Thailand Falls Another Three Places on Transparency International’s Corruption Index
Thailand ranked 104th among 180 countries surveyed, down from 101st a year earlier, with an overall score of 36 out of 100. The higher the ranking the greater the perception of corruption, and the lower the score, the higher the perception of corruption. Although there have been minor changes, Thailand’s ratings on Transparency International’s Corruptions Perceptions Index...
Draft Regulations Provide for Some Relaxation of the Foreign Business Act
The primary restriction on foreign ownership of businesses in Thailand is set out in the Foreign Business Act (“FBA”). To legally engage in activities restricted under the FBA, an alien company must obtain a Foreign Business License (“FBL”) or a Foreign Business Certificate (“FBC”) from the Department of Business Development of the Thai Ministry Commerce (“DBD”). This is often easier said...
Higher Returns for Property, Tourism, Entertainment, etc. Sectors After Pandemic Ends
Higher Returns in Tourism, Property, etc., after the Pandemic Ends
The Bangkok Post reported on 20 November 2020 that “Thailand’s biggest manager of distressed assets is bracing for another difficult year in 2021, as the economy faces more headwinds from the pandemic”. This article goes on to quote Bungyong Visatemongkolchai, the chairman of Bangkok Commercial Asset Management Plc (BAM) as...
Facing the Foreign Business Act
To legally engage in activities restricted under the FBA, an alien company must obtain a Foreign Business License (“FBL”) or a Foreign Business Certificate (“FBC”) from the DBD. This is often easier said than done, but there are some exceptions.
Serious and Real Reform of the Thai FBA is Overdue.
The Bangkok Post reported on 21 May 2018 that the foreign business community is (again) pressing for reform of the Foreign Business Operations Act (FBA). We are seeing that again now.
Reform is absolutely necessary, but the foreign business community needs to look carefully at reform proposals, because many past proposals, if they had been enacted, would have made the FBA more restrictive....
A Perfect Storm For Thailand’s Tourism Sector
Pfizer and BioNTech have announced the development of a vaccine that is over 90% successful in preventing Covid-19. This should open investment opportunities in Thailand, particularly in Thailand’s tourism sector.
Thailand’s tourism sector and much of its economy has been in a slump since the Thai government took stringent measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in Thailand. Thailand’s...
The Not So Simple Amity Treaty Exception to the Foreign Business Act
Thailand’s Foreign Business Act, B.E. 2542 (FBA), which repealed and replaced a decree issued by the Thai government in 1972 known as NEC 281 (often also referred as the “Alien Business Law”), provides that “alien companies” – defined solely in terms of foreign share ownership – are not permitted to engage in a wide range of business activities, absent issuance of a foreign business license...
The Controversy Over Proposed Changes to the Foreign Business Act
Over the last several months the local and international press have carried articles about foreign chambers of commerce and embassies appealing to the Thai government to rethink the draft changes to the Foreign Business Act, B.E. 2542 (FBA), arguing these proposed changes to Thai law will hurt future and existing foreign investors and violate Thailand’s WTO obligations.