泰國提議放寬《外人商業法》對九項商業活動的限制 Thailand Proposes to Relax Foreign Business Act Restrictions for Nine Business Activities
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泰國政府正採取重大步驟以改善其投資環境。泰國內閣於 2026 年 5 月 12 日原則上通過了《外人商業法》(“FBA”) 的兩項修正案草案，該草案將豁免九項特定的商業活動，使其無需取得外人商業執照(“FBL”)。該提議旨在減輕監管負擔，並讓泰國對外國投資者更具吸引力。
擬予豁免之業務共分為九項業務類別，並區分為下列三大類：
第一類：受特別法律規範並由專責主管機關監督管理之業務
1.1 依《電信業務法》取得第一類電信業務執照所經營之電信服務業務；
1.2 資金管理中心業務（依外匯管理法規規範）；
1.3 以擔保品擔保之各類放款業務（依《證券與證券交易法》及《衍生性商品交易法》規範）；
1.4 提供代理、自營商、顧問或基金管理服務，其所涉衍生性商品之標的商品或參考變數不受佛曆2546年(2003)《衍生性商品交易法》規範者；及
1.5 於期貨交易所從事農產品期貨交易，並於該交易所指定之倉庫交付或收受農產品之業務。
第二類：集團內部服務業務
2.1 僅向同一企業集團內關係企業提供行政管理、人力資源管理及資訊科技管理服務；及
2.2 僅向同一企業集團內關係企業提供境內債務保證服務。
本類業務僅於同一企業集團內提供服務，其目的在於管理集團內部流動性，因此不會與泰國國民經營之業務形成競爭。
第三類：其他業務
3.1 出租部分營業場所供安裝提供金融服務之電子設備、自動販賣機或自動服務設備，以便利公司員工使用；此類活動主要係為公司員工之便利而進行；及
3.2 僅向石油開採特許權人提供石油鑽探服務。
這些活動大多數此前已受到專門機構的監管，這使得政府得出結論：額外的FBA執照要求可能不再有其必要。
重要的是，這項改革並不代表泰國的外資持股體制全面自由化。外資佔多數股權的公司在FBA仍將被視為「外國」公司，且該法案所列大多數商業活動的限制將保持不變。特定行業的執照和監管批准也將繼續適用。
然而，對於跨國企業而言，提議的修正案可能會顯著簡化區域商業結構，特別是對於在泰國營運資金管理中心、共享服務中心或其他集團內部支持職能的公司。這項改革反映泰國為提高其競爭力並吸引高價值外國投資所做的更廣泛努力。
修正案草案目前正在審查中，尚未生效。在草案正式通過並公佈在《皇家公報》之前，現行的FBA要求仍然適用。
Thai government is taking a significant step toward improving its investment environment. On 12 May 2026, the Thai Cabinet approved in principle two draft amendments to the Foreign Business Act (“FBA”) that would exempt nine specific business activities from the requirement to obtain a Foreign Business License (“FBL”).[1] The proposal aims to reduce regulatory burdens and make Thailand more attractive to foreign investors.
The activities proposed for exemption include the following nine business categories, which are divided into three groups:
Group 1: Businesses Regulated under Specific Laws and Supervised by Specific Regulatory Authorities
1.1 Telecommunication services operating under a Type 1 Telecommunications
Business License (pursuant to the law governing telecommunications business operations);
1.2 Treasury Center businesses (pursuant to the law governing exchange control);
1.3 Lending businesses in various forms where loans are secured by collateral (pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Act and the Derivatives Act);
1.4 Businesses providing agency, dealer, advisory, or fund management services in relation to derivatives whose underlying commodities or reference variables are not governed by the Derivatives Act B.E. 2546 (2003); and
1.5 Agricultural futures trading conducted through a futures exchange, where delivery or receipt of agricultural products is made at warehouses designated by the futures exchange.
Group 2: Intra-group Services
2.1 Administrative, human resources, and information technology management services provided exclusively to affiliated companies within the same corporate group; and
2.2 Domestic debt guarantee services provided exclusively to affiliated companies within the same corporate group.
These businesses are limited to providing services within the same corporate group for the purpose of internal liquidity management and therefore do not compete with businesses operated by Thai nationals.
Group 3: Other Businesses
3.1 Leasing part of business premises for the installation of electronic equipment used to provide financial services, vending machines, or automated service machines for the convenience of the company's employees. Such activities are carried out primarily for the benefit of the company's employees; and
3.2 Petroleum drilling services provided exclusively to petroleum concessionaires.
Most of these activities are already regulated by specialized authorities, leading the government to conclude that an additional FBA licensing requirement may no longer be necessary.
Importantly, this reform does not represent a wholesale liberalization of Thailand’s foreign ownership regime. Foreign-majority-owned companies will still be considered “foreign” under the FBA, and restrictions on most business activities listed under the Act will remain unchanged. Sector-specific licenses and regulatory approvals will also continue to apply.
For multinational corporations, however, the proposed amendments could significantly simplify regional business structures, particularly for companies operating treasury centers, shared service centers, or other intra-group support functions in Thailand. The reform reflects Thailand’s broader effort to enhance its competitiveness and attract high-value foreign investment.
The draft amendments are currently under review and have not yet come into force. Until they are formally enacted and published in the Royal Gazette, existing FBA requirements remain applicable.
[1] detail of the meeting is at https://www.thaigov.go.th/th/news/163985.
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