Tag: Thailand

TrueMoney Transfer is Thailand’s first affordable remittance solution for migrant workers

TrueMoney, a subsidiary of Ascend Group, announces the launch of TrueMoney Myanmar and the launch of its fund transfer solution, TrueMoney Transfer.

TrueMoney Myanmar aims to be a leading financial service provider, offering bill payment, mobile topup, remittance, and cash collection services. With two offices, one in Yangon and one in Mandalay and a network of 3,000 agents nationwide, TrueMoney Myanmar is working continuously to expand its services and agent network to fulfill its mission of enabling everyone access to innovative financial services, leading to better lives because we believe that financial access should be a basic right for everyone.

TrueMoney is also launching TrueMoney Transfer, the company’s first international money transfer solution. Fast, easy, safe, and affordable, TrueMoney Transfer enables real-time fund transfers from Thailand to Myanmar, allowing Burmese migrant workers to significantly reduce the expense and risks associated with sending money to family back home.

Fast with real-time fund transfers, easy with 250 transfer spots in Thailand by end-2016 and 681 transfer spots in Myanmar, safe with a passcode to receive the money that only the sender knows, and affordable with transaction fees starting at 50 Baht. To celebrate the launch of the TrueMoney Transfer service, TrueMoney is waiving the transfer fees for all transactions until October 31, 2016. Transfer fees usually start at only 1,818 MMK per transaction.

Migration within and across Myanmar’s long borderline has been long-standing. In an aim of improving relatives’ standard of living, many Burmese have chosen to cross borders in search of decent work and income. To date, according to the United Nations (UN), Thailand is home of almost 2 million hard working Burmese sending 2,8 billion Kyat back home annually, namely 1 million Kyat per person per year.

“Transferring money to loved ones has undoubtedly become a crucial need for Burmese migrants and their families. However, a large number of Myanmar workers remain unbanked, due to a variety of reasons such as, but not limited to legal status, language barrier, and access to banking services. We have developed TrueMoney Transfer to give a faster, safer, more secured and affordable alternative to the commonly used informal channels”, said Ms. San Thaw Da Wun, Country Director of TrueMoney Myanmar.

Indeed, sending money from Thailand to Myanmar can be very expensive and uncertain. Because no other options are available to date, Myanmar migrant workers are placing their trust and savings within informal networks, which are complicated, time-consuming – it can take up to 4/5 days to send funds –, and unsafe – there is no guarantee that the intended receiver will ever receive the money.

Mr. Lawt Aung, Senior Product Executive of TrueMoney said, “TrueMoney Transfer will deeply change the lives of millions of hard-working people who do not have access to proper banking services. The network we have built throughout Myanmar is the stronger existing. Our 681 TrueMoney Transfer spots in Myanmar cover 91 percent of migrant workers’ hometowns such as Mon, Tarintharyi, Kayin, Shan, Yangon, and Bago, bringing services for money transfer in rural areas where banks don’t even have a representation. The solution will enable money transfer from Thailand to Myanmar only. By end of 2016, the 250 transfer spots in Thailand will be concentrated in areas with a large population of Myanmar migrant workers such as Bangkok, Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakarn, Tak, Ranong, Kanchanaburi, and Phuket.”

Ms. San Thaw Da Wun added, “It has never been that simple to transfer money internationally”.

Users can simply register a user account at one of TrueMoney’s official agent shops in Thailand, show their ID, and instantly transfer funds to Myanmar. After informing the agent of the receiver’s name and mobile number and the amount to be transferred, the sender will be told the exact amount the receiver will receive. The sender will also receive an 8-digit code via SMS. The receiver can immediately use the given code, in addition to their identification and mobile phone number, to receive cash at any of the TrueMoney Transfer spots in Myanmar.

TrueMoney has developed this new innovation to offer a cross-border remittance service that is fast, easy, safe, and affordable to upgrade the standard of living of everyone.

