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Tag: Thailand

  • Scale360 establishes Centre of Excellence to develop Thai Fintech talent

    Scale360 establishes Centre of Excellence to develop Thai Fintech talent

    Scale360, a UK-based fintech start-up that develops cutting-edge software to power banks’ digital transformation, has established a Bangkok Digital Centre of Excellence to service banks’ growing need for financial technology and develop local skills in leading global technologies.

    Thailand’s Board of Investment has recognised Scale360’s commitment to developing skills in Thailand, awarding the company a special eight year status to help attract top talent and establish the Digital Centre of Excellence in Bangkok.

    Combining Microservices application architecture with Scala and Java programming languages, Scale360 develops technology platforms that deliver better outcomes for customers across all channels via a digital banking infrastructure. Scale360 has established its own Thai language learning programme to advance the knowledge of skills required to build its Digital Banking 4.0 platform, with the aim of providing local developers with knowledge of programming languages used by global Internet giants like Twitter and LinkedIn.

    “We have a very clear vision of how banks need to operate in the digital age, and to deliver the kind of services today’s mobile and connected customers’ need requires a new approach to technology. This means using global leading technologies which are not yet prevalent in banking. At Scale360 we have developed our own learning programmes to give our employees the tools they need to compete in a global marketplace,” said Neville Molyneux, managing director, Scale360.

    Scale360 has implemented solutions-focused technology to leading global businesses for over 10 years, helping businesses define and execute their digital strategy, and create growth opportunities driven by enhanced customer-centric digital experiences.  Scale360’s developers have already completed transformation projects in Vietnam and are working with a challenger bank in the UK.

    “Scale360’s solutions enable pure digital play; we help our partners build greater customer loyalty and engagement, developing in-depth understanding of the digital customer that ultimately grows online revenue. It’s not just financial services – we’ve given retailers, hoteliers and charities the tools to embark on their digital journey,” added Neville.

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  • Central Embassy Open House opens

    Central Embassy Open House opens

    Bangkok luxury mall Central Embassy has unveiled a new space, Open House, where customers can eat, work, study or just relax – even take a nap.

    Central Embassy Open House 1

    Covering the entire top floor, Central Embassy Open House offers 7000 sqm of open-concept “co-living space” beneath high ceilings, with glass panels all around offering city views.

    Central Embassy Open House 6

    As well as a “co-working space”, Open House offers a restaurant, lounge, bar, bookshop, art gallery, design shop and children’s playground, nestled against the Embassy Diplomat Screens cinema.

    Central Embassy Open House 5

    “It took almost two years to complete this project,” says Central Embassy MD Barom Bhicharnchitr. “Accessible luxury is the key, but luxury is not about price – it’s mostly about quality of life.”

    Central Embassy Open House 2

    Central Group launched the THB18-billion (US$523.1 million) Embassy in 2014 on part of the former British Embassy site and Wireless and Ploenchit Roads. Its curving 200m facade advertises such brands as Gucci, Prada and Ralph Lauren, while ticket prices in its VIP cinema top THB1000.

    Central Embassy Open House 3

  • King Power Group plans THB10 billion expansion

    King Power Group plans THB10 billion expansion

    Thai duty-free giant King Power Group plans to spend THB10 billion (US$290.4 million) for business expansion over the next five years.

    CEO Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha says the budget will be used to open five branches in Thailand and overseas, bringing its total to 14 by 2021. The stores are planned for downtown in major tourist destinations, with Chiang Mai one location being considered.

    The group will also join the bidding for a duty-free shop concession at U-Tapao International Airport, which serves Pattaya and Rayong.

    King Power is also studying opportunities to open and manage duty-free shops at such Asean airports as Myanmar and the Philippines.

    “King Power is set to become a top-five duty-free chain within five years,” says Srivaddhanaprabha. “Expansion both overseas and domestically will help grow our sales by 20 per cent to reach 130 to 140 billion baht in five years, on a par with leading duty-free brands in the US.”

