SEP 2018 BUSINESS
Business internationalisation with AndersenB2B
Community
SWEA Kuala Lumpur President Pia RidstrĂśm
Lifestyle
Wellness and healthy food advice
Profile
Martin Glaumann, Market Area Director Business Sweden
They survived! The incredible cave rescue in Thailand from the Danish diver Claus Rasmussen’s point of view
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September 2018
ScandAsia Stories
16
10
AndersenB2B, business internationalisation for SMEs
Mr Martin Glaumann Market Area Director Business Sweden SEA
30 Swedes campaigned on World Meat Free Day 35 Denmark’s Foreign Minister visited China 40 Wallenberg Foundation, NTU establishes postdoctoral fellowship 42 UN and Sweden held 7-day Vietnam challenge
ScandAsia Business
20 Blockchain in Transport Alliance
Standardization in the supply chain industy
23 Shanghai Knights 2018
11 Nordic start-ups in demo day
24
30
Mr Claus Rasmussen Danish diver’s Thailand cave rescue story
35
Mrs Pia Ridström
32
SWEA Kuala Lumpur President
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Editorial
Danes abroad are treated badly
I
get a bad taste in my mouth when I see how proud everybody in Denmark is about “our” cave diver Claus Rasmussen being among the heroes, that brought out the “cave boys” from the spot they were trapped deep inside the Tham Luang cave in Chiangrai. Denmark always basks in the sun when one of our many outstanding Danes living abroad gets praised. Danes, who we can rely on to be good ambassadors for Denmark, when it counts. But in between these incidents, Denmark generally treats its sons and daughters living abroad quite badly. Isn’t this somewhat of a paradox? Shortly after he moved out, he was stripped of his right to vote in elections in Denmark. If Claus should decide to marry a foreigner, Denmark puts all kinds of obstacles in his way if he should want to bring her back home. Not that I think he would because we don’t exactly have many caves to dive in for a cave diver of his calibre. But this Danish hero’s wife is not welcome in Denmark. If Claus gets children, he will get no suppor t from Denmark assisting him with the cost of teaching them Danish. He will have to find a teacher and pay for all the costs himself. Recently, the ruling political parties are considering to impose the rule, that Danes need to have stayed for seven of the past eight years in an EU/EEA country in order to be entitled to unemployment funding. Who can foresee if you will be laid off seven years into the future? Should he get sick and need health support, he is on his own while abroad and must buy a private health insurance. If he breaks a leg during his visit to Denmark, he will get free treatment at a Danish hospital. But if he is diagnosed with a disease while abroad and wants to come to Denmark for the treatment, he will have to pay himself. Should he eventually stay out here - where there are caves to dive - until he back in Denmark would have been entitled to Danish pension, Denmark rewards him by
ScandAsia is a printed magazine and online media covering the people and businesses of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland living and working in China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
Who should subscribe:
ScandAsia subscribers are typically Nordic expats and companies from the Nordic countries living in and active in Asia. Another group of subscribers are Nordic people living in the Nordic countries who subscribe to ScandAsia for personal or business reasons. We also have many Asian subscribers, who for a wide range of rea-
6 ScandAsia • Septemter 2018
cutting his basic pension down to a minimum because he has had the audacity to move beyond the borders of the EU. All the added pension benefits, that Danes in Denmark are entitled to, are simply scrapped. Why? Two years ago, Danes Worldwide and Copenhagen Goodwill Ambassadors interviewed 1,024 Danes abroad. They were among others asked if they agreed or disagreed with the following statements: • Denmark is good at using its citizens and their offspring abroad as a resource • Denmark is doing sufficient to maintain its relationship with Danes abroad Over 70 percent of the Danes abroad disagreed. They were also asked if they agreed or disagreed with the following statement:: • I am satisfied with the way the government is handling the conditions for Danes abroad. Over 60 percent disagreed. The whole reports is available for download here: h t t p s : / / w w w. d a n e s . d k / fi l e a d m i n / u s e r _ u p l o a d / UdlandsDanmark_-_en_overset_guldmine_RAPPORT.pdf I am not asking for preferential treatment for mustering the courage to fly out of the nest and work and live abroad. Equal treatment would be just fine.
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Septemter 2018 • ScandAsia 7
Opinion
SME financing is still a challenge 10 years on – the Net might change the pattern
I
n 2008, the international financial crisis seized lending to small and medium sized companies more or less overnight. Institutional and gover nment economists experienced a collective ner vous breakdown and the result was quite conclusive; “if you have it, spend it, but don’t call on us for help”. Sensible politicians, fully aware of the significant societal threat of depleting the SMEs of funding possibilities, tried to manoeuvre in this muddy water.The result: access to funding did deplete considerably unless the SME lender could provide security on a one to one basis. Adding to this was the demands for more robust banks and robust financial institutions and, not surprisingly, a much deeper evaluation of the individual investment projects’ livelihood than hitherto had been the case. With private banks less likely to provide access to funding, the market of public financial programmes flourished. Suppor t to investments, suppor t to expor t financing, suppor t to growth coupled, in a smaller way, with minor grant funds for preparatory activities were made available a plenty. The challenge for the SMEs were, and are,
8 ScandAsia • Septemter 2018
the issue that with public programme inter vention much of the work that the bank did earlier on, is now a task resting with the lender, e.g. the SME. The business plan development in high quality, the preparator y activities of the business case and business model, the financial analysis and many more explanator y and project describing factors are all now resting with the lender. The days of sitting down with the local bank explaining about requirements and securing funds before the second cup of coffee, were over for good. This consequently led to the academic processes becoming a new requirement within the world of ownermanaged entrepreneurial firms and chocking them with documentation demands no-one knew were required. The market of lending froze too and we had a flourishing financial crisis with all the juices it needed to put every SME chequemate. With the wheels moving again, in some countries even faster than before the crisis, the challenge of lending has eased to some extent, however, the factfinding and documentation production exercises remain central. This will not change - and probably should not. But where does all this leave the individual SME with the good idea requiring additional fuel. Well, the crisis did not on its own suddenly move the SMEs from a production environment to a financial academia environment. The owner and his team did not suddenly become financial experts and he/she is as unwilling to pay for external advice on those matters - as before the crisis. The net has provided some of the solutions which are ver y much required. The way of doing things require change – and more importantly, that exactly due to the chock effect
that the crisis put most SMEs into, these are open to new ideas and new ways of managing their suppor t business, hereunder financing. We are already seeing traditional banking processes concerning investments and lending being promoted by non-banks and non-financial institutions. Those are being offered from investment groups which could be from ordinar y folks’ pension schemes, to large insurance and pension corporations looking for ways to put their clients’ funds at work. Or, ecommerce banks will finally see their real value if they approach the SME in the right way and not just hammering away with their free soccer tickets or two bottles of red wine for a new lead. After 10 years, perhaps finally the SMEs could also benefit from all the turmoil emanating from the crisis. The new entrepreneurial spirit born in times of crisis will grow up and seek cooperation with the original and classis entrepreneur, the SME. One thing is cer tain, ever yone is much better prepared. CEO Lars Siggaard Andersen, Andersen Consult ApS/ AndersenB2B.com Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ScandAsia Publishing. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. Neither ScandAsia Publishing nor any person acting on its behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein. If you would like to share your thoughts and insights on this page contact Managing editor, joakim@scandmedia.com
Septemter 2018 • ScandAsia 9
Business
AndersenB2B visit to Rokkedahl Energi ApS
Business internationalisation game-changer for SMEs
Andersen Consult CEO Lars Siggaard Andersen 10 ScandAsia • Septemter 2018
‘AndersenB2B.com’ is a relatively new platform to which SMEs from the Nordics and other regions are invited to partake in new business generation. This opportunity also represents a new take on internationalisation, aiming at being a real game changer disrupting the status quo for international SME business opportunities. SMEs interested in more export on more markets, especially in a Nordic-Asian context, read on!
