Connect with us

Business

Foreign Investors on Edge in Junta Ruled Thailand

Published

on

Junta Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha speaks during a media press conference at Government House in Bangkok – Photo Lillian Suwanrumpha

BANGKOK – Thailand’s military regime, keen to promote its ambitious Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) development program, sent mixed signals to the same foreign investors it hopes will commit capital to the multi-billion dollar scheme.

On March 19, the Board of Investment (BOI), the government agency responsible for granting promotional privileges to foreign direct investment (FDI), hosted its annual public relations event titled “Thailand – Taking off to New Heights.”

Government big wigs including Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak appealed to the 2,000 participants to join the ambitious EEC, designed to lift the kingdom out of its middle- income trap and move up the value-added chain to higher tech industries such as electric vehicles, robotics and biochemical.

The 1.7 trillion baht (US$54 billion) scheme will leverage into the existing Eastern Seaboard, the country’s industrial heartland that has fueled decades of industrial export-led growth that has more recently lost competitiveness to lower cost regional rivals, including China.

“We need partners,” Somkid, the junta’s economic czar, said at the event.

The next day, however, the Commerce Ministry’s Business Development Department announced plans to amend the Foreign Business Act (FBA) to tackle the nation’s long-festering “nominee problem.”

Nothing sends chills down the collective spine of Thailand’s foreign business community like plans to amend the FBA, a protectionist piece of legislation that prohibits 100% foreign-owned companies from participating in a host of business activities ranging from rice farming and making Buddha images to wholesaling, retailing and operating hotels and restaurants.

An employee works at an assembly line at the new Ford Thailand manufacturing plant located in Rayong province, East of Bangkok – Photo Chaiwat Subprasom

Many elude the provision by taking on Thai nominees who are nominally shareholders in their foreign-invested ventures, but through contractual provisions lack managerial, operational or legal control. An entire industry, facilitated by local and foreign law firms, has developed around the nominee system.

Threats to amend the FBA have come and gone in the past. The last nationalistic push came months after the May 14, 2014 coup that brought then army commander General Prayut Chan-ocha and his military lieutenants to power.

That effort, coming at a time when Thailand’s international reputation was in already in tatters for reverting to military rule, especially among Western democracies, was shot down by vocal objections by various foreign chambers of commerce, including representatives of the Japanese business community which accounts for about 50% of Thailand’s manufacturing.

Japan Inc started shifting its production bases to Thailand in the mid-1980s to avoid the ill-effects of the appreciation of the yen currency following the 1985 Plaza Accord signed by five industrial nations to deliberately weaken the US dollar vis a vis the yen.

Japan has more than 2,000 registered companies in Thailand, which are the bedrock of Thailand’s export-oriented industries such as automobiles, electronics and electrical appliances. The Japanese expatriate community in Bangkok is one of the largest in the world, giving rise to a plethora of restaurants, bars, super markets, services and apartment blocks catering to Japanese customers.

SME executives from Mie prefecture in Japan meet Deputy Prime Minister – Photo Somkid Jatusripitak.

While many of the largest Japanese manufacturing companies are 100% Japanese-owned, provided they are BOI promoted, and some even own industrial land if allowed by the BOI or based on industrial estates, the majority operate as joint ventures with Thai partners.

Under the FBA, a company is defined as “foreign” if ownership is more than 50%. Most joint ventures have 49% foreign equity, with Thai partners owning the remaining shares, acting essentially as nominees. As such, joint venture companies can participate in the myriad business activities reserved for Thais under the FBA.

The existing FBA, promulgated in 1999 to replace the even more onerous-sounding Alien Business Act of 1972, a decree passed by former dictator Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn (1963-1973), does not prohibit the issuance of different classes of shares with different voting rights, a loophole that allows a 49% foreign-owned company to exercise majority voting rights.

The Commerce Ministry’s latest proposed amendment to the FBA would apparently change that by expanding the definition of a foreign company to one with majority foreign shares or majority voting rights.

“The new definition of foreigner will also take into account the management control or voting rights,” Kulanee Issadisai, director general of the ministry’s Business Development Department, told the Bangkok Post newspaper.

Details of the proposed amendment, which might include relaxing the list of businesses in which foreigners are excluded, have yet to be fully disclosed. But an amendment of the voting rights clause is exactly what the foreign business community dreads and what Thailand’s military and future governments should fear as well.

“If the amendment was enforced everything would collapse,” opined one foreign lawyer who has been operating in Thailand for the past 40 years.

Ratchada Railway Night Market is seen during dusk in Bangkok, Thailand – Photo Athit Perawongmetha

That is what the collective foreign chambers of commerce told the Commerce Ministry three years ago, when the FBA amendment was first mooted under the junta regime. The first bid to amend the FBA was dropped after the negative implications for FDI became apparent.

“I was at a meeting with the Commerce Ministry three years ago where a Japanese representative stood up and said, ‘Don’t do this. You will destroy the county,’” recalled one former president of a European chamber of commerce. “The Japanese are concerned not because of their restaurants, but because the whole Japan Inc in Thailand is using these structures.”

