
Iconsiam made its long-awaited grand debut on Friday to redefine the concept of a "super" luxurious landmark and destination in Thailand.
Opened by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, the mall, with nine million sq m of retail space, is at the heart of the 54-billion-baht mega-city development project which aims to turn the 55-rai riverside site into a new Bangkok landmark.
The complex was inaugurated as scheduled, at a time when a new bid has been made to revitalise growth in the country's tourist industry, and the economic outlook has been dampened by political uncertainty ahead of next year's election.
Iconsiam's opening is viewed as a bright spot for the kingdom's economy, which has been growing only sluggishly with just a 4.6% rise in GDP.
Chadatip Chutrakul, director of ICONSIAM Co, Ltd, said Iconsiam will attract many people from around the world because the company intends to develop this project which tells diverse stories about Thailand's history and culture.