Newsletter 09 / October 2004

SwissThai CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

• STCC President’s word

Dear Members - Page 1 - STCC President’s word - Business/Economy News The gubernatorial election of the - Page 2 - Business/Economy News cont. Governor was the most important event for the - Legal Matters Bangkokians. - Joint Foreign Chambers - Page 3 - Joint Foreign Chambers cont. The ruling Thai Rack Thai party did not file any - Swiss Embassy News candidate but supported behind the scenes the - Events Calendar former secretary general of the Chat Pattana - Miscellaneous Party – the party that in the meantime merged - Secretary with the ruling party of Prime Minister Thaksin. - Membership fee 2004 - Comments from our Members For the political pundits the Bangkok election was - Swiss Society Bangkok the barometer how much support the - Useful Links government enjoys in Bangkok. - Page 4 - Useful Links continuation

Apirak Kosayodhin from the opposition Democrat party received strong support from the electorate • Business / Economy News and won with a landslide victory and took over the reigns in City hall from outgoing Governor Source: Office of National Economics and Social . Interesting was that candidate Development Board, dated 6 September 2004. Chuwit Kamolvisit, owner of several upscale massage parlours and nabbed the leisure tycoon, The Thai economy expanded at the rate of 6.3 who openly accused the police of corruption, percent in the second quarter of 2004, slightly came in third place. It looked like the Bangkokians lower then the first quarter (6,6 %) and the fourth gave some signals. quarter of 2003 (7,8%), mainly due to impairing factors on the production and expenditure sides. The Bangkok traffic gridlock has international Domestic demand slowed down quite reputation and Governor Aprirak has announced considerably while stock accumulation added that his first priority will be to solve this problem by positively to the real GDP growth. Private introducing a fast lane for the buses. Many of his investments expanded by 16.0 percent, revised predecessors have tried to solve this ongoing downwards from 20.5 percent in earlier problem. The ever-increasing numbers of cars are projections. Although this development might a continuous challenge to any new ideas. indicate that the Thai economy is moving into a slower phase of the economic cycle, its economic started the year with a very promising stability, however, remained favorable, as outlook but the past months have shown several reflected in the strong current account balance, problem areas – unrest in the Deep South, the increasing international reserves, declining public new outbreak of bird flu and a rather weak stock debts, and stable exchange rate. Considering market. prevailing domestic and international constraints in forecasting economic performance, such as an The last quarter of the year will be an important increase in interest rates by the Bank of Thailand and interesting time since the next general and the continued rise in oil price, the expected election will be held no later than February 2005. GDP growth rate for the second half of 2004 is [email protected] approximately 6.0 to 6.5 %, or 6,455.6 billion Baht GDP at current prices.

The import volume of goods and services increased by 17.6 percent, or 93.2 billion US dollars which results in an increase of 12.9 percent over the first quarter 2004. The export volume of goods

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SwissThai CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

and services increased by 11.1 percent during the • to settle, or to file actions, or to defend same reporting period, or 94.9 billion US dollars, actions, relating to the assets of the debtor which reflects a substantial increase from the first (TBA section 22). quarter 2004 as well. The inflation rate further (to be continued) increased to 2.7 % and total employment figures [email protected] were also on the rise, ending the second quarter with a 4.7 percent increase in employment compared to the same period of last year. The • Joint Foreign Chambers forecast for economic growth in 2005 stands at 5,5 % to 6,5 %. Executive Director report: [email protected] There are no news on the normal front (VAT/Visa/W-P/Customs/ Revenue Dept), so lets look at BIOTEC. • Legal Matters BIOTEC is a subsidiary of the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) of the Thai Bankruptcy Law (3) Thai Ministry of Science and Technology. This Government agency supports transfer of In the last two publications we talked about how technology and induces dynamics in research, to determine the insolvent status of the debtor development and application of Biotechnology and the proof of such insolvent to the court by the through conducting R&D Projects, development creditor. Now we will talk about the next step to of relevant human resources, and technology be taken for starting the bankruptcy case investment in basic, medium and high tech areas. proceeding. As a catalyst between researchers and private sector, BIOTEC accommodates research units for When the court admits a petition in bankruptcy, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology and Protein the date of hearing shall be fixed as an urgent research, as well as Bio resources at it’s Science matter and summons shall be issued, and a copy Park at Phaholyothin Road. This installed facilities of the petition shall be sent to the debtor, for its can be used by the private sector as well. information, not less than seven days before the Additionally a BIOTEC Pilot Plant is available for the date of hearing (TBA section 13). In hearing a set up of your R&D Laboratory. bankruptcy action on the petition of the creditor, BIOTEC was involved in projects such as: the court must consider the facts prescribed in TBA development of SARS Diagnostic Kits, Rice section 9. If the court thinks the petitions research, Bio pesticides, wastewater treatment substantiated, the court shall order the debtor to etc. For your activities in this fields privileges such be under an absolute receivership; but if not as tax exemption of 200% of R&D expenditure are substantiated, or the debtor gives evidence of its granted. Other support reaches from Venture ability to pay the debt in full, or if there are other Capital to access to NSTDA researchers etc. For grounds not justifying the adjudication of the details please contact debtor as a bankrupt, the court shall dismiss the Khun Ramjitti, BIOTEC, [email protected] petition (TBA section 14). When the court has Tel: 02 564 6700, www.biotec.or.th (partly English) ordered the debtor to be under receivership, the or Th. Gerber at [email protected] control of the debtor’s estate passes to the official receiver, who solely shall have the following The Ministry of Science and Technology organizes powers: events under the “Bridges – Dialogues Towards a Culture of Peace” with several Nobel Laureates • to manage and to dispose of the asset of (Chemistry & Physics), among them one from the debtor or to fulfill any necessary act to Switzerland: Prof. Kurt Wuethrich, who will present complete any pending business of the as Keynote Speaker two seminars: debtor; a) Structures of the molecules of life – Impact on • to collect and to receive money of assets modern biomedical research (16/12/04), and belonging to the debtor, or which the b) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) studies of debtor is entitled to receive from third structure and function of biological molecules parties and (17/12/04)

