404 FOREIGN COMPANIES APPROVED FOR OPERATIONS
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The Business Development Department has given approval to 404 foreign firms to set up operations in Thailand worth more than Bt16 billion, creating at least 9,000 jobs for Thais. In December alone, 34 foreign businesses were approved under the Foreign Bu
Pongpun Gearaviriyapun, director-general of the department, said yesterday that allowing the foreign companies to conduct service businesses in Thailand would encourage technology transfers and create jobs for Thais.
Foreign investors were keen on setting up in Thailand as they see stronger economic growth as the country becomes the hub of Asean integration.
Most of the firms approved this month are related to trading, consulting, agency, retail and wholesale businesses, she said.
ANTI-DUMPING DUTIES
The Commerce Ministry is considering imposing anti-dumping duties on high-carbon steel wire imports from China and steel sheet and steel rod imports from Brazil, Iran and Turkey.
Local manufacturers have complained about dumping hurting domestic industries. Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said yesterday that the anti-dumping duty committee will investigate and decide soon whether to slap anti-dumping duties on those imported products so that it can protect domestic industries’ competitiveness.
NEW GOOGLE THAILAND CHIEF
Ben King is the new head of Google Thailand.
Over the past four years at Google, he’s worked with customers across the region from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to Indonesia and Singapore, including a year in Thailand leading sales.
Ben said yesterday that Thailand’s digital ecosystem is bursting at the seams.
About half the country is online, and with more Thais than ever using the Internet in their daily lives, many businesses are turning to digital in order to grow and scale up
This makes Thailand a very exciting place to be.
From a Google perspective, the major milestone was definitely the YouTube launch mid-2014. The platform has gone from strength to strength in Thailand.
“We’re seeing more and more Thais express themselves through great content on YouTube,” he said.
In the past year alone, watch-time increased by 70 per cent, while the hours of content uploaded increased by 70 per cent. Just looking at a popular channel like MadPuppet Studio, it’s clear that the platform is an incredible launch pad for people to share their creativity.
