Suphajee eases permits for 7 foreign service businesses

MGR Online•Politics•7d ago

Reader Briefing

Deputy Prime Minister Suphajee Suthamphan signed a ministerial regulation exempting seven types of foreign service businesses from permit requirements.

•The regulation was published in the Royal Gazette on August 28, 2026.
•Seven types of service businesses are now exempt from foreign business permits.
•The policy targets large-scale industries, finance, and multinational corporate structures.
•The goal is to attract investment and position Thailand as a Regional Hub.

Overview

•The Royal Gazette published the Ministerial Regulation on August 28, 2026.
•Suphajee Suthamphan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, signed the regulation exempting seven service businesses from permits.
•Exempted businesses include telecommunications, treasury centers, administrative-HR-IT work between related entities, debt guarantees, and petroleum drilling services.
•The Thai government aims to reduce legal barriers for the movement of capital and corporate restructuring to compete with Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
•The regulation facilitates the establishment of shared services or regional services, such as IT or HR centers in Thailand.
•Expected positive outcomes include increased investment, high-skilled job creation, tax revenue, and technology transfer.
•There is a risk of intense competition that could cause small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to fail.
•Concerns exist regarding the potential use of nominee companies to circumvent remaining legal restrictions on reserved businesses.

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Key Entities

Person

Suphajee Suthamphan(ศุภจี สุธรรมพันธุ์)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce who signed the ministerial regulation.

Organization

Royal Gazette(ราชกิจจานุเบกษา)

The official publication that announced the ministerial regulation on August 28, 2026.

Law

Ministerial Regulation Prescribing Service Businesses Not Requiring Permission for Foreign Business Operation (No. 5) 2026(กฎกระทรวงกำหนดธุรกิจบริการที่ไม่ต้องขออนุญาตในการประกอบธุรกิจของคนต่างด้าว (ฉบับที่ 5) พ.ศ. 2569)

The regulation that removes permit requirements for seven types of foreign service businesses.

Place

Japan(ญี่ปุ่น)ℹ️

Mentioned as a potential location for the parent company of a multinational corporation.

Singapore(สิงคโปร์)ℹ️

A regional competitor to Thailand in attracting foreign investment.

Vietnam(เวียดนาม)ℹ️

A regional competitor to Thailand in attracting foreign investment.

Malaysia(มาเลเซีย)ℹ️

A regional competitor to Thailand in attracting foreign investment.

Indonesia(อินโดนีเซีย)ℹ️

A regional competitor to Thailand in attracting foreign investment.