Thailand is transforming its economy to embrace both industry and the digital sector. The government is establishing a Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and developing a digital economy framework focused on digital commerce, entrepreneurship, innovation, and content. This includes improving infrastructure like broadband networks and data centers. The government is also supporting the growing startup ecosystem and innovative workforce to position Thailand as a digital hub in ASEAN.

1. THAILAND
DIGITAL ECONOMY

2. THAILAND:
LAND OF DIGITAL SMILES
Thailand’s reputation as a business-friendly country for foreign investment
made it a leading center of commerce in Southeast Asia in the 20th
century.
Through a combination of low tax rates, world-class infrastructure, cost-
effective workforce, and strategic geographic location, Thailand has emerged
as a globally recognized destination for service and industry sectors. Now in
the 21st
century as trade shifts towards the internet and technology,Thailand is
transforming itself into an economy that not only embraces the industrial, but
the digital as well. The digital revolution has already greatly changed the way
67 million Thai citizens interact with the world and each other. Thailand has 35
million internet users and 30 million social network users. Currently, there are
96.4 million mobile phones in usage in Thailand with 34.6 million are smart
phone users.
The government plans to establish the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society
toreplacetheexistingMinistryofInformationandCommunicationTechnology
and a National Digital Economy and Society Committee led by Thailand’s
prime minister. In order to prepare itself for the new digital economy, the Thai
government has developed a large scale program that includes reshuffling
government agencies to align synergies and produce a digital economy
framework revolving around 4 aspects of development and 5 strategies. The
4 areas for development are: digital commerce, digital entrepreneur, digital
innovation, and digital content. The 5 strategies to ensure these 4 aspects are
successfully implemented focus on hard infrastructure, soft infrastructure,
service infrastructure, digital economy promotion and innovation, and digital
society.

3. 1. Hard Infrastructure
• National fiber optic broadband network
- Gigabit bandwidth fiber coverage nationwide in 3 years
• National wireless 3G and 4G broadband networks
• Expansion of Wi-Fi coverage nationwide
• Public and private sector data center and cloud infrastructure
development
2. Soft Infrastructure
• E-payment and E-transaction standards
• Data privacy protection and cyber-security laws
• Facilitation and promotion of e-commerce activities
• Computer emergency response team readiness
3. Service Infrastructure
• Rules and regulations for implementation of digitization of
government and public services
• The application of E-logistics to facilitate trade and supply chain
management
• Data service innovation
4. Digital Economy Promotion and Innovation
• Low cost enabler technology for e-commerce for SMEs
• Encourage and facilitate ICT HR development
• Establishing a data bank of useful digital content for use by local
developers
• Encourage and promote fail-safe data centers and large scale cloud
computing facilities for both public and private sectors
5. Digital Society
• Digital ICT technology to improve life quality of disabled individuals
• Implementation of smart cities in Thailand
• Enhanced medical services in Thailand, especially technologies to
reach remote areas

4. Thailandoffersawidevarietyofopportunitiesforinvestorsinterested
in Thailand’s IT sector and digital economy sector. The following are
examples of various opportunities available to investors.
DATA CENTERS
Data centers ensure cloud services, connected devices (internet of
things), and mobile apps quickly and efficiently relay data to users
around the world. Not only are data centers crucial for consumer
and enterprise usage, but data centers are also necessary for
establishing “smart cities”. As data becomes more and more crucial
for everything from determining traffic light patterns to conveniently
storing thousands of photos and videos in the cloud, data centers
will become the necessary infrastructure for a successful 21st century
economy. Construction of public and private sector data centers as
well as promotion of data centers is a core aspect of Thailand’s digital
economy initiative. The strategic location of Thailand continues to
attract data center investment from the private sector. In the first
quarter of 2015, TCC Technology, Digital Port Asia, and SuperNAP
International have committed investments in data centers in Thailand
that total approximately US$30.8 million.

