Politician looks to emphasise quality
Mr Somkid says bad politicians are like Dracula — they fear the light as well as strong people's politics.
The Board of Investment (BoI) is being advised to revise its criteria for granting incentives for foreign direct investment (FDI), basing them on the level of contribution to the economy.Speaking at the "Triam Udom Dinner Talk 2026" on Tuesday, former finance minister Somkid Jatusripitak said amid economic headwinds and a gloomy outlook, FDI would play a pivotal role in supporting the Thai economy and sustaining long-term growth.
"Thailand is beginning to see a second major wave of FDI following the boom period of the 1980s. This new wave involves advanced technology industries that overlooked Thailand six or seven years ago, but are now entering the country because of shifting geopolitical dynamics," he noted.
In light of these developments, Mr Somkid proposed reforming Thailand's investment incentive and evaluation systems under the BoI to better measure contributions to the economy.
