Thailand Urged To Make It Easier For Foreginers Doing Business

[george]

Thailand urged to reconsider Foreign Business Act

BANGKOK: -- US ambassador to Thailand Eric G. John on Wednesday urged the Thai government to ease some restrictions contained in the Foreign Business Act to facilitate foreigners doing business in the kingdom.

Thai Commerce Minister Pornthiva Nakasai told reporters after meeting with Mr. John that the envoy expressed concern over some restrictions such as a foreign executive being required by the Thai law to attend an executive board meeting, which he said might have cause inconveniences for foreign businesspersons who live abroad.

Mrs. Pornthiva said the issue is now under consideration by the Council of State and the ministry would bring up the issue in the Cabinet. The commerce minister also said she would explain to the US authorities during her official visit to the United States next month the progress made in Thailand's efforts to stamp out counterfeit and pirated products.

Thailand hoped that its suppression of copyright piracy would influence the US government's decision to remove the country from its 'Priority Watch List' to the 'Watch List', Mrs. Pornthiva said.

The US Trade Representative Office (USTR) placed Thailand and 11 other countries, including China, India and Russia, on its ''Priority Watch List'' of countries to be closely monitored regarding their protection of intellectual property rights.

The downgrading came after Thailand's Public Health Ministry in the military-installed Surayud government enforced compulsory licensing on imported key drugs in 2007, which drew ire from US pharmaceutical companies. The United States, however, denied the decision was in response to Thailand's enforcement of compulsory licensing.

Mrs. Pornthiva said she had clarified to the US envoy that the Thai government's enforcement of compulsory licensing on some particular drugs was aimed at providing more medical access to people at the grass-roots level.

The Thai government normally held talks with patent holders of the drug prior to any overriding of copyright, the commerce minister said.

-- TNA 2009-02-11

[Mai Krap]

How about having 1 office in the ten largest cities where a person can complete all their documents for a small business, a office where the staff actually know whats going on? The article deals more with giant corporations who can afford all kinds of runners and lawyers but there are literally hundreds of small business in Thailand who would love to operate within the law and pay taxes but because of the complications of the Thai System do not. Very few Thai businesses operate legally, have any kind of business license, or pay taxes.

Edited February 11, 2009 by Mai Krap

[grandpops]

Not going to happen is it.

This will be more about giving foreigners the opportunity to lose money here.

No way will it be made easier to make money. Nor, for those that are getting excited about it in Bangkok, will there be anyway, falangs will be able to own land.