Jaisingh: “Pay Singha” reveals plan to push Thailand to become ASEAN data center hub, addressing the issue of “clean water and electricity” and clearing investment obstacles in the EEC. Petty Officer 1st Class Yotsingh Liamlert, Deputy Minister of Industry, addressed the meeting to address obstacles to investment in the data center industry in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). He was joined by Mr. Peerawat Somwong, Secretary to the Minister, along with executives from the Department of Industrial Works, the Office of Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (OIE), the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT), and the EEC.
According to Thai News Agency, the meeting delved into the overall picture of investment in special target industries in the digital space, the status of data center projects in the EEC, and the 2019 land use and infrastructure plans to determine the extent to which urban planning and utilities can truly support large-scale data centers. The primary focus was on clean water and electricity, as data centers consume significant amounts of water and electricity.
The Deputy Minister of Industry emphasized that if Thailand wants to become a major regional player, it must not only have land and incentives, but also meet the needs of global investors in terms of power system stability and clean energy mix.
The meeting also laid out a framework for collaboration between government agencies to reduce redundancy in rules, regulations, and approval procedures to be “clear, fast, and verifiable,” ensuring Thailand doesn’t lose out on opportunities in the data center battleground, where neighboring countries are aggressively accelerating.
Petty Officer 1st Class Yotsingh stated that this meeting was not only a technical discussion between government agencies and investors, but also a signal to Thai society that the data center industry is a digital infrastructure supporting people’s daily lives, from social media use and online banking to government services. Proper preparation for water, energy, and urban planning will create jobs, generate income, and enhance the country’s technological capabilities. If Thailand keeps up and lays a strong foundation today, the EEC and Thailand have the potential to become a regional “data and digital hub” in the future.
The Deputy Minister of Industry stated that investment in data centers is not just about “servers and buildings,” but rather about investing in the “future of the Thai economy.” This requires cooperation from all sectors, including the public, private, academic, and public sectors, to create a stable, sustainable infrastructure that keeps pace with the rapidly changing digital world.