Thailand needs central data centre authority, NESDC says
Thailand needs to set up a central authority to oversee data centres to ensure investments in the sector create jobs ‌and support economic growth, the National Economic and Social Development Council said on Monday.
The National Economic and Social Development Council in Thailand has called for a centralized governing body to regulate the data centre sector. This central agency would ensure that investments in data centers generate employment and foster economic growth. The NESDC argues that laws and regulations must be tailored to the unique features of data centers.
They recommend increasing Thai businesses' involvement in these projects, mandating the use of local content, services, and labor. The government should also open up the planning of data center projects to public participation, including mechanisms to monitor impacts and provide remedies to affected parties. In addition, Thailand should encourage efficient energy and resource use in data centers by promoting the use of renewable energy, technologies that reduce electricity and water consumption, and setting clear energy and water usage targets.
The NESDC's Secretary-General, Danucha Pichayanan, highlighted these points during a recent briefing. Thailand has seen a surge in data center investments recently. In 2025, the Thai Investment Board approved projects worth over $3 billion, including deals from DAMAC Digital in Dubai and Stratus Technology, a subsidiary of China's ZDATA Technologies.
In 2024, Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet, announced a $1 billion investment to build a data center and cloud region in Thailand, aiming to tackle the growing cloud demand and support AI adoption in Southeast Asia. Google also plans to invest $2 billion in developing its first data center and Google Cloud region in Malaysia in 2024.
Written by urgent.news from Bangkok Post Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
