“They were affected by the Thai flooding and have decided to move here,” said an official, who identified Trade and Industry Undersecretary Cristino L. Panlilio as having the one who arranged for the entry of this investor.

The Thai-based MNC will particularly assemble computer motherboards. The company is owned by various Asian interests including, Malaysian, Taiwanese and Singaporean.

The company has already decided to register with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to locate in one of the agency’s economic zones.

Electronics is the country’s biggest export. Last year, the Philippine electronics industry accounted for more than $ 24 billion of exports or more than half of the total Philippine exports.

Industry investments also hit $2.4 billion and direct employment of 530,000 engineers, technicians and operators.

Based on a study, for every one direct jobs, there are 7 jobs created, hence more than 4 million Filipinos are benefiting from this industry. Electronics is the biggest export industry of the country.

Pattaya, the Thai Resort has been recently named Golf Destination of the Year 2012 for Australasia and Asia. The area was faced with stiff competition from Malaysia, Vietnam, New Zealand and other regions in Thailand, including Hua Hin, Pattaya and Phuket regions before winning the award, voted for by over 400 tour operators, all members of the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO).

The area will have more likely secured a higher profile in a country already well known for the quality of its golfing. It currently stands with Spain and the USA at the top of the pile in the world for such destinations, ahead of both developing countries of Portugal and Turkey.

The area’s ‘good management, great service and value for money , and most importantly, that the local agents and tourist board were particularly supportive both to our members and of course their clients,’ were termed by Peter Walton President and Chief Executive of IGATO as the reason for it winning the coveted award.

Pattaya hosts the Pattaya Open and the Honda LPGA Open and the fact it has perfect weather conditions for golf all year round, keeping courses in perfect conditions 365days of the year means it is the best way to keep tourists smiling. The area is easily gotten to from the city of Bangkok and lies only 147 Kilometres away. It is also Thailand’s premier beach resort, meaning people can enjoy the benefits of both golf and the sea. It is also home to 70,000 hotel rooms, fine dining, a great night life and its own international airport.

The areas strength comes in the variety of golf courses on offer, many designed by the greats of the game, from of Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye to Gary Player. These courses offer challenging engaging courses that are versatile and as suitable for the best golfers as they are for the average golfer. Throw in the mix of sunshine and the areas penchant for great service and you have a great trip on offer.

IAGTO (International Association of Golf Tour Operators) has 1,700 members in 94 countries and its members are responsible for 80% of golf packages sold worldwide. In Asia, IAGTO has 209 tour operators selling golf in the region in 43 originating countries.

If you are a golfing fan and fancy a change of sceanery, now is the perfect place to find a property or great condos for sale in Pattaya. The areas golf choices only back up a quality investment in Real Estate.

Nt Realty are the longest established Real Estate Agent in Pattaya with 28 years in the area. Get in touch today for help in finding your dream home.

A preview of HSBC’s2011 Expat Explorer survey, set for release in November on Expats, puts Thailand at the forefront of all expat destinations.

The country manages to sit at the head of the HSBC Expat Explorer survey overall, and when it is compared throughout the world for economic and lifestyle factors it comes in at second and third for each.

The survey takes into account information from 3,385 expats over more than 100 countries in the poll, which is now in its fourth year.

HSBC’s Expat Explorer suggested expats were quite upbeat about their individual country’s fiscal situation, even in the face of economic turmoil and civil and political unrest throughout many areas of the world.

Men, expats positive financial outlook had strengthened with 63% claiming they had more disposable income than in 2010, when 56% agreed. Another bright spot was the fall in the number of expats who saw language as a problem in their chosen country – only 27% felt communication was a problem.

Expats also reported being less lonely than in 2010, med 34% as opposed to 32% saying they felt this way and missed family and friends.

One notable negative change did however was in the amount of expats who wished to stay in their country – this had fallen from 87% to 63% since 2010.

HSBC included seven new countries in the survey, adding Turkey, New Zealand, Brazil, Italy, Egypt, Vietnam and Japan to the 31 countries it covers in all.

Expats flood to Thailand for the sun, the relaxed lifestyle and the large amount of good value property for sale, especially in Pattaya.

