Trade relations between Thailand and the Netherlands are quite good, but there is always room for improvement. There are plenty of opportunities for Dutch companies and entrepreneurs to do business with Thailand and every action aimed at promoting trade between the two countries deserves attention.
That is why Thailandblog.nl is pleased to place a call below from three students of the Avans University of Applied Sciences in Den Bosch. We hope that the three will successfully complete their trade mission to Thailand
Dear companies,
In March 2019, we, Jelle, Mike and Pepijn, students from Avans Hogeschool in Den Bosch, will go on a trade mission to Bangkok in Thailand with a group of schools. The purpose of this mission is to create new business opportunities for a company that wants to export to Thailand/Bangkok or is already doing so.
We are currently in the phase where people as a group are looking for a suitable company. We would like to do something valuable and that is why we are looking for a company that is really interested in exporting to Thailand or for which we can create new “business opportunities”.
We will work together with the PIM (University of Bangkok) and Stenden Thailand. Thanks to these contacts, we can do a lot of good research into the Thai market in the coming six months. In addition, we will go to Bangkok from 4 to 14 March to conduct field research and establish contacts with companies. On this website you can find more information about the Trademission; trademissionbkk2019.wordpress.com
We will prepare a report recording the results of our research into trade opportunities to/in Thailand for an interested entrepreneur or company. There are no obligations or requirements to actually do something with our insights. Of course we would be happy to help with that.
If your company could use the help of 3 motivated students, we would like to hear from you. Please contact us at [email protected]
Best regards,
Jelle, Mike and Pepijn
About this blogger
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Known as Khun Peter (62), lives alternately in Apeldoorn and Pattaya. In a relationship with Kanchana for 14 years. Not yet retired, have my own company, something with insurance. Crazy about animals, especially dogs and music.
Enough hobbies, but unfortunately little time: writing for Thailandblog, fitness, health and nutrition, shooting sports, chatting with friends and some other oddities.
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Sorry I don't get it, if you are looking for a company that wants to export to Thailand, then you are looking outside Thailand or am I seeing it wrong. In Thailand you can look for companies that want to import something, I think. For example, I would like to import bicycles from the Netherlands to add something to the ever-growing interest in bicycles.
It's clear to me though.
That call is also not directed to a company in Thailand, but to a company outside Thailand that wants to export in the future or already exports to Thailand.
“The purpose of this mission is to create new business opportunities for a company that wants to export to Thailand/Bangkok or already does.”
In March 2019 they will then go to Thailand and see if they can do something for that company or make contacts for that company.
Understand Tom's reaction. They go to Thailand to investigate possibilities. I hope they know Thailand a bit better than many others, otherwise it will be difficult to get to know society and the business community first. Personally, I would think not only to send out an invitation to a company to explore the market, but also to see what opportunities they see for exporting from the Netherlands to Thailand, in other words as a possibility for their own company. Or look at the possibilities *there are to transfer certain business units or parts to Thailand, for example because of the relatively low wage costs. I think the latter is the favorite with companies from the richer countries. But this is my limited vision, after all I'm just an entrepreneur.
The students from the Avans University of Applied Sciences in Den Bosch, who are going on a trade mission to Bangkok with a group of schools
Now just let those people do their thing instead of waving that finger again how they should do it.
“We will work together with the PIM (University of Bangkok) and Stenden Thailand. Thanks to these contacts, we can do a lot of good research into the Thai market in the coming six months.”
I assume that they know the Thai market, they can prepare themselves (and in that sense their appeal should also be read) and they don't just walk around there for 10 days at random like many others.
I wish them success with their trade mission as they envision it.
For the record: Pim (Panyapiwat Institute for Management) is a private college (founded by CP) and has nothing to do with the University of Bangkok. The Dutch Stenden has part of its BBA program carried out by PIM, with students who come here from Leeuwarden for a semester education. So it's actually the same.
https://www.pim.ac.th/en/pages/about-us
https://www.nhlstenden.com/en/locations/thailand-bangkok
I think I get it, but it doesn't feel right.
Wouldn't it be much better for a developing country with a developing economy like Thailand if the gentlemen started looking for Thai companies that would like to export to the Netherlands?
Exporting to Thailand started about 400 years ago and it sometimes seems like we never left colonial times. No one is going to tell me that a Dutch company wants to export products or services to Thailand for philanthropic reasons. The profit will undoubtedly go back to the Netherlands and Thai society will receive a penny: some tax, one-off income through property and property purchases (if at all necessary) and an x number of employees at minimum wage.
Quite apart from whether you can really do something for a company if you do not speak the Thai language, because then you are dependent on information via third parties. And those 'third parties' also have their interests.
They are students so I think it is an assignment that comes from the school.
Other groups may have a different mission or even a different country.
They want to show what problems you can run into and communication will probably be one of them.
“We will prepare a report documenting the results of our research into trade opportunities to/in Thailand for an interested entrepreneur or company. ”
Perhaps interested parties should request that report later.
@Chris, I have some comments for you:
1. The trade balance between the Netherlands and Thailand has been largely in favor of Thailand for many years. The latest figures are that Thailand exports to the Netherlands for approximately 3 billion euros and imports from the Netherlands for just over 1 billion euros. So, what are you talking about?
2. Profit is apparently a dirty word for you, but bear in mind that export is very important for employment, in other words, many people have an interest in export.
3. Export is a profession that not only needs to be learned, but also requires insight and feeling. The mission of these students is an excellent part of a learning process, you should know and appreciate that as a teacher at a Thai school.
4. With my 40 years of export experience, I have never been hindered by not speaking the local language, not even in Thailand.
My advice: if you don't understand the subject, refrain from commenting!
@Gringo:
I have a few comments for you because you apparently haven't really delved into economics anymore. In my international economics lessons, I teach my students to think about the following issues:
1. Figures say something but not everything. In addition to agricultural products, Thailand mainly exports jewellery, computers, cars and household appliances. Ever come across a well-known Thai brand in the shops in the Netherlands? No…. and that is because many of those products are NOT made in Thailand but are assembled. The parts come from China and Japan and other countries. And those suppliers want to be paid gladly. The value on the trade balance is therefore NOT equal to the effect on the Thai economy. Part of the money disappears to the original suppliers. this is called the 'leakage effect'. The less an economy produces itself with its own products (such as Thailand with computers and equipment), the greater the effect and the smaller the influence on the economy.
2. The consequences of thinking only in terms of pure money profit, capitalist thinking, has gradually had so many negative side effects (the widening gap between rich and poor, exhaustion of the earth, climate change, wars based on greed, drugs) that it makes sense last legs. I ask the students to think about the connection between China's economic growth and the fact that China is the world's largest investor in solar panels. And about the application of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy and not stopping at fine words.
My advice: read some good books about today's economy:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jul/17/postcapitalism-end-of-capitalism-begun
https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/jan/06/capitalism-reading-list-books-politics-banking-financial-crash-postcapitalism-india