Date: 30 April 2025, 13:00–16:00 hrs (ICT, UTC+7)
Venue: United Nations ESCAP, Theatre Room, Bangkok
Organised by: International Institute for Trade and Development (ITD), Harvard Club of Thailand, and UN Trade & Development (UNCTAD)
Format: Hybrid Forum (In-Person & Facebook Live)
Category: News / Global Trade, Development Policy & Economic Strategy
Overview
Against a backdrop of mounting geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation, and technological disruption, the International Institute for Trade and Development (ITD), the Harvard Club of Thailand, and UN Trade & Development (UNCTAD) convened a landmark international seminar at the United Nations ESCAP Theatre Room in Bangkok. The event was dedicated to unpacking the findings of the UN Trade and Development Report 2024 — titled “Rethinking Development in the Age of Discontent” — and translating its global analysis into actionable implications for Thailand and the developing world.
The seminar drew some of Thailand’s most distinguished economists, policymakers, and development experts alongside UNCTAD representatives, in a hybrid format that extended the conversation to a wider national and international audience via live broadcast.
The Moment We Are In
Reflecting on the seminar’s core themes, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jomphong Mongkhonvanit — who participated as a panellist — captured the urgency of the occasion:
“We are living through a time of historic change — across economies, politics, security, and technology. What we are witnessing is not just a phase, but a series of deep inflection points that are reshaping the world as we know it.”
He identified four defining fault lines now reshaping the global order:
- Protectionism — the retreat from multilateral trade frameworks
- Labour restrictions — tightening immigration and workforce policies
- Geopolitical instability — intensifying rivalries and regional conflicts
- Technological risk — the uneven distribution of AI and digital transformation benefits
“While there is still room for cooperation, understanding, and solutions, we must first recognize the reality of the world we’re living in. Only then can we begin to shape a better one.”
Keynote and Featured Speaker
Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi — former Director-General of both the WTO and UNCTAD, and one of Thailand’s most eminent figures in global economic governance — anchored the seminar as the principal keynote speaker, lending the event exceptional authority and international gravitas.
Distinguished Speakers and Panellists
The seminar brought together a cross-sectoral panel of experts:
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Somchai Pakawadwiwas — Senior economist and academic expert
- Dr. Don Nakornthab — Economic policy and financial markets specialist
- Mr. Weerasak Kowsurat — Former Minister and senior policy figure
- Mr. Burin Adulwattana — Financial and investment sector representative
- Mr. Chavapas Ongmahutmongkol — Business and trade expert
- Dr. Nicolas Maystre — UNCTAD representative and trade economist
- Mr. Cameron Daneshvar — International development and trade specialist
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jomphong Mongkhonvanit — Vice President and Dean, Graduate School of Business, Siam University
- Mr. Varin Sachdev — Trade and development policy analyst
Programme Highlights
Session 1: Key Findings of the 2024 UN Trade and Development Report — Implications for Developing Economies
This session presented the central conclusions of UNCTAD’s flagship 2024 report, examining how the confluence of protectionism, financialisation, and digital disruption is reshaping development pathways — and what developing economies must do to adapt and remain competitive.
Session 2: Expert’s Take — Trade & Development: The Pathway Forward and Implications for Thailand
The second session shifted the lens to Thailand, with panellists offering their analysis of how the global trends identified in the UNCTAD report manifest locally — and what policy responses, institutional reforms, and private sector strategies are needed to position Thailand for resilient, inclusive growth.
Why This Matters
The 2024 UN Trade and Development Report arrives at a pivotal moment. As global supply chains are restructured, trade blocs are hardening, and AI reshapes industries at speed, developing economies face a new development dilemma: how to grow, industrialise, and generate employment in a world increasingly defined by geopolitical rivalry and technological concentration.
For Thailand — positioned at the intersection of great-power competition, ASEAN integration, and its own Thailand 4.0 ambitions — the insights offered at this seminar carry immediate and long-term strategic relevance for business, government, and civil society alike.
Key Takeaways
- The global economy is at a critical inflection point, shaped by protectionism, labour restrictions, geopolitical instability, and technological risk — forces that collectively demand a fundamental rethinking of development strategy
- UNCTAD’s 2024 Report challenges prevailing assumptions about trade-led development and calls for more active industrial and social policies
- Thailand must navigate these global headwinds with clear-eyed strategy, strengthening regional cooperation while building domestic resilience
- Education, skills, and technology adoption remain central to any credible path forward for inclusive economic development
- The seminar reinforced the importance of platforms that bridge global economic analysis with national policy dialogue — bringing world-class insight directly to Thai decision-makers
Organised by the International Institute for Trade and Development (ITD), Harvard Club of Thailand, and UN Trade & Development (UNCTAD). For more information, visit [www.itd.or.th](https://www.itd.or.th) or follow @ITDNEWS.