Ekniti and BOI lead Japan roadshow Nov 18-20, 2026
Deputy PM Ekniti leads BOI and Thai business leaders to Japan on Nov 18-20, 2026, boosting investments in chips and EVs.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Deputy PM Ekniti leads BOI and 3 Thai business councils to Japan on Nov 18-20, 2026
- Meetings scheduled with 6 major Japanese automakers on tax restructuring and modern EVs
- Jointly organizing Thailand-Japan Investment Dialogue 2026 with Keidanren
- Japanese investment applications reached over 113.7 billion baht in 2025
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ekniti Nitithanprapas is set to lead a delegation from the Board of Investment, joined by the Minister of Industry, Permanent Secretary for Finance, Director-General of the Customs Department, and leaders from three major Thai business institutions—the Federation of Thai Industries, the Thai Chamber of Commerce, and the Thai Bankers' Association—along with over 40 Thai entrepreneurs, on an official visit to Japan from November 18 to 20, 2026, reinforcing over 50 years of robust economic partnership.
This mission aims to strengthen investor confidence and upgrade Thailand's industrial base toward advanced technologies. The delegation is scheduled to meet with six major Japanese automakers operating in Thailand: Toyota, Honda, Isuzu, Mitsubishi, Mazda, and Nissan. Discussions will focus on automotive support plans, vehicle tax restructuring for fair competition, and gathering business insights to facilitate the transition toward modern automotive technologies.
A key milestone of this visit is the unprecedented joint participation of Thailand's three major business councils traveling alongside the public sector to meet with Japan's Keidanren, the most influential business federation shaping Japan's industrial policies. The BOI and Keidanren will co-host the Thailand-Japan Investment and Business Dialogue 2026, providing a platform for business leaders to discuss cooperation across three core pillars: xEV electric vehicles and components, supply chains supporting data centers and advanced electronics, and grid modernization alongside power distribution equipment.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
This high-level public-private delegation to Japan represents a proactive strategic move amid shifts in global supply chains. Because Thailand's automotive and electronics sectors have relied heavily on Japanese investment for decades, mobilizing the public sector alongside leaders from all three major business associations for direct talks with Keidanren ensures that tax policy adjustments and semiconductor collaborations can be driven forward effectively rather than remaining mere diplomatic gestures.
Additionally, the delegation will meet with Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the President of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), and Japan's Minister of Finance to discuss energy security cooperation and leverage the Japanese government's POWERR Asia policy framework to support clean energy transition and supply chain resilience in Thailand.
Data from the BOI indicates that in 2025, Japanese investors submitted 302 project applications for investment promotion, valued at over 113.7 billion baht—more than doubling from the previous year. During the first nine months of 2026, Japanese firms submitted 192 applications worth over 45.4 billion baht, primarily concentrated in digital, agriculture and food, electronics, and automotive industries.
Source: Techsauce
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