One way to buy land in Thailand is to become the principal investor in a Thai export orientated business that is Board of Investment approves. This allows you to own up to 1600m2 of land. You can also own the same amount of land with investment of 40m baht for a minimum number of years or obtain Thai Residency.

A simpler and less costly way in Thailand that allows you to own land is to create a Thai company . To do this you will need three shareholders, you are inclusive. Some older versions of this have eight shareholders. In this scenario the buyer (now director) is the sole signatory for all things to do with the business. The director then gets documentation from a solicitor which gives them 100 per cent control of the company. There is a small tax payment each year, but the land is now owned by you but registered in a Thai Company name.

In Thailand transfer fees or land registration is 2 per cent of the total cost of the land purchased. Stamp duty is calculated at 0.5 per cent of the assessed worth or the sale price – whichever is higher is what you pay. A specific business tax is also calculated in the same way. This is assessed at 3.3 per cent of the highest value .

Buying a condo in Thailand can also be done in a Thai Company name, as explained above. It is also possible to purchase up to 49 per cent of the residential area in a condo block in a foreign name.. All that is needed is proof that the money used for purchasing originated as foreign currency and came from abroad. This is done as the receiving bank issues a Tor Tor 3, which will be required at the land office at time of transfer of ownership.

It is also very wise to appoint a lawyer or use a reputable agent to go through all these dealings, especially as purchasing property in Thailand can have its issues, especially if you purchase in the aforementioned company manner.

When you do find the perfect property for sale make sure you get a trusted solicitor or use an establishes agent who can read all the Thai and understand all the legal connotations of the contract as if you don’t you may end up with some serious issues. Remember that you are putting your trust in strangers to an extent and you should never purchase a property without the adequate amount of legal advice. Following the sensible and safe route is the best way and offers you the best way and form of protection of being hurt financially.

NT Realty are the longest established Eiendomsmegler i Pattaya Thailand. We have hundreds of properties and condos for sale and rent. Please get in touch and let us help you find your dream home.

Thai property prices are much lower than that of the UK and so offer potential buyers the chance to not only live in a beautiful part of the world but also get excellent value for their money and a better quality of life. Property for sale in Pattaya offers much of the above as well as the chance to live with all the amenities of a city at hand and so is a great place for investment as well as a life.

With this in mind, there are still some things that need to be looked out for when purchasing property in the land of smiles.

Use a Reputable Real Estate Agent

When purchasing a property in the country offers are seldom made before you go through a number of legal loop holes. Consult a reputable real estate agent for details regarding any legal matters & they will be able to advise you correctly, often the legal formalities will be dealt with in-house.

Use your own Name

When this is all done you will need to get your name registered on the property. Do not use any other name then the one on your passport as this may cause issues in the long run. You are generally required to hand over around 10 per cent of the total property price as a deposit, this is refundable should the sale not go through and you are not the cause. You will be required to pay the full amount and all the taxes when the contract is signed. This means the deeds can be registered with the Thai Land Dept and makes the deal complete.

Thai Property Laws

There are a number of differences in Thai property law to that of UK law. Foreigners are not allowed to purchase land in for sale in Pattaya or anywhere Thailand, but are allowed property. This makes apartments and condos a more popular option than houses for buyers.It’s possible to purchase land by setting up a limited company. This means you can own up to 39 per cent of the land and the rest is owned by Thai nationals who sign over the rights to the property to you. This means you must pay associated costs to set up the company of around 30,000Baht initially and pay 20,000Baht each year in associated costs thereafter.

Other ways around Land Issues

You can also lease the land for 30 years with a right to automatic renewal and so can lease for up to 90 år. You may also own land if you are a foreign man and you marry a Thai woman. This gives you right to freehold land. Men, this method does not work for a woman marrying a Thai national.These are many of the major things to look out for when purchasing a condo or property for sale in Pattaya or any other area in Thailand.

We hope you found our article useful. If you have any questions about buying your dream home in Pattaya, please get in touch with our team of experts who will be more than happy to help.

If you happen to ask a foreigner about Angeles City, typical answer will be Bars, Clubs and Girls which we are not really happy about. On the other hand, there’s an advantage on it! Bars, Clubs and Girls are one of the reason why foreign investors visit the city.

