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Inward direct investment into Thailand reached US$178 billion (Bt5.85 trillion) last year, up from $172 billion in 2012, according to the International Monetary Fund.

By country, investment from Japan was the highest, at $63.03 billion, according to the preliminary results from its “2013 Coordinated Direct Investment Survey” (CDIS), the fund’s worldwide survey of bilateral direct-investment positions. 

Japan was followed by Singapore ($26.63 billion), the United States ($13.85 billion), the Netherlands ($11.4 billion) and Hong Kong ($7.86 billion).

Since the CDIS was introduced in 2009, the value of such investment into Thailand has continued to rise; from $106.9 billion in 2009, to $139.3 billion in 2010 and $155 billion in 2011.

The latest CDIS also showed that the inward direct investment positions of 88 economies, including Thailand, increased 8.2 per cent from $25.8 trillion in 2012 to $27.9 trillion last year. 

Direct investment is concentrated in a relatively small number of economies. Last year, similar to previous years, 67 per cent of the total inward direct investment ($27.9 trillion) was received by the 10 economies with the largest inward direct investment, and 80 per cent of the total outward direct investment ($28.2 trillion) originated from the 10 economies with the largest outward direct investment. 

There is large direct investment within some regions, the IMF found: intraregional direct investment explains about two-thirds of the inward direct investment in Europe and economies of the Persian Gulf, and almost one half in East Asia in 2013. 

   However, the net forward positions narrowed from $24.1 billion to $23.7 billion.

 

Bang Yai-Bang Sue route set to start operations early

The Purple Line mass-transit route from Bang Yai to Bang Sue will officially start operations on August 12, 2016, earlier than the original schedule of late that year, General Yodyuth Boonyatikarn, chairman of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), said yesterday.

Construction of the line is 96 per cent complete, he said.        

Meanwhile, the MRTA has already opened bid documents for construction of the Green Line’s Mo Chit-Saphan Mai-Kukot route, totalling four contracts. 

It is expected to award the deals in the middle of next month. 

Yodyuth added that the MRTA wanted to have a new governor in place as soon as possible.

 

Prayut to open ‘Thailand Halal Assembly’ in Bangkok

An estimated 5,000 delegates are expected to gather in the capital from December 28-30 for the “Thailand Halal Assembly 2014”, which takes place at the Bangkok Convention Centre in the Centara Grand Hotel.

The inaugural event is designed to help upgrade the standards of halal products and services being made in Thailand to cater to the rapidly growing Islamic market, both within Asia and worldwide. 

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha will deliver the opening speech.

Muslims make up 46 per cent of the upcoming Asean Economic Community’s population of roughly 650 million – a huge market waiting to be tapped by the Thai-Muslim community.