Warawut revealed that following his visit to China, major investors are flocking to Thailand to establish bases, using the country as a springboard for global exports and expecting to fully benefit from investments worth tens of billions.
On 21 July 2026 at Government House, Warawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Industry, spoke about joining Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's official visit to the People's Republic of China. He said major Chinese companies are keen to expand their production bases in Thailand, shifting their focus from domestic sales to using Thailand as part of a Global Value Chain to assemble components from various locations and export to third countries worldwide.
Warawut stated that Thailand is receiving significant opportunities in information technology investment, particularly from Fiber Optic manufacturers connecting GPU systems in Data Centers preparing to invest tens of billions of baht in Thailand. This reflects Thailand's readiness to become the regional AI infrastructure hub. During a visit to a humanoid robot factory in China, it was observed that prices have dropped to about just over one million baht per unit. It is expected that within a few years, the world will enter the era of Dark Factories—fully automated factories requiring minimal human labor. However, he emphasized that adopting robots and automation is not to replace workers but to enhance their capabilities to work efficiently alongside technology.
Regarding the future automotive industry (xEV), Warawut pointed out that electric vehicles are like large computers integrating AI and software, so modern technicians must have integrated knowledge. The Ministry of Industry aims to develop 200 personnel in fiscal year 2026 through pilot courses on charging station installation and EV maintenance technicians, while also supporting SMEs in adopting AI to reduce costs.
Additionally, the Ministry of Industry plans to sign an MOU with relevant agencies to apply AI and modern technologies to elevate the agricultural sector, increasing farmers' incomes and creating new jobs. They are also expediting the revision of outdated laws and regulations to accommodate AI applications in factories, industrial estates, and mines to fully prepare Thailand to welcome the new wave of investment.