Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) fears foreign investors will shift investment elsewhere

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FTI fears foreign investors will shift investment elsewhere
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, March 8 - The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) admits it is concerned foreign investors will relocate their investment base overseas.

Chairman Payungsak Chartsutipol said the concerns came as a result of the political stalemate and the delay in forming the new government, which will affect considerations on investment promotions.

Mr Payungsak spoke of the fact that Japanese investors had asked Thailand to find solutions to political problems within 6-12 months or they would shift their investment base to other countries.

He said FTI is also concerned on the matter. If foreign investors decide to relocate from Thailand, it will be difficult to bring them back. Therefore, he asked those concerned to be responsible for enforcing the law where all parties must be treated equally and national interests come first.

The chairman also stated that there are currently large projects of over Bt200 million, together worth Bt500 billion, seeking Thai Board of Investment (BOI) investment privileges but a new BOI committee has not been set up, for it is not under the caretaker government's authority.

Mr Payungsak said the delay in the process will make Thailand lose opportunity, as new investors will consider other countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-03-08

[JoePai]

So the penny has finally dropped

[Rob8891]

And yet the baht is rallying... why isn't it plunging like the Titanic?

[Tatsujin]

And yet the baht is rallying... why isn't it plunging like the Titanic?

It's Thailand . . . everything's back to front lol

[PaullyW]

And yet the baht is rallying... why isn't it plunging like the Titanic?

Still a closed currency and informally pegged to the dollar no matter what people say about free floating. The BOT can rather easily manipulate the Baht until it's too late

[bigbamboo]

They are right to flag up this concern.

This is not ten years ago, there are other options now, especially in the ASEAN region. Other countries have picked up the pace whilst Thailand is plodding along with it's blinkers on.

The politicians here need to shape up or be shipped out.

[clockman]

That is the problem, national interests. Do not come first! Everyman and his dog. Me Me Me.

[Prbkk]

And yet the baht is rallying... why isn't it plunging like the Titanic?

Still a closed currency and informally pegged to the dollar no matter what people say about free floating. The BOT can rather easily manipulate the Baht until it's too late

Absolute nonsense. did you learn nothing from 1997/98?

[marcusd]

Well I know this first hand. AND national interests do come first and that is why many businesses are already leaving because there is NO INTEREST in what they do or can do for thailand. No one here cares and they are living in the past. Whilst living conditions in other ASEAN countries may not be as good from a FOREIGNER EXPAT perspective, things are RAPIDLY changing and with busnesses eying off oportunities close by, thailand will and is missing the benefiot of foreign expertise and capiatal. Watch this space in the next 5 years. Thailand will fall far behind others in growth.

[GAZZPA]

Finally they understand, problem is there is no real desire to fix it. It is not a maybe, investment will certainly go elsewhere unless things dramatically change.

Vietnam is open arms saying yes to all proposals from foreign companies for investment. They are investing and growing,, they already took advantage of the shambles that is the rice pledging scheme in Thailand and overtook Thailand in exports, they will be more then happy to take a chunk of Japanese and foreign investment.

It will be a very harsh lesson for Thailand but I fear it will take a big downturn before anything actually happens and by then its too late.

Once again the poorer people suffer, just like the rice farmers.

[EyesWideOpen]

Between floods, massive protest, and coups on a regular basis, I am stunned that any company

would invest here. Laos is still in the 19th century, Cambodia is run by a dictator, and Malaysia

is lost in Muslim nonsense. It is Vietnam and Burma that will put the knife into the heart of

Thailand unless the government here starts taking steps to correct some of the issues as to why

companies are leaving here. May I humbly suggest as a starting point of getting rid of the

crazy 51% Thai ownership nonsense. ......

[tomyummer]

If it's not the political strife every 3-4 years, it's disasters like the 2011 floods. Who blames them for looking for better alternatives to Thailand?

Thais don't give a damn until the threats of moving out come.

[fab4]

All part of suthep and Co.'s plan for a better Thailand so I hear.

[siampolee]

fab 4 post # 13

All part of suthep and Co.'s plan for a better Thailand so I hear.

Over the last few years many other countries in this region have become a lot more amenable to foreign investment with far less red tape and a better educated workforce unlike Thailand which still imposes restrictive share holding practices regarding foreign investment. the money is moving elsewhere now as it has been for some time.

Thailand does not have any great natural resources of minerals or a well trained work force and the logistics infrastructure is best described as primitive

However it does have endemic and ongoing corruption which has increased dramatically over the last ten years or so.

Restrictive government policies are throttling the country's economic and industrial expansion and that throttling process is shortly going to choke Thailand with the advent of AS.E.A.N for which the Thai industrial and financial sectors are best described as totally unready for even though that matter was mooted in the early to mid 1990's

Indeed''procrastination is the biggest thief of time.''.

You really should consult a medical practitioner concerning these ''voices you hear.''

[Mudcrab]

Finally they understand, problem is there is no real desire to fix it. It is not a maybe, investment will certainly go elsewhere unless things dramatically change.

Vietnam is open arms saying yes to all proposals from foreign companies for investment. They are investing and growing,, they already took advantage of the shambles that is the rice pledging scheme in Thailand and overtook Thailand in exports, they will be more then happy to take a chunk of Japanese and foreign investment.

It will be a very harsh lesson for Thailand but I fear it will take a big downturn before anything actually happens and by then its too late.

Once again the poorer people suffer, just like the rice farmers.

Indonesia will welcome the likes of Toyota with open arms.

[Lupatria]

Gooooood morning FTI !

And don't forget, now its time to wake up your colleagues at the TAT.

[Thai at Heart]

And yet the baht is rallying... why isn't it plunging like the Titanic?

Still a closed currency and informally pegged to the dollar no matter what people say about free floating. The BOT can rather easily manipulate the Baht until it's too late

Absolute nonsense. did you learn nothing from 1997/98?

They have a huge war chest and the USA is still printing money.

[janpharma]

Oooooh....someone woke up?

[macinc]

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Finally they understand, problem is there is no real desire to fix it. It is not a maybe, investment will certainly go elsewhere unless things dramatically change.

Vietnam is open arms saying yes to all proposals from foreign companies for investment. They are investing and growing,, they already took advantage of the shambles that is the rice pledging scheme in Thailand and overtook Thailand in exports, they will be more then happy to take a chunk of Japanese and foreign investment.

It will be a very harsh lesson for Thailand but I fear it will take a big downturn before anything actually happens and by then its too late.

Once again the poorer people suffer, just like the rice farmers.

Indonesia will welcome the likes of Toyota with open arms.

Toyota have been manufacturing in Indonesia for quite a few years. Although you are correct Indonesia is now (and has been for a year or two?) the favored country in SEA for overseas investment. And why not almost 4 times the population of Thailand, and very rich in natural resources. I think that Thailand peaked around 2010/11 as a prime investment choice for OI's. It will not recover there will still be some moderate investment in the future but thats about it?

[icare999]

nonsense I've been here 30+ years and heard this same story each and every year during countless coupts warnings and test Thailand still thrives since even now compared with rest it shines miles ahead in infrastructure lack of regulation and huge benefits over rst. I can't see it changing for many many years

[stickyrice2000]

Thailand is a rich country now. Farangs gave them enough money already. They do not care about businesses leaving and tourists coming.