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Economic social cultural

The Embassy of

Belgium *1904-2014*

-110 Years of Belgian Diplomatic Presence in

Thailand -

NEWS March 2014

Dear Readers,

In this edition of the Newsletter you will find some important news on the new direction

of Belgian Luxemburg/Thai Chamber of Commerce BeLuThai.

On 18 and 19 February 2014 the department of Environment, Nature and Energy of the

Flemish government organized a fascinating seminar on environment and green

development in Phnom Penh. It was once again striking how much expertise Belgium

has to offer in the field of environment and this through ways of economic, scientific

and legislative cooperation. In due time we hope to bring this seminar to Bangkok.

If you want to prepare for the World Cup Football (12 June-13 July 2014) you can start

this weekend at the Belgian stand of the Red Cross Bazar by buying t-shirts in our

national colors! It is always good to join a winning team, is it not? In the meantime you

can watch the Belgian film that will most probably win an Oscar or visit some interesting

exhibitions in Bangkok or Brussels.

Marc Michielsen

Ambassador

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BELUTHAI IS GROWING AND RESTRUCTURING!

We are proud to announce that the Belgian-Luxemburg/Thai Chamber of Commerce

(BeLuThai) has reached the magical number of 100 members!

With this significant expansion in mind, BeLuThai and the Netherlands-Thai Chamber of

Commerce (NTCC) have decided after several years of intense cooperation, that the

time has come to split ways and to continue as separate independent chambers.

BeLuThai would like to take this occasion to express its thankfulness to the NTCC Board

and its Executive Director Bert Cesar for the superb management services that BeLuThai

received over the last years. Bert will continue to serve the Dutch business community

as Executive Director of the NTCC.

Where does it go from here?

The BeLuThai Board is working hard on a set of proposals aimed at even better serving

its members. One of the key changes will be the recruitment of an Executive Director.

An announcement will follow shortly on who will take over at the helm of the chamber

with lots of enthusiasm and many new ideas about events, activities and how to

constantly improve BeLuThai’s offerings to both its member companies and the wider

Belgian-Luxembourg business community in Thailand alike.

Keep your eyes open so that you would not miss out on the launch event of the new

BeLuThai in April! Want to hear from the Board and the brand new Executive Director

what the new concepts are and which activities they plan? Make sure you come to the

event! More information will follow soon.

Thank you for your kind attention.

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FLEMISH EXPERTISE IN CAMBODIA AND LAOS

From 17 to 19 February 2014 the region of Flanders organized a very successful series of

seminars on the environment and on the challenges, but also opportunities, that lie

ahead. The program was established in close cooperation with the Cambodian National

Council on Green Growth and was meant to link stakeholders from enterprises, the

academic world and policy makers

Flemish research institutes, companies with a high profile

in eco-innovation and government agencies from the

environment and nature policy domain, and their

counterparts from the Kingdom of Cambodia presented

the latest developments in their areas of expertise.

On 17 and 18 February, the Bilateral Seminars on Environment and Green Development

covered topics on water, ecosystems, resource efficiency, soil remediation, climate

change and the need of new energy resources, education and public awareness, and

policy and management.

On February 19, part of the participants had a field visit to on-going green investments

in infrastructure, on invitation of 7FTD Ltd. company that is already active in Cambodia.

Another part of the participants attended a series of lectures on Water Management,

Green Entrepeneurship and International Agreements organized and hosted by the

National University of Management (NUM).

Furthermore on February 17th

the Flanders International Technical Agency (FITA)

organized a seminar on renewable energy in Phnom Penh. The seminar brought

together all partners involved in a project to build a wind turbine of 250 KW in

Sihanoukville.

The project was a spin-off of a visit in September 2001 by a Flemish delegation headed

by Mr. Steve Stevaert, Flemish minister of Mobility, Public Works and Energy. At that

time a friendship agreement was signed between the related ministries of both

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countries. The delegation paid a visit to the port Authority of Sihanoukville and a

proposal to investigate the possibility of erecting one or more wind turbines was made.

In 2005 a contract was signed and the awarding of the project and building of one wind

turbine of 250 KW could start. The wind turbine was officially inaugurated in January

2014.

