Tag: Thailand

  • Pandora officially opens new factory in Thailand

    Pandora officially opens new factory in Thailand

    The new factory, which opened operationally on October 1, 2016, was officially inaugurated today (March 22) and revealed to the world’s press and key members of the global Pandora team.

    Taking design inspiration from the brand’s signature charm bracelet, the manufacturing facility is primarily optimised for the production of the more time-consuming products in Pandora’s portfolio.

    The facility, when at full capacity, will employ up to 5,000 members of staff and aims to “set new standards for the jewellery industry in terms of scale, size, green profile and modernity.” The overall aim is to incorporate flow principles and semi-automation to reduce lead times by up to 50%.

    According to the brand, the factory is a flagship green facility for the international company. Built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards, it consumes 18% less energy and 45% less water than conventional jewellery crafting facilities.

    Pandora2

    Pandora’s new crafting facility

    Guests, including Pandora chief executive Anders Colding Friis, view the new facility on the official opening day

    Speaking at today’s factory launch, chief executive officer for Pandora Anders Colding Friis said: “It’s a proud day. I was thrilled to see how it would look and it looks even better in reality and is a reason to congratulate all of us.

    “This factory plays an important role in Pandora’s future. We need to be agile and flexible and this new factory will provide this service. We need to expand in necklaces, earrings and rings and into new markets.

    “We are one of the world’s most loved jewellery brands and this is a true statement for our future […] It’s really incredible, a state of the art centre.”

    The Lamphun factory forms part of a larger capacity project for Pandora that will potentially double the brand’s output capacity to more than 200 million pieces a year by the end of 2019.

    The project also includes building a new crafting facility in Gemopolis in Bangkok, and optimising the brand’s existing factory located in the Gemopolis region.

    In addition to the official factory opening, the Danish jewellery behemoth has also used today to officially launch its new SS17 campaign, #DOPANDORA.

    The campaign is a change in direction for Pandora with the new lifestyle imagery capturing moments in time.

  • Philippines forges agri deals with Thailand in Duterte visit

    Philippines forges agri deals with Thailand in Duterte visit

    The Philippines on Monday signed agricultural deals with Thailand, three months before it scraps a quantitative restriction on rice imports under an agreement with the World Trade Organization (WTO).

    The agricultural agreement encompasses information exchange concerning best practices in irrigation, livestock and fisheries, and technology for soil and water conservation, said President Rodrigo Duterte in a joint statement with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

    “The Philippines and Thailand have vibrant economic relations with a trade value of almost $8 billion in 2016. We have yet to reach the limit of our potentials. That is why we also recognize the importance of cooperation in agriculture…our agricultural sector should drive national growth,” he said.

    Thailand is one of the Philippines’ primary sources of imported rice. In December, the National Food Authority (NFA) said private traders would import 284,780 tons of rice from Thailand. This is in addition to 250,000 tons that the NFA bought in August last year from Vietnam and Thailand.

    Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol said last year that he would need 2 more years to strengthen Filipino rice farmers’ capacity to compete with their peers in Vietnam and Thailand.

    While cheaper imports would bring down retail costs of the country’s staple grain, it would pose a threat to Filipino farmers’ livelihoods, because production costs in those countries are cheaper and output more plentiful.

    The Philippines is set to host the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) Second Meeting of the Joint Agricultural Working Group in 2019.

    Aside from agriculture, the Philippines also forged agreements with Thailand regarding tourism, and the promotion of exchanges that aim to enhance their capacities for science and technology.

    The two countries also agreed to ensure security and stability in the region, and address issues particularly terrorism, sea piracy, and illegal trafficking of drugs and people.

    They also stressed the need to maintain peace and stability in the region, including the South China Sea.

    “We emphasize the need for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and express determination to complete the Framework of the Code of Conduct in 2017,” Duterte said.

    Duterte visited Myanmar on Sunday, before he flew to Thailand on Monday.

  • Zara Thailand launches online

    Zara Thailand launches online

    Zara Thailand is launching online sales in Thailand this month.

    Vietnam will follow, with the service already introduced in Malaysia and Singapore this month.

