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Tag: Thailand

  • Lalamove Delivers Lifestyle Services with LINE

    Lalamove Delivers Lifestyle Services with LINE

    Hong Kong based on-demand delivery app Lalamove is partnering with the world’s leading mobile platform LINE to expand on its delivery services in Bangkok.  The LINE MAN app is aimed at bringing reliable on-demand services to consumers as well as providing convenience to their increasingly busy lifestyles.  LINE MAN is one of LINE’s first ventures to “be more than a chat app” and LINE has chosen Thailand to be the first market to launch LINE MAN.

    The LINE MAN smartphone platform offers three services: document and package delivery, food purchase and delivery, and convenient goods purchase and delivery.  The delivery of all 3 services is provided by Lalamove, and currently limited to within Bangkok for now with plans for expansion.  LINE has a large user base of over 33 million in Thailand.

    Lalamove-LINE_3

    The announcement follows a global conference in March 2016 where LINE revealed a five-year plan to create a ‘smart portal’. The goal is to close the loop between businesses and LINE users and go beyond their original chat app strategy.

    Santit Jirawongkraisorn, Co-founder and Managing Director of Lalamove Thailand believes partnering with LINE is a natural progression. “This year, we have been marketing our online delivery services primarily to small and medium sized businesses. The addition of LINE MAN will bring Lalamove’s high quality services that many businesses have enjoyed to general consumers, which appeals to the Lalamove strategy and brand.”

    Meanwhile, the choice of Lalamove to deliver LINE MAN services demonstrates real confidence in the logistics app profile. According to Ariya Banomyong, Managing Director of LINE Thailand, “LINE MAN aims to offer best quality lifestyle services and help businesses leverage digital tools to connect with consumers, and Lalamove, as a leading on-demand delivery service provider in Thailand, made them a natural choice for LINE MAN”.

    LINE MAN will offer courier services through the Lalamove fleet of motorcycles, with cash payments.  Consumers will be able to order food via restaurant database app, Wongnai.

    LINE MAN is free to download at the Google Play store and Apple store.

    https://onelink.to/lineman

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  • Lazada opens m-commerce tech hub in Thailand

    Lazada opens m-commerce tech hub in Thailand

    Southeast Asian e-commerce company Lazada Group has opened a tech hub in Bangkok, Thailand to drive strategic mobile development initiatives.

    The Lazada Tech Hub in Thailand will focus on advancing the design and engineering of Lazada’s mobile shopping and selling sites and apps for Southeast Asia.

    With almost 30 million app downloads and more than 60% of its GMV represented by mobile sales by the end of December 2015, Lazada Group has been investing in m-commerce through new app and mobile site initiatives.

    In the next few months, Lazada Tech Hub aims to hire more than 50 staff, including iOS and Android developers, Go Programming Language developers, and Quality Assurance automation engineers. The tech hub team will operate from EmQuartier in Central Business District Bangkok.

    Lazada Group opened its first tech hub in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam in November 2012. A second tech hub was opened in Moscow, Russia in February 2015. Together, the three tech hubs are dedicated to driving product engineering and technology infrastructure.

    “Mobile innovation is a discipline any serious online player must build, and having the best talent is critical to designing products and solutions that are not only intuitive but improve the quality of experience and life for our consumers and sellers,” Lazada CTO for operations Ifor Evans said.

    “We believe that Thailand attracts a highly-skilled talent pool. And, as the leading shopping and selling destination, Lazada is both enviably-positioned and committed to raising the bar for mobile and tech development in the region.”

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  • Siam Discovery ready to offer new experiences

    Siam Discovery ready to offer new experiences

    Siam Discovery will open its doors on May 28 and will become Thailand’s largest lifestyle speciality store. The 40,000-square-metre complex will also be the Kingdom’s “Biggest Arena of Lifestyle Experiments” in retail space.

    Mayuree Chaipromprasith, senior vice president for business promotion at Siam Piwat, said that with the facelift the new Siam Discovery complex would serve individual shoppers who are curious and want to try new things as well as discover new experiences.

    “Both Siam Paragon, Siam Center, and the latest new Siam Paragon will have their own unique positioning, and will not cannibalise each another,” said Mayuree.

    She said Siam Paragon offers high-end fashion brands, while Siam Center will serve people who look for trendy fashion products made by local Thai designers. Siam Discovery, however, will provide hybrid lifestyle products, a combination of imported luxury and local brands.

