Editorial Note

August / September 2020
As life in Thailand seems to have returned to close to pre-Covid 19 normal with most everyone cooperating by wearing masks and practicing social distancing, the country has emerged as one of the safest. In fact, in August, Thailand was ranked first among 184 countries for its ongoing Covid-19 recovery efforts according to the Global Covid-19 Index (GCI).
Bearing this in mind, the articles in this issue are aimed at turning your attention towards opportunities in the worlds of business, travel, health and lifestyle. This begins with our cover story, Developing Energy in Thailand and the Region, in which B.Grimm president and CEO Preeyanart Soontornwata talks about how her company is working to develop cleaner and lower cost energy in Thailand and the region, particularly Vietnam. After this, before our interview with the Turkish Ambassador to Thailand, HE Mrs Evren Dağdelen Akgün, who discusses the close relations between Thailand and Turkey and opportunities for both Thai and Turkish entrepreneurs and travelers, we have an article explaining the US Federal elections systems to help you better understand how things work, as the results are certain to affect international relations and economics.
We then turn our focus to a story in which the founder of BNI Thailand, Kollakit Thalerngnawachart, provides recommendations for SMEs and aspiring students after which Pittayaphan Sriweawetr, an expert in digital media, explains about the growing importance of Accountable Metrics in e-commerce.
From here, we take you to the Taunggyi Fire Balloon Festival in Myanmar and later back to North Sulawesi, Indonesia, as Pongpol Adireksarn continues his exploration of the island to find more exotic wildlife. In between these articles, we visit Hotel Labaris Khao Yai, a fairy tale experience, the Bangkok urban sanctuary, Athena23 and Hot Shoppe, which has been pleasing diners for 50 years.
You will also meet a very respected educator, Dr Kevin Colleary, the spouse of the Ambassador of Portugal to Thailand after our health expert, Dr Pisuth Lertvilai, explains how to prevent and prepare for dementia after which we have a short story by Anchalee Vivathanachai, Madame Butterfly, which also deals with aging while our Photo Essay by Ezra Kyrill Erker offers his impressions of urban spaces during the Covid-19 lockdowns.
Like you, we at Elite+ hope this recovery will continue and our economy will be restored so everyone once more enjoys a happy and fruitful life. I hope the pages that follow can serve as encouragement as they provide you with insight, ideas and entertainment.
Warm Regards,
Arthorn Techatada
Executive Editor