Thailand seeks US MPA backing to become Asian content hub

Thailand's government has held talks with the Motion Picture Association (MPA) of the United States on expanding film and entertainment cooperation, as it seeks to establish the country as an Asian content-production hub in the AI era.

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun met Urmila Venugopalan, the MPA's Asia-Pacific president and managing director, at the Naree Samosorn Building at Government House on 14 July. Venugopalan was in Thailand for the Thailand Success Stories Seminar.

Culture Minister Sabida Thaised, Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul, Suphajee's advisory chairman Virasak Kowsurat, and political deputy secretary-general to the prime minister Commander Worawit Techasupakorn also attended.

US studios have invested about US$1 billion

The MPA thanked the Thai government for its continued support for US-Thai collaboration in film and entertainment, and praised Thailand's cash-rebate scheme for foreign productions, which it said has helped attract overseas investment.

Suphajee said MPA members have invested around US$1 billion in film and content production in Thailand. She said this reflected confidence in Thai filming locations and local content, including the country's culture, tourism, food and identity.

The expansion of international production could mean more work and business opportunities across the creative sector, including production services, hospitality, transport and location support.

However, the discussions did not announce any new visa arrangements, work-permit rules or investment incentives.

Expo figures exceed original targets

The meeting also reviewed the Thailand Character & Content Expo 2026, held from 9 to 12 July. More than 20,000 people attended, exceeding the original target of 8,000, while business-matching negotiations generated more than 600 million baht, also above target.

Suphajee said the event demonstrated how content can be developed into characters, merchandise, games, series, art toys and lifestyle products, while linking with fan communities to increase the value of intellectual property. She said this followed the direction of the global entertainment industry.

The two sides also discussed making Thailand easier to use as a filming base. The MPA proposed that the government oversee approvals and facilitation from the beginning to the end of a project, to give foreign investors and content producers greater confidence.

The government regarded this as important and said it was ready to continue pushing the work forward.

AI copyright protection under discussion

AI-related intellectual-property and copyright protection was another major issue, particularly deepfakes and rapidly growing copyright infringement in several countries. The United States is advancing the No FAKES Act to address such concerns.

Suphajee said Thailand already has copyright and intellectual-property laws, but should consider updating legislation related to AI technology to meet international standards. The aim, she said, is to assure creators and investors that content produced in Thailand will receive appropriate protection.

Thailand continues to use cash rebates as its principal incentive for foreign film shoots. The government is reviewing the broader incentives system, including how it can better support employment, domestic materials and services, knowledge transfer and long-term economic value. Any changes remain under study and discussion by relevant agencies.

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16 July 2026

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