Why Invest in Thailand
In Thailand, our planation partner has formed a joint venture with Thai Orchids Laboratories (TOL), establishing commercial agro-forestry plantations, which cultivate teak for tropical hardwood production, agarwood for oil production and bamboo for food and timber. TOL have an advanced biotechnology division which specialise in "tisse culture technology." Tissue culture technology is essentially the ability to be able to clone the very best plant specimens in order to reproduce them time and time again, ensuring the very best of quality end product. Founded in 1979, they are today, the world’s largest supplier of forestry related tissue culture technologies. All species are grown from elite Tissue Culture Technology provided by Thai Orchids Laboratories.
Thailand is the 2nd largest economy in South East Asia, next to Indonesia and offers a long standing secure environment for investment and in particular agriculture and forestry, which account for over 50% of GDP. Thailand is the world’s largest exporter of rice which makes it the food bowl for the whole Asian continent.
With a well established stock exchange and integrated international finance centre Thailand is a centre of international banking in Asia, with all the major international banks and institutions present. Thailand’s economic progress is amongst the strongest in the region, with 8% GDP forecast for 2010.
Government Investment 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 a 2006 World Bank report indicated that Thailand was the 4th easiest country in Asia in which to do business.
Geographic Location - There are a range of factors which evidence the benefits offered by Thailand, with one of the most significant being that Thailand enjoys a strategic location at the heart of Asia - home to what is regarded today as the largest growing economic market. From Thailand, it is convenient to trade with China, India and the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which has a cumulative population of more than 500 million. Thailand is also situated in the Golden triangle of Teak production with the best quality, sustainably sourced Teak on the global market today.
ASEAN - Thailand was one of the founding members of ASEAN and has been instrumental to the formation and development of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA). As a member of ASEAN, Thailand has forged closer economic cooperation with ASEAN member nations and Thai manufactured products and services have access to the markets of ASEAN, which includes all 10 ASEAN countries. ASEAN is home to more than half a billion people, GDP in excess of US$700 billion and intra-ASEAN trade of more than US$1 trillion per year.
Strong Economy - Economically, Thailand’s population of 64 million people is characterized by steady growth. Abundant natural resources and a skilled and cost-effective work force helps to attract foreign investment.
Strong Foreign Investment - Finally, Thailand’s strong economic position is evidenced by the fact that despite the current fiscal situation, it has managed to keep low inflation and interest rates as well as attract billions of dollars in foreign investment. Indeed, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development noted that the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows to Thailand continued to rise, thus consolidating the country’s position as the second largest FDI recipient in South-East Asia.
