"Anutin" brushes off concerns over Japanese relocation reports, reaffirms Thailand will not abandon existing investors and stands ready to continue supporting the automotive manufacturing base. He states that Japanese investors have been among the earliest to enter Thailand and have been here so long that it is impossible to tell apart Thailand and Japan when it comes to using the country as a production base.
Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, affirmed that the Thai government places great importance on investors from every country — particularly those from Japan, who have long used Thailand as a primary production base and have become an integral part of Thailand's industrial sector. He also gave assurances that Thailand has not abandoned the group of longstanding investors with whom it has built close ties over many years.
The Prime Minister stated that the government's core policy is to remain open and ready to improve various conditions to allow greater flexibility in doing business, under the framework of the good relationship both sides share, in order to achieve sustainable growth. He also emphasized cooperation in long-term economic development to preserve Japan's strong manufacturing base within Thailand.
He further reaffirmed that the government places great importance on the automotive industry, noting that the majority of components — whether engines, bodywork, chassis, or various systems — are currently manufactured within Thailand, all under Japanese brands. As such, this is a relationship that cannot simply be abandoned, and Thailand must also ensure that investors do not abandon it.
"Japanese investors have been among the first to come to Thailand and have been here for so long that it is already impossible to tell whether it is Thailand or Japan when it comes to using this country as a production base. We are ready to ease whatever obstacles exist so they are confident we have not abandoned them — not the kind of situation where we agree to everything when we need them, but then add more conditions later once they are doing well," Mr. Anutin said.
On the subject of electric vehicles (EVs), Mr. Anutin said that he has most recently assigned Mr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, to consider approaches to looking after investors from various countries so that the automotive industry does not end up at a disadvantage when Japanese companies invest in this sector. Structural adjustments will be made across various areas to ensure fairness and to maintain the confidence of manufacturers from each country in Thailand.
As for EVs, even though a large volume of components is being imported in the initial phase, a new domestic supply chain will certainly emerge in the future — covering batteries, computer systems, and other components that will be compelled by production mechanisms to establish their base in Thailand going forward. The government will remain committed to maintaining political and economic stability as a positive factor in attracting and retaining long-term investment.
"We must rely on the numbers as our primary benchmark. Since this government took office, foreign investment flowing into Thailand has increased significantly. Last year it surpassed one trillion baht. We therefore do not yet see any relocation of production bases, or any slowdown in foreign investment, on the grounds that Thailand is not ready," the Prime Minister said.
