ScandAsia February 2020

FEB 2020 Community:

TSCC Celebrated 30 Years SSS 100 Years in Thailand

Business:

Preparing Nordic Expats-to-be Inspirational personal interviews

Peter Luxenburg

A Swedish Entrepreneur in Hong Kong

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February 2020

ScandAsia Stories

Preparing Nordic Expats-to-be

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Peter Luxenburg A Swedish Entrepreneur in Hong Kong

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New rules for Schengen visa Norwegian consulate in Sabah 100 Years Celebrations TSCC 30 Years Gala Dinner First deck complete on Johan Sverdrup 35 New restaurant at Hotel Mermaid Bangkok

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24 Swedish hotelier Bjorn Richardsson

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9 42 The importance of creative writing in the youth

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Finnish smart building provider takes on Asia

35 4 ScandAsia • February 2020

Editorial

Sponsor an exchange student

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particular if you are a company, you can set all the conditions that will bring the right kind of student to your selected learning institution in your home country that would one day potentially benefit you company.

If not as an employee than in terms of gratitude for the opportunity, your company gave them in life.

With a bit of PR you could increase the appeal of your company and products within the wider student audience, and we all know that this 18-24 age group is one of the most difficult audiences for brands to reach. It’s the perfect time to position your company as one that cares about education and developing the next generation of employees and executives, capable of leading the company and the country to future successes.

You can even do it two way!

Support one of your staff to take in a student from your home country while studying a year in Thailand.

Talk about it. Do something about it. Thank you for letting me speak out - again.

hen I put the little piece together in this issue of ScandAsia about the 100 Year Anniversary of Scandinavian Society Siam - which will be glamorously celebrated on 5 March 2020 in Bangkok - I had just placed the story about the Swedish Alumni in Hanoi and the combination made me think back on the many times, I have proposed that Scandinavian Society Siam should invest in sponsoring exchange students between Thailand and the Nordic countries.

I have always been met with resistance on this point from other board members throughout the many, many years I was on the board - and particularly in the year, that I was Chairman. But now, as the Editor, I will enjoy my privilege of having the word. If you disagree, please write an opinion and I will be pleased to publish that in the the ScandAsia. So here we go: Why don’t you set up a scholarship program to match your historic 100 year of presence in Thailand longer than any other Nordic grouping in Thailand. This scholarship will be the greatest gift you can give. A scholarship will have the longest living effect on the relationship between Thailand and the Nordic countries.

It is like giving a young person a vaccination of the Nordic country, that they get to stay in for just one year, which will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Don’t believe me? Then why do

you think there are Thai navy officers, who speak Swedish today? Why do you think there are Thai dairy managers, who speak Danish today. The list is long. But they are all historical. We don’t do it today.

Every year, around one hundred Thai students go as exchange students to one of our Nordic home countries. They go there with one of five or six companies specialized in arranging these exchanges. Paid for by themselves or more truthfully by their parents. When they come back, they continue their educational paths and one day, they will sit in key positions in the industry, service sector, the government. Would it not be good, if they thought back with gratefulness on the sponsorship, that set them on their path to this career?

The only thing that annoys me more than the fact that Scandinavian Society Siam has never embraced this obvious idea to enhance our mutual relationship is the lack of attention almost all embassies pay to a systematic follow-up on all these students.

There must be hundreds, more likely thousands of Thai students who have been living as exchange students in one of our Nordic countries. And this valuable human material is allowed to be unregistered and unattended to and wither away. Were they invited to the 100 Year Anniversary?

If you agree with some of the above, I suggest you don’t wait for anybody to establish this scholarship, but consider setting up your own. In

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.

The ScandAsia magazine is produced every month and distributed to all print version subscribers via postal services and to all eMagazine subscribers via email. Subscribing to the eMagazine is FREE - simply sign up on the ScandAsia.com website.

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News brief

New rules for Schengen Visa from February 2020

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ew EU rules on short-stay visas to the EU - Schengen area came into effect the 2 February 2020. The intention is to make it easier for legitimate travellers to apply for a visa to come to Europe, facilitating tourism, trade and business. At the same time, it will free up resources to be used in countering irregular migration risks and threats to internal security.

Citizens of the following countries continue to be on the list of citizens that can fly to Europe without having to apply for a Schengen visa: Brunei, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR and Taiwan.

Some of the changes are, that applications can be submitted six months prior to the trip instead of three under the old rules, but not later than 15 days before the trip. Travel patterns will be used to increase validity of multi-entry

visas up to five years. Applicants will be able to fill out an application in electronic form. Other updates include the Visa fee increased 33% from €60 to €80.

The system will this month be operational in London, Hong Kong, Central Europe,Africa and the middle

East, Australia and Asia (except China, India and the Philippines). In March it will be extended to the rest of Russia, China, India, Philippines.

More about the rules here: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/ presscorner/detail/en/qanda_20_149

Norway opens Honorary Consulate in Sabah

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Norwegian Honorary Consul Anders Moller (left), next to Datuk Christina Liew, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Innovation and Norwegian Ambassador Gunn Jorid Roset (centre), Ambassador of Denmark to Malaysia, Jesper Vahr, and Foreign Affairs Ministry, Sabah Regional Office Director, Anwar Udzir.

Photo: Borneotoday 8 ScandAsia • February 2020

orway has officially opened a Honorar y Consulate in Sabah to strengthen bilateral relationship between Norwegians and Sabahans on 20 January 2020.

Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal welcomed Norway Honorary Consul in Malaysia,Anders Moller to the group of Honorary Consuls in the State.

He hoped with the establishment of the consulate will offer a possibility for increased contact between Norway and Sabah and that even more Norwegians will come and explore the State.

“I know Moller has lived in Sabah for many years and will be able to give good and accurate assistance if needed by Norwegians and Norwegian businesses in Sabah.

He will be an asset to the joint efforts by the State and Norway to increase our relations,” he said.

News brief

Finland says rail link to China important to Nordic cooperation

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he Finnish Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Ville Skinnari, has stressed the impor tance for Nordic cooperation of the rail link between Finland and China.

The minister said according to the Finnish national media, Yle. that the Norwegian and Swedish industries are interested in cooperating in logistics with Finland.

“This cooperation has now been prepared. They want to deliver products by rail to China and Russia, and now we have this channel for fast delivery of products by train to China.”

Noting that it is strategically impor tant that Nordic countries “see the transportation alternatives together,” said Skinnari, “when it comes to speed when traveling east,

Finland is the solution.”

He said the trains are important, especially for sophisticated products that need to be transported quickly.

Amazing 100 Year Anniversary of Scandinavian Society Siam

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candinavian Society Siam invites all Nordic people and people related to the Nordic countries to join the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Society on Thursday 5th of March 2020 in Bangkok.

The great party will take place in the Glass House in Nai Lert Park Heritage Home in the middle of Bangkok, surrounded by the more than 100 year s old magnificent

garden with old-style Thai teak houses.

Amazingly, this location was available on exactly the same day 100 years ago in 1920 when the Society was registered.

On 5th March 2020, the registration starts as early as 17.30, so the guests may use the daylight for the amazing photo opportunities in the garden.

As there is a sit-down dinner

the seating is limited to 200 seats.

The Norwegian opera singer Adrian Angelico will perform at the par ty with his impressive soprano voice. And after dinner, the many dancing queens and kings will be able to fill the dance floor to the tunes of the Swing King Band.

You can make reservation for the 100th Anniversary by email to treasurer@sss.or.th with your name and number of guests.

Party Facts:

Time and date: Thursday 5th of March 2020 The registration starts at 17.30 hrs., dinner at 19.00 hrs.

Outfit idea: Theme: Gatsby 1920 Price: 4500 Baht Members (SSS, TSCC, NTCC, TFCC, DTCC) 4900 Baht Non-Members February 2020 • ScandAsia 9

News brief

Telenor Group announces CEO changes in Asian subsidiaries

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elenor Group announced on 16 January 2020 new Chief Executive Officers in three of its Asian subsidiaries; Telenor Myanmar, dtac in Thailand and Grameenphone in Bangladesh.

Mr. Sharad Mehrotra, CEO of Telenor Myanmar, has been appointed the new CEO of dtac, Telenor Group’s mobile operator in Thailand. He replaces Ms. Alexandra Reich, who resigned from the company. Hans Mar tin Hoegh Henrichsen, currently Chief Corporate Affairs Officer in Telenor Myanmar, will become acting CEO after Mehrotra. Grameenphone’s deputy CEO and CMO, Yasir Azman has been appointed the new CEO of the Bangladeshi oper ation, with current CEO Michael Foley relocating to Africa, where his family is based.

Thai media Kaohoon quotes an unnamed source for explaining

the resignation of dtac CEO Ms. Alexandra Reich with disagreements on dtac’s 5G bidding strategy.

In a press release about the replacement of Alexandra Reich, Sigve Brekke, President and CEO of Telenor Group, says: “After leading our Thai mobile operator through a challenging transition including new spectrum and network rollout and a renewed focus on customer satisfaction and distribution excellence, Alexandra Reich has delivered solid results according to the back-to-growth strategy outlined in dtac’s Capital Markets Day in June 2019. We are grateful to Reich for her willingness to step in and support dtac in the ver y impor tant transformational phase, and we wish her all the best in her next leadership role.”

“With Reich seeking new opportunities, we are pleased that Sharad Mehrotra will join dtac and

bring valuable insights and knowledge to Thailand from Myanmar and India, where he has managed a strong commercial turnaround,” says Sigve Brekke , President and CEO of Telenor Group.

“I am also pleased that Yasir Azman has accepted the challenge to lead our operations in Bangladesh.

