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Ethereum is poised to overtake Bitcoin as the trendy digital asset in the fourth quarter, supported by strong inflows into Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and rising adoption among private companies, says digital asset fund manager Orbix Invest.

Orbix Invest, a licensed fund manager regulated by the Finance Ministry and the Securities and Exchange Commission, said Ethereum is emerging as the market driver in place of Bitcoin, which has long dominated the crypto space.

“Investment flows into Ethereum ETFs remain strong, while those for Bitcoin have begun to slow. Corporations are increasingly adding Ethereum to their balance sheets, treating it as an alternative store of value similar to gold or the US dollar in the past,” said managing director Tanapoom Damraks.

According to Mr Tanapoom, Ethereum is finding broader applications across the digital economy. The cryptocurrency underpins decentralised finance (DeFi), online payment systems, and the tokenisation of real-world assets such as bonds and property, developments that make the assets easier to trade and invest in digitally.

Under favourable economic conditions and sustained capital inflows, the firm estimated Ethereum’s price could climb to US$6,000-8,000 by year-end. However, investors must monitor global macroeconomic factors, particularly US interest rates, inflation and market liquidity, as these “directly influence demand for risk assets”, he said.

For investment strategies, Orbix recommends balancing return opportunities with risk management by diversifying into utility-driven altcoins, especially those linked to DeFi and institutional-grade infrastructure.

“Ethereum continues to enjoy structural support, but Bitcoin remains essential as the primary digital asset and a benchmark for market liquidity,” Mr Tanapoom noted. “A balanced allocation across both assets is critical for long-term portfolio stability.”

Looking forward, Orbix anticipates digital assets are entering a “structural adoption phase” driven by three forces, with the first the growth of stablecoins and tokenised real-world assets.

Second, clearer regulations are being introduced, including the proposed US Stablecoins Act, which could boost institutional confidence. The final driver is rapid technological progress, including Ethereum Layer 2 solutions and Solana blockchain, which lowers costs and improves scalability.

“These trends signal a new era for digital assets where Ethereum could stand at the centre of a rapidly evolving financial system,” he said.

What I am covering today is a sensitive issue that all economic research houses, both government and private, avoid talking about. That is the economic impact of the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.

These research houses widely analysed the impact of Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs on Thai exports and GDP, but chose to be mute on the Thai-Cambodia trade impact.

Surely, readers understand why the issue is sensitive. Because it involves national sovereignty and pride. Whoever dares criticise the issue would immediately be accused of treachery. Therefore, no Thai economists will mention that the trade surplus with Cambodia is about 1.5% of GDP or about 280 billion baht. Loosing such a surplus, Thai GDP growth could be 1.5% lower.

The closure of the border has already taken its toll. Thai exports to Cambodia (in value) dropped 26.6% in July and 28.5% in August, while imports from Cambodia were more than 50% lower.

Those who argue that only big businesses are suffering from the trade loss forget the fact that big businesses employ workers to produce products and source supplies and services from SMEs. No one can escape the economic impact.

The less than 30% drop in export volume, despite the closure of borders starting at the end of June, clearly indicates that the closure order is only partially effective in stopping trade flow. This raises the question as to whether there is a more effective means.

Readers might think that I must suggest reopening the borders to allow the free flow of goods as economic well-being is more important than sovereignty. Wrong. If Thailand has to lose 1.5% of GDP, so be it. I’m as patriotic as the next Thai, but I want a more effective means to retaliate against Cambodian aggression.

May I suggest an option to keep our trade surplus and have Cambodians learn expensive lessons for meddling with Thai sovereignty? This option is to tax both the import of goods from Cambodia and exports to Cambodia.

A 19% tariff should be imposed on imports from Cambodia and a 5% tariff should be imposed for exports. I will use the 2024 figures as the basis for an explanation. Please do not be quick to think that imposing import and export taxes is not possible under the Asean Free Trade Agreement. Remember, if there is a will, there is a way.

The loophole is that these 19% and 5% charges are not import and export taxes. Instead, they are fees for import/export permits. Those who want to import from and export to Cambodia must obtain special permits. The fee for the permit would be 19% of import value and 5% of export value. I would think requiring fees for permits do not violate free trade rules.

