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Thailand Special Seminar: Bangkok 1991-2026: Thailand’s Path to Resilient, Inclusive Growth

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Location: G-17

AM26

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Overview

Against the background of an increasingly uncertain and fragmented global environment, the panel will reflect on the policies, institutions, and reforms that have enabled Thailand to withstand repeated shocks while achieving significant economic transformation. Panelists will assess how Thailand can reinforce macroeconomic stability and boost economic growth amid structural challenges, including demographic change, climate risks, high household debt, and slowing productivity growth. The conversation will explore policy responses to external pressures such as geoeconomic fragmentation, trade disruptions, volatile energy prices, and heightened global uncertainty. Particular attention will be given to opportunities for Thailand and emerging market countries more broadly to strengthen their economies by advancing digital finance, AI adoption, and regional trade and financial integration. By highlighting Thailand’s experience, future reform priorities, and evolving role in ASEAN and the global economy, the discussion will offer broader lessons for emerging market and developing economies seeking to build resilience, improve competitiveness, and achieve sustainable, inclusive growth.

Speakers

Krishna Srinivasan

Director

Krishna Srinivasan is the Director of the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department (APD). In this capacity, he oversees the institution’s work on all countries in the Asia-Pacific region. He was previously a Deputy Director in the Western Hemisphere Department (WHD), where he supervised the institution’s work on several countries in the Americas, including Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador and the island economies of the Caribbean, the department’s research activities, and its flagship product, Regional Economic Outlook (REO) for Latin America and the Caribbean. He also co-edited several books, including Brazil—Boom, Bust and the Road to Recovery; Unleashing Growth and Strengthening Resilience in the Caribbean; and Challenges for Central Banking: Perspectives from Latin America. Prior to joining WHD, Krishna was in the European Department, where he served as the IMF’s mission chief for the United Kingdom and Israel, and before that in the Research Department, where he led the IMF’s work on the G 20 in the context of the global financial crisis. In the context of the work on the G20, he edited a book titled Global Rebalancing: A Roadmap for Economic Recovery. Krishna has been with the IMF since 1994 and has served in several departments across the institution. He secured his PhD in International Finance from Indiana University and a post-graduate degree from the Delhi School of Economics, India, and has published several papers both at the IMF and in leading academic journals.

Srinivasan


 

Ekniti Nitithanprapas

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister

Dr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance on September 22, 2025. Dr. Ekniti was Director-General of the Revenue Department, Excise Department, Treasury Department, and State Enterprise Policy Office. Previously, he served as Ambassador for Economic and Fiscal Affairs to the United Kingdom and Europe, Senior Advisor to the Executive Director at the World Bank in Washington, D.C., and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance. In addition, he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors in various organizations including Krung Thai Bank Public Company Ltd. and Thai Airways International Public Company Ltd. Dr. Ekniti holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Claremont Graduate University, a Master’s from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Thammasat.

Ekniti Nitithanprapas


 

Vitai Ratanakorn

Governor

Vitai Ratanakorn has been the Governor of the Bank of Thailand and Chairman of the Monetary Policy Committee since October 2025. Currently, he also serves as a member of the National Economic and Social Development Council, a Commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and a Commissioner of the Office of Insurance Commission. Mr. Ratanakorn spent most of his career in the banking sector and capital markets, beginning in the securities industry before moving into senior financial‑sector leadership roles across major institutions. Between July 2020 and July 2025, he served as the President and CEO of the Government Savings Bank, during which he led the organization’s transformation into a Social Bank. Prior to that, he was the Secretary-General of the Government Pension Fund from 2018 to 2020, Director and Acting President of the Islamic Bank of Thailand from 2017 to 2018. Earlier in his career, he held executive roles as CFO of Nok Airlines Public Company Limited and Senior Deputy Managing Director at Charoen Pokphand Group. Mr. Ratanakorn holds a Master of Science in Finance from Drexel University, a Master of Arts in Political Economy, a Master of Laws in Business Law from Chulalongkorn University, and a Bachelor of Economics from Thammasat University.


 

Narongchai Akrasanee

Chairman

Dr.Narongchai, a Thai economist / technocrat, is known for his continuous involvement in the economic development of Thailand in many capacities, and in ASEAN and APEC affairs. He has worked on ASEAN and APEC affairs all along, being an initiator of AFTA and APEC Leaders Meeting; has been Chairman of Steering Committee and Council Member of Mekong Institute, Chairman of Khon Kaen University Council, and is a TDRI Founding Member and now its Board Advisor. He currently serves as Chairman of Institute for Strategic Policy Foundation. He was Minister of Commerce, Minister of Energy, Senator, and member of National Legislative Assembly and an advisor to several Thai PMs; worked as a Board member of National Economic and Social Development Board, Board of Investment, Bank of Thailand’s Monetary Policy Committee, Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand, and Insurance Commission. He also served as Chairman of Thai EXIM Bank. He is the Board Chairman of MFC Asset Management Plc. and Ananda Property Development Plc. and Brooker Group. And since January 2016, he has been an Independent Non-Executive Director of AIA Group Limited.


 

Suthiphand Chirathivat

Professor Emeritus

Prof. Suthiphand Chirathivat is Chairman of the Board of Central Group and Professor Emeritus of Economics at Chulalongkorn University. He is also Founding Executive Director of the ASEAN Studies Center and Chairman of the Chula Global Network. He previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Economics at Chulalongkorn University. His academic interests include international trade, investment, finance, regional integration and development, with a particular focus on Asia and its relationship with the global economy. He has published extensively in books, edited volumes, and academic journals. Prof. Suthiphand has also served as an advisor to the Prime Minister of Thailand and several Thai government ministries, as well as parliamentary committees on economic and foreign affairs. He holds a Doctorat en Économie from Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.