Taiwan-Thailand trade surges 47.8% in Q1 as TECO expands tech talent programme

Trade between Taiwan and Thailand rose by 47.8% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period last year, according to Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs, marking a new high in bilateral economic relations.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand (TECO) said Taiwan is strengthening its role in Thailand's industrial and technology sectors through investment and talent development initiatives.

Since the launch of the "Taiwan-Thailand Tech Talent Service Platform" in late 2025, TECO said it has expanded recruitment and training programmes aimed at supporting Taiwanese businesses operating in Thailand.

In the first quarter of 2026, TECO and Taiwanese companies organised recruitment seminars at vocational colleges in Bangkok, Pathum Thani and Chonburi, reaching more than 3,000 students.

Taiwan has also established "International Talent Circulation Bases" in northern and northeastern Thailand under its INTENSE Programme, expanding technical training opportunities beyond Bangkok.

TECO said it is also working with printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturers and Thai industrial estates to improve employment pathways for Thai graduates.

According to data from Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs and Thailand's Board of Investment (BOI), Taiwan ranked as Thailand's fourth-largest trading partner and sixth-largest source of foreign investment.

In 2025, Taiwanese investment in Thailand totalled 131 projects worth 273.5 billion baht, mainly in electronics, ICT and PCB-related industries.

Educational exchanges also continued to grow, with nearly 2,000 Thai students studying in Taiwan in 2025, up 5% from the previous year.

Peter Lan, TECO's representative in Thailand, said Taiwan-Thailand cooperation is shifting from traditional manufacturing toward AI and smart technology industries.

"Taiwan is not just here for trade and investment; we are committed to local talent cultivation," he said.