    Also this year, the brand will start selling online in India, where the Spanish fast-fashion chain is expected to reach sales of US$200 billion by 2025, according to a study by consulting firm Wazir Advisors.

    Additionally, Zara parent Inditex has said it will open a 5000 sqm flagship Zara store in Mumbai, which will be the largest of its 21 outlets in India.

    Inditex says its bottom-line profit rose by 10 per cent to €3.16 billion (US$3.3 billion) last year, beating out its main rival, Sweden’s H&M, which had a net profit of about US$2.1 billion.

    Opening 279 stores in its latest fiscal year, to the end of January, it has nearly 7300 outlets in 93 countries, with five new markets including New Zealand and Vietnam.

  • Thailand’s Mobile LTE gets satellite license

    Thailand’s Mobile LTE gets satellite license

    Thai mobile broadband provider Mobile LTE has secured the nation’s second satellite service provider license, positioning the company to compete against incumbent Thaicom.

    Mobile LTE has received a Type Three Satellite Business License with a 15 year term valid until January 2032. The license covers the operation of satellites and satellite services.

    Mobile LTE CEO Varayuth Yenbamroong said the operator plans to differentiate from Thaicom by focusing on providing services using new technologies that are distinct from those existing in the market.

    “[We] want to launch a satellite onto [the] country’s unused and reservation orbital slots as soon as possible as some slots will expire very soon,” he added.

    “This will help utilizing the existing resources in another way for the benefit of the country in order to promote and support the expansion of communication satellite business to ASEAN and other countries.”

    He said the operator aims to use its satellite business to target people and government agencies in remote areas, in order to improve digital inclusion and further the government’s Digital Thailand initiative.

    But Mobile LTE noted that it will still require approval from the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society before launching such services.

  • Honestbee Thailand launches in Bangkok

    Honestbee Thailand launches in Bangkok

    Singapore on-demand online grocery concierge and delivery service Honestbee has launched in Bangkok.

    In partnership with retail chain Villa Market, Honestbee is offering customers a faster and easier way to obtain their daily groceries through concierge shoppers. Honestbee has been training the shoppers to select the best quality groceries and deliver them the same day.

    Under the partnership, Honestbee will use all Villa Market’s outlets throughout Bangkok as well as its bistro and cooking studio The Gastro, and the Villa Market Holiday Store.

    Honestbee co-founder/CEO Joel Sng says the company has been doing some trial runs during the past few months.

    Honestbee Executive - Mr Joel Sng

    He says Honestbee is committed to help Villa Market and other speciality stores work online through technology such as website and mobile apps, plus logistics. Honestbee also aims to create flexible jobs.

    Honest Bee website

     

    Honestbee’s one-stop app service will offer a range of more than 11,000 products from grocery chains and gourmet/specialty food suppliers. These include organic foods, fresh fruits, imported frozen meats, wines, specialty drinks, hampers, seasonal products and kitchen supplies from partners including Ahmad Tea London, Happy Flavour, Ja Guem Song, K-Market, Meyer, Perfect Earth Organics, Pierre Herme Paris, Pipper Standard, Simply W and Wishbeer, with more to come.

    Prices are the same as in store, and deliveries are to the customer’s doorstep. There is a special voucher promotion to help launch the service.

    As well as Singapore, Honestbee already has a presence in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and Taiwan.

    Established in 1974, Villa Market was a retail pioneer when the only outlets to buy groceries in Bangkok were markets and small grocery stores.

  • Thailand’s Central Group set to build mall in Cambodia

    Thailand’s Central Group set to build mall in Cambodia

    Thai ambassador to Cambodia Nuttavudh Photisaro says Central representatives have already studied the proposed site, not yet revealed publicly.

    “By investing in a shopping mall, they hope the trade volume between the two countries will increase,” says Nuttavudh.

    CBRE Cambodia associate director Ann Sothida says shopping malls still have a chance to grow in Cambodia because the market has increased purchasing power and has only a limited number of shopping malls of international standard.

    Trade between Thailand and Cambodia eased by 6 per cent last year to US$5.6 billion. Cambodian exports to Thailand amounted to $936 million, while the country’s imports from Thailand amounted to $4.7 billion.