    The company is the world’s seventh-largest duty-free chain, with its sales of THB75 billion last year missing its target by THB11 billion because of weak spending by Thai tourists and a drop in Chinese tourists. Tourists from China, Thailand and other Asean countries contributed about 75 per cent of its total sales last year, and the group is aiming for sales of THB92 billion this year.

    “Chinese tourists have rebounded, but are not back to normal yet,” says Srivaddhanaprabha.

    King Power will allocate THB400-500 million to promote its business this year, and has already pegged THB100 million to place its logo on three Thai AirAsia (TAA) jets and put advertising inside more than 40 TAA aircraft. The group hopes the tactic will raise the number of shoppers at its branches by 20 per cent this year.

    Meanwhile, King Power is ready to bid for a new licence to run a duty-free shop at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport when its present licence expires in 2020.

    It will also allocate about THB2.5 billion to renovate its Rangnam branch in Bangkok, which will be closed for renovation from next month.

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  • NBTC may require OTTs to secure licenses

    NBTC may require OTTs to secure licenses

    Thai telecoms regulator NBTC is considering requiring OTT communications service providers to secure an operating license and an internet bandwidth fee to ensure a more level playing field between OTT players and telecoms operators.

    NBTC secretary general Takorn Tantasith told that a fee could be imposed on OTT services by 2018.

    Initially OTT services running over mobile networks could also be expected to secure an operating license from the NBTC and pay a value-added tax the same as traditional businesses, he said.

    He said the regulator is making the move to reflect the dramatic increases in revenues generated by OTT providers and the strain demand for services such as YouTube places on mobile networks and accordingly operator revenues.

    The NBTC plans to hold an open forum to discuss the issue in Bangkok in September, and will invite representatives from all telecoms regulators in the Asean region, as well as 50 operators across the region and the major OTT service providers.

    The NBTC’s decision was motivated by a meeting of the Asean Telecommunication Regulators’ Council focused on the challenges OTT services pose to business ecosystems.

  • Introducing the largest integrated real estate project in Bangkok

    Introducing the largest integrated real estate project in Bangkok

    Described as “a city within a city”, Thailand’s largest integrated development, One Bangkok, is being launched as a joint project by TCC Assets (Thailand) and Frasers Centrepoint (FCL).

    Incorporating green-sustainability principles, the development covers 104 rai (16.7 ha), and will increase green and open areas in the city centre by 50 rai when it opens in 2021.

    One Bangkok 3

    One Bangkok will be the largest private-sector property development initiative undertaken in Thailand, with an estimated investment value of more than THB120 billion (about US$3.5 billion).

    “The fundamental aim in the planning and design of One Bangkok is to enhance Bangkok’s stature as a key gateway city in Asia,” says TCC Group and FCL chairman Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi.

    One Bangkok 1

    A fully integrated “city-within-a-city” district, One Bangkok will comprise retail and leisure offerings within differentiated precincts, next-generation office buildings, luxury and lifestyle hotels, ultra-luxury residential towers, civic areas, and art and culture amenities as well as greenery and open spaces.

    Leased from the Crown, the land is in a prime location at the corner of Wireless and Rama IV Roads, next to Lumphini Park and with direct linkages to mass transit systems.

    “We are very honoured to be entrusted by the Crown Property Bureau to turn this important plot of land in the heart of the city into a showpiece district,” says Sirivadhanabhakdi.

    “With One Bangkok, I hope to enhance global confidence in Thailand as the epicenter of Asean and a key gateway and lifestyle city in Asia.”

    One Bangkok - Opening Ceremony

    Shared vision

    For the “game-changing” endeavour, he says he has placed his confidence in two TCC Group companies – TCC Assets (Thailand) and Frasers Property. “They are companies that perfectly complement each other and can, together, fulfill our shared vision of a quality development.”

    For the JV, TCC Assets hold an 80.1 per cent interest, with Frasers Property Holdings (Thailand) holding the balance of 19.9 per cent. Frasers Property is the international property brand of FCL, a multi-national real-estate company with more than US$17.6 billion in assets.

