Thailand’s Path to High-Income Status Requires Strategic Investment in Tech and Data Centers

Thailand’s manufacturing capabilities are positioned to capitalize on global technology supply chains and the data centre boom, according to the World Bank. To reach high-income economy status by 2037, the nation requires 5.4% annual real GDP-per-capita growth over the next decade.

Banga also advises emerging economies to focus on deploying small AI models rather than competing with the US and China in large AI model development. Thailand must direct investment toward generating higher-income opportunities to meet its 2037 high-income economy target, as the World Bank notes the country’s manufacturing strengths align with shifting global supply chains and data centre growth.