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15 Aug 2024
‘Presidents on the move’ by Christer Nilsson from STEP Magazine Vol. 3/No. 17, December 1994
Anders Lundquist has been the Chamber's President from its founding in 1990.
Now he has left the post. He feels that a small Chamber like Sweden's really can make a difference in the competitive Thai market, fighting for attention with Americans and Japanese.
But he asks the members to use their Board more actively. And he would not mind to see the Chamber take on external assignments.
What has the Chamber achieved during its short existence?
"We have grown from a small to a middle-sized Chamber with, what I trust a good reputation here. The Thai government has recognized our existence and its representatives like to hear our view in important issues," says Anders Lundquist.
"However, in key issues things doesn't happen overnight," adds Anders Lundquist, "so in that respect one may feel we have not achieved very much as yet."
In such matters, where big issues are discussed with the Government, the Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand work together.
"And sometimes this produces rapid results. Like when we got rid of the tax clearance certificate rule. We in the Foreign Chambers met with Anand Panyarachun during his first term as Prime Minister. He wanted to hear our views on business and we boiled down our long, long list of construvtive ideas. One request was: Get rid of the ridiculous rule that says we need a tax clearance certificate every time we leave Thailand!"
Anand listened and promised to do something about it. Two weeks later the rule was scrapped.
And from a practical point of view, what has the Chamber done for its members?
"We have strengthened our service with information and assistance to newcomers in Thailand. They need advice on how to set up business here, where to get an accountant, meet a bank, which people to contact and so on. It is important that they are right on track from the very beginning."
But Anders Lundquist feels that more can be done in this field. First by the members themselves:
"Use our Board more! We have a very competent and experienced Board, with representatives from all fields of business and they are happy to serve you. Don't hesitate to call them when you need business advice.”
Secondly the Chamber could do more by offering more:
"We have an excellent dialogue and good cooperation with the Swedish Embassy in Bangkok. Still, I wonder whether not the time is ripe now to let the Chamber take on assignments from members and Swedish companies interested in this market."
The 50 somewhat Swedish companies here represent a good local knowledge base for such ventures. Many of those companies came here during Anders Lundquist's Presidency.
"And they have three things in common. First: they view Thailand as the gateway to 'Mainland Asean' including Indochina and Burma. Second: They invest in human resources and hardware. 18 Swedish companies in Thailand are in manufacturing. Third: They position themselves towards Indochina. We have 20 Swedish companies in Vietnam now and some of them began their Vietnam business through Thailand, like ABB and SKF to mention two of the most well-known."
Will Sweden's EU-membership have any impact on Thai-Swedish trade?
"Not directly. It will of course mean that Thailand will have more confidence in Sweden than had we stayed outside the EU. Then Sweden must follow EU's quota system, but the Thais have always been able to solve quota problems in a practical way. I don't think we will have a problem there."
And more generally speaking?
"Sweden in EU will mean that we get more influence and can participate in the EU process. And our government can more easily impose unpopular measures to restructure Sweden's economy, simply because EU will demand certain things to be done."
This in turn means that foreign investors can trust Sweden.
"Foreign business can have confidence in Sweden now. The EU-membership should increase foreign investment in Sweden, which is quite competitive now, maybe also from Thailand where we have companies and people with a lot of investment capital."
Thai interest in Sweden has also been created through the Chamber's various functions. Like the luncheons and dinners and our fact-finding missions.
"We may not have had that many functions. But those we have had have been quality events with excellent and influential speakers: leading politicians, economists and businessmen," says Anders Lundquist. "And we were the first Chamber to ever send a trade mission to Vietnam. This and our trips to Kambodja, Laos and Kunming in southern China has given us important firsthand knowledge, high-level contacts and added prestige to our Chamber."
"We have got a new Board of Governors. Its made up of professionals representing the best from the business community in Thailand. It's important to have them here and I look forward to get contributions, ideas and feedback from new and old Board members," says Rolf Granstrom.
He asks all members to get more active and to really use the various committees in the Board.
"We produce results by being active and I want to see an inflow of ideas from the committees and our members."
Some of the Chamber's functions are open to all interested parties, and that message has not reached people, believes Rolf Granstrom.
"Our luncheons and dinners are open to all. Not just to Chamber members," emphasises Rolf Granstrom. "There are some misunderstandings here and that's a pity given the very good speakers we have at our functions."
"Maybe we have an 'image problem' in that the Chamber is not as visible and known in Bangkok as we would like. We have to find some way to rectify that," continues Rolf Granstrom.
One way to get more attention and publicity in town is to create more joint arrangements between the Scandinavian Chambers, the Scandinavian Society, our Embassy and the Swedish Church, believes Rolf Granstrom.
I would also like to see our Embassy work even harder to get more high-ranking politicians and officials to visit Thailand. Thai will help Sweden get the attention the country so will deserves. And such visits are definitely good for business as well."
What is your opinion on a 'Scandinavian Chamber of Commerce"?
"On the administrative level it's good that we share facilities and bring down the costs. And this works fine. But I think each Chamber should be on its own and represent its country when it comes to business. It's more likely that we will see a EU Chamber here some time, rather than a Scandinavian one. "
And the Chamber's role, should it for instance take on market consultancy assignments?
"We have never done it as far as I know. Traditionally the Embassy has taken the paid external assignments while the Chamber has worked for the members only. Anyway, I would like to avoid a situation where we compete directly with our Embassy."