T
By Joakim Persson he concept and new thinking about business internationalisation, to which Andersen Consult CEO Lars Siggaard Andersen has put his name, is based on decades of experience in assisting mainly Danish SMEs in reaching global business opportunities, mainly on emerging markets such as Southeast Asia. Andersen Consult therefore knows the ins and outs of internationalisation challenges for small and medium-sized businesses, the group that forms the absolute majority of all businesses in most countries, and yet has so little share of own export. “In the Danish example, we have around 300 000 active companies, of which 85 per cent have maximum 9 employees on average. That means a lot of smaller companies and the 85 per cent contribute 40 per cent of the total taxes to the Danish economy, so they are a very important factor,” says Lars. And yet, only eight per cent of Danish companies export directly. He describes this as a “significant message to both the public and the private sectors. Companies mature their competences at speed of light when exporting; this is good for the company and their country. In my country, 8% of the active companies were exporters in year 2000. This figure has not changed much till today. The amount of exported goods and services has grown considerably, but not the number of companies exporting. This must change”.
Talk to your peers already in the market before calling the consultant for advice, market studies, etc.
AndersenB2B business delegation to Manila, the Philippines Septemter 2018 • ScandAsia 11
AndersenB2B speed dating held at HMK Bilcon AS According to Lars there is a huge untapped potential in the group of companies supplying fully or semi-finished products to exporters.They should be strongly encouraged to expor t. Traditional methods are not providing the expected results. New ideas are required.
Peer-to-peer platform
Enter andersenB2B.com, as a different take and with a solution to the challenges; one that eliminates everything that is today unnecessarily complex and costly. This also includes re-defining Lars’ own role, the business consultant’s, when it comes to helping companies with new business opportunities. “Private sector must help private sector. Let’s take a step back from all the investigative and competence-building exercises”, says Lars. “Talk to your peers already in the market before calling the consultant for advice, market studies, etc. Talk to companies based on the market, meet those people and discuss about your product or service’s options on the market. Communicate. Your peers provide a straight reply – as unbiased as it gets. This was the starting point of our platform; active networking in Denmark and abroad to grow your business by communicating with people knowing the market and, perhaps, needing to know about your solutions. We are today 185+ Danish companies and we reach 1,500 foreign firms every week when exposing our members to those companies.” He brings some really strong messages to all the 12 ScandAsia • Septemter 2018
businesses out there: “People might think it’s complicated for their company to go international. Quite the contrary, it is exciting and challenging and, as always, lots of hard work. If we stay at home thinking how complicated it is, it becomes a mental barrier whereas, in reality, it is just lost business opportunities. If we strengthen communication, we break down barriers immediately. This is a given. The consultants and experts will meet a different company much better prepared. In turn, consultants get involved at a higher value level. Everyone’s a winner”. “Our trademark is about bringing companies together, this is our task. As a member on our platform, you have a crystal clear company and personal identity on the member index. We use this information to match companies with each other based on the member’s wish list. This could be looking for clients, suppliers or people with knowledge about markets. Or very specific issues such as how to identify the right staff on a strategic market, impor t challenges, permissions, etc.
Reversed marketing and networking
“Recently we were approached by a Thai firm wanting to find out if he could sell his products in Scandinavia. What a success! The consultant in me wanted to reply, but instead we immediately passed on the request to relevant members on the platform and received 52 helpful advices to be passed on to our new contact in Thailand. This was made possible by approaching the Nordic chambers there,
If we stay at home thinking how complicated it is, it becomes a mental barrier.
Andersen Consult CEO Lars Siggaard Andersen to get to know about their members – both Nordic and local. This is in a nutshell our mission; eliminating export barriers and accepting the fact that we are all in the same boat. We have to make business much more accessible. This is in my opinion an enormously important step to take,” Lars continues. “If we put people and companies into our idea of a network, where andersenb2b.com actively search for solutions for, and on behalf of, our members, we not only reach our immediate members, but also our members’ own individual network. Now we are really reaching out. This is why a personal involvement in all things digital is important, we think.” “The B2B platform is organised such that regardless of level of membership, a company has a full presentation. Ever yone can find you there and access is direct and uncomplicated. We send out a weekly newsletter based on the members’ stories, we organise network meetings and we bind companies together in practice. We have a very high success rate of setting up meetings. During network meetings, we enforce speed dating between all participants following a specified process of presenting your business, your reason for being on board and what you are looking for to achieve. So far they have secured orders for members on all meetings. Joining the platform is free. “What we are saying is this: instead of sending staff to all sorts of places or hiring external assistance immediately to
work out the markets for you, we encourage our members to find their own business partners or initial contacts. If they need consultants and advisory services it will be because of already being engaged in communication, already thinking about establishing cooperation. That advisory service will be so much more precise. Altogether this is a new way for Andersen Consult to do consultancies. We are going against mainstream by providing opportunities completely free of charge like the identification of other SMEs. If we are needed at any level, the members will contact us.”
Eliminating the barriers
Lars explains the thinking further and how he has come to his conclusions: “In 2015 we decided that the time was right to reinvent the consultancy industry – at least the part about bringing the SME companies out to new markets.” “What we have to do is to make life easy for the SME. And how can we do that in our small part of the whole thing? By eliminating the barriers as much as possible. The SME has to realise their oppor tunities from other likeminded people in the Nordics and outside.” In for instance Southeast Asia, as a key target region, Lars is seeing many possibilities. “We have a tremendous export opportunity from Scandinavia to Asia because of the growth situation, where the communities are lacking
Septemter 2018 • ScandAsia 13
We have to make Danish, Swedish, Finnish and Norwegian companies talk directly with the companies in Asia, and vice versa
14 ScandAsia • Septemter 2018
efficient solutions to economies in immense growth. We should come in and suppor t their industry and societal build-up. In exchange, we have to look at what they are producing; we need those items for our own continued development. It goes both ways. As an example, members from our platform have set up a complete value chain in Bangladesh in seafood processing, including sales and export training. The project successfully resulted in Nordic technology export to that country from several member companies. In turn, we are now buying the processing plants end product. This is a tremendous success”. “In another case, we had a large Danish seafood processor wanting to get into Thailand with a high end fish-on-tube product line. Via the network, the entry to the market was quickly established including securing the right local meetings. The company has established a continued presence on exactly the market they were looking for. And without the need of external support to determine the market – solely based on contacts and communication via the B2B platform.” “We have to make Danish, Swedish, Finnish and Norwegian companies talk directly with the companies in Asia, and vice versa. This is reachable and we are doing it!” “I was recently in Cambodia to introduce the platform to Nordcham and was approached by a local firm. The company owner, to my surprise, was not interested in the Nordic countries, but wanted us to help him approach companies in the Philippines so that he could discuss with people on that market, how to approach it. It was a brilliant experience for me. Keep it simple, it works. Use
Andersen Consult CEO Lars Siggaard Andersen (right) together with one of his clients, Michael Cold CEO of Cold Flood Prevention the digitalisation as much as possible, but do it with a personal touch.” “Every company has the same mission; we have to make a profit. And, most of us have to do it with other SMEs, so the reason for joining the platform where we make it happen is obvious. But in order to do that, in a bigger way, we have to reach out, communicate and identify the Scandinavian companies with the right mind set, the wish to be part of a new way of doing research and, subsequently, take action”. This also constitutes the hands-on approach to the development of profitable business opportunities on target markets that Andersen Consult have been doing since 2002. But now the time has come for companies to play a larger role themselves, including the sharing of information, as is the norm in the start-up community via the network meetings or being each other’s best ambassadors out there on the export markets. “It’s about enabling our SME colleagues to search for and act on information when this information comes from your own well-meaning community,” says Lars. “Are we seeing competition on the markets when we get here and, also on the platform? Of course we are. We need competition to stay in front. We cannot mature businesses from being complacent. Let’s move on and face the challenges; our home base will be greatly strengthened by it. And, by the way, in Thailand we have about 65 million
people. In Denmark we are 6, so what is there not to like about the challenges?”
