CI T Y O N T H E MOVE Paul Ware, General Manager of Asian Tigers Thailand Ronald Kiser, JVK International Movers Senior Director of Global Partnerships south-eastern seaboard, is nicknamed the Detroit of the East. Many large global brands have a presence there, alongside hundreds of supply chain partners. Asian Tigers (AT) celebrates its 50th year of trading in 2023. Its seen plenty of turbulence during this time, but nothing more head-spinning than the impact of COVID. Ware says the commitment of his staff, especially frontline crews, enabled his firm to keep trading throughout the pandemic. As we shifted to working from home, our technology platform allowed everyone to continue to function, he says. Virtual surveying became the norm we continue to use it as a main means of allowing customers to have a survey at times that suit them. Managing remotely had its challenges but our teams made it work remarkably well. Since staff returned to the office, AT has accommodated a flexible approach, allowing people to start at three different times to best manage morning and evening commutes which, in so crowded a city, makes good sense. One blessing for the Thai moving industry was that restrictions severe as they were were less draconian than elsewhere in south-east Asia. While in Indonesia they shut down for weeks, we never stopped operating, Katarina Osterman, the countrys general manager for Santa Fe, told FIDI Focus. It was still possible to travel, although you had to have a lot of documentation. Restrictions were lifted step by step and overall, Osterman says, the governments informationsharing process was efficient. The biggest realisation was how fragile we are when something like this (COVID) happens were all dependent on each other. Everything Santa Fe does in this sprawling country runs out of its Bangkok office. Most business is international, and thus was at the mercy of wildly variable restrictions, but the firm also carries out some moves within Thailand and its islands. COVID slowed down every aspect of its operation. Moves could be held up at three or four checkpoints en route. Business shrank and some staff were laid off but, says Osterman, theyve been able to return as things spring back to life. Moves for manufacturing companies, now regaining full strength, are a big part of ATs business. As are diplomatic missions not least the US Embassy, one of Americas largest. There are also numerous NGOs, including United Nations JVK Moving Internationals Bangkok depot 46 FF308 Dec-Jan 23 pp44-51 City on the move Bangkok.indd 46 05/12/2022 17:04