Thailand hosts Bangkok Business Summit to drive ASEAN growth

Thailand's public and private sectors, in collaboration with the World Bank, held The Bangkok Business Summit 2026 under the theme ‘Reinvent Thailand, Resilient ASEAN’. The summit aimed to define a direction for elevating Thailand's economy and integrating its growth with the ASEAN region and the global economy.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas, highlighted three key outcomes: a shared goal between the state and private sectors to drive ASEAN growth, a consensus on collaborative problem-solving and implementation, and the need for a continuous platform for cooperation. The initiative seeks to transition proposals into action at three levels: global, regional, and national.

On a global scale, the summit serves as a precursor to Thailand hosting the IMF–World Bank Group Annual Meetings 2026, scheduled for October 12–18. Regionally, the focus is on strengthening government-to-government and business-to-business cooperation, including technology transfer and infrastructure connectivity. Nationally, the Joint Public and Private Sector Consultative Committee (JPPSCC) will drive progress through four pillars: investment and new economic engines, trade and community economy, human resource development, and public sector efficiency.