Editorial | Chartsiri Sophonpanich : The Future of ASEAN

On behalf of all of us at Elite+ magazine, may I be one of the first to wish you a happier, healthier and more prosperous New Year. While the Covid-19 virus remains, it appears we are all learning how to live with it relatively safely as we return to pre-Covid life and conditions, which I know we are all thankful for.

To help prepare for what lies ahead, we are very fortunate to have as our cover story an article based on a speech by the president of Bangkok Bank PCL, Mr Chartsiri Sophonpanic, on “The Future of ASEAN” and how we can prepare.

Next, we learn what the organising chairman of the Thailand International Motor Expo 2022, Mr Kwanchai Paphatphong, thinks about the future of Thailand’s electric and hybrid vehicle market, after which the ambassador of Poland to Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, HE Waldemar Dubaniowski, shares how he sees Polish-Thai relations continuing to grow and prosper after 50 years of close bilateral ties.

We then turn our attention to community development with two stories, one on the literary criticism camp, organised by Praphasarn Publishing and sponsored by Bangkok Bank PCL, designed to improve the critical thinking and writing skills of 40 selected high school and university students. Then, we learn how Karaket Sriparinyasin is helping Phrao district in Chiang Mai to develop through her Siri Mueang Phrao project.

Staying in Chiang Mai, we introduce you to a holiday home that for golfers can be a dream come true. We then take you to L'éléphant, a French Boutique Bistro to meet the owner and chef, Pathapee Moonkonkaew – Chef Oon, who has become known for creating French culinary delights with a Thai flavour.

After this we travel south to Satun with Pongpol Adireksarn to explore the caves of Satun UNESCO Geo Park after earlier visiting Jakarta.

There is also much more, including a piece on health concerns and their prevention; a visit with Mr Benoit van de Capelle, the spouse of the Belgian ambassador to Thailand; an exclusive excerpt from the new novel, Till the last Breath, by Anchalee Viva before closing with an enchanting photo essay of the mountains of the Thai north by Oliver Hargreave.

To conclude, let me once wish you a very Happy 2023.

Punrit Taechatada
Executive Editor