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Dear Readers, The end of the year is near. By saying farewell to 2015, this Newsletter offers you some insight about Belgian companies like Soudal and Barco and Thai businesses such as Pa-daeng Industry and Pamornchai Supply. In this issue, you will learn more about food, the ambitions of the University of Antwerp, and how to register a company in Myanmar. Let me wish you again a very happy birthday to Katoen Natie (160 years !) and congratulate Beluthai and the Chao Phya Abhai Raja Foundation for a very successful Thai Belgian Economic Forum last month. And to conclude, let me invite you to inaugurate our exhi-bition on “Belgium, Siam and World War One” on 4 December. Enjoy the reading, Marc Michielsen Ambassador

Economic news

December 2015

The Embassy of Belgium

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THAI-BELGIAN ECONOMIC FORUM

On November 4 2015, as part of the Thai-Belgian Friendship Celebrations, the Thai-Belgian Economic Forum took place at the Assumption University (ABAC), Bangkok, and was honored by the presence of HRH Princess Maria-Esmeralda of Belgium. The objec-tive of this event was not only to bring the Thai and Belgian companies closer together but also to bring the leaders of today in contact with the leaders of tomorrow, namely the students. The forum enabled the participants to comprehend the challenges faced by small Belgian entrepreneurs like Gallothai or INVE when they set up their business in Thailand, such as the culture shock, the technical difficulties and the legal issues. It also illustrated the ambition of bigger companies (Solvay, Umicore) and the reasons why they decided to set foot in Thailand. The closing address was given by M.L. Panadda Diskul, Minister to the Prime Minister's Office. The numerous presence of students im-pressed the business leaders, who mingled with them during lunch time. ABAC students were enthusiastic about getting personal advice as well as meeting with potential em-ployers. And they underlined the Belgian hospitality and friendliness. A successful event co-organized by the Chao Phya Abhai Raja Foundation and the Chamber of commerce BeLuthai. www.beluthai.org

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SOUDAL EXPANDS FURTHER INTERNATIONALLY

Soudal recently announced the opening of three new affiliates in Thailand, Vietnam and Morocco. These new offices are part of Soudal’s strategy to be present in all continents with their own employees and subsidiaries. With the opening of these three new estab-lishments, Soudal will now own 47 affiliates worldwide. The Belgian company Soudal NV, headquartered in Turnhout, is Europe’s leading inde-pendent manufacturer of sealants, PU-Foams and adhesives. The company has devel-oped into one of the most important independent producers of silicone and caulks (sili-cone, polyurethane, Marine Sealants, acrylics), polyurethane-foams and adhesives in the continent. The company, established in 1966 by its chairman Mr. Vic Swerts, is family owned and independent from large multinational corporations. Soudal has a consolidat-ed turnover of 340 million USD, and the company distributes its products to more than 100 different countries worldwide. The company is active on three markets: profession-al construction, “Do it yourself” (DIY) hardware stores and industrial applications. www.soudalgroup.com

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5TH ANNUAL WE LOVE PETS EVENT

Ambassadeur Michielsen with Mr. Somchai Apichartprakulp (President of PamornChai)

On Saturday 3 October the Thai leading importer of pet food, Pamornchai Supply, orga-nized for the 5th time the very popular “We Love PETs Event”, at the Central Rama II shopping Mall in Bangkok. About 80% of the products that Pamorchai imports come from Belgian companies. H.E. Marc Michielsen, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bel-gium, was present during the opening ceremony and praised in his opening speech the high quality of the Belgian pet food products. On Sunday, trophies were awarded to the owners of the most beautiful and healthy pets.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO KATOEN NATIE

This year, Katoen Natie celebrates its 160th anniversary. A young lady that perpetually reinvented herself. Katoen Natie was indeed founded in Antwerp (Belgium) in 1854 and its first activity consisted in receiving bales of cotton in the port, and in handling, stor-ing, weighing and distributeing them (hence its name: Katoen means cotton in Dutch). But Katoen Natie quickly diversified its range to other products (jute, coffee, iron, steel, fruit, tomatoes) and after World War II went further by storing products in its own warehouses, taking care of transport and managing customs procedures. In the 1980’s Katoen Natie took to the sea by acquiring a large shipping company and in the nineties specialized services for the petrochemical, chemical, automobile industry and major distribution were added to the business. Today, Katoen Natie consists of 400 operation-al units, with 150 terminals and logistics platforms, employing over 10,000 people all around the world.