    One Bangkok 5

    “By forming such a strategic alliance, we are able to combine the financial strength and local know-how of TCC Assets, with the enormous international property development expertise of Frasers Property, which has an impeccable global track record of award-winning development projects,” says Sirivadhanabhakdi.

    “The partnership will ensure that we have the creativity, capability and capital to bring to life one of our most exciting development initiatives,” says FCL Group CEO Panote Sirivadhanabhakdi. “No single development of this scale and diversity has ever been undertaken in Thailand.”

    He says One Bangkok will attract top-level local and multinational companies to set up headquarters in the district. “It is Bangkok’s first fully integrated ‘people-centric’ development, designed around how people can seamlessly live, work and play, seeking to reinstate a sense of human scale in a way that enhances comfort and convenience.”

    He says One Bangkok’s development philosophy is centred on diversity of uses and architecture, overlaid with sustainability principles and sensitive to the local social and cultural context, incorporating Thailand’s heritage and aspects unique to Bangkok.

    One Bangkok’s CEO Su Lin Soon is supported by a development team of more than 100 specialists.

    “In creating a world-class district in the heart of Bangkok, we envision One Bangkok to be synonymous with Thailand,” she says. “New quality standards, international best practices and diversity in the mix of uses and architecture are fundamental features of the master plan, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, supported by local expertise from Plan Associates and A49.”

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  • Free KKday Vacation for Thais Who Love to Travel in Asia

    Free KKday Vacation for Thais Who Love to Travel in Asia

    KKday, a leading E-commerce travel platform in Asia offering localized travel across the globe launched in Thailand in March 2017, and is now offering Thais a chance to WIN a FREE all-expenses dream holiday for two to Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore or Taiwan with a video competition from now until May 31st, 2017.

    The KKvacay contest invites Thais to create a fun and engaging one-minute video of their own travel trip in any destination. To be automatically entered, each film needs to then be uploaded to the competition entrant’s Facebook Page wall by the end of May and tagged @KKdayThailand with the hashtags #KKvacay and #KKdayth added too.The full entry rules for the KKvacay video competition can be found at the KKday Thailand Facebook Page.

    The winning KKvacay video will be announced on the KKday Thailand Facebook Page in June 2017.

    Ming Chen, CEO of KKday is encouraging Thai vacation videographers to be as creative as possible as there could be some fierce competition. “We know that Thais love to travel within Asia and each of the KKvacay prize destinations is incredibly dynamic; promising an exhilarating, action-packed trip with lots to see and do and fascinatingly diverse cultures. We are expecting to see some really creative videos that explore these different holiday hotpots through the script and the filming style, as well as with the use of props, costumes and setting. Thais are renowned for their inventive style and sense of fun so it will be interesting to see videos portraying their chosen destination and with a free holiday for two up for grabs I imagine there will be some great entries.”

    Part of winning the holiday prize is for the recipient and travel partner to create a short video highlighting their vacation experience along with five KKday activities they enjoyed during their trip. This video diary will be shared by KKday and partners on social media.

    Easy to navigate and book online, KKday appeals especially to those travelers who enjoy immersive vacation experiences and exploring destinations through localized, customized travel rather than simply following the standard tourist trek or trying to seek out ever-more remote locations.

    The Taiwanese- headquartered company, which was established in 2014, brings over 6,000 experiences, in 25 different categories, in 174 cities and 54 countries worldwide. The KKvacay video competition celebrates KKday’s debut in Thailand and with e-commerce popular in the country Thais could prove to be a big market, adding to KKday’s existing 7 million plus visitor views each month, a fanbase of more than 600,000 on Facebook and over 300,000 members.

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  • DHL eCommerce expands in Thailand’s booming e-Commerce market

    DHL eCommerce expands in Thailand’s booming e-Commerce market

    DHL eCommerce, a division of the world’s leading logistics company, Deutsche Post DHL Group (DPDHL Group), is capitalizing on the booming Thai e-commerce market expected to more than triple in size to EUR 3.6 billion between now and 2020 by enhancing its nationwide coverage with next day delivery in remote areas and extending pick-up service to small e-commerce merchants to meet its growing customer demands.

