CEA and Netflix elevate Thai creative economy at IMF-WBG meetings

The Creative Economy Agency (Public Organisation), or CEA, is moving forward to build confidence in the potential of the "Thai creative economy" as one of the industries of the future with the potential to drive the country's economic growth.

The CEA, in collaboration with Netflix, announced the "CREATIVITY AS CAPITAL: Driving the Next Growth Frontier" event as an official Affiliated Program of the 2026 annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, or the 2026 IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings, which Thailand is hosting, on October 13, 2026 at the Andaz Grand Ballroom, 3rd floor, One Bangkok, Bangkok.

This event takes place at a crucial time as Thailand presents a new economic growth direction to the international community on the stage of the 2026 IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings between October 12 and 18, in Bangkok.

Recently, the World Bank Group stated that the "creative industries", or "Creative Industries", are one of Thailand's five Industries of the Future, along with advanced manufacturing, sustainable and wellness tourism, digital services, and agrifood (Advanced Manufacturing, Sustainable and Wellness Tourism, Digital Services, and Agrifood).

They view these industries as sectors where Thailand has an advantage and high potential for generating productivity, investment, and quality job creation in the future.

World Bank Group points to Creative Industries as one of Thailand's future economic engines

The World Bank Group's "Building Thailand's Future Today" report states that Thailand needs to move towards higher-value economic activities to increase productivity in both competitiveness and quality job creation.

One of the key mechanisms is developing "Industries of the Future" where Thailand already has strengths, with Creative Industries identified as one of the five industries with the potential to drive the country's long-term growth.

Regarding Thailand's creative economy, data presented by the World Bank Group reflects an existing economic base, with core creative industries accounting for about 4.6% of Gross Value Added (GVA).

Meanwhile, the overall creative economy is valued at up to THB1.7 trillion, or 10.8% of the country's GVA, indicating that the creative economy is not merely a cultural and social sector but an economic base with growth potential that can be expanded into the global market.

Additionally, World Bank Group data highlights the global growth of the Thai creative market.

The export value of Creative Goods more than doubled from approximately US$3.2 billion in 2002 to US$8.2 billion in 2024.

This reflects that creative goods are not limited to the domestic market but also have the potential to generate revenue from international markets and expand as part of the global market's value chain.

Such potential has led the World Bank Group to propose key guidelines to elevate the Thai creative economy, ranging from strengthening intellectual property (IP) protection and enforcement, developing licensing and IP markets, expanding funding and investment sources for creators, increasing distribution channels and global partnerships, to investing in digital production infrastructure and tools, while elevating Thailand's brand on a global scale.

These guidelines directly align with the "CREATIVITY AS CAPITAL: Driving the Next Growth Frontier" event, which the CEA aims to use to drive international exchange on the direction of Thai creative economy policies.

This includes elevating "Creative Capital", derived from creativity, cultural capital, and intellectual property, into a "Global Asset" capable of creating value, attracting investment, and expanding markets.

CEA believes "Thailand's Creative IP" is the new capital for growth

With the CEA's mission to drive Thailand's creative economy, hosting the "CREATIVITY AS CAPITAL: Driving the Next Growth Frontier" event thus marks an elevation of the global economic leaders' meeting from the topic of "creativity" to "investment and economic growth".

It provides a platform for policymakers, development financial institutions, investors, and creative industry leaders from Thailand and abroad to exchange perspectives and explore ways to transform Creative IP into assets that can grow and compete in the global market.

The event includes:

1. Keynote Session by a senior representative from the World Bank on the topic "Thailand's New Horizons: The Creative Economy as a Growth Engine"

2. Policy Forum that will invite a look into the future of the Creative Economy through key issues, with representatives from the business sector, international organisations, and relevant Thai government agencies joining to exchange views.

• "From Creative Capital to Global Asset", exchanging guidelines on transforming Thailand's creativity, cultural capital, and intellectual property (Creative IP) into assets with economic value and investment potential, ready to be expanded into connections with global platforms and partners.
• "Building the Enabling Environment: IP Framework, Incentives, and Policy Supports for a Competitive Creative Sector", delving into the creation of a supportive environment regarding policies, intellectual property, incentives, and support measures to increase the competitiveness of the Thai creative sector.

3. Networking Reception by Netflix, "Stories That Move Economies", building networks to connect policymakers, investors, and creative industry leaders, while creating opportunities for strategic partnerships.

Within the event, there will also be an exhibition showcasing Thai creative entrepreneurs with commercial potential and creative professionals ready to expand into the global market.

This reflects that Thailand has both the "capital" and the "people" capable of developing into high-value creative businesses, ready to connect with international investment networks and markets.

This event is therefore another significant step for the CEA in presenting Thailand's "Creative Economy" to the global economic stage, while communicating that creativity not only promotes cultural influence but can also be developed into Creative Capital and Creative IP that generate economic value, attract investment, create jobs, and expand business opportunities for Thailand in the international market.

The event is an invitation-only programme for delegates attending the 2026 IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings in Thailand and official partner networks.

The "CREATIVITY AS CAPITAL: Driving the Next Growth Frontier" event is scheduled to take place on October 13 from 1pm to 5.30pm at the Andaz Grand Ballroom, 3rd floor, One Bangkok, Witthayu Road, Bangkok.