Xiaomi sets its sights on Southeast Asia with plans to open Singapore office “as quickly as possible”

Left to right: Xiaomi vice president Li Wanqiang, vice president of Xiaomi Global Hugo Barra, and Xiaomi president Lin Bin.

UPDATE (9 December 2013): We’ve double-checked and confirmed with Xiaomi Taiwan, and the company would like to clarify: although nothing has been officially decided, the company’s next overseas market will “most likely” be Southeast Asia, with its first stop “most likely” in Singapore.

Today top executives from up-and-coming Chinese hardware firm Xiaomi paid visit to Taiwan, where the company held one of it’s “popcorn” gatherings for fans and conducted a press conference for domestic media. As its final major event of the year, the event served as a capstone to the company’s busy 2013, while also setting stage for its expansion beyond the mainland.

Go Southeast, young man

At the press conference, Xiaomi president Lin Bin, vice president Li Wanqiang, and newly-appointed vice president Hugo Barra, the former Android mastermind that was spectacularly poached from Google, revealed the answer to the question that’s been on everyone’s mind: where will Xiaomi go next?

“I’ve been spending a lot of time with potential partners in other countries, in Southeast Asia primarily,” Barra said. “We just came back from a trip to Singapore a few weeks ago, and we’re trying to get our operations for Southeast Asia set up as quickly as possible.”

When pressed to elaborate on why Singapore was chosen as a starting point, Barra noted: “It’s an important hub for the region. A lot of businesses start there, so that’s why we researched that area first.”

None of the executives gave an exact date for its launch in Southeast Asia, but the team remained firm that it would make its way there starting early 2014.

What will Xiaomi’s business operations look like internationally?

Judging by comments from Barra, Lin, and Li, Taiwan indeed has served as a market where Xiaomi can test the waters as it moves out of mainland China.

The company began its operations on the island in April of this year when it began selling its Mi-2s devices through local carrier Far East Zone. Since then, it has also begun offering the phone for sale through its website. Regarding deliveries, Xiaomi partnered with local logistics giant T-Cat, which even provided the company its own room for storage. Last November, it inked a sales partnership with local e-retailer PCHome. Yesterday it announced a partnership with the Family Mart convenience store chain, enabling customers to pick up purchases at nearby storefronts. Its local office has also doubled in size, from three employees to six.

And of course, to top it off, the company will be holding one of its trademark flash sales on Monday through its official website, this time for customers eager to get their hands on the budget Hongmi smartphone.

What’s the deal with these “Xiaomi Stores?”

It’s all about the fans