Thailand's Investment Applications Rise 37% to US$43.6 Billion in First Half of 2026

Thailand's Board of Investment (BOI) recorded a 37% year-on-year increase in investment applications for the first half of 2026, reaching approximately US$43.6 billion (1.47 trillion baht) across 1,299 projects. The digital sector — spanning data centres, data hosting and cloud services — led the surge, accounting for roughly US$33 billion of total applications, as global technology firms continue to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure across Southeast Asia.

Foreign direct investment applications rose 80% year-on-year to US$40.5 billion across 877 projects. Singapore was the leading source of FDI at US$33.2 billion, followed by the United Kingdom, China, Taiwan and Japan. Beyond digital infrastructure, the BOI also recorded meaningful investment activity in electronics and electrical appliances, agriculture and food processing, logistics and high-value services, and automotive manufacturing.

"Thailand's investment growth held steady even as the world economy faced real turbulence," said Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary-General of the BOI, noting that the momentum reflects investor confidence in Thailand's role as a regional base for the industries of the future. The BOI estimates that projects approved in the first half of 2026 will generate more than 82,000 jobs for Thai workers and support export capacity of more than US$36.8 billion annually.

Businesses and investors considering Thailand should confirm current BOI promotion categories, eligibility criteria and application procedures directly with the BOI or its One Start One Stop Investment Center (OSOS), since incentive structures and figures are reviewed and updated regularly.