Investment/Thailand's global healthcare leader

Editorial staff

EECO, AMCHAM and USTDA are helping drive Thailand to become a global leader in healthcare services

Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EECO) seeks a collaboration among the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) to drive healthcare innovation and ease of doing business in Thailand.

The USTDA, in partnership with the AMCHAM and EECO, recently hosted two-days (April 2-3) workshop to advance Thailand's position in the global healthcare landscape.

The workshop brought together industry leaders, government officials, and stakeholders from the US and Thailand to promote collaboration and showcase cutting-edge healthcare innovations.

Discussions focused on positioning Thailand as a leading medical hub, covering sustainable investment, improving healthcare accessibility, emerging technologies, infrastructure development, and strategies for enhancing public healthcare expenditure. It also offered insights into best practices in ASEAN and Thailand’s position in the region.

Chula Sukmanop, EECO's secretary general, said in the past six years, the US’s investment value in EEC ranked third with a total investment of 44 billion baht, covering for an investment from a global leader such as Johnson & Johnson, Organon and Baxter International.

Chula Sukmanop

He said EECO has planned to offer special privileges to investors while the investors can submit the project directly to EECO, as well as the agency has already established one-stop service to facilitate investors on asking for licenses.

The measures are prepared for new movement of foreign investment to Thailand this year.

“Healthcare industry is one targeted industry that EEC is ready to drive the investment expansion in the area.” Mr Chula said.

The United States ambassador to Thailand, Robert Godec emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in advancing Thailand's healthcare goals. He said that US companies are eager to partner with Thai counterparts to progress Thailand’s goal to become a global leader in healthcare services.

Co-chairs of AMCHAM’s Healthcare Council Weerawat Meekaew of Johnson & Johnson, Koen Kruijtbosch of Organon, and Alan Adcock of Tilleke & Gibbins, agreed AMCHAM’s commitment to driving transformative change in the region and fostering collaboration between the government and the private sector.

The workshop showcased leading US medical technologies tailored to Thailand's healthcare priorities, with panel sessions highlighting the potential benefits of collaboration in manufacturing, technology transfer, workforce evolution, and research and development.

The workshop concluded with a forward-looking agenda, encouraging participants to forge strategic public-private alliances to drive Thailand's transformation into a global healthcare powerhouse.

The AMCHAM is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit membership organization with 3,000 members representing over 650 American, Thai, and other international companies. Member companies have cumulatively invested over US$78 billion in Thailand and provide more than 500,000 local jobs.