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Category: General

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest General Retail news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • iCloud.com is now looking sleek and modern after getting a design update

    iCloud.com is now looking sleek and modern after getting a design update

    iCloud.com is definitely not a solution that regular users would use on a daily basis, but that doesn’t mean that the user experience it offers isn’t important. And to highlight that fact, Apple has gone ahead and given it a fresh coat of paint.

    After weeks of beta testing, the redesign is now live and offers a more colorful and modern look. Not that the service has ever looked bad per se, but it sure felt outdated, with Apple revamping its devices’ styling over the years.

    The presentation speaks for itself: it is really reminiscent of an iPad home screen, and that simply makes sense. With such a modern and easy-to-understand design already being available, there would be no point to reinvent the wheel, right.

    As to the utilities – they haven’t changed much. In most cases, they act and feel just as they did before. While in some cases, the full apps can’t be replaced, in others it’s just an extra feature – like taking a quick note without taking your iPhone out of your pocket

    When you go a bit lower than the overview section, you will notice that there’s a single button, placed in the middle of the screen, labeled “Customize Home Screen”. Upon clicking it, all widgets will start their famous wiggle-jiggle dance.From that point onward, the process will be extremely familiar to any iPhone user and pretty simple for anyone else: you can move widgets around to suit your workflow, remove the ones that you won’t use, or create new ones that you need via a dedicated button.

    All widgets come in two form factors:

    • A smaller square format, which looks great on Reminders
    • A larger rectangle, allowing visibility over Calendar events on an Email inbox

    They automatically take one of the two shapes, depending on how your Home Screen is arranged.

    For example, it’s impossible to remove the square profile widget, so the one right of it will always be a rectangle. Each newly added widget will always first be placed to the right of your profile and push everything else to the row below.

    You are able to arrange them as you best see fit, but if you’d like to achieve a specific form factor for a given widget, you’ll have to take into account the pattern that they naturally take. Oh, and fun fact: you can have multiples of the same widget too.

    You can also bring up a cumulative widget aptly called Apps, which presents all apps as if in a folder, but if you’d like to have less clutter on your Home Screen, you can also access them from the navbar on top.

    Speaking of the navbar, it also grants quick access to other features too, like customization of the Home Screen and shortcuts to Storage, Plan, and a user guide. The latter can also be seen in an overview at the far end of the iCloud page itself.

    While probably not a priority, it’s great to see that the page is still important to Apple. This refresher brings the solution closer to the brand’s overall product line and makes it easier to use for newer users, who don’t remember how iOS looked back in the day.
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  • AirAsia launches new route to Singapore from Sibu

    AirAsia launches new route to Singapore from Sibu

    AirAsia announced the launch of its newest international route from Sibu, Sarawak’s quaint town to the ‘Lion City’ Singapore. The inaugural flight is set to take off on 16 December 2022, with an initial frequency of 4 times weekly.

    Earlier this year, AirAsia launched two back-to-back direct routes connecting Sarawak to Singapore amid popular demand. Both its inaugural Kuching to Singapore and Miri to Singapore flights took off on 29 April 2022.

    This new route from Sibu marks the airline’s third direct international route from the state, making AirAsia the carrier with the widest network and largest connectivity in Sarawak.

    Riad Asmat, CEO of AirAsia Malaysia commented: “Serving unique and underserved routes is something AirAsia does well in our mission to stimulate air travel through affordable connectivity.

    ”We’re thrilled to announce this new route which we are flying for the first time ever, connecting travelers to two immensely popular destinations where we see strong demand for two-way travel. AirAsia changed the travel landscape two decades ago, connecting Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak with low, affordable fares, making flying a dream come true for many. Twenty-one years later, here we are launching our third international route from Sarawak to Singapore and flying hundreds of thousands of travelers here each year providing a welcome shot in the arm for tourism and the economy in the region. This wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support and cooperation of the Sarawak state government, our tourism and industry partners, and our dedicated team at AirAsia.

    “This milestone comes at an amazing time for us as exactly two months ago, we resumed operations at Changi Airport’s state-of-the-art Terminal 4 – and now we’re ready to take on more flights! We look forward to working closely with fellow industry players in the near future to make this route a success. I urge bargain hunters to grab this incredible promo price and explore these beautiful cities with us!”

