Message From Chamber – February 2025

February 2025, the month of love, has been incredibly eventful…filled with insightful discussions, valuable networking opportunities, and forward-thinking initiatives.

We kicked off the month with the AustCham Thailand Members Briefing on the 5th, where our silver sponsors, BDO, shared key insights to help businesses stay ahead in 2025. This was followed by another successful February Sundowners at the stunning Sirimahannop – The Heritage at Asiatique.

The SME Coffee Morning on the 13th focused on the evolving commercial real estate landscape, providing members with key insights into office, retail, and industrial property trends for the year ahead.

We then had Manufacturers coming together for the ESB Manufacturing Lunch on the 17th, engaging in open discussions about labor rate changes and their potential impact on businesses in Thailand.

Key Highlights of the Month

One of the most significant events was the JFCCT Prime Minister’s Address Luncheon on February 14th, where AustCham Thailand was proudly represented by our President, ED, fellow Board members, and key sponsors. We had the honor of hearing Her Excellency Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra discuss “Sustainable Thailand, Advancing with Reforms.”

Key takeaways included Thailand’s focus on green technology investments and regulatory reforms to attract foreign investment, exciting developments for Australian businesses looking to expand their footprint in Thailand.

Another standout event for me personally (though I might be biased!) was the NextGen TEDx-Inspired Talks: Leadership Edition on February 19th. Our speakers explored “Leading Beyond Titles, Borders, and Behind a Screen”, inspiring the next generation of leaders to drive change beyond conventional roles, titles, and borders. A special mention to our very own AustCham President, Donnah Ciemkpa, and Board Director, K.Chokdee who both delivered an inspiring keynote on leadership.

Throughout the month, we’ve also continued our Digital Insights Webinar Series, offering must-attend sessions for those looking to enhance their brand visibility and digital expertise.

Looking Ahead: AustCham SME Day & March Events

On Wednesday, February 26th, we are thrilled to host our flagship event, AustCham Thailand SME Day at Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park. This event is designed to equip SMEs with the tools, insights, and connections they need to grow and scale.

We are proud to have Marketing Bear and Scalify by Simple Scalable Solutions (our company!) as sponsors…so be sure to visit our booths, alongside many other AustCham member booths, to discover a wide range of member products and services.

This must-attend event for SMEs features a powerhouse lineup of speakers from Google, Microsoft, Grab, and leading SME experts, plus networking and business-matching opportunities.

As we move into March, we have more exciting events ahead, including our Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Sundowners on March 5th at Anantara Siam Bangkok. Voting for the 2025/26 AustCham Thailand Board of Directors has already begun, so if you haven’t voted yet, make sure to do so! We have an incredible lineup of 9 nominees for 6 Board positions, and voting closes on Wednesday, March 5th, at 5:45 PM.

Thank You for Your Support!

As you can see, the Board and especially the AustCham office have been working hard to add value to our members, create business opportunities, and strengthen the AustCham community. Our goal is to ensure that AustCham remains strong, sustainable, and future-ready, with a continued focus on our core pillars: Business, Connections, and Community.

Thank you for your ongoing support and participation in our activities, it truly means a lot! We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events as we continue to strengthen business connections between Australia and Thailand, drive trade and investment opportunities, and advocate for our members.