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In addition, Thailand is now extending its work in international development cooperation to the modality of "partnership" or "triangular cooperation" to create a synergy of technical collaboration between Thailand and its partner countries and international organizations to help accelerate the third countries' efforts in achieving economic development and attaining development goals including Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which are the key objectives of the Post 2015 development agenda.

As described in its previous review, Thailand participates in other subregional cooperation or development groups, notably the Greater Mekong Subregional Economic Cooperation programme which aims to enhance economic relations in nine priority sectors [27] (...)

[27] The Greater Mekong Subregional Economic Cooperation programme involves Cambodia, China (specifically Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region), Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam. The priority sectors are: agriculture, energy, environment, human resource development, investment, telecommunications, tourism, transport infrastructure, and transport and trade facilitation.

In 2014 at the Fifth GMS Summit in Bangkok, leaders of the country members adopted the Regional Investment Framework Implementation Plan (RIF IP) to push forward implementation of the Regional Investment Framework approved at the GMS ministerial meeting in December 2013. RIF is composed of 215 investment and academic assistance projects under ten fields; transportation, energy, agriculture, environment, human resource development, urban development, tourism, trade and transport facilitation, ICT, and others. (...)

In order to improve regulatory quality, all government agencies are required to conduct a regulatory impact analysis (RIA) before submitting any draft act to the Cabinet. The RIA consists of ten questions to be clarified by government agencies which consider the regulation's impact on the economy, society and environment. In December 2014, the Office of the Council of State of Thailand completed a research study on how to improve the quality of RIAs. According to the authorities, it contains three main recommendations to improve the process, content and implementation of RIAs and these proposals are currently being considered.

Table 2.5 Business activities restricted for foreign investment under the Foreign Business Act
List 1 - Businesses not permitted for foreigners to operate due to special reasons
Maximum foreign equity participation of 50% for foreigners and foreign companies
4. Forestry and wood fabrication from natural forests
(...)
List 2 - Businesses related to national safety or security or affecting arts and culture, tradition, folk handicraft or natural resources and environment
Maximum foreign equity participation of 60% (and up to 75% on a case-by-case basis). At least two-fifths of the board of directors must be Thai nationals. Approval required from the Cabinet and permits granted by the Minister of Commerce
(...)
List 3 - Businesses in which Thai nationals are not yet ready to compete with foreigners
No foreign equity limits. Approval required from the Foreign Business Committee and permits granted by the Director-General of the Department of Business Development
3. Forestry from reforestation
(...)

(...) Products that are absolutely prohibited include counterfeit goods, baraku/shisha and electronic baraku/shisha or electronic cigarette, CFC refrigerators, electrically and mechanically operated game machines, certain glazed ceramics wares, goods duplicating registered products, re-treaded or used pneumatic tyres of rubber for cars, motorcycles and bicycles and waste, paring and scrap of rubber of cars, buses/trucks, motorcycles and bicycles, used car bodies and motorcycle frames, used motor vehicles for the transport of 30 or more persons, and, used motorcycle engines and accessories (Table 3.2). (...)

Table 3.2 Products subject to import licensing and prohibition, 2015
Commodity HS code Rationale Measures and condition
CFC refrigerators Public health and environmental protection Import prohibited
(...)
Re-treaded or used pneumatic tyres of rubber for cars, motorcycles and bicycles, and waste, parings and scrap of rubber of cars, buses/trucks, motorcycles and bicycles 4012.11.00, 4012.20.10, 4012.19.10, 4012.20.40, 4012.19.20, 4012.20.50, 4004.00.00 Public health and environmental protection Import prohibited
(...)
Used motor vehicles 8703.21, 8703.229, 8703.239, 8703.249, 8703.319, 8703.329, 8703.339 Public health and environmental protection Absolutely prohibited
(...)

To prevent illegal logging, imports of logs and sawn wood made of teak trees or forbidden trees from the border of Tak and Kanchanaburi provinces remain prohibited. Bans (based on UN Resolutions) on imports of diamonds, logs, and wooden products from Liberia were lifted in 2007, and on diamonds from Sierra Leone in 2007 and 2003. Thailand accepts the Kimberly Certification Process. For SPS and TBT measures affecting imports see section 3.2.6.

Table 3.2 Products subject to import licensing and prohibition, 2015
Commodity HS code Rationale Measures and condition
(...)
Logs and sawn woods which are made of teak trees, or forbidden trees from the border of Tak and Kanchanaburi provinces 44.03, 44.07 To prevent the illegal logging along the border between Thailand and Myanmar and conserve natural resources Import prohibited
(...)

Of Thailand's total area of just over 51 million hectares, 31% (16.3 million hectares) comprised forest in 2013 (down from over 50% in the 1960s). The vast majority of the total forested area is natural forest, owned by the State; commercial logging has been banned in all natural forests since 1989 in an attempt to curb rapid deforestation. The State also owns 74,560 hectares of protected plantation forest, with a view to rejuvenating forestry within the country. Licences may be granted by the Royal Forest Department on a case-by-case basis to the Forest Industry Organization to undertake logging in these areas. The commercial forested area, owned by the private sector, occupied 320,000 hectares in 2012.