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BOI Thailand
J A N U A R Y \ M A R C H 2018

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
N E W S F R O M T H A I L A N D
An Update on News Impacting Business in Thailand and the ASEAN Region

I hope you’ve all had a happy and healthy start to 2018. Below are some updates from Thailand BOI which you may find interesting.

BOI has kicked off 2018 full steam ahead, with a trip to North America to share information with potential investors on starting a business in Thailand and why the country consistently stands out among its peers in ASEAN. The trip will include stops at Connected Car Detroit 2018, as well as the GLOBE Forum 2018 in Vancouver.

As part of this trip, on March 15th, BOI will be hosting a breakfast seminar on investment opportunities in Thailand at the Sutton Place Hotel in Vancouver. The seminar will be led by Miss Bussarakum Sriratana, Executive Director of International Affairs for BOI, who will discuss investment promotion policies, incentives, and the advantages of locating your business in Thailand. Ms. Sriratana will be accompanied by Mr. Narat Vidyananda, Acting Consul General of the Royal Thai Consulate General in Vancouver, and Mr. Suttichat Nilkuha, Director of the Thai Trade Center in Vancouver. For registration, please visit this link.

On March 19th, BOI is hosting a big international investment seminar—but this time, in Thailand. The “Thailand Taking Off to New Heights” event will be held at the Royal Jubilee Ballroom, IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center in Bangkok, Thailand, from 8 am to 5 pm. The purpose of this seminar is to shed light on Thailand’s most recent investment promotion policies, drivers to the “Thailand 4.0” economic plan, and incentives specific to the country’s Eastern Economic Corridor. For further information, please visit this link.

Below are some links to recent news about Thailand we hope you’ll find interesting. As we start to move towards the spring and summer months, BOI looks forward to reaching new goals and sharing them with you in the next installment of this newsletter. We hope to hear from you soon!

Tanita Sirisup
Director
Thailand Board of Investment, North America
nyc@boi.go.th

THAILAND'S FDI EXPANSION NEWS

	Thailand Approves Law for $45 Billion Eastern Economic Corridor Thailand’s parliament recently approved legislation geared towards attracting more investment in an ambitious $45 billion project in the country’s industrial east.
	Thailand Board of Investment Announces New 4-Year Professional Visa Program The Thailand Board of Investment recently announced a new visa program specially designed for professionals working in highly skilled industries such as healthcare, tech, and robotics. The new SMART Visa program allows foreigners to live and work in Thailand without obtaining a work permit and to check in with immigration once per year rather than every 90 days.
	Thailand Raises 2018 GDP to 4.2 Percent Thailand’s Finance Ministry recently raised its economic growth forecast for this year to 4.2% from 3.8%, and also raised its estimate for exports, an official said.
	Thailand ‘Least Miserable’ Country on Earth Thailand has been ranked as the least miserable country out of 66 economies for a fourth consecutive year, according to Bloomberg's Misery Index for 2018.
	Thailand Takes Lead as the World’s Best Country to Start a Business Thailand was voted the number one ranking of the list of Best Countries to Start a Business for the second year in a row out of a total of 80 countries surveyed by the US News and World Report.
	Digital Economy on the Move in Thailand The Center for Economic and Business Forecasting of University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) expects the information technology-related economy will expand 25 percent next year, making up 19 per cent of GDP. The center’s projection is based on an assumed national economic growth of more than 4 percent.
	Thailand’s Digital Park Targets Tech Business Wanting to Relocate to Southeast Asia In 2017, the Thai government launched Digital Park Thailand which is set to become a premier destination for digital business leaders, innovators and disruptors. The park is anticipated to serve as an “incubator” for digital businesses in the Southeast Asian region.
	Bombardier Strengthens Rail Industry Education and Research in Thailand Bombardier Transportation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mahidol University in Thailand to strengthen cooperation for graduate education and research in the rail industry over the next five years.
	Committee Approves High-Speed Rail Link Connecting Three International Airports in Thailand A high-level committee tasked with spearheading a multi-billion-dollar project to expand the economic areas just outside Bangkok has approved a high-speed railway project to connect three international airports, reported Bangkok Post.
	Mazda Opens Engine Machining Factory at Thai Powertrain Plant Mazda Motor Corporation today announced the opening of a new engine machining factory at its powertrain plant in Thailand’s Chonburi Province, Mazda Powertrain Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Mazda’s Representative Director, President and CEO, Masamichi Kogai, was among the attendees at an opening ceremony held at MPMT today.
	Mercedes to Supply EV Batteries Locally German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz is set to become the first company in Thailand to produce batteries locally for its electric vehicles (EV).

About BOI

The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) is the investment promotion agency for Thailand that assists foreign investors in identifying business opportunities, providing tax incentives and privileges, and supporting foreign companies seeking to expand into the Asian market. Our services are free of charge and customized to help your business succeed in Thailand.

For more information, please visit www.thinkasiainvestthailand.com