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Tag: Thailand

  • Nokia 6, Nokia 5 and Nokia 3 launched in Thailand Mobile Expo

    Nokia 6, Nokia 5 and Nokia 3 launched in Thailand Mobile Expo

    HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, announced today at Thailand Mobile Expo 2017 that its first Nokia smartphone range – comprising of the Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6 – will be available in June in Thailand. Nokia 3 will be available second week of June 2017 while Nokia 5 and Nokia 6 will be available by end of June.

    Unveiled earlier this year at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the devices combine superior craftsmanship, distinctive design and powerful entertainment features with a pure Android experience, giving you the ability to use your phone, your way.

    James Rutherfoord, Vice President Asia Pacific at HMD Global commented “Thailand is one of the smartphone capitals of Asia and engagement on devices is extremely high. When it comes to smartphones, Thai consumers want high build quality and beautiful design from a trusted brand. We are very happy to bring Nokia 3, Nokia 5, and Nokia 6 with a pure Android experience into Thailand and we are looking forward to introducing more products in the months to come.”

    Nokia 6: Powerful entertainment experience and superior craftsmanship

    Combining superior craftsmanship and distinctive design with an immersive audio experience and a 5.5” full HD screen, the new Nokia 6 delivers a truly premium smartphone experience. The unibody of the Nokia 6 is crafted from a single block of 6000 series aluminium and is perfect for those who want a robust phone with outstanding entertainment credentials. The smart audio amplifier with dual speakers allow consumers to experience a deep bass and unmatched clarity, whilst Dolby Atmos® sound delivers a powerfully moving entertainment experience.

    With outstanding colour reproduction, the Nokia 6 has a fully laminated display stack delivering excellent sunlight readability without compromising the slim form. Powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 430 mobile platform and the Qualcomm® Adreno™ 505 graphics processor, the Nokia  6  strikes  the  perfect  balance  between  performance  and  power consumption,   designed   to   deliver   premium   quality   entertainment   with   battery   life   to   spare, maximising your entertainment experience on the go.  The Nokia 6 is available in four distinct colours – Matte Black, Silver, Tempered Blue and Copper. 

    Nokia 5: Seamless, premium and durable design

    The Nokia 5 has been precision engineered out of a single block of 6000 series aluminium to create a perfect pillowed body that flows seamlessly into the laminated 5.2” IPS HD display with sculpted Corning® Gorilla® Glass. Featuring a ground-breaking innovation in antenna design the Nokia 5 brings robust structural integrity, attention to detail and the quality of a high-end flagship. Powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 430 mobile platform, Nokia 5 delivers excellent battery life, improved graphics performance – all in a package that perfectly balances everyday usability with a premium quality design. With additional features including an 8MP, 84-degree wide-angle front facing camera – to squeeze even more scene into your selfie – and excellent sunlight and low light screen visibility, there are plenty of reasons to keep the Nokia 5 out of your pocket and in your hand where it belongs.

    The Nokia 5 is available in four distinct colours – Matte Black, Silver, Tempered Blue and Copper.

    Nokia 3: Superior craftsmanship at an affordable price

    This stunning new smartphone is designed to deliver an outstanding experience with unprecedented value.  The Nokia 3 features a precision machined aluminium frame forged out of a single piece of aluminium, offering exceptional structural integrity and protection where it counts. Featuring a fully laminated 5” IPS display with no air gap and sculpted Corning® Gorilla® Glass, the Nokia 3 offers durability and superb clarity delivering a viewing experience that is second to none. With fewer reflections thanks to the polarised screen, the experience is crisp and clear offering unbeatable visibility even in bright sunlight. With seamlessly integrated 8MP wide aperture cameras (front and back), the Nokia 3 packs a truly premium quality smartphone experience into its compact and elegant form. The Nokia 3 is available in four distinct colours – Silver White, Matte Black, Tempered Blue and Copper White.

    Always Pure Android

    With all Nokia smartphones you will always have the latest pure Android experience for your device. With monthly security updates your Nokia smartphone is safe, up-to-date as well as clutter-free – putting choice at the heart of the consumer experience.  And with the latest Android come the latest features including the latest capabilities of Doze, which saves battery life while the phone is in a pocket or bag. The new Nokia smartphones feature Google’s most recent innovation, the Google Assistant, building further on a great Android experience. Our teams have worked together to ensure conversations with the Google Assistant happen seamlessly on Nokia smartphones.