    DHL eCommerce, launched January 2016 in Thailand, offers end-to-end domestic delivery services and easy access for local businesses to expand globally through affordable B2C international cross-border shipping and scalable, pay-per-use fulfillment solutions through a global fulfillment network within Deutsche Post DHL Group.

    “The e-commerce market in Thailand is currently second largest in Southeast Asia and expected to grow 22 percent annually till 2020. Along with this remarkable growth, there are increasing demands for cost-effective and high quality logistics solutions to meet rising consumer needs. As such, we are investing now to ensure we are the provider of choice for Thai consumers,” said Kiattichai Pitpreecha, managing director, DHL eCommerce Thailand.

    “We are strengthening our delivery network across the country in order to offer second-to-none nationwide service across Thailand. This will enable merchants to reach out to the growing base of e-commerce consumers outside Bangkok in major provinces and rural areas with superior service quality. We have also extended our pick-up service to include small and large merchants. For the 2.7 million SMEs in Thailand, this means greater convenience and a quicker process to deliver to their consumers — with less time spent travelling and waiting in queues to drop off their goods, they can spend more time focusing on growing their business.”

    Over the past year, DHL eCommerce Thailand has invested significantly in people, service, facilities, vehicles and coverage. The DHL eCommerce 3,222 sqm central hub in Bangkok and its domestic delivery network across Thailand have the capacity to handle over 15 million shipments annually. For merchants, DHL eCommerce offers access to Cash on Delivery (COD) with daily remittance as well as access to a multilingual call center and easy IT integration of online orders to allow shippers to easily prepare orders for delivery into the DHL network.

    Offers cross-border service to help customers expand overseas

    DHL eCommerce also enables Thai businesses to grow internationally and tap on the massive international e-commerce market through its range of affordable international cross-border shipping products and scalable, pay-per-use fulfillment solutions. “We are incredibly positive about the Thailand economy and we are committed to its development. The Thai government’s ‘Digital Thailand’ initiative started in 2016 has brought about a wave of opportunities for businesses across different industries to digitize their operations and services, especially for SMEs to undergo digital transformation,” said Malcolm Monteiro, CEO, DHL eCommerce Asia Pacific.

    “Thailand is ranked as one of our top priority markets in Southeast Asia , and we foresee growth to be largely driven by significant numbers of SMEs extending their business models into online marketplaces. DHL eCommerce is committed to enabling Thai businesses as they fully leverage the huge e-commerce growth locally and internationally.”

    As noted in a recent DHL Express report on the e-commerce industry, the cross-border market opportunity offers growth rates (~25 percent) not found in most traditional retail markets. DHL eCommerce, along with its sister company DHL Express is helping to connect Thai e-tailers to the world through DPDHL Group’s range of cross-border delivery solutions. To cater to varying customer requirements, DHL Express offers premium and faster delivery services while DHL eCommerce provides affordable solutions. Thailand -based businesses can also leverage on DHL eCommerce’s global network of fulfillment centers in the US, Mexico, Europe, Hong Kong, Australia and India so that merchandise can get to the consumers in those regions quicker.

    “Cross-border B2C e-commerce is forecasted to grow to USD1 trillion in 2020. DHL eCommerce Thailand has witnessed tremendous growth in the past year and we are enhancing our service to meet the growing consumer demands,” said Charles Brewer, CEO, DHL eCommerce. “We are incredibly proud to be delivering the smile in the last mile and we will continue to provide more first and last mile solutions.”

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  • Crown delivers XPO Logistics a competitive advantage in Thailand

    Crown delivers XPO Logistics a competitive advantage in Thailand

    XPO Logistics is relying on a total product solution from Crown Equipment to manage high work-flow stock movement for a number of prominent global brands at its Thailand operations.

    XPO Logistics, which includes the Bangkok and Rayong branches among its 1,440 global locations, is managing stock on behalf of major brands with the help of a full suite of Crown material handling equipment that includes reach trucks, counterbalance forklifts, power pallet trucks, Wave work assist vehicles and walkie stackers.