While also ser ving as deputy CEO, he has run one of our best performing sales and distribution organisations in Telenor Group.

Having risen through the ranks, it’s extra special to welcome Azman as the first home-grown CEO of Grameenphone. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Michael Foley for leading the company through an impressive digital transformation as well as his valuable contributions also in Pakistan and Bulgaria,” adds Brekke.

The changes took effect on 1st February 2020.

Indonesia to buy Danish ships to strengthen coastal guard patrol

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n d o n e s i a n G ove r m e n t a n nounced on 17 January 2020 it’s intention to buy more warships built in Denmark, possible similar to the Iver Huitfeldt size frigates, which Indonesia bought from Denmark last year. The warships will reportedly be used to guard Indonesia’s outermost waters, including around the Natuna Islands.

The Natuna sea is currently the focus of the ongoing Chinese 10 ScandAsia • February 2020

territorial expansion at sea. The area has come under the government’s attention due to repor ted illegal fishing by foreign ships at its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone. Most recently, an Indonesian warship was in a close encounter with a Chinese coast guard which accompanied several Chinese fishing boats in the area.

Indonesia’s Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) is about to be

appointed Indonesia’s coast guard and will need more ships.

“After the appointment of Bakamla is completed, we want similar vessels.” (Similar to the Danish frigates, Ed.). “Probably not frigates, but we want our coast guard to be capable of sailing the Natuna Sea as well,” Maritime Affairs and Investment Coordinating Minister Luhut said according to Jakar ta globe.

Norwegian biologist received honorary award from China

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hina granted its 2019 International Science and Technology Cooperation Award on 10th January 2020, Norway won for the first time ever while Finland got scientific honour for another year.

This award recognizes the key roles foreign scientists have played in China’s scientific development, as well as China’s growing effor t to diversify its scientific par tners in recent years, according to the National Office for the Science and Technology Awards.

Professor Nils Stenseth, a noted Norwegian evolutionar y biologist and a professor at the University of Oslo in Norway said, “I feel very much honoured to be given the award, which represents profound recognition of the collaborative work I’ve been involved in with Chinese scientists over the last 25 years.”

“Last year, China and Norway celebrated the 65th anniversary of

the establishment of diplomatic ties, and this relationship has facilitated recent government-level scientific cooperation between the two countries,” he said.

In 2015, the Research Council of Norway launched a new funding program to support its international scientific projects and partnerships, which involved Chinese par tner institutions, he said. Some notable examples include the study of ecology and the evolution of plague,

News brief

the social impact of climate change and photovoltaics for sustainable development, according to Xinhua.

“This par tnership is of the utmost impor tance for the higher education and research sector in Norway,” Prof. Stenseth said, adding that China and Norway are powerhouses in research and education in fields such as marine science and the environment.

“We thus have much to learn from each other.”

Professor Nils Stenseth, second from the right in the center, received a medal of honour from Chinese Academy of Science in 2018. Photo: @Unioslo_titan

Ramboll acquires Singaporean consultant Web Structures

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anish consulting engineer Ramboll has announced the acquisition of Singaporean consultant Web Structures, which specialises in design and engineering services for high-rise buildings, on 7 January 2020.

Ramboll’s previous project, Port of San Diego climate change planning services. Photo: Rambol

The deal will allow Ramboll to expand to its 4,500 payroll with 120 designers and engineers based in offices in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai and London. Web Structures has under taken more than 650 projects in more than 28 countries since 1996.

Richard Beard, the managing director of Ramboll Buildings, said the deal was “integral to our international growth strategy. With more colleagues based in Singapore, Ramboll can offer integr ated services.”

Hossein Rezai, founding

director of Web Structures, said his firm had not agreed to the merger for commercial reasons, but because there was a “strategic fit” between the two companies’ ambitions. He added that Ramboll’s environmental credentials “tilted the balance”.

“At these times of climate crisis and serious threat to biodiversity, Ramboll’s responsible attitude t ow a r d s t h e e nv i r o n m e n t i s commendable. We are joining forces to work harder together to achieve these goals through design,” Rezai said.

February 2020 • ScandAsia 11

News brief

Photo exhibition for Sweden Alumni Network Vietnam

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he Sweden Alumni Network Vietnam organized a photo exhibition to share their memorable moments in Sweden “The Sweden Memory Photo Exhibition – Vietnam” on 12th January 2020. The event was held at the Ambassador of Sweden residence, Ambassador Ann Mawe was one of the honorary guests.

The main activities included mini talkshow, trivia and giving gifts to 10 par ticipants for the most impressive wor k voted by the Advisor and the 5 most favorite works voted by the audience.

12 ScandAsia • February 2020

The 10 most impressive works voted by the Board of Advisor: 1. Hoang Bich Lien 2. Chau Tran 3. Nguyen Manh Duc 4. Martin Sigbjorn 5. Nguyen Mai Han 6. Nguyen Ngoc Son 7. Nguyen Phuong Anh 8. Doan Phuong Dung 9. Le Bich 10. Tran Viet Van

5 most favorite works voted by audience 1. Mr. Serious 2. Tran Thi Normal 3. Tham Nguyen 4. Thuy Huong Nguyen 5. Ha Trang Van The Sweden Students Alumni expressed their appreciation to all participants that sent the photo to the program and congratulations to all that have been selected the winners by the Board of Advisor and audience.

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13

TSCC held Nobel-themed th Gala Dinner and 30 Anniversary Celebration Photos and text: Joakim Persson

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he Thai-Swedish Chamber of Commerce marked 30 years as organisation in 2019, culminating with its ‘TSCC Nobel Gala Dinner’ grand celebration, held in Bangkok on Saturday 23 November.

Members and friends from far and near had also flown in for the auspicious occasion. Those from abroad (Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia and Sweden) were especially highlighted with thanks by the TSCC President, Mr Anders Lundquist.

“We have all the reasons to be happy tonight as we are here to celebrate the 30 years anniversary of one of the most prestigious chambers of commerce in the region. We are pleased to have here tonight not only members and friends from Thailand but also a number of members and friends from other countries,” he began, as he named those international guests.

“30 years ago ten young businessmen took the initiative to establish the Thai-Swedish Chamber of Commerce and were very strongly supported by our ambassador at the time, Olof Fernström, and as you 14 ScandAsia • February 2020

can see, some of the founding members are here now as Governors, and, 30 years later, they look equally as young as then,” he joked.

Anders Lundquist also shared an anecdote from back when it had started: “We were immensely lucky to have His Majesty the Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf, accompanied by Queen Silvia, inaugurating our chamber.

That was held at the former Siam Intercontinental Hotel.

The King stood up and held a short speech, where he looked across the hall of the big room and said that he did not think our logo was sexy enough. A few years later I had the honour to meet the King in the garden of an old church here in Thailand and I reminded him of this. The King then said with surprise: ‘Did I really say that?’ Yes, the King said that.”

The President, who is holding this position for the third time, was also himself highlighted by the evening’s master of ceremony, Mr Lars Svensson, along with some other individuals in the founding team, namely Mr Göran Ehren, Mr Jan Eriksson, Mr Worachai Bhicharnchitr and Dr Soon Kaewchansilp.

The President also explained the chosen theme for the gala by saying: “Tonight’s table arrangement follows the formula of a Nobel Gala Dinner, and the dinner tonight is inspired by the menu of the Nobel banquet in 1989. And this is a time of the year when the Nobel prices have been awarded in Sweden, widely regarded as the most prestigious price for intelligence achievements in the world. The ceremonial presentations of the awards will take place in a couple of week’s time in Stockholm and of course for the peace prize in Oslo. This is a noble way to honour Alfred Nobel, arguably one the most famous Swedes of all times, and whose generous will was the origin of the prizes.”

The President continued to reflect on the 30 years gone past: “Having turned thir ty and looking back at our efforts to promote Sweden, to promote Swedish companies, products and values, I feel that there is a lot we can be proud of. In some instances we have been forerunners; we were the first foreign chamber of commerce of any nationality to visit Vietnam after the war, foreseeing the economic prospects of the country.”

The President also mentioned some of many memorable functions and Annual General Meeting speaker s and ended his speech by thanking the organising team of the chamber office, led by Executive Director Pojanath Bhatanacharoen, who had performed, he said, with “incredible spirit and feeling”.

A movie was then shown, featuring historic ThaiSwedish connections and milestones from the past thirty years with the chamber, sharing information that would later in the night be part of a smart phone-driven quiz that engaged all the guests with vibrancy.

Lars Svensson also thanked TSCC’s scholarship sponsor Mr Ingvar Krook for supporting young students to have scholarships at the Chamber - donated by this Swede from his own pockets.

Ingvar, in his speech, explained the background, how he used to be the Executive Director (ED) for the Swedish Foreign Trade Association, followed by the Swedish Youth Abroad foundation, also as ED, where he was involved in giving scholarships for Swedish youngsters living abroad and expanded that also to trainees at Swedish chambers of commerce organisations abroad.

“It’s great to be here and it feels almost as if time has been standing still, because I had some very early contacts with the Chamber, which was via Anders running things, and now I come back 30 years later and Anders is still here as Chairman!” said Ingvar Krook in his address.“ “I have seen the impor tance of the chambers during the years and also the cooperation of possibilities that we have, and – as was said – the chambers are part of Team Sweden, which is the government-created thing out on the local arenas in the world. And I think it’s a very important work that you do out here.”