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SwissThai CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

A full list of events, keynote speakers, details are - Bibliotheca available at If you are interested in Books, Magazines, Company Yearbooks and other Publications http://www.most.go.th/nobelforum/file/nobeltable.htm available at our new and small library, please ask or contact [email protected] the secretary for assistance or for an inventory list. [email protected]

• Swiss Embassy News - Trade Fairs Please visit the following sites for detailed info: Swiss Business Delegation Trip to Thailand www.cmpthailand.com (6 – 9 October 2004) www.impact.co.th www.bitec.net The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) www.osec.ch/swisstradefairs and the Swiss – South East Asian Chamber of [email protected] Commerce (SEA) organize a Swiss Business Trip to Thailand from the 6th to the 9th October 2004 (Chiang Mai and Bangkok). • Secretary

Swiss Ambassador Joerg Al. Reding will lead the Please be so kind and inform us about any delegation to Thailand. The visit is the follow-up of changes in your contact information. President Joseph Deiss’s visit in March of this year. Contacts with the Swiss business community in Member List Thailand are welcome. An assessment of current If you need a hard copy of our member list please business and investment climate for Swiss investors contact the secretary at [email protected]. will be made and economic relationships between Switzerland and Thailand promoted. • Membership fee 2004 For further information contact: Ms. Orawan Chandrangsu The invoice for the 2004 membership fee was sent Swiss Embassy, Bangkok out. In case you did not yet settle it, please do it E-mail: [email protected] ASAP. Thanks a lot in advance. Commercial section: Tel: 02-253 0156 ext. 123

• Comments from our Members Events Calendar This place is reserved for our members! Planned events: If you have any suggestions, a wish or want to - Upcoming STAMMs – 2nd Thursday of the month: bring us closer to your business, please do it here. October 14, 2004, November 11, 2004, December (Not more than 12 lines) Thank you. 09, 2004 [email protected] [email protected] or www.swissthai.com

• Swiss Society Bangkok • Miscellaneous For social activities, please check the following - Manpower: address: www.ssb.or.th Please check our Web Page. Under “Members” following by “classifieds” you will find interesting manpower offers to contact directly. • Useful Links Thank you. www.swissthai.com - Swiss Trade Promotion Office www.osec.ch and www.osec.ch/newsletter

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SwissThai CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

- CH Foreign Trade Swiss Thai Chamber of Commerce www.swisstrade.com C.M. Building, 13th floor 126 / 2 Krungthonburi - CH News Paper NZZ Klongsan, Bangkok 10600 www.nzz.ch Tel. + 66 (0) 2860 7401 - Swiss Embassy Bangkok Fax + 66 (0) 2860 7415 www.eda.admin.ch/bangkok

- Swiss Thai Chamber of Commerce Next Newsletter: January 2005 www.swissthai.com For all comments please contact [email protected] or - State Secretariat for Economic Affairs [email protected] www.seco-admin.ch

- World Economic Forum www.weforum.org

- Swiss Business Federation www.economiesuisse.ch

- Swissinfo www.swissinfo.org

- CONFEDERATIO HELFETICA (in 5 languages) www.admin.ch

- EU launches on-line helpdesk to foster developing country access to EU markets http://europa.eu/int/comm/trade/issues/global/d evelopment/thd-en.htm

- Interesting links in Thailand www.yellowpages.co.th www.thailandexportguide.com www.eguide.co.th

- Department of Export Promotion’s websites: www.deptahai.go.th and www.thaitrade.com

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