New business registrations in February surged by 36% year-on-year with growth in investment in research and development in natural resource sciences, said the Business Development Department.
Last month 4,496 juristic persons with total registered capital of 24.73 billion baht, up 200% year-on-year, sought registration, said Banyong Limprayoonwong, the department's director-general.
Forty percent of the juristic persons or 1,808 are based in Bangkok. The leading industry was general building construction, with 487 firms, followed by property development (249) and recreation services (243).
Companies raised a total of 34.78 billion baht in registered capital, of which 25% was for real estate businesses.
The department found that juristic persons with the highest registered capital were in research and development, which was represented by three firms with a total of 8.815 billion baht. Two were Japanese firms: UBE Chemical Asia Plc, which is researching nylon yarn, and UENO Science Tech Laboratory (Thailand) Co, which is conducting research into the environment. Another Thai firm is also doing environmental research.
"The rise in registrations was partly the result of the improved economic sentiment and the increasing confidence of investors in the government's stimulus measures," he said. "The outstanding sector at the moment is recreational businesses such as modelling agencies and entertainment operators, which have risen to the top."
In February 748 companies dissolved their businesses, a 7% decline from last year. General construction led the dissolutions with 111.
