By Ellen Boonstra, Asia correspondent >>

IN A GLOBALIZED world that is increasingly linked yet beset with all sorts of ethnic, economic and martial divides, Pope Francis arrived in Bangkok to preach a message of unity and compassion.

During his recent, four-day visit, the pontiff presided over Catholic mass at a historic church, had a private audience with His Majesty the King, visited a Catholic hospital and gave a speech at Government House.  

Before an audience that included Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the Pope spoke of why he has made human trafficking a priority issue during his papacy.

While he lauded the Thai Government’s efforts to combat this social menace, he stressed the need for more countries to do their part in protecting women and children from exploitation. The most vulnerable members of society, he said, are routinely “violated and exposed to every form of exploitation, enslavement, violence and abuse".

In the midst of a global refugee crisis, he said, “May every nation devise effective means for protecting the dignity and rights of migrants and refugees, who face dangers, uncertainties and exploitation in their quest for freedom and a decent life for their families.''

Throughout his visit, Pope Francis, 83, balanced spiritual matters with secular concerns. At a holy mass in the Assumption Cathedral, founded more than a century ago, he urged the 7,000-strong audience to “maintain your joy and to look to the future with confidence. Rooted in Christ, view all things with the joy and confidence born of knowing that the Lord has sought us out, found us and loved us infinitely".

MULTI-FAITH MEETINGS

Pope Francis's visit, which coincided with the 350th anniversary of the establishment of the first Catholic mission in the country and the 50th anniversary of establishing formal diplomatic ties between Thailand and the Holy See, included a private meeting with His Majesty the King and a talk with the supreme patriarch of Thai Buddhism. 

At Wat Benjamobophit, where revered monarchs like the late King Rama VIIII and King Rama IV ordained as monks, the Pope met with the spiritual leader of Thai Buddhism, to discuss how these faiths can work together to promote religious harmony and help the needy.

It was the first such papal visit to the residence of the supreme patriarch since Saint John Paul II visited in 1984. Their meeting came only eight months after Pope Francis invited the supreme Buddhist matriarch to attend a summit of religious leaders discussing sustainable development projects under the umbrella of the United Nations.  

The biggest events of the papal visit took place when the pontiff said mass at the National Stadium and Tephasdin Stadium before some 70,000 Catholics. Dressed in the Vatican colours of white and yellow, some of these pilgrims had travelled from the furthest reaches of the kingdom to be blessed by the pontiff and hear him speak. As he drove around the stadiums in the pope-mobile, the crowd waved Vatican flags and shouted, “Viva Il Papa.”

Once again the Pope addressed the plight of the poor, who had fallen victim to human traffickers and been stripped of their “essential human dignity,” as well as “young people enslaved by drug addiction and a lack of meaning, which makes them depressed and destroys their dreams".

He also expressed concern about migrants, the homeless and labourers exploited by criminal networks, who remain invisible in many communities.

“Let us not deprive their communities of seeing their faces, their wounds, their smiles and their lies. Let us not prevent them from experiencing the merciful balm of God’s love that heals their wounds and pains,” Pope Francis said. 

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By Ellen Boonstra, Asia correspondent >>

ONCE KNOWN as one of the world’s top growers of recreational marijuana, Thailand has turned over a new leaf by becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise cannabis-based products for medical patients, the Thai Government announced at a recent seminar.

The Narcotics Law of 2019, which came into effect earlier this year, states that “organisations and individuals who have obtained a license may produce, possess, import and export cannabis for the purpose of treating diseases and other medical conditions. The use of cannabis for study, research and the treatment of patients must be controlled under the care of registered practitioners, while the consumption or sale of cannabis for recreational use is still punishable by law”. 

Under strict guidelines laid down by the Ministry of Public Health and the Government Pharmaceutical Organization, the pilot program started last month at two hospitals in the provinces of Prachinburi and Sakhon Nakhon. Patients here are prescribed cannabis oil for a variety of ailments, such as the nausea and loss of appetite associated with chemotherapy, along with chronic cases of pain.

