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Top 5 Investor Countries in Thailand Jan 2026, 33 Billion Baht

Top 5 Investor Countries in Thailand Jan 2026, 33 Billion Baht

Post Today•Economy•18h ago

Reader Briefing

Foreign investment in Thailand reached 33.779 billion baht in January 2026, primarily from China, Japan, and the USA, with focus on manufacturing and services.

  • •Foreign investment in Thailand in January 2026 totaled 33.779 billion baht, a 46% increase.
  • •China, Japan, and the USA were the top three investing countries, contributing significantly.
  • •Investments spanned various sectors including wood processing, e-commerce, software development, and electric vehicle battery services.
  • •The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) attracted substantial investment, particularly from China.

Overview

  • •In January 2026, foreign investors were granted permission to operate 113 businesses in Thailand, a 10% increase.
  • •Total investment value in January 2026 reached 33,779 million baht, showing a 46% rise.
  • •The top 5 investing countries were China (26 cases, 5,390 million baht), Japan (25 cases, 15,315 million baht), the USA (16 cases, 420 million baht), Singapore (12 cases, 5,513 million baht), and Hong Kong (10 cases, 587 million baht).
  • •Investment in January 2026 was primarily through the Board of Investment (BOI) route, accounting for 55 cases (49%) with a value of 17,226 million baht.
  • •The government's policy focuses on attracting investment in future industries like advanced technology, digital, AI, electric vehicles, clean energy, and food agriculture.
  • •The Department of Business Development stated that the primary focus of allowed businesses aligns with government policies targeting future industries.
  • •Investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) in January 2026 amounted to 14,637 million baht, representing 43% of total investment.
  • •Chinese investors led investment in the EEC in January 2026 with 19 cases worth 5,293 million baht, followed by Singapore (5 cases, 4,310 million baht) and Japan (5 cases, 1,306 million baht).

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Source: Post Today (Original)

Key Entities

Person

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

Organization

Department of Business Development(กรมพัฒนาธุรกิจการค้า)
Thai government agency responsible for business registration and promotion, within the Ministry of Commerce.
Ministry of Commerce(กระทรวงพาณิชย์)
Thai government ministry responsible for trade, commerce, and business development.
Board of Investment Promotion(คณะกรรมการการประกอบธุรกิจของคนต่างด้าว)
A committee responsible for approving foreign business operations in Thailand.
Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand(การนิคมอุตสาหกรรมแห่งประเทศไทย)
A government agency responsible for the development and management of industrial estates in Thailand.
Board of Investment(BOI)ℹ️
The Thai agency responsible for promoting investment, through which a significant portion of foreign investment in January 2026 was facilitated.

Law

Alien Business Operations Act B.E. 1999(พ.ร.บ.การประกอบธุรกิจของคนต่างด้าว พ.ศ.1999)
The legal framework governing foreign business operations in Thailand.
Investment Promotion Act(กฎหมายว่าด้วยการส่งเสริมการลงทุน)
Legislation that governs investment promotion activities in Thailand, often managed by the Board of Investment (BOI).

Place

China(จีน)ℹ️
A country identified as the top foreign investor in Thailand in January 2026.
Japan(ญี่ปุ่น)ℹ️
A country identified as the second-largest foreign investor in Thailand in January 2026.
United States of America(สหรัฐอเมริกา)ℹ️
A country identified as the third-largest foreign investor in Thailand in January 2026.
Singapore(สิงคโปร์)ℹ️
A country identified as a significant foreign investor in Thailand, particularly in the EEC, in January 2026.
Hong Kong(ฮ่องกง)ℹ️
A country identified as a foreign investor in Thailand in January 2026.
Eastern Economic Corridor(EEC)ℹ️
A special economic zone in Thailand that attracted substantial foreign investment in January 2026.