Speaking at SPIEF 2026: Positioning Thailand as the ASEAN Digital Gateway
On 4 June 2026, I spoke on the business panel “Russia–Thailand: New Dimensions for Trade and Investment” at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2026 (SPIEF 2026), in St. Petersburg, Russia. The panel was organized by the Russian-Thai Business Council (RTBC) and moderated by Ivan Demchenko, chairman of the RTBC, with panelists from both Russia and Thailand, including Sergey Cheremin and Vladimir Padalko.
I spoke about Thailand’s potential as an ASEAN Digital Gateway — a bridge connecting trade, investment, technology, and innovation opportunities from Eurasia into Southeast Asia — built around three areas of cooperation:
- Digital market access and trade
- Technology transfer and joint research and development
- Digital workforce development
The point I emphasized was combining Russia’s strengths in advanced technology, software, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity with Thailand’s potential as a fast-growing digital market that is open to international platforms — creating an opening for Russian technology companies to partner with the Thai private sector.
After the panel, I gave an interview to The Nation Thailand, saying that amid global tensions, Thailand still has the opportunity to integrate Russian technology into its digital economy development while maintaining a neutral position. Thai people are naturally neutral and open, and the most important thing is being able to bring different technologies, cultures, and ideas together to work. I see cooperation in AI, digital workforce development, and digital platforms as areas of strong potential for bilateral cooperation between Thailand and Russia.
Taking part in this forum reflects Thailand’s role on the global digital economy stage, and the Digital Council’s commitment to promoting international cooperation and building strategic partnerships — working toward Thailand’s future as a regional hub for the digital economy, innovation, and technology.
Sources: DCT · The Nation Thailand · toutelathailande.fr