5. FERTILE STARTUP
ECOSYSTEM
The startup movement in Thailand is growing, dynamic, and innovative. Thai
startups have become well known in the region for developing innovative
solutions in e-commerce, payment, and shared economy sectors, among
others. A unique aspect of the Thai startup ecosystem that is a rarity among
global startup cities is the small amount of accelerator and incubator
programs and a focus on coworking spaces. Thailand currently only has 7
accelerators nationwide, but Bangkok alone has 11 coworking spaces and
more continue to appear around the country from Phuket to Chiang Mai.
Coworking spaces in Thailand have already achieved in a short time what
other startup communities in the region have still been struggling to achieve
– a genuine startup community. The collaborative and communal philosophy
of a coworking space allows tech entrepreneurs, investors, developers,
creatives, and technology leaders to work side by side amidst an environment
that promotes the free exchange of thoughts insights, ideas, support, and
innovation. Some of the largest coworking spaces in Thailand include Hubba,
Launchpad, Pah Creative Space, and The Hive.
Startups in Thailand also benefit from Thailand being ASEAN’s electronics
hub. Easy access to OEMs, electronics components, and prototyping facilities
have allowed startups focused on the Internet of Things (IoT) to turn their
ideas into actual devices. Drivebot, a Thai startup that has gained international
recognition, has developed a small device that can monitor a car’s health. It is
able to alert the driver via a smartphone app whenever the car has an issue,
and also monitors driving behavior and gas mileage. Drivebot is just one of
the many new, young hardware startups that have developed innovative
solutions for everyday issues. AlreadyThailand has multiple programs devoted
to hardware startups such as: Maker Zoo, MakerSpace, and Startup Factory.

6. The growth of the Thai startup ecosystem and Thailand’s innovative startups
has attracted the attention of foreign venture capitalist firms, accelerators, and
incubator programs and the development of local equivalents. These firms are
now recognizing the exciting developments going on in Thailand and have
begun to tap into this new hub of innovation.
• 500 Startups –The US startup investor/accelerator 500 Startups announced
in early 2015 a new investment fund of US$10 million called “500 TukTuks”
dedicated to investing inThai startups. 500 Startups has previously invested
in Thai startups in their 2013 Southeast Asia investment fund called “500
Durians”.
• Softbank Venture Korea – The Korean venture capital arm of the Japanese
Softbank Group, took a 23% equity stake in Thai online gaming operator
Ini3 Digital in 2014.
• Disrupt University – A Thai based organization, Disrupt University provides
guidance and practices from Silicon Valley. The members of the university
are successful Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and former executives of global
tech companies.
Name: Drivebot
Founders: Kamin Phakdurong & Khemin Noly Kongchumnian
Type: Connected Device
Description: A plug-in device that monitors the health of a
vehicle and alerts the user whenever the vehicle has an issue.
Drivebot is a graduate of the DTAC Accelerator incubator program.
Funding: US$112,121
Investors: Crowdfunding through Indiegogo
A Notable Thai Startup

7. Name: aCommerce
Founders: Paul Srivorakul
Type: e-Commerce
Description: A leading provider of end to end
e-commerce solutions for start-ups, brands,
retailers, and manufacturers in Southeast Asia.
Funding: Series A funding US$10.7 million
Investors: Ardent Capital, Inspire Ventures,
NTT Docomo, Sinar Mas Indonesia,
CyberAgent Ventures, Sumitomo Corporation
Equity Asia, Asia Pacific Digital
A Notable Thai Startup
• Golden Gate Ventures – An early stage venture capital firm focusing on
Southeast Asian startups, Golden Gate Ventures has offices in Singapore and
San Francisco. Golden Gate Ventures was a lead investor in the seed round
funding for the Thai based mobile dating app Noonswoon.
• Ardent Capital – One of Thailand’s first local venture capital firms. Ardent
Capital is a lead investor in one of Thailand’s leading e-logistics startups,
aCommerce, and has invested in companies all over Southeast Asia.
• CyberAgentVentures – A leading Japanese venture capital firm, Cyberagent
Ventures established a permanent office in Bangkok in 2014. Cyberagent
Ventures has invested in aCommerce, a leading e-logistics company, and
Priceza, one of Thailand’s most popular price comparison websites.
• InVent – The venture capital arm of Thai telecommunication company AIS,
InVent focus specifically on funding innovative Thai startups

