Japanese investors buoyed by Thai policies, says Somkid
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JAPANESE investors have responded warmly to the Thai government's roadshow led by Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, with several deals signed by private organisations of the two nations.
“The Japanese investors are confident after we informed them about what we changed in our economic and investment policies,” Somkid said yesterday after meeting with representatives from Japan’s private sector.
Both the Japanese government and investors were interested in the Thai government’s policy to support 10 targeted industries as future growth engines. They are next-generation cars; smart electronics; affluent, medical and wellness tourism; agriculture and biotechnology; food; industrial robotics; logistics and aviation; biofuels and biochemicals; digital; and medical.
During his ongoing three-day official visit to Japan, which ends on Saturday, Somkid yesterday met Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso and Japanese firms.
The Thai delegation and 70 private firms hope to promote opportunities for investment in Thailand.
Somkid said Japan also expressed support for Thailand to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
After meeting with Japanese firms such as Minebea Group, Nachi-Fujikoshi and Mazda in the morning, Somkid attended the business-matching event, where 40 Thai SMEs and 108 Japanese firms were selected to meet up and talk about potential business transactions yesterday.
Business matching was arranged in various industries, including food, rubber and digital contents.
Salinee Wantal, director-general of the Thai SME Promotion Office, said the value of deals forged was expected to reach Bt150 million. One success was a deal for the purchase of 40 wastewater treatment machines for this year and 200 machines for next year by a Japanese firm. The total value was about Bt480 million.
“Thai SMEs received good feedback from Japanese SMEs, mostly in the wholesale business, amounting to 108 companies,” Salinee said.
The Thai Animation and Computer Graphics Association (TACGA) and Fukuoka Creative Association also agreed to cooperate on digital content development.
TACGA president Nitipat Somsaman said the Bt7-billion animation and digital content industry was growing at 10 per cent a year. About Bt800 million to Bt900 million of that was in exports and the trend is expected to keep rising. Thailand is among those countries that are acknowledged for good quality by outsourcing countries.
Talks on trade and investment between the two sides in other areas such as heavy industry, and fashion and lifestyle, are expected to produce many more contracts.
