GTCC's 60th Anniversary

According to the official foundation meeting of the chamber on 19 July 1962 at the Erawan Hotel, there were 57 founding members comprising German and Thai merchants and entrepreneurs.

GTCC's founding President is Mr. Charoon Sibunruang from Bangkok Trading Co., Ltd.. He had been President four times during 1962-1972. (elected in 1962, 1963, 1964, and 1967).

25 October 1962 was our official registration day as “Thai-German Chamber of Commerce” at the Association Register in Bangkok under the registration number 901. Six years later, the Chamber’s name was changed to “German-Thai Chamber of Commerce” in 1968 by the Association Register in Bangkok.

Diplomatic relations between the member states of the German Customs Union and the Kingdom of Siam were established in 1862 with the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Trade and Shipping by Count Friedrich zu Eulenburg (In the picture) and King Mongkut. It took another 100 years until the Thai-German Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1962. The name was changed to German-Thai Chamber of Commerce in 1968.

Since 1962, GTCC has relocated its office for 5 times.

• The first office (1962-1964) was at 35 Suriwong Road on the first floor, with the monthly rent fee of 500 THB for the space of 25 sq.m in 1962.
• The second office (1964-1972) was located on 331 Silom Road.
• The third office (1972-1999), in the picture, was on the 6th floor of Kongboonma Building, Silom Road, opposite to Narai Hotel.
• The fourth office (1999-2017) was at 25th Floor of Empire Tower. 
• Our current office has been at AIA Sathon Tower since 2017. 

On 12 April 1962, the first public representation of the Thai-German Chamber of Commerce (which is now named as GTCC) was on the occasion of the visit of a German delegation negotiating a loan for the State Railways of Thailand.

In 1962, the Thai-German Chamber of Commerce (now GTCC) had 57 member companies, comprising German and Thai merchants, and entrepreneurs. Now we have 542 members, as of April 2022.

GTCC was the seventh foreign Chamber of Commerce in Thailand according from the founding year in 1962.

In 1962, six sub-committees were established by the Chamber’s Executive Committee, which included Tax and Custom Affairs, Industrial and Investment Projects, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Products, Export of Thai Products, Other Products and Affairs, and Machines, Tools, Iron and Steel.

On 19 January 1962, the Foundation Committee for establishing a German Chamber of Commerce was elected by German businessmen in Thailand.

Seven days later (26 January) , the first unofficial gathering of German and Thai businessman took place at a luncheon in the Plaza Hotel. Twenty companies pledged their support for the foundation of Thai-German Chamber of Commerce.

Six months later (19 July), there was the first official meeting of the chamber with 57 members at the Erawan Hotel. There was also an election of the Executive Committee. 

Six days after the chamber’s first official meeting on 19 July 1962, the first meeting of the chamber’s Board of Directors was held on 25 July, with the election of President Mr. Charoon Sibunruang (1962-1972) and Vice President Mr. Hans Jürgen Gosch.

Twenty days later (14 August), the Chamber submitted a formal application to the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHT) for official recognition.

Six months later (23 January 1963) the DIHT officially acknowledged the Thai-German Chamber of Commerce.

During the first few months of the chamber, the daily work was temporarily handled in turn by members of the Executive Committee. They later planned to hire a part-time executive secretary, in agreement with the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHT). Mr. Kurt von Laer accepted this position and become the chamber’s first Executive Director (1963-1971).

Among GTCC’s 57 founding member companies in 1962, seven members have been our members until now:

• B.Grimm & Co. Limited
• Lufthansa German Airlines
• Rieckermann (Thailand) Co., Ltd
• United Flour Mill Public Co., Ltd
• Wu Tung Pak & Co., Ltd
• ALUCON Public Company Limited
• Bayer Thai Co., Ltd.

One decade after the GTCC was founded in 1962, the number of members had increased to 135, The majority of the members were Thai exporters (28 of them were in Germany).

In 1972, GTCC together with Thai Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Department of Economic Relations, encouraged 12 local manufacturers to visit Frankfurt Autumn Fair. 14 local exporters visited the Berlin fair "Partners for Progress". 

The first honorary membership certificate was awarded to Mr. Charoon Sibunruang (Bangkok Trading Co., Ltd.) during the opening ceremony of GTCC’s third office at Kongboonma Building on 16 August 1972. Mr. Charoon was also the first President of GTCC.

