PM orders nationwide nominee-business scan, with Koh Phangan next
PM orders nationwide nominee-business scan, with Koh Phangan next — confirmed details at this stage for Phuket readers.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered a nationwide scan for nominee business activity, days after visiting Phuket on May 10 and ahead of a May 13 trip to Koh Phangan. Government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek said the prime minister considers gray capital and the use of legal loopholes by foreign-run businesses an economic security threat.
He also told authorities in Phuket to tackle influential figures, encroachment on public land and measures to protect people’s ability to work safely, Rachada said.
Koh Samui and Koh Phangan data show heavy foreign participation
The Commerce Ministry’s Department of Business Development scanned juristic entities on Koh Samui and Koh Phangan and found 16,811 in total. Of those, 11,426 involved foreign investment, equal to 67.97%.
On Koh Phangan, 3,213 of 4,761 entities had foreign participation. On Koh Samui, the figure was 8,213 out of 12,050.
Government widens enforcement beyond island hotspots
Rachada said Anutin has instructed security agencies, local administrators, the Commerce Ministry and related bodies to expand checks across the country, not only in Samui and Phangan. Authorities were told to take decisive legal action if they find nominee arrangements used to seize occupations or income from Thais.
She said the government supports foreign investment that is lawful, transparent and beneficial to Thailand. It will not allow gray capital, nominees or economic crime networks to extract benefits through Thai stand-ins, and has asked the public to report tips to officials.
Source: https://www.prachachat.net/politics/news-2004969