    “The three shopping complexes will share the core values of Siam Piwat, which are: understanding [shoppers and tenants]; trustworthy; missionary; daring [with new innovations that break the rules]; and a commitment to excellence,” said Mayuree.

    She said the new Siam Discovery will offer lifestyle experiments for individual consumers in their areas of interest. The complex will create hybrid experiences in retail space, which will break all retailing rules.

    Charnchai Cherdchuwong-thanakorn, senior executive vice president for retail business development at Siam Piwat, |said the company will spend Bt300 million on the grand opening event and opening promotions of Siam Discovery, which aim to make Bangkok the retail hub of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) and the world’s favourite shopping destination.

    “The new Siam Discovery marks the introduction to Thailand of a new retail concept – a hybrid retail destination spread across 40,000 square metres. We expect to double |our sales per square metre with the new concept as well as |reinforce our reputation as a thought-leader in Thailand’s retail sector, creating unprecedented destinations that compete with the best of the world’s destinations,” he said.

    Charnchai said that highlight brands or stores at the new Siam Discovery centre will be divided into five different categories: everyday products; trend products; innovative products and services; sustainable products; and collaborations and Absolute Siam products.

    “We expect the new Siam Discovery complex to draw approximately 100,000 shoppers a day in the first 12 months, of which 65 per cent will be Thais and the rest 35 per cent foreigners,” Charnchai said.

  • Central Group sells Big C Thailand stake to rival

    Central Group sells Big C Thailand stake to rival

    Thailand’s Central Group is a step nearer to settling on Big C Vietnam  after selling its stake in Big C Thailand to a rival retailer.

    Central has accepted an offer from rival TCC Group for its 25 per cent holding of Big C Supercenter, reported to be worth at least 50 billion baht (US$1.4 billion).

    The deal follows French retail group Casino’s decision to sell its Thailand and Vietnam units this year in a bid to cut debt. Both businesses have hypermarkets, supermarkets and convenience stores.

    Central Group, Thailand’s biggest retailer led by tycoon Tos Chirathivat, lost out to TCC’s flagship retail unit Berli Jucker in the battle to gain control of the Thai unit, but has agreed to pay 920 million euros (US$1.1 billion) for Big C Vietnam.

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  • Foreign retailers in Vietnam under attack

    Foreign retailers in Vietnam under attack

    Complaints by Ho Chi Minh City businesses about foreign retailers in Vietnam have sparked the prime minister to order an investigation.

    Members of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Business Associations (HUBA) say the growing number of foreign retailers in Vietnam have a loose rein to expand at a pace that will eventually hurt local companies.

    HUBA has sent at least two letters to the government raising questions about the legality of some business activities by foreign retailers, reports Thanh Nien News.

    Vietnam laws forbid foreign businesses to distribute products such as rice, cane sugar and cigarettes, but these items are still available at the supermarkets and convenience stores of most foreign retailers, including South Korea’s Lotte and Big C, Tuoi Tre reports.

    Following the complaints, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has ordered relevant agencies to check into foreign retailers, including mergers and acquisitions.

    Media reports say Mega Market Vietnam, which owns Metro wholesale stores, is expected to be first to face the scrutiny. The stores were originally run by Germany’s Metro before being acquired by Thailand consumer group TCC this year.

    Statistics show that Vietnam is home to more than 700 supermarkets and 132 shopping malls, mostly in the main centres of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

    Meanwhile, Hanoi Association of Supermarkets chairman Vu Vinh Phu says a supermarket in the northern city of Hai Phong had its revenue fall 30 per cent six months after a foreign superstore opened.

    Foreign companies now control more than half of Vietnam’s retail market, says the association, and many producers complain they are struggling to have their products in foreign supermarkets mainly because the retailers ask for high discounts, says HUBA vice-chairman Pham Ngoc Hung.
    Meanwhile, products from countries such as Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Thailand are becoming more and more popular.

    Vietnam’s retail sales rose 10.6 per cent from 2014 to VND2469 trillion (US$109.4 billion) last year, official figures show.

  • Mr Pizza follows K-pop into Thailand

    Mr Pizza follows K-pop into Thailand

    South Korean pizza brand Mr Pizza has opened its first store in Thailand, with plans to add four more outlets this year.

    Its debut store is in the commercial and entertainment district of Ratchada Rd in Bangkok, in the first basement floor of the seven-storey The Street mall.

