The private sector announces the readiness for “APEC CEO Summit 2022”, a historic event for the business sector and the Asia Pacific region. A door into Thailand’s economic recovery.

Dr. Poj Aramwattananont, APEC CEO Summit 2022 Chair and APEC Business Advisory Council Member announced the readiness of the summit held during 16-18 November 2022. Thailand is ready in every aspect, such as the venue, the participants’ hospitality, security, the reception party, and especially the summit’s program, which covers all aspects, including economy, trade, investment, and society. Confirmed participants are global leaders, thought leaders, and leading-level executives from all economic zones. Participants gather at this summit to listen and give their opinions and recommendations for regional integration.

Thailand, the host of this historical event, welcomes participants from all regions that will meet in person for the first time in three years at the summit. Dr. Poj Aramwattananont said, “We invited economic leaders from 13 APEC economies to participate in the APEC CEO Summit 2022, and the prime minister has planned to give a speech. Even though the invites are still in progress, we can confirm as of right now the names of the confirmed participants: José Pedro Castillo Terrones, President of Peru, Gabriel Boric Font, President of Chile, Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, President of Vietnam, etc. Other leaders of economic zones, such as the People's Republic of China, the United States of America, and New Zealand, have a good chance of accepting the invitation. We can confirm the names of participants again during November, along with Thailand and APEC guests.

The private sector confirming their readiness

The latest APEC CEO Summit Thailand hosted was in 2003. There are several interesting dimensions for being a host in this year's summit, such as the first offline meeting in three years after the worldwide pandemic in which the summit had to be held online. Economic challenges from all fronts have urged the private sector to figure out immediate solutions. Dr. Poj Aramwattananont added, “Amid the incurring situation, being a host for this year’s summit is very interesting. With the current economic challenges from all fronts, such as food shortage, power crisis, inflation, and the recovery from the pandemic, the private sectors are very alert, and the APEC CEO Summit 2022 will provide the platform to exchange key directions for the world and a good opportunity for Thailand to overturn the current economy after the pandemic and open of borders. 

“We expect no less than 500-600 business leaders from all across Asia Pacific, more than 200 high-level Thai CEOs excluding their followers and teams. On the 16th of November 2022, there will be a reception party at The River Park, ICONSIAM. On the 17th and 18th of November, there will be a meeting at The Athenee Hotel, a luxury collection hotel, Bangkok. Also, there will be a Gala Dinner on the evening of the 17th of November at the Royal Paragon Hall, Siam Paragon. During the event, we will showcase Thai elements in multiple aspects, such as food, culture, and souvenirs. After the event, we will arrange a trip for participants and followers to impress and stimulate Thai tourism.”

The summit emphasizes ‘Green Meeting’ or environmentally friendly meeting through recycling resources to reduce environmental impacts to be in line with sustainability guidelines. In addition, Green Meeting creates Carbon Footprints that promote energy saving and trash reduction. An example of what Green Meeting has used to promote these guidelines is the use of a mobile application to fully monitor participants as smart hospitality. Participants can register to receive digital files and hospitality in all forms through the application, reducing paper trash. Apart from this, there are emphases on the environment through the selection of venues (Green Venue), equipment arrangement (Green Arrangement), and catering (Green Catering) that is environmentally friendly.

Issues regarding economic challenges

As the main activity of the meeting under the theme “Embrace Engage Enable” is a forum exchanging ideas on the 17th and 18th of November, Mr. Kasemsit Pathomsak, Executive Director of APEC CEO Summit 2022 and APEC Business Advisory Council Alternate Member, explained about the readiness of the forum and response from the participants as followed “Apart from the leaders of the economic zones, the forum consists of ideas exchange from leading CEOs and thought leaders around the world, such as Prof. Klaaus Schwab, Founder and Managing Director of World Economic Forum, Hooi Ling Tan, Founder of Grab, Bob Moritz, PWC Global Chairman and executives from Johnson & Johnson, Meta, Google, Exxon, etc.

…Another interesting activity is the forum participated by leading Thai CEOs such as Mrs. Nualphan Lamsam, Managing Director and President of Muang Thai Life Assurance Public Company Limited, who is regarded as a talented woman Thai CEO, and Mr. Suphachai Chearavanont, Managing Director of True Corporation Public Company Limited. These two leaders will be exchanging opinions and showcasing Thai leadership to the world.

…Apart from this, this year’s program covers challenging points the world is facing, such as future economic collaboration in Asia, creation of a sustainable economy, business, and society, post-pandemic health, equality between genders to promote growth, strategy concerning the reduction of carbon dioxide emission in the Asia-Pacific, challenges regarding global food stability, acceleration of future growth and preservation of Earth, or digitalization and normalization, etc.”

A door to the future of Thai economy

With the changing of hosts every 19 years, Sanan Angubolkul, Chairman of the The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) and Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, expressed his confidence regarding trade opportunities and investment in Thailand through this event “The meeting between leaders from member economies, thought leaders, and leading CEOs across Asia-Pacific in Thailand is a great “opportunity” for us to show trade , investment and our competitive potential in multiple dimensions, such as food, tourism, healthcare industry, and automotive industry, etc.

Apart from this, we see another significant “opportunity” that Thai entrepreneurs will begin to be more alert in adapting and learning about the business operation in the changing economy. This includes the use of technology or promotion of sustainability for one’s business to be able to compete with the current world market. In the APEC CEO Summit 2022, we offer an “opportunity” for new entrepreneurs: the selection of 100 representatives of the Young Entrepreneur Chamber of Commerce (YEC) across the country to be part of the summit. The roles of these young entrepreneurs are to facilitate and provide hospitality for participants to a historical event and stimulate them to adapt for future opportunities.

APEC CEO Summit 2022 working team has unveiled a uniform for the Young Entrepreneur Chamber of Commerce, which will reflect Thai identity. This is considered a use of soft power or spreading Thai culture through the lens of global citizens. The uniform, designed by students from the School of Digital Arts and Design, University of Thai Chamber of Commerce, portrays Thai identity by using Thai essence from the North and combining it with the Thai elephant pattern, a national animal. Various Thai cultural identities are woven within this uniform.

Historical stage, a Thai stage

With the private sector being ready for the summit, this is an opportunity for Thais to welcome business leaders from around the world who will help drive advancement and prosperity for us. In the end, this summit is not for one business to benefit from the stimulation of the economy during the summit, but the conversation in the summit, which includes every industry, will create waves and impact trades and investment, which in turn will drive the Thai economy forward. We only have to ‘Embrace, Engage and Enable’ new possibilities to make this opportunity of being a host a great one for us Thais.

“This summit concerns us all, not one individual. Hence, this is an important stage that will showcase collaboration between the private, public, and social sectors, and Thais. To share this great opportunity together, I hereby invite all Thais to perform the duty as a host because APEC CEO Summit 2022 will be one of the tools to drive the country and Asia-Pacific valuable economy.” said Sanan Angubolkul.