Bangkok: Foreign investment in Thailand saw a significant increase in January 2026, with over 33 billion baht in circulation, predominantly driven by investments from China and Japan.
According to Thai News Agency, the government reported that 113 foreign companies invested in Thailand under the Foreign Business Act of 1999, marking a 10% increase in the number of investors compared to previous periods. The total investment value rose by 46% to 33,779 million baht, creating 262 jobs for Thai citizens, a 15% increase.
In January 2026, 113 foreign investors were granted permission to invest in businesses in Thailand under the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999). This included 24 investments through foreign business licenses and 89 through foreign business certificates, facilitated by investment promotion laws and agreements. The investments led to the creation of 262 jobs for Thai citizens.
Chinese companies led the investments, with 26 firms representing 23% of foreign businesses in Thailand, investing 5.39 billion baht in sectors such as wood processing, wholesale of items, and electric vehicle battery services. Japanese firms followed closely with 25 companies, accounting for 22% of foreign businesses, investing 15,315 million baht in sourcing raw materials, quality assurance services, and software development.
The United States contributed with 16 companies investing 420 million baht, focusing on engineering services, advertising, and software development. Singaporean companies invested 5,513 million baht through 12 firms in raw materials sourcing, cloud services, and solar power generation. Hong Kong's 10 companies invested 587 million baht in engineering services and software improvement.
The majority of these investments, totaling 55 companies and 17,226 million baht, were issued permits under the Board of Investment law, supporting the government's policy to attract foreign investment in future industries like advanced technology, digital technology, AI, and clean energy. The top business types receiving permits were contract manufacturing services, high-value services, and computer services.