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 March 2009, said a senior Commerce Ministry
official last week.
Banyong Limprayoonwong, director-general of the Business
Development Department, speaking in his capacity as secretary of the Foreign
Business Committee, said that combined investment by the 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.
Banyong said Japanese business men and financiers
remained the top foreign investors in Thailand. Most of their businesses are
engaged in providing consultants on installing heavy machinery and computers
used in the industrial sector and cash management through an internet
system. (TNA)
