Thailand and Google Explore Digital Investment Opportunities

Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan recently met with Google executives in Jeju, South Korea, during the APEC Trade Ministers meeting. They discussed enhancing digital investment in Thailand and addressed concerns about U.S. tax policies. The talks focused on boosting cooperation in the digital economy and promoting Thailand as a hub for advanced technology investments.

Key Takeways

• Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan met Google executives at the APEC MRT meeting in Jeju, South Korea, to discuss enhancing digital investment in Thailand and addressing U.S. tax policy impacts. The discussions focused on cooperation in the digital economy and positioning Thailand as a hub for advanced technology investment.
• Google confirmed its commitment to investing in Thai data centers and cloud services, citing Thailand as a significant production base for technology components. Pichai encouraged Google to expand further, emphasizing Thailand’s infrastructure, energy reliability, and skilled workforce as advantages for digital industry development.
• Concerns about U.S. tax measures affecting Google in Thailand were addressed, with plans for ongoing dialogue to manage impacts. Google suggested regulatory improvements to support digital platforms, highlighting digital trade as a key driver of economic growth in Thailand and the broader region.

Google expressed commitment to investing in data centers and cloud services in Thailand, recognizing it as a key production base for technology components like hard disk drives and printed circuit boards. Pichai encouraged Google to further expand operations, citing Thailand’s robust infrastructure, reliable energy supply, and skilled workforce.

Concerns about potential U.S. tax measures affecting Google’s activities in Thailand were also discussed. Both parties agreed on continuous dialogue to manage impacts and engage with U.S. authorities for balanced outcomes. Google suggested Thailand improve regulations to support digital platforms, highlighting digital trade as a key economic growth driver in the region.

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