BoI sets investment target at Bt720 bln in 2018

BANGKOK, Jan 13 (TNA) -- The state-run Board of Investment (BoI) has set an investment target in Thailand in 2018 at 720 billion baht, up from last year’s target 600 billion baht, said BoI secretary general Duangjai Asawachintachit. Actual investment in 2017 from businesspeople who received promotional privileges for 1,456 projects from the BoI totaled approximately 642 billion baht, said Ms Duangjai. Out of the total investment in 2017, businessmen applied for investment for 388 projects worth about 297 billion baht in the government-sponsored Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), she said. Foreign direct investment by Japanese businessmen ranked first last year with about 133 billion baht followed by Singapore 40 billion baht, China 27 billion baht, the United States 20 billion baht and the Netherlands 16 billion baht. This year, the BoI plans to continue promoting 4.0 national economy and to encourage investment in EEC zone, said Ms Duangjai. BoI will continue persuading investors from Japan, China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Europe to invest in Thailand through conducting at least 15 roadshows, she added. (TNA)