NEWS
East West Economic Corridor: Asian Highway Connecting 9 Countries
Recently, there has been more ease in traveling and business ventures between Thailand and its neighboring countries. And in the near future that ease will be made more readily to citizens in these countries with the foreign policy of highways connecting 9 neighboring countries of Thailand that has been continued from the previous government.
With 16 main highways connecting to our neighboring countries: 6 highways connecting to Laos, 3 highways connecting to Cambodia, 4 highways connecting to Myanmar and 3 highways connecting to Malaysia. These will expand into 4 other countries which are China, Vietnam, India and Singapore.
The international highways will benefit greatly to Thailand and its people.
Our 8 neighboring countries will also benefit.
Thailand, being situated in the middle of Indochina can take advantage of this infrastructure and increase its role in the region's markets. The international relationship will improve as to the ease in communications and business transaction between countries will improve. Thailand has long been an important competitor in the region and this foresight will increase our potential as an economic power in South East Asia.
Furthermore, these highways will help improve the economic and society of Thailand. It will also extend the relationship between countries with similar geography and promote a joint venture into aiding each other in developing and improving its economy and other aspect of business transactions. This will increase the investment from public and private sectors alike to invest in Thai markets and its products.
The direct advantage Thailand will gain out of the highways will be our extended potentials in competing directly with neighboring countries. The highways will decrease the money needed to invest and shipping of the transaction. This will help promote the export market of Thai products.
Better living conditions and societal improvement will also benefit. The highways will create more job and more demands. The reduction of costs will be inevitable as the direct communication and transactions will be available. The government will also be able to keep closer eyes on the educational and health care aspect of life for Thai people.
The in-direct benefits Thailand will receive from building this highway is the more demands requirements from all kinds of workforce. The connection of countries will lead to development in economy, welfare and better living conditions for Thai people. All of this will help in erasing poverty, illegal immigrants, criminal activities and diseases from Thailand.
If we were to focus into the EWEC (East West Economic Corridor) between Thailand and its neighboring countries, Dr. Pattaratira Pholngam, The Director of Masters Educations in Tactical Development of Rajabhat Institute, Loei, the project study leader, has said that the highway will be completed around year 2008 and Thailand should be ready to take advantages from the new infrastructures. The countries that will be ready will benefit most from the highways but those who are not as ready will be affected economically and demographically.
The development of the highways will affect a country in many ways such as the instabilities in the border towns, politics, drugs, criminal activities, illegal immigrations, diseases and natural resources.
The highway starts, in Thailand, from 777 km. outside of Mukdahan Province to Tak Province, the length of the highway is thought to be around 1,450 km. just inside Thailand.
Thailand will be able to connect from Myanmar to India by using the already built highways between the countries, and in the near future, the highway will extend all the way out to South Africa.
This highway will benefit all the Thai people and other South East citizens alike.
Source : Hua Hin Mirror Newspaper
What You Need to Know about Setting up a Business in Thailand
Post Feb. 1, 2007
The following is an overview of establishing a business in Thailand.
As in most countries, there are three kinds of business organizations in Thailand: Sole proprietorships, partnerships, and limited companies. The most popular form of business organization among foreign investors is the private limited company.
Private limited companies require a minimum of seven promoters and must file a memorandum of association, convene a statutory meeting, register the company, and obtain a company income tax identity card. They must also follow accounting procedures specified in the Civil and Commercial code, the Revenue Code and the Accounts Act. A balance sheet must be prepared once a year and filed with the Department of Revenue and Commercial Registration. In addition, companies are required to withhold income tax from the salary of all regular employees.
The Ministry of Industry administers The Factory Act, which governs factory construction and operation, as well as safety and pollution-control requirements. In some cases, factories do not require licenses, in other instances the requirement is simply to notify officials in advance of start-up, and in some cases licenses are required prior to commencing operations. Licenses are valid for five years, and are renewable.
Thailand recognizes three kinds of intellectual property rights: patents, trademarks, and copyrights.
The Patent Act protects both inventions and product designs and pharmaceuticals. The Copyright Act protects literary, artistic works, and performance rights, by making it unlawful to reproduce or publish such works without the owner's permission. The Trademark Act governs registration of, and provides protection for, trademarks.
The Alien Occupation Law requires all foreigners working in Thailand to obtain a Work Permit prior to starting work in the Kingdom, except when they are applying under the Investment Promotion Law, in which case they have 30 days to apply.
Non-Immigrant visas provide the holder with eligibility to apply for a work permit, and allow the holder to work while the work permit application is being considered.
Source: BOI
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