E-Biz Expo set to target Thai entrepreneurs

“e-Biz Expo” is set to boost all aspects of e-business and online technology. The event will feature booths, seminars and workshops dedicated to Thai entrepreneurs.

According to Ratthasart Korrasud, senior director at the Electronic Transactions Development Agency, the value of e-commerce in Thailand last year, based on the agency’s research, grew by 3.65 per cent compared with 2014. The value of e-commerce in Thailand in 2020 is expected to be 17.5 per cent higher than last year as a result of both local and cross-border transactions.

The event will run from Thursday to Saturday at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok, featuring local and international speakers and experts and an opportunity to network with people in involved in e-commerce. 

The exhibition is divided into four zones. The first features leading e-commerce service providers including Ascend Group, WeLoveShopping, iTrueMart, ReadyPlanet, and Chinese e-commerce giants like Alibaba, which will offer consultation and advice on e-commerce business plans. 

The second zone features providers of online payment service for e-commerce entrepreneurs, such as Krungsri E-Biz by Bank of Ayudhya, True Money, and Paypaid.

The third features businesses providing logistics and delivery services for e-commerce businesses such Kerry Express, Aden and Thai Post.

Last but not least is digital marketing including companies such as Egg Digital, Facebook and Google.

Organisations such as the Business Development Department, the Electronic Transactions Develop-ment Agency and the Thai e-Commerce Association will be at the exhibition, providing consultation in all aspects of e-commerce to entrepreneurs, helping to prepare and equip them with tools and knowledge to keep updated on trends in the digital economy.

Bussaya Prakobthong, general manager of NCC Exhibition Organ-iser, said it was crucial that the 

Thai e-commerce industry 

keep pace with the rest of the 

world to grow and expand globally. 

This year, there are many new businesses providing a variety of services. E-Biz Expo is meant to bring these service providers together under one roof, enabling entrepreneurs to connect with them and use their service in their own businesses. 

“E-Biz Expo last year received very positive feedback and great collaboration from the government and private sectors. This is the second year that the e-Biz Expo is being held and we are expecting more than 10,000 visitors and transaction value of Bt170 million,” Bussaya said.

Sunsern Samaisut, chief commercial officer at Ascend Group, said the company saw continuous growth in e-commerce in Thailand. This is a positive sign that Thai firms are moving towards the era of digital business. 

He said Ascend Group was expanding its e-businesses to countries in the Asean Economic Community. Some of these are True Money, providing e-payment services; True IDC, providing cloud service and data centres; Ascend Commerce, providing retail website services such as iTrueMart and WeLoveShopping; Aden Fulfillment, providing e-logistic and fulfilment-centre services; and Egg Digital, providing e-marketing services.

“All of those companies under Ascend Group will be present at e-Biz Expo 2016 to showcase their services in the digital business that will help drive Thai e-commerce businesses to succeed in the global market,” Sunsern said.

Burin Kledmanee, chief operating officer of ReadyPlanet, said the company’s partnership with e-Biz Expo would benefit entrepreneurs looking for marketing solutions for their online businesses from various service providers, including ReadyPlanet.

“We have been providing ready-made websites and result-oriented digital marketing for the past 16 years. We are the first authorised reseller for online advertising on giant online platforms like Google, Facebook, Baidu and Alibaba for SMEs in Thailand,” Burin said.

He said the company planned to develop a new business unit to serve the digital trend and the needs of enterprises such as ready-made mobile websites and mobile applications.  The company will make its call-centre service more proactive, while its AdPro business unit will focus on offering advertising solutions for Google and Facebook as well as develop an app called AdPro Mobile to help businesses track the results of mobile advertising.