BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand is positioning itself as a regional hub for data security and digital infrastructure following its participation in the 3rd Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Summit in Doha, Qatar. Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan, representing the country at the Business Forum, stated that Thailand’s neutral diplomatic stance and robust digital economy make it a strong candidate to host data centers for Middle Eastern and ASEAN countries.
Pichai stressed that Thailand’s appeal lies in its secure and stable environment for data storage, which has attracted major international firms like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google to invest in establishing data centers in the country. Thailand’s strengths include its central location, low risk of natural disasters, and high digital literacy among its population, supported by a legal framework that safeguards digital data and privacy. The country’s regulations, such as the Personal Data Protection Act and the Cyber Security Act, are critical factors in building trust for foreign investors.
During the summit, Pichai met with representatives from Oman and the UAE, encouraging them to consider Thailand as a base for data centers. He underscored the benefits of Thailand’s reliable power infrastructure and its capacity to support AI development initiatives. A recent report by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) revealed Thailand’s digital readiness, adding credibility to its ambitions of becoming a regional leader in the sector.
According to the Board of Investment, there are 46 approved data centers and cloud services projects in Thailand, with an estimated investment value of 167.98 billion baht. Most of these projects are based in Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Chonburi, and Rayong provinces and are expected to contribute significantly to Thailand’s digital transformation. Pichai indicated that the government would continue to promote Thailand’s capabilities at upcoming international forums, including the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, this week. (NNT)
