Thai retailer eyes bigger slice of Southeast Asia after record IPO

Central Group unit's $8.1bn market cap makes it 13th-largest listed company

Central Group Executive Chairman and CEO Tos Chirathivat, second from left, poses during Central Retail's IPO ceremony in Bangkok on Feb. 20. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)

MASAYUKI YUDA, Nikkei staff writer

February 20, 2020 18:10 JST

BANGKOK -- Thailand's retail conglomerate Central Group is hoping to drive further expansion in its department store business in Southeast Asia through newly listed subsidiary Central Retail Corp.

"Our focus is to expand our business in Thailand and Vietnam," Central Retail CEO Yol Phokasub told the Nikkei Asian Review on Thursday in an exclusive interview after the company's debut on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.