Editorial | Leading with Values Across Generations: Somwang Tangsombatvisit

Let me begin by offering to His Majesty The King and Royal family, on behalf of the entire Elite+ team, our sincere condolences on the passing of HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha.

I’m also quite excited to announce that we will be changing the format and material of Elite+ magazine after this issue to meet the needs and interests of you, our readers, as we continue to evolve.

But first, in this issue, we begin with an interview with Somwang Tangsombatvisit, the CEO of Yan Wal Yun Corporation Group Co, Ltd, the manufacturer and distributor of Dek Som Boon seasoning products and 2025 Thailand Headlines Person of the Year. We then tell you about Bangkok Bank’s Indonesia Trade and Investment Forum 2026 and the opportunities awaiting Thai entrepreneurs before introducing Malaysia’s Ambassador to Thailand, HE Datuk Wan Zaidi Wan Abdullah, and his plans for fostering Malaysian-Thai relations.

After this, we have a conversation with Dr Chanesd Srisukho, a specialist in dermatology and regenerative medicine, who recently opened the Srisukho Clinic of Mahanakhon Center, SCMC, and learn about his holistic approach to treatment. We then take you to the C asean Forum 2026, which had as its theme: Navigating ASEAN’s Future: Gearing Towards the 60th Anniversary where we hear from former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and now Chairman of the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council, Prof Dr Surakiart Sathirathai, who spoke on ‘ASEAN Milestones and Future Directions’ before an Ambassador’s Dialogue for Future Resilience’ under the theme, “Road to ASEAN’s 60th Anniversary” that featured a panels of four ambassadors of ASEAN nations.

Moving on, we introduce you to the phoenix of Thai fine dining, the Saffron Grill, located high above the Thai capital on the 53rd floor of the Banyan Tree Bangkok; then a poetic visit to the historic town of Kamphaeng Phet and exciting adventure in Thailand’s Safari Park, Prachuab Khiri Khan’s Kuiburi National Park.

In between, we introduce you to Jerome Bouchard, a French writer and literary agent living in Malaysia as well as judge for the inaugural Chommanard Women’s International Literary Award 2025, and later Marisa Chearavanont, the founder and chairperson of the Chef Cares Foundation and Khaoyai Art Social Enterprise, the umbrella organisation behind Bangkok Kunsthalle and Khao Yai Art Forest. We then end this issue with a photo essay featuring Andalucía, which comprises eight Spanish provinces at the southernmost point in Europe.

I do hope you enjoy this issue and the changes we will be introducing.

Arthorn Techatada
Executive Editor