    Phnom Penh’s shopping centres comprise Aeon Mall, which is building a second outlet in the city, City Mall, Parkson and Soriya Mall.

  • AEON in Collaboration with Kasikorn Bank Launch “Cashing @ K-ATM with AEON

    AEON in Collaboration with Kasikorn Bank Launch “Cashing @ K-ATM with AEON

    Mr. Nuntawat Chotvijit (second right), Director of Marketing, AEON Thana Sinsap (Thailand) Public Company Limited, together with Ms. Supaneewan Chutrakul (second left), First Senior Vice President of Kasikorn Bank recently launched the “Cashing @ K-ATM with AEON Your Cash Card get  a special chance to win smartphone prize” campaign. The campaign, which runs until April 30, offers AEON Your Cash cardholders the chance to win one of 10 iPhone 7 Plus (128GB), or one of 51 Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017), at a total value of 1,195,990 baht by withdrawing a Your Cash loan of over 1,000 baht via a Kasikorn Bank ATM.

  • Cheap money transfer system to boost cashless transactions in Thailand

    Cheap money transfer system to boost cashless transactions in Thailand

    Thailand launched a cheap electronic interbank transfer system for depositors in January, in a much awaited milestone since it unveiled a digital payment masterplan two years ago.

    Called PromptPay, it allows someone to transfer sums of less than 5,000 baht (S$xxx) to accounts of other banks for free, as opposed to the 25 baht fee usually levied by banks.

    Some 19 million bank accounts were linked to the PromptPay service as at Jan 16, a modest fraction of the 78.8 million savings accounts nationwide that month (Jan 2017). Experts say one of the factors hampering take-up is lack of a privacy law, raising fears that signing up for the PromptPay system might make one more susceptible to having one’s personal information stolen.

    PromptPay was part of a larger plan, involving inducing consumers and taxpayers to go electronic, to reduce transaction costs and increase the transparency of tax and government related payments.

    Previously, interbank transfer fees had created a virtual ringfence around depositors, forcing cost-conscious consumers to physically transfer cash between different automated teller machines. This also limited the appeal of an increasing variety of e-wallet options.

    Commuters on Bangkok’s skytrains currently use a stored value “Rabbit” card, which can also be used to buy items from over 3,000 retail outlets.

    Thailand’s three mobile phone service providers also offer their own version of e-wallets, alongside social messaging applications like Line and WeChat.

    For example, True Money is an electronic payment system linked to mobile service provider True Move.. Last October (2016), True Money also launched a remittance service that would allow Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand to make real-time transfers of their earnings home.

    But while the value and proportion of e-money transactions processed by banks and non-bank service providers have been steadily growing, they totalled just 91 billion baht last year – or less than  1 per cent of the value of payment transactions processed – according to Bank of Thailand data.

    The rollout of PromptPay’s peer-to-peer transfer system is expected change the dynamics of Thailand’s e-payment landscape, says Mr Punnamas Vichitkulwongsa, who heads the Thailand e-Payment Association and who is also the chief executive of True Money.

    “There would be more excitement in the market,” he told.

    “PromptPay creates a level playing field for (non-bank e-wallet providers)…Banks will be more aggressive and step up their offerings to end users,” he said.

  • Malaysia-Cambodia-Thailand subsea cable launches

    Malaysia-Cambodia-Thailand subsea cable launches

    A new subsea cable connecting Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand has been launched in Cambodia, adding at least 30Tbps of regional capacity.

    The Malaysia-Cambodia-Thailand (MCT) cable system was designed and deployed by Huawei Marine for Cambodia’s EZECOM, Telekom Malaysia and Symphony Communication of Thailand.

    The 1,300km cable system uses 100Gbps technology, and will connect to other submarie cable systems, including the Asia-America Gateway (AAG).

    Speaking at the launch of the system, EZECOM CEO Paul Blanche-Horgan said the launch is the culmination of six years of work. He said the launch of the cable will improve the security of Cambodia’s connection to the internet.

    “With this cable, we are now directly connected POP to POP, which means a much more secure connection for Cambodia. This is of great importance, as [Cambodian deputy prime minister and minister of interior] Samdech Krolahom does understand, for the context of national security as well as certain key sectors like banking.”