    Mr Pizza owner MPK Group says this is the first foray out of Korea for the franchise, and a second store will open in The Promenade mall in Kannayao, Bangkok, in July.

    “Thailand is one of the biggest markets in Southeast Asia, and food and beverage accounts for 40 per cent of the country’s $7 billion franchise industry,” says Son Dong-hee from MPK. “With the popularity of Korean pop culture, I am sure we will be successful in Thailand.”

    To prepare for the Thailand franchise business, the Korean food company established a joint venture with Thailand food retailer Foodland Supermarket last year. Foodland Supermarket runs 18 retail stores and about 50 restaurants, including dim sum restaurant Tim Ho Wan and fusion-food restaurant Long Table.

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  • The ‘Thai goods’ era’ has arrived

    The ‘Thai goods’ era’ has arrived

    Vietnamese manufacturers’ biggest rival is Thailand, experts say. The country exports a wide range of goods, from chicken to slippers, from cosmetics to electric cookers. 

    vietnamnet bridge, english news, Vietnam news, news Vietnam, vietnamnet news, Vietnam net news, Vietnam latest news, vn news, Vietnam breaking news, dissolved businesses, VCCI, Thai goods, Big C, Central Group, Thai billionaires
    Most recently, Central Group has acquired Big C at the price of $1.04 billion

    Figures show the flood of Thai goods in the Vietnamese market.

    1.Vietnam spends $8.2 billion, or VND180 trillion to buy Thai goods, from slippers to cars.

    According to the General Department of Customs (GDC), the turnover of imports from Thailand increased by twofold from $4.5 billion in 2009 to $8.2 billion in 2015.

    Of this, the petroleum imports from Thailand increased from $590 million to $1.16 billion.

    The other products which also witnessed sharp increase in import turnover were computers, paper and electronics.

    Though Vietnam is an agricultural country which has big advantages in producing tropical fruits, it still imports fruits from Thailand in large quantity. The fruit import turnover increased during that time.

    Vietnam also imports steel, precious metal, chemicals, machines, household use electrical products and pharmaceutical drugs from Thailand.

    2.Thailand is a big vehicle exporter to Vietnam.

    In 2015 alone, Vietnam imported 25,136 vehicles from Thailand. If counting car parts, Vietnamese spent $1 billion to buy cars and car parts from the country. By the end of 2015, Thailand ranked fourth among the biggest car exporters to Vietnam, after China, South Korea and India.

    In the first quarter of 2016, Vietnam imported 19,700 cars from all markets, including 7,814 cars from Thailand, a sharp increase of 64.5 percent compared with the same period last year.

    3.Vietnam is Thailand’s seventh biggest importer.

    According to Thai agencies, the two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and Thailand in 2013 was $439 million. The figure is expected to increase to $15 billion by 2020.

    Vietnam is the seventh biggest importer for Thailand, while Thailand is the 10th ASEAN largest investor with 300 projects under implementation in Vietnam.

    3.Thai businesses have completed a series of merger and acquisition (M&A) deals in Vietnam.

    In 2012, BJC group of the Thai billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi spent 1 billion baht, or VND656 billion, together with Mongko, opening a supermarket to distribute Thai goods in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

    In early 2013, BJC took over the retail chain developed by Vietnamese Phu Thai Group and Japanese Family Mart and renamed the chain B’s Mart.

    In August 2014, BJC spent 655 million, or $879 million, to buy Metro Cash & Carry Vietnam.

    In September 2014, the Thai billionaire decided to spend 1 billion baht, or VND650 billion, from now to 2018 to expand 205 B’s Marts in Vietnam.

    In January 2015, Power Buy, belonging to Central Group, bought 49 percent of Nguyen Kim home appliance chain’s stake. It is also the owner of Robins chain in Vietnam.

    Most recently, Central Group has acquired Big C at the price of $1.04 billion.

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  • TrueMove backs out of 900-MHz auction

    TrueMove backs out of 900-MHz auction

    Thai mobile operator TrueMove has decided not to participate in the upcoming 900-MHz auction on May 27 after all.

    The decision was made public late last night in a leaked filing to the stock market regulator. Dtac had already announced it was not participating, which would likely leave AIS as the sole bidder in the auction.

    The auction for 10 MHz of 900-MHz spectrum will start at $2.1 billion, the last price by Jasmine in the December auction before it forfeited its deposit after being unable to raise funds to pay for the licence.

