Thailand Positions as Trusted Connector Amid Global Economy
Ekniti Nitithanprapas reveals foreign investment requests rose 47% in H1 2026, highlighting the Turn Capital into Capabilities strategy at the World Bank meeting.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Foreign investment requests in Thailand rose 47% in H1 2026
- Thailand aims to be a trusted connector amid global economic fragmentation
- World Bank notes emerging markets will see 1.2 billion youth turn 18
- Skill Bridge initiative deployed to align workforce training with foreign investors
Foreign investment applications submitted to Thailand during the first half of 2026 surged by 47%. However, for Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, this figure is merely a starting point, with the greater challenge lying in converting those applications into actual investments.
One of the key approaches he highlighted is reducing regulatory barriers and obstacles while establishing conditions for foreign capital to help develop the capabilities of Thai citizens and domestic businesses.
This topic was raised during a session titled Building Resilience in a Fragmented World, held at the IMF and World Bank Group Annual Meetings in Bangkok on October 13, 2026.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Thailand's positioning as a Trusted Connector is a strategic move amid shifting geopolitical tensions, leveraging economic neutrality to attract supply chains diversifying away from major powers. Meanwhile, the core challenge remains distributing these economic gains evenly to local SMEs, avoiding the disparities highlighted by the K-shaped Economy framework mentioned by Ekniti.
The panel also featured global leaders including Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the IMF; Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group; and Riikka Purra, Minister of Finance of Finland, who shared perspectives on how nations should navigate an increasingly fragmented and uncertain global economy.
Ekniti began by explaining that the global economy is shifting from prioritizing economic efficiency to placing security as a primary concern. Consequently, countries are diversifying supply chains despite higher costs, a trend he terms Buying Resilience, which impacts economies through trade, finance, and investment channels.
In trade, Ekniti noted that Thailand, as a net energy importer, adjusted over the past 7 to 8 months by sourcing energy from West Africa and Latin America. He likened international trade to flowing water, stating that even if some nations build trade barriers, Thailand will seek to build bridges across them.
Regarding finance, he pointed out that Thailand's 10-year government bond yield increased by 60 basis points over the past 7 to 8 months, compared to a 120 basis point increase for US Treasuries of the same maturity, reflecting the fiscal discipline maintained by Thailand.
“The world is shifting from prioritizing economic efficiency to placing security as a primary concern.”
Ekniti Nitithanprapas
Furthermore, Ekniti discussed the K-shaped Economy concept, noting that major nations and corporations are on an upward trajectory while smaller economies and SMEs risk moving downward. Thailand positions itself in the center as a Trusted Connector while driving the Turn Capital into Capabilities policy through initiatives like Skill Bridge to match foreign corporate demands with local universities.
World Bank Group President Ajay Banga noted that over the next 12 to 15 years, approximately 1.2 billion people in emerging markets will turn 18, requiring private sector investment to generate employment opportunities as public sector budgets face severe fiscal constraints globally.
Source: Techsauce
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