In 1974, GTCC hosted three luncheon meetings together with the British and the Franco-Thai Chambers of Commerce on May 23, August 8, and October 25.

In 1975, GTCC was one of the five chambers invited to join the Foreign Investment Advisory Council, which was suggested by Thailand’s Prime Minister M.R. Kukrit Pramoj during his speech at a joint luncheon meeting.

In 1975, 89 companies, among them 38 GTCC members, were selected by the Department of Commercial Relation, Ministry of Commerce, to serve as delegates to German trade fairs in Frankfurt, Cologne, and Berlin.

In 1975, the first social event organised by GTCC was “THAI NIGHT” with tasty & spicy Thai food, popular music, games & prizes donated by GTCC member companies. Since the demand was very high, the tickets were sold out fast when the limit of 150 persons was reached.

Next year, on 5 November 1976, GTCC's second “Thai Night” was hosted with on-board "Oriental Queen". However, the selling of tickets were ceased three days before the trip because the boat's maximum capacity had been reached.

The 1976-77 Handbook was the first business reference book of its kind to be produced in Thailand and has been followed by similar handbooks produced for other local chambers of commerce.

"The GTCC Handbook (GTCC Membership Directory) has established itself as an important tool for the work of the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce. It is very welcome to the Board of Trade...As the Handbook is sent to business associations in Germany, it is of benefit to German businessmen who wish to deal with experienced companies in Thailand" -- Ob Vasuratna, President of Board of Trade of Thailand in 1978.

Fun fact: GTCC Handbook in 1978 was available at THB 100 per copy. The price was equivalent to one bucket of rice which was THB 100-130.

The GTCC membership application form in 1978 was only 1 page, while the current (2022) GTCC application form contains 6 pages.
The GTCC membership fee in 1978 was 3,000 THB/year for a member in Thailand. After “44 years” now the membership fee for company members is 15,000 THB/year.

The topic of discussion by Thai and German businessmen at the GTCC Annual Meeting in 1979 was Thailand’s first-time participation at the International Green Week with a presentation of famous Thai orchids.

GTCC congratulated “King Mongkut Institute of Technology” on its 20 years of progress in industrial training that marks successful German-Thai cooperation and GTCC members visited the Institute. Back in 1959, the “German-Thai Technical School” was founded following cooperation between Germany and Thailand to train skilled workers, technicians and engineers for Thai industry. After 1959, the School had continued to grow and became a college, then an institute, and now King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB).

On 14 November 1979, 260 GTCC members and guests of honor, including H.E. the German Ambassador to Thailand, Walter Boss attended the Chamber’s German-Thai Night at the Dusit Thani Hotel’s ballroom. The top prize was a Lufthansa’s Bangkok- Frankfurt return ticket, from a total of 140 prizes supported by 44 organizations.

GTCC established a new department in 1980, called "Department of Commercial Relations", for the promotion of German international trade fairs in Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hanover, and Munich.

Oktoberfest has been the world’s largest beer festival and historic Bavarian culture since 12 October 1810, when Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen and Munich citizens were invited to celebrate the royal event on the fields in front of the city gates.
The first Oktoberfest organized by GTCC was in 1980, called the “Bavarian Night” with around 250 participants. GTCC Oktoberfest has been serving as a unique cultural networking platform for the German-Thai business community and has become “the most authentic and largest Oktoberfest in Thailand”.  There were 1,700 participants at the official GTCC Oktoberfest in 2019.

On 12 June 1980, the then Minister of Finance Dr. Amnuay Viravan joined a meeting organised by GTCC. He urged over 300 businessmen comprising GTCC members and members of other foreign chambers in Bangkok to make suggestions to the Thai government to design a “better and more effective tax system”.

At that time, the government revenue from taxes and other income represented only 14 per cent of Gross National Product (GNP) while its expenditures were about 18-19 per cent of the GNP.

In 1981, GTCC achieved a number of 300 members: 249 in Thailand, 51 in Germany. The figures include 107 exporters, 82 importers, 75 manufacturers.

The first of a series of informal “open-house” meetings was held at the GTCC Office on 18 October 1983. Over 40 members attended the function, despite difficulties caused by flooding in Bangkok. GTCC Board of Directors wished to promote open-house meetings at different members’ premises, planned to take place monthly after the Board meetings monthly on every second Thursday, in order for GTCC members to meet the President and Directors and make suggestions or ask questions concerning business matters and Chamber's activities.

