BANGKOK, Dec 18 – Private sector applications for investment privileges in Thailand reached almost Bt1 trillion this year, a senior industry ministry official said today.
Witoon Simachokedee, Permanent Secretary for Industry, said total investment privileges submitted to the Board of Investment (BoI) was reported at Bt943 billion in the first 11 months of this year.
The BoI will adjust criteria for investment promotion and privileges next year to emphasise high technology industries rather than labour-intensive business, he said.
He said the industry ministry, aware of small- and medium-entrepreneurs’ hardship following the nationwide minimum wage increase to Bt300/day, has mapped out measures to alleviate their problems by encouraging businessmen to turn to technology and improving labour skills to supply to the local labour market.
Mr Witoon said the ministry has urged about 10,000 factories throughout the country to pay more attention to green and environmentally-friendly industries.
He made the statement after presenting awards to industrialists who won this year’s “Green Industry” campaign.
