Thailand PM Opens Royal Legacy Exhibit At IMF-World Bank 2026
The Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul opened the 'The Royal Legacy' exhibition at the IMF–World Bank 2026 Annual Meetings in Bangkok, highlighting the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy as a model for sustainable, people‑centered development. The exhibition marks the upcoming centennial of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s birth and showcases royal development projects, climate resilience, digital infrastructure, and efforts to involve Thai communities in the global event.
On 12 October 2026, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center’s Sala Chalerm Phrakiat Royal Pavilion on Floor G, Anutin Charnvirakul, serving as Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, presided over the opening ceremony of the exhibition titled 'The Royal Legacy: Empowering People, Building Resilience'. The event was organized in conjunction with Thailand hosting the 2026 IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings, attended by global financial leaders, cabinet ministers, and senior representatives from many countries, including IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and World Bank Group President Ajay Banga.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister EkNiti Nitithamaprasart delivered a report on the exhibition’s purpose, explaining that it commemorates the royal benevolence of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of his birth in 2027. He noted that the King devoted his life to improving the quality of life for Thais, laying foundations through royal development projects and the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, which continues to drive Thailand’s economy today. Examples cited included highland communities in Chiang Mai shifting from opium cultivation to coffee farming, farmers gaining water for irrigation even during the dry season, and coastal fishermen seeing fish stocks return to their traditional grounds.
EkNiti emphasized that the King’s teachings remind developers to place people and communities at the center of progress. The exhibition also showcases the continuing efforts of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Queen Suthida, and other members of the royal family to uphold and extend this development legacy for the wellbeing of all Thais.
In addition, the exhibition presents three areas of Thailand’s adaptation to current challenges: digital public infrastructure, climate resilience, and an aging society. The Ministry of Finance incorporated a people‑centered approach by serving food sourced from every region of the country and displaying 37 distinctive local fabric patterns from 26 communities in the meeting rooms, allowing Thai citizens to participate in this significant global gathering and hoping attendees will gain a deep appreciation of the Thai monarchy’s development heritage.
