| Q |
What will it cost me to apply for BOI privileges? |
| A |
Absolutely nothing. The entire application process is free. |
| |
|
| Q |
In priority industries, do Thai firms have an advantage? |
| A |
The BOI treats all applications the same, regardless of whether they are from foreigners or Thai nationals, or joint ventures. Thai firms may have an advantage, after BOI approval, as they are familiar with Thai business practices, but as far as the BOI is concerned, our policy is consistent and transparent for all industries. |
| |
|
| Q |
I'd like to invest in the Thai Stock Market. Can I get permission to stay in the country? |
| A |
Not through the BOI. The Board of Investment provides incentives for business-related investment only. |
| |
|
| Q |
I've heard all about BOI incentives. Are they available to anyone, or must you invest huge amounts of money? |
| A |
BOI policy is completely transparent. The criteria for evaluating projects is the same for everyone. The minimum investment required for BOI privileges is one million baht excluding the cost of land and working capital. |
| |
|
| Q |
Does the BOI's investment policy change often? |
| A |
The policy is fine tuned as circumstance demand. It was most recently revised in August 2000. |
| |
|
| Q |
My company is looking to establish a regional headquarters for Asia. We will not be producing anything, but we will manage our Asian operations from this office. Can we get BOI privileges? |
| A |
|
| |
|
| Q |
How can I get statistical data about the Thai economy? |
| A |
From theThailand Information Databasesection on the BOI Home Page. It is located at www.boi.go.th/english/how/tid.asp |
| |
|
| Q |
I'm not quite ready to make an investment. How can I keep informed about the latest information about Thailand? |
| A |
You can keep checking our Home Page, (www.boi.go.th) which is updated on a regular basis. |
| |
|
| Q |
I filled out the requested information in your guest book. What are you going to do with the information? |
| A |
All information provided is confidential. We will not share the information with anyone in government or the private sector. We are simply using the information to enable us to learn more about prospective investors, so that we may serve them better. |
| |
|
| Q |
I have heard that there will be a change atop the Thai government. How will that affect my BOI privileges? |
| A |
Not at all. While governments come and governments go (just like in all countries), government policy towards investors does not. For more than three decades, through a variety of governments, the overall focus of investment policy has been consistent. Foreign investors have always been welcome and the government has long been committed to letting the private sector drive the economy while government provides support. |
| |
|
| Q |
What is the corporate tax rate in Thailand? |
| A |
In general, companies pay 30 percent of net profits. There is a Value Added Tax of 7 percent that is applied to all stages of production. |
| |
|
| Q |
Are there limits on expatriate employees? |
| A |
BOI-promoted companies are permitted to bring in foreign technicians and experts to work on promoted projects or to undertake investment feasibility studies without limitation. For non-BOI promoted companies, other ministries establish regulations, and there are restrictions. In all cases, expatriate employees must obtain a work permit. |
| |
|
| Q |
Are foreigners restricted from operating certain types of business? |
| A |
The Foreign Business Act contains three lists outlining those businesses in which foreigners may or may not participate. To view the full lists, see www.boi.go.th/english/download/faq/Bizzg.pdf |
| |
|
| Q |
Once an application for promotional privileges has been submitted to the BOI, how long does it take for a decision? |
| A |
In general, a decision will be reached within 60 days of submitting complete documentation. This time frame can be expanded to 90 days if projects are valued at more than 500 million baht as these projects require approval by the full Board. |
| |
|
| Q |
What guarantees and protection does the BOI provide for foreign investors? |
| A |
Under the Investment Promotion Act the BOI provides guarantees against nationalization; competition from new state enterprises; price controls; state monopolization of the sale of products similar to those produced by promoted projects; against tax exempt imports by government agencies or state enterprises.
The BOI also guarantees permission to export, permission to own land to carry out promoted activities and permission to take or remit foreign currency abroad.
|
| |
|
| Q |
Does the BOI treat all investors alike regardless of nationality. |
| A |
The Office of the Board of Investment is proud to be the first Investment Promotion Agency in the world to receive the prestigious international ISO 9002 certification. All businessmen, Thai or foreign alike, can therefore be confident that when they invest in Thailand, they will receive fast, fair and transparent treatment. |
| |
|
