Thai retail leader Central Group to invest USD1.14b in 2015

Thailand’s largest retail conglomerate, Central Group, plans to invest USD1.14 billion this year, expanding at home and in Southeast Asian neighbours by opening new malls to tap into cross-border trade and lining up acquisitions.

Controlled by Thailand’s richest family, the unlisted firm told reporters at a news conference on Monday it plans to accelerate revenue growth to 15 percent this year, to THB287 billion (USD8.8 billion), compared with 6.6 percent growth in 2014.

Central Group is among a group of major Thai companies looking to buy more international assets, especially in Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia.