Amid the intense global competition to attract the semiconductor industry, countries worldwide are rapidly injecting substantial measures and budgets to secure their positions in the chip supply chain, which has become a crucial pillar of the modern economy. Recently, the Thai government took a significant step by elevating semiconductor industry development to the national policy level.
On 14 Jun 2026 GMT+7, reporters reported that Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, signed the Prime Minister’s Office Order No. 192/2569, appointing the “National Policy Committee on Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Industry,” commonly seen as the “National Semiconductor Board,” tasked with setting strategies to expedite Thailand’s emergence as ASEAN’s advanced semiconductor and electronics industry hub.
The committee’s composition includes representatives from the public sector, industry, and experts, covering the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Industry, the National Economic and Social Development Council, Office of the Vocational Education Commission, Microelectronics Technology Center, representatives from the Federation of Thai Industries, the Semiconductor Industry Association, and private sector experts.
The Prime Minister himself serves as the “Chairman of the Committee,” while Mr. Akiniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, acts as the “Vice Chairman.” Additionally, Mr. Narut Terdsteerasak, Secretary-General of the Board of Investment (BOI), serves as a committee member and secretary.
Establishing this board is part of the government’s long-term strategy announced earlier to attract investment worth 2.5 trillion baht into the advanced semiconductor and electronics industry, along with developing over 230,000 highly skilled personnel.
The ultimate objective is to promote the production of “Made in Thailand chips.” By 2050, this effort aims to elevate Thailand from traditional electronics manufacturing to playing a key role in the high-value global semiconductor industry supply chain.
The government views this industry’s development as more than chip production; it represents critical infrastructure for the modern economy because semiconductors are essential components in nearly every targeted industry, including AI, digital technology, robotics, modern vehicles, clean energy, biotechnology, and medical industries. The market size is forecast to reach 1 trillion US dollars by 2030 and is expected to be a new engine enhancing Thailand’s long-term competitiveness.
The new committee’s authority includes setting policy directions, master plans, and development targets for the national semiconductor industry; reviewing government agency plans and projects to propose to the Cabinet; and integrating, monitoring, and evaluating the performance of all related agencies.
The committee may also appoint subcommittees or special working groups to accelerate key issues such as investment promotion, workforce development, research and development, and building the industrial ecosystem necessary for the growth of Thailand’s semiconductor sector.
Earlier assessments during the initial roadmap by BOI found that while Thailand’s semiconductor industry is still at an early stage, opportunities exist to build on existing strengths in infrastructure, human resources, and downstream industries.
Particularly, five product groups where Thailand has high potential are Power, Sensor, Photonics, Analog, and Discrete chips, as these are used in Thailand’s key industries such as automotive, electronics, telecommunications, data centers, AI technology, automation systems, and healthcare—thus avoiding direct competition with giants like TSMC or Samsung.
The roadmap plans to develop the industry across the entire supply chain, from upstream to downstream. The first five years will focus on building on areas where Thailand is ready, such as chip assembly and testing (OSAT), integrated circuit design (IC Design), and advanced electronics. It will also begin promoting investment in wafer fabrication and developing Thai entrepreneurs into local champions to drive implementation.
Historically, Thailand has been a key electronics manufacturing base in the region, hosting many multinational companies producing hard disk drives, electronic components, and final assembly systems, including leading semiconductor firms that have chosen to invest and establish manufacturing bases in Thailand.
Currently, Thailand hosts over 50 key players across chip manufacturing, assembly and testing (OSAT), specialized semiconductor producers, as well as printed circuit board and upstream material manufacturers within the supply chain. The main industry groups can be categorized as follows.
1) Global Integrated Device Manufacturers (IDM)
This group produces and develops their own semiconductors and includes several leading global companies with manufacturing bases in Thailand.
This group forms a crucial base for developing specialized chip technologies Thailand targets, including Power, Sensor, Analog, and Discrete semiconductors.
2) Assembly and Testing (OSAT) group
This is Thailand’s most significant strength currently and an area where the country is globally competitive.
Currently, chip assembly and testing generate the highest economic value in Thailand’s semiconductor industry supply chain.
3) Chip Design and Research & Development (IC Design & R&D) group
Although relatively few in number, this group is viewed as the core of the Made in Thailand chip strategy.
Lumentum especially is one of the companies contributing the most photonics semiconductor design and R&D activities in Thailand, aligning with the national strategy targeting photonics chips.
4) Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and IC Substrate group
This upstream industry is rapidly growing due to AI and advanced packaging trends.
Key investors in Thailand include:
These companies produce advanced PCBs and IC substrates, essential components for AI chips and modern data center servers.
5) Electronics Manufacturing and Support Systems group
Another Thai strength is serving as a base for electronics manufacturing and advanced assembly systems, including:
These firms play key roles in producing electronic devices, power systems, communication equipment, and data center devices, all downstream industries that consume vast quantities of semiconductors.
6) Storage Ecosystem group
While not directly producing chips, this industry has helped establish Thailand as a global electronics manufacturing base.
Both companies use Thailand as one of the world’s key hard disk drive manufacturing bases and are integral to the semiconductor ecosystem linked to data center and AI industries.
However, despite Thailand’s strength in assembly, testing, and downstream electronics, no leading wafer fabrication or front-end manufacturing producers such as TSMC, Samsung Foundry, Intel Foundry, or GlobalFoundries have established factories in the country.
Therefore, the government’s "Made in Thailand Chip 2050" goal is not only to attract more assembly and testing plants but also to urgently build a full industry ecosystem across the supply chain to draw investments in wafer fabrication, IC design, and advanced packaging—the segments generating the highest added value in today’s global semiconductor industry.
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