Summary
- The Thai Board of Investment (the “BOI”), the government agency responsible for promoting foreign investment in Thailand, issued Notification No. Sor. 1/2564 Re: “Amending list of activities eligible for investment promotion under the Notification of the Board of Investment No. 2/2557” (the “Notification”) on 13 January 2021. This amends the list of eligible business activities for investment promotion;
- The Notification adds “Senior Hospital,” “Senior or Dependent Care Centers,” and “Clinical Research” businesses to Category 7 (i.e., Services and Public Utilities) of business activities eligible for investment promotion in Thailand; and
Background
On 13 January 2021, the BOI issued a Notification, which added Senior Hospitals, Senior Dependent Care Centers, and Clinical Research to the list of business activities eligible for investment promotion in Thailand under Category 7 of the Investment Promotion Act. The addition of these business activities may bolster Thailand’s regional appeal as a leader in the provision of medical care and research capabilities.
This briefing will provide an overview of the eligibility requirements that are important for investors to know if considering investment opportunities in relation to Senior Hospitals, Senior or Dependent Care Centers, or Clinical Research businesses in Thailand.
Senior Hospitals
Senior Hospitals were added to the list of business activities eligible for investment promotion under the investment category 7.28.5. The key eligibility requirements and incentives for Senior Care Hospital applicants and promoted operations are, among other criteria, as follows:
Eligibility requirements
A project must have at least 50 beds and the developer must have all the required operating licenses and permits issued by the relevant authorities.
Incentives
Promoted Senior Care Hospital projects are entitled to A3 tax incentives. An A3 tax incentive grants a promoted project a 5-year corporate tax exemption, with a cap based on the investment value.
Senior or Dependent Care Centers
Senior or Dependent Care Centers were added to the list of business activities eligible for investment promotion under investment categories 7.28.6. Eligibility and incentives for Senior or Dependent Care Center applicants and promoted operations are, among other criteria, as follows:
Eligibility requirements
As with Senior Hospital operations, a Senior or Dependent Care Center project must have at least 50 beds and the developer must have all the required operating licenses and permits issued by the relevant authorities. It is important to be aware that unlike Senior Hospital projects, at least 51% of the shares in Senior or Dependent Care Centers must be held by Thai nationals.
Incentives
Promoted Senior or Dependent Care projects are entitled to A4 tax incentives. An A4 tax incentive grants a promoted project a 3-year corporate tax exemption, with a cap based on the investment value.
Clinical Research
Clinical Research operations are included in the Notification as two business categories eligible for investment promotion under Category 7.38. The two sub-categories under category 7.38 are: Contract Research Organizations (CRO) (Category 7.38.1); and (ii) Clinical Research Centers (CRC) (Category 7.38.2). Eligibility requirements, criteria and incentives for applicants and promoted operators are as follows:
Eligibility requirements
The criteria for investment promotion for Clinical Research projects, for CRO and CRC, include the following:
| Examples of Criteria for CRO Projects | Examples of Criteria for CRC Projects |
| • The applicant must provide supporting services for clinical research that must include:
(i) Management of Clinical Research; and |
• The project must provide at least one type of clinical research, as follows:
1. Preclinical Research; or • The project must procure or provide facilities for the operation of Clinical Research (e.g., examination rooms, medical storage rooms, or medical instruments used for purposes of clinical research). • The clinical research must comply with Good Clinical Practices or other equivalent standards. |
Incentives
Promoted Clinical Research business operations are entitled to A1 tax incentives. An A1 tax incentive grants a promoted project an uncapped 8-year corporate income tax exemption.
Conclusion
The addition of Senior Hospitals, Senior or Dependent Care Centers and Clinical Research to the list of business activities eligible for investment promotion illustrates Thailand’s continued effort to expand its position as a global healthcare provider. The combination of aging population trends and the recent pandemic will certainly increase interest in these sectors.
If you should have any questions about the legal issues raised in this briefing, please contact the authors listed below:
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 TEL+66-2-009-5000 Ext. 3202 |
 TEL+66-2-009-5000 Ext. 3113 |
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This publication is intended to highlight an overview of key issues for ease of understanding, and not for the provision of l egal advice. If you have any questions about this publication, please contact your regular contact persons at Mori Hamada & Matsumoto or Chandler MHM Limited. If you should have any inquiries about the publications, or would like more information about Chandler MHM Limited, please contact bd@mhm-global.com.