Thailand has approved its first national semiconductor and advanced electronics strategy, setting a target of about $80 billion in cumulative investment and more than 230,000 new jobs by 2050 as it seeks to build a more complete domestic chip supply chain.
The strategy was approved by the National Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Policy Board, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, according to the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI). Reuters separately reported the targets following the September 24 announcement.
Roadmap moves upstream
The three-phase roadmap starts with Thailand’s established strengths in semiconductor assembly and testing. By 2030, the government plans to expand advanced packaging and prepare for front-end wafer production. By 2040, it aims to attract more investment in chip design, wafer fabrication and other upstream manufacturing. The 2050 goal is a complete domestic supply chain.
The strategy prioritizes three technology platforms. Photonics is aimed at artificial intelligence infrastructure, data centers and high-speed communications. Power semiconductors are tied to electric vehicles, energy storage and power grids, while sensors build on Thailand’s existing micro-electro-mechanical systems capabilities.
The BOI said implementation will combine tax incentives, grants and low-interest financing with workforce development, research and chip-design infrastructure, industrial sites, reliable utilities and regulatory reforms.
Workforce plan targets 86,600 people by 2030
A workforce program approved alongside the strategy aims to develop 86,600 people by 2030, including 84,900 highly skilled personnel and about 1,700 advanced researchers. The program will involve universities, research institutes and industry partners through specialized curricula, industry placements and overseas training.
Thailand has already been drawing semiconductor and advanced electronics projects. The BOI said it received investment-promotion applications for 879 projects worth about 909 billion baht, or $27.2 billion, from 2023 through the first half of 2026. Those figures represent applications rather than capital already deployed.
The new approval formalizes a direction that Thailand had been developing earlier this year. TNGlobal reported in January that the semiconductor board was reviewing a draft strategy with phased targets through 2050. The final plan retains the broad investment and workforce ambitions while setting out the implementation framework.
Infineon factory adds near-term capacity
The announcement also comes ahead of Infineon Technologies’ planned October 1 opening of its first factory in Thailand, in Samut Prakan. According to the BOI, the facility will produce and package advanced power modules for electric vehicles, energy storage, clean energy and advanced electronics. Infineon also plans an R&D center and joint curricula with Thai educational institutions.
Thailand’s electronics investment pipeline has expanded beyond semiconductors. In August, TNGlobal reported that the country had attracted more than $30.5 billion in electronics investment since 2023, including projects involving printed circuit boards, components and semiconductor-related products.
Featured image: Laura Ockel on Unsplash
Thailand maps long-term semiconductor strategy, pushes toward full value chain