Thailand to Host IMF Seminar on Debt, Aging, AI Growth
Thailand will host an IMF seminar in October 2026 to tackle high household debt, an ageing population, and low productivity by promoting AI and digital finance. Deputy Prime Minister Ekkanit Nitithanprasat, Bank of Thailand Governor Vittay Rattanakorn, and IMF officials will discuss structural reforms to boost competitiveness and economic resilience. The event is a policy dialogue, not a rollout of new measures.
The government announced that Deputy Prime Minister Ekkanit Nitithanprasat and Bank of Thailand Governor Vittay Rattanakorn will take part in a dedicated IMF seminar aimed at finding solutions for Thailand’s economy. The session will focus on structural issues such as elevated household debt, sluggish productivity growth, and an ageing society, while also seeking to strengthen competitiveness through artificial intelligence and digital finance. Lalida Perisrivikarna, deputy government spokesperson, said the seminar, titled “Thailand Special Seminar: Bangkok 1991–2026: Thailand’s Path to Resilient, Inclusive Growth,” will be held on 13 October 2026 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. Participants will include IMF Asia‑Pacific director Krishna Srinivasan and Thai economic experts, who will discuss macro‑economic stability, productivity upgrades, demographic shifts, climate risks, and ways to cushion external shocks from geopolitical tensions, trade barriers and energy price volatility. The talks will also cover the role of technology and innovation—especially AI and digital financial systems—in driving growth, deepening regional trade and finance, and expanding Thailand’s influence in ASEAN and the global economy. Officials stressed that the event is a policy‑level exchange of ideas and not the announcement of new measures.
