Thailand

Why trade or invest in Thailand?

Gateway to Asia and ASEAN

Thailand enjoys a strategic location and serves as a gateway into the heart of Asia – home to what is today the largest growing economic market. The country also offers convenient trade with China, India and the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and easy access into the Greater Mekong sub-region, where newly emerging markets offer great business potential.

Thailand was one of the founding members of ASEAN and has been instrumental in the formation and development of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA). Thailand has forged close economic cooperation with other ASEAN member nations, and Thai manufactured products and services have access to their markets.

Social and political stability

Thailand is a foreigner friendly and welcoming country. The country's form of government is a constitutional monarchy, with a high reverence for the Thai Monarchy.

Growing economy

Economically, this country of 67 million people is characterized by steady growth, strong exports and a vibrant domestic consumer market. Abundant natural resources and a skilled and cost-effective work force help attract foreign investors, and enable them to prosper and develop industry in Thailand.

Sufficient infrastructure

Thailand has good infrastructure with modernized transportation facilities, as well as upgraded communications and IT networks that ensure optimum business and living conditions. World-class industrial estates boast sophisticated facilities and support services to meet the needs of multinationals and SMEs alike.

FDI policies

The country's well-defined investment policies focus on liberalization and encourage free trade. Foreign investments, especially those that contribute to the development of skills, technology and innovation are actively promoted by the government. Thailand consistently ranks among the most attractive investment locations in international surveys, and the World Bank's 2010 Ease of Doing Business report places Thailand as the 12th easiest country in the world in which to do business.

Long-established and newly emerging industries

With steady economic development and strong support industries,the country's industrial production has grown and diversified rapidly both in long–established and newly emerging industries.

The government has emphasized attracting investment in six sectors: agriculture and agro-industry, alternative energy, automotive, electronics and ICT, fashion, and value-added services including entertainment, healthcare and tourism.

Some particularities of the Thai legal system you should know

Numerous government agencies support investors.   Through the Board of Investment, the government offers a range of tax incentives, support services and import duty exemptions or reductions to an extensive list of promoted activities. Companies receiving investment promotion privileges from the Board of Investment are not subject to foreign equity restrictions in the manufacturing sector, and there are no local content requirements nor export requirements, as Thailand's investment regime is in total compliance with WTO regulations.

Whom we work for

A-Law Thailand desk has been providing legal support to clients in different areas, such as real estate issues, corporate and civil (family) law, traffic law, migration law, liability law and debts recovery (bankruptcy, administrative fines).

An in-depth approach of the different legal aspects of cross border cooperation and trade, commercial agency, distribution and franchising of a wide variety of products exported from or imported into Thailand have been assessed through A-Law dedicated team.