Embassy of Belgium – May 2014
Economic social cultural
NEWS
May 2014
The Embassy of Belgium
*1904-2014*
-110 Years of Belgian Diplomatic Presence in Thailand -
Dear Readers,
This month you will find some information on the five Belgian companies participating in
Propak Asia 2014, the Stone-Laying Ceremony for Solvay’s new Sodium Bicarbonate
plant as well some cultural news: the Belgian film in the EU Film Festival in Bangkok,
Chang Mai and Khon Kaen and Belgian Video art in Bangkok.
Enjoy the reading,
Marc Michielsen
Ambassador
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Embassy of Belgium – May 2014
5 BELGIAN COMPANIES AT PROPAK ASIA 2014
ProPak Asia is the number one event in the region for all food, drinks and
pharmaceutical processing and packaging industries. The event provides a unique
opportunity to discover new technology and equipment, to gain market insights and to
network with industry professionals and businesses. The 22nd edition of Propak Asia will
be held from 11 to 14 June 2014 at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition
Centre (BITEC). This year five Belgian companies will take part in the exhibition.
More information? Go to http://www.propakasia.com/
Afoheat
Afoheat’s head office is located in Veurne, in the West
of Flanders. The company is specialized in innovative
grilling, roasting, browning and marking machinery to
create more appetizing food products. The technology
guarantees a limited weight loss and a low energy cost.
Mainly designed for meat, their machineries can also
be used to cook fish, vegetables or bakery.
Website: http://www.afoheat.be/
Ateliers François SA - AF Compressors
Launched in Liège in 1870, Ateliers François was
originally created to produce pneumatic
hammers used for tunneling in the mining
industry. Since the 80s, the company has
specialized in the Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) industry. Ateliers François provides
solutions and products to engineering offices, soft drink producers and food or non-food
industries. Ateliers François has a constant Research and Development philosophy and
works closely with the Université de Liège and the Université Catholique de Louvain.
Today the Belgian company has customers spread over 135 countries who benefit from
their unique experience.
Website: http://www.afcompressors.com/
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Embassy of Belgium – May 2014
Crown-Baele
Founded in Brussels in 1892, Crown-Baele has its
headquarters in Londerzeel about 15 km from the
Brussels National Airport. The Belgian company
gained a global reputation as an engineering and
manufacturing expertise in the bottling industry.
Crown-Baele delivers high quality, sturdy bottle washers and fillers. Crown-Baele
engineers not only design long lifetime machines, they can also refurbish existing
machines and provide tailor-made solutions. Worldwide brands such as Carlsberg, CocaCola or ABInBev are parts of Crown-Baele’s references.
Website: http://www.crown-baele.com/
FAM NV
Machine constructor Franck and Remoortere SA (F&V) was
created in 1945. Few years later, F&V became FAM and dedicated
its work to the design and production of food cutting machines.
Nowadays FAM develops leading and innovative solutions for the
food cutting industry. The Antwerp-based company is a European
market leader and is present in 72 countries. FAM received
worldwide recognition for its innovative applications, its
customer-oriented approach and its high quality products.
Website: http://www.fam.be/
Marelec Food Technologies
Based along the North Sea in Nieuwpoort,
Marelec Food Technologies has been
active in the fishing industry since 1983.
The company has gained strong
experience in fish weighing and sorting
systems.
The company’s features include robustness and high speed precision. Marelec’s systems
are delivered across the world and can also be used for the meat and poultry industries.
Website: http://www.marelec.com/
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Embassy of Belgium – May 2014
STONE-LAYING CEREMONY FOR SOLVAY’S
SODIUM BICARBONATE PLANT
As we already announced in the October 2013 Newsletter, leading global chemical
manufacturer Solvay’s group decided to build South-East Asia’s largest Sodium
Bicarbonate plant on its premises in Thailand. On Friday April 25th, the Brussels-based
international group officially launched the stone-laying ceremony for their facility.