TrueMoney Transfer – Fact Sheet

TrueMoney – Key information
About TrueMoney Thailand Company	TrueMoney is an Ascend Group subsidiary and the first e–payment provider in Thailand that has been granted a license from the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Thailand to offer cross-border remittance service
About TrueMoney Transfer solution	TrueMoney has been developing the TrueMoney Transfer solution to help unbanked individuals as well as migrant workers to safely send money to their loved ones and to give them an alternative to costly and unsecured informal money transfer solutions
Key information about TrueMoney Transfer	TrueMoney Transfer, Thailand’s first fast, easy, safe, and affordable remittance solution for migrant workers With 250 TrueMoney Transfer spots in Thailand by end- 2016 and 681 in Myanmar, a very affordable cost as well as no fee applied for receiving money, this is the most accessible platform available to date You can transfer up to 30,000 Baht per transaction and up to 200,000 Baht per day The transfer fee is waived until October 31, 2016 (normally 50 Baht for 100-5,000 Baht transferred) TrueMoney Transfer is available for individual customers only
Process to set–up an account	To use TrueMoney Transfer simply register for the service by showing your ID and mobile phone number at one of TrueMoney’s official agent shop. This process is one time will take just a few minutes. Then, you’ll need to give the receiver’s details and mobile phone number before handing over the money you wish to transfer. The TrueMoney Transfer officer will let you know exactly how much money the receiver will get in the destination currency. You will then get an 8–digit transaction code via SMS to your registered mobile phone number. The receiver simply need to show the 8–digit transaction code, ID, and their mobile phone number to any TrueMoney Transfer spot in Myanmar to get the cash right away.
Target users	Unbanked individuals and migrant workers who wants to transfer money back to Myanmar

Transaction fee (Conditions as stipulated by the company)
Remittances from 100 Baht to 5,000 Baht	Transaction fee at 50 Baht
Remittances from 5,001 Baht to 10,000 Baht	Transaction fee at 100 Baht
Remittances from 10,001 Baht to 15,000 Baht	Transaction fee at 150 Baht
Remittances from 15,001 Baht to 20,000 Baht	Transaction fee at 200 Baht
Remittances from 20,001 Baht to 25,000 Baht	Transaction fee at 250 Baht
Remittances from 25,001 Baht to 30,000 Baht	Transaction fee at 300 Baht

TrueMoney Transfer’s user profile Myanmar migrant workers – Key data
Number of Myanmar workers in Thailand to date	2 million workers, 50% non–registered
Gender	57% male 43% female
Age	16–24: 21% 25–34: 52% 35–55: 27%
Location	Bangkok Outskirts: 38% South: 27% North: 16% Central: 13% Bangkok: 6%
Occupation	Fishing worker, Farm worker, Factory worker, Rubber worker, Construction worker, Housekeeper

Myanmar’s remittance market
Average number of fund transfers per individual per year	6 times a year
Average amount sent per transfer per individual	6,650 THB
Total number of transactions per year	12 million THB
Total amount of money transferred per year	77 billion THB

October 15, 2016

Skytrain ticketing goes smart
The little tokens and even plastic smart cards now used in the mass transit systems will soon be outdated once the media business unit of BTS Group Holdings introduces new services that will enable skytrain fares to be paid with a smartphone.

By the first quarter next year, BTS commuters will just have to swipe the barcode embedded in the Rabbit Line Pay application at the turnstile. No more queues to get change, tokens or cards.

With the new mobile service, you just swipe your Rabbit Line Pay card and walk through the turnstile, says Mr Kavin.

“Next year, we’re going to change the entire BTS system, enabling users of Rabbit Line Pay [a function embedded in the Line app] to cover skytrain fares via smartphones or mobile devices,” says Kavin Kanjanapas, chief executive of BTS Group, which owns a majority stake of VGI Global Media Plc.

Line is the most popular instant messaging platform in Thailand with more than 33 million active users.

“The new mobile ticketing service will be a great convenience to commuters and perfectly serve modern Bangkok lifestyles, as you just swipe your barcode embedded in the Rabbit Line Pay application and walk through the turnstile,” says Mr Kavin, also chairman of VGI’s executive committee.

The innovative mobile ticketing service shows just how far VGI has come since its humble beginnings. Founded in 1995 with initial registered capital of only 1 million baht, the company was intended to provide marketing and advertising services for the Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC), which operates the skytrain.

The company’s registered capital today is 858 million baht, with 686 million in paid-up capital. VGI is now Thailand’s major provider of out-of-home (OOH) media solutions, having more than 10,000 large still-image screens installed in the BTS skytrain network and at large retail stores nationwide.

It also has more than 11,000 square metres of advertising space in the product display zones of large, modern stores and around 5,000 digital screens and other types of OOH advertising at BTS stations, Tesco Lotus, Big C and Watson stores, along with large office towers throughout Bangkok.

