Japanese company Sumitomo Corporation, together with Central Department Store and ICC International of Saha Group, have established a TV home shopping company called “Shop Global” in Thailand.

The program will be aired throughout the year, 24 hours a day starting from June, introducing products from Japan and selected products from Thailand and around the world. Shop Global aims to air live-broadcasting-based entertaining programs 24 hours a day in the future.

Sumitomo has been operating JSC, a TV home shopping company in Japan, since 1996. With the know-how that has been cultivated through the experience of 24 hour-live broadcasting, they have continuously looked into the possibility of expanding to other countries within Asia.

The preparation to start the business in Thailand was commenced in August 2012 between Sumitomo, ICC and Central. And due to the realisation of the joint venture, Sumitomo decided to start the first overseas TV home shopping business in Thailand.

“We chose Thailand as the first country because of its healthy economy and steady growth over the years,” said Shigeru Ohashi, president and CEO of Shop Global.

ICC ranks among Thailand’s largest wholesalers of consumer products, and Central, a subsidiary of Central Retail Corporation (CRC), is the largest retailer in Thailand. Leveraging each of Sumitomo, ICC, and Central’s strengths, Shop aims to become Thailand’s top television home shopping channel, with target annual sales of 3 billion baht in the fifth year.

In the past, Sumitomo has actualised a broadcasting program that introduces traditional arts and crafts from Thailand’s rural areas. So-called “Otop” (which means “One Tambon, (village) One Product” it had support from the Thai government and vendors, leading to considerable success.