Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas has outlined a vision to position Thailand and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) as a network of ‘trusted connectors’ capable of navigating an increasingly fragmented global economy.
Speaking at the Bangkok Business Summit 2026 on Thursday, Mr Ekniti said Thailand’s ‘New Horizon’ strategy should harness the region’s strengths to create new engines of growth while responding to a world increasingly shaped by geopolitical divisions.
Openness remains at the heart of the Thai and Asean economies, which have grown through trade, investment and global connectivity, he said. Asean continues to attract international investment as global companies seek regions offering growth, stability and greater supply-chain resilience.
Mr Ekniti said the concept of a ‘trusted connector’, promoted by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, had taken on greater economic significance as global competition increasingly requires not only efficiency but also security and trustworthiness.
He identified four major forces reshaping the global economy: geopolitics and geoeconomics, artificial intelligence (AI), climate change and ageing societies. All have cross-border implications, he said, and none can be effectively addressed by individual Asean countries acting alone.
On geoeconomics, the finance minister said tariffs, export controls, subsidies and stricter rules of origin were reshaping trade and investment. Global companies were no longer focused solely on low costs but were increasingly seeking reliable locations with diversified supply chains and the capacity to withstand economic disruptions.
AI, meanwhile, is turning into a new source of productivity and competitive power. Access to semiconductors, computing capacity, data and skilled workers will increasingly influence economic security, he said.
Asean should therefore look beyond competing to attract data centres and AI investment. The region should work to make technology widely accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), other businesses and the public.
Mr Ekniti cited the linkage of Thailand’s payment systems with Singapore’s as an example of regional digital cooperation. Asean could further expand digital infrastructure, develop AI talent, promote AI adoption among SMEs and ramp up efforts against online scams, with the proposed Asean Digital Economy Framework Agreement expected to accelerate such integration.
On energy and climate issues, he pointed to the Asean Power Grid as a clear example of cooperation that could boost both energy security and competitiveness. Asean countries possess different combinations of renewable resources, transmission systems, technologies, capital and industrial demand, making regional interconnection an opportunity to use resources more efficiently.
The minister also said ageing societies should not be viewed solely as a fiscal burden. Thailand and Singapore could develop industries in healthcare, medical services, health foods, pharmaceuticals and wellness, while countries with relatively large working-age populations, such as the Philippines and Laos, could help build stronger regional labour connectivity.