Amazon’s wants to keep up its same-day delivery service with a new fleet of couriers. Pic: AP

Amazon is finally upping its game in Southeast Asia with Singapore launch in 2017

By | 2 November, 2016

FOR the longest time, Amazon neglected to cast its gigantic warehouse gaze upon Southeast Asia, instead choosing to concentrate its efforts in the West, China, and India – but no longer! Rumors have surfaced that the online retail mammoth plans to launch in Singapore, marking its pathway into SEA.

According to TechCrunch, who cites anonymous sources, Amazon has been acquiring assets under the radar and taking on new hires in a move led by Steven Scrive, the company’s head of ASEAN.

Although Amazon has not made any official announcements and declined to comment, the report says the company will most likely introduce its Prime delivery service alongside its AmazonFresh grocery service. Recently, customers in China were given access to Prime services.

Amazon has also stepped up its presence in India, funneling US$3 billion into its e-commerce operations there before Diwali, the major festive season.

News of the company’s possible entry into SEA in the first quarter of 2017 comes as Alibaba makes its own mark in the region by way of Lazada, acquiring Singaporean online grocery retailer Redmart.

SEE ALSO: Under Alibaba’s watchful eye, Lazada makes a move to acquire Singapore’s Redmart

Amazon’s presence in SEA will definitely ramp up competition between local online retailers who are used to having minimal foreign rivalry. In the meantime, consumers are already celebrating on social media:



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