BANGKOK, 17 May 2011 – Foreign businesses, led by Japanese companies were seeking investment promotion from the Board of Investment (BOI) from January to April 2011 with the total value of over 108 billion baht.
According to BOI Secretary-General Dr Atchaka Sibunruang Brimble, there were 336 foreign direct investment projects worth 108.027 billion baht seeking investment privileges in the past four months, up 37% in volume and 103% in value year-on-year.
Classified into industries, 119 projects were in the automotive, machinery and steel industries worth 48.88 billion baht in total. Electronic industry followed with 72 projects worth 18.65 billion baht. Service and public utility industries ranked third with 56 projects worth 15.63 billion baht.
Sources of foreign investment diversified such as Japan, Singapore, China, Hong Kong and the US. Japan remained the biggest group of investment privilege seekers with 172 projects worth 45.12 billion baht, up 73% in volume and 76% in value year-on-year.
China followed with nine projects worth 20.095 billion baht. Singapore had 23 projects worth 12.139 billion baht. Hong Kong and the US ended the list with 11 projects worth 10.096 billion baht and nine projects worth 3.143 billion baht respectively.