Thailand welcomes all investors

[webfact]

Special Report: Thailand welcomes all investors

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has said the overall Thai economy is starting to improve and the number of foreign investors interested in investing in Thailand has increased.

In his weekly televised public address in the program “Return Happiness to the People,” the Prime Minister spoke about his overseas trips to China for the 22nd APEC Summit and to Myanmar for the 25th ASEAN Summit and related summits.

According to him, the Thai Government is ready to welcome all countries wishing to invest in Thailand. During his overseas trips, he made known of the Thai government’s economic policy, which aims to strengthen the community economy, promote small- and medium-sized enterprises, invest more in transport infrastructure, and prepare for the digital economy.

The Prime Minister said that trade between Thailand and other members of APEC accounts for 70 percent of the country's international trade. Therefore, the APEC forum is of utmost importance in strengthening Thailand and the Asia-Pacific region. In his meeting with Chinese leaders at the APEC Summit, he had asked the Chinese leaders to facilitate Thai agricultural exports to China, especially Thai rice and fruit, which are quite popular among the Chinese,General Prayut said.

He also urged China to invest in green energy project in Thailand, the project which has been given special emphasis by the government. Many Chinese companies expressed their interest in setting up rubber processing plants in Thailand in order to produce tires for large cars and even for aircraft. Some companies showed interest in setting up garbage disposal plants that are environmentally friendly.

In this regard, the Prime Minister urged them to also set up their plants in various provinces in Thailand, if possible, so that local people would have greater job opportunities. He also stressed on the importance of providing training for Thai workers, helping support research and development, and using raw materials from Thailand for production.

Concerning cooperation in Thailand's double-track railway construction, the PM said China is interested in this project, as it will lead to marketing connectivity and facilitate the travel of people and transport of goods. In terms of geographical location, he said, Thailand is at an advantage, since it is located in the center of Southeast Asia.

Prime Minister Prayut also stated that his administration attached importance to infrastructure development, as it is important to the future of Thailand. He said that the construction of railways would also be raised for discussion with other countries as well, since there are several routes to be constructed. Many countries also expressed their readiness to cooperate with Thailand in infrastructure development.

The Prime Minister said that Russia wants to cooperate with Thailand more in trade and investment, tourism, and energy development. The Republic of Korea is interested in investing in infrastructure development in Thailand, while India is seeking to increase trade and investment opportunities with the country.


-- NNT 2014-11-17

[CockneyGit]

Yes, come in, we welcome everyone.

We will keep 51% of your business, but welcome one and all..!!

[Costas2008]

I have been an investor in this country for the past 7 years.

All my pension disappears at the end of the month.

How have they welcomed me?

By sending me every 90 days to report to the immigration and obliging me not to touch 800K from my account.

And yes Mr JT, I can't touch that money ever.

Who is going to replenish them after they gone? You?

[NongKhaiKid]

Quite a different but not unexpected version from " Tiger economy loses Its Roar ... "

[ExPratt]

I think they are bang in trouble

[khwaibah]

Not according to this article. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777041-tiger-economy-loses-its-roar-as-thailands-exports-slump/

[Dogmatix]

With a few tweeks to the FBA Thailand will be ready to welcome all foreign donations of cash, technology and training to Thai-Chinese joint venture partners who have been unable to develop these businesses for themselves. Then sayonara.

[Mango Bob]

Thailand welcomes all investors money the article should read.

[NeverSure]

I've nothing to say.

Oh yeah. Bullshit.

[fab4]

Ah I can see it now, Thailand, the jewel of the Far East, hub of rubber processing and waste disposal industries provided by a grateful and environmentally concious Chinese government

Apart from Chinese largesse in wanting to invest in garbage disposal plants in Thailand I wonder what else could have sparked this interest?

The state remains unprepared for the pollution and protests its ambitious garbage-incineration plans could generate, writes Yu Dawei.

Since early 2008, China has seen a frenzy of investment in controversial garbage-incineration plants. In the words of Zhang Yi, head of theShanghai Environmental Sanitation Engineering Design Institute, the sector is experiencing an eight-year golden era, set to continue through the 12^thFive-Year Plan period, which ends in 2015.

Evidently, China is gearing up for a Great Leap Forward in garbage incineration.

Despite the launch of so many incineration projects, there are still no clear regulations governing how the plants should be operated and pollution prevented. China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection is drafting new standards for pollution control, but has already missed a planned publication date of 2011.

https://www.chinadialogue.net/article/4739-Chinese-waste-the-burning-issue

Nothing to worry about then,.................................

Edited November 17, 2014 by fab4

[meatboy]

I think they are bang in trouble

what makes you think that ep.they only want to sell 700billion bahts worth of shares to prop up the rice scam.

and then there's ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh?

