City Resilience Program: Comprehensive Financial Solutions for City Resilience Conference

Sunday, November 5

8:00 pm – 12:00 am: Welcome Drinks at the Hilton Sukhumvit

Monday, November 6: Introduction to Comprehensive Financial Solutions for City Resilience

9:00 am – 9:15 am: Introduction and Welcome Address (WBG senior management)

9:15 am – 9:30 am: Keynote Address (Governor of Bangkok)

9:30 am – 10:30 am: Resilient Bangkok (Chief Resilience Officer for Bangkok)

10:30 am – 11:00 am: Tea Break

11:00 am – 12:30 pm: What the City Resilience Program Offers You: Comprehensive Financial Solutions for City Resilience (Marc Forni and Niels Holm-Nielsen)

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Lunch at Hotel

1:30 pm – 5:30pm: Large Group Activity

Evening: Free

Tuesday, November 7: Capital Budgeting and Land Value Capture

9:00 am – 12:30 pm: Capital Budgeting

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Lunch at Hotel

1:30 pm – 5:30 pm: Land Value Capture Instruments

6:30 pm – 10:00 pm: Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya River

Wednesday, November 8: Land Value Capture and Debt Instruments

9:00 am – 12:30 pm: Land Value Capture Instruments

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Lunch at Hotel

1:30 pm – 4:30 pm: Introduction to Debt Instruments

4:30 pm – 5:30 pm: Action Planning: Integrating Financial Solutions into CRP Engagement Strategies

Evening: Free

Thursday, November 9: PPP and Concessions

9:00 am – 12:30 pm: Municipal Finance and Debt Instruments

12:30 pm– 1:30 pm: Lunch at Hotel

1:30 pm – 4:30 pm: PPP and Concessions

4:30 pm – 5:30 pm: Action Planning: Integrating Financial Solutions into CRP Engagement Strategies

7:30 pm – 12:00 am: Farewell Drinks at the Hilton Sukhumvit in Honor of the City of Bangkok

Friday, November 10

9:00 am – 5:30 pm: Small Group Presentations

Introduction

This Guide is provided to keep you abreast of the safety and security issues in Bangkok, Thailand. Our goal is to keep everyone safe and secure for the duration of your stay.

Hilton Hotel

The Hilton Hotel is located on soi 24 Sukhumvit road. The closest sky train station is at Phrom Phong

The full address is as follows;

11 Sukhumvit 24 Alley, Khwaeng Khlong Tan, Khet Khlong Toei, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10110 Tel: 02 620 6666

Transportation

When arriving in Bangkok, we recommend you use AOT Limousines (Airport Authority of Thailand). These can be easily identified as they have desks both in baggage reclaim and also after exiting customs in the meeting points. Please be wary of touts offering you taxi services as these are not official. AOT will offer you a variety of cars for the transfer, please remember the WBG policy of not using luxury vehicles. A Toyota Camry /Honda Accord will typically cost you approx. 1,400 THB for the trip from the airport to downtown.

You may also consider using the Airport Rail link,  http://airportraillink.railway.co.th/en/index.html This can be much quicker in peak travel times, however, if you are travelling with heavy luggage it may be too cumbersome.

The sky train is the most convenient way to travel around Bangkok. If your journey takes you away from the transport system, then you may need to use the local metered taxis. When communicating with the taxi driver, please ensure he turns the meter on first; no prices should be negotiated before travel. On the rear doors of every taxi, there is a registration number. Please take note of it. We do not recommend you use motorcycle taxis or Tuk Tuks.

Equipment and Personal Effects

Visitors are reminded to take care of equipment such as laptops, smart phones, tablets and personal valuables. Do not leave them unattended. Safety deposit boxes are also available at the Hotel. The WBG is not responsible for any loss of your personal effects.

Please ensure you have your own personal travel insurance.

Accommodations

When checking into your room, please refer to the hotel guest services book for specific safety and security guide for your information and guidance.

