Bangkok: Ekniti is pleased with the 31% investment growth in the second quarter, reflecting the direction of investment growth and using investment as the driver of the economy. Looking ahead to the third quarter of 2026, he anticipates that the Thailand Fast Pass project will help accelerate the implementation of investments. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Ekniti Nitithanprapas, stated that investment is now a key driver of the Thai economy, both in the short and long term.
According to Thai News Agency, this reflects the direction of Investment Growth, or using investment as the economic driver. The Board of Investment (BOI) has upgraded its monitoring from focusing on the value of investment applications and approved projects to tracking the actual amount of money invested by entrepreneurs on a quarterly basis. This includes construction costs, machinery costs, and other investment items, to clearly show the money entering the economic system. In the latest quarter of 2026, actual investment exceeded 255 billion baht, a 31% increase compared to the same period last year. This brings the total actual investment for the first half of 2026 to 535.8 billion baht, a 27% increase, reflecting the policy of using investment as the economic driver. Investment supports the economy in the short term through the influx of funds, while in the long term it enhances competitiveness through investment in industry, technology, and job creation.
Mr. Ekniti stated that signs of investment recovery have been evident since the end of last year. Private sector investment is projected to expand by 9% in the fourth quarter of 2025, the highest growth rate in 44 quarters. The first quarter of 2026 is expected to see growth exceeding 10%. Figures for the second quarter are still pending from the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), but the Board of Investment (BOI), which accounts for approximately 30% of private sector investment, has increased by 31%. He believes that if private sector investment can maintain this growth throughout the year, there is a possibility of double-digit growth, a level of growth not seen in many years, and aligning with the private sector's return as a key driver of the Thai economy.
Regarding the economic situation in the second quarter, the Thai economy continues to face pressure from the conflict in the Middle East and the energy crisis, particularly the rising oil prices which impact economic costs. Thailand's current account balance has returned to a deficit of approximately 17-18 billion baht due to energy imports, reflecting Thailand's continued dependence on foreign energy sources. Given these figures, if Thailand doesn't accelerate its energy transition, the conflict will continue, and allowing the situation to continue will necessitate further remediation efforts when oil prices rise - a situation that will be unmanageable. Therefore, the government aims to attract investment to support the economy during periods of slowdown in certain sectors, while also accelerating the creation of new production bases. This will focus on investments that create jobs, upgrade workforce skills, and increase productivity, especially in emerging industries such as Smart Electronics, AI, and clean energy.
Mr. Ekniti emphasized that investment is crucial to the economy in two phases. In the short term, investment funds will help sustain economic activity, while in the long term, it will enhance GDP growth potential through increased competitiveness, job creation, and investment in new industries. This is a more important goal than merely providing temporary economic stimulus. Looking ahead to the third quarter of 2026, the Thailand Fast Pass project is expected to accelerate investment by requiring investors to invest at least 20% according to the specified proportions within the first year, ensuring rapid inflow of funds into the economy. However, the official Q2 2026 GDP figures from the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), scheduled for release on August 17th, still need to be monitored.