Deputy PM Ekniti Invites Leading French Companies to Invest in Thailand as ASEAN's Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Hub
Deputy PM Ekniti pitched Thailand to major French firms including Thales as ASEAN's manufacturing and technology hub, targeting investments in lithium batteries, cybersecurity, and electric vehicles.
Deputy Prime Minister Ekniti Nitithanpraphas has held discussions with leading French companies, positioning Thailand as ready to receive new rounds of investment from around the world, serving as ASEAN's advanced manufacturing and technology base. The Thai government, led by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, along with relevant cabinet members and the Board of Investment (BOI), met with major French firms including Imeyrs, Thales, and IN Groupe on May 25, 2026, in Paris. The discussions focused on advanced materials for lithium batteries, cybersecurity, and digital identity. Deputy PM Ekniti reiterated Thailand's potential as ASEAN's advanced manufacturing and technology hub, inviting these companies to strengthen Thailand's electric vehicle supply chain, collaborate on cybersecurity infrastructure development, and help establish Thailand as a regional secure identity technology development center. Amid shifting global geopolitics, these investment discussions with leading French companies reflect Thailand's confidence and capability in attracting new waves of global investment, which will serve as a crucial engine for sustainable economic advancement.