    Crown has been supplying XPO Logistics with equipment since 2010 and the company is running a total of 20 lift trucks at its busy Bangkok and Rayong locations.

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  • Online Shopping Concierge & Delivery Service honestbee Celebrates Thai New Year with Freebies

    Online Shopping Concierge & Delivery Service honestbee Celebrates Thai New Year with Freebies

    Honestbee, Asia’s leading and trusted online concierge and delivery service, is following its Bangkok launch in March 2017 with 3 free water-festival weekly giveaways with all shopping orders from now until April 17th, 2017. A bonus gift of a traditional Songkran Aloha shirt is also delivered on the next order for those shop-happy customers who have already collected the trio of Songkran freebies. 

    With no minimum spend, honestbee customers will receive a free pair of goggles on all shops until April 1st, 2017, with a free water gun included in the delivery between April 2nd – 8th, 2017. In the final week, from April 9th – 17th, the last day of the Thai New Year celebrations in Bangkok, honestbee customers will find a waterproof phone pouch in with their delivered groceries.

    As a Happy New Year wish, honestbee is also gifting every customer with a one-time B200 discount on orders over B890 to be used at any time from now until April 17th, 2017.

    honestbee customers who are Songkran-ready, with their goggles, water gun and mobile-phone case can happily venture out and join in some water-splashing festival fun. At the same time, they can rest assured that with personal shoppers –  so-called honeybees-  will be picking out the freshest quality produce and delivering straight to their doorstep at their convenience with a same-day service available; fast, reliable and more importantly during Songkran, dry!

    The ethos behind honestbee is to be lifestyle-friendly according to the Singapore company’s Co-Founder and CEO Joel Sng. “We want to celebrate the real community spirit of Songkran and how life is really about spending time doing what we enjoy with those we care about, from friends and family to neighbors. honestbee enables busy people in the city to outsource the time and effort of shopping whilst still getting that personalized service that fits in with them. This also benefits our shoppers with sustainable employment on a full-time or part-time basis, offering a main or supplementary income. This is truly the spirit of New Year!”

    Along with the Songkran freebies and discount special, new customers can take advantage of FREE DELIVERY on first-time orders over THB 590 to celebrate the honestbee Bangkok launch.

    honestbee offers its personalized shopping concierge service from Bangkok’s 26 Villa Market supermarket outlets as well as bistro and cooking studio The Gastro Just For You hamper gifts and the Villa Market Holiday Store all of which are owned by Villa Market. Other brand specialty partners comprise K-Market; Wishbeer; Ja Guem Song; Happy Flavour; Pierre Hermé; Perfect Earth Organics; Ahmad Tea London; Pipper Standard; Simply W, La Paloma and Meyer.

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  • NBTC likely to postpone 5G auction

    NBTC likely to postpone 5G auction

    Thai regulator NBTC is likely to have to postpone the planned 2600-MHz 5G auction until 2018 due to regulatory and administrative hurdles.

    The regulator had planned to hold the 2600-MHz auction in September this year, but this process will probably need to be delayed, an NBTC commissioner told.

    Factors behind the delay include the fact that 190MHz of 2600-MHz spectrum has been allocated to state broadcaster MCOT and is currently unused.

    MCOT expects compensation for the return of 80MHz of spectrum for the auction, but the NBTC is currently not authorized to pay compensation to state agencies in return for spectrum.

    The new draft bill restructuring the NBTC is expected to give the regulator the power to do so, but the process of arranging compensation and drawing up the framework for these payments will take time. The new bill has yet to identify methodologies for calculating compensation.

    The NBTC restructuring is also likely to create its own issues that will impact the auction process due to the transition to new commissioners expected after the bill takes effect.

    Meanwhile Thailand still lacks a clear spectrum roadmap for the evolution to 5G will inevitably cause a delay in Thailand’s 5G ecosystem development.

