BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand’s Minister of Commerce, Pichai Naripthaphan, recently held high-level talks with Mr. Cash McCracken, Vice President of Government Affairs at Seagate Technology, one of the world’s leading digital storage companies. The discussion focused on the global economic landscape, strategies for navigating the impact of potential Trump-era reciprocal tariffs, and Thailand’s pivotal role in the global tech supply chain.
The meeting, held on April 30, allowed both sides to exchange insights into how evolving U.S. trade policies might affect multinational operations in Thailand, particularly those in high-tech manufacturing. Minister Pichai raised concerns about the potential cost increases and export challenges stemming from U.S. tariff measures, and encouraged Seagate to convey these concerns to U.S. authorities — including the USTR, U.S. Department of Commerce, and U.S. Treasury — to help maintain a balanced and investment-friendly trade environment.
“This was a valuable opportunity to reaffirm Thailand’s position as a global production center for high-tech equipment, especially HDDs (hard disk drives), which are vital components in cloud computing and AI infrastructure,” Pichai stated.
Seagate’s leadership acknowledged Thailand’s strength as a regional HDD manufacturing base, emphasizing its long-standing presence in Nakhon Ratchasima and Samut Prakan, where it employs tens of thousands of Thais. The company has operated in Thailand for over 35 years and sees the country as a cornerstone of its global supply network.
Minister Pichai also highlighted Thailand’s readiness to attract more tech investment, pointing to its solid infrastructure, reliable energy supply, and skilled workforce — all essential elements for supporting the growth of data centers and AI industries that rely on HDD technology.
The Seagate executive further noted that while reshoring trends (moving production back to the U.S.) have been politically discussed, they often don’t align with economic realities. Thailand’s efficient supply chain ecosystem, skilled labor, and comprehensive industrial infrastructure make it a strategic and sustainable location for advanced technology production.
As Thailand positions itself as a digital economy leader in Southeast Asia, such public-private dialogues are crucial in ensuring policy and investment strategies are aligned with fast-moving global trends. (TNA)
