Vol. 29 l No. 2 l February 2019 SMART ELECTRONICS A SMART INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY BOI Net Application 02 Company Interview 08 Mitsubishi Electric Consumer Products Cover Story 03 (Thailand): A Leading Global Producer of IoT: The Next Big thing Air-Conditioners and Smart Electronics in Smart Electronics News Bites 09 Industry Focus 05 Smart Electronics: BOI’s Missions 10 A Smart Investment Opportunity and Events Short Article 07 Thailand Economy 11 BOI Measures At-A-Glance to Support Growth in Tourism and Transport Sectors About BOI 12 BOI NET APPLICATION January - December 2018 FOREIGN INVESTMENT BY TARGET SECTORS Total Investment Digital Medical Petrochemicals 1,626 Projects 138 Projects 238.15 M 14 Projects 112.62 M and Chemicals 69 Projects 10,778.87 M 28,313.09 Million Automotive Agriculture and Electronics 108 Projects Biotechnology 78 Projects 628.89 M 2,369.39 M 35 Projects 272.34 M Total Foreign Automation Tourism Food Processing Investment and Robotics 10 Projects 442.10 M 29 Projects 193.72 M 1,040 Projects 3 Projects 4.21 M 18,290.68 Million Aerospace 2 Projects 203.77 M FOREIGN INVESTMENT Netherlands Japan BY MAJOR 69 Projects 334 Projects M ECONOMIES 264.08 M 2,336.45 United States 38 Projects France China 10,485.24 M 23 Projects 131 Projects Hong Kong 248.29 M 1,741.76 M 44 Projects 638.02 M Taiwan THAILAND 48 Projects 188.98 M Malaysia Singapore 35 Projects 102 Projects 520.22 M 699.69 M Indonesia 4 Projects 223.36 M Unit: US$ (US$ = 31.85 THB as of 21 January 2019) Note: Investment projects with foreign equity participation from more than one country are reported in the figures for both countries. Statistics on net applications are adjusted whenever applications are returned to applicants due to insufficient information. For more details, please see link http://www.boi.go.th/ newboi/index.php?page=Report_investment 02 Thailand Investment Review COVER STORY IOT: THE NEXT BIG THING IN SMART ELECTRONICS More than just a network of connected devices, the Internet of Things (IoT) has become a game changer in 21st century industry. As the technology enables physical devices and everyday objects to communicate, interact and exchange data over the Internet, they can be monitored and controlled from anywhere and at any time. With this disruptive function, the IoT has forced both producers and consumers to question the traditional concepts of products, services, and even business models. The disruption of the IoT are also crucial supporting features that company by introducing new product The increasing rate of smartphone take this technology to a whole new lines that embrace the IoT, including a subscriptions has provided the IoT with level by enabling customization of the set of smart blinds that can be opened greater opportunities to connect users user’s experience that is impossible and closed via wireless remote and voice and devices via the internet. Facilitating with connectivity alone. As just one command. Previously, Ikea also launched remote operation and data collection, example, an IoT integrated air conditioner its smart LED bulbs in 2017 with distinct this way of interaction between users, can now calculate a cooling schedule features offering remote controlling and smartphones, and devices has disrupted that optimizes energy efficiency while brightness adjustment of up to 10 wireless various industries in the past few years. maintaining the desired temperature LEDs. With the continued momentum of An obvious example would be the way thanks to embedded sensors and smart electronics, the company’s aim Uber converted old cars into connected remote control. is to reach “absolute convenience” vehicles that can be tracked, located, With industrial practices forever by expanding the integration of their and hired by users. disrupted, businesses are now integrating smart products with artificial intelligence While connectivity remains the this paradigm-shifting technology as devices, including the Apple Homekit, elemental foundation on which the IoT is a matter of survival. Ikea, for example, Alexa, and Google Assistant. built, computational power and sensors has repositioned itself as a smart home Thailand Investment Review 03 COVER STORY The rise of the IoT The future In response to the growing demands of development of IoT the consumer market, the cost of IoT With the imminent rise of IoT, the World products tumbles as more developers Economic Forum published a report enter the booming but increasingly earlier this year named Realizing the competitive market. Gartner, a global Internet of Things: A Framework for research and advisory company, predicted Collective Action. The report identified that 1 million IoT devices will be installed five essential pillars that will shape the hourly by 2021, while HP also forecast development of IoT: an 18% CAGR in machine-to-machine members to create an effective self- connections, reaching 27 billion by 2024. 