It further holds licences to manage various forms of advertising at 13 airports operated by Airports of Thailand Plc and the Civil Aviation Department.

In addition, the company runs retail shops in 23 BTS stations, on top of radio networks covering nearly 2,000 stores in Thailand.

Like the BTSC, whose situation became critical in the wake of the 1997 financial crisis when passenger number was low due to a sharp decline in purchasing power, VGI struggled during its first three years of operations.

After seeing low ridership number of fewer than 100,000 a day (in contrast with original projections of 600,000 a day), almost every advertiser who had booked space with VGI asked to scrap their deals and withdrew their deposits.

As with the BTSC, VGI spent nearly 10 years battling financial constraints. It started seeing a glimmer of hope after the BTSC, which shared a huge portion of the group’s debt, exited its rehabilitation plan in 2008 and merged with Tanayong, the property development firm Mr Kavin’s father, Keeree Kanjanapas, founded in 1968.

The merged company became BTS Group Holdings in 2010, which focuses on four core businesses: mass transit, property, media and services.

After the group’s strong business revival, VGI itself has been successful in developing its lifestyle media network, mainly through active mergers and acquisitions (M&A) over the past couple of years, acquiring stakes in SET-listed Master Ad Plc, the country’s largest OOH advertising company, aviation media company Aero Media, and most recently Rabbit Card and its related online business.

The latest acquisition will enable VGI to enter into an e-payment business that offers Rabbit Card as a payment tool for travelling on the skytrain and for purchasing merchandise from leading retailers nationwide.

Rabbit Line Pay will also enable users to buy goods online and from brick-and-mortar retail stores. It also lets VGI extend its services to cover online payment for skytrain fares and retail purchases within Rabbit Card’s network of merchants nationwide through their mobile devices.

Additional Rabbit businesses comprise other online ventures operated by Rabbit Internet, including Rabbit Daily, which provides lifestyle content through a web portal, and Rabbit Finance, which is a licenced, leading online financial products comparison website previously known as ASK Hanuman.

This strategic move will allow VGI to raise the effectiveness and measurability of its advertising campaigns.

VGI aims to create a new media advertising platform, Data-Centric Media Hypermarket, that can directly reach targeted audiences. It is projected to bring VGI’s daily audience from 1.9 million people to 25 million (mostly active Line users). It has also set a long-term revenue target of 8.2 billion baht over the next five years, up from 3.9 billion in 2015.

To fulfil the ambitious new media advertising platform, Mr Kavin says VGI still needs to complete two to three acquisition deals.

“Over the last 3-4 years, we’ve spent more than 3 billion baht on M&A, mainly on Master Ad, and most recently Rabbit Card,” said Mr Kavin. “From next year onwards, M&A will no longer be our focus. Rather, we will look to the integration of all our businesses to create the best synergy within VGI,” he says.
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October 14, 2016
Discovery Japan Mall opens online
Tokyo-based craft products retailer DigitalStudio has launched Discovery Japan Mall, a cross-border eCommerce venture.

Specialising in Japanese brands, the mall’s initial catalogue includes mainly toys, fishing gear, cosmetics, food, watches and fashion. About 100 Japanese companies have opened stores on the mall, offering about 15,000 items.

Shipping is available to more than 120 countries and regions, and as part of the opening campaign free international shipping is offered for orders worth JPY 20,000 (US$190) or more until the end of this month.

As well as credit cards, the mall supports payment by AliPay, PayPal, UnionPay and WeChat. The website is available in English, simplified and traditional Chinese, Indonesian, Korean and Thai. Purchases can be made by smartphone, and all orders include tracking and shipping insurance, plus delivery from Japan.

Discovery Japan Mall representative Norio Itabashi says many hidden Japanese products do not reach the overseas market, and the mall is working with craftsmen and manufacturers to sell unique products.

DigitalStudio was established in 2003 with the aim of “continuing to bring Japan to the world”.
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October 13, 2016
IIJ, TCCT launch joint cloud services in Thailand

Internet Initiative Japan and Thai data center and IT infrastructure provider TCC Technology (TCCT) have jointly launched a new cloud service in Thailand named Leap GIO Cloud.

The new service is being operated by Leap Solutions Asia (LSA), a joint venture between the two companies.

Targeted at local Thai companies and Japanese enterprises doing business in the market, Leap GIO Cloud encompasses both public and private cloud services.

