Osmep, TCC ally on SME marketplace
The Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (Osmep) has teamed up with TCC Land Asset World, a firm controlled by tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, to provide marketplaces for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
TCC is constructing Tarad Tor Yod AEC Trade Center, to be developed and managed by its subsidiary Tarad Tor Yod AEC Co, which will support tenants with an online platform, applications, logistics networks at home and abroad and packaging design.
The centre will have a trade pavilion where fairs will be held to increase tenant sales.
The first AEC Trade Center is to be located on a 160-rai site on Phahon Yothin Road in Bang Pa-in district, Ayutthaya, formerly the site of Big Kings Pratunam Pra-in shopping mall.
The 60-rai mall was acquired by Mr Charoen several years ago for 800 million baht, where the company bought adjacent plots.
TCC plans to spend 4 billion baht to construct 10 low-rise buildings with total lettable area of 150,000 square metres for 2,500 shops. The project is scheduled to formally open this quarter.
Tarad Tor Yod AEC Trade Center has seen 70% of the space booked by merchants.
Tanadit Charoenchan, chief operating officer of Asset World Retail Co, said it is the largest project in Asean, with many facilities provided at the same site — a logistics and transport centre, warehouse, a 5,000sq m exhibition centre and SME solution service centre.
“We expects to open in September and this marketplace will serve local SMEs [looking to penetrate] Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and China,” he said.
Suwanchai Lohawattanakul, directorgeneral of Osmep, said the agency has 18 projects, including the partnership with TCC, to support 3,000 local SMEs.
“We have the task of creating a distribution channel for SMEs, both offline and online marketplaces. Tarad Tor Yod is set to be a new channel for local SMEs to build their business networks and connect with foreign markets,” he said.
The two parties will hold a marketing event, “SME One Fest”, from Sept 6-9.
Osmep is aiming to merge two SME enterprise funds with a 1.8-billion-baht budget into a single fund, expecting to ease lending criteria approvals for SMEs.
The funds are the SME Entrepreneurs Recovery Fund (1.2 billion baht) and SME Rehabilitation Fund (600 million).