BANGKOK – Rachada Dhnadirek, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, said on Wednesday that the Cabinet has approved the establishment of the Data Center Business Policy Committee to ensure that the rapid expansion of data centers supports Thailand's economic development without compromising the country's energy security, natural resource management, or national data security.

She said the government recognizes the need for clear policies and guidelines to govern the industry, particularly in relation to the use of electricity, water, land, and environmental resources.

The establishment of the committee aligns with the government's policy of strengthening Thailand's economic and social potential through the digital economy. As part of this strategy, the investment promotion framework will be adjusted to facilitate economic restructuring toward target industries, particularly data centers, which are considered a key industry of the future and have attracted strong interest from foreign investors.

The committee will be chaired by a deputy prime minister appointed by the prime minister. The Minister of Digital Economy and Society, the Minister of Interior, and the Minister of Energy will serve as the first, second, and third vice-chairpersons, respectively.

Its members will include 12 ex-officio officials, including the permanent secretaries of the ministries of Finance, Agriculture and Cooperatives, Natural Resources and Environment, Energy, and Interior, as well as the secretary-general of the National Water Resources Office and the director of the Energy Policy and Planning Office. The prime minister may also appoint up to three qualified members.

According to Rachada, the committee will be responsible for proposing policies, standards, and guidelines for government agencies involved in approving, licensing, or providing services to data center operators in Thailand. It will also study, monitor, and assess the impact of data center operations and submit recommendations to the Cabinet.

The committee will focus on promoting the use of clean energy, safeguarding energy security, ensuring fair energy pricing, supporting the equitable and efficient allocation of water resources, improving the efficient use of electricity and water, strengthening urban planning and public safety—particularly fire prevention—enhancing national data security, minimizing environmental and community impacts, and supporting the country's carbon neutrality goals.

"The committee aims to improve the efficiency of public administration and provide greater clarity in advancing Thailand's digital economy, while ensuring that the growth of the data center industry does not adversely affect the country's energy security or the overall management of water resources," Rachada said.

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