Ministry, Lazada join for 'Smart Village Online'
The Commerce Ministry has joined forces with Lazada, a leading e-commerce platform, in launching "Smart Village Online," targeting five communities in the country.
Lalida Jivanantapravat, deputy director-general/ Department of Business Development under the Commerce Ministry, said the online initiative was launched after the department's visit to Pei Neu Village of Lin'an district in Zhejiang, a prototype for the "Taobao Village Model", using e-commerce as the main tool to promote occupation and generate income.
The Commerce Ministry has applied the Taobao Village Model with local entrepreneurs and manufacturers of Otop and community products, aimed at gathering local communities and create a prototype of 'local e-commerce communities' in Thailand.
"The department conducted a field survey to potential communities, based on their foundation including a strong leadership and outstanding identity, and has selected five as pioneers for the online community project," Lalida said.
They are Ban Na Kha Community in Udon Thani; Ban Dan Kwian Community in Nakhon Ratchasima; Ban Wang Som Sa Community in Phitsanulok; Bai Cha (tea leaf) Community in Chiang Rai; and Kuan Kanun Community in Phatthalung.
The department, together with provincial commerce offices, educational institutions, community members, and Lazada, will joinly provide integrated supports and suggestions to individual entrepreneurs of the communities selected for the project. Their products will enter into an e-commerce platform between July and September this year, starting from the Ban Na Kha community. The project will create a prototype 'e-commerce community' under the title 'Smart Village Online'.
" Lazada Group will open its website for online selling of products from these communities. The move is to promote identities and awareness of their products. Lazada will also provide technical know-how to the communities in terms of increasing sales and consumer accessibility, " said Lalida, adding that it will also offer shopping privileges.
She said the department will expand sales and marketing channels for the communities to other e-commerce platforms, as well as to provide marketing support in the form of 'Omni-Channel Marketing' to other offline stores with the cooperation with King Power and Central Group.
