CP Launches Platform to Boost Thai Farmers and SMEs

CP Group is advancing its "Platform of Opportunity" initiative in partnership with Thailand's chambers of commerce and modern trade allies to create an ecosystem that elevates Thai farmers and SMEs toward sustainable modern commerce. On July 1, 2025, at Adelphi Hotel in Khon Kaen, CP Group launched the initiative under the policy direction of Supachai Jiarawanont, senior vice president of CP Group. The group coordinated with affiliated companies including CP Extra, Makro, Lotus, CP Seeding Social Impact, CP All, Seven-Eleven management, and CPRam, alongside the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Thai Chambers of Commerce Federation, the Department of Internal Trade, and modern trade partners to host "Big Match AGRI-Connext @ Khon Kaen." The event creates a forum connecting farmers, SME operators, and community enterprises to modern retail markets through business matchmaking and knowledge building in product standards, branding, marketing, logistics, and AI—designed to enhance competitiveness and strengthen the grassroots economy sustainably.

Piyawat Thitasatthaworn, managing director and vice chair of CP All and chair of the Thai Chamber of Commerce's business matchmaking committee, stated that the event embodies the Chamber's "Unlocking New Growth" policy, which promotes public-private cooperation to elevate Thai entrepreneurs and foster economic growth aligned with national development direction. "Thai entrepreneurs need more than just a market—they need partners to build long-term competitive capacity. Linking government, private sector, and modern trade networks, with Seven-Eleven as a key distribution channel for SME products and farm output to consumers, creates an ecosystem where small operators genuinely thrive. As farmers and SMEs grow, the grassroots economy strengthens, and the national economy grows together."

Beyond business matchmaking with seven modern trade partners, the event featured seminars on preparing for modern retail channels, agricultural market trends, production capability enhancement and farm management, and leveraging the Department of Internal Trade's standards-based market mechanisms to comprehensively boost Thai business competitiveness.

CP Group's "Platform of Opportunity" is not merely a sales channel but a mechanism linking knowledge, technology, production standards, marketing, and partner networks to help farmers and SMEs grow within their potential and compete sustainably in the modern marketplace.

Siriporn Deetsing, CEO of CP Extra's Sustainability and Corporate Communications unit and chair of the Thai Chambers of Commerce Federation's modern agriculture business matchmaking subcommittee, noted that the event transcends a business matchmaking forum—it is a critical space connecting farmers, operators, buyers, government, and the private sector to create new opportunities for Thai agriculture. It aims to build networks and partner linkages to provide producers and operators market access, while building consumer insight knowledge so farmers can develop products matching market demand and generate sustainable income growth.