BANGKOK, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Thailand has approved 34 data center and data hosting projects worth 715.30 billion baht (about 21.34 billion U.S. dollars) since 2025, as the government works to position the country as a regional digital infrastructure hub, a spokesperson said on Thursday.
Deputy government spokesperson Lalida Periswiwatana said the administration of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is streamlining investment procedures to support growth in the digital economy, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and future digital services.
Citing figures from the Board of Investment (BOI), Lalida said 27 projects worth 618.42 billion baht were approved last year, with seven more worth 96.88 billion baht cleared in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting investor confidence in Thailand's location, infrastructure and workforce.
She noted that the government is also accelerating its "Thailand FastPass" program to coordinate approvals across agencies and shorten permitting timelines for major projects.
As of May 6, a total of 25 projects across multiple industries entered the program, with a combined value of 223.22 billion baht, according to the BOI data.
In a statement, the government said it is pairing investment promotion with domestic development requirements, including linking foreign investors with Thai businesses, encouraging local procurement, and building workforce skills.
Under the BOI conditions, promoted data center operators must submit plans for developing the Thai workforce, and Thai nationals must fill at least 50 percent of executive and specialist positions within three years to ensure technology transfer. ■