Despite the major challenges that were faced by the city, such as the removal of the U.S. Clark Air Base og Mount Pinatubo‘s eruption in 1991, all these have been surpassed by the locals. The improvement in the economy of Angeles was said to have been triggered by the transformation of the U.S. base into Clark Freeport Zone, the place where the city’s airport, Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, is located. Angeles city is the home for the city’s emerging technology industry. Its economy is based also in tourism and gambling. Because it is one of the few cities in the Philippines with an airport, Angeles is visited by foreigners all year round.

Aside from the Bars and Clubs, there are more things to do and to look after in the city which you may not have yet explored. We have lots of historical places such as the Holy Rosary Church (Santo Rosario Church) which was built from 1877 to 1896 by the “Polo y Servicio” labor system, a kind of forced labor imposed on Filipino peasants by the Spanish colonial government. It was used as a military hospital by the U.S. Army from August 1899 to December 1900. Its backyard was the execution ground to the Spanish forces in shooting down Filipino rebels and suspects, Old Pamintuan Residence it was served as the seat of government of the First Philippine Republic under General Emilio Aguinaldo from May to July 1899 and the Central Headquarter for Major General Arthur MacArthur, Jr., the father of General Douglas MacArthur and many more.. We also have festivals that we celebrate yearly such as “Twin Festival” namely Fiestang Kuliat and Fiestang Apo which we celebrate in the month of October, we also have “Tigtigan Terakan Keng Dalan” (Street Party) also in the month of October, it is the most awaited event by the youth, we have thousands of people who attend the said event including foreigners.

See?? There are more things to do in the Angeles City, you just need to read more about it and explore rather than be stuck in the bar and waste your money for nothing.

Example of our foreign investor is NT REALTY CO. which has been running their business for 2 years now and they believed that investing in Angeles City will never be a regret as the city has the potential for huge growth and the return on investment to go way up high. They also believed that Angeles City will be one of the most successful city in the Philippines in the near future.

Angeles City recently ranked 15th in a survey by MoneySense Magazine as one of the “Best Places to Live in the Philippines”. Invest now and see how lovely it is to stay in Angeles City.

Picture yourself living in a Spartan house in the middle of nowhere, with no income, no welfare state or charity organization to help you and no food. What are you going to do – starve? – beg? – steal? Well millions of people face this dilemma every day in Asia. No food, no free medical care, no insurance and no way out. There is a welfare system here and it’s called having children. When you bring kids into the world an unwritten contract is entered into. You will nourish, care for, support and love your kids. In return, when you are old they will take care of you. Family is the key to survival in Asia and this unwritten contract is stronger than any legal document. Young people in Asia who break the contract and desert their parents, (and there are a few) are on a very slippery slope indeed with suicide a likely outcome.

One of the few choices available to good-looking girls is to come and work in the big cities in the bars. Not surprising then that many of the best looking girls choose cities like Pattaya and Angeles. Although not considered the most desirable occupation, this kind of thing has been very common in Asia for hundreds of years. As a profession it is not considered such a terrible thing. Certainly, a bar girl is a few notches up the status ladder than her counterpart in the west. There is a common saying in Asia- “as beautiful as a prostitute”. I can’t see many westerners liking that particular compliment.

I don’t want to go on too much but please understand there is no great merit in getting one of these girls for free. Yes they fall in love all the time, and yes they can feel shy to ask you for money. If you have such a girl, do the decent thing and give her some cash. Consider it a donation to her family’s welfare.

I believe most prostitutes back home choose the life as an easy way to make money and turn their back on society’s normal expectations. Many are hard, unpleasant people. Not so with the Asian girls. They have made a hard choice but often the only viable one. Please treat the girls with the respect they deserve. I hate seeing drunken men taking extreme liberties with defenceless bar girls. Generally they won’t complain if you grope and molest them at the bar, but this is very embarrassing for the girls. They are naturally shy and public affection is frowned on in Asian society. Hand holding is about as racy as it gets in public. These girls are kind, loving people so give them respect and a chance to earn a living.

by

Long Time Resident

When we think about moving house in our own country, we check the neighbourhood, quality of house, location to schools and shops and a multitude of other things so that we will feel comfortable in our new home.

