Thai businessmen have been urged to take advantage of a growing investment opportunity within the ASEAN region and beyond.
Former ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said Thai investments overseas are considered quite low, despite the country having the second-most foreign investment in ASEAN after Indonesia. Thailand has accumulated an estimated 400 billion US dollars' worth of foreign investment.
Dr. Surin suggested that the government establish a special fund to promote Thai investment overseas, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Meanwhile President of the Federation of the Thai Industries (FTI) Supan Mongkolsuthee said the Thai government should amend certain regulations to make overseas investments easier for Thai entrepreneurs. He also proposed that the government provide them with low interest rate loans, as a lack of funding currently remains a major problem for many Thai entrepreneurs.