BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand expects overall investment applications to drop by 22% to 500 billion baht ($13.76 billion) this year after a first-half slump, its government said on Monday.
The government, however, is hoping its measures to promote investment, including a long-term resident visa launched this month, will draw more foreign investors later this year, spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said in a statement.
The Southeast Asian country has promoted high-tech sectors and supported electric vehicles to maintain its status as a regional auto production base.
In the January-June period, Thai and foreign investment pledges slumped 42% to about 220 billion baht, due mainly to a large power plant project last year, according to the Board of Investment.
Foreign investments, which made up 60% of the overall applications in the January-June period, more than halved year-on-year.
($1 = 36.34 baht)
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(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat; Writing by Orathai Sriring; Editing by Martin Petty)