NEWS
-110 Years of Belgian Diplomatic Presence in Thailand -
Dear Readers,
Let me share again with you the success of some companies such as IBA and Labtech
Engineering. Let me also draw your attention to an interesting guide on how to start a business in Myanmar, co-written by Belgian national Ruben D’hauwers. And to conclude a special message for the Flemish speakers of the newsletter : do not miss tomorrow the portrait of our King Philippe on BVN TV. I wish you all a happy festive season.
Enjoy the reading,
Marc Michielsen
Ambassador
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I
, FILIP:
K
Belgische tv-kijkers in het buitenland krijgen deze week een bijzonder portret van hun staatshoofd te zien: Ik, Filip . Vijfhonderd dagen na de troonswisseling brengt Koppen, een programma van VRT, een bijzonder portret van het Belgische staatshoofd.
Ik, Filip is een blik achter de schermen; een portret dat voor de eerste keer toont wie de koning is en wat hij doet. BVN, de publieke televisiezender voor Vlamingen en Nederlanders in het buitenland, zal het portret, gemaakt door VRT, wereldwijd uitzenden op woensdag
3 december in de avond. Voor de lokale uitzendtijden zie http://www.bvn.tv/programma/%27Ik%252C_Filip%27 .
BVN is de publieke televisiezender voor Vlamingen en Nederlanders in het buitenland.
BVN biedt de kijker een dagelijkse selectie uit het televisieaanbod van VRT en NPO: nieuws en actualiteiten, informatie, sport, amusement en Nederlandstalig drama. BVN is wereldwijd 24 uur per dag via satelliet – en in een aantal regio’s ook via de kabel – en in veel hotels te ontvangen. Meer informatie over BVN, de programmering en ontvangst is te vinden op www.bvn.tv
.
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A FIRST GUIDE
R
D’
H
F
Ruben D’hauwers and Harald Friedl recently launched a “Myanmar Start-up Guide” as an attempt to describe the emerging start-up space in a country which is benefitting from the ongoing transition and a strong economic growth. Large and small firms have increasing opportunities in this new market. This Guide is therefore a pioneer attempt to inform and help entrepreneurs and investors about existing and new ventures. It describes recent developments in Myanmar, the main obstacles for start-ups and identifies important actors and support systems. The report also attempts to strengthen the ecosystem and to make a contribution to better public policy-making.
Ruben D’hauwers is a 26-year-old Belgian who moved to Myanmar in the summer of
2013, after completing his studies of entrepreneurship & innovation at the Antwerp
Management School. In Myanmar, he worked as a business development manager, establishing the local office of SBE NV (civil engineering consulting), in the framework of the Prince Albert Fund programme. http://cdn.e27.co/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Starting-Up-In-Myanmar-v2.pdf
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ABTECH
NGINEERING
Labtech Engineering is a company specialized in the manufacturing of high-tech laboratories and pilote plant machines and equipment for the plastics industry. It was founded in Thailand 25 years ago under Swedish management and with Swedish technology. Today, the company ranks as the second biggest one in its niche, producing up to 40 machines per month. 90 percent of the production is being exported all over the world, 10 percent being sold to companies in Thailand. Labtech Engineering has a strong connection with Belgium: its subsidiary responsible for Europe is located in
Embourg (province of Liège). The tight cooperation between the Thai and Belgian branch will be soon highlighted in a documentary made by IC Production for the French speaking channel TV5 Monde. After its broadcast on TV5, you will be able to screen this documentary on www.tv5monde.com
IBA (P
T
S
)
B
H
S
, USA.
The Belgian company IBA (Ion Beam Applications SA), headquartered in Louvain-La-
Neuve, recently announced a new contract deal with Beaumont Health System in Royal
Oak, Michigan, USA. The contract, worth 35 to 40 million euro, aims at the installation of its compact proton therapy system Proteus®ONE, that includes a long term maintenance agreement of 10 years. The contract signature comes after the FDA’s
(Food and Drug Administration) approval of IBA’s system in July 2014. It will be the 29 th
IBA proton therapy facility worldwide and the 13 th
in North America. The center in
Michigan is expected to treat its first patient in 2017. In the press release of 20
November, Chief Executive Officer of IBA Olivier Legrain says: “since we received the marketing authorization from the FDA for our new compact gantry, we have seen a heightened interest in our market leading compact offering Proteus®ONE”. The world’s leading provider of proton therapy solutions for the treatment of cancer is definitely gaining new prominence around the world. www.iba-worldwide.com
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U
L
-
After completing a pilot experience based on fifty students, the Management School of the University of Liège (Belgium) has just signed in Malaysia a 5-year contract with the
Malaysian corporation “NetAcademy” to set up e-learning courses for people who want to upgrade their management skills. Two formulas are offered “off line”: a short cycle of four month (EMAM - Executive master in advanced management), which enables to understand better the European style of management, and a one year cycle (EMBA -
Executive master of business administration), which allows to get a western strategic experience. Courses are available in English and in Chinese, and open for students in
Malaysia, Myanmar, China and Vietnam. Local coaches, trained by professors of the
University of Liège, give support to the students to prepare for the exams. The creation of these e-learning courses is a way to internationalize the Management School and open itself to new cultures.
(based on an article of Antoine Clevers, La libre Belgique - 27.11.2014) www.hec.ulg.ac.be/en
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1904 – 2014
110 years of Belgian Diplomatic Presence in
Thailand
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