The public cloud service can be self-provisioned and billed on an hourly or monthly basis, while the private cloud service is being offered for a monthly fee.

LSA has also secured SAP certifications for hosting services, cloud services and SAP HANA operations services, and will use these certifications to offer support for implementing and operating SAP BASIS in the cloud.

LSA was established in April as a 60/40 joint venture majority-owned by TCCT. The joint venture aims to become a market leader in Thailand’s cloud sector.

October 13, 2016
Thai Union takes bite of Red Lobster

Seafood producer Thai Union has made a US$575 million strategic investment in US seafood restaurant company Red Lobster.

Golden Gate Capital retains its majority shareholding in Red Lobster.

Thai Union is regarded as the world’s largest producer of shelf-stable tuna products with annual sales exceeding THB 125 billion (US$ 3.7 billion) and a global workforce of more than 46,000 people. It says it has taken a 25 per cent interest in the restaurant chain, with the option to acquire an extra 24 per cent through the conversion of preferred shares.

“Red Lobster is an iconic brand, with a leading market position in seafood casual dining and a world-class management team, and has delivered strong performance since Golden Gate acquired it in 2014,” says Thai Union Group CEO Thiraphong Chansiri.

“This investment marks a strategic step to build Thai Union’s direct-to-consumer channel, and will enable us to benefit from the extensive restaurant industry expertise of both the Red Lobster management team and Golden Gate.”

He says Thai Union has worked closely with Red Lobster for more than two decades.

With 40 years’ industry experience, Thai Union has expanded its product lineup to include lobster, shrimp, sardines, mackerel, tuna, salmon and crab. Its brands include Chicken of the Sea, John West, King Oscar and Petit Navire, and it has production units in 12 countries.

JP Morgan acted as exclusive financial adviser to Thai Union for the investment.

Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Red Lobster claims to be the world’s largest seafood restaurant company. As a private company owned by Golden Gate Capital, Red Lobster has 58,000 employees in more than 700 restaurants in the US and Canada, with a growing international footprint.

Golden Gate Capital is a San Francisco-based private-equity investment firm with more than $15 billion of capital under management. In addition to Red Lobster, investments sponsored by Golden Gate Capital include California Pizza Kitchen, Pacific Sunwear, Payless ShoeSource and Zales.

October 12, 2016
IPhone 7 to officially launch in Thailand on Oct. 21

Three major mobile operators in Thailand including AIS, DTAC and TRUE have announced will begin selling the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus on Oct. 21.

While the pre-ordering will start early on Oct. 14 for all three companies, AIS and DTAC have opened a page for interested customers to register and guarantee the chance to pre-order the phones.

Apple Watch Series 2, a product announced by Apple at the event in San Francisco on the same day as the new iPhone, will also launch in Thailand on Oct. 21.

Apple has faced controversy by removing the headphone jack in the iPhone 7 in order to offer a waterproof handset. However, the new phone comes with a 12-megapixel camera and optical image stabilization, an impressive upgrade from the camera in iPhone 6s.

The iPhone 7 comes in Silver, Gold and Rose Gold and the new colors Black and Jet Black.

October 12, 2016
Combine all your rewards points and get more out of your luxury shopping
Shoppers can now save money on luxury brands by combining reward points from their different Visa credit cards.

The “Points for Brands” campaign enables customers with Visa credit cards issued from leading financial institutions in Thailand, including Kasikornbank, Bank of Ayudhya (Krungsri), Krungthai Bank, Krungsri First Choice, Government Savings Bank, and Thanachart Bank to pool reward points for purchase of goods at selected luxury brands at a rate of 1,000 points for THB 100.^[1]

There are more than 70 participating brands at The Emporium and The EmQuartier, including Coach, Kate Spade, DKNY, DVF, Proenza, COMME des GAçONS, Jimmy Choo, Valentino, EMPORIO ARMANI, Balenciaga, Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, MCM, and Club 21.

“This is the first time our cardholders can purchase luxury brands by redeeming points from across their portfolio of Visa credit cards, a rarity for premium categories,” said Suripong Tantiyanon, Visa Country Manager, Thailand.

Exclusive to Visa cardholders, more information, along with help on how to redeem reward points, can be found at Points for Brands booth on M Floor at EmQuartier
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October 11, 2016
Reinvented Siam Discovery wins two awards
Siam Discovery – The Exploratorium, Thailand’s first hybrid-retail destination and lifestyle specialty store which opened in May, has won two awards.

