Investment figure hikes in 2009

BANGKOK, 27 December 2009 (NNT) – The Board of Investment (BOI) has reported 1,193 applications seeking investment promotion worth 514.60 billion THB in 2009, which has generated employment to 129,453 people.

BOI Secretary-General, Dr Atchaka Sibunruang Brimble stated that the capital value was 114.60 billion THB or 28% higher than the estimation. In the beginning of 2009, the BOI expected that the value would stand around 400 billion THB for this year. The result, therefore, indicated that the overall investment situation within the kingdom had shown clear signs of economic recovery.

Dr Atchaka elaborated that there were 132 and 130 projects seeking investment promotion from the BOI in September and October 2009 respectively. The figures were the highest when compared with other months earlier. She said normally there were only 60-120 applications seeking the investment promotion from the organization in each month.

The secretary-general announced that there were 264 applications worth 181.20 billion THB using the BOI service from 1 November to 21 December 2009.

Dr Atchaka added that businesspersons expressed the highest interest to invest in service and utility industries worth 303.70 billion THB, followed by electronic and electrical appliances at 51.42 billion THB. Others were metal products, machinery, and transport equipment at 49.45 billion THB, and agro-industrial products at 43.45 billion THB, respectively.