Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) is fundamentally changing the way it evaluates technology investment projects in 2026. While the country continues offering some of ASEAN’s most aggressive tax incentives for advanced industries, the approval process has become significantly more selective — particularly for companies seeking prestigious Group A1 privileges.
Accounting & Legal in Thailand
Thailand’s industrial policy is entering a far more strategic phase in 2026. For years, the country competed primarily on investment incentives, export infrastructure, and cost-efficient manufacturing.
Thailand is entering a new chapter in its industrial development as the Board of Investment (BOI) accelerates efforts to reposition the country within the global semiconductor value chain.
Thailand is no longer competing merely to become an electric vehicle assembly base. In 2026, the country’s industrial policy has entered a far more strategic phase — one focused on controlling the upstream EV supply chain.
Thailand’s investment promotion regime is entering a new phase. For decades, the country’s industrial policy under the Thailand Board of Investment relied heavily on corporate income tax exemptions, import duty privileges, and non-tax incentives to attract foreign direct investment. However, the launch of the THB 5 billion Competitiveness Enhancement Fund marks a structural policy shift: Thailand is now moving beyond passive investment attraction toward direct state-supported capability building.
Thailand is entering a new phase of investment promotion policy. Under the latest direction introduced by the Thailand Board of Investment (“BOI”), foreign manufacturers seeking enhanced tax incentives will no longer be evaluated solely on production capacity or export potential. Instead, the government is increasingly focusing on whether multinational groups are prepared to relocate strategic business functions into Thailand alongside their manufacturing operations.