Lastly, on 19 February experts of FITA together with international consultants and the

Lao Ministry of Public Works and Transport organized a technical seminar in Vientiane

on the technical aspects of ports and landing facilities while the Lao Ministry of

Industry, Mines and Energy made a presentation about renewable energy.

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47TH DIPLOMATIC RED CROSS BAZAAR

This weekend the 47th

Red Cross Bazaar will take place at the fifth floor of Siam Paragon

at the Royal Paragon Hall. Belgium is once again well represented at this annual charity

shopping event. There are 13 Belgian stands, which include the delicious Belgian

chocolate by “ Duc de Praslin”, the Belgian carpets of “Euro Carpet”, the scrumptious

waffles by “Jules Destrooper”, Thai jewelry with a Belgian design by “Agnese”, ice cream

and ice making machines by “I-Cream solutions” with Belgian chocolate flavor amongst

others, vitamin C by the Belgian brand “C-Will” and many more. There will also be an

opportunity to purchase Belgian football shirts, an absolute must as Belgium

participates in the World Cup and is regarded as a contender to watch out for!

In addition to the Belgian stands many other countries will be represented: the Bazaar

features booths of international products from more than 55 countries! In short, an

international two-day event you don’t want to miss.

All funds will be donated to the Thai Red Cross Society.

Where: Royal Paragon Hall of Siam Paragon

Fifth floor

When:

Saturday March 1st

from 12:00 to 20:00

Sunday March 2nd

from 10:00 to 20:00

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OSCAR FEVER – A BELGIAN MOVIE IN THE RUNNING!

Last week the Belgian film “The broken circle breakdown” won the International Press

Academy’s Satellite Award for best international film. Just a week ahead of the Oscars

this is great news for director Felix Van Groeningen, given that the movie has also been

nominated for an Oscar in the category Best Foreign Film.

“The Broken Circle Breakdown” tells the love

story between Elise (Veerle Baetens) and Didier

(Johan Heldenbergh). They fall in love at first

sight. She has her own tattoo shop and he plays

the banjo in a bluegrass band. They bond over

their shared enthusiasm for American music and

culture, and dive headfirst into a sweeping

romance that plays out on and off stage. Their

happiness is complete after their little girl

Maybelle is born but when an unexpected

tragedy hits their new family, everything they

know and love is tested.

An intensely moving portrait of a relationship

from beginning to end, propelled by a

soundtrack of foot-stomping bluegrass, “The

Broken Circle Breakdown” is a romantic

melodrama of the highest order.

The Belgian Club of Thailand is planning a

screening of this wonderful movie in the near future, so keep a close watch on their website

www.belgianclubthailand.com!

More information? Go to

http://www.thebrokencirclebreakdown.be/

http://tribecafilm.com/tribecafilm/filmguide/brokencircle

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Belgium, film mecca

In recent years Belgium has emerged as the new mecca of film, churning out one

critically acclaimed success after the other. With an annual production of about

34 features, 171 short films and some 75 documentaries, independent film production

in Belgium is alive and kicking. Having gone through a thorough professionalization

process over the past couple of years, animation has now become an integral part of the

industry as well.

The success is not limited to Belgian filmmakers, foreign film crews are finding their way

to Belgium too. The reasons for this are obvious. As the size of the national market is

rather modest, Belgian professionals have developed considerable knowhow in the area

of international co-production. There is also a variety of sources of finance for

audiovisual projects. Belgian producers have access to the main European sources of

financing and the tax benefits of the tax shelter. Next to the great settings and authentic

sceneries Belgium has to offer, we also have several film commissions to help you for

locations, logistics and authorizations to film. In the area of technology, Belgium has

developed a high profile in technology solutions.

Tax shelter program

In 2004 the Belgian government started a tax shelter program to

promote investment in the audiovisual sector and in Belgium.

The system provides important incentives to companies ploughing

resources into the production of European audiovisual works, such

as profit tax relief up to to 150% of the funds invested (limited to

50% of the taxable profit with a maximum of €750,000 per tax

period).