  • AOT concession revenues up by 6.49% across Thai airports

    AOT concession revenues up by 6.49% across Thai airports

    Non-aeronautical revenues accounted for 43% of the total generated by Airports of Thailand (AOT) within its HY1 fiscal year period, at the country’s 38 airports (October 2016 to March 2017).

    These include the most significant civil aviation airports of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang in Bangkok, plus AOT’s four regional airports handling international traffic, including Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hat Yai and Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai.

    Over the six-month period the two main airports of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang respectively handled 29.9m passengers (+4.36%) and 18.5m (+7.47%).

    Concession revenues for the six months, including those from King Power International Group (KPIG), came in at Bht27,277.86m (+6.49%) as net profits over the same period were recorded at Bht11,496.13m (+14.26%). At the same time, EBITDA was reported at Bht17,066.87m (+6.37%).

    In a statement, Airports of Thailand said: “The overall aviation industry of Thailand during October 2016 to March 2017 improved compared to the same period last year.

    Chinese Tourist Numbers Increase

    “The number of Chinese tourists who visited Thailand has recovered after an extreme decline around the end of the year 2016 as a consequence from the repressive measures against illegal tours by the government.

    “The recovery of Chinese tourist numbers resulted from an adaption of the entrepreneurs. The entrepreneurs offered high quality tour packages which attracted potential tourists to Thailand.

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  • AEON Your Cash Awards 1 Million Baht Worth of Gold to Lucky Winner

    AEON Your Cash Awards 1 Million Baht Worth of Gold to Lucky Winner

    Ms.Saranya Pipoppinyo (right), Vice President Marketing of AEON Thana Sinsap (Thailand) Public Company Limited, awarded a gold bar, valued at 1 million baht, to Ms. Jirarat Khunthong, a lucky winner from Trang province, as part of “Win Gold Worth THB1 Million with AEON”. The campaign was eligible for AEON Your Cash customers who withdrew cash or transferred Your Cash loan at least 1,000 baht from 1 January – 28 February 2017.

  • Thai Giant Rubber Maker’s Capacity in Indonesia Will be Raised by 60,000 Tons

    Thai Giant Rubber Maker’s Capacity in Indonesia Will be Raised by 60,000 Tons

    Sri Trang Agro-Industry, the world’s largest producer of natural rubber, plans to increase annual capacity by 20% to 2.9 million tons by year-end to take advantage of a market recovery.

    The company accounts for about 30% of output in its home market of Thailand, the largest rubber-producing country. It aims to expand its global market share from 12% now to 20% in two to five years, said Veerasith Sinchareonkul, an executive director.

    Sri Trang will invest 2.5 billion baht to 3 billion baht ($72.1 million to $86.5 million) in new production lines, including new manufacturing facilities for sheet, block and liquid rubber in northeastern Thailand with annual capacity totaling 86,000 tons.

    Capacity at Indonesian facilities will be raised by 60,000 tons. The company also intends to step up output of medical gloves made from natural rubber, of which it is among the top five manufacturers worldwide.

    Sri Trang operates 35 plants and owns rubber plantations spanning 80 million sq. meters. Consolidated sales grew 26% on the year to 77.2 billion baht for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31. The company booked a net loss of more than 700 million baht, down from a 1.1 billion baht profit in fiscal 2015.

  • Mercedes-Benz ditches E220d in favour of E350e in Thailand

    Mercedes-Benz ditches E220d in favour of E350e in Thailand

    Sales of the diesel-powered executive saloon cease as the German automaker wants plug-in hybrids to account for 30% of total annual sales.

    Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) has launched its fourth plug-in hybrid vehicle: the E350e which follows the C350e, S500e and GLE500e.

    Like the C350e, the E350e uses a 2.0-litre petrol-turbo engine in conjunction with an electric motor, whose power from the lithium-ion battery can also be revitalised from the wall socket. The S500e and GLE500e employ a bigger 3.0-litre V6 petrol motor.

    Combined outputs in the E350e are rated at 286hp and 550Nm, while the maximum all-electric driving range is claimed at 33km. As the E350e spews out 44g/km of CO2 on the combined cycle, it is eligible for the new 5% excise tax imposed on locally made plug-in hybrids producing no more than 50g/km.