Edited November 17, 2014 by meatboy

[jaltsc]

Yes, come in, we welcome everyone.

We will keep 51% of your business, but welcome one and all..!!

The first step in investing in Thailand: Buy a 40 gallon drum of lubricant.

[DLock]

For a while Thailand was one of the stars of Asia. It shone bright.

But stars eventually burn out.

Racked with corruption, greed, incompetence, indifference, arrogance and stupidity, I would not invest in Thailand again.

"Allowing" me to invest 100% of the money, yet letting me have only 49% of the company and "finding" some Thai "nominees" and give them 51% "ownership"...then clamping down on the very nominee structures that they made me do, not allowing me to get my profits out of Thailand easily and jumping through hoops for Work permits, visas and 90 day reporting?

I invest offshore now and bring only as much money as I need into Thailand. Life is much simpler...and profitable.

"Thailand welcomes all investors"

Google translation

"Come to Thailand, give a random Thai 51% of your business, leave your money here and eventually we will screw you out of your money and business so you can go home penniless"

No thanks.

[useronthenet]

I have been an investor in this country for the past 7 years.

All my pension disappears at the end of the month.

How have they welcomed me?

By sending me every 90 days to report to the immigration and obliging me not to touch 800K from my account.

And yes Mr JT, I can't touch that money ever.

Who is going to replenish them after they gone? You?

Was you expecting more ? Do you really think Thailand cares about foreigners ?

I'm sure there is enough evidence around you, that you haven't yet already realised by now all foreigners are glorified ATM's on legs.

There are no rights for foreigners, it has always been that way. I have come to accept this otherwise if not, I must leave for pastures new.

When the economy crumbles, and cracks are already starting to appear, foreigners can run for cover, whereas Thais will have to endure the pain of a failing system.

At least we have the choice, generally speaking most others do not !

[shirtless]

The headline should read Thailand welcomes foreign money not the investors.

[impulse]

Yes, come in, we welcome everyone.

We will keep 51% of your business, but welcome one and all..!!

I'm all for a little bashing on this one.

But if you can't find an astute Thai business man who is willing to invest 51% to get that ownership, you're either not looking hard enough or you have a crappy business plan.

One of the Thai guys who works with me just built his 5th hotel in one of the major tourist islands. All profitable. Started by buying a tiny patch of land and now he's got a financial empire. He works it part time on the days he's not offshore working for us.

I'd love for him to own 51% of anything I'd do here. Because 49% of something is better than 100% of griping and moaning.

Edited November 17, 2014 by impulse

[slapout]

I can remember the casinos baiting gamblers to come to Los Vegas and try your luck. They provided free rooms, meals, and would even set you up with the ladies of ill repute, if you would deposit so much money upon arrival into a fund for gambling. This was after they had established your line of credit, and the least amount you would run thru their system (casino). The similarties between the two (Thailand and casinos) and the annual carnival games of chance that had little safety for those who invest/gamble on the venture nor regulation on the casino who pulled the suckers in, is the latter could leave town in a hurry/overnight.

[ColdSingha]

no thanks, i and my family will keep our investments offshore where they can be safely looked after and owned 100%

feel free to let me know when you have a better offer though

xx

[NeverSure]

I can remember the casinos baiting gamblers to come to Los Vegas and try your luck. They provided free rooms, meals, and would even set you up with the ladies of ill repute, if you would deposit so much money upon arrival into a fund for gambling. This was after they had established your line of credit, and the least amount you would run thru their system (casino). The similarties between the two (Thailand and casinos) and the annual carnival games of chance that had little safety for those who invest/gamble on the venture nor regulation on the casino who pulled the suckers in, is the latter could leave town in a hurry/overnight.

I remember the first time I was on the strip in Vegas. I looked around at all of the opulent investment and overhead and said to myself:

"They didn't build and operate all of this on people's winnings."

I never gambled there.

I don't gamble in Thailand either. The deck is stacked.

[impulse]

I remember the first time I was on the strip in Vegas. I looked around at all of the opulent investment and overhead and said to myself:

"They didn't build and operate all of this on people's winnings."

I never gambled there.

I don't gamble in Thailand either. The deck is stacked.

How do ya figure all them Wall Street types got their personal Lear Jets and weekend homes in The Hamptons?

Edited November 17, 2014 by impulse

[DLock]

Yes, come in, we welcome everyone.

We will keep 51% of your business, but welcome one and all..!!

I'm all for a little bashing on this one.

But if you can't find an astute Thai business man who is willing to invest 51% to get that ownership, you're either not looking hard enough or you have a crappy business plan.

One of the Thai guys who works with me just built his 5th hotel in one of the major tourist islands. All profitable. Started by buying a tiny patch of land and now he's got a financial empire. He works it part time on the days he's not offshore working for us.