Another loophole is the “special VAT” on goods to and from Cambodia. Indonesia has two VAT rates — one for the import of luxury good and one for import of non-luxury goods. I trust that the new finance minister is smart enough to find a suitable solution to taxing Cambodia without violation Asean trade rules.

Why the 19% and 5% rates? Well, 19% is the same as Mr Trump’s reciprocal tariff on Cambodian exports to the US. If Cambodia has no problem paying 19% to Mr Trump, they should have no problem paying 19% on their exports to Thailand.

Based on 2024 trade data, our exports to Cambodia are 7.5 times larger than our imports, which is the reason for the large trade surplus with that country. Therefore, it is in our interests to keep this export flow high. The imposed 5% rate should be small enough to keep our products competitive in the Cambodian market but big enough to remind Cambodian consumers there is a price to pay if their government continues the border dispute with Thailand.

The fun part is the income from the export/import permit fees.

Again, based on 2024 figures, a 19% charge on Cambodian imports is about 8.2 billion baht and a 5% charge on exports to Cambodia is 16.2 billion baht. May I suggest that the 8.2 billion baht be used exclusively to build a permanent border fence? They caused the dispute and they can pay us to build that expensive fence.

It is estimated that the cost of building a permanent fence along the 800-kilometre border is 12 billion baht. The Thai government might not have enough for the job. This is the perfect source of funding. Construction work could start as soon as Thailand starts collecting import permit fees.

The 16.2 billion baht in export permit fees can be used to better the welfare of affected Thai citizens living along the border, such as rebuilding schools, repairing roads, and upgrading hospitals. Also, the funds can be used to boost the morale of the soldiers protecting our land.

Another advantage to reopening the border with fees is that Thailand Plus One, the regional supply chain programme, can work again. Companies in the programme would not only be able to secure necessary supplies from Cambodia, but also might be able to get a rebate on import permit fees. This will keep their costs unchanged. The Plus One programme is beneficial to the Thai economy as final products would be assembled in Thailand.

Cambodia would not like these permit fees, especially the fact the money will be utilised to build the fence to prevent them from encroaching on Thai soil. But what choice do they have?

They would have to find new markets to replace 48.5 billion baht of exports to Thailand. If they cannot, regardless of what their leaders say, the people of Cambodia will suffer.

Trying to replace Thai imports to save the 5% permit fee might prove to be counter-productive. Thai exporters can easily bear the burden of the price hike to maintain their market share in Cambodia. I think the quality of Thai products and business ties would override the incentives to find new suppliers.

The decision is then with Thailand. It is a great feeling to be in control of the game.

The first option is to keep the border closed and risk losing the 1.5% of GDP trade surplus. It is not an effective means to control product flow as 70% of Thai exports still leak into Cambodia and 50% of Cambodian products still reach the Thai market.

By the way, the 1.5% of GDP trade surplus is equivalent to more than 1 million jobs.

The second option is reopening the borders and collecting permit fees. The plus is that Thailand would have a free wall to prevent Cambodia bothering us for years to come, not to mention better welfare for affected citizens and soldiers serving our country.

My suggestions might not be to everyone’s liking. Please give them a thought. It is always nice to have options.

Sukhothai’s Old Town has been awarded the Green Destinations Gold Award 2025 at the Green Destinations international event in France.

The event has been held from Sept 28 to Oct 2 in Montpellier. The recognition makes Sukhothai the second Thai site to receive the award, following Nan Old Town’s award last year, said Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, director of the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Dasta).

“This success shows how sustainable tourism can protect heritage and strengthen local communities,” he said. Since 2019, Sukhothai has applied the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria in its management, Mr Siripakorn said, adding the Green Destinations panel highlighted excellence in four areas: culture and tradition, social well-being, destination management, and business communication. Sukhothai scored a perfect 10 in culture and tradition, reflecting its Unesco World Heritage status and its role in sustaining local livelihoods.

Thailand also celebrated 10 listings in the Green Destinations Top 100 Stories Awards 2025. The 10 awardees are Chakngeaw Chinese Village in Chon Buri; Chiang Khan community in Loei; Koh Chang in Trat; Koh Lanta in Krabi; Kui Buri National Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan; Nan Old Town; Na Kluea community in Chon Buri; Royal Park Rajapruek in Chiang Mai; Tha Chai-Si Satchanalai in Sukhothai; and Uthai Thani Old Town.

