Thailand rated among world's top investment haven

BANGKOK, August 10 (TNA) - Thailand has been enlisted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the World Bank as a world leading investment and business haven. A latest survey on investors by UNCTAD found that Thailand is now the world's eighth best destination for investment. The US-based World Bank has also rated Thailand the 2nd most convenient country for businesses in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the 17th most convenient country for businesses in the world. Meanwhile, Atchaka Sibunruang Brimble, Secretary-General of the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI), acknowledged that foreign direct investment (FDI) in Thailand had kept rising in the first half of this year, a 67 per cent surge from the corresponding period of last year, particularly in the local automobile industry. Atchaka said Thailand is also shifting from being a source of cheap labour to a manufacturing base of value-added products; while also promoting learning, creative industries, clean technologies, new industrial zones and industries which enhanced national competitiveness. According to the BOI chief, transport networks linking Thailand with neighbouring countries and China are expected to be complete over the next couple of years.(TNA)