Thailand showcased its latest investment achievements and long-term economic strategy at the ASEAN Conference 2026, highlighting clean energy, workforce development and innovation as key drivers of regional competitiveness. The session also underscored the Eastern Economic Corridor’s ambition to become a leading ASEAN hub for data centres and the Bio-Circular-Green economy.
Thailand reaffirmed its position as one of Southeast Asia’s leading investment destinations during the ASEAN Conference 2026, held on 31 July 2026 at Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore. Opening the Thailand Market Breakout session themed “Thailand’s Economic Push for Regional Competitiveness”, H.E. Waraphannee Damrongmanee, Ambassador of Thailand to Singapore, outlined the country’s economic priorities and highlighted its strongest investment performance in six decades.
In her keynote address, Ambassador Waraphannee revealed that applications for investment promotion through Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) had exceeded 1.8 trillion baht, marking the highest level recorded in 60 years, with Singapore emerging as the country’s largest foreign investor. She also highlighted three flagship initiatives designed to strengthen Thailand’s competitiveness: Direct Power Purchase Agreements (Direct PPA) to expand access to clean energy, the Skill Bridge programme to develop a future-ready workforce, and the BOI to IPO initiative, which enables technology companies to accelerate their entry into Thailand’s capital market.
The conference also featured a Fireside Chat with Dr. Chula Sukmanop, Secretary-General of the Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EECO), who discussed Thailand’s strategic advantages, including its geopolitical neutrality and well-established industrial base. He explained that the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) is being upgraded to support three major global trends—supply chain realignment, the green economy and artificial intelligence. Looking ahead, the EEC aims to position itself as a regional hub for data centres and the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy over the next five to ten years, supported by Direct PPA mechanisms and a comprehensive one-stop investment service.
A high-level panel discussion concluded the Thailand Market Breakout session, bringing together representatives from both the public and private sectors to explore how Thailand’s logistics network, digital infrastructure and industrial ecosystem can create new opportunities for businesses across ASEAN. Panellists included Mr. Kasemsit Pathomsak, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trade of Thailand, Mr. Korthong Thongtham Na Ayutthaya, Acting Director of the EECiti Division, as well as senior executives from DayOne Data Center and Frasers Property (Thailand) Pcl., who shared perspectives on strengthening regional connectivity and investment collaboration.
This year’s ASEAN Conference marked its 10th anniversary and was co-organised by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) and UOB under the theme “ASEAN’s Future in a Fractured World”. Bringing together policymakers, business leaders and industry experts from across the region, the conference continues to serve as an important platform for advancing ASEAN’s economic resilience, regional integration and sustainable growth.
Source: Royal Thai Embassy in Singapore