While some Japanese manufacturing companies are 100% foreign owned, they need to use joint ventures to operate trading and wholesale activities which are essential to running an integrated business in Thailand.

American, European, South Korean, Taiwanese and now increasingly Chinese investors are all use Thai “nominee partners” in their joint ventures to operate many aspects of their businesses.

Thai businesses also utilize the nominee structure to their advantage. For example, when former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who made his fortune in the telecoms sector, sold his family’s 49% stake in the Shin Corporation to Singapore’s Temasek Holding in 2006, he put in place alleged Thai nominees to hold the remaining 51% to qualify as a Thai company.

An anti-government protester waves a Thai flag as he gathers with others outside the Parliament House in Bangkok -Photo Athit Perawongmetha

The sale fueled nationalistic street protests against Thaksin that eventually led to the September 2006 coup that overthrew his elected government.

The coup-installed regime under prime minister Surayud Chulanont also mooted an amendment to the FBA in a bid to undermine the Shin Corp sale by exposing the nominee structure of the deal. That bid was eventually dropped, however, after much lobbying by the FDI community.

Some legal experts speculate that the latest FBA amendment drive may have been motivated by the military regime’s renewed investigations into Thaksin’s business dealings, although he has been in self-exile since 2008.

Others point to powerful Thai business groups that don’t appreciate foreign competition in the local markets they dominate.

In other respects, Prayut’s regime has been pro-FDI, going out of its way to remove obstacles to investments that helped Thailand jump to #26 in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing business index last year, rising from #46 in 2016.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha (C) arrives at a tunnel under the Chao Phraya river to observe the construction of a Mass Rapid Transit subway station in Bangkok – Photo Athit Perawongmetha

The regime has lifted restrictions on foreign participation in financial services and insurance, and introduced new incentives to attract international headquarters to Thailand that include eased rules on foreign participation in certain business activities such as wholesale and trade.

But the military government’s biggest gamble is the EEC scheme, designed to transform three eastern coastal provinces into an FDI-fueled liberal business zone to rival Singapore.

By design, the program will be heavily dependent on FDI to jumpstart high-tech and R&D driven industries where Thais lack a natural competitive advantage.

“We have done everything in our power to make sure the benefits given in the EEC are comparable, if not better, than other alternatives,” said Kobsak Pootrakool, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office. “I think this will be one of the most exciting times to invest in Thailand.”

But this week’s threats to amend the FBA have made Thailand’s foreign investment climate exciting again for reasons that could cause more FDI to leave, rather than enter, the kingdom.

By Peter Janssen
Asian Times

Continue Reading

Business

PepsiCo Reduces Revenue Projections As North American Snacks And Key International Markets Underperform.

Published

on

By

Pepsi

(VOR News) – In the third quarter of this year, Pepsi’s net income was $2.93 billion, which is equivalent to $2.13 per share. This was attributed to the company.

This is in stark contrast to net income of $3.09 billion, which is equivalent to $2.24 per share, during the same period in the previous year. The company’s earnings per share were $2.31 when expenses were excluded.

Net sales decreased by 0.6%, totaling $23.32 billion. Organic sales increased by 1.3% during the quarter when the effects of acquisitions, divestitures, and currency changes are excluded.

Pepsi’s beverage sales fell this quarter.

The most recent report indicates that the beverage and food sectors of the organization experienced a 2% decline in volume. Consumers of all income levels are demonstrating a change in their purchasing habits, as indicated by CEOs’ statements from the previous quarter.

Pepsi’s entire volume was adversely affected by the lackluster demand they encountered in North America. An increasing number of Americans are becoming more frugal, reducing the number of snacks they ingest, and reducing the number of times they purchase at convenience stores.

Furthermore, Laguarta observed that the increase in sales was partially attributed to the election that occurred in Mexico during the month of June.

The most significant decrease in volume was experienced by Quaker Foods North America, which was 13%. In December, the company announced its initial recall in response to a potential salmonella infection.

Due to the probability of an illness, the recall was extended in January. Pepsi officially closed a plant that was implicated in the recalls in June, despite the fact that manufacturing had already been halted.

Jamie Caulfield, the Chief Financial Officer of Pepsi and Laguarta, has indicated that the recalls are beginning to have a lessening effect.

Frito-Lay experienced a 1.5% decline in volume in North America. The company has been striving to improve the value it offers to consumers and the accessibility of its snack line, which includes SunChips, Cheetos, and Stacy’s pita chips, in the retail establishments where it is sold.

Despite the fact that the category as a whole has slowed down in comparison to the results of previous years, the level of activity within the division is progressively increasing.

Pepsi executives issued a statement in which they stated that “Salty and savory snacks have underperformed year-to-date after outperforming packaged food categories in previous years.”

Pepsi will spend more on Doritos and Tostitos in the fall and winter before football season.

The company is currently promoting incentive packets for Tostitos and Ruffles, which contain twenty percent more chips than the standard package.

Pepsi is expanding its product line in order to more effectively target individuals who are health-conscious. The business announced its intention to acquire Siete Foods for a total of $1.2 billion approximately one week ago. The restaurant serves Mexican-American cuisine, which is typically modified to meet the dietary needs of a diverse clientele.

