HSBC Thailand is aiming to add 50 new Chinese corporate clients annually over the coming years as Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) into Thailand continues to accelerate.
Giorgio Gamba, chief executive and head of banking at HSBC Thailand, said Chinese investment across Southeast Asia and Thailand remains on a strong growth trajectory, with Thailand emerging as a major destination for sectors such as smart electronics, digital technology, data centres, artificial intelligence (AI), automotive manufacturing, auto parts, and clean energy.
The bank has onboarded several hundred Chinese corporate and institutional clients in recent years and expects momentum to continue amid rising cross-border investment activity.
To strengthen its position, HSBC Thailand recently launched the “China META Team”, a 17-member Mandarin-speaking specialist unit providing comprehensive support for Chinese businesses entering Thailand. The team offers relationship management, legal advisory, risk management, and a wide range of financial services tailored to investors.
HSBC has also introduced a dedicated US$4 billion sustainability and transition financing facility to support mainland Chinese companies expanding globally in sectors including clean energy, data centres, electric vehicles, and AI.
The bank plans to use the programme to further expand its lending portfolio in Thailand while growing related services such as transaction banking, trade finance, cash management, and risk management solutions.
Mr Gamba noted that competition for Chinese clients is intensifying among Thai banks, Chinese banks operating locally, and international financial institutions. He said success in attracting clients increasingly depends on delivering differentiated products and services that meet customer needs, rather than relying solely on financial strength.
According to HSBC Thailand, Chinese investment in Thailand has more than tripled since 2016, rising from US$16 billion to US$58 billion. Net realised Chinese FDI reached 412 billion baht over the past three years.
Thailand continues to position itself as a strategic gateway for Chinese companies expanding into Southeast Asia, while regional FDI flows remain resilient despite global trade uncertainties.
Thailand’s economy grew 2.8% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, supported in part by rising international investment activity. Meanwhile, applications for investment promotion submitted to Thailand’s Board of Investment exceeded 1 trillion baht during the first quarter, rising 2.4 times year-on-year, with data centres and cloud services accounting for 86% of total investment value amid growing demand for AI computing infrastructure.