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Thailand's nationwide campaign against suspected nominee companies has widened to include a further 14,000 firms, Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee said on Tuesday, 1 September.
Speaking at Prince of Songkla University's Hat Yai campus during a roving Cabinet meeting, Polapee said authorities were examining companies suspected of using Thai nationals to bypass restrictions in the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999).
He said 2,314 companies across the country currently hold more than 5,800 land plots with a combined value of 65 billion baht. Government agencies are now conducting further investigations into the additional 14,000 suspected nominee businesses.
Checks planned in Bangkok and upcountry
Asked about enforcement in Bangkok's Huai Khwang district, Polapee said officials already had intelligence on areas in the capital and other provinces where nominee arrangements were suspected.
"We already have information on which areas in Bangkok and other provinces we suspect may have nominee companies," he said.
Authorities are gathering information from the Department of Provincial Administration and the Ministry of Commerce. Once officials are satisfied that a company may be operating through nominees, they will investigate its details, particularly its business licences.
"If a company lacks a licence, we will conduct an inspection," Polapee said, adding that more sites in Bangkok and central and northern provinces were being prepared for investigation.
Huai Khwang entertainment venue raid
Polapee also discussed a weekend raid at 577CLUB in Soi Pracha Uthit 11, Huai Khwang. He and fellow official Worasit Liangprasit joined the Department of Provincial Administration's Special Operations Unit, known as DOPA S.W.A.T., after complaints that the venue was still operating.
The premises had previously been raided in August last year, while the owner was believed likely to be a Chinese man.
Polapee said the operation had not been aimed specifically at Huai Khwang and officers did not know in advance which of the area's three police stations had responsibility. It later emerged that Huai Khwang police station was in charge.
"Even if they move to evade us, they cannot escape us. We are determined to crack down, but we acknowledge that shady businesses continue to spring up like mushrooms," he said.
Saphan Khwai closures
The deputy minister also referred to Bangkok Metropolitan Administration orders temporarily closing some entertainment venues in the Saphan Khwai area.
He said he believed the city administration had seen action in Huai Khwang and extensive media coverage of entertainment venues there before carrying out its own inspections. The temporary closures were likely related to public-health concerns, he said, although the BMA could also check structural matters and permits.
Visitors and residents using nightlife venues may see more inspections and temporary closures as authorities scrutinise licensing, health standards and building compliance.
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Thailand probes 14,000 more suspected nominee firms
Wednesday at 11:24 PMThailand's nationwide campaign against suspected nominee companies has widened to include a further 14,000 firms, Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee said on Tuesday, 1 September.
Speaking at Prince of Songkla University's Hat Yai campus during a roving Cabinet meeting, Polapee said authorities were examining companies suspected of using Thai nationals to bypass restrictions in the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999).
He said 2,314 companies across the country currently hold more than 5,800 land plots with a combined value of 65 billion baht. Government agencies are now conducting further investigations into the additional 14,000 suspected nominee businesses.
Checks planned in Bangkok and upcountry
Asked about enforcement in Bangkok's Huai Khwang district, Polapee said officials already had intelligence on areas in the capital and other provinces where nominee arrangements were suspected.
"We already have information on which areas in Bangkok and other provinces we suspect may have nominee companies," he said.
Authorities are gathering information from the Department of Provincial Administration and the Ministry of Commerce. Once officials are satisfied that a company may be operating through nominees, they will investigate its details, particularly its business licences.
"If a company lacks a licence, we will conduct an inspection," Polapee said, adding that more sites in Bangkok and central and northern provinces were being prepared for investigation.
Huai Khwang entertainment venue raid
Polapee also discussed a weekend raid at 577CLUB in Soi Pracha Uthit 11, Huai Khwang. He and fellow official Worasit Liangprasit joined the Department of Provincial Administration's Special Operations Unit, known as DOPA S.W.A.T., after complaints that the venue was still operating.
The premises had previously been raided in August last year, while the owner was believed likely to be a Chinese man.