GTCC had 305 members in 1983 and provided promotional and consulting support to 159 Thai exhibitors, in the midst of the global slowdown in business activities. The chamber together with GTCC members also donated THB 933,293.85 to set up 16 bus shelters for the “Rattanakosin Bicentennial”.

In 1984, the Chamber’s management established a new department for the organization of the “German Technology Symposium” (GTS) in Thailand.

The first German Technology Symposium (GTS) in Thailand was organised in collaboration with Thailand's Engineering Institute at the Indra Hotel in 1985 with 50 seminars on German technology and 14,000 Thai engineers participating in the event. The Symposium successfully led to closer cooperation with Thai engineers.

There were 7 GTS organised by GTCC in 1985, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2002 and 2008. The last GTS in 2008 took place with a highlight on “Germany: Lifestyle & Travel Show”.

GTCC President Mr. Horst B. Hilleken, Hoechst Thai Ltd., was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1987 for his outstanding efforts to further strengthen German-Thai economic relations. Under his presidency from 1984 to 1986, the Chamber had developed into a productive service center for German and Thai businessman.

The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany was instituted in 1951 by Federal President Theodor Heuss. It is the only honour that may be awarded in all fields of endeavour and is the highest tribute that Germany can pay to individuals for services to the nation.

GTCC celebrated the 25th anniversary at a Gala Night on 13 November 1987 at the Indra Regent Hotel, Bangkok. Among guests of honour and GTCC members there was a robot promoting the German Technology Symposium (GTS) in Thailand.

GTCC celebrated the 30th anniversary with guests from Germany and GTCC members in a Gala Dinner and Dance night at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel on 4 November 1992 and a sports event on the following weekend.

The fifth German Technology Symposium and Exhibition (GTS 96) recorded a marked increase in attendance compared to previous years. It was officially opened by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre on 5 November 1996.

GTS 96 held the first German-Thai Business Development Forum at which six groups, moderated by leading Thai businesspeople and academics discussed topics of waste water management, solid waste treatment, industrial standards, city transportation, automation and plant safety.

Dr. Paul Strunk, then GTCC Executive Director, received “Man of the Year 1997” Award for the sector of International Business Management, presented by the Foundation for the Thai Society.

Dr. Strunk is the longest serving GTCC Executive Director during 1989-2007 (18 years). He has lived in Thailand since 1980 and greatly contributed to the development of Thailand’s public and private economic sectors.

48 Thai students completed GTCC’s two-year technical education programme and received their certificates from Chairman of GTCC Committee for Professional Education on 29 April 1998.

The programme started with a pilot project between Thai Yarnyon Co. Ltd., and the Rajamangala Institute of Technology (RIT)- North Bangkok Campus in 1994 and further progressed with the agreement signing in 1995.

After the official signing, the programme was expanded to RIT – Tungmahamek Campus and supported by six companies including Siemens, Weinmann & Schneider, and Trumph International.

On 20 July 1999, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of a Thai-German Graduate School of Engineering was signed by Aachen University (RWTH), King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB), Rajamangala Institute of Technology (RIT), the German Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHT) and GTCC at the Royal River Hotel.

The Thai-German Graduate School of Engineering finally laid its first foundation stone of the 11-story building in November 2004. Today it is known as “The Sirindhorn International Thai-German Graduate School of Engineering (TGGS)”

During the AHK World Conference 2000 of the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHT), held in Berlin during 5-7 June 2000, GTCC received official ISO 9002 certification from DIHT after extensive training by DIHT together with internal audits during the first half of the year. The certification was prepared by TÜV Rheinland.

GTCC hosted a luncheon in the Ballroom of the Oriental Hotel to celebrate the 40th anniversary on 25 June 2002. Dr. Johannes Rau, the German Federal President, was a guest of honor and a keynote speaker. He stated that since GTCC began its work, bilateral trade and member figures had expanded continually. From the trade volume of USD 65 million and 57 members in 1962, the figures had risen to USD 3.3 billion and more than 500 members, respectively, in 2002.

With the support of GTCC, Thai-German Economic Committee (Commission) was established in March 2003 following a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by German Minister of Economics and Labour Wolfgang Clement together with Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai. Its first meeting of the Steering Committee of the Thai-German Economic Commission took place on 2 December 2003 at the Sukhothai Hotel Bangkok. They discussed how to promote trade, investment and the flow of technology between Thailand and Germany.