    The letter to the Securities Exchange Commission said that following the board’s meeting on May 16, True’s board has decided not to participate in the auction. True already has enough high frequency spectrum for capacity (on 1800 and 2100-MHz) and low frequency spectrum for coverage (850 via CAT and 900) to meet demand. True has a total of 55 MHz of spectrum which is enough for 2G, 3G and 4G services.

    Just days earlier at a panel organized by Thailand’s IT Press Club NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasit strenuously defended “his” decision to include True in the auction. “I have listened to every side of the argument. Whatever decision I make, it is possible I will be investigated and may face jail,” he said.

    Takorn also announced at the ITPC panel that AIS had decided to participate in the auction.

    Takorn had indeed decided to include True, but that decision was overturned by the NBTC board on spectrum cap grounds. The NBTC board in turn was overturned by the junta using article 44, the absolute power clause, in the interim constitution.

    Junta order 16/2559 section one paragraph 3 clearly states that the NBTC is to hold the auction in a way that is fair for the benefit to the state and to the people or to ensure competition. In order to do so the NBTC may amend any regulations needed but it has to report to, and receive authorization from, the leader of the national council for peace and order.

    The leader of the NCPO is Prime Minister General Prayut Chanocha.

    With Dtac firmly against participating in the auction at the elevated price, the need for a competition was used to overturn the NBTC board and allow True back in for more 900-MHz spectrum.

    Prime Minister and Junta leader Prayut Chanocha is currently in Russia so any decision is likely to be deferred until he gets back.

    All eyes are now on AIS which is understood to be convening its board to make a decision today (May 17) whether or not to participate in the auction.

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  • Brooks Brothers Thailand opens Bangkok flagship

    Brooks Brothers Thailand opens Bangkok flagship

    Classic American menswear retailer Brooks Brothers has opened a flagship store at Bangkok’s Gaysorn Shopping Centre, to be followed by more outlets in the city.

    The new Brooks Brothers Thailand store’s interior features a finished wood floor, with shelves stocking garments of various checks, plaids, gingham and stripes. Brooks Brothers produced seersucker as early as the 1950s, and the Bangkok store displays a mannequin in a seersucker suit.

    Brooks Brothers, a private company owned by an Italian billionaire, launched in the US in 1818 and is the oldest retailer in the US. It speaks of personal wealth and achievement. Brooks Brothers suits were featured in the television drama Mad Men.

  • AIS abandons plan to rent TrueMove’s 2G network

    AIS abandons plan to rent TrueMove’s 2G network

    Thailand’s AIS and TrueMove have abandoned plans to enter a mobile network rental agreement after being unable to accept mutually agreed upon terms.

    AIS no longer intends to rent TrueMove’s 900-MHz network to allow it to continue serving its 900-MHz 2G customers in the wake of the expiration of its 900-MHz license, telecoms regulator NBTC’s secretary-general told.

    The two operators had been negotiating a network rental agreement since mid-April, concentrating on network roaming on the 900-MHz spectrum and customer migration between AIS’s and TrueMove’s networks.

    The government had been encouraging AIS to rent True Move’s existing network to allow it to retain some of its existing 2G customers in order to end a dispute over an extension of AIS’s use of its 900-MHz network.

    AIS is reportedly also facing government pressure to hand over 8 million 2G customers to TrueMove to free up the 900-MHz spectrum due to be re-auctioned on May 27.

    But AIS intends to participate in the auction, and may therefore be able to secure the spectrum needed to ensure service continuity.

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  • Thailand retail growth trails other destinations

    Thailand retail growth trails other destinations

    While Thailand retail industry growth is up slightly and there have been more international tourists, more Thais are shopping abroad, and tourists are spending more in other regional destinations.

    Thailand’s first-quarter growth in the retail industry was 2.6 per cent – failing to hit the Thai Retailers Association (TRA) projection of 3 per cent.

    President Jariya Chirathivat says same-store sales growth for several retail formats declined year-on-year, particularly hypermarkets and convenience stores.

    “This is the first time in two decades that Thailand’s retail industry has [shown] declining rates for several years,” says Jariya. Growth has fallen from 12 per cent in 2012 to 2.8 per cent last year.

    She says retail consumption has weakened because of declining farm product prices hitting the purchasing power of middle- and low-income consumers.