Polapee said the operation had not been aimed specifically at Huai Khwang and officers did not know in advance which of the area's three police stations had responsibility. It later emerged that Huai Khwang police station was in charge.
"Even if they move to evade us, they cannot escape us. We are determined to crack down, but we acknowledge that shady businesses continue to spring up like mushrooms," he said.
Saphan Khwai closures
The deputy minister also referred to Bangkok Metropolitan Administration orders temporarily closing some entertainment venues in the Saphan Khwai area.
He said he believed the city administration had seen action in Huai Khwang and extensive media coverage of entertainment venues there before carrying out its own inspections. The temporary closures were likely related to public-health concerns, he said, although the BMA could also check structural matters and permits.
Visitors and residents using nightlife venues may see more inspections and temporary closures as authorities scrutinise licensing, health standards and building compliance.
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Thailand has formally removed the foreign business licence requirement for seven specified service activities, under a new ministerial regulation published by the Royal Gazette on 3 September 2026.
The regulation, titled the Ministerial Regulation Prescribing Service Businesses Not Requiring Permission for Foreigners to Operate Businesses (No. 5) B.E. 2569, was signed by Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun. It was issued under the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999).
The Commerce Ministry said the change is intended to update rules, make doing business easier and encourage foreign investment to support economic growth.
The seven exempted activities
The exemptions are limited to defined types of service business rather than a blanket opening of all service sectors to foreign operators.
7 service businesses that foreigners do not need permission to operate
What this means for foreign investors
For foreign-owned companies and overseas investors, the measure potentially removes one significant approval step for businesses that fall precisely within the listed categories. In many cases, the change is likely to be most relevant to multinational groups with Thai operations, particularly those providing internal HR, IT, treasury or management support.
The regulation, titled the Ministerial Regulation Prescribing Service Businesses Not Requiring Permission for Foreigners to Operate Businesses (No. 5) B.E. 2569, was signed by Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun. It was issued under the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999).
The Commerce Ministry said the change is intended to update rules, make doing business easier and encourage foreign investment to support economic growth.
The seven exempted activities
The exemptions are limited to defined types of service business rather than a blanket opening of all service sectors to foreign operators.
7 service businesses that foreigners do not need permission to operate
- Telecommunications services (Type 1 licence): Only service for operators that do not own their own telecommunications network. Such services are already liberalised under telecommunications law.
- Treasury centre services: The management of funds in accordance with laws governing foreign exchange controls.
- Management services within the same corporate group:Including administrative services, human resources (HR) and information technology (IT) services provided between legal entities that are related under shareholding or director-relationship criteria.
- Space rental services for automatic machines: Renting part of a premises for the installation of ATMs, financial machines or vending machines for the convenience of company employees.
- Domestic debt guarantee services: Limited to guarantees of debts between related legal entities within the same corporate group, subject to the conditions prescribed by law.
- Petroleum drilling services: Limited to contractors that have entered directly into contracts with concessionaires, production-sharing contractors or service-contract holders under petroleum legislation.
- Additional financial and derivatives services: Including lending money for securities purchases, securities repurchase agreements, and acting as a dealer, adviser or fund manager for derivatives contracts, as well as transactions based on foreign exchange and interest rates.
What this means for foreign investors
For foreign-owned companies and overseas investors, the measure potentially removes one significant approval step for businesses that fall precisely within the listed categories. In many cases, the change is likely to be most relevant to multinational groups with Thai operations, particularly those providing internal HR, IT, treasury or management support.
Isan Lover
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thethaiger.com
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Maid's 100-million-baht windfall exposes illegal firms
A Koh Samui nominee case tied to a French tycoon's suicide and a maid's inheritance has reached the prosecutor's office after a lengthy probe.
thethaiger.com
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Händigt att hembiträdet får ärva när franskan begår självmord.Hej
Maid's 100-million-baht windfall exposes illegal firms
A Koh Samui nominee case tied to a French tycoon's suicide and a maid's inheritance has reached the prosecutor's office after a lengthy probe.
Mvh isan lover
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