Thailand's semiconductor industry is being urged to shift its focus toward front-end chip manufacturing, according to Wirat Sri-amonkitkul, head of the Thai Semiconductor Industry Trade Association. Currently, Thailand's semiconductor sector is concentrated on back-end processes such as assembly, testing, and packaging, but Wirat emphasized the need for government incentives and policies to attract foreign companies and support the development of front-end production capabilities like wafer fabrication [1].
Wirat highlighted that regional competitors such as Malaysia and Vietnam have advanced significantly in the semiconductor sector, largely due to strong government backing and incentives that have attracted major global players. He warned that Thailand risks falling behind if it does not increase its efforts in this area [1].
The industry body also called for policies to foster research and development and workforce training to meet the technological demands of advanced chip manufacturing. Wirat stated, "Without targeted investment and supportive policies, it will be difficult for Thailand to attract the kind of foreign direct investment needed to build a front-end production base" [1].
Although no specific financial figures or market reactions were provided, the push for front-end investment is consistent with global trends, as countries seek to localize more of the semiconductor supply chain in response to geopolitical tensions and rising demand in sectors such as automotive, consumer electronics, and artificial intelligence [1].
CONCLUSION
Thailand's semiconductor industry leaders are calling for urgent government action to invest in front-end manufacturing and supportive policies. Without such measures, Thailand may struggle to compete with regional peers and attract critical foreign investment in the high-value semiconductor sector.