Board of Investment’s overseas offices told to be proactive

BANGKOK, Aug 7 (TNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak has ordered 14 overseas offices of the Board of Investment (BoI) to attract investment to projects that support national competitiveness, social equality and sustainability. Meeting heads of the BoI’s 14 overseas offices, Mr Somkid said on Monday that apart from competitiveness, equality and sustainability, BoI should also emphasize promotions for investment in the service sector which accounted for 60% of the gross domestic product. Promotional privileges should be designed to effectively attract the targeted groups of investors and that included promotions for projects in the far South where investors remained reluctant to expand businesses, he said. He advised BoI to target investors from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan and attract investment to both existing and new industries of the country. BoI officials should present Thailand’s competitive geological location suitable for several economic cooperation initiatives, the deputy prime minister said. Mr Somkid acknowledged the small workforce of about 300 officials of the BoI. Pending the recruitment of more staff, BoI could focus on potential investing countries like China, southern Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan and apply artificial intelligence to support its work, Mr Somkid said. (TNA)