Fast Pass scheme lifts nation's profile: PM

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has declared Thailand the most investment-ready country in the region following the launch of the Thailand Fast Pass programme on Tuesday, which is set to accelerate approvals and permits for investors.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Anutin said Thailand enjoys advantages in geopolitics, location, logistics, political stability, and trade connectivity, positioning it as a regional hub.

"When all factors are considered, Thailand is more prepared than any other country in the region," he said.

The first group of 23 companies receiving Thailand Fast Pass privileges and Board of Investment (BOI) promotion certificates are engaged in high-technology industries rather than labour-intensive manufacturing.

These include the production of Airbus aircraft engine components, rockets, satellites, and LiDAR systems used in the automotive sector.

Mr Anutin said speed has become a crucial factor in the global competition for investment. He stressed that government agencies must shift from acting solely as regulators to transforming into facilitators.

During the pilot phase, eight government agencies are participating: the Department of Industrial Works, Customs Department, Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT), Energy Regulatory Commission, Metropolitan Electricity Authority, Provincial Electricity Authority, and the BOI.

Thailand Fast Pass is only the first step in a broader effort to facilitate investment, Mr Anutin said, envisaging a system in which applications can be submitted online and automatically approved once all the requirements are met.

Faster approvals, Mr Anutin said, will help accelerate investment, create jobs, increase tax revenues, and support economic growth. The government has set the goal of elevating Thailand from an upper-middle-income economy to a high-income country in 12 years.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said on Tuesday the government aims to channel nearly 700 billion baht in actual investment into Thailand's economy this year through accelerated programs such as BOI Fast Pass and Thailand Fast Pass.

"The initiative is designed to transform investor confidence from mere applications for investment promotion into tangible economic activity on the ground, driving sustainable growth through close cooperation among all relevant state agencies,'' Mr Ekniti said.

He said the success of these measures will directly boost employment and revive production across all regions, in line with the government's policy of using investment as the primary engine to strengthen Thailand's global competitiveness. "This policy will fast-track projects, cut red tape, and reassure international investors that Thailand is ready to host expanded production bases," he said.

According to official data, investment promotion applications in 2025 reached a record 1.8 trillion baht, he said, reflecting strong foreign investor confidence. In the first quarter of 2026, applications surged to 1 trillion baht, a 142% increase year-on-year.

The IMD World Competitiveness Center recently raised the country from 30th to 26th place overall, and from 30th to 24th in international investment.

Global rating agencies Moody's and S&P have likewise upgraded Thailand's outlook to stable, reinforcing investor trust. The investment drive has already begun to impact the economy.

GDP grew 2.8% in Q1, while private investment expanded by 10.1%, marking the first double-digit growth in a decade. More than 200 billion baht in real spending has already entered the economy through the Fast Pass mechanisms. Mr Ekniti said that the government is confident of achieving its 700-billion-baht investment target, positioning 2026 as "the year of true investment" and ensuring long-term stability for the nation's fiscal and economic foundations.