Bangkok: The Board of Investment (BOI) has announced that investment promotion applications for 2025 are expected to surpass 1.8 trillion baht, marking a 67% increase with 3,370 projects. This represents the highest number of projects and investment value in BOI's history, highlighting investor confidence in Thailand as a regional hub for high-tech industries, led by digital industries.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Narut Teodsathirasak, Secretary-General of the BOI, emphasized the significant rise in both the number of projects and investment amount. The applications in 2025 comprise 3,370 projects with an investment of 1,876,653 million baht, reflecting an 11% and 67% increase respectively. This surge points to investors' trust in Thailand's potential to attract investment, especially in high-tech and green industries geared towards sustainable development.
The top five industry groups with the highest investment value include the digital industry, electronics and electrical appliances, automotive and parts, agriculture and food processing, and petrochemical and chemical industries. In addition, sectors like renewable energy generation and medical services have seen substantial investment, crucial for economic restructuring.
Applications for incentives under the Smart and Sustainable Industry upgrade measure saw a 99% increase, totaling 68,269 million baht across 473 projects. The focus was on digital technology, machinery upgrades, and automation in production lines.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) expanded significantly, with 2,421 projects applying for investment promotion, marking a 21% rise. The total investment reached 1,359,925 million baht, a 66% increase. Singapore led with the highest investment value, followed by Hong Kong, China, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
Regionally, the Eastern region attracted nearly 60% of the investment, followed by the Central, Northeastern, Southern, Northern, and Western regions. In 2025, 2,779 investment promotion certificates were issued, totaling 1,152,782 million baht, showing a 36% increase, expected to stimulate the economy significantly.
Mr. Narut highlighted Thailand's infrastructure and ecosystem readiness to support future industries, aligning with BOI's strategy of fostering a new economy based on technology, innovation, and sustainability. Projects in 2025 are anticipated to create over 220,000 new jobs and significantly boost the country's export value.
Looking ahead to 2026, growth is expected to continue, driven by factors like manufacturing base relocation due to geopolitical conflicts, rapid technological advancements, sustainability trends, and Thailand's readiness and consistent investment policies. BOI's mission for 2026 will focus on attracting investment in target industries, developing human resources, and enhancing the supply chain to support new industries' investments.