Thailand’s foreign investment applications rose 62% to 1.55 trillion baht ($45.7 billion) in January-September 2026, while the investment agency reported infrastructure and permitting problems at some previously approved projects.
The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) said 1,954 applications worth 1.707 trillion baht were filed during the period, a 28% increase from a year earlier. Foreign applications covered 1,309 projects. Digital projects accounted for more than $34.4 billion in applications, nearly twice the year-earlier amount. Electronics and electrical-appliance projects totaled $5.6 billion, up 7%, and the BOI counted 111 applications directly tied to the artificial intelligence supply chain. Narit Therdsteerasukdi, the board’s secretary-general, said the figures showed a growing tilt toward digital and advanced-technology industries.
Applications and approvals are separate measures. The BOI approved 1,951 projects worth $44.6 billion during the same period and projected they could create more than 116,000 jobs, generate $57.7 billion in annual exports and lead to $20.4 billion in yearly purchases of Thai materials and components.
Jan Metzger, Standard Chartered’s global head of coverage banking, told the Bangkok Post that Thailand’s automotive, components and electronics industries support supplier networks and production expertise. He said the opportunity was to capture “higher-value activities” as Asean supply chains become more interconnected.
The government launched Thailand FastPass on June 23, 2026, for 25 projects from 23 companies representing more than 223 billion baht. Eight agencies take part in the process, which the government expected to reduce processing times by 20% to 50%. The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) has identified electricity, clean energy and water as industrial priorities and called for training in areas with worker shortages.
In March 2026, the BOI said 13 of 78 large projects approved from 2023 to 2025, worth about 270 billion baht, still faced issues including electricity, land and permits. The board said resolving those problems could unlock a further 350 billion baht in actual investment by 2027.