Neramit Songsaeng, chief of Mu Koh Chang National Park, said the recognition would boost interest in the island’s biodiversity and natural heritage. “Preparing for almost two years to achieve this recognition has been worthwhile. Our next goal is to compete for a Gold Award,” he said. Acting Sub Lt Korakot Opas, Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Trat office director, added Koh Chang’s listing would elevate the province’s image.

Public confusion and registration system glitches beset the launch of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s “No Mixed Waste” programme that took effect yesterday.

While the programme, which aims to cut back city waste through new collection fees, is noble, the blunder suggests the BMA is not doing enough.

Under the programme, city dwellers or those producing less than 20 litres of garbage a day, are required to follow waste collection guidelines, registering through the “BKK Waste Pay” app.

They must prove that they are sorting garbage as required in exchange for a monthly collection fee discount: 20 baht or two-thirds less from the new 60-baht fee. BMA has also introduced a tiered fee structure for restaurants and shopping malls.

City residents who do not participate, however, will have to pay the full fee. They cannot reapply for the lower rate after six months.

Every six months, each household has to prove they are still sorting waste as recommended to remain eligible for the programme.

Apparently, the programme has met a lukewarm response from city residents. Some 230,000 households registered with the system as of Sept 4, which is a disappointing figure given the city’s population.

There were reports that at least one district in Thon Buri experienced an online registration system crash on Sept 30, just one day before the programme launch.

Phasi Charoen district office said it required two days to fix the system, which astounded residents. After all, it’s not their fault that they couldn’t register for the scheme in time.

The BMA FB page put up a poster reminding people of the programme on Sept 30 but netizens asking questions were left unanswered.

More importantly, some city residents still have no clue what to do after they separate the waste into four types recommended (food waste, recyclable waste, e-waste, and general waste).

They cannot distinguish among various types of recyclable waste, or types of waste which are hard to recycle, known as “orphan waste”. Some are unsure if they have to acquire colour-coded bins.

Needless to say, the BMA needs to improve its PR campaign for such a programme to be a success.

The programme is indeed noble given the objective of reducing waste in a city that creates an enormous amount of it, more than 12.7 tonnes per day as of 2023. It just requires improvement in terms of the practical measures.

The BMA and its district offices need to include communities more, with regard to waste collection spots for each type of waste.

It should consider providing incentives for community groups or members who pitch in with waste collection efforts.

With regard to e-waste, it’s apparent few residents are aware of its impact on health and the environment, if it is not properly treated. Although the BMA has said it would designate collection spots for this type of waste, they are not to be found anywhere so far. Some department stores and education outlets have provided special bins for this type of waste in the past but on a tiny scale.

Waste management is more than trash collecting: it is about good management and collaboration. The BMA, rather than doing it alone, has to seek partners to help it in this uphill task.

The Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) has inaugurated a multimodal transport project at Ranong Port, creating a freight transport route connecting China, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and South Asian countries via the west coast of southern Thailand.

A recent ceremony marked the launch of the inaugural shipment to Yangon Port in Myanmar, helping elevate Ranong Port’s role as a central maritime trade hub on Thailand’s Andaman coast and linking regional economic networks, said Kriengkrai Chaisiriwongsuk, the PAT director-general.

The ceremony was held to promote a multimodal freight transport route that integrates trucking, rail and maritime shipping.

Ranong Port serves as a strategic hub, expanding trade and investment opportunities across the Asean and South Asian regions. The project also aims to build confidence among customers, operators, international freight forwarders and shipping lines, he said.

Mr Kriengkrai said freight transport from Ranong will take just three days to reach Yangon Port in Myanmar, four days to Chittagong in Bangladesh, and six days to both Chennai in India and Colombo in Sri Lanka.

Previously, these journeys took 14-21 days. This demonstrates the potential to significantly reduce both transit time and transport costs, providing a competitive advantage for Thai and international operators alike.

‘Ranong Port is the only government-operated port located on the Andaman coast and serves as Thailand’s gateway to the Bimstec countries: Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan,’ he said.

Bimstec stands for Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.

He said the launch not only creates new economic opportunities but also demonstrates the PAT’s commitment to developing Ranong Port into a modern, transparent and sustainable trade and transport hub.

