Board of Investment (BOI) of Thailand defines a set of business activities that are eligible for investment promotion incentives. These incentives (like tax exemptions, import duty exemptions, and easier foreign ownership) are only available if your planned business activity appears on the BOI’s eligible list.
Eligible activities are grouped by business category, and each category has its own specific sub-activities that the BOI promotes. To qualify, a company must:
- Fall within one of the defined BOI business categories, and
- Perform at least one eligible activity under that category.
If your company does not perform an eligible activity, even in a qualifying industry, it cannot receive BOI promotion.
Main BOI Business Categories Grouped by Divisions (with Examples of Eligible Activities)
Divison 1: Agricultural, Food, Biotechnology, and Medical Industries
Example Eligible Industries
- Agricultural production and processing
- Smart farming systems and agricultural technology
- Agricultural machinery and equipment
- Seed development, plant breeding, and animal breeding
- Food processing and preservation
- Ready-to-eat and value-added food products
- Functional food, nutrition, and dietary supplements
- Halal and export-certified food manufacturing
- Biotechnology and bio-based products
- Bio-chemicals and fermentation-based products
- Bio-based plastics and materials
- Medical devices and medical equipment
- Diagnostic equipment and medical supplies
- Pharmaceutical and biologics manufacturing
- Medical laboratories and testing services
Divison 2: Machinery, Automotive, Electrical Appliances and Electronics industries
Example Eligible Industries
- Industrial machinery and production equipment
- CNC machines, precision tools, and machine components
- Automation systems, robotics, and mechatronics equipment
- Power transmission equipment (gearboxes, reducers, bearings)
- Automotive manufacturing and assembly
- Automotive parts and components (OEM and Tier 1–3 suppliers)
- Electric vehicles (EV) and EV components (motors, batteries, power electronics)
- Railway systems, rolling stock parts, and signaling equipment
- Aerospace and aviation parts and components
- Electrical appliances and smart household appliances
- Electrical equipment and power control systems
- Electronic parts and components
- Semiconductors and integrated circuits
- Printed circuit boards (PCB)
- Industrial electronics and embedded systems
Division 3: Metal, Material, Chemical & Petrochemical Industries, and Public Utilities
Example Eligible Industries
- Iron and steel production
- Metal casting and foundry operations (cast iron, ductile iron, non-ferrous metals)
- Aluminum, copper, and alloy processing
- Specialty metals and advanced or engineered materials
- Powder metallurgy and metal forming processes
- Industrial chemicals and chemical intermediates
- Industrial gases
- Coatings, adhesives, and surface treatment chemicals
- Petrochemical downstream products
- Plastic resins and engineered plastics
- Synthetic rubber and polymer-based products
- Packaging materials and plastic components
- Electricity generation and distribution (including renewable energy)
- Energy storage systems and smart grid infrastructure
- Water production, treatment, and distribution systems
- Waste management, recycling, and environmental treatment systems
- Industrial utility systems supporting factories or industrial estates
Division 4: Digital, Creative Industries and High Value Services
Example Eligible Industries
- Software development and application services
- Digital platforms, SaaS, and e-commerce systems
- Data centers and cloud computing services
- Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and advanced analytics
- Internet of Things (IoT) and smart system solutions
- Cybersecurity and digital infrastructure services
- Research and development (R&D) centers
- Engineering design, testing, and technical service centers
- Product design, prototyping, and innovation services
- Digital content creation, animation, and visual effects
- Game development and interactive media
- Creative design and multimedia production
- Smart city systems and digital infrastructure projects
- Regional operating headquarters (ROH)
- International business centers and shared service centers
How This Helps Your BOI Application
When planning your BOI application, you need to:
- Identify the right BOI category for your business
- Match your core activities to the BOI’s eligible activities
- Write the project description to clearly show how the business meets BOI criteria
This alignment determines eligibility and the range of incentives you can obtain.
External link:
- Eligible Activities For Promotion By Business Categories https://www.boi.go.th/index.php?page=eligible_activities