AEC Feed

A Thai-themed fair will be held in Ho Chi Minh City this month to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom and Vietnam.
A Thai Village will be among several events to commemorate the relationship including Thai trade fairs, a CEO night, a book fair and a student exchange programme.
“These activities demonstrate the multi-faceted relationship that our two countries have shared for the past four decade,” said Thailand’s consul-general to Vietnam Panpimon Suwannapongse.
The festival will take place at the September 23rd Park in downtown HCM City. It will also include a cultural performance and an exhibition of the Thai private business sector in Vietnam that has contributed to the growth of the country’s vibrant economy. There will be three main areas – a trade fair for Thai products available in Vietnam, an exhibition hall for the Thai private sector, and a restaurant zone where people can sample authentic Thai cuisine from leading Thai restaurants in HCM City. An on-stage cultural performance of Thai and Vietnamese artists will be organised every night. – Viet Nam News

NEW SIA ROUTES
Singapore Airlines will launch new routes to several destinations in Europe, Australia and New Zealand this year to expand its long-haul international flight network.
SIA regional vice president for Southeast Asia, Philip Goh, said the airline would launch its first long-haul flight to Amsterdam on May 9, using its new Airbus A350-900 fleet.
The planes will also be deployed to destinations in Asia, including Jakarta. In July, the aircraft will be used to add services to Dusseldorf, Germany.
“Subsequently, we will launch a new destination in Europe – Dusseldorf in Germany in July 2016,” Philip said in Jakarta. The A350 for long-haul flights will have 253 passenger seats in three classes – 42 business class, 24 premium economy class and 187 economy class seats.
SIA has 67 Airbus planes on order, including seven ultra-long range variants that will be delivered in 2018 for non-stop services between Singapore and several destinations in the US. “[Destinations include] New York, Los Angeles and others,” he said. - The Jakarta Post

DESIGN AWARDS
The Department of International Trade Promotion has announced the launch of Design Excellence Awards under the concept “Design Driven Business”.
The event is in accordance with the National Economic and Social Development plan to promote the export of high-quality creative products to boost the country’s economy.
The awards will be held in conjunction with the Thailand Institute of Design and Innovation Promotion.
It is hoped the initiative will result in the Kingdom being considered a source of creative products.
Supapat Ongsangkoon, deputy director-general of the Department of International Trade Promotion, said this year the department planned to expand the country’s export industry in accordance with the 11th National Economic and Social Development Plan. Supapat said the department would focus on strengthening the country’s export industry in an integrated way.
That would include improved logistics, better access to Asean Economic Community and international markets, finding new markets, as well as promoting the image of Thai products and services. – The Nation