Editorial | Dr Sumet Tantivejkul: Secretary-General for the People

The holiday season is upon us. So, on behalf of our Elite+ team along with myself, let me be one of the first to wish you a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year. For the most part, the weather has been most accommodating, except in the south where heavy rains have brought flooding. But in Bangkok and the north, the air has been crisp and clear, perfect for walking or sitting outdoors and in gardens to wine and dine and spend time with friends, family and lovers.

To begin this issue, we have been very fortunate to sit down and talk with Dr Sumet Tantivejkul, who has spent the past more than 35 years as the Secretary-General of the Chaipattana Foundation since its founding in 1988. The foundation’s name, translated as Victory in Development, has inspired Dr Sumet to dedicate his adult life working to find and implement solutions through development projects that will improve the lives of Thais throughout the country.

We next share with you the sights and sounds of the Thailand-Korea Soft Power Festival 2024 extravaganza, a celebration of Thai and Korean culture, both traditional and pop, organised in part to celebrate 65 years of bilateral relations. After this, we introduce HE Hala Youssef Ragab, Egypt’s ambassador to Thailand, who discusses marking the milestone of 70 years of diplomatic relations between her country and Thailand. The festivities continue as we introduce the Phongpetra family and Southern Group, which recently celebrated their 55th anniversary of building a sustainable future together.

Next, we take you to the top of the Hyatt Regency Sukhumvit Bangkok and its spectacular Spectrum Lounge & Bar, a perfect venue to celebrate the holidays or any evening with friends or family. Our travels then take you to Darmstadt in southwest Germany before our final photo essay takes you to Leipzig in the east of the country. In between we introduce you to the first winner of the prestigious 2024 ASEAN Chommanard Women’s Literary Award, acclaimed Indonesian author, Ratih Kumala, the novelist and scriptwriter of the award-winning Netflix hit, Cigarette Girl. Then, its an adventure in search of the Bornean Orangutan followed by tips for those interested in vegetarianism. You next have the chance to meet Madame Pragjna Singh, spouse of India’s ambassador to Thailand, a very dedicated, innovative educator. This all before the very riveting short story, “The Man and The Tiger”, by national artist Seksan Prasertkul as he examines two sides of one’s inner self.

In conclusion, let me again wish you happy holidays, and tell you how excited I am about the articles we will be pursuing after the New Year to provide you with insight into our developing world along with travel recommendations and entertainment.

Arthorn Techatada
Executive Editor