The Bank of Thailand is urging the government to emphasise the quality of foreign direct investment (FDI) in order to generate higher value-added benefits for the Thai economy over the long term.
According to the central bank's Monetary Policy Report for the first quarter of 2026, Thailand has made notable progress in attracting FDI, with inflows reaching a record US$18.8 billion in 2025.
FDI inflows over the past five years were 1.8 times higher than in the five years prior to the pandemic.
A key driver has been the rapid expansion of the information and communication technology services sector, particularly data centres, where investment has grown 50-fold compared with pre-pandemic levels. This trend is consistent with broader developments across Southeast Asia.
Investment patterns in Thailand closely resemble those in Malaysia, with strong inflows into electronics and services, while Indonesia continues to attract FDI primarily in resource-based industries such as metals.
