Foreign investors wary of Thai economy

Bangkok

WHEN Kulthirath Pakawachkrilers had to convince yet another Chinese investor that business was still a good bet in Thailand despite the political upheaval, she knew it was going to be a tough sell.

Companies once considering investing in South-east Asia's second-largest economy were now looking at other options - and the uncertainty surrounding the aftermath of the elections was driving much of the concern, said Ms Kulthirath, the CEO of the Thailand e-Business Center, which advises companies on entering the Thai market.

Ms Kulthirath, who's also on the committees of the Thai Digital Trade Association and the Thai e-Commerce Association, has met over 600 foreign investors in the past year. She said the majority had decided now is not the right time to invest in Thailand.

"They are hesitating," she said. "Half of them are very worried, especially the Chinese because their economy slightly relies on the government too, so they say that the more a government is strong, the more that a country is strong."

The decades-long power struggle between the country's pro-military allies and opposition parties is threatening to further unhinge an already fragile economy, even with a new government headed by former army chief Prayut Chan-Ocha about to be sworn in.

After five years of military rule, the junta retained control of the government in the March election with only a slim four-seat majority coalition in the House of Representatives.

That keeps the bitter political fighting very much alive and makes it difficult for returned Mr Prayut to pass meaningful legislation.

It's also making businesses hesitant to invest in an environment of heightened global risk. Already, US$20 billion of spending on transport and logistics projects has been delayed because of the three-month impasse in forming a government.

The economy "is facing key risks from both the US-China trade war and Brexit. We need the government to steer the economy through these problems," said Kriengkrai Thiennukul, vice-chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries.

"Without the government, all businesses are in a wait-and-see mode and government officials have limited power to work."

The political uncertainty is a shadow over an economy whose growth potential has gradually declined over the years.

The export-heavy manufacturing industry has lost market share to low-cost neighbours like Vietnam, productivity has steadily declined and the nation has one of the oldest populations among developing countries. That's even before trade wars and a global slowdown are factored in. Lucrative free trade talks have languished under military rule and there is urgency to get those going again.

Negotiations for a free trade agreement with the European Union (EU) were suspended back in 2014 after the junta overthrew the democratically elected government, straining relations with Thailand's third-biggest trade partner.

While the EU went on to restore political ties with Thailand in 2017, there is no signal the two sides will resume negotiations for an agreement they spent over a year working on.

"Many countries have used our military government as the reason for suspending the talks," Mr Kriengkrai said. "Once we return to democracy, we need to move quickly."

Approved foreign direct investment (FDI) from EU companies has plunged 32 per cent since 2014 to US$1 billion last year, according to data from the Thai Board of Investment.

Overall FDI rose 0.5 per cent in April from a year ago, after declining in the previous two months, figures from the Bank of Thailand showed.

"The political uncertainties are probably the greatest factor of all for the manufacturers who are thinking of investing or have already invested in manufacturing in Thailand," said Karri Kivela, executive director of the European Association for Business and Commerce.

Slower investment growth and the worsening trade outlook will curb economic growth, which the central bank says may come in lower than its 3.8 per cent forecast for the year - already among the weakest in South-east Asia.

Although it's losing out to regional peers like Vietnam as businesses shift supply chains amid the US-China trade war, Thailand still offers a number of advantages over its less-developed neighbours - especially in the vehicle industry, where Subaru and Harley Davidson have expanded operations.

Micah Shepard, president of Southeast Asia at German-based automotive parts maker Schaeffler Manufacturing, said Thailand "has the full supply base of everything you more or less need to make your product," which gives it a "big advantage" over Vietnam. BLOOMBERG