JETRO:Japanese investors are more confidence in Thai economy

BANGKOK, October 19 (TNA) - The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) says that Japanese business operators are likely to expand their investment in Thailand, as they are now more confidence in the Thai economy. JETRO President Hiroki Mitsumata told journalists of the positive prospect on October 18, after the Bangkok-based Japanese agency latest survey on Japanese investment in Thailand in 2017. Mitsumata acknowledged the latest survey found 44 per cent of about 600 Japanese firms planned to expand their investment in Thailand and factors behind the plan include the stable liberal investment policy in the Thai economy, as well as established basic infrastructure and utility systems and easy access to local raw materials, which have facilitated large-scaled Japanese investment plans in the Thai Kingdom when compared with some other countries in the region. Mitsumata revealed that there have been 5,444 Japanese joint ventures in Thailand so far, an increase of 877 when compared with the JETRO survey in 2014, and most Japanese investment in the Thai economy now focuses more on local non-manufacturing sectors, or 53.01 per cent, whereas the Japanese investment in local manufacturing sectors now stands at 43.09 per cent. According to the JETRO chief, Japanese investment projects in Thailand's non-manufacturing sectors, excluding those in the local farm and construction sectors, are mostly in the Thai wholesale sector, where there are 1,278 Japanese firms, followed by those in the service sector, where there are 256 Japanese firms. The JETRO chief noted that most Japanese investment projects in Thailand, or 52.2 per cent, are in Bangkok, followed by those in the capital's adjacent provinces including Chon Buri, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, Rayong, Chacheongsao, Prachinburi, Samut Sakhon and Nonthaburi. (TNA)