I liked it so much to see young people having the possibility to come out to get the context and experience and maybe to go on work for some nice company afterwards. And I had such good experience from TSCC so I thought I’d make a scholarship on my own and I also started one in Burma,” he continued as he announced the scholarship for 2020 as anniversary gift to TSCC. The Nobel Gala Dinner consisted in ‘Two Ways of Salmon’ as star ter with Beet Root Cured Salmon & Smoked Salmon Tar tare, Baby Herbs, Charcoal Tuile, Parsley Oil and Truffle Sauce, followed by mains; Australian Beef Sirlion or Butter Fish, both alternatives serviced with Green Pea Puree, Potato Fondant, Tomato Confit and Truffle Mushroom Sauce. For dessert the chef had made a modern interpretation of Mango Sticky Rice – ‘Filo Parcel’, with Vanilla Ice Cream, Coconut Crème Anglaise and Thai Basil with Berries Salsa.

Post-dinner a lucky draw followed with many and ver y impressive prizes. What made both the gift sponsor and the winner astonished was when Mr Anders Frummerin for the third time won a prize from Husqvarna, handed over by Mr Jan Eriksson. It was third in a row for Anders, as TSCC celebrated thirty in style.

February 2020 • ScandAsia 15

Peter Luxenburg: A Swedish Entrepreneur in Hong Kong 16 ScandAsia • February 2020

Although just 43 years old, Peter Luxenburg has already had a wealth of international experience having lived and worked in Sweden, Germany, China and now Hong Kong.

By Colin Rampton

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here are parts of Kowloon that rate among the most densely populated areas in the world. There is, however, an oasis in this area just across the harbour from Hong Kong island, where it is possible to escape the crowds, albeit temporarily. It is always a pleasure to experience the tranquillity of Kowloon Park and on one sunny morning recently I happily wandered along its quiet paths and listened to the urban birdsong. I even admired the somewhat pale flamingos who stand serenely on single legs in their shallow pond and languorously survey the locals at their morning tai-chi. It was a good start to my day. A pleasant day, which was consolidated by spending two hours or so in the lobby of the nearby Langham Hotel in the company of the personable and very interesting Swedish entrepreneur Peter Luxenburg.

Peter is the founder and owner of Frost Limited, a rapidly expanding consultancy company which specializes in helping clients to create and optimize sales, particularly on Amazon. The company has sourcing par tner s throughout China and advises with product research, creation, monitoring and shipping to any Amazon warehouse worldwide.

An International Citizen

Although just 43 years old, Peter has already had a wealth of international experience having lived and worked in Sweden, Germany, China and now Hong Kong. Peter also embarked upon innumerable business trips to many parts of Asia, South America and Africa during his time as the Far East Executive for Markslöjd the Swedish Decorative Lighting Company.

Peter arrived in the southern Chinese city of Dongguan, close to the Hong Kong border in 2007. He had been seconded by the company from its Stockholm office, initially for one year. Thirteen years, a wife and three small children later he is happily settled in the region and currently lives at Yuen Long, in Hong Kong’s New Territories. He maintains an office on Canton Road in Kowloon and the Langham Hotel is close by.

Russia. Often these visits followed up initial enquiries from trade exhibitions in Hong Kong and China which led to overseas contacts being created. Peter has a natural charm and ease with people and was successful in using these skills with customers from many cultures and backgrounds. He explained that his methods of doing business were unrushed and non-pushy.

“I always took the time to learn the local culture. I would eat the local foods and follow the local customs.”

A Reflective Incident

During this period of Peter’s life, one memorable, if undesirable experience remains vivid in his mind. This happened early in 2011 during a visit to the Egyptian capital, Cairo. Despite indications of unrest, he was reassured by an Egyptian friend of the country’s safety.

But on the day after he arrived, the Egyptian Uprising, a part of the “Arab Spring” occurred and the city was soon in a state of emergency. He could not travel to meet the local agent; the internet and telecom networks were shut down and a curfew imposed at 2pm every day.

“Prisoners escaped from jail, there were gunmen and tanks on the street. For 5 days I was stuck in the hotel. The city was in chaos.”

By paying inflated prices, Peter was eventually able hire a driver to take him across the city, secure a room at the airport hotel and after many hours of waiting, finally get a seat on a flight to Dubai.The whole experience was dramatic, exciting and very scary.

“I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Having heard about Peter’s worst experience, I asked in which countr y he felt most at home. The unexpected answer was Lebanon. He found Beirut to be a fascinating mix between the Arab and European worlds and despite the city’s troubles, the people there were very friendly and hospitable.

Freedom to Develop

Peter had a lot of freedom during his time at Markslöjd.

He was tasked with exploring the markets for decorative lighting and would arrange and embark upon trips at his own instigation. He would often be away from home for three or four weeks at a time and take in as many countries. He reeled off a list – India, Thailand, Vietnam, Dubai, Qatar, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Chile, Brazil, February 2020 • ScandAsia 17

A Multi-Linguist

Peter’s linguistic skills have been hugely advantageous in his business career. He can converse in Swedish, English, Polish, German, French and Mandarin Chinese and wherever he goes he can usually find someone with whom he can talk. It was clear from our time together that Peter is a natural communicator.

“I used to deal with a lot of Russian clients. They often preferred not to speak in English but would happily chat to me in Polish.”

Despite the kudos of numerous contracts and accomplishments while working for Markslöjd, the company began to run down its overseas operations and Peter was asked to return to Europe. With a wife and small children happily settled in Hong Kong, this did not appeal, and Peter decided to go it alone.This was in 2013.

A Lone Venture

As a side-line Peter had already established a successful Amazon online business ‘Trendy Bartender’. This was a company which sourced and sold bar products such as shot glasses, jiggers, cocktail shakers, openers and other items. He was now inspired to put all his efforts into building up the company and for the next 3 years, worked long hours to build, develop and publicise the company with the result that it became extremely profitable. Ever willing to adapt however, Peter could not refuse a good offer from a buyer.

Frost Limited

After realizing that people were forever asking his advice as to how to source and sell their products on Amazon and other online forums, Peter decided to use his hardgained knowledge to become a full-time consultant.

Frost Limited came into being in 2015. The name reflects Peter’s Swedish roots.

Peter’s current role at his company involves giving advice to start-ups and existing companies about ways to create and develop their product ranges and sales capacities using Amazon and other on-line forums. Many customers have come to him through word of mouth and include companies from the UK, France, Germany, Israel, Australia, USA, Hong Kong and China. His work involves frequent visits to factories in China, and while he has no direct employees, he works closely with a list of virtual assistants, contractors and local agents.

Peter regularly gives presentations to gatherings of up to 100 business people and he showed me a very professional and detailed power point. He finds these occasions very stimulating, and contacts made in such gatherings can often lead to mutually beneficial business cooperation. As he succinctly puts it: “Trade brings people together.”

Swedish Roots

Peter is from a large family and he has two brothers and two sisters in Sweden. Although he grew up in 18 ScandAsia • February 2020

Stockholm, he did a foundation degree at the University of Trollhӓttan. Initially he wanted to be sailor, but after a short spell aboard an oil tanker in the icy Baltic, he changed his mind and studied for a further degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Ӧrebro. The last year of his course was spent in Augsburg in Bavaria, where he was taught and studied in German.

After working as a mechanical engineer for a German company in Sweden, Peter’s ability to connect with people as well as his language skills were spotted. Soon he was travelling extensively throughout his home country selling German products. Later came the position at Markslöjd and the opportunity to spread his wings overseas from the burgeoning markets of China.

I asked if he was homesick arriving in a strange country alone and aged just 30. But Peter, being friendly and outgoing, was not fazed.

“There was nothing not to like. It was a totally different country, people were friendly – I was accepted and even made to feel special.”

At 6 feet 2 inches, Peter’s height also helped him to stand out from the crowd.

Family Life

Peter met his Chinese wife Zoe in Dongguan and they married in 2011. They obviously helped each other linguistically, and their three small children (Nathalie 5, Olivia 3 and Alexander 1) are growing up in a multi-lingual environment. As well as their parents’ native languages, they also understand the English of the family’s domestic helper and the Cantonese taught at kindergarten.

Despite the recent political turmoil of Hong Kong, Peter has no plans to leave. He is appreciative of the health care and educational opportunities to be found in the SAR. His home is conveniently close to the border with Mainland China.

To relax Peter plays tennis, and he and Zoe take occasional weekend trips together. Apart from family and friends, the only tangible thing he really misses about his homeland is the food. He wants the children to be aware of their Swedish heritage and he ensures they have an annual trip back to Stockholm.

Peter is truly an International citizen who has not

let cultural or language barriers stand in his way. It was a pleasure to listen to him and to learn from this bright and articulate young entrepreneur whose business is clearly flourishing.

On my way to the MTR station, I paid a quick call into the park to check on the flamingos. They were dabbling contentedly so I left them to it and braved the crowds of Downtown Kowloon.

For information about Peter Luxenburg and his company please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ peterluxenburg/ https://www.frostlimited.com/

February 2020 • ScandAsia 19

Preparing new Nordic expats-to-be Being properly prepared can help ensure a smooth transition into a new lifestyle and foreign culture. This is a process so crucial that it can make or break the opportunity.

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By Anniken Celina Grinvoll ost Nordic employers prepare their staff well for their posting in Asia to achieve a successful foreign assignment.

Learning the cultural do’s and the don’ts may be critical to prevent and handle the challenges that may arise while working and living in Asia. Being properly prepared can help ensure a smooth transition into a new lifestyle and foreign culture.

This is a process so crucial that it can make or break the opportunity. The corporate global trend of sending employees abroad for work offers many opportunities and benefits for both the employee and the employer, but also comes with potential risks.

The preparations

Wanting to know how Scandinavian expats come prepared for a posting in the region, ScandAsia talked with two leading Nordic companies present in Asia who 20 ScandAsia • February 2020

let us in on their preparation process.

