B6 Friday, July 6, 2012 SPECIAL REPORT: INDUSTRIALSECTOR – Kingdom well-placed to build strong relationship with

n August 8, the Association Increasingly, Thai businessmen are “Looking to the future, the business of Southeast Asian Nations entering the Chinese market through Hong communities in Hong Kong and Thailand (Asean) will celebrate 45 Kong as their partners and advisers there are looking forward to the continued years. The Asean Declaration, are able to point them in the right expansion of trade and investment signed in the Thai capital direction.” opportunities. Thailand has already signed OBangkok in 1967, aims to accelerate Bernard Chan, chairman of the Hong free-trade agreements with a number of economic growth, social progress and Kong-Thailand Business Council, is countries throughout the region and, while cultural development in the region. confident that the Sino-Thai relationship it may be a while before Asean nations Asingle regional common market of Thailand is taking the necessary steps to products, rubber, cars, computers and will remain a catalyst for growth become fully open, there are good signs the 10 Asean member states will be ensure we remain a competitive place to electrical appliances. As the economy throughout the region. that tariffs between Asean and China will created by the launch of the Asean do business. We enjoy strong cultural and grows, the Thai government is taking steps “Obviously, last year’s floods affected a continue to be reduced. Economic Community in 2015. Thailand is historical ties to China and we are to ensure it is easier for companies to lot of business between Thailand and “This region is still emerging and well-positioned to build on its economic committed to working closely with our operate as the country continues its Hong Kong and the rest of Greater China. many countries still have lower-income strengths as a leading industrialised nation Chinese counterparts. Thailand’s efforts to become more business-friendly. But the overall trend is very positive, with or middle-income populations. However, while developing its close ties with China. geographical location also makes us a “Thailand is learning from Hong Kong the previous five years showing bilateral business between Hong Kong and “Thai companies are recognising that strategic land transport corridor from regarding the implementation of trade between the two economies Thailand represents a classic example of they must compete on quality rather than China to the rest of the Asia-Pacific.” anticorruption measures,” says Andrew averaging nearly 10 per cent growth per where the opportunities are for growth.” price,” says Amparwon Pichalai, director Thailand’s major industries include Wong, president of the Thai-Hong Kong year. Thailand is currently Hong Kong’s of trade information resources and e- electrical appliances, components, Trade Association. “Last year, the Thai 12th-largest export market and 10th-largest www.ditp.go.th business at the Royal Thai government’s computer parts and cars. Its export-driven government invited the commissioner of source of imports. The trade relationship www.thaitrade.com department of international trade economy ranks as the second-largest in the Independent Commission Against dates back more than a century to when www.thta.or.th promotion. “There is recognition that we Southeast Asia after Indonesia. Exports Corruption to deliver a talk on how to Thailand first started supplying rice to www.hk-thai.com Thailand offers a wealth of opportunities. must compete internationally, and include rice, textiles and footwear, fishery combat corruption in . Hong Kong,” he says. www.icac.org.hk Thaioil aims to develop its Thaitex leads the way With more than 80 per cent of its natural rubber and rubber products exported to niche as an industry leader overseas markets, Thailand is the world’s largest rubber exporter. While competition from Malaysia and Indonesia, and climatic With a strong foundation built on more regions account for 70 per cent of demand centres and dental clinics to ensure we conditions, affect the rubber industry in than 50 years of experience, Thai Oil and our refinery is strategically located help improve the quality of people’s lives in Thailand, one Thai company is leading the (Thaioil) has developed into an industrial only 120 kilometres from Bangkok. This communities.” industry into the future. leader in Thailand. Its core oil refinery gives us the advantage of being in close Kositpaisal sees huge opportunities In 1967, in Songkhla province in business has enabled Thaioil to become a proximity to our customer base and within the Asia-Pacific region. “There are southern Thailand, Klong Ngae Rubber recognised leader in the industry. As it enables us to supply the domestic market 600 million people in Asean and demand was established. Following alliances with looks towards the future, Thaioil is set to efficiently and deliver products on time.” for products and services is expected to Veerasak Kositpaisal, CEO, Thai Oil Orient Rubber Latex and Thai Rubber and develop its legacy as a trusted company Thaioil achieved Level B with its recent increase with the establishment of the Latex, Thai Rubber Latex Corporation with a driven management team. sustainability report published in Asean Economic Community in 2015. (Thaitex) was founded in 1990. The Thaioil operates a comprehensive partnership with the Global Reporting Asean economies will grow in line with the products for use in the important Chinese company has since developed into the refinery that uses advanced and efficient Initiative, a non-profit organisation that increase of free movement of capital, textile industry, and business opportunities world’s largest natural concentrated latex processing technologies to produce promotes economic, environmental and skilled labour and services, and Thaioil is between our two countries will continue to producer and supplier recording more W. Vorathep, CEO, Thai Rubber Latex 275,000 barrels per day. social sustainability. in a strong position to benefit from these present themselves,” Kositpaisal says. “As than 150,000 tons of natural concentrated Its products are primarily for domestic “As a leading production company, opportunities. We have established an we look towards the future, we want to be latex annually. The company has eight distribution. safety, efficiency and environmental international footprint and we expect this seen as one of the most competitive latex plants in the east, south and Every aspect of our modern daily lives to Thaitex. “China’s economy is Expansion into petrochemical, lube awareness are part of our DNA,” to increase across the region.” players in the industry and, through the northeast of Thailand. involves rubber products and Thaitex will experiencing continued growth and with base businesses, power generation and Kositpaisal says. “In Thailand, we China’s continued economic work of our talented staff, we are on track As demand for natural rubber grows, continue to deliver high quality products.” the industrial and automotive sectors the marine transport of petroleum and contribute to the country’s development by engagement with Asean countries to achieve our goal. As we build on the Thaitex bases its success on experience, Thaitex has gained a solid reputation continuing to expand, there is huge petrochemical products has enabled creating partnerships with local people in continues to be a significant catalyst for legacy of the last 50 years, we will ensure expertise and strategic planning. Listed on as a leading manufacturer and exporter of demand for rubber products throughout Thaioil to strengthen its core business the areas in which we operate. We are growth within the region. Since the Thaioil is seen as a responsible business the Stock Exchange of Thailand, Thaitex latex concentrate, disposable rubber the country,” Vorathep says. while continuing to benefit from its committed to continually working earliest traders, Thailand and China have group with a strong desire to achieve our CEO Vorathep Wongsasuthikul is confident glove, extruded rubber thread, talcum- “We are seeing rising demand in refinery’s strategic location. alongside local authorities and enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship. growth expectations.” about the future. coated rubber thread and various other China for rubber usage in the textile Thaioil’s CEO Veerasak Kositpaisal communities by providing employment “Thaioil already has customers in “We have a recognised responsibility rubber products. The company focuses on industry and surgical rubber glove says: “Bangkok and the surrounding opportunities and building community China who purchase our chemical www.thaioilgroup.com as the biggest supplier for latex in the consistency of supply, high-quality manufacturing sectors. Fifty per cent of world,” Vorathep says. “We have a high products and customer service. In the past our products remain in the domestic quality product at a good price and pride decade Thaitex has diversified its business market. China accounts for 50 per cent of ourselves on our service and strong into upstream operations, including an our total overseas sales volume and we relationships with our customers. My investment in rubber plantations across look forward to continuing to develop personal motivation to continue in this the country. This will ensure that there is strong relations with our customers in business and grow the company is based abundant supply of high quality latex to its China.” on the fact that I believe rubber is an factories all year round. important product for human development. The Chinese market remains important www.thaitex.com

