Gyeongju, October 30 (AseanAll) — On October 30, 2025, at Gyeongju Art Center, Gyeongju, Republic of Korea, Thai Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul delivered a keynote speech at the APEC CEO Summit Korea 2025 on the topic “Bridge, Business, Beyond”.
The Prime Minister expressed pleasure to be here for this year’s APEC CEO Summit. Having attended the ASEAN Summits during the past few days, and now APEC, it is very encouraging to see vibrant regional cooperation come to life. As multilateralism weakens, regional partnerships can keep everyone connected and turn challenges into shared opportunities together.
Thailand stands at a pivotal point, as it is moving from a middle income to a high-income economy, from manufacturing to innovation, and from being a regional participant to becoming a regional connector. The Thai Government is determined to lay a strong and stable foundation for Thailand’s future through the “Quick Big Win” policy. The theme of the Summit today reflects well the vision and policy of the Thai Government, whose vision can be summed up in three priorities: bridging economic gaps, enhancing business opportunities, and looking beyond traditional limits to shape the future.
First is bridging economic gaps. Growth must start with the people. Economic growth means little if it is not inclusive and innovation-driven. The Thai Government recently launched “Let’s Go Halves Plus”, a co-payment scheme to ease living costs, encourage spending, and bring more people into the formal economy. This co-payment scheme is not only just about boosting domestic consumption, but it also promotes digital inclusion.
Thailand is also investing in reskilling and digital literacy. So far over half a million Thais have already joined new training programs in data analytics, AI, and green technology. With continued implementation of these measures, more and more Thais will be able to participate in a knowledge-based and innovation led economy.
Second priority is to enhance business opportunities. In Thailand, SMEs are the backbone of the economy. It is, therefore, crucial to create an environment where SMEs can grow, compete, and connect beyond borders. Policies and programs have been put in place to help SMEs improve access to finance and secure financial stability. Thailand is also addressing household debt, expanding microfinance, and modernizing credit systems through digital platforms that make borrowing more transparent and affordable.
Through the SME Reboot and Go Digital Program, over 200,000 businesses are learning how to use e-payments and online marketing tools to reach new customers, helping them step into the digital era. To cite an example, Thailand has a flagship cooperation with Singapore on cross-border e-payment linking Thailand’s PromptPay and Singapore’s PayNow. Such a framework is the first of its kind in ASEAN—allowing instant and secure transactions for individuals and SMEs. This demonstrates Thailand’s commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind in the age of digital transformation.
To truly unlock business potential, Thailand must also align rules and regulations to international standards to enhance ease of doing business, and ensure that rules are clear, and confidence runs deep. The country’s goal to join the OECD by 2030 reflects this commitment. It means aligning with high international standards in corporate governance, digital regulation, and public transparency.
Thailand’s advancing modern governance and institutional reforms through reducing bureaucratic delays and promoting open data. This will build trust, improve efficiency, and further encourage investment. The Prime Minister emphasized that public trust in the digital sphere must be strengthened- ensuring safety, accountability, and confidence in how technology is used. With online scams and cyber-enabled crimes becoming increasingly prevalent and destructive, stronger regional and global cooperation is needed to share intelligence, strengthen law enforcement, and close the digital gaps that criminals exploit.
Third priority is to ensure that Thailand stays at the forefront of the next wave of industries and partnerships that will define the future of growth. The Thai Government is partnering with leading tech companies worldwide to accelerate Thailand’s digital transformation. Tesla and BYD are expanding EVs and battery production. Foxconn has partnered with Thai firms to develop smart electric vehicles. Global tech leaders - Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services, Huawei Cloud, and Microsoft - are investing in major data centers and AI infrastructure, powering our fast-growing digital economy. Thailand is also investing in next-generation connectivity. 5G now covers 85% of the population. New submarine cables link Thailand to Asian hubs, while Digital ID systems make public services seamless and secure.
To ensure that growth is sustainable and future ready, Thailand is also driving a sustainability and climate leadership agenda. The country sees climate action not as a cost, but as an opportunity to create jobs, attract investment, and open new frontiers of growth across the region. Leading Thai companies, such as PTT and SCG, are investing in green hydrogen and low-carbon materials, while global partners such as BMW and Toyota are expanding EV ecosystems in Thailand.
The Thai Government is also advancing carbon markets, sustainable agriculture, and green finance mechanisms. These efforts will move the country closer to its goals of carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero emissions by 2065.
In closing, the Prime Minister reiterated Thailand’s policies to bridge economic gaps, enhance business opportunities, and embrace future trends, as parts of one vision. That vision is to build bridges: bridges that connect people through opportunity and inclusion, connect economies through trade and innovation, and connect today’s efforts with the desirable future. Thailand is fully open for business and partnership, and stands ready to work with everyone to turn ambition into action — keeping supply chains open and upholding a fair, stable, and rules-based global order. He closed his speech with “Let us remember that prosperity that is shared is prosperity that lasts.”