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  • Challenge to build engagement among a fashion-loving clientele

    Challenge to build engagement among a fashion-loving clientele

    To marketers nowadays, the major challenge is to build engagement among target groups to provide first-hand experience and brand engagement inside of their own. However, one target group found very demanding in terms of engagement building is fashion lovers as they are very unique, and hard to persuade. Indeed, they do not just follow fashion trends but adapt the trends to suit their own character. This makes marketing planning for this target group complicated and difficult.

    But not for Siam Center The Ideaopolis, a shopping destination which is a hub of fashion in Thailand for more than 44 years. No matter how edgy fashion trends would be, Siam Center will enable Thai fashion lovers to be the first to get updated on up-to-date fashion trends.

    To build engagement among a fashion-loving clientele, Siam Center has done a fantastic job as if it is simple. Thanks to its long-term experience and support of Thai designer brands as well as being a catalyst for the promotion of Thai fashion industry to be equal to world fashion cities, Siam Center meets fashion lovers’ demands. Such demands mean how to wear clothes to reflect their own identity and not to create a distinct character but to shine at getting dressed with style and being fashionable for the society to see and admire.

    Siam Center devises a strategy to reach this kind of customers by presenting the latest collections of over 40 Thai designer brands at the end of last March.

    Siam Center The Ideaoplois, joining hands with Cheeze and Looker magazines, held “#iamsiamish” campaign to fulfill the dream of youngsters who would like to become professional models. The campaign set up a casting room box to select 100 teens as #Nodels to strut on the catwalk of the fashion show of the year, “#iamsiamish Fashion Show [S/S Collection 2017].”

    Ms. Chanisa Kaewreun, Senior Deputy Managing Director for Marketing Events and Business Relations – Siam Piwat Co., Ltd., said, “Since the opening, Siam Center has always been the center of Thai fashion industry because we are the second home of many Thai designers, both top and young-blood designers. Housing many local brands, Siam Center is therefore the first place fashion-forward people think about when it comes to trend updates. As a place of inspiration for everyone, especially young generation wishing to enter the world of fashion, Siam center joined forces with Cheeze and Looker magazines in hosting “#iamsiamish” campaign. It opened a studio to cast talented teens as models. Out of 1,700 candidates, the judge panel selected 100 finalists to become #Nodels and walk in “#iamsiamish Fashion Show [S/S Collection 2017]”, which launched spring/summer collections of leading Thai brands in Siam Center.”

    “#iamsiamish Fashion Show [S/S Collection 2017]” mixed and matched the latest collections of 40 Thai fashion brands featured by 100 #Nodels. The fashion show presented the trends of this season, which encouraged fashionistas to find the perfect items that match their own style and create their own look. Moreover, the 1,600 fashion-loving candidates who did not join in walking on the catwalk were also invited to a party and enjoyed the fashion show of the latest collections. Let’s imagine that this event can gather those who are really interested in fashion to see the launch of the latest collections of 40 fashion brands. It is another fantastic marketing promotion activity that Siam Center created.

    #Nodels deserved big applause for their courage to express themselves and join a troop of professional models in “#iamsiamish Fashion Show [S/S Collection 2017].”

    At the same time, Siam Center earned praise for setting a new phenomenon to Thai fashion industry, giving customers the opportunity to have experience in fashion industry. Marketers have also realized an outstanding example of the strategy to build customer engagement and thus definitely contribute to sales of Thai designer brands.

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  • Lily builds new life for youth in Thailand

    Lily builds new life for youth in Thailand

    Helping young people who are living in disadvantaged communities has always been a passion for Lily Simpson and her late husband John.

    The former Ipswich residents spent many years working with people who have disabilities and assisted them to achieve independent life skills.

    After numerous trips to Thailand, the pair realised there were many children who needed help, which prompted them to form their own charity.

    “We had been travelling to Thailand volunteering with disadvantaged children in various orphanages for many years,” Mrs Simpson said. “During these visits we noticed that there were many youth and young adults in the most disadvantaged and at risk categories who were not receiving training and assistance in the life skills necessary to survive and thrive.

    “God placed it on our hearts to reach out to these people and ask them to work together with us to improve their future.”

    The pair moved to Thailand in 2012 and in that time co-founded the Chii wi mai, which means “new life” in Thai.

