The discussion highlighted regional policy perspectives on digital economy growth, green data centre development, and lessons from Singapore’s experience in advancing sustainable digital infrastructure.
On 29 January 2026, Chonlatee Chanrachakul, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., welcomed a delegation of executives and researchers from the International Institute for Trade and Development (ITD), led by Wimon Pankong, Deputy Director (Academic), at the Royal Thai Embassy. The meeting aimed to exchange policy-relevant insights to support a research study titled “The Establishment and Development of Sustainable Data Centres in Thailand and ASEAN.”
During the meeting, the Chargé d’Affaires a.i. shared perspectives on the evolving direction of the digital economy, noting that the digital sector currently contributes 18.6 per cent of Singapore’s GDP. The discussion underscored the strategic importance of digital infrastructure in supporting economic competitiveness and regional connectivity within ASEAN.
The exchange also highlighted Singapore’s ongoing efforts to advance its National AI Strategy 2.0, which seeks to accelerate the development and adoption of advanced artificial intelligence technologies. Particular emphasis was placed on the parallel development of human capital, ensuring that skills and talent pipelines keep pace with the growing demands of the digital and data-driven economy.
Both sides further exchanged views on Singapore’s experience in developing data centres, with attention given to the implementation of the Green Data Centre Roadmap. The roadmap illustrates how computing capacity can be expanded while maintaining environmental standards, offering practical lessons for ASEAN countries seeking to balance digital growth with sustainability objectives.
The meeting reaffirmed the value of policy dialogue and research collaboration in shaping sustainable digital infrastructure development. Insights from the discussion are expected to contribute to ITD’s ongoing research and support informed policymaking on sustainable data centres in Thailand and across the ASEAN region.
Source: Royal Thai Embassy, Singapore
