| 520 สาระสังเขป |
The purpose of this research was to study factors affecting decisions of Japanese investors in Thailand's elderly nursing home businesses. We have applied the theoretical concept of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as a research framework. This is a qualitative research that collects data from in-depth interviews with key informants suchas Japanese private companies, Japanese embassies staffs and international organizations staffs in Thailand, Thai government officials who involved in the elderly care business and Thai scholars who expert in elderly care and Japanese investment issue. The study found that internal factors (ownership advantage) were consist of 4 factors:strategic planning, knowledge or technology, tool and equipment, building and location and the Japanese government policy was found to be not the main motive. For the external factors were consist of 4 factors: the elderly market size, Thailand investment policy, Thailand society and culture, the potential of Thai medical workers and elderlycaregiver. While the factors that hinder investment were the lack of nursing home cooperation framework between Thailand and Japan, regulations on foreign investment, market conditions and monopolistic competition and domestic political situation. The policy recommendations is Thai government should accelerate the development of a cooperation framework or memorandum of understanding between Thailand and Japan. Moreover, the government should improve regulations on foreign investment to reduce barriers of foreign investment and also accelerate the creation of political stability within the country that is conducive to the investment environment. |