The presence of Katoen Natie in Thailand dates back to 1997 when Katoen Natie Ser-vices (Thailand) LTD – KNS was established. KNS has two logistics centers located in Map Ta Phut, Rayong. KNS provides a variety of services to support the petrochemical indus-try with the handling of polymers and specialty chemicals including silo & bulk opera-tion, blending, drying, packing, sieving, shredding, etc., but also onsite management, shipping and transportation. KNS is taking an active role in supporting new develop-ments in Map Ta Phut including the design, construction and operation of logistics cen-ters. KNS takes a leading position in developing and promoting innovative concepts to the overall supply chain for chemical players in Thailand.

In order to celebrate this anniversary, Fabrice Goetschmann (Président and CEO – KNS) and his team organized a wonderful party at Silver Lake estate (near Patthaya) for cus-tomers, friends and employees and well as a challenging 75km bike race for the fittest or the most curious. The Embassy of Belgium was there for a few drinks… and quite a few kilometers.

www.kns.co.th

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BARCO HITS IN GHENT… AND IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

The Belgian company Barco, a global leader in digital cinema technology, announced the installation of the first flagship laser projector in the Republic of Korea. Lotte Cinema, one of the country’s major multiplexes, equipped its auditorium with Barco’s ultra-bright 6P laser cinema projector for premium screen (DP4K-60L). With this investment, Lotte Cinema further expands its premium auditorium offering with increased picture quality, reliability and improved operating efficiency. The Belgian Kinepolis Group was already one of the first multiplex cinema company to première with laser projection, end of last year. After the Kinepolis theaters in Antwerp, Brussels, Lomme and Madrid, Theater 2 of the Ghent-based Kinepolis multiplex premi-ered Barco’s flagship laser solution during Film Fest Ghent, that took place from 12 to 25 October. Under the scrutinizing eye of movie professionals, eight festival movies were screened on Barco laser, including the opening and closing movies. “The Walk”, the 3D retelling of tightrope artist Philippe Petit's 1974 walk between New York's Twin Towers, was the perfect film to highlight the power of Barco’s DP4K-60L projector. It was at the CinemaCon trade fair in Las Vegas (US) that Lotte Cinema discovered Bar-co’s DP4K-60L top-of-the-line laser cinema projector that brings not only supreme brightness but also cutting-edge images to large screens. The combination of exception-al image quality, simplified operations and reduced operating expenses convinced Lotte Cinema in Korea to make the switch to laser projection.

www.barco.com

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PDI GETS THE THAILAND SUSTAINABILITY INVESTMENT AWARD

Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong congratulates

Managing Francis Director Vanbellen (right)

Padaeng Industry Public Company Limited (PDI) represented by Mr. Francis Vanbellen, Managing Director, received the Thailand Sustainability Investment Award from Mr. Apisak Tantivorawong, Finance Minister, during the SET Sustainability Awards 2015 cer-emony on October 16. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) announced PDI as one of 51 listed companies that passed the assessment process in sustainability on environmental, social and governance (ESG) aspects and is recommended for investors who preferably aim at long-term returns. PDI also received the Green Mining Continuous Awards 2015 from the Department of Primary Industries and Mines (DPIM), Ministry of Industry. Mr. Chaiwat Phadermrod, Manager - Environment, Occupational Health and Safety, re-ceived the Award from Mr. Athit Wuthikaro, Permanent Secretary of Industry Ministry on October 29. PDI’s Mae Sod mine has received the Green Mining Awards since 2010 as well as the Prestigious Certificate of Excellence of the King of Thailand Vetiver Awards 2015 for Outstanding Dissemination and Application of the Vetiver System for its mine rehabilitation from the Chaipattana Foundation.