The beverage segment of Pepsi in North America experienced a three percent decrease in volume. Despite the fact that the demand for energy drinks, such as Pepsi’s Rockstar, has decreased as a result of consumers visiting convenience stores, the sales of well-known brands such as Gatorade and Pepsi have seen an increase throughout the quarter.

Laguarta expressed his opinion to the analysts during the company’s conference call, asserting, “I am of the opinion that it is a component of the economic cycle that we are currently experiencing, and that it will reverse itself in the future, once consumers feel better.”

Additionally, it has been noted that the food and beverage markets of South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa have experienced a decline in sales volume. The company cut its forecast for organic revenue for the entire year on Tuesday due to the business’s second consecutive quarter of lower-than-anticipated sales.

The company’s performance during the quarter was adversely affected by the Quaker Foods North America recalls, the decrease in demand in the United States, and the interruptions that occurred in specific international markets, as per the statements made by Chief Executive Officer Ramon Laguarta.

Pepsi has revised its forecast for organic sales in 2024, shifting from a 4% growth rate to a low single-digit growth rate. The company reiterated its expectation that the core constant currency profitability per share will increase by a minimum of 8% in comparison to the previous year.

The company’s shares declined by less than one percent during premarket trading. The following discrepancies between the company’s report and the projections of Wall Street were identified by LSEG in a survey of analysts:

SOURCE: CNBC

SEE ALSO:

Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.

Continue Reading

Business

Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.

Published

on

By

Infosys

(VOR News) – Old National Bank, a commercial bank with its headquarters in the Midwest, and Infosys, a firm that specializes in information technology, have recently entered into a strategic expansion of their link, which has been in place for the past four years.

This expansion is more likely to take place sooner rather than later, with the likelihood being higher.

For the purpose of making it possible for Old National Bank to make use of the services, solutions, and platforms that are offered by Infosys, the objective of this expansion is to make it possible for the bank to transform its operations and processes through the application of automation and GenAI, as well as to change significant business areas.

This lets the bank leverage Infosys’ services, solutions, and platforms.

Old National Bank Chairman and CEO Jim Ryan said, “At Old National, we are committed to creating exceptional experiences for both our customers and our fellow employees.”

This statement is applicable to Old National Bank. Infosys is carefully managing the business process innovations that it is putting us through, putting a strong emphasis on efficiency and value growth throughout the process to ensure that it is carried out efficiently.

This is a routine occurrence throughout the entire operation. Because of Infosys’ dedication to our development and success, we are incredibly appreciative of the assistance they have provided.

Old National has been receiving assistance from Infosys in the process of updating its digital environment since the year 2020, according to the aforementioned company.

Ever since that time, the company has been providing assistance. The provision of this assistance has been accomplished through the utilization of a model that is not only powerful but also capable of functioning on its own power.

Infosys currently ranks Old National thirty-first out of the top thirty US banks.

This ranking is based on the fact that Old National is the nation’s largest banking corporation.

It is estimated that the total value of the company’s assets is approximately fifty-three billion dollars, while the assets that are currently being managed by the organization are valued at thirty billion dollars.

Dennis Gada, the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Banking and Financial Services, stated that “Old National Bank and Infosys possess a robust cultural and strategic alignment in the development, management, and enhancement of enterprise-scale solutions to transform the bank’s operations and facilitate growth.”

This remark referenced the exceptional cultural and strategic synergy between the two organizations. Dennis Gada is the one who asserted this claim. This was articulated explicitly concerning the exceptional cultural congruence and strategy alignment of the two organizations.

We are pleased to announce that the implementation of Infosys Topaz will substantially expedite the transformation of Old National Bank’s business processes and customer service protocols. We are exceedingly enthusiastic about this matter. We are quite thrilled about this specific component of the scenario.

Medium-sized banks operating regionally will continue to benefit from our substantial expertise in the sector, technology, and operations. This specific market segment of Infosys will persist in benefiting from our extensive experience. This phenomenon will enable this market sector to sustain substantial growth and efficiency benefits.

SOURCE: THBL

SEE ALSO:

American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

States Sue TikTok, Claiming Its Platform Is Addictive And Harms The Mental Health Of Children

Qantas Airways Apologizes After R-Rated Film Reportedly Airs On Every Screen During Flight

Continue Reading

Business

American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

Published

on

water

The largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States stated Monday that it had been the target of a cyberattack, forcing the company to halt invoicing to consumers.

water

American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

American Water, based in New Jersey and serving over 14 million people in 14 states and 18 military facilities, said it learned of the unauthorized activity on Thursday and quickly took precautions, including shutting down certain systems. The business does not believe the attack had an impact on its facilities or operations and said employees were working “around the clock” to determine the origin and scale of the attack.

water

The corporation stated that it has alerted legal enforcement and is cooperating with them. It also stated that consumers will not be charged late fees while its systems are unavailable.

According to their website, American Water operates over 500 water and wastewater systems in around 1,700 communities across California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

SOURCE | AP

Continue Reading

Trending