During the ceremony, H.E. Ambassador to Thailand Marc Michielsen took the floor to
congratulate Solvay for its old-established presence in Thailand and recalled the strong
Belgian-Thai economic ties. The new plant, which will be located in the current Solvay’s
existing site in Map Ta Phut, is expected to be operational by the beginning of 2015.
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Embassy of Belgium – May 2014
Picture: H.E. Ambassador of Belgium to Thailand Marc Michielsen (Sixth from left),
attended the ceremony with Mr. Chavarat Charnvirakul, Former Acting Prime Minister &
Former Minister of Interior (fifth from right), Mr. Peravatana Rungraungsri, Deputy
Governor from Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) (fifth from left), Mr. Tada
Soontonphan, Office Director from Office of Hemaraj Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate
(Map Ta Phut) (fourth from left), and Mrs Siriporn Wuthilaohaphan, Solvay Country
General Manager of Thailand & Solvay Peroxythai Managing Director (In the middle).
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Embassy of Belgium – May 2014
BELGIAN MOVIE IS TO BE SCREENED AT THE 2014 EUFF
The 2014 European Union Film Festival (EUFF) which is organized by the EU Delegation
to Thailand together with the Embassies of the EU Member States will be held from
23 May till 29 June. The 2014 showcase will first take place in Bangkok from 23 May to
5 June at CentralWorld. The event will then move to the MAYA Lifestyle Shopping
Center in Chiang Mai from 13 to 22 June and will finally end up in Khon Kaen at the
Central Plaza from 27 to 29 June.
During the festival, the audience will
have the chance to watch the famous
Belgian film “Come as You are”. This
comedy also known as “Hasta la Vista”
received many rewards and won the
2012 “People’s Choice Award for Best
European Film”. Released by Geoffrey
Enthoven in 2011, the movie is based
on a real-life experience and describes
the story of 3 handicapped men who
decide to embark on a Spanish wine
tour with the hope to find the love of
their life.
All the movies will be screened in their
original language with English subtitles,
while 6 films be subtitled in Thai. The
movie festival is free of charge!
More information concerning the event and the movie screenings?
www.facebook.com/EUinThailand | www.sfcinemacity.com
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Embassy of Belgium – May 2014
“IF IT’S WEDNESDAY, THIS MUST BE BELGIUM
TREASURES FROM THE ARGOS COLLECTION”
The Argos Centre for Art and Media and its curator and art critic Ive Stevenheydens,
with the support of the Embassy of Belgium, the Flemish Government and the Reading
Room in Bangkok, are proud to present “If It’s Wednesday, This Must be Belgium Treasures from the Argos Collection”, a unique screening program of short experimental
films from influential Belgian artists.
The event will take place on Wednesday May 28th at 7 pm at the Reading Room on Silom
Road, 19. After the screening there’s a Q+A session with the curator.
Belgian video art is internationally known for its avant-gardism, its eclecticism and its
multiple crossovers with other disciplines; while Belgian artists have long been pioneers
in the use of the medium since its inception in the 1970s. The screening program ranges
from 1974 to 2010 and illustrates the richness and diversity of Belgian video artists,
who, through imaginative ideas and zests, have eloquently created unconventional
works with personal “handwritings”.
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Embassy of Belgium – May 2014
The screening program is as follows:
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L’objet from Jacques-Louis Nyst, 1974.
A Weekend with Monsieur Magritte, Part 1: Saturday from Jef Cornelis, 1997.
Violin Fase from Eric Pauwels, 1986.
Plot Point from Nicolas Provost, 2007.
The Corridor from Sarah Vanagt, 2010.
ABOUT
Argos Centre for Art and Media is Belgium's principal contemporary art centre for
audiovisual and visual arts (www.argosarts.org).
Ive Stevenheydens (b. 1975) is a curator, writer, and art critic. His research,
publications, and projects focus on the visual arts, sound/music, and performance. He is
the curator at Argos Centre for Art and Media, Brussels.
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