Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has urged international investors to view Thailand as a base for future industries and access to ASEAN markets, rather than simply a production hub. Speaking in Bangkok on 3 September, he said the government planned to remove more than 7,000 regulations seen as barriers to business.

Anutin delivered the special address, "Thailand's Offer to the World", at the Bangkok Business Summit 2026 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. He said Thailand must turn four simultaneous global pressures - geopolitics, technology, climate change and demographic change - into economic opportunities.

The prime minister said Thailand would not remain passive or isolate itself while the global economy was fragile. Instead, it would strengthen economic cooperation and production links with ASEAN and other regions.

Thailand seeks a wider ASEAN role

Thailand's offer, Anutin said, was not simply its location on the map but its established industrial clusters, logistics networks and experienced workforce.

"Investors can use Thailand as a springboard to connect supply chains across ASEAN, with the goal not limited to a domestic market of 70 million people, but access to a regional population of one billion," he said.

He also highlighted links between sectors, including advanced manufacturing and digital technology, agriculture with biotechnology and future foods, and clean energy with next-generation vehicles.

AI, clean energy and an ageing society

Anutin said Thailand must not only use artificial intelligence developed elsewhere. It should build domestic knowledge and upgrade the capabilities of workers and small and medium-sized enterprises so they can innovate and compete.

He also said the country was ready to turn climate pressures into opportunities by attracting investment in clean energy, infrastructure and nature-based solutions.

With Thailand entering an ageing-society era, the government aims to build a "longevity economy", treating older people as a new economic opportunity rather than a burden. The areas identified included healthcare, wellness businesses, tourism and technology.

That focus may be of particular interest to foreign retirees and long-stay residents, given Thailand's large healthcare and wellness sectors. However, the speech did not announce changes to retirement visas, healthcare rules or services for foreign residents.

OECD ambition and global meetings

The prime minister said Thailand wanted to be a destination where talented people from around the world could build lives and families, supported by internationally standardised healthcare and quality of life.

Alongside the proposed removal of more than 7,000 business-related rules, he said Thailand was raising national standards through its process of seeking membership of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, or OECD.

Addressing foreign investors at the close of his speech, Anutin said Thailand wanted to be a partner in creating future industries, not merely a manufacturing base or consumer market. Thailand will present that message again as host of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok next month.

Pictures courtesy of ThaiRath

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4 September 2026

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Biggest rule out that needs changing out of the 7000 is letting foreigners only own 49% of their business!

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Alongside the proposed removal of more than 7,000 business-related rules, he said Thailand was raising national standards through its process of seeking membership of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, or OECD.

Much of the banking and sim card hell is because of the OECD rules. Banks closed branches and ATMs, removed secure online banking, and forced everyone onto phone apps. Then, they complained that mules were engaging through phone app enabled fraud. Meanwhile, Chinese and Russian gangsters were allowed to flood into the country, while China was encouraged to set up transshipment businesses in Thailand. And you know who is NOT a member of the OECD? Answer: China and Russia. So the gray Chinese and Russian mafia will not be affected at all by the KYC and OECD rules being forced on us. Their banks back home are not subject to the same transparency rules. So why is Thailand doing this? Just to become the OECD tax collector for Europe and the US, while the money launderers from China and Russia laugh it all off and walk away with billions.

Is this the same guy who was actually out and about closing businesses on Koh Phangan recently?

Anutin is deemed, by some. to be guilty of dereliction of duty during his 20 year silence about the Nominee Scam. He cannot see that this Golden silence helped the victims believe the lies being told by a lot of Thai agencies. His awakening this year has all the hallmarks of state-approved theft. He has also discovered, (for the 1st time?) the corruption in the Civil Service exam system leading to the suspicion that some of the hypocritical, self-righteous mob currently repossessing houses, may well have achieved these positions by dubious means.