Thailand

Why Thailand?

2011 was a challenging year for Thailand – a new Government came to power in September and was faced, almost immediately, by the worst floods to affect the country for 50 years. The Thai Government is now putting together a package of measures that will re-energise the economy and encourage greater foreign investment across a range of sectors. Thailand remains a fundamentally good place to do business and UK companies have reported consistent growth there. Two-way trade between the UK and Thailand has topped £3 billion for the last two years.

Thailand is well placed as a gateway to both the ASEAN and Asia-Pacific markets, and, with its good infrastructure and skills base, is a particularly attractive location for value added manufacturing and services.

Key sectors of opportunity

Agriculture - Opportunities exist for any companies that can help Thailand protect its status as one of the world’s leading traders of agricultural products.

Education and Training - There is growing demand in the Thai private sector for bespoke corporate training programmes and English language courses, tailored to specific areas of industry.

Engineering – automotive and aerospace, packaging machinery, machine tools and metrology.

Environment - Water supply/wastewater treatment, industrial/ hazardous waste management, electrical and electronic waste treatment, environmental monitoring/instrumentation, air pollution control, cleaner industrial processes and environmental consultancy services.

ICT – low cost tablet PCs for schools across Thailand

Oil and Gas - The Gulf of Thailand still offers high potential for additional resources and exploration (including development in marginal fields).

Power - Immediate opportunities linked to energy utilisation from renewable energy sources to produce electricity, the production and use of biogas and biomass and the management of municipal wastes for heat and power.

Rail - The State Railway of Thailand has proposed a four-year development plan requiring investment of around £4.8 billion in 12 projects. In tandem, the Thai government has an ambitious expansion plan for the mass transit network in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area.