Dr. Rak Vorrakitpokatorn, President of Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIM Thailand), served as a guest speaker titled “Navigating from Downstream to Upstream: EXIM Thailand’s Community Enterprise” in the Leadership for Change Program, Class 13, organized by the Right Livelihood Foundation to establish connections among community entrepreneurs and foster partnerships between public and private entities, all geared toward bolstering the local economy at Bangkok’s Siam Amazing Park on August 25, 2023.
EXIM Thailand encouraged Thai SMEs to set objectives for starting or expanding their export businesses, exploring diverse markets like the expansive Halal Market, boasting a population of 1.9 billion or one in four of the global populace; Thailand’s Neighboring Markets, encompassing around 180 million individuals who possess substantial purchasing power, a fondness for Thai products and soft power; and Major Markets such as the United States, European Union, and Japan, characterized by their significant purchasing power and opportunities for marketing premium, eco-friendly, and health-related products. Thai entrepreneurs, especially SMEs, can equip themselves with knowledge, opportunities, and funding through EXIM Thailand, which also offers financial tools for international trade risk management. This empowers them to enter new export markets or confidently expand with existing partners, both in the digital and physical realms. In the pursuit of going global, Thai SMEs are also encouraged to adopt environmentally-friendly practices to align with export and environmental standards. This approach facilitates the growth of businesses from local communities to a national scale, fostering connections with societal and environmental development.