Thailand’s Record Investment Boom: How China and Tech are Shaping the Future

U.S. tariffs push Chinese goods into Thailand, raising imports and trade deficit while testing ASEAN’s role in the U.S.-China trade dispute.
Containers at the Laem Chabang deep-sea port in Chon Buri province, Thailand, on June 25, 2024. U.S. tariffs push Chinese goods into Thailand, raising imports and trade deficit while testing ASEAN’s role in the U.S.-China trade dispute. (Photo by Nutthawat Wichieanbut / Bangkok Post / Bangkok Post via AFP)

Thailand reached a significant milestone in 2024, attracting $33 billion in investment applications, the highest in a decade. China played a key role in this growth, supporting 810 projects worth $5 billion and strengthening its presence in Southeast Asia’s evolving economy.

The surge, representing a 35% year-on-year increase, underscores the country’s growing appeal as a hub for advanced manufacturing and digital infrastructure.

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by Edwin Shri Bimo

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