Khon Kaen University Has Reaffirmed Its Commitment to Elevating Northeastern Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises by Integrating Academic Knowledge, Business Opportunities, and Strategic Networks to Strengthen Local Competitiveness and Build a Sustainable Economic Foundation.
On 28 August 2026, Khon Kaen University was represented at the opening ceremony of the “OSMEP UNLOCK: Unlocking Thai SMEs” event by Professor Thidarut Boonmars, D.V.M., Ph.D., Vice President for Enterprise and Societal Sustainability, who attended on behalf of the University’s President. The event ran from 28 to 30 August 2026 at the First Floor Promotion Area of Central Khon Kaen Shopping Centre.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Mr. Charanya Yong-aen, Head of the Khon Kaen Provincial Office, while Mr. Wachira Kaewkor, Deputy Director-General of the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP), delivered a report on the event’s objectives. The initiative aims to expand business opportunities and reduce operational constraints for regional SMEs. It also encourages entrepreneurs to leverage cultural capital, local wisdom, and regional identity to create high-value products and services with a competitive edge in modern markets.
Building on this momentum, the three-day event gave regional SMEs a strategic platform to unlock their growth potential by transforming local heritage into commercially viable products. Through tailored activities and consultations, it equipped regional businesses with the tools needed to expand into high-potential markets while preserving their unique cultural roots.
Khon Kaen University’s active involvement highlights its role as an institutional bridge linking academic research, innovation, and collaborative networks to local community development. In supporting entrepreneurs to turn local potential into sustainable economic growth, KKU reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the economic and social foundation of the Northeastern region.
This initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by fostering entrepreneurship; SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by promoting competitiveness and innovation; SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by building community strength through cultural identity; and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by fostering multi-sectoral collaboration involving government agencies, academic institutions, the private sector, and local enterprises.
Photos/News : เทศบาลนครขอนแก่น, Sector of Enterprise and Societal Sustainability of Khon Kaen University