Star ting with Scania, the 128 year old Swedish transport solutions provider with worldwide presence in about 100 countries, has in recent years set ambitious growth targets for Asia with 57 Scandinavian expats currently posted in their Asian markets. Like other large business organizations, a foreign assignment is a key element in a career development at Scania.

“The preparation phase for each assignee starts 4-6 months prior to the estimated start of the assignment with practical information distribution in regards to the assignment and policies, before meeting the global relocation management company, that we use for handling all aspects related to the relocation process from shipping of household goods to immigration,” says Maria Baqeri, acting Head of global assignments at Scania.

Maria Baqeri, acting Head of global assignments at Scania:

“The preparation phase for each assignee starts 4-6 months prior to the estimated start of the assignment with practical information distribution in regards to the assignment and policies” A chance to get an understanding and feel of how life in the host country may look like is part of the preparations.

“There will be a pre-assignment trip for the employee and their family, where they will be accompanied by our provider on a location tour, school search and home search,” adds Maria.

Partner support

Scania focuses on support for the accompanying partner in order to achieve a successful stay abroad and Maria explains: “There will be partner support, for those with an accompanying partner, where the partner will receive a coaching program in the host country. The mapping of needs and wishes and tailoring of a coaching program with options such as job search, self-employment, career continuation and integration will be done prior to arrival, in accordance with what the partner wants to do during the time abroad. A web based social network 100% dedicated to relocating partners from around the world will also be available with online assessment, a job search engine and relevant information material.”

“Next are briefings about insurance, taxes in both home and host country before a medical examination for the assignee and their partner as well as vaccinations for the entire family. And there will be security training for the assignee in the host country in accordance with local procedures and country specific necessities.”

Preparations to get culturally integrated are also encouraged.

“Language training is offered to the whole family

Maria Baqeri, SCANA’s Acting Head of Golbal Assignments.

before assignment start for a smoother integration, which can be continued when they arrive to the host country.

And at the start of the assignment there will be a cultural training for the employee and accompanying par tner held in the host country by a local consultant, focused on the culture of the host country and the possible cultural shocks,” concludes Maria Baqeri, acting Head of global assignments at Scania, about how their employees are being prepared to undertake a posting in Asia.

Regarding experience with early repatriations, Baqeri had the following to say: “We have had a few early repatriations in the Asia region and most of them were due to that the person received a job offer in the home country. The end date were, in those cases, not that long before the original end date.”

Assessment test

Next we talked with KONE, the 109 year old Finnish company in the elevator and escalator industry with a worldwide presence in 60 countries including eleven Asian markets.

Hanna Rutanen, Communications director at Kone, let us in on their process for a successful expatriate posting: “When we consider a new assignment and have identified a potential candidate, the first step is to evaluate an employee’s readiness and competencies seen as critical for a successful international assignment,” Hanna Rutanen explains.

Hanna Rutanen, Communications director at Kone: “Before final commitment to the assignment, the employee and par tner have a possibility to visit the destination countr y to see potential living areas, housing and school options as well as visit the local Kone office.”

Hanna Rutanen, KONE’s Communications Director February 2020 • ScandAsia 21

Lisa Johnson, Global practice leader of the consulting services of Crown World Mobility.

Joanne Danehl, intercultural and language training expert at Crown World Mobility.

“Working in a foreign environment requires cultural understanding, adaptability and interactive skills. And as the family plays a key role in successful expatriation, also accompanying partners are included in the assessment process.”

“Next, ever y international assignee at Kone is provided with the same suppor t and information at the star t of the assignment process. They are guided with different information sources depending on the destination country, together with global and host country specific policies of Kone. Briefing on policies, assignment terms and conditions, and life opportunities in the new country is provided - including housing, living conditions and other relevant information in accordance with the assignee’s family status.”

“Before final commitment to the assignment, the employee and par tner have a possibility to visit the destination country to see potential living areas, housing and school options as well as visit the local Kone office,” Hanna explains further.

Kone supports working towards breaking cultural and language barriers before moving to Asia.

“To support settling into the new culture, working and living environment, Kone emphasizes the need for cross-cultural training, which is arranged for the employee and partner before relocation to the new country. And they may also receive language training.”

“To ensure a smooth transfer process, Kone offer s relocation ser vices related to immigration, accommodation, health care, children’s schooling and household goods move,” adds the Communications director in her explanation how Kone prepares their employees for a fruitful time in their Asian markets.

of the expatriate assignment sometimes happens.

“Early repatriation tends to be a small minority for most companies, however when they do occur, they are significant due to the financial cost to the company and the emotional and professional cost to the employee, their family and for the employee’s host team,” says Lisa Johnson, Global practice leader of the consulting services of World Crown Mobility, a leading global mobility ser vices company assisting many Nordic clients with relocation to countries in Asia.

“Early repatriation tends to be a small minority for most companies, however when they do occur, they are significant due to the financial cost to the company and the emotional and professional cost to the employee, their family and for the employee’s host team,” says Lisa Johnson, Global practice leader of the consulting services of World Crown Mobility.

There can be many reasons why some expatriates do not find a new home in their new host countr y.

According to Crown World Mobility, inability to adapt to the new location is a primary reason. Other reasons are that the job responsibilities or the location is not what was expected - based on what was presented beforehand. Or an unexpected change in the employee’s personal life or in the quality of life of the host country such as political upheaval.

Family and partner related issues, and the assignee getting a new job are also common reasons for early repatriation, research shows.

“Best practices for setting up employees and their families for success is to ensure that expectations are met. Setting realistic expectations up front is a priority,” advises Lisa.

Joanne Danehl, the intercultural and language training expert at Crown World Mobility, uses an analogy we can all understand:

When things go wrong

Things do not always go as planned and early termination 22 ScandAsia • February 2020

“International assignments are like sandwiches.

Ever yone is worried about the filling – the actual assignment – but people forget you need solid bread to hold that filling together.”

Premature termination of an assignment is only one risk. On the other hand you have those expatriates who decides to stay on in the country or region after the completion of their work assignment. They often fall in love with the place and want to stay and look for other work opportunities.

In many cases, this workforce can be more flexible since they are already based in Asia. They are obviously well integrated and they come without the requirements of the additional costs that comes with posting a new expat. Hiring localized expats on a localized package, on local terms with local conditions, has become an increasingly popular option for employers in Asia.

Quitting after returning

Back in the home country, a high proportion of returning expatriates leave their jobs within the first year or two of coming home, according to industry research.

There are several reasons for this, according to research findings by Benjamin Bader, professor at Newcastle University who has done extensive research on global mobility issues over the years. According to Benjamin Bader, here are the main reasons:

Not knowing which position they will work in when they get home - which is common for expatriates - Dissatisfaction with the new position not meeting expectations - Not utilizing knowledge gained abroad - The feeling of being less impor tant or less appreciated by the employer compared to when they were on assignment - Failed reintegration and reverse culture shock Many corporations underestimate or do not see the repatriation time as an important period of the cycle of the international assignment, and do not have a sufficient repatriation process in place to prepare for the return of expatriates.

Danehl at Crown Wor ld Mobility advises corporations to plan employee’s repatriation before the assignment even starts.

“This way you can also manage their expectations and make them responsible for learning the skills they will need for their future role,” she says.

Expatriates are typically considered highly valued employees by their employers with knowledge gained in their foreign markets, suggesting the key importance of their retention. Sending employees abroad is an employer’s risky investment that may become costly if they end up losing valuable employees.

February 2020 • ScandAsia 23

Swedish hotelier in Bangkok’s latest luxury wave:

Björn Richardsson 24 ScandAsia • February 2020

137 Pillars Residences & Suites in Bangkok, is the opulent, specific hotel that has once again re-united two really good Swedish friends as well as hoteliers. Hotel manager Björn Richardson tells the story how and shares insights about his latest very luxurious hotel environment and the local luxury scene.

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Photos and text: Joakim Persson oing back nearly twenty years destiny saw that two Swedes met for the time in Hua Hin, Thailand, both being hoteliers.

Björn Richardson was then briefly the caretaker for a hotel in between one General Manager leaving and the next one to be appointed – turning out to be Mr Christopher Stafford.

Björn could not have guessed from his name that he was in fact Swedish too.

That hotel became the first ever Anantara hotel, which is today an international brand from Thailand.

Christopher and Björn became good friends through work and gradually also best friends privately. It takes two to tango; they developed and ran the wellknown Anantara up in the Golden Triangle, including its renowned elephant camp –which also led to the two of them being heavily involved in introducing the sport elephant polo in Thailand, which also became an internationally known charity event by Anantara.

Later Björn ended up working for Oakwood City Residences in Bangkok, back then the world’s largest ser viced apar tment proper ty. He continued within Oakwood group for eleven years. Until the phone rang from Christopher: ‘Now the time has come, will you join me?’ Whatever it was Björn did not hesitate to say yes.

So two decades later hospitality has re-united them again, with both involved in the 137 Pillars brand.

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ctually, Christopher had consulted him some years back for some advice for a hotel developer considering building ser viced apar tments in Bangkok. The result is 137 Pillars Suites & Residences Bangkok, down Sukhumvit 39, as the group’s second property, following the 30-suite 137 Pillars House Chiang Mai. As Björn’s latest challenge he has now been its General Manager for two years, while Christopher works as COO. “One did not know it would become as superb as this is!” exclaims Björn. “This is a fantastic product – without any doubt the best serviced residences in Bangkok. I’d say; we have some special things here that you perhaps do not have in all other serviced apartments, with very good architecture in space planning, balcony on every room etc.”

