Investment/BoI

Chatrudee Theparat

The Board of Investment (BoI) has approved a 13.5 billion baht (US$ 400 million) investment promotion application by Haier Appliance Manufacture (Thailand) Co, a unit of China’s Haier Smart Home Co, to set a factory to produce annually six million smart air conditioners.

Such a move will bring extensive economic benefits to the country.

Narit Therdsteerasukdi, secretary general of the BoI, said this project demonstrates Thailand’s attractiveness as a hub for the manufacturing of smart electrical appliances and smart electronics by important global companies.

“This factory will sell around 85% of its output in overseas markets, meaning it will increase Thai exports by an estimated 32 billion baht every year,” Mr Narit said.

Narit Therdsteerasukdi

The factory, to be located in Chonburi province, will employ 3,250 people and have a production capacity of approximately 3 million units of smart air conditioners, and 3 million units of smart split air conditioners. The first phase with a capacity of 3 million units will be operated by September 2025 and full operating in 2070.

Smart air conditioners feature embedded operating systems and electronic components that can detect and receive information and can be remotely controlled via mobile phones.

The investment, which includes the cost of land and working capital, is made through Haier’s Singapore unit.

From January 2023 to June 2024, the BoI has approved smart electronics manufacturing projects worth a combined 82.2 billion baht, by companies including Samsung, Midea, Inventec, and Sony. During the same 18-month period, an additional 16.4 billion baht worth of projects were approved for the manufacturing of other types of electrical appliances and parts.

Companies from China, Japan and other countries have invested in Thailand, attracted by its robust supply chain, export hub status, strategic location, outstanding infrastructure, reliable public utilities, moderate operating and land costs, as well as the Government’s continuous support to foreign direct investment (FDI).

During January to June 2024, investments from China was Thailand’s second source of FDI in terms of value, after Singapore, with 321 projects applications worth a combined 72.9 billion baht, led by investments in the automotive industry, and the appliance and electronics sector.

In 2023, China ranked first in terms of FDI value with 416 projects worth a total of 158.1 billion baht.