Commitment, hard work keys to success

Kulthorn Kirby Public Company (KKC) is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. As Asean’s leading independent manufacturer of compressors for refrigerators, air conditioners and condensing units, KKC is recognised as one of Thailand’s outstanding companies. Through strong commitment and hard work, the company has focused on producing a high-quality product range which has continued to develop over the Production with quality and safety years. The company is today building on its remains key at Kulthorn Kirby’s facilities. legacy and stepping into the future with confidence. In the late 1970s, the Thai government utilisation: reciprocating, rotary, scroll, The continuing dedication of the wanted to develop a compressor screw and centrifugal. company’s 2,100 employees also ensures manufacturing plant that would supply KKC’s highly efficient manufacturing customer satisfaction is a priority for KKC. domestic refrigerator manufacturers. operations today include steel coil slitting, With almost 70 per cent of the This initiative led to the establishment component machining, deep drawing of company’s compressor units being of KKC as a joint venture between the steel components, aluminium die-casting exported to key markets including Asia, Kulthorn Group (Thailand) and James N. and electric motor manufacturing for its New Zealand, , the Middle East, Kirby of Australia. own compressors and other local the US and Europe, KKC has developed The new company’s strong technical manufacturers. into a truly global player. backing came from United States-based By employing a vertical integrated After 30 years of operations, KKC Tecumseh, a leading company in the business model, KKC benefits from a more remains focused on providing customers design and manufacturing of competitive cost structure and air with quality products and continuous compressors. conditioning models and commercial support. The company’s policy of In January 1982, KKC celebrated the refrigeration compressors remain key “Production with Quality and Safety” grand opening of its first production plant. components of KKC’s product portfolio. remains as true today as it did 30 years Within the industry, compressors are KKC is now able to offer increasingly ago. divided into five categories, which differ by larger compressors following investments size, functionality, performance and made in its manufacturing operations. www.kulthorn.com

Recovery ignites property price growth The Thai economy continues its recovery support system and complementary to post growth in the industrial and businesses such as property manufacturing sectors. management, sourcing, procurement, On the real estate side, property prices trading, research and development and are gradually increasing with a level of project management. stability. Property prices in Thailand and Managing director Thanawan Bangkok, in particular, still compare Chaiwatana says: “We are in full gear this favourably in comparison with surrounding year, starting with our Magnolias major regional centres. Ratchadamri Boulevard, a mixed-use With the incoming Asean Economic development in Ratchadamri, the prime Community in 2015, the country is expected location at the heart of Bangkok to continue this growth and expansion. incorporating super luxury residential Bangkok will become an important hub condominiums and introducing for commerce and tourism, and property the first Waldorf Astoria hotel in prices, particularly in prime locations, will Southeast Asia. continue to climb as demand from local “Managed by Hilton Worldwide Hotels and international markets increase. and Resorts, the Waldorf name is Magnolia Quality Development synonymous with timeless luxury and Corporation, one of the DT Group of sophistication. Companies (DTGO), was established in “Also, Magnolia Quality Development 1994. With offices in Bangkok and Corporation, in partnership with Siam Shanghai, the group employs more than Piwat and the CP Group has announced a 300 staff. DTGO has undertaken projects in new development that promises to unlock Thailand and the mainland, ranging from the beauty of the iconic Chao Phraya river residential, commercial, retail and and position Bangkok as one of the hospitality developments. The group’s core region’s most desirable destinations.” businesses (real estate, design and Thanawan Chaiwatana, managing consulting) are strengthened by a strong director, Magnolia Quality Development www.magnolia.co.th