Thailand holds media focus group on 2022 APEC Summit

Paphamon Arayasukawat

BANGKOK (NNT) - Preparations have already started in Thailand, which will be hosting the APEC Summit next year. Today, government agencies held the first Media Focus Group event to raise awareness and discuss ways to communicate news of the event to the general public.

The Department of Information, the Department of International Economic Affairs, and the Public Relations Department today held the first Media Focus Group event at Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel, Bangkok, to plan coverage of the 2022 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, which will be hosted in Thailand.

This focus group aims to raise awareness among members of the media on Thailand’s role as the summit host next year, as well as serving as a platform for discussion on the direction of public relations.

The Department of Information’s Director General Tanee Sangrat said today a series of related meetings will be held throughout 2022, with the APEC Summit being the final event, which will be an opportunity for Thailand to show its economic capability to benefit the country and the region.

He said Thailand will be promoting the topics of trade, investment, and connectivity using digital technology and innovation, as well as a Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy which has been Thailand’s national strategy for economic recovery post-pandemic.

With social responsibility as one of the main focuses of APEC in addition to trade and investment, the Department of International Economic Affairs Director General Cherdchai Chaivaivid, said today the department’s goal is to raise awareness of APEC among members of the general public, particularly concerning how APEC could help reform and improve Thailand’s economy as well as stimulate travel and tourism.

Mr Cherdchai said the COVID-19 pandemic situation should be much improved before next year’s summit, which would allow world leaders to meet in person.

Thailand will be hosting the APEC Summit in 2022 after New Zealand this year, with Thailand’s theme and priorities to be officially announced after the handover ceremony in November this year.