    From December, AirAsia will also be increasing its flight frequency for Kuching-Singapore to 11x weekly and Miri-Singapore to 5x weekly. Flights are available for booking from the airasia Super App and airasia website.

    AirAsia adds flights to and from Hong Kong starting this December
    Also, the airline announced that it will increase flights to and from Hong Kong starting this December, with a special promotion to support the surge in travel demand ahead of the upcoming festive seasons.

    Flights between Hong Kong and Bangkok (Don Mueang) will be increased to four times weekly starting from 15 December, while Hong Kong – Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong – Manila will be flying three-times weekly.

    All additional seats are now available for booking on airasia Super App with a special promo fare exclusively for travellers to and from Hong Kong to enjoy a long-awaited getaway or  reunion with loved ones for the upcoming holiday season.

    Karen Chan, Group Chief Commercial Officer of AirAsia said: “Hong Kong is an integral part of our network and we are thrilled to be back offering affordable direct connectivity between Hong Kong and Southeast Asia once again.

    “With Hong Kong relaxing entry restrictions by allowing quarantine-free travel for tourists from September this year combined with strong forecast demand, we are excited to welcome more  guests to and from Hong Kong with increased flight frequency ahead of the festive season and a special promotional fare as we usher in the New Year.

    “We are also launching new services in the Greater China region and look forward to resuming more passenger flights direct to mainland China in the near future.”

    As the AirAsia Group increases its services to Hong Kong, guests with AirAsia flight bookings to and from Hong Kong for the period up until 17 December 2022 will be able to change their flights at no charge via the airasia Super App and website. New flight dates can be selected up until 31 December 2022 providing greater flexibility and convenience.

    Effective 26 September 2022, relevant inbound travellers entering Hong Kong are not required to undergo compulsory quarantine, but under medical surveillance for 3 days, subject to Amber Code restrictions under Vaccine Pass. Guests are advised to check the conditions and requirements imposed by the authorities before departing.

    AirAsia upgrades reservation and passenger-processing systems
    AirAsia would like to inform all guests that it will be upgrading its reservation and passenger-processing systems between 23 November 2022, 09:00PM (GMT+8) and 24 November 2022, 03:00AM (GMT+8). The upgrade is part of its continuous effort to provide guests with an enhanced online experience.

    While the airline expects a smooth transition, AirAsia guests are advised that they may face service disruptions during the system upgrade. These include self check-in online via the airasia Super App and website, flight bookings on airasia Super App and website, as well as airasia rewards redemption. The system upgrade will also impact ground operations, and affect availability of the check-in and baggage drop services at all airports where AirAsia operates. All relevant staff and processes will be deployed to assist guests on the ground should the upgrading exercise incur any service disruption or take longer than scheduled.

    All other services on the airasia Super App and website, namely airasia ride, airasia food, hotels, and airasia Travelmall will not be affected and will be available as usual.

    Affected guests travelling during the upgrade timeframe will be notified of this exercise through email and SMS. It is recommended that guests update  their contact details to ensure they receive the latest notifications on the status of their AirAsia flights.

    Travellers flying with AirAsia are strongly encouraged to perform self check-in online via the airasia Super App and website – available from 14 days prior to departure for all flights and arrive at the airport at least four hours prior to their departure time for a smooth and seamless journey. Guests are also highly advised to use the e-boarding pass where it’s available.

    AirAsia sincerely apologises for any inconveniences caused by this system improvement and seeks to minimise any disruption for guests travelling during that period.

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  • Hanoi considers year-long trial of public bike service

    Hanoi considers year-long trial of public bike service

    The Hanoi Department of Transportation has proposed to the municipal People’s Committee that a public bike service be launched in the capital city for a 12-month trial period.

    Under the proposal, private firm Tri Nam will provide 1,000 bikes, 50% of them electric, at 94 locations in the city.

    The pilot project is set to cost over VND30.3 billion ($1.22 million).

    The company will charge VND10,000 for a 30-minute trip on electric bikes and VND5,000 for the same duration on normal bicycles.

    Full-day rent for the electric bike will be VND120,000 and half that for pedal bicycles. Monthly tickets will also be available for commuters, who will make payments with e-wallets.

    Six downtown districts will be prioritized for the pilot project, including Ba Dinh, Dong Da, Tay Ho and Hai Ba Trung.

    The project is part of the department’s initiatives to diversify public means of transport and to reduce emissions.

