Bangkok: The Board of Investment (BOI) has approved two key measures to advance the “Competitiveness Enhancement Fund” mechanism, aiming to transform the game and strengthen Thai entrepreneurs. The initiative aims to enhance technology, increase efficiency, and develop highly skilled personnel to support new industries and accelerate investment for the future, in line with the government’s “Quick Big Win” policy.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Narit Therdsteerasak, Secretary-General of the Board of Investment (BOI), revealed that the meeting of the Committee on Policy to Enhance National Competitiveness for Target Industries under the BOI, chaired by Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul on November 6, 2025, approved two key measures to drive future investment under the government’s Quick Big Win policy: measures to support Thai entrepreneurs to enhance their competitiveness and measures to create highly skilled personnel for modern industries.
The measure to support Thai entrepreneurs to enhance their competitiveness will be implemented in the form of providing funding to support them in improving efficiency and enhancing their competitiveness. This funding will be 30-50% of the actual investment and expenses, but not exceeding 100 million baht per company. This will cover three main investment areas: improving the efficiency of existing businesses with modern technology, such as automation and digital technology; research and development; and transforming existing businesses into new and green industries. Applicants for this measure must be juristic persons with at least 51% Thai shares in the target industries: agriculture, food, biotechnology, medicine, automotive, electronics, automation and robotics, and defense. General entrepreneurs are required to invest a minimum of 50 million baht, while SMEs registered in the SME ONE ID project of the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP) are required to invest a minimum of 20 million
baht. Applications must be submitted by January 2026 and completed within 12 months of the promotion certificate issuance date.
Furthermore, as the fund’s financial support is disbursed after entrepreneurs have made investments in accordance with the terms and conditions, the BOI has collaborated with the Thai Bankers’ Association to develop a bridging loan and set special interest rates from financial institutions to enhance entrepreneurs’ liquidity while awaiting disbursement.
For the measure to create a highly skilled workforce for modern industries, the National Competitiveness Enhancement Fund will provide financial support to universities/training institutions that will serve as nodes to cover training and upskilling costs for vocational certificate holders and above, preparing them for changes in the industrial sector. The goal is to develop 100,000 personnel, divided into 30,000 students preparing for the labor market and 70,000 labor market personnel seeking upskilling or reskilling. Training formats will include bootcamps, onsite and online training, and practical training in workplaces. The curriculum must address modern technologies or advanced knowledge that will enhance the country’s technological capabilities and be certified by a committee under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI). The funding will cover training costs, travel expenses, internship allowances, and internship supervisor compensation. Applications must be submitted
by January 2026, and training must be completed within six months of the promotion certificate issuance date.
“This board-approved measure will transform the Competitiveness Enhancement Fund into a financial tool for upgrading Thai industry. This includes supporting Thai entrepreneurs to adapt to technological advancements and increase production efficiency, and developing highly skilled personnel to meet the demands of modern industries. This represents the country’s largest industrial workforce development campaign. Enhancing these two capabilities will help entrepreneurs survive, compete, and grow sustainably,” said Mr. Narit.