BOI aims THB500bn for 2010 investment figure

BANGKOK, 23 November 2009 (NNT) – The Thai Board of Investment (BOI) sets next year’s total investment target at around 500 billion baht. The BOI admits investors are concerned over the Map Ta Phut dispute but they have not yet decided on whether to relocate their production base.

BOI Secretary General, Ms Atchaka Siboonrueng, said that during 1 Jan-16 Nov 2009 the BOI granted promotional privileges to investment projects worth altogether 370 billion baht, raising a hope that the whole-year investment would reach the anticipated target of 400 billion baht. Next year’s target is 500 billion baht.

Meanwhile, the Industry Minister, Mr Charnchai Chairungrueng, believed the Map Ta Phut problems would be solved soon after the quadri-partite committee has been appointed. He said foreign investors were no longer worried as the issue is now handled by the Prime Minister himself.

The projects in the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate have been put on hold by a court order since the beginning of October as local people claimed they were affected by the pollution and that the projects violated environmental regulations. The case is now being investigated and resolved by the special committee.