The Chairman of the Khon Kaen Chamber of Commerce outlines a Five-Pillar Strategy on KKU Podcast, positioning the province as a sub-regional hub for the Greater Mekong Sub-region.
Khon Kaen is undergoing a major structural transformation, moving beyond its traditional role as the commercial hub of the Northeast (Isan) to become a dynamic “City of Opportunities.” Bolstered by strengths in medical services, higher education, logistics, and digital technology, the province has drawn growing interest from domestic and international investors. This momentum has also attracted sustained coverage from national media outlets, underscoring the province’s emerging prominence within the national economy.
In Episode 26 of the KKU Podcast, Mr. Jakkrit Siripanich, Chairman of the Khon Kaen Chamber of Commerce, shared insights on the multidimensional development of the province. in office.
From the hotel business to a private-sector leader in Khon Kaen.
Drawing on his experience as a mid-sized hotel operator and a long-standing leader in the regional tourism sector—having previously served as President of the Khon Kaen Tourism Business Association and President of the Tourism Council of Khon Kaen—Mr. Siripanich detailed key strategic initiatives currently being implemented to advance the provincial economy during his third year
To position Khon Kaen as a central hub for the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), the Khon Kaen Chamber of Commerce has established a Five-Pillar Development Strategy:
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Digital Valley: Developing a digital ecosystem to support technology investors and improve business efficiency through enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
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Wellness City: Expanding local medical excellence into a comprehensive health ecosystem encompassing environmental quality, food safety, and preventive health.
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Smart City: Building upon Khon Kaen’s designation as a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities to expand urban innovation.
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High-Value Agriculture: Elevating agricultural incomes by integrating safe food standards and value-added processing.
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City Branding: Establishing a distinct provincial identity to drive economic growth and local revenue, with working committees evaluating potential heritage symbols such as prehistoric discoveries, local folklore, and the official provincial flower (Cassia fistula).
A true MICE city and the second-largest tourism hub in Isan.
Khon Kaen’s strategic positioning is further supported by its status as a certified MICE City since 2013, the fifth city in Thailand to receive the designation and the first in the Northeastern region. Despite a relative absence of major natural tourist destinations, the province attracts over five million overnight visitors annually through conventions, administrative engagements, trade activities, and institutional events such as Khon Kaen University’s annual Open House.
Regional medical hub attracts Thai patients and neighbours for treatment
In the healthcare sector, Srinagarind Hospital at Khon Kaen University serves as a premier tertiary care centre, offering specialised medical services that draw patients from across the region and neighbouring countries, notably the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. The provincial healthcare ecosystem is further augmented by a growing aesthetic medicine sector and specialised tertiary facilities, alongside advanced genomic cancer diagnostic capabilities at Srinagarind Hospital.
AI and digital: Khon Kaen embraces the trend
In an era where AI technology plays an increasingly important role, the Khon Kaen Chamber of Commerce has collaborated with government agencies such as the Board of Investment (BOI) and other related organisations to continuously organise AI training programmes. Khon Kaen University serves as a key partner in this effort, particularly faculty members from the Faculty of Engineering who offer hands-on, practical AI courses. These courses have received such strong interest that every session has been fully booked. This reflects a broader trend: many young people in Khon Kaen are choosing to stay and work in the province rather than relocate to Bangkok, given the growing opportunities for income and career growth within the region.
Khon Kaen SMEs growing fast: from hundreds of millions to billions
The Khon Kaen Chamber of Commerce runs a programme to support SME entrepreneurs through its Entrepreneur Development Project, which selects businesses to participate in training and receive budget support. Some participating companies have grown their sales from the hundred-million-baht range into the billions.
In addition, Khon Kaen has entrepreneurs who have achieved nationwide success, such as a food and dessert brand with an influencer who has nearly 2 million followers, and which was invited to exhibit at THAIFEX in Bangkok. There is also a push to establish Khon Kaen as a coffee trading hub, given the large number of coffee shops and coffee institutes in the area.