8. SUPPORT FROM GLOBAL
TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES
Thailand’s potential to become a major digital economy hub in ASEAN has
attracted interest from some of the largest technology firms in the world
to support the Thai government’s push for a sustainable digital economy.
This assistance will greatly help establish the foundations for robust digital
development in the future.
Intel Corporation - The world’s largest chip developer has offered to show
the Thai government how it assisted other countries in developing their own
digital economies. In Thailand, Intel now offers localized training courses in
information and communication technology that are designed to enable
individuals and SMEs to develop their digital literacy.
Microsoft - In February 2015, Microsoft announced that it would establish a
Microsoft Innovation Center at the main facility of the National Science and
Technology Development Agency. This new innovation center will partner
with government agencies with the goals of educating a new generation
of IT workers, developing cutting edge software solutions that will enhance
Thai SME’s efficiency and competitiveness, aiding the growth of Thailand’s IT
industry, and fostering innovation and entrepreneurship through Microsoft’s
various incubation programs.

9. EMC – The world’s largest information management company has begun to
offer training courses and programs to train Thai university students in Big
Data and related technologies in order to make Thailand a hub to train data
science professionals.
Cisco Systems – The world’s largest IT networking firm has stated its interest
in supporting Thailand’s Digital Economy by collaborating with the Thai
governmentonnationalbroadbandinitiatives,datacenters,internetgateways,
cloud service infrastructure for Thai SMEs, e-government services, etc.
INNOVATIVE WORKFORCE
A core component of Thailand’s digital economy initiative is an education
system that is able to produce the next generation of technology leaders,
entrepreneurs, thinkers, and innovators. Thailand is home to a number of
universities with top tier technology programs that produce high quality
IT professionals every year. The leading tech schools in Thailand include:
Chulalongkorn University, Sripatum University, Kasetsart University, King
Mongkut Institute of Technology, Chiang Mai University, and Rajamangala
Institute of Technology. Bangkok University’s School of Entrepreneurship and
Management and Thammasat University have become well known centers of
entrepreneurshipandinnovationduetotheircloserelationshipwithThailand’s
startup community.

10. ACCESS TO MARKETS
The ASEAN bloc is one of the fastest growing regions in the world.
2015 is the year that the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)
comes into effect. Thailand is in a unique position to play a major
role in this economic bloc of 600 million consumers, which has
a combined GDP of more than 2 trillion dollars. As the largest
economy in mainland Southeast Asia, Thailand has become a hub
of commerce for the fast growing Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and
Vietnam (CLMV) markets. International headquarters established
in Thailand will have a key advantage over competitors in other
geographies as they can tap many of the world’s most exciting
emerging economies.

11. • Anchor Coworking Space
• Busy Bees @ 115
• Glowfish
• Guru’s Box
• Hubba
• JOINT Workspace
• KoHUB Lanta
• Launchpad
• Ma’D
• Muchroom
Coworking Spaces
• PAH Creative Space
• Phuket Coworking
• Pun Space
• The Sync
• Third Place
• The Hive
• The SEA
• Makerspace
• Maker Zoo
• The Startup Factory
• Software Park Incubator
• True Incube
• DTAC Accelerate
• AIS The StartUp
• National Science and
Technology Development
Agency’s Business
Incubation Center
Incubators
• Mseed
• I4-X Accelerator
• TechGrind Thailand
Incubator
DEVELOPED NETWORK
OF SUPPORTING
ORGANIZATIONS
OrganizationssupportingthegrowthandcompetitivenessofThailand’sDigital
Economy Initiative include:

12. Government Agencies & Bodies
• Thailand Science Park - The Thailand Science Park (TSP) was set up in
2002asafully-integratedR&Dhubforscienceandtechnology. Itismanaged
by the Technology Management Center (TMC) of the National Science
and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) under the Ministry of
Science and Technology. The park was established to promote greater
innovativeness and encourage more R&D activities within the technology
intensive sectors. In addition to advanced facilities and business space,
the TSP offers a full range of value-added services to support technology
businesses.
• Thailand Software Park – The Park is an organization under the National
Science and Technology Development Agency. The park was designed to
strengthen and grow Thailand’s domestic software industry by engaging
with stakeholders from all industries ofThailand both industrial and service.
• National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC) – The
NECTEC is a designated research center under the authority of NSTDA.
Its main responsibilities are to undertake, support, and promote the
development of electronics and computer technologies through research
and development activities.
• National Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA) – SIPA is an
organization designed to promote Thailand’s software industry, support
research and technology transfer, assist in fostering the software industry’s
growth.

13. • Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) – The ETDA
was established to develop, promote, support electronic transactions
in Thailand, and provide the necessary IT infrastructure that facilitates
electronic transactions, and assisting Thai businesses involved in electronic
transactions.
• Electronic Government Agency – The Electronic Government Agency
was established to develop, manage, and provide services related to basic
e-Government infrastructure as well as lead the development of both
technological and human capital for future e-Government applications
and infrastructure.
• The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission
(NBTC) – NBTC is an independent state regulatory body which was
established in 2010 to allocate Thailand’s radio spectrum and regulate the
broadcasting and telecommunications sectors.
• Association of Thai ICT Industry (ATCI) – The ATCI encourages the use
of ICT to strengthen the Thai economy and society through trade and
cooperation and promotes the sustainable growth and development of
the ICT sector.

14. BOI INVESTMENT
INCENTIVES
Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) offers a wide range of tax and non-tax
incentives for projects that meet national development objectives.
Tax-based incentives include exemption of import duties on machinery and
raw materials used in manufacturing export products, and corporate income
tax exemption of up to eight years. Non-tax incentives include permission to
bring in expatriates, own land and take or remit foreign currency abroad.
As part of its efforts to help develop the Digital Economy, the Board of
Investment (BOI) offers attractive investment promotion incentives to a range
of activities involved in activities related to the Digital Economy:
Electronic design, embedded systems & software, cloud service, and
technology industrial zones (i.e. science and technology parks, software
parks, data centers) are classified as activities of special importance and benefit
to the country.
Projects in electronicdesign,embeddedsystems&software,cloudservice,
data center, software park and science park are granted 8-year corporate
income tax exemptions without being subject to a corporate income tax
exemption cap, as well as exemptions of import duty on machinery and import
duty on raw or essential materials used in manufacturing export products, and
non-tax incentives.

15. FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION
The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI): www.boi.go.th
Thailand Software Park: www.swpark.or.th
Thailand Science Park: www.sciencepark.or.th
Association of Thai ICT Industry (ATCI): www.atci.or.th
National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission:
www.nbtc.go.th
Projects in enterprise software and/or digital content are granted 5-year
corporate income tax exemptions without being subject to a corporate
income tax exemption cap, as well as exemptions of import duty on machinery
and import duty on raw or essential materials used in manufacturing export
products, and non-tax incentives.
In addition, projects that manufacture advanced technology electrical
products with the capability of connecting with the internet network
(Internet of Things) are granted a 5-year corporate income tax holiday,
exemptions of import duty on machinery and import duty on raw or essential
materials used in manufacturing export products, as well as non-tax incentives.
Projects in electronic devices for wireless/optic fiber telecommunications
are granted 8 years of corporate income tax holiday, exemptions of import
duty on machinery and import duty on raw or essential materials used in
manufacturing export products, as well as non-tax incentives.
Projects in E-commerce can only obtain non-tax incentives.

