Bangkok (population 9.7 million) is the political, social and commercial centre of Thailand. Most financial and major corporate head offices are located in Bangkok.
The city accounts for 44 percent of the country's gross domestic product.
The capital is part of the heavily urbanised triangle of central and eastern region of Thailand.
Industrial estates are promoted throughout Bangkok. Privileges are generally designed to decentralise Thailand’s industrial base. The Board of Investment has information on Thailand’s Investment Promotion Zones.
Rice plantations are mainly located in the north-eastern provinces, while rubber and timber are prominent in the south.
The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) has established industrial estates which operate as virtual free trade zones.
There are two types: General Industrial Zones (GIZ) reserved for industries manufacturing for domestic and/or export consumption and Export Processing Zones (EPZ) reserved for the industries manufacturing for export only.
Most EPZs have government customs houses for fast clearing.
The estates are set up as self contained communities with complete infrastructure necessary for industrial operations such as electricity, water supply, flood protection, waste water treatment and solid waste disposal. They also have communications facilities, security systems and banks and some have customs offices.
Industrial zones aim to support regional development and specific industrial sectors. Industrial parks are established entirely by the private sector.
The advantages of operating in free trade zones include special incentives (both tax and non-tax) and privileges that will improve your competitiveness.
Tax-based incentives can include exemptions from income tax, import duties and value added tax. Excise tax exemptions can include plant and equipment, raw materials, imports into an Export Processing Zone (EPZ) and exports from the zone.
Non-tax ones can include permission to bring in foreign workers, own land and take or remit foreign currency abroad.
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