BANGKOK, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's investment pledges reached an all-time high of 1.88 trillion baht (about 60.42 billion U.S. dollars) in 2025, soaring 67 percent from a year earlier, in a strategic shift toward a high-tech and innovation-driven economy, official data showed on Monday.
The Southeast Asian country's overall investment applications rose 11 percent from the previous year to 3,370 projects, with foreign direct investments alone jumping 66 percent to 1.36 trillion baht, according to the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI).
The robust uptake in key strategic sectors, particularly digital infrastructure and advanced electronics, reflects Thailand's successful policy alignment with global trends and its strong appeal as a destination for international investors, said BOI Secretary General Narit Therdsteerasukdi.
The projects approved last year are expected to create over 220,000 new jobs for Thai personnel, drive the utilization of over 1 trillion baht worth of domestic raw materials, and boost the kingdom's export value by over 2 trillion baht annually, Narit said in a statement.
Looking ahead into 2026, the official expects the investment momentum to continue, driven by key factors, including global supply chain relocation due to geopolitical tensions, the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure, and the transition toward sustainability. ■