    “It is the aim of the service to provide an individualised approach in assisting youth and young adults to access the vocational and learning opportunities of their choice to achieve their dreams and goals,” Mrs Simpson said.

    “In 2013 Chii wi mai received registration and we officially commenced our ministry.”

    One of the young people who has benefited from Lily and John’s generosity is a young Thai boy named Sanya.

    “Sanya has studied hard and overcome many challenges in his life to achieve his goal,” she said.

    “He was born HIV positive, both of his parents passed away, he is blind in one eye from a virus he got when he was three years old and lived in an orphanage until he was 16.

    “He has a grandmother whom he loves dearly, and she makes a living selling flowers at the market in another town.”

    With their help, Sanya recently graduated with a Diploma in Retail Management and plans to study for the next two years.

    Mrs Simpson got up at 4am and caught a plane to Khon Kaen so she could be present at his graduation ceremony.

    “Sanya had a dream and he is well on his way to achieving it and I am so glad Chii wit mai is part of his life,” she said.

    “John was so proud of Sanya, but last July he passed away unexpectedly. He was missed by all of us.”

    Mrs Simpson also had help in providing a better future for Sanya, thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Brisbane.

    “Without their financial support for the last eight years, Sanya may not have been able to continue with his education,” she said.

    “Sanya and I are very grateful and Sanya has written a letter to thank Kiwanis for all they have done for him.”

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  • CIMB-Alipay mobile wallet provides Chinese tourists a more seamless payment experience

    CIMB-Alipay mobile wallet provides Chinese tourists a more seamless payment experience

    CIMB Bank Bhd (CIMB Bank) and Ant Financial Services Group (Ant Financial), the parent company of Alipay, the world’s largest online and mobile payment platform, yesterday announced a collaboration to enable the Alipay mobile wallet in Malaysia as an alternative cashless payment for Chinese tourists.

    CIMB Bank will act as the settlement and merchant acquirer bank to facilitate Alipay payments in Malaysia, to enable Chinese visitors to pay for their transactions in renminbi without concern about exchange rates, through a simple barcode-scanning method that they are used to in China.

    Douglas Feagin, Senior vice president of Ant Financial said, “We are pleased to work with a leading financial institution in Malaysia and Asean such as CIMB Bank to bring the convenience of the Alipay service to our users wherever and whenever they need them. We see CIMB Bank, with its extensive merchant network, as the perfect collaboration partner to provide our payment solutions to Chinese travellers in this region.”

    Tengku Dato’ Sri Zafrul Aziz, group chief executive, CIMB Group said, “The entry of Alipay marks a notable milestone in the growth of mobile wallet payment services in Malaysia. We are excited to work with Alipay to provide Chinese tourists a convenient and secure payment experience while in Malaysia and we target to go live with our merchants by May 2017, having received Bank Negara approval just recently.

    “CIMB’s leading edge expertise in transaction banking is not only supporting Malaysia’s drive for a safe and secure cashless society, but also providing our customers with a seamless banking experience within Asean.”

    Earlier on, an exchange of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) took place between CIMB Bank and Ant Financial to officiate the collaboration. Ant Financial was represented by Douglas Feagin while CIMB Group was represented by Tengku Dato’ Sri Zafrul Aziz.

    Witnessing the MOU exchange were Dato’ Sri Najib Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia; Jack Ma, executive chairman, Alibaba Group; Dato’ Sri Nazir Razak, chairman, CIMB Group and Lucy Peng, chairman, Ant Financial.

    Thus far, CIMB is collaborating with Genting Malaysia Berhad, Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd, YTL Corporation Berhad and Maxincome Resources Sdn Bhd (which operates the FamilyMart convenience store chain) to be the pioneer merchants to accept Alipay mobile wallet payments in Malaysia.

    Alipay merchants in Malaysia will have the opportunity to deepen their wallet share from Chinese travellers, by providing an alternative payment channel to current cash or dual-currency credit card facilities.

