Japanese companies may consider relocating their Thai operations to the neighboring countries if the government cannot find resolution for the Map Ta Put industrial project within six months, Japanese Chamber of Commerce Chairman Yo Jitsukata said Thursday.

He said if the industrial case drags on longer, more than 500 companies of 1,314 members will be affected directly and indirectly, particularly in the petrochemical, steel and finance sectors.

“We are not sure if the Thai government would be able to solve the problem within six months,” Mr. Jitsukata told reporters. “That is what they have told us, but the Japanese investors’ confidence is deteriorating, and they may move operations from Thailand.”

The chairman of Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Thailand he requested that the Thai government issue solution for the problem quickly in stead of forming more panels of committees for the case, each of which is going nowhere in solving the problem.

He said Thailand remains attractive in the eyes of investors, but the case has affected their confidence if the case continues for a long time.