The Department of Business Development (DBD) in Thailand is collaborating with the Thai Bankers Association and various banks to link their databases to the department's AI system. This initiative aims to monitor the financial status of Thai nationals co-investing with foreign partners in local companies. The move should enhance the credibility of Thai investors and identify whether they are genuine stakeholders or merely acting as nominees.
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Director-General Poonpong Naiyanapakorn outlined that once an agreement with banks is reached, a public hearing would be held, lasting about two months. This procedure will decide if the database interconnectivity will start in August. The effort targets around 800,000 companies in Thailand, of which about 120,000 have foreign co-ownership under 50%.
The department suspects approximately 80,000 of these as nominee-owned entities. AI technology is currently being deployed to scrutinize these firms' profiles, shareholding, and management structures. Details will be reported to relevant authorities, including the Department of Special Investigation and Anti-Money Laundering Office, for a comprehensive follow-up on suspicious findings.
Majority of these nominee firms are involved in sectors like real estate, logistics, restaurants, and tourism services. The surge in foreign investments is partly due to Thailand's streamlined permit processes, reducing approval times from 60 days to 30. In addition, starting July 1, new company registrations will transition from paper-based to a digital system, expediting the process. However, new registrations in the first four months of the year slightly decreased by 1.56%, due in part to stricter nominee registration controls.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now · Thai PBS · 21 May 2026