Thailand's ambition to become an Asean semiconductor hub deserves serious attention. The aspiration was unveiled last week when Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced a goal for Thailand to produce semiconductors domestically by 2050. A national committee, known as the "semiconductor board", will drive the development of the semiconductor and advanced electronics industries.
What remains unclear, however, is what "domestic semiconductor production" will entail. Is Thailand seeking to become a manufacturing base for foreign chipmakers, or will it partner with overseas semiconductor companies? Mr Anutin has yet to tell us the scale of Thailand's chip ambitions. These distinctions matter, as they imply very different levels of investment, technological capability and policy commitment.
