Mukdahan: Ekanit Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Thailand, addressed a meeting of the World Bank and IMF Governors to discuss concerns about economic slowdown and high inflation, with an eye towards turning these challenges into opportunities for attracting foreign investment.

According to Thai News Agency, Dr. Ekniti participated in 'The Debate on the Global Economy' during the 2026 Spring Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The event featured prominent figures, including Dr. Kristalina Georgieva, Mr. Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Mr. Fran§ois Villeroy, Dr. Eswar Prasad, and Ms. Martina Cheung, and served as a key platform for discussing global economic issues.

Deputy Prime Minister Ekniti highlighted Thailand's position as a net energy importer, which exposes the country to both short and long-term economic challenges such as weak demand and potential stagflation. He emphasized the importance of "economic security" for investors and outlined Thailand's strategy to use the crisis as an opportunity to attract foreign direct investment by promoting itself as a "secure place" with regulatory reforms aimed at enhancing productivity. Thailand is also planning an urgent transition to renewable energy as part of its energy strategy.

In tackling these issues within limited fiscal constraints, Thailand is employing the 4T principles: Target, Transition, Transformation, and Together, to effectively implement its policies.

Dr. Ekniti also underlined Thailand's macroeconomic stability, mentioning its strong balance of payments and substantial international reserves. He endorsed the role of global financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank in providing coordinated assistance and financial support to countries in need. He concluded by noting the importance of a solid foundation to drive the global economy towards new opportunities, aligning with the main theme of the upcoming IMF-World Bank annual meeting to be hosted by Thailand.