DBD-Uber join hands to promote Thai restaurant businesses

BANGKOK, Feb 10 (TNA) -- Commerce Ministry joined hands with Uber, an American worldwide online transportation network company, to promote Thai restaurant businesses on a world class application, UberEATS, with an aim to expand services to new groups of consumers. The Department of Business Development (DEB) Director General Ms Banjongjitt Angsusingh said that presently there are a total of 11,947 restaurant businesses that have registered under the DBD, accounting for a total registration investments of 75.7567 bilion baht. She said 1,660 businesses have been developed by the DBD, where the department believes theses businesses would be the main propellers to push the national economy forward. She noted that the DBD, together with UberEATS, an on-demand meal delivery service, have inked a cooperation agreement with Uber Thailand to provide support to Thai restaurant businesses registered under the DBD with a new platform to promote their businesses through a world class application such as UberEATS, targeting to reach out to newer groups of consumers, while providing conveniences to old customers. Ms Banjongjitt foresee this an opportunity for Thai restaurants to advertise themselves via the food delivery application to provide easier services to customers in line with the digital economy and Thailand 4.0 policies, by implementing modern and innovative technology to create windows of opportunities for Thai businesses. The DBD head said the department is confident the agreement would benefit Thai restaurant businesses to the fullest extend. Director of Operations for UberEATs Asia-Pacific Mr Allen Penn said over 200 Thai restaurants have already been featured on UberEATS, which has helped to increase their sales by as much as 30 per cent. He said delivery zones for UberEATS remain to be in Bangkok's Sathorn, Silom, Pathumwan, Nana, Asoke, Prompong, Thong Lor, Akamai,and Yaowarat districts between 10 am-10 pm daily, in which the food would be delivered after 30-40 minutes of order completion free of charge. Customers can pay with their debit or credit cards, where the company has planned to expand its services to cover Bangkok and its peripheral areas. UberEATS has been launched in over 60 cities in 20 countries around the world, and Bangkok is the 5th country in Asia to have the service. UberEATS believes restaurant businesses which have joined in with the programme would have a more satisfying profit results, with better chance of businesses expansion. Businesses under DBD interested in becoming a part of the programme can register to use UberEATS platform by March 10, where they would receive a free membership fee for the first year. (TNA)