This year, more than 400 doctors and pharmacists have been trained in prescribing this age-old cure, along with almost 3,000 traditional medicine practitioners, said government officials at the seminar.

For decades now, medical researchers in the West have pointed out the curative properties of chemical compounds like CBD, with California becoming the first American state to lift the ban on medical marijuana in 1996.

Yet the roots of this versatile plant are buried deep in history and folk cures. The strain of the cannabis sativa plant, known as hemp, has been used as a fibre for 10,000 years.  Before the invention of modern paper, printers used its hemp variant to print everything from the Bible to Alice in Wonderland and the American Declaration of Independence.

THREE MILLENNIA IN CHINA

The use of medical marijuana has been chronicled as far back as 2900BC in China, but its popularity in Europe owes a debt to the Irishman, born in 1809. It was Dr William Brooke O’Shaugnessy, who prescribed it to Queen Victoria for menstrual cramps.

Believing that the plant had many other uses, he wrote in a medical journal, “When pure and administered carefully, cannabis is one of the most valuable medicines we possess.” 

In May 2019, the cover of The New York Times magazine showed a gummy bear laden with an extract from the marijuana plant known as CBD, with a list of promising cures that included everything from a possible cure for cancer to alleviating the symptoms of PTSD, brain injuries, depression and insomnia.

Only a decade ago a story like this in such a prestigious publication would have been unthinkable. But as countries around the world move to legalise medical marijuana – and in some cases, like Uruguay and Canada, its recreational cousin – the debate has shifted from the moral to the medicinal.

Across the world, companies have been quick to realise that investing some seed money in this cash crop will yield long-term dividends.

At the recent seminar in Bangkok, Adam Benjamin, director of Medifarm, said his company had already partnered with a firm in Israel, which is a world leader in medical marijuana.

An Australian firm, Medifarm now has its sights set on Thailand, where the company has offered its expertise for free.

“We would like to work with the Thai government on this for free,” Mr Benjamin said.

Medical marijuana, and its many offshoots, have enormous export potential, he said, as more and more countries move to legalise the medicinal and/or recreational use of cannabis products. 

Australian investments in marijuana farming and developing new medicines derived from this plant are surging, he added.

But the tight regulations that govern the use and distribution of such products in Australia have yet to be tested in Thailand. Critics of the new law believe that it’s ripe for exploitation.

To nip such problems in the bud, the Ministry of Public Health is laying the groundwork for a medical cannabis service system. Under the Special Access Scheme, the prescribing of cannabis-derived products will be strictly controlled.

After the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) came into effect Thailand in 2001 to provide affordable medical care for all, within a decade the program covered almost 98 percent of Thais. 

The supporters of the Narcotics Law of 2019 point to this ongoing success story as auguring well for the Thai government’s first steps into the growing field of medical marijuana.

www.medifarm.com.au

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By Ellen Boonstra, Asia correspondent >>

PROMISING AN ICONIC cityscape view, atop King Power Mahanakhon, one of Thailand’s tallest towers, Bangkok’s Mahanakhon SkyWalk boasts the country’s highest 360-degree observation deck in the country.

Open since November last year, the city’s latest tourist attraction boasts the highest rooftop bar and the fastest video-themed elevator in the Kingdom, reaching the 74th floor in 50 seconds.

The highlight of the Mahanakhon SkyWalk is undoubtedly a 63sqm glass floor that juts out from the building façade at a dazzling height of 310m above ground level.  

Not for the fainthearted, the glass platform creates a gravity-defying photoshoot location; the ultimate Instagram shot revealing a plunging city visible below the smiling, or perhaps terrified, faces of those who step onto the see-through floor. Fast becoming a viral, must-snap shot, the SkyWalk reflects Bangkok’s reputation as a dizzyingly progressive and artistically dynamic metropolis.

A wide staircase leads from the outdoor rooftop area and observation deck to The Peak, 314m above ground level. Here rooftop bar sundowners come with spectacular sunset views from the highest point across the city that are simply mesmerizing. 

A few levels below, on the 74th floor, is an indoor observation deck with 360-degree vistas, powerful binoculars and Bangkok’s key landmark destinations identified on interactive screens and via a free app, which offers an augmented reality (AR) experience.

