Korea urged to invest in next-generation industries

Thailand eyes smart electronics status

- PORAMET TANGSATHAPORN

The Royal Thai Embassy in South Korea, the Korea Herald, the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), the Asean-Korea Centre and the Korean-Thai Chamber of Commerce jointly organised the “2025 Ignite Thailand-Korea Business Forum” in Seoul last week.

The two-day event aimed at fostering greater business collaboration and innovation-driven investment between the countries.

In his keynote speech, Suthiket Thatpitakkul, deputy secretary-general of the Thailand Board of Investment (BoI), underscored South Korea's rising importance as a critical economic partner.

Between 2020 and 2024, he said, South Korean companies submitted 140 investment project applications in Thailand worth US$1.87 billion (62 billion baht), with the top three investments being electronics, the digital sector and machinery.

To build on this momentum, Mr Suthiket urged Korean businesses to consider expanding into high-potential sectors such as upstream electronics, electric vehicles (EVs), digital technology and bio-based industries.

He said Thailand offers competitive advantages in these areas, including a workforce of over 630,000 skilled labourers and a robust network of 3,000 electronics-related firms.