Highlight of U.S. Commercial Service Bangkok.

California Wine Month Celebration

Oakland Export Assistance Center in cooperation with FCS Bangkok and Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Bangkok arranged a "California Wine Month Celebration" on September 29, 2009 at the Cisco TelePresence videoconference site in San Francisco and Bangkok.

It was the first time that a "virtual wine tasting" was conducted using the technology from Cisco called "Cisco TelePresence." The unique high-definition videoconference technology provided live, face-to-face interaction.  Eight Thai importers participated in the event, which featured wine from the following California wineries: Pacific Estates, R&B Cellars, and Periscope Cellars. 

The response from participants was very positive.  As one of the wineries commented, "This was just great. I felt like we were in the same room." The event was sponsored by Cisco, Fedex, and Libbey Glass Inc.

Dunkin Donuts CSR Effort at Harlem Globe Trotters Event

CS Bangkok coordinated with Golden Donuts (Thailand) Co., Ltd., (the license holder of Dunkin Donuts and Au Bon Pain in Thailand) to conduct a corporate social responsibility (CSR) program at the Harlem Globe Trotters basketball demonstration on Friday, August 21 at the Impact Arena in Bangkok. The company supplied 500 donuts painted in red, white, and blue and in the shape of the US national flag as part of a company CSR effort. The event was attended by U.S. Ambassador John, who also participated in the basketball demonstration. Over 150 basketball enthusiastic students from the Boy Orphanage Home and seven other leading secondary schools in Bangkok enjoyed the donuts and drinks supplied by Golden Donuts.

Grand Opening of Thailand Franchise and Business Opportunities on July 16, 2009

CS Bangkok arranged a U.S. Franchising Catalog Show at Thailand Franchise & Business Opportunities (TFBO) 2009 on July 16-19,2009. The show took place at Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Center (BITEC) and is the biggest franchising show in South East Asia. The TFBO 2009 had about 90 franchise concepts from 5 countries displayed and demonstrated.

On July 16, 2009 Commercial Counselor Cynthia A. Griffin, U.S. Embassy participated in the official grand opening of TFBO, which was opened by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. Commercial Specialist Pramot, Commercial Specialist Thanyathorn, and Commercial Assistant Suttharud assisted in recruitment, display,and the collection of leads for 7 U.S. franchise concepts: Carl's Jr., My Gym Enterprises, Nexcen Franchise Management, Servicemaster, Johnny Rockets, Baskin Robins, and ActionCoach. The U.S. Franchising Catalog Show went well with about 30 serious investors visiting the booth and generated 93 trade leads.

The grand opening of the Simmons bedding boutique in Thailand

On July 16, 2009, Commercial Counselor Cynthia A. Griffin, U.S. Embassy and CS Thanyathorn Voravongsatit participated in the official grand opening of Beautyrest Black®, one of the Simmons collections at CentralWorld shopping mall in Bangkok. Simmons Bedding Company is the well-known U.S. maker of luxury mattresses, which include: Beautyrest®, Beautyrest Black®, Natural Care®, ComforPedic® and Simmons Kids® mattresses.

Today, Simmons has 18 manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, as well as 23 international licensees and sub-licensees, who represent Simmons in more than 100 countries. Simmons’s executives, led by Director of Simmons (Southeast Asia) PTE Ltd, Mr. Casey Teh greatly appreciated our presence at the grand opening. Presently, Simmons plans to expand the business to Vietnam, the Philippines and India (Hyderabad).

Visit Chevron Offshore Oil Platform in the Gulf of Thailand.

On May 26, 2009, U.S. Ambassador to Thailand, Eric G. John, along with Commercial Counselor Cynthia A. Griffin and Commercial Attache James Golsen, visited Chevron offshore facilities: Benchamas Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO), Benchamas Central Processing Platform and Living Quarters in the Gulf of Thailand. The visit provided the Ambassador and the Commercial team an opportunity to see Chevron's world class operations first hand. As a result of the visit, Ambassador John indicated that he has a much deeper appreciation of Chevron's significant contribution to Thailand's energy needs.

Opening of a new Colgate-Palmolive's Regional Soap plant in Thailand on May 22, 2009

CS Bangkok attended an opening of a new Colgate-Palmolives regional soap plant in Thailand on May 22, 2009. Ambassador Eric G. John presided over the opening ceremony at the new production facility in Amata Industrial Estate in Cholburi.

Colgate-Palmolive chose Thailand as it regional production base and distribution center of bar soap. The new facility has an annual capacity of 40,000 tons of soap that will be distributed to over 33 countries around the world.

Commercial Counselor joins hands with Franchise Association to promote U.S. franchises in Thailand

During a recent launch to kick off Thailand's 13th Business Opportunity & Franchise Expo Feb. 26- March 1, 2009, Commercial Counselor Cynthia Griffin Greene highlighted the interests of U.S. companies in seeking franchisors in Thailand.   As the market leader in franchising with 65% market share, U.S. franchise offer quality, brand recognition and innovation and continue to be interested in the Thai market. 

Many American franchises have been successful in Thailand such as McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut, A&W, Auntie Anne’s, Dunkin Donuts, Outback Steakhouse, Subway, Tony Roma’s, TGI Friday, Hard Rock Cafe, Starbucks, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Gloria Jeans’ Coffee, Au Bon Pain, Sizzler, Swensen, Bud’s Ice Cream, Dairy Queen, Baskin Robbins, Haagen-Dazs. TCBY, Mini Melt, Hertz, Avis, Budget, Midas, Mail Boxes, PostNet, Alpha Graphics, Guess, Levi’s, Holiday Inn, Best Western, Quality Inn, California Fitness, Berlitz, ELS, English First, Direct English, ELC Learning Center, Futurekids, Math-Science, Gymboree, Kumon, Radio Shack, Blockbuster, GNC, Comfort Inns, Choice Hotels, Marriott, Intercontinental, Hilton, Conrad, Raddison etc.

Ambassador Eric G. John and Commercial Counselor Cynthia Griffin Greene participated in a DVC briefing with the American business community in Singapore on February 2, 2009

On February 2^nd, Ambassador Eric G. John and Commercial Counselor Cynthia Griffin Greene participated in a DVC briefing with the American business community in Singapore.    Representatives of American companies had an opportunity to receive an update on the political, economic, and commercial climate in Thailand.   During the hour-long DVC, Ambassador John highlighted the successes of the new Abhisit administration and some of the challenges yet to be met.  Some 42 business representatives were on hand for the DVC, which was hosted by the U.S. Embassy Singapore, Foreign Commercial Service, under the management of Commercial Counselor Dan Thompson.

Grand Opening of the newest branch of the True Value Hardware in Phuket - January 17, 2009

U.S. Embassy Bangkok Commercial Counselor Cynthia Griffin-Greene helped welcome the newest branch of the True Value group of stores in Thailand at the grand opening of True Value Hardware in Phuket on January 17, 2009. Ms. Griffin-Greene was joined by Khun Gritsada Chanchamratsaeng, True Value President & Managing Director; Khun Boonying Kongarchapatara, True Value Executive Vice President; Khun Wanpen Kongarchapatara, True Value Vice President; and Mr. Supachai Pochanukul, Khao Phanom Sheriff, Krabi Province among other distinguished guests and friends at this very special event. With True Value stores in 54 countries, numbering 5,000 throughout the world, the True Value group "reflects the spirit of American entrepreneurship at its best," said Ms. Griffin-Greene. True Value in Phuket is the company's third branch in the stand-alone store format, following on branches in Nonthaburi and Pattaya.