Phuket Business Development Office holds Foreign Business Act seminar in English for the first time

PHUKET: The Phuket Business Development Office (BDO) has announced that it will be hosting a seminar aimed at educating foreign business operators about the provisions of Thailand’s Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542.

Topics addressed during the seminar will include whether it is necessary to set up a company to do business in the Kingdom, avoiding red tape and issues surrounding the appointment of Thai nominees.

“The seminar will be held at Kata Beach Resort & Spa Hotel, in Karon on April 29,” Phuket BDO Chief Nimit Kangkajit told the Gazette on April 1.

Reservations for the seminar must be made by April 20 at the Phuket Business Development Office in Phuket Town, opposite the Red Cross Center. To reserve your place call 076-224419 or 081-753 8496. Telephone lines will be manned by English-speaking staff.

“There will be two sessions. A morning session from 8am to midday and a second session from 1 to 4:45pm. The seminars will be delivered in English by facilitators from the Office of Alien Business Administration, from the Ministry of Commerce’s Department of Business Development,” he explained.

“Application fee for each session is 2,000 baht, snacks and seminar-based documents will be provided. Anyone who would like to apply for the two sessions must pay the 4,000 baht fee and lunch will be served at the venue,” he noted.

The morning session, where the number of attendants will not be limited, will cover the topic “Knowledge of Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542” that will explain which types of businesses can be operated in Thailand by a foreigner. Following a 15-minute break, the session will resume at 10:45am to cover “Applications for permission to operate a business in Thailand” and will include a discussion on permission criteria and requirements.

The afternoon session, which is limited to 30 attendees, will cover “Application Production for Alien Business Operation Permission”.

“In this session, foreign business operators will have a chance to ask questions and get information directly from officials,” said Mr Nimit

“This is the first time the DBO has ever held an English-language seminar in Phuket. It will be a great opportunity for applicants to get in touch with experts,” he explained.

“There are a lot of foreigners operating businesses here in Phuket. We want to acknowledge them, and inform them about what they can and cannot do with their business. Moreover, they can have sound advice from experts about their business during the seminar,” he said

“Attendees will be able to get in touch with government experts for advice, including how to own a business without having to set up a company in Phuket,” said Mr Nimit.

“Foreign business operators do not [always] need to set up a company. There might be some other way around to save you money and make your business easier,” he said.

“Some accounting companies will just advise you to set up a company, no matter what business you want to do in Phuket, or another place in Thailand, just to get your money. Setting up a company is not the only thing you can do to start your business. Do not waste your money with accounting companies,” he noted.

“Setting up a company [involves organizing] shareholders, financial capital, employees, social security, tax and so many other things [that must be done] in order to open and maintain the company legally,” Mr Nimit said.

He said that officials are aware of the nominee issue in Phuket but admitted they are powerless to stop it if proper documents are submitted.

“We are aware that there are companies setting up with Thai people as nominees. However, we cannot do anything when applicants submit the proper documents to us. This [seminar] is one chance for foreign business operators to get better advice and possibly save a lot of time and money,” Mr Nimit added.

— Chutharat Plerin