BANGKOK, Thailand –The Thai economy is entering a period of growing uncertainty, with global conflicts, shifting geopolitics and rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) creating a wider gap between industries that benefit from new technology and those facing pressure, according to the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB).
Payong Srivanich, speaking as chairman of the JSCCIB press briefing, said global economic growth in the second half of 2026 is expected to follow a K-shaped pattern, with technology-driven sectors expanding while traditional industries struggle with higher costs and weaker demand. Thailand has benefited from the global AI trend, with exports in the first half of 2026 growing 17.6% year-on-year, driven largely by technology-related products. The technology sector accounted for 26.5% of total exports and expanded 45.9% amid rising global demand linked to AI.
However, Payong warned that Thailand must do more to capture the value created by this growth. While advanced industries and foreign investment continue to expand, much of the value chain remains dependent on imported components, limiting benefits for domestic businesses.
He called for stronger local content development, deeper domestic supply chains and greater support for Made in Thailand (MiT) products to ensure more economic value stays within the country.
The JSCCIB also urged the government to improve links between state and private-sector databases to better identify struggling industries and provide targeted support. Better data integration would help address challenges ranging from vulnerable businesses and informal economic activity to investment planning and industrial transformation.
The committee also backed efforts to position the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) as a model investment hub through a one-stop service system, focusing on five growth areas: industrial transformation, AI and digital industries, green economy, financial services and medical hubs.
Despite global uncertainty and new trade barriers, the JSCCIB maintained its 2026 economic forecasts, projecting Thai GDP growth of 1.6–2.0%, export growth of 8–10%, and inflation at 2.5–3%.
