Today (December 9, 2015) Dr.Khampheng Saysompheng, Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, and Dr.Piyasvasti Amranand, PTT Plc Chairman inaugurated PTT Life station in Luang Prabang, Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR). Located on some 7,000 square meters, this platinum-class service station caters to the traveling people of Laos, foreigners, and Thais that do business in that city. UNESCO has granted Luang Prabang the status of a World Heritage city, which will now boast more standard-quality goods and services to help Thai brands become better known in the region, while fostering pride among Thais.
The PTT Chairman said ASEAN member countries as a whole represents a huge-potential business expansion area for PTT Group, notably LPDR, with its strategic land link serving as the gateway to ASEAN, with a combined population of some 640 million, and China, with a population of some 1.4 billion. The launch of an integrated PTT Life Station not only represents an excellent opportunity for development cooperation for energy security and economic growth to boost sustained international competitiveness, but also eases travel matters for Laotians, Thais, and tourists from all over the world, thanks to quality fuels, standard engine maintenance, and impressive goods and services from a wide range of renowned stores from Thailand and local brands alikeincluding the Jiffy convenience store, Cafe Amazon with Free Wifi service, Sky Lark, PROCheck engine service center, JDB Bank, and souvenir shops. PTT also values restrooms, regarded as the heart of service-station services, by always ensuring clean toilets and those for the handicapped and elderly citizens.
Launching its oil business investment in LPDR in 1993, PTT today commands No. 3 in the fuel market and No. 1 in the lube market of that country. Its fleet of service stations now numbers 24; its Cafe Amazon branches, 13. Besides, PTT operates oil terminals in six major cities, serving the industrial sector and the transport sector. Its goal for 2020 is to command 90 service stations. PTT's investment growth plan consists in franchise sales to prospective local investors.
"Besides running the business to drive the Thai and Laos economies, PTT values the continuous stewardship of communities and the environment of both countries through the likes of scholarship presentation and educational gear donation to Lao youths through the PTT Seeding the Future Project, donation of traffic rubber cones for motoring safety, and the donation of blankets to local agencies to combat the cold weather," the Chairman said.
As Thailand's national energy company, PTT is committed to bolstering pride among Thais through the excellent quality of goods and services sold at PTT service stations to its neighboring countries. This will foster relations and collaboration among ASEAN member countries leading up to the move into the AEC (ASEAN Economic Community) era this year-end, which will signify joint, long-term regional energy development.