BANGKOK, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Applications for investment promotion in Thailand rose 28 percent from a year earlier in the first nine months of 2026, led by the digital and electronics industries, the country's Board of Investment (BOI) said on Monday.
A total of 1,954 projects applied for BOI privileges between January and September, with a combined investment of 1.71 trillion baht (about 50.59 billion U.S. dollars), the agency said in a statement.
The BOI said the growth reflects global expansion of digital businesses and electronics manufacturing driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and modern products that rely on semiconductors and electronic components.
The digital sector accounted for the largest share of applications at more than 1.17 trillion baht from 139 projects, nearly double the same period last year. Electronics and electrical appliances followed with 189.37 billion baht from 262 projects, up 7 percent.
Foreign direct investment applications surged 62 percent to 1.55 trillion baht from 1,309 projects, which the BOI attributed to large-scale projects arising from global supply chain restructuring.
Foreign investment was concentrated in digital infrastructure, semiconductors, and electronics and electrical appliances, with large projects also in food and beverages, animal feed, automobiles and parts, precision machinery and parts, metal products, and chemicals.
The agency approved 1,951 projects worth 1.51 trillion baht in the nine-month period. These are expected to create more than 116,000 jobs for Thai workers, use over 693 billion baht a year in local raw materials and parts, and generate exports of more than 1.96 trillion baht a year.
These figures reflect a shift towards digital and advanced technology industries, giving Thailand an opportunity to expand its role in the AI supply chain, said BOI Secretary General Narit Therdsteerasukdi.
Narit said the agency would continue attracting new investment while upgrading existing industries, with a focus on technology and workforce development and on bringing Thai businesses into advanced technology supply chains. ■