Adding to that this high-rise property (open since February 2017) featues 34 exquisitely appointed suites.

“The positioning for the suites is in the boutique luxury segment, where our level of quality compares with Mandarin Oriental, St. Regis, The Okura and The Siam, plus other luxury newcomers to the Bangkok’s luxury scene. Then as for the residences, are on par with suites in ordinary five-star hotels as ours are one or two bedroom.”

February 2020 • ScandAsia 25

To this end 137 Pillars Suites & Residences Bangkok offers all suite guests with butler service, personalised art tours and at the entrance the two Jack and Lewie London Cabs (equipped with Champagne bar) tha chauffeur the guests to and from the upmarket Emquartier/Emporium shopping district – to mention a few features. The hotel has also profiled itself with Confrérie du Sabre d’Or gala dinners and rotating art exhibitions that celebrate Thailand’s top talent.

The serviced apar tments and suites hotel stems from the 137 Pillars boutique property in Chiang Mai and its centrepiece teak house from 1870, which used to be former northern head quarters for the East Borneo Trading Company – from which the brand has also formulated the restaurant/deli concept Bangkok Trading Post.

“Old Chiang Mai is reflected in the entire building actually, with elements like wood and also beautiful marble and with our Baan Borneo club, to connect them together as 137 Pillars properties. We have succeed well; one cannot emulate a pre-20th centur y house from Chiang Mai in Bangkok but I think this building reflects Bangkok in a good way; it’s modern and also with certain aesthetic elements falling back on 137 pillars Chiang Mai and Baan Borneo,” comments the GM.

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big par t in providing exquisite hospitality to guests and residents at all times is also the team members.

“We are putting most of our resources on the guest services. A fantastic product is in itself not enough; it must be complemented with service on par with it to make a perfect match. Then the experience becomes much grander.”

It is then favourable to work with Thais, who has this as a natural talent, thinks Björn. “Thais cannot speak English fluently. That’s fine, we happen to be in Thailand.

If you go to say Moscow you will come across the same issue. The service-minded skills of Thais are outstanding.

Both Christopher and I have the philosophy that we want to come back to traditional hospitality, where each guest is a person and not a number, and where you are 26 ScandAsia • February 2020

considerate to personal preferences and offer curated stays. Some guests want to look at art, and others want to dine gourmet food, or want to come and explore historic monuments and temples. One has to adapt to that a guest is a guest. That works very well together with Thai hospitality as they are very perceptive when it comes to taking care of guests. Our standards must be flexible enough so that all guests can feel good and comfortable,” he elaborates.

Further testament to this property’s quality is the membership as part the Small Luxury Hotels collection.

“They have very high level of standards, and quality of service etc. that one has to match and it’s a very good group to belong to, a bit special to be part of it,” comments Björn.

The launch of 137 Pillars Hotels & Resorts’ Bangkok property actually began a new wave of luxury hotels that are raising the bar for this particular hotel market, where upscale hotel rooms now exceed 17,000 in the Thai capital. And, with a few exceptions, hotels have struggled to be able to increase their room rates.

“Hotels are unable to charge the prices they are worthy of. If you take an ordinary price for a five-star or a luxury hotel in Bangkok you get less for your money in just about any major city in Southeast Asia” comments the GM. With more luxury hotels Bangkok is finally able to charge higher rates and raise its status. “Every segment needs to go up in price. Looking around the world things are not getting cheaper. But if you look at Bangkok specifically during the last 5-6 years restaurants have gone up in pricing significantly – and also improved. That in itself entices people not least from the region to visit.

So there is really no reason why accommodation should not follow suit. People were saying: ‘We’re going to Bangkok because it is so affordable’ O.K it still is but the prices will continue going up, not drastically but steadily so that we end up at a level that is fair.”

Meanwhile, with no let-up in the world of luxury living, the fine-tuning, fine dining offers and rooftop pool guest instagram photographing at 137 Pillars Residences & Suites in Bangkok continues.

Book about the life of Carsten Dencker Nielsen

News brief

By Gregers Møller

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arsten Dencker Nielsen was the last managing director of East Asiatic Company, the Danish trading company that up into the 1980’s was the largest Danish corporation. Before he died in Februar y 2019, he had managed to complete a book about his adventurous life written with the assistance of two authors, Martin Jes Iversen and Camilla Sløk.

The book “Kompagniets mand” (Man of the Corporation) was released by the publishing house Gyldendal shortly before Christmas 2019.

Reading the book is like listening to Car sten Dencker Nielsen himself, telling about how he climbed the stairs of the EAC as a young man in the 1950’s and how fate would eventually make him the last man to close down the giant Danish company. After his graduation from the in-house business school of EAC, Carsten Dencker Nielsen was at first posted to Kenya, then onwards to Nigeria and Indonesia until he became the manager of EAC Japan from where

he eventually assumed the position as the Managing Director of the EAC in Thailand, where it all began.

For ty years after joining the corporation, he was promoted as Managing Director of the whole company and tasked with winding it down by selling off the many branches of the company – eventually even the profitable business activities that could have meant a new rise of the company.

Through Car sten Dencker Nielsen’s recollection of his life in the EAC in the old days, we get a interesting insight into how the culture of the corporation was an important factor behind its growth.

The strict rules could be seen as har sh but no other company offered young ambitious Danes an opportunity like EAC to rise from a middle class teenager to a world class business leader.

For many Danes, “Kompagniets mand” – which is published in Danish language – will be read with an interest in Carsten Dencker Nielsen as the man they met and interacted with at various stages in

his career. Some will be interested in the behind-the-scene story of the deliberate closure over two decades of the largest Danish company ever, which has been the subject of other Danish books. Some will be interested in the revelations of the private man behind his many assignments and official functions.

Even for people who did not know the charismatic Carsten Dencker Nielsen, the book will be enjoyed as a well-written and captivating story about the twist and turns of a life lived richer and more adventurous than most.

The book may be purchased here: http://gyldendalbusiness.dk/ products/9788702245875.aspx

H&M News: Monki brand to open stores in Manila

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his summer, Swedish fashion brand Monki will enter the Philippine fashion scene with its creative collections, strong brand values and inspiring store concept described as “Scandi-cool-meetsAsian-street-style.” ”Monki’s mission is to empower young women everywhere and help them feel good about themselves.

We can’t wait to get to know a

new mar ket and welcome new customers to our global family,” says Jennie Dahlin Hansson, Monki Managing Director The new stores will be located in Manila, at two of the largest shopping centres in the Philippines.

The brand will premier in the SM Megamall, followed closely by the opening in SM Mall of Asia.

February 2020 • ScandAsia 27

Finnish smart building provider takes on Asia Tridify’s solution combines any Building Information Model into one 3D web presentation

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By Joakim Persson urrently at the forefront of digitalization Singapore spells tremendous opportunities for business and partnerships for Nordic solutions. Helsinki Business Hub (HBH), the trade and investment promotion agency for the Finnish capital region, has identified Singapore’s ’Smart Nation’ initiative for growth through innovation and technology as a strong case to expand the collaborations between the two countries.

28 ScandAsia • February 2020

Therefore, during the 2019 Singapore Week of Innovation & Technology (SWITCH), some of Finland’s most innovative and enterprising companies participated.

The latest smar t solutions for construction and the development, design, FM and life cycle management of buildings were showcased by some of these.

Among them was Helsinki-headquartered Tridify offering a fabulous Finnish innovation, based on Virtual Reality development that automates the deliver y of

3D architectural models to XR-ready (umbrella term encompassing augmented, vir tual, and mixed reality technologies) 3D files in the cloud.

This is made possible by using BIM, or Building Information Model (a promising construction information management tool), widely used in modern construction projects and already mandatory in Singapore, and so far 10 per cent of the markets in Malaysia and Thailand for instance.

Tridify’s service delivers ‘3D BIMs’ to the web in a fully automated process, where the user only needs to click on a web link to access it, with no need for an app.

Furthermore, its differentiation is that all models from any BIM modelling software can be combined in Tridify.

A big benefit included is that collaborators and customers do not need to download applications or register to an account to view the published BIM model; they simply click on a link.

Juha Alanen, Executive Vice President, Sales, explains: “We are unique in that we can have several types of software multiplying together and have the viewer within one. You have different kind of software and user cases in termsof the workflow; one model is architectural while plumbing is another example. Tridify is the first of its kind for professional use but also for maintenance and throughout the whole lifecycle of a building.”

Tridify’s easy-to-view 3D environments can thus function as a collaboration tool inside a company and help throughout the design stage of the BIM workflow, for example to share design with others stakeholder, to get design approval, or for technical collaboration.

“It can be used for re-sale as well, to investigate the status of any particular BIM property, having the floor plan view or the building- and model information view, in addition to sharing the content.”

“Our targets are architect companies, construction developer companies and anyone having access to the BIM,” continues Juha, who spearheads their Asia-Pacific expansion. “We undertook our investigation with regards to the maturity of the BIM digitalisation and the AEC industr y [architecture, engineering and construction] and Singapore is definitely the most advance country throughout the whole Asia-Pacific in digital architectural environment, with BIM already being mandatory.Therefore we chose it to be the location for our regional branch.”

Tridify arrived in Asia in early 2018, where Juha expects a tremendous growth market for their solution.

“Malaysia is about to mandate the BIM in 2020 so their market will be also be booming in the coming years within this. Currently 10 per cent of the market there is using BIM, and the same goes for Thailand.”

“Due to the recent exposure of BIM and utilisation starting to happen here as we speak, we expect that the demand for this kind of service is going to be tremendous.