    There are three trims for the E350e: Avantgarde 3.49 million baht, Exclusive 3.79 million baht and AMG Dynamic 4.09 million baht.

    The similarly priced E220d has been dropped from the Thai E-class model lineup as Mercedes-Benz wants to promote plug-in hybrids in the country.

    Mercedes-Benz hopes that plug-in hybrids will account for 30% of total annual sales which is why diesel versions and other pure petrol derivatives aren’t available anymore. The same has happened in the C, S and GLE model ranges.

    BMW, meanwhile, is gearing up to launch the 530e in Thailand at the end of this year to rival the E350e. Volvo is also said to be preparing the introduction of the S90 T8.

    Unlike Mercedes-Benz, BMW is still selling diesel versions of the X5, 3 and 7-series as it wants to offer Thai customers with two distinct types of propulsion. BMW hopes that plug-in hybrids will account for 15% of annual sales this year.

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  • Demand from China, Africa supports Vietnamese rice prices at harvest end

    Demand from China, Africa supports Vietnamese rice prices at harvest end

    Vietnamese rice is being offered at around $35-$40 a ton below Thai grain. China and several African countries have returned to Vietnam seeking fragrant and white rice, and the demand has helped stabilize export prices even though supply has risen at the end of a major harvest, traders said on Friday.

    They also said Vietnamese rice being offered for cheaper prices than Thai and Indian rice has also attracted buyers, mostly from Africa. Vietnam is the world’s third-largest rice exporter, behind India and Thailand.

    Farmers in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam’s food basket, have finished harvesting the winter-spring crop, the biggest of the country’s three annual crops. Paddy output eased 2 percent from last year to an estimated 9.8 million tons, based on government statistics. Most of the grain from this crop is being exported.

    Reuters cited Vietnamese traders’ quotations for five percent broken rice showing prices rose this week to $355-$360 a ton, free on board (FOB) basis, on more active trade.

    At $360 a ton, the price is at its highest since August 31, 2016.

    But traders at foreign firms and a dealer at a state-run export company in Ho Chi Minh City told VnExpress International that exporters are looking to sell the grade at around $355 a ton, while bids stood at $350-$352 a ton, similar to last week.

    “Rice exports to China are going well,” the dealer said. “Africa is also coming back with inquiries for the 5-percent and the 15 percent broken varieties, as well as fragrant rice.”

    He added that ample supplies are now available to state-owned export firms that have better access to bank loans, while private exporters are struggling to build stock due to weaker finances.

    Vietnamese prices are below those offered by Thailand, where the 5-percent broken rice rose this week to $387-$392 a ton, FOB basis, from $380-$390 last week and $360-$375 at the end of April due to loading demand during a slow off-season harvest, Reuters cited Thai traders in Bangkok as saying.

    Traders noted China, the biggest buyer of Vietnamese rice, has been taking more of the grain in the past month.

    China imported 288,000 tons of rice from Vietnam in April, way above the monthly average of 176,000 tons in the first quarter, Vietnam Customs data showed.

    That brought Vietnam’s total export volume to China in the January-April period to 815,000 tons, a rise of 16 percent from a year ago, based on data from the Finance Ministry-run customs agency.

    Earlier this year, China approved 22 Vietnamese rice export firms as official suppliers, but is also trying to limit rice purchases across the land border with Vietnam.

    China is projected to import 5 million tons of rice this year, up 8.7 percent from 2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said.

    Vietnam is forecast to export 5.6 million tons in 2017, up 10 percent from last year, the USDA said in a report on Wednesday.

    The USDA also forecasts both India and Thailand will export around double that amount this year.

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  • TOT ready to take over True’s fixed operations

    TOT ready to take over True’s fixed operations

    Thai state-owned operator TOT is ready to take over concessionaire True Corporation’s fixed line operations upon the expiry of the concession agreement in October.

    TOT has spent months preparing the operational procedures that will be needed to take over the provision of services to around 1.2 million customers.

    As part of Thailand’s transition to a licensing regime, the 25-year build-operate transfer concession agreement will be allowed to expire on October 26. True had been paying 18% of its total revenue to TOT under this concession.

    Once the concession expires True will transfer its fixed line network assets and customers to TOT.

    The operator will lose fixed line service revenue of around 2 billion baht ($57.7 million) per year, while TOT expects to be able to realise revenues of 2.8 billion baht per year from the assets.

