Investment-privilege applications rise 38%

The number of tax-privilege applications stood at 610 in the quarter, up 38 per cent year on year on year, and totalled Bt275 billion, up 24 per cent year on year. Of the total, five projects are worth between Bt10 billion and Bt20 billion each and 40 worth over Bt1 billion each. The FDI value was more than Bt150 billion, with continued investment from Japan.

Udom Wongviwatchai, BOI secretary-general, said the projects worth between Bt10 billion and Bt20 billion included natural-gas-driven power plants and aviation transport business and pickup-truck production, while those worth between Bt2 billion and Bt6 billion range from natural-gas power plants to auto-parts production.

The FDI applications in the quarter rose 8.3 per cent year on year to 338 worth Bt157.671 billion, up 17.5 per cent. Of total applications, most are continued investment in 208 existing projects worth Bt134.990 billion and new investment in 130 projects worth Bt22.681 billion.

Japanese investors topped the FDI in the quarter in terms of value with 176 applications worth Bt87.483 billion, followed by Malaysian investors at 11 projects worth Bt16.608 billion, Hong Kong 10 projects worth Bt15.232 billion, the Netherlands eight projects worth Bt8.309 billion, and Singapore 20 projects worth Bt5.385 billion.