The Industry Ministry is expected to submit new investment incentives for the robotics sector in the coming weeks, expecting to attract at least 10 billion baht in new investment over the next several years.
Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana said the new investment package would cover excise tax cuts to let investors import some raw materials that cannot be made in Thailand and help to more affordably produce and use robotics.
The package is part of plans to gradually encourage Thai industries to switch to robotics and automation to cut labour costs and increase accuracy, productivity and production capacity in the long run.
"We are working with the Excise Department on the excise tax cut issue to see which rate would be appropriate to sufficiently attract investors," Mr Uttama said, adding that the tax cut would be an additional incentive on top of what investors will be granted by the Board of Investment (BoI).
The robotics sector is one of the S-curve industries that the government is supporting to help push the Thailand 4.0 scheme, for which all industries are expected to apply robotics and automation systems in their production lines, Mr Uttama said.
S-curve investment covers 10 targeted industries: next-generation cars; smart electronics; affluent, medical and wellness tourism; agriculture and biotechnology; food; robotics for industry; logistics and aviation; biofuels and biochemical; digital; and medical services.
The 10 targeted industries will be steered to the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), which spans more than 30,000 rai in the eastern provinces of Rayong, Chon Buri and Chachoengsao.
Mr Uttama said the government also opted for another incentive to extend work permits and visas to foreign experts in high-tech industries, particularly the robotics sector.
This is part of plans to transfer foreign expertise to Thai companies, he said.
There are foreign robotic companies, mostly producers of parts and components for robots, that have expressed interest in investing in Thailand, he said.
"Eight or nine companies, mostly from Europe and Japan, have said they are ready to invest in Thailand, particularly in the EEC, with new investment value worth up to 10 billion baht over the next several years," Mr Uttama said.
He said Thai companies are also keen to invest in robotics.
SET-listed Delta Electronics Thailand Plc, a maker of electronic components, is waiting to see a clearer policy on investment incentives before moving forward, said Anusorn Muttaraid, the company's executive director.