PwC Thailand’s new report identifies supply chain diversification, AI adoption and the energy transition as drivers of investment opportunities across Thailand’s established and emerging industries.
BANGKOK, 6 October 2026 – Supply chain diversification, AI adoption and the energy transition are creating a new phase of investment opportunity in Thailand, strengthening the country’s position as a gateway to ASEAN, according to a new PwC Thailand report launched today.
This shift is directing a new wave of foreign direct investment (FDI) towards Thailand’s digital infrastructure, electronics, automotive and food-processing industries as global businesses restructure supply chains for greater resilience and scale.
This momentum is reflected in Thailand’s gross FDI inflow transactions, which reached USD86bn (around THB2.9tn)1 in 2025, according to data from the Bank of Thailand (BOT). China, Singapore and the EU were among the leading sources of investment.
These trends are explored in PwC Thailand’s report, Thailand Investment Outlook: Hope, resilience, and growth, released ahead of the 2026 IMF and World Bank Group Annual Meetings in Bangkok. The report examines how Thailand could translate this investment momentum into sustainable, long-term growth.
The report emphasises that Thailand’s competitiveness is not dependent on any single sector but is instead rooted in multiple strengths. These include a domestic market of 71.7m people, a well-established automotive manufacturing ecosystem, strong logistics connectivity, and leadership in the tourism, wellness and food industries. Together, these factors create diverse and resilient opportunities for investors to pursue multiple growth avenues within one market.
Thailand also serves as a strategic gateway to the broader ASEAN region, home to approximately 700m people and a combined economy of around USD4.2tn (approximately THB141.3tn).
With annual GDP growth expected to average 4–5%, ASEAN is one of the world’s fastest-growing regions and presents significant long-term demand potential. Thailand’s central location, established trade links and regional connectivity position it well to help investors access these opportunities.
Four hubs anchor a broad-based competitive advantage
Thailand’s capabilities span four established and emerging hubs:
- Automotive: Thailand is Southeast Asia’s largest producer, manufacturing around 1.5m light vehicles in 2025. It is also building a fast-growing electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, with EVs accounting for 53% of new vehicle sales in the first half of 2026.
- Logistics: Leveraging its central location, Thailand is expanding rail and port capacity and benefits from its 17 free trade agreements (15 of which are in effect) that bolster regional connectivity.
- Tourism and wellness: The country attracted around 33m visitors in 2025, and approximately 3m foreign patients annually, supporting a broader, evolving wellbeing ecosystem.
- Agriculture and food processing: Known as the ‘Kitchen of the World’, Thailand ranks among the top ten global agricultural exporters and is advancing into higher-value food products.
From opportunity to execution
The report also highlights that converting Thailand’s strategic advantages into sustained investment will depend on continued execution. Board of Investment incentives, Eastern Economic Corridor initiatives, long-term visa programmes and ongoing regulatory modernisation—including proposed reforms to the Foreign Business Act—are designed to strengthen the business environment and support the country’s next phase of growth.
Recent investments show how this momentum is translating into capacity across Thailand’s emerging growth sectors: Google’s planned USD1bn (around THB33.6bn) Bangkok Cloud Region; Western Digital’s USD693m (around THB23.3bn) manufacturing expansion; and BYD’s USD490m (around THB16.5bn) investment in its first wholly-owned passenger vehicle production base in Southeast Asia.
Beyond infrastructure and policy, Thailand’s renowned hospitality, vibrant food scene, and internationally recognised healthcare system create an environment where international investors and professionals can live and work comfortably for the long term.
Phuwin Norchoovech, Territory Execution Leader and Deals Partner, PwC Thailand, said:
“Thailand’s investment story is entering a new phase. Its advantage lies not in a single sector, but in the combination of market scale, industrial depth, and resilience that investors increasingly seek. As supply chains diversify and AI and the energy transition reshape the global economy, Thailand has an opportunity to channel these shifts into new investment and growth while strengthening its role as a gateway to ASEAN.
“Capturing this opportunity will require Thailand to connect AI, supply chain diversification and the energy transition with the capabilities, infrastructure and talent needed to turn investment momentum into sustainable, long-term value.”
//ENDS//
[1] The figures are based on an exchange rate of USD1 = THB33.64 as of 1 October 2026.
Notes to Editors
About Thailand Investment Outlook
Read the full Thailand Investment Outlook: Hope, resilience, and growth report for PwC Thailand’s research and analysis, supported by publicly available economic, investment and industry data from national and international sources. The report offers general insights for businesses considering investment in or entry into Thailand and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice.
Full references and methodology for data cited in this release are provided in Thailand Investment Outlook: Hope, resilience, and growth.
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