Thailand eyes $80bn in semiconductor investment by 2050

Thailand is aiming to invest $80 billion in semiconductor industry by 2050, according to a national strategy unveiled on Thursday. The plan envisions a fully integrated domestic chip ecosystem by 2050, generating $150 billion in annual revenue, according to Deputy Prime Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas. The goals were discussed during a meeting of the National Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Policy Board, chaired by Nitithanprapas.

Thailand currently has a chip industry focused on assembly and packaging, but the government aims to move into higher-value segments of the global semiconductor supply chain. The government will support the strategy through tax incentives, regulatory reforms, workforce development, infrastructure upgrades, and research and development investment.

Phased implementation will begin with strengthening packaging and testing, then expand to chip design and wafer fabrication. By 2030, Thailand will bolster its assembly and testing base, scale advanced packaging capabilities, and lay foundations for front-end wafer production. By 2040, anchor investors in upstream activities, including chip design, wafer fabrication, and advanced technology manufacturing, are expected.

The goal by 2050 is to have a complete domestic supply chain. The framework provides investors with a long-term roadmap, with Infineon Technologies, the world's largest maker of power semiconductors and automotive chips, set to open its first Thai factory in Samut Prakan on October 1.