Posted on 08 Jun 2010
A total of 507 investment projects had applied for privileges over the first five months of the year, an increase on 47.8 per cent on the same period last year, the Board of Investment (BoI) reported on Tuesday.
The combined investment capital was 172.6 billion baht, up 7.3 per cent, BoI secretary-general Atchaka Siboonruang said.
There were 107 applications in May, the highest for several months, with a total investment cost of 39 billion baht. This showed that Thai and foreign investors still have confidence in the country’s potential, she said.
A total of 139 applications, the largest number, were for investment in service and utility industries, with a total investment capital of 81 billion baht, followed by 105 investment projects in metal, machinery, automobile and parts industries, with a total investment of 21.9 billion baht, Mrs Atchaka said.
Agricultural industries came third with 84 projects worth 16.3 billion baht.
There were 306 applications for foreign direct investment with a combined investment capital of 86.28 billion baht, an increase of 35 per cent in project numbers and 108 per cent in value.
The Japanese were the largest foreign investors with 120 projects worth 33.04 billion baht . Japanese investment in
Mrs Atchaka said as part of efforts to boost investor confidence the BoI will hold a “Prime Minister Meets Investors” event on June 18 at Impact Arena Muangthong Thani. About 1,300 Thai and foreign investors were expected to attend.
