BANGKOK – Thailand is stepping onto the world stage of next-generation photonics and advanced electronics as Lumentum, a U.S.-based photonics technology leader and one of NASDAQ’s fastest-growing players, announced a historic expansion that will transform the country into its Global Flagship Factory and a future center for innovation and talent development.
This strategic investment is expected to inject more than USD 30 billion into the Thai economy, strengthen supply chain resilience, and accelerate Thailand’s shift from a cost-competitive production base to a New S-Curve economy powered by innovation and high-value manufacturing.
4x Production Expansion and 30,000 New Jobs
Michael Hurlston, President & CEO of Lumentum, said the decision to expand in Thailand reflects confidence in the country’s workforce and industrial ecosystem. “Thailand is no longer just a cost-efficient manufacturing base, it’s an emerging strategic hub with world-class engineering talent built on decades of expertise in hard disk drives and electronics. This investment lays the foundation for Thailand to rise as Asia’s photonics powerhouse and a key engine of the digital economy in the next decade.”
Lumentum plans to quadruple production output in Thailand within two years to meet soaring global demand for optical components powering AI, data centers, and cloud infrastructure. The company has already expanded its workforce from 3,000 to over 6,000 employees in just nine months, targeting 11,000 jobs in the near term.
Kok Wai Hoo, Senior Vice President of Global Factory Operations, emphasized the economic multiplier effect. “Every single job at Lumentum creates another five jobs across the supply chain. Our growth alone can generate more than 30,000 new employment opportunities in Thailand.”
Building a Complete Photonics and PCB Ecosystem with THPCA’s Support
A key differentiator of this investment is the development of a fully integrated photonics and PCB/PCBA ecosystem in Thailand — from upstream material suppliers to downstream high-precision assembly — creating opportunities for local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The Thailand Printed Circuit Association (THPCA) has played a pivotal role in facilitating this transformation. As the country’s leading organization for printed circuit and electronics manufacturing, THPCA has been actively coordinating with Lumentum, the Board of Investment (BOI), and Thai universities to align talent development programs with global standards.
Mr. Phuthana Daoruang, General Manager of THPCA, noted that the association has been closely working with Lumentum and government partners to help build a sustainable workforce pipeline for the industry. “THPCA’s mission is to connect global technology leaders with Thailand’s existing electronics expertise and ensure our engineers and SMEs can move up the value chain. Lumentum’s arrival will accelerate the country’s shift from low-cost assembly to high-value photonics and advanced PCB manufacturing.”
THPCA’s support includes co-developing specialized training roadmaps, hosting knowledge-sharing sessions, and connecting world-class suppliers with Thai manufacturers to expand their capabilities in optical components, PCBA, and advanced manufacturing technologies.
Public-Private-Academia Collaboration to Solve Talent Shortage
To address the critical shortage of photonics and high-tech engineers, Lumentum is driving a tripartite collaboration among industry, government, and academia. The company is partnering with Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI), the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), Thailand Printed Circuit Association (THPCA) and leading universities to establish tailored photonics and laser engineering programs and practical training at the new Lumentum Photonics Lab.
Michael Hurlston stressed that “We’re not just building factories — we’re building a learning and innovation infrastructure to empower Thai engineers and researchers to thrive in the photonics era.”
By working alongside THPCA, this collaboration ensures that the Thai talent pipeline aligns not only with photonics innovation but also with the broader PCB and electronics supply chain — helping the country move up the value curve.
Positioning Thailand as Asia’s Next Innovation Hub
Industry analysts see this move as pivotal in creating Thailand’s next high-value S-Curve economy beyond traditional sectors like automotive and petrochemicals. The photonics industry offers significantly higher value per worker, enabling connections to semiconductors, EVs, AI-driven networks, smart energy, and defense applications.Dr. Prong Kongsubto, Senior Director and Chief of Staff & External Affairs at Lumentum, concluded that “If Thailand can build deep talent pools and R&D capacity in time, the country has the potential to become a Tier-1 Manufacturing & Innovation Hub in the global photonics market worth hundreds of billions of dollars.”