Despite the Commission’s start only 9 months, the outcomes were visible, such as training for the Thai banking sector; the establishment of “German desks” with OSMEP, the Department of Business Development and FTI; and finding a German product design expert.

About 60 representatives from German and Thai business communities as well as Thai government witnessed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing between the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA), the Federal of German Industry (BDI), and GTCC; and the Thai Ministry of Industry and the Thai-German institute (TGI) on “GTCC/TGI Innovation Technology Services Project”. The event took place on 29 June 2005 at the Oriental Hotel.

The GTCC/TGI Innovation Technology Services Project focused on technical matchmaking between Thai and German companies in the manufacturing sector and the provision of technical services to the companies; offering Thai companies easier market access to Germany; and trainings for the technological development of Thai industries.

GTCC celebrated two auspicious occasions: 50th anniversary of GTCC’s establishment and 150 years of diplomatic relations between Germany and Thailand with more than 300 guests at a gala dinner organised on 28 April 2012 at the St. Regis Bangkok. Guests of honour included Germany’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Guido Westerwelle; Thailand’s Minister of Industry, Mr. Pongsvas Svasti; and DIHK’s Chief Executive of Foreign Trade and Member of the Executive Board Dr. Volker Treier.

GTCC together with other 4 German Chambers (AHKs) in the ASEAN region – Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam – announced the establishment of the “German-ASEAN Chamber Network” (now “German Chambers ASEAN Business Council: GCABC”) in the presence of the Federal Minister of Economy and Technology Dr. Philipp Rösler at the 13th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK 2012), held from 1 to 3 November 2012 in New Delhi, India.

The network aimed to identify future-oriented business opportunities and contribute to economic exchange between Germany and ASEAN; assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); facilitate information exchange between Germany and ASEAN; and develop focal areas for dialogue on trade and investments and other strategic issues.

Currently there are 7 members of the GCABC in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, covering the biggest economies in the ASEAN region.

German-Thai Dual Excellence Education (GTDEE) was launched in 2013 by GTCC and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), as a vocational education and training programme in which apprentices work and study during the given period. Dual vocational education and training according to German standards is a successful blueprint for solving Thailand's problem of demand and supply of skilled labour.

At that time, there were three participating companies: BMW Group Thailand; Robert Bosch (Packaging); and B.Grimm and three participating colleges: Kanchanapisek Technical College Mahanakorn, Bangkok; Eastern Technological College (E.Tech), Chonburi; and Chonburi Technical College, Chonburi, with a total of 27 apprentices.

- 20 apprentices from the Kanchanapisek Technical College Mahanakorn, Bangkok were trained with BMW Group Thailand for their profession of automotive mechatronics

- 3 apprentices from the E.Tech were trained with Robert Bosch (Packaging) in Amatacity Industrial Estate, Chonburi, for their profession of mechatronics

- 4 apprentices from the Chonburi Technical College, Chonburi were trained with B.Grimm at Amata B.Grimm Power Plant 1&2 in Amatacity Industrial Estate, Chonburi, for their profession of electrics power automotive

Currently, 8 partner companies, 8 partner institutions and 177 apprentices join the GTDEE.

GTCC organised another featured networking event “The Ice Breaker” with the theme “Lifestyle Night” for the first time on 24 February 2015 at the Swissotel Nai Lert Park Bangkok, in close collaboration with the Franco-Thai and Thai-Italian Chambers of Commerce.

The networking event offered the opportunity for guests to experience lifestyle products and technologies from selected German, French and Italian companies, including Arkitektura, BMW, Hӓfele, Italasia, and Günthart, which presented German products at the event.

GTCC successfully launched its "Young Professionals" programme on 31 August 2016, with a special speech by Mr. Vee Charununsiri, Head of GrabCar, Grab Thailand, on “New business models in the digital world: How can startups compete?” and more than 200 participants.

Designed by young professionals, GTCC YP offers a great opportunity to learn from business leaders, connect with Bangkok’s young international community, enhance and develop professional skills through our unique business events, seminars and gatherings.

GTCC Gala Night 2017 “Celebrating under the Stars” marking the GTCC 55th Anniversary, was organised on 26 May 2017, at the Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok.

