Mr. Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary General of the Thailand Board of Investment, stated, “The significant influx of investment across Thailand's diverse key sectors – such as digital, electronics, automotive, and renewable energy – clearly reflects our position as a preferred regional investment destination. To sustain this growth and competitive edge, we are accelerating investment through Thailand FastPass and directly removing critical investor barriers: electricity, clean energy, and land. This strategy strengthens Thailand's role as a leading investment hub.”
Thailand FastPass Drives Progress: Addressing Power and Land Challenges
The meeting reviewed the progress of the “Thailand FastPass” program, designed to speed up approvals for large projects in target industries. Of the 16 initial FastPass projects (worth over 5.24 billion USD (170 billion Baht)), all have received investment promotion approval. Seven projects have now applied for promotion certificates, and four have secured permits from partner agencies.
The BOI is actively tracking 78 large projects approved from 2023-2025, valued at 14.78 billion USD (480 billion Baht). Many of these have already begun investing or are planned to start soon. For the remaining 13 projects (worth about 8.31 billion USD (270 billion Baht)) facing issues like electricity, land, and permits, their resolution could unlock an additional 10.78 billion USD (350 billion Baht) in real investment by 2027.
The Board also discussed approaches to resolving two main investment challenges:
· Electricity: The BOI is accelerating power infrastructure readiness for high-tech industries and data centers by collaborating with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to fast-track the implementation of energy strategy, ensuring that power allocation can properly support real demand. This coordinated approach supports integrated operations aligned with both immediate needs and long-term energy strategies. Measures include creating a “Power Map” to identify optimal zones, while requiring data center projects to confirm electricity supply from the ERC before submitting BOI applications to ensure efficient development.
· Securing Land for Projects: Efforts to address land challenges include reviewing city plans for more industrial areas, developing guidelines for faster site preparation, and speeding up the process for changing the status of public land within industrial estate projects. The Board also endorsed a proposal to the Regulatory Reforms Committee, pushing for all regulations related to public land conversion to be modified and finalized within one year.
To further ensure timely project realization, the BOI agreed to implement quarterly monitoring for all promoted projects. This regular oversight will help quickly resolve any implementation issues.
Key Investment Project Approvals
The BOI approved promotion for two significant air transportation projects from Thai Airways Public Company Limited, with a combined investment of 217.11 million USD (7,143 million Baht) for leasing 8 new aircraft to expand international air transportation services.
“By prioritizing essential infrastructure and refining our support mechanisms, we are building a more resilient and attractive environment for sustained investment and economic prosperity in Thailand,” Mr. Narit concluded.
Established in 1966, the Office of the Board of Investment (BOI) has continuously played an essential role for over 60 years in promoting value-adding investment for the country, from both foreign and Thai investors, to enhance national competitiveness and drive towards a new era of sustainable and balanced growth.