Bangkok: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Ekniti Nitithanprapas, announced at the World Economic Forum (WEF) that TikTok has committed to investing 270 billion baht in Thailand. This investment aims to bolster the nation’s digital economy, artificial intelligence, and support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) during the government transition period.
According to Thai News Agency, Ekniti stressed TikTok’s success and its strategic plans to enhance digital infrastructure within Thailand. The investment will focus on expanding TikTok’s role in supporting the digital economy and empowering Thai entrepreneurs. The discussions included strategies to leverage the platform for enhancing SMEs’ capabilities, facilitating market access, and increasing income opportunities. Additionally, Thailand was proposed as a regional hub for activities such as content development.
TikTok, created by ByteDance from China, has established itself as a global leader in short-video and social commerce platforms, boasting over 2 billion users worldwide, with more than 368 million in ASEAN. TikTok Technologies Co., Ltd., a Thai company, was established in 2021 as the regional operations office and received investment promotion from the Board of Investment (BOI) for an International Business Center project. It also secured investment promotion for data hosting services in 2025, with a total investment of 126,793 million baht.
During the WEF discussions, the Deputy Prime Minister and BOI Secretary-General explored policy cooperation to enhance consumer protection, improve financial literacy, and combat online fraud. TikTok expressed readiness to expand partnerships, especially in the lead-up to the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings 2026, which Thailand will host. Discussions also covered factors supporting long-term investment, focusing on energy and infrastructure readiness as the government systematically upgrades these areas to support advanced technologies.
TikTok’s investment plans signal global investors’ confidence in Thailand’s digital economy potential. The government plans to upgrade infrastructure, develop digital skills among the workforce, and foster an innovation ecosystem to support new industries in digital and AI. This approach also aims to help SMEs and local entrepreneurs access global markets, building long-term investment confidence amid the global economic transition.