BKK_BUS_SUP_September18_4
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<strong>BUS</strong>INESS <strong>SUP</strong>PLEMENT<br />
THAILAND’S CUSTOMS<br />
SERVICE WINS SECOND<br />
PLACE IN ASEAN<br />
Thai customs won second place in the efficiency<br />
ratings amongst ASEAN countries making the country<br />
a leading logistics hub. Singapore won first place<br />
in a survey called the World Bank’s Logistics Performance<br />
Index (LPI).<br />
Thailand also did well in the global index rising<br />
13 places to come in at 32nd position up from 45th,<br />
out of 160 nations.<br />
In another article called the Trade Facilitation<br />
Indicators 2018 report, commissioned by the Organization<br />
for Economic Cooperation and Development,<br />
it was noted that Thailand had been rewarded<br />
for improved customs clearance processes, clearer<br />
procedures, the introduction of automated facilities<br />
and reducing paperwork as well as having in place a<br />
simple and fair appeals procedure.<br />
As regards the prevention of illicit products, Thailand<br />
did well in another index called the Global Illicit<br />
Trade Environment Index 2018 by<br />
the Economist. The country came 45th out of 84<br />
countries. The index measures indicators and activities<br />
that went towards cracking down on the import<br />
and export of illegal products.<br />
All of the specific customs indices showed improvement<br />
and this will help Thailand’s standing in<br />
the more important Ease of Doing Business report<br />
commissioned by the World Bank. This is important<br />
as it is used by international investors to help make<br />
decisions for new plants and new projects within the<br />
Kingdom.<br />
In the “Doing Business 2018” report, the flagship<br />
report by the World Bank Group, Thailand came in at<br />
26th position for ease of doing business out of 190<br />
countries. In 2017 the Kingdom stood at 48th position<br />
so this is a very big step up. Thailand was impressive<br />
in making improvements to the extent that<br />
its strides gained it the accolade as one of the top 10<br />
improvers for the first time.<br />
It is a testament to the government’s efforts to<br />
promote Thailand as a business friendly nation and<br />
aims to create a backdrop for international private<br />
investment.<br />
One notable metric was that the average time it<br />
takes to start a business in Thailand fell from 27.5<br />
days to just 4.5 days due to a streamlining of regulations<br />
and the introduction of reforms to make the<br />
Kingdom more business friendly.<br />
Thailand also introduced new laws to protect<br />
the rights of borrowers and lenders alike including<br />
broadening the scope of assets that can be used as<br />
security to gain credit.<br />
The PM’s Office Minister, Kobsak Pootrakool,<br />
commented that Thailand could be in the top 20<br />
countries as early as 2019 if there were further improvements<br />
on construction permits and registering<br />
property as well as improving ways to handle insolvency<br />
and trading across borders.<br />
Other areas that already had been improved<br />
could see further tweaks such as increasing the use<br />
of online and other computer based systems for various<br />
business services.<br />
Read Online At<br />
www.thailand-business-supplement.com<br />
“Thailand Privilege Card launched its 15th Anniversary<br />
party and presented an operative report<br />
to show its part in helping the Thai government<br />
boost the country’s economy and Thai tourism after<br />
a 66.35% increase in turnover measured over a<br />
10-month period from 2017.<br />
Thailand Privilege Card Co., Ltd., the operator of<br />
the Thailand Elite Card, organized the Elite Friend<br />
of Thailand event to celebrate the 15th Anniversary<br />
of the Thailand Privilege Card. Attending the auspicious<br />
event as the president of honor was Mr. Yuthasak<br />
Supasorn, Chairman of the Board of Directors of<br />
Thailand Privilege Card Co., Ltd., at the headquarters<br />
of Thailand Privilege Card Co., Ltd., on Sathorn<br />
Road.<br />
Mr.Yutthasak Supasorn, the chairman of the<br />
Thailand Privilege Card company, revealed the company’s<br />
annual operating result for 2018, within the<br />
10 month period between October 1st 2017 and July<br />
31st 2018, showing Thailand Privilege Card’s revenue<br />
as 790 million baht, a 66.35% increase in growth<br />
(calculating from the same period in 2017 with a revenue<br />
of 474.88 million baht), and surpassing its goal<br />
of 44.37% increase (revenue of 551 million baht).<br />
