On 8 - 9 July 2026, Ms. Rujikorn Saengchantr, Director-General of the Department of International Economic Affairs, chaired the “BCG Awardees Connect 2026,” hosted by the Department of International Economic Affairs Department, in Bangkok and Ratchaburi province. The event brought together eight APEC BCG Awardees from the 2023 - 2025 award cycles, representing six APEC member economies, namely China; Hong Kong, China; Peru; Singapore; Viet Nam; and Thailand, to exchange experiences, build networks, and deepen cooperation on the BCG Economy.

Participants joined the activity “BCG Business Connect,” the seminar “BCG & Beyond: Building Resilient, Sustainable Businesses in Asia-Pacific,” held on the sidelines of ABAC 3/2026, as well as “BCG on the Ground,” which was a site visit to the Aromatic Farm, Ratchaburi province. These programmes provided an opportunity for APEC BCG Awardees to exchange views on sustainable business practices, learn from successful case studies, including the Saraburi Sandbox, and gain first-hand insights into the practical application of the BCG Economy model in the private sector.

This event marked the first gathering of APEC BCG Awardees from the past three award cycles, providing a platform for networking and collaboration. It reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to building on the legacy of its hosting of APEC in 2022 and advancing cooperation for strong, resilient, and sustainable growth across the Asia-Pacific region. The BCG Business Connect and BCG on the Ground programmes have also been officially endorsed as side events of the 2026 IMF - World Bank Annual Meetings, which Thailand will host under the theme “Thailand’s New Horizons: Empowering People, Building Resilience.”