Bangkok’s highest postbox is a nice tourist touch with a vending machine selling postcards and stamps to send to loved ones from this urban scenic spot. There is also a Bangkok-themed digital corridor and an upside-down Bangkok-themed ceiling at the attraction’s main entrance.

MODERN MASTERPIECES

The Thai word Mahanakhon translates as ‘great metropolis’, and the mixed-use development tower was designed by award-winning German architect Ole Scheeren.

Located in Bangkok’s CBD, the glassy, pixelated façade is one of the finest examples of contemporary architecture and urban design in the whole of Thailand. 

The building’s distinctive three-dimensional ribbon of architectural ‘pixels’ circle the tower’s full height to create a stunning profile. Special features include projecting glass skyboxes with sweeping views and generous indoor and outdoor spaces with large terraces.

The design was first publically revealed in 2009, with sales officially commencing in 2010 and construction starting in 2011. The smaller retail component opened first, in 2014, while the main tower was topped off and completed in 2016.

Up until IconSiam’s Waterfront Residences broke the record with a height of 317m in 2018, Mahanakhon Tower was officially recognised as the tallest building in the country.

The luxury mixed-use development is also home to the Ritz-Carlton Residences and Mahanakhon CUBE which serves up some of Bangkok’s top restaurants as well as Dean & Deluca’s flagship store and L’Atelier by Michelin star chef and restauranteur Joël Robuchon.

Mahanakhon Square is a 1000sqm space for exhibitions, performances and events. 

Future plans include the world’s first Orient Express hotel, scheduled to open in the last quarter of 2019.

Named Orient Express Mahanakhon Bangkok, the 154-key hotel will feature two signature restaurants, Mott 32 and Mahanathi by David Thompson, an Australian chef known for his expertise in Thai cuisine.

Esteemed French designer Tristan Auer has been tasked with reimagining the Art Deco stylings and plant motifs of the original Orient Express carriages into a modern skyscraper.

www.KingPowerMahanakhon.co.th

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By Ellen Boonstra, Asia correspondent >>

TWO YEARS AGO the Thai Government launched ‘Thailand 4.0’, a vision to transform the Thai economy into an innovation-driven one.

As part of this ambitious plan, the Cabinet in principle approved the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Development Project, aimed at revitalising and enhancing the well-known Eastern Seaboard Development Program, which has held the status of a powerhouse for industrial production in Thailand for over 30 years. 

Under this initiative, the Eastern Economic Corridor Office of Thailand has been assigned to drive the country’s investment in uplifting innovation and advanced technology for the future generations. The EEC Development Plan will lead to a significant development and transformation of Thailand’s investment in physical and social infrastructure in the area.

Initially, the EEC project will be implemented in three eastern provinces, namely Chachoengsao, Chonburi and Rayong. The EEC Development Plan consists of two key components – implementing infrastructural development projects and developing targeted industries.

One of Thailand’s key advantages is its central geographical location in ASEAN, acting as gateway to the CLMV group (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam). Key infrastructural development projects include linking the EEC to regional airways in order to raise Thailand to a central hub for aviation and air logistics, and linking transportation of goods to other regions through the development of dual-track railways between China, Lao PDR, Thailand and Cambodia. 

EEC has become Thailand’s flagship investment zone offering business and investment opportunities at an unprecedented scale, as well as ASEAN’s largest investment zone. The Thai Government is offering generous incentives to attract investment covering personal income tax, corporate tax, work permits, land lease and funding for research.

Currently, 10 major industries have been identified as high-potential growth engines for Thailand. These include the automotive industry, the intelligent electronics industry, advanced agriculture and biotechnology, the food processing industry and medical tourism – and, in future, also the digital, robotics and biofuel and biochemical industries.

PROSPECTS FOR AUSTRALIA

Australia's trade and economic relationship with Thailand has grown strongly since the entry into force of the Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA) on January 1, 2005.

Trade in goods has more than doubled since 2004 [from US$6.8 billion in 2004 to US$18.9 billion in 2017]. 