Net profit stands at 239 million baht as a result of the<br />
increase in sales and membership fees.<br />
Prominent benefits of the Thailand Privilege Card<br />
that have been attracting international cardholders<br />
include a long-stay Thai visa, fuss-free arrival and<br />
departure at airports, as well as a trouble-free stay<br />
within the Kingdom of Thailand not to mention other<br />
benefits in business and service provided by our<br />
friends and partners. The objective is to give cardholders<br />
the very best service and comfort whilst in<br />
Thailand, under the scheme “Simply Extraordinary<br />
Country, Membership Crafted for Friend of Thailand”.<br />
Luxury business and service-related benefits<br />
include a chauffeured limousine ride to hotels and<br />
residences, spa service at the partnered wellness<br />
centers, EPA service (Elite Personal Assistance) at<br />
Suvarnabhumi and Phuket Airports, golfing at the<br />
partnered clubs, and a visa extension service at indicated<br />
service points.<br />
At present the company does not plan to increase<br />
additional benefits as the existing privileges<br />
Email: ben.hightowerltd@gmail.com<br />
already satisfy the overall demands of members.<br />
However, it will prioritize in expanding the number<br />
of Alliance service providers with hopes of providing<br />
more efficient services to cardholders.<br />
“As our cardholders are long-stay expatriates<br />
who contribute significantly to the economy through<br />
high levels of spending especially in renting real<br />
estate, purchasing condominiums, and using business-related<br />
services from our alliance these practices<br />
are considered a kind of<br />
THAILAND<br />
PRIVILEGE CARD<br />
CELEBRATES<br />
ITS 15TH<br />
ANNIVERSARY<br />
investment and expenditure within the country, and<br />
benefit the Thai economy, not only in the travel industry<br />
sector, but the industrial sector as a whole”.<br />
Mr.Yuthasak added that the total membership<br />
tally of the Thailand Elite Card from its inception in<br />
2003 until 31 July 2018 had reached 6,192 (consisting<br />
of 2,452 founding members and 3,740 new<br />
members from 2013 until 31 July 2018), with the<br />
top 10 resident countries of the cardholders being<br />
China, Britain, Japan, the USA, France, Australia,<br />
Bangladesh, Russia, Germany and Switzerland. “For<br />
new memberships in the fiscal year 2018 (October<br />
2017-July 2018), there is a dramatic rise to 1,310<br />
members from 2017 fiscal year which is counted as<br />
26.8% growth. We could conclude that the majority<br />
of the new members are from China (29%), followed<br />
by Japan (8.3%), Britain (6.3%), France (6%), the<br />
United States of America (5.4%) and other territories<br />
(45%)”.<br />
“It can be seen that the Thailand Elite Card Co.,<br />
Ltd., possesses an excellent customer base because<br />
Thailand is a prime destination, thanks to its<br />
climate, food, culture and travel destinations. If we<br />
venture out into international markets, especially in<br />
fast-growing China and Japan, which are both witnessing<br />
a dramatic increase in new-generation business<br />
people - not to mention European and American<br />
markets - it will greatly contribute to a stronger<br />
customer base for the Thailand Elite Card. The<br />
company has participated in road shows organized<br />
by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, implementing<br />
plans and participating in sales activities with sales<br />
agents in targeted countries. We have also recruited<br />
more sales people to cover the desired targeted destinations,<br />
both local and international, with a significant<br />
proportion of native representatives, as well as<br />
making contact with alliances that meet the demand<br />
of members and to improve the branding of the Thailand<br />
Elite Card, with hopes to efficiently influence the<br />
growth of new card applicants.<br />
Mr. Yuthasak further explained that the top three<br />
bestselling card categories are the Elite Easy Access<br />
which costs 500,000 baht, and is a valid for five<br />
years, perfect for a solo traveler; the Elite Superior<br />
Extension which costs 1,000,000 baht and is valid for<br />
20 years, designed for retired and long-term expatriates;<br />
and the Elite Family Excursion, which costs<br />
800,000 baht and is valid for eight years perfect for<br />
short-stay visitors and families as it comes with a<br />
promotional price when purchased for more than two<br />
individuals.<br />
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