BOI and Thai Team Hold Talks with Five French Industrial Giants on Strategic Investment
Prime Minister Anutin met with executives from five major French companies in Paris to explore strategic investments in Thailand's aerospace, battery materials, eyewear, and digital security sectors. The talks aim to strengthen Thailand's p
BOI Secretary-General Narutt Therdsteerasukdi announced that on May 25, 2026, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and the Thai delegation, including BOI officials, met with senior executives from five leading French companies in Paris to advance investment cooperation in strategic industries amid the global supply chain restructuring. France is a European leader in advanced technology across aviation, smart electronics, advanced materials for battery production, and digital identity systems. The discussions represent a critical opportunity for Thailand to attract investment, technology, expertise, and industrial networks to strengthen the country's manufacturing base.
The five companies discussed were:
1. Airbus Group SE – Europe's largest aircraft and defense systems manufacturer, promoting Thailand's development as a digital aviation hub with modern aerospace expertise using Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality technologies.
2. EssilorLuxottica – the world's leading eyeglass and optical lens company owning brands like Ray-Ban, Oakley, and Varilux. Operating in Thailand for nearly 40 years with over 16,000 million baht invested, the company recently decided to expand AI Glasses manufacturing in Thailand.
3. Imerys S.A. – a global advanced materials leader producing graphite and Conductive Carbon Black, critical components for lithium battery electrodes in EV vehicles and high-performance energy storage systems. The company holds over 50 percent global market share.
4. Thales Group – a global leader in defense, aerospace, digital security, and cybersecurity technologies. The company proposed developing cybersecurity infrastructure for the Thai government, including electronic passport systems.
5. IN Groupe – France's digital identity verification system leader specializing in passports, digital national ID cards, driver's licenses, and Digital ID systems. The company proposed collaborating with Thailand to develop new Digital ID systems, biometric technology, and digital authentication systems.
PM Anutin invited these companies to consider investment in Thailand, noting that Thailand is the region's largest EV manufacturing base and offers strategic advantages in location and EV ecosystem readiness to support advanced materials manufacturers. The discussions reflect that leading French technology companies view Thailand not merely as a manufacturing hub but as a strategic partner in building a new regional supply chain across EV, aviation, and digital sectors.
