Shanghai, China, April 15, 2026 – The Mekong Institute (MI) is supporting the Thai government in advancing the green transformation of the country’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) by seeking new technologies and exploring partnerships with Chinese environmental companies. At the International Environmental (IE) expo China 2026, MI led a high-level Thai delegation on a three-day mission to attract high-quality and environmentally responsible foreign direct investment (FDI).
Backed by the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund (LMCSF) through the project, Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Promotion for Intra-Regional Trade and Investment in the Lancang-Mekong Region, the mission involved delegates from Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce (MOC), the Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EECO), and the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT). The delegation maximized opportunities for both exclusive resource matching and open networking with chief executive officers (CEOs), founders, and other senior executives representing Chinese and international exhibitors.
Mr. Angsutorn Wasusun, Executive Director overseeing the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy at the EECO, highlighted the value of the cross-border engagement as a platform for Thailand to present its green investment strategies while exploring innovations aligned with the country’s development goals. “We are very impressed with Chinese technology. I saw many potential technologies that can be utilized in Thailand, particularly in terms of green investment,” said Mr. Angsutorn.
Adding context, the MOC explained that the national framework for green transformation is driven by Thailand’s BCG economic model, hence its close collaboration with the EECO.
The EEC is a special development zone designed by the government to transform the eastern provinces of Chonburi, Rayong, and Chachoengsao into a leading ASEAN economic hub for high-tech industry, innovation, and logistics. The Thai delegation’s participation in the expo was aimed at supporting efforts toward green technology and infrastructure upgrades in this economic corridor.
Consistent with this goal, IEAT Deputy Governor for Sustainable Development, Mrs. Buppa Kawinvasin, made a presentation on Thailand’s commitment to climate targets before potential investors. “IEAT aims to upgrade the management of industrial estates and factories towards sustainability, bringing technology and innovation to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions along with the integration of cooperation between the public and private sectors to achieve carbon neutrality goals in 2050,” Mrs. Buppa elaborated.
The mission spent considerable time on pre-arranged business-to-business (B2B) discussions with Chinese enterprises from high-priority sectors, including renewable energy (RE), solar and storage, circular economy, waste management, and bio-chemicals.
The discussions explored various modes of collaboration such as joint ventures, technology licensing, and engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contracting to translate potential business matches into actionable investments.
In the area of energy development, the delegation attended a related forum on the hydrogen supply chain, recognizing its relevance to the EEC’s port and freight infrastructure upgrade plans. The delegation learned from China about the commercialization of hydrogen transportation, safety protocols, lifecycle risk management, and leak detection technologies, which are vital for establishing secure, future-ready energy ecosystems in Thailand.
The mission concluded with a site visit to the Shanghai Environment Group’s Tianma Zero Waste and Low-Carbon Environmental Protection Industrial Park, a model for eco-industrial town development. The facility uses incineration to process 3,500 tons of municipal waste daily and converts up to 1,000 tons of food and catering waste into biogas and green electricity, 80% of which powers the facility itself.
MI is set to facilitate a follow-up meeting by the end of April to synthesize the outcomes of the mission, which are expected to directly shape the initiative’s next phase and take center stage in upcoming forums and investment tours.
About IE expo China
IE expo China is a leading environmental protection exhibition in Asia and the world’s second-largest environmental technology trade show. Held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre from April 13 to 15, 2026, the expo gathered over 2,000 domestic and international exhibitors showcasing advanced technologies in water treatment, air pollution control, solid waste management, and low-carbon solutions, while serving as a platform for global green innovation, industry cooperation, and sustainable development.
About the Project
The project, “Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Promotion for Intra-Regional Trade and Investment in the Lancang-Mekong Region,” is funded by the LMCSF and aims to enhance SEZ development, foster regional coordination, and boost cross-border trade. In its final year in 2026, it has strategically shifted to focus on green investment promotion in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), aligned with global Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards and sustainable infrastructure development.
