ETDA Launches FuEx Program Cohort 2 to Strengthen Thai Executive Leadership for the AI and Digital Trust Era
Thailand's Electronic Transactions Development Agency launched the FuEx executive leadership program's second cohort on May 15 to better equip public and private sector leaders with digital expertise, addressing the nation's ranking of 38th
The Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA), through its Electronic Transactions Academic Service Center—a research hub providing consultation and AI & Digital Transformation skill development—has officially launched the FuEx: Future Readiness for Executive Networks program cohort 2. The program was inaugurated on May 15, 2026, at the Grand Ballroom of Radisson Blu Plaza Bangkok. Building on the success of cohort 1, which established a strong network of senior executives in digital strategy and strategic foresight, the program aims to equip public and private sector leaders to tackle digital-era challenges and strengthen the nation's foundation for future readiness.
Cohort 2 has been designed to be more intensive and comprehensive under the concept of "The Perfect Executive of the Future," with the goal of tangibly improving the nation's competitive capabilities. This is particularly crucial given Thailand's digital strategy gap, as reflected in its ranking of 38th out of 67 economic zones in the IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2025. Developing leaders with expertise in digital implementation and technology governance represents a strategic investment that directly contributes to elevating the country's competitive capabilities.
The inauguration ceremony was honored by Assoc. Prof. (Special) Dr. Polwarth Vithurklachit, Inspector-General of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, who delivered opening remarks. The event also featured remarks from Anna Pearson, Acting Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy Bangkok, as keynote speaker, and Himal Ojha, Global Cybercrime Programme Officer and Digital Forensics Expert at UNODC's Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific in Thailand, who lectured on the exploitation of artificial intelligence and automation in regional cybercrime and fraud. Professor Dr. Urs Gasser, Chair of the Foresight Working Group at the ITU Academic Advisory Board on Emerging Technologies and Chair of the ETDA International Policy Advisory Panel, also participated.
A panel discussion titled "How to Develop The Perfect Executive of the Future" featured distinguished speakers from both public and private sectors, including Nattachat Jintakanan, Country Director at Asia Group Advisors; Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Thamakorn Supathanrangsee, Vice President of Government Relations at Lazada Thailand; and Nuchnada Kunkhwamdi, Director of Business Knowledge Development at the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Dr. Chalittha Matthayamburi, Advisor and Director of the Electronic Transactions Academic Service Center at ETDA, emphasized the program's importance, stating: "The nation's challenge is not merely having modern technology, but having 'leaders who see the future'—those with agility, resilience, and adaptability who can develop integrated strategies together. This is the foundation for launching FuEx cohort 2."
