Thailand to Showcase Paotang-Tung Ngoen at World Bank
Thailand plans to showcase its ‘Paotang‑Tung Ngoen’ digital‑finance initiative at the upcoming IMF‑World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok, highlighting how the program can help vulnerable groups access finance. Deputy Prime Minister Ek Niti Nitithammaprasart said the event will position Thailand as a middle power shaping global economic trends, with over 16,000 participants already registered and expectations of 20,000. The meetings will also cover resilience strategies, AI infrastructure, data‑center standards and the Bangkok Blueprint and Dialogue to promote sustainable growth and investment.
Thailand is gearing up to present its ‘Paotang‑Tung Ngoen’ program at the World Bank forum, emphasizing how digital finance can support disadvantaged communities. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ek Niti Nitithammaprasart disclosed that, as the host of the 2026 IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand is ready to showcase its capabilities on the world stage and influence global economic and financial trends as nations move into a new horizon amid ongoing conflicts. He said Thailand will act as a middle power, linking countries through trust, a point underscored by more than 16,000 participants already registered, with expectations of reaching 20,000. Consequently, the gathering will serve as a key venue to highlight Thailand’s economic direction and potential. In addition, the meetings will address strategies to build resilience against global economic and environmental fluctuations, aiming to sustain progress despite volatility. Thailand believes it can demonstrate leadership on the world stage, and expects attending investors to recognize the country’s potential, forging partnerships that drive business and economic growth through substantial investment attraction. Parallel sessions will discuss AI infrastructure and data centers; Thailand’s Data Center Board has already established minimum standards, and further work will align data‑center investment with economic, social, environmental and national interests. At the conference Thailand will share its experience in managing and operating data‑center businesses. Ek Niti added that the Bangkok Blueprint – a financial‑sector blueprint derived from digital finance – will illustrate how modern financial tools can extend access to capital for those currently excluded, using examples from the Paotang, Tung Ngoen and AI ‘Whispering Bird’ applications. The Bank of Thailand, together with the IMF, will present a secure digital‑finance showcase, and the event will conclude with the Bangkok Dialogue, summarizing seven days of discussions so that other nations can build on the outcomes. He believes the impact of the meeting will extend beyond the seven‑day session, influencing global finance and economics for years to come.
