BOI Promoted Activities in Thailand – Eligible Sectors and Criteria
The Board of Investment (BOI) in Thailand maintains a list of activities that are eligible for investment promotion. Companies engaged in these activities may qualify for incentives including tax exemptions, import duty relief, and other benefits designed to encourage investment that supports the Thai economy.
BOI-promoted activities are organized into major categories, each covering a range of business operations and sectors that contribute to economic development, technology advancement, and competitiveness. Below are the main groupings of eligible activities:
- Agriculture and Agricultural Products – Includes farming, crop drying and storage, animal husbandry, natural fertilizers, and manufacturing products from agricultural materials.
- Mining, Ceramics and Basic Metals – Covers mineral prospecting, glass and ceramic production, metal parts manufacturing, and related upstream and downstream metal activities.
- Light Industry – Encompasses textiles, furniture, sports equipment, toys, jewelry, medical devices, and creative product design.
- Metal Products, Machinery and Transport Equipment – Includes machinery and equipment manufacturing, automotive parts, aerospace components, and vehicle systems.
- Electronics and Electrical Appliance Industry – Eligible areas include electronic product manufacturing, parts production, software and digital services, and e-commerce.
- Chemicals, Paper and Plastics – Covers chemical and polymer production, petrochemicals, pharmaceutical ingredients, plastics processing, and related manufacturing.
- Services and Public Utilities – Includes logistics centers, research and development, cloud services, biotechnology, tourism-related activities, and industrial development services.
- Technology and Innovation Development – Focuses on advanced technologies such as biotechnology, nanotechnology, and digital technology development.
To qualify for promotion in these categories, a project must meet certain criteria set by the BOI. This typically includes requirements related to value-added creation, modern production processes, environmental standards, and minimum investment levels. For many sectors, projects must demonstrate sufficient value added and compliance with the promoted activity’s conditions to be considered for incentives.
Understanding which activities are BOI-promoted helps investors align their business plans with Thailand’s investment priorities, increasing the likelihood of qualifying for incentives that can reduce costs and enhance competitiveness.