BANGKOK, July 2 (TNA) – Investment in industrial
facilities in Thailand increased 15.85 percent in the first half of 2019, says
the Department of Industrial Works.
Thongchai Chawalitpichaet, Director-general of the
Department of Industrial Works, said on Tuesday that investment in the 10
targeted sectors in the Eastern Economic Corridor significantly increased.
However, despite the higher value of investment standing at
Bt195.7 billion, the number of registered factories in the period was down
18.06% year-on-year to 2,064 factories, he said
The figures represent both new factory registrations and
factory expansions.
And factory employment also dropped 5 percent year-on-year
to about 92,000 workers as more companies replaced workers with high-tech
machinery to increase production efficiency, he said.
Notably, investment in petroleum-related industries
significantly jumped 2,369 percent to Bt38.5 billion, Mr. Thongchai told the
press briefing.
The second largest sector was food manufacturing with Bt28.9
billion in value, followed by the electronics sector at Bt19.57 billion.
Mr. Thongchai said he expected higher overall investment in
the second half because the formation of the new government would boost
investor confidence.(TNA)