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  • AirAsia revives Kaohsiung flights

    AirAsia revives Kaohsiung flights

    AirAsia celebrated its post-pandemic inaugural flight to Kaohsiung from Kuala Lumpur on 12 November, ending two years of no air connectivity between the cities.

    Flight AK170 took off at 1725 and arrived at 2155 l in Kaohsiung, carrying 114 guests onboard.

    AirAsia Malaysia CEO Riad Asmat said: “The inaugural flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kaohsiung is a long-awaited occasion for us. Our Kaohsiung and Taipei routes have been amongst our most popular and frequented by many since we commenced operations in the region in 2005.

    “Now that travel restrictions have eased worldwide, we look forward to connecting more travellers to Kaohsiung and soon to Taipei when the flights resume in December.

    Kaohsiung, famed for its picturesque harbour and sprawling landscape, is one of AirAsia’s most popular destinations in North Asia.

    To celebrate the resumption of flights to Kaohsiung and Taipei, travellers can purchase fares from MYR349 for all-in-fare travel between 1 January 2023 and 30 March 2024. The booking window closes on 20 November.

    Since 13 October 2022, travel restrictions have been eased for most international visitors to Kaohsiung and Taipei. Malaysians (as well as citizens from selected countries) can visit these cities without visas, vaccinations, Covid-19 tests or quarantine requirements.

    The Travel & Booking Period for new Taipei and Kaohsiung services on sale now.

  • WhatsApp Beta enables users to utilize the app on multiple phones

    WhatsApp Beta enables users to utilize the app on multiple phones

    WhatsApp is one of the staples of modern mobile communication. It offers safety through it’s end-to-end encryption and a list of features, which seems to have become ever-growing.

    Recently, the app got updated with a brand new feature called Call Links. Not much time has passed since then, and users enrolled in Beta already got some exciting news, which Whatsapp fans have been clamoring for: using a single account across multiple phones.

    The steps are very simple; however, keep in mind that this is only for a limited number of users on the Beta. The easiest way to check if you’ve got access to the feature is by tapping on the top right menu and checking for a “Link Device” option.

    If you see it, it’s pretty straightforward from there:

    1. Click on the Link Device button to generate a QR code
    2. Scan the QR code with your Companion device (phone or tablet)
    3. Presto! Now you have WhatsApp on both phones

    Naturally, make sure to have WhatsApp installed on your secondary device of choice. The process is very familiar to setting up WhatsApp Desktop, but again – this is a Beta. As such, bugs are expected, but your participation is sure to help clear them out quickly.

    WhatsApp seems to be looking to grow its services and it’s refreshing to see. Seasoned Android veterans are sure to have noticed how many apps are available, which allow users to utilize multiple WhatsApp accounts on a single device.That’s a sure sign that this is a sought-after feature, but it would be best served from the Meta-owned company, in order to ensure data safety. But still – maybe this is the next logical step in this update chain, but we will have to wait and see.

    Those of you who are already enrolled in the WhatsApp Beta program may want to check if the 2.22.24.18 update is available to them, though a wide rollout is still not unleashed. If you are excited to try this feature, make sure you enroll in the Beta program – you might be one of the lucky ones!

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  • Lotus’s launches smart community centre flagship store

    Lotus’s launches smart community centre flagship store

    Thailand’s retail chain Lotus’s has opened a Smart Community Centre concept dubbed Lotus’s North Ratchapruek in the northwest of Bangkok.  Operated by Ek-Chai Distribution System, the $42 million project spans more than 47,000sqm and is home to 130 shops and a hypermarket, which features more than 28,000 products. A majority of tenants are new partners, who have opened a branch in conjunction with Lotus’s for the first time.  “The new Lotus North Ratchaphruek Smart Community Center w

    “The new Lotus North Ratchaphruek Smart Community Center will be a model for renovating existing Lotus branches and opening new branches in the future,” said Sompong Rungnirattisai, CEO at Ek-Chai Distribution System.

    Rungnirattisai said the company plans to roll out several hypermarkets next year by adopting concepts from the North Ratchapruek branch.

    Earlier this year, the operator disclosed it was to invest US$354 – $382 million in store openings, store revamps and the development of infrastructure and online systems.

    The company has recently shifted its focus to expanding omnichannel and introducing new retail formats, including the Smart Urban Supermarket concept, Smart F&B Heaven and Open Air Mall.

