Thailand has finalised its first national semiconductor roadmap, outlining a long-term strategy to advance the country’s chip value chain and attract more than 2.5 trillion baht (approximately US$79.6 billion) in investment over the next 25 years.

The plan, reviewed by the National Semiconductor Board on January 7, 2026, outlines development targets for 2030, 2040, and 2050, according to local media Nation Thailand. 

It is intended to reposition Thailand from a base for chip assembly into a regional centre for higher value activities, including design and upstream manufacturing.

At the heart of the strategy is a “Made in Thailand” chip programme, aimed at reducing reliance on low-margin assembly work and building domestic capabilities in more advanced segments. 

Officials see this shift as critical to sustaining the country’s electronics sector, which already accounts for about a quarter of total exports.

To support the transition, Narit Therdsteerasukdi, secretary general of the Board of Investment, said that the board has identified five chip categories where Thailand sees the strongest growth potential: power, sensor, photonics, analog, and discrete components.

These are closely tied to existing industries such as electric vehicles, data centres, and medical technology.

The roadmap rests on five main pillars. These include financial incentives such as low-interest loans and grants, and a plan to train around 230,000 engineers through overseas partnerships.

They also cover expanded public-private research and development, dedicated industrial clusters with secure energy and water supply, and regulatory reforms to speed up approvals and support trade talks with major markets, including the UK, the US, and the EU.

In the near term, policy will focus on reinforcing Thailand’s role in outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing and integrated circuit design. 

Over the longer run, the government wants to develop wafer fabrication capabilities and encourage local champions, limiting overdependence on foreign technology.

Thailand is stepping up efforts to attract investment into digital and AI infrastructure. In June last year, the government said it plans to invest US$15.4 billion in AI infrastructure by 2027.

It is also partnering with UNESCO to set up what it says will be the region’s first AI Governance Practice Centre in Bangkok, focused on knowledge sharing, training, and regional cooperation.