AndersenB2B.com expansion
Now AndersenB2B.com is aiming at expanding to the whole of the Nordics, and various international regions too, where Lars and in his team are approaching companies one by one. The international part of their project was initiated in joint cooperation with Nordcham Philippines. “We have seen a good deal of communication between especially Danish and Philippine entrepreneurs and we will continue this approach where we are setting up now and elsewhere.This approach included Asia, and Eastern Europe is now under development.” “It’s very important for us that we now see Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian and Icelandic companies joining our platform because they have a kind of familiarity and are already working together. So it makes sense to bring those companies and minds together, and work with them when looking out. A Danish company might just want to go to Norway, but who to talk to? It might be as complicated in the mind-set of the SME to go to Norway as to Thailand.” “Private sector has to wor k with private sector. Ever yone speaks the same language. Our mission is to strengthen the access to new clients, markets and information. If you can recognise this requirement, we are relevant for you!” ends Lars. Septemter 2018 • ScandAsia 15
Business
Martin Glaumann
Business Sweden’s new resource for market area Southeast Asia 16 ScandAsia • Septemter 2018
Business Sweden, the public-private export-promoting organisation, with a very positive outlook and growth for Swedish companies in the region, is expanding further in Southeast Asia. A key step in this direction is the appointment of a Market Area Director, as an additional resource in 2018 to boost their capabilities going forward in terms of serving Swedish companies.Martin Glaumann is the man in this new role, operating out of the Singapore office. Here he presents himself and his take on what is to come.
B
By Joakim Persson eing enticed to join Business Sweden, with a position that would take him to this region was too good to say no to. “I thought it seemed very interesting and found it to be an exciting part of the world. Also, being very similar to the west, Singapore was something of a soft-landing place for me personally since it is in the midst of Southeast Asia, with its many different faces. I have two children who are ten and thirteen so they have started school here and that has gone well. And my wife is a Pediatrician, doing some research work she has brought with her. So, for us as a family this was the perfect timing.” Martin was headhunted from the corporate world and unsurprisingly has a management consultancy background, having worked for Ar thur D. Little, first as consultant and then as Par tner and Head of their TIME (Telecom, Information, Media and Electronics) practice in the Nordic region. But even more so, he also has experience from the digital field, as well as telecom (Telia) in an earlier position. “I think that the mix of having worked a lot with digital, done ten years in a leading management consultancy firm and with at least seven years before then as line manager, were things that made me suitable for this role.” He says he is used to Business Sweden type or work – including digitisation. “I have worked with Stockholm City during 3-4 years around their smart city strategy. And such smart city projects have relevance here. I have also worked on digitisation in nearly all industries, and done acquisition and growth strategy work. In particular I have served quite large companies and worked for both Telia Company and Arthur D. Little with developing consultancy businesses.” In serving Swedish companies in his new role he says: “I hope I will be able to be a good sounding board here and be able to help them overcome challenges they are facing in their growth journey.” “It will also be important for me to connect to Swedish companies back in Sweden. And I can see it as an opportunity to assist companies’ regional teams to get the right attention around important questions in this region in order for them to succeed in relation to their company headquarters – to some extent bridge that distance.” For this cause Martin will travel to Sweden regularly.
‘‘T
o help Swedish companies to succeed in Southeast Asia, as with all consultative jobs, it is about making ourselves available at the right moment and to then also be relevant. And relevancy for us will always be the local knowledge about the various markets, but it is increasingly impor tant to also be relevant within other areas, For instance within digitisation, we try to increase our efforts to continue create expertise across various sectors and topics that is important for Swedish companies. Businesses should also know that Martin’s role is not an internal one; he will be available for Swedish companies and help them in their activities - providing strategic advice, sales execution and operational support.
There are many companies already here, but those could act more aggressively on these markets and invest.
Septemter 2018 • ScandAsia 17
We also think it’s good to have a complement to China – where the competition is tougher and tougher– within Asean where there actually are good opportunities to grow one’s business.
18 ScandAsia • Septemter 2018
The strongest incentive for the creation of the Southeast Asia organisation he says is Business Sweden’s belief that there is a need from Swedish companies to have a dialogue not only about how to succeed in the individual countries but also around the region as a whole, regarding where to establish first, their development etc. The purpose is to meet the customers more on a regional level and to collaborate effectively internally between our offices. “We clearly see a trend that the number of projects that have a multi-market perspective have increased. “For example, if we work with one large company in one market we want to be able to re-use the competence we have developed around their market and products when we help them also on another market.” “In Southeast Asia we will also try to become better at arranging seminars continuously, especially in Singapore, since many are based here and cover the region. Also, when serving Swedish companies with their regional office in Thailand or Malaysia, we have discussions not only around that specific market. So, it is impor tant for us that the respective projects leaders and consultants in the various markets can coordinate and come up with ways to better serve a certain client’s needs.”
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usiness Sweden’s expansion in mar ket region Southeast Asia is ultimately based on the market potential. “It has over 600 million inhabitants, a growing middle class, large infrastructure investments and a production that is going from being low cost to be more value-added focused. Vietnam is a fascinating example where the investments from companies like Samsung has enabled Swedish industrial companies to sell ver y advanced equipment to the manufacturing sector, where one is almost leapfrogging one step in the development,” says Mar tin. ”With a growth pace of 5-7 per cent in the coming years Southeast Asia will grow in size as par t of the global economy. We believe that Sweden and Swedish companies could do much more in this region. We are also lower on expor t to Asean than many equivalent European countries. There are many companies already here, but those could act more aggressively on these markets and invest. Then they would be better positioned to take a larger market share of the growth. We think this is impor tant and it’s my and Business Sweden’s role to emphasize that and push that debate and make Swedish companies see the opportunities.” “We also think it’s good to have a complement to China – where the competition is tougher and tougher– within Asean where there actually are good opportunities to grow one’s business,” adds Martin.
The tools are many, and different, when it comes to helping Swedish companies increase their sales on these markets. “For certain companies we work very concretely with sales acceleration. If a small or mid-sized Swedish company yet do not have staff on the ground, we can assist and be that company’s extended arm in these markets towards distributors or customers. We also have business incubation and operations where Swedish companies can get assistance in recruiting staff and get access to office and administrative services.” Mar tin also believes that Business Sweden can make itself relevant in assisting Swedish companies a bit more long-term. “My experience from my previous work is that the management consultant business used to be focused on analysing and giving the correct answer, a recommendation. Companies probably often feel that the report lands on someone’s desk to be implemented, but it is not always the case that it gets done, especially with sometimes relatively limited resources locally. But a growing part is to assist in implementing the recommendations that one has given, and to work together with the companies in generating change. I think that our work will also shift in that direction going forward.”
How can you make your money work while you enjoy life?
Kim Osborg Nielsen kim.nielsen@nordea.sg www.nordeaprivatebanking.com Nordea Bank S.A, Singapore Branch is part of Nordea Group, the leading financial services group in the Nordic and Baltic Sea regions. Some products and services may, due to local regulations, not be available to individuals resident in certain countries and their availability may depend, among other things, on the investment risk profile of persons in receipt of this publication or on any legislation to which they are subject. Nothing in this publication should be construed as an offer, or the solicitation of an offer, to purchase, subscribe to or sell any investment or product, or to engage in any other transaction or provide any kind of financial or banking service in any jurisdiction where Nordea Bank S.A., Singapore Branch or any of its affiliates do not have the necessary license. Published by Nordea Bank S.A., R.C.S. Luxembourg No. B 14.157 on behalf of Nordea Bank S.A., Singapore Branch, 138 Market street Capita Green #09-03 Singapore 048946. www.nordeaprivatebanking.com subject to the supervision of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (www.mas.gov.sg).
