Thailand’s Investment Applications Soar to Record US$42 Billion in Jan–Sept 2025
Applications filed with Thailand’s Board of Investment rise 94 % year-on-year as data centres and smart electronics dominate high-tech inflows
Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) announced that investment-promotion applications filed between January and September 2025 reached 1.37 trillion baht (approximately US$42.2 billion), a 94 per cent increase from the same period last year and the highest level since the BOI was established six decades ago.
During the period, 2,622 project applications were submitted, up 23 per cent from 2,137 filings in the first nine months of 2024. Foreign direct-investment (FDI)-pledged projects alone accounted for 985.3 billion baht — approximately 72 per cent of the total investment-application value — with FDI pledges rising 82 per cent year-on-year.
High-tech sectors saw particularly strong interest.
The digital sector recorded 119 applications worth a combined 612.8 billion baht, nearly half of which were data-centre projects.
The electrical-appliances and electronics (E&E) sector attracted 382 applications totalling 184.1 billion baht.
Other significant sectors included automotive and parts (229 applications, 71 billion baht), agriculture and food-processing (228 applications, 47.2 billion baht), and petrochemicals and chemicals (230 applications, 36.8 billion baht).
Singapore led sources of FDI applications in value terms with 359.8 billion baht, followed by Hong Kong (237.3 billion baht), Mainland China (142.9 billion baht), the United Kingdom (100.3 billion baht), and Japan (73.8 billion baht).
Large individual investments included a pollution-control pledge by Hong Kong-based Beijing Haoyang Cloud Data Technology of 72.7 billion baht, a 52.6 billion-baht pledge from UK-based Zenith Data Centre & Cloud Services, and a 38-billion-baht pledge by Singapore-based Galaxy Peak Data Centre.
BOI Secretary General Narit Therdsteerasukdi said the figures reflect investors’ growing recognition of Thailand’s economic potential and reaffirm the success of the government’s emphasis on high-tech, high-value sectors in its investment strategy.
He observed that the fact applications this year already exceed last year’s total by about 22 per cent underlines the strength of Thailand’s investment appeal.
Thailand’s economy stands to benefit not only from increased capital inflows but also from technology transfer, employment creation and the deepening of value chains in smart industries.
The surge in applications positions the country strongly in the regional competition for digital-infrastructure and manufacturing investment.
As the year progresses, the government will focus on facilitating approvals, ensuring infrastructure and skills readiness, and converting pledges into realised projects.
The high-water mark in applications marks a pivotal moment for Thailand’s investment-promotion drive.
During the period, 2,622 project applications were submitted, up 23 per cent from 2,137 filings in the first nine months of 2024. Foreign direct-investment (FDI)-pledged projects alone accounted for 985.3 billion baht — approximately 72 per cent of the total investment-application value — with FDI pledges rising 82 per cent year-on-year.
High-tech sectors saw particularly strong interest.
The digital sector recorded 119 applications worth a combined 612.8 billion baht, nearly half of which were data-centre projects.
The electrical-appliances and electronics (E&E) sector attracted 382 applications totalling 184.1 billion baht.
Other significant sectors included automotive and parts (229 applications, 71 billion baht), agriculture and food-processing (228 applications, 47.2 billion baht), and petrochemicals and chemicals (230 applications, 36.8 billion baht).
Singapore led sources of FDI applications in value terms with 359.8 billion baht, followed by Hong Kong (237.3 billion baht), Mainland China (142.9 billion baht), the United Kingdom (100.3 billion baht), and Japan (73.8 billion baht).
Large individual investments included a pollution-control pledge by Hong Kong-based Beijing Haoyang Cloud Data Technology of 72.7 billion baht, a 52.6 billion-baht pledge from UK-based Zenith Data Centre & Cloud Services, and a 38-billion-baht pledge by Singapore-based Galaxy Peak Data Centre.
BOI Secretary General Narit Therdsteerasukdi said the figures reflect investors’ growing recognition of Thailand’s economic potential and reaffirm the success of the government’s emphasis on high-tech, high-value sectors in its investment strategy.
He observed that the fact applications this year already exceed last year’s total by about 22 per cent underlines the strength of Thailand’s investment appeal.
Thailand’s economy stands to benefit not only from increased capital inflows but also from technology transfer, employment creation and the deepening of value chains in smart industries.
The surge in applications positions the country strongly in the regional competition for digital-infrastructure and manufacturing investment.
As the year progresses, the government will focus on facilitating approvals, ensuring infrastructure and skills readiness, and converting pledges into realised projects.
The high-water mark in applications marks a pivotal moment for Thailand’s investment-promotion drive.