Mr Kriengkrai said the project has received strong support from Thai Transport Centre Co, together with business partners including SCG JWD Logistics Plc, Ever Flow River Group Plc from Myanmar and SPT Smart Creation Co.

Situated in a strategic position on Thailand’s Andaman coast, Ranong Port currently has the capacity to handle both containerised and general cargo.

Ranong has also been touted as the western terminus of the controversial southern Land Bridge project, linked to Chumphon on the Gulf of Thailand by a new land transport corridor.

Control Data (Thailand) Limited has been entrusted by the Government of the Maldives to serve as a consultant for the design of the Civil Registration, Vital Statistics, and Identity Management (CRVSID) system under the ‘Digital Maldives for Adaptation, Decentralisation, and Diversification (D’MADD)’ project. The initiative aims to transform citizen identity verification by making it secure, transparent, and equally accessible. The project will propel this geographically challenged nation towards a milestone on its path to becoming a digital country in line with international standards.

As part of the CDG Group, Control Data (Thailand) continues to strengthen its leadership role in Thai technology on the global stage. Having earned the trust of the Maldivian government, the company has designed and set the technological standards for the CRVSID system under the D’MADD project, with the objective of enhancing public services into a secure, internationally recognised platform. This project will play a pivotal role in reshaping the Maldives, moving from unequal access to government services to becoming a digital nation where citizens can access services equally and transparently, fully aligned with ICAO standards and recognised worldwide.

Mr Thaweesak Ninwatcharamanee, President of Control Data (Thailand) Limited, said:

‘The Maldives, comprising more than 1,000 islands, is currently facing challenges in ensuring equal access to government services due to fragmented population registry data and the absence of a unified system. This has led to limitations in management and policy-making, particularly for citizens living in remote areas or in vulnerable conditions who frequently face barriers to registration. Factors such as economic constraints, limited educational opportunities, and lack of awareness of fundamental rights have prevented many from accessing essential services such as healthcare, education, and social welfare, as they often lack complete legal documentation.’

The introduction of the new population registry and digital identification system will significantly enhance convenience through seamless integration with existing platforms. It will ensure smooth and secure identity verification for citizens accessing government e-services, such as tax filing and permit applications, supported by an updated database. This system will also cover the registration of births, deaths, and changes of residence, thereby providing an accurate population count. Such data is essential for developing targeted policies in key areas such as education, public health, labour management, and disaster response. Ultimately, the initiative will drive the government towards data-driven policymaking, reflecting three core values:

Equity: Citizens across all islands will have equal rights to access government services, reducing geographical disparities that have long posed barriers.

Transparency: A centralised population database shared across government agencies will eliminate duplication and strengthen accountability in public administration.

Trust: Compliance with ICAO standards, combined with biometric technologies and advanced data protection systems, will ensure citizens’ personal information is safeguarded in line with international standards.

What Control Data (Thailand) has initiated is not merely the development of a new system for the Maldives, but a transformative step in population registry and digital identification aligned with ICAO standards. This advancement enables secure identity verification and integration with global systems such as e-passports and e-KYC platforms in the financial sector. It marks a significant milestone, demonstrating how the Maldives can leverage technology to enhance the quality of life for its citizens.

‘This project is a crucial turning point for us, enabling our involvement in developing the national population registry to meet international digital standards. Our role extends from providing consultancy on the most suitable system architecture-whether software-based solutions or flexible platforms adaptable to local workforce capacity-to preparing the System Requirement Specifications (SRS). This transition will elevate the Maldives from a paper-based bureaucracy to a practical digital standard, while building trust across all sectors. It reflects the CDG Group’s guiding principle of ‘Technology for a Better Society,’ delivering genuine value to the people,’ concluded Mr Thaweesak.

Property developer Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Ltd (MQDC) plans to generate residential projects for the over-50s in the mid- to lower-income segment, following a luxury project this year.

Thippaporn Ahriyavraromp, founder of MQDC, said the company had laid out a 10-year plan for developing residential projects for the elderly, starting with The Aspen Tree at The Forestias as its first project.

“Now is the time to embark on this plan,” she said. “We began with a luxury project as it provides resources for research, marketing, and creating the best model.”

Once the model is proven, MQDC plans to expand into the broader mid- and low-income segments, ultimately developing a social enterprise that brings together seniors and orphans, said Ms Thippaporn.