So, starting with Singapore, I expect a big increase for our market and once the users get to experiment and have this as a process, the demand will be increasing multifold.”

Tridify attended five trade shows together in the region focused on the AEC, which Juha says gave them huge exposure.

Juha explains that Tridify, (with more than 30 years of VR experience within the team), initially started out as a VR application company. But creating the application required a lot of manpower, with a lot of modifying handwork and based on customer feedback, the Finnish star t-up decided develop an automated Cloud based system in order to be able to scale.

“Right now, our focus is on helping customers share IFC combination models easily without the need for training, downloading apps etc. Our client WSP, one of the world’s largest professional services firms with around 50,000 employees, provides engineering, architect and design services to clients in various industries, including Transportation, Infrastructure, Buildings, Environment and Energy explains the benefits of Tridify.”

“As soon as we saw the Tridify service we knew it was what we’d been waiting for,” commented Roope Syvälahti, construction consultant and project manager.

“Being able to rapidly publish BIM models to the web opens up new ways of working. This ease of use is impressive, with no barriers to adoption. Clients or colleagues can easily view models when they want, on any device and it also solves the problem of involving stakeholders who are not accustomed to specialist design software. Clicking on a URL or QR code allows them to interact with 3D models and intuitively wander round.

Another bonus is the very low cost of the Tridify service so there’s no risk of investing heavily in an expensive new solution. It only costs us $90 per month which provides enough capacity for several projects.”

We are really looking forward to expand our market in Asia, looking forward to taking all the connections and contacts.”

February 2020 • ScandAsia 29

First deck complete on Johan Sverdrup P2 in Thailand

It has been a hectic autumn for Aibel Thailand which is building the Main Support Frame (MSF) module for Johan Sverdrup’s P2 process platform. Throughout the autumn, some 2,100 workers have been busy at the company’s yard in Laem Chabang.

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ibel Thailand, which is building the Main Suppor t Frame (MSF) module for the Norwegian Johan Sverdrup’s P2 process platform, said it has completed the first deck at the company’s yard in Laem Chabang,

Thailand.

In November, the project reached a major milestone when the first section of the module was lifted into place on the grillage, safely and on schedule. Weighing 987.5 tonnes, this is the heaviest lift ever performed by Aibel Thailand, and also the heaviest onshore lift of a section in Aibel’s history.

The deck covers an area the size of a football pitch, and is the first of four similar deliverables in the P2 project.The deck itself weighs a total of 2,000 metric tons,

30 ScandAsia • February 2020

while the total weight of the entire MSF module when it is ready to depart will be 14,100 metric tons.

In November, the project reached a major milestone when the first section of the module was lifted into place on the grillage, safely and on schedule. Weighing 987.5 tonnes, this is the heaviest lift ever performed by Aibel Thailand, and also the heaviest onshore lift of a section in Aibel’s history.

First deck complete

The company is now reaching another milestone in the project, with the completion of the first deck. The deck covers an area the size of a football pitch, and is the first of four similar deliverables in the P2 project. The deck itself weighs a total of 2,000 tonnes, while the total weight

of the entire MSF module when it is ready to depart will be 14,100 tonnes.

“The team here in Thailand has put in an incredible effort,” says Harald Revheim, the construction manager for Johan Sverdrup P2 in Thailand. “The work has been performed without any serious injuries, and its quality is very good. We have been especially impressed by the critical work carried out for the metallisation of deck 1.

This is a solid beginning for the delivery of the complete MSF module in February 2021, and a good example of what we are able to achieve here at Aibel Thailand, in close partnership with our customer Equinor,” says Revheim.

Suriya Phojit is the construction manager for the MSF module and does not deny that it can be challenging to manage a team consisting of hundreds of employees from different backgrounds and cultures.

“Right from the start of the project, we were aware of the need for open dialogue, and we encouraged the employees to share their experiences. The more we talk to each other, the better we understand each other, so we put a lot of effort into encouraging and motivating everyone to work as part of a team,” says Phojit. “I am immensely proud of the effort the employees have put into the project so far and I’m convinced that the MSF module for JSP2 will reach the highest standard we have ever achieved. It is impor tant we now maintain this excellent trend, and keep the focus on team work, safety, quality and good planning, because there will be many challenging tasks to face in the next 12 months before the structure sails to Norway,” says Phojit.

55,000 drawings

At Aibel’s office in Asker, the project is forging ahead, with staff committed to completing the major design work.

“The team has now produced about 40,000 drawings from an estimated 55,000, so the bulk of the work is in the bag and the focus is on maintaining our tempo and quality until the final IFC drawing in late March,” says Berit Gjellan, Engineering Manager for Johan Sverdrup Phase 2.

“We have enjoyed really excellent cooperation with engineering in Thailand and Singapore and with manufacturing and procurement, where we have jointly managed to prioritise and adapt the deliverables. The downsizing of the supplier market since Sverdrup phase 1 has led to long lead times, especially in pipes and valves.

Despite this, the delivery situation has been handled without notable delays thanks to clear prioritisation from the team in Thailand,” says Gjellan.

Performing 2gether

“Equinor is very pleased with what is starting to take shape during construction in Thailand,” says André Henning Aspevik, Equinor Site Manager for the P2 project. “Aibel has established a good safety standard on their yards.This is, and will always be, our number one priority: Always home safely! In addition, we see that the quality of what is being delivered is very good. It is especially gratifying to

Suriya Phojit and Harald Revheim are proud of the achievement of their team in Thailand.Photo: Aibel Thailand see how the teams from Aibel and Equinor are working together under the slogan “P2 – Performing 2gether”.

Between the disciplines, there is a keen focus on learning and capturing experiences from previous projects, and we see a willingness to always look for improvements and opportunities,” Aspevik continues.

Multidisciplinary coordination

The installation of equipment on the deck is also well under way. The HVAC facility has been fitted on the first deck and the installation of pipe spools is also on track.

Nick Routledge, general manager of Aibel Thailand, is happy to tick off another important milestone. “The exciting thing now is that we are entering a phase of multidisciplinar y coordination, with a number of trades working in parallel. Consequently, we are heavily focused on planning, and the project organisation and basic organisation from Aibel and Equinor respectively are wor king closely together in our “One Team” implementation model. We think as one team and leverage our strengths. Our task now is to continue this good work in order to deliver the MSF flare stack and bridge safely, to the right quality and on time,” says Routledge.

Facts about the P2 process platform The project has a value of NOK 10 billion and will, at its peak, engage around 3,500 employees. P2 includes the construction of a total of three platform modules - the MSF (main structure frame), the UPM (utility process module) and the HVDC (converter module), which will all be connected to each other upon completion.

The MSF module will be transpor ted by sea from Thailand to Norway in February 2021. The two other modules will be built and completed at the yard in Haugesund and Spain, and are scheduled to be transpor ted to the Johan Sverdrup field in January 2022.

February 2020 • ScandAsia 31

Thai prison offers food and massage

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By Sigrid Friis Neergaard rom the street, it looks like any cute, little restaurant in the Instagram-friendly city Chiang Mai. A wooden arch marks the entrance to a garden with outdoor seating among trees and flowers. The waitresses are dressed in pink uniforms, and lovers can pose for a picture on a bench entailed in a heart.

However, there is a sign above the hear t, that reminds visitors, that the romantic settings aren’t just any regular, picturesque location in Chiang Mai. ‘Welcome to prison’, it reads.

There are three traditional reasons why society punishes criminals: retribution, deterrence, and reform – to punish, to prevent and to rehabilitate. Every country grants each aspect a different value. This is reflected in factors such as the length of sentences, whether there is death penalty or not, physical punishment and possibilities for parole.

At the Vocational Training Center of Chiang Mai

32 ScandAsia • February 2020

Woman Correctional Institution, reform or rehabilitation is in focus.

The centre serves as a restaurant and traditional Thai massage parlour. What makes it special is, that all your food is cooked and served by inmates. Likewise, do the hands that sternly massage people’s feet and crack their backs belong to prisoners.

Since 2002, the inmates of the Chiang Mai prison have been able to develop their skills and get a break from life behind bars. Through a mandatory rehabilitation programme, those who choose massage and cooking are eligible for a job at the Vocational Training Center. It’s supposed to prepare the women for a return to real life.

“There are no walls here. It’s an open prison,” Archaree Srisunakhua, director of the Chiang Mai Woman Correctional Institution, says.

As for local support for the programme, the response has been very positive, according to Acharee, who adds that people appreciate the effort to rehabilitate convicts.

Makeup and massages

It’s mandatory for the inmates to choose a career path while in prison. It’s part of an extensive rehabilitation programme, which entails about 20 of Thailand’s 143 prisons, director Archaree informs me.

“On average, they start when they have two years left of their sentence. We can allow that they have up to five years left.”

This means that people with lifelong sentences aren’t eligible for the programme, which offers training in more than 20 different skill-sets.

Cooking, massage, beauty, weaving cotton or silk are just a few of the careers the inmates can pursue.

Apart from learning a profession, the inmates also learn English and Chinese.The illiterate are taught to read and write.

For those who haven’t chosen cooking or massage through the rehabilitation programme, director Archaree is hoping that the inmates will have more opportunities to get a break from prison in the future.

So far, the plan is to open a place outside the prison, where those who have specialised in beauty can practice their skills and sell their services.

The women who are learning to weave have the chance to work with the Danish clothing brand Carcel.

The brand has all their collections sewn by inmates who in return get a salary, similar to how the Vocational Training Center works. The major difference is, that the job is carried out within the four walls of the prison.

No walk-ins

I am handed a four-sizes-too-big, hot pink shirt and a matching pair of equally large, baggy pants that keep falling down as the string to tie them is broken.