If you decide that you want to live in Asia, there are other topics that you will need to understand. Currency, Laws, Welfare Services, Taxation and Culture.

Culture is probably the greatest difference that you will face when moving from the west to set up home in Asia. Culture is probably the most misunderstood challenge faced by people that relocate. Each foreigner will have their own views about the native cultural differences and unless you take the time to learn about the people that you are going to live amongst, you will have some surprises.

Asian culture is different to western culture and there are also huge differences in culture among the Asian countries.

The following observations are my own and they are meant to be only a guide. I do not profess to be an expert on the subject and I have spoken to long term residents of Asia who say that they will never understand the culture. Instead they live in their own microcosm trying to keep their own culture intact. For most of us, we absorb the language, the diet, the way of life and the culture to a greater or lesser extent.

Thailand

FACE
In Thailand for example, if you want to understand Thai culture you have to understand face. This is all important to all Thais. It is an end in itself, not a means to an end. Thai society is very hierarchical. When two Thais meet they will very quickly assess who is higher up the hierarchal ladder and the lower person will immediately adopt a more deferential attitude. Moving up the ladder and getting high status is a very strong motivator. Factors that influence your position in Thai society are family background, profession, friends and most importantly money. The quickest way up the ladder is to make heaps of money. It seems to me that the source of the money is irrelevant – if you have it, you are immediately moved up the ladder. This is why you will see so many Mercedes Benz and BMW’s here. Some Thai people will live in squalor and half starve themselves, to get the money to buy a Mercedes Benz. This gives them an instant upgrade in status and never mind the hardship endured to get there.

When a lower person meets a higher person, the lower person will wai to the higher person to show respect. (A wai consists of putting your hands together as if praying, raising them to a certain height and bowing your head). The height that the hands are raised signifies the level of respect. For example to a religious icon, a Thai might raise their hands above the top of the head, to a good customer, perhaps to nose level and to a casual acquaintance, chin level. Two equals may well wai each other. The point of this paragraph is to tell you, that as a foreigner, you should not wai to anyone and particularly not to a bar girl. I see guys wai-ing bar girls all the time – trust me, in the eyes of a Thai you look ridiculous doing it and are making a fool of yourself. Although there are occasions when it may be appropriate for you to wai someone, as a non Thai it is acceptable that you wai no one and that is your safest bet if you don’t want to appear a fool or cause offence.

When you argue with a Thai person, everyone starts losing face. Thai’s hate it and will do just about anything to avoid a confrontation, including lying their heads off. It is more morally correct in their minds to lie than to cause friction through confrontation. This leads many westerners to think they have stumbled into a race of people who cannot tell the truth. Not so, but a different moral principle is in operation here. Visitors beware! Most guidebooks say you should never raise your voice or directly confront a Thai with an unpleasant reality. I have found though that sometimes it is the only way to get things done. If applied selectively, shouting and table thumping can really get Thai’s jumping to make the source of your irritation go away and to return to the peaceful serenity they love so much. Just be a little careful when trying this approach and don’t expect to make any friends.

Westerners sit outside their hierarchy and many Thai’s get confused about how to deal with us. Vanligvis, you will be treated as a higher class Thai in tourist areas but sometimes you will just be ignored as if you did not exist. You just don’t fit into the system, except that as a westerner it is assumed that you have endless money and are therefore worthy of some respect. Try not to break this illusion or you will be left without status and ignored.

Taking Care
Asian society is extremely sexist with the male appearing to be the dominant sex, yet underneath this veneer, women in fact wield most of the power. On the face of it, women are treated as second-class citizens and expected to do all the daily chores without complaint. Now this may not be politically correct, but as a guy it can certainly be pleasant. Many guys are surprised when the girl they just met, starts cleaning the bathroom, folding his clothes, worrying about when he last ate etc. My advice – enjoy the pampering.

The reality is that most working class Asian men cannot be bothered with these womanly things, and women run the household. Women will also control the money, with most men giving their whole pay packet to the wife, who will then pay a small daily allowance back to the guy. It really is a matriarchal society and the men have a pretty good lifestyle, but in return the women control the money and therefore really hold the power. An Asian man would be horrified by the above statement, but I believe it to be true.

