(CTN News) – According to Deputy Government Spokesperson Karom Polpornklang, 317 foreign enterprises were awarded business investment in Thailand under the Foreign Business Act, B.E. 2542 (1999), representing a 16% increase from January to May 2024.
Among the 317 firms, 85 applied for business operation licenses and 232 for business operation certificates (via the BOI’s investment promotion application, legal permission granted by the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, and rights exercised under treaties or international agreements). Total investment has reached 71,702 million baht, a 58% increase.
The top five foreign investors in Thailand are:
1.Japan has 84 enterprises, accounting for 26% of all foreign businesses in Thailand, with a total investment of 40,214 million baht.
2. Singapore has 51 enterprises, accounting for 16% of all foreign businesses in Thailand, with a total investment of 5,189 million baht.
3.The United States has 51 enterprises, accounting for 16% of the total number of foreign businesses, with total investments of 1,196 million baht.
4. China has 38 enterprises, accounting for 12% of the number of foreign businesses, with total investments of 5,485 million baht.
5. Hong Kong has 28 enterprises, accounting for 9% of all foreign businesses in Thailand, with a total investment of 12,048 million baht.
In terms of investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) during the first five months of 2024 (January – May 2024), 99 foreign investors expressed interest, accounting for 31% of all foreign investors in Thailand, or a 106% increase.
The overall investment value is 18,224 million baht, which represents 25% of total investment in the country. The 99 investors include 31 from Japan (3,523 million baht), 19 from China (1,803 million baht), 11 from Hong Kong (5,005 million baht), and 38 others (7,893 million baht).