BANGKOK, Thailand – Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has introduced a series of measures to boost investment confidence and enhance national disaster preparedness following the recent earthquake that caused the collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building. During the latest parliamentary session, the premier presided over the launch of the Thailand Investment and Expat Services Center, built to streamline visa and work permit services for foreign investors and skilled workers. The prime minister confirmed that only one under-construction building was affected by the earthquake and that all other structures in Bangkok have been declared safe.
Declaring 2025 as Thailand’s “golden year of investment,” the prime minister announced more than 3,100 investment projects valued at over 1.1 trillion baht. With foreign investment at a decade high, the government is working to promote Thailand as a regional hub for innovation, sustainability, and strategic sectors such as electric vehicles, semiconductors, bioeconomy, advanced electronics, and global business services.
At the April 1 Cabinet meeting, the prime minister issued eight directives to key ministries to improve disaster response readiness. These include immediate infrastructure inspections, national medical emergency planning, curriculum updates on disaster awareness, and coordination with countries experienced in earthquake management. The Ministry of Transport was tasked with assessing structural resilience across key infrastructure, while the Ministry of Environment will evaluate tsunami warning systems and geological risks.
The Cabinet also received a briefing from the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) on updated emergency broadcast protocols. Meanwhile, the collapse of the SAO building has been officially classified as a special case. Preliminary findings indicated substandard steel was used in construction. Ten government projects by the same contractor have been suspended pending further investigation, and one completed school building is undergoing urgent safety inspection.
Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has been assigned to lead a formal investigation and deliver a full report as soon as possible.