Septemter 2018 • ScandAsia 19
Business
Alliance to standardize blockchain in the supply chain industry
Photo: Sara Brun Nielsen
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By Sara Brun Nielsen lockchain is one of the most hyped technology concepts of our time. The possible future of all technologies. The new internet. Still, many companies have ver y little understanding of how to incorporate the technology in a way that makes sense – considering the challenges within blockchain – so the industry demands knowledge. This is where BiTA enters the picture. Blockchain is perhaps the most powerful innovation, associated with the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, as countless industries from financial services to healthcare have begun to consider how to utilize the technology for their own applications. But the companies and institutions need more knowledge. BiTA – Blockchain in Transport Alliance – opened its Asia office in Singapore last month. Counting over 400 members, including Asian and Oceanian countries, the standards organisation has great expectations for its entry in Asia. The BiTA Asia office is run by Danish Managing Director Soeren Duvier and Sales Manager Jana Lee. There is a need for development and innovation for blockchain technology to truly succeed. BiTA provides forums for exactly this. 20 ScandAsia • Septemter 2018
So, what is blockchain? The decisive factor in blockchain technology is its ability to distribute information. It has a decentralised and verifiable nature which saves and secures data on several continuous blocks – each block having its own “fingerprint” as well as the “fingerprint” of the previous block. You may think of it as an e-notary with the ability to protect data and prevent it from being tampered with. This makes the technology extremely safe and therefore attractive to many industries – if not all. “A core belief at BiTA is that a market is only as strong as its educational foundation.” These are the words greeting you when surfing BiTA’s website. And education truly is the purpose of the organisation. Blockchain technology is trending. Major companies in all kinds of industries draw attention to their specific use of blockchain. Still, you may question the net value of blockchain of today – due to the many challenges within the technology. “Blockchain has been trending the last three to four years, but at the moment, many of the solutions are about generating buzz or siloed within one company. It is still early days; however, the potential is there for a quantum leap
in process improvement,” Duvier states. “When you have an organization creating a forum for the development of standards, you want as many members as possible to set the benchmarks for the industry. I have some background in shipping. Moving things from A to B will not see a 90 percent cost reduction because you change your database to a DLT setup. However, it will lower the overall costs if the entire industry uses the same standards and change business practices.”
The industry asked for an Alliance
BiTA was originally founded one year ago in the U.S. upon a demand for knowledge about blockchain from the supply chain industry. The Alliance creates a forum to those who want to be a par t of setting standards for blockchain technology within the industry. “BiTA has no interest in imposing standards on our members. We actually want to hold-back a bit to ensure that our standards are some all of members, and industries, can agree on. BiTA’s focus is on the value blockchain technology can bring to the supply chain and to differentiate it from those using blockchain solely for cryptocurrency,” Duvier explains. The Asian region contains a massive potential for BiTA and it is no coincident Singapore was chosen as base for the organisation.The country not only constitutes the trade hub of Asia. Singapore is additionally one of the world’s most impor tant countries when it comes to the supply chain industry. “There is a lot of potential in the supply chain industry. Supply chain is used in most industries –probably in every industry,” Lee explains.
Blockchain has been trending the last three to four years, but at the moment, many of the solutions are about generating buzz or siloed within one company. It is still early days; however, the potential is there for a quantum leap in process improvement
Sales Manager Jana Lee and Managing Director Soeren Duvier. Photo: Sara Brun Nielsen Septemter 2018 • ScandAsia 21
Sales Manager Jana Lee and Danish MD Soeren Duvier A blockchain’s database is not kept in a single location – which could be infiltrated or controlled by a single party – but rather hosted by numerous computers at once. This creates several challenges to which there is no clear solution. Yet. The challenges include large-scale energy demands that burden the environment, slow transaction speed, and the lack of regulation which creates a risky environment. “Using the shipping companies as an example, they would be looking for solutions concerning large amounts of documentation and payments and keeping track of their ships. We can help them by bringing them together with people from the tech industry and other members. And we can help by creating standards. That makes us unique,” Duvier states. For BiTA it is most important that the members set the standards. This also meaning BiTA will not be making demands but rather facilitate a forum for the discussion of these challengers, allowing the members to make the demands. If they so wish. Talking about the environmental burden blockhcain generates, Duvier states: “That is not something we are put in the world to solve, but something we are put in the world to draw attention to.”
Standards will be developed – but who will create them?
The development of standards is an attempt to systematise and make the entire industry comparable when it comes to blockchain. “Historically, there have always been developed standards over time in all industries. Whether it is shipping or agriculture or finance. Sometimes the states regulate first, and that is not always favourable for the companies,” Duvier explains. 22 ScandAsia • Septemter 2018
According to Duvier, who has 25 years of operational and commercial experience in the shipping, energy, and commodity markets, it could be an issue if the states were to regulate first. Different countries would prefer different solutions and varying regulations would complicate the process of streamlining standards internationally. BiTA – at the same time – is an Alliance. 16 council members need to agree on all decisions. This makes the process of creating standards for the industry slow. The real challenge will be bringing together members with varying levels of interest and involvement and ensuring that BiTA remains relevant to, and representative of, all. Duvier explains that BiTA can act as a neutral body engaging with various governments. “If the states have any concerns or issues to be resolved, then we will be part of that solution too,” Duvier states. In spite of the unresolved challenges, the potential in blockchain technology is undeniable. Solutions can be found. The question is how fast and by whom.
Shanghai Knights 2018 included 11 Nordic start-ups
D
anske Bank together par tner nHack kicked off the China Knights II with an event at Wework – a co-working space in the heart of Shanghai. The where investors and technology companies gather to see and meet nHack Cohor t 1 and Cohor t 2 companies At China Knights II demo day 11 Nordic star t-ups (leading technology companies coming out of the Nordic region) pitched in front of Asian business angels and venture capitalists, and representatives from some of the largest IT Tech companies in China, including JDcom, Alibaba, and Tencent. The star t-ups had five minutes of air time each, with pitches spanning everything from Norwegian seafood delicacies over drones for ship inspection to golfing augmentation
equipment. Danske Bank reported that it was a “truly inspiring event, also for Danske Bank, resulting in several new contacts being made”. China Knights is a free tech and VC festival in Shanghai. China Knights II was held during 13-15 June, in cooperation with CES Asia, the world’s largest consumer electronics show. The festival included one-on-one VIP meetings, lunches and dinner parties. nHack is a venture firm bridging Nordic companies to Asia. nHack invest in Nordic businesses and help them access Asian markets. They work closely with Danske Bank, Innovation Norway, Innovation Center Denmark, NTNU University, Investinor, Wikborg Rein, Flex and China Equity. They are a cross border investor, bridging Nordic businesses to China and Asia. nHack both invest in Nordic
Business
companies, but can also be the China joint venture partner. They are also an impact investor, looking for sustainable solutions and female founders. They are sector neutral as a firm, but have some areas they look more closely at than others; like ocean and maritime sectors, health and med-tech, consumer upgrade plays and education tech and software as a Service.
Sources: Danske Bank Corporations and Institutions, nHack
Septemter 2018 • ScandAsia 23
Community
24 ScandAsia • Septemter 2018
They survived The incredible cave rescue in Thailand from the Danish diver Claus Rasmussen’s point of view
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By Lærke Weensgaard n the North of Thailand, the locals believe the spirit of a legend princess, Jao Mae Nang Non, dwells in the mountains. She is said to have died in the very same cave where the 12 young football players and their trainer in June and July 2018 were trapped for 18 days. The boys and the trainer were more likely than not to suffer the same fate as the legend princess. The words about the boys’ disappearing travelled quickly. The same day they got trapped Claus Rasmussen watched it on the news, while he was teaching cave diving. Together with the rest of the cave dive instructors in Thailand he offered his expertise to the military who was in charge of the rescue operation. The first support group that included Claus Rasmussen’s boss came to the cave a few days after the boys went missing. The boss called him every day to inform him about the situation – and the news were not uplifting. Just getting into the cave was a challenge. Half of the year it is virtually dry, and visitors can walk inside its dark hallways of rocks almost without getting their feet wet. But during the rainy season the rain can turn the cave into a flooded nightmare. It was difficult to see anything in the
water and along with a very strong flow it became hard for the divers to avoid getting stuck in mud or flung against rock protrusions. Several occasions where divers feared for their lives led to the rescue operation almost being stopped. But the Thai Navy Seals insisted on keep trying.
Transporting air bottles
Nine days into the rescue operation Claus Rasmussen and the rest of the second support group arrived at a resort close to the cave, where they got ready to replace the first support group.The same day the divers had finally managed to find the boys. When that information hit the resort, a festive atmosphere raised. “It was very unlikely that they would be alive, so we were very, very happy that they have been found and even were alive,” Claus Rasmussen tells. The 45 years old diver has explored the world benneath the water surface for more than twenty years. He left Denmark for good 14 years ago to become a dive instructor and the last two years he has been teaching cave diving at Blue Label Diving on the island Phuket. Septemter 2018 • ScandAsia 25
It was a massive shock for us to see that all four boys actually made it all the way out alive.
