Thai giant Central Retail plans supermarket chain in Quang Binh

Thailand's Central Retail plans to invest VND300-400 billion ($12-16 million) to build a mall and VND40-50 billion each on a chain of stores across the central province of Quang Binh.

The two-hectare mall in Dong Hoi town will follow the retailer's GO! Mall brand model while other supermarkets will cover 5,000 square meters each per its minigo! model, a Central Retail representative said at a meeting with Quang Binh authorities Tuesday.

They had begun studying locations for the projects since 2019 but the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted their progress, the reps said.

Quang Binh's Department of Construction introduced two locations for Central Retail Group to invest in the GO! Mall project in Dong Hoi. The first position is next to the headquarters of the Phu Hai ward people's committee, and the second is in the area zoned for car services, also in Phu Hai ward.

Quang Binh, a coastal province in north-central Vietnam, is home to the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and Son Doong Cave, the world's largest natural cave.

Central Retail had announced in July that it plans to invest 30 billion baht ($828 million) in Vietnam until 2026 to expand its operation. The same month, the company launched a new outlet brand, Tops Market, in Ho Chi Minh City.

Last month, Central Retail representatives also made similar visits to the south-central province of Binh Thuan, the central province of Nghe An, and the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap with similar investment proposals.