Bangkok: It is recommended to monitor many factors affecting the business, but there are still positive signs in the second half of the year. The Department of Business Development recommends that businesses keep an eye on the global situation and domestic risk factors in the second half of the year. Despite pressure from various uncertainties, there are still positive signs from government measures. Foreign investors are still confident and bioinnovation businesses continue to grow.
According to Thai News Agency, Mrs. Aromon Sapphaweetham, Director-General of the Department of Business Development, revealed that the outlook for the Thai economy in the second half of 2025 still requires monitoring of several risk factors, including uncertainty of the global economy and trade, tax measures of trading partners, the situation in the Middle East, tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border, and domestic political movements, which may affect investment decisions and business operations in many industrial groups.
However, there are still positive signs that help boost confidence in the Thai economy, such as government stimulus measures such as the Half-Half Thailand Travel Project, the acceleration of budget disbursements, the promotion of small entrepreneurs, and the negotiation of trade agreements with trading partners, which help expand opportunities for Thai businesses on the international stage.
Meanwhile, the overall picture of foreign investment continues to grow. In the first 5 months of 2025, there were 426 foreign investors with a total investment of 88,943 million baht, an increase of 24 percent from the same period last year. Japan, the United States, China, Singapore, and Hong Kong were the main groups that invested in various businesses, including technology, engineering, manufacturing, and distribution centers, especially in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), which attracted 54 percent of the total investment.
Another rising business group that the department is monitoring is the 'Bio-Innovation business', which combines biotechnology with modern innovation. It was found that the number of entrepreneurs increased by 13.08 percent, the registered capital increased by more than 5 times, and there is a tendency for continuous growth in terms of income, foreign investment, and responding to the country's BCG economy.
For the overall business registration in the first 5 months of 2025, there were 36,815 new businesses established, a decrease of 5.68 percent from the previous year, but with a total registered capital of 131,027 million baht, an increase of 11.89 percent, reflecting confidence in investment value. The main business groups are still construction, real estate, and restaurants.
In terms of business closure registrations, there were 4,776, a slight increase of 3.31 percent, but the registered capital of closures decreased significantly by 72 percent to 20,140 million baht, reflecting the restructuring of large business groups and the transition of small businesses.
Ms. Arom also warned juristic persons who have not yet submitted their annual financial statements for 2024, which is due, that there are still 156,084 juristic persons, or 19.85 percent of the total number that must be submitted, who have not yet done so. They can submit their documents through the DBD e-Filing system 24 hours a day. If they neglect to do so, they will be prosecuted and fined according to the delay.
As of May 31, 2025, Thailand has over 2 million registered juristic persons with a cumulative registered capital of 30.84 trillion baht, of which over 54 percent are engaged in service businesses, followed by wholesale/retail and manufacturing.