‘Ekniti’ leads Team Thailand in talks with 'Top-tier tech leaders' on 500 billion Baht, Urges ASEAN cooperation to deliver real gains for people

22 Jan, 2025, Mr. Narut Therdsathirasak, Secretary-General of Board of Investment (BOI), revealed the mission of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Ekniti Nitithanprapas and Team Thailand at The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026, (WEF) was highly successful in enhancing confidence in Thailand, strengthening cooperation networks with international leaders, showcasing Thailand’s role on the world stage in the future.

The mission achieved all three goals:

1) Bringing together government and private sector teams to strengthen Thailand’s image in the lens of the world leaders as a country with potential, a clear policy direction, neutrality in terms of geopolitical tensions and willingness to serve as a new economic hub for regional cooperation.

2) Negotiating with executives of leading companies to secure actual investments that maximize benefits for the country, especially investments in New S-Curve industries that use advanced technology, creating business opportunities for Thai entrepreneurs, quality jobs, developing Thai people’s skill to the needs of the future world.

3) Establishing cooperation to clear the way for the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings 2026 Bangkok, which highlights Thailand’s ability to host significant world-class events as well as its capability to lead ASEAN.

Following talks with nine global tech giants, Thailand advances a 500-billion-baht investment plan focused on workforce development and supply chain upgrading.

For the WEF meeting, Team Thailand met with executives from 9 top worldwide companies. These corporations have planned investments totalling more than 500 billion baht, including past and future and promote confidence during the government transition and support project acceleration in Thailand. The gathering also aimed to attract new investments in New S-Curve industries, including 6 businesses in the digital and AI sectors, 2 in automotive and smart aircraft, and 1 in the food industry.

Digital and AI industries

AWS: Commitment to investing over 150 billion baht in Thailand over the next 15 years, with over 24 billion baht invested. Cloud First the corporation supports the government’s Cloud First strategy and is interested in the Skill Bridge project, which is scheduled to develop more than 50,000 digital and AI professionals.

Tiktok: Confirmed its long-term investment plan of more than 270 billion baht and addressed how the platform may help AMEs gain access to markets and more revenue. The company also offered strategies of strengthen Thailand's position as a regional hub for activities such as content development.

DAMAC group: A worldwide data center infrastructure developer with plans to invest more than 130 billion baht in Thailand, discussed the development of data center infrastructure, such as power grids, to support the growth of cloud and AI technology in Thailand.

HCL Technologies: A leader in AL software and technology development and service, opened up about how to use AI to boost government services (GovTech)   and boost productivity in manufacturing, tourism, agriculture.

NVIDIA: A leader in AI chip and platform technology, discussed ways to improve Thailand's AI ecosystem, such as building developer teams and human resources, developing Thai language models and applications to boost important national industries and growing Centers of Excellence to promote AI learning in Thailand.

Automotive and Intelligent Aerospace industries

Hesai Technology: the world’s leader in LiDAR technology for intelligent car systems, has made the decision to invest more than 1.5 billion baht in setting up its first manufacturing facility outside of China in Thailand. In order to prepare a workforce to grow into Thailand’s AI/Robotics supply chain and ecosystem, the company is prepared to work together on developing human resources in robotics/AI technologies under the skill bridge initiatives.

Archer Aviation: Leading airplane manufacturer has explored joint venture and cooperation opportunities with Thai business to provide Urban Air Mobility and offering a fresh quick to effective mode of transportation in urban cities.

Food industry

Nestlé: A major player in the food and beverage sector worldwide, has a long history of conducting business in Thailand. As of today, it runs four businesses and has received investment promotion for eight projects. It has consistently made investments in the food, beverage, pet food industries in Thailand totalling more than 28 billion baht. Regional office is located in Thailand and intends to expand its investment in the near future to link the world economy strengthening Thailand’s position as a "Proactive player” and preparedness as a host to the IMF-World bank 2026.

Linking with global economic, Thailand shifts to a 'Proactive player' Ahead of hosting IMF–World Bank 2026

Mr. Ekniti met with Mr. Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank and Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to discuss strategies for promoting inclusive growth, the development of decent jobs, and the future of the world economy. They also talked about Thailand's host the 2026 IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings. Thailand stressed the meeting's hosting serves as a critical forum for policy discussion on topics including fiscal sustainability, inclusive growth, economic resilience and raising private sector for company expansion.

Furthermore, He also held discussion with The Secretary-General of the OECD, the Minister of Foreign Trade and Development of Finland, the Minister of Finance of Hong Kong, the Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia, the Chair of Global Development of the Gates Foundation, the Managing Director of the World Economic Forum (WEF), and executives from uplink WEF were among the leaders.

Team Thailand has increased collaboration on new global economic challenges. Mr.Ekniti took part in several significant World Economic Forums including, the   Strategic Meeting on "New Pathways for ASEAN Growth and Productivity, the Informal Gatherings of World Economic Leaders (IGWEL) on "What’s Ahead for the Global Economy – Boom, Bust or In-between?" and the panel discussion on "Is ASEAN Moving Fast Enough?" . These engagements offered a chance to share perspectives on fostering inclusive and sustainable growth, talk about how to improve competitiveness and regional economic connectivity, and highlight Thailand's advantages, investment prospects across a range of industries and policy experiences that could be repeated at the regional level.

He also stated that, Global geopolitical and geoeconomic uncertainty, which directly affects trade, investment and supply chains, is posing significant challenges to the ASEAN economy, while nations are under pressure to implement green economies. The rise of artificial intelligence is driving changes in labor productivity and industrial structures.

Despite growing rivalry from global economic power, ASEAN still has potential and benefit from its economic accessibility, neutrality and adherence to international trade rules. Accelerating the shift from policy to practice through investment in energy, transportation, digital infrastructure along with developing workers to meet the demands of the news economy and enabling SMEs to build up practical connections to local and international supply chains. These are the most crucial aspects of the next stage.

He furthr said that if ASEAN can successfully adopt this action plan it will open up new economic prospects for its member, particularly Thailand, which will gain from bringing in outstanding foreign direct investment, modernization its economy to include high-value service and future industries, and eventually strengthen its economic structure.

Mr. Ekniti concluded by highlighting the necessity of fostering regional collaboration on digital legislation, cybersecurity and green economy. Emphasizing inclusive and sustainable economic growth in ASEAN to deal with global economis headwinds.

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