Anutin officially opened the BOI office in Chengdu, signaling the Thai government's intent to deepen local trade and investment ties and assuring Chinese investors of stable growth opportunities.
At 14:00 on 18 July 2026, in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul presided over the ceremony to officially open the Board of Investment (BOI) office in Chengdu. He also delivered a keynote speech at the event, the "Thailand-China Investment and Economic Forum 2026" seminar. The event was attended by Sichuan’s governor, senior officials from both governments and private sectors, and a large number of seminar participants.
Anutin expressed gratitude on behalf of the Thai government to the Chinese government and the Sichuan Provincial Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) for supporting the establishment of this BOI office. He described it as a significant step signaling Thailand’s focus on upgrading trade and investment relations with China at the local level. Sichuan is a key strategic province with the 6th largest economy in China and over 80 million people—comparable in potential to Thailand. Currently, Thailand and China emphasize connectivity through the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and the Chengdu-Chongqing economic policy, positioning this area as a crucial link between western China, South Asia, and ASEAN, with Thailand acting as the region’s main gateway.
He added that last year, investment promotion applications from Chinese entrepreneurs surged to a record 380 billion yuan, equating to an economic stimulus exceeding 1 trillion baht—an increase of 67% from the previous year. Meanwhile, trade between Thailand and Sichuan in 2025 expanded by 112%, reflecting investor confidence in Thailand’s infrastructure, clean energy, and robust supply chains. Thailand’s economic strategy focuses on three main dimensions:
1. Speed: Accelerating investment through the Thailand Fast Track project to reduce procedures and approval times for major projects, successfully unlocking over 700 billion baht in investments.
2. Talent: Developing human resources by supporting budgets through the BOI Competitiveness Enhancement Fund and the Skill Up Bridge program.
3. Strength: Internal resilience by stimulating short-term purchasing power alongside sustainable digital economic restructuring and clean energy development.
"We affirm that Chinese investors’ decisions to invest in Thailand will be met with opportunities for stable and sustainable growth." He also spoke a phrase in Chinese, “Thailand jiayou, China jiayou, Sichuan jiayou, friends jiayou.” Its overall meaning is, “Thailand, China, Sichuan, and all our friends—keep fighting and striving together.”
Meanwhile, Narit Therdsteerasak, Secretary-General of the Board of Investment (BOI), revealed that the BOI officially opened its investment promotion office in Chengdu to serve as a key mechanism to expand investment cooperation between Thailand and China. The Chengdu office is BOI’s 18th worldwide and fourth in China, joining offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.
This new office will act as a coordination and support hub for Thai and Chinese investors, especially in western China. BOI’s key strategy targets high-tech and green industries to promote mutually beneficial investments and tangible success for both sides.
Additionally, the event featured success stories shared by leading private companies that have invested in the region, such as CP Group, Red Bull Group, and Changan Automobile. The event received strong cooperation from partner agencies in Sichuan, including the Foreign Affairs Office, Department of Commerce, and CCPIT, as well as Thai agencies like the Federation of Thai Industries, Thai Chamber of Commerce, and Thai-Chinese Business Council.
"BOI and the Chengdu office are ready to serve as a vital connection hub to support and facilitate investors, driving sustainable cooperation growth between Thailand, Sichuan Province, and China."
