Ms. Chayawadee Chai-anant, the Assistant Governor of the Corporate Relations Group at the Bank of Thailand, emphasized the strong alignment between the EMEAP discussions and the core themes Thailand aims to advocate on the global stage. She stated "This year's discussions spanned key issues such as persistent global inflation, oil price volatility and its macroeconomic implications, and the rising influence of AI in the financial sector. Equally important were topics of shared concern among all participating countries, including fraud prevention and safe and inclusive digital finance. These are pressing challenges faced by economies across the region and tackling them requires collective action. The insights and outcomes from this forum form a solid foundation for shaping the direction and proposals Thailand will put forward to the international community at the upcoming global platform."
For this event, Thailand presented to the global community its two economic foundational pillars of "People-Centric Development" and "Safe and Inclusive Digital Finance". These two pillars are core to the nation's pursuit of sustainable and equitable economic growth, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life for all citizens.
Over the past decades, Thailand has made notable and tangible progress in empowering people to become more self-reliant. Key examples include the Village Fund program, which has strengthened grassroots economies; the Universal Healthcare Scheme (commonly known as "30 Baht Healthcare") that ensures equal access to medical services; and the integration of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy into daily life. These initiatives have been instrumental in supporting Thailand's economic development, helping to ensure more sustainable incomes and better quality of life for its people.
"We are now looking ahead to generating new sources of income that align with global trends," said Ms. Chayawadee. "This includes promoting high-value service sectors such as holistic wellness and medical tourism, which attract health-conscious travelers from around the world. At the same time, Thailand is positioning itself as the 'Kitchen of the World' by leveraging its strengths in agriculture, not only to export raw materials, but also to enhance value through food processing and branding. This strategy aims to create more stable and sustainable income for the country."
In parallel with its people-centric development agenda, Thailand also places strong emphasis on building a safe and inclusive digital finance ecosystem. While the success of PromptPay has significantly improved payment convenience and helped drive the digital economy forward, the broader access to digital financial services also brings heightened risks, including more complex cyber fraud and cross-border scams.
Ms. Chayawadee further stressed, "One of the major concerns in recent years has been how people can safely use the financial system to generate income. The key issues are protecting against fraud and deception which are the challenges that every EMEAP country is facing. That is why Thailand is championing 'Safe and Inclusive Digital Finance'. The BOT is committed to building a financial ecosystem that is both secure and accessible to all, helping reduce fraud risks and build public trust in digital transactions."
The recent EMEAP meeting marked a critical milestone where central banks in the region came together to chart a shared direction and deepen their understanding of common economic and financial challenges. The event also underscored Thailand's strong commitment to spearhead collaborative solutions. This momentum will be carried forward as the country prepares to host the IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings 2026, set to take place in October 2026.
As Thailand prepares to host the meeting, the BOT invites all Thai citizens to take part by staying informed and get involved in the upcoming events and activities through the following official channels:
- BOT's Facebook Page: Like and share to receive timely updates and join the conversation.
- Other public information platforms of the Public Relations Department: These provide widespread coverage to ensure the information reaches people from all sectors across the country.
Hosting this global event presents a historic opportunity for the Thai people to demonstrate their strength, unity, and hospitality to the world, while also being a defining moment for Thailand to reaffirm its commitment to building a future of sustainable and inclusive finance for all.