BOI welcomes PCB giants from 11 countries to THECA 2025, highlighting Thailand's booming electronics industry.
The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), in collaboration with the Thailand Printed Circuit Association (THPCA) and the Hong Kong Printed Circuit Association (HKPCA), has announced a strategic roadmap to elevate Thailand's advanced electronics industry through the upcoming international exhibition, Thailand Electronics Circuit Asia 2025 (THECA 2025). The event aims to establish Thailand as the central supply chain hub for PCBs and semiconductors in Asia, through coordinated efforts among government agencies, research institutions, and private sector players.
THECA 2025 is scheduled to take place from 20–22 August 2025 at Halls EH99–100, BITEC Bangkok, covering 12,000 square meters of exhibition space. It will bring together global players across the full electronics supply chain—upstream, midstream, and downstream—on a single platform, paving the way for Thailand to become a regional base for advanced technology manufacturing.
According to Mr. Narucha Ruchuphan, Deputy Secretary General of the BOI and host of THECA 2025, the first half of 2025 showed strong investment momentum, with 1,880 investment promotion applications valued at over THB 1.06 trillion, a 138% increase compared to the same period last year. The electronics and electrical appliances sector alone accounted for THB 125.79 billion from 268 projects. Foreign direct investment (FDI) from Hong Kong, China, and Singapore continues to rise, reinforcing Thailand's position as a strategic ASEAN hub.
Thailand's core strength in the electronics sector lies in Advanced Electronics, particularly PCB and EMS. According to Mr. Narucha, developing these sectors further will ease the transition into semiconductor manufacturing. BOI's strategy focuses on three key pillars:
1.Development of high-end technology
2.Proactive government policy support
3.Workforce upskilling and talent development
To solidify this strategy, BOI will host the BOI Forum on August 20, 2025 (13:00–16:30 hrs) under the theme, "Building the Future: Investment Policies Shaping Thailand's Advanced Electronics and Semiconductor Ecosystem."
This forum will foster public-private partnerships, promote business collaborations, and enhance the electronics supply chain, from design to final assembly, positioning Thailand beyond a manufacturing base to a full-fledged ecosystem leader in Asia.
Mr. Phithan Ongkosit, President of THPCA and Organizer of THECA 2025, emphasized Thailand's emerging role as a regional manufacturing and innovation hub for electronics, especially in the PCB sector, which is the backbone of all electronic devices. His 3-dimensional strategy includes;
1. Building a robust supply chain: Integrating upstream, midstream, and downstream players to ensure resilience and reduce global disruption risks.
2. Attracting global leaders: THECA 2025 will host top companies from 11 countries—including the USA, South Korea, Germany, UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, and Thailand—underscoring Thailand's advantages in infrastructure, competitiveness, and skilled workforce.
Aligning with BOI's future industries strategy: THECA 2025 demonstrates Thailand's readiness to support next-generation electronics.
At THECA 2025, the exhibitor lineup has been strategically curated to represent the full spectrum of the electronics supply chain—upstream, midstream, and downstream—underscoring Thailand's capability to host a truly integrated electronics ecosystem.
Approximately 43% of exhibitors belong to the upstream segment, comprising manufacturers and suppliers of essential raw materials, chemicals, and fundamental components that serve as the foundation for electronics production. Notable participants in this category include Auromex Co., Ltd. and Thai Laminate Manufacturing Co., Ltd., both recognized for their contributions to high-quality materials critical to advanced electronics manufacturing.
The midstream sector, which makes up 46% of the exhibitors, forms the heart of PCB production. This group includes companies involved in transforming raw materials into finished printed circuit boards (PCBs and flexible PCBs), as well as those providing advanced machinery and equipment integral to the PCB manufacturing process. Key exhibitors in this category include KCE Electronics PLC, one of Thailand's largest PCB manufacturers, and Mektec Flex PCB, known for cutting-edge production automation technologies.
The remaining 11% of exhibitors represent the downstream segment, covering post-PCB manufacturing stages such as final product assembly, quality assurance testing, and auxiliary support services. Companies such as Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation (Thailand) Co., Ltd. and Sci-Tech Thailand Co., Ltd. exemplify this group, providing comprehensive solutions to ensure high standards of finished electronics products.
This full-spectrum participation highlights THECA 2025 as not just a showcase of electronics technology but as a dynamic platform for end-to-end industry collaboration—from materials and machinery to final assembly and beyond.
3. In addition to promoting trade, the association prioritizes strengthening Thailand's electronics ecosystem through collaboration between the public sector, private companies, and research institutions: This integrated model will help Thailand meet global demands in environmental standards, high-tech manufacturing, and digital consumer expectations. The 3-dimensional strategy not only enhances economic opportunities but also firmly positions Thailand on the world stage.
THECA 2025 is supported by Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), KCE Electronics PLC, Auromex Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Mr. Luther Wong, Vice Chairman of HKPCA and THECA 2025 co-organizer, highlighted that green manufacturing, ESG compliance, and sustainable development are no longer optional but essential for the electronics and PCB industries to thrive globally. As power-intensive and chemical-heavy sectors, electronics manufacturers must shift to low-carbon processes, adopt circular economies, and prepare for ESG performance ratings that will soon determine access to capital, customers, and long-term viability. Citing tools like WWF's LCMP (Low Carbon Manufacturing Programme) and IPC's upcoming ESG guidelines, Mr. Wong noted that proactive action will not only reduce costs and environmental impact but also build brand trust and secure market opportunities in an era of climate accountability.
Mr. Salanroj Sutaschuto, Senior Vice President (Chief Operating Officer : COO and Acting Director of Administration Department of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB, one of the key supporters of THECA 2025, stated that TCEB is committed to positioning Thailand as a premier destination for international trade shows, particularly in high-value industries. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to promote trade, attract investment, and strengthen Thailand's business sector by connecting it with global markets. Trade exhibitions serve as a strategic tool to drive national economic growth. Furthermore, embedding ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles into event development is a core strategy of TCEB to reinforce Thailand's unique value proposition as a sustainable destination for international business events. The support for THECA 2025 reflects TCEB's policy and strategic commitment to fostering economic and business development through impactful international exhibitions.
Dr. Wutthinan Jeamsaksiri, Senior Researcher of Thai Microelectronics Center (TMEC), emphasized that advanced PCB production needs more than labor—it needs problem-solvers who understand the entire system. He stressed the need to shift mindsets from "assembly-line workers" to "technology-savvy talent" capable of operating real-time automation and managing quality and creativity for sectors like AI servers, 5G satellites, and EV systems.
TMEC, under TISTR (Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research), plays a critical role in research on sensors, IC chips, embedded systems, and Industry 4.0 innovations. The growing demand in Advanced PCBs necessitates translating lab research into production. This led to the creation of Thailand Electronics Circuit Center (TECC), an industrial training center co-developed with THPCA to offer hands-on programs aligned with real industry needs.
"Today, Thailand has factories but lacks people ready to work in high-tech environments," said Mr. Swaek Prakitritanon, Vice President and Secretary of THPCA and Chairman of TECC, He emphasized that TECC is more than a training center—it's a live industrial training ground for new-generation workers. TECC serves as a bridge between TMEC's research and real-world production, and as a key mechanism to upskill Thai talent for high-tech industries.
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