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Thailand is looking to use the 2026 IMF–World Bank Group Annual Meetings to attract global investment, accelerate technology transfer and strengthen its position as a regional financial hub.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said the October 12-18 meetings would provide a major opportunity to connect global corporate leaders with Thai businesses and help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) join international supply chains.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Ekniti said the event could mark an economic turning point similar to the 1991 meetings, which helped attract manufacturing and export-oriented investment to Thailand.
He said the government wanted foreign direct investment to prioritise technology transfer in advanced fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) and integrate local suppliers into global production networks.
Thailand will host the annual meetings for the second time, 35 years after the previous gathering. It is one of only three countries, alongside Japan and Turkey, to have hosted the event twice among the 191 member countries.
The Thai government plans to focus discussions on geopolitical and trade tensions, workforce upskilling and economic resilience to climate-related disasters.
In cooperation with the World Bank, Thailand will promote initiatives on water management, the transition to clean energy and low-carbon cities to reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets.
A key initiative will be the launch of the “Bangkok Blueprint”, developed by Thailand’s Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Thailand and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The framework will draw on Thailand’s digital financial infrastructure, including the PromptPay payment system and the Paotang and Tung Ngern platforms, to promote secure and inclusive financial services.
Thailand will also share its experience in combating online scams, financial fraud, mule accounts and emerging threats such as deepfakes. AI-based tools, including the “Nok Krasip” feature on the Tung Ngern application, which helps small merchants analyse customer behaviour and improve sales, will also be highlighted.
Ekniti described the annual meetings as a “Financial Olympics”, bringing together global leaders, finance ministers, central bank governors and chief executives.
He said Thailand’s position as a neutral middle power could help it serve as a trusted connector between competing economic blocs amid growing geopolitical fragmentation.
Supported by its infrastructure and medical capabilities, Thailand aims to strengthen its position as a leading financial hub in Southeast Asia, while pursuing its ambition to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
The programme will also feature a special Royal Pavilion exhibition showcasing Thailand’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, royal water management projects and creative products from local SMEs. More than 15,000 delegates are expected to attend the meetings.
World Bank data cited in the report show that Thailand has created nearly 11 million formal jobs since 1991. GDP per capita rose from about 57,400 baht in 1991 to 261,800 baht in 2025, while the country’s total GDP reached approximately 18.75 trillion baht.
Net foreign direct investment stood at around 618.7 billion baht, equivalent to 3.3 per cent of GDP.
