Thailand is moving quickly to develop its data center capabilities, and this pace of transformation was revealed at w.media’s Thailand Cloud and Datacenter Convention 2025 (THCDC), where over 1,500 people including major decision-makers, investors, cloud companies, and government officials met to discuss the next steps for Thailand’s digital plan. The main takeaway was clear: the country is serious about becoming a competitive digital center in Southeast Asia.
The momentum is backed by significant capital, as revealed by Tanita Sirisup, Deputy Secretary General of Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI), who delivered the Special Government Keynote titled Confidence in Thailand’s Digital Future at THCDC. She noted that since 2022, the BOI has received 57 investment applications in data centers and cloud services, totaling approximately 25 billion US dollars in investment value.
Government support: Making Thailand a regional digital hub
The Thailand Board of Investment was central to the convention, demonstrating the government’s commitment to supporting digital infrastructure.
In an exclusive interview with w.media, Sirisup stated that Thailand has a “unique combination of strategic location and robust infrastructure,” along with stable utilities. She added that the country’s vision to become the Regional Digital Hub is “moving from ambition to reality.”
The Deputy Secretary General highlighted that the government actively supports digital infrastructure projects with comprehensive incentives and streamlined regulatory frameworks. She emphasized, “Together, these factors make Thailand not only a competitive location, but also a long-term partner for global and regional investors in building the digital future of Southeast Asia.”
Sirisup also mentioned the close working relationship between the BOI and key power entities (ERC, EPPO, EGAT, PEA, and MEA) to update the power grid, boost renewable energy use, and ensure stable, long-term power availability.
Power Infrastructure: A competitive edge
A significant announcement by the Thailand Data Center Association (TDCA) was the creation of four dedicated data center zones in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), which have direct access to 1.5 GW of power purchased from EGAT. Since Thailand has strong national energy entities managing power supply, it is in a better position than some neighboring countries that are dealing with power capacity issues.
This development makes it easier for Thailand to support the high-density, high-power needs of AI-driven workloads, which are essential for hyperscale builds and next-generation cloud facilities.
Key industry voices at THCDC 2025
The convention brought together critical stakeholders, featuring speakers from government, industry associations, global tech giants, and major enterprises, ensuring a comprehensive view of Thailand’s digital roadmap. Key sessions included:
- [OPENING PANEL] Powering Thailand’s Datacenter Future: Featured Supparat Singhara Na Ayutthaya (Vice Chairman, Thailand Data Centre Association), and Insa Illgen (Programme Director, GIZ), discussing the national balance of investment and sustainable energy goals.
- [PANEL] Thailand’s Rise as ASEAN’s Digital Hub: Brought together global perspectives from leaders like Poraphan Sucharitkul (Head of Business Development, Telehouse Thailand), and Pattaraphan Paiboon (Partner, Baker & McKenzie Ltd.).
- [PANEL] Data Sovereignty and Privacy: Addressed the crucial topic of regulation with input from enterprise security leaders like Virag Thakkar (Director – Digital Security, Thai Union Group PCL), and tech providers like Supakorn Kungpisdan (Country Manager, Fortinet).
- [PANEL] Sustainability in the Cloud & DCs: Included experts such as Franck Constant (CEO & Founder, Constant Energy) and Johnathan Yau Hoe Keat (Regional Digital Energy C&SP Business Leader, Schneider Electric), focusing on renewable energy and ESG integration.
- Keynotes: Featured presentations from major industry players, including Theerapun Charoensak (Managing Director, True IDC), and a representative from Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Industry focus points
Discussions at the event centered on four main areas, reflecting the BOI’s investment focus:
- Infrastructure and Investment: As highlighted in the keynote, Thailand has received 57 applications valued at USD 25 billion since 2022. Both regulatory support and capital are accelerating at the same time.
- AI, Cloud, and Data Control (Sovereignty): Businesses and government agencies are prioritizing AI infrastructure that keeps data secure and under local governance. This shifts Thailand from simply using technology to building new capabilities.
- Sustainability and Renewable Energy: The focus is on both the energy transition and digitalization. The push for renewable energy procurement is a key differentiator for Thailand in attracting environmentally conscious investment.
- Talent and Economic Growth: Expanding digital infrastructure creates demand for skilled workers in engineering, cloud specialization, and the energy sector, yielding broader economic benefits that extend beyond the initial construction costs.
THCDC’s Role
THCDC 2025 proved it is more than just a conference; it functions as a platform for coordination that connects hyperscale cloud companies, local businesses, energy regulators, financial institutions, telecom operators, and the government.
Sirisup noted the value of the convention, “The Thailand Cloud & Data Center Convention 2025 is more than just a conference, it’s a key business accelerator for our digital ecosystem.” Such gatherings help align public and private sector efforts toward common goals like strengthening data sovereignty and promoting green infrastructure.
Thailand’s position in the regional race
Competition for data center investment is intense across Southeast Asia. However, Thailand’s unique combination of features provides a strong basis for future growth are reliable power and utilities, clear government regulations, strategic geographic location, diverse network connectivity, government investment incentives, and cooperation within the energy sector.
With current plans moving from concept to actual infrastructure and investment, Thailand is quickly moving from being a promising market to an established hub.
Looking Ahead
THCDC 2025 confirmed the current direction. Future efforts will need to focus on securing more renewable energy, improving cross-border network links, enhancing cybersecurity, developing the workforce, and continuing public-private cooperation.
The convention made it clear: Thailand’s digital infrastructure strategy is now active, coordinated, and picking up speed.