16. CONTACT US
HEAD OFFICES
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF INVESTMENT
555 Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900
Tel: +66 (0) 2553-8111
Fax: +66 (0) 2553-8316, +66 (0) 2553-8222
Website: www.boi.go.th
Email: head@boi.go.th
ONE START ONE STOP INVESTMENT CENTER (OSOS)
18th
Floor, Chamchuri Square Building,
319 Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel: +66 (0) 2209-1100
Fax: +66 (0) 2209-1199
Website: osos.boi.go.th
Email: osos@boi.go.th
ONE STOP SERVICE CENTER FOR VISAS AND WORK PERMITS
18th
Floor, Chamchuri Square Building,
319 Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel: +66 (0) 2209-1100
Fax: +66 (0) 2209-1194
Email: visawork@boi.go.th
REGIONAL OFFICES
REGIONAL INVESTMENT AND ECONOMIC CENTER 1
CHIANG MAI OFFICE
Airport Business Park 108-110,
90 Mahidol Road, Amphur Muang, Chiang Mai 50100
Tel: +66 (0) 5329 4100
Fax: +66 (0) 5329 4199
Email: chmai@boi.go.th
PHITSANULOK OFFICE
3rd
Floor, Thai Sivarat Building, 59/15 Boromtrilokkanat 2 Road,
Naimuang, Amphur Muang, Phitsanulok 65000
Tel: +66 (0) 5524-8111
Fax: +66 (0) 5524-8777
Email: phitsanulok@boi.go.th
REGIONAL INVESTMENT AND ECONOMIC CENTER 2
NAKHON RATCHASIMA
2112/22 Mitraphab Road, Amphur Muang, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000
Tel: +66 (0) 4438 4200
Fax: +66 (0) 4438 4299
Email: korat@boi.go.th
REGIONAL INVESTMENT AND ECONOMIC CENTER 3
KHONKAEN
177/54 Moo 17, Mitraphab Road, Amphur Muang, Khonkaen 40000
Tel: +66 (0) 4327 1300-2
Fax: +66 (0) 4327 1303
Email: khonkaen@boi.go.th
REGIONAL INVESTMENT AND ECONOMIC CENTER 4
CHONBURI
46 Moo 5 Laem Chabang Industrial Estate, Sukhumvit Road,
Toongsukhla, Sriracha, Chonburi 20230
Tel: +66 (0) 3840 4900
Fax: +66 (0) 3840 4997, +66 (0) 3840 4999
Email: chonburi@boi.go.th
REGIONAL INVESTMENT AND ECONOMIC CENTER 5
SONGKHLA
7-15 Chaiyong Building Juti Uthit 1 Road, Hadd Yai, Songkhla 90110
Tel: +66 (0) 7458 4500
Fax: +66 (0) 7458 4599
Email: songkhla@boi.go.th
REGIONAL INVESTMENT AND ECONOMIC CENTER 6
SURAT THANI
49/21-22 Sriwichai Road, Makhamtia, Amphur Muang,
Surat Thani 84000
Tel: +66 (0) 7740 4600
Fax: +66 (0) 7740 4699
Email: surat@boi.go.th
OVERSEAS OFFICES
SHANGHAI
Thailand Board of Investment, Shanghai Office
Royal Thai Consulate-General, 15th
Floor, Crystal Century Tower,
567 Weihai Road, Shanghai 200041, P.R.C
Tel: +86-21-6288-9728-9
Fax: +86-21-6288-9730
Email: shanghai@boi.go.th
BEIJING
Thailand Board of Investment, Beijing Office
Royal Thai Embassy, No.40 Guang Hua Road, Beijing 100600 P.R.C.
Tel: +86-10-6532-4510
Fax: +86-10-6532-1620
Email: beijing@boi.go.th
GUANGZHOU
Thailand Board of Investment, Guangzhou Office
Investment Promotion Section, Royal Thai Consulate-General,