www.padaeng.com

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HANDBOOK FOR “HOW TO REGISTER A COMPANY IN MYANMAR”

In cooperation with the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration of My-anmar (DICA), GIZ (the German Development Cooperation Agency) published booklets on “How to register your company in Myanmar” and “How to invest in manufacturing in Myanmar”. Both publications provide visualized process flows and precise information in English and Burmese for local and foreign businesses. The booklets are available at DICA and on its website, which is currently being completely revamped. www.dica.gov.mm https://www.giz.de/en

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THE UNIVERSITY OF ANTWERP EXPANDS ITS ENGLISH PROGRAM

The University of Antwerp (UA) is pleased to announce that during the 2016-2017 aca-demic year it will expand its English program, with a focus on its graduate and postgrad-uate studies. With already 16% of its students coming from abroad, the University wants to further meet the growing demand. The UA is already at the forefront in research in the fields such as ‘Drug Discovery and Development’, ‘Neurosciences’, ‘Socio-economic Policy and Organization’ and ‘Harbor, Transport and Logistics’. By offering an English curriculum in ‘Multi-level Governance, Globalization & Federalism’, ‘Oncology’ and ‘Pro-teomics, Genomics and Metabolic’, UA is going further. The University applies the Euro-pean Credit Transfer and Accumulation System in all its degree programs. If you want to study in English at the University of Antwerp or any other University in Flanders, please get in touch with VLIR-UOS. VLIR-UOS supports partnerships between universities and university colleges, funds cooperation projects between professors and researchers and awards scholarships to students and professionals (contact: Ellen Van Himbergen Scholarships officer). www.uantwerpen.be/en/faculties/ www.vliruos.be ellen.vanhimbergen@vliruos.be

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BELGIUM’S GASTRONOMY KEEPS ON RISING TO THE TOP

Each year Mastercook puts Belgian chefs to the challenge to place our delicious Belgian products under the spotlight. By inventing a dish that promotes local products and Bel-gian beers or recreating a chocolate garniture, they fight for the title of Star of the Bel-gian Cuisine. This year Sam Van Houcke, from restaurant Onder de Toren in Hansbeke, will have the honor to call himself the Star of the Belgian Cuisine for the next 12 months. Please, note that the presentation of the new Michelin Guide for Belgium and Luxem-bourg will take place at Flanders Expo Ghent on December 14 in the presence of Bel-gium’s finest chefs.

www.mastercooks.be/nl/de-ster-van-de-belgische-keuken?language=nl

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BELGIUM, SIAM ANDWORLD WAR ONE

In the framework of the commemoration of the Great War (1914-1918) and with the support of Padaeng Industry, the Royal Embassy of Belgium holds an exhibition at the National Gallery (Bangkok) entitled “Belgium, Siam and World War One”. It will take place from 6 to 30 December 2015 (Open from Wednesday to Sunday - 9am to 4pm). This exhibition depicts the relations between the two nations before the conflict, the war in Belgium as well as the role of the expeditionary force sent to Europe by H.M. the King Vajiravudh to fight alongside the allied forces. It will be illustrated by numerous pictures and will feature documents, objects and films of that historical period. The inauguration of this exhibition will take place on 4 December 2015 at 12.30 at the National Gallery and will be followed by a reception. This inauguration will be preceded by a conference at 11.15 am by Professor Pierre Lierneux (Royal Museum of the Army – Brussels). If you would like to join us for this inauguration, please register at: events.bkk@diplobel.fed.be. The number of seats is limited.

www.facebook.com/TheNationalGalleryBangkok

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