BANGKOK, Thailand — Thailand is taking a prominent step onto the global stage following a high-level meeting between Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Mr. Mirek Dušek, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum (WEF), on 20 May 2025 at Government House.
Mr. Dušek congratulated the Prime Minister on her recent selection as one of the Young Global Leaders (YGL) for 2025, a prestigious WEF program recognizing transformative global leadership. He also formally invited her to attend the WEF Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos, Switzerland, set for January next year.
The invitation presents Thailand with a prime opportunity to showcase its innovation, digital economy, agritech capabilities, and cultural influence to the world’s most influential leaders and institutions.
WEF Annual Meeting 2026
Held each year in the scenic alpine town of Davos, the WEF Annual Meeting is one of the world’s most influential gatherings. The event attracts over 2,500 global leaders and decision-makers from across business, government, civil society, academia, media, and the arts. The goal is to foster open dialogue and collaboration around the most pressing global issues—from climate action and economic resilience to technological disruption and social equity.
Davos is renowned for its unique blend of intimacy and influence. Despite its village atmosphere, the event is powered by world-class infrastructure at the Davos Congress Centre, where key sessions are held. Against a backdrop of snow-covered mountains, participants explore bold ideas, build multistakeholder partnerships, and help shape global, regional, and industry agendas for the year ahead.
Thailand-WEF Collaboration
The meeting in Bangkok also included H.E. Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Discussions focused on expanding cooperation between Thailand and the WEF, particularly in high-potential areas such as agritech, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and the advancement of Thailand’s soft power capabilities.
The invitation to Davos also aligns with the Thailand 4.0 economic vision, which emphasizes sustainable development, knowledge-based industries, and digital innovation.
Participation in Davos 2026 will allow Thailand to:
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Promote its innovation and investment landscape
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Highlight advancements in sustainable agriculture and digital economy
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Forge new public-private partnerships
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Engage in multilateral dialogues on global challenges
In addition to the Annual Meeting in Davos, the WEF hosts regional summits in Africa, East Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, and supports ongoing initiatives through its global network of offices in New York, Beijing, Tokyo, and San Francisco.