A reincarnation of the old Siam Discovery, the store was named Best Retail Development and Best Commercial Development in the latest Thailand Property Awards.

Siam Discovery is owned by Siam Piwat, which also owns and runs Siam Center, Siam Paragon and Paradise Park shopping centres, and jointly owns megaproject IconSiam.

“Siam Discovery has broken every rule of Thailand’s retail industry to offer exciting experiences and creativity,” says Siam Piwat CEO Chadatip Chutrakul.

“The awards reflect the success of the distinctive design and the ideas behind it by a team of design experts such as Nendo’s Oki Sato and Urban Architect, who came together and imbued the architecture of the refurbished Siam Discovery with elegance and uniqueness.”

She says the new concept permeates “every single design detail” across more than 40,000 sqm, including open space.

“Even the product displays and stores of more than 5000 brands are decorated to match the personalities of each specific Lifestyle Lab on each floor. This gives our customers the freedom to browse for products that suit their stories and interests, and make shopping both convenient and a fun exploration.”

In their 11th edition, the Thailand Property Awards aim to boost the stability and efficiency of the country’s real-estate market and encourage entrepreneurs.
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October 10, 2016
Thai police bust fake instant Nestle coffee factory
Thai police have busted a fake Nestle instant coffee factory in Bangkok’s northern suburbs.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of police descended on a business premises in Pathum Thani on Thursday armed with a search warrant. Inside they found 2 million THB worth of fake Nestle instant coffee, (equivalent to about US$60,000 at retail value).

They discovered machinery including four mixing machines, four packaging machines and 19 sacks of mixed instant coffee awaiting packaging, falsely branded Nescafe 3-in-1. More than 89,000 sachets of fake instant coffee destined for distribution were seized, along with 280,000 empty packs.

The factory was staffed by nine foreign migrant workers, including four Laos nationals.

Police are now trying to track down the man running the factory, believed to be from Chiang Rai.

Once caught he will be charged with producing and selling bogus food products and with producing and selling foods with unlicensed labels. The penalty, if convicted, is a prison term of up to 10 years and a fine of up to 100,000 baht ($3000).
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October 10, 2016
Godiva to Open the First Shop in Bangkok
Months after popular ice-cream brand Ben&Jerry opened their first shop in Bangkok, looks like we will be able to continue to binge on new, sweet treats at Godiva.

Godiva, the Belgian luxury chocolate store, announced it will launch its first shop in Bangkok at Groove, in CentralWorld.

Selling an assortment of premium chocolates, biscuits and frappé drinks. Let’s hope they stock their famous chocolate-covered strawberries as well. Godiva has long been one of the premium edible souvenirs that Thai people buy for each other when traveling abroad.

The opening date has not yet been confirmed.
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October 9, 2016
Hooters Taiwan launch marks Asian expansion
Atlanta-based operator and franchiser Hooters of America will enter Taiwan with five new locations.

The Hooters Taiwan restaurants will be opened by Hooters’ Asian partner, Bangkok-based franchisee Destination Resorts.

The first is scheduled to open in Taipei, with typical menu including wings, burgers and salads. The other four will be in Kaohsiung, Taichung, Taoyuan and Tainan.

“With existing bustling locations throughout Asia, we’ve seen proven demand for Hooters’ world-famous chicken wings served with iconic Hooters Girl hospitality,” said Gary Murray, CEO, Destination Resorts.

Hooters expects good growth in Taiwan thanks to a robust economy and strong brand recognition in the market.

Earlier this year the franchisee opened two more Thailand locations, the largest international Hooters in Pattaya, and the nation’s fourth location in Bangkok’s Nana district.

It also recently opened the first Hooters in Hong Kong. (pictured)

Four more are planned this year – in Samui, Thailand; Manila Eastwood in Philippines; Marina Bay in Singapore and in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The new locations will incorporate the latest design features that deliver “the familiar, fun-loving persona of the Hooters brand along with contemporary elements that combine to deliver a one-of-a-kind guest experience”.

Hooters is the franchisor and operator of more than 420 Hooters restaurants in 42 states of the US and 26 countries.
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October 8, 2016
Central FamilyMart set to expand
Central FamilyMart plans to double the number of its convenience stores in Thailand from 1116 to more than 2000 within five years.