    Samdech Krolahom himself said that with the new cable, “Cambodia now has faster, more reliable, more affordable and, most importantly, a more secure internet connection for all.”

  • MK Restaurants plans US$11m expansion

    MK Restaurants plans US$11m expansion

    Thailand’s MK Restaurants Group plans to invest about Bt400 million (US$11.3 million) a year over the next five years to expand in Thailand as well as its overseas markets, including Singapore.

    Chairman/CEO Rit Thirakomen says the group will open 15 MK branches in Thailand this year, together with 25 Yayoi and five Miyazaki Japanese restaurants. Three or four franchised restaurants will be added to each overseas market.
    “We are also open for acquisition deals with select companies in food, services and retailing, so they will be able to use our infrastructure and logistics,” says Thirakomen.

    MK Restaurants Group’s sales rose 4 per cent to Bt15.49 billion last year, but its profit spurted 13 per cent to Bt2.1 billion. It projects growth at 5 to 9 per cent annually for five years.

    The group’s first MK Live flagship restaurant was officially unveiled at The Emquartier shopping mall in Bangkok yesterday, targeting health-conscious and “lifestyle” consumers. It has 135 seats.

    MK’s other brands are Hakata Ramen, Le Petit coffee shop and bakery, Le Siam Thai Restaurant, Miyazaki Teppanyaki, MK Restaurants, MK Gold Restaurants, Na Siam Thai Restaurant and Yayoi Japanese Restaurant. As well as 600 outlets in Thailand, the group has 40 franchised outlets in Indonesia, Japan and Vietnam.

    It has also set up a JV in Singapore to run its restaurants there, including MK, Miyazaki and Yayoi.

    Rit says that under its third-generation management team, MK Restaurant Group has outlined a major expansion plan for this year to cash in on the burgeoning Thai food industry, predicted by Kasikorn Research Centre to grow at 2 to 4 per cent to about Bt390 billion this year.

    Assistant marketing director Tantawan Thirakomen says MK Live is a suki (hot pot) restaurant designed to attract teenagers, young adults and families.

    “The store is decorated to reflect a vegetable greenhouse, with natural decorative items – wood, trees and rocks – as well as hydroponic vegetables displayed on the walls,” she says.

    A feature is its Live Showcase open kitchen where customers can see the chefs working on their meals, including dim sum and meatballs. Also on the menu are lobsters from Canada, scallops from the US and Wagyu beef from Japan.

  • International brands battle for Vietnam milk tea market

    International brands battle for Vietnam milk tea market

    As Vietnam’s economy grows the Vietnam milk tea market has become a battleground for foreign franchises.

    The latest debutant is Taiwanese milk tea brand T4, founded in 2004,  and which has steadily built an international network now including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, China, the UK and the US.

    The first T4 outlet in Vietnam is a two-storey building, located on Phan Xich Long street in Ho Chi Minh City, a popular destination for milktea fans, where consumers are spoilt for choice.

    Next on the scene is Tealive, a new brand from the former Malaysian master franchisee for Chatime.

    And while new names are coming, current players are expanding their networks, in a market share battle even more fierce than the notorious coffee market stoush.

    Gong Cha, Hong Kong-based Taiwanese milk tea chain, plans to boost franchise this year, after building a strong foothold in Ho Chi Minh City with 10 outlets. Now, Gong Cha is opening two stores in Hanoi and one in Danang, with more to come in other cities, including Haiphong.

    Considered a prime competitor for Gong Cha, Koi The came to Vietnam in September 2015, and currently operates seven outlets in Ho Chi Minh City, all located in busy downtown sites or shopping malls.

    Nguyen Hoai Phuong, a spokesperson for Gong Cha Vietnam, previously told a local newspaper that milktea is the weapon to win in Vietnam’s beverage cafe market, largely due to the youthful Vietnamese population.

    That might well be the reason why more and more international brands are planning Vietnam expansion.

    More big names have just joined the segment – Queeny, Chachago, Sharetea and Goky.

    Middle market players include Bobapop, Teacup and Dingtea, the oldest player in the sector. Dingtea landed in Vietnam in 2014 and has now built a network of nearly 100 outlets across the country. It has 350 stores in China and 650 globally.

