Anutin Chanvirakul welcomed former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair at Government House, tapping into the experience of the Tony Blair Institute (TBI) to help elevate Thailand's competitiveness in future industries. Tony Blair advised that the data center business opens opportunities for Thailand to develop its data assets.
At 08:00 on 14 Sep 2026 at Government House, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Chanvirakul welcomed Tony Blair, three-time former UK Prime Minister and Chair of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), who came to attend Gastech Bangkok 2026. They held a private discussion to exchange views on enhancing Thailand's economic capacity and competitiveness, focusing on developing future industries, digital technology, and AI. They also discussed ways to leverage TBI's experience and expertise to support the implementation of key Thai government policies effectively.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Akniti Nitithanprapas and Deputy Minister of Interior Polpipat Suwannachawi also participated in the meeting.
Prime Minister's spokesperson Aekapop Pianspes revealed that the Prime Minister welcomed and expressed pleasure at Sir Tony Blair’s return visit to Thailand, noting that Thailand is undergoing a significant transition. The government aims to restructure the economy and create "new economic engines" to boost competitiveness and adapt to global economic changes. The focus is on high-value and future industries, including the digital economy, AI, advanced industries, and clean energy, alongside public sector reforms to enhance efficiency, agility, and responsiveness.
The Prime Minister observed that Sir Tony Blair’s experience from his three terms as UK Prime Minister and his work with TBI alongside various governments can benefit Thailand during this transition. Especially valuable is linking economic strategy with technology, investment, and improving public sector efficiency to foster growth and enhance long-term national competitiveness.
TBI is a nonprofit organization serving as a practical advisory partner to governments and national leaders. It works closely with many governments on strategy formulation and policy implementation to achieve tangible results. Its mission includes addressing technological changes and governance in the AI era, aligning with Thailand’s goals to translate key policies into measurable outcomes.
On this occasion, the Prime Minister sought Sir Tony Blair’s perspectives on what Thailand should urgently pursue to increase competitiveness and seize opportunities in the new economy. They discussed practical ways for TBI to collaborate with Thailand, particularly in attracting investment in AI, semiconductors, and advanced industries; using AI to improve productivity and create new skills and incomes; and enhancing public sector efficiency through e-Government and AI governance.
The Prime Minister also addressed Thailand’s bid to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a national agenda aiming for full membership by 2028. He sought TBI’s views on supporting Thailand, especially regarding green transition and AI and digital transformation. They proposed official-level discussions between Thailand’s OECD membership coordinators and TBI teams to define cooperation areas to accelerate progress toward this goal.
Regarding AI development, the Prime Minister noted the rapid advancements in AI and the government's need to accelerate readiness in regulations, infrastructure, workforce skills, and technology applications to benefit the economy. Thailand is currently reviewing regulations and criteria for Data Center investment to maximize future economic benefits while managing environmental impacts.
Sir Tony Blair emphasized the importance of Thailand having ownership of data and developing it into applications tailored precisely to Thailand’s context, benefiting Thai startups. The Prime Minister mentioned his visit to Australia and meetings with Canva, which employs many Thai staff, reflecting Thai talent potential. Both parties agreed that technology and Thai human capital represent key opportunities for further development.
Sir Tony Blair also shared views on Thailand’s energy challenges and transition, agreeing with Thailand’s current approaches, including Solar Roof initiatives. He noted that beyond energy solutions, energy technology can serve as a bargaining asset in international trade. Given global conflicts and uncertainties, Sir Tony Blair sees Thailand positioning itself appropriately as a friendly nation and integral part of global supply chains.
The Prime Minister stated that Thai people have both the potential and demand for AI development, a view Sir Tony Blair shared. He noted increasing demand for new technologies, with the public sector itself needing to adopt technology to better monitor and manage data efficiently.
In closing, the Prime Minister thanked Sir Tony Blair for sharing valuable perspectives and experience, emphasizing Thailand’s desire to transform this dialogue into concrete cooperation, particularly in boosting economic competitiveness, AI development, digital and climate-energy transitions, and supporting OECD membership. They proposed appointing official coordinators to discuss details and monitor progress with TBI. Sir Tony Blair expressed willingness to provide information and advice to support these collaborative efforts.
Later, Aekapop Pianspes said in an interview that Tony Blair attended Gastech Bangkok 2026 in Thailand, and the Prime Minister took the opportunity to meet privately with him because Blair leads an organization advising governments worldwide, especially on new economy transitions, AI, and technology. The discussion focused on how Thailand can move beyond middle-income status, including income upgrading plans, the data center business, energy transition, and OECD membership, given Thailand’s good infrastructure.
Aekapop added that Tony Blair advised that the data center business is promising; investment would provide Thailand with data sets enabling further development, allowing Thai people to create their own applications and startups. He offered valuable advice, and the Prime Minister noted ongoing talks with Tony Blair will continue, with a team providing continuous advice and support on data-related issues.