On January 15, 2025
at the Crystal Hall 3rd Floor, The Athenee Hotel, Bangkok
Dr. Toemsak Srikhirin, Executive Director of MTEC, NSTDA, participated as a panelist at the Japan-Thailand Public Private Automotive Business Forum for Energy and Industry Dialogue. He addressed the topic of “Circular Economy and Ecosystem” alongside other distinguished panelists, including Mr. Furukawa Kazunari, Senior Vice President of the Carbon Neutral Strategy Division at Isuzu Motors Co., Ltd., and Mrs. Buppa Kawinvasin, Deputy Governor (Sustainable Development) and representative of the Governor of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand. The forum, attended by over 800 participants onsite and online, was jointly organized by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), Embassy of Japan in Thailand, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO Bangkok), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Board of Investment (BOI), and the Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnership (AOTS).
This forum provided a vital platform for public and private sectors to exchange insights and share experiences on economic development policies driven by advancements in the automotive industry between Thailand and Japan. During the session, Dr. Toemsak addressed the challenges Thailand currently faces in advancing a circular economy, emphasizing key goals and practical approaches for implementation. He explored material circularity, identified areas for improvement, and proposed strategies to address weaknesses while aligning national priorities with global trends and maintaining Thailand’s unique policies. Dr. Toemsak also underscored the role of research organizations like MTEC, which, as a national research center, is dedicated to supporting public and private sectors through technical expertise, innovative technologies, and laboratory facilities. Comparing research centers to the R&D departments of private companies, he reaffirmed MTEC’s commitment to fostering collaboration and providing robust support for driving a shared vision of a “Sustainable Circular Economy.”