Thailand Charts Data Center Strategy to Become Regional Digital Hub

The Prime Minister of Thailand has outlined a strategic direction for the country's data centers, emphasizing their transformation from mere "locations" to significant contributors of added value to the nation. The aim is to accelerate the development of regulations that align with cutting-edge technology, thereby establishing Thailand as a regional digital hub. This direction was conveyed during the first meeting of the Data Center Policy Committee. The Prime Minister highlighted Thailand's attractiveness to both domestic and international investors due to its strategic location, robust infrastructure, and its role as an economic center in the ASEAN region. However, he acknowledged the challenges associated with data center development, including high consumption of electricity, water, land, and utilities, as well as environmental impacts and cybersecurity concerns. Therefore, oversight in accordance with laws, standards, and national interests is deemed necessary. Addressing public apprehension regarding data center installations in urban areas, the government intends to expedite the establishment of appropriate regulations to build confidence and mitigate potential negative effects. "Thailand's goal is not merely to solve immediate problems or attract investment to make us just a location for data centers. This investment must create added value for the country," the Prime Minister stated. He further expressed the ambition to attract related industries, promote technology transfer, develop Thai talent, foster a digital ecosystem, and enhance the nation's long-term competitiveness. Referring to the developmental stages experienced by other countries, the Prime Minister suggested that Thailand should also review its regulations and design suitable systems to ensure continuous and balanced development of its digital economy infrastructure. He urged the committee to comprehensively consider various aspects, including defining data centers and their legal status, setting standards for Green Data Centers, promoting renewable energy use, ensuring data protection and cybersecurity, and supporting Thailand's AI and Cloud ecosystems. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that with the right direction, Thailand can fully leverage the growth opportunities in the digital economy, becoming a regional hub for digital innovation while pursuing stable and sustainable development. He also conveyed his gratitude to all parties for their attention and willingness to listen to concerns and find solutions, believing that this meeting is crucial for gathering information and opinions to formulate policies and guidelines for data center operations that are in line with the current situation, and that all proposals will be considered for the issuance of appropriate announcements and regulations. Information Source: INN News