    In this battle, local brands seem to struggle, with only a few names having gained a reputation and real market penetration. Hot and Cold might be considered the most successful, a pioneer in the Vietnam milk tea market since 2011. Charting a different course to most of its rivals, Hot and Cold grew market share with a customised menu and finger food.

    Given the size of the market and Vietnam’s young population, many more milk tea and juice brands are expected to try their luck in due course, making the battle for share even more fierce.

  • KKday Launches E-commerce Travel Platform in Thailand

    KKday Launches E-commerce Travel Platform in Thailand

    KKday, a leading E-commerce travel platform in Asia offering localized travel across the globe officially launched in Thailand today, bringing unique and authentic tour experiences abroad to Thai tourists looking to travel independently and explore other cities around the world through organized excursions.

    Established in 2014, KKday is a Taiwan-headquartered company offering over 6,000 experiences, in 25 different categories, in 174 cities and 54 countries worldwide.

    After recently launching in Singapore, the Thai branch of KKday will appeal to the growing number of FITs (Free Independent Travelers) in Thailand in search of fun activities and memorable sightseeing trips on holiday. Whilst FITs book their own flight and accommodation, they look to online travel experts with local knowledge to book unforgettable travel experiences that give them genuine insights into a destination; discovering local culture and heritage, hidden gems and off-the-beaten-track adventures and sampling incredible food and activities along the way.

    Ming Chen, CEO of KKday, who was at the launch in Bangkok, believes city break tours will appeal to the Thai market. “Thais are renowned for their warm welcome to tourists visiting their country and this openness extends to a genuine interest in other cultures and a love of travel. Asia is home to some spectacular cities and I envisage that KKday members in Thailand will want to soak up the atmosphere and truly experience city breaks in Taiwan, Korea and Japan which are all popular vacation destinations for Thais; exciting cities like Taipei, Seoul and Tokyo. I am pleased to be launching KKday in Thailand and with the huge growth of E-commerce within the country, an online travel experience platform fits perfectly with what the market wants and how consumers behave here.”

    Hassle-free and competitively priced, KKday is easy to browse, read reviews and book online; the ideal travel companion for the digital Y Generation of under 35s who are primarily booking with KKday. In 2017, the travel trend for Gen Y tourists is all about experiential vacations and immersive getaways rather than finding some far-flung undiscovered destination or simply ‘being’ a tourist abroad.

    Today’s travelers want get a more organically native feel for a place that is less ‘touristy’ and is far more interactive and experienced-based. KKday taps into this quest for localized, customized travel.

    The launch of KKday in Thailand is aimed at expanding the platform which already has a presence in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Korea and Singapore. A branch in Thailand will build on KKday’s already 7 million plus page views per month, Facebook fan base of over 600,000 and membership that exceeds 300,000. Promotions are also on the horizon with relationships being established with some big-name brands in Thailand too.

    Expansion is part of the future strategy of KKday with two rounds of funding in 2015 and 2016 totaling $11.5 million led by Singapore-based venture capitalists, Monk’s Hill Ventures and AppWorks, the largest start-up accelerator in Asia.

    In Thailand, KKday has partnered with DTAC Rewards, Eatigo, Tourkrub, Show DC (Lotte) and Nokscoot.

    Celebrating its debut in Thailand with an exciting campaign, #KKvacay rewards one lucky winner and a friend will win a holiday in either Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore or Taiwan!

  • My Kitchen opens at Siam Discovery

    My Kitchen opens at Siam Discovery

    A “new dimension of downtown hangout” called My Kitchen has opened at Siam Discovery,  described as a social dining experience concept.

    Siam Discovery parent Siam Piwat says the new hangout – an “eat, meet, mingle concept” targets millennials.

    My Kitchen offers a social dining experience on the fourth floor of Siam Discovery which integrates digital innovation to make the dining experience more fulfilling and enjoyable.

    Apart from the flavours of international dishes from five well-known restaurant brands – Cafe Chilli, Kuppadeli, Man Fu Yuan, Nara, Yuzu By Yuutaro and a Brix Dessert Bar – all come with an all-new concept where signature dishes are selected to please individual tastes and styles.

