Foreign Investment In Thailand Surges 37% To 219 Billion Baht
Foreign direct investment in Thailand surged 37% in the first seven months of 2025, reaching 219.2 billion baht, with Chinese, American, and Singaporean investors leading approvals of 736 new foreign businesses.
Poonpong Nainapragan, director-general of the Department of Business Development under the Commerce Ministry, disclosed details on foreign business investment approvals in Thailand under the Foreign Business Operations Act of 1999. In July 2025 alone, 96 foreign businesses were approved to operate with a combined investment of 31.594 billion baht, predominantly from investors in China, Singapore, and the United States.
For the seven-month period from January to July 2025, Thailand approved 736 foreign business applications, a 26% increase year-on-year, with total investment reaching 219.208 billion baht, up 37% compared to the same period in 2024.
The top five source countries in the first seven months of 2025 were: China with 133 businesses accounting for 18% of foreign investment at 38.603 billion baht; the United States with 121 businesses at 16% and 6.226 billion baht; Singapore with 97 businesses at 13% and 61.112 billion baht; Japan with 94 businesses at 13% and 45.085 billion baht; and Hong Kong with 72 businesses at 10% and 14.077 billion baht. Other countries accounted for 219 businesses at 30% with 54.105 billion baht in investment.
Investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor zone totaled 220 projects, or 30% of all foreign investment in Thailand, a 25% increase year-on-year, valued at 85.615 billion baht or 39% of all foreign investment. Investors included 80 Chinese businesses investing 30.042 billion baht, 31 Japanese businesses at 22.636 billion baht, 26 Hong Kong businesses at 4.803 billion baht, and 83 other foreign investors at 28.134 billion baht.