In a large room inside the Vocational Training Center, I lie down on a massage bed, only about a meter from my neighbour for the next while. She’s already being stretched and bent in unimaginable ways.

There are fifteen beds, a couple of which are only for foot massages. All of them are occupied by other trustworthy visitors.

As it’s a popular tourist attraction, massages need to be booked and paid for in advance. So, if you want your foot or Thai massage done by an inmate, I suggest you show up early to secure yourself a spot.

Proud prisoners

The aim of the Vocational Training Center is to give the women a smooth transition from prison to freedom while connecting with the local society.

“We promote correction and self-esteem,” prison director Archaree tells me and adds that the opportunity is only offered to first time offenders who behave well.

“They are very proud to work here.”

The progr amme also gives the women an opportunity to send money back home or save for when they are released.

Director of the Chiang Mai Woman Correctional Institution, Acharee Srisunakhua (middle), and two prison guards.

There are three traditional reasons why society punishes criminals: retribution, deterrence, and reform – to punish, to prevent and to rehabilitate.

Every country grants each aspect a different value. This is reflected in factors such as the length of sentences, whether there is death penalty or not, physical punishment and possibilities for parole.

February 2020 • ScandAsia 33

The inmates at the Chiang Mai Woman Correctional Institution can choose from more than 20 training programmes. Handicrafts by prisoners are sold at the Vocational Training Center.

All food at the Vocational Training Center is cooked and served by inmates. A traditional Northern Thai dish as this Khao Soi Gai will cost you 80 Baht.

The real key is trust

There are always five guards on duty at the Vocational Training Center.

The inmates at the Chiang Mai Woman Correctional Institution can choose from more than 20 training programmes. Handicrafts by prisoners are sold at the Vocational Training Center.

With a mandator y one day off per week, the inmates work full time and earn 50 percent of the profit from the restaurant and massage.

“They usually make between 10,000 and 20,000 Baht (approximately 300 to 600 Euros),” according to the prison director.

The remaining 50 percent are used for maintenance.

All this taken into consideration, Archaree isn’t afraid that they will run away.

First of all, of the 130 guards working for the prison, there are always five on duty at the centre. Second of all, “they (the inmates) are in the process of returning to society”.

Though Archaree has only been director for the Chiang Mai Woman Correctional Institution since October 2019, with more than 30 years in the prison business of which the past 12 have been as director, she seems to know what she’s talking about.

34 ScandAsia • February 2020

In the massage room, it seems that the masseuses have a fixed massage programme. So, those who have arrived at the same time, are massaged synchronously.

Like a choir, hands are chopping away on people’s backs and cracking toes and fingers at the same time.

Traditional Thai music somewhat blocks out the background noise from cars and scooters in the street. A few of the Thai inmates giggle as a large middle-aged man moans in agony following his back being cracked by one of the petite masseuses.

My masseuse asks me in English, if I’m doing fine. She must have noticed me cringe in pain as she dug her elbow into my tigerbalm-covered neck.

It’s easy to forget that these chatty women are convicted of some crime which they are currently serving a sentence for.

Though there are lockers for your belongings, it’s hard to keep an eye on the key while keeping yourself on a massage bed. However, no one seems to be bothered by the fact, that their well-being for the next hour or two is in the hands of a convicted criminal.

Forever an ex-inmate

Some of the employees at the centre are on probation, but the majority are still inmates.

Once they leave prison, they also leave the centre.

However, in Chiang Mai alone, there are 12 massage parlours dedicated to ex-inmates. Combined, they employ 200 former prisoners.

“Massages are popular in Chiang Mai, so it makes sense,” Archaree tells me.

These are private places, and so are not run or funded by the prison or state, but the prison has a deal with them. They recommend masseuses once they have served their sentence.

So, if you don’t want to wait in line for an inmate massage, opt for an ex-inmate massage.To my knowledge, their hands are just as firm once they’ve left prison.

News brief

New steak restaurant and pizzeria at Hotel Mermaid Bangkok

Jair da Rosa, the Brazilian owner, being welcomed by Jorgen Lundbaek and Khun Thip of Hotel Mermaid Bangkok.

Jair da Rosa and staff at the Grand Opening.

H

otel Mer maid Bangkok celebr ated on Saturday 18 Januar y th e Gr an d Opening of a new restaurant at the hotel, FOGO Asia Steak House.

At the same time , the BELLA NONNA Pizzeria opened.on the front terrace of the hotel.

FOGO Asia will offer Brazilian

Churrascaria BBQ when it is best and in a way this is a return to the original cuisine previously offered by the hotel.

Many guests joined the celebrations to get a pre-taste of the delicacies that are now available at Hotel Mermaid Bangkok.

February 2020 • ScandAsia 35

Wedding chef in Phuket paradise: Daniel Isberg

By Joakim Persson

36 ScandAsia • February 2020

W

hen a private chef is required by flown in wedding couples and their entourages, as well as famous figures frequenting Phuket, chances are high that their preferred choice falls on island resident as well as Swedish chef Daniel Isberg. If they can get him, that is.

It takes time to become part of the fabric but things have come a long way since this celebrity chef opened his first gourmet restaurant in Phuket back in 2010, and started building up his wedding and events catering firm.

Some 700+ weddings later, and with a very jam-packed and long wedding season in Phuket/Phang-Nga for 2019/2020, it is clear that the Swede is enjoying great success.

His achievement is also a telling example of what it takes in terms of hard work, top-notch performance, quality, persistence, management, talent, and for an events chef also great charisma in order to be able to put on a show.

First, it becomes apparent that he has been at the right place at the right time. “When I started there were only a few wedding planners. But it has flourished and grown very big – you probably have around 50 of them now and I work mainly with the large ones,” explains Daniel.

“Some events I have done myself and for most events there is a planner, arranging flowers, the wedding dress, invitation cards, etc.”

He collaborates with 19 wedding and event planners spread out over the region: Koh Samui, Krabi, Bangkok – and in Phuket where 90 per cent of the weddings Daniel and his Phuket Gourmet Catering is hired for are organised (including Phang Nga).

Half of the weddings are arranged on the main

land versus Phuket, for example at Natai beach, where, contrary to Phuket proper, the wedding ceremony can take place on the beach. Then the actual dinner party takes places in a villa by the private beach. If in Phuket, in for example Kamala beach, weddings often take place in an ocean-view villa up on the hill.

Ver y few weddings are locals; typically they are wedding couples and all their guests flying in from abroad.

“My best clients are highly educated Hong Kong and Singaporean Chinese, who are nice and friendly, have good budgets and like good food and appreciate what one does for them,” tells the Swede.

“Typically, the wedding couple comes here between six months up to a year in advance and book the villa, have a food tasting with me and decide what menu they would like to have, gets a cost idea and pay a deposit in order reserve the date. Then discussions on details can continue.”

“The event company works excellent. I am pretty slammed, so I must be very satisfied with what I have accomplished,” reflects Daniel. “It was four years ago I

February 2020 • ScandAsia 37

decided to go full throttle with catering and events. So I started promoting myself on the Internet, collaborating with all the event planners, being creative with packages for clients etc. So these days I am usually booked well in advance, and the collaborations work fine. Everyone is happy with my service, so that’s a joy,” smiles Daniel as we meet at his Cherng Talay-based restaurant The Mexican Boat Avenue.

Running restaurants is a side business these days, with focus on fast food. “I love Mexican food, but I stake mainly on catering and events. I think it’s fantastic; new places, new people each time, new menus, new challenges... I get a bit bored to be at the same restaurant all the time. I want some action and new things happening, so catering fits me perfectly, I love what I’m doing. So I will not start any new fine dining restaurant in my name, because it would mean that I would have to be there all the time.”

During weddings he takes care of bar ser vice, serving and all cooking, as a one-stop-shop for food and beverage. A typical scenario looks like this: “Many guests coming have never been to Thailand before and then they want to have a touch of Thai. When they arrive around 4 pm and the sun is still strong we serve non-alcoholic refreshments, for instance a lemongrass ice tea, signalling: ‘Welcome to Thailand’. The drink is wrapped in banana leaves with an orchid in a lemongrass stick. Then, usually the ceremony takes place, often with a celebrant, or priest. After that canapés are served, usually Thai starters, again to give guests a bit of Thai flavours.Then one serves the bride and groom’s cocktails, chosen by the wedding couple. A four-course sit-down dinner then usually 38 ScandAsia • February 2020

follows, and sometimes it can be a buffet. But I usually recommend that it should be a presented menu so that one can have beautiful presentations served on plates.”

“Then we do late night snacks and all kinds of things; it may be a dessert spread, candy table, ice cream station, and entertainment such as live band, fire show on the beach, various kinds of DJs, fireworks... so there’s a lot of action.”

Sounds easy? This operation entails plenty of preparation, such as ensuring that the supplier delivers directly to the site’s mobile kitchen the catch-of-the-day seafood.

“I want it to be super fresh, especially seafood and fish. And we have a vacuuming machine to pre-prepare things and vacuum pack and put in ice etc. It’s ver y important with the transportation that the food stays really cold.”

Normally all staff meet early in the morning in the catering kitchen, that may for a wedding with 100 guests include 12 servants, 4 dishwashers, 4 bartenders, 6 chefs, and handymen. Everyone gets the rundown for the day and a brief about the wedding and its guests.

Then we pack the trucks and go through check-lists – it is incredibly important that you do not forget anything because then you’re screwed.”

Daniel checks it all himself but of course it still does occasionally happen that something important, like the griddle, is missing – 1.5 hours’ drive away.