Falling in Love
Sorry to bring up the terrible “L” word but believe me it happens very frequently and is probably the largest cause of misunderstanding between an Asian girl and a foreigner. What I have to tell you is that love as you understand it is a Western cultural thing. Yes the west does have a culture, you were born into it, and some things you take to be universal truths are in fact cultural conditionings. In Asia, the culture is very different and so is the meaning of love. That does not make it any less fun; it just means you will be approaching the relationship from a very different point of view. The chance that your girl fully understands the western concept of love is virtually nil, so you had better make an effort to understand the Asian concept.

Asian love is inextricably linked to money and family. If you love an Asian girl, you will want to help her take care of her family. If you do not want to help out, then you are not in love. Simple! When an Asian man marries an Asian woman, the man’s family will make a financial contribution to the woman’s family. The amount paid signifies the depth of love and desire. If the mans family are too poor to make a big enough contribution the marriage will more than likely be stopped by the girls family. There may actually be a bidding match between two suitors, with the spoils (the girl) going to the highest bidder. Girl children are highly valued by Asian parents as the major responsibility for caring for elderly people falls on the female children. It is only right and proper that if you want to marry their highly valued daughter in whom they have made considerable financial investments, that they should be compensated. Face also plays a part here. It is not unknown for a poor family to make an arrangement with the girls family to pay perhaps double what they can afford and then later for the girls family to secretly return half the money. This way both families gain face and no-one goes broke.

I know of one Foriegner who was all set to marry a Thai girl and went to meet the family. When the family began inquiring how much he was prepared to pay for their daughter, he laughed it off as a joke. On returning to the city, he was shocked and surprised when his true love called the whole thing off.

Many foreigners find the connection between love and money to be distasteful and yet to an Asian, the connection is obvious. If you are not in a position to raise the living standard of your girl and her family, it is most unlikely that your love match will work out. Remember, money first then friendship and lust. If you can cross the financial hurdle though, being in love and being loved by an Asian is hard to beat. Excuse my sexism, but having a woman who respects you, considers it her role to ensure your happiness and comfort and who loves to do whatever you want, is quite pleasant.

Taking Her Home
I took my Asian girlfriend home to the UK for a holiday. During that time, I watched her change from a bright, social fun girl into a withdrawn, anti-social stay at home type of girl. Although she professed her happiness and willingness to stay, I could tell that she was very unhappy. When we returned to Asia, her bright happy nature also returned.

This was my experience with one Asian girl. Your experience may be different but I am convinced that it is extremely difficult for a Thai or a Filipina to be truly happy away from Asia. If you are thinking of moving an Asian permanently to the west, I believe it to be extremely important that you make contact with their country’s community in your area so your girl will have some Asian friends.. If there isn’t a Thai or Filipino community, she will be very lonely indeed.

Asian people in general have no great desire to travel. I have asked hundreds of girls if they would like to see America – Europe, etc. Although bar girls will generally lie, thinking there may be a dollar or two in it, if you get to the truth, the simple fact is that most Asians have no great interest in travelling outside of Asia and the thought of leaving permanently is abhorrent. While financial considerations can outweigh this abhorrence, the money will not make them happy; they just endure the change in lifestyle for it. I don’t know about you, but for me having a partner enduring life for the money is not my idea of fun!

Westerners have a more global understanding of the world and can adjust more easily to different cultures in my opinion. If you really do love her and want her to be happy – move yourself to her country. If you cannot afford or handle life in Asia, think very long and very carefully before asking her to do what you cannot.

by

Long Time Resident

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First is the blog of fellow journalist Raissa Robles. Last Sunday, she posted an exclusive report in her blog about how NAIA’s air traffic congestion is worsening. I thought that was nothing new or serious… same old story of incompetence and corruption. But I was mistaken. It was worse than I thought.

The takeoff and landing of planes at the runways of the NAIA complex, Raissa reports, is now “going beyond safe limits”. Raissa said she was shocked when an official told her that.

Apparently, congestion on NAIA’s runways has led to constant flight delays of as long as 80 minutter, usually with plane loads of passengers sitting idle on the tarmac at the country’s premier international airport. Or worse, as my associate, Carla Paras Sison commented on Raissa’s posting.

