GULF Highlights Data Centers as Key Infrastructure for Thailand’s Digital Economy Curbing Capital Outflows and Strengthening Data Sovereignty
Mr. Smith Banomyong, Chief Strategy Officer, Gulf Development Public Company Limited (GULF), shared his vision at Nation Forum on the topic “Data Center, Built for the Intelligence Economy” organized by Nation Group. He said data centers are critical infrastructure that will lay the foundation for Thailand's digital economy, and that society needs an accurate understanding of them.
A data center is an air-conditioned facility that houses the computer systems and servers of many organizations under one roof. This allows energy to be managed far more efficiently than if each organization invested separately. Mr. Smith said concerns about water use and safety can be well managed under the same standards that apply to other large buildings. He added that the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) has enough water to support the industry’s growth.
Beyond resource efficiency, data centers play an important role in the wider economy. Thailand currently sends roughly US$1 billion, or more than THB 30 billion, abroad every month to pay for overseas digital services, including enterprise software, online advertising, and streaming. Hosting data centers domestically would keep part of this economic value within the Thai economy. It would also generate investment, high-skilled jobs, and related supply chains.
At the same time, AI is becoming part of everyday life and business. Keeping infrastructure and data within the country safeguards data sovereignty, national security, and economic continuity against natural disasters and geopolitical tensions.
On national readiness, Thailand’s Power Development Plan (PDP 2026) raises the share of clean energy. This gives the country an edge in attracting investment from global technology companies. The expansion of data centers will also strengthen workforce skills and Thailand’s supply chain.
Mr. Smith said, “If every sector of society has a correct understanding, and the public and private sectors work together so that large enterprises, SMEs, and service users can build on data center infrastructure to create added value, Thailand will stand to benefit enormously as the future hub of the digital economy.”
