded by King Phra Buddha Yodfah Chulaloke () who moved the capital across the river to the present location in Bangkok as Thon Buri was too vulnerable to Burmese attack. The King founded the which rules the country to the present day.

7 BANGKOK – TOURISM INFORMATION

Various tourist information offices are located around Bangkok and also at the city's nearby Suvarnabhumi Airport, including the head office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), which is located along New Phetchaburi Road and features many English-speaking staff.

Major attractions in Bangkok:

 The Grand Palace: The Grand Palace and Wat Pra Kaeo is the city landmark on a huge compound. The Grand Palace has an area of about 1.5 square kilometers and includes the Royal Chapel, the Royal Collection of Weapons, the Coin Pavilion, and a small museum containing artifacts from the Grand Palace. (www.palaces.thai.net/index_gp.htm)

: This is possibly the most interesting temple in Thailand as it combines history and medical science and is a center for meditation and traditional massage training. Its official name is Wat Phrachetuphon Vimon Mangkararam Ratchaworamahawihan, although it is commonly called Wat Po. Founded during the 16th century, Wat Pho is most famous for the golden reclining Buddha that measures 46 metres and has feet inlaid with mother- of pearl. Wat Pho has gained international recognition as a meditation centre and for the traditional Thai massage that is both practiced and taught here. (www.watpho.com)

 Vimanmek Palace: is located behind the National Assembly. This palace is believed to be the world largest building made entirely of golden teak.The building was originally constructed on Srichang Island in the Gulf of Siam by King Rama V (King ). In 1901, the building was moved to its present site which was Bangkok suburbs at that time. Today, Vimanmek Mansion serves as a museum and it displays a vast collection of historical and valuable artifacts from the reign of King Rama V. (www.vimanmek.com)

 Chatuchack Weekend Market: Situated on Phahom Yothin Road in the south side of Chatuchack Park, this market offers an enormous variety of goods, from second-hand books, handicrafts and products from all regions of Thailand, silk and antiques to fresh products, accessories, ceramics, plants, and even pets in this market of around 14 hectares. There are approximately 15,000 stalls.

 Bangkok Shopping Street: There are many shopping malls located at Pathumwan junction and Ratchadamri and Ratchaprasong intersection, such as MBK, Siam Square, Siam Center, Siam Discovery Center, Central World Plaza, Central Chidlom, and Kasorn Plaza.

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