    TOT plans to start writing to True customers in July informing them of the scheduled takeover of the fixed line operations. The state operator already has its own fixed line business, with around 3.4 million subscribers nationwide.

    According to the report, TOT meanwhile plans to spend around 400 million baht this year on fixed line maintenance and repair.

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  • Duolingo Launches in Thailand With a Free English Language Course for Thai Speakers

    Duolingo Launches in Thailand With a Free English Language Course for Thai Speakers

    Duolingo, the most popular language-learning platform and most downloadededucation app in the world, announced today its launch in Thailand with a free English language course for Thaispeakers. Using Duolingo, Thai speakers can learn to read, write and speak English through fun, game-like lessons. Duolingo is available now as a free app on the App Store and Google Play, and on the web at Duolingo.com.

    With more than 170 million users worldwide, Duolingo stands out for its free learning content, game-like approach to teaching, and bite-sized lessons that can be done in five to ten minutes per day. This appeals to anyone in Thailand who lacks time and resources to sign up for expensive language classes.

    “Of the 1.2 billion people worldwide who are learning a foreign language, 800 million are learning English in order to improve their job prospects and gain access to better life opportunities,” said Luis von Ahn, CEO and co-founder of Duolingo. “We started Duolingo to make language education free and accessible to everyone, and are excited to now offer the first free online English language course for Thai speakers. We hope the course will help open up new educational and job opportunities for Thais, while providing a fun learning experience.”

    The Duolingo English course for Thai speakers is the first free language-learning program of its kind in Thailand. Like most of Duolingo’s courses, this one was created by a team of bilingual volunteers. The team behind this course includes Songphon Klabwong, chief technology officer of a Bangkok-based software company, who was previously a lecturer of Computer Science at Rajamangala University of Technology.

    “During the time I was teaching, I noticed that the language barrier among my students was one of the biggest challenges to their learning experience and encouraged my students to start learning English,” said Klabwong. “When I found out that Duolingo was developing an English course for Thai speakers, I was inspired by the company’s mission and decided to contribute to the course. I am hopeful that it will encourage more Thais to develop their English skills.”

    For Thais who already read, write and speak English, Duolingo currently offers 22 language courses, with plans to add Japanese, Korean and even Klingon, the extra-terrestrial lingo from Star Trek, this year, too.

    Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States, Duolingo has raised USD $83.3 million in venture capital from investors including Google Capital, Union Square Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, Kleiner Perkins, Hollywood actor Ashton Kutcher and internationally renowned author Tim Ferriss. While all learning content on Duolingo is free, the company monetizes through optional in-app purchases, ads at the end of lessons and a relatively low-cost English language certification test that is widely accepted at universities and organizations around the world.

    Duolingo is available on Android, iOS, Windows devices and the Web with seamless switching between platforms.

  • SF Express opens branches in Vietnam and Thailand

    SF Express opens branches in Vietnam and Thailand

    SF Express, a subsidiary of SF Holdings, a Shenzhen, China-based express delivery firm, recently announced that its service centers in Vietnam and Thailand have formally opened for business, providing export and import express delivery services to local companies and individuals.

    The opening of the two offices are further evidence of the company’s continued efforts to invest in and expand its network in the ASEAN region, on the heels of the opening of service centers in Singapore and Malaysia.

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  • Standardized payment QR code to launch in Thailand

    Standardized payment QR code to launch in Thailand

    Top payment card companies Mastercard, UnionPay International and Visa have jointly introduced a standardized QR code for mobile payments in Thailand.

    The new standardized code allows merchants to easily accept electronic payments without the need to invest in physical point-of-sale machines. They need only have a piece of paper with their unique QR code for consumers to scan.

    Customers with a Mastercard, UnionPay, or Visa card can use a mobile application to scan the code using both smartphones and feature phones with a camera function.

    In future, the standards are intended to be globally interoperable and useable anywhere they have been expected.

    The standardized code is expected to be implemented by banks and merchants across Thailand by the third quarter.

    The initiative also meshes with the Thai financial sector’s Electronic Data Capture (EDC) expansion initiatives under the government’s National e-Payment Roadmap, which aims to support the nation’s transition to a cashless society.

    The launch of the Standardized QR Code signals exciting times for Thailand as consumers move quickly to adopt new payments technology,” Mastercard country manager for Thailand Donald Ong said.