“Then one must send a messenger at full speed to bring it – which takes, if we are in Phang Nga, 3 hours to go and back. But we have built up great routines so it normally these things run like clockwork.”

Photo by Joakim Persson

On site, a mobile kitchen is set up outdoors, with generators, ovens etc.

“We can serve 500 people in the jungle if so would be required! We have a lot of equipment and trucks to transport all this. So there is a lot with catering, many details – much more than one would think!”

Then, multiply this by four! Yes, four weddings in one day! But that is the extreme occasion. Daniel will now stick to no more than two.

Functioning as Sous-Chef and General Manager he, on such days, moves between the events to ensure that everything runs smoothly. “I pick one where I serve the starter, main course and dessert, and then continue to the next wedding.”

“We have great experience and routines on everything and I am supervising and checking everything all the time – nothing can go wrong. It has gone incredibly well in the last few years, so very few mistakes have occurred.”

What can go wrong is however the weather... “If rain sets it can become chaotic. Often weddings are outdoors, and then the wedding can chose to rent a marquise or not; it costs quite a lot for 100 guests for example. So it has occurred quite often that we have had to change into presenting a buffet, while we had planned for a 4-course dinner. But I have become an expert on finding quick solutions; there can be no panic. Everything can be solved as long as one stays calm and thinks fast.”

Part of the well-drilled entourage Daniel’s core team has worked for him for up to seven years already. “That means a lot because without my skilled team I would obviously not be able to manage this large operation.”

On achieving sustained success he says that it was what he expected from the very beginning. “I’m a doer, I don’t postpone until tomorrow, do not give up and work really hard for my product myself. I want to be best.”

Occasionally Daniel’s phone rings and on the other side of the line is the agent, or manager, of a superstar.

“And we’re talking real superstars,” Daniel points out.

“Then it’s usually with short notice, requesting private chef services. Then mobile phones are confiscated and one has to sign non-disclosure agreements about who one is cooking for and what happens. This happens now and then.”

Daniel has a background from wor king with Californian cuisine, in the glamorous world of Hollywood, and on superyachts. “I have a good reputation as private chef, so many know me.”

And these stars are now coming to where he resides on the famous Asian lifestyle island. Daniel explains that this is because Thailand is a country many love, with Thai style, the food, the climate etc. “And Phuket is very ‘chill’ and relaxing; they can be quite anonymous here. They wear sunglasses and a cap. I’ve been at the beach clubs with the largest actors in the world and they are left alone. Also, many own a house, staying here for a few months now and then.”

“It’s quite incredible actually; I meet many more interesting people in Phuket than in Bangkok and New York for instance. Should I meet these superstars in N.Y.C or in Bangkok they are usually stressed and have no time to spare, while when in Phuket everyone is more relaxed, chats and is happy – it’s an entirely different ballgame. I think it is fantastic to work and live here, in paradise.”

February 2020 • ScandAsia 39

Taking a break from the Singaporean concrete jungle … in the jungle

‘‘I

By Sigrid Friis Neergaard t seemed a bit too sterile and boring.” Heavily polluted, overcrowded, bland, and “basically a complete waste of time.”

These are just some of the brutal words I found on the merciless internet about Singapore.

The small island, city and countr y just south of Malaysia has a population of about 5.6 million people.This makes it slightly more populated than Denmark, Norway and Finland. Yet, it’s 65, 490 and 512 times smaller than the named Nordic countries respectively.

So yes, it is quite crowded. However, I believe Singapore has an unjust reputation for being a “large supermarket” or “uncharismatic”, as I have heard people calling it.

Because once your shopping bags are full, your credit card is catching fire and your head is aching from the music blasting out in the malls, you may realise, that the jungle is not only made of concrete. Singapore has quite a few natural reserves to visit.

I spent a few hours at MacRitchie Nature Reserve

by Upper Thomson Road. Mainly because I read there is a tree top walk.

40 ScandAsia • February 2020

Where to go

Starting the hike from the car park, I was definitely missing signs leading to the trail.

I did also run into a couple of desperate girls later on the trek.

“Do you know how we get out of here?” they pleaded.

Going there without much knowledge about the park – like me – is possibly not the best idea. As a bare minimum, I recommend having a plan in mind before commencing the hike.

After about one and a half kilometers from the car park, I finally found a map, that showed me I was on the right track.

It provided me with two options: the jungle trail or the boardwalk.

Though the boardwalk is a bit longer, this is the trail I opted for, as I had just started the hike and was feeling fit. For Singapore it wasn’t a very hot day as it was cloudy and looked like it was about to rain.

Despite being less shady than the jungle, I was very pleased with my choice of route along the lake, where

birds and calm water made for a peaceful walk.

For a heavily populated city, there were long moments between meeting people.

The walk was dead quiet apart from the occasional airplane flying over the area. And a strange noise in the background. Like a monotone, high-pitched sound. I assumed it was an animal, but I learned later, that it was an artificial tone to keep dangerous animals such as wild boars away from the human tracks.

Beware of golf

Trail signs were scarce.Yet, even in this idyllic setting other signs constantly reminded me of where I was. In the country that loves signs telling people what to do – and most importantly what not to do. No fishing, no littering, no swimming, no fishing, no feeding the monkeys, no feeding the fish, no dogs. And did I mention, no fishing?

If the innumerable signs leave you wondering whether you are allowed to fish, it definitely isn’t because you weren’t notified.

Upon leaving the boardwalk, the signs changed.

Fishing wasn’t possible any longer, so instead I was warned not to enter the golf course every few steps I walked.

I wasn’t about to, but to be fair I did meet an older couple who had found themselves getting lost on the golf course. I’m not sure how those crime riders missed all the signs.

When I finally escaped the danger of getting struck by a golf ball, I found myself back in the jungle.

The first thing I reached was a viewing tower which brought me 114 steps up above the tree tops for a wonderful view of the dense jungle. Only far away in the distance could I catch a glimpse of skyscrapers. Apart from that, it was easy to forget that I was at a small, densely populated island.

Reaching the goal

Another couple of kilometres on, I finally made it to the Tree Top Walk.

It is a one way deal, so if you don’t wanna end up walking an extra kilometre like me, make sure to enter from the correct side.

At 250 metres, it only took me a shor t time to traverse the bridge between the trees. Nevertheless, it was quite the experience walking 25 metres above leafs and branches.

Monkeys followed closely in case some food would fall out of someone’s pocket. Most likely used to humans, one of them carelessly grabbed me, so beware if your heart also skips a few beats, when you are near one of the sharp-teethed creatures.

Exciting the tree walk, I carried on the opposite direction of where I came, to complete the loop I had walked around the lake.

About 10 kilometres since I started walking, I made it back to Upper Thomson Road.

It was a beautiful day which, despite Singapore’s year round high temperatures, was somewhat cool as most of the walk is in the shade.

However, if you do plan on exploring the MacRitchie Nature Reserve, I recommend bringing lots of water and snacks as there isn’t anywhere to shop once you leave the car park. You should also wear a good pair of shoes for the hike.

So, for the person writing “it can be very boring if you stay more than 3 days on a tiny concrete island”, I wonder if they left Orchard Road and Chinatown and entered the nature.

February 2020 • ScandAsia 41

The Importance of Creative Writing in the Youth

By Thomas Andersson https://www.storywarskids.com/

E

very day kids experience events that are new to them. They learn new words, which helps build their vocabulary. In doing so, these new experiences help them to develop a creative and curious mind. These new experiences could be the beginning of ideas which the child could develop into stories or creative writing. By encouraging them to write from a young age, numerous benefits can be seen.

Creative writing can also develop emotional skills. By creating a story, a child can channel their emotions and develop how to manage in a situation. For example, they may be able to show empathy with a character, express different emotions experienced by characters or manage a difficult situation that a character is feeling. This may help a child to express how they feel and understand how others feel. Self- discovery and self-expressions can be demonstrated throughout the childs words and storytelling abilities.

Creative writing will also help to improve intellectual skills. Their sentence structure, vocabulary and use of 42 ScandAsia • February 2020

punctuation will be notably more advanced than others of the same age who do not practice creative writing. In a world where text speak and emojis are so common, creative writing helps to develop writing skills that are being forgotten about. If a child can not communicate effectively as a child, the problem may become worse as they grow older. Sharing ideas with others allows the child to develop their storyline and collaborate with others. Encouraging creative writing can help a child to communicate effectively in the technology world.

When a child begins to write their ideas down, completing the story develops a range of impor tant life long skills. Using writing as a way for your child to demonstrate their creative side helps their ability to focus, improves their dedication and commitment. These are all skills which employers look for in a candidate.

Creative writing also develops creative thoughts, using their imaginations, suggest alternatives, broaden their though process and problem-solving abilities. It also allows the child to show their opinions and develop their voice. It also improves their logical skills. These skills, once developed, can help the child in other subjects, such as Maths, Science and Languages. By developing these fundamental skills, the child can apply these in other areas of learning and succeed, helping to strengthen their selfconfidence.

Writing also helps to improve organization from a young age. By plotting out a story line, a child can help to develop organization and create drama or surprises in their story. This can then be applied to everyday tasks, helping them to improve their own organization and be prepared for the day ahead.

Inspiring your child to be creative develops a wide range of skills while building confidence. This helps them to develop into powerful adults, who can communicate their points of view, thoughts and feelings ver y clearly. Creative writing has the oppor tunity to create an incredible positive impact on our children, and while the occasion is becoming more limited in the classroom, taking steps to encourage our children to write can help develop a range of benefits. By finding their way of writing, the children can turn it into a superpower, allowing the child to be creative while having fun and doing something they enjoy.

February 2020 • ScandAsia 43