Robotics & Physical AI▲2
BOI roadshow in Korea draws Hyundai, T-Robotics and COSMAX into chips and robotics
The Board of Investment traveled to Seoul on September 28-29, 2026, to discuss investment plans with three leading South Korean companies: Hyundai, T-Robotics and COSMAX, and to hold talks with the Federation of Korean Industries, or FKI, on expanding investment cooperation between the two countries. BOI Secretary-General Narit Therdsteerasukdi said the roadshow aims to attract new investment and to build on the investments of South Korean companies already based in Thailand, moving them toward higher value-added activities including research and development, smart manufacturing and advanced technology. Hyundai Motor, which has received BOI promotion to build a battery electric vehicle and lithium-ion battery plant in Samut Prakan province and began actual production in May 2026, discussed ways to upgrade its investment toward advanced technology activities and to link Thai suppliers into its supply chain. T-Robotics, a South Korean industrial robotics specialist and a key partner of Applied Materials, was invited to invest in Thailand to serve the semiconductor and advanced electronics industries, and the company is interested in supporting a high-skilled workforce development program known as Skill Bridge. COSMAX, which researches, develops and manufactures cosmetics for leading global brands and has invested in Thailand since 2018, is investing an additional more than 1.8 billion baht to build a new plant and expand capacity; it has already hired more than 500 Thai workers and plans to raise that to more than 700 next year. FKI said South Korean companies are focusing on expanding investment in three main areas: semiconductors, robotics or physical AI, and artificial intelligence data centers. South Korean investment in ASEAN has more than doubled since 2010 to about 10 billion US dollars a year. From 2021 through the first half of 2026, South Korea submitted 167 investment promotion applications in Thailand with a combined value of more than 65.9 billion baht, mostly in electronics and electrical appliances, machinery and automation systems, metal products and materials, and chemicals.
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005380.KO · Capital · Positive Hyundai discussed upgrading its BOI-promoted EV and lithium-ion battery investment in Thailand toward advanced technology and R&D.
117730.KQ · Capital · Positive T-Robotics was invited to invest in Thailand to serve semiconductor and advanced electronics industries and is interested in the Skill Bridge workforce program.
192820.KO · Capital · Positive COSMAX is investing an additional over 1.8 billion baht to build a new plant and expand capacity in Thailand.