Thailand is to host three international power and energy conferences between 2023 and 2025, offering updates on new energy issues while boosting the country's events business.
Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Bangkok were selected to host the events in cooperation between the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and Power & Energy Society (IEEE-PES) and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB).
The three events mark another success for Thai authorities in pushing the country as a host for major world conferences, said Somchai Homklinkaew, deputy governor of the Metropolitan Electricity Authority and senior vice-chairman of IEEE-PES (Thailand).
The first event, named "IEEE PES APPEEC", is scheduled for Chiang Mai next year, followed by "IEEE ISC2" in Pattaya in 2024, and "IEEE PES GTD Asia" in Bangkok in 2025.
The IEEE-PES said it selected Thailand as the host destination because of the country's capabilities and readiness in the field of energy.
"New technology issues will be shown and shared in these events," said Mr Somchai.
"These will benefit Thailand as the country is expanding its existing power infrastructure and developing new ones based on clean energy technology, part of its commitment at COP26 to achieve the net-zero goal."
Last year, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha vowed during the 26th UN Climate Change Conference that Thailand would take serious action to reach carbon neutrality, a balance between carbon dioxide emissions and absorption, by 2050, and a net-zero target, a balance between greenhouse gas emissions and absorption, by 2065.
The three international conferences will be an opportunity for Thai professionals and students working in energy and related fields to have access to world-class knowledge from experts in power, energy and smart cities from around the world.
The conferences will also benefit the meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (Mice) business in Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Bangkok.
Nichapa Yoswee, senior vice-president of TCEB, said the three conferences are expected to attract over 10,000 participants from around the world, generate more than 837 million baht for Thailand, and showcase the country's capabilities and readiness in the Mice and power and energy sectors.
In 2019, Thailand's Mice sector stimulated spending worth approximately 280 billion baht, created more than 410,000 jobs, and generated tax payments of around 20 billion baht.