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The boys might be found, but as the days went on no decision was made about how to rescue them. All kinds of ways to get them out were either very risky or impossible. That meant Claus Rasmussen spent the first couple of days in the muddy outside area of the cave while he offered suppor t to the Thai Navy Seals. A fence made of rope separated the many journalists from hundreds of volunteers that filled out the area. None of them knew exactly what was going to happen or which role they would play. “We did not know what was going to happen yet, but one thing was sure – we had to do something, and everyone was very determined,” Claus Rasmussen say. That something became transpor ting air bottles into the cave in case it was decided to save the boys by diving. For Claus Rasmussen and his team, it was also a way to get familiar with the undergrounds tunnels of the cave. But before going into the cave one thing was important to him: Praying at the shrine of Jao Mae Nang Non, asking for the spirit’s permission to enter her cave. On the outside big pumps had been pumping water out of the cave for days. But when Claus Rasmussen went in the water still reached his neck. Thai Navy Seals walked with air bottles to the rescue operation base, a chamber 700 meter inside the cave. At one point they had gathered 200 air bottles at the base. From here, Claus tied three air bottles together at a time, fastened them to his equipment with a carabiner and swam deeper into the cave to deliver the bottles in different chambers. On the way out, Claus Rasmussen and a team mate met two Thais heading into the base with more air bottles. One of them was Saman Gunan, a former Thai Navy Seal. They
stopped and talked for a moment before they continued. Saman Gunan never returned. He was the only one who died during the rescue operation.
The divers’ demands
To dive was a risky way to save the football team, and before the divers even were willing to try, they had some demands. One of them was that the boys should be sedated, so they not would panic during the rescue. A panic attack could in worst case lead to the death of both the boy, his rescuer and the ones eventually trying to help them. Another demand was that the boys should wear full face masks that make it possible to breathe with both nose and mouth underwater. “If we could not get the equipment, we would not do it. It would not be safe for neither the kids nor us.” But full-face masks are not designed to fit children, so while the divers transported air bottles they also worked on getting masks small enough. Despite most of the world’s attention and offering of help, the divers’ expectations for the number of survivors were low: “If everything went well, we expected to get 20 per cent of the boys out alive”.
Carrying the boys
15 days after the boys and their trainer got trapped in the cave, the rescue by diving began. A chain of divers would bring the football players out of what became known as chamber nine, 3,5 kilometers from the entrance of the cave. Claus Rasmussen and one of his team mates were located in chamber eight.
Four Thai Navy Seals kept the football team company in chamber nine while the rescue went on. Four English divers went into the chamber together with a doctor and took the boys out one at a time. Calmed by the medicine and with a full-face mask on, the boy dived through the passage from nine to chamber eight. The diving passage was difficult, and the English divers had little chance to find out if water went into the boy’s mask during the dive. When they reached chamber eight, Claus Rasmussen and his team mate would be ready to bring the boy further on. “When we waited for the boys to arrive at chamber eight, we did not know if they would actually survive the first diving passage. We were almost surprised every time one of them was alive, when they came out to us,” he says. When the boy arrived, they checked if he started to mumble or move a lot. Then he had to get some of the medicine Claus Rasmussen and his team mate carried. They needed him to be as calm as possible through the next part of the rescue. After the medicine, they took off the boy’s diving equipment and wrapped him on a stretcher where he would be safe through chamber eight. Chamber eight was a passage of only 150 meters and it was not necessary to dive, but it took 20 minutes to get through. With the boy on the stretcher, one man carried in the front and another on the side.
Septemter 2018 • ScandAsia 27
If everything went well, we expected to get 20 per cent of the boys out alive
First, they carried the stretcher on top of a sand hill and down into streaming water. The water led to a ditch of mud they had to pass. On the other side of the ditch the water reached all the way up to the men’s chests. Even though the boy was unable to answer because of the medicine, Claus Rasmussen occasionally held his hand to calm him down and said “khun dern tang klab ban” – you are on your way home. When they reached a narrowing, the man on the side of the stretcher moved to the back to be able to get through. On the other side of the narrowing they walked in water to their knees and passed over a rock protrusion. Then they reached the last obstacle, a bigger protrusion rising out of the water. By crawling and lifting the stretcher they got to the end of chamber eight. From here the boy had to dive once again. Claus Rasmussen and his team mate took him out of the stretcher and put his diving equipment back on. Then they returned to their starting point waiting for the next boy to come out.
Get out
The goal of the first day’s rescue was to bring four boys out. When Claus and his team mate were done carrying them through chamber eight they made their own way out of the cave. Only then they knew if the boys had made it. “It was a massive shock for us to see that all four boys actually made it all the way out alive”. Next day the operation resumed, and another four boys were saved. On average, the divers only slept three hours per night, so they discussed whether or not to take a 28 ScandAsia • Septemter 2018
resting day.The prospect of heavy rain led them to continue without. On the third day all the boys and the trainer had escaped the cave. They might be out, but the rescue operation was not over yet. The four Thai Navy Seals in chamber nine were the last ones to leave the cave. While most of the volunteers celebrated the successful operation on the outside, Claus Rasmussen and two team mates stayed at the rescue base inside the cave in case anything went wrong when the Thai Navy Seals made their way out. Only a few minutes after the head of the last Thai Navy Seal appeared at the far end of the rescue base a warning was screamed from the other side of the chamber : The water was rising. One of the pumps outside the cave had broken down just moments before. When they had entered the cave in the morning they could walk to the rescue base, but now they could watch the water rise in front of them. In less than 30 minutes the water rose one meter. The divers did not panic, but they had to hurry. They swam to get out and left parts of their equipment behind. To Claus Rasmussen it appeared like the spirit princess was chasing them out of her cave: “It was like Jao Mae Nang Non said ‘you got what you wanted, now get out!’”
Back to normal
When Claus Rasmussen tells the story to ScandAsia at his workplace on Phuket, it is a month since he returned from the rescue operation. The sound of two new costumers filling out papers
downstairs in the diving shop slips upstairs to the office. Claus Rasmussen has not been in the office for long – yesterday he returned from teaching a cave diving course outside Phuket. “Blue Label Diving has become much more popular,” he tells and waves a hand towards a whiteboard filled with appointments. In truth, it is probably himself who has grown popular. Before the inter view, he went to a diving shop and immediately the staff started to find pictures of him on the internet. They are far from the only ones who know he took part in the rescue. The police want to chit chat, he gets recognized by strangers in town and journalists are eager to speak with him. “But it is not too bad with the journalists in the moment, only a couple each week.” Everyone wants to talk about the rescue – and that can be stressful. “I was lucky that I could pull away from everything. Straight after the rescue operation I packed my things and went out to teach a cave diving course for a week. So I came back to a normal everyday life. Or at least as normal as it can be.” Downstairs, the new customers have finished filling out papers and are soon ready to go diving. The same goes for Claus Rasmussen. In an hour he will be off again to teach yet another cave diving course.
Septemter 2018 • ScandAsia 29
Community
Swedish duo joined Rainbow Warrior’s meat free event
O
n the World Meat Free Day 2018 Greenpeace offices around the world were calling on cities to reduce global meat and dairy consumption by introducing two plant-based meals a week in public institutions by 2020. Greenpeace’s flagship, the Rainbow Warrior, happened to be on a Phuket stopover on this day, where Swedish-
30 ScandAsia • Septemter 2018
Thai Miss Universe Thailand titleholder, model and singer Maria Lynn Ehren (also known as Maria Poonler tlarp) joined forces with the Phuket-based renowned chef Daniel Isberg. T h e e ve n t w i t h G r e e n p e a c e intended to promote that people consume less meat and to first and foremost give priority to eating more vegetables and fruit, said Daniel Isberg. “I cooked a vegan/vegetar ian menu with sustainably grown fruit and vegetables (grown without pesticides and non-GMO), without milk products which turned out to immensely popular among our invited guests.” “Maria Ehren as host held a speech about the feel-good-factor from eating vegetarian food and how healthy it is for the body and formed a splendid duo together with me based on our
Swedish roots and our love for healthy and well-tasting food and by showing all guests how tasty it can be with vegetables and fruit!” Daniel’s menu consisted in Pulled jackfr uit slider s with Asian slaw/ barbeque sauce; Sweet corn tapenade on herb/garlic crostini, Home-made fresh corn nachos with guacamole, fire-roasted tomato salsa & pickled jalapeños, Wild mushroom risotto, and Chocolate-dipped strawberries. Other highlights included the forum ‘VEG Talk: Less Meat, More Veggies’ featuring experts in food who discussed how the world’s current food systems need to be improved. Greenpeace is encouraging the public to tackle unhealthy food systems and to fight for a better future through our food choices, one bite at a time.
