Bangkok: The Prime Minister has accelerated efforts to address the issue of illegal foreign businesses operating in Thailand, emphasizing the need for fair regulations. The Prime Minister highlighted that the unlawful activities of foreign businesses have a direct impact on Thai citizens, both as consumers and entrepreneurs. The initiative is not solely about apprehending wrongdoers but also about establishing equitable rules for all.
According to Thai News Agency, Prime Minister Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra shared her thoughts on social media following a meeting focused on measures to prevent and suppress illegal business operations. She acknowledged that the issue of foreign businesses violating the law is longstanding and impacts Thai people significantly. The meeting aimed to review the progress made in tackling these businesses, particularly in cases related to the imitation of Thai products and the smuggling of illegal goods.
The Prime Minister outlined five urgent issues that require immediate attention: addressing nominee companies that use Thai nationals as fronts while being controlled by foreigners, strictly inspecting product standards to protect citizens from substandard goods, resolving issues of Thai product impersonation, inspecting foreign factories violating laws within industrial estates, and suppressing cargo transshipment activities that facilitate smuggling and tax evasion.
The resolution of problems concerning foreign products and businesses in violation of the law has been a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Interior. Notable achievements include the collection of 1.87 million baht in VAT from imported goods priced below 1,500 baht from July 2024 to May 2025, and the prosecution of over 57,739 cases of substandard products, resulting in damages exceeding 2,287 million baht from September 2014 to May 2015.
Efforts have also been made to monitor online platforms through the Notice and Takedown measure, with over 38,473 items checked, 15,256 items/website notified, and 14,967 illegal products/websites removed. Progress is being made in collaboration with online platforms to systematically close trade loopholes.
The Prime Minister reiterated that these actions are not targeted at individuals but are driven by the belief that Thailand should have a transparent, competitive, and fair economic system for all its citizens. She expressed gratitude to all cooperating agencies and affirmed her commitment to closely monitoring the progress of these initiatives.