2. Thai outward FDI: trends and development
Thailand is not yet a significant outward investor
compared with economies such as Brazil, China, Hong Kong
(China), Republic of Korea and Malaysia. But its outward FDI
is growing and it is certainly an economy with a significant
outward FDI potential. The outward FDI stock held by Thai
firms rose from $12.9 million in 1980 to $3.9 billion in 2005,
making it the 26th most active emerging economy investor
(figure 1, table 1). Most Thai outward FDI has been undertaken
by large enterprises, often publicly listed companies.