    “Our own research, for example, shows that 50% of young consumers across South East Asia would use the QR code straightaway, and we believe this reflects the demand in Thailand.”

  • Mastercard, UnionPay International and Visa Make E-Payments in Thailand Easier

    Mastercard, UnionPay International and Visa Make E-Payments in Thailand Easier

    Mastercard, UnionPay International and Visa today introduced a Standardized Quick Response (QR) Code for payments, accelerating Thailand’s transition to a cashless society.

    The Standardized QR Code supports the Bank of Thailand’s cashless agenda to drive innovation, interoperability, and security in payments.

    In order to pay, consumers holding a Mastercard, UnionPay, or Visa card can simply use a mobile application with Standardized QR Code support to scan the merchant-presented QR code. QR Code works on both smart phones and feature phones with camera function.

    By establishing standard specifications for QR code payments, consumers and merchants in Thailand now have more options to pay electronically without compromising on security and convenience. The Standard QR Code is simple to set up and use and provides three key benefits.

    First, consumers will not need to scan different QR codes to make payments with Mastercard, UnionPay and Visa. Merchants will only need to display one QR code at the storefront or through the acquiring bank’s mobile application.

    Second, by routing the transactions through global-standard processing networks, consumers can enjoy a fast, convenient and secure payment experience.

    Third, the standards are intended to be globally interoperable and with the right mobile application consumers will be able to use the same standard QR code to make payments everywhere the standards have been adopted.

    The Standardized QR Code is intended to be implemented by banks and merchants across Thailand by the third quarter of 2017 and will contribute to the financial sector’s Electronic Data Capture (EDC) expansion initiatives under the National e-Payment Roadmap introduced by Ministry of Finance.

    A readily accessible and secure payment processing option for all stakeholders, the Standardized QR Code for payments will contribute to the growth and speed of electronic payment adoption across the country, lowering the cost for accepting electronic payments.

    In the future, Thai consumers will benefit from being able to make QR code based payments when traveling outside of Thailand.

    Mr. Donald Ong, Country Manager, Thailand and Myanmar, Mastercard, said, “The launch of the Standardized QR Code signals exciting times for Thailand as consumers move quickly to adopt new payments technology. Our own research, for example, shows that 50% of young consumers across South East Asia would use the QR code straightaway, and we believe this reflects the demand in Thailand. This demand will grow further as the technology is rolled out at small shops across the country, and includes bill payments and cash on delivery as well. Developed in line with global standards, this QR code solution means Mastercard users have even more peace of mind, as well as extra convenience when paying for goods and services. This is yet another strong offering as Mastercard supports Thailand’s evolution towards a cashless society.”

    Mr. Wenhui Yang, General Manager for UnionPay International Southeast Asia, said, “UnionPay now chairs an international workgroup with other payment networks to develop a global QR Code Standard for payments. As an international payment network, UnionPay aims to provide payment solutions that are tailored to the needs of the local market, to enable choice and ease of payment for consumers and businesses alike. The Standardized QR Code is an innovative step forward in the right direction for Thailand’s payment industry. By enabling consumers and merchants to pay and process QR codes easily and securely, this will accelerate the development of the local payments industry, as we continue to work with the Bank of Thailand on payment solutions that will benefit the people of Thailand. We believe the Standardized QR Code has the potential to support and strengthen the Thai economy and help Thailand become a truly cashless society.”

    Mr. Suripong Tantiyanon, Visa Country Manager, Thailand, said, “Visa is proud to have contributed to the development of Standardized QR Code in Thailand as we believe it has the potential to significantly accelerate the growth of electronic payments acceptance in the country. This is especially true for consumers as well as small merchants, as it lowers cost and is easy to implement, eliminating the need for traditional POS hardware. The success of mVisa worldwide has proven a QR code solution to be scalable, secure and easy to use. Increased use of electronic payments has contributed to meaningful economic growth, with more than USD 3.18 billion or about THB 113 billion added to Thailand’s GDP from 2011 to 2015. We look forward to continuing to partner with our clients, merchants and the government to innovate and expand access to digital payments in Thailand, driving inclusive growth for everyone, everywhere.”

