Government speeding up reform of laws to help businesses, investments
The government would reform laws to streamline permission for both Thai and foreign businesses, starting with restaurants, accommodation and film shooting and to make it more convenient for immigrant workers to work here, an adviser said on Wednesday.
Tongthong Chandransu, an adviser to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and chairman of the committee in charge of legal reform to facilitate foreign businesses, said the reform covers four areas — promote foreign businesses, streamline the permission system, promote imports and exports, and promote the use of clean energy.
Tongthong said four subcommittees had been formed to take charge of each of the four areas.
To streamline business permissions, Tongthong said the legal reform would aim at developing a central permission system so that investors could start their businesses with just one permit instead of having to seek permissions from several government agencies as at present.
Tongthong said his panel would speed up first the implementation of one permit for three businesses first, which are restaurants, small hotels or resorts, and foreign film shooting in the kingdom.
On the promotion of business operations in the kingdom, Tongthong said laws would be amended to exempt foreign workers from having to file TM6 immigration form. The form is required to be filled by foreign nationals entering Thailand and submitted at the Thai immigration checkpoint.
Tongthong said his panel would ensure that the exemption of filing the TM6 card would also cover arrivals by land and sea.
The measure is aimed at making it more convenient for foreign investors to enter and leave the kingdom and to also facilitate the travel of workers from Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.
On the promotion of imports and exports, Tongthong said legal amendments would be made to do away with obstacles and to reduce the time and steps in customs clearances.
For example, customs officials will not have to recheck containers of a transhipment.
The measure is aimed at encouraging foreign shippers to transport goods via Thailand, Tongthong added.
He said his committee would also push for legal reform to promote the use of clean and recyclable energy. The committee will review laws related to both the industrial and civil sectors.
Tongthong added that the prime minister had endorsed his committee’s work and told him to report their progress every two months.
He said his panel would hold meetings with the European Union and American chambers of commerce within December to hear their opinions on the proposed legal reforms.
Its subcommittees would also gather opinions from all government agencies concerned, Tongthong added.
