On 23 - 26 September 2026, the Royal Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur successfully organised the 3rd Economic Forum 2026 under the theme “Bridging the Two Borders: Elevating Thailand - Malaysia Resilient Value Chains in Halal and Rubber Industries.” The comprehensive four-day program featured high-level Forums on the creative halal and sustainable rubber industries, Thailand - Malaysia public-private networking sessions, a showcase of Thai MSMEs from the Southern Border Provinces at the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2026, and an extensive MIHAS 2026 exhibition tour by the Thai delegation.

 

On 24 September 2026, Her Excellency Ms. Lada Phumas, Ambassador of Thailand to Malaysia, led delegations from the Thai and Malaysian public and private sectors in an exclusive Networking Reception at OpenHouse, Kuala Lumpur. The gathering convened key institutional partners and industry leaders, including: (1) Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand, (2) Thai Chamber of Commerce, (3) Halal Institute at Prince of Songkhla University, (4) Halal Science Centre at Chulalongkorn University, (5) Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT), (6) Thai Eastern Group Holdings PCL, (7) Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC), [8] Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia (MOTAC), (9) Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC) under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia (MITI), (10) Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) under the Ministry of Economy of Malaysia, (11) Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC), (12) Centre for Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (CIMT) Subregional Cooperation, (13) Top Glove Corporation Berhad, and (14) Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM).

 

During the Reception, participants exchanged valuable insights on overarching Thailand - Malaysia trade and investment opportunities, with a targeted focus on the creative halal and sustainable rubber sectors. The event successfully fortified networks among key stakeholders who are instrumental in advancing transport and logistics infrastructure, border area development, and connectivity conducive to reinforce cross-border value chains, empower Thai MSMEs, and generate tangible commercial benefits for the peoples of both countries.

 

In conjunction with the Economic Forum 2026, the Royal Thai Embassy, in strategic partnership with SBPAC, sponsored two prominent MSMEs from Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces to exhibit at MIHAS 2026 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC). The featured enterprises—Papilo Real (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (a producer of innovative rubber footwear) and Pause One Co., Ltd. (a supplier of natural bird's nests from eco-friendly farms)—utilised the platform to study the Malaysian market, draw inspiration for future regional product development, and present the high calibre of local Thai businesses to international buyers.

 

Following the core Forums on 25 September 2026, the Royal Thai Embassy led the Thai delegation on a guided tour of booths at MIHAS 2026. More than 15 Thai entrepreneurs, including those supported by the Royal Thai Embassy, showcased a diverse array of premium halal products across sectors such as food and beverages, cosmetics, modest fashion, health and medical, and agriculture. The engagement provided the delegation with a deeper, practical understanding of market demands in Malaysia and the broader region, ultimately cultivating sustainable, people-level trade and investment partnerships between the two countries.