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  • Thai grocery retailer Big C eyes $500 million IPO

    Thai grocery retailer Big C eyes $500 million IPO

    Big C Supercenter, which runs supermarkets and convenience stores in South-east Asia, is considering going public again in Bangkok through an initial public offering that could raise more than US$500 million, according to people familiar with the matter.

    The Bangkok-based company is sounding out investment banks for proposals for the share sale, which could happen as soon as next year, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information is private.

    Discussions are ongoing and details of the potential offering such as fundraising size and timing could still change, the people said. An investor relations representative for Berli Jucker, the owner of Big C, said they have no information on the IPO plans so far.

    Big C was founded by Thailand’s Central Group in 1993 and opened its first store on Chaengwattana Road. The company raised about US$112 million in a Thai IPO in 2012.

    TCC Holding, controlled by Thai billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, in 2016 agreed to purchase a 58.6 per cent stake in Big C for 3.1 billion euros (S$4.34 billion) from French retailer Casino Guichard Perrachon. Big C was delisted in 2017 after Berli Jucker, a subsidiary of TCC, took it private.

    Big C operates 1,792 stores including convenience stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets in Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, according to its latest presentation. The company earlier this year acquired 18 Kiwi Mart stores in Cambodia and plans to rebrand them into Big C Mini stores.

  • Meta cuts 11,000 jobs as it sinks more money into the metaverse

    Meta cuts 11,000 jobs as it sinks more money into the metaverse

    Meta Platforms Inc said on Wednesday it would cut more than 11,000 jobs, or 13% of its workforce, as the Facebook parent doubled down on its risky metaverse bet amid a crumbling advertising market and decades-high inflation.

    The mass layoffs, one of the biggest this year and the first in Meta’s 18-year history, follow thousands of job cuts at other tech companies including Elon Musk-owned Twitter, Microsoft Corp and Snap Inc.

    Like its peers, Meta hired aggressively during the pandemic to meet a surge in social media usage by stuck-at-home consumers. But its business has suffered this year as advertisers and consumers pull the plug on spending in the face of soaring cost pressures and rapidly rising interest rates.

    “Not only has online commerce returned to prior trends, but the macroeconomic downturn, increased competition, and ads signal loss have caused our revenue to be much lower than I’d expected,” Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg said in a message to employees.

    “I got this wrong, and I take responsibility for that.”

    Meta, once worth more than a trillion dollars, is now valued at $256 billion after losing more than 70% of its value this year alone.

    Shares rose 4% on Wednesday as investors cheered caution by a company that has been pinning its future on the metaverse with pricey investments that Zuckerberg himself says will take a decade to bear fruit.

    “The market is breathing a sigh of relief that Meta’s management or Zuckerberg specifically seems to be heeding some advice, which is you need to take some of the steam out of the growing expenditure bill,” Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Sophie Lund-Yates said.

    The company now expects 2023 expenses between $94 billion and $100 billion, compared with the $96 billion to $101 billion range projected previously. It also narrowed its 2023 capital expenditures forecast range.

    Other than the job cuts, which will impact units across Meta with a disproportional hit to the recruiting and business teams, the company will also reduce office space, lower its discretionary spending and extend a hiring freeze into the first quarter to rein in expenses.

    Metaverse cash burn

    Still, more of the leftover resources will go toward the Reality Labs unit responsible for its metaverse investments. The business lost $9.44 billion between January and September this year, with losses expected to grow significantly in 2023.

    The spending spree has drawn the ire of Wall Street and shareholders, with one investor recently calling the investments “super-sized and terrifying”. Analysts have also questioned how long Meta can pour money into the project in a weak economy.

    “They’re going to have to continue to rightsize … next year is going to be a difficult environment for them,” said Paul McCarthy at Kisco Capital, which previously owned Meta shares.

    McCarthy added that he was skeptical about the company’s metaverse bets, and that rising interest rates and a gloomy macro environment could continue to weigh on the ad market.

    As part of the severance package, Meta will pay 16 weeks of base pay and two additional weeks for every year of service, as well as all remaining paid time off.

    Impacted employees will also receive their shares that were set to vest on Nov. 15 and healthcare coverage for six months, according to Meta, which had 87,314 employees as of the end of September.

