Small business speaks out against the chains

Small business owners in Thailand are concerned that their business are at risk form giant chain retail stores expanding all over the country and are prepared to march to the Commerce Ministry. They want to make sure they are protected from the blanketing effect of big western chain stores that drive the mom and pop shops out of business.

One small business operator told the media, "We don't know what the government's doing. But two months have passed and it hasn't made any move yet to revive the [first-ever] retail law to control the aggressive expansion of large, modern retailers."

The main aggressors in Thailand are Tesco Lotus, which seems to have control over most suburban city areas these days, as well as Carrefour. Ubiquitous 7-11 chains are still continuing to pop up in every imaginable place, which are putting pressure on local sundry shops that ensure the livelihood of so many families in Thailand.

Deputy Security General of the Thai chamber of Commerce Jit Siratranont said, "Without the city planning codes and the retail act, large enterprises will continue to cannibalise small minnows. The government should pay more attention to the act's passage as it would take more than three months to implement it afterwards."