In 2017, Thailand was Australia’s fifth highest goods import source. Thailand is now also Australia's ninth largest goods and services trading partner, and Thailand’s second-largest in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.

Total Thai investment stock in Australia has grown significantly from US$294 million in 2006 to US$3.1 billion in 2017; while Australian investment stocks in Thailand were valued at US$4.5 billion at the end of 2017.

Australia’s key goods exports to Thailand are crude petroleum, gold, aluminum and coal, and Thailand’s key exports to Australia are passenger and goods vehicles. (For example, the Holden Colorado is manufactured in Thailand).

During the first half of 2018, Australia was among the top 10 sources of approved foreign direct investment (FDI) in Thailand and among the top four among western nations – followed by The Netherlands, Switzerland and UK. The approved Australian FDI is worth A$91.7 million.

Given Australia’s position as one of the world’s leading food and agricultural products exporters, the areas which offer Australia strong business opportunities in EEC are biotechnology and food processing. It is also a good match with Thailand as food processing is one of the country’s key exports. 

Thailand is also one of the largest net food-exporting countries in the world and the second in Asia with a food trade balance at a record value of US$16.7 billion in 2016.

The ‘Land of Smiles’ is a major global tourism destination attracting 30 million visitors a year in the past few years, further driving the demand for imported food, beverages and food ingredients to cater to the F&B, hospitality and hotel industries. In sum, prospects in the food processing sector for Australian interests look bright.

Aviation is another sector offering soaring prospects for Australia. Geographically, Thailand is well positioned to serve flights from Australia to Europe and vice versa.

With the expansion of international airports throughout the country, especially U Tapao airport near Pattaya in EEC, Thailand’s capacities to accommodate more international flights seem attractive.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), air traffic in Thailand will be amongst the world’s top 10 in the next 20 years. Airbus recently entered into an agreement to form a joint venture with Thai Airways to set up MRO facilities near U-Tapao, while the Alibaba Group signed an MOU with Thailand in April this year to set up an ASEAN logistics centre in the EEC.

Mining and natural resources – key strengths of Australia – will be a good foundation for innovation, particularly in the area of sustainability, and an excellent match for Thailand’s biofuel sector.

MICE AS A DRIVER

To further elevate the EEC into a centre of trade, investment and human resources of the country and the region, attracting national and international conferences, conventions, exhibitions and tradeshows to the area will be an important driver.

To demonstrate the vast potential and preparedness of EEC as the ultimate meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) destination, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) recently organised IMFT2018, in which members of the media from 35 countries were invited to experience and explore the burgeoning MICE ecosystem in Chachoengsao, Chonburi and Rayong. 

During this five-day trip, guests visited various destinations that lend themselves perfectly to MICE events, including Lancaster hotel Bangkok, Nongnooch International Convention and Exhibition Center (NICE) in Pattaya, the Regional Observatory for the Public in Chachoengsao, Vajiravudh Scout Camp in Sriracha and local village Ban Krasae Bon in Rayong (a good example of community-based tourism), as well as world-class hospitality venues like Mytt Beach Hotel Pattaya and Ao Prow Resort on the tropical island of Samed.

This year Thailand also hosted several key MICE events, namely Taiwan Expo 2018, CEBIT ASEAN Thailand 2018 and Future Energy Asia 2018, with many more planned in the EEC in the near future.

Showing a consistent growth throughout in 2018, it is estimated that by the end of this fiscal year, Thailand will have welcomed over 1,327,000 business travellers, generating 124 billion baht (about A$5.3 billion) in revenue.

Alongside increasingly stronger trade and economic ties between the two nations, Australia is a key growth market for Thailand’s MICE industry. Of all long-haul markets outside Asia, Australia was Thailand’s third largest in 2018, followed by the US and France.

In the past five years, Thailand has welcomed an average of 22,000 Australian MICE travellers per year.

Alongside taking part in AIME (Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event), TCEB organises roadshows to Melbourne and Sydney.

“We really value the Australian market,” said Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, president of TCEB.

www.eeco.or.th

www.businesseventsthailand.com

For more information, visit Economic Eastern Corridor (EEC) and Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB).

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