    The company did not disclose the exact charge for the layoffs, but said the figure was included in its previously annou

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  • Bamboo Airways ex-chairman takes leading positions at TNG

    Bamboo Airways ex-chairman takes leading positions at TNG

    Three months after leaving Bamboo Airways, Dang Tat Thang has taken over as vice chairman and deputy CEO of conglomerate TNG Holdings.

    Thang will manage the external affairs of TNG Group and its various subsidiaries, and directly manage TNS and TNH, which have interests in investment, hotel management, trading, and services.

    Established in 1996, TNG Holdings has 11 subsidiaries with more than 3,000 employees that operate in real estate, trade services, hotels, energy, and banking and finance.

    Thang has a master’s degree in construction project management from Northumbria University in the UK.

    He has nearly 20 years’ experience in project management and investment at both local and foreign firms such as Compass Group UK & Ireland, Capital Land Singapore, FLC Group, and Bamboo Airways.

    In July, Thang, 41, who helped set up Bamboo, resigned as its chairman and general director citing personal reasons after eight years at the company. He also resigned as FLC vice chairman.

    He had taken over as vice chairman of FLC and Bamboo Airways after former chairman Trinh Van Quyet was a

  • AirAsia X takes flight to Tokyo Haneda

    AirAsia X takes flight to Tokyo Haneda

    AirAsia X (AAX) resumed its flight to Tokyo (Haneda) following the full reopening of the country’s border for international tourism.

    The thrice-weekly flights will be the airline’s first flight to Japan post-pandemic, ahead of its second route launch to Sapporo (Shin-Chitose) in December.

    In commemorating the service resumption, AAX celebrated the flight with a send-off ceremony at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (klia2) with fun activities and giveaways for the guests.

    Benyamin Ismail, CEO of AirAsia X said: “Japan is a core destination, and we are thrilled to return to Tokyo as it has always been one of our most popular routes. In 2019, we carried about 275,210 guests to/from Tokyo, and with this service resumption, we look forward to carrying over 230,000 additional visitor seats annually through Malaysia and Japan. This will not only boost tourism and the economy between the two countries but also provide more excellent value for everyone in the region traveling to Tokyo.

    “The resumption of services to Tokyo signifies our commitment to accelerating our growth as a mid-range airline. This is only the first of several routes to Japan that will be in service, including to Sapporo (Shin-Chitose) in December and Osaka next year. Our Malaysian guests love Japan but not only that, we have significant fly-through connectivity via Kuala Lumpur to Japan, including from Australia and more.

    “As demand increases, we will also be adding more flights to Tokyo gradually in the future to meet strong forecast demand.”

    Fares are available for booking for the travel period between now till 30 March 2024.

  • Hoa Phat steel sales fall by 42% in October

    Hoa Phat steel sales fall by 42% in October

    Hoa Phat Group’s sales plummeted by 42% year-on-year in October to 492,000 tons as domestic and global steel demand continued to fall.

    According to monthly data from Vietnam’s largest steel company, this is its lowest sales volume since February 2021.

    Construction steel sales fell by 45% year-on-year to 210,000 tons.

    Hot-rolled coil steel sales however rose 30% to 267,000 tons as the company was able to export large volumes to Indonesia and Malaysia.

    Several media reports have said the company is set to shut down four blast furnaces starting this month as market demand remains sluggish.

    HPG shares have fallen by nearly 30% this year to around VND13,800.

    Analysts at SSI Securities said in a recent note that weakening steel demand would remain a challenge for the company.

  • Gold demand triples in Q3

    Gold demand triples in Q3

    Vietnam’s gold demand more than tripled to 12 tons in the third quarter from 3.3 tons a year earlier. Bullion and coin sales rose to 8.5 tons from 2.4 tons, and jewelry sales to 3.5 tons from 0.9 tons, according to a report by the World Gold Council.

    “Vietnam saw a particularly significant year-on-year rise in demand. It more than tripled as local investors again sought refuge in gold, with high demand for rings and SJC tael bars.”

    The rise in jewelry demand comes amid Vietnam’s particularly robust recovery, with healthy GDP growth, incomes boosted by reversed salary cuts and companies returning to full employment, the report added.

    The price of gold sold at state-owned distributor SJC had fallen to VND65.2 million per tael (37.5 grams) at the end of September but has since risen 3.8% to around VND67.7 million now.

    Global gold demand (excluding over-the-counter trading) in the third quarter rose 28% year-on-year to 1,181 tons.

