Thailand must strengthen anti-corruption efforts, improve law enforcement and reform regulations to restore investor confidence and maintain its competitiveness, according to Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand (JFCCT) Chairwoman Vibeke Lyssand Leirvag. She said foreign investors closely assess a country’s anti-corruption record before making investment decisions, with concerns over transparency, regulatory uncertainty and inconsistent enforcement causing some existing and prospective investors to reconsider expanding or relocating operations in Thailand.

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Leirvag said Thailand continues to offer a strong business environment and remains an attractive destination for international companies. However, she warned that global businesses are required to follow international standards wherever they operate, leaving “no space for doing business in a different way”, adding that transparency and zero tolerance towards corruption are essential for long-term success.

The JFCCT represents 31 foreign chambers of commerce and around 8,000 companies operating in Thailand. Speaking on The Next Move programme, Leirvag said foreign direct investors consider predictable regulations, consistent implementation and respect for the rule of law to be just as important as investment incentives when selecting a destination.

Her comments come as Thailand remains near the bottom of global rankings in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), placing 116th out of 180 countries in the latest assessment. She said that despite government efforts to promote investment through incentives and industrial policies, weaker governance indicators send a negative signal to international investors.

Leirvag also highlighted Thailand’s bid to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), describing it as an opportunity to improve governance and align the country with international standards. She said discussions at OECD headquarters in Paris earlier this year showed Thailand scored about 78% for regulatory design but only 11% for implementation, indicating that enforcement remains the country’s biggest weakness.

She called for comprehensive regulatory reform, including updating outdated laws, removing unnecessary regulations and ensuring new legislation is practical for businesses. According to Leirvag, some regulations are introduced without sufficient consultation with the private sector, creating rules that are difficult or impossible to implement.

The Nation reported that she said closer cooperation between government and businesses would help develop practical, transparent regulations while strengthening investor confidence. Following a recent luncheon with Prime Minister Antin Charnvirakul, the JFCCT urged the government to establish a dedicated team to review existing legislation, accelerate regulatory reform and work closely with the private sector. Leirvag added that enforcement agencies should receive adequate training and resources, while businesses should also be informed about new legal requirements to improve compliance.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Nation 7 July 2026

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Transparency? That’s easy. Just make the brown envelopes clear plastic.

It will be impossible to tackle corruption in Thailand. Even the current Government has bought their votes to rule, so it is almost impossible to enforce anti corruption laws. Reforms must be made indeed, but with a very conservative way of thinking and refusal to update outdated laws, nothing will happen. There ae people that think Thailand has its charm, but it just 50 years behind of the modern world, although they have mobiles and computers. Laws, way of thinking, corruption, and even xenophobia, are preventing that Thailand goes forward on a bigger speed. Open up, reforms, and enforce everywhere could the job but it will take a few decades. Peoples Party has the views, but are not allowed to govern.

8 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

It will be impossible to tackle corruption in Thailand.

Maybe so. But the easiest place to start is non-Thais who are themselves cashing in on the corruption.

18 minutes ago, JerryM said:

Maybe so. But the easiest place to start is non-Thais who are themselves cashing in on the corruption.

Keep in mind that Thailand is for the Thai, as you can see in all laws and regulations. If non Thais are cashing in on the corruption, there always will be Thais involved. Indeed it is a start to tackle the corruption, but the whole society is doing it, so impossible to stop anymore. Just a simple example. If you are being fined for a minor offence and you are fined with a ticket for 700THB or without a ticket a for 300 THB the choice is not difficult. So we all are doing it, and the higher you come in the society the worse it is.

All you hear on here with the nominee busts is when will they go after the lawyers and accountants who set this up instead of the hapless foreign purchaser. Because going after the foreign purchaser is easiest. His name is right there on the deed.

The problem with corruption in Thailand is that it's so endemic the only people who could investigate corruption are themselves corrupt. I don't think it would be too much of a stretch to say that all or almost all people in a position of power or authority in this country are corrupt to a certain degree .

13 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

I don't think it would be too much of a stretch to say that all or almost all people in a position of power or authority in this country are corrupt to a certain degree .

And if you read some of the comments of foreigners elsewhere on this website that is just way they like it.

I have an idea lets put Tony in charge of the Anti-Corruption investigation..

4 hours ago, JerryM said:

And if you read some of the comments of foreigners elsewhere on this website that is just way they like it.

It's not about liking it or not, it's just the way things at all levels work here. Foreigners and most of the Thai population have no control on it, and if you want to get things done you need to go with the flow.

The day the elite in charge starts strictly and massively enforcing the current rules, and that includes applying it first and foremost to themselves as example, corruption will decrease.

10 minutes ago, Yumthai said:

and if you want to get things done you need to go with the flow.

Like I said, someone who wants to say that's the only way to get things done has certainly convinced themselves of that.

That when in Rome line is fine until they start popping the Romans.

As endemic as corruption is in Thai society, there are recent historical precedents that show that is possible to eliminate even deeply ingrained corruption. Powerful and independent anti-graft agencies like the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau in Singapore and the Independent Commission Against Corruption in Hong Kong were largely successful in eliminating corruption in their respective societies.

It takes strong leadership and tremendous political will to do it. It's understandable that people in Thailand are dubious about the prospects of it happening here.

Paul Laew

1 hour ago, JerryM said:

That when in Rome line is fine until they start popping the Romans.

Like I said, it needs strict and massive enforcement.

1 hour ago, JerryM said:

Like I said, someone who wants to say that's the only way to get things done has certainly convinced themselves of that.

It's not the only way, it's the smart way. The alternative is struggling to systematically comply with all the mostly obsolete rules and the pain that comes along.

To each their own.

10 minutes ago, Yumthai said:

Like I said, it needs strict and massive enforcement.

It's not the only way, it's the smart way. The alternative is struggling to systematically comply with all the mostly obsolete rules and the pain that comes along.

To each their own.

There's a bunch of people right now who likely before thought the same as you in the

Anutin Orders Nationwide Nominee Land Crackdown topic elsewhere this forum.