Taiwan's main industry group and its Thai counterpart signed four cooperation deals, pushing the two countries' business ties beyond traditional factory work into AI and digital tech — good news for Taiwanese tech exporters looking for a way into Southeast Asia.

• The deals cover smart health care, telecom and IT, smart cities, and smart vehicles.
• Trade between the two countries hit about $19 billion last year, and the first quarter of this year jumped almost 50% from a year earlier.
• One deal brings Taiwanese AI farming tools to Thailand, meant as a showcase for selling the technology across Southeast Asia.
• Another links Taiwan's electric bike group with Thailand's EV association to share parts, controllers, and battery technology.
• Taiwanese companies see Thailand as familiar ground because its culture and customs are close to home, which lowers the risk of setting up there.

Outlook: Expect more Taiwanese firms to use Thailand as their launch pad into Southeast Asia's AI, chip, and electric vehicle markets.