Thailand’s OfficeMate heads offshore

Thai office supplies retailer OfficeMate plans to expand to neighbouring countries.

It wants to take advantage of the new Asean Economic Community, which will take effect in 2015.

The retailer, a part of Central Group, is eyeing Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos and Cambodia.

CEO Worawoot Ounjai said the company is currently studying the Vietnamese and Malaysian markets where it plans to open its first international stores.

Vietnam, where Central Group already operates retail stores like Robins and Supersports, will be OfficeMate’s first overseas market. It hopes to open a 1000 sqm store there by 2016.

Ounjai said the company is attracted to Vietnam because it is an emerging market and it continues to attract foreign investments.

The company targets 40-50 stores in Vietnam and 30-40 in Malaysia within five to 10 years.

And it will take its Thailand store count to 56 by the end of the year by opening additional eight.

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