MQDC launched The Aspen Tree yesterday, a residential project designed as a holistic environment for independent living, targeting people aged over 50.

The project is equipped with flexible options for both sale and long-term rental to meet varying customer needs.

The Aspen Tree features 250 condos sized 82-120 square metres and 40 villas sized 183-201 sq m, along with a health and brain centre for seniors.

The average selling price is 360,000 baht per sq m, while rents start at 167,000 baht per month.

The Forestias is a mixed-use development spanning 398 rai on Bang Na-Trat KM7 Road, in Samut Prakan, comprising residential, commercial, and recreational components, including condos, villas, retail spaces, offices, a boutique hotel, and community facilities.

“The Forestias is designed to connect multiple generations within a single community, allowing residents to care for one another. With increasing life expectancy, it is now possible for up to four generations to live together,” Ms Thippaporn said.

The Forestias comprises Mulberry Grove, a cluster home project for large families; The Aspen Tree for single families or couples without children; and Whizdom, high-rise condos for younger generations.

“We believe separating seniors weakens their health compared with living in a family setting, while research shows children without grandparents at home perform worse academically, struggle in their careers, and face higher divorce rates,” said Ms Thippaporn.

Thailand is working to expand its domestic cryptocurrency exchange-traded fund plans beyond Bitcoin to include other digital tokens, with the rollout expected early next year, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The SEC and other agencies are drafting rules for new exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that could be offered by local mutual funds and institutions, secretary-general Pornanong Budsaratragoon said, elaborating on plans announced earlier this year.

‘Our possibility now is to broaden the criteria for the crypto, such as a basket of cryptocurrencies,’ Ms Pornanong said in an interview on Wednesday. ‘We want to have broader supply of those crypto assets in the ETFs.’

Thailand has been accelerating its push to become a regional crypto hub, rolling out policies to make tokenised products part of mainstream investment choices.

Like other regional markets exploring the digital space, the move could attract younger participants, especially as the stock market is down 7.6% this year. These efforts would come with new risks, however, and the SEC is seeking to upgrade its oversight powers.

Currently, Thai investors can gain crypto exposure by buying tokens directly or putting money into funds managed by licensed asset management companies that invest only in overseas cryptocurrency ETFs. The new initiative would go beyond those limitations.

‘Some investors, especially young people, prefer to have exposure in cryptocurrencies in their portfolios as a way to diversify,’ Ms Pornanong said. ‘One of our main tasks is to facilitate’ that demand.

Crypto momentum has picked up across Thailand’s financial markets. Major players such as Binance and Kasikornbank are targeting growth in the sector. Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra remains one of the country’s vocal crypto advocates.

The expansion of Thailand’s digital asset space coincides with the SEC’s push for a bill to broaden oversight powers. The proposal would allow the regulator to order companies to suspend major transactions if financial irregularities are found.

It would also empower the SEC to investigate market-impacting cases such as insider trading, rather than relying solely on limited police resources.

The bill has cleared initial screening by legal advisers to the government, and the SEC is in talks with the new administration to accelerate parliamentary approval, Ms Pornanong said.

‘Speedy enforcement against wrongdoers will definitely revive confidence in our oversight of the capital markets,’ she said.

Thailand ranks 24th in this year’s Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) mixed ratings, with a high score in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, medium in energy use, low in climate policy, and very low in renewable energy.

Thailand’s Taxonomy Phase 2, which is now open for public consultation, focuses on defining sustainable economic activities in the agriculture, real estate, manufacturing, and waste management sectors. This taxonomy guides businesses and governments in aligning with both international and Thai environmental standards, promoting green finance and investment.

This comes amid a growing partnership between Thailand and Australia over climate change initiatives.

Among successful green transition efforts, Australia has been one of the most progressive countries in driving the green economy forward following policy changes in 2023.

“The transition to renewable energy is accelerating, especially in South Australia, which by 2027 will generate all of its electricity from renewable sources, backed by large-scale battery storage,” said Australian Ambassador to Thailand Angela Macdonald.

At the national level, Australia has legislated a target of reducing emissions by 43% by 2030 compared to current levels, and has recently announced a more ambitious target of 62-70% by 2035.

