China's JD.com to be invited to Thailand's e-commerce week

BANGKOK, Nov.15 (APD) -- Thailand's digital economy body is inviting China's e-commerce giant JD.com to the country's incoming e-commerce week, official said on Tuesday.

Enter your image description here:

Surangkana Wayuparb, Director of Electronic Transactions Development Agency under Ministry of Digital Economy and Society at a news briefing said, "As a highlight of the event this year, we are honored by speakers from leading Thai and foreign e-commerce companies, especially Richard Liu, chairman and CEO of China's second largest e-commerce platform, to impart e-commerce techniques, digital business branding and digital marketing to local e-commerce businesses."

The director also said, "Since he has set sights on making Thailand a major hub for his e-commerce expansion plan in Southeast Asia, we are looking forward to seeing how he will work together with local business and empower them with JD's experience and technologies."

JD.com recently reached agreement with Thailand’s Central Group to form a $500 million joint venture in |e-commerce and financial technology.

Surangkna said the event, scheduled on Nov.24-26 for the second year, is aimed to be a platform for potential Thai e-commerce players to acquire cutting-edge e-commerce information and to find their business partners.

The growth of e-commerce market in 2016 leaps 14% in Thailand, a country of which the annual growth hovers over 10%, making the event this year much-anticipated, said Surangkana.

The ministry of digital economy and society will make an e-directory, a e-commerce guideline collecting lists and specialities of credible relevant businesses. There is also a showcase for the successful local online store.There will be areas for sale of SMEs products that focus on online marketing. The online voting for Thailand e-Commerce Awards 2017 will also be launched.

According to data from the ministry, major retailers and consumers are increasingly interested in e-Commerce, totaling a value of 2.5 trillion Baht(73.5 billion U.S dollars).

Thailand tops the highest value in retail e-Commerce (B2C) of ASEAN. However, Internet retail sales in Thailand represented only 1% of total retail.

It is expected that the Thai e-commerce market will grow to 2.8 trillion Baht(82.3 billion U.S dollars) .

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)