Around 410 guests and guests of honor including H.E. Apiradi Tatraporn, then Minister of Commerce of the Thai Government and H.E. Peter Prügel, former German Ambassador to Thailand joined the event.

2017 marked the first time in GTCC’s history of having more than 600 members and representing a broad range of business industries and sectors across Thailand and Germany. The 2017 membership year ended with a final count of 612.

A new GTCC event format initiated by female Board members was formed as “GTCC Businesswomen Network” (#GTCCBWN) with the first kick-off event organised on 2 February 2018 at the Mode Sathorn. It featured a round of discussion and experience sharing on “Exchange of experiences as businesswomen in international context”.

This format promotes an active participation atmosphere for all female professionals and participants.

It was not the first time GTCC organised “GTCC Oktoberfest” for two days. But the 2-day #GTCCOktoberfest 2018 broke its record with more than 1,700 participants and the German beer festival continued its impressive record in 2019.

GTCC Oktoberfest was introduced to Bangkok in 1980 and originally called the “Bavarian Night” with around 250 participants.

GTCC Oktoberfest is not only the largest and the most authentic Oktoberfest in Thailand, but it is also one of our milestones over the years. It serves as a friendly social platform for business partners and friends of the German-Thai business community to come together and simply enjoy this festival in the Bavarian way.

After printing GTCC UPDATE Magazine with soy-based ink on green paper to contribute to environmental sustainability, GTCC stepped further by publishing the quarterly magazine in a digital format from January 2020 onward. The magazine remains accessible to a greater number of readers locally and internationally and provides a valuable opportunity for interested companies to reach out to potential clients via available advertising options.

GTCC Member Directory was also no longer published. It has been available on GTCC website since late 2020. With a user account, GTCC members can get access to information on members' profiles and contact details in order to facilitate business interaction among the GTCC members.

In December 2021, GTCC published a Mechatronics textbook which is geared toward the professional needs of mechatronic technicians.

Mechatronics is the Thai translation of the Fachkunde Mechatronik textbook produced by the Europa-Lehrmittel publishing company in German in 2019. The translation has been done by a KMUTNB team of experts.

Mechatronics is one of Thailand’s most comprehensive mechatronics textbooks which can be used for efficient teaching and learning management, suitable for students both at the vocational level and university level especially those who work in the mechatronics industry. It includes basic and advanced concepts in metal technology, electrical engineering, electronics, and information processing.

GTCC Clean Air Initiative (GTCC CAI) was established in 2020, followed by a formation of a CAI Working Group with around 20 participating member companies. This working group drafted a paper on clean air, identifying vehicle transport, buildings, energy, production and agriculture as major contributors to air pollution in Thailand.

GTCC President, together with Board members and Executive Director met with H.E. Industry Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit on 15 December 2020 and introduced the GTCC CAI to the Minister and respectfully submitted a copy of the paper to him. The Minister has pledged to cooperate with the GTCC to promote clean industries, as a mean of reducing pollution problems including PM2.5 and making Thai industry more sustainable.

In 2021, "GTCC Clean Air Initiative Series – Green Solutions from Germany" was initiated by GTCC CAI working group as a platform for GTCC member companies to introduce and promote their technologies, concepts and services regarding the prevention and reduction of air pollution for the markets in Thailand and the Southeast Asia region through webinars. The first webinar was held on July 13, 2021 with the topic of “GTCC-Vehicle Transport Clean Air Initiative – Bosch Mobility”.

In 2021, GTCC Board of Directors established GTCC Industry Committees on Human Resources; Tourism & Hospitality; and Logistics to enhance the active participation of our members in GTCC activities, offer platforms for the exchange of knowledge and experiences among our members and, discuss suggestions and proposals GTCC can put forward in the cooperation with our Thai partners in business, government and society.

GTCC's 60th anniversary celebration in 2022 started with using the new logo of diamond jubilee as a symbol of this significant milestone in all media platforms.

GTCC organised “GTCC Celebratory Wine Dinner” on 17 June 2022 at the Millennium Hilton Bangkok, and GTCC Year-End Reception "60 Years Celebration" supported by Lufthansa German Airlines on 2 December 2022.

On 12 July 2022 GTCC Executives, board members and team had the honorable opportunity to welcome Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and a delegation from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy at GTCC. We felt utmost gratitude to receive this honor in the year of the 60th anniversary of GTCC.