Thailand remains attractive to US investors: Minister

[webfact]

Thailand remains attractive to US investors: Minister
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Industry Ministry Chakramon Phasukvanich insisted that Thailand remains attractive to US investors despite the poor ranking in the US Trafficking in Persons report.

After a discussion with the US-Asean Business Council, he said that the investors considered that the ranking and business operations are two different issues.

He said that US investment in Thailand still controls one fourth of total investment for Asean region, mostly through Ford, Chevrolet, and Seagate Technology.

The business council asked for updates on Thailand’s roadmap towards democracy, competitiveness enhancement and the digital economy.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Thailand-remains-attractive-to-US-investors-Minist-30266089.html

-- The Nation 2015-08-07

[webfact]

Leading U.S. businessmen discuss investment expansion with Thai Commerce Minister

BANGKOK, 7 August 2015 (NNT) – Visiting members of the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) representing 29 leading American companies, paid a courtesy call on Deputy Minister of Commerce Apiradi Tantraporn and discussed with her ways to expand economic cooperation between the two countries.

Apiradi revealed after their visit that she had invited the US businessmen to invest more in the fields that were important to economic development of Thailand, to herald the arrival of the AEC. She proposed they use Thailand as production base of pick-ups and eco-cars for export to the US.

Moreover, Mrs. Apiradi also requested the U.S. to use Thailand as the center to produce automobile parts, and engage in more joint ventures in alternative energy and IT businesses to support Thailand to become E-Gateway in the era of digital economy.

The U.S. is the third largest trade partner of Thailand with bilateral trade value in 2014 amounting to US$38,471 million. Of that amount, US$14,579 million was worth of Thailand’s imports from the U.S.

In terms of investment, the U.S. is the fourth largest foreign investor in Thailand, following Japan, the European Union and Taiwan. Important export commodities of Thailand to the U.S. are computer sets and parts, rubber-made goods, television and radio receivers and parts, gems and jewelry, canned and processed seafood, as well as garments.

The U.S. delegates however expressed concerns over online violations of intellectual property of American products in Thailand and inappropriate advertisements for youths.

Responding to the concern, the deputy minister explained that Thailand has amended laws related to the intellectual property rights. She also believed that the renewal of GSP privileges would generate long-term common benefits between them, hoping it would support the U.S. to become the largest trade partner of Thailand in the future.


-- NNT 2015-08-07

[Muirton]

What government ministers nowadays say usually has no connection with reality in the LOS. Bloomberg Business reports that foreign investors unloaded $744,000,000 of Thai stocks in July. Choose your truth.

[mmh8]

I bet it does, they will be finding a new way to reduce the numbers in the mental health system and the penal system. invest.

[fred Kubasa]

" Show me the money " !

[Bodene]

Perhaps the Nation should understand that 'economic co-operation' and 'investing lots of lovely money in the Land of Scams' are not really the same thing.

But then I've met Yoon so...

[Jimlove]

Foreign investors - incl. US - are running away from Thailand and honestly, what should they Invest in here ? ... Pimp business maybe ...

[Pinot]

I'm an American and I advise everyone never to do business in Thailand.

Investing in Thailand doesn't have anything to do with the Trafficking report. Who cares,? It's about money.

The problem is trying to do business in Thailand. The goal posts are constantly changing. Who do I pay this month? I think it's getting better but years away from becoming a place to safely invest in.

Take a look at the housing market in Phuket for example. It's a disaster. Nothing goes up in price. The market is at a standstill. More inventory coming on the market daily. Everyone I know who owns, wants out. The laws in Thailand won't let you own what you buy here. You have to leave the country every 90 days. Now, why would an American invest a penny here?

That's just the housing market. Doing business here is far more complicated.

I love living here. I have a dream retirement life. Invest here? No.

[faraday]

I'm an American and I advise everyone never to do business in Thailand.

Investing in Thailand doesn't have anything to do with the Trafficking report. Who cares,? It's about money.

The problem is trying to do business in Thailand. The goal posts are constantly changing. Who do I pay this month? I think it's getting better but years away from becoming a place to safely invest in.

Take a look at the housing market in Phuket for example. It's a disaster. Nothing goes up in price. The market is at a standstill. More inventory coming on the market daily. Everyone I know who owns, wants out. The laws in Thailand won't let you own what you buy here. You have to leave the country every 90 days. Now, why would an American invest a penny here?

That's just the housing market. Doing business here is far more complicated.

I love living here. I have a dream retirement life. Invest here? No.

Yes, it seems that almost every week some more Condos appear offering an 'iphone 6' or whatever as an incentive to buy.

I don't understand though why the people who put up the money to build them, don't appear to notice that the housing market not good.

Can you explain that?

[heybruce]

Foreign investors - incl. US - are running away from Thailand and honestly, what should they Invest in here ? ... Pimp business maybe ...

"Pimp business maybe ..."

No way! I'd have to deal with too many corrupt officials.

I have my standards--prostitutes are ok but corrupt officials aren't.

[Bodene]

And everyone knows that the coup had nothing whatever to do with the current state of the Thai economy - or at least, that's what the government and it's admirers claim.

So naturally, "The business council asked for updates on Thailand’s roadmap towards democracy", presumably just for entertainment value.

The government's story doesn't quite hold water. So no surprise there...

[Bodene]

I'm an American and I advise everyone never to do business in Thailand.

Investing in Thailand doesn't have anything to do with the Trafficking report. Who cares,? It's about money.

The problem is trying to do business in Thailand. The goal posts are constantly changing. Who do I pay this month? I think it's getting better but years away from becoming a place to safely invest in.

Take a look at the housing market in Phuket for example. It's a disaster. Nothing goes up in price. The market is at a standstill. More inventory coming on the market daily. Everyone I know who owns, wants out. The laws in Thailand won't let you own what you buy here. You have to leave the country every 90 days. Now, why would an American invest a penny here?

That's just the housing market. Doing business here is far more complicated.

I love living here. I have a dream retirement life. Invest here? No.

Yes, it seems that almost every week some more Condos appear offering an 'iphone 6' or whatever as an incentive to buy.

I don't understand though why the people who put up the money to build them, don't appear to notice that the housing market not good.

Can you explain that?

Are they Thais?

[faraday]

I think their nationality is irrelevant.

I was asking why they invest in building new properties, if there isn't a return.

Nobody is that daft; so there must be another reason.

[temujin1234]

This makes a lot of sense.

[Bodene]

I think their nationality is irrelevant.

I was asking why they invest in building new properties, if there isn't a return.

Nobody is that daft; so there must be another reason.

Which is why I asked if they were Thais... oh never mind, you're right, nationality is always irrelevant.

Except when it isn't.

[2fishin2]

http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-08-04/thailand-s-generals-don-t-have-an-economic-plan. Here read a real financial source

[roamer]

I think their nationality is irrelevant.

I was asking why they invest in building new properties, if there isn't a return.

Nobody is that daft; so there must be another reason.

The question should be whose money is building the properties surely ? You can guarantee that those properties sit on a bank balance sheet somewhere valued at a far higher amount than it cost to build them.

[BudRight]

Here we go speaking for others again.