President Chiranun Poopat says the company will continuously expand the number of FamilyMarts to cater to a growing market and increase access to consumers in specific locations. The expansion will be achieved by capital investment as well as franchising.

“We are still confident in the high growth potential of convenience stores in the Thai market as shoppers appreciate convenience and diversity as well as product quality.

“We will focus on opening more FamilyMart stores in Bangkok and the surrounding areas, as well as cities and destinations visited by foreign tourists,” says Chiranun.

She says the company will add more than 60 stores this year, and also has a focus on improving existing outlets.

There are also plans to collaborate with local entrepreneurs and suppliers so the stores can offer products for specific areas, especially tourist destinations.

FamilyMart’s latest branch opened in Bangkok’s MBK shopping centre last week, offering ready-to-eat foods and beverages.

For the current Vegetarian Festival, Chiranun says FamilyMart has increased its vegetarian options to 400 items. New offerings include vegetarian onigiri (Japanese rice balls), baked Riceberry with taro, stirfried mixed mushrooms with rice, stirfried soy protein with black pepper, a coleslaw sandwich and a vegetarian bento set.
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October 7, 2016
Fast Retailing rolling out GU shops overseas
Japanese retail holding company Fast Retailing intends to have 1000 shops for its low-cost GU brand overseas in 10 years, up from about 10 foreign stores now.

GU sells clothing often priced at about half that of stablemate Uniqlo.

Fast Retailing will expand GU first in Asia, where Uniqlo has been successful, says chairman/president Tadashi Yanai.

After increasing its GU outlets in Taiwan and China, Fast Retailing will turn its attention to South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore for growth in the next five years.

GU’s first overseas store opened in 2013. In Japan, the brand’s low prices and sensitivity to fashion trends have helped store numbers grow to around 350.

Meanwhile, Uniqlo now has more stores overseas than in Japan, with plans to set up around 100 shops a year in China.

Other brands under Fast Retailing’s wing include Comptoir des Cotonniers, J Brand and Princesse Tam-Tam.
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October 7, 2016
Siam Discovery bags two awards from Thailand Property Awards 2016
Siam Piwat Co., Ltd., the owner and operator of world-class developments such as Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery, and Paradise Park shopping centers, and joint-owner of megaproject ICONSIAM, reinforced its success after the relaunch of Siam Discovery – The Exploratorium in May, Thailand’s first hybrid-retail destination and lifestyle specialty store, by winning two prestigious awards in the real estate industry, namely “Best Retail Development” and “Best Commercial Development” from Thailand Property Awards 2016.

Ms. Chadatip Chutrakul, Chief Executive Officer of Siam Piwat Co., Ltd., said, “We are extremely proud that Siam Discovery has won Best Retail Development and Best Commercial Development awards from Thailand Property Awards 2016. These accolades stand testament to Siam Piwat’s success as the Icon of Innovative Lifestyle and Thailand’s retail and real estate innovation leader, who is ready to continue offering experiences that are novel yet meet our customers’ needs.”

“The awards reflect the success of the distinctive design and the ideas behind it by a team of world-renowned design experts such as the world’s leading designer Nendo (Oki Sato) and Urban Architect Co., Ltd., who came together and imbued the architecture of the refurbished Siam Discovery with elegance and uniqueness. Created under the never-before-seen concept of “Thailand’s first hybrid retail store,” Siam Discovery has broken every rule of Thailand’s retail industry to offer exciting experiences and creativity. This emanates from every single design detail, not only in the general ambience of Siam Discovery, but across its entire area of over 40,000 square meters, including its open space, transforming it into Thailand’s largest lifestyle specialty store. Even the product displays and stores of over 5,000 brands are decorated to match the personalities of each specific Lifestyle Lab on each floor to give our customers the freedom to browse for products that suit their stories and interests and make shopping both convenient and a fun exploration,” said Chadatip.

Thailand Property Awards, was held for the 11^th time with the aim to boost the stability and efficiency of Thailand’s real estate market and encourage real estate entrepreneurs wishing to participate in the event to continue to enhance their projects each year. The judging panel of Thailand Property Awards was composed of respected experts in different branches of the real estate industry, ranging from consultants and project managers to designers and architects, as well as Prof. Dr. Manop Bongsadad from the Housing Development Department, the Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University, who presided over the event as the honorary chairman.
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October 7, 2016
Hong Kong Lifestyle Comes to Bangkok
Under its mega promotion campaign “In Style ● Hong Kong,”the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) brings “Hong Kong Galleria,” featuring the best of the city’s fashion, design and gourmet products, to Bangkok’s Siam Paragon, from now until 9 October.

