| www.euronews.com Thailand evokes images of endless, sandy beaches but there is a lot more to this South East Asian country. In the first edition of our four part series 'Thai Life', we take a look at the kingdom's business spirit. To find out why Thailand is such a popular investment market, euronews headed to its capital, Bangkok. With a population of around 10 million, it can sometimes feel like all the city's inhabitants are on the streets at once. Bangkok is at the heart of the Thai economy with 90% of the country's export trade taking place in the capital. The Asian Kingdom is also becoming an evermore attractive production location for foreign businesses, which are attracted by its stable infrastructure and tax incentives. Stiebel Eltron, a housing technology manufacturer is one of the 500 German companies to start up operations in Thailand. It learned early on that doing business 'Thai style' requires a great deal of cultural awareness and tact; something the company's Export Manager, Holger Palla knows all too well: "In Germany you can raise your voice (literally bang your fist on the table) and speak more openly and direct. Maybe even a little too loud and direct. In Thailand you can't do that at all. You have to be careful not to embarrass other people -- they shouldn't lose face so you have to show respect and proceed more subtly." Yupa Tassri, General Manager at Siebel Eltron takes care of the staff's needs, bridging any cultural divides: "In Thai most people ... |