According to a recent report from Greenpeace International, global meat and dairy production and consumption must be halved by 2050 to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. The livestock industr y releases as much greenhouse gases as all cars, trucks, planes and ships put together, globally. If left unchecked, climate harming emissions from the livestock industry could undermine the success of the
Paris Climate Agreement. Changing our meat-intensive diets to more plant-based alternatives also provides many benefits to our health. Excessive consumption of red meat has been linked to cancer, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Plant-based diets, on the other hand, can reduce the risk of those diseases. “Eating less meat and more vegetables has a positive impact both on our health and on the future of our planet,” said Watcharapol Daengsubha, Food and Ecological Agr iculture Campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia. “One of the primar y sources of greenhouse gas emissions is from industrial meat production. In Thailand, Greenpeace is calling for the institution of a robust national sustainable food policy that promotes nutrition and is beneficial to the environment as well.” The World Meat Free Day event was par t of the “100% Renewable Energy for All” tour of the Rainbow Warrior in Thailand.
Septemter 2018 • ScandAsia 31
Community
President Pia Ridström introduces:
SWEA Kuala Lumpur By Joakim Persson
S
WEA International Inc. may sound like a multinational until you know the meaning of the acronym: Swedish Women’s Educational Association International. ScandAsia meets with the President for Swea in Kuala Lumpur, Pia Ridström, to get better insights into how this particular local entity works and what their activities there are. Swea is the typical social organisation for Swedish women to turn to when arriving in a foreign country destination such as Kuala Lumpur. There may also be other individual members but usually they all have a connection to Sweden one way or the other. Depending on the location and the local Swea, and one’s individual circumstances, it might be something one is part of for a very long time. And some of course moves on to another country and joins Swea there if it is established.
32 ScandAsia • Septemter 2018
Swea is also “proof ” of an expatriate community still in existence, as new members keep arriving while others are more permanent (albeit much fewer Swedes in total in Kuala Lumpur now than used to be the case). For many women it is really the excellent way to find new friends during some years abroad, while usually following their husband or partner on a job posting. In the case of Pia Ridström and her family they moved to Kuala Lumpur in August 2014, now living with her husband in a big apartment overlooking Petronas Towers. “My husband was travelling on the Asian market all the time and was never at home. So we said we had to do something about it. He told his company that they must move him to Asia if they wished to keep him on the job. And then we moved!” tells Pia. Back then their daughter also came along to do her last school year in Malaysia. Pia says her husband Anders first consulted Business Sweden how to go about having a company in Kuala Lumpur. “They assisted that, and then we went here to look at schools first, and then homes. I had been in touch with Swea and asked them for advice. For us it was not difficult – there were only two international schools that we were interesting of which one did not have the subjects my daughter needed so then there was only one alternative left.“
Finding a school in Kuala Lumpur Pia says seems to get sorted out in most cases once one has arrived. Their daughter has now become an air hostess with SAS, which enables her to fly frequently. They often meet up in Hong Kong where she can fly with the airline.
Blank page
While new Swedish women mostly arrive to Kuala Lumpur due to their respective spouse’s work this, it turns out, is actually quite beside the point. New members join to find friends and socialise based on the common interests within Swea; which is about anything from cosy coffee mornings in the home of various Swea women, member campaign nights, cocktail courses, wet market visits, cinema visits etc. “For a lot of members I do not know what their spouses are doing. And when you come to Swea you can start off with a blank page; many I do not even know what they have been doing previously. It’s not like:‘Hello, I am Malin, and I’m a nurse!’ So one can be more oneself and does not get a title. But things do come to the surface gradually. For example, we are producing a cooking book. Then one lady said that she can proofread – being a professional translator.” There may be a few entrepreneurs among the 65 members, Pia believes, but most spouses are sent out by their companies.
KIS International School congratulates the class of 2018! This close-knit group of 34 students from 13 countries has been offered 112 places by 79 top universities in 10 countries. This year’s graduating class also received university scholarships worth more than an astounding 2,000,000 US dollars. We are extremely proud of them and wish them all the best for their bright futures! If you would like to be a part of KIS’ success stories, please contact admissions@kis.ac.th
www.kis.ac.th
Septemter 2018 • ScandAsia 33
Swea Kuala Lumpur is very active with something on the agenda at least weekly. Members can also chose to join groups, ‘clubs’, within special interests: golf, play, book, sport and cinema. “We have a very active programme group and twice a year they meet and plan the activities. Lunches, breakfast meetings, seminars, adventure, weekend trips… it’s very varied,” explains Pia who basically attends all their events herself. In addition she exercises, travels frequently with her husband, goes to the movies and plays Mahjong (a Chinese kind of domino). In terms of leisure travel they have for instance visited Redang Island and Perhentian islands. These are situated off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia and are famous for their crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches. “It’s a paradise feeling. There are lots of tourists going there in high season including many backpackers, and with quite a few Swedes, Russians, British and Americans. We have flown from Kuala Lumpur 7 am and have arrived to one of the islands by 1 pm for lunch.” Getting there means travelling by air, bus and boat. “They have fantastic beaches. I dive a bit and do snorkelling, while my husband dives a lot. We have been to Borneo as well, visiting the rainforest and seeing the bats.”
Swedish-English cook book
As for charity Swea Kuala Lumpur has not held any charity events to collect money, though they tried to join the Christmas Bazaar in 2017. It failed because the organiser did not allow them to sell bakery – which had been their idea. 34 ScandAsia • Septemter 2018
But now that cook book with Swedish home-made food recipes is their big project, to be completed within 2018, and then published for sale. “The bi-lingual cook book is a concept by Swea in China, used for instance by maids to be able to cook Swedish food. And we thought this book was really nice and suggested taking that concept and do it in EnglishSwedish.” Said and done; they bought over the concept from China by paying Swea China for 14 of their books as charity, to get to use their photos and concept. “They have a model where they give all the income to girls to attend school.” To conclude, Pia also gives her view on life in Malaysia in general. In terms of changes she has one definite observation: “There is construction everywhere all the time! So it’s never quiet. They keep on building more and more real estate. One wonders who is going to occupy all those buildings!?” She thinks transportation is easy using Grab Taxi, though their respective ser vice deteriorated after a while in operation: “The do not come so quickly, and cancel more often.” “It is very easy to live here. Everyone speaks English, to begin with. We have lived in China before where nobody spoke English! So it was ver y easy to move here. It is modern and one can find basically everything. There is not much one has to miss, really!”
