Once known primarily for its temples and mountains, Chiang Mai is now a dynamic hub for startups, creatives, and wellness ventures in Southeast Asia.
With 40% lower costs vs Bangkok (office space, labor, living) and ranked #3 startup ecosystem in Thailand, Chiang Mai is home to innovation zones in med-tech, agri-tech, and digital as well as a hotspot for digital nomads and remote teams.
Designated by UNESCO as a Creative City for Crafts & Folk Art, Chiang Mai attracts over 10M+ tourists annually - ideal for hospitality, wellness, and retail.
Fun fact: With 20+ international schools and strong expat infrastructure, it's increasingly favored by global talent and families.
In just two days this week, with the help of our Austrian Honorary Consul Nikolaus Prachensky and the team of ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA Thailand, our Austrian Commercial Counsellor, Michael Friedl, met with:
- Austrian investors and entrepreneurs already planting roots here
- An Austrian bamboo architect/designer reshaping sustainable spaces
- The Vice Governor of Chiang Mai and his team
- The Provincial Administrative Organization
- The Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce
- H.E. Jiraporn Sindhuprai, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office
- And the passionate team at the Creative Economy Agency
Chiang Mai is more than temples and trekking - it's becoming a serious hub for innovation, with a collaborative mindset and a clear appetite for international partnership.
For Austrian companies, there’s real potential here - especially in sectors where Austria brings world-class expertise: smart infrastructure, clean technology, healthcare innovation, and sustainable design.
With 40% lower costs vs Bangkok (office space, labor, living) and ranked #3 startup ecosystem in Thailand, Chiang Mai is home to innovation zones in med-tech, agri-tech, and digital as well as a hotspot for digital nomads and remote teams.
Designated by UNESCO as a Creative City for Crafts & Folk Art, Chiang Mai attracts over 10M+ tourists annually - ideal for hospitality, wellness, and retail.
Fun fact: With 20+ international schools and strong expat infrastructure, it's increasingly favored by global talent and families.
In just two days this week, with the help of our Austrian Honorary Consul Nikolaus Prachensky and the team of ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA Thailand, our Austrian Commercial Counsellor, Michael Friedl, met with:
- Austrian investors and entrepreneurs already planting roots here
- An Austrian bamboo architect/designer reshaping sustainable spaces
- The Vice Governor of Chiang Mai and his team
- The Provincial Administrative Organization
- The Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce
- H.E. Jiraporn Sindhuprai, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office
- And the passionate team at the Creative Economy Agency
Chiang Mai is more than temples and trekking - it's becoming a serious hub for innovation, with a collaborative mindset and a clear appetite for international partnership.
For Austrian companies, there’s real potential here - especially in sectors where Austria brings world-class expertise: smart infrastructure, clean technology, healthcare innovation, and sustainable design.
