Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has declared sustainability will be the new cornerstone of Thailand’s economic strategy and emphasised the need to build resilient foundations in industry, trade and investment to navigate global volatility.
During a seminar titled “A Call for Adaptation: The Sustainability in Trade and Industry at the Sustainability Expo 2025 (SX2025) at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Mr Anutin delivered a keynote speech on the topic of “Elevating Industry, Trade and Investment Towards Sustainability”.
Mr Anutin, who is also the interior minister, said that the modern world is fraught with uncertainty, stemming from the threats of war, economic competition, trade barriers, and geopolitical pressures. Thailand can no longer afford to remain passive. Without urgently laying new foundations, the country risks falling behind on the global stage, he said.
“Sustainability is not a political fad, but the nation’s way forward,” he said.
He said that despite the government having only four months, it must still pursue “quick wins”. Simultaneously, it is necessary to establish long-term policies that will not be overturned with future administrations to ensure continuity and build investor confidence.
Mr Anutin said that Thailand’s approach to development has three dimensions: a stable economy, a sustainable environment and improved quality of life.
He said that Thailand is at a crossroads. The world is facing uncertainty caused by war, economic competition and climate change. “The question is. which direction will Thailand take?”
“We must pursue sustainable development,” he said, expressing a belief shared by many that “this is not a choice, but the only way forward”.
This means creating jobs and income, ensuring that Thai people enjoy a good quality of life, and preserving the world so that future generations can live in good health. However, the greatest challenge is that today’s world is far more complex than before, he said.
On the same platform, Mr Anutin also addressed trade and investment, saying that Thailand must become a strategic hub, both by land and sea.
“If Thailand remains merely a country through which investors move goods, we gain nothing. We must make them stop, utilise, invest, produce and create jobs in Thailand,” Mr Anutin said.
He also highlighted Thailand’s strengths in culture, religious diversity, and political stability as social capital not easily found elsewhere in the region.
He acknowledged that the public sector must support all levels of investors and entrepreneurs through investment promotion measures.
“We need a government strong enough to support capital but not so passive that capital dictates everything. If we allow full competition, Thailand will become the region’s most capable country,” Mr Anutin said.