thailandedition
Foreign Investment in Thailand Surges in January to 33 Billion Baht; EEC Grows 43%

Foreign Investment in Thailand Surges in January to 33 Billion Baht; EEC Grows 43%

Thansettakij•Economy•15h ago

Reader Briefing

Thailand attracted a substantial 33.779 billion baht in foreign investment in January 2025, marking a significant increase from the previous year, with the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) experiencing robust growth.

  • •Foreign investment in Thailand reached 33.779 billion baht in January 2025, a 46% increase year-on-year.
  • •The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) saw a 43% surge in investment value, reaching 14.637 billion baht.
  • •China and Japan were the top foreign investors by number of businesses, while Japan led in investment value.
  • •Employment from foreign investment increased by 15% in January 2025 compared to January 2024.

Overview

  • •In January 2026, 113 foreign businesses received permission to invest in Thailand.
  • •The total investment value by foreign entities in January 2026 amounted to 33,779 million baht.
  • •Investment by foreign entities in January 2026 increased by 10,619 million baht (46%) compared to January 2025.
  • •Foreign investment in January 2026 resulted in the employment of 262 Thai nationals, an increase of 35 people from the previous year.
  • •Investments under the Board of Investment (BOI) accounted for 55 cases (49%) with a value of 17,226 million baht in January 2026.
  • •Investment in the EEC in January 2026 reached 14,637 million baht, representing 43% of the total foreign investment.
  • •Investment in the EEC in January 2026 grew by 31% compared to January 2025, with 38 foreign investors.
  • •The investment trend aligns with government policy to attract foreign investment in future industries such as advanced technology, digital, AI, electric vehicles, clean energy, and food agriculture.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Read on Thansettakij (Thai Version)View in Google Translate

Source: Thansettakij (Original)

Key Entities

Person

Mr. Poonpong Naiyanapakorn(นายพูนพงษ์ นัยนาภากรณ์)
Director-General of the Department of Business Development and Secretary to the Board of Investment Promotion.

Organization

Department of Business Development(กรมพัฒนาธุรกิจการค้า)
A government agency responsible for business development and corporate registration in Thailand.
Ministry of Commerce(กระทรวงพาณิชย์)ℹ️
The Thai government ministry overseeing trade, commerce, and business development.
The Alien Business Operations Board(คณะกรรมการการประกอบธุรกิจของคนต่างด้าว)
A board that grants permission for foreigners to conduct business in Thailand.
Board of Investment(BOI)ℹ️
The Thai government agency responsible for promoting and facilitating foreign investment.

Law

Alien Business Operations Act B.E. 1999(พระราชบัญญัติการประกอบธุรกิจของคนต่างด้าว พ.ศ. 1999)
The legislation governing foreign business operations in Thailand.
Investment under the Investment Promotion Act(การลงทุนตามกฎหมายว่าด้วยการส่งเสริมการลงทุน)
Refers to investments facilitated and regulated by Thailand's Board of Investment (BOI).
Laws of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand(กฎหมายว่าด้วยการนิคมอุตสาหกรรมแห่งประเทศไทย)
Legislation governing the establishment and operation of industrial estates in Thailand.

Place

China(จีน)ℹ️
A country identified as a top foreign investor in Thailand.
Japan(ญี่ปุ่น)ℹ️
A country identified as a top foreign investor in Thailand.
United States of America(สหรัฐอเมริกา)ℹ️
A country identified as a top foreign investor in Thailand.
Singapore(สิงคโปร์)ℹ️
A country identified as a top foreign investor in Thailand.
Hong Kong(ฮ่องกง)ℹ️
A territory identified as a top foreign investor in Thailand.
Eastern Economic Corridor(EEC)ℹ️
A special economic zone in Thailand experiencing significant foreign investment growth.