Proposed investment projects exceed Bt500b in Jan-Apr 2013

BANGKOK, May 18 (TNA) - The value of investment projects seeking promotional privileges from the Board of Investment of Thailand or BOI exceeded 500 billion baht during the first four months of this year. BOI Secretary-General Udom Wongviwatchai told journalists on Friday that investment appears to keep expanding in Thailand this year, as 747 new investment projects, worth 510 billion baht, had sought BOI promotional privileges during the January-April 2013 period, a 26 per cent year-on-year increase. Udom acknowledged that most of the newly-proposed investment projects filed during the first four months of this year were for the expansion of existing projects, with their combined investment amounting to as much as 430 billion baht, reflecting international investors’ confidence in Thailand as a good investment destination. According to the BOI chief, the lion’s share of new investment projects proposed for the BOI's support during the January-April period were 167 service and infrastructure projects; while large-scaled projects included air transport, gas-fired electricity generation, natural gas ports and industrial estates. (TNA)