24 foreign firms approved to operate businesses in Thailand in March

BANGKOK, April 6 (TNA) — Twenty-four foreign firms were allowed to start businesses in Thailand in March, up only 9 per cent from the previous month but a jump of 37 per cent from last March, said a senior Commerce Ministry official.

Banyong Limprayoonwong, director-general of the Business Development Department, speaking in his capacity as secretary of the Foreign Business Committee, that combined investment by 24 foreign firms is about Bt842 million.

Of the total, three — a German, an Austrian and a Taiwanese firm — were given the green light to jointly engage in providing consultant  services for construction of the government-sponsored purple route of an integrated mass transit rail system, aimed at easing traffic congestion on the outskirts of Bangkok.

The 23-kilometre purple route runs from Bang Yai in Nonthaburi province to Bang Sue in northern Bangkok’s outskirts. Construction investment is estimated at Bt13 billion.

Mr Banyong said Japanese investors remained top foreign investors in Thailand. Most of their businesses are engaged in providing consultants on installing heavy machinery and computer used in industrial sector and cash management through an internet system.