On May 16, 2025, in Hanoi, during the official visit of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to Vietnam (May 15–16, 2025), a Cooperation Program was signed between the Department of Domestic Market Management and Development and the Department of Foreign Market Development (Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam), and Central Group & Central Retail. This agreement, spanning 2026–2028, aims to promote the production and consumption of Vietnamese goods both domestically and internationally.

Later that afternoon, during a meeting between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and leaders of Thai businesses investing in Vietnam, Dr. Ton Chirathivat, Chief Digital Officer at Central Retail Vietnam and a founding family member of Central Group (Thailand), stated: “Through this bilateral cooperation, Central Group and Central Retail reaffirm our commitment to long-term investment in Vietnam. This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Industry and Trade is a testament to our enduring plans here. We are actively expanding our infrastructure—including GO! Mall, the GO! Hypermarket, Tops Market, and mini go! chains—thereby contributing to the nation’s development and modernization goals. Confident in Vietnam’s growth potential, Central Group and Central Retail plan to increase our total investment to $2 billion over the next five years.

Our vision is to contribute to a Better For Vietnam. We will continue to reinvest in its people and the country, support local businesses and farmers, promote Vietnamese products, and transfer retail expertise and food safety practices. We are prepared to leverage our retail, business, marketing, and network expertise in Thailand and Europe to support the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s promotional programs.”

Dr. Ton Chirathivat also participated in the Vietnam–Thailand Business Forum, co-chaired by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, as one of the panel speakers.