Bangkok--1 Nov--PTT
PTT launches a new-look, pilot integrated service station in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR). The PTT Life Station, the first of the planned 60 by 2017, caters to modern lifestyles. The PTT brand, in the meantime, is being molded into a leading ASEAN brand to accommodate the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by the year 2015.
PTT Plc today inaugurated its first service station in Nong Tang, Vientiane, LPDR, in a ceremony presided over by Dr. Nam Viyaketh, LPDR’s Minister of Industry and Trade, and Mr. Pailin Chuchottaworn, PTT Plc President & CEO. This platinum PTT Life Station, the first outside Thailand, is designed to popularize the PTT brand among the region and timed for the launch of AEC.
Mr. Chuchottaworn said Thailand’s neighbouring countries and the ASEAN region are considered a market with vast potential for PTT’s business expansion to become a leading Thai multinational company. The launch of a platinum PTT Life Station, which has met with considerable success in Thailand, in LPDR is regarded as a pilot retail investment move into a neighbouring country. LPDR is a high-potential market and a land link for Thailand to Vietnam, Cambodia, and China—all with healthy growth rates, particularly China, which is a huge market with 1.5 billion inhabitants. PTT is also keen to invest in countries with growth prospects like Myanmar and the Philippines.
PTT plans to invest 5-6 billion baht in the retail oil markets in ASEAN over 2012-2016, aiming to expand the number of service stations in LPDR from 20 today to 60 by the end of 2017 at an outlay of no less than 800 million baht. Its goal is to grow PTT’s market share in LPDR into number 2, rising from 150 million liters in sales today (number 3 in market share of about 13%), next to Lao State Fuel Company and PetroVietnam.
“PTT’s policy is to invest in the retail fuel business in ASEAN more explicitly, aiming at becoming a top-three retail brand in a given country—not just for oil and lubricating oil marketing, but also for other retail marketing activities accompanying service stations, like Caf? Amazon and Jiffy convenience stores,” said the PTT President & CEO.
This service station at Nong Tang is an integrated one commonly known as PTT Life Station, the first to be operated by PTT outside Thailand and the first in LPDR. As in Thailand, this station provides quality fuels and services under the same standards as found in Thailand, and serves as a rest area for travelers, complete with amenities and integrated outlets. These include a lubricating oil exchange center (Procheck), greasing & engine cleaning and air-conditioning system check-up service center (Wizard Autocare), and computerized gasoline pump control with sophisticated, standardized systems from Thailand. Complementing these are a Caf? Amazon shop from Thailand together with stores and service outlets under local brands, including financial services and convenience stores.
In addition, PTT values community and environmental stewardship by applying projects resulting from HM the King’s initiatives at this service station, namely vetiver planting in landscaping and soil improvement, and the installation of Chaipattana Low-speed Surface Aerators to improve the quality of water at the entrance to the service station. This is also a tribute to HM the King in a foreign country. In fact, LPDR is the fourth country where these aerators have been installed. Incidentally, PTT has donated traffic cones in support of traffic management in Vientiane.
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