From 23-24 March 2026, the Royal Thai Embassy in Brussels, in collaboration with the Office of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EECO), moved forward to strengthen economic ties with Belgium’s private sector. The mission focused on attracting Belgium’s investment in biotechnology, green innovation, and waste management within the EEC promotional zones. By leveraging the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economy model, this initiative aims to add value to the agricultural and food sectors, Thailand’s backbone economy, enhancing competitiveness amidst global energy volatility and transition towards sustainable industries.

 

On 24 March 2026, the Royal Thai Embassy and the EEC co-organised the business seminar “Thai-Belgian Business Partnerships on the Bio-Circular-Green Economy in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC)” at Press Club Brussels Europe. The event showcased the EEC’s potential as investment hub for technology and sustainability targeting high technology where Belgium holds expertise, including biotechnology, biochemicals, renewable energy, recycling technologies, and clean energy. The seminar was attended by more than 40 participants from leading Belgian and international organisations, including Solvay, Umicore, Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant, J-TEC Material Handling NV, UBI Business School, etc.

 

H.E. Mrs. Kanchana Patarachoke, Ambassador of Thailand to Belgium, delivered the opening remarks, highlighting the impact of current energy and commodity prices volatility on global economies and peoples’ livelihoods. She emphasised the need for Thailand to reassess its fundamental strengths, particularly in agriculture, food security as well as rich biodiversity. Through BCG economy model, Thailand aims to transform agricultural and food products into high-value goods. Given Belgium’s strength in agricultural technology and biotechnology, Belgian businesses can partner with Thailand by investing in these industries in the EEC promotional zones.

 

Dr. Chula Sukmanop, Secretary-General of the EEC, and Dr. Cholachit Vorawangso Virakul, Assistant Secretary General of the EEC, delivered keynote presentations on EEC’s competitive investment incentives, streamlined regulatory facilitation to enhance the ease of doing business, well-developed infrastructure and logistics. In the BCG sector, Thailand and Belgium can complement each other’s strengths: Thailand offers rich biodiversity resulting in abundant agricultural resources as raw materials, robust food and petrochemical manufacturing foundation, and a strategic location. Belgium contributes expertise in biotechnology, logistics, innovation, and circular economy practices. These complementarities offer significant potential for collaboration in smart agriculture, biochemicals, clean energy (including hydrogen), and carbon-neutral technologies, with the EEC serving as a platform to support such investment and collaboration.

 

The seminar also featured Mr. Massimo Fedeli, GBU Peroxides Industrial Operations and Innovation Director at Solvay, who shared the company’s strategic insights and success in Thailand. Solvay established its advanced chemicals business in Thailand in 1987. Its hydrogen peroxide plant in Map Ta Phut, Rayong, which utilises cutting-edge HPPO technology, remains one of the largest and most efficient in the world.

In addition, the EEC delegation, led by Dr. Chula Sukmanop, joined by the Embassy and Team Thailand officials, engaged in high-level discussions with major Belgian investors already active in Thailand, including Solvay, a leader in advanced chemicals, and Umicore, a leader in clean energy materials, EV batteries, and metal recycling.

 

On 23 March, the delegation also visited Air Liquide in Antwerp, where they were briefed and discussed cooperation in green hydrogen and carbon capture technologies, aligning with carbon neutrality targets.