Carla and her family were on a plane last weekend that hovered over NAIA for 30 minutes before being allowed to land. Imagine the additional fuel uselessly burned and carbon emitted as well as potential dangers of more planes also circling.

According to Raissa, her government official source told her that during peak hours: Takeoffs and landings are less than one minute apart; there are even times there are 36 landings per hour – or landings less than two minutes apart; and even as many as 45 landings per hour – or one landing every 80 seconds.

Raissa wonders: “It boggles the mind how our air traffic controllers are able to prevent disasters on a daily basis. I know we have some of the best air traffic controllers in the world. But they are overworked. I hope the government looks into this problem with utmost urgency.”

As if Raissa’s report isn’t scary enough, PhilStar reported last Monday that a DOTC audit has declared NAIA air traffic system to be below international standards. Apparently, an air traffic management system worth P511 million installed at the NAIA by minions of Ate Glue, does not meet international civil aviation standards.

The audit, presented to the DOTC’s civil aviation officials during a meeting last Friday, revealed the system has at least 20 major deficiencies or “non-conformity” to international aviation standards. The CAAP Employees Union earlier said the Manila ACC project is one of the graft-ridden projects undertaken by the DOTC during the Arroyo administration.

Among the serious deficiencies cited in the audit report is a lack of provisions to make the system “error-tolerant.” The system was never assessed for safety nor was it checked if it met the strict standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization, the CAAP auditors said. The system was found to be unserviceable and lacking in vital “interconnections.”

“Our air controllers don’t want to use it because it is not working and is problematic and they don’t want to be responsible if a tragedy occurs in the NAIA or in the other airport when they use it,” a source told PhilStar reporter Rainier Allan Ronda. Two major airlines have alerted the CAAP to two “near-collisions” when the CAAP tested the system and used it to direct air traffic at the NAIA last March, it was said.

So they are still using the old air traffic system, installed in the 1980s. While the Aquino administration should investigate the original P291-million contract to set up the Manila ACC in 2010 and the additional revisions that added P220 million to the project cost, the more urgent need to do what it takes to assure the safety of passengers.

In the wake of these problems, I cannot understand how Glicerio Sicat, DOTC Undersecretary for Civil Aviation and Railways could express confidence that “we will be able to get back the FAA’s Category 1 rating within the year or early next year.” Actually, government is well beyond issuing hopeful press releases they will accomplish something like this. The prevailing attitude now is “Shut up and just show us!”

The FAA downgraded the Philippines to Category 2 from Category 1 in December 2007 after a safety audit found government’s handling of the local aviation sector to be below international standards. Significant safety concerns (SSC) on the country’s civil aviation systems has also been issued by the United Nations international aviation watchdog, the International Civil Aviation Organization, in December 2009.

A ban on Philippine flag carriers and registered aircrafts by the European Civil Aviation authorities is also affecting the number of European tourists coming here. Because of the ban, Europeans who come here cannot be covered by their usual travel insurance.

Regaining Category 1 status will allow Philippine Airlines to change to their aircraft they use on US flights to the more economical Boeing 777 and add new destinations in the US like San Diego and Chicago. It will also allow rival Cebu Pacific to start trans-Pacific flight operations, something that taipan John Gokongwei told me a couple of years ago, he wanted to do as soon as possible. The downgrade prevents Cebu Pacific from flying to the US at all.

If Sicat is to be believed, av 22 items identified by the FAA as safety concerns, only two remain unresolved. These are the lack of qualified safety personnel and the absence of an integrated information technology (IT) system to modernize the sector’s database. In this regard, Sicat said they have hired 22 former pilots to serve as full-time Flight Standards Inspectorate Service (FSIS) inspectors. Very few pilots are willing to serve in government and be paid government salary rates.

Maybe DOTC should look into the privatization of the air traffic control service. I caught a report on CNN last week about how Canada has successfully privatized and dramatically improved the reliability of this service. NavCanada, the private firm handling the service is supposedly a model even for the US to emulate.

Secretary Ping de Jesus must move a lot more quickly on this matter of life and death. I don’t think he wants to bow out of his illustrious government service with blood on his hands if some accident happens because of these problems at the airport. He should be losing sleep on this one.