Thailand's economy faces simultaneous pressure: traditional industries (notably automotive) are declining, while new sectors (EVs, e-commerce, data centers) attract massive state investment yet retain far less capital domestically than official figures suggest and squeeze out Thai SMEs from their own markets. The Economic Development Commission proposes "renewing" rather than "replacing" old industries—upgrading them via tech integration and positioning medical devices as a nexus industry linking rubber, textiles, plastics, and auto parts. The EV transition exemplifies the problem: Chinese manufacturers import complete supply chains, undermining Thailand's component suppliers despite tax incentives requiring local offsetting production.