Thread: Which are the very best sources of info re: investment in LOS?

hi all

I am trying to pull together a bit of an investment strategy and am at the stage of pulling out all remaining hair in terms of trying to getting straight answers to various questions I have. I have been across this forum, thaivisa and other online source - including those of Thai government agencies - and the extent of discrepancy is just amazing. Even within the one (public agency) web site I have found contradictory information. Have tried going face to face to get info, but you then just get another version of the 'facts'... ask the staff member you see next time (in the same office) and its another story again. I think we have all encountered this type of thing in our home countries - but the extent to which it occurs here in truly mind-boggling.

Anyway I am raving now, so I better get to the point. Which specific sources of info about Thai business/investment issues have other forum users found to be the most reliable? I don't care whether its reports in Thai agencies web sites, consultants web sites, whatever ... I am just interested in turning up any gems that I haven't come across yet. I am looking at several investment possibilities so that's why I haven't been more specific ... still checking things out.

Cheers

you will define what you mean by investment,

real assets investment ? as building a new company or taking over a full company and its assets

financial investment ? as being a co-owner of a company,

property investment ?

you will never get precise information if you are not clear already in your objectives,

for stock market try this link SETTRADE.COM - Leading Technology for Professional Investors
there are investment forums in Thailand, but they are all in Thai.
A crazy farang writes his ravings here Free Advice On Thai Stock Investment (Blog-Forum) - Really one of the best stock forums

The two areas I am focussing on at the moment are property investment and/or possible part ownership of a company. That Thai share tipping blog was interesting, thanks.

As they may well be of interest to others I would also mention the two following sources which I have found useful:

"Doing Business in Thailand: A Country Commercial Guide for U.S Companies" downloadable from the web site of the US Embassy in Bangkok. This is updated every year and contains general info of value (not just for US nationals)

"Your Investment Guide to Thailand" ... I got this book just recently but it seems to be very well-researched and covers a lot of relevant topics. It also has a hell of a lot of other reference material noted in it. (If you google on the book title and name of publisher (Silkworm Books) it comes up with a link to a summary of the book)

Tooth brush covers are the way forward, this time next year Rodders we'll be miwionairs

I recon the only way to go is invest your money at home, retire to Thailand on a wedge and live happily ever after.

After pondering this subject for many years and studying this forum I figure the saddest bastards going are the ones that come to Thailand invest there coin and expect to get financial rewards.

Some are succesful but many more crash and burn much the same as marrying a bar girl or going to the casino and placing all your chips on Red.

The ones that are enjoying there time and living the good life are the guys that already have there fortunes made and don't have to worry about dealing with the Thai system and its downfalls.

These guys are the ones that sail over the Thai bureaucracy and the pitfalls of investing in a country where the rules rarely apply unless its concerning shafting the farang right up the blurter and extracting there money as quickly as possible.

Anyway, I'm choosing the good life and leaving my money at home making a nice little earner whilst I'm living in luxury with the only worry being what I'm going to do next concerning having a nice time.

Good luck with it matey but remember the golden rule :

Your not allowed to cry when it all goes tits up and you got fok all left except a massive hangover and a snotty old slug.

good post Terry , be interested to see how long it lasts as I posted essentially the same earlier only to have a mod delete it .

Hi Thomas

Take a look at the links below:


The Board of Investment in Thailand:
***** I can't post links before I have got a post count of 5 :-( *****

ThaiTrade:
***** I can't post links before I have got a post count of 5 :-( *****

Online trade:
***** I can't post links before I have got a post count of 5 :-( *****

Please take a look at this press release, which is very interesting:


"BOI raises special investment promotion measures to greater support investment in the Southern of Thailand.

Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) introduced special investment promotion measures to help boost investment and business in the three Southern provinces; Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat. The measures include special investment promotion incentives and the extension of the investment incentive application period until 2012.

Industry Minister Charnchai Chairungruang said after the board meeting on July 15, 2009, chaired by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, that the measures are also aimed to support the government’s stimulus package, “Thailand: Invest for Strength to Strength 2012”.

Under this measure, the BOI has broadened the investment promotion scope by allowing all types of businesses operating in the three Southern provinces to be eligible for promotion incentives. Investors will benefit from the eight-year cooperate income tax exemption, exemption of import duties on machinery and raw materials, a subsequent 50% reduction of corporate income tax for five years, double deduction on public utilities and transportation costs, and deduction of infrastructure construction and installation cost up to 25% of capital investment.

The Board also extended the investment incentive application period till December 31, 2012 to support existing investors’ investment expansion projects in the three Southern provinces. The investors are allowed to merge their existing projects with the expansion projects to receive longer corporate income tax exemption period. The double deduction of public utilities and transportation cost period is also extended to fifteen years from currently ten years".


For further information contact:


INVESTMENT SERVICES CENTER
THE BOARD OF INVESTMENT
MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY


Their detailed contact information are the following:


555 Vipavadee Rangsit Road,
Chatuchuck,
Bangkok 10900
Tel. 0 2537- 8111, 0 2537- 8155
Fax : 0 2537-8177


I cold not post the links, since I don't have a post count of 5, so write me and I will send you the links.

Originally Posted by Thomas

hi all

I am trying to pull together a bit of an investment strategy and am at the stage of pulling out all remaining hair in terms of trying to getting straight answers to various questions I have. I have been across this forum, thaivisa and other online source - including those of Thai government agencies - and the extent of discrepancy is just amazing. Even within the one (public agency) web site I have found contradictory information. Have tried going face to face to get info, but you then just get another version of the 'facts'... ask the staff member you see next time (in the same office) and its another story again. I think we have all encountered this type of thing in our home countries - but the extent to which it occurs here in truly mind-boggling.

Anyway I am raving now, so I better get to the point. Which specific sources of info about Thai business/investment issues have other forum users found to be the most reliable? I don't care whether its reports in Thai agencies web sites, consultants web sites, whatever ... I am just interested in turning up any gems that I haven't come across yet. I am looking at several investment possibilities so that's why I haven't been more specific ... still checking things out.

Cheers

hey mr patman

looks like we're snookered! you don't have enough posts up to include links and i don't have enough posts up to send pm's! we better get posting.

anyway thanks for the additional leads which I will probably be able to find using google, etc. be sure to try and get hold of that book i mentioned "Your Investment Guide to Thailand" - its just been released and has some good stuff in it. Thomas

Yeah, I'll make some more posting in here and put in the links, if you haven't found them in some search machine.

I'll take a look at the guide you stated.

Originally Posted by Thomas

hey mr patman

looks like we're snookered! you don't have enough posts up to include links and i don't have enough posts up to send pm's! we better get posting.

anyway thanks for the additional leads which I will probably be able to find using google, etc. be sure to try and get hold of that book i mentioned "Your Investment Guide to Thailand" - its just been released and has some good stuff in it. Thomas

Originally Posted by Thomas

hi all

I am trying to pull together a bit of an investment strategy and am at the stage of pulling out all remaining hair in terms of trying to getting straight answers to various questions I have.
I better get to the point. Which specific sources of info about Thai business/investment issues have other forum users found to be the most reliable? I am looking at several investment possibilities so that's why I haven't been more specific ... still checking things out.

Your own good judgement after you have been living here for at least 5 yrs.
That is ....if you still want to invest at the time. You will know what works and what not "for you".
But all in all, just basic principle of investing "buy low, sell high", and knowing that "all investments are also at risk and that you could lose all".

It doesn't take a genius to know that.....just little common sense

If anyone is up on shorting the Thai market please advise, that will be what will be making money in the near term.