Arthit, an executive at SCB X, recommends developing a Value Chain strategy to establish a foundation for connecting new value chains before actual implementation. This will help Thailand benefit from investment funds, with support from both the government and private sectors.
On 31 Aug 2026 GMT+7, Thairath Group held an important discussion titled "THAIRATH FORUM 2026: THAILAND IN THE NEW GLOBAL ORDER," gathering national government and business leaders to exchange strategic visions under the theme "Transforming Thailand's Economic Strategy" for survival and growth amid the new global order.
During a conversation on "The New Global Order: Impact and Opportunities Amongst Superpowers’ Struggle," when asked about ASEAN's golden opportunity and Asia’s rise, and how Thailand should design policies and an investment ecosystem to attract high-quality foreign investment while enabling Thai businesses of all sizes to connect to new value chains and benefit widely from this investment cycle, Arthit Nantawitaya, CEO of SCB X Public Company Limited, said that under the new world opportunity, we must accept that the emergence of technologies like AI is a major wave impacting the entire world. For these to enter our country or region, infrastructure must first be established before practical use. Thailand’s problem is not knowing where the rules lie. If rules were clear, new developments could finally emerge in the country.
Therefore, if the investment wave driven by technology behind it is a force pushing forward, we should see it as an opportunity to seize, rather than worry about insufficient benefits. I think about Localization or Local Content: when we take the first step investing in infrastructure, it will lead to subsequent steps. But Thailand must define its role and consider the give-and-take of trade and investment with a strategy that builds a new Value Chain, creating future industries—not just attracting investment funds but converting them into added value within the Thai economy.
When it comes to Localization or Local Content, I believe the government and private sector must work together to support and promote companies entering the supply chain or value chain of these new areas, helping them grow stronger within Thailand’s economic system.
