Bangkok--10 Jan--Aziam Burson-Marsteller
DHL Express, the world’s leading express service provider, has entered into an agreement with K-Bank and Visa in Thailand to offer SMEs a 30 percent discount off published tariff rates. SMEs can enjoy this discount upon signing up for any one of the bank’s newly launched SME-targeted credit cards, such as the K-SME Debit and Credit Cards and the Corporate Executive Card. Over 275,000 new SMEs are expected to subscribe to the range of cards. The collaboration provides DHL an excellent platform to reach out to more SMEs in the country and help them achieve sustainable growth.
“The ever-changing market demands in Thailand require more than just the traditional storage and transportation services. Despite the challenging operating environment, leading SMEs are resilient and continue to invest in business-building activities, while looking at ways to reduce and streamline expenses. As the trusted logistics provider for SMEs, DHL will continue to explore strategic partnership with other institutions to further improve our solutions and services in order to support the growth of the local SMEs,” said Yasmin Aladad Khan, Senior Vice President, DHL Express Southeast Asia.
Chananyarak Phetcharat, Managing Director, DHL Express Thailand and Indochina commented, “Our partnership with SMEs in Thailand evolves and accelerates as quickly as the complex trading environment that they face daily. There are currently more than 1.43 million new SME entrepreneurs, accounting for 54% of the whole SME segment[1]. For these new business starters, access to low cost emergency loans and the ability to manage operational costs are their top priority. The synergies that we share with K-Bank and Visa will bring benefits to cost conscious SMEs by helping them achieve greater cost savings as they expand their footprint overseas. What we offer to the SME sector, through this partnership, is a hassle free and convenient way of conducting business which boosts efficiency and thus shortens the speed-to-market of their products.”
The set of cards launched are targeted at bringing greater benefits and privileges for managers and SMEs such as:
- Credit lines tailored to individual SME spending
- Convenient payment systems for almost any business related transaction;
- Electronic transaction trails with consolidated statement on all company spending, allow
managers to better manage overall cost and to ensure compliance to company policy
- Improved management reporting that allows card buyers to group and analyze spending data by expense type as well as geography
DHL is dedicated to helping the SME sector in Thailand by providing comprehensive, one-stop-shop logistics solutions for every phase of their growing international business. From the introduction of MyDHL portal (www.mydhl.dhl.com) to the launch of “DHL Idea Street” at the SME Thailand Expo 2012, DHL wants to be the bridge that connects local SMEs to the global markets.
Photo
(Left-Right) Pakorn partanapat, Executive Vice President, KASIKORNBANK;Chananyarak Phetcharat, Managing Director, DHL Express Thailand and Indochinaand Patchara Samalapa Executive Vice President KASIKORNBANK
[1] Press Release dated “Kasikornbank Launches K-SME Card For New SMEs Aims To Issue 275,000 cards