Economy
Ministry of Commerce Investigates Suspicious Business Registrations in Sakon Nakhon
Thai authorities are investigating 49 companies in Sakon Nakhon province suspected of acting as illegal nominees for Chinese investors.
The Thai Ministry of Commerce has launched an investigation into 49 companies registered across four districts in Sakon Nakhon province, citing concerns over potential illegal nominee arrangements. According to Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, Director-General of the Department of Business Development, officials identified irregularities in business registrations involving foreign capital.
Investigations revealed that 35 companies—located in Khok Si Suphan, Mueang, and Phu Phan districts—are owned entirely by Chinese nationals. Additionally, 14 companies in Sawang Daen Din district were found to be registered under Thai shareholders. Authorities discovered that a local woman in Khok Si Suphan allegedly acted as a broker, paying residents between 500 and 1,000 baht to obtain copies of their household registrations and national ID cards to facilitate these registrations.
For residents and expatriates, this investigation highlights ongoing government efforts to enforce foreign business ownership regulations. While these activities are currently limited to specific administrative registrations, they underscore the importance of transparency in local business operations. It remains to be confirmed whether these companies are engaged in actual commercial activity or if they were established solely to circumvent foreign ownership laws. The Ministry of Commerce continues to monitor the situation as the investigation proceeds.