HKTDC Executive Director Margaret Fong, said Hong Kong is not only Asia’s leading business hub, it is also Asia’s lifestyle trendsetter. “Hong Kong has a unique East-meets-West multicultural and multilingual environment,” said Ms Fong. “It is always at the frontier of fashion and lifestyle with a wide range of international and local design brands and innovative and creative lifestyle products. The ‘In Style ● Hong Kong’ promotion highlights Hong Kong’s vibrant and unique lifestyle, as well as creativity to Thailand’s consumers and business sector.”

The “Hong Kong Galleria” at Siam Paragon is divided into three zones, bringing an all-round Hong Kong experience to Bangkok consumers.

Brand ● In Style
The HKTDC Design Gallery is collaborating with the popular online shopping site Lazada Thailand on an O2O retail service, featuring such lifestyle brands as The Candle Co, Eco Concepts, GLUSH/, Snugalicious and Tea Lab. On-the-spot ordering with immediate home delivery is available to shoppers. Meanwhile, hktdc.com Small Orders presents a selection of stylish Hong Kong products from Everlong, Sky’s Creative, HK Keytron, Jet T Technology and PO: Selected. Online shoppers can take advantage of special offers.

Fashion ● In Style
Through an e-wardrobe installed at the “Hong Kong Galleria,” visitors can try on the latest collections by popular Hong Kong fashion designers, Doris Kath Chan, Bonita Cheung, Koyo William Cheung, Polly Ho, Henry Lau and Mountain Yam. The six Hong Kong designers, who have featured at international fashion events such as Tokyo Fashion Week, Copenhagen Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week and CENTRESTAGE in Hong Kong, collaborated on a “Thai Silk Crossover” series for “In Style ● Hong Kong”with the unique pieces to be showcased at the “Hong Kong Galleria”.

Gourmet ● In Style
Hong Kong is well known as a food lover’s paradise and Cantonese sauces always brighten dishes. The internationally recognised Chinese brand Lee Kum Kee is presenting food tasting sessions featuring its wide range of sauces and condiments. Premium Hong Kong specialty tea brands, Contact Design, Gianna, MingCha and OrTea^TM are also offering complimentary tea-tasting. A collection of Hong Kong-style restaurants in Bangkok, featured by OpenRice Thailand as well as the signature menus developed by designated “Chef ● In Style”, Denice Wai, are available at B.Duck Cafe, Four Seasons Chinese Restaurant and Gokfayuen.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board will also stage a promotion at the Siam Paragon from 6 to 9 October to showcase Hong Kong as a top travel destination.

Shop for Hong Kong products
The HKTDC Design Gallery is collaborating with Betrend and The Selected to offer a range of Hong Kong brands at discounted prices from now until December. Brands to be featured include The Candles Co, Digit Band, Eco Concepts, Team Green, Herkomst, HYOne, Paris Garden、Prima Series, Tea Lab and Team Green.

Meanwhile, a “Hong Kong Lifestyle Products” promotion is underway in Bangkok, with well-known Hong Kong fashion brands Bossini, Episode, Esprit, Giordano, G2000 and Jessica, as well as popular retail watch brand City Chain and optical boutiques eGG and Optical 88 offering discounts and other consumer incentives.

To enjoy these offers, simply pick up a Citywide Promotion coupon booklet available at more than 100 participating outlets across Bangkok, featuring over 30 Hong Kong and local brands from 1 September to 31 October, or visit “Hong Kong Galleria” in Siam Paragon from 3 to 9 October. More exciting Hong Kong products and gourmet can also be found at online retailer Lazada Thailand and gourmet website OpenRice Thailand.

Symposium promoting Hong Kong services
Apart from the consumer promotions, a symposium targeting the Thai business sector will be held on 6 October at Plaza Athenee Bangkok. Officiating the opening session will be Vincent HS Lo, Chairman of the HKTDC; Rimsky Yuen, Secretary for Justice, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government; and Apiradi Tantraporn, Minister of Commerce of Thailand. More than 30 business leaders and experts from Hong Kong and Thailand will offer insights on how Hong Kong can facilitate the business expansion of Thai companies
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October 6, 2016