Ekniti highlights Thailand’s return to global stage as IMF–World Bank host with Royal Pavilion planned for Oct 13
Ekniti expects trade, tourism and investment gains from the October 12–18 IMF–World Bank meetings, with a Royal Pavilion planned for October 13
- Thailand will host the 2026 Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank, an event Deputy PM Ekniti Nitithanprapas describes as strengthening the country's role on the global stage.
- A Royal Pavilion is scheduled for October 13 to honor the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great and showcase the people-centered development vision to international financial leaders.
- The event is expected to create economic opportunities by promoting Thai products, tourism, and investment through showcases and business matching for global delegates.
- Hosting provides Thailand a platform to propose global priorities under its official theme, "Thailand’s New Horizons: Empowering People, Building Resilience".
Thailand’s hosting of the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group could expand opportunities for Thai products, tourism and investment while strengthening the country’s international role, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said on September 26.
Ekniti also announced plans for a Royal Pavilion on October 13 to honour the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great and present the late King's development ideas to financial leaders attending the meetings.
The annual meetings will take place on October 12–18, marking Thailand’s second time as host, 35 years after the country first hosted in 1991.
Speaking on the programme “Talk with Anutin’s Cabinet”, Ekniti said the gathering would bring finance ministers, central bank governors, bankers and financiers from around the world to Thailand.
Thai products and business matching to support economic opportunities
The Ministry of Finance, which is organising the meetings jointly with the Bank of Thailand, plans to showcase products from every region of the country.
Ekniti said the displays would introduce Thai goods to delegates with significant purchasing power and help create market opportunities for Thai businesses.
Business matching, meetings, seminars and other international financial-sector activities could also encourage new investment, Ekniti said. Thai textiles, arts, culture and Muay Thai will feature alongside products in activities showcasing the country.
Ekniti expects tourism and travel activity to increase during the meetings. Recalling Thailand’s experience as host in 1991, Ekniti said some delegates subsequently returned with their families, suggesting that tourism benefits could extend beyond the event itself.
Hosting gives Thailand a platform to propose global priorities
Ekniti described the annual meetings as the “Olympics of finance”, saying many countries sought the opportunity to host them. Thailand was among the few countries given that opportunity for a second time, making the event both an economic opening and a source of national pride, Ekniti said.
The meetings also give Thailand an opportunity to put forward priorities for the global economic and financial agenda. Thailand’s official host-country theme is “Thailand’s New Horizons: Empowering People, Building Resilience”.
Ekniti said the approach emphasised enabling people to shape their own lives and businesses, while strengthening their ability to cope with an increasingly volatile world.
Thailand’s preparations to host the annual meetings have also focused on presenting the country’s development approach to international delegates.
Royal Pavilion to present lessons from royal development projects
The Royal Pavilion is planned for October 13, when Thailand commemorates the passing of King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, Ekniti said.
The pavilion will honour the late King’s development work, particularly His Majesty's emphasis on people-centred development, which Ekniti linked to the meeting’s “Empowering People” theme.
The exhibition will present lessons from royal projects that have been continued, preserved and built upon during the current reign. Ekniti said the aim was to show international fiscal and financial leaders how those approaches had helped Thai people
adapt to crises and changing circumstances.
“That is why we want fiscal and financial leaders from around the world to see this. I believe many visitors will be impressed by His Majesty’s development vision, which has played a part in helping Thai people adapt to changing circumstances,” Ekniti said.