News brief
Denmark’s Foreign Minister visited China
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n late June Danish Foreign Minister, Anders Samuelsen visited china, including to China Zun Tower. It was the impressive water pumping system delivered by Danish Company Grundfos that was the reason for the prominent visit, repor ted Embassy of Denmark, China. And the Danish technology is not delivered to just any building. When completed China Zun will be Beijing’s tallest building towering impressive 528 meter above the city. The visit marked the anniversar y of the 10-years strategic par tnership between Denmark and China. The delivery of technology for the China Zun Tower is just one of many projects that Danish companies have been engaged in with the Chinese since the strategic partnership came into effect in 2008. Another recent example is an urban renovation project in the center of Beijing, where Danish green solutions will play a big role. Denmar k is among ver y few European countries, and the only Nor ther n Countr y – that has a strategic partnership agreement with China. In total 80 Danish and Chinese government institutions at national and regional level are working closely
together in as many as 58 areas. The partnership agreement is the framework that has made projects possible in areas from green tech, energy efficiency, urbanization and health to pollution reduction, human rights, innovation, creative learning etc. Denmark also has five sector experts and an energy attaché in China. Even for a Foreign Minister the celebration of such an impressive range of cooperation projects between government institutions does not take place ever y day. At a reception at the Danish Embassy in Beijing Anders Samuelsen spoke to 140 representatives from 40 Chinese government institutions. During the visit to Beijing, the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs was also received by his Chinese counterpar t State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi as well as by Yang Jiechi, one of the 25 members of the Chinese Politburo. The foreign minister also met with Minister Zhong Shan, Ministry of Commerce. In Beijing as well as in Shanghai the minister met with representatives from the Danish Business community. He also took par t in events related to
new dedicated oppor tunities within Fintech to attract Chinese investments to Denmark. The celebrating of the 10 years anniversar y of the comprehensive s t r a t e g i c p a r t n e r s h i p b e t we e n Denmark and China will continue in the rest of 2018; in September when Copenhagen is guest city for Beijing Design Week as well as in November for China International Impor t Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai. In Denmark the 10-years celebration will be marked by China Denmark Regions and Cities Forum in Aarhus in November 2018. Septemter 2018 • ScandAsia 35
Lifestyle
Wellness and healthy food advice for travellers and the work place
In the July 2018 edition ScandAsia presented food ingredients with medicinal benefits. In part two the remaining selection of such food recommendations (and which are great, affordable alternatives to expensive super foods) is listed. Introduced is also additional nutrition advice for business travellers and workplace wellness. Wellness specialist/lifestyle & nutrition coach Judith CoulsonGeissmann, based here in Asia, is your guide. 36 ScandAsia • Septemter 2018
By Joakim Persson
Wellness for travellers
Judith shared here insights during the Asian Organic Gourmet Festival (137 Pillars Suites & Residences Bangkok), which included a focus on wellness for business and leisure travellers. Travelling is no reason to throw one’s exercise habits and eating patterns out the window, though it may pose a bigger challenge to keep up. Going on vacation can actually be a good moment to learn about and adopt a healthier lifestyle – not least in Asia where the opportunity is there in abundance at hotels and wellness centres. It can be the moment to adopt a healthier diet and begin with new exercise goals. Some of the hotel brands also put an effort into offering its guests quality food (healthy and, organic an as least processed as possible), in addition to wellness programmes. “When we travel we normally break with the schedule we have at home when it comes to healthy eating and exercising. We have our health-conscious food and the ingredients we really like when we are at home but when we travel we do not find the same kind of quality or the same diversity of food when we arrive at the destination,” says Judith Coulson-Geissmann. The medicinal food ingredients constitute one remedy for unhealthy eating habits and as a way to stay energised. “When staying at hotels the biggest difficulty for me is not to get constipated and to eat enough nutrient-dense foods,” says Judith. “I make sure I start my day with some fibre rich foods: cereal (preferably sugar free), or just oats, raw vegetables, fruits, nuts seeds. If the breakfast buffet does not offer such foods I try to get hold of some apples (high in soluble fibre) or very often bring my own muesli mix with seeds and nuts with me. If there are no raw vegetables available chose dishes that are stir fried (avoid too much sauce because of the salt). If you have buffet lunches or dinners make sure fifty per cent of your food intake is vegetables, twenty-five lean protein and twenty-five whole grain carbs. If there are no good quality carbs I replace the carbs with protein. Drink enough plain water. If the hotel does not supply free water, it is always cheaper to get a bottle of water in a grocery store. If the hotel does not have a gym, try to get at least 10,000 steps into your day, and add some body weight exercises (squats, planks, dips etc.) you can do in your room.” Judith refers to the ‘Healthy travel’ by Harvard Medical School Guide (Harvard Health Publications) for guidance on those exercises, among many other useful things one can read in that guide. Judith also makes her own muesli: “I want to make sure that once a day I eat the fibres I need, or want, so I mix in whatever I want, like sesame seeds, black seeds, and with that one meal day, I am good. And I get the balance. And especially with travelling, I know this is going mean lots of snacks, or maybe I eat deep fried or whatever it is.” “If you eat anything with sugar, add some seeds or nuts with it, because the natural fats slow down the sugar content getting into your blood and prevent your sugar level
Photo: Tim Sackton/Flickr
If you eat anything with sugar, add some seeds or nuts with it, because the natural fats slow down the sugar content getting into your blood and prevent your sugar level from going up. And if you go out for a drink eat some nuts at the bar. You can stay in a lot longer.
Septemter 2018 • ScandAsia 37
from going up. And if you go out for a drink eat some nuts at the bar.You can stay in a lot longer. And you don’t get the sugar rush that easily. And then, also do not drink mineral, or sparkling, combined with alcohol, as it helps the sugar to go into your blood.”
Corporate Wellness Asia
Photo: Nillerdk
How we are different: our knowledge and advice is research and evidence-based and we spend 30% of our income in on-going education obtained from the world leading universities and research companies.
Based in Bangkok but working in Hong Kong and Singapore as well, Judith offers coaching on lifestyle and food – both for businesses and individuals: “You are the CEO of your energy expenditure and production.Your daily food, lifestyle and behaviour choices determine if you walk out of your working place tired and stressed ever y single day, or vigorous and ready for another active couple of hours of your favourite hobby, meeting friends or spend quality time with your kids and family.” “Corporate Wellness Asia offer consulting to companies, organizations and communities in regards to building cultures of health, corporate or workplace wellness programs, and combining safety, health and well-being in a business setting. We also offer workshops and seminars in resilience, stress & energy management, the happiness advantage for performance etc. and coach executives 1-2-1 on the same topics.” Employers have communication channels to their employees that almost no one else shares and therefore they can directly influence, encourage and suppor t a sustainable increase of their employees energy levels, health and well-being, while at the same time improving their bottom line. Typical clients are mostly white collar companies in high stress environments; banks, business consulting, accounting, insurance etc. Hotels and health care professionals are also being targeted. All coaching is based on coming up with a strategic plan together with the client, and that is also executed. And under ‘Lifestyle Food Clinic’ they offer online and offline specialized nutrition & lifestyle coaching mostly for individuals with a starting or developed chronic disease. “How we are different: our knowledge and advice is research and evidence-based and we spend 30% of our income in on-going education obtained from the world leading universities and research companies,” adds Judith.
Medicinal food
In par t one the food items with medicinal proper ties consisted in: Marian Plum, Sesame seeds, Hibiscus Roselle tea, Cod fish, Turmeric and Ginger. These are the remaining:
Rocket leaves (Arugula)
Arugula provides many of the same benefits as other green vegetables such as broccoli, kale and Brussels sprouts. “Any kind of green leaf can help preventing many diseases including cancer. Greens, along with beans, onion, mushrooms, berries and seeds are ingredients we know can starve a cancer cell. If you eat them in combination more than once a day the cancer prevention is going to be even better. And, rocket leaf, because it is high in minerals it can 38 ScandAsia • Septemter 2018
Photo: 137 Pillars Suites & Residences also prevent osteoporosis. It also helps to prevent diabetes, as it lowers the glucose levels in your blood. Green leaves increase the oxygen in your blood, which can aid your physical performance. A lot of bodybuilders eat spinach, kale or any kind of green leaves on a daily basis to aid stamina and muscle grow.
Spinach
The list of health benefits for spinach is long (improved eyesight, regulated blood pressure, neurological benefits etc.) due to the presence of minerals, vitamins, pigments and phytonutrients, including potassium, manganese, zinc, magnesium, iron and calcium. It is also a source of many essential vitamins. “The spinach in Asia is a bit longer, with a long stem. It is so sought-after you cannot always get it. It is a green leaf vegetable and therefore falls in the anti-cancer property section. I really strongly recommend you to have green leafs every day in any form or shape. “Strong in vitamin C, it can also help someone who is pregnant.” High in potassium but low in sodium spinach is very beneficial for high blood pressure patients as potassium lowers and sodium raises the blood pressure.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass offers multiple health benefits including relief from stomach disorders, respirator y disorders, aches, insomnia, infections, rheumatism etc.
“The oils in lemongrass have anti-inflammator y properties and can help reduce pain,” says Judith. Lemongrass possesses antioxidant qualities and helps in protecting the body cells from oxygen-derived free radical. “It can also aid cell reproduction and maintain them.” It can aid weight loss and cures fever so if you feel you have flu or something erupting, have a lemongrass tea! It’s really easy to prepare. Put lemongrass in a pot and put boiled water on top for lemongrass tea.”