  • Pergola kits are a rising choice in Asian commerce

    Pergola kits are a rising choice in Asian commerce

    When beautifying our homes, we have many options to choose from. Among the most popular choices for home gardening improvements, though, includes the use of pergolas. When fitted and installed correctly, pergolas can add freshness and charm to our outdoor spaces that we did not previously utilize. Today, you can find many places providing pergolas for sale. Across the Asian retail sphere, there has been a growing interest in using pergolas as the ideal outdoor home decoration.

    This has come for various reasons, but the ease of finding pergolas for sale online has become a common reason. Another reason is that pergolas, once seen as expensive and often unaffordable, are now much cheaper to invest in. Online specialists like Sunset Pergola Kits have become a common choice for Asians looking to buy affordable DIY pergola kits.

    A big reason for the popularity of pergolas is their commonality in the Western world. While Asia has its own cultures and customs, the globalized nature of life today means it is common for nations to borrow from other cultures. Across Asia, this has seen a rise in the number of Western-inspired designs. It is more common today to find pergolas in the gardens and landscapes of many Asian homes purely because they are so commonly found across Western culture.

    Add in the functional nature of a pergola, and it is easy to see why so many Asian shoppers see them as the ideal add-on to their garden space. If you are looking for a way to change your outdoor space this year, then you might wish to consider following this trend and investing in some pergolas.

    Pergola ease of setup helps to fuel interest

    Another reason for this growth is that a pergola can be easily set up. Compared to other outdoor fixtures, it would not take many challenges at all to set up a pergola and see how it looks. This is one of the main reasons pergolas are a big part of the current aesthetic trend across the continent; people like to have easy-to-arrange and manage outdoor furnishings.

    Pergolas are one of the easiest-to-assemble add-ons that one can add to their garden. When set up correctly, a pergola can be the perfect way to help add some functional coverage without having to close off the entire outdoor space.

    In a part of the world where so many of us focus heavily on functionality, something like a pergola can be game-changing. It offers a comfortable aesthetic change without being excessive, and it can easily be fitted into place even by non-professionals.

    For those looking for ways to change their garden and landscape, it might be worth keeping an eye on this trend. Asian retail sectors are seeing increased demand for pergola kits with good reason – this might be the new landscaping trend for the future.

     

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  • Government mulls 250 kph transnational railway

    Government mulls 250 kph transnational railway

    The Ministries of Planning and Investment and Transport will study the possibility of building high-speed rail across Vietnam to transport both passengers and cargo.

    The dual-gauge railway, with design speeds of 250 kilometers per hour and operational speeds of 180-225 kph, is required as rail only carries 6% of passengers and 1.4% of cargo on the north-south route, the planning ministry said.

    When completed it would be a key means of transport capable of carrying large volumes of cargo, connect major economic centers and boost growth, it said.

    It suggested that the railroad be built under a public-private partnership and funded partly by auctioning lands near the 50 stations along the route.

    The 250-kph option has been suggested by a consultancy consortium over a 350-kph option which can only transport passengers.

    Though costing more to build, it would have a higher chance of recouping the investment thanks to cargo transport, the consortium comprising the University of Transport and Communications Consultancy and Construction, Germany’s Evo mc, Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong, and Hung Phu Trading and Construction Consultant said.

    They will respectively cost US$62.7-64.8 billion and $58.7 billion.

    Since 2019 officials have been considering the transnational rail since roads and airports are becoming increasingly overloaded.

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  • $1-bln Lego plant construction starts in Vietnam

    $1-bln Lego plant construction starts in Vietnam

    Construction of a $1-billion Lego plant began Thursday in the southern province of Binh Duong.

    Covering 44 hectares in Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park 3, the plant is scheduled to create some 4,000 jobs and launch its first products in 2024.

    This is the sixth plant of the Danish toy company worldwide, and its second in Asia. It is Lego’s first carbon-neutral plant in the world, using electricity from rooftop solar cell panels and a nearby solar farm.

    Lego CEO Niels Christiansen said the toy maker chose Vietnam for its big pool of skilled staff, commitment to carbon-neutrality by 2050, and location as gateway to the Asia-Pacific region, which boasts a growing market of young consumers.

    The Lego plant in Binh Duong is the biggest foreign-invested project in the province since the Covid outb Lego collector recreates Vietnam street scenes in miniature reak.

    Lego opened its first Asian plant in China during 2016. The Danish firm’s products are sold in over 130 markets.

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