  • Siam Piwat reinforces its position as ‘the Icon of Innovative lifestyle’ with another success

    Siam Piwat reinforces its position as ‘the Icon of Innovative lifestyle’ with another success

    Siam Piwat, owner and operator of the world-renowned retail destinations such as Siam Paragon, Siam Center, and Siam Discovery as well as main partner and owner of ICONSIAM, the iconic landmark of Thailand’s prosperity by the Chao Phraya River, has further cemented its position as ‘the Icon of Innovative lifestyle’ in the retail and real estate business after Thailand’s only hybrid retail store Siam Discovery – The Exploratorium has won the World Retail Award for Store Design of the Year — another testament to the company’s success in retail business expansion, ushering in new chapter in the history of Thailand’s retail industry by becoming the first and only corporate from Thailand to receive such accolade from this prestigious award show.

    In winning the World Retail Award for Store Design of the Year, Siam Discovery – The Exploratorium not only beat its world-class competitors but was also the only Asian mall to rank in the top ten for the Best Experience Initiative category.

    Chadatip Chutrakul, Chief Executive Officer of Siam Piwat Co., Ltd., stated, “After having launched our five-year policy and investment plan in 2014, Siam Piwat has consolidated its position as the ‘thought-leader’ and aims to incorporate ‘novel experiences that meet the customers’ needs’ in its every core business. We have invested in new businesses, especially retail businesses, and introduced new ideas to expand the success of the retailers and our business allies, so that we can always offer fresh and exciting experiences.

    Following the core investment plan, Siam Piwat has written a new phenomenal chapter in Thailand’s retail history by relaunching Siam Discovery as the country’s largest lifestyle specialty store. Siam Discovery – The Exploratorium is a conceptual twist on medium-size retail business by incorporating innovative ideas, a proof of Siam Piwat’s much-coveted success in making a difference in retail industry.

    “We understand that the life cycle of retail business has been shortened considerably: some product categories/ brands achieve huge popularity for only a limited period of time due to consumers’ continuous search for newness as well as the rise of e-commerce and online shopping. Siam Piwat puts each and every detail into consideration for each and every project. All the projects that have been developed during the past 3 years follow 4 key strategic rules to ensure long-term success: 1) To innovate and stay ahead of others  2) Being customer-centric  3) The Creation of Shared Values and 4) Building Partnerships,” added Chadatip.

    To Innovate and Stay Ahead of Others

    Creating innovations and offering different, exhilarating experience has been the core of Siam Piwat’s development projects. Each and every project comes with a new, unique modern lifestyle concept that belongs to a class of its own and at times, is the first of its kind in Thailand or even in the world.

    Being Customer-Centric

    Technology has brought a dramatic change in consumer behaviors, most notably higher competition as a result of fast connectivity and accessibility and long-term consumer behavior has become much more difficult to predict. Siam Piwat has readied our operation in preparation for those rapid changes and an understanding of consumer group and their diverse needs is essential for our business development.

    The Creation of Shared Values

    Siam Piwat has set a goal in creating brand value for not just Siam Piwat’s own business, but also brands and products of tenants and partners by revolutionizing the marketing plan. Transforming “shared values” into “commercial values” is the heart and soul of successful brand management, hence the utmost need to create bond and loyalty among customers by making it relevant to their fast-changing everyday life.

    Building Partnerships

    Siam Piwat believes that through partnership and collaboration with stakeholders, we will create a long-term engagement that leads to healthy growth of business. If we do it in the right way, it can bring about business sustainability.

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  • Korean-themed mall opens in Bangkok

    Korean-themed mall opens in Bangkok

    Hoping to capitalise on growing regional interest in South Korean pop culture, a Thai company opened a $275-million Korean-themed shopping mall and entertainment complex in Bangkok on Monday.

    The 180,000 square metre (1.9 million square feet) building targets both Thai fans of K-Culture and foreign visitors. It hopes to get 10 million visitors a year and become a major attraction in what was the world’s most visited city last year.

    “A lot of Asian people are fans of Korea,” said Chayaditt Hutanuwatra, chairman of privately-owned SHOW D.C. Corp Ltd. “Thailand is the place where people can just fly in.”

    The mall has stores with clothing, cosmetics and restaurants from Korean brands and K-pop artists. It has statues and palm prints of Korean stars and plans to bring Korean performers in to the floor it has dedicated as a concert hall.

    South Korea’s Lotte Group is among the companies that will open a store there, the mall said.

    Around a third of the more than 34 million tourists forecast to visit Thailand this year are from China – where interest in K-Culture has been driven underground by a recent row over Seoul’s deployment of a missile defence system.

