Data Centers: Digital Infrastructure Strengthening Thailand’s Competitiveness in the AI Era

Mr. Smith Banomyong, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer, Gulf Development Public Company Limited or GULF, participated in the panel discussion on ‘The Data Center Boom: What Does Thailand Gain?’ at The Standard Economic Forum 2026, held on November 4, 2026, at Paragon Hall, Siam Paragon. He highlighted that amid the rapid growth of AI and the digital economy, the key question is not simply whether Thailand should have data centers, but how the country can develop sufficient and appropriate digital infrastructure to support the technologies and digital services that are becoming increasingly important to the economy and strengthen Thailand’s long-term competitiveness.

The discussion around data centers should therefore not begin simply with whether Thailand stands to gain or lose from such projects. Instead, the focus should be on the scale of digital infrastructure Thailand needs to support the growth of the digital economy and society while strengthening its competitiveness on the global stage. Thailand currently spends hundreds of billions of baht each year on digital services provided from overseas. Having more digital infrastructure and services located within the country could help generate greater domestic economic activity and retain a portion of this spending within the Thai economy.

At the same time, Mr.Smith supported a stronger role for the government in overseeing and screening data center projects. Such assessments should look beyond investment value and consider the long-term benefits these projects can bring to Thailand, including job creation, talent development, and broader economic value creation. He compared data center investment to the hotel industry: when a new hotel is developed in Thailand, the consideration should not be limited to the size of the investment or the resources it consumes, but should also take into account the revenue, employment, and long-term economic benefits it can generate for the country.

Data centers should also be viewed as essential infrastructure for the digital economy, comparable to roads, power systems, and other critical infrastructure. While such infrastructure may not directly create large numbers of jobs, it provides the foundation that enables other economic activities to emerge and grow. Just as roads make it possible for hotels, restaurants, golf courses, and tourist destinations to develop and generate income for local communities, data centers provide the underlying infrastructure for digital services, data processing, and AI technologies, which will form an increasingly important foundation for the economy of the future.

When it comes to resource consumption, data center development should be assessed based on the facts and specific circumstances of each location. With effective management of water resources, storage, and consumption, Thailand can accommodate new investment and emerging industries without compromising system security or the needs of other sectors.

For GULF, developing digital infrastructure is part of preparing Thailand for an increasingly data- and AI-driven economy. Together with reliable energy infrastructure and efficient resource management, this foundation can help translate technological advancement into new business opportunities, strengthen industrial capabilities, and enhance Thailand’s long-term competitiveness.