The March 2026 FTI CEO Poll reveals that 85.7% of the business sector perceive corruption to be more severe than in the past, exposing procurement corruption and bid rigging as the leading issues.
Mom Luang Peektong Thongyai, Vice Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). He disclosed the results of the 49th FTI CEO Poll conducted in March 2026, themed "Private Sector Won't Tolerate: Business Sector Voices on Corruption Issues." The survey gathered opinions from 645 FTI executives across 48 industrial groups and 76 provincial chambers of commerce to reflect the private sector's views on corruption, which remains a significant obstacle to business operations and national economic development.
The survey found that 85.7% of industrial executives believe current corruption problems have intensified compared to the past, indicating deep-rooted issues that continue to undermine business confidence. The top cause cited is a culture of patronage and conflicts of interest at 70.9%, followed by legal gaps and lax law enforcement at 57.2%, and high discretionary power among officials enabling abuse of authority at 53.0%. These structural factors are seen by the private sector as urgent issues requiring serious reform.
Regarding the most common forms of corruption, procurement corruption such as specification locking and bid rigging ranked first at 81.4%, followed by bribery and extortion at 72.6%, and policy-related corruption benefiting specific groups at 69.8%. This reflects that corruption is not limited to operational levels but extends to policy mechanisms and public sector management structures.
Concerningly, more than 55.5% of respondents reported that corruption-related costs account for over 20% of their total business expenses. Additionally, 61.2% said they have personally experienced bribery or corruption, while 38.8% have not. This underscores that corruption is not only a governance issue but also imposes direct financial burdens on businesses, harming competitiveness and significantly reducing overall economic efficiency.
When asked about government measures to urgently address corruption, the top priority was accelerating legal reforms and enhancing strict, effective law enforcement at 64.5%. Next was advancing digital government initiatives to reduce discretionary power and ensuring transparency through Open Data at 60.2%. Third was promoting public and private sector participation by expanding complaint channels and protecting whistleblowers at 55.5%, followed by improving oversight of government policies and projects with evaluations of cost-effectiveness and transparency before, during, and after implementation at 54.9%.
Therefore, the FTI believes that combating corruption requires systematic and continuous efforts, including legal reforms, rigorous law enforcement, reducing discretionary power through digital systems, making government data transparent for public scrutiny, and creating participatory mechanisms involving all sectors. These measures aim to restore confidence, foster an investment-friendly environment, and enhance the country's competitiveness in the long term. The private sector is ready to support and actively drive anti-corruption efforts to help Thailand transition to a transparent, fair, and sustainable economy.
1) How severe is corruption today compared to the past?
Rank 1: More severe — 85.7%
Rank 2: Same level — 11.8%
Rank 3: Less severe — 2.5%
2) What are the causes of current corruption problems?
Rank 1: Culture of patronage and conflicts of interest — 70.9%
Rank 2: Legal gaps and lax law enforcement — 57.2%
Rank 3: Officials' high discretionary power enabling abuse — 53.0%
Rank 4: Political interference in public administration — 49.6%
3) What are the common forms of corruption today?
Rank 1: Procurement corruption such as specification locking and bid rigging — 81.4%
Rank 2: Bribery and extortion — 72.6%
Rank 3: Policy corruption benefiting certain groups — 69.8%
Rank 4: Buying and selling positions among officials — 40.2%
4) What percentage of total business costs is due to corruption?
| Rank | Percentage |
| Rank 1: More than 20% | 55.5% |
| Rank 2: 11 – 20% | 29.9% |
| Rank 3: 5 – 10% | 11.2% |
| Rank 4: Less than 5% | 2.5% |
| Rank 5: No corruption costs | 0.9% |
5) What government actions should be prioritized to solve corruption?
Rank 1: Accelerate legal reforms and strengthen enforcement — 64.5%
Rank 2: Drive digital government to reduce discretion — 60.2%
and disclose government data (Open Data) for public scrutiny
Rank 3: Promote public and private participation — 55.5%
expand complaint channels and protect whistleblowers effectively
Rank 4: Enhance oversight of government policies and projects — 54.9%
with cost-effectiveness and transparency evaluations before, during, and after implementation
6) Have you personally experienced bribery or corruption?
Rank 1: Yes — 61.2%
Rank 2: No — 38.8%
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