Three Ministries to Boost Thai Soft Power via IMF-World Bank
Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supajee Sutthapun has ordered the Commerce, Culture, and Tourism and Sports ministries to leverage the IMF–World Bank Group Annual Meetings 2026 to boost Thai products, soft power, and tourism. The initiative aims to increase value‑added income, expand overseas markets, and distribute revenue to local communities while strengthening Thailand’s competitiveness.
Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supajee Sutthapun has directed the Commerce, Culture, and Tourism and Sports ministries to build on the IMF–World Bank Group Annual Meetings 2026 to promote Thai products, soft power, and tourism, increase value‑added income, and channel revenue to communities. She instructed the ministries to link trade, culture, and tourism together to raise the value of Thai goods and services, expand overseas markets, and generate income for businesses and local communities, aligning with the government’s goal of boosting value‑added and strengthening national competitiveness. The Commerce Ministry was tasked with developing products, creating brands, and linking markets while leveraging intellectual property and IP finance initiatives, including community products such as Thai home textiles, pak‑phaoma cloth, and Thai food, to enhance their value and market reach. The Culture Ministry will drive cultural capital and the creative industries—including performances, Muay Thai, and Thai artists—to create business opportunities and raise international awareness. The Tourism and Sports Ministry will focus on linking Thai identity and activities with tourism promotion, including MICE opportunities, to stimulate spending and income for related businesses. Supajee emphasized that cooperation among the three ministries should continue after the meetings, connecting product and service development, cultural‑value creation, and the expansion of trade and tourism channels, with concrete results monitored to ensure that the international forum yields lasting income for entrepreneurs and communities and reinforces Thailand’s long‑term competitiveness.
