Xiaomi plans to set up representative office in Thailand
Xiaomi plans to set up a representative office in Thailand in the first quarter of this year, followed by ones in India and Indonesia.
The firm will also partner with telecom operator to provide executive smartphone models and will joint with partners to set up over 190 shops in Bangkok and upcountry, as well as launch three smartphones to support entry level market.
John Chen, regional sales director of Xiaomi for Southeast Asia, said that the firm sees Thailand as having high potential growth after it entered the Thai market in August last year.
The firm therefore will set up the representative office in the country in the first quarter this year. The firm set up a representative office in India three years ago and set up a representative office in Indonesia last year.
"Thailand is our focus country in the region. It is high potential growth market among four countries including the Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos. We also have high potential growth in online and e-commerce. Online is also our important part to drive out smartphone to the market. We want to build Thailand is example country in the region,” said Chen.
He said that the firm this year increased channel distribution and that it will work with partners to set up 190 shops in Bangkok and major provinces such as in Chiang Mai and Udon Thani. Under the new 190 shops, it will work with partners to set up around 75 prefer shops, 25 authorized shops, 30 TG Shops and 60 Jay Mart shops. It also provides its smartphone via three online marketplaces including Lazada,11Street and Shopee.
The firm in the first quarter this year will come out three new smartphone models under the Redmi 5 series from Bt3,000 to Bt7,000, including Redmi 5A smartphone priced at Bt3,000, the Redmi 5 at Bt5,000 and the Redmi 5 Plus at Bt7,000.
The Redmi 5A is a 5-inch smart phone with features, a Snapdragon 425 chipset, 5MP front camera and a 32 GB storage.
Meanwhile, the Redmi 5 is a smartphone coming with a 5.7-inch display screen, a 32 GB memory, a Snapdragon 450 chipset. Lastly, the Redmi 5 Plus offers a Snapdragon 625 chipset with 5.99-inch display screen, a 64 GB storage and a 12 MP primary camera.
The firm will come out with a notebook, home accessories and home automation in Thailand this year.
"We want to provide luxury smartphones with affordable prices to support all people. We are under negotiations with telecom operator to provide executive smart models to the market, which is one of our goals for the year," said Chen.
