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Economist urges funding hike for 3 agencies
Bangkok Post
|September 18, 2025
A bank economist wants the new government to increase the budget for three agencies — the Board of Investment (Bol), the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), and the Commerce Ministry — to stimulate the economy during the administration’s limited tenure.
Kobsak Pootrakool, senior executive vice-president of Bangkok Bank and chief economist of its research centre, said the government should double the Bol’s resources to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI) into Thailand.
The expansion should cover both the Bol’s workforce and budget, ensuring sustainable growth in FDI. Applications for investment promotion incentives surged in the first half of this year.
According to the Bol, applications for investment promotion incentives in the first half of 2025 rose 139% year-on-year, reaching a record 1.06 trillion baht.
“Now is a good time to attract FDI into Thailand, as foreign investors are showing strong interest in the country, in line with Southeast Asia's economic growth and rising geopolitical risks,” Mr Kobsak said.
This story is from the September 18, 2025 edition of Bangkok Post.
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