On 14 February 2025, the Department of European Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organized a special lecture entitled “Semiconductor Industry in Thailand and Foreign Investment Trends”, given by Dr. Wutthinan Jeamsaksiri, Senior Researcher, and Dr. Nipapan Klunngien, Researcher, from Thai Microelectronics Center or TMEC.

On this occation, Mrs. Krongkanit Rakcharoen, Director-General, and Ms. Somrudee Poopornanake, Deputy Director-General, together with officials from relavent agencies discussed with the TMEC officials about Thailand’s investment policy to become a regional hub for advanced technology industries and promoting the semiconductor industry as one of the key investment areas.  Many European countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, have become the industry leaders in advanced technologies and are among Thailand’s important trading partners.

Fierce competition and trade tensions between technology leaders increasingly lead to the relocation of industry and production bases for electronic component and semiconductor to other regions, with Southeast Asia being one of the key targets. Thus this presents an opportunity for Thailand to be part of the supply chain and attract foreign investment, using its geographical advantages, world-class infrastructure, and efficient transportation system. Nevertheless, Thailand needs to develop its potential in terms of labor skills and manpower to support the incoming investments.

In October 2024, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra appointed the National Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Policy Committee (Semiconductor Board).  The committee will oversee the direction and goals for the development of the semiconductor and advanced electronics industries in the country, including creating a concrete and comprehensive roadmap.  In 2025, Thailand investment promotion policy focuses on positioning itself as a regional hub for advanced technology industries, with key areas of investment in semiconductors and advanced electronics, electric vehicles (EV), smart electronics and appliances, biotechnology, robotics, data centers, cloud services, AI, and advanced digital technologies.