The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has welcomed the establishment of the National Advanced Semiconductor and Electronics Policy Committee, viewing it as a critical milestone in the transformation of the country into ASEAN's premier source of advanced electronics.
The initiative demands substantial domestic supply chain infrastructure for "Made-in-Thailand Chips" by 2050, backed by massive investment.
Pimjai Leeissaranukul, chairwoman of the FTI, stated yesterday that the creation of the national committee ensures vital policy continuity, positioning Thailand to compete effectively in an era of rapid technological disruption.
"Global demand for semiconductors is skyrocketing," Pimjai said. "Chips are no longer just for computers; they are at the heart of modern industries, especially electric vehicles (EVs), automation and robotics, smart appliances, artificial intelligence (AI) and data centres. Thailand is already a major global export base for these core industries."
Despite boasting a robust manufacturing base for high-tech products, Thailand remains heavily reliant on imported chips, partly due to high domestic production costs.
The FTI warned that this poses a significant risk to the supply chain.
According to Pimjai, aggressively building a competitive domestic semiconductor sector is key to retaining existing production and safeguarding foreign direct investment.
The ambitious long-term strategy needs to attract up to 2.5 trillion baht in investment and develop nearly a quarter million highly skilled workers.
To achieve these targets, the FTI is ready to work with the newly formed committee to help Thai manufacturers transition from simple assembly and packaging to advanced technologies.
A key priority will be attracting upstream industries, such as integrated circuit (IC) design, to establish bases in Thailand.
The federation also pledged to support high-tech workforce reskilling and upskilling programs, alongside enhanced research and development (R&D).
The ultimate goal is to transition Thailand from a mere consumer of technology into a leading creator of innovation within the region, Pimjai added.
