EABC - Southeast Asia Trade and Development Forum 2025

On 11 September 2025, EABC Vice-President, Mr. Bob Fox, and Policy Manager, Ms. Pitchapha Suwanalert, attended the Southeast Asia Trade and Development Forum 2025. This event is hosted by the International Institute for Trade and Development (ITD), Ministry of Commerce, in collaboration with UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The theme of the forum is “The Changing Realities of International Trade”. The keynote sessions and panel discussions revolved around the challenges and opportunities for Thailand and Southeast Asia in the currently volatile global trade and investment landscape. The speakers noted the great potential of countries in the region to become centres of trade, finance, and investment in green and digital “economies of the future”. To make this vision a reality, Thailand must make considerable efforts at moving up the value chain, supply chain diversification, infrastructure investment, skills education for labor, green and digital transitions, and regulatory liberalisation to attract and facilitate innovative business.

Additionally, the speakers underlined the importance of responding to the current volatility with stronger regional and multilateral cooperation to collectively advance towards a more equitable and sustainable future.