[AI Boom Drives an 80% Surge in Thailand's Foreign Direct Investment Applications in the First Half of the Year] BlockBeats News, July 23: Driven by the investment boom in artificial intelligence and data center projects, foreign investors applied to invest 1.37 trillion Thai baht (approximately $40.6 billion) in Thailand in the first half of 2026, an 80% increase compared to the same period last year. Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary-General of the Thailand Board of Investment, stated that in the six months ending June 30, the board received a total of 1,299 domestic and foreign investment applications, with a total investment value of 1.47 trillion Thai baht, of which 877 were foreign direct investment projects. The digital sector alone accounted for 1.12 trillion Thai baht, exceeding three-quarters of the total application amount. These investment projects also indicate that while the Middle East war has driven up energy and other costs, it has not diminished Thailand's attractiveness.