Shallots
“Out of five ingredients you should have on a more or less daily basis that can stop cancer cells from growing, that starve cancer cells from getting oxygen to grow. And one of them is shallots or onions in any form or shape. The other ones are beans, seeds, green leaves, berries and mushrooms,” states Judith. “Shallots have antioxidant agents that can help you with anti-aging but also protect your cells. High in certainly minerals they also improve circulation and metabolism.They also lower cholesterol and therefore improve our health.” Antioxidants that are released called Allicin help reduce cell mutation and various cancers.These also help controlling cholesterol production. “I tell a lot of people who come to me with diabetes is to add more onions to their diet. Onions are high in chromium and chromium can help you reduce it.They also soothe your nerves; you are to be calmer.” Septemter 2018 • ScandAsia 39
News Brief
Wallenberg foundation donates big for NTU Singapore fellowship
T
he Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (KAW) and Nanyang Te c h n o l o g i c a l U n i v e r s i t y, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have just announced a big donation of 50 million Swedish krona (S$7.6 million) as endowed gift to establish a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship. The donation is the largest single gift in perpetuity by a foreign entity to NTU Singapore. The Wallenberg-NTU Fellowship that will nurture early-career scientists is matched by the Singapore government, with the total endowment raised for the programme at S$11.4 million (U$8.3 million). An additional S$5 million has been set aside by the Wallenberg Foundation, through its Ar tificial Intelligence (AI), Autonomous Systems and Software Programme, in suppor t of the Postdoctoral Fellows, thus bringing the total donation to S$16.4 million (US$12 million). The Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation is the largest private financier of research in Sweden. The record-breaking gift will go towards suppor ting the WallenbergN T U P r e s i d e n t i a l Po s t d o c t o r a l Fellowship, which will enable some of the world’s most promising postdoctoral
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candidates to carry out their research at NTU, ranked the world’s best young university in the last five years and one of the world’s top universities by QS. They will spend one year in Sweden affiliated with the Wallenberg Artificial Intelligence (AI), Autonomous Systems and Software Programme. This is Sweden’s lar gest-ever individual research programme, a major national initiative for strategically motivated basic research, education and faculty recruitment. The programme addresses research on ar tificial intelligence and autonomous systems acting in collaboration with humans, adapting to their environment through sensors, information and knowledge, and forming intelligent systems-ofsystems. Software is the main enabler in these systems, and is an integrated research theme of the programme. NTU President, Professor Subra Suresh believes the new WallenbergNTU Fellowships will play a key role in driving discover y, expanding knowledge, and advancing innovation beyond Singapore’s borders. “On behalf of NTU, I wish to extend my thanks to the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation for this exceptional gift,” said Professor Subra
Suresh. “ T h e Wa l l e n b e r g n a m e i s synonymous with research excellence and innovation, and these new fellowships will carr y on that legacy. They will attract to NTU highly trained and experienced researchers who will promote and encourage vital par tnerships between academia and industr y with potential benefits for Singapore and the rest of the world. The university and the community will benefit in perpetuity from the Wallenbergs’ immense generosity.” “The Wallenberg-NTU Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowships will provide valuable oppor tunities for ear lycareer researchers to develop their specialised expertise and widen their global networks that will translate their ideas into real-world influence and impact in Singapore, Sweden and beyond,” said Mr Marcus Wallenberg, vice chairman of the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. The new fellowship forms par t of the prestigious NTU Presidential Po s t d o c t o r a l F e l l o w s h i p ( P P F ) a n n o u n c e d by P r o fe s s o r S u b r a Suresh during his inauguration as NTU President in February. Since its announcement, the PPF has attracted
Fr. left: NTU President Professor Subra Suresh; Marcus Wallenberg, vice chairman of the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation almost 540 applications from around the wor ld competing for only 12 fellowship places at NTU. Designed to attract top ear lycareer researchers to NTU, the NTU Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship will equip outstanding PhD graduates with the resources they need to transform their research into potentially life-changing discoveries and inventions that will shape the world’s future. Awarded competitively each year, each PPF Fellow will receive an annual salar y of S$80,000 over a two-year tenure, including up to S$100,000 in research funding a year. The Fellows will also deepen their exper tise in a specialised research field under the mentorship of NTU faculty and through the University’s par tnerships with industr y leaders during their tenure here. F o r t h e Wa l l e n b e r g - N T U Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship, early career scientists, engineers and scholars from Singapore and around the world will focus on independent investigations in the emerging areas of AI, Autonomous Systems, and/or Software.The awardees will be involved in undergraduate teaching at NTU during the course of their appointment,
and will carry the title of WallenbergNTU Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow in AI, Autonomous Systems, or Software, depending on their specialisation. Up to five new Wallenberg-NTU Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship awards will be made each year over five years. Hosted by the Wallenberg Artificial Intelligence (AI), Autonomous Systems and Software Programme, the Wallenberg-NTU Presidential Postdoctoral Fellows will receive additional suppor t wor th S$200,000 each to pursue their research at Swedish universities or industr y par tners in their second year. This financial support over five years amounts to S$5 million and is in addition to the Wallenberg Foundation’s S$7.6 million endowed gift to NTU. “We are ver y impressed by the quality of applicants from Singapore and around the world competing for the NTU Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowships. The successful candidates will pursue cutting-edge research and the solutions they develop will be tested on the NTU Smar t Campus, in collaboration with our industr y par tners in Singapore and overseas. They will help shape and improve our lives and society,” added Prof Suresh.
Ranked 12th in the world, NTU has been placed the world’s top young university for the past five years. The University’s main campus is frequently listed among the Top 15 most beautiful univer sity campuses in the wor ld and it has 57 Green Mark-cer tified (equivalent to LEED-certified) building projects comprising more than 230 buildings, of which 95% are cer tified Green Mark Platinum. Apart from its main campus, NTU also has a campus in Singapore’s healthcare district. The Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation was established in 1917. The Foundation’s aim is to benefit Sweden by supporting Swedish basic research and education, mainly in medicine, technology and the natural sciences. The Foundation achieves this by awarding grants to excellent researchers and for projects. Since 1917, the Foundation has awarded SEK 25 billion in grants for research and education, of which SEK 1.8 billion has been awarded annually in recent years, making the Foundation the largest private funder of scientific research in Sweden and one of the largest in Europe.
Septemter 2018 • ScandAsia 41
News brief
UN and Sweden held 7-Day challenge in Vietnam
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n April the Embassy of Sweden in Hanoi together with the United Nations (UN) in Vietnam and Live&Learn arranged an initiative called ‘The 7 Day Challenge’. The 7 Day Challenge was part of the organisors’ effor ts to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN, Agenda 2030 and an important event to mark the Earth Day (theme: End Plastic Pollution). The campaign received significant support from the Swedish Institute, the Swedish Alumni Vietnam Network, the Vietnam Green Gener ation Networ k and various universities, schools and mass organisations throughout the country. The campaign challenged as many Vietnamese as possible to live, eat and move smar t during seven days. The Challenge star ted respectively on 10 April, 17 April and 24 April lasting for a week each. “The purpose of this challenge is to encourage awareness about lifestyle choices and their effect on
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the environment. To live sustainably and smart can start with you and me! It would be as simple as refraining from using plastic products if you an alternative. Please be par t of the solutions and the change, choose a practical change in your daily lives now,” said Swedish Ambassador Pereric Pereric Högberg. “Air pollution continues to cause severe health problems for Vietnam’s growing urban population. We can and must reverse this phenomenon by shar ing car s or using public transpor tation,” the UN Resident Coordinator Mr Kamal Malhotra gave as examples of actions individual can take in the 7 Day Challenge. Ms. Hương, Vice President of the Swedish Alumni Viet Nam Network, said: “We choose lifestyles, eating and traveling ways that ensure a sustainable future for all of us. Join hundreds of us, who have studied and worked in Sweden, to take par t in a 7-day challenge . We are committed to
positive and green lifestyles so that each individual will make a change and improve the quality of life for individuals and the community”. Everybody was encouraged to join the campaign to gain new knowledge, insights, and make new contacts, while at the same time reducing your carbon footprint: Students, entrepreneurs, change-makers, influencers, people interested in sustainable lifestyle, staff etc. As a Swedish concept, The 7 Day Challenge has been successfully carried out also in Indonesia among other countries, and with more expected to join.
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