supporting Thai entrepreneurs in transitioning to green economy in a strong and sustainable way and leveraging the Bank's strengths as a 'leading regional bank' to grow alongside customers and connect Thai and global markets
The "Green Transition Academy Season 1" invites leaders from 40 business organizations in Thailand to participate in in-depth training on adapting to a green and low-carbon economy. This is achieved by integrating a network of top-tier partners and specialized knowledge from 13 leading regional organizations to create a group of leaders who are ready to transform their companies so they can handle new environmental regulations and seize future business opportunities. The academy will also leverage Bangkok Bank's strength as a 'leading regional bank' and highlight its branch network and customer base to build a group of green business leaders, who exchange knowledge and experiences as well as seize opportunities for Thai businesses to enter the ASEAN and global markets strongly.
Mr. Kobsak Pootrakool, Bangkok Bank Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary, stated that the Bank has launched the new "Green Transition Academy Season 1" to invite business leaders who are ready and willing to transform their organizations towards a green and low-carbon economy. This aligns with the goal of sustainable growth, which is a key driver of current and future business. The academy is honored to have speakers who are top executives and experts from 13 leading regional organizations, distinguished in various areas of change, to share information and experiences that will help participants to become effective leaders in business transition that are ready to adapt to new environmental regulations and seize future business opportunities in a sustainable way.
For the first season of the Green Transition Academy, which is open for applications until June 13, the course has been intensively designed to run for 9 weeks. It features 13 distinguished speakers, including sustainability experts and exclusive corporate leaders. Among them is Dr. Buranin Rattanasombat, Chief New Business and Sustainability Officer at PTT, who will speak on the topic "Driving Low-Carbon Growth with New S-Curves." He will share strategies for seizing new business opportunities such as the circular economy and low-carbon products, which enhance business competitiveness in the green economy. Also featured is Mr. Prasit Vaiyavatjamai, Partner, Corporate Sustainability & Climate Change Service Lead, SEA at ERM-Siam, a global sustainability consultancy. He will lead a workshop to help businesses assess their vulnerabilities and analyze opportunities and risks related to climate change.
Other notable speakers include Ms. Gloyta Nathalang, Senior Executive Vice President of Sustainability Management and Corporate Communications at Bangchak Corporation, who will speak on the topic "Carbon Markets & Credit Acquisition, Offsets, and Utilization." She will help participants understand opportunities in the carbon credit trading market and how to generate carbon credits to offset greenhouse gas emissions, Ms. Tongjai Thanachanan, Executive Vice President-Chief of Sustainability and Strategy at Thai Beverage, who will speak on the topic "Driving the Net-Zero Transition - Target, Roadmaps & Leader Alignment." She will share approaches to setting carbon reduction targets, aligning leadership mindsets, corporate culture, and governance with responsible transition goals.
Mr. Kobsak further stated that this course marks another important step in the "The Great Green Transition" initiative, which the Bank has been actively promoting through various activities such as academic seminars, social media outreach, support for environmental startups (e.g., "Green Innovation Solutions Startup Pitching"), and training programs like the Green Transition Academy. The goal is to raise awareness among Thai businesses and prepare them for a systematic transition to the new economy, leading to sustainable growtha priority for Bangkok Bank.
In addition to promoting knowledge, as a "leading regional bank," the Bank leverages its strengths, particularly in having the most extensive overseas branch network covering 14 key economic zones worldwide, as an important mechanism that helps connect new business opportunities within the ASEAN region and to global markets. The Bank also stands ready to support businesses through financial services, including green loans and transformation loans, and with financial systems that utilize digital technology for enhancement, such as developing cross-border payment systems. Importantly, Bangkok Bank has strong financial stability, which reflects its commitment to being a long-term partner for Thai businesses. At the same time, with a customer base ranging from large businesses to SMEs across various industries, this will provide mutual support to create broader cooperation between business sectors.
"The Bank has been continuously adapting to the green and low-carbon economy, as it is one of the key dimensions of sustainable growth. This is because the global market is already moving in this direction. Those who fail to adapt or adapt too slowly will find it increasingly difficult to connect with the global market. Of course, the Bank cannot do this alone. After having started for some time, we are confident that we are ready to invite our customers to adapt and transition to the new economy together. At the same time, we have received excellent cooperation from experts in various fields who are ready to assist, provide guidance, and share real experiences. These insights will be highly beneficial in helping businesses effectively apply them to their specific challenges. This aligns with the Bank's commitment to being a "trusted partner and reliable close friend," supporting the business sector to adapt and advance toward true sustainability," Mr. Kobsak said.