On 31 July 2024, the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Shanghai, in cooperation with Shanghai Foreign Investment Development Board and Shanghai Overseas Investment Development Board (Invest Shanghai), organized the 7th Bangkok - Shanghai Economic Conference (BSEC) with the theme “Accelerating Innovation Cooperation between Thailand and the Yangtze River Delta (YRD)” at Radisson Collection Hotel, Yangtze Shanghai. Around 150 government officials, policymakers and leaders of business enterprises and relevant associations participated on-site and around 1,200 people joined the livestreaming via the Consulate’s Weibo account.

Held annually since 2018, the BSEC fosters closer economic partnership between Thailand and the YRD region as a whole. This year’s Conference focused on cooperation on innovation and support for innovative enterprises including SMEs and startups, in line with the policy priority shared by Thailand and China to promote innovation-driven economy. 

Ms. Prinat Apirat, Consul-General of Thailand in Shanghai, opened the Conference by proposing enhanced Thailand - YRD cooperation in creating a comprehensive ecosystem for innovation, advancing joint research for innovation, and bolstering commercialization of innovation. Ms. Zhu Yi, Deputy Director-General of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, also addressed the Opening Session, highlighting greater cooperation on commerce, business exchanges and investment in innovative industries. Other high-level officers that were in attendance of the Conference included Mr. Chen Jiangfeng, Deputy Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Department of Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government.   

In Session 2, policymakers and practitioners exchanged views on concrete cooperation in policy exchange, joint innovation, investment incentives and measures to further facilitate innovation. Speakers included Dr. Krithpaka Boonfueng, Executive Director of National Innovation Agency of Thailand (NIA); Ms. Celina Huang, General Director of Shanghai Technology Innovation Center (STIC); Mr. Lou Xuejun, Deputy Director-General of Zhejiang Provincial Department of Science and Technology; Ms. Donlaporn Ajavavarakula, Director of Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) Shanghai Office; and Mr. Xue Feng, President of Invest Shanghai.

The Conference concluded with presentations by Chinese business leaders in AI and digital industries as well as a Thai incubator, a Thai unicorn, and high-potential Thai SMEs and startups. They shared their business insights and recommendations for closer Thailand - China cooperation on business and innovation. Speakers in the final session comprised Mr. Alvin Zou, Vice President of Asia Pacific Business Group of SenseTime Technology Co., Ltd.; Mr. Cai Xiaoyu, Head of Business Advisor of Whale Cloud Technology Co., Ltd.; Ms. Watcharin Witthayaweerasak, Director of Thai Business Incubators and Science Parks Association; Mr. Jirayut Srupsrisopa, Founder and Group CEO of Bitkub Capital Group Holdings Co., Ltd.; Ms. Navaporn Nalita, M.D., Co-Founder of Crypto City Connext and Eidy; and Mr. Sombat Akamanuwatr, Assistant Commercial Director Executive of SMS (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

This year’s BSEC proudly brought a delegation from Thailand representing 15 relevant agencies and enterprises in AI, Blockchain, HealthTech and FoodTech to meet with their counterparts and explore business and investment opportunities in the YRD region. BOI, Invest Shanghai, and the Thai companies also had information tables outside the meeting room. For more information about the aforementioned delegation from Thailand, please scan the QR Code below.

The BSEC is an important part of investment promotion and business matching activities that the Royal Thai Consulate-General regularly organizes throughout the year.  The Consulate-General will hold the 8th BSEC next year in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Thailand - China Diplomatic Relations in 2025.