Thailand Courts Japanese Auto, Chip Giants in Tokyo Talks

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira will lead a combined government and private-sector delegation to Japan from November 18 to 20, 2026, to meet with six major Japanese automakers — Toyota, Honda, Isuzu, Mitsubishi, Mazda, and Nissan — and elevate the long-standing Thailand-Japan manufacturing partnership into advanced technology investment. The mission includes the Industry Minister, the Finance Ministry's permanent secretary, the Customs Department chief, and leaders of the Federation of Thai Industries, the Thai Chamber of Commerce, and the Thai Bankers Association, together with more than 40 Thai business executives.

The core objective is to upgrade the Thailand-Japan economic relationship — built on over 50 years of production cooperation — toward investment in advanced industries, while creating channels for Thai firms to plug into Japanese supply chains and target sectors. A central task will be negotiating with the six Japanese carmakers that already operate production bases in Thailand, presenting proposals to support the automotive industry through tax restructuring that ensures fair competition and strengthens domestic manufacturing, as well as upgrading Thai parts makers. The delegation will also hear each automaker's business plans and investment direction to build confidence for long-term commitments and support the transition to next-generation vehicle technology.

At the same time, the Board of Investment (BOI) will launch a Thailand-Japan Semiconductor Strategic Partnership forum to showcase the national semiconductor and advanced electronics strategy, linking Japanese chip-manufacturing expertise with investment opportunities in Thailand. Another highlight is the first-ever joint appearance by Thailand's three major private-sector bodies — the FTI, the Thai Chamber of Commerce, and the Thai Bankers Association — together with the BOI, meeting Japan's Keidanren business federation and co-hosting the Thailand-Japan Investment and Business Dialogue 2026. The dialogue will match businesses in three clusters: electric vehicles and parts, supply chains for data centres and advanced electronics, and modern power grids including transmission and distribution equipment.

Further talks are scheduled with Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), and the Japanese Ministry of Finance to expand investment and industrial cooperation, including advancing the POWERR Asia mechanism that supports energy security and supply-chain resilience for partner countries in Asia and the transition to clean energy.

BOI Secretary-General Narit Therdsteerasukdi said the unified government-private sector approach signals Thailand's seriousness in upgrading the economic partnership, with the private-sector joint committee acting as a bridge from policy to business partnerships, enabling entrepreneurs from both countries to co-develop technology, talent, and future supply chains. In 2025, Japanese investors filed 302 BOI applications worth over 113.7 billion baht, more than double the previous year, while the first nine months of 2026 already saw 192 projects valued at over 45.4 billion baht, concentrated in digital, agri-food, electronics, and automotive sectors.