Thai Prime Minister Signals GDP Growth Above 2.1% Amid Strong Foreign Investment and Export Data

Key summary

On October 24, 2026, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated that Thailand's GDP for the year will definitely exceed the previously estimated 2.1%, citing significant improvements in foreign investment, exports, employment, and tax revenues. The government has directed the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) to re-evaluate economic projections based on new data showing foreign investment in the first half of the year was roughly 30% higher than last year's full-year figure, while exports expanded by over 20%. Prime Minister Anutin emphasized that Thailand will attract quality capital by leveraging its logistics infrastructure, regional market access to ASEAN (approx. 700 million people), and skilled workforce rather than competing on low labor or electricity costs. Additionally, the government plans to promote clean energy adoption, allowing households to generate and sell surplus electricity back to the grid to reduce costs and create new income streams.