(L to R)
Max Sieracki, resident manager of the Amari Orchid Pattaya; Nikki Cox,
president of the New Zealand Thai Chamber of Commerce; Richard Prouse,
Business Development Manager for the Sutlet Group; and Jens Heier, executive
chef for the Amari Orchid Pattaya.
Dr. Iain Corness
Did you know that New Zealand has more species of
flightless birds (including the kiwis, several species of penguins, and the
takahe) than any other country? One reason is that until the arrival of
humans roughly a thousand years ago, there were no large land predators in
New Zealand; the main predators of flightless birds were larger birds.
That may be so, but a large flotilla of the flightless
birds nested in the Amari Orchid Resort’s Garden Lounge last week for the
combined New Zealand-Thai Chamber of Commerce/Sutlet Group Networking
evening.
Nikki Cox, the president of the NZ-Thai Chamber, welcomed
the 50 or so networkers. Nikki said that the roll-up was very reassuring and
intimated that the chamber would look at coming down each three months to
the Eastern Seaboard venue. The networkers were obviously enjoying the fare
provided by the Amari Executive Chef Jens Heier, though some did mention
there was no lamb. Also on hand was the Amari GM David Cumming and EAM Max
Sieracki.
The Sutlet Group was also out in force, with MD Colin
Bartlett, GM Stuart Blott and Business Development manager Richard Prouse
all doing the rounds, explaining the multiple facets of business in
Thailand, covered by the Sutlet Group.
One of the other sponsors was the Paulaner Garden, whose
MD Ken Whitty is neither German or a New Zealander, but the beer went down
very well. With NZ being a noted winemaking country these days, there was
also some white and red for the oenologists.
The attendees were a mixed group and included interesting
characters such as Tulshi Sen, president of the eponymous Tulshi Sen
Consulting from Canada, who was neither Japanese nor Chinese, but actually
Indian, though he has disguised the head wobble to confuse people. Joe Cox,
resident dog guru was present, seen chatting with charity guru Tracey
Cosgrove.
As a ‘first’, the New Zealand-Thai Chamber of Commerce
should be delighted with the result of this networking evening. As many
other chambers of commerce have found, the Eastern Seaboard is very alive,
active and an important center of Thai manufacturing and export.
(L to R)
David W. Smith, director of Aqua Logic (Thailand) Co., Ltd.; and David
O’Callaghan, from the New Zealand Thai Chamber of Commerce Executive
Committee.
Stuart
Blott (left), general manager of the Sutlet Group and Colin Bartlett (right)
toast to your health.
L to R)
Tulshi Sen, president of Tulshi Sen Consulting Omnisun Systems Inc.; Randy
Simmons, director of CHS-ASIA Co., Ltd.; Chutima Konfai, director of sales
for Holiday Inn Pattaya; Dr. Iain Corness; and Amin Walter.