    While there were 12 per cent more foreign tourists in Thailand last year (29.5 million), there was no effect on the sales of semi-durable goods such as clothes, make-up, leather products, shoes and watches.

    Tourists in Singapore and Hong Kong on average spent 1900 baht (US$54) and 5300 baht ($150)respectively per head per day, while the figure for Thailand was 1155 baht ($33).

    Tourism Authority of Thailand figures show that the number of Thais shopping abroad grows by 9 per cent a year. Thais spent 170 billion baht on shopping overseas last year, with brand-name products accounting for 50.8 billion baht.

    “We’re concerned the retail industry might not be able to maintain investment levels in the long run if consumer spending continues to decline,” says Jariya.

  • Bangkok 18th most attractive retail city

    Bangkok 18th most attractive retail city

    Bangkok ranks 18th in terms of international retailer attractiveness, just ahead of Las Vegas, in a new report from real estate consultant JLL. “The Destination Retail 2016” report also revealed that Asia boasts five out of the 10 most appealing destinations for international retailers globally.

    According to JLL’s report, which for the first time provides a global ranking of 140 cities by their appeal to cross-border retailers, Hong Kong is second only to London in popularity. Also among the top 10 are Shanghai, Singapore, Beijing and Tokyo.

    Boosted by rising income levels and growing tourism numbers from across the world, Bangkok has attracted many international brands, such as H&M, Zara Home, Pull & Bear and Victoria’s Secret. Recently, retailers such as Dior Homme, Pierre Herme, A Bathing Ape and Tiffany & Co have started trading in the city. The Ratchaprasong area is Bangkok’s retail centre and attracts many locals as well as tourists, thanks to its central location and adjacent skytrain. It houses 11 shopping centres, including Siam Paragon, CentralWorld and Siam Square One.

    The recently completed EmQuartier, Central Westgate and CentralFestival EastVille, all outside the city centre, are providing new attractive opportunities to international retailers.

    Bangkok’s retail landscape continues to diversify, with renovations at Siam Discovery and several suburban CentralPlaza retail stores, the opening of HaHa Market and the continued success of Asiatique The Riverfront, a combined shopping centre and night bazaar.

    Cities in Asia-Pacific are the most appealing destinations for luxury retailers to set up shop. Seven Asia-Pacific cities are among the global top 10: Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai, Singapore, Beijing, Osaka and Taipei.

    “Hong Kong remains Asia’s leading luxury shopping destination with many retailers using it as a springboard for expansion into China,” said James Assersohn, retail director for Asia-Pacific at JLL. “While there has been a noticeable slowdown in luxury sales due to China’s slowing economy and the government’s anti-corruption crackdown,Hong Kong continues to attract many high-spending Chinese tourists,” he said.

    More broadly, the dominance of Asian cities in the index highlights the attractiveness of the region to retailers, thanks to its burgeoning middle-class and growing levels of affluence, said Mr Assersohn.

    Tokyo, which takes fourth place globally, has seen a revival in luxury retailer’s demand for high quality real estate as a result of an improving economic climate and rising tourism numbers. The yen, which has devalued by nearly 30% since 2012, has made Japan a magnet for retail tourism across the region. International visitors to Japan rose 47% in 2015 with the largest contingent from China. A weaker yen is also encouraging Japanese to make the most of their luxury purchasing power at home.

    Shanghai, meanwhile, at number six in the ranking, is catching up fast on Hong Kong to become one of Asia’s leading luxury retail destinations and remains China’s premier shopping destination.

    “Thanks to a diverse economy and wealthy consumer base, Shanghai has become a favourite place for international brands to test the Chinese market and gain brand exposure,” said Mr Assersohn.

    (Original article from BangkokPost)

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  • Index Living Mall sets plan for Asean market

    Index Living Mall sets plan for Asean market

    Thai home-furnishings manufacturer and retailer Index Living Mall has set a strategic plan to open at least one store in a new Asean market every year.

    The company expects the sales contribution from Asean countries to increase significantly from the 6 to 7 per cent estimated for this year to 10 per cent within three years.

    MD Kridchanok Patamasatayasonthi says the expansion is in line with its vision to be the No. 1 player in Southeast Asia in terms of brand awareness in its segment.

    In Thailand, Index Living Mall opened a branch in Nakhon Pathom in February with 7500 sqm of retail space, and another store will open in Chachoengsao next month covering 5500 sqm.

