Thai investment to be boosted after new government formed

BANGKOK, March 12 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Commerce expects the new government should be formed in mid 2014 and investment in the country should keep expanding thereafter. Srirat Rastapana, Permanent Secretary for Commerce, told journalists that international investors are monitoring political problems in Thailand and if a new government could be formed within June 2014, domestic investment should be then active. Srirat acknowledged that many countries view Thailand as suitable for investment; so, her ministry and the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) will continue to promote domestic investment. Srirat assessed that Thai exports should also be boosted to meet an official target when the political vacuum of Thailand ends and the new government takes office. Srirat revealed that her ministry also plans assistance for business operators who will be affected by the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) through 100-million-baht assistance strategies. According to the senior official, the strategies include international negotiations for business operators' benefits, the development of knowledge about the AEC, the improvement of the Ministry of Commerce’s services for business operators, the enhancement of Thailand’s competitiveness, economic development in regional and border areas, the expansion of Thailand’s markets in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the modernization of trade and economic laws, the capability improvement of personnel of the Ministry of Commerce and relevant agencies in the public and private sectors.(TNA)