Thailand Launches Push for High-Tech Investment in Eastern Region

The Board of Investment is coordinating with four state agencies to remove investment barriers in Thailand's Eastern Region and accommodate a wave of high-tech industrial investment, with cumulative promotion requests exceeding 2.6 trillion baht.

Naruetom Theodsiriskul, Secretary-General of the Board of Investment, announced this at the "Eastern Thailand: Unlocking the Next Investment Frontier" seminar on August 14, 2025, in Chonburi Province. He noted that the global economic and investment structure is undergoing rapid transformation driven by geopolitical polarization, the shift to digital and clean energy economies, global supply chain restructuring, and the explosive growth of modern technologies including AI, robotics, semiconductors, electric vehicles, and biotechnology. These developments are directing more investment toward the ASEAN region, creating a major opportunity for Thailand to strengthen its foundations and remove constraints—particularly in the Eastern Region, the country's most critical investment hub—to attract quality projects and become the region's future industrial hub.

The seminar drew strong interest from over 500 local and foreign business operators already promoted in the Eastern Region, representing automotive and components, machinery, electrical appliances and electronics, metals and materials, chemicals and petrochemicals, agriculture and food, and other sectors.

Eastern Region Claims Three-Year Investment Championship with Over 2.6 Trillion Baht

Theodisiriskul noted that the Eastern Region is a strategically vital area with the highest number of investment promotion applications. Over the past three-and-a-half years (2023 to mid-2025), it received 4,566 investment promotion applications worth over 2.6 trillion baht—accounting for half of all investment promotion requests nationwide.

Chonburi Province leads the Eastern Region with over 1.29 trillion baht in investment, followed by Rayong (837 billion baht), Prachuap Khiri Khan (235 billion baht), and Chachoengsao (228 billion baht). The three top investment sectors are digital industries, electronics and electrical appliances, and vehicles and components.

The Eastern Region benefits from strong infrastructure including transportation and logistics systems, industrial estates, ports, airports, and utilities, as well as a deep and diverse supplier base, positioning it as a gateway for investment and Thailand's connection to global markets.

However, the new wave of investment, especially in advanced-technology manufacturing, requires different support factors than previous industries. Readiness in utilities, cluster-style investment zones, and skilled labor are critical challenges that relevant agencies must jointly address to support investment without harming the environment and communities.

Offensive Strategy: Targeting Six Investment Groups for New Investment Wave

Theodisiriskul stated that global investment trends are shifting toward technology and innovation-driven industries. The Board of Investment has identified six target groups aligned with global trends and Thai strengths to attract investment.