Fire-Life Safety

Mission travelers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the fire exits and fire alarm buttons at any of the buildings they go to. The fire evacuation lay-out map is also posted on the backs of hotel room doors. In case of fire or evacuation, participants should remain calm and walk out of the building to the assembly area. Normally building and security personnel will guide occupants to the assembly area, where they should remain for accounting and further instructions.

Security

Bangkok is a generally safe city, although over the years there have been several explosions, most of which have been small scale.  Whist the security environment is generally stable, incidents can occur without warning. If a security incident does occur whilst you are outside the hotel, please make your way back to the Hilton hotel as soon as possible.

Streetwise

Hand bag snatching does occur on the streets of Bangkok. This is typically carried out by 2 persons on a motorcycle, with the rear person performing the snatch. Please avoid carrying valuables or large amount of cash with you. Leave unnecessary credit and bank cards behind (use hotel safety deposit box).

If in a situation, comply with the attacker, the following points will mitigate your loss;

• Use the split wallet routine
• Do not practice the open wearing of jewelry
• Ladies, wear your hand bag away from the side of the road when walking (stops motorcyclists from grabbing the bag)
• Walk against the traffic
• Try to keep both hands free and don’t walk with your hands in your pockets. (Reactions and balance)
• Walk purposefully and with confidence. Give the appearance that you are totally aware of your surroundings
• Try to use ATM machines in shopping malls/hotel Lobbies.
• Carry a valid ID in the form of a photo copy of your passport with you at all times. Please leave your passport in the safe. This is also sufficient for registering for duty free shopping.

Medical

Bangkok is a centre of medical excellence. There are two very good private hospitals close to the hotel. Bumrungrad Hospital, 33 Soi Sukhumvit 3. Tel 02-066-8888, Ambulance 02-011-5222

Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital, 133 Sukhumvit 49. Tel 02-022-2222

All participants must note that you are responsible for your own medical insurance during your travel and whilst you are in Thailand. Please ensure that you have a policy that provides sufficient coverage for medical expenses, evacuation and repatriation to your home country.

Cultural Do’s  &  Don’t s  for  Thailand

“Do”

• Remove shoes when entering a private Thai home and some places of business. Dress respectively and always remove your shoes when entering temples and any religious buildings.
• Respect seniority; you can do so by lowering your body slightly when passing an older person.
• Present things to people with both hands.
• Do greet people with a ‘wai’ gesture rather than shake someone’s hand. The wai gesture consists of a slight bow, with the palms pressed together in a prayer-like fashion. It is very similar to the Indian namasté. The higher the hands are held in relation to the face and the lower the bow, the more respect or reverence the giver of the wai is showing. You only need to do it first to an older person. But when a younger person wai you, you should return with the same gesture but only go as high as your chin, only bow slightly. The wai can also be used to thank or apologize to someone.
• Try to learn a few basic phrases in Thai:
• ‘hello’  -  sa wad dee kha for a woman to speak (with wai gesture)

                     -  sa wad krub for a man to speak (with wai gesture)

• ‘thank you’ -  kob khun kha (female speaking)

                           -  Kob khun khrap (male speaking)

“DO - NOT”

• Speak ill of the Thai royal family, past or present. It is also against the law to do so
• Climb onto any religious object no matter what condition it may be in, to take a photograph, nor do anything which might indicate a lack of respect
• Buddhist monks are forbidden to touch or be touched by a woman or to accept anything from the hand of one.
• Touch people, especially someone’s head. Thais regard the head as the highest part of the body and the feet as the lowest.
• Point your feet at people or a religious object. It is considered very rude.
• Speak loudly; become aggressive or insistent with strangers. These characteristics are considered especially obnoxious and unforgivable.
• Show public displays of affection.
• Engage in a conversation with a Thai when they approach you first. Thai people are generally shy people and few are likely to walk up to you and start a conversation. If this does happen then most probably the person will try to sell you something with the conversation likely to move towards the purchase of gems, gold, jewelry or other such items.

Emergency contacts:

Fire    199

Police 191

Tourist Police - 1155

Ambulance – Call Hospital Direct