I'd love for him to own 51% of anything I'd do here. Because 49% of something is better than 100% of griping and moaning.

Clearly you're not an Investor...or not a smart one.

I don't want a Thai owning 51% of my Company, whether he invests his money or not.

You see, I have plenty of money. It's my idea. It's my company and I'll run it the way I want with no Thai involvement. Yes, I can dumb him down with preferential shares, voting rights and Directorships, but no Thai paying 51% will let you have ANY control...they control you. Just wait.

I'll hire Thai's 4:1. I'll pay tax. I'll be 100% legal and correct.

But the moment you tell me a Thai essentially controls MY business by owning 51%, I'll go elsewhere.

There are much, much, much easier and better investment options outside of Thailand.

You might want to rethink your business plan....it's flawed.

[impulse]

Yes, come in, we welcome everyone.

We will keep 51% of your business, but welcome one and all..!!

I'm all for a little bashing on this one.

But if you can't find an astute Thai business man who is willing to invest 51% to get that ownership, you're either not looking hard enough or you have a crappy business plan.

One of the Thai guys who works with me just built his 5th hotel in one of the major tourist islands. All profitable. Started by buying a tiny patch of land and now he's got a financial empire. He works it part time on the days he's not offshore working for us.

I'd love for him to own 51% of anything I'd do here. Because 49% of something is better than 100% of griping and moaning.

Clearly you're not an Investor...or not a smart one.

I don't want a Thai owning 51% of my Company, whether he invests his money or not.

You see, I have plenty of money. It's my idea. It's my company and I'll run it the way I want with no Thai involvement. Yes, I can dumb him down with preferential shares, voting rights and Directorships, but no Thai paying 51% will let you have ANY control...they control you. Just wait.

I'll hire Thai's 4:1. I'll pay tax. I'll be 100% legal and correct.

But the moment you tell me a Thai essentially controls MY business by owning 51%, I'll go elsewhere.

There are much, much, much easier and better investment options outside of Thailand.

You might want to rethink your business plan....it's flawed.

My problem isn't with your thought here. That's a valid position you take. (I'd also say the same about venture capital anywhere in the world.) The issue with Thai rules is that you are forced to take on venture capital.

My problem is with the myriad of guys who claim they have to give away the 51% of their business, as if the only thing a Thai is good for is a proxy for a fake deal.

BTW, being an American, that ain't a worry for me.

Edit: I'd also contend that if a guy can't figure out a way to incorporate back home (or in Hong Kong), and run the Thai end of the business as a puppet organization that has to follow the rules set by the home office, they aren't thinking hard enough.

Edited November 17, 2014 by impulse

[jaltsc]

The headline should read Thailand welcomes foreign money not the investors.

Now that's an insult..That's like saying bar girls are only interested in the money and don't care about their customers.

[NamKAheng]

Like I wrote in another post about China:

Don't remember who made that quote, but here it is:

Being in bed with an elephant, no matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, it can be very dangerous when he starts to sneeze.

[Dogmatix]

The PR campaign seems to be telling Thais that G2G contracts negotiated with China and Russia mean that amending the FBA to prevent FDI in the services sectors doesn't matter. They should just wait till they start losing their jobs with Japanese and Western companies and don't get re-employed by the Chinese or Russian government contractors.

BTW the railway deal with China is only available because the Burmese got so fed up with the way China has treated them over the years that they cancelled China's deal to build a railway to the Indian Ocean through Burma. Go figure.

[ezzra]

Come one come all, but when it comes to visa for those good people whom are flocking to the

motherland to invest their best of their money, no siree bob, will get the mickey out you with lots

of run around with our ever changing visa rules and just make life difficult for you guys...

[yellowboat]

The Thai government offers no incentatives and provides no protection. On top of that, they just get in the way.

[kamahele]

Yes, come in, we welcome everyone.

We will keep 51% of your business, but welcome one and all..!!

Absolutely, and we won't allow you to purchase (legally) land to build on when you invest.

[selftaopath]

Yes, come in, we welcome everyone.

We will keep 51% of your business, but welcome one and all..!!

Yea... AND don't even think a/b buying a house while your here. Thais can purchase homes in Western countries, but Thainess doesn't allow that here. So after giving your business to us Thais how a/b buying a house and giving that to a Thai also? Welcome welcome welcome.

Maybe a sign at the airport could say:

Welcome to Thailand ... give us all your money... have a good trip home.

[Benmart]

Ships at sea, that are in distress, often send up flares and blow horns to gain attention.

Countries send up similar "flares" in the form of reassuring statements, statistics, flag waiving and grandiose programs aimed at encouraging investment.

One needs only to lightly scratch the thin veneer to see a volatile and unstable economy.