Siam Piwat has made history with IconSiam selected as one of the world’s Top 3 Most Influential Retail Property Projects of the Past 30 years at this year’s Mapic Awards in Cannes. It is the only Asian development to ever win the honour.
At the same event, Chadatip Chutrakul, CEO of Siam Piwat Group, was honoured with the ‘Pioneers of Places’ Lifetime Achievement Award, one of only five global leaders so honoured, and the only one from Asia. The award recognises her visionary leadership in transforming the global retail landscape over the past 30 years.
Dubbed ‘the Oscars Awards of the Retail Industry’, the annual Mapic Awards are part of the world’s most prestigious retail real estate forum, gathering over 4000 participants from 75 countries, including developers, investors, and global retail leaders.
IconSiam is a joint venture between Siam Piwat Group, Magnolia Quality Development Corporation (MQDC), and Charoen Pokphand Group, with a total investment of over US$1.8 billion. The 750,000sqm development faces the Chao Praya River in Bangkok, integrating a world-class retail complex, ultra-luxury residences, and the ‘7 Wonders of IconSiam’. The development was built to combine the best of Thailand and the best of the world as a prototype for holistic urban development.
“Undoubtedly, IconSiam has emerged as one of the most extraordinary retail destinations in the world,” said Mapic director Francesco Pupillo. “It has set new benchmarks for modern mixed-use development, redefining the retail experience by blending design, innovation, and culture and showcasing the spirit of Thailand and Bangkok on the world stage.”
Chutrakul said that from the very beginning, “our vision has been to create IconSiam as a game changer in global retail development, a national landmark that would become a symbol of Thailand’s pride on the world stage”.
“IconSiam was born from the collaboration and shared conviction of people across Thailand, and from many countries who love our nation. Together, we set out to create a new paradigm of excellence, a destination that perfectly blends the DNA of Thainess with architecture, creativity, innovation and arts, an embodiment of the world-class essence of retail and entertainment, all designed to make visitors from around the world fall in love with Thailand.”
The new award, which follows IconSiam being named Best Shopping Centre in the World at Mapic in 2019, underscores Siam Piwat’s leadership as an innovator in global retail and real estate development.
IconSiam has uplifted Thailand’s global stature and created shared prosperity for Thonburi, including the riverside communities along the Chao Phraya River. Land values along Charoen Nakhon Road have surged threefold, while riverside businesses have grown by over 60 per cent, demonstrating IconSiam’s catalytic role in tourism, infrastructure, and economic revitalisation.
IconSiam also embraces diversity and equality, providing a platform that empowers 35,000 Thai entrepreneurs and nearly 1000 designers to become successful entrepreneurs proudly sharing Thai wisdom with the world. The project has created over 400,000 jobs and attracted 115 million visitors from all over the world.
“At Siam Piwat, we remain committed to ensuring that IconSiam continues to shine as a beacon of Thai excellence, showing the world how every nation can draw upon its authentic identity to create greater value far beyond imagination,” concluded Chutrakul.
“Above all, we dedicate this global recognition, with our deepest gratitude, to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother of our nation, whose vision and lifelong devotion have inspired us to show the world that the grace and magnificence of Thainess are truly second to none.”
