News
The Japanese Chamber of Commerce (JCC) in Bangkok has recently unveiled the results of a survey that it had conducted on business trends among compatriot enterprises doing business in Thailand. The diffusion index (DI) was 20 points in the first half (January-June) of this year, improving from the 15 marked in the second half of 2016, according to the JCC, which added that it is expected to further rise to 26 in the second half of 2017. The survey was conducted on May 22-June 14, in which a questionnaire was distributed among 1,735 JCC members, 594 of which responded.
Looking at capital investment (manufacturers), 44% indicated they intend to increase investment in fiscal 2017, enjoying the leading share of the pie. Thirty-three percent said their investment projects will remain unchanged, while 17% answered they will make reductions. Forty-four percent said they projects that exports will increase in the second half of 2017, but 50% claimed they will level off. Fifteen percent feared they will decrease. When asked what countries will become promising exports markets in the future, 45 percent of the respondents pointed out Vietnam; 35%, Indonesia; 25%, Myanmar and 18%, Japan.
In respect to requests they would like to make with the government of Thailand, they were asked if they want it to increase investments in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), 34% answered they are undecided, accounting for the largest part. Twenty-six percent replied they are not interested, while those that are interested to some extent amounted to 25%, meaning they do not have a major interest in the project. As for effective EEC policies, 26% suggested that transportation infrastructure be developed immediately (a high-speed railway and/or an expressway linking Bangkok with the EEC), enjoying the largest share. Eighteen percent advised that approval and license formalities be more alleviated, while 17% stressed that airports and seaports be constructed.
