Fewer projects seek privileges
Project applications for promotional privileges dropped 43 per cent in value to Bt350 billion in the first nine months of this year, the Board of Investment (BoI) said yesterday.
However, the number of applications during the past eight and a half months reached 935, up from 895 for the same period last year.BoI secretary-general Satit Chanjavanakul said that for the same period last year, the value of the applications was Bt491 billion. Petrochemicals and service investors have accounted for the biggest share of the applications so far this year. Ousted Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak had set this year's target for the BoI at Bt700 billion, of which Bt500 billion should come from projects investing in major industries. Satit said the target might be missed, following last week's coup. The BoI has also changed its plan to stage road shows in countries with few projects in Thailand. Now, they will go to countries that are the main investors here, including Japan, the US and Europe, in order to update investors there about the political and investment situations in the Kingdom. Most foreign investors have retained their confidence in the country despite the political change and believe the political situation here will soon become clearer. Watcharapong Thongrung The Nation
|