Ever since the system was launched the entire audiovisual sector grew by 23% and the

total amount of films produced in Belgium grew by a staggering 250%. Not only the

amount of international awards for Belgian made films went up by 49%. It seems that

both film connoisseurs and companies are getting their money’s worth, as long as the

film comes with a “Made in Belgium” stamp. To name just a few:

• In Bruges (2008) starring Collin Firth

• The Fifth Estate (2013) starring Benedict Cumberbatch

• Bullhead (2011) starring Matthias Schoenaerts directed by Michaël Roskam

• Rust and Bone (2012) starring Marion Cotillard and Matthias Schoenaerts

• Lorna’s Silence (2008) and The Child (2005) directed by the brothers Dardenne

More information? Go to

http://www.belgiumfilm.be/tax-shelter/

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CELEBRATION OF THE BELGIAN INVENTOR OF THE SAXOPHONE

In 2014 it will be 200 years since that Great Belgian Adolphe Sax (November 6th

1814 -

February 7th

1894) was born in Dinant. This anniversary is the pretext for an exceptional

exhibition at the Musical Instruments Museum in Brussels. They are emptying the fourth

floor of the MIM to make way for the ultimate, year-long Sax exhibition.

The main themes of SAX200 are 'Sax, the inventor', 'Sax, the entrepreneur', 'Sax himself'

and 'Sax after Sax'. Besides telling you everything - and they mean everything - about

the saxophone, the exhibition will also cover his other inventions (saxhorns,

saxotrombas and even medical instruments!) as well as his commercial vicissitudes and

eventful private life. The exhibition curator is scientific assistant Géry Dumoulin.

The MIM is pulling out all the stops for SAX200. Their own collection of Sax instruments,

the largest in the world in public ownership, will be on display in its entirety, but there

will also be loans from museums and private collections in Paris, New York, Basel,

Edinburgh, Leipzig, London, Amsterdam, Vermillion, Ann Arbor and Bad Säckingen.

Many of these instruments have never been on public show before.

The SAX200 exhibition will be accompanied by a packed programme of concerts, guided

tours, promotional activities, events and special after-hours viewings.

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And there is more music to come!

On March 20th

the famous Thai saxophone player Mr. Saxman and the Belgian jazz

composer and pianist Jef Neve will perform together in the city of Leuven, Belgium. The

concert takes place in the framework of “Leuven Jazz”, a solo festival with a mix of

exciting concerts, exhibitions, lectures, free stages… “Leuven jazz 2013” offers a varied

program in which jazz plays a key role, featuring local and international stars.

On the opening night of “Leuven Jazz”, composer-pianist Jef Neve, Belgium’s very own

wonderboy, has invited four international artists, each incredibly experienced with

their respective instruments. Together they will seek out the essence of jazz music, skip

all the showmanship, bells and whistles and simply create something beautiful. First

they will show the audience their skills in a series of solo performances. Then they all

join together on stage in a mindblowing display of virtuosity, in perfect unity with

themselves, each other, their instruments and the audience.

One of these four international artists is Mr "Saxman" Koh. Western audiences

probably aren’t too familiar with the works of Thai saxophonist Mr Koh. A pity because

he’s without a doubt the most important saxophonist from the Far East, hence the

nickname “Saxman”. The talented Koh was already a professional musician at the age of

15 and has a plethora of albums under his belt. Jef Neve and Mr Koh first met when Jef

was on tour in Asia in 2013. Now he wants to show the rest of the Low Countries what

Mr Koh has to offer.

More information? Go to

www.mim.be/sax200-exhibition

www.sax200.be

www.leuvenjazz.be

www.kohmrsaxman.com

www.jefneve.com

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EXHIBITION ‘ABSTRACT – NON ABSTRACT’

You are cordially invited to the opening of the first solo exhibition in Bangkok of

Mrs. Marie Chantal Biela on 8 March 2014 at 4.00 pm. Belgian beer will be served!

Where: Neilson Hays Gallery, 195 Surawong Road, Bangkok

When: Saturday 8 March 2014 at 4.00 pm

See also: http://www.bangkokpost.com/lifestyle/art/397383/achieving-the-impossible

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