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  • AEON in Collaboration with Big C to Launch “Big C Platinum pay”

    AEON in Collaboration with Big C to Launch “Big C Platinum pay”

    AEON Thana Sinsap (Thailand) Public Company Limited, a leading retail finance company, in collaboration with Big C Supercenter Public Company Limited, a leading hypermarket retailer, has announced cooperation to launch the new “Big C Platinum payWave Credit Card and Big C Exclusive Card” to offer exclusive privileges under the concept “Daily happiness for shopping at Big C”.

    Mr. Kiyoyasu Asanuma, Managing Director of AEON Thana Sinsap (Thailand) Public Company Limited said AEON has a strong commitment to develop credit cards that fulfil the changing lifestyle of consumers. The Big C Platinum Credit Card and Big C Exclusive Card offers exclusive privileges under the “Daily happiness for shopping at Big C” concept. These new cards give Big C customers nationwide freedom when spending. This collaboration is a combination of strength between AEON and Big C to deliver the best service and goods to customers. We expect to reach 100,000 new cardholders within the first year from Big C store over Thailand and online channel.

    Mr. Aswin Techajareonvikul, Chief Executive Officer & President of Big C Supercenter Public Company Limited said that Big C Platinum Credit Card and Big C Exclusive Card are products that emphasize the position of Big C as a Thai supermarket that is concerned about its customers and always provides the best price to its customers. Big C is a leading hypermarket retailer in Thailand with Big C Supercenter, Big C Extra, Big C Market, Mini Big C, around 673 branches over Thailand. When Big C customers spend via Big C Platinum Credit Card and Big C Exclusive Card, they get the best price along with exclusive privileges.

    The Big C Platinum Credit Card is the first and only card that offers cardholders 3% discount on purchases straight away with a maximum discount of 1,500 Baht per month or 18,000 Baht per year when purchasing selected items at Big C Supercenter, Big C Extra, Big C Market, Mini Big C, and Big C Online Shopping. Cardholders are also eligible to pay by installments with 0% interest rate for 6 months when purchasing items priced over 5,000 Baht. In addition, the cards give other privileges, i.e. exclusive car park at 10 branches of Big C, Travel Accident Insurance with a limit of 31 million Baht, a redeemable Big C voucher with AEON Happy Points with every 1,000 points equal to 100 Baht.

    The Big C Exclusive Card also offers 0% interest rate for 3 months when purchasing electronic appliances priced over 5,000 Baht or 0.59% interest rate for 18 months when purchasing electronic items priced over 10,000 Baht or purchasing a mobile phone over 15,000 Baht at every branches of Big C.

    Big C Platinum Credit Card and Big C Exclusive Cardholders can also receive special privilege as a member of BIG CARD, and discounts from leading stores. Annual fees for Big C Platinum Credit Cards and Big C Exclusive Cardholders are free for the first year, and free for another year, with at least one purchase.

    Those who sign up for a Big C Platinum Credit Card before August 31 will get a 20 inch piece of CAGGIONI luggage valued at 4,990 Baht with accumulated purchases of over 10,000 Baht or when making payments on a credit installment plan of 20,000 Baht. Cardholders are also able to get a Big C voucher valued of 400 baht with accumulated purchases of 5,000 Baht via Big C Platinum Credit Card, or when making payments on a credit installment plan of 10,000 Baht via Big C Exclusive Card. Cardholders have to register for the program to enjoy exclusive privileges.

    “We are now focusing on a marketing campaign to reach our target by launching a new TVC, with over 50 million baht budget. The new TVC under the concept “Get the best price with Big C Platinum Credit Card” that we are so delighted to have Kong – Saharat Sangkapricha as a presenter. We hope that the launch of the new cards will increase the number of our target groups at 100,000 new cardholders within the first year”

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  • Lacoste unveils expanded retail space at Don Mueang International Airport

    Lacoste unveils expanded retail space at Don Mueang International Airport

    Lacoste has opened its revamped Sport corner at Don Mueang International Airport Terminal 1.

    Lacoste kicks off its new Sport concept at Don Mueang Airport.

    The space has been enlarged and upgraded to feature Lacoste’s new Sport concept. It now offers additional options for customers alongside the brand’s signature polo shirts and leathergoods ranges.

    Don Mueang International Airport, Asia’s oldest international airport, recorded 35 million passengers in 2016.

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