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 Consumer
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19 Sep 06 23:00
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Commerce Ministry, mega-retailers discuss protecting local businesses
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TNA
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BANGKOK, Sept 19 - Thailand's mega-retailers, mostly foreign-owned groups, and local small business retailers, are seeking to find a compromise to end their row regarding the continuing flow of mass retailer branch expansion, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Dr. Somkid Jatusripitak.
Dr. Somkid said the Commerce Ministry is negotiating with the superstore owners about the objectives of the government which must try to curb branch expansions of the major retailers.
"The government just wants to ask for cooperation from the mega-retailers to not open new branches in the form of small convenience stores in local communities as local retailers are not financially strong enough in terms of capital, to compete against the big players," he said.
The government wants to help local retailers survive amid the strong competition, Dr. Somkid said.
Even without Thai laws controlling branch expansions of the giant retailers, such superstore owners should sympathise with small local retailers, he said.
The minister said he hoped that the Commerce Ministry and major retailers could find the best solution to this matter.
Deputy Commerce Minister Preecha Laohapongchana said earlier that three giant retailers--Big C, Carrefour and Makro--agreed to sign an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government to suspend their development plans to expand the number of their small branches.
A signing ceremony will be held on Wednesday, but TESCO, a British company, did not agree to join the MoU.
Dr. Somkid said that he was optimistic that Commerce Ministry officials could make TESCO understand the point of Thai government and reached the good solution. - TNA
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