    Genting Malaysia Berhad’s leading integrated resort, Resorts World Genting will be the first merchant working with CIMB to incorporate Alipay as an alternative payment channel for its customers. The award winning resort will have the world’s first Twentieth Century Fox Theme Park, the brand new SkyAvenue mall’s food and beverage and retail outlets, and also hotels under its RM10.4 billion Genting Integrated Tourism Plan.

    Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd will enable tourists from China to enjoy the convenience of paying for Digi mobile and data plans through the Alipay mobile wallet, enabling them to stay connected while they are in Malaysia. The Alipay mobile wallet provides customers payment convenience in line with Digi’s strategy to bring a seamless digital experience to its customers.

    YTL Corporation Berhad is looking into welcoming acceptance of Alipay mobile wallet with CIMB, especially for YTL Hotels & Properties, the hospitality arm of YTL Corporation Berhad, YTL Hotels & Properties owns and manages a prestigious collection of award-winning resorts, hotels, boutique experiences and spa villages; as well as Hutong @ Lot 10, and Starhill Gallery in Kuala Lumpur, where many Chinese tourists frequent whenever they visit Malaysia.

    FamilyMart will enable Alipay acceptance in three of its current outlets, located in Wisma Lim Foo Yong, Mid Valley, and KLIA 2, in its continuous efforts to bring more convenience to its shoppers. FamilyMart, which originates from Japan, is the first convenience store chain in Malaysia to bring mobile payment and Alipay to Chinese tourists. The chain targets to open 300 stores in five years.

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  • MaxMara Thailand opens two spin-off stores

    MaxMara Thailand opens two spin-off stores

    Max&Co and Weekend MaxMara stores have opened at CentralWorld, joining the MaxMara Thailand store at Gaysorn Shopping Centre.

    They have been opened by the Italian fashion house’s sold distributor for Thailand, Pacifica Group.

    On the second floor of the Groove Zone and managed by Opras, Sopana and Prasert Lavichant of Pacifica Group, the Max&Co flagship store attracted a crowd of Thai fashionistas to its opening, revealing the brand’s spring-summer line.

    “We’ve been importing Max&Co clothing for more than a year and have had great feedback,” says chief executive Opras.

    “The store interior is typical of the brand, meant to resemble a cosy Milanese apartment, in subdued tones that convey wellbeing and serenity. It is designed to make women shoppers feel more at home.”

    At Weekend MaxMara, the focus is on leisure and cruise looks with matched blouses, trousers, skirts, shorts, swimwear, bags and shoes. It covers 95 sqm and features strips of walnut wood contrasted with grey glazed Cotto tiling above Italian cementine flooring. Sofas, chairs, lamps on tables and a smattering of books and magazines invite shoppers to linger. Founded in 1984, Weekend MaxMara features mainly outdoors clothing.

    Meanwhile, the main MaxMara store at Gaysorn is showing the spring-summer line from creative designer Lina Bo Bardi, who injects modernism into sensual, sleek and luxuriant clothes that might be athletic or hi-tech, as reported. MaxMara also uses high-performance jersey and nylon for its body-hugging dresses.

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  • Thai street-food apps help tourists

    Thai street-food apps help tourists

    Three Thai street-food apps have been launched offering tourists details of the nation’s top roadside eateries.

    Street Food Bangkok, Street Food Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai and Street Food Phuket have been launched simultaneously to promote Thai food to foreign visitors as well as enhance Thailand’s tourism image. It is a venture of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in co-operation with the Thailand Foundation, an independent agency founded in 2007 to promote better understanding of Thailand.

    The Thai street-food apps, both Android and iOS, are free for foreign visitors to download and all information is available in English or Chinese.

    The Bangkok Street Food App includes information on street food from 120 shops and stalls, covering 25 types of dishes.

    Street Food can be searched by dish or by location, and users can save favourite stalls to a quick-access menu. The descriptions usually include information on the restaurant’s history and owners, as well as their particular take on their speciality dish.

    The apps link with Google Maps to help users find their preferred outlet. The name and directions to each restaurant are given also in Thai script so visitors can show it to their taxi driver.

    The database may be expanded in the future under the second phase of the program.