On 2 July 2026, the Faculty of Economics at Khon Kaen University (KKU) hosted the 19th National Conference of Economists and the Graduate Student Conference in Economics. The event, themed “Collaborative Economics in a Volatile World: Geoeconomics, AI, New Regulations, and the Future of GMS”, convened at Room M301, third floor of the Lecture and Basic Skills Development Building. Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee, Chairman of the Khon Kaen University Council, presided over the opening ceremony. Associate Professor Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of KKU, delivered the welcoming remarks, and Associate Professor Suthin Wianwiwat, Dean of the Faculty of Economics, presented the event report.
The conference was organised by a network of nine leading economics institutions in Thailand: Chiang Mai University, Chulalongkorn University, Kasetsart University, Khon Kaen University, the National Institute of Development Administration, Prince of Songkla University, Ramkhamhaeng University, the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Srinakharinwirot University, and Thammasat University, in cooperation with the Khon Kaen University Economics Association. The primary objective of the convention was to serve as an academic forum for faculty members, researchers, and graduate students from across the country to exchange knowledge in economics.
Associate Professor Suthin Wianwiwat, Dean of the Faculty of Economics, stated that hosting this national conference represented a significant opportunity for the Faculty to demonstrate its role as an academic hub for economics in the Northeast and at the national level. He noted that the theme selected for the year reflected current global challenges in geoeconomics, artificial intelligence, and the Greater Mekong Subregion’s (GMS) adaptation to a new context. He further emphasised that these insights would meaningfully inform the development of economic knowledge and national policy.
The event featured several keynote addresses delivered by distinguished local and international experts:
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“ASEAN in a Fractured World: Geoeconomics and Strategic Challenges and Opportunities” by Associate Professor Simon SC Tay, Chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs.
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“Economics: Theory and Practice Amidst Volatile World Order and the Future of GMS” by Dr Narongchai Akrasanee, Chairman of the Khon Kaen University Council.
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“Geoeconomics and International Economics in the New Volatile World: Changing Trade, Power, and Global Economic Rules” by Dr Kirida Phaophijit, Vice Minister for Commerce.
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“AI, Digital Economy, and the New Frontier of Economics: Productivity, Labour Market, and Competitiveness” by Dr Nattapat Jatusripitak, Founder and CEO of ViaLink and Managing Director of the Thailand Future Foundation.
The itinerary also included research presentations in various branches of economics by academics, researchers, and graduate students, serving as a platform for knowledge exchange and academic collaboration at both national and international levels.
Furthermore, this iteration of the conference welcomed representatives from educational institutions within the Greater Mekong Subregion, including the National University of Laos, who presented research papers. This participation underscored the growing international academic cooperation and the strengthening of economic networks aimed at driving sustainable economic development across the region.
The 20th National Conference of Economists and the Graduate Student Conference in Economics will be hosted in 2027 by the School of Development Economics at the National Institute of Development Administration, continuing this premier national academic forum’s tradition.
