VietNamNet Bridge – Top officials of the three largest corporations in group in Thailand have proposed to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung investment projects worth tens of billions of dollars in Vietnam.

The Foreign Investment Agency said in 2014 alone, Thailand had 35 new projects with a total registered capital of $149 million. In addition, 13 projects increased capital by $55 million. The total investment of Thailand in Vietnam in 2014 reached $205 million, ranking 13th among countries and territories investing in Vietnam.

By Dec. 15, 2014, Thai investors had 374 projects in Vietnam, totaling approximately $6.69 billion and ranked 10 of 101 countries and territories investing in Vietnam.

The average capital of Thai projects is approximately $17.9 million, compared with the average capital of foreign-invested projects in Vietnam of $14.3 million.

Thai investors mainly focus on the fields of industrial processing and manufacturing with 179 projects and total registered capital of $5.65 billion, accounting for 47.8% of total number of projects and 84.5% of the total investment capital of Thailand in Vietnam.

In second place is the agro - forestry - fisheries sector with 28 projects and $475 million, accounting for 7.4% of the total number of projects and 7.1% of the total investment capital. The remaining projects are in construction, wholesale and retail trade, accommodation and catering services.

The southern province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau attracts most of FDI from Thailand with registered capital of $3.77 billion, accounting for 56% of total registered capital. It is followed by Dong Nai with registered capital of $595 million, accounting for 8.8% of the total registered capital of Thailand in Vietnam. Binh Duong ranks third with $450 million registered capital, accounting for 6.7% of the total registered capital.

In terms of investment projects, Ho Chi Minh City attracts the highest number of Thai projects, with 140 projects, accounting for 37% of Thailand's projects in Vietnam.

Statistics show that Thailand's investment in the form of joint venture accounts for $4.6 billion (representing 69% of total registered capital of Thailand in Vietnam). The next form is 100% foreign capital and a small percentage of the project are in the form of joint stock and business cooperation contract.

Many recent signals showed that Thai groups are planning giant investment projects in Vietnam. PTT is implementing the Nhon Hoi oil refinery project with total invested approximately $22 billion in Binh Dinh Province.

A source from the Vietnam News Agency said PTT Group also wishes to invest in oil and gas lots in the continental shelf of Vietnam (in the form of purchase of shares).

At the same time, PTT also wants to invest in upgrading Phu Cat Airport, Binh Dinh into an international airport to support and facilitate the activities of the Nhon Hoi oil refinery and Nhon Hoi Economic Zone.

President of Amata Group - Vikrom Kromadit also said it would invest $5 billion in a new urban project in Quang Ninh province, covering an area of about 6.400ha. The group also wants to invest in a major industrial park in Binh Dinh Province.

The Central Group, a leading retail group in Thailand, is planning to cooperate with Vietnamese enterprises operating in manufacturing and trading of agricultural and fisheries products.

In April, with the launch of Robins Shopping Center, Central Group has officially set foot in Vietnam's retail market.

If the projects are implemented soon, Thailand’s investment in Vietnam will increase by approximately 4-5 times compared to the current registered capital of $7 billion.

S. Tung