    2. My Kitchen

    My Kitchen also introduces the My Kitchen is Your Kitchen concept providing a workshop space designated to offer every diner enjoyable and interactive cooking demonstrations, tasting parties, and other food events in rotation every day.

    “It is also ideal for friends to throw a party on special occasions or use the workshop to prepare foods for important guests in a beautiful panoramic atmosphere right in the heart of Bangkok,” says a Siam Piwat spokesperson.

    My Kitchen tablet menus allowing diners to order and pay quickly.

    The decor of the precinct includes art installations designed by Nendo Studio, a team of well-known designers from Japan led by the world-famous Oki Sato, (who designed the Siam Discovery revamp unveiled last year).  The area is painted in shades of white.  The floor is paved with white volakas marble to give a feeling of friendliness and warmth. Clear glass walls offer a panoramic view of downtown Bangkok.

    My Kitchen comprises various zones including reception, lounge, private room and workshop spaces, covering more than 1000 sqm and seating up to 250 people.

    The reception is decorated with disco balls and a graphic mapping time lapse projection as highlight to keep diners in a relaxing mood while waiting for food to be served.

    The lounge features a visual mapping technique from Le Petit Chef, a group of visual art enthusiasts and winners of multiple international awards. They created food mapping that combines 3D animation with motion capture techniques to project onto dining tables two stories of food preparation: one for soup and the other for dessert, so customers can enjoy their time with friends or someone special while waiting for their meals “just like having a tiny chef prepare food for them on the table”.

    “It  will offer an original experience unlike anywhere else,” says the spokesperson.

    The new venue is open daily from 10am to 10pm.

  • Lalamove Releases ChomChob

    Lalamove Releases ChomChob

    Lalamove, the Hong Kong based on-demand delivery company has joined hands with ChomCHOB, a point accumulation app that converts a customer’s credit and debit card points into reward points, allowing them to purchase an extensive range of products and services from over 1000 merchants.

    From now until April 30th, ChomCHOB points can be redeemed towards Lalamove motorbike and pick up delivery services. Photo shows Thanwarat Chailert, COO & Co-Founder of ChomChob Group, (left) with Lalamove’s Managing Director Chanon Klahan.

  • First CEIV Pharma Certification in Singapore for Bolloré Logistics

    First CEIV Pharma Certification in Singapore for Bolloré Logistics

    Bolloré Logistics Singapore was successfully awarded by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as CEIV Pharma-compliant at its platform located in the Airport Logistics Park, and is one of the first transport and logistics companies in Singapore to receive this certification. The aim of Bolloré Logistics is to deploy this action throughout its global network with on-going certifications on other sites in Asia-Pacific, including in Australia, Hong Kong and Japan.

    This is a new success for the Bolloré Group, which shows its commitment to achieve the highest international quality standard in the global pharmaceutical supply chain for its customers, by continually improving its processes and infrastructures in compliance with the CEIV Pharma standards.

    With its modern and innovative facilities, the excellence of its quality management system, the expertise of its teams and its multiple certifications, Bolloré Logistics is a major global player in the supply chain of pharmaceutical products. Being certified by IATA CEIV Pharma, Bolloré Logistics Singapore fully conforms to all applicable pharmaceutical standards expected from pharmaceutical manufacturers in terms of facilities, equipment, operations and staff and being capable to provide seamless cool chain transportation.

    This global initiative, already in place on European sites in Paris Roissy CDG (France), Brussels (Belgium), Frankfurt (Germany) and Lisbon (Portugal) is also currently in progress on other sites such as Johannesburg in South Africa or Chicago in the USA. IATA created the Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics (CEIV Pharma) in 2015. It aims at setting the industrial standard for air cargo supply chain in pharmaceutical handling excellence.

    It addresses the industry’s need for more safety, security, compliance and efficiency, by creating a globally consistent and recognized pharmaceutical product handling certification. CEIV Pharma encompasses – even supersedes – many of the existing pharmaceutical standards and guidelines, such as IATA Temperature Control Regulations (TCR), European Union Good Distribution Practices (EU GDP), World Health Organization Annex 5, and United States Pharmacopeia Standards.