Thailand’s Board of Investment (BoI) on Thursday said the
number of foreign investment projects applying for the agency’s investment
privileges increased by 20 percent year-on-year in the first ten months of
2011, with a project investment value totaling Bt281 billion.
BOI Secretary-General Atchaka Sriboonrueng said the
number of foreign investment projects applying for the investment promotion
this year rose from 692 to 828 projects.
Atchaka said the value of the projects rose from Bt174
billion to Bt281 billion, a 61 percent increase year-on-year.
“This reflects that foreign investors are still confident
in Thailand,” she said. “The flood situation may slow down some foreign
investment but overall the investment climate still has growth potential.”
The BOI chief added that the Ministry of Industry and the
BOI will launch a campaign to restore confidence among investors early next
year, as well as provide them with vital information on flood-prevention
plans, especially at industrial estates.
Atchaka noted that Japanese businesses remained the top
investor seeking BOI investment promotions with 441 projects, increasing
from 284 projects in 2010, or 55 percent year-on-year. The total investment
value also soared by 104 percent from Bt71.3 billion in 2010 to Bt145.8
billion in 2011.
Chinese investors came second with 28 projects, valued at
Bt25.9 billion, followed by 44 projects by Singaporean investors worth
Bt19.8 billion and 33 projects by South Korean investors worth Bt7.1
billion.
Out of 828 projects applying, 444 represent new
investment while the other 384 are expansions of already existing projects,
said Atchaka, adding that investment in metal, machinery and transport
equipment manufacturing are the top ranking projects, followed by
electronics and electric appliances, infrastructure, chemicals and plastics.
(MCOT)
Manoon Makpol
The 2010-model 848 Evo took center stage when Pro-Italian
Motorsports opened Pattaya’s first Ducati showroom on Third Road Nov. 29. A
total of 20 imported high-end motorcycles are being featured, including the
2010 Ducati Monster 796 and the 1098R, which won the 2008 World Superbike
Championship.
Pro-Italian Motorsports has
opened Pattaya’s first Ducati showroom on Third Road.
Showroom manager Suksan Ankhuset said the 848 is the a
popular Ducati model, as lower-end configurations start at around 400,000,
but go up to 1 million baht.
Nearly identical down to part numbers with the 1098/1198,
the 115-horsepower, 849cc 848 uses the same bodywork and shares the same
wheelbase, but has an engine displacement of 5 kg. less and a dry weight of
just 168 kg. With a top speed of 256 km/h, the sport bike’s most notable
difference from the more-powerful 1098, other than its engine, is that its
four-caliper Brembo brakes are cast, rather than machined, and require
greater braking effort.
Also showing was Ducati Monster’s current model, coming
in at 87 horsepower and 803cc. It weighs in a 167 kg.
The Hi-Tech Industrial Estate last Thursday held an event
announcing their readiness to resume operations and boost investor
confidence after the park was under water from Oct 13-Nov 26.
Called ‘Restart to Operation’, the event was attended by
Health Minister Wittaya Buranasiri, provincial, investment and industrial
estate-related persons.
There are 143 plants at Hi-Tech with investments of Bt60
billion, employing 60,000 workers. Some 90 factories, nearly two-thirds,
have now resumed operations.
Tavich Techanavagul, the industrial park’s chief
executive, said about 3 percent of the plants were expected to relocate
their production bases elsewhere due to the flood crisis and lower wage
requirements in other countries. However, the percentage was considered low.
Around Bt100 million is needed for rehabilitation and
Bt200 million for future flood control by building permanent flood walls
5.4m high and 11km long.
Hi-Tech Industrial Estate will seek a loan from the
government’s fund of Bt15 billion with a special interest rate at 0.01
percent for the period of seven years, while the loan period lasts 15 years.
The private sector wants the government to consider further assistance in
the form of a favorable interest rate for the last eight years.
Tavich said Hi-Tech will ask the Industrial Estate
Authority of Thailand (IEAT) to allow a rising public utilities rate of
Bt1,200-1,500/rai/month instead of the current Bt900 -1,000/rai/month for
payment for flood embankment construction.
He added the private sector wished to see some clarity
regarding water management, which the government should announce by the end
of December in order to boost confidence among all sectors.
Meanwhile, IEAT Governor Monta Pranutnorapan expected
that all five flooded industrial estates in the province would be able to
resume operations by January.
She said a decision will be made by next week regarding
which industrial park the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
will allocate a special loan of 500 million yen for building flood walls.
In a related matter, the Provincial Electricity Authority
has restored full power to Hi-Tech, Factory Land and Bang Pa-In industrial
parks. (MCOT)
