![EXIM Thailand Supports Centara Hotel Chain Growing Hotel Businesses Globally](/img/files/20230927/iqbed8d15f01f21bab1db12cdd97396cab.jpg)
Dr. Rak Vorrakitpokatorn, President of Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIM Thailand), and Mr. Suparat Chirathivat, Executive Vice President of Central Group, jointly signed an EXIM Thailand credit facility agreement worth 1,000 million baht to support expansion of hotel businesses of the Centara hotel chain both at home and overseas, such as the Maldives, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Japan. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Mr. Kirati Kongkathip, Senior Director of Corporate Finance & Asset Management, Centara Hotels & Resorts, and Mrs. Warangkana Wongkhaluang, EXIM Thailand Senior Executive Vice President at EXIM Thailand's Head Office on September 26, 2023.
EXIM Thailand President said that this financial facility is in the form of a long-term loan to support the Centara Hotels & Resorts (Centara), a well-established Thai entrepreneur with over 40 years of experience, known for its global prominence in the hotel industry. Through its properties, Centara has focused on showcasing Thai identity and culture to international guests alongside embracing sustainable business operation under the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. This is in line with EXIM Thailand's vision and policy under its role as "Green Development Bank" aiming to propel Thailand's trade and investment strategies and national development on a sustainable basis.
"As a state-owned specialized bank, EXIM Thailand is fully ready to perform as a key mechanism in uplifting capabilities of Thai entrepreneurs throughout the supply chains to ensure that they would be able to compete effectively in international trade and investment arena. EXIM Thailand's financial facility this time will help empower and enable Thai entrepreneurs with good prospects in Thailand's world-famous tourism to expand their investments in and outside Thailand. This would generate greater income for Thai hotel businesses and tourist industry as a whole in conjunction with promoting Thai identity as a unique soft power for higher value added to the country's international trade and investment and driving sustainable development all the way from community to global levels," added Dr. Rak.