On 16 August 2023, the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Shanghai, in cooperation with Shanghai Foreign Investment Development Board (Invest Shanghai), organized the 6^th Bangkok - Shanghai Economic Conference (BSEC) under the theme “Advancing Green Partnership between Thailand and the Yangtze River Delta (YRD)” at The Sukhothai Shanghai hotel. Around 200 government officials, leaders of business enterprises and associations, academic and media participated on-site and nearly 2,000 people joined the livestreaming via the Consulate’s Weibo account. 

Held annually since 2018, the BSEC promotes closer economic cooperation between Thailand and the YRD region as a whole.  This year’s Conference focused on green technology, green industry and green finance, which are areas of mutual interest for Thailand and the YRD and in line with complementary national policies and priorities of Thailand and China, including the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy of Thailand.   

Ms. Prinat Apirat, Consul-General of Thailand in Shanghai, opened the Conference by proposing enhanced Thailand - YRD cooperation in low-carbon technologies, two-way business and investment in green industry, as well as green finance and Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) investment.  Ms. Zhu Yi, Deputy Director-General of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, and Mr. Shi Huazhong, Level II Bureau Rank Official of Zhejiang Foreign Affairs Department, also addressed the Opening Session, highlighting greater cooperation on green supply chains, new industries and support to enterprises.  

In Session 2, policymakers shared and exchanged views on concrete cooperation in green technology.  Discussions highlighted the effective implementation and utilization of existing mechanisms as well as increased collaboration in R&D, capacity building and exchange of scientists and experts. 

Speakers included Dr. Pongpan Kaewtatip, Vice President of Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI), Mr. Wang Zhen, Director of Shanghai Science and Technology Exchange Center (SSTEC) and Director of Administration Center of Green Technology Bank (GTB), Mr. Zhao Yangwei, Level II Bureau Rank Official of Jiangsu Provincial Department of Science and Technology, and Dr. Jiang Biao, Director of Chinese Academy of Sciences Innovation Cooperation Center Bangkok (CAS ICCB).    

The Conference concluded with a discussion among practitioners and business leaders in green industries.  Ms. Donlaporn Ajavavarakula, Director of Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) Shanghai Office, and Mr. Sun Fang, Vice President of Invest Shanghai, shared investment opportunities in Thailand, Shanghai and the YRD.  Mr. Rico Chong, China Manager of Global Renewable Power under PTT Group, Ms. Tori Liu, Director of Public Affairs of Trina Solar, and Dr. Wichai Narongwanich, First Senior Vice President of Kasikorn Bank, further shared their business insights in renewable energy investments, decarbonization financing and ESG risk management.

Participants at the Conference also met with representatives from relevant Thai and Chinese stakeholders, including BOI, Invest Shanghai and Thai companies such as Banpu Investment China, Sammitr Vehicle Technology Development (Nanjing), Kasikorn Bank, Bangkok Bank and Siam Commercial Bank.  More information on Thai enterprises across various fields that are keen to work with China can be found at the Virtual Thai Company Gallery.

The Consulate-General plans to organize more focused investment promotion and business matching activities on specific business sectors throughout the year. This Conference can be watched at the Consulate-General’s Weibo account.