    “We also plan to open another store in Bangkok next January,” says Kridchanokshe.
    Index Living Mall has also opened stores in Malaysia and Vietnam.

    Malaysia’s first store is in IOI City Mall in Putrajaya, followed by another outlet at Aeon Mall in Shah Alam in March, and at Aeon Mall in Kota Bahru last month. The expansion in Malaysia is through a joint venture with Japan’s Aeon Group, and the fourth store will open in Johor Bahru next year.

    In Vietnam, where the brand has had a presence for four years, the company has appointed a new local franchisee to expand its network. The first Index Living Mall in Vietnam under the new partnership, at Vincom Mega Mall in Ho Chi Minh City, opened in January, followed last month by a store at Hanoi’s Vincom Mega Mall.

    “We are negotiating with a potential joint-venture partner in the Philippines and a potential franchisee in Indonesia for partnership deals expected to be finalised next year,” says Kridchanok.

    Index Living Mall posted THB2.5 billion (US$71.242 million) in sales revenue in the first quarter of this year, a 10 per cent increase compared with the same period last year. The company targets THB10 billion in sales this year, up 10 per cent over 2015.

    It has also opened a concept store at Don Mueang International Airport, Sky Living by Index Living Mall – 400 sqm of retail space showcasing its products and accessories.

    After the renovation of the airport’s Terminal 2 to accommodate the growing number of domestic passengers, Index Living Mall aims to create direct customer experiences by providing a premier passenger lounge designed around a variety of room settings, as well as a Kids’ Zone.

    The first Index Living Mall store opened more than 20 years ago, and there are now 26 retail locations throughout Thailand.

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  • Princess of Thailand’s Sirivannavari to Debut Pop-up at La Rinascente

    Princess of Thailand’s Sirivannavari to Debut Pop-up at La Rinascente

    Sirivannavari, the women’s label founded by Sirivannavari Nariratana, the Princess of Thailand, is debuting a pop-up shop at Milanese department store La Rinascente.

    A look from Sirivannavari spring/summer 2016 collection

    Opening from May 18 to June 14, this will be located on the store’s fourth floor dedicated to women’s wear.

    The pop-up shop will carry the latest collection of the luxury Thai label, which was founded in 2005. For spring, Nariratana, who studied fashion at Paris’ École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, was inspired by the Versailles Castle to design a lineup incorporating a range of art references from the Romantic and Impressionistic periods. The collection is focused on the combination of rich graphics and details with sculptural shapes. It includes a tulip dress; a blazer with rounded shoulders; a gown with a bodice embroidered with 3-D flowers, as well as a bolero jacket showing gooseberry-like embellishments.

    Sirivannavari operates a flagship at Bangkok’s Siam Paragon shopping mall.

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  • Line Thailand expansion plans include business

    Line Thailand expansion plans include business

    Mobile platform Line Thailand has announced bold plans, targeting business uses.

    Part of Korea’s Naver internet service company, Line sees Thailand as its second-largest strategic market following Japan.

    Line Thailand MD Ariya Banomyong says the company aims to boost its presence not just as a mobile messenger but as a smart portal providing innovative and “useful” services.

    Banomyong says many businesses are wondering how to access customers seeking specific answers, and that ultimately Line would be more than just a message service. Already the company has launched a mobile delivery agent service, Line Man, and established a joint venture with Bangkok’s mass transportation business BTS, Rabbit Line Pay, which supersedes the Line Pay mobile payment business started last June.

    “I believe we definitely need to dominate the mobile food-delivery business because street foods are a very important part of Thai life,” says Banomyong. “Before Line Man, only a few restaurants offered a delivery service.”

    Banomyong aims to start localised services that can be adopted in major Line markets like Korea and Japan. “The Thai subsidiary will boost co-operation with startups here to seek new business opportunities.”

    Line services launched in Thailand in 2012, so far attracting 33 million subscribers – nearly half the country’s population. Line has added such services as official accounts, sponsored stickers and a content creators’ B2B market.

    For the offline-to-online sector, the company has started Line Shop, Line Gift Shop and Line At, an official account service for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

    “Only about 500,000 out of 2.8 million SMEs in Thailand are online,” says Banomyong. ”To offer them a broader online environment, we provide a simple yet effective platform with lower costs.”

    In December, the company also started the television content-streaming service Line TV in collaboration with media groups such as GMM. Its Line Music service has recorded more than 7 million cumulative downloads.

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