"New Year Grand Sale" organized as seasonal gift to Thais, int'l visitors

BANGKOK, December 11 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Commerce, in cooperation with wholesale and retail traders, including department stores, will organize a 28-day "New Year Grand Sale" event nationwide, as a New Year present to the Thai people and international visitors. Thai Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong held a press conference at his ministry on the outskirts of Bangkok on Tuesday, together with more than 40 representatives of the Thai Retailers Association, the Thai Wholesale & Retail Trade Association, the Thai Association of Small and Medium Entrepreneurs, modern wholesale and retail stores, department stores, supermarkets and convenience stores, to officially announce the nationwide "New Year Grand Sale", set from December 13, 2018 to January 9, 2019, during which consumer products, namely food and drinks, daily necessities, clothes and apparels, bedding, kitchen ware, electrical appliances, community products and even construction materials, will be sold at a big discount of 10-80 per cent at wholesale and retail stores, as well as department stores, supermarkets, convenience stores and even officially-authorized welfare shops. According to a Ministry of Commerce report, the upcoming "New Year Grand Sale" event will be the 5th of its kind, after similar events organized in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and is expected to generate money in circulations in the national economy of over 55 billion baht during the 28-day event. The official report said, specially this year, not only large and upscale shopping centers, but also all other department stores and their branches across Thailand will take part in the upcoming "New Year Grand Sale" event, in which brandnamed products will also be sold at their discount, aimed at not only being the New Year present to the public, but also reducing people's costs of living and stimulating the national economy. Besides, the Ministry of Commerce has worked together with the state-run Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to launch a campaign to attract targeted groups of international tourist arrivals in the country during the 28-day event, including those from China and other Asian economies, so that they can enjoy the shopping spree. (TNA)