BCCT & Shenanigans to host networking evening

The British Chamber of Commerce extends an open invitation to the “International Networking Evening on the Eastern Seaboard” sponsored by Berger Paints (Thailand) Ltd., at Shenanigans, Royal Garden Plaza, Pattaya 2 Road, Pattaya on Friday 9th November 2001 from 6.30 p.m. (please note this date was put back one week from 2nd November to avoid clashing with a subsequent Australian-Thai Chamber event on that date).

All are very welcome to attend regardless of nationality. The main objective is to provide an opportunity for networking for business people based in the Eastern Seaboard area. Berger Paints (Thailand) Ltd. is sponsoring beer, soft drinks and some cocktail food on a first-come, first-served basis from 6.30 pm. All other drinks are at standard prices as will the beer when the sponsored supplies have run out.

There is no entry fee for this event but only those wearing business cards will be supplied with sponsored drinks and food. Name cardholders will be provided on the door. Dress: casual.

Please reply to the BCCT, fax (0) 2 651 5354 or e-mail: [email protected]

The 24th Annual General Meeting of the Federation of ASEAN Shippers’ Councils (FASC) was held October 24-26 in Pattaya. The meeting, hosted by the Thai National Shippers’ Council, was officiated by His Excellency Pracha Maleenont, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications of Thailand. Pedro Vicente C. Mendoza, chairman of the Philippine Shippers’ Bureau and current chairman of the FASC presided over the meeting.

The meeting was attended by delegates from members of the FASC, namely Indonesian National Shippers’ Council, Malaysian National Shippers’ Council, Philippine Shippers’ Bureau, Singapore National Shippers’ Council and Thai National Shippers’ Council as well as the following associate members: Australian Peak Shippers Association, Hong Kong Shippers’ Council, Korean Shippers’ Council, Macau Shipper’s Association, and Sri Lanka Shippers’ Council. Other shippers’ organizations that attended the meeting as observers were China Shippers’ Association, Japan Shippers’ Council and Union of the African Shippers’ Council.

The meeting, besides reviewing the activities of each shipper organization, deliberated on issues of common concern to shippers, including the sharing of experiences and ideas in dealing with today’s ocean transportation business.

As closer cooperation and coordination among global shippers’ organizations are essential for securing an efficient and effective international liner transport system, members at the meeting agreed to support international efforts in working towards the achievement of a free and competitive liner operating environment in which carriers are in a position to meet the needs of shippers in the global economy.

Members at the meeting further agreed to coordinate and cooperate with other shippers’ organizations in urging the OECD to examine the effects of common pricing and the economic impact on shippers.

The meeting noted that Terminal Handling Charges (THCs) continue to pose a major problem for shippers, as there is little or no transparency as to what these charges comprise. Members therefore agreed that THC should be incorporated back into the base freight rates and shippers pay an all inclusive rate. After his dialogue with the FASC, the Infra-Asia Discussion Agreement (IADA) chairman, Ken-ichi Kuroya made a commitment to provide the FASC members information on the cost components of the terminal handling charge (THC). Further, he also committed to conduct continuing dialogue on the concerns of the FASC members.

At the meeting it was noted that the present liability laws covering financial responsibility for cargo loss and damage do not reflect the current global trading situation. Members at the Meeting therefore agreed to support the launching of an international convention to modernize cargo liability regime in order to reflect a fair and balanced approach for recovering the loss and damage of ocean cargoes.

As the development of e-commerce is essential for enhancing the efficiency of the transport of cargoes in today’s new trading environment, and members at the meeting agreed that shippers’ organizations should cooperate with one another to offer wider logistic services for the benefit of small and direct shippers. An agreement also came out of the meeting to support efforts by the Singapore National Shippers’ Council in the establishment of electronic freight center services as well as to cooperate with the Global Shippers Network managed by the NITL of the United States in strengthening its information network to serve users of all facets of transportation services.

The meeting accepted the offer of the Philippine Shippers’ Bureau to host the 25th FASC Annual General Meeting in Manila in October 2002. The members will be informed on the venue and date of the meeting in due course.

Members at the meeting extend their highest appreciation to the Thai National Shippers’ Council for their generous hospitality and the excellent arrangement made in hosting the 24th FASC Annual General Meeting in Pattaya.

The Kloeckner Pentaplast Group has acquired 25 rai of land in the Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate, and Kloeckner Pentaplast (Thailand) will commence production in 2002.

The Kloeckner Pentaplast Group produces plastic films and sheets. With investment capital of B500 million, the new Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate plant will generate over 100 new jobs, and will bring into Thailand the latest technology.

The Kloeckner Pentaplast Group also has manufacturing units in Germany, Great Britain, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Russia, USA, Argentina and Brazil, and produces over 300,000 tons of plastic films and sheets annually.

Up to now the Asian market was serviced by Pentaplast Group plants in America and Europe.

Three basic production lines will be available to the ASEAN countries. The majority of the product mix will be exported, thus generating valuable foreign currency for Thailand.