On 24 December 2025, the Faculty of Economics, Khon Kaen University (KKU), hosted the meeting of the “Khon Kaen Eight Economic Organisations” at Meeting Room E201. Mr. Yutthaphon Pirunsarn, Deputy Governor of Khon Kaen Province, honoured the event with his presence. Executives, faculty members, and staff of the Faculty of Economics welcomed the participants and network partners.
The Faculty of Economics organised this meeting of the “Khon Kaen Eight Economic Organisations” with the objective of supporting the exchange of views and defining concrete strategies for driving Khon Kaen Province’s economy. It also aimed to foster stronger relationships and mutual learning among partner organisations, leading to future cooperation and integrated work.
The meeting welcomed leaders and representatives from the eight key economic organisations in Khon Kaen Province: the Bank of Thailand Northeastern Region Office, the Khon Kaen Chamber of Commerce, the Khon Kaen Federation of Industry, the Khon Kaen Tourism and MICE Association, the Khon Kaen Thai SME Promotion Association, the Khon Kaen MBA Alumni Association, the Khon Kaen Banking Club, and the Faculty of Economics and the Faculty of Business Administration and Accountancy (from KKU). This marks the inaugural year of collaboration proudly held under the name “Khon Kaen Eight Economic Organisations,” symbolising the unified commitment of the partners as residents of Khon Kaen.
Mr. Yutthaphon Pirunsarn, Deputy Governor of Khon Kaen Province, stated, “The gathering of the Eight Khon Kaen Economic Organisations today is a vital starting point for robust cooperation among the government sector, private sector, financial institutions, and academic institutions. This collaboration will be a crucial mechanism for driving the sustainable growth of the Khon Kaen economy. I am delighted to commit to attending the monthly meetings regularly, listening, exchanging opinions, and supporting the network’s operations to deliver concrete results. This continuous support is especially important for advancing the four key areas that will establish Khon Kaen Province as a significant economic centre in the Northeast.”
Associate Professor Suthin Wianwiwat, Dean of the Faculty of Economics, speaking as the host, remarked, “The Faculty of Economics, Khon Kaen University, is deeply honoured to host this meeting of the Eight Khon Kaen Economic Organisations. This assembly is not merely a platform for discussing ideas but an opportunity to build a powerful cooperative energy that will systematically and sustainably advance Khon Kaen’s economy. As an academic institution, we are ready to contribute academic data, research, and innovation development to ensure that the four key priorities—City Branding, Wellness Hub, Smart City, and International City—are achieved concretely. We sincerely hope that this network will serve as a sustainable and collaborative model moving forward.”
The meeting reached a consensus that: “The Khon Kaen Eight Economic Organisations meeting designs its content and vision to integrate learning, technological perspectives, and adaptation in the digital world. This is intended to help development ideas and essential skills for all participants. The economic partner organisations are a fundamental force behind the success of the University. No faculty, unit, or service centre can operate without quality personnel. We wish everyone happiness in today’s learning experience and growth alongside our University.”
The meeting stressed the importance of jointly driving and monitoring progress on key issues to continually support Khon Kaen’s economic development, focusing on the four main priorities: City Branding, Wellness Hub (Health Tourism Centre), Smart City, and International City. Furthermore, the meeting discussed systematic joint operational guidelines to ensure sustained coordination and traceable outcomes, aiming for efficient and tangible results in all key initiatives.
For the next meeting, scheduled for January 2026, the Faculty of Economics, Khon Kaen University, will once again host the event. Deputy Governor Mr. Yutthaphon Pirunsarn affirmed his consistent commitment to attending the network’s monthly meetings. To enhance brainstorming efficiency and systematise the discussions, the subsequent meetings will implement the Padlet system as a tool to support the collection of proposals and the exchange of ideas, fostering a productive and progressive outcome.
Following the conclusion of the meeting, a year-end and New Year networking event was held, featuring the exchange of souvenirs among the participating agencies and organisations to strengthen goodwill and cooperation within the network.
The collective efforts of the Eight Khon Kaen Economic Organisations represent a crucial mechanism for aligning local information and perspectives from the business, financial, industrial, tourism, and academic sectors with the province’s developmental direction. This synchronisation is expected to lead to the formulation of suitable policy recommendations, sustained implementation of measures, and clear performance monitoring, thereby jointly pushing Khon Kaen’s economy towards strong, balanced, and sustainable growth.
