Chiang Mai creativity and innovation wins awards

Creative Awards Chiang Mai winners at the ceremony
held at the TCDC office.
Nopniwat Krailerg
Local businesses and individuals were rewarded for their creative design in four
different categories; Architecture and Interiors with 5 winners, Product Design
with 8 winners, Packaging with 4 winners and New Printing and New Media Design,
also with four winners. The Chiang Mai Design Awards are held annually by the
Chiang Mai Creative City Committee, this year held at the Thailand Creative &
Design Center (TCDC). The event was presided over by Associate Professor Dr.
Sermkiat Jomjunyong Vice President for Research and Academic Services, Chiang
Mai University.
The Chiang Mai Design Awards are held to support and promote creative design and
innovation among businesses involved in handicrafts, decoration, food products,
health and spa, and more. The CDA works to promote innovation and outstanding
talent from Chiang Mai to the outside world with a new perspective.
|
|
 |
UK targets top business travellers with new premium visa services
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) in Thailand has extended
its priority visa service to include all business, work, investor and
entrepreneur visa applicants. The service is already available to
business visitors, tourists and family visitors who meet certain
criteria, as well as Tier 4 students, and has proven extremely
successful with over 18,700 applicants taking up the service since its
launch in January 2012.
The priority visa service is a fast track processing service which aims
to return visa decisions within 3 to 5 working days compared to the
standard 15 working day service and is available to eligible applicants
who pay an additional fee.
British Ambassador, Mark Kent, said:
“The UK is open for business and we are working hard to ensure we have
the right services in place to encourage growth and support those who we
want to attract to the UK. This includes our visa service and I am very
pleased to announce that we have extended our already successful
priority visa service in Thailand to include anyone travelling for
business, investment and work purposes.”
As part of its economic plan, the government has also announced, today
in the UK, further improvements to the visa system to attract the
brightest and best to work, do business and invest in the UK.
This includes:
· The launch of the GREAT Club, an invitation only, bespoke account
management service providing top business executives with bespoke
support from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). The Club will start in the
New Year as a 12 month pilot aimed at around 100 global business leaders
who use the visa service and have strong links to the UK. The
establishment of a global Business and Growth network to identify
priority businesses that use our visa system and to give them access to
a quick, responsive service, including a ‘Business Helpdesk’ in the UK,
providing direct access to qualified UKVI staff.
· The expansion of our same-day visa service, currently available in
India and soon to be available in China, to several further key
locations by the end of 2014.
· The extended priority visa service and other initiatives are set to
support the continued strong demand for UK visas in Thailand. . In the
12 months to June 2013, UK Visas and Immigration issued approximately
65,700 visa applications to Thai nationals, 16% more than the previous
12 months including a 29% increase in tourist visas and an 18% increase
in business visitor visas. 95% of Thais who apply for a UK visa are
successful.
Further information on the UK visa service and available premium
services in Thailand is on our website:
www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/countries/thailand
|
|
Rajamangala University strengthens corporate communications
New President launches new project

Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna
Chiang Mai’s President Dr. Numyoot Songthanapitak reviews the exhibits
from other campuses.
Chiang Mai Mail reporters
Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna Chiang Mai launched a
new project to showcase innovative works and research from 6 areas, 4
faculties, one college and offices. Each area brought products from
their research to display at the University. The opening ceremony for
the project titled “Strengthening Cultural and Corporate Communications”
at 9 a.m. on November 25, 2013 by Dr. Numyoot Songthanapitak, the new
President of Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna Changmai.
The Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna Lampang offered an
exhibit on fruit and vegetable processing that adds value to the local
products, Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna Nan exhibited
orchid breeding technology, Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna
Phitsanulok exhibited on the technology transfer of safe rice
production. Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna Chiang Rai
exhibit was on integration into the community, Rajamangala University of
Technology Lanna Tak exhibited their computerized laser cutting machine
and Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna Chang Mai exhibit
academic works from all 4 faculties in academic, culture, academic
services, research of instructors and students.
|
|
Chiang Mai’s new sister city
Kengtung sees growth in relations
Nopniwat Krailerg
Myanmar President U Thein Sein met with visiting Thai deputy
Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul in Nay Pyi
Taw on Friday, November 22 after discussions with Prime Minister
Yingluck Shinawatra in Brunei on April 25, 2013 led to the establishment
of Chiang Tung or Kengtung in Shan State in Myanmar as the sister city
of Chiang Mai.
Piroj
Kullawanich, the head of the Office of Commercial Affairs Chiang Mai
reports on the results of the September visit to Chiang Tung or Kengtung
in Shan State in Myanmar.
Further meetings between officials in Kengtung in September led to
agreements on increasing safety for tourists at the border, cultural and
educational exchanges, collaboration on tourism and sports and
discussion to extend the daily bus route Chiang Mai - Mae Sai – Tachilek
and extend on to Kengtung or Chiang Tung, as it is also called.
Talks included forest fire and smoke management in border regions and
medical cooperation.
Chiang Mai has led performances of the dramatic arts to promote art,
culture and traditions of the province in exchanges in Chiang Tung. The
private and public sectors in Chiang Mai have delivered sports equipment
to students in Kengtung and 15 entrepreneurs in the OTOP/Chiang Mai
Brand/SME wellness services visited Chiang Tung where they saw great
interest in products such as ceramics, umbrellas, herbs coffee and
others. Interest was so great people there have requested future visits
with goods from Chiang Mai as many people there have the purchasing
power but say they lack quality products.
|
|
Northern train service scheduled
to resume December 1
Thailand’s northern trains are to resume service December 1 after a more
than two month closure for rail maintenance, the State Railway of
Thailand (SRT) head said last week.
SRT Governor Prapas Chongsa-nguan confirmed the reopening of northbound
train services after the SRT temporarily closed a significant stretch of
the popular rail route between Sila At in Uttaradit to the railhead in
Chiang Mai since September 16 for maintenance following a number of
derailments.
The SRT governor said the maintenance work is 90 per cent completed.
Most important, he said, is the installation of barricades in four
tunnels to prevent the fall of a train if it derails, as well as
installing ventilation to allow passengers to walk through the tunnels
to the exit if an accident occurs.
Most rail maintenance has also been done. All work will be complete by
the end of November and the northern train service will resume operation
December 1.
Mr Prapas said defective rails have been removed in the maintenance.
However he noted that SRT’s locomotives are quite old and some spare
parts are no longer produced.
The SRT is seeking to buy new locomotives, with new engines to be used
for the northern trains, he said, emphasizing that there will not be
frequent accidents as in the past. (MCOT online news)
|
|
Foodies delight; Food Festival to be held December 6 – 13

Deputy Governor Charoenrit Sa-nguansat is
joined by Sunisa Thuwanon, TAT head Wisut Buachum, and Central
executives in announcing the upcoming Chiang Mai Food Festival to be
held at Central Plaza Chiang Mai Airport from December 6 – 13, 2013.
Nopniwat Krailerg
ASEAN food will be the focus of this year’s Chiang Mai Food
Festival to be held at Central Plaza Chiang Mai Airport from December 6
– 13, 2013. Foodies can gather at the Lan Muan Jai from 5 p.m. to 11
p.m. and sample a broad range of foods.
The 26th annual Chiang Mai Food Festival is being held in cooperation
with the Chiang Mai Restaurant Club according to Sunisa Thuwanon,
President of the Chiang Mai Restaurant Club and head of the 26th Chiang
Mai Food Festival.
K. Sunisa said that the fair is being held under the concept “Travel and
Taste ASEAN food” and activities are divided into four parts. An
exhibition will be held by the Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden
Organization titled “Herb Garden for life” and will feature healthy
herbs. There will be demonstrations of ASEAN national cuisines as well
as many booths selling food, a fancy ASEAN dress contest, Miss Chiang
Mai Food Festival and a free concert.
|
|
|