No.36 Youhe Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, P.R.C. 510310
Tel: +86-20-8385-8988 Ext. 220-225, +86-20-8387-7770 (Direct line)
Fax: +86-20-8387-2700
Email: guangzhou@boi.go.th
TAIPEI
Thailand Board of Investment, Taipei Office
Taipei World Trade Center, 3rd
Floor, Room 3E 39-40
No.5 Xin-Yi Road, Sec. 5 Taipei 110, Taiwan R.O.C.
Tel: +886-2-2345-6663
Fax: +886-2-2345-9223
Email: taipei@boi.go.th
TOKYO
Thailand Board of Investment, Tokyo Office
Royal Thai Embassy, 8th
Floor, Fukuda Building West,
2-11-3, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052 Japan
Tel: +81 (0) 3-3582-1806
Fax: +81 (0) 3-3589-5176
Email: tyo@boi.go.th
OSAKA
Thailand Board of Investment, Osaka Office
Royal Thai Consulate-General, Bangkok Bank Building, 7th
Floor,
1-9-16 Kyutaro-Machi, Chuo-Ku, Osaka 541-0056 Japan
Tel: +81 (0) 6-6271-1395
Fax: +81 (0) 6-6271-1394
Email: osaka@boi.go.th
SEOUL
Thailand Board of Investment, Seoul Office
#1804, 18th
Floor, Koryo Daeyeongak Center,
97 Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, 100-706, Korea
Tel: +82-2-319-9998
Fax: +82-2-319-9997
Email: seoul@boi.go.th
MUMBAI
Thailand Board of Investment, Mumbai Office
Express Tower, 12th
Fl., Barrister Rajni Patel Marg,
Nariman Point, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400021
Tel: +(91 22) 2204 1589-90
Fax: +(91 22) 2282 1071
Email: mumbai@boi.go.th
NEW YORK
Thailand Board of Investment, New York Office
7 World Trade Center, 34th
Floor. Suite F,
250 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10007, U.S.A.
Tel: +1 (0) 212 422 9009
Fax: +1 (0) 212 422 9119
Email: nyc@boi.go.th
Website: www.thinkasiainvestthailand.com
LOS ANGELES
Thailand Board of Investment, Los Angeles Office
Royal Thai Consulate-General, 611 North Larchmont Boulevard,
3rd
Floor, Los Angeles CA 90004, U.S.A.
Tel: +1 (0)-323-960-1199
Fax: +1 (0)-323-960-1190
Email: boila@boi.go.th
FRANKFURT
Thailand Board of Investment, Frankfurt Office
Investment Section, Royal Thai Consulate-General
Bethmannstr. 58,5.0G
60311 Frankfurt am Main,
Federal Republic of Germany
Tel: +49 (069) 92 91 230
Fax: +49 (069) 92 91 2320
Email: fra@boi.go.th
PARIS
Thailand Board of Investment, Paris Office
Ambassade Royale de Thaïlande
8, rue Greuze, 75116 Paris, France
Tel: +(33-1) 56 90 26 00
Fax: +(33-1) 56 90 26 02
Email: par@boi.go.th
STOCKHOLM
Thailand Board of Investment, Stockholm Office
Stureplan 4C 4th
Floor, 114 35 Stockholm, Sweden
Tel: +46 (0) 8463 1158, +46 (0) 8463 1174-75
Fax: +46 (0) 8463 1160
Email: stockholm@boi.go.th
SYDNEY
Thailand Board of Investment, Sydney Office
Suite 101, Level 1, 234 George Street, Sydney,
New South Wales 2000, Australia
Tel: +61-2-9252-4884
Tel: +61-2-9252-4882
Email: sydney@boi.go.th