“With a vast landmass, the driest continent on Earth, Australia has been tackling the effects of climate change — water scarcity, air quality challenges — very clearly,” Ms Macdonald told participants at the Talk Stage at the Sustainability Expo 2025 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center on Wednesday.

“Thailand, while smaller geographically, has a much larger population and is part of Asean, our regional neighbourhood. The challenges we face — plastics in the oceans, PM2.5 pollution, emissions, flooding — are not confined to one country. They are regional and global,” she said.

“Collaboration with Thailand and Asean will help us navigate these issues and address them together.”

Australia’s contributions to Thailand’s decarbonisation efforts are being implemented through the Mekong-Australia Partnership.

Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is also collaborating with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand to enhance electricity grid stability.

“That’s just one government-level collaboration. At the same time, many Australian businesses are bringing commercial solutions in energy and green innovation,” Ms Macdonald said.

Australia-Thailand collaborations extend across multiple initiatives, including Bangkok’s Makkasan Park, the Indo-Pacific Plastics Innovation Network and advancements in battery technology, green hydrogen, and pumped hydro energy storage.

Less than one-third of data centres in Thailand possess the advanced capabilities necessary to support artificial intelligence (AI) workloads, creating a critical urgency for Thai organisations to upgrade their IT infrastructure.

Meeting these rising demands is essential for Thailand to secure its position as a leading AI hub in the region, according to Cisco Systems (Thailand).

“AI workloads are placing unprecedented demands on Thailand’s data centres, with most facilities not yet fully optimised for AI,” said Weera Areeratanasak, managing director of Cisco Thailand and Myanmar.

According to Cisco’s 2025 Networking Report, IT leaders in Thailand found that about 28% of data centres in Thailand say they are ready to fully utilise AI.

By 2027, the country aims to triple its data centre capacity from 350 megawatts (MW) in 2024 to 1 gigawatt (GW), backed by a US$6.5-billion infrastructure push.

Organisations in Thailand need to reimagine how they architect, scale, and secure their infrastructure to meet AI demands, the report says.

There is also growing expectation to leverage AI’s potential, with all companies surveyed in Cisco’s 2024 AI Readiness Index reporting an urgency to adopt and deploy AI over the past year.

However, AI introduces new challenges — driving greater complexity, putting pressure on existing infrastructure and creating a trust deficit.

“Technology is evolving faster than before and organisations in Thailand have a short runway to put the secure, critical infrastructure needed for AI in place,” said Mr Weera.

To address these challenges, Cisco is moving from a “best-of-breed” approach to an integrated “platform” approach.

The platform approach combines networking, security, and observability into a single, unified platform to provide comprehensive visibility and control.

Cisco’s strategy focusses on three key areas.

First, it supports data centres to be AI-ready. Readiness would not only support AI workloads but also leverage AI to automate and simplify data centre operations.

Its standout initiative in this area is the Secure AI Factory solution, created in collaboration with Nvidia, which delivers a certified, secure, and ready-to-deploy AI data centre design.

Second, Cisco is enabling a future-proof workplace by supporting secure hybrid and remote work environments.

Finally, it enhances organisations’ digital resilience in recognising that IT is now a core part of business operations to help organisations mitigate risk and maintain continuity during disruptions.

By integrating data from across the network, security, and applications, organisations will have end-to-end visibility, enhanced resilience, and the agility needed to embrace new technologies such as AI, helping clients maximise value, streamline management, and accelerate innovation.

In the past year, Cisco demonstrated strong AI momentum, recording more than $2 billion in AI infrastructure orders in the 2025 fiscal year, more than double the original $1-billion target.

“AI is emerging as a significant growth driver for Thailand’s digital economy,” said Mr Weera.

However, a gap remains between businesses’ ambitions and their readiness for AI.

To truly capitalise on this technology, governments need to establish the right governance and policy frameworks, investing in skills and infrastructure, addressing regulatory and privacy concerns, and ensuring that businesses have the appropriate tools and expertise to leverage AI effectively.

Mr Weera said considering the total cost of ownership when investing in AI over the long term, rather than just upfront costs, is critical to sustainable AI adoption and maximising return on investment.

To address cost concerns, Cisco developed tailored solutions covering everything from silicon to full AI systems, including networking, compute, optics, data centre interconnect, security, and observability.

Organisations can choose validated full-stack solutions with integrated management or select individual components to build a custom stack.