TikTok’s Investment in Thailand

BANGKOK (Reuters) – ByteDance’s TikTok will invest 126.8 billion baht ($3.76 billion) in Thailand for a data hosting service, according to the Thai investment board on Wednesday.

The investment, made by TikTok’s Singapore-based unit, will support affiliated companies’ activities, with operations expected to start in 2026. This announcement is part of $5 billion in approved new projects made public on Wednesday. TikTok did not immediately respond to queries for confirmation.

The decision aligns with several tech giants planning data centers in Thailand, the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia. Last year, Alphabet’s Google announced a $1 billion investment in the country, following Amazon Web Services’ $5 billion investment plan over 15 years. Microsoft has also declared plans to open its first regional data center in Thailand.

According to BOI secretary-general Narit Therdsteerasukdi, TikTok’s investment marks a significant advancement in Thailand’s digital and AI infrastructure, positioning the country closer to its goal of becoming a regional hub.

($1 = 33.7200 baht)