Private Sector Power: Driving the City Through KKTT and the LRT Project
One of the key mechanisms for developing Khon Kaen city is the collaboration of between 10 and 20 private-sector entities, which established the city development company (KKTT) to jointly invest in and drive forward the Light Rail Transit (LRT) project. This became the starting point that inspired other provinces across the country to establish city development companies following Khon Kaen’s model.
Beyond the LRT project, the city development company also pursues parallel initiatives, such as urban legal frameworks and the Learning City concept. This reflects the idea that the private sector does not need to rely solely on the government, but can instead collaborate to drive the city forward together, with the government ready to provide budget support if the private sector has a clear vision.
Unveiling the Development Plan for “Nam Phong” Airport Towards an Aircraft MRO Center
Another significant development revealed by Mr. Chakkrit is that Khon Kaen is one of the few provinces with two airports. In addition to the commercial airport currently in use, there is also an airport in Nam Phong district, which was formerly a United States military base during the war era. It covers an area of approximately 30,000 rai with a runway longer than 3 kilometers. Currently, the Republic of Singapore Air Force has requested to lease this area, relocating its operational base from Udon Thani airport to be stationed in Khon Kaen, with an investment of over 4,000 million baht and personnel numbering in the hundreds.
At the same time, the Federation of Thai Industries Khon Kaen Chapter has been pushing forward the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) center project, on approximately 500 rai of land at the head of the airport, to accommodate the maintenance of small and medium-sized aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320—both aircraft due for scheduled inspections and decommissioned aircraft whose parts can be repurposed. This project has been pushed forward for over 10 years already, and concrete results are expected to materialize within the next 2-3 years.
Dry Port: Connecting Isan’s Logistics
Another significant project being pushed forward by the Federation of Thai Industries Khon Kaen Chapter is the Dry Port, which will function as a land-based equivalent of Laem Chabang Port, using rail transport for goods instead of sea transport. Mr. Chakkrit revealed that he had sought opinions from senior executives of the Port Authority of Thailand, who confirmed that Khon Kaen is the most suitable area for building a dry port, due to the industrial factories surrounding the area—particularly in the Upper Isan zone, which still lacks comprehensive logistics facilities compared to the Lower Isan zone, which already has industrial estates in place.
Building People, Building the City: Collaboration with Educational Institutions
Mr. Chakkrit emphasized that infrastructure development must go hand in hand with the development of “people,” with local educational institutions playing a crucial role. He cited Khon Kaen University as an example, which is preparing to launch an Aerospace program to support the upcoming aircraft maintenance center project. In addition, other educational institutions in the area—such as Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Sripatum University Khon Kaen Campus, and South-East Asia University—are also ready to collaborate in producing personnel to meet future market demands.
Closing: The Power of the New Generation Is the Key to Khon Kaen’s Future
At the end of the conversation, Mr. Jakkrit shared an inspiring message for the younger generation. He emphasized that young people possess tremendous energy and creativity, particularly members of the YEC (Young Entrepreneur Chamber of Commerce), a network of young entrepreneurs under the Chamber of Commerce. These individuals are actively building business connections and expanding their own ventures or family businesses.
The Khon Kaen Chamber of Commerce has increasingly opened opportunities for YEC members to serve on its board of directors. Currently, they make up approximately 20% of the Chamber’s board members, and Mr. Jakkrit believes that the next generation will play an even greater leadership role within the organization in the years ahead.
For those who have not yet started a business or have recently graduated, Mr. Jakkrit encouraged them to participate in YEC activities, which welcome new members every year. This year alone, more than 54 applicants joined the program. These activities not only help participants build valuable business networks but also strengthen their communication skills and self-confidence through team-building programs and various training workshops.
With a clear strategic direction, strong collaboration among the private sector, government agencies, and educational institutions, combined with the growing strength and potential of the younger generation, Khon Kaen is well-positioned to become a city of even greater opportunities in the future.
News: Benjamaporn Mamook
Photos: Chaichan Lada, Nattawut Phetprapai, Nattawut Jaruwong