1. Architecture and standards governance mechanism. In Thailand, it was estimated that the The report suggested that scalable, country’s IoT industry will reach a value future-proof and cost-effective architectural Offering the potential to make of Baht 33 billion by 2020, with research choices are important to the future of people’s daily lives safer, more efficient, showing that Thai enterprises lead the IoT, while it also indicated that reference and more convenient, the IoT is considered way across ASEAN in terms of developing architecture will help the IoT develop its to be a game-changing opportunity with and implementing IoT solutions. standards and best practices. the power to have a significant impact Even though electronics and the on businesses and society as a whole. smart home sectors have led the way 2. Security and privacy To ensure the sustainable growth of the in adopting the IoT, the technology is With issues and concern of cybersecurity IoT, concerns regarding security, trust, now expanding to create added value in being discussed widely in the past months, and transparency have to be addressed the sharing economy. On the streets of transparency and clarity in the data through constructive principles in order Beijing, for example, people no longer collecting policy of the IoT remain highly to eliminate unnecessary risks that may have to worry about where to park their relevant to its adoption rate. These hinder the growth of the industry in the bike or whether the bike will be stolen. challenges regarding public opinion on future. Companies like Ofo have adopted IoT IoT transparency have to be addressed In line with the Thailand 4.0 policy of technology to create a bike-sharing and assurances provided for its long- upgrading the country’s industry through service that enables users to hire a term success. innovation and digitization, the Thai registered bike near to their current government has implemented a number location. The application incorporates 3. Shared value creation of measures to address these issues and an integrated sensor system and online Budgetary and financial considerations facilitate the growth of the IoT industry. payment that allow users to scan, unlock, remain the constraints holding back IoT The Digital Agenda 2018 introduced and pay via the smartphones. This IoT investment in its early days. Overcoming by the Ministry of Digital Economy and integrated service has had an impact these challenges requires leadership and Society is designed to promote a digital that goes beyond just convenience. vision from businesses and governments. workforce and economy with a focus on The application can even calculate the smart cities and IoT development through calories each user has burned and the 4. Organizational development five key areas: digital infrastructure, digital carbon emission that each user has To enable full integration, the IoT requires government, digital manpower, cyber helped to reduce by using the bikes. a level of rethinking by businesses security and digital tech developments. that will promote widespread adoption The Ministry’s Smart Cities Framework within their organizations. The report also aims to achieve 77 smart cities across suggests that achieving this requires Thailand by 2023. Defined as being fully the compliance of three components: working and sustainably operational executive leadership, a realignment of urban environments that are managed incentives, and massive upskilling. through digital technologies, pilot smart cities are already being developed and 5. Ecosystem governance tested in certain provinces. To avoid issues among the key players, In the 21st century, it is no longer such as competing technology, competing enough to be connected. The growth vendors, or varying public opinion, the of the IoT means that every connection IoT ecosystem requires internal regulation is an opportunity to create a smarter and the collective attention of industry world. 04 Thailand Investment Review INDUSTRY FOCUS SMART ELECTRONICS: A SMART INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY On the back of seemingly relentless technological advancements, system continues to produce career- the electronics and IT industries have been experiencing a steady ready graduates, the Thai government growth in global production over the past few years. According has launched, among others, the “Work- to the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Integrated Learning Program” (WiL) Association (JEITA), it is estimated that the industry expanded by with the aim of supplying an additional 4% in 2018 to reach a value of USD 2,836.6 billion. 50,000 skilled workers to the industrial sector over the next five years. In line with the global growth in the the Observatory of Economic Complexity, electronics and IT industries, Asia with an export value worth USD 12 billion, Bright investment remains a strong base for electrical ICs accounted for 5.6% of Thailand’s opportunities and electronics (E&E) production, with total export value in 2017 with the main Smart electronic devices are increasingly China being the largest E&E producer export markets being China, Hong Kong, serving a variety of functions in modern globally.