Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha urged foreign investors on Thursday to invest and expand their businesses within the country, as Thailand has this year become the Asean chair.
The prime minister said Thailand is driving concrete development with the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) to help stimulate the country's economy and reduce economic inequality among people, claiming China, Japan, the US and several European countries have currently invested millions of US dollars into the project.
With the Digital Asean plan for regional connectivity, the government has started rolling out several different economic schemes.
"We have been developing digital payments and local currency transactions," he told foreign investors at the CLSA Asean Forum 2019 being held in Bangkok from Wednesday until today.
CLSA is a capital markets and investment group focused on alternative investment, asset management, corporate finance and capital markets, securities and wealth management for corporate and institutional clients around the world.
"We are also installing WiFi nationwide, upgrading 4G to 5G, and laying the Thailand-Hong Kong marine cable." However, Gen Prayut stressed that cybersecurity will be tightened for the benefit of foreign investors.
"People are worried about violations of human rights. I will not look into their computers and mobile phones. I want to protect business operators from scams and fraud," he said.
In the face of new challenges in Asean, Gen Prayut said he wanted to see many more countries join efforts to cope with uncertainties and reap mutual benefits, while also urging foreign investors to join hands with the region.
"Asean is the world's 6th largest economy with a population of more than 650 million. It will climb up to the world's top four economic blocs by 2030,'' he said.
"I need support from all stakeholders. I don't want to see any protests. I am asking you [foreign investors] to refrain from considering comments on social media. The government needs peace so that we can facilitate foreign partners," he added.
