In what it called “a new chapter in overseas duty free retail”, China Duty Free Group (CDFG) announced today that Duty Zero by cdf has soft opened its first Southeast Asian airport duty free store, located at Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport in Cambodia.
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The new airport opened for operations on Monday (16 October) serving 17 commercial flight arrivals on its first day. A Grand Opening will be held on 16 November (look out for our on location report).
“This store signifies the strategic advancement of CDFG in the global market,” the world’s number one travel retailer* said.
“As the latest example of overseas cooperation among state-owned enterprises, it showcases CDFG’s active expansion in foreign markets and its driving of business globalisation under the leadership of China Tourism Group (CTG). This is an important milestone in the development of CDFG’s overseas duty free business.”
Duty Zero by cdf Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport Duty Free Store is located in the new terminal building operated by China Duty Free Group (Cambodia) Co (cdf Cambodia).
The store was designed featuring elements of the famed Angkor Wat temple complex, blending classical culture with modern design to provide travellers with a one-stop luxury shopping experience, CDFG said.
The retailer said it is offering international travellers a world-class duty free shopping experience with a collection of over 100 internationally renowned brands of cosmetics, fragrances, jewellery, watches, apparel, tobacco and wines & spirits.
CDFG said that as a pioneering force in the expansion of Chinese state-owned enterprises’ overseas duty free business, it has been “deeply cultivating” the Southeast Asian market.
Bringing Moutai to the world
The new offer is highlighted by a pioneering collaboration between CDFG and Moutai, China’s revered baijiu brand, to open the world’s first overseas airport Moutai Family store.
The partnership brings oriental culture to overseas customers and creates a new sales platform for Chinese liquor brands seeking overseas expansion, CDFG noted.
“This cooperation is an endeavour by CDFG to develop a diversified global duty free business,” the company added.
To celebrate the soft opening, Duty Zero by cdf is offering a series of shopping benefits for travellers, including the ability to redeem gifts by posting on social media after shopping.
Doing business the right way
As the world’s largest travel retailer, CDFG said it adheres to the principles of “doing business in good faith and providing high-quality services”, collaborating with partners from various countries to advance together.
2023 is the 65th anniversary of China-Cambodia diplomatic relations and the China-Cambodia Friendship Year.
CDFG said it actively promotes the continued development of Cambodia’s tourism industry, aiming to inject new vitality into China-Cambodia friendship and tourism cooperation between the two countries.
In March of this year, ‘CDF Charity Service’ was officially launched in Phnom Penh, Cambodia followed by the opening of the ‘Unlimited Innocence’ charity art exhibition in the city. Since 2016, cdf Cambodia has organised 26 charity activities, benefiting thousands of children.
In June, cdf Cambodia was officially granted the title ‘The Home of Chinese Tourists’ by the Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia. This is the first time – including for any stated-owned enterprise – such an accolade has been bestowed.
It signifies the important role played by cdf Cambodia in providing high-end, top-quality tourism services, CDFG said.
Strengthening China-Cambodia relationships
Since its 2013 establishment in Cambodia, CDFG has opened three downtown duty free stores in Siem Reap, Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh.
Duty Zero by cdf at Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport not only represents a fourth store but also a key strategic move to comprehensively expand the company’s presence in Cambodia’s travel retail market, achieving seamless integration between airport and downtown operations, the company said.
cdf Cambodia plans to continue deepening cooperation with airport operator Yunnan Airport Industry (Cambodia) Co (YACA) and owner Angkor International Airport Investment Co (AIAI) to jointly create a model of overseas cooperation between state-owned enterprises.
SEE ALSO: Opening a new page for Cambodia, Siem Reap Angkor International Airport begins operations
CDFG said it will continue to leverage the advantages of its parent company, China Tourism Group, which covers the entire tourism industry chain, to deepen its presence in overseas markets and contribute to the development of the global travel retail industry.
Simultaneously, it plans to inject new impetus into the development of China-Cambodia friendship and humanistic tourism cooperation under the framework of the ‘Diamond Hexagon’ concept.
(Source: The Moodie Davitt Report)