Despite new business registrations falling by 19% in the first half, authorities remain bullish that the number of new registrations will top 65,000 this year as the junta's economic stimulus takes hold.
According to the latest report of the Business Development Department, 29,466 juristic persons sought registration in the first half of 2014, down by 6,916 or 19% from the same period last year.
Their total registered capital fell by 46% to 102 billion baht.
Director-general Pongpun Gearaviriyapun attributed the drop to tighter controls by the department on new registrations for lottery business.
Lottery registrations plunged to just seven compared with 5,000 in the first half of 2013.
Last year, the number of new business registrations reached 67,302 with a combined registered capital of 379 billion baht.
Ms Pongpun said new registrations were expected to rise in the second half, boosted by a restoration of consumer and business confidence as the country rights itself under the military regime's control.
The junta's commitment to speeding disbursement of the fiscal-2014 budget and planning for 2015 will play a key role in driving the country's economic growth and reviving investor sentiment in the second half.
The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce earlier this month said consumer sentiment improved further in June, hitting a six-month high amid rising confidence in the country's economic and political prospects.
The consumer confidence index rose for a second straight month in June to 75.1 points from 70.7 in May, when the index advanced for the first time in 14 months.
The improving consumer confidence stems mainly from the military's intervention on May 22 to end the months-long political turmoil.
Other key contributing factors include the Bank of Thailand's recent upgrade of the growth outlook for the remainder of the year and the central bank's elevation of next year's GDP growth forecast to 5.5% from 4.8%.
The junta's accelerated payment of 92 billion baht owed to rice farmers under the failed pledging scheme and policies concerning energy and consumer prices have also helped to raise confidence.
"We expect the Thai economy to run in a positive trend in the second half, boosting new business registrations for the full year to more than 65,000, especially in the construction and real estate sectors," Ms Pongpun said.